Contents
Ten
Overview
Jessyn’s field tests reveal the orchard’s fruit is biochemically Terran, proving the seized world once held humans—the Carryx’s timeless enemy. Realizing the catastrophic implications if the Carryx learn this, she’s interrupted by a local human who wordlessly compels her east at knifepoint, escalating immediate danger and secrecy stakes.
Summary
Jessyn tends her improvised lab aboard the ship, briefly challenged by Third Gardener about why she is there, then heads out to a burned orchard near the ruined city. On the walk, she weighs her fraying ties to others and fantasizes about vanishing into solitude.
At the orchard, she samples pear-like fruit using Carryx miniaturized tools. Expecting an alien biochemistry, she is stunned to find DNA, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and cellulose—evidence of Terran-origin life. She infers the former inhabitants were human and realizes the Carryx’s ancient, deathless enemy is humanity itself, a truth the Carryx seemingly do not know.
Fearing discovery of her assay logs, Jessyn debates how to warn the human team without exposing them. Movement in the grass startles her; a raven-like bird bolts skyward, briefly relieving her tension.
Immediately after, a human man appears—short-bearded, in worn field clothes—speaking an unintelligible language and urgently gesturing east. When Jessyn resists, he grips her shoulder, grows more forceful, and produces a knife, compelling her to go with him.
Who Appears
- JessynField researcher; samples orchard fruit, discovers Terran biology, deduces humans are the Carryx enemy; confronted and coerced by a local man with a knife.
- Third GardenerSinen overseer; questions Jessyn’s presence on the ship, emblem of productivity surveillance and implied threat.
- Unknown local manHuman-speaking in unknown language; urgently tries to lead Jessyn east and brandishes a knife when she resists.
- Gray-haired woman researcherFellow human in the plaza; briefly chats with Jessyn about fieldwork.
- Young geologistHuman researcher Jessyn recognizes; minor presence among the multi-species crowd.