5th Observation [audio // English]

[fred_cassidy]

Remy, Wall, the vanilla pods are ready.

[Fred's voice takes on a musing quality.A chemical called piperonal is a minor component of vanilla extract. It's fragrant on its own, is used as a perfume base and flavoring, and in the majority of humans, has a calming effect when its vapors are inhaled

Comments

[wallrocket]

[His voice quivers with excitement!]

I am on my way there!

[fred_cassidy]

[When Wall arrives, Fred is reclining on the roof of Meth's treehouse, twirling a vanilla bean by the stem.]

[wallrocket]

[Wall RACES up the tree-trunk, past the treehouse and Fred. The best ones are always at the top, in his opinion. Wall quickly plucks several pods, then climbs down to join Fred on the roof of the treehouse. Wall sits himself down, peels open one of the pods, and chops down on a bean. Oh, it is so very delicious. So delicious.]

They... they are fantastic, Fred.

[fred_cassidy]

The credit goes to whoever pollinated the flowers eight or nine months ago. I just found them.

[Fred watches Wall eat with amusment. The bushbaby is extremely cute.]

[wallrocket]

Oh, how I wish I knew who pollinated these delicious beans! I would give them such a wonderful hug!

[Wall finishes the bean, stem and all, and moves to peel another.]

Perhaps it was the bees? Alas, we may never know!

[fred_cassidy]

The Deck 6 bees? Too big, I think. I suspect hand-pollination, myself.

[Fred thinks for a moment.]

Or it might be a genetically-engineered self-pollinating cultivar.

[wallrocket]

Perhaps. I would not put it above the captain to do such a deed.

[Wall nods. Having someone to talk botany with is fun!]

But if that were so, why not speed up the process and have them be ready sooner?

[fred_cassidy]

Mm. Rainforest soil is fairly barren, actually. I don't know if it would be possible for the vine to pull nutrients fast enough to speed up the maturation process.

[Fred could consult his internal encyclopedia, but it's more fun to depend on his own brainpower.]