The Chapter With The Giant Half Circle Made of Twelve Pie Slices of Different Ecosystems Smooshed Together Unnaturally

Liane’s eyes were glued to the sight before her. So many plants from all around the world, and she would get to see them with her own eyes, touch them with her own hands. She could hardly believe seeing Claire again had led to the rekindling of a dream she had long ago given up on.

She was brought back to reality when something wet licked her hand, making her yelp and jump. Adélie and Gaston gazed up at her, their excitement evident by their trotting in place and rapidly wagging tails.

“What?” Liane asked the dogs.

“They want to give you the tour,” Claire giggled, “Usually they only get to give it to the sheep or occasionally a shell. They tried to give it to a cow once, but she wasn’t having it. You’re their first real human. That’s why they’re so very excited.”

The chocolate dog, Gaston, nudged Liane from behind, while the golden dog, Adélie, paced in front of her, waiting to lead the way. Claire gestured after you, so Liane followed Adélie down the steps, with Claire and Gaston close behind.

Adélie led the tour by repeatedly running up ahead, then turning on a dime and sprinting back. Each time she made Liane nervous she would crash into them. Gaston meanwhile bounced at the rear, constantly nudging Liane forward every time she stopped and herding her and Claire close together.

The tour started with a visit to the duck pond then moved on to the chickens then the raised garden beds. Liane loved the raised garden beds. They were so lovely, she was almost willing to forgive the lack of wallscape gardens on the house. Though the dogs tried to push the tour forward, she wouldn’t bridge till she had inspected every garden box, and finished instructing the drones on how to properly pick tomatoes.

When Adélie and Gaston finally got Liane away from the garden, they took her to the barn to meet the animals. She tolerated the sheep, finding them surprisingly soft and friendly. The goats on the other hand made her nervous with their long horns. A fact she would swear they picked up on because they wouldn’t leave her alone and seemed to take great pleasure in making her yelp by butting her from behind.

After fleeing from the goats, Claire led them to an actual cow that Liane could try milking. The imposing animal made her want to decline, but Claire insisted, and her enthusiasm couldn’t be denied. With Claire’s instruction, she managed a scant amount of milk, but her lack of skill was apparent.

Back outside, Adélie and Gaston continued the tour past the pigs, who were surprisingly cute with their chubby pink faces and curly tails, and to the orchard. Liane would normally have been captivated by the rows of fruit bearing trees, but they were getting close to the looming jungle and numerous other environments. Her attention kept wandering to the out-of-place landscapes as Claire explained something about how Aurelia took the something fruit and did something something with it.

“RUFF!”

Liane jerked away from the sudden shout in her ear, tripping over a tree root in the process. She looked up to see Claire, doubled over, barely containing her laughter. Adélie and Gaston rushed over to Liane to offer aid by licking and pawing at her. She hastily stood, holding her hands up out of their reach.

“What was that for?” she cried.

Claire wiped a tear. “That’s what you get for not paying attention. And confirmation that you are afraid of dogs. I thought as much.”

“No, that’s how normal people react when you shout in their ear.”

“Fair point, but there’s no point hiding your fear. My dad was also afraid of dogs, well he was afraid of most animals really, but anyway, I can tell you are too. I suppose it just means I’ll have to keep having you over so Adélie and Gaston can help you conquer your fear.”

Liane looked at the two dogs who were panting up at her, slobbery tongues ready to shower her with affection. If it meant seeing Claire again, she would endure their love.

Claire continued, “Also, if you wanted to see the Demisphere, you could have just said so.”

Liane’s gaze flickered to the jungle. “Is that the uh…?”

“The giant half circle made of twelve pie slices of different ecosystems smooshed together unnaturally? Yes. It’s called the Demisphere. Sphere is a reference to the Earth’s ecosphere and to the circular design. Demi means half or part, which is a reference to how it contains part of the ecosphere and also to how it is a half circle. What do you think? Clever, right?” she asked, hands on her hips and eyes sparkling.

“Um yeah, very clever, so is it real or…?”

“Oh, it’s all real! No Second Sight needed. I’ll show you. Adélie, Gaston, thank you for the tour. You did so good! Yes you did! Good doggies! Now… chores! Go, go!” Claire said to the two dogs, sending them shooting off back toward the house.

Claire started toward the Demisphere and waved Liane along. When she caught up, Claire asked, “I know, the Demisphere is quite impressive, but tell me, what about it has caught your interest?”

Liane perked up. “That’s easy, the jungle. I’ve always wanted to visit a jungle. The diversity of plant life is amazing, and I’ve always wanted to see it firsthand in reality.”

“Let me guess, because of the diversity of plants? You’re in luck, the Demisphere doesn’t just have a jungle, it also has a tropical rainforest.”

“That’s even better! Did you know more than fifty percent of—”

“All plant life is found in tropical rainforests?” Claire finished for her. “In fact, I did know that. So why haven’t you?”

Liane blinked. “Why haven’t I what?”

“Why haven’t you visited a jungle or rainforest? If you asked the System to take you, it would happily facilitate, so what’s stopping you?”

“I’m… having the System teach me about jungle survival first. That way I’ll be ready in case something goes wrong,” Liane said.

“Hmm? That's a rather poor excuse. The System wouldn't let anything go wrong. Sounds like procrastination to me.”

Liane wanted to deny it, but Claire was right. Before Claire was born, she had plenty of time and chances to make the trip, but never did. After Claire was born, she used her as an excuse to avoid the trip, but once Claire was older, that excuse stopped working. They could have gone together. She knew Claire would have loved it, but again never committed, never followed through. She just kept making excuses until she died. If all went well with Claire, maybe—just maybe—she would have time in this second life to make that trip before she died again.

They reached the center of an intricately carved stone pavilion and stopped. Twelve different ecosystems formed a half circle around them. Each one connected to the pavilion by a magnificent stone arch, acting as the entrance to the environment.

Claire adjusted Liane so she was standing at the exact center of the pavilion, then took three steps backward. She threw her arms wide in a grand gesture and said, “Welcome to the Demishere! All the beauty, magic, and terror of nature incarnate in one place!”