Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
By Waddie
Greywolf
Chapter 15
"The class which has the power to steal the wealth from a
nation upon a large scale also has the power to control the
government and legalize their crimes." ~ Eugene Debs 1918
The next morning Billy gathered his posse in preparation for
transporting back to the ranch. Moss and Enoch couldn’t thank
Billy, Nick, Hank, Buck, Boomer, and the dwarf warriors, Mace and
Picard, enough. The big retiring cowboys were changed men. They
weren’t nearly so reserved or quiet. They were relaxed, congenial,
and had a hug and a kiss for everyone. There was no doubt they
were falling in love, and they were so full of each other they
radiated it out onto those they loved. It only seemed to make them
stronger in their personal resolve their relationship was right
for them. No one doubted the seriousness of their intent.
“The herbal tea we drank last night, was it the stuff Dociean was
talking about being a gold mine?” Enoch asked.
“Yes, it was. Did you enjoy it?” Billy asked.
“Enjoy it? That’s putting it mildly. That shit is dynamite! I
ain’t never experienced a sensation like I done with my buddy on
them herbs. The best part is, once you settle down for the
evening, they put you out like a light, but there ain’t no
hangover the next morning. Me and Moss being cowboys and all, you
men probably c'ain’t tell, but after sharing an evening with my
partner like we done, I think he’s pretty dang special,” Enoch
said and grinned. The men laughed at his jest. “I don’t know’s
we’d need them herbs ever’time we get together, but once't in a
while would be something to look forward to as a special treat.
Dociean is right, Billy. You gotta’ consider give’n that project
your number one priority. It could easily become a dependable,
sustainable income on which to build the rest your fortune to
finance a strong movement. It’s a unique agricultural product
which you have exclusive distribution rights to, and once word
gets out, you can name your price and get it. If you need help
designing and building growing houses, let us know. We’ll be happy
to assist Dociean and Dorcas with research into the possibilities
and crunch some numbers,” Enoch said. “Maybe there’s a couple of
folks in the herd what know design and drafting who have a talent
or background in mechanical and architectural engineering. If not
there’s several open source software programs what will do the
job,” he added.
“How do you know these things, Enoch?” Billy asked.
“I got a master’s degree in business management from the
University of Texas. I specialized and wrote my master’s thesis on
the creation of entrepreneurial businesses, their success, and
reasons for failure. I graduated summa cum laude last fall,” he
said proudly and continued, “I tried to get a job, but there’s
little interest in my specialty now that everything is run by
super-mega corporations. Most innovative entrepreneurial start up
companies are eventually gobbled up by a larger corporation. They
ruthlessly destroy the core base of operations and take over
leaving the employees and the original owner holding the bag.
“If the founder of the company is lucky enough and plays his cards
right, he might get one tenth of one percent what the actual
market value of the company might be worth. That may sound like
small potatoes, but for an individual what ain’t had much, it can
amount to a personal fortune. Most are happy with the lump sum,
which they spend foolishly and are broke within ten years;
however, the net sum he gets ain’t nearly what he might have been
worth if he continued to own and run the company his’self. It’s
called swimming in shark infested waters. It’s designed to feed
the biggest and most ravenous appetites,” Enoch added.
Billy felt the familiar touch in his mind of his demon dad.
<< Don’t let this one get away, Son. Without a doubt, he was
sent to you, and he ain’t only big and handsome; beneath the
cowboy lingo, he’s got a brilliant mind. This man will make you
and him more money than you ever dreamed possible. >> Nick
sent without nuance.
<< Got yore’ message, Tonto, loud and clear, >> Billy
replied.
“You got a job with me if’n you want it, Hoss,” Billy said, “To
start, I’ll offer you the same’s I offered your buddy and his dad
with promises of yearly raises after that depending on our net
income for the previous year. It might be tough for a couple of
years, but once we get rolling, you’ll be on board a steady money
train which will only pick up steam as it rolls along,” Billy
said.
“I don’t know if I can right now, Billy. I just started work for
my cousin a couple of weeks ago. I owe him a lot, and I c'ain’t
let him down. Since he ain’t got his regular delivery man, and he
knows Eustace Barger cain’t be trusted, he’ll probably promote me
to Orville’s job,” Enoch said.
“It’s an open offer, Cowboy. You should know more by this e’nin
since they’s coming for Sunday dinner. Maybe they’s more’n one
possibility. Perhaps you could work for him part-time and do both
jobs. We won’t know what he has in mind until we sit down and talk
with him. Work for him until he can find somebody he trusts. Come
work with us when he don’t have no deliveries. How often does he
sell big equipment?” Billy asked.
“Three, maybe four times a month. Rarely over five,” Enoch
replied.
“What do you do in the meantime?” Billy asked.
“Sit on my ass and do meaningless paperwork to keep busy. Hell,
Orville never done that. He’d sit in a damn bar all day and wait
for Tom to call him,” Enoch said in disgust.
“If you decide you want to work with us, Enoch, it will happen for
you. We know you belong here. Let’s just take it a day at a time,
and I got faith it will work out to everyone’s satisfaction,”
Billy said.
“I hope so. You folks come to mean an awful lot to me, Billy, I
owe you my life,” Enoch said quietly.
The men said goodbye to Hank and Buck’s apprentice groomers, Mace
and Picard. The warriors were so taken with their new master and
his family they shed tears and had to have a hug and a kiss from
each one. Everyone sucked on Hank and Buck’s tits in the dungeon
and drained them several times. They were primed and started
producing milk on a larger demand basis. That’s exactly what Billy
hoped for. He could see they were going to need more Watcher milk.
They transported back to the ranch just as the dawn was breaking
and everyone was getting up for the day. Nathan and Tron saw the
bright flash of light as they walked up the porch steps to the
front door. They were laughing their asses off. They saw Billy and
his crew and laughed even harder.
“You two buckaroo’s must a' had a wonderful evening,” Billy said
with a tinge of sarcasm and everyone laughed.
“We did, indeed, Young’un, it rained a bit last night, but we’s
snug and warm in the Garrett’s hunter’s cabin. They’s just some’um
magical about the sound of rain on a tin roof what puts a man’s
soul at ease,” Nathan waxed philosophic.
“To say nothing of being close to someone you love,” Billy added.
“Cain’t gainsay that neither, Cowboy,” Nathan agreed, and they
shared a laugh, “But that ain’t what we’s laugh’n about. We got to
the front gate, and they’s three TV trucks with dishes on top
lined up out front, and that fat ass little Pentecostal preacher
sit’n in his Mercedes ahead of the lot of them. He was gonna’ do a
Pearl Harbor number on us – an early morning surprise visit, but
they cain’t get through the gate,” Nathan said, which set him and
Tron off on another round of laughter.
“Why not, Uncle?” Billy asked.
“Them cattle must a’ heard they’s a’ coming, and they blocked the
road so’s they can’t drive up to the house. I doubt they’d let ‘em
try walking up either. I went to them and introduced myself to the
two lead bulls, Zeus and Thor. I told Tron to stay in his truck,
and when I got them to part, to pull on in and stop. They let us
drive in, and while I got into the truck them thoughtful critters
moved back into place behind us to block the road again, and we
drove on up to the house,” Nathan said and laughed again. This
time everyone was laughing.
“I do so love myself some Irin cattle,” Billy said, “Extra rations
for our protective warrior-cows," he added. Billy’s family agreed
and laughed.
Kate, Roz, Dorcas, and the rest of the household joined them and
caught the last of Nathan’s story. The ranch phone began to ring.
“And our day begins,” Kate said and laughed as she answered the
phone, “Daniels Ranch, Kate Daniels speaking,” she said.
“Ms. Daniels, this is Pastor Womack. I’m out here at the gate in
front of your property. I thought I’d pay you an early morning
visit before you got your day started to speak with young Billy
Daniels, but I can’t get in. There’s a bunch of woolly cows
blocking the road. Send some cowboys down here immediately to
clear the way for me and three TV trucks what want to interview
Billy,” he demanded.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Womack, I just got up. I told you not to come out
here. We’re too busy this weekend to accommodate you. Billy was
away from the ranch for the night, and I don’t know whether he’s
back or not. I haven’t got time to talk with you. I got to get
breakfast ready for my family, but I’ll let you talk with my son,
Nathan,” Kate said, shaking her head in disgust, handing the phone
to her son who looked at his mother like the fleeting thought of
matricide brought him some small comfort.
“Womack! This is Nathan Daniels. I thought that might a’ been you
in the black Mercedes. Why ain’t you back in town get’n ready for
church? Ain’t that what they pay you for? What the Hell you doing
stalk’n our property this ungodly hour of the morning? Hell far
and damnation, man, I ain’t even had ma’ first cup of coffee yet,
and I guaran-damn-tee-ya’ I ain’t a nice man until I do!” he said
firmly.
“That’s ‘Pastor’ Womack to you, Cowboy, and don’t you forget it!”
Clarence Womack said with equal anger. “As the recognized
spiritual leader of our community, it’s my right and duty to
investigate and get to the bottom of this so called miracle your
nephew was involved with in Fredericksburg yesterday afternoon.
It’s my duty to explore and determine whether it was truly a
divinely inspired miracle, a work of the devil, or nothing more
than a cheap trick,” he said, “I demand you get somebody down here
to remove these cows or there will be consequences,” Womack yelled
over the phone. Everyone in the room heard him.
“Your duty? Recognized spiritual leader?” Nathan laughed, “What a
load of bullshit! Recognized by who? What the Hell are you talk’n
about? You ain’t even our preacher. We don’t go to your church.
We’s members of the Methodist church. You ain’t got no legitimate
claim to make any kind of judgment about my nephew let alone how
or why it happened. Spiritual leader, my ass! I think there’s six
other preachers in town of more respectable churches than your
holy roll’n tabernacle, what’s lived here a lot longer than you,
who might argue that point with you, but until it’s decided and
I’m shown a legitimate official document, you’s just another
ignorant bible thumping clown what’s look’n to suck the tit of
sensationalism for fame and fortune. I seen what your kind can do,
and you ain’t got no truck with me or my family,” Nathan shot back
with deadly aim.
“You better be careful what you say, Cowboy. I could file
blasphemy charges against you and your family and get everything
you own for our church and the work of the Lord,” Womack
threatened.
“You ain’t never dealt with cowboys much have you, Womack? You
threaten a rancher what’s lived in this community all his life,
when you ain’t nothing but some uneducated, loudmouthed upstart
religion peddler what ain't never put in an honest day's work in
his life, he’s libel to take matters into his own hands, and you
won’t like what he does; that is, if’n you live to tell about it,”
Nathan said coldly, “Oh, and another thing, you try’n push them
cows out of the way with your car, and you so much as harm one of
them critters, I got the right to shoot you on the spot. No
questions asked! This land is considered open range country, the
laws are different, and they ain’t been changed since the
eighteen-hundreds. If you don’t know about ‘em, you better check
with your lawyer 'afore you do anything foolish. You been warned.
Don’t spoil my Sunday by make’n me shoot a man what’s trespassing
on my land; especially one what thinks he’s as important as you
imagine yore'self to be,” Nathan said coldly.
“I’ll get to the bottom of this if I have to sit here all damn
day, Daniels. Something about this whole thing reeks of hypocrisy.
Mark my word, I will speak with Billy Daniels today!” Womack
yelled into the phone.
“I bow to your words, Preacher. You certainly should know about
hypocrisy, driving a hun’nert thousand dollar car to administer
Jesus’s word to the poor,” Nathan said and hung up on him. “What a
way to start our day. I feel terrible ‘cause I lied to the man,”
Nathan sighed.
“How’s that, Uncle?” Billy asked.
“I feel just fine this morning. I ain’t grumpy a ‘tall. I got a
smile on me face and a song in ma’ heart. After last night,
nothing could get to me today, not even that money grub’n little
som’bitch,” Nathan replied and grinned. Everyone laughed at him.
Tron blushed. “Recognized spiritual leader my ass. He just wants
to use you, Son, to bring him fame and fortune. When a preacher in
a small town drives a brand new Mercedes, you gotta’ know he
didn’t become a preacher to save men’s souls,” Nathan added in
disgust.
“Amen to that, Brother!” Tron exclaimed, “He don’t know nothing
about brotherly love,” he said and laughed. Everyone got his
double meaning and laughed.
“I’m sorry to put you through that, Uncle Nathan. I guess I didn’t
use good judgment yesterday. I didn’t think about today’s
electronic gadgets being everywhere. I’ll try to use more caution
from now on,” Billy said sadly.
“Nonsense, Son, you done the right thing by that little boy. Don’t
chu’ worry none, your family will stand behind you a hun’nert
percent,” Nathan declared and everyone agreed with him. Archie and
Edith came into the living room. They stayed in their room for a
day or so to let Edith completely recharge herself from the trauma
of being wounded. They were in much better spirits. They wanted to
know if they should stay in their room and hide from the guests
they had coming from Houston.
“Absolutely not!” Billy exclaimed quietly, “You’re my family. Not
to worry. They’ll adjust. Just be your sweet charming selves and
ever’thing will be all right,” he assured them. “Same with you,
Boomer. Just be yourself,” Billy said, then with a twinkle in his
eye he added, “It’s Hank and Buck we gotta’ worry about. They
loved being Bigfoots last night so much they just might get
excited and morph right before our guests,” he said and laughed.
He got a laugh out of the rest of his family including Buck and
Hank.
“We gotta’ morph to get milked anyways, Master,” Buck said.
Kate returned from the kitchen with a plastic gallon jug of milk
in her hand. “No rush on the milk. Roz just looked in the fridge
on the back porch, and there’s four gallon jugs of milk sitting
there. Roz and I sampled each one, and it’s definitely Watcher
milk. No doubt about it. Somebody’s looking out for us,” Kate
said. The room was silent for a few minutes. They looked to Billy
for an answer.
“Well, we can use it, but we still gotta’ milk Boom, Hank, and
Buck. Just like cows we gotta’ milk 'em to keep 'em producing. The
only thing what comes to mind is they know some’um we don’t and
are making sure we got enough milk to do the job,” he said.
“Sounds reasonable explanation to me, Son,” Kate agreed.
“Which reminds me. I need to start morphing into a Bigfoot. I got
Boomer’s genetic info in me. Ain’t no reason I shouldn’t be milked
as well. I ain’t about to let Hank and Buck have all the fun,”
Billy said and laughed.
“I wish’t we had a video camera up to the front gate,” Nathan
said.
“You have fifteen hundred of them up there, sir,” Dociean said,
“Each cow has three cameras on them. If master Billy will allow us
to use his laptop we can tap into the feed. Dorcas and I know the
codes,” he added.
“No problem. I’d like to keep an eye on that miserable little
charlatan myself. I’ll be right back,” Billy said and disappeared
in a flash of light. He reappeared almost as quickly with his
trusty laptop in his hand. “Love myself some instant-transport.
Saves wear and tear on my leg muscles running up and down them
stairs,” he said and got a laugh out of everyone. He sat down on
the couch between Archie and Edith, fired-up the small computer,
and entered his password code. The logo for Ubuntu operating
system came up. Edith and Archie were fascinated with the
computer. Billy set it on the big wooden coffee table in front of
the couch and motioned for Dociean to take over.
“Do you have a program which will operate and receive video from a
remote source?” Dociean asked.
“Fraid not,” Billy replied.
“May we see your computer for a moment, Master Billy?” Archie
asked.
“Sure,” he replied and handed it to his pets.
Archie and Edith didn’t touch the keyboard. They put their hands
over the keyboard, and the screen began to go crazy. It was
flashing information across the screen faster than the human eye
could keep track and went on and on for several minutes until
finally the picture returned to the main page and Edith and Archie
moved their hands away. “He has a program now, sir,” Edith said
softly with a smile. She hit one key on Billy’s laptop, and a blue
screen came up calling for entry codes and feed specifications.
Dociean typed in the specs and six squares came up on the screen;
feeds from six different cameras. Dociean moved the cursor to the
one closest to the gate and clicked on it. The screen was filled
with the preacher’s car. Around it stood Womack and several
reporters from the TV trucks.
“Can you manipulate the camera, or is it fixed on the cow?” Billy
asked.
“No. We have complete control of it. Once we sign off, it will
default to the cow it’s assigned to,” Dorcas said.
“Can you move it close enough to hear their conversation?” Billy
asked.
“No problem, Boss,” Dociean said and giggled like a school boy.
Billy was sure his Irin slave was having way too much fun.
“All we have to do is wait,” they heard Womack say, “They’re
expecting guests from Houston for Sunday dinner, and when they
arrive, we’ll just form a caravan and follow them up to the house.
They wouldn’t dare do anything with all this camera equipment
around. If that cowboy thinks he can outsmart Clarence Womack he’s
got another think coming. I hope he does shoot at me. We’ll have
him on video trying to harm a man of the cloth, a man of God, who
only came to visit to save his soul in the name of the Lord, and
you can bet I will press charges against him. I’ll see his bony
cowboy butt behind bars. You just wait and see! I’ll teach that
redneck moron a thing or two,” Clarence Womack bragged and puffed
out his poppin-fresh doughboy chest. Everyone in the room broke up
laughing at his pomposity and braggadocios manner.
“My cowboy ain’t got no bony butt, you fat ass som’bitch! It’s
about the sweetest damn butt I ever’ done seen on a buckaroo!”
Tron yelled at the laptop. Everyone in the room roared with
laughter.
“Ah, shucks, Brother, that’s jes’ about the sweetest thing
anybody’s ever said about me,” Nathan shot back, and they laughed
some more. Billy was happy to see his uncle and neighbor were
loosening up.
“Bring your laptop with you to the kitchen. If we don’t get
breakfast underway we won’t have time for much else. You can watch
and listen in there,” Kate said.
Everyone moved to the kitchen and automatically went to work. The
twins knew the routine and so did Hank and Buck. They had
breakfast on the table and sat down to eat in less than an hour.
They had a leisurely meal and everyone was in a good mood. They
finished, and while the twins, Kate’s lady helpers, Buck and Hank
cleared the table, the others scraped, rinsed, put the dishes into
the dishwasher, and turned it on to cycle. They were casually
watching Billy’s laptop when a large black limo pulled up to the
front gate.
“That’s them!” Enoch exclaimed, “That’s my cousins travel’n car.
Since her illness, it’s the only car Grandma Redbone will ride
in,” he said.
The ranch phone rang. “Hello, Daniels ranch. That you at the front
gate, Tom?” Nathan asked.
“Yes, sir, but why are these other folks out here? And why are
these cows blocking the road?” Tom McMartin asked.
“We’ll explain later, but right now listen to me carefully. We
don’t want them other folks bothering us today. We already done
told them we got guests coming, and we ain’t got time to talk with
them. The fat one in the Mercedes is a preacher who likes to throw
his weight around and thinks he can force us to cave to his
demands by intimidation. Us county folk don’t readily respond to
his kind of bullying,” Nathan said.
“I’m well aware of that, Mr. Daniels. What am I to do? How can I
help?” Tom asked.
“See them two big bulls with the horns there in front of the
herd?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. They’s fine looking critters,” Tom replied.
“Walk up to them and introduce yourself. The one on the right is
‘Thor’ and the one on the left is ‘Zeus.’ Tell them you’re the
guests the Daniels are expecting, and they’ll part to let you
through. Just make sure Womack don’t follow you when you talk with
them. Got that?” Nathan asked.
“This ain’t some cowboy prank is it, Mr. Daniels?” Tom asked
suspiciously.
“Naw, sir, you gotta’ trust me on this one, Tom,” Nathan said.
They watched as Tom McMartin got out of his limo, and saw the
unctuous fat ass preacher waddled up to him and stick out his
hand. Tom took it and shook it. “I’m Clarence Womack the religious
leader of our community, and you must be the folks from Houston
the Daniels are expecting,” he said like an oily worm.
“Yes, we are,” Tom replied.
“Fine. Good. That’s wonderful. Glad to hear it. We’re expected
too, but we can’t get them cows out of the way. They been blocking
the road all morning. And your name would be?” Womack asked.
“I didn’t say,” Tom said coldly, “I’ll go see if I can get them to
move aside for us to pass,” Tom said.
“We already done tried it, but go on, knock yourself out, Cowboy,”
Womack said with disdain, “In the meantime, I’ll just pull in
behind you and follow you up to the house. I’m sure they’ll be
delightfully surprised to see me,” he added and headed for his
Mercedes.
Tom McMartin felt like a fool walking toward the cows standing
across the road. He stood directly in front of the two bulls and
spoke, “Howdy, Gentlemen, my name is Tom McMartin, and I believe
you are Zeus and you must be Thor,” he said.
“That’s right, Mr. McMartin, I’m Thor, and welcome to the Daniels
Ranch. Sorry for the roadblock, sir, but we have some unwanted and
unwelcome visitors behind you. Now, if you will be so kind to get
back into your automobile and slowly drive toward us we will part
and allow you to pass far enough for us to fill in behind you
before we allow you to go further. Once we do, we will move aside
and you will have a clear road from there. We hope you enjoy your
visit, Mr. McMartin, and once again, we apologize for the
inconvenience,” Thor said eloquently.
“What about the preacher? He thinks he’s going to tailgate me up
to the house,” Tom asked.
“His engine will die the minute you start yours. He won’t be able
to start it again until you’re safely inside our herd for
protection. By then, we will have blocked his way again,” Thor
replied.
Tom McMartin laughed and just shook his head, “I won’t ask any
more questions. Your plan sounds intelligent and reasonable. I’m
grateful for your assistance, Gentlemen. Thank you for your
gentility and cooperation,” he said, turned and walked back to his
car.
“What was that all about, Tom?” Zelma asked her grandson.
“I’ll answer your question in a minute, Grandma. Right now, I
gotta’ maneuver this here cayuse in amongst them cows,” Tom said
using his best cowboy speak.
“Music to my ears to hear you lapse back into Texas speak,
Grandson,” Zelma said and grinned.
It went off like clockwork. Tom started his engine and saw the
frustration on Womack’s face as his engine immediately died. Tom
slowly moved toward the herd. They obligingly moved out of the way
for him to drive among them, but only for the length of his car,
and he stopped. He watched as the cattle began to fill in behind
him all the way to the gate, and saw Womack pounding his fist on
his steering wheel, foaming at the mouth, and his face red with
anger and rage. Tom relaxed and sighed deeply. “Okay, Grandma,
it’s time for the truth. What in the name of some unknown god have
you got us into this time?” he demanded and grinned.
“Whatever are you talking about, Thomas?” Zelma asked and looked
at him like she was shocked, but with a wry grin on her pretty
face.
“I just carried on an intelligent conversation with them two bulls
I was standing before. They were polite and well spoken, by the
way. They’re guarding the entryway to the Daniels Ranch like
soldiers. Come Hell or high-water, they’s bound and determined
they ain’t gonna’ let that preacher or them TV trucks onto the
ranch,” Tom said still using cowboy lingo. He was almost yelling
at his grandmother. He was laughing at the same time at the
surreal absurdity of the situation.
The front seats of the limo were cut off from the rear by a
hydraulic tinted window so his wife and kids could watch videos or
play games on the trip down. They couldn’t hear Tom or Zelma's
conversation. Zelma Redbone slapped her knee and almost doubled
over with laughter. “Well, isn’t it a comfort to find cows these
days what can carry on an intelligent conversation? There’s so
many really dumb cows out there, never bothering to think for
themselves, just following the herd," she said and laughed, “Never
a dull moment with your old grandma, huh, Kid?” she asked.
“For God’s sake, Auntie Mame was a weak amateurish harridan
compared to growing up under your wing, Grandma. Cain’t says it
ain’t been fun, though. That poor old thing should have applied to
take lessons from Hurricane Zelma, the Texas Twisted Sister,” Tom
shot back in jest.
It only caused Zelma to laugh more. “Why, thank you, Dear, that’s
one of the nicest things you ever said to me. Mame did apply, but
I turned her down. She didn’t have enough spirit. The cows have
parted, Grandson, you may drive on now,” she said and made a grand
gesture with her hand scarf she carried with her everywhere. She
watched so many Zazu Pitts movies she copied her wrist inflections
perfectly.
Tom put the car in gear and slowly began to drive up the road.
“Does this have anything to do with that Walmart incident what
happened in Fredericksburg yesterday?” he asked.
“It has everything to do with it, Tom. Billy Daniels is the real
thing. For lack of a better term, he’s the Messiah them crazy
religions have been looking, hoping, and searching for, for
centuries,” Zelma laid it on the line.
“Grandma! Reason dictates I should stop the car right now and tell
you it’s time we found you a nice comfy room at the ‘Shady Rest’
happy farm for seniors what’s lost their minds, but greater reason
would intervene. I would be obliged to rent one next to you for
myself because I just carried on a conversation with two animals
what ain’t suppose to talk. Can Billy Daniels really do miracles,
Grandma?” Tom asked point blank with sincerity.
“You showed me pictures of Enoch’s leg. It looked pretty bad to
me, but today, you said he was doing a buck and wing with the
other cowboys. That’s a pretty complicated high stepping dance.
How do you think he got better so quickly?” Zelma asked.
“I wondered about that myself. I asked Enoch, but he wouldn’t say
– told me he would explain later. Now you’re telling me you think
Billy healed his leg?” Tom asked in reply.
“Exactly, Tom. One plus one equals two. There’s no other
explanation,” Zelma said.
“Billy Daniels is only eighteen years old,” Tom said almost to
himself.
“It’s the age a young master gives up his childhood and reaches
out for the knowledge of the universe. He already has walked among
the stars, Tom, and he’s returned to gather his flock. He has
assembled his immediate family, and I’m happy to say, one of our
own has been chosen to become his older big brother,” Zelma said.
“Wonder how long Billy will live before they crucify the poor
kid?” Tom said with more sympathy than sarcasm.
“He’s not going to confirm any of their crazy beliefs, Tom. If I’m
correct, he will be completely god-less, and he, himself, will
never claim to be more than an artificially enhanced human; a
simple cowboy; a humble man of the Earth. He’s been enhanced to
balance the equation between good and evil. Our world is running
on empty when it comes to goodness toward our fellow man and all
the religions of the world have played into the hands of evil
quite well. Look at the new Catholic Pope who named himself Peter
the Roman. To the Jesus and Jehovah Zombies they believe he is the
second coming, and they're all falling in line behind him. Those
of us with an ounce of reason know he’s the personification of
evil. We don’t need any spiritual leader or scripture to tell us.
His actions speak for themselves.
“I know you and I don’t see eye to eye politically, Tom, but if it
weren’t for the money your family already had, which was left to
them by your granddaddy, you would have a much harder life than
you enjoy today. However, since the far right wing of our country
has completely taken over our government and we’re living in a
Theocracy brought about under the satanic auspices of the Roman
Catholic Church in league with American fundamentalist and
supported by Corporate Communism, I’ve watched you slowly change.
I think your gorgeous and faithful wife has contributed
significantly to your change. I don’t know how many times I’ve
told you it was the smartest damn thing you ever did was to marry
that woman. Somehow, I also think Enoch has influenced a small
part of your change. My best guess, is – take a deep breath and
relax, Tom, this is gonna’ hurt – I think you just might be
developing a conscience,” Zelma said.
“I don’t know, Grandma. As painful as it is, I’ll admit my passion
for right wing politics has dwindled to the point I don’t give to
any organizations they endorse anymore. To be honest, I’m confused
and floundering for answers for a better way to raise my boys, but
I think Abigail just might hold the key. I had my doubts about her
insisting to home school our boys, but I don’t anymore. They’re
smarter, more well mannered, and behave better than other kids
their age. They can even carry on an intelligent conversation. I
guess it’s every parent’s wish to want more for their children,
but what I want for my boys ain’t more money. I will see they
start life comfortably, as my grandparents and parents did for me.
I want more self-satisfaction and happiness for them I somehow
missed growing up,” Tom lamented. “Does that sound ungrateful to
my parents, you, and granddad?” Tom asked.
“No! Not at all, Tom. You were raised with money and learned early
how to make it. Then you learned to make it work for you. Today,
you’re one of the top five most successful and wealthy men in
Texas. I know your dad and granddad would be proud of you. And for
what it’s worth, I’m very proud of you, my beloved Grandson,”
Zelma said.
“Why do I get the feeling you feel more for Enoch than me?” Tom
asked.
“Nonsense! Pure balderdash! If that were true, Enoch would be
managing my investment portfolio and not you. I love you as my
Grandson, the solid rock. You’re the voice of reason and
temperance in our family. You keep us centered and focused. Enoch,
is a W.I.P.,” she said.
“What’s a W.I.P., Grandma?” Tom asked.
“A work in progress. He has the soul of a dreamer and stars in his
eyes, but not just any stars – he has greater things in mind. You
talk about floundering. My God that poor boy’s been a mess since
he graduated college, but I think – I hope – he’s found his
calling in life this weekend, and believe me when I tell you, he
will make more money than you, your dad, your granddaddy, and
great granddad put together. He’s just about to hitch his wagon to
a star, and it will carry him to places we can only dream about.
He has a spark of gentleness and compassion for his fellow man
inside him which will be nurtured by his new family and will grow
until he becomes a beacon in the night for lost souls to call
upon,” Zelma said like she was reading a holy tome. “I don’t love
Enoch a whit more than I love you, Tom. I just love you
differently. Neither is better than the other. Unlike the sordid
story of Cain and Able, while the gifts you boys bring to me are
completely different, they are equal in importance. That’s where
the evil god Jehovah screwed up,” she added. What omnipotent, all
seeing, loving, and understanding god, would create a situation
like that in the first place? Any mother knows, if you favor one
child over the other, you can bet it’s bound to create
psychological problems. What’s moral about that?” Zelma Redbone
asked in disgust.
“Thanks for them words of confidence, Grandma. Along with them
cows, they made my day a little brighter,” Tom said and grinned.
“I’ll make you a bet, Thomas,” Zelma said as the ranch house came
into view.
“What?” Tom asked.
“Before this day is over, you will be a changed man, but you won’t
be ashamed to admit to your grandmother she was right,” Zelma put
to him.
“We’ll see. In a way, I hope you're right. Any change or a look in
a new direction will be carefully considered. Look, they all came
out to greet you,” Tom said.
“Us, Tom! They done came to out to greet us'ns,” Zelma corrected
her grandson using cowboy lingo to make a strong point.
Everyone was gathered together like a family portrait. It looked
to Tom not unlike a picture of the Addams Family. There was a huge
furry monster what looked like a mythological Bigfoot or a giant
cousin ‘It.’ The two halflings could easily be their children as
Billy had an arm around each one. But the Gibbon ape-like
creatures with beautiful wings were enthralling and gave a “Wizard
of Oz” meets “Cowboys & Aliens” at the movies effect. Then
there was Enoch with his enormous arm around another big cowboy
who was just as good looking as Tom’s cousin. They were a fine
looking family despite a couple of strange members. On the other
hand, thought Tom, what family didn’t have a couple of strange
members.
Kate was the first to open the door of the passenger side for
Zelma. They were in each other’s arms, hugging, and kissing. “My
precious,” Kate called her.
“My little Tom-Boy Genius,” Zelma replied quietly to Kate, and
they giggled like school girls together who shared the secrets of
their hearts. “It’s so good to see you again, even if it took so
long,” Zelma added.
“No matter. When two hearts beat as one, time and distance matter
little in the scheme of things, Darling,” Kate assured her.
Tom opened the door for his wife, Abigail, and his two sons Rory
(10) and Calhoun (8). (They called the eight year old, Cal – and,
yes, Virginia, they were named after their dad’s favorite Western
star. I won’t try to explain. If you never lived in Texas, you
wouldn’t understand anyway.)*
Abigail McMartin was a towering figure of a woman. She was said to
be as intelligent as she was beautiful, and she was stunning. She
rarely wore heels because flatfooted she was three inches taller
than her husband. Even when he dressed for business, Tom always
wore western boots with high heels, and standing together, they
looked almost the same height. Abigail was the fourth child to be
born into her family, and the first female. She was born into a
strict fundamentalist home, and her father was so happy to welcome
a baby girl into the family they named her 'Abigail,’ which means
'her father’s joy’ in Hebrew. She grew up the middle child of
seven with three older brothers and three younger. Life was not
easy for a young girl with six brothers, but she adjusted; it made
her become strong and wise beyond her years. She lived up to her
name, and, indeed, became a great joy to her dad.
Unknown to her family, in college, she slowly began to grow away
from her strict beliefs in fundamentalism. She read everything she
could on philosophy and religion, and after reading Dawson,
Harris, and Hitchen’s work, came to the conclusion she could no
longer swallow the swill of myth and superstition. She neither
rebelled against her family nor came out to them as a
non-believer, so when she decided to home school her boys,
everyone just assumed it was to train them to walk in the
so-called path of righteousness. Nothing could have been further
from the truth. By that time, the Theocrats, and particularly the
Texas School Board, did away with studies they deemed useless like
teaching science, reason, and fine arts. Much to her adoring
husband’s dismay, and her liberal mother-in-law’s delight, she
home schooled the boys to give them a more humanistic approach to
education. She saw too much suffering and hypocrisy brought about
by religion in her younger years and saw it created only confusion
and fear with very little positive about it. She didn’t want her
boys growing up to be mindless Zombie Jesus god-bots towing the
party line while doing the dogma drag.
Unlike her husband’s reaction, when Abby caught sight of the
family standing before them, her heart leaped to her throat at the
most wonderfully bizarre collection of humans and critters she
ever saw. She was enthralled and not the least afraid for herself
or her boys. It was a good thing, because the first thing Rory and
Cal did was make a running assault on Boomer. They were fascinated
with the legends of Bigfoot. They scoured the smallest bits on the
Internet about them, and had huge posters of Bigfoot monsters on
the walls of their bedroom. They had every movie or video they
could find about Bigfoot. They ate slept and dreamed about
Bigfoot, and low and behold, there before them stood a real one.
They didn’t have to ask, they just knew. Boomer could hear them
and saw the bright smiles on their young faces. The big monster
open his huge arms for them, and they ran full-out to him as fast
as their little legs would carry them. He caught them and easily
held one in each arm. Boomer exchanged hugs and kisses with them.
The boys were in Bigfoot heaven.
Abby turned to Tom and spoke, “My God, this is better than Disney
World, Tom,” she said, “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
“Honest to God, Babe, I didn’t know. You ain’t worried?” Tom
asked.
“God no! Not in the least. These people won’t harm us or the boys.
I never felt safer anywhere in my life than I do right this
minute,” Abby replied.
“That’s nice, Dear,” Tom said weakly not really knowing what he
thought.
“And the cattle guarding the front gate are not your average Texas
cows, are they, Tom?” she asked. “I watched you. You went up and
talked with them, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Yes, Dear – and I swear on my honor as an Eagle Scout, they
answered back, Abby. They told me what to do. The others were
uninvited and unwanted. They killed the motor on the preacher’s
car and wouldn’t let him start it again until they surrounded our
car to keep him from crashing our party,” Tom said.
Abigail broke up laughing, threw her arms around her husband, and
gave him a big kiss right on the mouth. Tom was surprised but went
along. Everyone was hooting and applauding at their public display
of affection. Abigail got the biggest smile on her face. She took
her husband by the hand like he was her little boy and led him to
meet the good folks who came out to greet them. Poor Tom was a
mess. He was totally unprepared for what he would learn that day.
* * * * * * *
Boomer’s teats began to work overtime filling his huge chest. He
had two young bairns in his arms, and his instincts screamed at
him to feed them. They already got past introductions, and he was
listening to the boys tell about searching the Net for pictures of
Watchers or Bigfoot. Boomer was in discomfort. His breast hurt and
his tits ached like he never felt them before. His reason told him
he shouldn’t offer the boys his milk without his master's
permission, but his driven instinct to nurture was stronger than
his desire to respect his master.
“Why is your tit leaking, Boomer?” young Cal asked him.
“In my species, it’s the male what feeds the young, and since you
two are so young, they automatically start to fill because they
want to feed you,” Boomer answered.
“We ain’t babies, Boomer,” Cal said.
“No, of course not, but you don’t have to be babies to enjoy the
benefits from my milk. It’s the healthiest and most nutritious
food in the universe, and I been told it tastes wonderful,” Boomer
explained.
“What’s it taste like?” Rory wanted to know.
“Gently squeeze my tit between your thumb and forefinger and get a
little on your finger. Taste it. Some say it tastes like warm
vanilla ice cream,” Boomer encouraged the boy.
Rory did as instructed, but more than a little squirted out. He
caught it in his other hand. He immediately brought it to his nose
and smelled it. It smelled like vanilla. He carefully stuck out
his tongue and tasted a little. His face lit up like a Christmas
tree. “Damn, that’s good!” he exclaimed and quickly licked the
rest from his hand. “I gotta’ have more of that. Can I suck from
your tit, Boomer?” Rory asked politely.
“Help yourself, Son, that’s what they’re for,” Boomer replied and
smiled.
Cal didn’t bother with a taste test. If his brother thought it was
good, it was good enough for him. He wasn’t about to be left out
and immediately hooked up to Boomer’s other tit. Boomer was in
heaven feeding the two young human bairns. He couldn’t wait for
Roz to have Billy junior. No one was paying attention to Boomer
and the boys. Enoch was busy introducing everyone to his cousin,
his cousin's wife, and his grandmother. Kate caught sight of
Boomer breast feeding the McMartin boys and grimaced. Tom saw the
look on Kate’s face and turned to see what she was looking at.
There were his two son’s feeding from the breast of a huge Bigfoot
like two shoats attached to their momma.
“What the Hell are they doing?” Tom asked like he was distressed.
Billy turned to look, saw what was going on, and laughed. “They’s
all right, Mr. McMartin. Boomer’s a Bigfoot or Watcher. He’s my
slave, my number one protector, and my bonded mate. The males of
his species feed the young’uns. Whenever there’s young kids
around, his breast fill up, and we have to milk him like a cow. We
actually have a milking machine we hook him up to, and we take his
special milk to those who are sick or in recovery. We gave Enoch
some after we healed his leg, and it helped him heal quicker.
Watcher milk is the most nutritious food in the universe and has
several benefits other milk don’t have. Your kids will be immune
to childhood diseases after drinking Boomer’s milk, and it will
correct any defects, fine tune, and stabilize their systems to
function at maximum efficiency,” Billy explained.
“Our boys are crazy about the idea of Bigfoot, but they never
actually saw one before. He’s amazing,” Abby said. “Will it spoil
their dinner?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. I drink it all the time and so do several
others. It’s never curbed my appetite,” Billy replied.
Kate took Zelma by the arm and grabbed Billy with her other to
take them away from the other introductions going on. She wanted
to introduced Zelma to Billy privately. “By now you’ve figured out
this is my grandson, Billy,” she said, “Billy, this is my beloved
friend you’ve been hearing about, Mrs. Zelma Redbone,” Kate said.
Kate left them alone to talk and rejoined the others.
Zelma looked at Billy and opened her arms. They embraced, and
Zelma bussed a kiss on his cheek. “It’s so good to finally meet
you, Young Man, and the kiss was a thank you for saving my
grandson’s life and healing him,” she said.
“Ah, sucks, t’weren’t nothing, ma’am. I took one look at that big
buckaroo, ma’ heart done a flip-flop, and knew I wanted him for
one of ma’ older big brothers. I really didn’t have no choice in
the matter. I fell in love with him, and a man just cain’t stand
by and let his brother get killed by a mad man. I’m glad you come
to me, Grandmother. You didn’t come a moment too soon,” Billy
said.
“You can tell?” Zelma asked.
“Ever’thing’s been enhanced on my body. My olfactory senses are
better than a hunt’n dog, but not quite as good as a Watcher or
Bigfoot. You cover the scent well with various fragrances you
apply, but underneath, the odor is still there. It’s unmistakable,
and it lingers,” Billy said quietly.
“I know, Billy, I’m frightened. The others don’t know. They think
I’m still in remission. Do I have a chance?” she asked quietly
still holding him.
“I only been enhanced a little over a week, and I ain’t run across
cancer yet, Ms. Zelma; however, them ancients what enhanced me
provided me with some strong help who know what they’s doing. They
ain’t cruel. They wouldn’t have gotten you and me together unless
there’s hope. I know you plan to stay with us for a while. It may
take several sessions, and if I have to call in a specialist, I
will. I have no fear, and you shouldn’t either. Like I saved ma’
brother, I now must save his grandma, too,” Billy said.
Zelma Redbone shed a tear, but Billy quickly wiped it away with
his big red cowboy bandanna so no one would see. “I ain’t seen one
of them bandannas in years,” Zelma said allowing herself to use
the vernacular. “My God in heaven, Son, you look so much like your
granddaddy it’s uncanny,” she said.
Billy took Zelma on his arm and introduced her, Tom, and Abby to
the rest of his family. He told them his slaves were part of his
family, and from the largest to the smallest of them, they
functioned as his owners. They didn’t get it at first, and then he
made the analogy of Samson owning him, and they made the
connection. “All them cattle out there you saw while you’s driving
up to the house are actually humanoids morphed to look like
Highland cattle. Andy, Dociean, Dorcas, and Roz you see before you
arrived here on the ranch as cattle. Boomer and I mated, and I
fertilized one of his proto-embryos. Boomer impregnated Roz as a
cow with the fertilized proto-embryo, and she’s carrying my son,
Billy Augustus Junior,” Billy explained without nuance.
“Can you morph, Billy?” Zelma asked.
“Yes, ma’am. I can morph to look like anyone whose genetic
information I have ingested. It’s like having a blueprint of them
on file in my body,” he said.
“Morph for me,” Zelma said.
“I only got a couple on file, Boomer and Hank. Boomer’s too large
and would rip my clothes apart, so I’ll morph into Hank. Him and
me are about the same size,” Billy said and immediately shifted to
look exactly like his cowboy slave Hank. “Come here, Hank,” Billy
called to his double. Hank and Buck walked over, and Billy
introduced them to Zelma, Tom, and Abby. They were stunned at
Billy’s ability to look just like his slave. “These men were
kidnapped from Earth by aliens sixty-two years ago and were living
on another planet in another galaxy when we met. I fell in love
with them, and asked their masters if they would give them to me
to bring back to Texas and become part of my family. They’re each
over eighty years old, but they don’t look a day over forty.
They’re my staunch right arms and they ain’t afraid to tell me
when I get a bad idea. They’s the ones what made our milking
machine for Boomer,” Billy said with pride. “By the way, Ms.
Zelma, we got some cold Watcher milk in the fridge on the back
porch. I want you to drink a glass soon so's it will have some
time to work before dinner,” Billy said. Then he morphed back to
his Billy form.
“Amazing,” said Tom, “I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it
with my own eyes. Then you really did heal that young boy at
Walmart?” he asked.
“Afeard so, Mr. McMartin. That’s why that preacher-man and them TV
folks wanna’ talk with me. I can get around them easy enough. I’ll
just make them think I’s a hick cowboy what don’t know nothing,”
Billy said and laughed.
One by one, Billy introduced them to the rest of his family. He
didn’t pull any punches or try to hide anything from them. He told
about rescuing Nick and getting called to two different worlds
where he collected his family, and they were enhanced together. He
sent Hank and Buck off to their room to disrobe and told them to
return as Watchers for their milking. Once again, the visitors
were stunned by the huge hairy monsters they became, but the boys
were having a ball. They were in Bigfoot paradise. Billy
introduced his little brothers, his halfling slaves, as two of his
most wonderful possessions. He told the story of meeting them on
Retikki Prime and falling in love with them as well. They asked to
come back to Texas with him and become his slaves. He told Zelma
they played two matched Strads so beautifully they would bring
tears to her eyes. Last, he introduced his pets to them, Archie
and Edith. Billy spoke of their talents, their advanced knowledge
of technologies, and their ability to adapt one technology to
another and improve it. The psyches were very gracious and
answered their questions intelligently. Billy told them Orville
shot Edith while trying to escape, and she was still recovering
from the trauma.
* * * * * * *
Kate took Zelma to the kitchen and sat her down as she and her
crew went about getting Sunday dinner together. “He’s everything I
thought he might be and more, Kate. What a prize you have in him.
You must be very proud,” Zelma said almost like she was envious.
“I'm very proud, but I’m equally impressed with your grandsons,
Dear. I’ve decided you must share Enoch with me. I already told
him, along with Moss, he’s become another grandson. I guess you
could tell they bonded,” she said.
“I know, and I wish them well. Seems like your Billy will have
offspring even though he’s primarily wrapped up with that mature
Spaceship Captain and the big Watcher,” Zelma observed.
“Nick’s more than he seems, Zelma,” Kate looked at her and grinned
not knowing how much to tell her.
“Is he the Fallen Angel, Kate?” she asked.
“One of them. He was Lucifer, but now he’s Billy’s slave because
Billy saved his life,” Kate explained, “And, they’re very much in
love,” she added.
“Just how much power does Billy have, Kate?” Zelma asked.
“He doesn’t even know how much, Precious. He finds out something
new he can do every day. There’s not been a dull moment around
this ranch since he came back after that terrible rain storm we
had,” Kate replied, “But on the upside, my retiring son has
blossomed and become the strong, stalwart protective big brother
to Billy I always knew he could be. I couldn’t be more proud of
Nathan. He and his ramrod have bonded, and they are two of Billy’s
strongest supporters,” she added.
“Billy’s my last chance, my beloved Tom-Boy. The doctors gave up
on me and sent me home to die,” Zelma said quietly.
“I was wondering, but didn’t want to ask. I know you gave me a
hint on the phone, and I’ve worried since. Is it back, Darling?”
Kate asked.
“Yes, with a vengeance. It’s eating me up, and I’m growing weaker
by the day. I haven’t had the courage to tell Tom and Enoch. I’m
hoping Billy will do it for me. I want them with me,” Zelma said
and broke down.
Kate took her into her arms and comforted her with kiss after
stolen kiss. “I hope you left your worries in Houston, my
precious, there is no room for them here. I want you to look upon
this ranch, and this house, as a safe haven. You’re home here. If
there’s a glimmer of hope, my grandson will find it, and save you.
I just know it, Zelma. I have that much faith in Billy,” Kate said
firmly.
“I love you so much, Kate, and your family. There’s none like you
anywhere, but enough talk about my sorrow. How is Billy’s music
progressing?” Zelma asked.
“With his enhancements he’s scary, Zelma. He’s absolutely
flawless. When he gets together with his twins, they are not to be
believed. He can play their violins as well as they can. After
dinner, I’ll have him and his boys play for you. I want you to
hear him play the Bach D minor. It will bring you out of your
chair, my dear, like you sat on a hot stove. Enoch heard him and
the boys practicing the Bach double violin concerto yesterday, and
told him his grandmother would eat him and his boy band for lunch.
Not a crumb would be left,” Kate declared and laughed. She got a
good laugh out of her friend, and they forgot about health
problems and sorrows for a while. Kate got a glass of Watcher milk
and set it before her. She got one for herself and toasted her
friend. “I been on this milk for a couple of days now, and I feel
better than I have in years. To better health, my precious,” Kate
said, and they drank together.
“No wonder my great grandsons were hooked up to that monster’s
teats. That’s absolutely wonderful!” Zelma exclaimed.
* * * * * * *
Sunday dinner was a great success. They kept Billy’s laptop on,
and set it on a high shelf so anyone who wanted to check on the
front gate could do so. The TV truck drivers, camera men, and
reporters, got discouraged and told the preacher they couldn’t
hang around any longer. Womack held out the longest, but
eventually he got frustrated enough he gave up and returned to
town. He never felt so humiliated in his life as a preacher. He
would see to it he had his revenge on the Daniels.
Billy asked if Zelma would tell the story how she and her husband
became friends with his grandmother and grandfather. “You little
devil,” she grinned at Kate, “you put him up to this,” she
accused.
“I only said no one could tell the story like you, and I stand by
my word,” Kate replied firmly and grinned.
“In the early days of Texas we got very few great artist who would
bother to come even to the largest cities, because of people’s
lack of interest. The concerts would be poorly attended so those
we had, we went all out to draw crowds to show our appreciation. I
would actually have to politically blackmail people to dress up
and come to a concert. I was raised to appreciate fine art and
good music and was starved in Houston with just our season of
philharmonic performances.
“While traveling in Europe and France, I lassoed, hog-tied, and
dragged my cowboy husband, still kicking and screaming, off to
hear a concert at St. Sulpice in Paris by one of the greatest
French organists of all time, Marcel Dupre', and I was hooked. I
never heard anything like his playing or his music, and we
attended several more of his recitals. We returned to Paris
numerous times to attend his concerts. We even got to meet him and
invited him to visit us in Texas if he ever came to the U.S. Well,
he finally did come to the U.S., but it was to visit one of his
students who just happened to be an old school chum of your
grandmother’s. Dupre´ and his daughter were coming to the states
for a visit, but he agreed to give only one recital at the private
home of his friend’s school chum who lived in the Hill Country of
West Central Texas.
"Unfortunately, I didn’t learn about it until about a week before
his planned recital. Kate already sent invitations and everyone
R.S.V.P.'d they would absolutely be there. She had a full house
with standing room only. I managed to get her phone number,
called, and introduced myself. I told her what a big fan I was of
Dupre’s playing and music. I told her the times we went to Paris
we would always plan our trips according to his performance
schedule. I also bragged we met him on several occasions. Your
grandmother, bless her heart, was polite, but insisted there was
just no more room. My heart stopped beating. I was distraught for
days, and my husband became concerned for me.
"When I finally told him what was bothering me, he laughed at me.
“Dang it, Woman! You got chore’self a limo at chore’ disposal
wiff’ a diver on duty ‘round the clock to take you any-damn-wheres
you wanna’ go. Buy that lady an expensive bottle of wine, enough
flowers to fill the gotdamn hall, drive down ‘nere, take her to
lunch, get down on yore’ hands and knees, kiss the hem of her
petticoat, and beg her for an invite – that is, if’n y’ain’t too
proud,” he yelled at me. I wanted to be mad at Houston for yelling
at me, but I couldn’t. He was right. I went to him, gave him a big
hug and a kiss, thanked him, and told him I was sure I married the
right cowboy.
"I followed his advice to the letter. I brought her a three
hundred dollar bottle of wine, and stuffed over a thousand dollars
worth of flower arrangements in the limo. It smelled like a damn
funeral parlor. I took your grandmother to the finest German
restaurant in Fredericksburg, got down on my knees in front of God
and a restaurant full of people, actually kissed the hem of her
petticoat, begged her to reconsider, and could me and my husband
please come to her ranch for the Marcel Dupre´ recital?
Fortunately, she had two cancellations and gave the slots to us. I
was thrilled. Not only did we get to attend the performance of a
lifetime, which I will never forget, we made two of the best
friends we ever had,” Zelma said.
Billy started applauding and everyone joined him. “That was a
wonderful story, Ms. Zelma, and grandma was right, no one could
tell it like you did,” Billy complimented her. “I wish't I could
a' heard his performance,” Billy added.
“No problem. I had Daws record the complete recital in stereo on
the latest and most expensive reel to reel stereo tape deck we
could buy at the time,” Kate said.
“You never told me about that?” Billy said.
“Never crossed my mind. I used to get it out and listen to it from
time to time, but I haven’t since I stored the deck in the
basement. It’s still down there and the tapes have been kept cool
with some moisture in the basement. They should still be in good
condition. Maybe we can get them out and play them while Zelma’s
here with us,” Kate said.
“You should get it out and listen to it, Billy. His last piece was
an improvisation he called his Texas Suite. He started with a
theme and variations on an old cowboy tune “The Streets of
Laredo.” The middle movement was in three parts, slow-fast-slow on
“The Yellow Rose of Texas”, and the last movement was a
Passacaglia and Fugue on “The Eyes Of Texas.” When he finished,
his playing brought people to their feet. It was utter chaos in
that ballroom for a few minutes. He played one short encore which
was brilliant,” Zelma said.
* * * * * * *
Billy’s slave family ate politely. They were quiet and well
mannered. They would respond to questions if asked, but tried not
to monopolize conversation so the Daniels’ guests could converse
and enjoy themselves. “Since you’re healed, Enoch, what are your
immediate plans?” Tom McMartin asked his cousin.
“I can come back tomorrow if you need me for a delivery, Tom,”
Enoch said not wanting to say the wrong thing. “Otherwise, I was
going to accompany Billy, his protectors, and family to the
Lottery office and then to visit another gentleman,” Enoch added.
“Someone win the lottery?” Tom asked.
Everyone around the table laughed. Kate looked at Zelma, and
winked. “Billy done won the Super Lotto jackpot Friday night for
around eight hundred million. As far as we can tell there was only
one winning ticket, and it’s in the Daniels safe,” Enoch said.
Abby McMartin laughed when her husband dropped his fork onto his
plate. He recovered quickly, “Wait a minute! Why should that seem
out of place or untimely after everything I’ve seen today? Why
not? It makes perfect sense to me. Billy needs capital to survive
and grow, and you’re just the man what can help him with that,
Enoch. Your master’s thesis wasn't just brilliant, Cousin, it was
a work of genius,” Tom said, “I don’t need you right away, but if
I do, I know where to get in touch with you. We originally brought
grandma along to take care of you, but now I’d like you to stay
and take care of her. She ain’t been looking well these last few
days, and I’m a mite worried about her,” Tom added.
“I’ll be happy to, Tom. We won’t be gone more'n half a day I
imagine,” Enoch said.
“Do you need more venture capital, Billy?” Tom asked.
“Naw, sir, Mr. McMartin. Enoch didn’t want to tell you about our
other visit, but I will. We can share with you. I’m taking one
billion in gold to an exchange dealer in Houston tomorrow as
well,” Billy said without excitement. Winning the lottery was just
a smoke screen for establishing wealth overnight,” Billy
explained.
“Then winning the lottery was a given. You knew the winning
numbers before hand?" he asked.
“Naw, sir, not exactly. A wonderful Shedu lady, a half bovine/
half human seer gave me the numbers before I left the Watcher’s
world of Retikki Prime. She looked into my future and saw a series
of strange numbers she didn’t understand but thought perhaps I
might. I recognized them immediately as the Mega-Lotto numbers. I
gave the numbers to Uncle Nathan, he bought us a ticket, and we
won,” Billy explained.
“No one is suppose to have that much gold in his possession. The
current government will not allow it. Are you sure it’s one
billion worth?” Tom asked.
“Billy’s not joking or exaggerating, Mr. McMartin. It's only a
small part of the reserves he brought back with him from Retikki
Prime, sir,” Nathan said.
“What is your plan and what are your goals, Billy?” Tom asked.
“To establish a working community of people who will work and play
together for the greater good of themselves and for those to whom
we reach out to become a part of us. We will form a corporation
and beat the system at it’s own game. I'm not here to overthrow
the government or create threatening or hostile take overs of
other corporations. With help from my family and my slaves, who
are synonymous in my mind, my goal is to be bold and innovative to
create another way of life everyone can see and examine which will
be for all and not just the very rich,” Billy said, "and it will
be free of religion, myth, and superstition," he added.
Tom didn’t respond immediately. He was struck by Billy’s words,
but he thought the kid was incredibly naive. Then Tom wondered if
he was being short sighted because of his own learned personal
prejudices. He’d been working within the system for almost two
decades and was well versed in the ins and outs and wherefores of
modern business. You just didn’t try to be too innovative or bend
the rules too much or you were looked upon as a loose cannon, a
trouble maker. Once branded, your chance of survival was close to
zero. Tom had not yet been exposed to the full Billy Daniels
effect. That would come after dinner.
* * * * * * *
While the kitchen help, supervised by Kate and Zelma, cleaned the
kitchen, the freemen and their protectors went off to the living
room to talk.
“Mr. McMartin, Enoch,” Billy started hesitantly, “your grandmother
wanted me to share with you something she can’t bring herself to
tell you. There ain’t no easy way to say it, so I’ll just be
blunt. Her cancer is back more virulent than before. It’s eating
her up, and she’s losing strength quickly. Your Grandmother is
dying,” Billy said.
Enoch burst into tears. Tom and Moss put their arms around him.
“Can you help her, Son?” Tom asked, “And call me Tom,” he added.
“Thanks, Tom. I don’t want to be overly optimistic and build false
hope, but I think there’s a chance. My slave and surrogate dad,
Nick, has powers and so does my other slave and protector Clyde,
but I don’t know if the three of us will be strong enough to heal
her in one session or if it will require several sessions. I’m
open for suggestions, Guys,” Billy said to his two protectors.
Nick looked at Clyde and Clyde nodded for Nick to speak. “We could
do it in three or four sessions with just the three of us, but the
extra time it takes will drain her of her residual strength and
leave her very little, almost no strength to recover. If we had
one more, it could be done in one session and leave her enough to
recover,” Nick said.
“Are there any healers among our herd?” Billy asked Dociean.
“No, sir, Master Billy. We were never programmed for healing. If
we get sick we must depend upon our good master to take care of
us. We’re lucky to have a fine master like you who has two other
healers for his slaves. It makes us feel more secure,” Dociean
said.
“We have to do something, and we have to do it tonight. We have to
make an effort. If we do one session, perhaps we’ll have enough
time to find another healer, but we must act now – this evening,”
Billy said firmly. “By the way, Zelma wants you gentlemen by her
side when we work to heal her. Your aura and love will aid us by
amplifying our strength,” Billy said to Tom and Enoch.
“Of course, we’ll do anything, Son,” Tom said.
“Plan on staying the night. We have plenty of room,” Billy told
Tom.
“Something told me not to plan anything for tomorrow in case we
couldn’t make it back tonight,” Tom said and smiled.
“All right, then it’s decided. We’ll do it tonight after your wife
puts your boys to bed. We’ll gather in the ballroom and transport
Zelma on an anti-gravity gurney we have,” Billy said.
* * * * * * *
It was still early afternoon when the rest of Billy’s family
finished in the kitchen, and along with Kate and Zelma, joined
them in the living room.
“Billy will you perform for us this afternoon?” Zelma asked.
“It would be an honor to perform for you, Mrs. Redbone. Are you up
for another run through of the Bach D minor, Grandma?” Billy asked
Kate.
“I am. I even practiced several times this past week, and your men
have listened to the concerto several times on the stereo. They
have their parts down pat,” she said.
“Good. You men gather your fiddles, and we’ll meet you in the
ballroom. Ms. Zelma, take my hand, I don’t want you walking up
them stairs,” he said.
“You installed an elevator?” Zelma asked.
“Sort of,” Billy said as she took his hand, and they vanished. Tom
and Abby gasped, but Enoch slapped his leg and laughed.
“Where’d they go?” Tom asked like he was about to panic.
“They’s in the ballroom already. Come,” Enoch motioned with his
head, “we’ll go up the old fashioned way, we’ll use the stairs,”
he said.
By the time everyone climbed the stairs, Billy got out a chair and
set it right in front of the stage and held it for Zelma to sit.
“That was some trip, Billy Daniels. Thanks for the lift,” she
said.
“You’re welcome, my lady. Now sit and the others will join us in a
minute,” Billy said.
“I love a cowboy who has a flair for the dramatic,” Zelma joked
with him, “I’ll bet Tom had to change his pants,” she added, and
they shared a laugh.
Billy arranged the stage with two chairs for his halflings and
uncovered the grand on the stage. He returned to the storage
closet and began to set out folding chairs for the audience to
take one when they came into the ballroom. Everyone knew the drill
and those who didn’t followed the others. The McMartin boys, Rory
and Cal, had to sit on either side of their new Bigfoot buddy,
Boomer. They walked into the room hand in hand. Boomer was in
love. Kate took her place at the organ and turned the blowers on
to fill the bellows. The twins got out their fiddles. Billy hit an
“A” above middle “C” and the boys tuned their instruments. They
were set and ready. Billy went to the front of the stage. “We’re
proud and honored to have the McMartin family with us today and
Tom and Enoch’s beloved grandmother, Mrs. Zelma Jane Redbone. We’d
like to dedicate this performance to them and wish them a happy
and healthy visit with us,” Billy said and his family applauded
for him and their guests.
On the count of three, the four musicians started the unison
opening theme of the first six bars of Bach’s concerto in D minor
for keyboard and orchestra. The twins violins gave a more full
orchestral sound to the organ, and they were off. Kate didn’t lag
behind this time. She really did practice and kept up with the
staggering tempo Billy set with no problem. The twins were in top
form, and they got through the first movement without a flaw.
Billy took his time with the second movement, and the four of them
made it sing. The final movement Billy played like his balls were
on fire. (testiculare con fuoco) Billy set the tempo, and it was
brilliant. When they played the final chord all Hell broke loose
from the small audience. Everyone was on their feet applauding,
whistling, stomping big-feet and cowboy boots.
“Who’d a’ thunk? A cowboy with talent like that. He’s frick’n
amazing,” Abby said to her husband.
“Hang on to your hat. There’s more to come,” Tom replied.
“You think the boys should begin music lessons?” Abby asked Tom
“This week, Dear. Make arrangements,” he said. Tom McMartin saw
Billy in a totally different light after what he witnessed. The
young man was far more than just a shot in the dark on which some
aliens were taking a chance. Tom was as convinced as his
grandmother, Billy Daniels was the real McCoy. Above all, Tom knew
he could trust his grandmother into Billy’s care.
End of Chapter 15 ~ Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
Copyright ~ © ~ 2012 ~ 2016 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights
Reserved
Email to: Waddie Greywolf <[email protected]>
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06/06/2012
12/31/2016