Lehal Library

The Aliens Amid the smooth-running, efficient process of the Earth Life System, an unusual spark appeared in one life-form. It could have happened to any one of thousands of other species, but why it happened to this one no one as yet knows. It resulted not in a new design but in a modification of the old. Thus all of the original Earth Life System patterns remained strong and only partly under control in this new unit. To make this mutation endure, it would have had to occur in more than a single instance, and in various locations. Evidence uncovered by archaeologists and anthropologists reveal that, in the context of time since the system came into being, it occurred nearly simultaneously in different areas. This newly modified species found it difficult to survive in the early stages. Its design forced it to develop its own unique methods. It was comparatively hairless, except on its head, which meant it had to take special action to get protection from cold, heat, and the bites and claws of others. It had neither fangs nor claws, which was a major disadvantage in self-protection and aggressive food gathering. It had no tail, which meant it could not climb trees to escape attack and, more important, it lacked this means of expressing emotion. Two legs instead of four brought unbalance, ungainliness, and a vertical spinal column that was originally designed to be horizontal. Finally, it possessed an addition to its animal brain, somewhat resembling a tumor, that really made the difference. Other animals were bigger, faster, and stronger, could climb better, swim naturally, and withstand the elements much more comfortably. It took many generations for the newcomers to figure out why and how, with this awkward and inefficient physical body, they managed to survive. Gradually the realization came that they were different from all other animals. Hundreds of thousands more years passed before they became aware—or some of them did—that they were indeed more than just another animal. But some still regard their species as no more than intelligent animals.