nucleus, the symbiont affects the DNA/RNA pattern of the body, extending the lifespan considerably. The rumor that Crystal Singers are immortal is exaggerated, but functional longevity is definitely increased by fifty or more
decades
beyond actuarial norms. The adaptation provides an immunization to ordinary biological disease, enormously increasing the recuperative ability. Broken bones and wounds such as mine are, I warn you, part of the daily work of a Crystal Singer. Tolerance to extremes of heat and cold are also increased.”
And pain, no doubt,
Killashandra thought, remembering not only the test but Borella’s lack of discomfort with her deep wounds.
Behind the Singer, the holograms were now views of Ballybran’s rugged terrain, quickly replaced by a time-lapse overview from one of the moons, so that the planet’s twelve continents were visible in seconds.
“On the negative side, once acclimated to Ballybran and adapted to the symbiont, the Singer is irreversibly sterile. The genetic code is altered by the intrusion of the symbiont into the nuclei, and those parts of the DNA spiral dealing with heredity and propagation are chemically altered, increasing personal survival traits as opposed to racial survival—a chemical alteration of instinct, if you will.”
Carigana gave a pleased sound like a feline expression of enjoyment.
“The other, and basically the most important negative factor, is that a Singer cannot remain too long away from Ballybran’s peculiar ecology. The symbiont must recharge itself from its native place.
Its
death means the death of the host—a rather unpleasant one, for death from extreme old age occurs within a period inversely related to the host’s elapsed lifespan.”
“How long can a Singer stay away from Ballybran without ill effect?” Killashandra asked, thinking of Carrik and his reluctance to return.
“Depending on the strength of the initial adaptation, and that varies, for periods of up to four hundred days. A Singer is not required to be absent for longer than two hundred days on assignment off-planet. Two hundred and fifty days is suitable for leisure. Sufficient, I assure you, for most purposes.”
Killashandra, seated behind the space worker, saw Carigana draw breath for another question, but Borella had changed the hologram to show a human writhing in the grip of a shaking fever, all too reminiscent of the hypothermia that had affected Carrik. The man was seized by massive convulsions. As the focus lightened first to his hands, then his chest and face, he aged from an athletic person in his third, possibly fourth decade, to a wrinkled and dehydrated, hairless, shrunken corpse in the time it took viewers to gasp.
“He was one of the first Singers to make a successful symbiotic adaptation. He died, regrettably, at Weasust while setting up the black quartz relay station for that sector of the FSP. It was the first time a Singer had been absent for a prolonged period, but that particular danger had not yet been recognized.”
“Did you know him?” Shillawn asked with a perception that surprised Killashandra, for she had wondered the same thing.
“Yes, I did. He trained me in the field,” Borella replied, dispassionately.
Killashandra made some mental calculations and regarded the flawless complexion and erect figure of their mentor with surprise.
“Is that Milekey man still alive?” Carigana asked.
“No. He died during a major fault in the range which bears his name.”
“I thought this symbiont kept you from broken bones and wounds?”
“The symbiont provides increased recuperative ability but cannot replace a severed head on a body whose wounds have resulted in complete blood loss. For less drastic injuries—”and she pulled the gown aside from her left leg.
Rimbol’s soft whistle of astonishment summed up Killashandra’s amazement, too. They had all seen the purple bruising and lacerations: now the contusions were faintly yellow splotches, and
decades
beyond actuarial norms. The adaptation provides an immunization to ordinary biological disease, enormously increasing the recuperative ability. Broken bones and wounds such as mine are, I warn you, part of the daily work of a Crystal Singer. Tolerance to extremes of heat and cold are also increased.”
And pain, no doubt,
Killashandra thought, remembering not only the test but Borella’s lack of discomfort with her deep wounds.
Behind the Singer, the holograms were now views of Ballybran’s rugged terrain, quickly replaced by a time-lapse overview from one of the moons, so that the planet’s twelve continents were visible in seconds.
“On the negative side, once acclimated to Ballybran and adapted to the symbiont, the Singer is irreversibly sterile. The genetic code is altered by the intrusion of the symbiont into the nuclei, and those parts of the DNA spiral dealing with heredity and propagation are chemically altered, increasing personal survival traits as opposed to racial survival—a chemical alteration of instinct, if you will.”
Carigana gave a pleased sound like a feline expression of enjoyment.
“The other, and basically the most important negative factor, is that a Singer cannot remain too long away from Ballybran’s peculiar ecology. The symbiont must recharge itself from its native place.
Its
death means the death of the host—a rather unpleasant one, for death from extreme old age occurs within a period inversely related to the host’s elapsed lifespan.”
“How long can a Singer stay away from Ballybran without ill effect?” Killashandra asked, thinking of Carrik and his reluctance to return.
“Depending on the strength of the initial adaptation, and that varies, for periods of up to four hundred days. A Singer is not required to be absent for longer than two hundred days on assignment off-planet. Two hundred and fifty days is suitable for leisure. Sufficient, I assure you, for most purposes.”
Killashandra, seated behind the space worker, saw Carigana draw breath for another question, but Borella had changed the hologram to show a human writhing in the grip of a shaking fever, all too reminiscent of the hypothermia that had affected Carrik. The man was seized by massive convulsions. As the focus lightened first to his hands, then his chest and face, he aged from an athletic person in his third, possibly fourth decade, to a wrinkled and dehydrated, hairless, shrunken corpse in the time it took viewers to gasp.
“He was one of the first Singers to make a successful symbiotic adaptation. He died, regrettably, at Weasust while setting up the black quartz relay station for that sector of the FSP. It was the first time a Singer had been absent for a prolonged period, but that particular danger had not yet been recognized.”
“Did you know him?” Shillawn asked with a perception that surprised Killashandra, for she had wondered the same thing.
“Yes, I did. He trained me in the field,” Borella replied, dispassionately.
Killashandra made some mental calculations and regarded the flawless complexion and erect figure of their mentor with surprise.
“Is that Milekey man still alive?” Carigana asked.
“No. He died during a major fault in the range which bears his name.”
“I thought this symbiont kept you from broken bones and wounds?”
“The symbiont provides increased recuperative ability but cannot replace a severed head on a body whose wounds have resulted in complete blood loss. For less drastic injuries—”and she pulled the gown aside from her left leg.
Rimbol’s soft whistle of astonishment summed up Killashandra’s amazement, too. They had all seen the purple bruising and lacerations: now the contusions were faintly yellow splotches, and
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