Short Fiction · Chapter
In the Garden explained
The crew of the Little Probe lands on a moon-town and encounters a man and woman, Ha-Adamah and Hawwah, in a pristine garden.
What happens
The crew of the Little Probe lands on a moon-town and encounters a man and woman, Ha-Adamah and Hawwah, in a pristine garden. The beings claim to be the only people, possess a preternatural intellect, and live in perfect happiness. After three days, the crew becomes convinced they have found Paradise, but the tycoon Casper Craig immediately plans to exploit it for settlement. Meanwhile, in a cave, a two-legged serpent named Snake-Oil Sam reveals the entire setup is a trap to lure settlers for plunder.
Themes in this chapter
Reality and Perception
The crew struggles to distinguish between a genuine paradise and an elaborate illusion, with most convinced of its reality until the serpent's scheme is revealed.
The Absurd and Inexplicable
The garden's perfection, the beings' claims, and the sudden shift to a commercial exploitation plot highlight the absurdity of the situation.
Characters to notice
- Captain Stark
Leads the landing party, questions Ha-Adamah, and becomes convinced of the garden's reality.
- Father Briton
Jesuit linguist who attempts to communicate with Ha-Adamah and suggests a game of checkers to test his intellect.
- Casper Craig
Tycoon and 51% owner of the Little Probe; initially convinced of the paradise, then immediately plans to sell and settle it.
- Steiner
Crew member who observes the garden's fruits and animals, and later expresses conviction that it is Paradise.
- Adamah
Shining man who calls himself Ha-Adamah, claims to be the only man, and warns against the pomegranate tree.
- Eve
Shining woman named Hawwah, companion to Ha-Adamah, who smiles and proves her humanity.
Key passages
“Howdy. Father Briton from Philadelphia, on detached service. And you, my good man, what is your handle, your monicker, your tag?”
Father Briton introduces himself casually and asks for the man's name.
The priest uses informal slang to initiate contact with the shining being.
“It is not allowed to eat of that one!”
Ha-Adamah warns Langweilig away from the pomegranate tree.
This echoes the biblical prohibition, but with the pomegranate instead of the apple.
“Ninety Million Square Miles of Pristine Paradise for Sale or Lease. Farming, Ranching, exceptional opportunities for Horticulture. Gold, Silver, Iron, Earth-Type Fauna. Terms. Special Rates for Large Settlement Parties.”
Casper Craig dictates an advertisement to sell the garden as real estate.
The tycoon immediately exploits the supposed paradise for profit, revealing his true motives.
“It'll take them fourteen days to get back with the settlers. We'll have time to overhaul the blasters.”
The serpent plans to prepare weapons for the arrival of new victims.
The garden is revealed as a trap for settlers, who will be stripped and slaughtered.