Chapter 8 Chapter 8: The Good Housekeeper of the Maomao Family
The little furballs are all fluffy and look like a family.Unable to think of a better term, Holloway referred to his five guests as "The Fuzzies."For a few days, he got to know them well, because the Maomao family decided to move into his house.There are a total of five furs in the family, and Holloway has given them code names based on their behavior and the way they get along with each other.
Papa Mao Mao was the first to come to his house, because he was obviously the head of the little family.At first it came out to look for food, to check the environment, and it also sent a "safe" signal to the family to come out of the bushes to meet humans and dogs.
Holloway knew that if Isabel came, she would gently criticize him for making such an arbitrary guess that Papa Fluffy wasn't necessarily male in the first place.Holloway admits that Papa Fluffy could also be female, or some other gender.Not all life forms correspond strictly to the gender distinctions that humans are used to.Tsk, it's not like that even on Earth.Holloway remembered Isabel telling him about seahorses, and that the males had pouches into which the females laid their eggs, and then the males were impregnated until they gave birth.
While knowledgeable, Holloway didn't care much about seahorses or pouches after all.He feigned interest because he had just started dating Isabelle at the time, and he was looking forward to what he might have learned after the class.Later, Isabel recognized his expression of "going in one ear and out the other".This problem arose shortly after their relationship, and it was not completely resolved in the end.Perhaps that was why, Holloway thought, he was alone now.
Well, there was a dog and five little ones around anyway—he had recklessly assigned genders and roles to them.Holloway figured there must be a way to determine the sex of the little ones, but he didn't think that was his business.The biologist will be here in a few days, and it doesn't matter if he waits.If he guesses wrong, he can change it.Just ask Carl, who was originally named Kara, after Holloway's aunt, until someone looked closer and pointed out that his puppy apparently wore a handle.Carl was Holloway's first dog.When others pointed and laughed at him, Holloway used this excuse to stop him.
Therefore, Papa Mao Mao (temporary name) is the leader and the head of the family.Holloway watched him interact with the other Fuzzies, wondering again how intelligent the creature was.For an animal, it's pretty smart.Definitely better than Carl, who now bows to it and follows it around the treehouse wagging its tail.There are only a few special dogs who voluntarily choose not to be a leader, and Karl happens to be one.Holloway was planning to talk to him later, and it wouldn't do him any good, not for Carl being a good dog, or for anything else.
Holloway racked his brains to think of any other animal with such intelligence.If he had to guess, he estimated that Mao Mao's father was about the same as a capuchin monkey.There is a reason for Holloway to say this. He met one when he first came to Zara 23, and another surveyor, Sam Hamilton, raised a "little hat", and their survey camps were next to each other.It is said that the monkey may be smarter than Hamilton, and it is rumored that he installed children's enlightenment books in the information board, otherwise he would be illiterate for the rest of his life.
Whether the rumors were true or not, the monkey was frighteningly clever and a thief.Sam always had to give back the wallet and keys apologetically, but the Zara Group credits in the wallet kept disappearing, and the surveyors relied on them for necessities and gambling.Credit card balances are occasionally low.No one believed it was done by monkeys.At one point Holloway had to break up with Sam about it.
Now Sam and the monkey are gone.Sam didn't maintain his spaceship properly, and one of its drives accidentally exploded, sending the spaceship hard-landing on the jungle floor.Sam never bothered to put up an emergency fence either, and by the time a nearby surveyor arrived at his location, Sam and his monkey were left with nothing but a trail of blood extending deep into the jungle.Sales of emergency fences doubled the following week.
The more Holloway thought about it, the more Papa Fluffy was supposed to be smarter than the monkey.First, he and his family were alive and well in the jungle, and the monkey was eaten alive by the jungle.Secondly, it also cleverly realized that it was much easier to live with Holloway than to hide from predators on the trees and on the ground.
Mao Mao, who is the second in the family, is the first one to come down from the tree and say hello to Papa Mao Mao.This Fluffy is smaller than Papa, and brighter - its hair is blond, lighter than Papa Fluffy's dark tortoiseshell color, but the fur on his face is darker.It (again Holloway guessed it was only a female) looked a bit like a Siamese or a Himalayan to Holloway.This only Maomao is the companion of Papa Maomao, they are always stuck together, they look like a pair, they often rub each other.Holloway was starting to worry a little bit that if it went this way, he might be forced to watch hairy sex or something.But there was nothing out of the ordinary between these two, at least when he was next to him, there was nothing to do.
Regardless, the Fluffy seems to be friendly and trusting to Holloway and Carl, and Holloway presumably because Papa Fuzzy trusts them as a friend.Holloway gave up being creative altogether and just called this Mama Fluffy.
The third Fluffy in the Fluffy family is a gray one, about the same size as Papa Fluffy, but fatter than Papa Fluffy, and his movements seem to be a little slow. Holloway thinks that his brain is also turning slower.This Fluffy is also very close to Mama Fluffy, but not the same closeness as Papa Fluffy.If Holloway had to guess, from their interactions, he'd guess that this Fluffy is Mama Fluffy's own dad.Here we go again, this is entirely Holloway's unilateral idea.Maybe he was Mama Fuzzy's companion before she met Papa Fluffy, and now he's accepted some sort of second-order role.Truth be told, Holloway didn't know anything about Fluffy's world.Anyway, he called the third little guy Grandpa Mao Mao.
Part of the reason Holloway named him Grandpa Fuzzy came from Grandpa's primary duty—to keep an eye on the remaining two little Fuzzies and keep them from being mischievous.The two furs are smaller, and behave like children, frizzy and do whatever they want.For example, one of the pups climbed onto Carl's back in an attempt to ride the dog like a horse.Karl was not happy, and once wanted to kill Mao Mao.The fluffy dog hit the dog's nose, and then ran away screaming. Carl wanted to eat it, but it got even more excited.Holloway figured this was probably the teenage boy in Fluffy.Its hair is white with black or gray markings.Holloway called it Scabbers.
The last Fluffy, blond like Mama Fluffy, feisty like Scabbers, but less obnoxious.He didn't intend to mount Carl, he just patted him, brushed him, and cuddled him every chance he got.Karl is quite cooperative with this, but he feels that this is only a little bit better than being ridden.It seems that no matter how clingy a dog is, it needs a little alone space.So Carl would gently shake off the last furry and sneak back to the cabin.The dog door is also connected to the radio transmitter on its shoulder, and the Fluffy can't follow without its permission.It would get in the door and hide for an hour or two.
The tiniest Fluffy won't be angry or upset when it's left behind.It just turns its attention to Holloway, wondering what he's up to.It wasn't as warm to Holloway as it was to Carl, but it would come after him and pick up whatever he was fiddling with.Holloway made a mental note: don't play puzzles around this little guy.Overall, he finds it a pleasure to keep him company, and to be honest, the little furball is adorable.He started calling it Fluffy.
Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Banban, Baby—they are a warm family.Holloway isn't sure if he adopted them, or the other way around.In fact, he suspected that the family had adopted Carl, who was just some kind of appendage—the best steward of the Mao Mao family.Somehow Holloway was amused by the idea, and probably because of it, he immediately embraced the little ones who invaded his house and life.
But there are still some things to work on.
The morning after the furries came down from the bushes, Holloway had his first skirmish.Holloway came along, his back hurting like hell, and it took him a few seconds to realize that it was because he was curled up on the bed like a twister.
The culprit was four of the five furs, lying on his blanket one by one, including Grandpa Mao, who hugged his pillow and snorted lightly in his face, but he Scared enough.Carl put the furries inside while he was still asleep, and they climbed into bed to sleep with him, and Holloway turned sideways to make room for them in his sleep, and ended up in this tangled position.
Holloway looked up from the pillow to see Carl sprawled on the floor beside the hammock.Baby Fluffy sleeps on its belly, and while rubbing its stomach, it sighs softly in its dream.Carl looked uncomfortable too.It caught Holloway looking at it, and made an eyebrow look at him: Sorry, buddy.I didn't know that would be the case.
"Idiot," said Holloway, sinking his head back on the pillow.
Later, Holloway took a hot bath in the small bathroom of the house, hoping that his back pain would be better. As a result, Fluffy opened the shower curtain and saw for the first time a naked human being covered in soap bubbles.
"Can you avoid it?" Holloway asked gently.He is not an exhibitionist, but he is not very shy when Mao Mao sees him in the shower, which is similar to your cat watching from the side while changing clothes.
The baby turned around and yelped.Five seconds later, the other four Mao Mao also came over to take a peek, watching the funny hairless creature pouring water on its body inexplicably.Now Holloway was a little uncomfortable.
"Listen up," Holloway told his audience, "you should all take a shower like this, you know. You don't smell cute at all, especially you." He motioned to Grandpa Fuzzy. "I smelled your hairy ass as soon as I got up. You need to force a shower, friend."
Carl pokes his head into the bathroom, too, to see what it's missing.Holloway lashed out at them with the shower head, watching them scatter and sneer.
Breakfast has also undergone some changes.The fuzzies sitting at the kitchen table seem to be tired of their pendi, and their eyes are on the huge sandwich Holloway made for himself.
"Don't even think about it," Holloway said to them, spreading mayonnaise and mustard on the bread.He held up a piece to show them: "See? I ate it all in a week. I won't have any bread until I go to town next month. So, my bread is not for you."
They were all staring at the bread with fascination, and Carl was no exception.
"Besides, these are Pure Earth sandwiches," Holloway continued, not caring if they understood it any more than he cared if Carl understood, "whole wheat bread, mayonnaise, mustard, smoked turkey." As he said, he spread the smoked turkey on the bread, then went to get the cheese, "and Swiss cheese. These can poison you, eat your intestines, or do other terrible things. Trust me, I will do it for your own good. I ate it myself. I'm such a nice guy." He folded the sandwich and turned to put the ingredients back in the freezer.
When he turned around, Banban was standing in front of him, looking at him beggingly.
"Good job," Holloway affirmed, "but you're not the cutest one." He picked up the sandwich.
The baby also stood up, moved closer to Banban, and looked at him with the same eyes.
"Oh, come on," said Holloway, "it's not fair."
The baby walked up to Holloway, touched his arm lightly, and looked at him longingly with wide eyes.
"Stop!" said Holloway. "Your mysterious and wicked cuteness won't work on me."
The baby put its little furry arms around Holloway's and sighed pitifully.
Two minutes later, the sandwich was divided into six pieces, and each Fumao tasted the smoked turkey cheese whole wheat sandwich for the first time, and he hummed twice with satisfaction after every bite.Holloway looked at his much-shrunk sixth of a sandwich in dismay.
"Terrible," he murmured after a moment.
Smelling the smell of showing weakness, Karl moved to its owner, his eyes full of hope.
"Jesus!" Holloway yelled, "Okay, here you are." He offered a miniature version of breakfast, and Carl gulped it down. "I hope you're choking, you hairy prick! You know it yourself."
Carl looked up at him, wagging his tail and licking his mouth happily.
Three days later, a familiar small spaceship stopped beside the big one in Holloway, and a similarly familiar person came out, holding a woven bag full of fruit. "Hi." Isabel greeted Holloway. "Hi," said Holloway, "is that a big bag of Pendi, or are you too happy to see me?" "Obviously, it's a big bag of Pendi," replied Isabelle, putting down the bag. "You asked me to bring more." "Indeed," said Holloway, taking the bag. "I also brought enough personal items for a week and a tent." Isabel said, "I keep my promise, you won't feel my presence." "You can sleep in the hut," said Holloway. "The rainy season is about to start here." "Modern tents are waterproof," says Isabelle. "I know," Holloway said. "Come and sleep anytime you change your mind." Isabelle looked straight at him and said, "You know I'm dating someone else." "I heard," Holloway said. "A lawyer or something." "Yeah," Isabel said, "as long as we get it right." "I said you could sleep in the house, not my bed," Holloway said. "At the end of the day, we can have Carl watch the door. You'll be safe." Isabel looked around. "Where's Carl?" she asked. "It's in the house," said Holloway. "Did you keep it inside so you wouldn't scare the little animals away?" Isabel asked again. Holloway smiled. "That's not the case," he said. "Come in." He led her to the window of the cottage. "Look in," he said, "but try to be as quiet as possible and make no noise." Isabel gave him a suspicious look, and looked into the window. The Maomao family was sitting on the floor, looking at the information board propped up by the books at the bottom of the bookcase.Carl dozed off next to the baby. She jerked back, put her hand over her mouth to muffle the gasp, and then turned to Holloway in awe. "My God, there's a whole family over there." "Yeah," said Holloway. "Speaking of which, it may be a family." Isabel said, "It may also be other social structures... What are you laughing at?" "Nothing," said Holloway. Isabel cautiously leaned to the window to look again, frowning. "What are they doing?" she asked. "I put a movie on to give them something to do," Holloway said. "I want to know what you put there." Isabel asked. "An old sci-fi movie," said Holloway, shrugging. "There are some little furry things in there. Ewok. I want to leave him alone and let them see." "Aha." Isabelle responded. There was a small commotion in the hut, and the furs jumped up and down happily. "What's that about?" Isabel asked. "They love watching the scene where Ewok throws rocks at people," Holloway said. "You really don't worry about teaching them bad, do you?" Isabel asked again. "They're animals, Isabel," Holloway said. "They're really smart, but they're still animals. I don't think they're going to have an IQ leap, watch a movie on a message board and throw a rock at my head." "It's not good for you to keep them at home like this," said Isabel. "You won't be here forever, Jack. You can't take them with you when you go." "You're making it sound like I have a choice," Holloway said. "I don't really want to keep them. I'll get a good night's sleep that way, too." "Are they in bed?" Isabel asked. "Do you know why I didn't invite you to bed?" Holloway said. "It's crowded enough. I got up in the middle of the night last night and hid on the boat. Anyway, they stayed here, at least you don't have to." Wait until they show up to get to know them." "By the way, what do you think we should do?" Isabel said. "I mean how do I get to know them. I don't want to frighten them." "I wouldn't worry about it," Holloway said. "They're frighteningly friendly." "That's probably not a good thing either," Isabel said. "Animals that aren't afraid of people at all are more likely to go extinct. Just look at the dodo." "I understand," said Holloway, "but I didn't make them so friendly." "But what you're doing isn't good for them, Jack," said Isabel. "That's what I'm trying to say." "Talk to them," Holloway said, pointing to the window.The baby is looking out from the inside. "Oh my god, it's so cute!" Isabelle exclaimed. The baby turned its little head and opened its mouth.After a few seconds, the whole family of Maomao looked towards the window of the hut. "They seem to have evolved to be cute, right?" Holloway said. "That's right," said Isabelle. The dog door was pushed open, and Carl leaned out halfway. Isabel called to him, but he didn't move. "Is it stuck?" Isabel asked suspiciously. "Wait," Holloway said. The Mao Maos came out of the dog door in a team.Only after the last one came out did Carl move his hind body out and walk towards Isabel, wagging his tail vigorously. Isabel turned around and asked Holloway with her eyes.Holloway shrugged: "I didn't teach it." Carl and Maomao walked up to Isabel, and the little ones were so cute, she was fascinated. Holloway smiled, taking the opportunity to go into the cabin for a beer.After he went in, he found that the information board was still showing a movie.Smart as they are, the Fuzzies clearly haven't learned how to turn this thing off yet.Holloway picked up the information board, paused the movie, minimized the interface, and switched the information board to the initial interface.It showed Chad Burne had sent him a voice message.Holloway opened it. "Hi Jack," the message said, "before I say anything, I want to say that this wasn't my idea. We don't get along, but you know I'm not going to withhold what you deserve. right?" what the hell?Holloway asked inwardly. "With that said, I have orders to delay payment on your contractor's account," the message continued, "from Weedon Aubrey VII himself. I told him that delaying payment to you is a violation of the relationship between the company and you. contract, but he said he wanted to talk to you before you received any money from Sunstone. He said he had a business to talk to you personally."
Notes:
Three days later, a familiar small spaceship stopped beside the big one in Holloway, and a similarly familiar person came out, holding a woven bag full of fruit. "Hi." Isabel greeted Holloway. "Hi," said Holloway, "is that a big bag of Pendi, or are you too happy to see me?" "Obviously, it's a big bag of Pendi," replied Isabelle, putting down the bag. "You asked me to bring more." "Indeed," said Holloway, taking the bag. "I also brought enough personal items for a week and a tent." Isabel said, "I keep my promise, you won't feel my presence." "You can sleep in the hut," said Holloway. "The rainy season is about to start here." "Modern tents are waterproof," says Isabelle. "I know," Holloway said. "Come and sleep anytime you change your mind." Isabelle looked straight at him and said, "You know I'm dating someone else." "I heard," Holloway said. "A lawyer or something." "Yeah," Isabel said, "as long as we get it right." "I said you could sleep in the house, not my bed," Holloway said. "At the end of the day, we can have Carl watch the door. You'll be safe." Isabel looked around. "Where's Carl?" she asked. "It's in the house," said Holloway. "Did you keep it inside so you wouldn't scare the little animals away?" Isabel asked again. Holloway smiled. "That's not the case," he said. "Come in." He led her to the window of the cottage. "Look in," he said, "but try to be as quiet as possible and make no noise." Isabel gave him a suspicious look, and looked into the window. The Maomao family was sitting on the floor, looking at the information board propped up by the books at the bottom of the bookcase.Carl dozed off next to the baby. She jerked back, put her hand over her mouth to muffle the gasp, and then turned to Holloway in awe. "My God, there's a whole family over there." "Yeah," said Holloway. "Speaking of which, it may be a family." Isabel said, "It may also be other social structures... What are you laughing at?" "Nothing," said Holloway. Isabel cautiously leaned to the window to look again, frowning. "What are they doing?" she asked. "I put a movie on to give them something to do," Holloway said. "I want to know what you put there." Isabel asked. "An old sci-fi movie," said Holloway, shrugging. "There are some little furry things in there. Ewok. I want to leave him alone and let them see." "Aha." Isabelle responded. There was a small commotion in the hut, and the furs jumped up and down happily. "What's that about?" Isabel asked. "They love watching the scene where Ewok throws rocks at people," Holloway said. "You really don't worry about teaching them bad, do you?" Isabel asked again. "They're animals, Isabel," Holloway said. "They're really smart, but they're still animals. I don't think they're going to have an IQ leap, watch a movie on a message board and throw a rock at my head." "It's not good for you to keep them at home like this," said Isabel. "You won't be here forever, Jack. You can't take them with you when you go." "You're making it sound like I have a choice," Holloway said. "I don't really want to keep them. I'll get a good night's sleep that way, too." "Are they in bed?" Isabel asked. "Do you know why I didn't invite you to bed?" Holloway said. "It's crowded enough. I got up in the middle of the night last night and hid on the boat. Anyway, they stayed here, at least you don't have to." Wait until they show up to get to know them." "By the way, what do you think we should do?" Isabel said. "I mean how do I get to know them. I don't want to frighten them." "I wouldn't worry about it," Holloway said. "They're frighteningly friendly." "That's probably not a good thing either," Isabel said. "Animals that aren't afraid of people at all are more likely to go extinct. Just look at the dodo." "I understand," said Holloway, "but I didn't make them so friendly." "But what you're doing isn't good for them, Jack," said Isabel. "That's what I'm trying to say." "Talk to them," Holloway said, pointing to the window.The baby is looking out from the inside. "Oh my god, it's so cute!" Isabelle exclaimed. The baby turned its little head and opened its mouth.After a few seconds, the whole family of Maomao looked towards the window of the hut. "They seem to have evolved to be cute, right?" Holloway said. "That's right," said Isabelle. The dog door was pushed open, and Carl leaned out halfway. Isabel called to him, but he didn't move. "Is it stuck?" Isabel asked suspiciously. "Wait," Holloway said. The Mao Maos came out of the dog door in a team.Only after the last one came out did Carl move his hind body out and walk towards Isabel, wagging his tail vigorously. Isabel turned around and asked Holloway with her eyes.Holloway shrugged: "I didn't teach it." Carl and Maomao walked up to Isabel, and the little ones were so cute, she was fascinated. Holloway smiled, taking the opportunity to go into the cabin for a beer.After he went in, he found that the information board was still showing a movie.Smart as they are, the Fuzzies clearly haven't learned how to turn this thing off yet.Holloway picked up the information board, paused the movie, minimized the interface, and switched the information board to the initial interface.It showed Chad Burne had sent him a voice message.Holloway opened it. "Hi Jack," the message said, "before I say anything, I want to say that this wasn't my idea. We don't get along, but you know I'm not going to withhold what you deserve. right?" what the hell?Holloway asked inwardly. "With that said, I have orders to delay payment on your contractor's account," the message continued, "from Weedon Aubrey VII himself. I told him that delaying payment to you is a violation of the relationship between the company and you. contract, but he said he wanted to talk to you before you received any money from Sunstone. He said he had a business to talk to you personally."
Notes: