Page 26 of Accounting for Taste

“Wenavik has stronger flavours and a ton more spice,” the captain murmured.He nodded to one of the attendants, and the young female rushed out and back with a tray of sauces and salts.

Reem knew those condiments.They were at every meal she ate in public venues.She happily began to create heat levels that would have melted her colon back on Earth.

She kept going until she surpassed Carolina Reaper level, and at that point, she could taste the flavours of the food behind it.

Sage reached out and went for one of the sauces.Reem said, “Nope.Don’t do that.Use the blue salt as a starter.It isn’t actually spicy.It is more warm with flavour.”

Sage got a tiny bit of the salt, and she tasted a crystal.“Oh.Wow.That is like a flavour bomb.”

“Yeah.You get used to it.”

The captain smiled.“I have tried some of the sauces.I regretted it for days.”

Zell looked at them.“May I?”

Reem nodded.“Of course.Do you have a level in mind, or do you want to start slow?”

Zell nodded.“Slow.I am intrigued.This is my first time off-world in centuries.”

She walked him through the different options, and the dinner turned into a taste test for the Hmrain, with Sage offering him water when he punched above his weight.

There was laughter, and Reem felt settled to be in a group of people again.It was good practice for meeting with Jasmine.

Sage had a glass of wine in her hand and asked, “Reem, what is the most unusual request you have gotten?”

Reem paused.“Sex club for farm animals.”

The room went silent.Sage said, “What?”

“A farmer wants to make sure that there is genetic diversity in his animals, so he thought it would be a good idea to make a breeding club so other farmers could bring their animals to the city and let the beasts go at each other.”

Sage exhaled.“That is much more benign than I thought.”

“I know, right?”

Zell asked, “So, how did they take the rejection?”

“I didn’t reject him.I told him that downtown without a plan to deal with the manure and water, and other infrastructure, was unacceptable.Downtown is not a place that will allow zoning for animals to walk through it.So, we searched for a location near the city where farm vehicles were allowed to park and the sounds of animals copulating would not annoy the neighbours.It was a contained space that could not expand.Any expansion would have to be via setting up a second facility, and he is inspected monthly to make sure that things are hygienic and the animals are cared for.The inspectors also rotate so that no bribery can be enacted.I also use random spotters to make sure the animals are all right.”

The captain blinked.“All that for animals?”

Sage said, “Animals kept us alive far longer than vegetables and grain.They managed to keep going longer than any standard farm.Keeping them healthy and having a successful and controllable growth for them is vital to a thriving colony.”

The captain looked at the dishes.“You eat a lot of meat.”

Reem nodded.“It is one-third of my diet, along with cheese.”

Sage chuckled.“This is going to be a few interesting days.”

The captain nodded.“We are also being met at Aten by another Hmrain vessel from Kifeessen.”

Sage smiled.“Let me guess.Another Terran consort?”

The captain nodded.“Yes.”

Reem sat back.“We are a welcome infestation.”

Sage laughed.“Yeah, I guess we are.”

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