7Stars

Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
By Waddie Greywolf

Chapter 76

"There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it." ~ William Jennings Bryan

On board American Airline flight 424 to Paris was a young French boy, René Ondine, whose family was one of the wealthiest in Europe. Their wealth came from generations of rare, fine wine making and selling. His family owned some of the most valued wine growing vineyards in France and diversified into several other climate friendly countries. You didn't drink Ondine wine unless you were among the two percent in the world. If you had to ask 'how much' for a bottle of Ondine wine, you most likely couldn't afford it. In fact, you probably couldn't afford the meal in the restaurant which served the exclusive vintage.

In some of the bigger jets, there were special compartments on a second deck for the two percent who could afford the luxury of a single stateroom. Several cabins on each jumbo-jet provided sleeping accommodations. René was paralyzed from the waist down and was returning to his main family after a month vacation at his aunt and uncle's ranch in the Hill Country of West Central Texas down around Kerrville where the climate seemed to be ideal for growing certain hybrid varieties of wine grapes. The Ondine family were experimenting in expanding their operations into the Texas area. They also raised and processed their own quality controlled beef which were raised by strict organic standards. It was a fast growing business for them for which they had little competition. The upper two percent of the population not only had the wherewithal to purchase the best medical care, they also had the money to eat only those foods not so highly processed, grown without carcinogenic chemicals, or genetically modified which proved to eventually cause massive damage to the human body.

René was a brilliant seven year old boy and was as gifted with computers as he was music. His backpack, he carried with him everywhere, held only the very latest and most expensive video equipment money could buy. His family didn't spoil him, but they certainly were financially blessed with the wherewithal to indulge his passions for music, computers, and video equipment. His cabin boasted a large porthole next to his bed. When he spotted the first silver orb slowly coming up along side the large jet, he quickly got out his professional quality video camera and started filming. He managed to capture the parade of the twenty scout-ships and their messages. After it was done, and the small orbs seemed to just vanish, René reviewed the footage. He laughed and giggled at his good fortune, downloaded the video to a file in his computer, and immediately sent it off to several of his close computer buddies about his same age. Then, he uploaded the entire sequence to the UFO section of YouTube.

When the jet landed in Paris, there wasn't enough time lapsed between the sighting and passenger disembarkation at Orly Airport for the spooks to get their bowels in an uproar. They simply didn't have enough warning to make a grand confiscation of everyone's cameras. Even though the French cooperated with the US in their neo-Nazi info gathering fetish, they were more relaxed and didn't hold their own citizens to the same rigorous inspections they demanded of the Americans. The pilots never said a word and when asked about it later, claimed they never saw a thing. Their maturity and long term standing saved their butts.

* * * * * * *
It took a little longer to make the trip to Turkey than Captain Nick originally told Billy, but they lost almost forty-five minutes parading by the jumbo-jet. As the scout-ships gathered over Mount Ararat they formed a perfect circle. It was early in the evening by Turkish time as they gathered and hovered over the mountain. A number of natives watched in awe as the small silver orbs slowly rotated like fairies dancing in a ring while Captain Nick contacted Billy and the rest of the ships. “What would you like to do now, Kemosabe?” Nick asked.

“Can you amplify a sound from these small ships, Tonto?” Billy asked.

“Everyone of these ships can amplify sound. At our height, in a holding pattern over this mountain, from one ship alone, the sound will be heard for a ten mile radius. If you want one or all to create the sound, the more ships added, the louder and more impressive the sound will become, Kemosabe,” Nick replied.

“Gabriel, 'tis time for you to blow your horn. If we're successful tonight, it will mark the beginning of the end of this era of time and slow demise of hidden, behind-the-scenes manipulation and life choking rule of the wealthy class through whitewashed crimes against mankind. Now is your time to shine, my handsome Brother. Give us five tones, Re Mi Do Do So of equal duration. The second Do will be an octave lower than the first,” Billy said. He sang the five tones and conducted himself to show Gabriel just how he wanted it played. “We'll keep our fingers crossed John Williams don't come after us for copyright infringement. Nick, you send out the first set of five tones from your ship. Wait one full minute, link ten of the ships together. Gabriel, you will play the second set just as you played the first set. Wait another minute and link all twenty ships together. Gabriel, play the five tones exactly the same, one last time. Then Captain Nick and Captain Cloog will take our ships into the mountain. We will appear as falling stars. We will send for the rest of you when we get there. And now, Master Obbligatto, if you will be so kind to give Captain Nick the coordinates, we will proceed after Gabriel's last big toot,” Billy said.

Marcus stepped forward and proudly gave Captain Nick and his S2P the coordinates, and they were immediately relayed to the other nineteen ships. “Holy guacamole, Kemosabe!” Nick exclaimed. “That's eight to ten miles beneath this mountain, but it rises almost four miles above the valley floor. This ain't just some pile of rocks neither. It's a dormant volcano. Let's hope it's still sleeping peacefully, having sweet dreams, and didn't eat nothing what causes gas,” Nick said, “Follow us when you're ready, Kemosabe,” he added.

“Will you conduct me, Maestro?” Gabriel asked and grinned.

“I'd be proud and honored, Good Sir. Let's do it! Captain Nick! Whither thou goest! After Gabriel finishes the last set, take your ship into the mountain, and we will follow. When we're safely inside we can send the coordinates to the others, and they can come in two at a time. Nobody disembarks until all the ships are gathered. My only regret is I forgot to ask Zeke to bring his trumpet. You talented angels could have shared a toot-in-common," Billy punned. Some laughed, but a few groaned.

Billy gave Gabriel a downbeat. Gabriel played the five tones flawlessly, and the pure sweet sound from the long silver trumpet which was prophesied to announce the end of time went out from Captain Nick's ship. They waited one full minute, repeated it with ten ships amplifying the five tones, and finally all twenty ships. It blew out window-lights in the three countries surrounding Mount Ararat.

Immediately following the close encounter of the musical kind, two of the small orbs dropped from several thousand feet and looked like the teardrops from an Angel's eyes as they neared the ground and seemed to vanish into a splash of bright light. They began traveling through solid rock sinking deeper and deeper into the bowels of the Earth. They could see all around them and occasionally the small ships would pass through gigantic, long, hollow dormant lava tubes and then hit more igneous rock formations. Sometimes they would pass through what looked like solid iron and other times through rocks which looked like they might contain precious stones or metals as they would shine brightly, reflecting the light from inside the orbs. It was an interesting, yet somewhat disquieting experience. After sometime, Nick announced they were about to come to the end of the depth coordinates, and they broke through into a huge cavern. Nick ordered the two ships to come to a full stop. He told his crew and Captain Cloog to turn on their external lights which ran around the outside hull of the small ships. While the lights were powerful, they weren't bright enough to shine to the other side of the great cavern, but there was a strange, massive, bright and shining reflection from the floor.

“Captain Cloog, let's us drop down some to see what's causing the reflection from the floor of this place,” Nick said and Cloog followed Captain Nick's ship down until they were just above the floor. The reflection was from gold. Countless tons of it. Billy looked at it and shook his head.

“It looks like the dwarf's home which was taken over by the huge dragon Smaug. In fact, it would make Smaug's gold seem like a pittance compared to what we're looking at, and it looks as if it fills this whole massive cavern all the way to the huge gates we see in the distance. Captain Cloog, open a channel to the other ships,” Billy ordered and Cloog complied, “This is your fearless leader speaking who is no longer as fearless as he once was. What we're looking at is beautiful and awe inspiring to say the least, but undoubtedly the root cause of all evil; however, sometimes you need them roots to get what you want or to make something come about, but not this e'nin. You are about to see more gold and treasure than you can imagine. An ocean of it. Gold, silver, gem stones, anything and everything you can imagine, from idols to animal figures; coinage, and bar after bar of gold bullion. It has to be the combined total wealth them ancient aliens gathered from the earliest days on Earth and very probably other worlds in our galaxy.

"It makes one want to indulge his inner Scrooge McDuck syndrome by jumping into it head first and swimming from shore to shore; however, I can't stress strongly enough, h'it ain't what we come for. I don't want anyone representing my family to pick up so much as a sou or a lead penny of any of this stored treasure. It ain't why we're here. It ain't why we come on this perilous journey. We come here to claim and rescue our brothers. With the fates willing, the wind to our backs, and the creek don't rise, we just might pull it off. I can't stress how important it is, not for any man to even 'accidentally' slip a coin or a precious jewel into his pocket as a souvenir. H'it ain't ours, Cowboys! We will gather what we come for and leave the rest behind,” Billy said firmly. There was no doubt in anyone's mind Billy was serious.

Nick gave the S2Ps instructions to test the air, and they returned a report it was breathable. The atmosphere contained a higher oxygen content than the surface with traces of sulfur and methane but not enough to be harmful. They traveled into the dark cavern over hills and valleys of more gold and treasures for what seemed like several miles to the exact coordinates Marcus gave them. Slowly the great stone-worked arched entrance to a chamber came into view, and they could make out the actual entrance to the hidden vaults. Before them was the most remarkable landmark anyone ever saw. It was a huge archway carved from solid stone and looked like the entryway to an underground sepulcher. The most amazing thing was, there were two solid gold statues of two enormous Shedus with wings fully extended like they were guarding the entrance. Billy was stunned. He wasn't the only one.

“Don't you think it's a just a teensy bit strange and somewhat of a dichotomy for gods who were so adamant against early humans making statues of the golden bull, Baal, would erect statues to the great Shedus to frighten off intruders and perhaps protect this place?” Billy asked in awe.

“Gods by proxy, Kemosabe?” Billy heard Nick ask.

“That would be my best gut-level guess, Tonto. They got their power from the gentle beast and found someway to control them to make themselves look like supreme beings. Smoke and mirrors. Then when they got full control, they didn't need them anymore, and like you and the rest of the fallen angels, the Shedus got smeared by lies and propaganda; just like the right wing on our planet will do to anyone who even suggests there might be a better more humane way to live and thrive with equality for everyone. I think we're looking at the power behind the throne; the fake wizard behind the green curtain pump'n them bellows and pulling them strings,” Billy mused and there came a great hush over everyone. Billy's posse of Fallen-Angels and Cowboys were stunned by the implication.

“Then this little revelation suggests...?” Nick asked quietly.

“I don't even wanna' think about it at this point, Pa. The worst thought what comes to mind is who or what factions are behind the concerted effort to wipe out the Shedus? I think we just got us an answer, which leads to one of two conclusions; they either forgot about this place; it's been lost from memory or any kind of substantive historical records; or, they're expecting us. Surely, they left some guards or some kind of alarm system to alert them to intruders,” Billy said like he was free associating and making a grand effort to think on his feet for the sake of his posse.

“Metatron told me, there were only two alarm possibilities. If someone tried, on their own, to figure out the combination to move the stone blocks and got it wrong; or, if they tried to release Metatron from his sarcophagus thinking he might provide them with a means into the main crypt by forcing him to give them the combination. Metatron is the cheese in the mouse trap. He gave me the combination to open the vault, so we don't need to remove him until last; but unfortunately, he didn't know the combination to his own sarcophagus,” Marcus said.

“You have a deep need to save Metatron, don't chu,' Master Obbligatto?” Billy asked looking directly into Marcus's eyes.

“Up until the time Bossman Randy come to me in my dreams, and your Cowboy-Angels rescued me, I was living in the bowels of Hell itself, Master Billy. Metatron promised me these things if I kept his secret until you come along, and we come here. I done what he asked, and he done kept his promise to me. I owe the big Angel for who I've become and what I got now. I swear to you, he never asked nothing for himself – only, to rescue his brothers. In fact, he insisted I make no attempt to free him, because all Hell will break lose if we do, and we could be overwhelmed,” Marcus paused for a second or two, “I don't give a shit what he told me, sir. I can't leave him behind. I'm morally bound to take him with us,” Marcus said resolutely.

“I would say that pretty much sums up the Cowboy Way, Brother Obbligatto. At this point, I can't make any promises, Marcus, but I give you my word, not as some dip-shit, backwoods, bible pound'n, Messiah, but as a common brown-dirt hardwork'n cowboy to a brother, we will do everything we possibly can to rescue them folks from the vault, and your big blue-buddy as well,” Billy swore.

“Let's do it, Master Billy. I trusted you so far and you provided me with a new hope, a job I love and work hard at, a home, a new life, and above all a new love to cherish. I ain't gonna' stop trusting you now. I believe in this mission with every fiber in my body, and any thoughts I ever had for a decent future for me and ma' boy depends on what we do here tonight. I done et me the icing, now let's eat them sons-a-bitches' cake right out from under them,” Marcus said firmly.

“Together, we will make it so, Brother, for a better future for all critters on the Earth,” Billy replied equally firmly, and they shook on it.

“Hosanna!” shouted Tron Garrett.

“Hosanna, in the highest!” the rest of the men on Cloog and Billy's ship responded.

The two small Scout-Ships stopped just before the entrance to the great vault. Captain Nick sent their coordinates to the other eighteen ships and two by two they dropped from the sky only to disappear, in what looked like to the natives, a splash of light. It looked like tears falling from some large invisible eye, and they were committing suicide by hurling themselves to the ground; only, they couldn't see any debris left behind. It didn't take the other Scout-Ships long, and they lined up behind Captain Nick and Captain Cloog's ships.

“Listen up, Captains!” Captain Nick said to get their attention, “We'll proceed into the area. Turn your outside lights on maximum and look for a parking place high up. It's one of the benefits of traveling in small ships. We can land in out-of-the-way places and gate to the area where we need to be working,” he said.

Nobody seemed to be in a great hurry to find a parking place. Nick and Cloog found places on high decorative sconces on one of the many massive stone carved columns supporting the ceiling of the vault. The others followed their lead and found other sconces to land on. The lights from the ships acted like chandeliers for the the floor of the vault below until almost every corner was bathed in a soft light. A beam shot out from Captain Nick's ship to the floor of the vault and a gate sprang up. The men on his ship began to depart.

Captain Cloog followed Nick's lead. Another beam shot from his ship and a gate opened on the ship to the floor. Billy gave Cloog a hug and a kiss for his excellent flying. The old warrior blushed and smiled. Billy and Nick's ship contained most of the Fallen-Angels and close family members. The other gates began to spring up. They quickly got the lay of the land. It smelled musty, cool, and dank, but it was bearable. Across from what must be the entry to the inner chamber was a lone sarcophagus which contained a single body of a huge blue angel.

“That's him! That's got to be Metatron,” Marcus said and walked over to take a look, “My god, he's even bigger than I remember. He must be eight feet tall or better,” Marcus said. Billy walked over to take a look and was impressed the angel didn't look shriveled up from lying in a sarcophagus for centuries. He looked good and was massively muscular like Billy remembered Steve Reeves from old Roman god movies. Billy wondered why in the Hell they made him blue?

“Don't try anything with him yet, Brother. Let's us get them Angels out of there first. You ready to trip the light fantastic and do your number to open this depressing place. Like good Boy Scouts, I'm glad we done remembered to bring our own can-opener with us,” Billy said and grinned.

“My master is quite good at opening cans,” Wilbur said and laughed. Marcus grinned from ear to ear.

“I seen his can-opener and have no doubt he can do the job quite handsomely,” Billy responded and everyone laughed. Tension was high, and a little humor was a good pressure relieving device.

Billy suggested they look around the room they were in to familiarize themselves with the place. Some of the men from each ship brought bio-luminescent torches along with them and began to pass them out to the others. They walked around in groups and Billy's group explored a great hallway which looked like it went up a stairway and then down the other side into a dark chamber. It looked dank and foreboding. Billy took one step inside the hallway, and his boot got stuck in a black tarry goo. He didn't go any further and urged his party not to either. He knelt down on his haunches and dipped a couple of his fingers in the stuff, and it smelled of petroleum and sulfur. It was strong and began to burn his fingers. He reached for his bandanna and wiped them clean.

“Why do I have the feeling I'm in the middle of a scene from that terrible Ridley Scott movie “Prometheus”? Billy asked, and a couple of the men laughed. Bart agreed with Billy it was a bad movie. “I think we just discovered the real origin of the petroleum under the ground. Some of it may be from dinosaurs, but I got me a suspicion most of it comes from Demons what inhabit these zones,” Billy prognosticated.

“Would that make them flammable?” Bart Langstrom asked.

“They might be, but another part of me tells me we just ain't gonna' be that lucky,” Billy replied. “Nevertheless, if they come, I guaran-damn-tee-ya' it will be from this passageway,” Billy allowed and the men turned around to join the others. Billy managed to get most of the tarry substance off the bottom of his boots and the dust in the chamber covered the rest.

* * * * * * *
They walked over to the wall next to the huge stone door sealing the inner-chamber where the individual sarcophaguses were. It was like looking at the real thing from a picture Marcus had burned into his brain like a DVD burner copies one disk to another. It was just as he remembered from his dreams; but the stone puzzle, which must be activated to gain entry, was considerably larger than he recalled, and Marcus, himself, wasn't a small man. The huge stone contraption was obviously built for someone much bigger and taller than the average human male. It didn't deter nor intimidate Marcus. He started his mission for which he was chosen and groomed; he pushed in the first series of heavy stone blocks and didn't stop until he felt them lock into place.

Marcus had Wilbur sit on his shoulders. “Push that one up there what looks like a rooster on the top row next to the end, Son,” he told Wilbur and moved him into position. Wilbur did as his master told him and pushed the heavy stone in as far as he could and locked it into position. There were two more he and Marcus activated in tandem. Marcus let Wilbur down, thanked him, and gave him a quick kiss for his help and good work.

Everyone went “Awww,” at the public display of their tenderness for each other.

The last three stones were near the bottom. Everyone held their breath as Marcus pushed in the last stone and they waited. Nothing happened. Marcus looked frustrated. He knew he did everything right. If he didn't there would be alarms and all kinds of havoc going on to alert demon guards from the bowels of the Earth.

"The gold key to the vault, Kemosabe! Did you remember to bring it with us?" Nick asked

Billy slapped his left rear buttocks as if to check. He smiled, reached into his left rear pocket of his Wranglers, retrieved a large gold key, and grinned like the Cheshire cat. He walked over to the huge door, inserted the key into the face-plate embedded in the stone surrounding it, and slowly turned it to the right. He heard a faint click and knew it engaged some other mechanism which made a whirring sound for another few seconds. Marcus held up his hand as everyone watched the gold key imprint in his palm disappear. It raised the men's spirits they were doing the right thing. One full minute of anticipation passed when some greater mechanical action engaged with a great clank. Slowly, but surely, the great stone door began to rise into the ceiling. It was obvious, the machinery hadn't been cared for or oiled in centuries. It squeaked, complained, and groaned like an old man getting up in the morning; however, it made it to the top. Immediately, lights came on in the chamber, and the men stood looking inside, not daring to take the first step, peering around, and over each other to get a good look.

Billy let out a long, low whistle, “Hoe-lee-crap!” he exclaimed, “They's way more'n we had any reason to believe,” he said.

“I hear that!” Zeke said, and put his arm on Billy's shoulder in solidarity, “How many you think there is, Son?” he asked.

“I done a quick count. They's twelve rows of fifty to a row. If all them slots is filled, that's six hun'nert bodies with boots-off-the ground,” Billy said, “Although, they's a chance some may not have survived,” he added.

“You think we got enough ships to handle that many, Billy?” Bubba asked.

“Yeah, Brother. According to ma' pa, each ship will easily carry fifty to eighty in a pinch. If they all make it, in round numbers, we'll have seven hun'nert and fifty bodies give or take. It figures out to about thirty-eight per ship. We's good, Big Brother. I'm just think'n on the work of round'n up them sleeping-beauties and herd'n 'em into the gates. Let's hope a few of our Angels remember the old language. Do you Angels recognize some or any of these people?” Billy asked.

The Fallen-Angels under Billy's wing, including Nick, walked down the isles picking out several they recognized, calling out names to each other, but in the end, they realized they knew far less than the total amount. “At a quick glance, Master Billy, I'd guesstimate we probably know about two hundred of these Angels; the rest have been stored here either from another era or brought here from other planets,” Uriel said, “Damn, Master Billy, some of our brother Angels from our period look really bad. They look like dried fruit, sir – no pun intended,” Uriel added and grinned.

“They will reconstitute rapidly after we infuse them with some good air and re-hydrate them – just like dried fruit, brother Uriel,” Marcus said with a voice of authority, “Metatron done told me not to worry, they will come around,” he added.

“I'm in bad need of some suggestions, Gentlemen. Anyone got an idea how to awaken our sleeping brothers?” Billy asked.

“I know what to do, Master Billy. I just never told ju' ever'thing. T'weren't important until this moment noways,” Marcus said, “There should be a side room with controls over near the top left corner. Come, we'll walk over there together. Master Gabriel, if we're successful, you will hear the cylinders unlock, decompression will begin, and the tops of each sarcophagus should slowly open. When you're satisfied they's fully open, play reveille for the troops. It should get their blood stirring,” Marcus said and grinned.

“Jesus, you'll have their flesh jump'n off their bones, Tiger. How would you like to wake up to reveille after centuries of non-ending sleep? Gabe, remember that movie theme you and I been working on as a duet? The theme from Fellini's first film “La Strada” by Nino Rota? That's a lovely trumpet lullaby, and you play it beautifully. Give them a little love to wake up by, Brother,” Billy insisted.

“You got it, Maestro. I agree. It would be perfect. I love that lilting lullaby. I wouldn't mind waking up to it myself,” Gabriel replied.

Billy and Marcus found the control room opened the door and there was a naked humanoid inside. He didn't look frightened because he saw Billy and Marcus's wings. He looked a bit surprised, but otherwise almost pleased to see real, live angels after so long a time.

“Metatron told me about them. They ain't human, Master Billy. He's an android meat-machine. There's a battery of a dozen of them who mind the place. For the most part, they's self-replicating like them angels but don't have any powers themselves other than basic maintenance. They's four what keep them active and repaired and the rest are attendants and janitors. Since there ain't much for them to do, they just watch over everything and have for centuries. They have a potential for greater things, they just ain't never got to grow or develop down here,” Marcus explained.

“What do we do now?” Billy asked.

“I gotcha' covered, Bossman!” Marcus said proudly, shoving his thumbs down inside his pants and hitching up his Wranglers, “Mene, mene tekel umpharsin. Kwale'-quorgo gala-dama-more' farfel-goggle-indoe. Klaatu barada nicto,” Marcus said to the attendant.

The small android stood still like it was stunned for a moment, raise its eyebrows, rolled its eyes, got a look on his face what said 'You got to be kidding,' shrugged its shoulders, nodded, and flipped a switch on the control board before him. A loud swoosh sound was heard in the great vault. The sound of compression chambers being filled with oxygen made a large sound like one big fart in the containment vault. Billy and Marcus could see the lids slowly rising and Gabriel began to play the love theme from Fellini's film 'La Strada.' Billy could almost see the wonderful Giulietta Masina playing 'Gelsomina,' the reluctant clown, for the mentally disturbed and socially confused 'Zampanò' in one of the world's greatest films.

“What the Hell did you tell him, Big'un?” Billy asked grinning from ear to ear.

“Fuck, I don't know!" Marcus replied and laughed, "Them were the words Metatron made me repeat to him night after night when he would come to me in my sleep. He never did tell me what they meant. Them last three just done come to me, and I added 'em for good measure. I swear to you, Little Brother, I will dream about them words after I die,” he said and grinned real big.

“I still dream about them last three words – regularly. Scariest damn movie I ever did see. I was pretty sure Patricia Neil would be reduced to a pile of toast crumbs by that big android. Well done, Big Brother! You done surprised the shit out of me. What about them other androids?” Billy asked.

“He said we could take 'em wiff' us if we wanted. They's harmless enough and might be useful calming them sleep'n-beauties,” Marcus said, “They certainly ain't got themselves no future unless we provide one for 'em. We're basically resetting their only reason for being in the first place. It would be the cowboy-way-thing-to-do to offer them a new home and a better life, sir,” he added knowing Billy's sense of humanity wouldn't allow him to do otherwise.

“You think them twelve will respond like biblical pericopes of good shepherds and give us a hand loading them forgotten Angels?” Billy asked.

“I don't see why not. It was their job description all these years to look after them. Maybe one of our Angels knows the old language and can communicate with them,” Marcus said.

After the third playing of the 'La Strada' theme, the angels in stasis were coming around. They moved slowly and were groggy. They looked miserable and forlorn. They were disoriented, confused, and probably felt terrible. Even though he didn't drink alcohol, Billy wondered if what they might be experiencing was similar to a fifty mega-ton hangover; the kind where you wake up in a density-dumpster wondering how in the Hell you got there. Billy and Marcus found some pure water and numerous small gold cups into which they poured the clear liquid and gave them to Billy's men helping them. They would give each one a sip of water to start getting fluids into them to hydrate them. The captains of each ship adjusted their intake gates placing them inside the great vault. Nick thought it might be a good idea. They would have less ground to cover and less likely to be exposed to the onslaught of an army of angry demons, if they came. Billy ordered all his Cowboy-Angels to wing-up before they landed so the sleeping Angels could see it was their brothers, or a reasonable facsimile, who were awaking them to make the shock a bit easier.

Billy hoped they wouldn't have to spend precious time having to convince them they were trying to help. There was no telling what or by whom they were told, perhaps even brainwashed, before they were placed into stasis. One might think the variety of folks, giants, large, medium, small, winged, no wings, and strange critters like Billy's psyches, the giant, lovable, lumbering dogs, and twelve winged Sun Bears who managed to stow-away on Cloog's ship without anyone knowing, would be utterly confusing and scary to the awakened angels, but they had the exact opposite effect.

Billy began to refer to it as his family's mid-summer night's dream love-bomb quality. Much to his companions delight, Billy claimed his family's sense of nonsense and finding fun with almost any situation while still maintaining a solid core of purpose, was an invincible combination. It could tear down thousands of years of hopelessness and replace it with a sense of freedom and joy. They didn't have to shun the frumious bandersnatch. They simply invited him to a Mad Hatter tea party. (Not to be confused with the insanity of the uber-right tea-party prats who decided God's Own Party wasn't bat-shit crazy enough for them.)

Part of the charm of Billy's family was, they were well fed, handsome, exuded happiness and well-being, smiled, laughed a lot with each other, and they all possessed a devilishly funny sense of humor. There were no frowns or sad faces of individuals afraid of their own shadow or those of the bigger folks. They intermingled and helped like they were one big happy family. The Sun Bears, the Psyches, Archie and Edith, Poly and Cass, and the four big dogs were Billy's best ambassadors of goodwill and unconditional love.

The fact they could talk, even though they couldn't understand each other's language, was helpful beyond measure. Once the awakened ethereals got a face-full of giant dogie love and petted the big hounds, their hearts were won over by them. They reasoned if these folks, angels or not, could live and love such unusual animals and live together in harmony, they couldn't be bad people. Their rescuers were the exact opposite of the horror and terror they lived with for several centuries.

Zeke came forward to act as an interpreter. He was one of a couple of the more mature Angels who remembered the old language. There were a few of the awakened Angels who were suspicious of Billy and his posse's raid on their sleeping chambers and were sure they would pay with their lives when their masters found out about it. Their fears were supported by a large rumble which felt like it came from the deepest bowels of the mountain. Could the demons be on the move? Rather than argue with them, Billy instructed his Angels to set them aside and work with those who were eager to gain a new life for themselves away from the horrors of the past.

Billy's family went about helping and encouraging the many rather than trying to convince the few. He hoped they would come around, but if some chose to stay behind, he wouldn't force them to go with his family; however, after the skeptics watched how kind and good to the others and the care exhibited by Billy's family, more and more of them decided to throw their lot in with the Daniels family and began to help some of the more infirm. Things seemed to be moving at a snail's pace until the first major tremor under the mountain. It was like a kick in the butt from a reality monitor. Things began to pickup pretty damn quick after that. Billy's posse brought along a number of floating gurneys which they used to carry the more infirm and gate them to the ships.

Billy was pleased with the progress of the twelve androids. They didn't seem to have an agenda of any kind. They were just as Marcus described them: they were meat-machines who were never given the chance to progress beyond being caretakers for the crypt. However, they weren't stupid and showed signs of being able to learn quickly. Zeke took them aside and told them what they were trying to do. If they wanted to come with them to a new world where they would have many more options, they were welcome; however, Zeke and his family would appreciate it if they helped work with and convince the more stubborn Angels they should join them. They quickly caught onto the idea of what Zeke, Billy, and the rest of his family were trying to do and began to work just as hard as the rest of the men.

They assured the hard-nose conservatives their masters left them in their sarcophaguses well over ten thousand years ago and didn't bother to come back, even once, to check on them. After that revelation, most of them began to see the light of reason. Why should they be dead to life by forced stasis when they could be living like any other creature? Slowly, but surely, one by one, they broke with their more conservative brothers and began to pitch-in and help. Yet, there was a handful who would not budge. Franklin Roosevelt said, a conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who has never learned to walk forward; a reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards; and, a radical is a man with both feet planted firmly in the air. So it was with the somber sober semi-sacrosanct somnambulistic six and several others who listened to them.

Billy's family loaded about half the six hundred awakened angels when the second rumble came. It was so strong, it tossed a couple of the conservative group onto the edges of their sarcophaguses and cut them pretty bad. Billy and several members of his posse stopped what they were doing to take the time to heal the two angels who were wounded. They were overwhelmed by Billy and his angels compassion and caring when they obviously were working as hard and fast as they could to evacuate everyone from the vault; yet, they took time to heal the conservative negative gainsayers. Billy's actions softened them enough to ask if they could get aboard one of his ships; they expressed great fear. Billy assured them they were welcome and asked his men to rush them off as quickly as possible. The hardcore six remained that way; firm in their conviction their masters would return to rescue them and do away with the unholy intruders.

Billy pulled Marcus aside and told him to take Wilbur with him out of the vault to see what they could find out about Metatron's sarcophagus; if they could figure out the combination or as a last resort, a way to break the lock, grab the big blue Angel and run like Hell. Billy felt certain if they could solve the puzzle, they could release Metatron without tripping a warning switch. “Did Metatron tell you about the rumblings in the mountain?” Billy asked.

“No, he never said a word about it, but he did say, while the volcano was inactive, it had its moments of anger. Also, if there were changes in the air pressure from intruders, it might cause a hunting party to venture up and check things out. I think that's the reason for the oily road you stepped on. It goes up and down into the depths of the volcano and acts as a check point for guards. We will go and look to see what we can find, but we probably could use some help, Master Billy,” Marcus said.

“Can't spare more'n you and Wilbur. Sorry, Big Guy, but go take a look and see what you can come up with,” Billy said.

Marcus gathered Wilbur and told him to come with him. Marcus told his mate they had a puzzle to figure out. They nodded to Tree Griffin and his husband Tank Barger holding their AK-47's watching down the oily road should any demons come to investigate. They had orders not to shoot unless they were certain they were being aggressively advanced upon.

“Seen anything, Gentleman?” Marcus asked.

“Nothing yet, Master Marcus, but we's keep'n a sharp eye,” Tank replied.

Marcus and Wilbur stood in front of Metatron's sarcophagus and marveled at the design and execution. There were five graduated solid stone pillars equally spaced in front of the solid block of white marble the big Angel's bier rested upon. On the wall behind it, was painted in brilliant colors of red, blue, green, purple, and gold, symbols of squares, triangles, circles, daleths (a fish with a triangular tail), and pentagrams. They were spread out on the wall like some kind of code. Each was divided into two squares with different pairs of the five figures with sometimes only one figure for twelve spaces. At the very end of the twelve were five snakes eating their tails. They were mystified and couldn't figure out what the symbols could mean in relationship to opening the Fallen-Angel's sarcophagus.

“To Hell with this, we need us some help, Son! I ain't clever or smart enough to make heads or tails of this shit, but I know somebody what is,” Marcus said, “Link with my mind, Wilbur,” Marcus said and sent out a tickle around the world, back to the Hill Country of West Central Texas.

<< Zat' chu', Master Marcus? Wilbur? >> Randy answered.

<< It's me, Son. Yes, Wilbur's with me, and we need your help, >> Marcus explained.

<< Are you men on your way back? >> Randy asked.

<< Naw, we's still inside the mountain about eight to ten miles down in a giant vault. Outside is the sleeping place of the greatest Fallen-Angel of them all, Metatron, the one what gimme' the information to opening the main chamber. It worked, and we're moving them Fallen-Angels out now onto the ships, but we need to find the key to the puzzle what unlocks Metatron's sarcophagus. If we try something and fail, it could alert them guardians or Hounds of Hell and bring down a hoard of vicious demons on us. We're trying to avoid a confrontation, >> Marcus sent.

<< Lay the info on me, Brother Marcus. I'm in bed, but I'll contact some of my other brains to help. Look around and show me what chu' got so far. I can see through your eyes, Master Marcus, >> Randy told him.

Marcus showed him everything including the five stone pillars in front of the bier and the five symbols on the wall with the five snakes eating their tails.

<< I got to cogitate on this for a spell, activate my Mental-Net, and get on the Internet to check out some of these symbols and meanings. I'll get back to you as soon as I got something, >> Randy sent.

Randy no sooner signed off from Marcus and Wilbur when the third major tremor hit, and it was bigger than the other two combined. It almost knocked one of the scout-ships off its landing place high on a ceiling sconce, but the internal gyroscopic mechanism stabilized it. In fact, the folks already on board suffered less than those in the vault. Billy and his family were about two thirds into loading everyone. They got four hundred angels loaded with about two hundred left to go. Billy was more than a little impressed and deeply touched by everyone in his family doing their best under absolutely terrible conditions trying to evacuate the Angels. For the most part, the awakened Angels looked terrible and were not easy to motivate. Finally, it came down to using the anti-grav gurneys just to move them and get them to the safety of the ships.

About a third of the awakened angels could get around well enough to lend a hand. Several stood out as downright heroic, but most were worn out after a couple of trips to and from the ships. Still, Billy's family worked at a steady pace and no one complained. Except for his punishment slaves, and Jethro, Billy requested most of his family remove their body jewelry for the trip so'n not to appear too unusual for the Angels.

During his time working on the ship and being around the ranch gave Jethro an opportunity to get to know and appreciate Orville, Earl, and Harley-Buck's individual talents. The four men worked well together. They formed groups and partners. Oatie and Perry Reed became partners, and Elmer and Mick Flynn joined forces. Jethro and Harley-Buck were working together, and Orville and Earl teamed up. Several of the awakened Angels wanted to know about their body jewelry and especially Harley-Buck's horns. Zeke was working nearby and came over to interpret for them in their early Sumerian language. “They want to know why you have horns, and are you a Demon?” Zeke asked Harely-Buck and grinned.

“Tell, them my horns was a gift I requested from my master as a reward for saving the life of a horse about to stampede over a cliff. I can make ma' horns go away if they's frightened by them. Am I a demon? Tell them, only when I invite someone to share my bed with me,” Harley-Buck replied.

Zeke carefully told them what Harley-Buck said, and the group of Angels fell-out laughing. One large outburst of honest laughter seemed to do more to motivate the forlorn, downtrodden Angels than all the other men's encouragement. It was about that time the third large quake occurred and out of fear, several of the Angels quickly moved into the strong, sturdy arms of the three punishment slaves and Jethro. They held them and soothed their fears. Harley-Buck held three in his big arms. The big-horned cowboy became their rock, and the punishment slaves became the heroes of the evacuation unit.

Two men of the Breedlove clan who distinguished themselves and became popular with the other rescuers and the newly awakened Angels was Coo-zone Cleet and Coo-zone Da'veed. They worked as a team with Ray Escobar and Etienne Boudreaux; with big Odin Bluetooth and his mate Erin Moscaro. They never let their spirits falter and had a smile and a ready hand for anyone of the Angels who needed an extra boost of self-confidence. Cletus discovered one group spoke an older version of French, but it was enough they could understand each other. Several broke-down and cried in Cletus's big arms and called him their savior. They remarked to each other he was probably the ugliest human they ever saw until he smiled; then, Coo-zone Cleet turned into one of the brightest Angels.

After the fourth massive tremor, the remaining hold-out Angels were so shaken, they decided any place would be better than remaining in an active volcano. Billy wouldn't allow them to run to the ships. They were more able-bodied than many of the infirm, and he told them if they refused to help their brothers, he didn't have room for them. Billy insisted, he and his family were an equal opportunity society where slaves and freemen sat down to eat together and no Angels were privileged nor better than the rest. If they entertained any false lingering ideas of elitism, or being catered to without an equal investment on their part, their refusal to cooperate would show him they were not worth saving in the first place.

Most people, including Angels with conservative views, have a hardcore internal elitist vision of themselves and their place in the world. The old saw, I got mine – fuck you, mentality. It isn't easily reversed unless their own lives and comfort are at stake; then and only then, will they eat the humble pie to get what they want – and they did. They got gurneys and each of the six Angels maned one, carrying their helpless brothers onto the ships. Billy made damn sure they returned until everyone was on board. Some of Billy's family got creative and would have two Angels hold each other on a gurney face to face. They would strap them together tight enough they wouldn't move about. Off they would go pushing the anti-grave gurney. Other's picked up the idea, and they began to make noticeable inroads into completing their mission.

Captain Cloog's ship count, including major members of their family, was nearing capacity. They still had about a hundred to go when a band of enormous fierce looking Black Demons came over the hill to check out the commotion going on. They looked like they were stunned anyone would be so presumptuous to be trespassing on their territory. Billy and his men gained some warning. Tree and Tank caught sight of several peaking over the rise and alerted Master Billy.

Billy got Excalibur and kept it close. He sent word to his workers to get a move on, they were about to have a confrontation. After the first iron lance was thrown over the rise, and damn near hit Tree Doutry, Billy gave up any idea of negotiation. He realized it would be futile, and he didn't care to risk the lives of any of his men. Billy gave Tree and Tank his permission to fire at will. Will Tate made damn sure they understood he wasn't one of the bad guys. Will brought his guns along and brought the two big hog legs he confiscated from Harley-Buck. He brought a limited supply of ammo for the guns, but every bit helped. Harley-Buck strapped on his guns, and for once in his life, the big cowboy understood who he should be shooting at and why. Harley-Buck stood tall, proud, and rarely missed with every round he shot.

A group of eight or ten came over the rise screaming like banshees being raped in a subway. Tree, Tank, Will, and Harley-Buck opened fire. They dropped them in their tracks, but not before several got off their six foot long iron lances. The next wave was a third larger than the first and Tank and Tree mowed them down like so much buckwheat under a combine. It was then Billy realized his gun bearers weren't going to have enough ammunition to protect them until they finished their mission.

Billy called for his special forces team of Archie and Edith, the twelve flying Sun Bears, the hounds, and his giants. The next wave of demons were half again larger, and it took all Tree, Tank, Will, and Harley-Buck could do to hold them back. Archie and Edith flew up and out of range of their lances and began to zap them with bolts of high-intensity electrical charges; much like lightening. To Billy's amazement, the Sun Bears evolved a similar defense mechanism, and they could send out stunning bursts of energy which wouldn't kill the Demons, but it would incapacitate them long enough for gunners to get a clean shot to kill them.

Billy's four devoted canine brigade morphed into twenty feet tall large-fanged slobbering red-eyed beasties which were enough to put the fear of god in the devil himself. The Demons cowered and retreated at the sight. Where Daffy and Chloe learned the trick was a mystery to everyone and obviously Harlen and Jessie were as much in the dark as their master. Poly and Cass watched the giant dogs, looked at each other, grinned, nodded in agreement, and immediately morphed into two equally enormous Great Pyrenees and joined them. Billy damn near had a heart attack to see his little brothers going after the fleeing grease-monkeys and nipping at their heels. From sheer fear, the six huge hounds managed to back the Demons back over their hill, and upon Billy's shrill whistle returned to their master's side just slightly behind him.

Billy told Poly and Cass to morph back and get the word out to step up the pace and get the rest of them Angels loaded muy pronto with emphasis on the 'muy' part. Billy didn't want to take the chance of sacrificing his beloved canines and urged them back before the next wave. He thought it was time to see what Excalibur could do. He pulled it from its scabbard and held it high. The light which shown forth blinded the Demons and seemed to create great fear in their ranks. They cowered, turned their backs on the penetrating rays, and moved over the rise and back down into the darkness from whence they came.

Billy asked Marcus again if he was sure he wanted to take the chance of trying to rescue the giant Angel. It would make their lives a lot easier if they just left him behind. “I can't get on your ship without him, Master Billy. It would go against everything I come to believe in and what I want to live for. You don't preach none, but just being around you and seeing how you live your life, I come to believe in the Cowboy Way. I done changed my thoughts and way of looking at life in the short time I been living on the ranch and working for you. I even come around and ain't nearly as demanding of my boy as I would have been if we were together in prison. Our roles have changed, and he's become the more demanding of me to fulfill my promise to become his good master; the strong, demanding, but understanding daddy he ain't never had,” Marcus said. Wilbur couldn't overhear their conversation. He was a good way from them helping Tank reload his gun.

“I know, I seen, and observed it. I ain't said nothing, but I seen your growth and Wilbur's hungry need for a big controlling daddy. Hell, I can't point no fingers at nobody. I'm in the same canoe with Wilbur when it comes to love'n me some surrogate dad. I couldn't a done all this without the support of my old man, and I know he'd tell me the same damn thing you are. I understand you're changing, but you ain't gonna' stand there and tell me you won't give that boy what he needs and what he craves the most,” Billy slammed the big man to the mat. Billy continued, “The dream is too much with you and an integral part of yore' psyche. It is who you are, Marcus Obbligatto. You will always be in control, but there ain't a damn thing wrong with it when two men share the same dream and fulfill each other's needs,” Billy got him in a half-nelson choke-hold and was going for the three raps on the canvas to signal surrender.

Marcus grinned, and shook his head, “You're right. I'd be a bald-faced liar if'n I's to tell you I don't enjoy it no more. It's so rare and precious to me, I try hard not to upset the balance, but it wouldn't work for me if'n I's to walk away from Metatron without giving it my best shot. I got a couple of folks working on it wiff' me, and I'm due to hear back from them any minute now. I can't go off and leave him, even if I have to stay here and say my goodbyes to you good folk. My life would be meaningless without completing my mission, Master Billy. It's that important to me,” Marcus said strongly. Billy was convinced the big man wouldn't get on his Scout-ship without Metatron by his side, and Billy believed firmly in the old special forces motto: no man left behind. He resolve to himself, he neither could nor would he leave Marcus or Metatron behind.

About that time, another wave of demons came over the rise, and between Tree, Tank, Will, Harley-Buck, Excalibur, Billy's Psyches, the Sun Bears, the watchers, and the gigantic devil hounds from Texas, they managed to hold them off. Excalibur would stop any spear in a good radius of its shining light. Billy held it high protecting his artillery battery behind him. The giants and his watchers came to stand by his side. Bubba, Enoch, Moss, Tron, and Nathan started gathering the heavy iron javelins and throwing them back. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. The black demons only had limited space to come through the depths and all Billy's men had to do was throw one of the iron bars hard enough it would hit one, sometimes two or three, of the oncoming hoard of horrors. Billy Watcher brigade were lethal. They never missed. Billy Bob Bane overcame his inherent fear of battle and became one of the family's expert spear-chunkers. Ram Snoddy could read the demons auras and knew when it was safe to run in front of Billy to retrieve more spears. He would load his arms and run like Hell behind the line of Excalibur's protection. He would let the larger, more physically powerful men and creatures toss his gathered spears.

The last of the Angels were still being loaded. Billy got a report from Zeke they only had fifty left to load, but they were on gurneys on the way to the ships. The end was in sight for their job and they could concentrate on removing Metatron. Billy decided it was time for him to take matters into his own hands. He called to Wilbur. “Come, Little Brother! Take Excalibur from me and hold it aloft like I'm doing. I gotta' help yore' old man get 'tat big blue Angel released from his prison or we ain't never gonna' get outta' here. He can't do it alone. He needs my help, and you's the only other man here what can handle Excalibur. Only another young man pure in heart whom I trust wiff' my life and those of my family can hold this mighty sword for me. I'm sorry, but you's the only one I got what meets the criterion,” Billy said strongly.

“Oh, please, Master Billy, not me! I assure you I'm not the one. I ain't afeard or nothing. I would gladly lay down my life for you this very moment if it got you men and my master out-a-here safely. I'm embarrassed because I'm such a flawed creature. I'm absolutely the most impure and debased human you can imagine. I have such terribly nasty thoughts about what I want to do with my master and what I crave from him. I can't tell you about it because I would be too embarrassed, but trust me they're just god-awful thoughts what ain't pure a' tall and could only be conjured up by somebody of a base nature what's certainly lacking in purity,” Wilbur said hoping Billy would understand.

“I take it you and you master ain't got bitten by the Kagoli Demon Bug, right?” Billy asked and grinned.

“No, sir, but we done talked about it. It's just too dang exciting to even think about, but my passion for my master is to consume as much of him as I can into all parts of my body to conjoin totally with him. I know it sounds sick but it's the root of my debasement or perhaps the evil roots growing in my basement. Take your pick! Either metaphor will do,” Wilbur said. Billy laughed.

“Remember our visit to Tall Pine you asked me why I was blessing them Hosanna Cakes?” Billy asked.

“I remember it well, Master Billy. It was so's the next generation, like myself, could learn and grow to expand your ideas of love and compassion for your fellow man,” Wilbur replied.

“Compassion starts with you, for yourself, Little Brother. I know you ain't afraid a' nothing. I seen you working on the project. I watched you go places and do things the average man wouldn't consider. You do it because of your passion for your work, your master, and for the love of your family, and you're worried about consuming your master? It's a natural response with most species to be really truly in love with someone, to imagine consuming the object of their love. It's just part of the psychology of loving another critter. Only nobody bothered to tell the female Black Widow spider or the Praying Mantis they ain't suppose to really do it. You don't get out the sauté pan, add three tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, lightly flour your mate and cook him over low heat until he's a nice golden brown unless you's certifiably insane like Jeff Dahmer or Hannibal Lecter. Besides, I fuck'n hate fava beans.

“There are limits and dead-end signs posted in a good psyche what don't allow more'n a quick stimulating foray into the forbidden zone once't in a while. I look at my pa's ass sometimes and wonder what it would taste like slow-cooked over mesquite coals. Yumm! Talk about dirty, I eat his ass out so good sometimes it makes him shoot his sweet demon baby-batter. Just think of all them demon-babies I'm eat'n when I clean him up. I don't let a one of them critters get away from me neither! I suck his crotch commandos up like a diesel powered Hoover, smack'n ma' lips and groaning like they's ma' favorite brand a' cream,” Billy said proudly and laughed. Billy's bold and brash cowboy hyperbole got Wilbur laughing and blushing at the same time.

Billy continued, “Trust yore' big brother. Y'ain't conjured one thought in that handsome, young, cowboy-angel head of yorn' what I ain't thought of doing wiff' my surrogate dad. You and me? We's like two peas in a pod. We's brothers of a secret passion not shared by most men. It ain't what you fantasize about what makes you impure, it occurs only if you consider them with others than the love of your heart. See for yourself. Here! Take Excalibur from me, and let it be your judge and jury. If it finds you worthy, then you can ease up on yourself a mite, relax, and learn to enjoy your fantasy dream world with yore' big sexy ex-con what makes yore' pee-pee become a leaky faucet when you look upon him and allow your mind to drift,” Billy said as he almost forced the giant heavy sword into Wilbur's hand.

Wilbur took it from him reluctantly and surprised himself; the giant sword shown even brighter than when Billy was holding it. It was like it moved up from regular gas to ethyl and was working hard to prove to Wilbur he was more pure in heart than he imagined. He smiled to himself and held the sword higher. Billy turned his attention to Marcus. “I'm afraid to ask who you been in contact with, Brother,” Billy said and grinned. He knew Marcus and Randy were tight with each other. Marcus grinned and ran the knuckle of his forefinger under his nose to keep Billy from seeing and looked away like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

He looked back into Billy's eyes, “I got in touch with my number two man, my second wingless-Angel what done brought the good news to me in solitary confinement – my Bossman and your little brother, Master Billy, but it's been over an hour ago. He promised he'd get right back to me,” Marcus said like he was disappointed.

“Link wiff' me, Brother, and I'll tickle him for you,” Billy said, and Marcus linked with Billy's mind.

Billy sent out a tickle, << Wow! Two of my favorite cowboys on the same line. Surprises don't get much better'n 'nat! Hold on a second, and I'll link us wiff' my party-line. Can ever' body hear? >> Randy sent to all parties. Billy and Marcus heard Randy's sister Kayla answer, and his buddy, Tommy Griffin, his big brother, Pard Andreeson, Aunt Helen, and Madam Spartza. << Good! We done come to a conclusion, Big Brother. You got my big sister, and Pard to thank for keeping us complicated data-diggers from making too much of this, >> Randy sent, << The trick is in its simplicity, >> he added.

<< Then you got something for us? We need it like yesterday, Little Brother. Don't know how much longer we can hold off them dirty Demons what's come to do us harm, >> Billy said.

<< Me, Tommy, and Aunt Helen was trying to figure out a coded message, but there ain't none. Kayla and Pard kept telling us to break it down into its basic elements and don't invent nothing what ain't there. Remember you taught me what them letters what spelled 'kiss' stood for? >> Randy asked.

<< Yeah, Keep It Simple, Stupid. What's that got to do with this? >> Billy sent and shrugged as he looked at Marcus.

<< Madam Spartza done threw her vote in with Kayla and Pard. They were right. Me, Tommy, and Aunt Helen was trying to over-think the damn thing, >> Randy sent.

<< We ain't got time for details, little Brother, gimme' something...anything! >> Billy exclaimed in a voice about to panic.

<< It's based on a base-five count. You got five symbols. A pentagram; a triangle; a square; a circle; and a daleth or a fish-like figure wiff' a triangle for a tail. You got five pitchers of snakes try'n to eat their own tails, and you got five stone pillars of various size in front of Metatron's bier. Right? >> Randy asked.

<< Right! Now what? >> Billy asked.

<< I'm willing to bet my future pooh-bear-tea rights them five pillars got corresponding carvings on them of one of them five figures, >> Randy said.

<< Wait a minute, and we'll take a look, >> Billy said. He and Marcus looked, and each stone had one of the signs carved on the front, << You're right, little Brother. Each is marked with one of them symbols, >> Billy confirmed.

<< What chu' got in front of you is a musical instrument, Big Brother. Ancient tuned stone temple blocks arranged in the order of a pentatonic scale; in keeping with the five elements. The chart on the wall across from Metatron's bier is a musical score of twelve double squares wiff' symbols in them. They be notes played together or separately if one of the two pair of blocks don't have no symbol in it. Each column is one measure and there are twelve of them. The snakes eating their tails are repeat signs. There are five of them, so you must repeat the twelve bars five times before his sarcophagus will open. Look around and you should find a pair of mallets with which to hit them damn things, >> Randy sent. He was watching through Marcus's eyes, << There, Master Marcus, on each end of them handles are four large round balls. See if two of them are lose and will pull out from them handles, >> Randy sent. Marcus tried one end and Billy the other. One ball on each end twisted and they were able to pull out two large iron mallets the size of baseballs.

<< Our family's got us some certified geniuses, Aunt Helen! >> Billy exclaimed and Marcus backed him up, << Stay tuned and watch! You'll get to see if your cogitating and idea of simplicity does the trick. I can't see why it won't. It makes perfect sense to me, >> Billy sent.

Billy took the mallets and the demons could see he was getting ready to make an attempt to release the giant blue Angel. They increased their onslaught by legions. Demons were pouring over the rise in droves, but Billy's family were managing to hold them off. Billy got his bearing and played through the first set and started on the next set. The ringing sounds from the tuned temple blocks brought the Demons to a standstill. All hostility stopped for a couple of moments, but Billy played on. They looked at each other puzzled, like they didn't know what to think. These people, whoever they were, knew the secrets of the ancients and could it be them or their children who came back to claim their own? If so, why weren't they notified? It only lasted through to the end of the third playing of the twelve bars. Then all Hell broke loose again and Billy's posse were once again engaged in an increasingly fierce battle.

Nuance and interpretation be damned, by the beginning of the last set Billy had the pattern memorized and remembered performances by Toscanini who conducted everything like it was horse race; the first player across the finish line won. Billy beat them big temple blocks like his ass was on fire, and he was running for the creek. He no sooner sounded the last block when Metatron's sarcophagus sprang open and the giant Angel breathed his first breath in thousands of years.

The battle was growing stronger and more frenetic. The greasy monster Demons were pulling out all the stops. Billy couldn't help compare the scene to a frenetically fatal food fight at Burger King. Malapropisms be damned, it looked to Billy like a non-stop physical alliteration of dark, dank, demonic, devils, from the dungeons of the deep. It became obvious to everyone their battle plan was to overwhelm the intruders into their territory with sheer craziness and strength of numbers.

Billy yelled above the din of the fray to Marcus who was standing with his mouth open, “We ain't got time to bring Metratron around like we babied them others. Get his big blue ass onto the ship and we'll worry about reviving him on the way back,” Billy said not realizing he was keeping his channels open to his little brother and his posse. They sat back and watched spell-bound at the action going on. It was better than any sci-fi action film they ever saw. The demon monsters looked real; not like some scale-paid bit-part extras dressed up in greasy monkey-suits. They became fearful themselves for their loved ones, when Aunt Helen called a halt to open-sourcing Billy's brain. She force a break in the link and explained they weren't ready for what possibly might happen. She was right, but it didn't stop the younger ones from complaining.

Billy could see Wilbur was fading from all the carnage and the strength it took to keep holding the heavy sword aloft to protect their fighters. To make matters worse, Tree, Tank, Will, and Harley-Buck ran out of ammo and retreated from their positions. They didn't leave. They were still picking up iron spears and chucking them back behind Excalibur's protective shield. Out of nowhere, came eight huge naked Kagoli Demons, running through the gate from Captain Cloog and Billy's ship to reinforce Commander Hunks' battery of archers who were doing a wonderful job of keeping both flanks clear. They displayed uncommon bravery in the face of chaos and were beginning to turn the tide. They were winning the battle, when Wilbur's arm just gave out, and he dropped Excalibur for only a moment. It was just enough time for one giant demon beast to take careful aim, and he threw his spear with all his might and skill. It flew swift and true and found its mark. It made an awful sound as it hit Wilbur in his upper chest on his left side, and he screamed in agony at the pain, “Master!” he yelled out for Marcus and fell unconscious to his side dropping Excalibur to the floor of the vault next to him.

“Oh, God! No!” Marcus yelled at the top of his voice like he was seeing his world come to an end.

“I got Metatron, Brother! Go to your fallen comrade!” Billy Gog Groats ordered, who instantly morphed into his biggest Demon-devil form he used in the Mummer's play. He easily lifted Metatron into his huge arms, and in one graceful movement slung the blue-angel over his shoulder like we was a small sack of potatoes and lumbered off to Captain Cloog's scout-ship.

Billy ran to Wilbur and retrieved Excalibur, but before he did, he took the iron javelin spear, pulled it out of Wilbur, and returned it to the demon who threw it, hitting him right between his eyes. Billy threw it with such force of anger, it not only penetrated the demon's skull, it also took out two more demons behind him. Billy raised Excalibur and his forces were once again protected. The tide of the battle changed and Billy's people began to push the Demons back again, but it was of little matter.
Suddenly, a great round ship made of pure gold came through the ceiling of the vault like Captain Nick's scout-ships moved through the earth. It shone with such intensity it blinded the demonic beasts who were used to the darkness in the depths of the Earth. While they were suffering from temporary blindness, Commander Hunk and his archers finished off the rest. The gateway to darkness was temporarily cleared. The great ship effectively plugged the hole when it easily landed in front of the dark road which lead into the belly of the beasts. All fighting ceased.

Billy lowered Excalibur and turned to his beloved pa. “If'n they ain't friendly, we's screwed nine-ways-from-Sunday, Tonto. All our work for nothing,” he said with a good deal of anger, fear, sorrow, disappointment, and foreboding in his voice. Nick could tell Billy was on the verge of tears and a well-deserved emotional breakdown over his near fatally wounded little brother.

“If they were hostile, Kemosabe, they would have come in wiff' guns a' blazing,” Nick replied, “Nobody would be left standing,” he added.

“Your slave is right, Master Billy,” came a deep, booming, bass voice from the ship. It was an older but kindly voice. Your young, handsome, brave, fallen comrade was struck down by a devil's spear. Not only are they a fearsome weapon, but they are also coated with a deadly slow acting poison. Wherever they hit a humanoid, it will cause him to either die of a terrible bacterial infection, the poison, or both. I think you can handle the infection if you take immediate care of him quick enough using your healing powers; however, the only cure for the poison is six to eight ounces of human-male urine, fresh from the tap every six hours for three days; preferably, from the body of a close relative, a brother; a twin would be ideal, or his chosen mate if he has one.

The great booming voice continued, "If he has engaged in consuming any fluids from his mate's body from saliva to ejaculations or drank his mate's urine, his body is already partially acclimated and in sync to accept the subtle enzymes necessary to flush his internal organs of the poison and jump-start his systems by imbibing a steady supply of his bonded mate's fluids. A great East Indian Hindu leader is said to have consumed a cup of his own urine a day to keep his liver and kidneys flushed of toxins. The book of Proverbs advises: Drink waters from thy own cistern, flowing water from thy own well. None of your healing powers or that of your Angels will be effective without his mate's fluids to flush the poisons from his system. After your initial cleansing and healing, once you begin the treatment, you can gather your powers to heal and insure the security of what progress has been accomplished. Continue your healings three times a day until the very end of the treatment.

“After the third day of fasting, cut back to once every twelve hours for three more days, and every other day after that for a week. On the fourth day, start him on an eight ounce glass of Watcher milk, three times a day, or let him drink his fill. He will be fine after a week, but he still might have a craving for his mate's urine for sometime. Humor him, and his mate can slowly begin to wean him by limiting his supply...or not. A lot will depend on their relationship,” the great voice said sincerely with just a soupçon of playful sarcasm.

"Thank you, sir, Wilbur has become my little brother. He is one of our finest. We don't want to lose him. To whom should we express our gratitude for this life saving information? Who might you be?" Billy asked

"You owe me nothing, Young Warrior. You know me not. You are not ready. One day you will be. When the time is right, you will seek me, and we will share our lives. Until then, stay strong, healthy, be true to yourself and your ideals, laugh together, enjoy each other's company, and above all, love one another. There is none so important as your family no matter how you define them. You have two new immigrants from Retikki Prime in your company. We pulled some strings and managed to have the family sent to you. The tall alien, Sylvan Aspidistra, is an expert in the art of healing poisons and using organic potions. He will confirm my diagnosis and prognosis of your little brother, Sir Wilbur, the pure. Work with him and he will help with the brave young warrior's recovery.

“Now go! Your work here is done! I will take care of the rest. I been meaning to take care of this mess for eons, but I just ain't never got around to it. Now is the time. I apologize that it took you and your family's attempt to do something so fool hardy to gain our attention. The unmitigated chutzpa, audacity, and the biggest set of balls what ever hung off a cowboy done did the trick. It caused unprecedented mayhem in the universe. Red flags and klaxons went off in a hundred thousand galaxies to see if you and your people could pull it off. Odds were fifty to one you wouldn't, but every now and then a long shot pays off. Just ask the owner of Mind That Bird. Everyone loves an under-dog what wins. You and your family have stirred the hearts and imaginations of untold numbers of civilizations on an equal number of galaxies. Never fear. The universe is changing; we hope for the better. You will be rewarded handsomely for your boldness and bravery. We hope it will give you a helping hand along the way and make your journey a mite easier, but don't never give into the dark side. Once you gain the upper hand, never compromise your position,” the great voice said.

"We didn't risk our lives for no reward beyond rescuing and offering our brothers imprisoned in stasis a second chance at life. No one in my family has taken any of the treasure what surrounds us. As their leader and master, I forbid them from taking what wasn't ours to claim, sir,” Billy said, “Thank you, Great Master for your intervention. Like any good master, you done 'come' at just the right moment to help us grab the prize. Are you sure we can't stay and lend a hand?" Billy almost pleaded. Nick rolled his eyes at Billy's not-so-subtle pun.

"A kind offer and one I would expect from you, Young Warrior, but no! Leave the rest to me, and see to the lives you have taken on as your responsibility. You have completed your mission and done so admirably with only one painful and distressing casualty; however, if you follow my advice, and the advice of Master Aspidistra, you will save your young warrior with the pure heart just as your great female Shedu predicted. Get your beloved younger brother back to your home as quickly as possible, but start his treatment immediately. You may eat his pain away and heal his wound before his first infusion of his mate's fluids. Go in peace with the love of family in your heart, Master Daniels. We will meet again," the great voice boomed. Everyone in every ship heard the exchange. The awakened Angels were reawakened from the booming voice creating an awareness they were in good hands.

“Westward ho, the wagons! And don't spare them horses none neither,” Captain Nick gave the order and the twenty ships began to rise from their sconces, disappeared into the ceiling of the great vault, and on until they reached the surface. There was another tremor while they were going up, but it didn't slow their ascent.

Oatie Breedlove, still in his Kagoli demon form, his husband Jethro, and several other angels and demons, were standing around a table with Wilbur lying upon it gathering the life force from the ether of the universe onto their wings to pass on to their younger brother to heal him. Fortunately, it was a clean puncture wound and went back together like a patch-em-up textbook case. They cleaned it and sterilized the proud flesh as best they could. They took Wilbur's pain away and announced to him the spear was poisoned, and explained they got information from two sources he could only drink his master's urine for three days to clean his system and jump-start his own natural body functions.

Wilbur was suspicious, “Did our master put you men up to this?” he asked quietly, remembering his and Billy's conversation about purity and his fantasies of consuming his master.

“No, the spear was coated with a harmful bacteria which we cleansed from your system, but it also carried a slow acting poison which shuts down your liver and kidneys. You must drink only your master's urine for three days to clean the poison from your system and start it functioning properly again,” Oatie Breedlove said, and he was serious.

* * * * * * *
Billy pulled Marcus aside, “All right, Master Marcus, you done heard the great voice from the other space-ship, and his medical information has been confirmed by our new family member; the time has come to fess-up. Inquiring minds need to know if you and your boy been getting into the kinkier side of sex?” Billy asked with a shit-eating-grin on his face.

Marcus grinned weakly, “Well, maybe a little – a couple of times – half-a-dozen at the most – memory in the height of passion becomes foggy – I can't remember, but don't judge me too harshly, Master Billy. What could I do? My boy was on his knees with big tears streaming down his handsome face, begging me for a taste of his master like he was hurting, his young life would never be complete, or his pure heart would break unless I let him have a little taste. I ask you, what's a master to do? I promise, h'it t'weren't much...just a little, sir,” Marcus replied.

“I ain't here to judge you or Wilbur, Brother. Let him without guilt cast the first stone. Hell, if'n I's to shout that phrase, I'd be the first one stoned to death,” Billy insisted and laughed, “You just may have unwittingly invested in a pre-paid biological insurance plan to save your mate's life. We got Wilbur stabilized, and we're gonna' move him to the first mate's cabin for some privacy. You come wiff' us. You relieved yourself lately?” Billy asked.

“No, and I gotta' piss like a frick'n race horse,” Marcus said.

“Good! Then, we can start his therapy immediately. Stay with your boy for the trip and his down time. Fill him up, and keep him filled for three days, but no solid food or watcher's milk until we tell you otherwise. Remember, he's yours through sickness and in health. Let us worry about Metatron and the rest. You and your boy kickback and enjoy the ride. It should take us less time to get back to Texas. We ain't got no plans to 'moon' another passenger jet, and it's downhill all the way to the Hill Country,” Billy said and grinned.

“Thank you, Master Billy, for everything. I hope this successfully closes a major chapter in our book,” Marcus said.

“I couldn't be more proud of you and Wilbur, Master Marcus. You were well worth the cost of the pig for which we exchange you. We certainly got the better end of the deal, and you smell better, too,” Billy said and laughed. He was letting off some nervous tension and got Marcus laughing with him.

“But I thought you got the pig for free?” Marcus asked grinning.

“We did. Cain't get no better bargain than that,” Billy said, and the men shared another laugh.

* * * * * * *
Billy kicked back in Cloog's Captain's cabin. He trusted Cloog to get them home safely. He never met a man of any size more dedicated. Billy lay back across the bunk to gather himself from the insanity of the last hour in the belly of the beast. He reached out and tickled his little brother like he promised, << Hey, Cowboy, >> he whispered softly, << we done got out of that tomb-of-doom place by the skin of our teeth. We're airborne some'ers over the Atlantic on our way back to God's country. Unfortunately, we got us one casualty. Wilbur dropped Excalibur only for a minute and took a big iron spear through his lung and shoulder. We already done got him patched up. He's in no pain, and he's resting comfortably,” Billy sent. He could hear Randy start to weep. “There, there, Buckaroo. Yore' brother is gonna' be fine. We got us a help'n hand. Some unknown alien come along in a big gold ship and told us how to take care of Wilbur. He reminded us one of our new family members is an expert in poisons and the healing arts with plants and potions. Wilbur's in good hands, and right now he's fast asleep in his master's big arms with his Watcher Protector on his other side, >> Billy assured his little brother.

<< My tears are for everyone, Brother, >> Randy sent, << For Wilbur, Marcus, Lemonade, and everyone of our good folks on your mission. I'm so sorry to hear about my brother, but I know he's in good hands, and he'll survive. I appreciate you sending me a tickle, and I'm just glad I could be of help to you – even more so, you done taught me to listen to my big sister and never write her off as a scatter-brain, >> Randy sent.

<< Don't know what we would a' done without yore' posse's input, Little Brother. I'm as proud of ya'll as I am of the men what stood shoulder-to-shoulder wiff' us, >> Billy sent with feelings of great appreciation. << Now we can move on and begin to grow. We got the weekend to look forward to as I got it on good authority from Momma Rutherford she's gonna' let you and Kayla join us at the ranch Friday at noon. I'm gonna' hold onto your foreman and ramrod through the weekend and send ya'll home Sunday e'nin. We'll have us a real good time, >> Billy sent.

The men said their 'goodnights' to each other. Billy managed to drop off to sleep and got about an hour's rest before they returned to the docking bay on Captain Nick's ship. The men were exhausted by the time they got back to the ranch, but they still had the job of seeing to their new guests and getting everyone to the right place. They weren't prepared for such a large group of Fallen-Angels, but they did the best they could. The village people pulled out all the stops and everyone pitched-in to do everything they could to help. They were an amazing resource and came to the rescue when they were most needed. Billy made a mental note to increase their standard of living.

Then there were the dogs to care for. When they engaged the demons in their Hell-hound forms they didn't hold back and got the dark oil and tar plus the dark blood from the demons all over them, and they smelled to the high heavens. They smelled like the waste products of an oil refinery which used to be set free to spoil the air for everyone living around the area until clean air act forced the oil companies to scrub their output. Poly and Cass headed straight for the showers in the dungeon and thoroughly cleaned each other.

Under Oatie's supervision, the men took the dogs to the baths and lowered the temperature of the water to accommodate them. They suds them up, washed, rinsed, and repeated – several times. The dogs weren't too happy about it, but they knew it was for their own good. The filters and the scrubbers took the particulate matter from the water, but it left an oily ring of dirty demon scum around the tubs. The attendants in the castle were forced to completely empty the tubs and scrub them down with an acid wash. Then Billy ordered the filtration system to be completely replaced.

The crew in the castle were working around the clock to provide meals for the six hundred Fallen-Angels. Billy's Cowboy-Angels and Irin slaves worked their pretty butts off to make sure everyone had a couple of decent meals before being gated to their temporary world to recover without worry and strife where they would be brought around to good physical and mental health. The castle was a mad house, but the men worked faithfully without complaint. Finally, when they thought they might go under from the pressure, representatives from Matt Quigley, the head ramrod of the Irin government and the Lord High Chancellors of Retikki prime were sent through gates to offer the Fallen-Angels temporary homes until they could be refurbished and educated about what they might want to do and where they might like to belong. The two worlds sent two ambassadors each to Billy, and after they communicated with the awakened-Angels about what they hoped to accomplish and what they could offer them, they began to gate the six hundred angels to both planets. Three hundred were gated to Fort Adam Lear and three hundred to Retikki Prime. They were gone by Friday morning before noon, when things began to settle down and get back to a more normal and manageable pace.

* * * * * * *
Wilbur's recovery was a mixed bag of highs and lows for the young man. For three days he monopolized his master's undivided attention. He got his fill of what he considered his impure, darker side, and all the love and devotion he could handle from his big ex-con husband and his family. Aside from being medicinal, it became exceptionally erotic for the young cowboy, and try as he might, he couldn't control his ejaculations every time his hugely muscular master medicated him. Some speculated it was because of the unwitting fantasy paradise Wilbur conjured up for himself, well within what he considered his impure thoughts, but Billy suspected there was more. He also suspected his enormously generous benefactor in the golden ship knew as well and understood. Marcus was with Wilbur around the clock for the first three days, and the only people allowed to visit were Master Billy, Nick, Oatie Breedlove, and Sylvan Aspidistra who checked on him several times a day. Of course the family protector and watcher, Lemoncello, never left his side. Wilbur became the undisputed hero of the mission and everyone looked forward to him quickly regaining his health.

After Metatron was brought around and hydrated, he announced he could easily heal the young man with his advanced powers; demon poison was nothing new to him, but his new master, Billy Daniels, pulled him aside and assured him the current treatment procedure they were following would be successful – in more ways than one. Billy saw the situation, not only as a way to save his little brother, but also as a means to bond Wilbur and his master in a way no words or ceremony could provide. They were developing an important bond, and he wasn't going to spoil it for them. Billy planned to let nature take its course. Wilbur went through some pain the first couple of days, but Marcus kept him well-flushed and his liver and kidneys showed little or no sign of damage the several times Billy and Oatie checked his blood. By Friday evening most of the pain and soreness was gone. After the pain subsided, it was smooth sailing for him. Wilbur could stay awake for longer periods and enjoyed a few visitors. Friday evening, after his final blood check from his Cowboy-Angel big brothers, Wilbur began taking nourishment from his family Watcher and Protector, Lemoncello, and made up for lost time.

* * * * * * *
After a long talk with Master Marcus, Billy decided to keep Metatron with his family. Metatron was as unique as he was huge. He was every bit as big or bigger than Boomer. He was definitely in the giant category. He wanted to be accepted as one of Billy's family, but he was so enhanced and had so much power, he sometimes didn't know how best to use it. For all his superior knowledge and apps, he could be naïve and clumsy sometimes. He reminded Billy of Bubba before his Uncle Brad spoke the words to trip Bubba's internal switch and memories of his infancy on Retikki Prime and the big cowboy began to go through a transition.

Marcus felt he formed a brotherly connection with the big blue angel, and he promised he would work with him to bring him into the family as a strong contributing member. Certainly, when they later showed Metatron videos of what they went through to make sure they rescued him, he was greatly humbled. He couldn't do enough for Billy, Marcus, Wilbur, and of course Randy and Kayla Rutherford, Tommy Griffin, Pard Andreeson, Aunt Helen, and the great Shedu, Madam Spartza. They became his holy people. He would speak their names with reverence. His new attitude and attachments were a start in the right direction.

Billy also decided to keep the dozen halfling-type meat-machine androids and let them grow along with the rest of his family. They were similar to Aunt Helen in construct and were capable of much more than being stuck in a dead-end job of being glorified janitors for six hundred fallen-angels. They were fascinated by new things, and the people they were living among. Metatron took a special interest in them. At first, they were shy and retiring, but as time went on, they began to reach out and began to absorb information at an accelerated rate. They seemed to fit in more readily with the giants. They followed them everywhere, and ran, en mass, to their huge arms if they were alarmed or afraid of something. The giants took them in stride like old mother hens and decided to adopt them into their family. They seemed to have infinite patience with the smaller men, and commented to Master Billy they thought they might make wonderful grooms for the castle. It became their intended job possibility; until, they discovered computers.

* * * * * * *
If the problems of too many Angels weren't enough, the morning of the first day back to the ranch, Thursday, there came a great tremor on Captain Nick's ship like the ground it was resting on decided to move this way and that. No one got hurt. They were just jostled about a bit until Captain Nick's ship seem to give a couple of groans, one great sigh, and settled down. Nick was anxious to open a hatch and do a walk-about outside to see if there was any visual damage. Seth promised his captain there was no breach in the hull, but Nick wanted to see for himself. Nick took his Kemosabe, Marcus, Metatron, Bubba, Jack, Grover, Elmer, Oatie, Jethro, Tron, Nathan, Moss, Enoch, Tom McMartin, Cloog, and old Zeke. Seth open a gate to the outside of the ship. The men carried bio-luminated torches like they used on their mission which could cast a light almost a mile into the darkness. When they walked through the gate, the men huddled together not daring to move an inch further. All around them, in the cavern, was tons of gold, silver, and gemstones what would make the 'Hope' diamond a mere bauble. As far as they could cast the lights of their torches there was nothing but gold, gold, and more gold. They were in awe and stood in stunned silence.

Bubba spied a sign sticking up on a high mound what read: A little something for your family's brave effort, Master Billy. Take one of your scout-ships and travel to these coordinates for more ill-gotten treasure ten miles straight down. All this, and more at the second site, belongs to you and your family now. Ironically, ill-gotten wealth will become the bedrock on which a young, new Messiah will rebuild his world. I promised you would be rewarded. The tide is turning and you are now in the driver's seat of its sometimes slow but powerful engines. Use it wisely for the betterment of your family and all mankind. Best wishes, Son. Hosanna, in the highest! And it was signed: Your old buddy, Him what made them seven stars and Orion.

Billy recognized the coordinates for the second treasure as being beneath the very heart of his family's ranch. The men walked around the mounds of gold not knowing how to react. Tom McMartin was flabbergasted. He was almost speechless. “How much you guesstimate this is worth, Master Tom,” Billy asked.

“I have no idea, Son. It would take years to inventory. I would love for Mr. Pennywise to see this. He might be able to give you a guesstimation. With gold prices as high as they are today, my best guess would be several billion in this cavern alone. More than every man here could spend in a lifetime together. It's mind-blowing. No men alive have ever witnessed such accumulated wealth as we have seen in the last several days. I'm glad you insisted we not take anything from the tombs of Mount Ararat. If someone of greater power in the universe chose to gift it to you – it's a different story – a whole 'nother ball game, altogether. It means they got the power and balls to backup their decision and their trust in you. If I were to make a wild speculation, I'll bet the first dollar I ever made what hangs behind my desk at home, we will find more of the same at the second site – much more,” Tom said. Can we take a scout-ship and see what else your generous master left behind?” he asked.

“Certainly, sir, you couldn't keep us from going. We should create a new holiday on the ranch for this day,” Captain Nick answered resolutely.

They went back on-board the main ship and gated to the hangar bay. They took Captain Nick's favorite scout-ship and navigated over the exact coordinates and started to travel through the ground. They traveled ten miles straight down into the Earth. The last four miles was through solid granite, and the small scout-ship came out into an enormous underground cavern which was much larger than the cavern which was outside the vaults beneath Mount Ararat. Tom said he thought it very well might be the entire treasure from Mount Ararat which was left behind by the ancient gods or however they chose to be known. Even the giant golden Shedus were thrown in for good measure. Tom started laughing at the shear incomparable insanity of what they were seeing, and the other men hooted and cheered. Their voices echoed into the distance and back again. The cavern was so immense, their torches couldn't penetrate the darkness from one wall to the other. It truly looked like an underground sea of gold and precious goods of all kinds.

“Hosanna!” shouted Tron Garrett.

“Hosanna, in the highest!” joined the other men.

“Whoever or whatever 'Him what made them seven stars and Orion' is, he certainly could be analogized as our personal Saint Nicholas. Instead of a 'Hosanna' day, maybe we should name our holiday 'Hosanna Santa Day' in memory and thanks.

"That would be swell, and you might want to consider beatifying Roseanne Roseannadana as our patron saint," Grover Parsnip said, and everyone laughed.

"Look into that for us, would you, Grover? Thanks, Buddy," Billy said and everyone laughed again.

They landed on the top of one huge mound and stepped out onto the ocean of gold and jewels of all kinds. Nothing like it was ever seen before. They took care how they walked on the gathered treasure to keep from causing an avalanche or sinking beneath the gold. Billy found a brown leather sack filled with pure gold bracelets with spectacular precious stones set into the design around them. He smiled to himself.

“For the ladies?” Tom asked.

“Yes, and one young lady in particular – Kayla Rutherford,” Billy said and the other men agreed, Kayla, and Pard should receive something nice. They knew Billy already got Randy and Tommy ponies for their birthdays. Billy didn't seem interested in taking more, but urged each man to fill his pockets if he wished. Nobody took a thing.

“We don't need to worry, Little Brother, you'll share the bounty wiff' us. I'll be submitting a list Monday morning. It's time we got started on some of them projects my uncle left for us to try. For that we need capital and more cowboy power,” Bubba said putting his arm around Billy and pulled him close. “And I know after them brother-Angels get settled on either planet and start to watch the Billy Daniels Show, they grow and learn, a major portion of them is gonna' wanna' come back to Earth to become a part of something they dreamed about before they got shut up in them tombs. I'm ready to devote a portion of my ranch to build a fifty unit two bedroom living quarters for a hundred of them ancient souls. I got plans, Brother, big plans, and you know it ain't gonna' be more'n a week or so, our time, and they'll be coming back through that gate. You can't house and feed them all, and you already done contracted with the Irin to take on five hundred more of them special Highland cattle,” Bubba added.

“Now, we done got the hard part out of the way, maybe we can start living like we want. Whatever, you need, Big Brother, submit a list to Aunt Helen and have her staff order it for you. I want to get our show on the road,” Billy agreed.

“Whoever your benefactor is, he's a smart man to put all this so far underground. I don't think our scientist or geologist have any essaying equipment what could detect this through four to six miles of solid granite,” Tom said.

“I agree. It's probably safer here than it was under Mount Ararat and less likely to be melted by a volcano. I wonder what happened after we left?” Billy mused to himself.

“I heard last night on the tube, Mount Ararat done went and erupted, and is now considered an active volcano for the first time in recorded history,” Jack said using cowboy-speak, “I meant to say something about it, but forgot. I was sure you already heard about it,” he added.

“I ain't been near a TV in the last forty-eight hours, Brother. We been on the ship since we got back. Ain't had me a meal up to the big house, and that's where I get most of my news is from them ladies,” Billy replied as they gated back to Captain Nick's scout-ship.

* * * * * * *
The world was agog Thursday morning over the videos which sprang up overnight of the twenty silver orbs flying by the American Airlines Intercontinental Superbus flight 424 somewhere over the Atlantic ocean on its way to Paris, France. There wasn't just one, but approximately fifteen films of varying quality uploaded onto YouTube and various other video sites. The best one was a continuous film by a young French boy who posted as R.Ondine. The French news people managed to track down young René after getting his name from the Airline's passenger manifest. Randy watched the reporters interview the young boy in his wheelchair with his parents proudly watching in the background. René looked to be about Randy's age but was physically smaller because of his paralysis. The Ondine family looked like a wealthy, well dressed family and obviously proud of their boy's accomplishment. The background of the home displayed great wealth from old money. It was obvious the Ondines lived very well.

Randy watched the video and laughed his ass off at the messages tailing along behind the silver orbs and told his family about it over breakfast. They couldn't wait to fire-up Kayla's computer and stood around watching the Ondine video of the UFO's with the Burma-Shave messages and a couple of crazy extras. Kayla particularly like the running alligator trying to catch up with the rest of the small orbs. She thought it was a perfect touch for the end.

“You mean to tell me that's Billy Daniels and his men in those tiny ships. That just couldn't be, Randy, it's physically impossible!” Ruth Rutherford exclaimed.

“Not necessarily, Daughter. I overheard the other ladies at the ranch talk about great spaces inside small places. I didn't understand at the time, but I didn't ask. I figured if they wanted me to know they would explain,” Grandma Evelyn Rutherford said.

“Please, Mother! Don't date yourself. That kind of boxed thinking is sooo yesterday,” Kayla said with a bit of disgust and rolled her eyes, “Don't worry, Dear, I'll explain later. I have an experimental science project I'm researching, and I'll show you my files. Then you'll understand the theory behind it,” Kayla said like she would educate her mother to the new and wonderful world she and Randy were about to inherit. “Do you know who this R. Ondine is, Randy? This video is beautifully filmed with expensive equipment. This isn't just a rank amateur pointing a camera. This is making a startling statement to the world, but in a non-threatening way to the average man. The 'spooks' might take issue with it, but then most everyone would probably agree they deserve it. I can't wait to see how this will play with the TV program about Master Billy on Sunday,” Kayla said, “Did you talk with our big brother after they left Mount Ararat?” she asked.

“Yeah, he tickled me, but we only talked for a short while. There was one casualty, Wilbur Peterson, but they got him stabilized; he's gonna' be all right. We didn't talk long. I could feel my big brother drifting off to sleep, so I told him 'goodnight' and left him be. There were a lot more a' them Fallen-Angels than they originally thought; six hundred of them. They's gonna' be nonstop busy and will be until they send them on to the Irin and the watchers on Retikki Prime. I told Billy, he could postpone our burf-day celebration, but he wouldn't hear of it,” Randy said.

Randy walked back to the foreman's house, but was stopped on his way by one of the two lead cowboys about a problem and asked if he knew what Mr. Snoddy wanted to do about it. Randy just happened to discuss the situation with Ram the day before and told the cowboy what they decided. He thanked Randy, called him 'Bossman,' and returned to the other cowboys. Randy went inside and sat down at his computer. He did a quick search and came up with an e-mail address for René Ondine in Paris, France. Randy opened his language files in his brain and plugged into his French language app.

He began to type an e-mail in perfect French: Dearest Brother René, watched your excellent video this morning and laughed my ass off at the humor and wonder of the UFO's you so professionally captured. Congratulations! Damn fine work! An accomplishment for which you have every right to be proud. I watched your interview with the French press. You have relatives here in the Hill Country of Texas less than thirty miles from my home. You play the violin and piano, and you have a passion for Bach and French music. I live in the Hill Country on a large family ranch. I play the violin, piano, organ, and banjo. I share your passion for Bach and French music from Couperin 'Lecons de Tenebres' to Boulez 'Le Marteau sans Maitre.' I'm especially fond of Ravel. I have two large hounds who are close friends of mine named Daffy and Chloe. You and I have much in common. We are brothers of the sun. I am the boy in this video. (Click on links below) Sincerely, your cowboy brother, Randy Rutherford, Bossman of the Rutherford Family Ranch, Fredericksburg, Texas, U.S.A.

Randy included a link to the famous video of him trying to walk to Billy's arms in the parking lot at Walmart in Fredericksburg, another video of him playing Bach's first Partita on the Barnyard Concert stage, and a more recent photo of himself in his cowboy clothes with one arm around Daffy and the other around Chloe. He hit the send button and smiled. 'If that don't get my froggy-bottom buddy's attention – nothing will,' Randy mused to himself and laughed at his own pun. Randy thought René Ondine would make a fine brother. He had a sixth sense about that sort of thing.

* * * * * * *
Thursday morning~

Billy's cell phone rang as he and his posse were walking into the old barn getting ready to receive their guests of honor for the weekend: Randy, Kayla, Tommy Griffin and his mom and dad. Tommy's uncles were still on the ranch. They worked just as hard as any of Billy's other family members and were recognized heroes of the skirmish with the petro-demons beneath Mount Ararat. Billy invited them to stay and relax for the weekend. They gratefully accepted. Billy smiled to see the name of the person calling. “Hey, Doug, what's shake'n, Brother?” Billy asked, “How's our brother, Wes?” he added.

“Nothing much shaking on this end. Wes is fine. We ain't strayed far from each other since we submitted the final cut of the video to them big boys. They didn't say a word one way or t'other about it, but approved it for Sunday evening right after the six o'clock news. You're going national, Master Billy. I have to say, we're a bit confused why they didn't have any reaction other than to say they thought it was a good piece of work, and they approved it for broadcast. We're sort of in limbo for the weekend like we're living in slow-motion,” Doug Quilty said like he was a bit unsure of himself.

“You men wanna' come to the ranch for the weekend and watch it here wiff' us?” Billy asked, “I got something I need to talk with you about anyways,” he added.

“Hell, yes, if you got room for us, Master Billy. When?” Doug asked.

“Just as soon as some other guests arrive, me, and the boys will open a gate to your place to gather you and Wes. How long do you men need to get ready?” Billy asked.

“We's already ready, Master Billy. To be honest we been packed ready to come to the ranch since early this morning, sitting here, trying to build up enough nerve to call and invite ourselves out to your place. How pitiful is that?” Doug asked and Billy could hear Wes laughing in the background.

“The pitiful part is you men should know better by now,” Billy said and laughed, “Stand by for a minute, and we'll open a gate as soon as possible,” Billy said and signed off.

Randy, Kayla, and the Griffins came through the gate. Billy set the coordinates for Doug's living room, the gate opened, and the men from Houston walked through. There were handshakes and hugs exchanged with warm greeting and salutations.

“Now!” Doug demanded, “Inquiring minds want to know! What do you know about them UFO's what's all over the Internet and the TV since yesterday? That mysterious little prank has your off-beat humor and sense of the absurd written all over it,” Doug asked and everyone broke up. Nick looked at Billy and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“UFOs? What UFOs? I don't know nothing about no UFOs,” Billy said honestly. He was telling the truth. The silver orbs weren't unidentified to him or his posse. “You men know anything about un-identified flying objects around here?” he asked his men stressing the 'un' part.

“Naw, sir, Boss, we identified everyone a them fly'n objects we seen lately,” Clyde replied, “If we don't recognize 'um we gibbum' names,” he added and everyone laughed.

“We been so busy the last couple of days we ain't had us no time to catch any TV let alone sit down to our computers. I ain't fingered my computer in so long I gotta' make a little love to it to warm it up before it will even let me insert my password. It's a long one, too, but once't I hit all them right buttons, it feels so good when it finally lets me inside,” Billy stretched his hyperbolic mental-muscle. Everyone laughed at his nonsense. “We'll give you a brief rundown about what we 'do' know in a while. I got me a feeling, after this weekend we're gonna' be working pretty close anyway. In the meantime, let's go up to the big house for lunch and enjoy each other's company. Then we'll talk,” Billy said. “Oh, by the way, how is Miss Parsons taking your opportunity to host a one hour interview with the cowboy she thought her magnetic charms could rope, hog-tie, and slip into her pocket?” Billy asked.

“Swollen like bloated old sow what ate too much corn squeezings. She swells up, pouts, and don't speak to me like she's try'n to break my heart. She's letting it be known she's looking for a new manager, but I keep reminding her she's still under contract with me,” Doug replied.

“Can she break your contract?” Billy asked.

“I can. She can't. She knows if she tries it will cost her a bundle; more money than she's got to fight me in court. I was the one who found her, took her in off the streets, taught her the trade, and fought tooth-and-nail to make her what she is today. Wes has been with me throughout her career, and he will tell you, I've tried my best to curb that pinch-faced, nasty, foul-mouthed, mean-spirited, uber-conservative streak in her. She thinks it's clever, hard-hitting, in-your-face, confrontational journalism. She thinks nothing of lying in the face of truth backed by cold, hard facts. She's always looking for a hidden angle, but most times there just ain't none and she falls on her face. Elaine ain't always been that way until she became the live-in concubine-du-jour for one of them front men for the corporate owners. Since then, it's been an uphill battle with her. It's sort of become like Sartre's play 'No Exit'; a marriage made in Hell, and there's no escape.

“On the other hand, there's none for me either at the moment. She's sort of become a job security blanket for me and Wes, since them big boys at the station love themselves some Parsons,” Doug said and smiled confidently. “In a way, we owe her a debt of gratitude for just being herself. It's an ill wind what don't blow some good. Since she alienated you and made an almost unforgivable ass of herself at the Whataburger, she opened the door for Wes and me to become friends with you, and a chance to make the scoop of the decade – maybe the century,” Doug said.

“Would you have to take her with you, if you left for another job?” Billy asked.

“Oh, Hell, no! I'd settle with her for whatever the station big boys were willing to pay me to free her so's she could sign their contract, cut our rope, and she's on her own to drift down life's stream without a rudder or a boatswain to guide her. I can't count the number of times I come close to doing it just in the last year. Her rudeness to Mrs. Rutherford and you at the Whataburger was classic brainless-in-your-face Parsons at her worse,” Doug said, and Wes shook his head in agreement. “Without me to constrain her, rein her in, pick up her dog poop, clean her litter box, apologize for her, and remind her who signs her paychecks, I don't think she'll last very long. Then again, I could be wrong. I might be holding her back from making it big in the mean-spirited world of modern-day news reporting,” Doug allowed shaking his head.

* * * * * * *
The rest of the afternoon was relaxed and laid back as the family began to gather at the ranch. Kate Daniels invited Brent Sparks out for the weekend and told him not to show up without Gertie. They were both thrilled to get another invite to the ranch and Bart insisted they stay with him in his room. Bart had a lot to tell Brent about his adventures with the Daniels family to rescue the Fallen Angels from beneath Mount Ararat. Brent and Gertie hung on every word Bart told them, and they were in awe of his experience. Brent told Bart he watched the videos of the small orbs flying past the jumbo-jet over the Atlantic but he had no idea it was Master Billy and his friend was aboard. Brent was touched at the empathy Bart expressed for his fallen comrade who was still recovering from a nasty wound caused by a big demon with an iron spear. Bart mentioned several times he was impressed by the love the older muscle-man and his young friend held for each other. Brent didn't respond.

* * * * * *
The day passed peacefully. Doug and Wes followed Billy and his posse everywhere. Billy's men didn't try to hide anything from them. Wes brought his video camera, but he left it in the house. He and Doug decided not to record more unless their hosts asked them to. It didn't bother Wes. He was just as happy taking still shots. Wes was a master at getting just the right picture framed and a shot taken at the very moment something rare and wonderful was happening. Some people have the talent. Others don't. Those who are gifted can go out with a camera, take only one shot per day, and it will be a prize winner; where as, the average Joe can fill up a several gigabytes of memory with hundreds of shots and not one will be worth a damn.

The family was walking down into the pasture to check on Billy's mated pair of Palomino Morgans. The female was obviously pregnant and her mate was quite proud. On their arrival Billy called to his male Morgan by name and Samson came to him. There was a moment when the two met and Billy put his forehead to Samson's that was magical. Wes captured the moment and it was the last shot he took for the day. As he stood looking at the picture from the back of his camera, he was overcome with the love and trust the picture represented. Tears welled up in his eyes and the young photographer started sobbing uncontrollably at the shear beauty and depth the moment portrayed. The other men gathered around to look, and it had the same effect on them. A battery of cowboy bandannas were whipped out of back pockets to wipe away a few unexpected tears.

“That's frick'n awesome, Brother,” Doug said quietly to his friend as he wiped his eyes.

“Can we download a copy to one of the machines around the ranch? I'd like to have a personal copy,” Nick asked.

“Of course. Got chore' cell phone. I'll be happy to oblige, sir,” Wes replied.

When they showed Billy the shot, he had the same reaction as the rest of the men. He took Wes into his arms, thanked him, gave him a brotherly hug, and a kiss on his cheek. Wes was moved even more. He was sure he just took the most remarkable photo of the Twenty-first century. Several others shared the same thought.

Kate rang the triangle for supper, and the men slowly walked up to the big house, washed up, and got ready to go into the kitchen. Billy brought his leather bag of gold bracelets. He carefully wrapped and attached a name tag to each one. After saying thanks for the food and the gathering of family, friends, and neighbors, they sat down. Billy asked if he could have their attention for a moment. He had an announcement to make. He got out one of the smaller but equally lovely gold bracelets with Kayla's name on it. “This is for our younger sister, Kayla Rutherford. H'it ain't no burf-day present, Little Sister. It's an award for having the gumption and fortitude to stick to her guns and convince others her thoughts and opinions should be considered. She just may have saved our lives with her clear and clever thinking. Here, Dear-heart, wear this with pride,” Billy said and passed the bracelet across the table to her.

Kayla carefully untied the somewhat awkward bow and slowly unwrapped her present. When she got her first good look at the beautiful bracelet, her eyes lit up and her face positively glowed. “It's beautiful, Master Billy. I've never had anything so wonderful. Thank you very much. My ideas were shared with others but our brother, Pard, was just as strong in his belief. Without his backing we may not have been able to convince the others,” she said.

“You're very welcome, Young Lady. I have a gift for Pard, too, but I will give it to him later,” Billy replied.

Kayla jumped up, ran around the table to give Billy a big hug, and to steal a kiss. Everyone was moved by her joy.

“Here, Little Sister, you can help me pass out the rest of these,” Billy said reaching into his bag. There was one for Kate, Zelma, Dorcas, Roz, Rox, and one for Aunt Helen he gave to Bubba. She was on the ship still working on some things. The women 'oohed' and 'aahed' over their gold bracelets.

“How much more?” Zelma asked.

“You have no idea, Grandma," Enoch replied, "More than your imagination can conjure. Picture an underground ocean with endless treasure as far as the eye can see,” he added.

“I think the Daniels Express is about to leave the station,” Zelma said.

They sat down to supper and conversation was brisk around the table. Kate always left her small TV on in the kitchen with the sound turned down. Billy noticed his Uncle Nate suddenly dropped his fork into his plate. “Mother! Turn the sound up on the TV!” he exclaimed.

“What could be so important during supper, Son?” Kate asked with her back to the TV.

All eyes were on the small set as they watched a giant gold ball hovering over a planted field. “That's the same giant spaceship what come to our rescue, Mom,” Nathan said to his mother as he pushed back his chair and headed for the big TV in the living room. He was soon followed by everyone in the kitchen and Nathan turned up the volume so everybody could hear.

“No one knows where the mysterious craft came from, but it's been hovering over this field for about an hour,” said the announcer with an obvious British accent. “This is coming to you live from Alton Barns near Stonehenge. It's almost like it knows people are gathering to take videos and pictures. Several military helicopters have been trying to investigate what this enormous gold ball is about, but they can't get too close or their systems begin to fail. One tried earlier and began to fall from the sky, but a beam shot out of the golden craft, checked its fall, and gently lowered it to the ground. The pilots and crew walked away unharmed. It doesn't seem hostile and has just been sitting there not moving in the slightest. There's no sound or movement of any kind. It's a mystery how it can just hang there stationary in the air.

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Several small gold balls have come out of the bigger craft and seem to be doing an inspection of the field. They're flying all over the place like they're taking measurements. The first small craft just made a pass over the field and the crops were laid flat in an instant as it flew over. My God, I think we're witnessing the first video capture of an actual crop circle being created by an alien craft. This is a monumentally historic event. So much for them two old fools with their ropes and boards. We can only hope the military type don't make fools of themselves and try to stop it. We want to see the message,” the announcer said.

Slowly but surely, line after line, a picture was being laid down among the large crop of rapeseed. The announcer was still babbling on but everyone in the Daniels household was either flummoxed or flabbergasted. Collectively, they were stunned. There was little conversation. When about half the picture was made, it was obvious to everyone gathered who and what it would be about. Wes got out his camera and began to pass it around for everyone to see. It was the exact image of Samson and Billy he captured less that two hours before. When the crop circle picture was finished, they didn't just leave it to the imagination from the lay of the crops.

Each small craft was assigned a color like one might find in a color printer and they flew over the field spraying with food coloring to add color and depth to the picture. It was a stunning feat to see such an enormous picture being painted in a field of rapeseed plants in southern England. It was the largest crop circle on record, and the Daniels family watched as the finishing touches were put into place. When they finished the final pass, it looked like a high-definition matte print, and it was stunning. A couple more golden orbs passed across the top and bottom to lay down words. The top contained the words: Love and Trust ~ The Cowboy Way. And at the bottom were the words: Hosanna, in the highest!

End of Chapter 76 ~ Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
Copyright ~ © ~ 2014 ~ 2017 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights Reserved
Mail to: Waddie Greywolf <[email protected]>
WC = 21,334
06/23/2014
01/12/2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ-cdlb9YF0