Andromeda 319

Why do farmers keep being abducted? Submission for the NYC Midnight 250-word Micro Fiction 2019, Round 1. Genre: Sci-Fi Action: Milking a cow Word: Invest

“Observe.” Ter’Estru swiped his feelers across the projected image, zooming in on a barnyard. A cow stood patiently, skin twitching off the occasional fly. The crouched human at its side slowly and deliberately pulled on its udder until milk splashed into a well-worn bucket. Throughout the classroom, mandibles rapidly clicked in confusion as the students tried to make sense of the scene.  

“Why does the bovine not defend itself?”

“Does the human recognize its mortality?”

“Who was the first Homo Sapiens to tug at a Bos Taurus’s mammary glands?”

Pupa were Ter’Estru’s favorite developmental stage to teach; curiosity oozed from their developing flesh. He shook until his scales clacked together, a signal for the youngsters to fall silent. “The human is collecting the expelled fluid. Why must it invest in this commodity?”

Hesitantly, one of the pupa wriggled. “Perhaps the liquid provides nutrition?”

“You are correct in your deduction.”

Countless compound eyes glittered. All of Ter’Estru’s students had the same idea before, and his future students would have it again. In near synchrony, they asked, “May we bring in the bovine for closer inspection? Perhaps we could benefit from this liquid sustenance.”

“Our digestive tracts cannot accommodate lactose.” Disappointed whines rang out and Ter’Estru, forever an educator, presented another option. “Humans provide fascinating insight into Earth-based lifeforms. Shall we beam the specimen onboard?” 

 

The excited chitters throughout the class increased as a ray of light focused on the human who stood, removed his hat, and stared upwards.

Author's Note

In Round 1, I had 24 hours to write a Sci-Fi piece involving milking a cow, and the word "invest." Grammar problems might exist due to the time crunch. I haven't edited this piece since I submitted it.

Reviews

[Brian Shepard]

"Why does the bovine not defend itself?”
Best line of prose I've read in a long time. Wonderful whimsy and a welcome return to sci/go basics. Thoroughly enjoyed this.