“Is it true that you were the one who killed all those people you took for the language study?”

The large, almost liquid sheets of his eyelids closed. “When I declared the study concluded, I did order the specimens to be destroyed.”

She swallowed. “Why?”

“After several years of study, Enola discovered characteristics that indicated higher cognitive function comparable to our own natural ancestors before they became post-natural. Enola made this discovery at a volatile time. The political situation was unstable, reckless decisions were being made.”

“Reckless decisions, like sterilizing an entire planet of your sister species for the sheer crime of existing.” She hadn’t meant that to sound like as much as an accusation as it did.

“If there was any question that humans were capable of advancement as our ancestors were, that would prompt more study. So we hid these findings, I declared that humans were animals. And I ordered the specimens destroyed.”

“Enola said he was the reason you had them euthanized.”

“Enola was the one who conducted the studies on higher cognitive function. It was Enola who proposed that humans might be capable of developing an advanced civilization, and should be studied further. He did not see how further study by the Superorganism could be an existential threat to humanity as I did.”

His eyes slid open, still dark and unfocused. “We both desired to study further, but the political situation was such that any alien civilization could be seen as analogous to our sister species. So I publicly concluded that we had learned as much as we could from this group and had the specimens destroyed.”

“Please stop calling them specimens,” Cora whispered. “They were people.” She finished her glass of water and closed her eyes. “Why did you really do it? Why did you bind yourself to me?”

“Because I wanted to know if you were a person.”

She opened her eyes to look at him. “What do you mean, ‘person’?”

He raised his head, his focus still bleary. “Our concept of personhood is not like yours. Amygdaline nymphs are not persons to us. A nymph can be destroyed at any time. They do not have rights—not until they are mature enough to communicate through high language are they considered true persons. One of our criteria to define personhood is the ability to communicate through high language. I assumed it impossible for a human, but I do not in truth know if it is impossible. With the right neural engineering, you might be capable of high language.”

“You mean you could . . .” She cleared her throat. “Genetically engineer a human capable of high language?”

“No. I mean you, dear one. You could be capable of high language.”