Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
By Waddie Greywolf
 
Chapter 7
 
“There is in common a sympathy with sound: As the mind is pitch’d the ear is pleased with melting airs, or martial brass, brisk or grave; some chord in unison with what we hear is touch’d within us, and the heart replies; for it is in that moment, a full standard measure of mystery unto itself, blessed with wonder and grandeur, our souls take flight.” ~ William Cowper
 
“I guess grandma has spoken,” Billy looked at his uncle and grinned.
 
“It would seem so. I hope you enjoyed your slaves for the short time they was yours,” Nathan said and laughed.
 
“I did, Uncle Nate, I did indeed. I grew rather fond of ‘em in our brief period of time together, but alas, I’ll always have the memories of our love,” Billy lamented dramatically, placing the back of his hand to his forehead in sorrow. Nathan double over with laughter at his nephew.   
 
“You may see them on visiting days,” Kate assured him.
 
“How kind of you, Grandmother, and pray tell, when will that be?” Billy asked, playing along.
 
“Sunday afternoons from one to five,” she shot back, “Be prompt, well groomed, dress accordingly, and bring small gifts of flowers and chocolates,” she added with a giggle.
 
“What a big heart you have, Grandma,” Billy joked.
 
“The better to steal your slaves, my Dear,” Kate said and laughed.
 
“I think my beloved grandmother has become the big bad wolf,” Billy said to his uncle.
 
“Sorry, you’s on yore’ own, Honcho,” Nathan said, “My stomach is complaining. It’s clapping its hands together, jumping up and down, and doing a happy dance from the smells what’s coming from that oven over yonder. I wanna’ make damn sure I got me a seat at the table, and if it means running away to let my nephew face the she-wolf alone with her pups, so be it,” Nathan said and laughed.
 
“I agree, Uncle. My gut is groaning in consort with yours from the heavenly aroma. Let’s run away together. No contest, Grandma, they’s yours,” Billy caved.
 
“Don’t listen to him, Men,” Kate said to the twins, “I’s just kidding. It was my way to pay you gentlemen a compliment for your good work and intelligent companionship,” Kate said to the twins.
 
Kate didn’t need to steal Billy’s slaves. She already won their hearts like she did Billy’s when he was only four years old, sat him down on the piano bench next to her, and showed him how to find middle C. She knew the mysteries of the great beast before them; she knew how to make it sing and roar. She was a sorceress, the keeper of keys, the guardian of notes, and the piano became her obedient succubus. Her knowledge of how to move her hands, caress its eighty and eight teeth, to coax forth beautiful sounds from the monster was like a religious experience; a sacred trust to a young boy. His grandmother spoke the mystery and magic of music fluently, whispered the scared names of its prophets, and she was sharing it with him. How wonderful was that? Life was good; his journey just begun. Kate Daniels loved, lived, and breathed fine music. The twins knew they found a perfect soul-mate in Billy’s Grandma Kate. The things she could teach them, they could only imagine, but Billy knew. They just scratched the surface. Billy suspected once they became acquainted with one another there would be no separating them. He was right. They formed a spiritual bond which lasted for years.
 
“By the way, Gentlemen, Tron Garrett called while you were out feeding the cows to ask when you wanted the hay delivered. I told him I didn’t know, but I knew you wanted it soon; you just got five hundred new head of cattle. He said they already had a load of a dozen rolls they were taking to the Quinns next week, but if you needed it in a hurry, they could deliver it this afternoon? I told them I didn’t see why not, and asked them to join us for supper,” Kate said.
 
“Oh, Dear,” Billy said like he wasn’t counting on having anyone else meet his family so soon.
 
“They’s gonna’ have to meet ‘em sometime, Son,” Nathan said, and laughed at the look of apprehension on his nephew’s face.
 
“Since Ellen Garrett passed away, Tron and Moss Garrett have become like family to us, Billy. They’re over here for Sunday dinner almost every week and two or three nights a week for supper. You know I would never invite them if I didn’t think they could handle your new family. Besides, your uncle is right. You’re going to have to tell them sooner or later. I have a feeling you’re going to need all the help and support you can get, and they’re just the men who can stand behind you and back you up when the going gets rough,” Kate said, “They love you, and they’ll love your family. Trust your grandmother,” Kate declared firmly and smiled as she opened an oven door to check the huge ham she was baking. In the other oven next to it, she was baking the biggest tom turkey she could find at the market.    
 
* * * * * * *
A large truck with a long trailer loaded with a dozen big hay rounds pulled into the compound of the ranch and Billy watched as two handsome cowboys got out and headed for the house. Moss looked like a slightly smaller version of his ruggedly good looking dad, Tron. Billy just finished announcing to his family in the living room they would be having their neighbors join them for the evening. They were bringing hay for the cattle, and his grandmother invited them to stay for supper.
 
“Should we make our wings disappear, Master Billy?” Clyde asked.
 
“No! Absolutely not! You and Tonto remain just like you are. You, too, Archie and Edith. I don’t know if you can change shape, but even if you can, don’t. I don't want no deception. I come to look on these men as family, and my uncle was right. They’re gonna’ have to meet you sooner or later. I think, once we help them unload the hay-rounds, they’ll respect you,” Billy said.
 
“Should I leave, Master Billy,” Boomer asked, like he was probably the most unusual of the lot.
 
“Are you my number one, Boomer?” Billy looked him right in the eyes, and asked firmly.
 
“So say I,” Boomer stuck out his huge chest, clinched his fists, and replied with pride.
 
“And so say I!” Billy confirmed strongly like it was the end of the matter, but he did catch a smile cross the rest of his family’s faces. Billy’s strong comment bonded them together as his family. It said he would never deny one of them. As an afterthought, he turned to them and spoke, “Hell, the only two I’s really worried about is Hank and Buck. They scared the crap out of me the first time I met ‘em,” Billy added with a wink, and laughed. That broke everybody up, and they were laughing when Tron and Moss walked into the house.
 
“We didn’t know ya'll had company,” Tron said.
 
“We ain’t got company. These folks is Billy’s new family. C’moan in, and meet the zoo,” Nathan said, and grinned.
 
Tron and Moss’s mouths fell open when they saw an enormous Bigfoot, two rough looking Bird-men, two winged critters with tails who looked like something from the Wizard of Oz, and three ordinary cowboys; except, the younger and largest of the three, whom Billy introduced as his new ramrod, Cowboy Andy, was an exceptionally fine looking buckaroo. Billy couldn’t help laugh at the look on the men’s faces. He introduced each to Tron and Moss. Billy introduced Nick as ‘Tonto.’ They shook hands with each member of Billy’s family and exchanged greetings.
 
About the time they finished with introductions, the twins came running into the room, and threw their arms around Billy’s waist to give him a hug. He leaned over and gave each one a kiss on the top of his head. “Last, but not least, these two buckaroos are also my slaves. Their names are Cass and Polly. That’s short for Castor and Pollux. They’s two grown men. They ain’t midgets, dwarfs, or pygmies. They’s fully developed just like they is. They got several unique talents, but best of all, they’re wonderful musicians. They can play a country tune on a pair of twin fiddles so fine it will make a cowboy cry in his beer,” Billy colorfully bragged.
 
Billy went on to explain, Boomer was his first slave, given to him by his own people, the Grigori, and Billy considered him his number one. Beyond explaining his watcher, Billy just told them he would fill in the blanks over supper, but he wanted to get the hay unloaded before it got dark.
 
“We’s just gonna’ leave the trailer, and you can unload tomorrow or the next day,” Moss said.
 
“It won’t take but a minute, and you can take it back with you to load more for the Guinns,” Billy said.
 
“But you gotta’ get the tractor out with the hay hauler attachment,” Tron said.
 
“Naw, my family don’t need no damn tractor. C’moan folks, lets us show these men how we unload hay,” Billy said.
 
Billy let Tron and Moss remove the ropes and chains with which they attached the rounds to the long trailer, and threw them in the back of the truck. Without hesitation, the two Psyches began to levitate one of the huge rounds and gently floated it over to an open area near where the cows were milling about. Billy ran before Archie and Edith to show them were he wanted it. The twins did the same, followed by Clyde and Nick. Boomer and Andy levitated the next round, and Hank and Buck the next. Billy was supervising everyone telling them where to put each round. They didn’t stop until all twelve of the big rounds were off the truck and neatly stacked in the adjacent lot. It took the ten of Billy’s family fifteen minutes to complete the job. Tron and Moss Garrett were awestruck.    
 
Nathan was about to break apart from held back laughter at the look on Tron and Moss’s faces. “Amazing, ain’t they?” he drawled.
 
“Where do we go to get help like them? Angels & Aliens ‘R’ us?” Tron asked, “It took us a full day to load that damn trailer with the hay loader,” he added.
 
“They been enhanced by an alien race of super-beings. They got powers and talents we can only imagine,” Nathan said to his best friend and his son, “As a matter of fact, they’s still discovering some of their new powers,” Nathan added.
 
“Why did they enhance them?” Moss asked.
 
“Because they can,” Nathan replied, “and from what little I understand, our boy Billy’s been chosen by the supreme Poo-bahs of two alien worlds to become a leader in a passive rebellion against them zombie Jessie-god-bots and their owners, the wealthy one percent what’s taken over our country and runs our world. Remember, I told you a long time ago about Billy’s mysterious birth, and I thought the boy was special?” Nathan asked Tron.
 
“Yeah, but you didn’t say much; just he was born under a lucky star, and something about yore’ daddy seeking the help of a tribe of Bigfoot,” Tron replied.
 
“And now his number one slave is a Bigfoot or as Billy calls them, 'Watchers.’ Wouldn’t it make your work a lot easier if’n you had them gifts?” Nate asked.
 
“Shit, yeah!” Tron exclaimed, “What’a we gotta’ do, and where we gotta’ go to get enhanced?” he asked.
 
“Wouldn’t anyone who was going to try a rebellion need a lot more people to help them?” Moss asked.
 
“What do you think all them strange look’n woolly cows is for, Son?” Nathan asked.
 
“They’s handsome enough cattle, Mr. Daniels, but what have they got to do with anything?” Moss asked.
 
Nathan walked over to the bull standing next to Tron, reached out to scratch his head, and spoke to him, “How you doing this afternoon, Son?” Nate asked.
 
“Fine. Thanks for asking, Mr. Daniels. Glad to see these two fine gentlemen brought us some extra hay,” he replied.
 
“What’s yore’ name, Son?” Nathan asked.
 
“Rayburn, sir,” he replied.
 
“Ray, can you morph long enough to meet these two gentlemen, and return yourself to a bull?” Nathan asked.
 
“Yes, sir, no problem,” he replied, and morphed into a handsome humanoid male about twenty-five years of age. Of course, he was stark naked, but it didn’t seem to bother Tron or Moss. Rayburn introduced himself, shook both their hands, and shivered from the cold. “Can I morph back now, Mr. Daniels, it’s awful cold out here?” he asked.
 
“Sure, Son, and thanks for your help,” Nathan said, and the young man morphed back into a Highland bull.
 
“How many?” Tron asked in awe.
 
“Five hundred, and five hundred more back on their home world ready to come and start living as my nephew’s slaves. That big good looking cowboy, Andy, is their ramrod. He’s an Irin. He just morphed this morning and joined Billy’s team,” Nathan explained.
 
“Holy crap! My rope’n partner is becoming an important man. Where do I sign up with his outfit, Mr. Daniels?” Moss asked without question.
 
“Don’t know. This is all new to me as of this morning. I don’t even know where I fit into all of it, but I got me a feeling Billy won’t leave none of us out,” Nathan said.
 
Kate came out of the house onto the porch and rang the old triangle to announce supper. “I just love that old thing. Every time I ring it I hear Liszt’s first piano concerto. I rarely get to ring it and make it sing out, but with Billy’s plans and Nathan’s support to build up the ranch again, I just may get to use it more often,” she said and smiled.
 
The men followed her into the huge kitchen area. The house contained a formal dinning room but Kate rarely used it for informal gatherings of family and close neighbors. Kate always said the heart of any country home is the kitchen, and only those closest to your heart should be invited therein to share a meal with you. Billy could only remember sitting in the dinning room at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter while his granddad was alive, but after Daws passed away, it wasn’t used again. It was like it wasn’t the same without the master of the house sitting at the head of the table, and Nathan didn’t feel like he could take his dad’s place. He was so depressed and discouraged from the sudden death of his bigger-than-life rancher/cowboy dad, he never tried. Daws B. Daniels was a tough act to follow.
 
Kate and her helpers filled a large sideboard with good foods with their guests in mind. It was served buffet style. She instructed everyone where to sit, then told them to take their plates, get in line, serve themselves, and return to their place at the table. She requested for no one to sit and eat until everyone returned and were seated together.
 
Billy watched to see what Archie and Edith would choose. He was mildly surprised they each took a small portion of the white meat of the turkey, but passed on the ham. They chattered to each other about a huge bowl of ambrosia made from various fruits, fruit cocktail, and mixed into a creamy marshmallow base. It was much to their liking, and they took several pieces of fruit already pealed and sectioned. They were most grateful. They realized the selection of fruits were particularly for them.
 
When the guests returned to the table, Kate asked everyone to join hands, and they did. “Usually, we say a quick blessing for the food we’re about to eat, but to be honest, I don’t know if blessings we’ve used for decades might apply now. So much has changed in our country, and certainly our small corner of the world in particular. Therefore, I’m passing the buck, so to speak, and asking my grandson, Billy, if he will say some words appropriate for our gathering?” she asked, and smile at him.
 
“Thanks a lot, Grandma. First you steal the hearts of my Munchkin Musicians, and now you drop this in my lap,” Billy replied, and smiled, “Ah, well, because you once taught me to find middle C, and taught me to love good music, I will try my best to rise to the occasion,” he said and everyone laughed, “Let this be a beginning. Let our hearts and minds unite us as family, and for whatever purpose we’ve been chosen and brought together to accomplish, may this wonderful food, so lovingly prepared, nourish our bodies, our minds, and our spirits to give us strength and help us achieve our tasks. May the love and friendship, which surrounds us in this room, the goodly spirits and ancient voices of the universe, bless us and keep us from harms way. Hosanna in the highest,” he said and everyone replied, “Hosanna in the highest!”
 
“Thank you, Billy, that was perfectly lovely. You did rise to the occasion, and I’m proud of you, but before anyone sits down, as Empress of this kitchen, I have final say,” she said and giggled. Everyone laughed with her, “I’d like to thank Castor and Pollux for their wonderful help and companionship this afternoon. Thank you, Gentlemen. You are always welcome in my kitchen,” Kate finished, “Now, everyone sit down and enjoy yourselves. Oh, yes, and if you want more you don’t have to ask, just take your plate and get what you like. If you go away hungry, it’s your own fault,” she added.
 
Everyone sat down and enjoyed a wonderful meal together. Talk was lively around the table, but mostly between Billy, Tron, Moss, Nathan, and Kate. The others would respond if spoken to directly, but left the gist of the conversation to their master. Billy would pull someone into the discussion now and then, and they would comment. He told Tron and Moss he would tell them everything he told his uncle, and so they wouldn’t feel like they were hearing old news, Billy stressed his grandmother was not yet privy to what he would tell them. They listened with the rest of Billy’s family in awe as Billy told his story about the rescue of the messenger Samu’el or Nick, whom he nicknamed Tonto, from his crashed spaceship all the way though returning to the line cabin with eight new slaves and a Morgan palomino filly for Samson.
 
Billy left out a few things he only shared with his uncle about the gold and a few other things he brought back like the lotto numbers. He was also careful with his wording and descriptions of people like Hank and Buck being Boomer and his grooms while on the planet. For sake of social decorum, he didn’t feel the need to explain in detail their function besides implying they were caretakers. He also left out any physical descriptions of Madame Spartza and her slave-consort.

When Billy and his family transported from the line cabin that afternoon, Nathan handed him the lotto ticket with the numbers carefully played. Billy checked them against his note from Madame Spartza, and they were correct. He did tell Moss and Tron, he and his uncle splurged this week and bought a five dollar ticket for Friday’s drawing of the Mega Lotto. So, if they won the jackpot, Tron and his roping partner were sure to get their money for the load of hay. Everyone laughed.
 
“Do you have a plan of some kind to work from?” Tron asked.
 
“Naw, sir, Mr. Garrett, I don’t. At this point, I know very little more than what I done told you here this e’nin. Them leaders on both worlds told me I’d know what I have to do. They told me it would come to me. They said they been coming to me in my sleep for years and everything they taught me would become clear when I need it. I gotta’ trust 'em. I don’t think they’d go to all this trouble to lie to me. Things seem to be going along pretty good so far. I plan to talk with Uncle Nate and grandma some more and get the ranch going full-time with a full staff of cowboys and a lot of other plans what come to mind. I wanna’ fix up the place. I want the ranch to reach it’s full potential and become a successful business enterprise. I want to use the ranch as a home, a business, and a base of operations. From here, we will grow,” Billy said.
 
Moss looked at his dad, turned his head to Billy, started to say something, but hesitated, shook his head, and stopped. “Go ahead-on, Son! Speak yore’ mind. Outside of yore’ momma’s spinster aunt, we ain’t got us no relatives other than the Daniels. If’n we cain’t tell these good folks, there ain’t nobody we can tell,” Tron urged him.
 
“Billy, we ain’t doing so well. We’s doing all we can to keep our heads above water, what with all them new government regulations, tithes to them babble-bang'n holier-than-thou mother-grubbers, taxes, and pressure the new government’s put on us. With the economy the way it is, we’s wondering what we’s gonna’ do for food unless we kill us a couple of deer. Even though they been eat’n us out of house and home, broke down the fence, and destroyed our garden, we done killed our limit for the year. You know the penalties for get’n caught by the game warden. We been try’n to hit one with the truck. They cain’t say much about road-kill. If we didn’t get regular invites to your family’s table, we would a’ gone under long before now. The money for the hay and what we get next week from the Guinns will help, but we need a steady income to keep us going. We don’t wanna’ give up the ranch. It’s the only kind of work me and ma’ daddy knows.
 
"If things don’t start get’n better real soon, we’s libel to lose the ranch altogether, and have to become indentured to somebody. We’d likely have to separate, and we couldn’t live together as family no more. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know’s I’d wanna’ go on live’n with out ma’ old man,” Moss said and his voice quavered just a bit. “You and me, we been neighbors all our lives, Billy. We worked the seasons together, from sun up to sun down, side by side from one ranch to the other. You know I do good work, and I work hard. Do you think you might have a spot for another ranch hand? I ain’t got me no problem work’n for a slave ramrod, neither. You know I believe in the Code of the West and the Cowboy Way. If’n Andy’s yore’ new ramrod, he gets my respect, and I’ll work just as hard for him as I would any other man,” Moss said.
 
“What, Brother? Are you kidding me? Of course they’ll be room for you and yore’ dad. I done already got you men figured into my plans, and your daddy’s right, you and him are family to us. You men is as much family to me as any other person sitting at this here table. Don’t chu’ worry none, Brother, we’ll work some’um out. Let’s us talk in private before you leave. I understand grandma’s gonna’ serve dessert and coffee after we have a break, and enjoy some entertainment from my pint size buckaroos,” Billy said.
 
“Thanks, Billy,” Tron said quietly, “See, boy, I done told ju,’ you ain’t got nothing to worry about. You should listen to yore’ old man,” Tron growled the 'old man' part, grinned, and gently elbowed his son. Billy could tell Tron’s bravado with his boy covered his own feelings of hopelessness and despair. It didn’t work, but it made Tron feel better.
 
Billy looked over and saw tears in Edith’s little eyes which she quickly wiped away with her napkin. There was something about his two pets Billy was drawn to like a moth to a bright light. He knew his love for them was deeper than he had any conscious recognition about, but he didn’t know why. They were just comfortable, and he knew it was his duty to protect and care for them. Billy always thought of himself as a good husbandman for his animals, but his interest and affection for Archie and Edith was stronger than usual.
 
All through supper, Billy could feel Nick watching and studying him. He didn’t have much to say, but it was like he was observing everything, and had something on his mind. Maybe Samson was right. Billy would smile at him from time to time, and asked if he was enjoying his food. He said everything was excellent, and he complimented, thanked, and praised Kate and the twins. Billy also noticed Moss couldn’t take his eyes off Billy’s two messengers. At first, Billy thought it was because of the strangeness of their beautiful wings, but it wasn’t their wings he was looking at. Moss also thought Billy’s new ramrod was just about the finest looking buckaroo he’d seen in a good while. He would have no problem working for Andy.
 
* * * * * * *
After supper, everyone pitched in and helped Kate put the leftovers away and clean the kitchen. With such a sizable group as Billy’s family, it was done in no time. Kate was all smiles she didn’t have to do a thing but supervise and direct. Nathan and Tron were thrown out like two old bulls who were only in the way and put out to pasture. They didn’t argue and retired to the living area to wait for the rest. As they sat waiting for the others, the two ranchers talked about many things, and finally came down to personal matters. “We ain’t been hunting or fishing in a coon’s age, Brother,” Tron said quietly, and grinned.
 
“I know,” said Nathan, “I never said nothing 'cause I don’t want to appear needy. I’s content to follow when you feel the need to lead.”
 
“Bullshit!” Tron said, “If’n that were true, we’d be bunk’n it in together ever’ gotdamn night. God as my witness, I loved my wife, but since her passing, I been true to the memory of our love and life together; however, I done grieved long enough. I’s done with that part of my life, Nate. I’ll never love another woman but Ellen. I know that now, and I’m ready to move on. You and me, we done grow’d up together playing hide the little green snake, only I had another side to me what wanted family. I sometimes felt guilty 'cause of my need for you. I felt like I’s leading you on all them years, but I just never seemed to be able to give you up. I’ll be honest with you, Brother, I ain’t ashamed to say, I think I needed you more’n you ever needed me. I’s always been the bull-of-the-woods, but underneath it all, you was my strength, Nate. You still is. Ellen weren’t no dummy. Hell, she knew. When I’d get cranky, she’d tell me to get in 'nere on the phone, call yore’ brother, and go hunt’n or fish’n for several days. When I come home, I’s always better, relaxed, and easier to get along with. She knew, but she turned her head the other way. She just accepted you as a necessary part of my family,” Tron said.
 
“She was a good woman, Tron. I loved her like a sister,” Nathan said.
 
“And, I assure you, she loved you, too. Now, our only problem is them two boys of ours,” Tron said.
 
Nathan broke up laughing. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
 
“They ain’t got no clue what we been doing,” Tron replied.
 
Nathan laughed again. “Where’s them rose colored glasses you put on when you think like that, Brother. I’d like to try ‘em on to see what yore’ reality looks like,” Nathan said, and laughed.
 
“You think they know?” Tron asked.
 
“Billy lost his virginity to his big watcher after Boomer was given to him to be his slave, and he returned the favor for his giant. Them two’s a bonded pair. Billy was a changed man when he come back, and I sensed it. He come back and told me, him and Moss done figured out about you and me a long time ago,” Nathan said.
 
“Then we were right about them?” Tron asked.
 
“E’aup – so, get ready. They’s a chance they're gonna’ bond before much longer, and I for one, wish them well,” Nathan replied.
 
“Yeah, me too, but it makes me a bit sad I won’t have me a passel of little buckaroos or cowgirls to spoil,” Tron lamented, “You know’d I love me some kids,” he added.
 
“Don’t bet the ranch on it, Cowboy,” Nathan said and fell out laughing, “Billy’s already got Billy Junior in the oven or will have after this e’nin,” Nate said, and laughed at the look on Tron’s face.
 
“What the Hell!” Tron exclaimed, “How?” he asked.
 
“Watchers got different biology from us. The males can produce regular semen to fertilize a female of their species, but they also produce proto-embryos what can be fertilized by other mammal males and reproduce a copy of the parent what fertilized it. Boomer’s got one inside him right now with Billy’s imprint they’s gonna’ plant in the womb of one a them Highland heifers down to the line cabin, and in nine months, out pops Billy Augustus Daniels Junior; sort of like one a’ them 3-D printers you see on the Internet on ‘Boing-Boing’ from time to time,” Nathan explained.
 
“You’s shit’n me, Cowboy! I know’d you like the back of my hand. You’re get’n back at me for the time I played them awful tricks on you, ain’t chu’?” Tron asked, pointing a finger at his partner.
 
“Naw, if’n I wanted to do it, I would a done it long before now,” Nathan assure him.
 
“Son of a bitch! Then what you’re telling me is, if Moss fertilized one of them proto-embryos he could have a little buckaroo or cowgirl?” Tron asked.
 
“E’aup. 'At’s exactly what I’m telling you,” Nathan said.
 
“Would you consider...?” Tron started to ask but stopped.
 
“Damn straight, I would! One for you and one for me,” Nate said. They shared a laugh.
 
“Then we better start practicing as soon as possible,” Tron said like a man on a mission.
 
“I couldn’t agree more, Daddy,” Nathan said, and they fell together laughing.
 
* * * * * * *
The middle aged ranchers were joined by their families and invited to the ballroom for a brief concert by Billy’s twin slaves, Castor and Pollux. Everyone climbed the divided staircases to the first level and continued up the second staircase to the third floor. They walked to the center, through the huge, ornately carved, heavy dark-oak double doors into an enormous ballroom. At the other end was the large early Skinner organ. The house was built in 1890, and the ballroom was designed and created with a grand organ in mind; however, an instrument wasn’t installed until ten years later at the turn of the century.
 
It was one of Ernest M. Skinner’s earliest works when he was little more than an apprentice. In the late 1800's Skinner made a trip to study the instruments of Europe and learned about Pitman Windchests. He created the instrument as a side project for his friend, the wealthy land baron and cattleman Olec Cromwell Daniels, for his large home in the Hill Country of West Central Texas. It was one of the very first organs Skinner created using his newly learned techniques including the more modern wind-chest which he refined to a simple elegance. It didn’t have all the romantic trappings Skinner was later to incorporate into his larger instruments. While it had the more modern wind-chest and was a marvel of organ building for its period, it hearkened back to the more simple, earlier Baroque instruments. It was and remains the only instrument of its kind.
 
In front of the organ was a raised dais about three feet higher than the floor of the ballroom and on it sat the nine foot Steinway Concert Grand. When not in use, it was covered with a large cover especially made to protect the instrument. Behind the small raised stage where the grand sat, was another raised area about four feet high which had stairs on either side to get up to the organ console. It was situated so the organist’s back was to the audience so they could see the organist play the several keyboards.

Billy took his twin slaves to the second raised area and set their instrument cases on it. They were enchanted by the room, but never saw a pipe organ or a piano before. They recognized the pipes as being capable of making sounds, but they didn’t know how it might be achieved. They talked back and forth in their native language of guttural stops, pops, and clicks, and pointed to it. Billy could hear the questions and awe in their voices.
 
“Not to worry. You will get to hear the great beast roar this evening,” he soothed them, “But first, I want to show off my little brothers to my extended family,” he added.
 
“We will try to make you proud of us, Master Billy,” Polly said.
 
“You always do. I have no fear,” Billy said, and smiled at them.
 
Billy directed several of his men to set up comfortable folding chairs he got out of a closet specifically for that purpose. They made sure everyone had their own chair and were comfortable. Those who never saw the ballroom before were in awe of its grandeur and opulence for such a remote area of Texas. It made Billy sad when he walked into the ballroom after months of never entering. It was beginning to show wear. It was his deepest wish to restore it to its former glory.
    
Castor and Pollux got out their instruments and tuned them. Everyone was seated with Kate, Archie, Edith, Nathan, Moss, and Tron on the front rows. The other taller slaves of Billy’s sat behind and to the sides of them. Boomer decided to stand in back with Nick.
 
“Several of you have never heard my twin slaves play their fiddles. They haven’t had them very long, and yet, they can get sounds out of them I have rarely heard concert musicians achieve. This evening I have two tunes I want them to play for you, and one of their own choosing. They talked to me earlier and asked if they could play a special tune to thank their Mistress Kate for her kindness and wonderful food,” Billy said. Everyone smiled.
 
“The first tune they will play for you will be recognizable,” Billy said and took a seat next to his grandmother. He nodded for the men to began.
 
The twins played “Turkey In The Straw” with the original melody all the way through. It was better than Billy remembered from a couple of days before, and it was delightful. Their second playing of the tune, they started improvising. The third pass they started an elaborate, almost baroque fugue, that brought Kate to her feet. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Billy couldn’t either. Could the enhancements they were given by the Irin affect the twins ability to play the fiddles? It had to be. Occam’s razor? It was the simplest explanation. Billy remember them as good, but this was way beyond what they played before. Their playing was spectacular. The twins finished the piece, again with a brilliant chaconne, which ended on five huge chords of a dramatic resolution. Kate was about to go to them and smother them with her adoration, but Billy grabbed her arm, and told her to wait. She patted his hand, and sat down again with him as everyone applauded.
 
After the applause died down, Billy nodded for the twins to start again, and they began to play the waltz they learned on Fort Adam Lear “Waltz Across Texas.” They played it so sweetly the first time, everyone had tears in their eyes. The second time, Polly played the melody straight and Cass accompanied with the loveliest descant anyone ever heard. It was music from the heart. It was heavenly. When they finished the family again went crazy with applause, whistles, and stomping of boots.
 
When their audience settled down, Billy nodded for them to begin their final offering for the evening. “This is for you, Mistress Kate,” Castor said, and the twins started playing the last movement of Bach’s Third Brandenburg Concerto. It was all Kate could do to control herself. She looked at Billy, he smiled, and shook his head. She got the biggest grin on her face and move in close to whisper, “You have SO lost your slaves, Grandson!” she said, and laughed, patting him lovingly on his arm. Billy slapped his knee, nodded his head in approval, and laughed with her. The twins didn’t miss a note. They devoured the music from one hearing, and played it back like a fine recording. It was amazing. Billy didn’t try to restrain his grandmother after they finished. She went to them and lavished them with compliments, hugs, and many kisses. The others gathered around to compliment them and wish them well.
 
“Do you know your master is a fine musician,” Kate asked the twins.
 
“No, ma’am, Ms. Kate. He never told us. Does he sing or play?” Pollux asked.
 
“Both, but mostly he plays the big piano behind you,” Kate explained.
 
“What’s a piano?” Castor asked.
 
“A wonderful instrument,” Kate replied.
 
Billy wondered to himself. “Cass, let me see your fiddle for a moment,” he said.
 
“Here, Master Billy,” Castor said, and handed it to him.
 
Billy put it to his chin and began to bow. He ran his fingers up the scale and down. He articulated the instrument perfectly. He knew how to play it. He didn’t know how or why, but he just knew he could play anything he wanted. He tried several double and triple stops and plucked the strings to get the feel. Then he started to play Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Pollux joined him note for note. When he got to the choral part he played double stops and Pollux played double and triple stops harmony for him. It was an impromptu musical moment no one expected, but they were all standing around enjoying it. When they came to the final note, Billy’s family went crazy again.
 
“Is there room for one more in your boy band, Grandmother?” Billy asked, as he handed the fiddle back to Castor.
 
“We’ll talk,” she said, “but now you must play the first movement of the Bach D minor for our family, and I will play the orchestral part on the Skinner,” she insisted.
 
“Yes, Billy, play for us. I ain’t heard you play in a long time. If the rest of your family ain’t heard you play, this is as good a time as any – right, folks?” Moss asked. Everybody agreed with him.
 
“Think you can keep up with me, Grandma?” Billy challenged, and grinned.
 
“I think I can 'Handel' it,” Kate punned back, knowing Billy was the only one who would catch it. He pointed his finger at her, and laughed.
 
They took the cover off the grand, and set it aside. Billy opened the lid and propped it up. Those who never saw a piano before came forward to look inside. They were in awe of the strings, the metal, the fine craftsmanship of the sound board, and the mechanical action. Billy pushed back the key cover, sat down on the softly quilted leather bench, and adjusted it to his height. He ran his hands over the keys to remove specks of dust from a couple. Finally, he began playing the Bach prelude in C from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier.
 
Castor, Pollux, Archie, and Edith were astounded. They never heard anything like it. Billy stopped and smiled at them, “If’n you think this is great, wait till Grandma Kate cranks up the beast,” he said as an aside to them. Kate was on her way to the organ console. She couldn’t remember when the last time she and Billy played through the Bach, but she had her score. Billy would play from memory. She hit the 'on’ switch for the air to fill the bellows and chest. Everyone took their seats in eager anticipation. Billy looked up and caught his grandmother’s eye in the mirror above the organ and winked at her. “Ready, Grandma?” he called out to her.
 
“Ready,” she replied.
 
“On the count of three.  One, two, three...!” Billy shouted, and they were off into the opening measures in a dramatic unison of the main theme for Bach’s D minor piano concerto.
 
The twins were mesmerized by what they were hearing. There was no doubting it was music by the same composer Mistress Kate introduced them to earlier, whom they came to love, but this was beyond anything they heard before. It was a new and thrilling experience for them. They immediately forgot about the wooden “Oo-olangitonia” or “Oolong” for short they played so many times in the square on Retikki Prime. The instruments before them were capable of so many more sonorities and shadings. One was big brassy, reedy, full of flutes, and whistles, but the solo instrument their master was playing was capable of such depths of sounds and shadings of loud and soft. Both instruments seemed limitless, but together, they were dynamic.    
 
Kate could feel Billy pushing the tempo to the max, but she had no difficulty adjusting and kept up with him note for note. She never heard her grandson play so brilliantly. There was neither a misplaced note, a bobble, nor hesitation of any kind. Billy’s playing reminded her of recordings of Glenn Gould she listened to time and again until she wore them out, and had to replace them with the inferior sound quality of CDs. The only difference she could notice between Gould and Billy’s playing was, her grandson didn’t moan and sing along. Billy was almost like an automaton in the unflagging rhythm of one of the finest compositions written at the end of the Baroque era. J. S. Bach was the ultimate conglomeration, and the final penultimate artistic expression of a period of music that lasted slightly over six hundred years.
 
Billy never felt more in control of his music, and what always seemed like hard work before came effortlessly to him. The shadings and various nuances – the musicality – which often times alluded him for the greater sake of hitting the right notes at the correct time, were readily available for him at his beck and call. He could only attribute this wonderful phenomenon to his enhancement by the Irins. It was wonderful. He was never given such a magnificent gift. He never got such a rush –  such a high from his music before. Dare he think it? He felt like a god. He imagined himself becoming Orpheus reincarnated. Billy was aware of everything going on in the room at the same time, and he was sharing everyone’s reaction to his playing.
 
He could see the only persons standing were Boomer and Nick behind the rest. Boomer had a look of pure love and adoration for his beloved Master. Nick had the stunned look of a man who couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. Billy could sense deep confusion and frustration in the larger of the two Bird-men. Finally, Nick started a slow pace while listening intently to the music Billy and his grandmother were making. Billy could feel Nick becoming lost in the music as Billy reached the point the organ cut out, and he was left alone to play the last couple of pages by himself which led to the small cadenza that signaled the orchestra to re-enter and complete the coda for the ending of the piece. Billy milked the virtuosity of the passage for all it was worth. It was his moment to shine. He held the entire room in his grasp. His playing was flawless. Kate was so taken with his performance tears fell from her eyes involuntarily, and she had to keep wiping them so they wouldn’t fall onto her keys. Billy, her grandson, became the consummate musician she always knew he could be. She grieved deeply for her beloved husband he couldn’t share this moment with them.
 
Billy whipped through the cadenza so masterfully, the remainder of the piece was almost anticlimactic. With a home run knocked out of the park assuring his win, Billy made his obligatory trip around the bases, and headed for home plate. He caught a glimpse of Nick disappearing into the restroom at the far end of the hall, but before he played the final eight bars, Billy saw him reappear and walk swiftly to stand beside Boomer. There was a noticeably large wet spot at the crotch in his overalls. Billy wondered, but he felt intuitively it wasn’t what Samson was talking about. He knew his playing touched Nick, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more cow-bell; a bigger rabbit to pull out of the hat. The twins ran to him first with hugs, kisses, and compliments. They were gushing in their praise. “How many swipes with your hand did I earn?” he asked in reference to their monetary rewards to other performers on Retikki Prime.
 
“We wouldn’t stop till our account was drained, Master,” Castor claimed.
 
“That much?” Billy asked in awe.
 
“At least, Master, half would have to go to Mistress Kate for her magnificent stroking of the windy beast,” Pollux backed his brother.
 
“Windy beast? I like that. It is indeed a beast of the winds,” Billy said and laughed. The twins excused themselves to run to Kate and shared their adoration with her.
 
Kate came and held Billy for a moment. She looked into his eyes, “Is forming a philharmonic in your plans, Billy?” she asked.
 
“Could be, Grandma. Who needs ‘em? You were fantastic, Dear-heart,” Billy said, hugged her, and stole a kiss.
 
“I must hear you play the complete concerto with an orchestra before I shuffle off to Buffalo, my beloved grandson,” she said with the conviction only a determined grandmother could muster.
 
“We’ll talk,” Billy replied, and grinned.
 
Everyone was full of good things to say to Billy and Kate. Nick shook his hand and looked Billy in the eye. What passed between them said we have more to discuss later; much more, but Billy was not through with his Bird-man. Someone asked for an encore. They wanted Billy to play something by himself; a solo work. Billy agreed, and asked them to take their seats.
 
“Thank you good folks for your kind response. My grandmother and I are overwhelmed by your graciousness and generous words. The piece I will play for you is divided into three parts, and there is a personal story behind each. After my roping partner, Moss, and his dad, Tron, lost their mother and wife respectively, they were left with an older, but very fine, Kimball Victorian Oak upright grand piano Ellen Garrett played for many years. She took lessons from grandma and played well. We worked up duets to play together for grandma’s recitals. Ellen Garrett was not only my devoted friend, she was a great joy, and a fine musical talent. We miss her. When I heard Tron and Moss were going to give it away to the local thrift store to sell, I offered them a hun’nert bucks for it, with the understanding they’d help me get it down to the line cabin. They did, and for the last several years, I’ve used it to learn pieces of music grandma sort of frowns on.
 
"Don’t get me wrong, Grandma Kate can appreciate all kinds of music, but a steady diet of me pounding away on Stravinsky, Hindemith, or Prokovief would have tested her patience. She never heard me play this piece, but it’s been going through my head for the last several days with everything what’s been going on. I couldn’t figure out why until a moment ago. It tells a story of how I have come together with one individual in particular. As I said there are three parts, or movements, and each tells a part of our story. It was written by a great Russian composer Sergei Prokovief, and it is his seventh piano sonata. The first movement is titled, ‘Allegro Inquito,’ meaning fast and disturbing, and refers to someone in this room. It’s how I envision his life before he came to this planet. The music is brilliant but hectic.
 
“The second part is called, ‘Andante Caloroso.’ ‘Andante’ meaning to be played at a comfortable pace as one might take a casual stroll, and 'caloroso’ means with warmth. It describes the unlikely coming together of two strong male spirits to make one unbeatable team who can face the greatest challenges together like Gilgamesh and Enkidu or the Lone Ranger and Tonto.
 
“The third movement is named, ‘Precipitato.’ It comes from the same root word as ‘precipitation’ or rain. It tells the story of the crash of a great spaceship into the James river during one of the worst storms it’s been my horror to witness. The unflagging rhythm of the music is the heavy rain, and you will hear flashes of lightening, thunder, the rumbling and groan of the river until the very end, when the great ship crashes into the river, bounces nine times, and comes to a complete stop in the bed of the river. If’n you ain’t guessed by now – this one’s for you, Tonto,” Billy pointed his hand like a gun, and he was shooting out into the audience at Nick. Nick blushed. Billy didn’t know angels could blush, and smiled to himself. Before he sat down at the piano, Billy asked that there be no applause until after the final movement. He didn’t wish to break the spell of the music. Billy sat for a moment at the keyboard and thought, ‘If this don’t shake something loose in that rough looking Bird-man, nothing will.’
 
Billy attacked the first movement with bravura and played it for its complicated rhythmic structure, melodic strengths, and stressed the dynamic range to the max. The second movement he milked the romantic mood of the beautiful main melody, and as it built to a climax, made the piano sing like it never was played before. No one missed the conjoining of the two themes and the final moving off on a path together to the end. Billy could feel the anticipation as he launched into the final movement. He suffered through one too many performances of the last movement other pianist played too fast, like it was a horse race to win. Many fell by the wayside, because they simply couldn’t hold the difficult piece together to the very end. Billy didn’t see it that way. It was a rain storm for him, almost reminiscent of a primitive tribal rain dance, but it most readily described the persistent heavy storm he ever experienced. He translated the feeling of the grotesque dance perfectly into the music. At the end, there was no fumbling around for notes. His enhancement made his performance strong and perfect without a missed note to the very end. He made the final eight bars roar, and the audience, who were not standing, came up from their chairs to be on their feet for the finish. When the last chord sounded there was total silence for a moment; then, all Hell broke loose.   
 
Billy scanned the back of the audience and saw Nick weeping in Boomer’s big arms with Clyde’s huge wings surrounding both. “Are you all right, Brother?” Clyde asked.
 
“No, I ain’t all right, thank you! I come in me pants for the second time this evening. I never experienced nothing like that in all them years of traveling from galaxy to galaxy, Clyde. I shouldn’t even be in the same room with that cowboy. What the Hell am I doing here?” Nick asked and moaned through his tears.
 
“You heard the music just like we did. Our young master sent you a strong message. It’s up to you what you do about it, Brother. You're a free agent,” Clyde said.
 
“Listen to your brother, Nick,” Boomer said, “I’m a slave, and you’re a free Angel or Messenger. I can’t tell you what to do, and it wouldn’t be right for me to offer advice, but if you don’t open to him tonight, or make a move to conjoin with him, you’ll never forgive yourself. It was obvious there was only one person in this room he was playing for. The young man just laid an invitation in your lap. What more do you want?” Boomer asked.
 
Nick didn’t reply, but pulled himself together. “You’re both right,” he said, turned, and walked toward the front of the ballroom. Everyone was crowded around Billy, but he kept his eye on Nick as he lumbered to the stage in Uncle Nathan’s muckabouts. Billy thought again, without his wings, how much Nick would look like any other ruggedly handsome rancher. Nick walked up to Billy, placed his hands on the young man’s shoulders, held him at arm’s length, and looked him in the eyes. He didn’t have to touch Billy’s mind to know his thoughts. He could see nothing but love and respect. Nick pulled him into a hug, and kissed Billy right on the mouth. Billy didn’t pull away, but kissed Nick back. No one said a word. When they finished, Nick looked him in the eye and spoke, “We need to talk,” he said, “is it in your plans for us to be together this evening?” he asked.
 
“It is. You need another night of healing, and with my enhanced powers, you will be completely healed by morning. Only you and my number one will be returning to the line cabin for the night,” Billy replied.
 
“Will it be all right with Boomer?” he asked.
 
“Of course, he’s my slave, my number one. He will obey his master. He would never do anything to jeopardize his position with me,” Billy replied.
 
“I’ve never been so moved by anything so deeply as your playing and description of what you hear in the music. I found no difficulty envisioning the same story your words and music described. It touched me in a part of my being I locked away in a safe-room centuries ago and threw away the key only to discover a young cowboy who saved my life somehow found a way to pick the lock,” Nick said.
 
“Not really. I just found the key on board your spaceship when I had you strapped to the gurney, and was rushing to get you out. It was made of gold, looked like it was important, so I slipped it in my jacket pocket, and zipped it up for safe keeping,” Billy said, and grinned.
 
“You’re right, it is the same key. I thought I lost it. It’s the key to an underground vault beneath Mount Ararat which will open the door and release my brothers from centuries of stasis. While it might have been safe on the ship, thank goodness you maintained enough presence of mind to rescue it,” Nick said, “Look, I know you’re basking in the attention of your family, so I’ll leave you be until later. I’ll look forward to spending the evening with you, Son,” Nick added.
 
“We have much to talk about, Tonto,” Billy said softly.
 
“I’ll be ready, Kemosabe,” Nick said.
 
* * * * * * *
The musical concert was over. The folding chairs were carefully put away, the the piano was closed, and covered. Billy supervised his crew and thanked them for their help. They walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Kate and the twins were serving a heavenly warm peach cobbler with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla bean ice cream on top. It was delicious and everyone enjoyed the treat. It was the perfect end to a wonderful evening. It made Kate a little sad and melancholy for the good times she and Daws used to have entertaining their friends, relatives, and loved ones. The evening was one of the best she could remember in a long time.
 
Moss and Tron said their goodbyes with many thanks for a great meal and a wonderful evening. Nathan handed Tron a check for the hay plus a little extra for prompt delivery. They left and Billy called his family together. “I talked with Uncle Nathan and my grandmother. You will be staying with them as guests in their home tonight. I expect you to conduct yourselves accordingly. Twins, take care of your cowboy brothers. At their advanced age, they need all the love and care they can get," Billy said, winked at the twins, laughed, and his family laughed with him, “I will be returning to the line cabin with Boomer and Nick,” Billy said. He didn’t bother to go into details, but everyone knew what was going on and could only hope the situation would be resolved by morning.
 
 * * * * * * *
Tron drove home. It wasn’t that far as the two ranches bordered each other on one side but their homes were situated at the farthest points from each other. The Daniels old mansion set high on the top of Pronghorn mountain, ten miles from the border of the two properties and the Garrett ranch house was ten miles south, making a separation of some twenty miles. The men were quiet until they reach the end of the long gravel/red clay road which wound its way up the side of the mountain to the main ranch house.
 
“Did you enjoy yore’self this evening?” Tron asked.
 
“Lord, yes! Who wouldn’t enjoy what comes out of Ms. Kate’s kitchen, to say nothing of the family Billy is forming for himself?” Moss asked in reply, “It’s a treat for us ever’ time we get an invite to share their table, and with all the things going on up there, it’s downright fascinating,” Moss added.
 
“Are you in love with Billy?” Tron asked.
 
“Yes!” Moss replied without hesitation, “I been in love with him since he started working along side us older men. I looked upon him as the little brother I weren’t never gonna’ have, and I come to love him as such; except, my admiration for him began to take a twist I never counted on. He worked hard for his size, and was always in good spirits, until his granddad died. Then he sort of withdrew into himself for a couple of years. It was then I come to realize how much I loved him. I missed him, and it broke my heart watching him pine away. I done my best to reach out to him, to teach him team roping, but I can be awkward and clumsy sometimes. I overdo on the strong, laconic, macho cowboy image sometimes when my heart yearned to tell Billy of my love for him. I think I might have scared him away. Since you so boldly asked, and I answered your question honestly, are you in love with his uncle?” Moss asked.
 
“Yes, I have been all our lives. I just didn't figure out how much until after yore' momma passed away,” Tron replied. They drove on a bit further in silence.
 
“I’m glad for you. At least they’s a chance for something more between you and Mr. Daniels,” Moss said.
 
“You wouldn’t mind?” Tron asked.
 
“Oh, Hell, no! Why should I? You been a good dad. You were good to mom. You were a faithful husband, and there ain’t no doubt in my mind you loved each other. She’s been gone for a good while now. I think we both done our grief work. What you choose to do with the rest of your life is up to you, Pa, as long as you think of me and allow my life to progress along with yours,” Moss said.
 
“We ain’t never talked much about personal things,” Tron said.
 
“Didn’t have to. Billy and me, we done figured out you and his uncle’s love for each other a long time ago. Then as time went on, I saw Nathan Daniels become your release valve when you got chore’self so stoved up over a lot of little things you couldn’t think straight no more. No pun intended, Pa. You and Nate would disappear for several days, but when you come back you was always whistling a happy tune. We knew you two were shacked up together at the line cabin,” Moss said.
 
“You ever been with another man, Son?” Tron asked.
 
“Naw, sir. I ain’t never been with nobody. Here I am a twenty-four year old virgin. Some men might look down on me, but I don’t care. I been saving myself for one person, but it looks like I done waited too long. I guess I got left hold’n the bag,” Moss lamented, “Who could a’ know’d my little brother would become chosen by two super-races of aliens to launch a passive rebellion? He’s been towed way out of my league,” he added sadly.
 
“Maybe not, Son,” Tron said.
 
“That big rough looking angel is in love with him, and I knew years ago Billy formed an attachment for his Bigfoot monster when he saved his life,” Moss said.
 
“You and Billy is family, Moss. You got history together. You always treated him like he was the most important person in your life outside yore’ mom and me. He used to follow you around like a puppy, but I ain’t never once seen you get upset or angry with him because of his worship of you. Then when you had the good sense to ask him to become your rope’n partner, you two couldn’t have bonded more tight,” Tron said.
 
“Look, Dad, I fucked up. I should’ve taken him to the line cabin shortly after his eighteenth burf-day last June, but I waited for him to come to me. I wanted him to want me. No, I wanted Billy to need me,” Moss said and his voice got shaky like he was about to lose it.   
 
“Easy there, Hoss, it’s okay. Personally, I don’t think you got a damn thing to worry about. Billy still looks on you like you’s the pie man, and he’d like to sample yore’ wares. Just give him time, be there when he needs you, and I guaran-damn-tee-ya’ he will need you. Listen to your old man, Son, you will become his pressure release valve. Maybe that ain’t enough for you, I don’t know. Only you can decide,” Tron said.
 
“You done taught me to be a cowboy, Dad. I eat, sleep, and breathe the Code of the West, and the Cowboy Way. I’ll take what I can get, and won’t expect no more’n what Billy wants to offer. Whatever he might offer is more’n I got now,” Moss said without nuance.
 
“You’ll do fine, Son. You wait and see,” Tron said, and smiled at his boy.
 
* * * * * * *
When Billy was satisfied his family would be comfortable for the evening, he grabbed his lap top computer from his bedroom in the tower, and Nick transported him and Boomer back to the line cabin. They reappeared in the barn, and everything appeared to be in order. Roz was only a little startled when they materialized in a flash of light, but she recovered quickly with a bit of humor. “Good thing I wasn’t already pregnant. I might have miscarried,” she said.
 
“Well, we plan to take care of that little matter soon enough, Dear-heart,” Billy said, “Do you want a full disclosure about what it entails, and how Boomer will go about it?” he asked.
 
“How much detail can there be to stick tab A into slot B, hump with vigor, and release the Kraken?” Roz asked.
 
“Only a bit more, like filling your uterus with an amniotic fluid released by my mate so the proto-embryo can swim and attach itself to the wall of your womb. According to my number one slave it should take about thirty minutes to an hour,” Billy said.
 
“You got some porn for me to watch?” Roz asked wickedly and laughed. She got the others laughing, too.
 
“We ain’t got no TV or video equipment yet, but we will. I suppose I could suck-off my big Bird-man for you. Would that help put you in the mood?” Billy asked, and laughed.
 
“Any port in a storm. Us surrogate mom’s can’t be choosy, I suppose,” she replied, and laughed again.   
 
“You are kidding, ain’t chu’?” Billy asked.
 
“Yeah, actually, I am. It’s so damn boring being a cow, I’m rather looking forward to it. You and the messenger go about your business, and leave lover boy and me to it. I think he’s plenty sexy enough – big, too. I’m sure he’ll tell me what to do, and whisper sweet nothings in my ear,” Roz said and giggled.
 
“Boomer will sleep out here in the loft tonight. With the plasma ball for heat, it should be warm enough for you,” Billy said.
 
“It’s great. Better than standing around cold in the dark. I figured a warm place to sleep might be one of the perks,” she said wisely.
 
“And if’n it’s any consolation, Roz, I would never ask you to take something inside your body I ain’t already had inside mine first,” Billy said and laughed.
 
“Surprisingly enough, that information is somewhat comforting. You have my admiration, sir,” Roz said.
 
“And you, mine,” Billy assured her.
 
* * * * * * *
Boomer assured Billy he didn’t need to be present for the implantation. Billy did his job when he bred his number one slave, and it was his slave’s responsibility to secure a nice, warm, comfortable home for their son. Billy and Boomer talked about it before they left Retikki Prime, they planned to establish mental contact with little Billy when he was old enough to recognize thought patterns. Billy planned to start him early with a steady diet of good music.
 
Billy and Nick left the barn and moved to the cabin. Nick helped Billy clean Samson and Maybelle’s stalls. They were in a giddy mood and looking forward to consummating their bond. After they bagged everything and carried it to the back of the barn, they returned to the cabin and closed the barn doors behind them to give Boomer and Roz some privacy. Nick walked over to the fireplace to warm himself by the fire which Billy started when they came in from the barn to clean the stalls. He saw the photo of Madame Spartza on the mantle and almost broke his neck doing a double-take. “What the fuck? Where, the Hell, did you get this?” he demanded, grabbing the picture, and showing Billy what he was asking about.
 
“Oh, that – it was a small gift of appreciation from the seer what gimme' them lotto numbers my uncle played today for the Mega Lotto drawing day after tomorrow,” Billy said without nuance.
 
“You devil!” Nick exclaimed, “You knew all along what a treasure you discovered,” he accused.
 
“Devil? Ain’t that like the pot calling the kettle black?” Billy asked and laughed.   
 
“Yes, exactly! That’s how quickly labels can get stuck on people whether they’s true or not. Hoodies instantly makes you a bad and suspicious person even if your greatest crime is eating M&Ms and drinking concentrated carbonated high-fructose corn syrup while the only harm done is to your own body. Them right wing religious loons could probably make a case a man should be shot for abusing his own body; the holy temple of his soul. On the other hand, where us demons is concerned, they say it takes one to know one. Welcome to the club, Cowboy,” Nick joined him in a laugh, “Beauford is certain he’s the last of his kind. He’s been my protector for so many centuries I doubt he’ll believe us if we tell him,” Nick speculated.
 
“Well, lets don’t tell him for a while, and feel him out. Your ship is another project we must take care of tomorrow. We have to check on it, make sure everyone is all right, and it’s hidden in a safe place where no one will discover it for as long as you wish to stay here,” Billy said.
 
“I would feel better if you, Boomer, Clyde, and I check things out first thing in the morning. I’m usually in contact with Beauford most of the time, but I ain’t heard from him since the crash. I’ll admit, I’m a bit worried,” Nick said.
 
“Would you like some coffee to warm you, Tonto? You ain’t et a one of them Hosanna cakes I brought you,” Billy offered.
 
“You gonna’ have some coffee, Kemosabe?” Nick asked.
 
“It might keep us awake,” Billy replied.
 
“Good, I want you wide awake for a while, but when we bunk it in for the night, my wings will fly us to a warm valley full of beautiful flowers for a peaceful rest in the protection of my arms,” Nick said.
 
“Demon or not, you have the soul of a poet, Tonto,” Billy said.
 
“And, so do your hands, Buckaroo. They contain a demon capable of expressing the darkest, most ungodly wrath, and a poet what uses notes so sweetly they gently caress and bless the ear which is sure to turn the heart of the fiercest demon into an angel,” Nick said.
 
“That has to be one of the nicest compliments I received all day, Demon Dad. Thank you very much, sir,” Billy said sincerely.
 
“I would love to become your Demon Dad and call you my son,” Nick said quietly.
 
“The position is still available, Tonto,” Billy said sincerely, “Shall we have some coffee, a sweet treat, and talk about it?” Billy asked.
 
“I’d like that very much, Kemosabe, but you’re the only sweet treat I need this evening,” Nick replied.
 
“Really, Big D, you make me feel like a teenage girl naked on the backseat of a fifty-seven Chevy Impala underneath the captain of the football team what’s about to stick it to her,” Billy said and laughed.
 
Nick had no idea what Billy was talking about, but it sounded funny, and he laughed. Billy fixed a pot of coffee, and set it near the fire to boil. Unknown to Nick he added a small packet of the wonderful herbs Hank gave him just in case he got lucky at the cabin. He also borrowed Hank’s clean-out bag and fifteen inch black rubber lube gun. The cabin was warm enough they didn’t need clothes. They wanted to see each other naked and agreed to strip. Billy got out an old comforter from the hall closet he used in front of the fireplace for just such an evening. It had small burn holes from hot cinders which would pop and escape the deep stone-work hearth. The cowboy and his angel were comfortable with Nick holding Billy in his big arms.
 
“Does your wing hurt any?” Billy asked.
 
“It’s still a mite tender. I don’t think I’m ready for flight, yet,” Nick replied.
 
“We’ll take care of it tonight,” Billy said.
 
“You seem sure of yourself,” Nick said.
 
“One of us has to be,” Billy gigged him.
 
“Okay. You make a strong point. I’ll accept it,” Nick said contritely, “Sweet Jesus, save me from my Demon Son’s vorpal tongue,” Nick muttered, and rolled his eyes toward heaven.*
 
“Was Jesus sweet?” Billy asked.
 
“Don’t know. I ain’t never sucked him off,” Nick replied.
 
“Was he a real person?” Billy asked.
 
“Sadly, no. There is absolutely no mention of Jesus Christ in historical records of any kind. He was a construct of several deities by Constantine and the early Roman church. Jesus was based on the teachings of the first century Jewish leader Hillel the elder, Krishna, Mithra, and a druid deity worshiped by the early Brits. They really tried to incorporate most of the major religions of the day including making Jesus of Jewish descent; a direct line from the house of David, no less. They gambled on converting the Jews since they made their messiah an extension of the old testament. Some Jews converted, but damn few. The Jews, for the most part, stubbornly held to the security of their slavery to Jehovah or Yahweh as they refer to the evil alien monster. Believe me, once you been brain washed and indoctrinated into the comfort of slavery or rituals of any kind, surrender reason for blind faith, and reject your personal responsibility for your fellow humans, it’s difficult and unsettling to become free again. I know. I been there and back,” Nick said.
 
“Then you were a slave to Jehovah years before Christianity?” Billy asked.
 
“Yes, several thousand years,” Nick replied.         
 
“That’s why you’re hesitant and more than a little frightened about becoming a slave again,” Billy said like he was beginning to understand Nick’s past more clearly.
 
“E’aup, Kemosabe, it scares the crap out of this old messenger, but I know I’m obligated. I must follow the laws of the universe or suffer the consequences,” he lamented.
 
“That’s pure garbage, hogwash, horse-puckey, and utter clap-trap – with a big dollop of bullshit spread on top for garnish!” Billy exclaimed without raising his voice.
 
There was a deafening silence between them.
 
“My son, the young apprentice demon with training wheels, hath spoken,” Nick said equally without passion.
 
“I asked both them alien species specifically about terminate’n you if you failed to give yore’self to me to become my slave, 'cause I saved yore’ life. Guess what they told me, Tonto?” Billy asked.

There was another silence between them. Nick looked deep into Billy’s eyes like he was confused and scared at the same time. Billy didn’t wait for an answer. “I put it to them point-blank in words they could not possibly misunderstand. I asked, if they truly would destroy or terminate such a beautiful creature, full of great potential, with a track record of doing wonderful, miraculous things for many species throughout several galaxies, because of some ridiculous arcane rule decreed so many eons ago they couldn’t even tell me who made the law or the beginning of it?

“Their answer was ‘no,’ Tonto. Neither race would ever consider such a thing, but they knew you believed it, and they desperately want you to become my slave so we might become one, united in a struggle which threatens not only this world, but potentially the entire galaxy if the contagion of meaningless myths and superstition is allowed to spread,” Billy said firmly, “In short, they want us to do what you set out to do when you were a messenger for Jehovah, to bring knowledge and reason to the world,” Billy added.    
 
“Why do they so desperately want me to become your slave, Billy?” Nick asked like a lost little boy looking for directions to get home.
 
“In a word, control. They think you’re a hot-head – a loose cannon – you sometimes react from passion rather than reason; a word you love to toss about, but sometimes have difficulty applying. They seem to think, if you once give yourself to me as my slave, you will be morally and legally bound by universal laws to obey me in all things; which, they will enforce. Bottom line, Tonto, they want me to become a buffer to your passion. Ramrod Quigley, the supreme being of the Irin described it best: Nick will learn to channel his passion into and through you like a strong AC current is rectified into a more gentle DC form. I thought the metaphor was rather apt,” Billy said, and grinned.
 
There was another lengthy silence between them. “You didn’t have to tell me this. I never would have known. I might have grumbled, but out of fear I would’ve submitted to become your slave,” Nick said.
 
“I know, but I don’t want you that way. I told them I would not lie to you. I refused to deceive you and tell you half-truths to manipulate you into a position in which you wouldn’t be comfortable. What master, worth his salt, would ask a good slave to trust and obey him if he couldn’t be honest with his slave? I wouldn’t accept you as my slave under false pretenses. I couldn’t live with myself, and I refuse to accept the idea. If you decide to give yourself to me as my slave, it will not be taken lightly by either of us. That’s why I told you, so there will be no doubt between us about the seriousness of the bond we will be making,” Billy said.    
 
“Damned if’n it don’t sound very much like a marriage,” Nick observed.
 
“Bingo, Tonto! Don’t think I could a’ put it no better myself. Just think on it as a marriage made some’ers between Heaven and Hell,” Billy said, and they fell together laughing.
 
“Ain’t they all?” Nick asked.
 
“I won’t gainsay it,” Billy replied, “What say you, Tonto?” he asked firmly.
 
“I do, Kemosabe!” Nick exclaimed.
 
“Me, too!” answered Billy, and they sealed their troth with a passionate kiss.
 
“This ain’t right. You ain’t got chore’ boots on for me to pay homage to my new master,” Nick said.
 
“Formal bonding comes tomorrow before our families – yore’s and mine – together, as master and slave, we will become one family. Boomer will be a witness for the Grigori and Clyde will be messenger to the Irin – we done went and done it. We done jumped over the broom together,” Billy said, and they shared another laugh. “Are you sure it’s what you want, Tonto,” Billy asked, “This is your last ‘chicken-out’ station before we climb on board that big roller-coaster and take the plunge into the unknown,” Billy challenged.
 
“Hell, I’d lie like the Devil to you just to get me another one a’ them sweet buckaroo kisses like the last one,” Nick said, and they kissed again. After they parted Nick held Billy in his arms and continued, “After the second time I come in me pants from listening to you play, I knew I was lost, Kemosabe. I knew I didn’t care no more or what it cost me, I had to become a part of you and your family. Hell, I felt like I already was a member anyway. I’d already done made up my mind. Becoming yore’ property was only a few words and a boot kiss away. The worst part’s behind us. The rest will be a slow cowboy two-step, or a waltz across Texas with you,” he allowed.
 
“So say you?” Billy asked gently.
 
“So say I,” Nick allowed, “and thanks for being honest with me, Kemosabe,” Nick said and stole another kiss.
 
“Honesty was the only way to trap you, Tonto,” Billy said seriously, “And, Boy, did you grab the bait and run with it? Just like a big old catfish in deep water,” Billy hooked his finger in his jaw and pulled his head down toward Nick’s crotch like a fish on a line. He fell forward into Nick’s strong arms laughing his ass off.
 
“Why do I suddenly feel like I just been had by my baby demon?” Nick asked.
 
“Not yet, big Demon Daddy, but I guaran-damn-tee-ya’ you will be ‘had’ before this e’nin is over,” Billy promised, “Only, this time, it won’t be wasted. I plan to collect your masculine essence unto myself,” he added, like a biblical soothsayer.
 
The coffee was through boiling and Billy set it aside on the big slab to settle. He excused himself to go to the bathroom to clean up and told Nick to help himself to the coffee if he wasn’t back in a few minutes. Billy left and thoroughly cleaned himself inside and out. He remember how expertly Hank worked the long black rubber husband up his ass and pumped his butt full of the wonderful grease that made riding his monster as easy as a stroll in the park. However, he had some difficulty because he forgot he had a cup of tea with herbs before Hank worked on him, and he was more relaxed. Hank was a master at what he did, but Billy was like trying to catch a wild calf with his own ass. Somehow, through true cowboy grit and dogged determination, he managed to lube himself up pretty good. Lastly, Billy inserted the small plug to keep the lubricant from oozing out his rectum. He returned to the bearskin rug before the hearth and Nick handed him a cup of coffee. He had two of the Hosanna cakes on a paper napkin. One for each. He already drank about a third of his cup of coffee. “It’s been a long day with a lot of activity. Maybe I should get in there and clean my body,” Nick said.
 
“No! You got the honest smell of a man what did some work today. I like the raw animal scent of your body, Tonto. It excites something within me what’s like a deep burning itch, and the only thing what will penetrate me deep enough to scratch it is the handsome demon-dong hanging between yore’ legs,” Billy said, “Now, let me look at your shoulder,” Billy commanded.
 
“It’s all right, Kemosabe,” Nick brushed him off like he didn’t want to be a bother.
 
“It weren’t no request, Demon. Will I be your husband-man or not?” Billy asked.
 
“Forgive me, Master Billy, so say I,” Nick replied, and turned his wing for Billy to inspect.
 
Billy looked closely, felt around a bit, but couldn't see any bruising. He probed a little deeper, and Nick winced. He was right, it was still tender. Billy leaned over and kissed his flesh around the bass of his wing mount and whispered, “And so say I, my handsome demon slave.”
 
Chills ran up Nick’s spine, and Billy felt him shudder. “Are you cold, Tonto?” Billy asked.
 
“Not a bit. Something happened to me when you kissed me around my wing. It’s no longer sensitive. How can that be? Do you think the Irin gave you healing gifts with your enhancement?” Nick asked.
 
“I don’t know. They didn’t give us a manual or operations guide. No parts list neither. We been too busy for me to talk with Clyde. He might know. He got enhanced along with the rest of us. Perhaps some got more’n others. I just don’t know, but I got me a crazy feel’n we’s gonna’ find out about a couple this e’nin,” Billy said.
 
“I got no frame of reference for them Irin critters. They’s so much further developed than the Grigori, they’s no telling what or how much they done. I just about imagine, if they looked upon you kindly and thought you’s worthy enough, they just might have shared the deluxe package with you, with all the bells and whistles,” Nick allowed, “It would make you seem like a god even greater than that old evil monster what I used to call my master,” he added.
 
They ate their Hosanna cakes, and finished their coffee. Billy was beginning to feel the herbs, and he knew Nick was, too. They were getting frisky and giddy; a terrible combination for two grown men, but they didn’t care. They were like two kids in love, and were falling ever more deep into the abyss – well past the point of no return.
 
 
End of Chapter 7 ~ Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
Copyright ~ © ~ 2012 ~ 2016 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights Reserved
E-mail to: Waddie Greywolf <[email protected]>
03/31/2012
12/30/2016
 
* Vorpal ~ Alexander L. Taylor points out in his Lewis Carroll biography “The White Knight” that the word ‘vorpal' can be formed by taking letters alternately from ‘verbal’ and ‘gospel.' In the novel Mirror, Graham Masterton explains that ‘vorpal’ means ‘Victory Over Ruin, Pestilence And Lust.’ (Author’s note: Interesting, but both are merely speculative.)