Uncontacted, page 21
“That’s right. Humans, especially tribal people who live closely off the land, in a way most people would label ‘primitive’, are part of the interconnectedness of that ecosystem, and so I have studied indigenous tribes as part of my broader ecological work.”
“It was your familiarity with these tribes that led Brazil’s President Rocha to enlist your services. When he realized that something extraordinary was happening with the people of tribal descent all dying at once, he called you.”
“Correct.”
The interviewer looked directly into the camera. “Of course we all know the astonishing coincidence associated with those mass die-offs—all of the deceased were found to have been born on a leap day. We already did a special report on that fascinating but tragic event, which will re-air immediately following this broadcast, along with a special update segment on the mysterious secret society accused of backing the attempted theft of the tribal artifacts—it’s important to note that they deny all wrongdoing. But back to you, Dr. Medina, or may I call you Antonio?” She smiled at him with lively eyes.
“Go right ahead.”
“Antonio, it’s amazing to me that, after all that happened, that both tribes continue to exhibit the violence toward outsiders they were known for prior to the artifacts being removed from their safekeeping. They’re no longer uncontacted tribes--the world knows about them-- and as you told us, they’ve seen outside humans with their own eyes. So why do you think it is that they continue to exhibit such predictable violence against outsiders?” On a screen behind her, a video ran of an Andaman Islands tribesman as seen from a helicopter, making threatening gestures with a spear.
Antonio shrugged. “I can think of a dozen reasons, Hailie. But the important question to me is, why should they be any different than the rest of us?”
END
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