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A Short Story Inspired by Recent Conversations
“Important Work”
“We are archivists,” the alien explained, “we travel from solar system to solar system searching for events worthy of recording for our library.”
“I am responsible for archives of moments of great happiness.” The alien continued, “I seek beings in a perfect state of joy. That is why I have come to earth.” She beamed at me as if this made perfect sense.
1/
Seeing my confusion she continued “Our system has shown that somewhere, a few meters from this exact location a moment of peak synchronicity and happiness is … inevitable.”
The alien gazed at me, expectantly. I gazed back, stunned to silence.
“Not you, is it?” Said the alien.
Slowly, I shook my head “no.”
I could not possibly be the subject of a moment of “peak happiness” what could be more absurd?
2/
As if to confirm this, the alien looked sharply up to a regiment of leaf-cutter ants, each one carrying her green prize like a flag, making their way along a slender branch on the margin of the rainforest.
To my eye they all looked identical, but the alien trained her holographic recording device on one particular ant.
“This one.” the alien said. “this ant has just cut a perfect portion of the leaf. It has a perfect level of moisture that will exactly match the needs of her colony.” 3/
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