Evolution Read Online Free Page A

retying them into something useful.
    Work with Yoshi grounded him in a familiar and loved reality. In addition to maintaining the ever-growing buildings, chores included the gardener’s Cannabis Chariklovius—which could grow to fifty feet if not pruned down. Often the stalks added a foot in height a day. And all those trimmings found uses in one product or another. Tending the plants and having light conversation brought Sam back to being the well-cared-for fake shaman of the tribe—a position the village needed to help smooth interactions. Qualified or not, Sam had to get back to doing his job.
    As Sam wandered home after a day taking care of the plants, the yelling that emanated from Jonathan’s dwelling proved so loud Sam adjusted his course to investigate. Mediation— even with a couple—was part of the job of shaman. When the female voice in the conflict settled down in pitch, he realized it belonged to Jillian. He only caught her final words: “I’m out of here.”
    As Sam rushed up to the base of the tree house to offer his support, Jillian fell into his arms. With the low gravity, swan dives out the front door weren’t uncommon.
    Jonathan leered over the side. “First you steal my childhood friend, and now you’re taking my girlfriend? I wish you’d never come back from Earth. You can have her, though. She has no idea what it means to be faithful. None of you do.” He beat his fist so hard against the tree wall the slender trunk swayed.
    Jillian made no attempt to leave Sam’s cradling arms as he carried her to the lake. Gently, he laid her on the beach. “You’ve been living with Jonathan long enough to realize we’re all family even if some of his ideas don’t quite mesh with the village’s goals. So this isn’t me prying when I ask what’s going on.”
    “Nothing you ask would ever be prying.” She attempted a smile, but it didn’t last. “I never should’ve moved in with him. I just loved the village so much I wanted to be a permanent member—not just vegetable girl . Two years of coming here a few days a week only made me realize how much I hated the rest of my life. I guess I hoped my love of everyone here would extend to Jonathan too.”
    As Sam sat down in front of her, Jess separated herself from the afternoon yoga class and joined them.
    “You finally broke up with him?” The tone of Jess’s voice held little surprise.
    Jillian looked up at Jess and then lowered her eyes, defeated. “I should’ve listened to you. But we had nearly a year invested in the relationship. Why couldn’t he figure out I’m not a possession?”
    Jess lifted the woman’s chin to look in her eyes. “You don’t need to live with someone to be accepted into the village. But if you want that direct contact to feel you’re welcome, come live with us. It can be platonic if you prefer. The girls would be thrilled.”
    Jillian didn’t need much convincing. She was nodding her agreement by the end of Jess’s first sentence.

3
    S am meant to check in with Earth, but something more important seemed to always get in the way. His weekly Rendition view-screen meetings had diminished to monthly by the end of his second year after returning home on Chariklo. Lud fumed at Sam for once again becoming the absentee owner of the Earth’s biggest corporation. Sam cared about the Tobes and how they were progressing, but he had little impact so far away from their daily lives.
    As two years home became four, even Lud seemed to accept that Sam’s participation would be sporadic at best. Still, as Sam made his way down the seldom-used path, he felt the pang of a neglectful parent finally making contact with his offspring.
    The village library was nestled in a shallow cave in the hillside. But instead of being a damp, dark, rock-lined room, the niche had been transformed into a welcoming retreat from village life. Saplings—trained by Yoshi—grew up the walls. As the young trees had filled in, a bookcase of living