a question

by fred flynn

the invaders had set up “information centers” in large and small cities and towns all over earth, where the natives were invited to come in and ask any questions they might have as to the details of the occupation. questions could only be asked by a human in person at one of the “centers”. they could not be asked in writing and of course could not be asked electronically or on recordings, as all devices for doing so were strictly forbidden to humans. each center was staffed by a single alien, so the waiting period to ask a question could be quite long, especially in the early days of the conquest. nevertheless, jody sue martin, a middle school student from terre haute indiana, put three sandwiches, a bottle of mineral water and a copy of the princess casamassima by henry james into her backpack, and took the bus to the nearest information center, in indianapolis. she had only to wait four hours to ask her question - she had been prepared to wait eight hours. what is your question? young lady, the alien asked politely. this may be a question you have been asked before, jody sue began. that is entirely possible. jody sue had carefully phrased and rehearsed her question, and began: here is my question - the guest force ( ed. note - the aliens’ name for the invading force) is requisitioning large numbers of humans - hundreds of millions to start, but probably to eventually number in the billions - to travel to other solar systems and galaxies to do what appears to us to be the lowest type of manual labor, such as had virtually disappeared from our own technologically inferior civilization. it seems to us humans that a civilization capable of interstellar travel would hardly have need for such primitive means of manipulating matter. could you explain why this is not so? you have, the alien replied, hit upon the answer with the word “seem”. though it may “seem” so to your human brains, it is far from the case. i am afraid the reasons for this can not be comprehended by said human brains. and that is the only answer you can give me? yes, it is. though disappointed, jody sue thanked the alien, and yielded her chair to the next questioner. it could have been worse and taken longer, she reflected philosophically. she did manage to finish the princess casamassima on the bus ride back to terre haute, and to save the third sandwich for her lunch the next day.