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CHERRY WATCHED AS THE plains of North America receded into the distance. The seas of deep-rooted, tall grasses were nothing like she’d ever seen on Concordia. Kes had said the area hadn’t been like that when he left Earth. Vast tracts of farmland had covered the place. But the land had reverted to an earlier state, as it had been before Europeans had colonized it. Large-headed, heavy animals roamed it, living off the grass. They wouldn’t be taking any of those home, thank the stars. She couldn’t imagine what their hooves would do to the soft, rubbery groundcover that covered most of Concordia’s mainland.
Kes had talked about bringing back smaller animals and insects, like bees. These were striped, winged creatures with stings, though they were rarely dangerous. He said if Conco
