He shrugged. “I suppose when I say that I am impartial, what I really mean is that I am partial—but to all orchids. They were not high on the priority list for gene storage, of course. They don’t provide sustenance, after all, and thus were deemed unnecessary for the initial launch. Which is fair, I suppose. But still . . .” He looked at Samantha. “What is necessary?” he said. “I’m no longer sure. I think that she was necessary, for me.”
