Made Men by Bradley Ernst Read Free Book Online

(myself a more long-distance participant)
were absolutely crucial to this endeavor.
    Josef:
you are both despised and missed.
    A
simplified review of each component, its reason for inclusion, goal-driven
traits hoped to achieve via inclusion, standard gestation/incubation periods
etc. below:

 
    1. Animalia, Chordata,
Mammalia, Primates, Haplorhini, Hominidae, Homo,
H. sapiens : “Human.” Earth’s top (current) apex predator. Able
to blend in with like-primates. Moderate longevity. Gestation: 268-days.
Viviparous omnivore.
    2. Animalia,
Chordata, Reptilia, Crododylia, Crocodylidae, Crocodylus, C. rhombifer : “Cuban
Crocodile.” Most intelligent, aggressive, territorial,
defensive crocodilian. Extended submersion time. Exhibits fearless
pack-hunting behaviors. 64-day incubation. Oviparous carnivore.
    3. Animalia, Chordata,
Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae, Rana, R.
sylvatica : “Wood Frog.” Superior
cryoprotectants. Able to freeze/thaw/thrive. Extended
submersion time. Two larval stages depend on environmental conditions.
Insectivore.
    4. Animalia,
Chordata, Mammalia, Chiroptera, Pteropodidae, Acerodon, A. jubatus : “Giant golden-crowned
flying fox.” Enhanced nocturnal vision. Superior disease
vector. Gestation: unknown. Viviparous frugivore.
    5. Animalia,
Chordata, Mammalia, Marsupialia, Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae, Didelphinae, Chironectes, C .
minimus : “Yapok (or) water
opossum.” Enhanced nocturnal vision. Protective pouch houses genitalia.
Extended submersion time. Gestation: 14-days. Viviparous piscivore.
    6. Animalia,
Tardigrada, Heterotardigrada, Echiniscoidea, Echiniscis, E. testudo : “Water Bear.” Extreme tolerance to radiation, long-term desiccation, atmospheric
pressure, temperature and pH extremes, metabolic standstill. Generation
time: 14-days. Parthenogenetic omnivore.

 
    March 17, 1956, early AM:
    The
birthing process was … unprecedented. I have, in this program and in my
previous training, witnessed a total of 231 births, yet none prepared me for
this morning. I believed there were only two gestational sacs; I witnessed one.
Two placentas were present on autopsy. One twin entered the birth canal
first—ideal in its position—left occiput anterior. I report this to
stall myself. Indeed, I still shake as I document these happenings. I recognize
the future ridicule this report may receive, yet I
write what I saw. In short, the twins seemed to be holding hands. There
occurred between them, obvious and coordinated efforts. After the first
presented his head, then shoulder, body, and slithered into my grasp, all
except for one arm, which was a very solid structure unlike a human neonate, I
could not free the limb. It seemed, somehow, to be stuck? I was not sure. The
surrogate began to hemorrhage massively: the violent gush of blood indicating
assured mortal outcome. Blinking, wiping his eyes with his exposed, webbed fist,
the first born focused on mine. Then writhed, I
thought, like a thin-headed fish-form adult just up from a long nap. Already,
it had the proportions of a lanky man—not the softened, rounded features
I expected. I fine-tuned my position in the room: my dominant hand on a rolling
cart spread with items that were, I would soon realize, superfluous. An eerie
economy of movement became apparent. Bracing, the neonate pulled, feet lodged
like a man hauling hard on a rope—upon what structure I was uncertain—within
the birth canal. The bleeding worsened. A second gush (amniotic fluids, I
assumed) presented from the birth canal. The external neonate released its
steely hold, dropping free. Inside the womb something rolled. I could only
picture what a crocodilian does, having clamped down upon its prey, winding
violently in the water, rending and twisting, until broken bones and earned
tissues are free to gulp or tuck beneath a log to rot. I hesitated—as any
man of learning would in my place—to slide my hand within. Ridiculous
thoughts seized me. My perspiration was blinding.