September 4, 2175: The four Arton ships departed Arton bound for Mars.
Two days underway an Artonian entered the human dining room of the A1and
walked up to a table where Captain Horn and two of the ships officers had
finished dining and were engaged in small talk while remaining at their table.
“Gentlemen, may I sit with you for a moment there are several things that I
would like to tell you.” The officers invited him to sit down. “Let me introduce
myself, since I can't even pronounce my name in your language you can just
call me Ben.” “Ben then produced a copy of the “UPDATED INFORMATION ON
ARTON” report from his fanny pack. There are several places in this report
where I could take exception but that is not why I am here. One thing that I do
agree with is that we have have a retention problem when we are not
motivated. I was born into what you describe as a first century culture.
Fortunately for me your people provided me with access to a twenty second
century culture. I was motivated early in life to learn to read write and think in
the English Language. My parents (plural), yes I was raised in a home with a
mother and a father, were both fluent in English. In our home we did not use
the native language and I do not speak it fluently. As I grew older I was strongly
motivated to close the gap, to catch up. I was a prolific reader and have read
hundreds of scientific books in English. Since I was motivated to remember
what I read I did remember it. I was determined to close the gap from being a
first century man to becoming a twenty second century man. I accomplished
that goal years ago. Let me tell you a little more about my species. I found out
that when properly motivated we have better memories than your people have.
Not only is this true of me but it is true of all of the people in my group which
you have brought on this ship. There were only about three hundred of us on
Arton. We figured that if you knew who we were you would not remove us from
Arton. Now that we are well underway it would be highly impractical for you to
return us to Arton. Besides there are still a little more than one hundred of us
still on Arton. From what I know of evolution we are the next step up the ladder
but I have some sobering news for you, we skipped a rung in that ladder. The
common people that live among your people on several Islands are truly
Neanderthals, I had originally assumed that I was Cro-Magnun on the
evolutionary scale but since every one of my people on this ship has scored
over 165 on human IQ tests we have adopted a new classification term for your
evolutionary scale. We classify ourselves as homo-futures. We are present
day living examples of what the future holds for mankind. Gentlemen, the
charade is over, you can quit treating us like children now. If my you are correct
in thinking that my people are motivationally challenged then then I am here to
tell you that we have met the challenge. Most of us made the dietary change
early in life and started cooking our food. As you know, on Arton it would be
inappropriate to eat any of the animals inhabit the planet. They are too
intelligent to slaughter for their flesh, and besides that their meat tastes terrible.
On several occasions I have had the opportunity to taste the flesh of your farm
animals and I love it. I myself am particularly fond of Chicken Tacos. I hereby
request that from now on we be allowed to eat what you eat and eat it right here
in your dining room. We would like access to all parts of the ship that a human
passenger would have access to, Including the ships library. We would like
instruction in the use of computers which we have never had access to. That
concludes my spiel gentlemen, what do you think?”
“I would like for you to accompany us to our science lab and I would like
to hear how you come off talking to scientists in various disciplines. I want to
listen in while you discuss science with scientists. I would also like to choose
one other member of your group, at random to join in on this challenge.”
Captain Horn responded.
Ben accompanied the officers to the floor where the Artonian passengers
were billeted. Captain Horn selected the first passenger they encountered and
the five of them headed for the science lab.
The first scientist that they encountered was a theoretical physicist
named Myron Ashton. The Captain explained the situation and Myron started
cutting loose with the jargon. He went on for about one full minute and Ben
held up the palm of his hand to Myron. “What is it,“ Captain Horn asked Ben.
Ben responded “Does this guy have all his marbles, Captain?” “He is talking as
though he did not realize that he was addressing an orangutan.” With that Ben
busted out laughing, Ben's companion also busted out laughing. The door to
the lab swung open and five other Artonians entered the room almost in tears
from their laughter. Ben said, “You gotta, admit that I had you going there for a
few minutes didn't I Cap.” At that point the captain and the other two officers
realized that they had been the butt of an Artonian practical joke and they
busted out laughing.
Despite the proven inaccuracy of Ben's claims Captain Horn had gotten
the point of Ben's joke. For the remainder of the Journey Captain Horn and the
officers of the ship saw Ben's people in a whole new light. The Artonians did
get the run of the passenger section of the ship, people began to treat them
with a modicum of respect. When they were offered the opportunity to actually
eat human food they respectfully declined but suggested that the Artonian food
be served on the food line and they be allowed to dine with the other
passengers and crew. That request was also granted. It was interesting to note
that at all future meals the Artonians did not congregate as a ghetto but would
ask politely if they could join humans that were dining.
Ben had not lied about one thing the Artonians on the ship were a cut
above the rest of the Artonian civilization. They did read a lot of books, and
they were motivated to learn, they did have an above average retention rate
when motivated . It would still take more than one generation to leap 22
centuries ahead in time. Captain Horn requested that all Artonians be given a
standard IQ test. The average score was 98 but Ben scored 131, which is just
below the genius level for humans.
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