Page 61 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

Free accepted that and forged ahead. “I’m in need of information.” He paused, looking more intense than usual. “And it’s critical that it betruthfulinformation. I want to make clear from the beginning that the result of this exploration will not hurt you or the humans you represent.”

When the mayor nodded, Free continued. “Do you have some system in place for educating your young?”

The mayor seemed surprised by the question, but answered without hesitating. “Yes.”

Free looked at Carnal, who gave a tiny nod. Rosie surmised that they might be establishing a baseline for the mayor’s bio-patterns by asking a question to which they already knew the answer.

“At what age do you begin teaching your young?”

“Formally, at around five, although some parents teach their children basic things, like how to recognize numbers and write their names, before that.”

“When they are five, or thereabouts, children are taught in small groups?”

“Yes. We’re open about that. Some of our buildings are purposed for education. Children are taught in groups of similar age and ability that usually don’t exceed twenty students.”

“What are they taught?”

“Reading, writing, numbers. The usual.”

“What else besides reading, writing, and numbers?”

“Some are taught cooking. Some are taught carpentry. Some are taught animal husbandry or land management. Basic skills for practical living.”

Free studied the mayor for a minute, then glanced back at Carnal. While he was doing so, Rosie had reached for a pad and pencil lying on the table and scribbled four questions. She tore the top page from the pad and pushed it across the table at Free. He gave her a warning look, but she responded with a guileless shrug. She hadn’t broken faith with Free’s guideline and he knew it. The paper said:

History?

Literature?

Physics?

Chemistry?

Free read the note and looked at Rosie across the table with his chin still tucked. He folded the paper and slid it into a vest pocket, then turning back to Mayor Comstock, said, “What about history, literature, physics, and chemistry?”

Even Rosie, whose abilities were magnificent, but didn’t include lie detection, could see that the mayor was uncomfortable with the direction of Free’s inquiry.

“I’m an administrator,” the mayor said carefully, “not an educator.”

Free’s head bowed slightly. “As am I. Still, I have a general idea what our young are being taught. That’s part of being an ‘administrator’.”

The mayor cleared his throat. “May I ask…?”

“No.” Free cut him off. “I don’t want to be disrespectful. I appreciate that we’ve enjoyed an amicable working relationship and we want to keep it that way. If you want to keep it that way also, you’ll be forthcoming with answering my questions both immediately and thoroughly, to the best of your ability. Later, if more detail is required, we may ask to speak with the person who oversees education in particular.”

That caused the mayor to pale visibly. “Has something happened to cause you concern, Extant?”

“In a sense. I’ve been reminded that humans can be both egocentric and treacherous.”

“I assure you that we…”

“Please, mayor, for all our sakes, simply answer my questions honestly and let me draw my own conclusions. Again, are you aware that humans in Farsuitwail are studying history?”

“They are studying some history. Yes.”

“Literature?”

“Yes.”

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