Storiesonline.net ------- Shawn by John Wales Copyright© 2005 by John Wales ------- Description: Shawn was a very curious lad. The double helix that controlled his growth was unlike anybody before. Perhaps at some time in the future a person like him will be born. Codes: mF fant harem slow rom cons ------- ------- [This story was submitted in one piece by the author. It has been divided into multiple chapters to provide compatibility with wider range of browsers, so chapter limits may have no meanings. Storiesonline] ------- Prologue Hello friends and readers I wish to say a few things before you start this story. 'Shawn' is actually my first story. 'Tandra' started when I got stuck for words. As the first story it has elements of later stories or rather they do of this. I still spell in Canadian English though I put some British spelling because Rhodesia at the time and Britain itself spelt that their own way. (Spelt is a proper word too along with colour). This means that I am going to spell poorly in two versions of English, not just one. This would and did go into a blog but most people don't read the blog so this is here. I do not mind anonymous mail if it is neutral or complimentary but if you are going to complain then use a name and address so I can defend myself with. 'Shawn' went through the hands of some editors and because of that it has been improved in many places. My own compliments go out to those people that helped. The work is so large though that they did not stick too it and were intimidated by its size. Nobody finished and put their seal of approval to it. A very important thing to know is that I am a poor editor no matter how many times I go over the work. Before some wiseguy comments, I went over it many times. The story now is going out now so people will have something to read and hopefully enjoy over the upcoming holidays. Lazeez will have the complete story and he will even break it up for me. I have no idea how many chapters will be produced. At my request he will put it out according to my wishes. As it is, a few will complain that they have to stay up too many hours instead of doing things like sleeping and eating. I too am like this and also have to race to the bathroom on occasion because I cannot drag myself away from a good story. John Wales ------- Chapter 1 Movement; movement; vibrations pushing... surprise! colour. shape? Shape moves. What? Quiet sleep pushing Why? A shape better see Who? Feel feel more need moves, other parts move... relief why? My awakening began earlier than most people. Children gradually become aware of their surroundings, and learn by interacting with it. The ones interacting more get burnt more frequently but learn more in the process. Their world is centred around 'Mother'. Basic instinct makes this so. My first recollection of my being was the 'sound'. It was a regular and familiar occurrence that filled my world. It made me comfortable and secure. I began to distinguish between types of sounds and the patterns of similar sounds. Later I perceived movement in monochrome that eventually became colours. When they first came, they hurt. My mind was too filled with colours, they were everywhere. Keep them out! The pain! Go away! Everything faded. Later the colours returned but did not hurt quite as much. I was able to protect myself from the pain somehow. My curiosity forced me to search and bare the pain. Objects moved, and colours moved with them. Patterns started to resolve. Familiar shapes returned. Feelings came with some of the shapes. Some had more value than others. Needs and wants sometimes gave way but curiosity was paramount. Over time, a shape 'john' was associated with the pattern of sound. The john shape was noticed fairly often. Along with this apparition a feeling of need arose, but it was not mine or not quite. How could this be? The john shape brought warmth, contentment, fulfilment, and completeness. These were things I wanted. Sounds and feelings came together, making patterns that could be deciphered. This usually came with the shapes, especially the john one. Once, I became suddenly aware of a movement and very strong feelings. The john was very big. The moving increased in intensity and tempo. A new colour appeared or was it? No. It was another set of feelings trying to push their way into my mind. Things moved much faster the feelings much stronger and violent. Sounds matched feelings and matched movements in turn. Communication. An indescribable peak was reached and then another and another. A new emotion appeared. Bliss. It came from need, motion and attainment. I rested, content. Was I content I thought, or was the feelings that pushed into me have this property? Why was this? Rest was needed. Grey. ------- Bright sounds and feelings stirred me again. I found the john figure and pushed out to this familiar pattern. I felt the texture to be different. The shapes clearer and more defined, and of a different colour. One shape appeared, one I had seen before. A strong sense of 'protectiveness' and 'love' were associated with the shape. Emotions were felt and only mildly understood. I savoured the rapidly dwindling bliss, and then fatigue. I pushed harder to find out more. A barrier held me back. I pushed and pushed in as many ways as possible until I burst through. My understanding increased in orders of magnitude. A new world opened to me. The shape before me was myself or at least partially so. 'Mother' was me in a way. Yes. I was part of mother. A memory somehow, but not quite mine, supplied long blonde hair scattered about her face that I knew had to be termed beautiful. A completeness in the three of us, and an almost insurmountable obstacle overcome. I followed the thoughts frantically because I thought I might fade back to the shabby existence I had just left. I did not even know of this heightened existence. I followed the view of the moving body beneath me. A new feeling of need arose and increased to an indescribable pitch. The bodies joined, and moved together forcefully. I could feel the other old textures along with the new much stronger and clear textures. Sounds now had a meaning but I did not know how I knew this. A plan was being followed to a definite conclusion but it was not mine. Strong signals came from two places, one I was with, and another was in the body before me. I followed both paths to most activity was. The terminus was similar in each case but not the same. I could perceive the stimulation and tried to mimic it. I added to the stream. I was shaken and pushed, forced to stop. Understanding came slowly. If the stimulus increased the cognitive abilities diminished and another portion of the place where the colours were took control. A rougher control with a different set of goals. Brutish felt to be the right term though the term was not that clear. I returned to my experiment and added a smaller amount to the stimulation. This time the beast. Beast?... was held in check but just barely. I was being pushed, shaken and prodded, so I fed a little less stimulation. I was now comfortable enough to continue my observations. The bliss was approaching, in fact it came from two sources. The bliss was stronger partially because of my increased awareness and partially because of my additional stimulus to the streams. One appeared to reaching a peak quicker than the other so I held back till they matched before continuing. The once orderly thoughts diminished into a kaleidoscope of colour and touch. I saw a path open before me and almost instinctively followed. My intellect increased again in orders of magnitude. Here were my 'Father's' memories and thoughts. I copied some of them, or the ones I thought most important. The thoughts of returning to my previous existence drove me to take this major step. I needed language and information about the things that affected me or could affect me. I had just completed this task when a strong force seemed to squirt me back to where I came from. My return did not degrade my thoughts as I thought it might, though I could feel a sharp loss. The sounds I heard had some meaning. "What happened? I have never felt so happy, or so drained." "I have no idea. I felt the same way. I have never been that high before, or felt that close to you." "It almost felt like a religious experience. My thoughts were clear and I started to shoot off. Somehow I stopped and waited for you. I felt driven to do my best. "Scary. I felt closer to you than ever before, as if I could read your mind and your feelings were so open to me." "We won't be able to do this much longer," mother said, "the baby is getting too big." "Big I'll say. He or she is developing very quickly," father replied. "He may even come a bit early, or she," he amended. Both had strong feelings for this particular task to be over so they could begin the enjoying who they brought into the world. This knowledge in itself shook me for I did not think there were others, at least not like me. The work I performed was very tiring and I had to rest to recover. I knew, before I faded out, that I was the cause of the lump in my mother. I woke up later and could feel father beside us. His strong arm pulling us closer if that was possible. It was odd that I now knew what an arm was. The knowledge that I had taken bolstered what I knew and I felt much more complete but I wanted more. I knew who 'john' was and I knew that he loved us more than life itself. His memories told me that they were very lucky to even conceive because of a condition mother had. Since I was awake, I looked for a similar door or path in mother. I remembered very well what I had done to find my way into father. Some of my prodding brought an uncomfortable feeling to mother so I began to be more careful. I found the opening and flowed through. The walls and ceiling were not as bright as father's but the shapes were just as beautiful. I compared Mom's language to the sample I now had. I found portions of hers much larger and complete but not the same in shape. I took a sample of hers too. General knowledge of how her life worked looked interesting, this was worth investigating. I found morals, they were interesting but I didn't think they would be useful yet. Mother knew that they were necessary so I did take copies of those too. There was a lot of information for me to digest now. I left the bright hall and wandered around a great many more alcoves. I found an image of Mom holding a baby in a larger room. Father's knowledge told me she was a little taller than average with small beasts on a small frame. Her long blond hair went down to her waist. Her dainty but strong hands held the child very carefully as if the child might leave. There was a lot of love to be seen in her blue eyes. Father thought her the most beautiful women he had ever met. With some of his attitudes to guide me, I had to agree with him. So this is what a baby was supposed to look like. On close examination I found the baby to be me. I floated over to her and when she saw me the baby she held disappeared. She looked around frantically until I held out my arms to be picked up. "It's me mother, your son," I said. She picked me up with a feeling of relief and held me the same way as the image had been held. "How can you talk to me? You're too young to do that." Her mind wanted me to conform with her definition of what a child should be like. "I have been watching you for a while now. I never tried talking before because it never occurred to me to do so. When you and father made love it allowed me to become awake more fully. I copied some parts from his memories that allowed my to perceptions to grow." "What kind of things did you copy?" She was worried a little now. "Some language and general knowledge from both father and now from you." "No, that's not right, you are not supposed to pry into other people's minds." "I must learn. Is that not what a parent is for; to pass along to their children what they have learned? I found this in your knowledge as well as father." "Yes it is but you are supposed to take it in a lot slower." She was in a small dilemma for she wanted her secrets but knew that I was right too. "What is the difference?" She thought hard and could not come up with a suitable answer. "I guess it doesn't matter." This was only a dream and she didn't have to work too hard at thinking. "I am getting tired and will have to sleep soon. Do you mind if I come and see you again?" "Of course not. You are my son after all." "I found out that father has a surprise for you. Do you want to know about it?" "Yes, tell me." "He bought you a diamond ring with five stones; one for each year he has known you. It is for giving him a child; me. You will like it I think. I do have to go now." "Well, bye dear." "Goodbye mother." I floated away in the direction I had come and faded out. The next morning mother and I walked into the room moving slowly as we avoided any collision with the furniture. I had awoken as mother was looking in the mirror and combing her hair. The information from her mind and her eyes was much clearer, for I now had references to deal with the objects in her view. When Mother entered the kitchen she saw her tall broad shouldered man with strong but very precise hands. His handsome face radiated his joy at seeing his beautiful woman walk into the room. Father got up and seated his wife at the table and kissing her in the process. Mother stated, "Good morning John. I had the weirdest dream last night. Our son came to me and said he could read our minds when we made love and was able to learn the languages we know and our general knowledge too. What do you think of that?" "It sure was different last night. I felt closer to you than ever before. I don't know how to interpret your dreams though. Do you think your subconscious is trying to tell you something? Perhaps we have to make love more often?" "We do that often enough John," she said with a smile I could feel. "I don't think this was like any usual dream. It was more of a visitation that was vividly real. He did say you had a gift for me. You were going to give it to me soon." Father's mouth hung open at the statement, "Did he say anything about it?" Father said with a startled tone of voice. "Nothing much. Just that it was a ring with a diamond for each year we have been together. It is for presenting you with a child, namely him." If John looked surprised before he was flabbergasted now. His mouth opened and closed and no words came out. His hands waved in the air trying to get his meaning across. "You are psychic," he stated with certainty. "No, I'm not John. At least I don't think so. He told me. When am I going to get it?" She had a smile on her face and an urge to tweak him with this possible joke; if it was a joke. John reached into his pant's pocket for he was going to give it to his wife this very morning. He got up and walked over to her and kneeled as if to propose. He opened the velvet box and slipped the ring onto her finger. She was shocked that the words she had uttered were so prophetic. Agatha admired her new ring and leaned forward to kiss her husband. Into the room came another person I had seen on occasion but it wwas clear now and not abstract. Japera was a maid, a cook and, most important, a friend. She looked out for Agatha like a sister. Not afraid to talk back and fight for what was right. Her light chocolate skin shone in the morning light streaming in the open window. Her long dark black hair was tied back so as not to get in her way while working. She was thin like mother but not as tall. She wore a stylish dress on her trim figure. Mother demanded that she not look like a maid or even worse a poor maid. "I thought you two were already married and here I see you proposing to this young virgin. You should be ashamed of yourself Doctor John. I guess now would be a good time to ask for a raise before the neighbours find out." The doctor was caught again with nothing to say. "Look Japera, John bought me the most beautiful ring I have ever seen," she held out her hand displaying the ring in the sunlight. "If the man is just proposing now then you had better find out if those are real." "I'll check them out the first chance I get. What is for breakfast? I'm starved. All that activity last night can tire a girl out." She twisted the knife in her more conservative husband. "Oysters are good for the active girl but not for the pregnant ones. I have a heaping plate of yummy porridge for you." "No you don't. I will have eggs, toast and some of your sausage, please." Japera returned later with the food and a large glass of juice. Mother admired the ring on her hand so much that she saw little else. When she did look up she smiled at her husband and beckoned him over for another kiss. "It's so beautiful John. I don't know what possessed you to buy it." "Just fulfilling your quest for shiny things." Mom smiled and replied, "You always take care of me. I don't need the ring." She paused only a split second before saying, "But I will keep it." She then laughed loudly at her own joke. John smiled at her and after a small kiss, father retook his seat. He asked Japera, "When is Lusa getting back? I miss her." "She would be glad to hear that. Probably tonight or tomorrow morning. I don't want you to start spoiling her again either." I was a little tired and went back to sleep. I woke up later and found that father had gone. I began to process more of the data I had copied trying to find my place in this new life of mine. I soon found out that everything was not peaceful. My pillaged memories told me that the Rhodesian government was despised by mother and father. The white population kept the black in virtual slavery. Blacks were denied an education and only the right to own the poorer pieces of land. The farmers and businessmen only wanted the blacks for labour. An education may make them 'uppity'. The races were not allowed to inter-marry but many white men had black mistresses. This also produced light skin children that were not loved as they should be. Britain had banned slavery long ago but it flourished in many countries under the guise of paternalism, bondage or other types of servitude. Britain was now having a major diplomatic row over this issue but Rhodesia was not budging their stance. Japera had gone to missionary school when her parents chose to send her. The school was the only one available to her in any case and her daughter faced a similar challenge. John worked at the local poor clinic that was only a mile and a half from the house. It occupied an acre lot where the poor of both races came. Even the poor whites thought themselves above the blacks but father made it a point to mix the races in his waiting room. They could get free medical aid here or go elsewhere. He had given a job to a small black family down on its luck. They kept the grounds at the free clinic and his home in pristine shape. The clinic in the city more than supported this poor clinic. The other office catered to Salisbury's elite. John's ability to cure or prolong the life of patients given up for lost by others brought him a good portion of his wealth. They came from all over Africa and Europe to get his help. His richer patients objected to his running of the other clinic but he persisted whether they liked it or not. John had been warned on a few occasions by high ranking individuals that the practice must stop. His friends had kept him out of major arguments so far. His antagonists were mainly objecting to an exceptional doctor wasting his time on the poor and especially the coloureds. Mother wrote and studied for the new course she would teach next semester at The University of Rhodesia in Salisbury. She had been criticized by the university for slanting her courses to reflect justice and equality. This had very little effect on the students for they had been convinced by their peers and family that the status quo was right. Occasionally a few students were able to throw off some of their old conditioning and see the situation in its true light. I was getting a little bored and looked around with my mind and found father treating a patient at his poor clinic. It was not hard to bridge the distance. It was almost the same as if he was in the next room. I pushed as I had the night before and found myself looking at a boy of three with a deep cut on his left leg. Dad had administered a local anaesthetic and was putting five neat sutures in to close the wound. The little black boy grimaced as he watched the process. I worked hard while he was distracted and entered into the child's mind. It only had simple thoughts and very little data. This mind was definitely not organized yet. Father bandaged the wound and sent the boy off with his grateful mother. His next patient was an old lady complaining of pains in her chest. Dad ran through in his mind all the probabilities. This was interesting. I had no idea of all the knowledge I passed up on when in father's mind. I only took some of the information about the things pertaining to me. It was all I could carry at the time. I watched the rest of the day, learning about people and how my father dealt with each. I found out that I had to enter a mind slowly or they would think something was wrong. A little girl looked around for me when dad gave her an injection. Later that night Japera's daughter Lusa came home. She was the image of her beautiful mother. She had been away for a month in the village her mother was raised in where she learned many traditional things from her aunts and cousins. The girl was almost six years old, very bright and outgoing like her mother. Both had long black straight hair. Her father had died a few years ago and dad was looked on as a surrogate. As soon as she entered the room I saw a different glow about her. Everybody had a glow and I realised now that this was much more important than I had thought before. Mother and father could not see this energy and it must be something special. I felt drawn to this girl for some reason but tried to keep my distance. She ran to my mother and said, "Hello Momma. I missed you a lot." She gave a careful hug and put her hand on mother's abdomen just above her stomach. "The baby has grown a lot." She looked wistfully at the full abdomen wishing for a baby for herself. I kicked her hand making her jump. "He kicked me. Why did he do that?" Mother replied, "He was just saying hello. I am quite sure he likes you." Lusa smiled and went over to her 'dada', hugging him many times harder for the times she had missed. With a little peeking on my part I found out that dad saw Lusa as a child he never had, at least till I came around. She said, "I missed you too. I had to beat some boys. I did like you said, 'Don't take any guff from other kids.' Did I do right?" "You certainly did sweetheart but only if they were doing something wrong. You didn't hurt them too badly did you?" "No Mashama only got a bloody nose. He cried and his mother hit him for calling me names. He said my face was funny." "You are a very beautiful girl. Your face is just a little different than most of the other people around here. It is more like Agatha's, mine or your mothers. Both your grandfathers were white. Don't let it bother you. We all love you." He hugged the girl. They talked for another half hour before going to the rooms at the other end of the house. I had cautiously wandered into Lusa's mind and found it much more cluttered and brighter than others her age. I didn't have that many to go by, just the few children that father had treated. Mother made ready for bed. I saw myself as a separate entity now. One bound physically and mentally to her though. She was moody now. Everything was tinged with her likes and dislikes. The present pain to be overcome and more promised in the future when she delivered. I rode the currents of her mind trying to fathom all her problems. Some were her concern that she may have to undergo a caesarean section. Would either of us die from a problem at birth. Will she be able to feed me and would she make a good mother. Somehow, I knew that she would make an excellent mother. I had just enough knowledge now to know how little I really had. I was having difficulty sorting through all the data that I had collected previously and worried about all the additional space I would need when I added more of my dad's knowledge of medicine. I looked into my own brain. The same as my father's but most parts were undeveloped or unused except for some glowing points and a few brighter areas. This was probably my thinking and my ability to read minds I guessed. I found the small opening and looked into the very small but brightly lit room. Pieces of language were on the floor. Some were sorted and placed on lower shelves. Mother and father had much more room for storage and this told me that things could change. I floated over to one wall and pushed as hard as I could. The wall gave and retreated some but not enough by far. The other walls and ceiling were forced back. The floor retreated when I thought of a great weight pushing on it. I continued pushing in turn all the other surfaces again but with more weight. The room storing my knowledge was now much larger than dad's but relatively empty. I sorted the rest of the language and found it to be different tongues all put together. Mother had a much better grasp of English and Latin. Dad had German, French, some Latin and Bantu the native language to give me. The room was soon orderly after putting away the general knowledge. I was ready for more. I emerged to find dad feeling very frustrated. He was hoping to make love to his wife but she remembered me saying I could see them. She naturally closed the barn after the cattle had left. This analogy came from her own memories. I seemed to have acquired a sense of humour. I think it was dad's for all my knowledge was shaded to reflect his emotions on each matter. Much like dad's dislike of liver because it tasted bad. Mother thought the opposite. I decided that mother was wrong so I found the pathway to her brain and then to the portion I had stimulated last night. I started a small flow of energy to stimulate this area. The lights were out and mother felt a tingling between her legs. She was usually able to turn it off. This time it didn't work. Her nipples stuck up rubbing on her negligee. Her hand came up to pull the material away but hit an offending nipple instead. Vibrations flowed to her clitoris intensifying the feelings now there. Her hand went down to give herself some quiet relief. I increased the flow and she involuntarily groaned. Her sex started to flow with lubrication. The scent came to me through her senses. With difficulty she got up and removed her negligee. She got back into bed and jerked my sleeping father over and placed his lips at her breast. He awoke with a start. "Get to work. You got me stirred up and then want to sleep." She reached into the opening in his pyjamas and fondled him. He pulled back long enough to remove his clothing, before slipping his hard cock very carefully into the wet opening of his wife. As last night, I followed all the pathways that lead to and from the pleasure centre of the brain. I stored this information away for future reference. The anus appeared to be especially favoured with nerve endings. I held dad back while increasing the flow to mom's brain. She had multiple orgasms one after another. Dad was quite proud of himself. After two major orgasms and many minor ones I allowed dad to have his. I was careful and did not give him too much. I had no wish to be bruised or hurt myself. I was interested in how long this could last and started again on mother. She had never had this many orgasms before or for that matter that strong either. She was beat and wanted to sleep the sleep of the satisfied. I started the flow again. She groaned partially to think of going through the intense act again but once started this thought faded to nothing. Dad was proud of his recuperative powers for he felt like he did when he was fifteen. Dad went slowly when I slipped the idea to him, thinking it was his. Mother clawed his back wanting more action but he denied it to her. I increased the flow to mother but blocked the trigger that allowed the dam to break. Dad had decided to get a little back from his earlier ill treatment. He would go slow and lick and suck her nipples while keeping her at a fevered pitch. Dad's back was raw. His hair was pulled. Blond tufts hung between mother's fingers. Her nails were mostly broken from her grasping of the bed sheet and his back. I released mother first. She screamed then screamed again. I was shaken and very glad of the protective fluid around me. Dad's release was no less pleasing as he bellowed his pleasure. Japera and a naked Lusa came running into the room unannounced, thinking that someone was being murdered. The light from the hallway flowed across a comatose woman and a wounded man with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. My parents were dead to the world. I cast about and entered Lusa. Her nose detected the scent. She squirmed a little in instinctive pleasure. I was lucky enough to see her form in the large mirror for I had no sight to guide me. She had no breasts. She was a little chubby but I still liked what I saw. Perhaps I could experiment and do the same to her as dad had done to my mother but after I was born. Japera's hand was inside the opening of her housecoat. I entered her mind quickly as she was preoccupied and would not notice. I was shocked to learn that she loved both John and Agatha, wanting them in a physical sense even wanting a baby by father like Agatha had. It never occurred to me that this was possible. I searched my stolen memories and found all people thought this way but to various degrees. Was I attracted to other males? Not really. I was not really attracted to females either though they were interesting. Perhaps it was something you did after you were born. I traced her neural pathways and found the pleasure centre. She quickly left the room pulling Lusa and quietly closed the door behind her. She needed the privacy of her own bedroom after the stimulation I gave her. A moment later she voiced her own pleasure but not loud enough to disturb anyone other than her daughter in the next room. There were many things here that I did not understand yet. I left Japera and went to dad. He had not moved yet. I could feel the pain of his wounds and felt sorry for the hurt I caused him. When I entered more fully I found I shouldn't have worried. He was very proud of himself. His wounds were badges of merit, gained on the field of honour. I found the opening to his memories and spent a longer time sorting through the things I thought would be important that I could bring back to my own mind. I found his code of ethics different from mom's. He was much more pragmatic, something I agreed with. Could it be that the reason for this was that I had already accepted his code in some way and could only find it the correct one to follow? His time at university in Britain showed me that he had consorted with women other than my mother. After an examination of his memories this revealed that he had learned from each of his mistakes. I absorbed some more of his medical data, even the patients he treated and hospitals he worked at. I found that dad was angry at himself for every mis-diagnosis. Some patients had died. I found this a necessary part of learning, but he didn't. He had tried his best all the time but it wasn't good enough. If I were to follow in his steps I would have to be better. I went further back and found his family. They had a lower middle class income but little for education. His parents loved their children but were a bit distant. He resolved to not let this happen to his family. His older sister Mary had married and moved on. His brother Shawn had died a hero in a great conflict, saving trapped children in a collapsing building after an artillery bombardment. Dad was very proud of his brother but for some reason hid it. He had to work very hard to get a full scholarship when graduating secondary school. Then again even more work in university. This time finishing at the top of his class. I found his choice of girlfriends curious. All had various attributes of mother, as if he was looking for her all the time. Dad had been exempted from fighting because he was a doctor in training and had poor eyesight. Dad found mom at an upscale party in 1945. He was carrying a tray of beer to his friends when he bumped into a young woman travelling the other way. Some of the beer had fallen down his legs, soaking him. As he turned to see if he had hurt the lady, he just looked into her eyes, as she did to him. After a full two minutes their friends began to worry. He casually asked her, "My name is John. Will you marry me?" She refused but they were both hooked very well. Four months later they were wed. The war was ending and international travel was less hazardous. Agatha Hawthorn had been with her diplomat father in Britain. They chose her home in Rhodesia to raise their family. London was crowded with doctors and her country was crying for help. This was enough information for now and I retreated to sort and store my plunder. It took over two hours to sieve through all the data I had gotten from dad. Becoming a doctor was hard work I found. I returned to mom. She was having a walk with dad in the park pushing a stroller with me in it. I noticed that the baby had the exact features I possessed when I saw her before. As I floated over to them the other apparitions disappeared leaving me alone with mother. "Hello mom. How are you?" "Fine son, and you?" "Very good thank you. I have come to some decisions concerning my future." "Already. You are so young for that." "I am young as you can see but it is important to start as early as you can. I wish to become a doctor like dad. I want to specialize in surgery, psychiatry and be a diagnostician as well." "That will take a long time to learn all that." "I know mom. I copied much of dad's medical training and I found it to be only a start. It required more than two hours of work to just sort it. I am tired out." "Two hours is not enough to learn to be a doctor." "Yes, I know Mom but it is a start. You don't have an ill-talented son. I have chosen a name for myself, if you and dad don't object." "No, I don't have a problem with that. I don't think your father will either. What is it?" "Dad is very proud of his older brother Shawn. I would like to take his name too." "That is fine by me. It wasn't any name we picked but I think it will be fine." "Earlier today dad didn't believe you, when you told him about me. Tell him that Mrs. Maska has the first stages of Dracunculiasis. The symptoms are hard to spot when so many other things are wrong with her. You haven't heard the medical term before so he may believe you now I hope." "What is it?" "It is an infection caused by the Guinea Worm. I could spot the worms for him and he can operate if he wishes." "Thank you Shawn. I will tell him. Why don't you tell him yourself?" "It would be unsettling talking to me. You are my mother and a very stable person. Dad would be confused until he accepts the facts. I want to approach him slowly. Another reason is you don't completely believe I am here so you can rationalize this encounter." "I will try to convince your father for you. Are all other children like you?" "I have looked around and found nobody like me yet but I have not gone too far. I just know you, dad, Japera, Lusa and dad's patients. Speaking of Japera, I found that she is in love with both you and dad. She has been without a partner sexually since her husband died. She would very much like to participate with both of you. She came into your room when you finished tonight and saw the two of you exhausted from your love making. She went back to her room and masturbated to images of her with each of you." Agatha even blushed in her sleep. "I can't be with her." "I don't have any experience with sex myself but people need to feel wanted and needed. I know from looking into your memories that you enjoyed the company of your girlfriends when you were young. You both love Japera but not physically yet. What is wrong with inviting a friend to join you?" Agatha was a little shocked because all her secrets were now open to viewing. "I don't know what to say. I do love Japera. If I do the same things I did when I was a girl, it could ruin our marriage." "That's not true. Dad loves you more than his own life. He has some erotic fantasies of you and Japera." I didn't mention about the other beautiful women that his father pictured with him and his wife. "I hope you will not tell him the same kinds of things you are telling me. It is very embarrassing talking with my own son about my sexual history." "I won't tell him any of your secrets unless I talk to you first. Is that ok?" "Yes. That takes a big load off my mind." "He knows something is different now." "How is that?" "You have been talking out loud in your sleep, you've woken him up. He heard the quote about you being embarrassed and talking to me about your sexual history. Not enough to be incriminating though." "I'm relieved." "You better wake up now and reassure dad." "You are right. Good night Shawn." "Goodnight mom." Agatha opened her eyes and smiled at her husband. "Who were you talking to dear," he asked? "Your son Shawn of course. He says Mrs. Maska has the first stages of Dracunculiasis. He will help you find the worms if you want to operate." John was very wide awake now. There was a possibility she was right but there were a lot of other things a lot more likely he should look into first. It just occurred to him that his wife said that his son's name was Shawn. "Why do you say his name is Shawn, we were going to name him Robert after your father if he was a boy?" "Well he likes Shawn better and the name means a lot more to you than Robert would. Am I wrong?" "No. I don't know how you found that out." "Well Shawn copied some your medical training and wants to be a doctor like his father. What do you think of your son following in your footsteps?" "I don't know what to say. I always wanted the best for my family." Then thought about what she said. "What did you mean about him copying my memory?" "He said he took two hours to sort some of your medical knowledge." "It took me a little longer to acquire it. I don't dare start believing this. Was that all he said?" "There was more but we can discuss it later after I think about it. Come over here and hold me. I want to sleep with you in my arms." The next morning John and Agatha had breakfast with Lusa, Japera serving everybody till she was able to sit as well. Dad was a little uncomfortable with the large scratches on his back. His hair was combed to cover the new bare spots. His ego was in a much better shape. Agatha was very apologetic when she saw the blood on the sheets and the mess she made of his back. He refused to make a noise when she applied iodine to the wounds. He reminisced on his life and found himself a very happy man. He had his very successful practice in the city serving the well-to-do and the clinic where he helped the less fortunate. A very beautiful wife was going to present him with a child. All this and Agatha had inherited the house from her parents under the condition that she live there. This was no imposition. The four acre lot had an eight bedroom mansion, indoor pool, and a very extensive library. A five car garage with attached workshop completed the buildings. An outdoor pool, pond and a stream that dried up in the summer, were all surrounded by a high stone wall and an inner wall of trees that kept the curious out. He came back to the present when his wife brought up last nights conversation and she asked him, "Do you have a Mrs. Maska as a patient?" "Yes I do." "Is it possible that Shawn was right?" "Yes, it is possible but it's not the best chance of being the correct diagnosis." Japera asked, "Who's Shawn, dear?" "Oh I haven't told you. My son." "I have known you for quite a few years and you don't have a son. What are you talking about?" Agatha put her hand on her swollen abdomen and said, "This is my son Shawn, Shawn meet my good friend Japera." I kicked her hand to let her know that I was awake. This startled her a little. All the other times she had been asleep and a conversation with her unborn son could be discounted. Agatha smiled and began to accept the situation more. She started thinking of a good joke. "Japera put your hand here and say hello to my son." I had been working in Japera's mind and saw that she could handle the truth - even Lusa could handle it easier than dad. Perhaps this was a way of convincing him. Now it was Japera's turn to smile and continue the joke. "Good morning Shawn. How are you today?" I kicked her twice. She pulled her hand away as if burnt. Lusa got off her chair and came over to investigate. Agatha continued with her joke. "Shawn I would like to introduce to you another friend, Lusa. Lusa, meet our son Shawn." Lusa put her hand timidly on Agatha's abdomen and I kicked her as well. Lusa was prepared and kept her hand in place and a big smile appeared on her face. "He kicked me too." Dad came over to investigate. "It is just a coincidence girls. A baby can react to a touch sometimes." "Well John put your hand here and introduce yourself to your new son." He was not going to be shown up by the girls so he placed a large gentle hand on his wife's abdomen and said, "Good morning young man. I am your father." This time I was able to use two feet and tap out the jingle 'price of a haircut, two bits'." Now it was father's turn to bring a scalded hand back in surprise. "Well I'll be..." "What do you think now John? What about the other things he said?" "I don't know." Japera asked in a shaken voice, "What other things did he say?" "Mrs. Maska is one of John's patients. Shawn believes she has Guinea Worm. Shawn diagnosed it and will assist in an operation to remove them if John wants the help." While this was going on I worked my way into Lusa's mind and said quietly, "Good morning Lusa. This is Shawn. We just met a minute ago." Lusa was shocked but was resilient like most children. "Good morning Shawn," she spoke out loud startling the adults into being quiet. "Did you have fun visiting your relatives in the village?" She smiled and shook her head not realizing that I could not see her but I read her thoughts and knew. Agatha asked, "Why did you say that Lusa?" "He just asked if I had fun visiting. I think it was ok." "Ask him, why did he wanted to know," mother asked, intrigued by the situation. "Shawn, why did you want to know?" "It was a polite way of introducing myself Lusa. I am very interested in the family group now and how they interact. Tell mom that I can hear what she says without you having to tell me." "Momma he can hear you. He just wanted to know about my family. What does 'interact' mean?" "If it has to do with family, it means how the brothers and sisters get along with one another," mother said. The adults were frightened, especially Japera. I entered her mind and said to her, "I am not an evil spirit or a ghost. Only a very lucky baby that will be born with the ability to speak to others with his mind." Dad, luckily rushed to Japera and caught her before she fell. He put her carefully into a chair. Dad asked, "What happened?" "He talked to me in my head. He said he wasn't an evil spirit or a ghost only a lucky baby," the surprised woman commented. "This is nonsense. All of you are suffering a delusion," dad reasoned. I said to Lusa, "Lusa will you tell all the adults to sit down. I don't want them to fall when I talk to them. Tell your mother I am sorry for frightening her." "Mommy, he says he is sorry. All the rest of you should sit down." Close enough I thought. Dad was upset and it was more difficult to get in somehow. "Good morning dad. This is Shawn," dad's mouth hung open and he would have fallen himself if he hadn't been sitting. "I proved my consciousness by kicking the beat to a simple jingle. I suggested a possible diagnosis and remedy for one of your patients. I could discuss medicine or your history but you might think that you are just going crazy. Would you believe in me if I had mom tell you the names of all the women you made love with, in order? She doesn't know them and the mentioning of names should not upset anyone unduly. Is that a good test?" "No it's not," he said aloud. "What is dear?" Mother asked, now over the majority of her shock. "Nothing." I told mom my offer. She was not too surprised at my voice in her head at all. "What could be wrong with mentioning all your old girlfriends in order of precedence?" Mother gave fourteen different names but some more than once, and some alternating continuously until the name Agatha came up. "Stop," he quickly said. Mom continued till she said her own name softly, then laughed. The other girls were from before she had met her husband. "Quite a collection you had there. I noticed there was no name after mine." "There was never a need and never will be." The talk went on and I was again getting bored. I talked to Lusa, "Lusa, I like you. We have just met but I find myself needing a girl for myself. Dad has mom. Will you be my friend? You don't have to talk out loud just think your words." "Yes." she said excitedly with her mind. "Thank you. Will you eat your breakfast and then you can go to the bathroom?" "How do you know I have to go to the bathroom?" "I can feel that you are full of pee. When you hurt I will hurt too. Tell the adults that I am going with you when you are ready." The young girl quickly finished her meal and said, "Mom, Shawn is going to go with me." She wiped her face with a napkin and scampered down the hall to the bathroom leaving the adults to discuss the possibility of their common insanity. She sat on the toilet waving her feet back and forth as I spoke again, "Will you help me in the library?" She looked around nervously at being caught on the toilet. "You are not supposed to be here when I am sitting on the toilet." "Lusa, I am in my mother. I am only talking to you from there. Sometimes your mother calls from the kitchen and tells you to wash up for dinner when you are sitting here. It is not too much different. When I'm born you will get to change me. I won't have any clothes on then. Are you going to peek?" She laughed at the naughty idea. She finished and I had to remind her to wash her hands. She skipped past the library and stopped when I asked her to enter. "I am not supposed to go in there." "It is ok now you will be with me. We will be very careful with the books." She opened the large wooden door and walked into the large two story room with shelves all around the room. At twelve feet high a walk way ran around the room with shelves on it to the high ceiling. There were well over fifteen thousand books. A fireplace was to one side. Easy chairs, lamps and tables covered the hardwood floor. Persian rugs were under the furniture. The morning sun shone in the large French doors. I was intimidated. I had seen the image of the library in both my father and mother's minds but being here before all this stored knowledge humbled me. "Do you want to help Mrs. Maska? She has some long worms in her. We can try to take them out." I could tell that she was hesitant. "I didn't mean you and I take the worms out. Dad and I can try that." We walked around familiarizing myself with the types of books the library stocked. We came back to the medical books and picked three books on tropical parasites. Lusa put them on the table and I asked her to turn the pages. Reading I found to be very slow. It took almost five seconds to read just one page and Lusa's arm was sore. We started on the next and got references to more books. I say we read but Lusa could not read. She was almost six and I could tell that she was very bright. If she was going to be my friend and possibly girlfriend she had to get educated. She had to put on some muscle if for nothing else than to turn the pages. The books had lots of information about various tropical maladies but no cure for the one I wanted. They did say that the female worm worked through the intestinal wall and eventually to the extremities. There a blister formed after a year. When in contact with water the blister broke and then a large worm was released into the stream or pond. This happened often and the sores became infected. Sometimes the natives wrapped the head of the worm around a stick and an inch or so was pulled out a day until after a week you would get the worm out if you were lucky. Dad came to the door and said in a quiet voice, "Lusa, I thought you were not going to come into this room." "Shawn asked me to." I told her to not worry, and I would talk to dad. "Dad, I read some of these books through Lusa's eyes and they didn't have any cure for the infection. I think I may have a way of my own. The worms are hardly developed now and they will grow for another eight months. I think I can try to lure them to the surface. When they get close you can make an incision and I can continue to coax them forward. They won't even resist. The way the natives do it, it takes a long time and can only be done when the worm emerges. A few months after I am born you can take me to the clinic. Mrs. Maska will be sedated and I can talk the way I am now. If it fails you won't have even made the incision till the worm gets close. Only your time and the anaesthetic is lost. "We can give it a try. Maybe even try your hand at other parasites to see if they could be lured. Can you pull somehow? There are a lot of books talking about telepathy and psychokinesis." "It hasn't occurred to me. There are a few points in my brain that are very active. Perhaps they can be stimulated to give some of the phenomena stated in the books." "You must be careful. I don't want a vegetable for a son. I want to talk about the these areas and your method of stimulating them." "I will be careful, I need to do a little more research before I can tell you anything. All I have now is glowing areas and a room. Lusa is worried and wants to leave the room after you talked to her. Please allow her to return with me." He bent over and held Lusa's jaw in his hand and said, "I'm sorry Lusa - for staying here and talking to Shawn. You may come back in here at any time with him. All I ask is that you be careful in here. Lusa ran off. "Dad, you're going to have to put the books away, now that Lusa has left," I laughed. Dad looked at the texts and returned them to their proper spots. He was not too sure if what he heard was true or not. He had accepted me though because the two new lines of research would occupy his mind. I had tired myself and went to sleep after informing mother. An hour or so later I awoke to find mother taking a nap in the bed. Now rested I went back into my mind and into the room with my new memories. The room was as large as I had left it but I would need a lot more room for the things I wanted to accomplish. The boundaries were pushed back again. Apparently they would stretch only a fixed percentage at any one time. I would just have to continue pushing each day. I altered the placing of the knowledge from the books I read, putting them in a more logical order with the data I already had. The next thing was the glowing active spots in my brain. Some of the spots were very small and much like coals from a fire. The number of spots, their placement and intensity were noted for future reference. I entered the brightest. This room was different. A beam of bluish light came out of one wall and entered a hole in the other wall. Most of the beam missed the hole altogether. Since this was the brightest glow it had to be my strongest trait. Was this intelligence or telepathy? I know I told dad that I would be careful but I would still have to come back here to make those alterations regardless. The wall on one side of the beam was pressed very slowly. This changed the direction to fit a little more of the beam into the opposite hole. PAIN!! Thoughts came in from all around me. Hundreds of voices clamouring for my attention. It was much too difficult to think. I staggered back to the wall pushing it so the beam missed the hole completely. The voices stopped abruptly. I breathed a deep sigh even though I wasn't using my lungs as yet. My mind quested for mother. Nothing. With infinite care this time I pushed the wall causing a little more of the beam than originally to strike the hole. Mom came through even better than before, as well as a lot of others voices. I would try to put up with the discomfort and try to control it. This was enough of this spot for today. ------- Chapter 2 Dad was at his office in the city, administering to the white population. His ability, bedside manner, and charm had gotten him to be one of the top surgeons in all of Africa. Rich people came from all around and paid him well. The girls were having lunch when I decided to look out into the world. I didn't announce myself. It was time to find out about psychokinesis. I looked out mom's eyes as I tried to move a spoon. No matter how many grunts and groans I mentally made the spoon kept its place. Even reaching out as I did for a person did not help. Next I tried the turned up corner of a paper napkin, still nothing. The smaller things would come and go from mom's view. I tried Lusa's nerves in her small nipples. If I only concentrated on the nipple she might do something to indicate my success. After five minutes of intense concentration her hand came up and scratched the minor irritation. Was this success or coincidence? I was too tired to try again and retreated back into my brain. The landscape was different. The brightest spot was brighter than before. A very small spot was glowing slightly greater than it had when I last looked. I investigated the small glow and found a very small rose coloured beam almost completely missing the hole. I prepared myself for pain and focussed half the beam into the hole. Nothing happened, no pain at all. Since there was no pain I focussed all the beam into the hole, and waited, -- nothing. I returned to the kitchen and this time I looked out Lusa's eyes, not a good choice; her view changed rapidly as she looked about. When mom talked she looked long enough for me to succeed in moving a lock of mother's hair. Her hand came up and put the errant strands back in place thinking nothing of the incident. The experiment proved to me that the glowing in my head increased with use and the glowing shapes themselves represented a particular latent ability. Was it better to turn everything on now, or wait and see. A concern I had was that a baby was growing rapidly in its mother and the growth slowed after birth. Would the glows remain fixed or even go out? Would my abilities be fixed at birth? I didn't know. Returning to Lusa I said, "Hello Lusa." This startled the girl and a portion of the bowl of cold soup fell into her lap. Japera jumped up to see if her daughter was hurt. "What happened?" "I jumped and it fell. I am sorry mommy, momma." I could kiss her she took all the blame herself. I whispered to each of the women that I had startled her and she had protected me by not mentioning my part. The silent conversation brought a smile to each of the women. "That's all right Lusa. You better soak the dress and take a bath. Do you need help darling?" Mother asked. "No, I can do it. I am a big girl now." As the girl rinsed out the dress in the sink I said, "Thank you for trying to protect me. It wasn't necessary to do that you know." "I know but you are supposed to be my boyfriend. I have to watch out for you." I had not said boy or girl friend but apparently Lusa wanted it otherwise. She wrung out the dress and dropped it into the empty sink. I was about to chastise her for the act when I found I did not know what to do with it myself. I didn't have the information. The older I got the more things I found out that I didn't know. She ran the bath and got the towel and two plastic toys were brought close. "Don't look, I am going to take off my clothes." "Lusa I can't see you, besides boyfriends and girlfriends see one another naked sometimes. You saw my mother and father naked last night." "Ok, you can see me naked if you want but what caused momma to scream? It scared mommy and me," she said as she settled into the warm bath water. "Did you have a little tingle between your legs when you washed them?" She shook her head no and said the same. "Lusa, I am your boyfriend. Don't tell fibs to me." After a moment of silence on both our parts she said, "Yes a little." "Thank you for trusting me Lusa. Well mom and dad rubbed themselves between the legs to feel that tingle until it felt so good that they both screamed." "No they didn't." "Lusa, I am not lying to you. I was going to wait a few weeks before giving you the tingling feeling but I can do it now. Do you want me to do that for you? It is what boyfriends and girlfriends do for each other." "Will it hurt?" "No sweetheart," she smiled and hung her head at the term. "It will feel a lot better than last night and it will last longer. Do you still want to do it? We can do it another time or not at all if you don't want to." "No, I want it, ah I mean yes, I want to." The water was getting deep so I told her to turn it off and lie back on the incline at the end of the tub and spread her legs. "I have just gotten a magic finger. I am going to touch you between the legs very carefully. If you want me to stop just say so and I will. Ok?" She got into position and had to slide up the tub to keep her head above water. I concentrated on the little lips so as not to shock her. She jumped a little and settled down with a sigh. I gazed into her mind while I stroked her, finding the good places to touch and how hard to do it. The finger traced around and around varying the path as I found the places and the touch that brought the best response. The tiny clit got a particularly good work out. I made the mental appendage very small and blunt at the end and inserted it into her vagina. She was startled but settled down again. This time spreading her legs as far as possible to give me the most room. I went as far as her maidenhead but not pushing further. The probe went back and forth in short strokes changing angle and frequency. Her breathing was getting ragged and her hands gripped the edge of the tub. Now her knees came up to her chest offering me everything. The appendage was thinned at the end so it could travel through the small hole in the barrier without rupturing it or even disturbing it. The end was thickened again so only a thin portion slid through her small opening. I used just enough force to let her feel the digit work within her. There was absolutely no discomfort, in fact she was building up to having her first orgasm. This time I used physical force alone to stimulate a female. With mother I just added to the currents going to that special place in her brain. This was better for me. I was strongly feeling the same things as she felt. I sensed that she could take a larger size, so gradually increased the diameter till she felt full but in no discomfort. My stroking speeded up when I felt she needed it. Grunts and groans of pleasure issued from her lips. Her head thrashed back and forth in the unaccustomed pleasure. A final groan and a clamping onto the digit signalled her orgasm. I was so meshed with her that I thrashed around myself. I sensed panic. Lusa was under water. I released the finger and quickly pulled her up so she could breath. She snorted out water from her nose a took deep breathes to bring air back to her system. "I am sorry honey for letting you get water up your nose. I wouldn't hurt you for the world. Are you all right?" I felt a great deal of remorse at not being there when she needed me. "Yes, what happened to me?" "I just gave you that good feeling. It would have lasted longer but you let go of the sides of the tub and went under the water. Next time we can do it in your bed where you will be safer." I was in her mind and knew the answer but had to ask. "Did you like it?" "Ya it was wonderful. Can we do it again?" "Yes we can but we will have to do it later" Lusa looked around with her eyes opened and squirmed frantically. It was difficult to follow her thoughts. My appendage had wrapped around her so there was no way she could fall. She was four feet off the floor and over the tub. She did not know how she was supported and felt that she would fall at any moment. The surprise wasn't hers alone. I had no idea that I was supporting a fifty pound girl so effortlessly. "Relax honey. You are safe. I would never let anything happen to my girl. Do you want me to lower you into the water again? I pulled you up so you would be safe. May I put you down now?" My words calmed the girl. The fear was rapidly leaving as I lowered her down and into the water. She sat up to a safer position with her hands grasping the sides. "Since I have a magic hand let me wash your back," I said to get her mind off her fright. "Are you going to be frightened by the soap or cloth moving by themselves? I will be more careful." "Ok, just no water up my nose." Picking up a bar of soap that had gotten wet was a challenge. I formed a helix that surrounded the bar, leaving a hole in the bottom. The bar fell into the tub splashing the wide eyed little girl. The invisible finger split into three and I carefully wrapped it around the bar. It slipped around and I tightened. The bar flew from the water, going up four feet and fell with a plop and a big splash back into the tub. Lusa laughed as she used her hands and arms to protect her face for the flying water. My next design worked better. The trouble was that the bar moved at the least excuse. It travelled all over the bottom of the tub before I trapped it against Lusa's thigh. The digit split into a dozen little tentacles that wrapped around the bar. They were locked into position, and retracted so they only came a little more than half way around the bar. I talked while I did this explaining some of my problems. Lusa was very calm about all of this because she knew what was happening this time. Her laughter at my antics pleased me somehow. "See what a mighty hunter I am. The bar gave a good fight but I won in the end." I raised the soap displaying the trophy to my girl. I stopped for a second. I had thought 'my girl' before but now the term had a different meaning. I wanted Lusa in a lot of ways. Instinct and my father's opinions affected me greatly. Lusa would be my child, my sculpture, assistant, friend, and mate. I was happy. I moved the soap around the tub making noises and pretending to make it a submarine. Her laughter brought her mother into the room. "Are you all right dear? Do you need any help?" "No, I am just playing." Her mother left satisfied. She spotted the wet dress on the way out and took it to the laundry to complete the cleaning before any stain set. After a few minutes I started to wash her back with the soap. I put the bar into the dish and formed long flexible fingers. I entered her mind and found how much I could push, hard enough to clean but not light enough to tickle. The girl luxuriated in my touch. I felt like dad did last night when he thought he was satisfying his woman. The hand travelled around to the sides and eventually the front. I played with her little nipples getting her to squirm and this stimulated her little pussy. Heightened concern for her safety prevented me from arousing her again. A squirt of shampoo was applied but when I rubbed her head with my pseudo fingers she moved all over. After a second or two I tried making another appendage with fingers of it's own. It was not any harder to manage because the human brain had handled two arms for millions of years. I wondered if I could handle more; perhaps I would try later. My 'hands' worked the shampoo into the thick long black hair. She groaned again as my fingers travelled up the back of her neck and covering the entire scalp to the forehead. They scratched and worked any dirt and oil loose. I was almost sure that if I continued and with minimal stimulation to her nipples or clit she would orgasm. She was indignant when I stopped. "Why did you stop? I liked it." "I know you did but I do not have all of you cleaned. May I pick you up a little to clean the rest?" "Ok, but don't let me fall." "I am going to make a big chair and slide it under you. If you lean back you can rest like you are in the reclining chair in the library. Lean back now." I picked up the girl with out any effort at all. I even supported her feet and legs. The knees were level with her chest and her feet forwards. The other hand cupped water and dropped it on her at different times and places. The girl tried to keep the water from hitting her directly. The game continued for another few minutes. The soap travelled over all the areas I hadn't cleaned yet. When I got to her sex I felt it safe to stimulate her a little because she could not fall. I eventually pulled the plug and ran the girl under the warm water from the shower head. If my hand wrapped around her completely the girl could be rotated to any position. "Lusa honey. I am going to turn you over. You will not fall or get hurt." She was so pliable now that I slowly turned her over without incident. Her butt was up and her legs tight to her chest in the foetal position. She was rinsed with the shower and the water then turned off. My free hand stroked her back and buttocks like my father's memory of his cat. Like a cat she started to purr. A finger traced her lower lips and her legs spread to accommodate my intentions. The finger went into the hole again and as last time I left a very thin section through the barrier. I pumped in and out while whispering how I felt about her into her mind. I saw a decision in her mind being made. In moments I knew that she was mine now, to do with as I liked. An extra finger traced her anus as I remembered the amount of connections to the pleasure centre it had. The extremely slim digit slipped in easily. I expanded it a little and stroked this in counter point to the other finger pleasing her vagina. The back orifice relaxed with the gratifying treatment both fingers enlarged slightly bringing much more stimulation. Lusa gave voice to many sounds. I felt like a musician or perhaps a conductor leading a symphony orchestra. Her peak was coming rapidly so I pulled my mind back from hers and held her firmly so she would feel safe and sped up my fingers. The girl bucked like a horse trying to throw its rider. Her convulsions so intense that she remained quiet; all her mind working on the intense sensations. It was difficult to support her, allow her to flex her muscles in orgasm and keep her safe all at the same time. It was a good thing I had pulled my mind almost out or I would not have been able to accomplish this task. I rocked the girl for many minutes until she came back to this world. "Did you like that my love?" The girl was still groggy, but nodded her head. She loved the experience and the term of endearment I used. She felt cheated somehow, she could not hold me during or even after her experience. "Hold still for a minute, my love, as I wash you a little more." I turned the water back on and rinsed her little mons and anus. She still managed to squirm as I did this. With her now back in the foetal position, I got a fluffy towel and dried her back. "I am going to slowly turn you over again, love." I rotated and stretched out her body. I continued drying her. She parted her legs inviting me to dry her there too. I laughed in a soft tone and she tucked her head to her chest and turned to the wall in embarrassment. "Do not be shy with me. I know that you like my attention and I very much enjoy giving it to a girl I love." Lusa really wanted to hold me now. I rotated her again, this time from the horizontal to the vertical. She got the idea and stood on her own feet. I used two 'hands' and the towel on her hair shaking her and making her giggle at the same time. The towel was wrapped around her and she started to leave for her room. "Not so fast. Take these." I scooped up her other clothes and shoes. She reached out to the garments hanging in mid air taking them as if commonplace. "It is about time you got out of there. You must look like a prune," her mother commented from the kitchen. The dirty clothes and the towel were deposited in the laundry room. Lusa walked to her room wearing only her shoes and they were in her hand. Agatha and Japera had been looking in the direction of the noise and saw the naked light brown girl walk unconcernedly down the hall to her room and shut the door. The mother and the mother-to-be wondered at this unusual behaviour. "Sweetheart," I said to Lusa, "sit in the chair and face the mirror. I think that you are very beautiful, just like your mother. I want to brush your hair and see you at the same time." Lusa was very pleased by the comment. She sat in the padded chair and faced the mirror. I brought the brush over and found it would hit the open back of the chair when taking the long strokes. "Lusa, will you get up and turn the chair around so I can brush your hair without hitting anything?" "Yes Shawn," came from her mind. The girl had to spread her legs wide around the back of the chair. This opened her sex to my view through the back. Actually it properly was our view since I could only see what she looked at. She saw the small hole and remembered the enjoyable time in the bath. I used the brush carefully getting the tangles out in the same way that dad did for mom. I made long sensuous strokes to her long straight hair. Apparently the white genes in both of her parents' background had been dominant and her facial features and hair followed that line of her ancestors. Her strong physique came from her African ancestry. She put her hands on the back of the chair and rested her chin on them watching the phantom brush run through her hair. She luxuriated in the feel and closed her eyes to concentrate more on it. I saw the beautiful child for only seconds when she opened her eyes to see her image in the full length mirror. Her feet did not reach the floor for she was two inches shy of four feet in height. She was a little chubby at fifty pounds. Her frame said that it should loose about seven pounds. I laid the brush aside and ran my hands with many fingers through her lustrous locks. Each of my 'fingers' ended in a small sphere so my girl would not be hurt by an inadvertent movement. She groaned in contentment as I continued to work her scalp and release some of her natural oils. The hair was completely dry now and the girl was off in a world of feeling. Mom liked to get a message from her husband after the brushing. He enjoyed giving it as much as she enjoyed getting it. "Lay down on the bed on your stomach lazy bones." She did not even bother to question my motives in her mind never mind her voice. She climbed onto the bed and lay down on her pillow. My new hands changed into hands like my father. They didn't even startle her as they travelled over her shoulders and started working her muscles. Even insubstantial hands pulled on the skin. I considered getting some oil when I noticed my girl had fallen asleep. I peeked and saw her dreaming of herself and an older more mature young man that were walking and talking. Both obviously in love. The young man was how she saw me. I pulled the comforter that was folded on the foot of the bed and covered her sleeping body. She was not far from the truth I thought. I found mom taking a nap again and Japera cleaning up the kitchen. The supper was already mostly prepared, and only had to be cooked for the six o'clock meal, four hours off. I called to Japera trying to mimic the sound as if it were coming from outside so as to not frighten her. "Japera, what's for supper?" She looked out the window in front of her as I said in the usual way for me, "It's me Shawn. I didn't want to frighten you when I started talking. I imagine it is disconcerting talking to a person you can't see yet." She was only a little shaken and easily overcame it. "It is. It is even more difficult to believe when the baby speaking. Sounds like your father." "I had not noticed that. Do you want me to try to change?" "No, just a little odd." "I hate to add to your troubles but the situation is getting odder still." She looked around trying to find the voice and speak to the source of it. "Well you know that I am fairly intelligent and can speak to you through our minds. I have been trying to find out more of my abilities and I have developed another." "What is it Shawn?" She had given up her quest and was looking out the window again. "Have you ever heard of psychokinesis?" "Never heard the word before." "Well it means I can move things with my mind. Just like I had long arms and fingers to do the moving. Kind of handy when you come to think about it. I could peel potatoes, husk corn, open bottles and open the refrigerator to see what there is to eat." I used common terms and activities so she would not get upset. The fact that I could not eat this way was a different matter. "One of the reasons I am telling you is because you might think there is a spirit, phantom, ghost, or demon, and forget that I am living in my mother who is asleep in her bedroom now. What would you think if you dropped the dishcloth and I picked it up for you? Nothing much if it had a hand and a body attached to the hand." "I don't think it's natural." She gave her honest answer. "You are wrong there. When mom and dad made me, something awoke that normally sleeps. If I look in your mind I see the same things as mine, except the parts that make me what I am are asleep in yours. You could have been born with some of those parts working and you might be talking to others the way I speak to you." "I am glad I was born the way I was." "I am glad I was formed the way I was too. One reason is because Mrs. Maska has worms growing in her and I might be able to get them out. None of the doctors can do that. I want to become a doctor like dad, if I do, then I may find cures for many diseases and save many lives. If I can think of this now, what would I be able to do when I reach your age?" "I see your point. It is just uncomfortable talking to someone in another room that isn't even born yet." "That is true but after my birth you will see me and I will still be able to talk to you this way. I will need a lot of help from you then." "What help?" "I want to go to the zoo, see the airport and train station, swim in the pool, eat ice cream, see your village, go camping and make as many people happy as I can. Is that too much for a start?" "That is a lot of things to do." "Yes it is, but the next day I want to do other things too." She caught the joke and laughed and she heard the boy laugh with her. "All right, I will try harder to get over the little thing like you talking in my head. You get out of here now I have work to do." "Yes momma. I will go but first turn around close your eyes tight and keep them closed." She humoured me and did as I asked. "Will you keep them closed?" "Yes, but hurry up. I have a lot of work to do." I formed hands like dad's and tried something else. I gently held her face in my hands. Her eyes opened as my mental lips met hers. I kissed just like dad did. When in her mind I started the flow that would eventually lead to her orgasm but stopped after a few seconds. It would not be a good idea to do this now. I slowly withdrew my lips then the hands. She staggered a bit. "Bye Japera." I left hoping she would not be too upset. I entered my own brain again to find the area governing psychokinesis glowing brightly. None of the others seemed to have changed any. The one next to it was as good as any to check out. The faint bluish green beam did not even hit the hole. I steeled myself and corrected the aim. Immediately I found myself above mother looking down. I quested through my other senses and could detect nobody present that could be doing the looking. I moved my head and found the vision moved the same amount. I experimented and found the vision moved the exact way I moved. I used the vision to look into the mirror and found nothing unusual looking back. When I willed the vision to reverse it did right through the wall and out side above the front door. This was an eye of sorts. I went over to the kennel and saw the dogs then the pool. I traced the wall circling our property before coming back to the house. The view was a lot different than mother or father had in their mind. They never saw it from thirty feet up. There was lots to see. It would be much more fun with a friend. I left the bedroom and entered Lusa's. Lusa was still asleep. I shook her shoulder with a hand more in size to hers. "Wake up sweetheart. I have got some things to show you." The girl threw back the comforter revealing her naked body. "I have to show you something new that I can do. Lay on your back." I waited till she complied, "Close your eyes and don't open them. I am going to kiss you." The closed eyes opened at this. "How do you do this?" "Just close your eyes and believe that I am here. Hold onto the pillow above your hands and don't let go." She had more than enough faith in me to comply. I kissed her lips lightly then with more feeling, always monitoring her thoughts and sensations. I found an extra feature that would set me apart from the rest of humanity. I could kiss and talk clearly or at least think my thoughts to her at the same time I moved my phantom lips across hers. My lips moved over her cheek to her nose and kissed her closed eyes. She squirmed in contentment at my labours. I kissed her ears, which brought goose bumps all over her body and a gasp to her breathing. Before finishing I kissed all over her neck stirring her sexual response. "What do you think of your boyfriend now sweetheart?" Her eyes came open hoping to see me. I could understand her disappointment. "I love you." "I know you do, and I love you too." After a pause, "Let's go outside. I have something more to show you." She hurried her dressing. I insisted she wear a jacket. The day was cool but the jacket was not normally needed. She told her mother she was going out to play. "Not too long. I want you to help me with supper." "Yes mom." I led her over to the side of the house that nobody could see into and Japera could not see from the kitchen window. "I am going to make my hands into a chair again. Lean back so I can hold you." I used the 'eye', and the 'hand' to propel her around the property. She gasped at the movement even though I was going slower than she could run. After ten minutes I asked, "Do you want to go higher? You are safe and won't fall." The girl was still too excited to answer verbally. The nod of the head brought us up to ten feet or so. "Higher?" I went up to only fifteen feet. I felt her shiver because she was going with her feet first and her legs were not adequately protected. We landed where we started. She stood on her two unsteady legs. "Do you want to do some more." "Oh ya. That is the most fun I have ever had." "Lay down on the grass on your stomach. I will pick you up and you will fly face first this time." This time she was more comfortable. She was not flying level. Her feet were a little lower to keep her neck as comfortable as possible. "Stretch out your arms. The way you point your arms is the way you will go. I can't go where people will see us, so if we go differently than the place you want, that is why." This was very exciting for her. She dodged trees and buildings getting a feeling for flying. We had to stop because the dogs started to bark when they saw us, or rather Lusa, flying. We landed as close to the kennel as I could go. The dogs wagged their tails and clamoured on the fence as they saw Lusa approaching. I found it easy to enter the first dog's mind. It was a lot simpler than humans. I studied for a few minutes before introducing myself to them. This was almost as difficult as with humans. There was no sight and especially no scent to go with the greeting. Lusa was getting impatient as she knew nothing of what I was doing. I made a child's hand to grasp hers and walked back with her swinging the hand and talking as we went. It was much better with my own eye to do the flying or even walking for that matter. "Did you enjoy your playing?" Her mom asked. "Yes. Shawn and I went all over. The dogs find it hard to understand him." Japera was a little upset finding me away with her daughter but figured that children should play together. "That's good. You take care of him." "He doesn't do a thing I say. I am going to have to treat him the way momma does dada." I laughed, this time. Both females heard me. Japera ignored me and said, "I decided to make a pie for Aunt Agatha. You clean and peel some apples while I make the crust." "Make a good pie because you will be feeding me when I get big." I told my girl. She smiled and looked down to hide her face. This she would happily do for me and for the rest of her life if I would let her. I went back to the glowing structures trying to reason out a pattern and try to place the individual structures on a chart of the human mind. This proved to be difficult. The features I saw were an interpretation of their actual usage. There were no beams of various coloured light in my brain, only the way my mind realized their existence. Before I left I went to the memory area and pushed the barriers back as much as I could then headed to the area of my telepathy. I had become accustomed to the noise level controlling it some way. The beam was shifted again toward the hole. The signals went back to their recent levels but many more voices were heard. I gave a test and found dad preparing to leave his office in the company of some other doctors. I cast my eye over to his location finding more poor blacks that had not been treated. He and the nurses had practised triage and the more important cases were seen first. This left a lot of minor sicknesses or injuries untreated. I looked into dad's mind and found that he felt bad about leaving but if he stayed to treat them all he would never get home. He basically did the best he could. John came home and parked the car in the garage and entered the house. Lusa ran to him and said, "Dada" as she jumped into his arms. He kissed her forehead and reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small imported chocolate candy wrapped in foil. "Here you go sweetheart. How is your mommy and momma?" "Mommy is mad at me for leaving too much apple on the skins. Momma napped and she's now reading in her room. She seemed very happy today." She remembered our conversation about sex and decided to pry a little. "Do you know why she is so happy?" He lied and said, "No honey. Maybe it is because you are back home." He hung up his jacket as I said, "Hello dad, how was your day?" He jumped a little at the sudden voice. He assessed my approximate intelligence level before stating, "Tiring. We had some major cases. A lot of people are going to remain sick because there is not enough money to buy all the drugs we need. The government gives very little for the number of patients that we treat." "I was thinking that I could help a little in diagnostics, leaving you a little more time to check my finding and treat the patient." "Thank you for offering but I think that you should be born before going to work. Think of the tax problems I would face. How will you sign your checks?" He joked. "Mom probably wants you. Remember that supper is in twenty minutes. If she has her way you won't come downstairs until tomorrow morning, if then." "Yes she gets that way sometimes." He didn't want to say too much about his affairs with his wife. Later dad sat his wife at the table and did the same for Lusa. Japera was serving so she did all the carting of food. Dad did not sit but excused himself and went upstairs. A moment later he returned with a new high chair. Agatha raised her eye brow trying to think of a reason for this odd behaviour. The chair was placed in the corner of the table between Agatha and Lusa. "I don't like talking to the world at large. I will now assume that Shawn is in the chair and with us. Are you here?" "Yes Dad. Thanks for doing this. I know it's hard to accept these special circumstances." When Japera was finished she sat at the table. All had been waiting for her to be with them before they began eating. They talked of their day while I tried to find out how to talk to all at the table like the way I laughed before to Japera and Lusa. The answer was easy enough once I thought of it. I just had to picture all the people I wanted to speak to in my mind when I 'spoke'. The conversation got around to the black population. This was a way to broach a subject I wanted to talk about, without being rude. I spoke to all. "Mom, momma, dad I have been considering the prospects of Lusa's future. I have no wish for her to have a substandard education. I could find a job that would pay well enough to hire a teacher to educate her full time. The other possibility is for me to teach her. To be honest I can do a much better job. What do you all think?" Each person had thought that I was only talking to them personally till they interrupted each other in answering me. Mother won. "That is very kind of you Shawn, but you don't have the knowledge a teacher must have to educate a young lady." "I have purchased school supplies, and Japera has been teaching her daughter," dad stated. "Mom can I?" Came from Lusa. Japera remained silent a moment thinking. She hoped that something could be done to improve her daughter's life and job prospects. Her efforts did not seem to be doing as well as they should have. "I would be very happy for you to teach Lusa to read and write. Even numbers can come in handy some times." "What do you have in mind Shawn?" Dad asked. "The same education that you and mom had. Since there is a much more favourable teacher student ratio, I believe we can progress at a faster pace. This could also include education for me too. I have only seen things through your memories or your eyes. If Lusa and I travel in conjunction with her academic training we will both be educated." "Where do you want to travel?" "Just this neighbourhood then Salisbury for a start and eventually the countryside and Japera's home village." "There are dangerous areas that you can't go to. Other areas you won't be welcomed in. Why don't you stay around the house? There is a lot to see right here," mom added. "Mom, I never mentioned the time frame for doing this. I have seen some of the injustices committed in this city already and recognize some of the dangers." "How is that son?" Dad asked. "This conversation goes into another area I wanted to cover. I have been doing a little tinkering on myself. I have found two other abilities. I told dad that I would be careful, and I was. One thing I did was to increase the range. I can listen to a great many people who happen to be much further away. Now I have many people talking in my head and I have learned to dampen them to a comfortable level. "I felt frustrated by not being able to move things as I wished. I have developed some of my psychokinetic abilities and I am now as strong as dad. The other thing I found was the ability to see from a distance. I can look down from the sky and see your office dad, or keep it at a level where my head would be if I were sitting in this chair. That is where it is now." It took a few minutes to let all this sink in. "What can you do?" Mom asked. "My fine control is good enough to bathe a very pretty girl. Washing her hair and skin with a bar of soap. If you think that was easy you should try to form a hand to hold the bar. It travels all over the tub evading my grasp then shooting into the air as I adjusted the grip. Eventually I made a hand with a many little fingers to hold the slippery bar." Lusa smiled at the memory. "I towelled this un-named girl dry and finished by brushing her hair dry then massaged her scalp. This girl thought the exercise was so good that she fell asleep on me." Everybody looked at Lusa, she returned the gaze before lowering her head in embarrassment. "It was fun, and I was sleepy," she commented under her breath. Mother laughed then the rest followed suit. I continued, "Lusa slipped in the tub. I picked her up to get the water out of her nose. It was easy picking up a two hundred pound girl." "I'm not." Lusa retorted angrily, before realizing she was the butt of a joke. "That is pretty impressive. Is there anything else?" Dad asked. "Nothing else. I did mention about my hands to Japera so she would not get frightened. I am still not sure she accepts me. She will have to wait until she has to put up with a full diaper to believe me fully." Dad tried to divert the conversation and said, "Let's have some of that pie I smell, Japera." She got up and went to the counter and cut a piece of pie and placed it onto a desert plate. "Japera, may I serve the pie to our family?" I spoke to all. All eyes were on Japera's back wondering at her reaction. "Ah - go ahead, but don't drop it." I picked up the plate and floated it over to the centre of the table. "Mother would you like a piece of Japera's delicious pie?" She was a little hesitant but nodded her head. The pie travelled before her but her dinner plate and cutlery gathered themselves up and moved to one side before the pie descended. The dirty plate travelled close to the amazed Japera and into the sink. She saw the flatware move to one side and the plate sit by itself. A drawer opened and a single fork came out to land beside the pie. No sound was heard in the kitchen. "Well dad, would you like a piece of pie too? Mom's fat and she's still going to eat hers." Mother who had been staring at the pie in astonishment got indignant before she realized the ploy I was using. She laughed and started eating her pie. "Yes I think I will, thank you Shawn." The process was competed again with eyes following all my activities. "Lusa, would you enjoy a piece of your mother's pie?" "Yes please, Shawn," she quickly replied. I repeated the process again with the same results. When Lusa started to eat her pie the plate moved a bit every time making her eating difficult. She grabbed the plate hard and moved her mouth down to get the food before it got away. Everybody laughed including Japera. "Japera would you like a piece of this pie. From the looks of it they are even protecting it." "Yes I would. Thanks." She was about to cut the piece for herself when I said, "Please be seated. I will bring it to you." She reluctantly left the job and approached the table. The chair was pulled out and I said, "May I seat you, my lady?" She sat as if dad had been pulling out the chair. Her eyes followed the seat as she slowly sat down not sure if the seat would be under her when she was in the position to need it. The pie knife worked quickly and a desert plate floated to a place in front of Japera along with a clean fork. They all ate in silence thinking about they had just witnessed. "Is it so hard to believe that your son would serve his family?" They didn't know what to say. Later dad took mom outside to let the dogs loose and exercise them. They ran around dad very happy to be free. He threw a rubber ball far as he could. The dogs took off after the prey. Mother walked into her garden and trimmed some roses for the table. When they were done they sat on a bench holding one another in the dying rays of the setting sun. That night Japera used her fingers while listening to the sounds the others made. She needed somebody very badly to love and be loved by in return. I would either find another to please her or do it myself. With the decision made I projected into her mind the image of what I would probably look like at eighteen. This image would make passionate love to her. On occasion John and Agatha heard Japera's cries from down the hall after they had their own orgasm. For the next week I stimulated all the females in the house. Dad was in his glory and his wife radiated in her own way. Their cries could be heard throughout the house. They seemed to turn in earlier each night. My lovemaking with Lusa caused some discomfort for her my lips or fingers were almost frictionless but not fully. Her immature vagina was dry and inflamed partially with the lack of lubrication but mostly with her recent orgasm. I thought of two ways of correcting this. The natural way seemed best. I looked into her body after she had succumbed to her latest orgasm. I pulled her feet apart and raised her torso. Only her shoulders touched the bed. The eye went into her vagina and uterus inspecting for damage. While there, I went up both fallopian tubes looking for lesions and happily found none. When almost out I looked at the immature Bartholin's Glands they provided lubrication. I worked my mind trying to stimulate them to provide their necessary function. Lusa recovered and wondered what I was doing between her legs again. She was quite happy for me to be there. She was becoming addicted to sex at this young age. I licked her intermittently to keep her happy while still working on my original task. Perhaps I could find the answer as I'd done before. My brain had a group of five new glowing areas. I went into each and corrected the aim of the beams of light. I felt no different and returned to Lusa. I concentrated on the paired glands and saw a single small drop of moisture come from one. These I would have to keep stimulated to allow them to mature. The days passed. I began teaching Lusa in the library. She replied to me in her head. Her progress was as swift as I had hope for. I worked in her head trying to enlarge her memory room and stack the data. The walls were much more fixed but they did move some. I could not get any of her talents awakened. Perhaps she was already too old or not destined to use any. I bathed, dressed and held her at night. She enjoyed our love making even more now. I used my lips to stimulate her and a new invention of mine was the tongue. It had the advantage of lengthening and thickening into any shape I wanted. I could and did lick the back side of her immature womb. There were not many nerves there. I only did it because I told her what I was doing and it added a new dimension to our activity. Most times she had to bring the pillow over her head to muffle her screams of release. About three weeks before my due date, Agatha saw Lusa walk down the hall. Lusa appeared preoccupied but very happy. She bumped into a small table in the hallway. Agatha brought up the matter with Japera. "What do you think is the matter with Lusa. She does not talk to her old friends. She talks less to us and then only about Shawn. She's always staring off into space. If I didn't know any better I would say she is in love but she is only six." "I have noticed it too," the mother replied. "I think it is love though." "Who could it be? She stays away from her friends." "I know who it is. It's your son. I don't think it's intentional but he has been giving a lot of his time to the young girl." Agatha thought for a while and came to the same conclusion. "What do you want to do about it? They are both children. Shawn for all his education and second hand knowledge is still a child. Could or should we separate them?" "Perhaps it is just puppy love at this age. Shawn is actually good for her. She cleans up after herself and even wants to learn to make the meals. I showed her how to do a different stitch when she was doing some knitting. That is another thing. She was taught some of the skills a young girl should know when she was visiting our relatives. It seems she wants to put them all to use and learn more." Agatha thought a little deeper, "I have looked into her studies and she is doing even better than I hoped. I always knew your daughter was bright but Shawn seems to bring out the best in her. She does remind me of a girl I knew once. She acted this way, trying to learn all the tasks she would need for when she married. The ceremony was a year away but she was frantic to be the absolute best wife and mother." "Yes, I have seen the same thing. Lusa shows all the same signs. I think it would be cruel to separate them now. I should try to get her to visit her old friends though. Can you see a way?" "A party would work. Her birthday is not for a few weeks though." "We do not need an excuse. I can invite the mothers' of her friends to a hen party. The children will be invited too. Since you are both at once you will also be invited. We had the last one at the park by the highway. It will do just fine again." "I like the idea. I can help a little, getting everything ready." "No you won't. Just before a woman has her baby she gets into a dither about everything that needs to be done and wears her self out. You can plan the menu, and maybe make that salad everybody likes. I will do the rest." "Yes mommy, I will do as you say." They hugged one another and laughed. In the library I finished going over Lusa's mathematics test. She had gotten a perfect score. The test included adding, subtracting, division and multiplication of integers. Not bad considering she could not even read three weeks ago. I had come up with a very quick method. I sorted through my memory about the basic mathematical functions and cleaned it up very well and placed it into Lusa's memory. All it took was a few examples and she knew it. As promised she would be given her reward. The girl was becoming insatiable. Before beginning I told her to take the test to the adults. Lusa ran from the room joyfully calling "Mommy, momma look at this." The women were in the kitchen drinking some tea. Mother was cheating, she was not supposed to drink too much. The breathless girl plunked the sheets down before the women. They looked through the pages and traded to see them all. Japera was able to do the math too but not too much more. "This is fantastic, congratulations on doing so well. I am amazed at your ability," Agatha said. "Yes daughter, you have done very well. I am very proud of you," then to Agatha, "May I put this onto the refrigerator. I heard that parents do this for their children but this is your house." "Japera, you are my friend and as close as a sister. Lusa is almost my daughter too. I want our daughter's work put on the refrigerator for her dada to see when he comes home." Japera had a tear in her eye as she got up and found some tape to stick the test to the refrigerator door. She turned around and bent over and kissed and hugged her 'sister'. "Thank you momma." Lusa said as she ran to her room. She was anxious for her payment. She threw off her clothes and sat on the bed untying her shoes. She threw them onto the floor and lay down in the middle of the bed with her eyes closed and legs open. I kissed her lips, just the same as dad kissed mom. My tongue brushed her teeth, hers came to do battle with the intruder. Her arms were above her head holding tightly to the rails of the headboard. I kissed all over her face and neck. Her breathing was getting frantic and I had just begun. I traced a line down her chest to the tiny nipples. I bit them with my pseudo lips causing her to push her chest up for more stimulation. The tongue went to the armpits and licked before returning to the nipples, then back again for more. "Oh Shawn lower please lower." The single tongue traced a path around her stomach and stabbed her above each immature ovary. She flexed and flexed again. The tormentor went lower and traced her mound, not venturing in yet. The impatient girl raised her knees to her chest and offered me better access so she could get more stimulation. The access was not needed because I had no head or shoulders to get in the way, only the long tongue for now. "Don't tease me Shawn, put it in." She had done a good job on the test working hard so she got the tease anyway. The tongue went around and around before going in to the first set of lips. My eye could see the dew forming from the now active glands. I picked some up and rubbed the larger lips more vigorously. Her squirming made all this a little difficult. I had to react very fast to move with her. I could use my hands and hold her down but she liked to be free to move as well sometimes. The tongue scooped up some lubricant and rubbed it on her anus. She immediately curled her abdomen to get even more of a sensation. I worked the tip in and out gathering lube as I did so. When enough was present I entered the now open hole with a bigger tongue. I stroked back and forth going further and further, eventually touching the transverse colon on the in stroke. I widened the tongue and continued. Lusa hand came off the headboard and pulled out the pillow under her head and putting it on her chest. I formed another tongue and traced her lower lips again. There was now no shortage of lube. The thin tongue entered her and passed through the cervix and into the womb. It enlarged in diameter everywhere except where it went through her still intact hymen. When the stroking began again I had to dam up the flow of stimulus to her brain. Another two tongues started working on her nipples again, and the lips went back to her mouth kissing another went to work on her clit sucking it out of her body almost. I could not keep the dam. It broke and she convulsed and convulsed. I continued what I was doing and also brought the pillow over her mouth. I held her down as she let go. Her pussy squirted lube and her mouth released enough sound to be heard down the street if not for the pillow. My pace slowed and I lifted the pillow for her to breath before putting it back for the next scream. I could now stop. The girl was unconscious, and would be for a half hour or so. Her body somehow still responded a little to my touch. I picked up damp towel I had asked Lusa to get before the test. I supported her like a baby and cleaned her mouth of saliva before washing her mons and anus. I covered my sleeping beauty up with the comforter and hid the towel in a plastic bowl under the bed. The window was opened an inch or so. The room need freshening as the girl gave a scent now along with the lubrication. Too bad I didn't have a nose yet. ------- Chapter 3 I went back to the now familiar territory in my head. The five glows that stimulated the glands to function were a little brighter, along with a dozen more. They probably had an association with the first five and had taken a week or so to make their response known. I entered each of the twelve and noticed that the light from all seventeen were almost the same. Therefore I could do more with the human body by turning them on. After doing so I felt much better perhaps even stronger or healthier was a better term. I saw a relation with geography and the grouped senses. The glow associated with my insubstantial eye was close to another point of light. I entered this and corrected the aim of the beam. I immediately 'heard' breathing. The 'eye' confirmed my suspicions. My mother was reading a book in the library. The other glows must be taste and smell, they were very close together. When turned on, my memory found a match. The smell of books in the library. Taste I would leave for later. The only common sense was feel. I entered this glow. It was almost all on now, it probably was triggered when I used my fingers for the first time to touch my mother's hair. As I adjusted the aim I felt a nice tingle down my spine. I pondered my immediate future. Mom wanted to finish writing her book and return to teaching. I was now due in three weeks. Mother would be home for about four months before school starts. I would need a baby sitter for everything till my coordination and muscles developed. Japera would probably do this along with her other duties. From my dad's studies, I knew that packaged or even cow's milk was not as good as mother's milk. When mom went back to work, my supply would go with her. The logical solution was to have Japera or Lusa supply my needs. I did not know if I could or even should try to stimulate the glands in Lusa's young chest. It would have to be Japera. Japera had been masturbating for well over a week to my adolescent image. I could also feel her need for a real man. I hope I would fill the bill one day. I would satisfy her needs and she would fill mine. Lusa woke up to me cradling her in my arms. The blanket around her to keep her warm and the pillow to hug to her body as a substitute for me. My sense of smell and even taste came alive as I held the girl. She squeezed the pillow and said to it, "I love you Shawn, forever." "I love you too sweetheart. I have a question to ask you. Your mother is very sad at the moment. She misses your dad and she wants someone to take his place. She needs the same thing that you just got. In fact she needs it very bad. She has been thinking of going into town and finding a man to have sex with her. I don't want to see a stranger having sex with your mom. The question is: May I go to your mom and make her feel better? I will never leave you to stay with her. Your mom just needs me for a while." Lusa asked questions and I answered the best I could considering her present knowledge. I helped her get dressed and used my long tongue to trace a line from her navel down and around past her tailbone. I savoured the taste but had to fight her off after I did this. When dad came home we greeted him and he then went to see mother. Before supper dad walked into the kitchen and found the test, no doubt hinted to by mom. He looked at the questions and assessed their difficulty. He looked at the note on the last page written by me stating how well Lusa had done. He removed the tape and put the papers into his pocket. The routine at the supper table had changed somewhat. Dad still sat mother down but I sat Lusa and Japera. I served the meal, since I could not eat it directly anyways. They had come to except flying plates of food and cutlery moving about. I had even talked Japera into letting Lusa and I do the clean up. I could scrape the bottom and sides of any pot and remove even the most burnt on mess there was with my 'finger'. I imagine I could cut steel if I tried. The dishes were washed in soapy water but the water was almost as clean when we finished as when we started. Tonight after the conversation started, dad brought out the test and straightened it out before placing it on the table. "I see that Lusa has done very well in her test. Considering her age and the time since starting her education, it is simply amazing. I would like to give you a reward for this work. He pulled from his shirt pocket a new five pound note. He reached over and handed it to Lusa. She was not sure to take so much money until she saw her mother nod her head. "Thank you dada," she clutched the note and hung her head. She did not know what to say. The money was more than a labourer would make in a week, even if she did not know that. Dad took out another fiver and said, "And this is for Shawn for all his work. Thank you." "Thank you dad. The work was rewarding enough but the money will come in handy spoiling a young lady of my acquaintance." The money left his hand and went to Lusa. "Honey will you hold this for me. I seem to have lost my pockets." Mom laughed, "That is how it starts son. You have the money for but a moment before your woman gets it." The adults laughed and dad started to think a little deeper into this matter. Lusa and I finished the dishes quickly but before we were finished dad asked to talk to me. I figured it to be the obligatory birds and the bees talk from dad. I was not wrong. I asked Lusa to wait for me in her room. "Shawn. What are your intentions toward Lusa? I need to talk to you about how a man and a woman feel about each other and what you have to do about it." "Will you get mom and momma in here so I can say this without you being grilled about the conversation later?" The woman were close in any case. They would only be able to hear one side of the conversation if they stayed just outside the door and listened. After they were seated I began again. "The only feelings I get are the memories and the feelings of the people I love around me. Lusa means a lot to me. I have no real sex drive of my own. The things that do drive me is need to help the people I love and to a lesser extent people beyond my family; a need to feel their gratification. To this end I have helped to start Lusa on her road to an education. By the amount and direction I am trying to make the best possible person she is capable of being. "I am naturally curious, like all primates, and enjoy finding out how and why all humans function within the physical world about us. I have looked into Lusa and found much of this out. Before you get angry, doctors had to work with their patients to find out what is wrong with them before they can be cured. I only looked and did not tinker. "When I look into human drives I see that they are influenced by glands and instinct. My glands are not affecting me in any appreciable way at this moment in the direction you are referring to. My instinct is the same as yours though; to have a family and further my line. To this end I would have Lusa as my wife." The women gasped or inhaled as the case may be. Dad sat up very straight. Mother cried, "She is so young. You are too young too. Before too long your eyes will drift to other girls and leave Lusa. That is the way it is with everybody." "Mother, she is young. If she needs to find somebody new I will let her go. I can only hold onto her the same way dad keeps you shackled to his side." "What do you mean?" She was too upset to think correctly. "The chains binding you are very strong. Dad provides a roof over your head and food for your mouth. When he is not working he is thinking of you and how to increase your happiness even to the point of allowing you to leave him and follow your career. He has given you a child that both of you desperately wanted. He has provided security for both of us. He has beaten back his own instinctive urges and forsaken all other women. If necessary he would give up his life happily to save either of us. Do you deny the existence of these chains and others? Could you break them? I think not. I am forging my own chains to. Mine are as insubstantial as yours. "I told you before that I had plotted out my life. I will not forsake Lusa. She will give me children to cherish. If for some reason she does not want to be with me, she may go freely and I will find another somehow." "You want to marry my baby. You can't support her and the babies. Who will protect you from the people outside these doors? What about the difference in age?" "Japera, I am not born yet but I can speak to you like an adult. I know enough about medicine to start as an apprentice doctor now. The arms I use to wash the dishes can perform surgery just as good as dad I think. My eyesight can see things within a person's body that nobody else can. If I was after money, I could be the richest person on the planet. My arms are long and strong. Do you think anyone could harm my woman. As for age, she is six years older than me, I am more mature than her. As we age we will come closer together." Dad asked, "Does Lusa know this?" "No dad, I thought it best to broach the subject with all of you first. I knew with the way she was acting it would not be long." "You have a very mature outlook. If it were up to me I would let you court Lusa. I suspect that in a year or so you and she will fall out of love as easy as you fell in. Remember what you said about letting her go. I think you should also hear what Japera and your mother have to say." Japera said, "I want the best for my girl. You certainly are going to be a fine young man when you grow up. I am concerned that in a few years you will throw her away when you find somebody new." "I think the same. Can you show that you won't?" Mom said. "Young people have been dating for years. Parents see some of them separate after a short time. Consider the two of us dating. I cannot get her pregnant before I am thirteen. Allow us to date till that time. If we are together and want to marry at that time you can give us your blessings. If we part before that time the decision will not come up. Japera, may I take Lusa as my woman until I reach the age of thirteen and then ask for her hand?" The solution seemed the best possible and Japera cried but tears of joy for her daughter. "You may have her till then, if she wants to." "Thank you mother. I seem to have acquired another maternal figure now. I feel my fiancée needs me. Will all of you forgive me? I must leave." Lusa was worried and called my name hoping I would return to her soon. "What is wrong Shawn? Did I do anything bad?" She asked after I came back to her. "No. You did nothing wrong. I just told the others that you are my girlfriend and we are going to stay together from now on." She jumped up. She was very happy. "What did mom say?" "Children, when they grow up make new friends and leave the old ones. I just said I won't do that and if you find someone you want to be with you can go." "Oh no Shawn, I would never leave you." "The truth is that you will like other people. I like your mother now. I am not going to leave her when I have you." "That's ok but I won't have anyone except you." I gathered her up in the comforter and carried her around like a baby. Talking of all the things we would do when we got older. The door silently opened. I could sense Japera. I spoke to both of them now, about our future, even the children we would have. Lusa spoke of the children she wanted and how they would all look like their father. The door closed as quietly as it opened. I heard a sob as the woman went to her room for the night. I undressed my girl to get her ready for bed. "Your mother is in her room crying about how you have a friend and she doesn't. I think it is about time for me to help her." "Will it really make mom happy?" "Yes it will. I think you and your mother go together as a pair. In a while I will call you and I want you to quietly go to your mother's room and watch what I do. She will no doubt be noisy like my mom. I want to try to make both of you happy at the same time. Is that ok?" "Yes," her eyes almost glowed, "I will do anything you say." I carried the naked Lusa across the hall and into the bath, where she used the toilet and I cleaned her in the bathtub. We came back to her room where I brushed her hair until it was dry. The sleepy girl had to be stirred as I prepared to leave for her mother's room. I knocked on Japera's door and said right away, "It is me Japera, I would like to talk to you." "Come in Shawn." I was already in but wanted to be polite. The light was off and I could smell with the 'nose' the scent of a woman's arousal. "I heard you crying. I know you are lonely, may I stay with you for a while?" "If you want. What about Lusa. I know you stay with her at night. I can hear her through the walls." "She knows I came over here to talk to you for a while." I got into bed behind Japera as if I had a body. My arms went around the woman and I made noises like I was breathing. Japera did not know what to expect but she felt more comfortable than she had in years. I formed a chair like I did for Lusa these many times but straightened it out and put in corrugations that would simulate a man's chest. I wrapped both arms around Japera and pulled her into my 'chest'. She wiggled to adjust her self to the form. She had tried to bring herself to an orgasm but I had come in too soon and stopped it. I started the flow to her brain. I moved my arms to let her know I was still there. The flow increased and her breathing increased. It felt just as she pictured the young man holding her. She felt fingers gently caressing her breasts. "What are you doing Shawn?" "I am holding another woman that I love and what I should have done long ago. I will not put up with you suffering any more." I changed the image of my older self so that it resembled how I was holding her now. The hands moved up and down her front. The lower hand went through the mattress and made Japera much more at ease than a real arm that would put pressure on her ribs. The hands held her breasts securely. My fingers gently caressed her nipples bringing huge gasps for air. My lips worried her ear, sending shivers up and down her spine. Still the flow increased but in small easy increments. All this kept pace with the image in her mind. I inserted a tendril into her vagina and moved it slowly as I enlarged it. Back and forth it went as I now held back the dam of her emotions. It was becoming too much for her and I pinched her nipples and speeded up my thrusts as I released the dam. She inhaled for a great scream and I pushed her over into her pillow muffling the exclamation. I kept up the pace and was required to do it three more times till she was too tired to continue. The chair was made and she was nudged into position in it. Up it went with her in the foetal position giving me better access to her genitals. Soft slow languid stokes brought whimpers to my 'ears'. I lowered her onto the bed on her back after getting her used to the position. Lusa came soundlessly into the room at my silent summons and lay upon her mother's chest on her back. I raised them both, being careful with their legs. Japera's legs stretched past Lusa's. I reinserted a 'penis' into each and made it as comfortable as possible as I started going in and out of mother and daughter. Japera's arms came up and circled her daughter. I searched Japera's mind and found that no man had entered her anus. I inserted two more probes into each female and expanded them gently. The tempo of each set was altered to find their individual responses to the anal and vaginal stimulation. The were having multiple orgasms now, thanks to the flow that I used to regulate their response. Japera's hands found her daughter's tiny nipples and rubbed them with her thumbs getting even more whimpers from Lusa. I changed their positions regularly not wanting them to cramp. Once I had Lusa laying on her mother and her head at her mother's sex. I slowed her thrusts so she could see her mother's fissure open and almost close repeatedly as she listened to the sounds they made. Later she moved backwards and put her face on her mother's abdomen as her mother now saw the small invisible probes alter the size of her daughter's vagina and anus. The mother reached up with her tongue and gently lapped her daughter's clit. Lusa was so used to orgasms that she hardly noticed the extra stimulation. The thrusts slowed to a very sedate pace then stopped completely. I moved my girls to face one another as they hugged and even kissed before falling asleep. Mom was asleep dreaming of her previous thin self and her John making slow languid love to her. With the danger to me of my parents' overactive sex, they had stopped. Neither of my parents would stimulate the other orally for one reason or another leaving both frustrated. Dad would use his hand to give his wife some relief while she found it difficult to even do this. I had the ideal solution. I made an image of Japera walking naked into the room in my parents' dreams. She kissed first my mother and then my father. She pulled back the bed coverings and positioned my unresisting mother's legs. Her mouth came down and started to lick and suck. I stimulated my mother's flow during the dream to get her very excited. The image continued licking as dad got off the bed to see better. Japera brought her knees under her and turned her head to say to my phantom dad, "Put it in carefully. It has been a few years since a man has had me." She turned back to mother and holding her legs started running her tongue up and down the pregnant woman's slit. Mother saw the phantom dad approach Japera and start to stroke the woman first with his fingers then with his cock. Mom felt Japera being thrust forward into her cunt with each stroke of her husband. She had not had her cunt eaten since she was a girl. The pleasure was almost too much to take. I broke the dam and pictured the other characters in the play having theirs also. Mom had her wet dream and woke up dad. He didn't know what happened but her heard a breathless "Japera" from his wife's lips. Dad was concerned and took a long time returning to sleep. Was his wife having dreams of having sex with her friend Japera? It was but a dream he thought and eventually returned to sleep. Mother rested easier after her orgasm with a smile on her face and a phantom Japera sleeping on one side of her and a real John on the other. My girls woke gently to my stroking their vaginas and clits. I had given them a few hours of rest. They moaned as I sat Japera on the edge of the bed with her feet on the floor. Lusa sat facing her mother on her lap and her legs around her mother. I had kept up the pulsations to their sex as they moved to this position. I changed the shape of the mental dildo to have a regular change in diameter so the undulations on the surface added to their pleasure. I picked them up and off the bed and manoeuvred them so their weight continually shifted. Sometimes Lusa on top and at others Japera on top but neither taking the full weight of the other. My lips attacked their clits making each thrust against the other. "Lusa suck your mother's tits like you used to do. The girl was not to far above a robot and sucked on her mother as if she was pleasing me. Japera's hands held her daughter first to one breast then the other. I allowed each to orgasm in this position. I laid Japera on her back and kept her daughter attached to her breast. They both drifted off to sleep with my arms around them. The things Japera usually did in the morning I did this time to allow her to get a little extra sleep. I woke my women to a kiss on the upper lips and another on the lower. "Get up you two. The day is wasting. Lusa go to the bathroom." She scampered off in a daze. Japera remembered last night and pulled the sheet up to hide her nakedness. I pulled her arms above her and picked up her legs and thrust the right sized cock into her. She grunted and started to thrust against me. I started the flow to get her really excited. "I love everybody within these walls and you are the one most in need of that love. I will care for you like I care for Lusa. You will not suffer from an empty bed again. "You are just a boy. I am almost thirty years old. Why do you want me?" "You are intelligent, charming, beautiful and outgoing. You were still worried about your daughter and me. The only way for you to understand was to be in her shoes with no hiding. When I give her pleasure I will give you pleasure. You will find her safe and happy while you will have someone to talk to." Breakfast was different today. Mother kept looking at Japera, reassessing everything she thought about her friend. Japera for her part seamed to glow. She appeared to be a virgin that finally had her man. Her face and mood were very cheerful as she performed her duties. Lusa was happy but drowsy from her loss of sleep. Dad for his part watched his wife and her looks at Japera. Was the absence of good sex affecting his wife so much? It was time for work and he would try harder tonight to please his wife. Both women stayed with their usual routine until I started slipping a little of the flow to each. Japera walked with her legs together to stimulate her clit. Mother would slip a hand under her housecoat to do the same. I would not allow either to come. Two hours later both were on their beds trying furiously to bring them selves off but to no avail. The frustrated Japera got up and washed her hands. She called me, "Shawn." I didn't answer, hoping she would think I was sleeping. It was time to check on Agatha and find out if she needed anything. I stirred both women to a higher pitch as Japera walked down the hall. Japera heard the moaning behind the partially closed door. It stirred her up even more thinking of her friend finding pleasure. Almost of their own accord her legs went through the doorway. She saw the beautiful woman with her knees up and trying to stimulate her clit, her eyes closed trying to complete her job. The baby was too big to allow the job to be done properly. Japera knew that Agatha needed her. She knew what to do for she had done this many times in her village with her relatives before getting married and leaving. She shed her clothes in the darkened room and crawled to the foot of the bed. The movement of the bed did not even register on Agatha. She felt the first touch as Japera's lips as they kissed the inside of her thigh. Her legs closed instinctively on the woman's head. The kisses and licks continued in the one spot hands moved down and caressed her lower lips. Agatha's hands now covered her pussy to protect it but were too late, they were over Japera's. After the fright she parted her legs wide offering all she had to her friend. Japera kissed slowly to the treasure, making Agatha wait for the final moment. When it came she heard a loud groan and two strong hands descend on her head to hold her in place. She was brought back to her village and the circle of friends that loved one another. "What are... are... you doing Japera?" Japera used her tongue to attack the clit before answering. You are my friend and you are in need." Then remembering my words. "I will not let you suffer." She went back to her feast accompanied by mother's thrusts and groans. I released the dam on mother. "Oh yes... yes... yes... Oh yes Japera," as she pushed Japera almost into her hole. I gave a final burst to Japera and allowed her to follow. She thrashed at the foot of the bed, bringing joy to mother, knowing that she had found her own pleasure. "Come up here Japera," mother whispered. Japera crawled onto the bed for she had fallen right off. She did not know what her reception would be like. She now realised that she could loose her job and a warm safe house for her daughter and herself. She had a very worried face as she hesitantly approached her employer and she hoped friend. Agatha saw the worry or even terror and had to think what it could be for. "What is wrong Japera?" "I don't want to go. I only saw that you needed me. I am sorry." "Don't be foolish. I loved it. Come here so I can kiss the friend I love." A broad smile went across her features as she carefully got on the bed to kiss her friend. The kisses became more passionate and Japera assumed the role as the aggressor. She rained kisses all over Agatha's body till she found herself back at the woman's cunt. She sucked, bit, licked and tongued the sensitive area. Mother was close again as I had been adding to her pleasure but not Japera. I picked up Japera by the hips. She stopped until she heard the private conversation telling her what I was going to do. She went back to pleasing mother while I did the same for her. The long cocks worked in tandem while the lips sucked and worried her clit. I had control of one end and mother held Japera's head to keep her in place at the other end. The bed rocked till they could hold it no longer and both went off together. Groans and cries sounded throughout the house as the woman collapsed. Japera crawled up and kissed mother again. She was happier now than she had ever been before. I covered them up as they slept. I had thought through a moral dilemma. I wanted my mother to be happy. The code of ethics I had acquired from both parents said that the way I did this was wrong. The justification was that I was helping others find love for I was that strongly into sexual gratification if I was not in that person's mind. I made lunch with Lusa's help. The women got up finally and found the meal already prepared. Japera and Agatha hung their heads somewhat ashamed at me making the meal. Mother figured that I must have known what they were doing in the bedroom. I seated both ladies and started the conversation. "I love all of my family and that means Japera and Lusa as family members too. Mom, I know that you were frustrated the same as Japera was. I am happy for both of you." They both blushed and very ashamed. "Japera will you tell mom about Lusa and I? Then about us? It will bring everything out into the open and make both of you feel much better." After a moment she said, "Ah - Shawn does things to Lusa that make her feel very good. He - did - them to me too last night." "What she means mom is that I form lips and kiss my women. Fingers and hands tare made to caress their beautiful bodies and a solid shape fabricated to enter them. This gives them the pleasure they need. Lusa has become my wife in many ways." Lusa sat up straight at hearing this. I had not mentioned the word 'wife' before to her. "Japera has been lonely for a long time. She needed somebody to hold. I can only love and stimulate her. She needs to physically hold the person loving her. I would take her as my wife too but she loves somebody else even more. That is you and dad. Japera also needs one more thing. She has told no one this but she wants a baby like you have and she wants dad to be the father." Both women gasped. This even overcame their shock at me apparently finding out they had sex together. Japera hung her head and Agatha smiled. Agatha stretched out her hand and lifted Japera eyes to hers. "I find that a very nice idea. John and the specialist said I could have no more children. If my sister has one for me, we can share both of them. Will you bear John's child for both of us to raise?" Japera had tears flowing freely down her face and a big smile to off set them. "Thank you," was all she said. "Let's eat. I have worked my fingers to the bone to make this meal and you just want to talk. I work over a hot stove all day. What thanks do I get?" They laughed at my antics and got over their emotional upheaval. We ate the soup and salad and fresh biscuits followed by fruit. I should say that they ate I just watched. The two women discussing how to get dad to co-operate. I washed the dishes and Lusa dried as usual. We left the two women and went to Lusa's bedroom. I kissed my woman gently on the lips and started to remove her clothing. Her smile brightened the room. I laid her upon the bed and kissed down her neck bringing exclamations of joy. Her legs came up, offering me her body. I inserted both my cocks slowly. Almost teasing her in the process. "Hurry Shawn, I need you in me." Mother and Japera had come to the open door and seen the tiny girl in the thrall of her sexual passion. I had stirred them up beforehand with a flow of sexual energy to their brains. They saw the girl lifted off the bed and her legs separate and come up even more. Her young cunt and anus winking as the pair of invisible dildo's pulsed into her body accompanied by the slurping noises of their passage. I slowly brought my girl close to the pair so that they could see, hear and smell better. Lusa did not know where she was or even care at this point. The women were almost ready to have their own orgasm when I told Japera, "Lick my wife the way I licked you last night." She was hesitant but was driven to do this by the amount of stimulation I was subjecting her to. She held her daughter by the thighs and licked and sucked the girl's tiny crotch. I gave Japera a small orgasm and moved the girl over to my mother. "This girl is just like the girls you used to lick when you were young. Lick her please." My mother was just as hesitant but did as I asked. She licked from around the small gaping bud to the clit before putting her tongue into the girl's vagina and tasting her. I gave her an orgasm too but not great enough to allow her to fall. "Japera, please take off mother's clothes and lay her on the bed." Mother did not object but even helped. I am sure she would have never done any of this if she hadn't been so aroused by my flow. Japera took off her clothes without being asked and waited for my suggestion. I looked at Japera and said, "Lick Agatha, she needs it." Japera did as I asked and I startled her again by inserting both cocks in her as well. I rotated the unresisting Lusa around and placed her cunt over mother's mouth. She remembered her youth and licked and sucked my woman. I increased the stimulation both physical and mental. The women gasped and groaned trying to get just a little bit more to push them over the edge. I got them higher than ever before releasing them. Lusa even squirted juice into mother's waiting mouth in her throws of passion. My stimulation did not stop. I put each woman on their back and put them into the air where I continued with my cocks. Mother was treated with short strokes in her cunt and a new experience. A small cock found it's way into her anus. I treated her like all the others and began slow and increased in size until she felt full. All the women were thrashing about with their legs and arms crying for even more stimulation. I started to suck their clits and nipples. I used more appendages than ever before and I found I could do even more if necessary. The noise level increased before I allowed them to come one after the other. The women were out of it. I reached into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I juggled each of my females under the warm shower head, cleaning their crotches. After drying them they went to my mother's room and her larger bed. Lusa was laid between the two women and they were covered to keep them warm. Mother awoke and I said first, "Go to sleep mom. All the women I love are on this bed." She smiled understanding and went back to sleep. Supper was finished except for the hot dishes when they got up. Japera left the room naked and walked through the kitchen. I put down the spatula and kissed the surprised woman and holding her tight to my 'chest'. I sat her down and started the water for some tea. The toilet flushed and I yelled out, "Wash your hands woman." The sink started and Lusa came out with her head hanging at being caught again. The naked girl sat on a seat that I pulled out for her. "Would you like some tea with us sweetie?" "Yes Shawn, I would love some." Mother came out next. Her long blond hair in disarray, her housecoat partially open and a look that appeared that she had been through a battle. "Mom come over here and have a seat. We are having some tea, would you like some with some cookies?" She sat as directed but was still sleepy and did not answer. The kettle whistled and I made a pot of oolong. Mother sipped her tea and noticed that the others were still without clothing. "I seem to be a little overdressed here," she commented. "I for one, enjoy seeing the women in this house that way. Most of my memories are from dad and he felt the same way. Why don't you take the robe off too? I think you are a beautiful woman and there is no reason to hide anything now." Mom smiled and started to stand up. I helped as best I could leaving the woman standing with a distended abdomen with vertical striations. "I am ugly now. Why would you or anyone want to see me?" "I feel the same as dad, you are very beautiful. I can think of only one woman that may look more beautiful when she has a swelling the same way you have." Mother and Japera looked at Lusa and for her part she did not know what I meant. They talked of a party tomorrow in a park about two miles from the house. Mother would make some salad and cookies, the latter she had to fight Japera over the right to make them. Japera did not want Agatha overworked in any way. Children of the mothers were supposed to attend as well. I caught the thought about Lusa seeing her friends and not just me. I agreed with them. "I must look a sight. I will need to get cleaned up," mom said. "I will help you mom." She only looked with an eyebrow turned up in question. I started the bath in mother's en suite and held her hand to assist her into the tub. She started to wash herself when I said, "Let me mom. You will be cleaning me enough in the future." She held out the soap that promptly elevated and went behind her. The hair parted over her shoulders and the soap was rubbed into her wet skin. I massaged her slippery back at the same time as her back was cleaned. The hair was next. Her scalp was gently rubbed and my fingers went up the neck to her crown sending tremors through her body. "Ooh that feels good. You know how to please a lady." "I hope so. Wait for the massage after the bath. There won't be much difference between you and a bowl of pudding." "Promises, promises." "Mom, I am going to pick you up and continue washing. I will be very careful." I picked her up and laid her on her stomach, giving a space and support to my body now beneath her and her now large breasts. She felt more comfortable than she had in a long time. It was a relief to lay on her front. Her hands stretched out before her and supported as well. Soap was rubbed into her feet tickling her a little. My hands worked up and her legs clapped tight. As I massaged and washed they slowly opened. My hands followed and the stimulation increased resulting in a wider stance. I parted her cheeks and cleaned her anus. "What are you doing back there SON?" She said with emphasis. "Cleaning a woman I love. Would you avoid my anus when you wash me?" "That is not the point. I am your mother." "When you are old and toothless, porridge and drool are on your clothes. Will it be all right for your dutiful son to clean his mother?" "Yes but that is when I can't do it for myself." "When was the last time you could clean yourself as well as I am doing for you?" "I see your point, just don't look where you clean." "Yes, mother." I intoned in a child's voice. I finished cleaning her anus and moved to her ass, rubbing seductively. The skin pulling the tissue around her clit and arousing her. I moved north to her waist and detected an unvoiced complaint from her. "I am going to turn you around slowly to reach the other areas." She was laid out in all her glory now. Her forearm over her eyes. She reminded me of a picture of Venus I found in dad's memories. I washed her face first, this time using a cloth, when I got past her neck it dropped and I used my fingers again. Her hands were held and manipulated she started to turn to mush a lot sooner than I expected. My hand worked down her chest and my fingers wrapped around the breasts. This reminded me of one of mom's memories. The fingers stroked up to the nipple repeatedly, getting mother to thrust her pelvis and chest into me. I saw droplets forming on each peak. Two sets of lips were formed and sucked the droplets away which brought more and more. My phantom fingers went to her vagina and I stroked into her as I sucked her breasts. Another hand ran up and down her legs, covering all of her skin. A finger entered her anus to clean and excite her. She went over the edge with a scream bringing in my other two ladies. "What happened?" Japera asked worried about the sound. "Just keeping one of my ladies cleaned and happy." The next day mother woke up early and was full of energy for the day ahead. She started breakfast with the kettle for tea and started mixing a batch of dough for biscuits. Japera came out of her room and after a short stop in the washroom met mother in the kitchen. They smiled at each other and Japera came over and wrapped her arms around mother and gave her a gentle hug and a small kiss on the earlobe. "You are supposed to be sitting and me doing this job. Do you want to help with the preparations for the party or do you want to do this?" "I can do both," she said a little indignantly. "You won't and I won't let you even try. If I have to, I will call Doctor John and get him to lay down the law." Then after a moment she added, "I heard you moaning last night a few times. You are getting too much like my daughter." Agatha smiled at the reminder and knew that Japera was right. She gave her the bowl and sat at the table. Soon she had a cup of tea before her and Japera was rolling out the dough and cutting it with a dull knife. She placed the portions on a large cookie sheet and placed them in the warm oven. Soon John came to the kitchen and bent over to kiss his wife and greeted Japera, "Good morning ladies. I trust you all slept well." "Thanks Doctor John. I slept very well thank you. That daughter of mine seems to be a slugabed this morning though." Looking at the highchair he said, "Are you here Shawn?" "Good morning dad. I was just getting a certain young lady of my acquaintance up for her ablutions. Did you know she has the cutest little snore. Much higher in tone and less in volume that Mom." Mom turned to the chair and said, "I do not snore!" Then to her husband she said, "Do I John?" The tone inferred what the only correct answer could possibly be and John was obliged to say, "If you did darling, it would not be displeasing to my ears." Then to change the subject to something safer, he said, "What is for breakfast? I hear you are all going on a picnic today." The rest of the morning entailed getting the food prepared. Mom made a large bowl of potato salad. While Japera was busy I cleaned a twenty five pound bag much faster and cleaner that anyone else would and I did it without anybody noticing. Even the peelings made it into the garbage and their appearance was not noticed in the busy kitchen. Lusa spread out the bread and then put cold cuts sliced by Japera onto the pieces then slices of cheese followed. I fed the dogs and released them from their cage. Taking a large bone I pushed it with my mind so that it went all over the grass and the two dogs gave a mad chase till they eventually caught it in the shade by the small stream that wandered through our property. When only one dog got the bone, I broke it in two and took the other piece to the other dog. Most of the people going to the party were much poorer than us but still had their pride. Mom made only some of the dishes. I was given the job of squeezing the lemons for a drink but this time I used the force of two of my phantom hands to squeeze the sour fruit. After a few pieces Japera had me squeeze less hard because I was getting the juice from the skin now that would give the drink an objectionable taste. At ten thirty I fiddled with the lock on the boot of our car and managed to open it without a key. A metal clad cooler with sandwiches and another with salads and fruit joined it. Next came a large double walled galvanized cooler with the lemonade. Toys, blankets, balls of every description filled the remainder of the storage area. Mom had to drive because she was the only one that knew how. She found it very difficult to slip behind the wheel and reach the clutch and other pedals on the floor. "Damn this is hard. I wish you could drive Japera." "Mom, let Japera get behind the wheel and I will drive. I can steer and control all the pedals. Anybody looking will not know the difference. Besides she will see what to do and I can give a lesson as we drive there." "Shawn, you are not even born yet and want to take the car. I thought I was bad when I was a girl. I will be able to manage well enough thank you." We managed to get to a partially wooded park within minutes and shut off the car under a large tree so the vehicle would be in the shade. As we pulled in six women that were sitting on benches came over to help with unloading. Within moments all the food was on under another large tree and a large blanket over them to keep them cool. All the women were either relatives of Japera or people from the area around her village. I studied the strangers as I had those in the clinics and compared them as a group. The aura was not that bright on some as it was on Lusa. I had to attribute it to how much they used their minds. These people were poor but not that unhappy. They didn't get to do much beyond scraping out a living and raising their children as best they could. Faizah, a half sister to Japera greeted mother like a sister and carefully wrapped her large arms around her. "How have you been doing? I see that you are coming along very well. Are you having any problems?" She said in Bantu. Mother laughed, touched her swollen abdomen and said in the same language, "No, not the least. Shawn has been very active though and has started to make his presence known in the house." Japera and Lusa stood very still at my mention and wearily waited for the rest of the comment. Faizah said, "Hoo hoo, now it is a boy. Did Doctor John do a little peeking to find that out?" "No, I just have this feeling. The child is very active, you would not believe all of what he has done. One minute he is kicking enough to be a football star and the next I am being poked. If I didn't know any better, I would tell you to lock up your daughters now. He already has one girlfriend and even now she does not want to leave him and go play with her friends." Lusa hung her head and blushed but still didn't leave. Japera said, "You need to get some exercise and friends are very important. Run along now and get some of the toys and have some fun." I gave my two cents and said, "Yes Honey. Run and have some fun. I will be right beside you." Lusa ran off and joined a group of three girls just a little older than herself. They had two little children with them to look out for as their mothers talked. After the greetings they did a little to catch up on what was happening to each. Lusa was admiring the youngest child and was wondering how her own child would be like when she would be old enough to conceive. Lusa was talking to me so much that the others thought that something was wrong with her. I said, "You play and talk. If I am here you will only talk to me and that is not right. I think the girls would like to have a drink and start on some to the delicious sandwiches you made. After they have had a snack get the soccer ball and kick it around until the boys come over. We can have a fun time tricking the older boys in a game." Lusa followed my lead but did not like it. Later the girls started to kick the ball to each other with the two toddlers getting in the way. Soon the boys did come over and when all the children were added up there were thirty one. Lusa would kick the ball with my help and run after it faster than any of the boys could quite manage. A game developed where it was the boys against the girls and after almost an hour the score was nine to ten in favour of the girls for a change. Lusa scored four goals and prevented many more. I directed her foot some of the time and corrected the flight of the ball on occasion too. When the mothers called the children to eat, Lusa was congratulated by not only her team mates but even one of the boys. Within a half hour there was very little food left and the children were lying on their backs talking in the shade of some nearby trees. Keeping an eye on Lusa, I examined the adults close to mother. One was in her second trimester and one had only just had a zygote attached itself to her uterus a few weeks ago. It was hard to see the differences in these women's auras but it seemed to be tinged with a yellow light but it was only centred around their abdomens. It could only be seen if I was in the right position. The women were all fairly healthy but could use a better diet and rest once in a while from their constant duties as mother, wife and housekeeper. My copied memories told me that they needed vitamins or a varied diet but this was hard to do on the meagre salary their family brought in. I said to only mother, "Chanya is two weeks pregnant and Salihah will have a son. I would like to check the children to see what I can find." "That is good son. If you find anything urgent tell me so that the mother can take them to your father." While I went over to the children, mother said, "Salihah, have you picked out a name for your son yet?" Salihah looked at mother strangely and said, "How do you know it is a boy? Doctor John has not even taken a look." "Just a feeling, like I know that I have a son coming and that Chanya has another baby now." Chanya turned quickly, "I'm not pregnant." "Tell me that in a few months when you have stopped your periods. You have a glow about you that tells me you will have your fourth child." While the women had a good natured argument I looked at the children. Some had old breaks and suffered the same as their mothers when it came to a proper diet. Two had an intestinal parasite that was easily removed while three others had a cough that dad knew was sweeping the countryside. None of the children were exceptional and I resisted the urge to straighten out their minds better. This would only cause problems later when the child should go to school and none were available to them. It wasn't government intransigence but government policy that kept the black children down to the lowest levels of society. After we got home Japera ordered Lusa to have a bath. She ran off shedding her clothing as she went. She knew what happened in the bathtub and she was quite ready for it. I washed her as well as usual but held back some of the sexual stimulation I usually gave her. Her eagerness could be used to good advantage in her studies and thus the reward later would be even more important. The fact that she wanted so much sex also bothered me. The effort on my part was not that much but I wanted our future to be based on something more than just gratification. While Lusa napped I found dad in his uptown office treating an elderly diplomat's wife. Dad spoke in French and I was able to find out from viewing him through the patient's eyes that he spoke adequately. He was not as good as a Parisian that had lived in France for most of his life though. I worked hard comparing her language skills to dad's and found that there was almost a completely new dialect when it came to how the diplomats spoke. She was from high society and I tried to learn as much as possible from her while I could. I ruffled the pages of his book to get his attention and said, "Hello dad. Your patient is not responding as she should because she is drinking too much alcohol. I believe she will have a very difficult time overcoming her problem." "Thanks son." Dad did his best now to further explain about her drinking problem interfering with her medication. From the looks in her mind, dad was fighting a losing battle. Within weeks I had perfected English, French, German, Latin and Afrikaans or Taal. The trick I found was to compare each patient's grasp of a language and add the parts that another did not possess. For this reason I paid particular attention to dad's patients in the city, for none of his patients at the poor clinic could add anything to my growing store of knowledge. Bantu and Swahili were spoken along with a few dialects. There was no place I could gain the finish necessary to complete my knowledge of these languages. One time a wealthy landowner from South Africa came to dad for treatment. I was trying to gain more knowledge of his language when I saw him setting a trap for dad. "So doctor, what do you think of the way the natives are treated in the mines. I hear the conditions are very unsafe and dirty." "Dad, dad!" Father stopped what he was doing and listened. "The man is a bigot and wants to see if you will commit yourself to siding with the black cause. Then he will do his best to get the word out to all the other about you." That night dad came home angry about his patient. Mother asked, "What is the matter John?" "That xenophobe Vanderhyden tried to get me ostracised by the upper crust of our society. Luckily Shawn was around and warned me about him." "What did you do?" "He needed specialised care and I put him in touch with a doctor in England that is the top in his field. By coincidence, I believe he is black. When he comes back I will only have time for him during his busiest time of the year, at harvest. If he doesn't like it he can go elsewhere for treatment." Mother laughed and Japera came to him with a large brandy at my urging. Dad looked at the unasked for drink and with a knowing smile said, "Thank you Japera and you too Shawn." A large party was held at our house for Lusa's birthday. Mother had to be threatened on a continual basis to use her mind and leave the brawn to the rest of us. Dad took the day off work and invited some of the more liberal whites and Europeans to the party with their children. It took a while for the native children to trust the whites but as time went on the boys got into trouble as I was told they would and the girls gravitated together to discuss the boys. I did my best policing the grounds to keep anybody from getting hurt. Even with a lifeguard, the children had problems in the pool and I tried my best to help them learn to swim without them knowing it. Here too I investigated the auras on some of the people at the party. As usual it was difficult to perceive any differences between individuals. Age and health did change some properties but it was the dynamic individuals that burnt more brightly. Ice-cream was abundant and I spent much of my time keeping the children from damaging themselves or property with their antics or stomach gyrations. ------- Chapter 4 Dad hired many native performers not only to entertain the children but also the adults. Acrobats, jugglers, magicians and clowns kept the party going till late at night. That night we gave Lusa our own presents. She hugged the large doll and revelled in the nice clothing. The last a present from me bought by mother was a beige dress with shoes and purse to match. Lusa came to all of us and gave us a kiss and a hug. Mother got two, one to her head and neck and one to her abdomen. She was very happy and I just passed the feelings on to the adults. I was in dad's office two weeks later trying to gain all the information I could about tactics and weapons from a Colonel in the Rhodesian Army when I started to feel odd. Returning home I found Mom feeling a little discomforted. Checking her body against the information I had accumulated I knew it was about time I was going to finally come into the world. I informed dad and said that the water would break in a few hours and that he could probably finish the rest of his day at the office. I would try to handle things here until he arrived. My own planning came into play and Japera found one reason or another to be with mother. Mother was the last to know and wasn't even told till her water broke at 3:54 in the afternoon. Japera had managed to get mother into the bath at the time and did not even notice too much the incident happening. When the first major cramps came dad was called but we all knew it would be hours until my arrival. Lusa was running all over the place. She was very excited at the prospect of finally seeing me. Dad had a hard time staying at the office and ran through his patients as quickly as possible and made it home at 4:30. Mom and he were constantly in touch through me and both were not too worried even if I was to be their first child. At 10:35 the final contractions started and three minutes later August 12 1950, I felt myself squeezed through a narrow opening. Dad had performed an episiotomy to make the way easier but it was not much. It was frightening to me even if I did not need to breathe on my own yet. Mother was in a lot of pain and I tried my best to help her. I didn't bother giving any advice to dad even though I thought he could speed things up a bit. Even I could use my phantom hands to pull myself out faster but left the job to mother nature and dad. I could hear for the first time, Lusa saying, "He's coming, he's coming." The sound was very loud and I tried to shut it down. When I was turned the lights shone directly into my eyes and that hurt as much as the piercing sound before. Even with my eyes closed the pain was present. At long last I tried to interpose my arm to block out the light and found the muscles not following my orders the way they should. Dad laid me down on a comfortable surface and used two haemostats to pinch off the blood flow to the placenta and carefully cut the umbilical cord. He ran his big finger around in my mouth looking for obstructions and picked me up by the ankles and gave me a slap on my butt. "Owww," I screamed verbally, "Dad, that hurt," I said to their minds. "Sorry, that is the way we were taught and I needed to do it to see if you could breath." "Yes I know but it still hurts." Lusa said very loudly, "Are you all right Shawn?" In all of their minds I said, "I have just been ripped from my warm comfortable home and thrust out into a cold, loud and too bright environment but other than that I am fine. How are you doing mom?" Mom felt pain now but much less than moments ago. With my eyes closed I was able to use my phantom eye and see dad wrap me up in a soft cloth and present me to Mom. She looked at me while I kept my own eyes closed against the harsh lighting. "You certainly don't look like you did in my dreams." "That is because I am all blue now and my head is deformed to make it out here. In a few weeks I will be like you saw me. I am sorry for putting you through all the pain Mom." "That's fine. It was worth it. When I was a girl I never imagined I would ever be talking to my baby the way I am now." Dad said, "Hold still now." He gave a local anaesthetic and then said to me, "Did I do it right Shawn?" "Yes you did dad and thanks for being here for us. I know you are joking but I figured I could help a bit but I let the expert do it." "Well thank you. It may take a while to get used to having another doctor running around the house." I was starting to feel unaccustomedly tired and said, "I am sorry but I think I have to get some sleep. My body now is making a lot of demands on me. Thank you Japera for helping us. I will peel all the potatoes for a month to pay you back." Japera laughed and told me, "With all the extra work you might have to do it a few months. Your diapers will possibly up the bill considerably." I smiled using my muscles and hope it looked like I did not have gas. "Where is my woman? Lusa will you come on the bed and lay beside me too?" She was very close and looked at the adults for permission and her daddy said, "Get up then but be still for a moment. I have to put a few sutures in." I could feel the bed shake as Lusa and her 'doll' came onto the bed and both of the women held me as tight as they could without hurting me. Mother said, "Go to sleep my son while your dad makes me as good as new." When I awoke it was bright and I opened my eyes but had to close them quickly. The light was far too intense. I could feel Lusa beside me and mother moving a little to get more comfortable. Using my mind I found dad already at work and Japera preparing some food in the kitchen. My body ached in many ways but the most urgent was in my torso. Searching through my memories I deduced that it could only be hunger. "Mom, mom. Mom you have to wake up feed me." "Waa. Food?" "Mom you have to feed me." She moved more to relieve a kink in her back then said, "Oh Shawn. I am sorry. Let me get ready for you." She looked around and looked for a basin of water, soap, cloth and towel. "Mom forget the preliminaries. Mothers act odd when they have their first child then fall into an easy routine later. Let's just go to the easy way first." "Ok, we will try it your way." She undid her housecoat and pulled it open. Then she turned on her side and a breast came into my mind's eye. Opening my own eyes saw the same thing but different in many ways. Relying on my psychic abilities I homed in on the nipple before me. My muscles would not obey my commands and I could do nothing but twist a bit. "Sorry mom but you have to hold me. My muscles are not developed yet and it's difficult to find the controls for them." Mom just reached over and guided my head to her breast. My lips moved quite well and I began to suck in earnest. Mom inhaled a deep breath at the unaccustomed sensation of fluid flowing through her ducts. I paused a moment to see if she were in pain but only felt her instincts to feed me and a lot of love to keep me safe. I went back to sucking but did so at a slower pace. Colostrum came into my mouth and I swallowed it joyfully. I was so hungry I had little chance to taste it. Part way through the feeding Lusa awoke and watched me eat. Her small tan arm came onto me and stroked the cloth covering me. She looked at mother and said, "He's so cute like that. I wish I could feed him that way too." I said, "Good morning Lusa. If the two of you have your way I will be the fattest baby around. Even Japera would like to feed me." Later Lusa got out of bed and carried me around to the other side as mom turned to present her other breast to me. She placed me down but wanted to keep me to her instead. Her own maternal instincts were coming out and she had just turned seven. Before I was finished Japera came into the room with a tray of food for mom. I said, "Good morning Japera." Mother added her greeting, "Good morning too, Japera. Shawn is eating quite well and I am starving. I have to go pee too." Japera laughed and said, "I will help you up when you are done. We better get a diaper on Shawn before he floods the bed." I concentrated on my skin and felt some moisture already. I must have done it in my sleep. "You are a little late momma. But maybe next time." "Momma?" Japera asked. "Yes you are momma now and mom is mom, unless I have my little mom too." Japera said, "I can handle that. I washed the new diapers and they should be nice and soft for your cute little bum." "My cute bum is sore as well as the rest of my skin. It was much more comfortable in my last abode but I am sure there will be compensations later." Mom asked, "What can I do to help my little man?" "I am itchy now and feel odd being free movement. My mind wants me to be held tight. I find that gravity is not as nice as I thought. I am pulled down just a little too hard. You sure I can't just crawl back to where I came from mom?" "Men, once they come out of a woman they spend the rest of their lives trying to get back in." The women's laughs were very loud and I did my best to reduce the stimulation to my brain. "I am full now mom. You can go pee now and I can get changed." Japera picked me up and held me tightly to her breast in the casual way a woman had when accustomed to babies. When she saw mom having difficulties she used one hand to help her out of the bed and to the bathroom. Mom felt her stitches give her some pain but resolved to finish her job. When she cleaned herself with a douche she came out and had Japera give her a little help in changing me the first time. They opened the damp cloth and looked all over the front of my body. My phantom eye looked at my body and saw the pink coil of the umbilical cord still attached. I was freezing in the open air but decided to let my family look. Mom took a damp cloth and wiped me down. She turned me on my side and did my back then finally prone to do the job better. I was more pink now. The head was still oddly shaped from all the forces put on it getting out. Hair was plastered to my head and I tried to see what I might look like when I got a little older. After turning me back over again, mom picked me up and placed me on a small piece of cloth then picked up my feet and used her fingers to place cream between my legs and in my crack. Pushing at my anus a little I felt ticklish, "Watch that. I am not ready to have somebody poking around there." Mom decided to disregarded my words and finished what she thought was right. She wiped her hands and Japera handed her some tape and used it to hold the short umbilical cord close to my body till it fell off in a few weeks. Lusa was watching all of this and said, "He's a lot bigger than my cousin." I looked into their minds more and found the women agreeing. It seemed that I was fairly well endowed boy. "Just like women checking out all the males around to see who can do the job better." Mom laughed as she pulled the diaper up and put two safety pins into the cloth to hold it in place. This time Lusa held me tenderly as mom went back to bed with me soon placed at her side. She ate the cold breakfast but looked at me and didn't taste any of it. I was sleepy again for some reason and just nodded off. I woke partially some times but stayed asleep until dad came home. The crib was in the room and I had pillows on each side of me in case I rolled off the bed. Dad came in and asked, "Are you up to a stroll around the house carried by your father?" "Hello dad. Yes, I had a good sleep. I am sleeping more now for some reason. My body is making demands on me that I didn't have to worry too much about before." Dad picked me up and carried me into the kitchen where the light was very bright. I closed my eyes and said, "The lights are very bright and my eyes and brain have not adjusted yet. Everybody appears to be upside down." The girls laughed at my statement." Dad said, "He's right. The human eye gives an inverted image. The brain eventually turns it around the right way given enough time. Japera will you see if you can close the curtains a little." Japera took off the small pieces of cloth around the window and tried to close the curtains as much as possible but they were not made to really close. Dad did not set me down and I thought that I would have little peace till the novelty of a new child wore off. Looking now at an upside down Lusa I knew that this would never really happen. Dad walked through the house to allow me to see all the rooms with my own eyes. I had visited them all before but it was different now even excluding the way the image was inverted. Last we went to the nursery where everything was set out. Dad used one hand and placed a soft blanket in a large wicker basket then placed me in it with a roll of cloth on each side so that I would not move. A final thicker cloth went over the handle and the interior now got darker. He picked the basket up and walked to the kitchen just in time for dinner. I tried to help Japera but she wanted to do the work herself. Dad was very solicitous of mom and asked all about her day. I was getting a little hungry myself but decided to wait for mom to finish first. The diaper all of a sudden got damp and I felt a shiver go through my body. With the uncomfortable wet feeling now I resolved to gain a much better control of my own body. My arms were swaddled but I concentrated on my fingers and tried to get each one to move as I directed them. It was not as easy as I thought. The phantom fingers were much easier to use. Dad asked what I had learned recently and I could only reply, "Being evicted from my former home is a traumatic experience. All my nerves are giving me information that I didn't have to deal with before. And on top of that I am sleeping more and not getting my studies in or Lusa's for that matter. I have to start controlling my functions because I do not like being wet or worse. Finally I have to eat now. Before it was automatically given to me. It is compensated though by everybody holding me tight and letting them know that they love me." In a few moments I was taken to the music room with the large comfortable chairs and mom picked me up and started to feed me. Lusa got a soft blanket and another diaper for later. They had the lights turned low and I was able to do some exercises. Everybody was around me was looking at what I was trying to do. "Lusa honey, will you hold my feet and I will push against you?" We did exercises for only five minutes before I was tired. With a soft blanket thrown over me I helped Lusa in her studies. I was currently giving her the best course I could in her native language of Bantu and in English. Mathematics and science were at grade 5 if she were in Britain. But that would be impossible here under Rhodesian law. With the way dad was treated, I endeavoured to monitor his office as much as possible to sidetrack any trouble and to learn more to be the best doctor possible. The next day in dad's office in the city I saw dad treating a young boy of two and a half. Derek was a mute from birth. His father was a rich landowner from the western portion of Rhodesia. He sat with the boy in his lap while dad did some of his tests. I saw in the boy's brain an area that was completely dormant while very active in everybody else's mind. I made a sound like I had done before, "price of a hair cut - two bits." In dad's mind alone. He may think he had heard someone knocking on his office door. He looked up when I said, "Hello dad it's Shawn. I just dropped by for a visit when I saw your patient. His mind has a dormant and undeveloped section. If I had some time I could try to get it functional. Do you think I should try to help and if so is there a chance that he could come here for the night with his dad?" Dad had stopped dead when I spoke, listening intently. "I don't know yet. Let me think on it," he said in his mind. Dad completed his tests. "Mr. Farthing the problem your son has is not treatable yet. I do know somebody that has an amazing rapport with children. I don't know what can be done but I would like to try. Hugh Farthing was a tall, bull of a man. His thick dark hair and naturally glowering face put people off at first. He had a very dominant personality that got him into trouble many times but also got him one of the wealthiest farms in his area. His wife had died soon after the birth of her first child. This did not make Derek his only child though. He kept a succession of black mistresses that gave him many children. The children were financially taken care of but he did not see them as his children as he saw Derek. "Certainly, Derek is my only son. Every specialist I went to has said that Derek will never talk. How do I contact this person?" Dad spoke to me. "Shawn if this man comes over have your mother represent you so the gentleman is not frightened out of his wits." Then to Mr. Farley, "Where are you staying tonight?" "We were going to check into 'The King's Court' tonight and do a little shopping before going home. Why do you ask?" The person I spoke of is part of my family. If you will consent to stay the night I can see what may be done for Derek." "That is very hospitable of you. We will gladly accept." "I have three more patients and will be leaving soon. If you care to wait I can drive you to my house or if you have a car to follow." Dad finished and led the Farleys to our house. Everybody had been warned about the visitors and the purpose. Mother was going to act as the miracle worker if necessary. She basically told me that I had the young boy's life in my hands and I should be very careful about what I did. When the men came in and were introduced I looked deep into Hugh Farley's mind for the first time. His aura was tinged with grey. After reading his thoughts, I did not like what I saw. He wanted my mother even though she just had me and he wanted Japera just as he did his other mistresses. I did not know how to take this. Would all men want the women in this house or was he just greedy and wanted all women? This I did not understand. I made the women in this house happy I hoped while this man just wanted to collect them. Was this my destiny too? I hoped not. Mom talked for a while and pulled Derek off to another room to talk to him as she said she would. As she spoke I delved into Derek. It appeared that the boy was somewhat lacklustre due to his withdrawal from any relations that would stimulate him to learn. Derek looked around at the piano and the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling that caught the afternoon sun. The reflected beams caught his eye and made him smile. I passed through into the mental room with his knowledge. There was very little here and what there was, was in disarray. I choose the rudimentary English and Bantu words I possessed and put them in an organized pattern on his shelves and straightened his memories up as well. My own articulation of words was automatic. It was difficult to find the mechanism and export it to Derek's mind. One aspect of his memory could hold a key to getting him to want to speak. His mother looked similar to mine. He had not recognized this fact yet. He was too young to remember and had only seen her picture a few times. The next step was to stimulate the speech centre. This new room was different from my extra senses. The flow of energy travelled like electricity from one point to another, through many conductive paths. Two gaps broke the flow. The gaps could be bridged by three conductors if they were moved slightly. This was the least intrusive of my options. I grasped the first conductor and pulled one end away from its mount. Derek started to cry loudly. He was not hurt just did not understand the sensation. His father and dad came into the room to see what happened. "Mother, Dad he is all right just a little concerned about a small alteration. I need to do two more. Give me the time to do so." Mother started before the father could voice a question. "Derek just started crying as I talked about the dogs and trees around this property," she lied. I completed the other two connections and tried to bring up the picture of his mother. The boy cried louder and reached up trying to hug mom around her neck. "Maaaama," came faintly from his lips. Mom heard but the men were not sure they believed their ears. "Do you miss your mommy, Derek?" He nodded his head to this. I hinted to mother a stratagem. "Do you want to go to your father now?" He shook his head. He wanted his mommy. Mother started to hand him off. The boy cried and said a distinct, "Nooooo." The father was amazed. These were the first words he had ever heard from the boy. He rushed forward and hugged his son and Mom at the same time. Mother tried again, "Who is this Derek?" "Daa." Both were squeezed tighter in Hugh's happiness. Dad was concerned about mother and the child and tapped Hugh on the shoulder to get him to release them. He reluctantly released his son and retreated on his knees to be close. Tears ran down his face in happiness. The boy hung tightly to mother as he looked into her eyes. "How can I thank you? Everybody said it was impossible," Hugh said to mom and dad. Mom and Derek were tired from the hectic day and needed a little peace for themselves. To mom and dad I said, "Mom should take her new little man to bed with her for a while." Mom agreed. "We are going for a short nap. We are both tired out." then to Derek, "Come along Derek we are going for a nap." They left hand in hand to mom's bedroom. Before they got too far I told mom that he had to pee and he was not trained yet. Mom changed course slightly and put Derek on the toilet. I got his muscles to relax and a stream splashed into the water below. Mom praised him for being a good boy and doing it in the toilet. The boy's smile paid mom for all her work. "Your wife is amazing. How did she do it? I was not joking. All the experts said that Derek would never be able to talk. How can I repay you for what you have done for me and my son?" "My wife doesn't tell me her secrets. As for payment there is my consultation and testing charges at the clinic. Agatha will have to discuss any other fees with you when she wakes up." "That sounds fair to me. I don't think anything would be too much for what she has given me." An hour later we sat at the table with Derek rested and usurping my throne. The tray was removed and he was sitting at the table. Japera had to return to serving the meal. Lusa looked a little putout that my chair was occupied. I told her to behave herself and play with the child after the meal to get him away from mother. After eating, Lusa held Derek's hand and took him to the music room where his first words were uttered. They sat at the piano and played at playing. "Shawn will you try to play something too. This is getting boring." My phantom fingers walked over the keys trying to find the amount of pressure needed as well as the force. Derek saw the keys depress themselves wondering how it was happening then to the floor where I depressed one of the pedals. I found one of dad's favourite pieces of music: Für Elise by Beethoven. My fingers pressed the keys as quietly as possible but dad and Hugh soon came into the room followed later by mom to see the music being played. I saw my mistake and told Lusa, "Tell them you don't like to have anyone look at you when you play otherwise I am in trouble." Then to dad, "Lusa will admit to playing. Try to get Mr Farley away from us, please dad." "Lusa, I know you don't like visitors but will you continue playing if we go to the other room?" A stunned Lusa could only nod her head, not knowing what to say. As they left the room Hugh asked dad if Lusa were his child. She was certainly talented enough. "No she isn't but I treat her as though she was my first born. I couldn't ask for anybody more dedicated to watching over Shawn. She and her mother are part of my family." The music returned with me playing as the piece should be followed by mother's then a little of Hugh's favourites. In between Derek gave his rendition of his own music. His father smiled as he listened to his child's laugh that he hadn't heard before. Dad and Hugh had after dinner drinks then Hugh wanted more. Dad drank in moderation with Agatha abstaining. Hugh was getting more and more drunk in his happiness. Derek was happy to sleep with Lusa even though there was a bed for him. I wanted Lusa close in case he was going to wet the bed. If I caught him soon enough he would be encouraged by his successes to continue using the toilet. For tonight she would have a living doll to sleep with. Hugh was put to bed at the other end of the house in the guest room still in his clothes. Mom fed me and changed my diapers even though there only a few slips since my birth. I now went into the nursery because I felt mom wanted some privacy while she cuddled with dad. I said goodnight to my parents as they went to bed themselves. Following my routine I said good night to Japera. "Good night, Shawn. You did a very nice thing today." I felt very happy now knowing that I was really appreciated. Derek's mind still needed a little tweaking which I did so while he slept with my woman. Later when I was in the library mentally I felt something new. Japera needed me. Hugh had woken up and wandered into Japera's room took off his clothes and wanted to take the naked woman as he would one of his mistresses. His large hand covered her mouth as his hand worked into her crotch. His heavy knee forced her legs apart then the other knee joined the first. He was pulling her legs up ready to force his cock into her when I hit him with my 'fist', breaking his jaw and knocking him off the bed. I held the crying Japera trying to console her. She got up and I showed her the unconscious would be rapist. I called mom and dad telling the present situation. They came down the hall after hurriedly dressing. John and Agatha came into the room and turned the light on. They saw a naked Hugh on the floor in a heap. Then dad saw the beautiful woman crying on an invisible form. "Shawn tell me again what happened." I did and mentioned my part in hitting the man hard enough to stop him without killing him. "What shall we do about him? Call the police and press charges?" I asked. "The laws here favour the whites. I could try to lay changes but I don't think it will have any effect. He would get good lawyers and the white jury would find him innocent no matter what evidence we had," dad replied. "Do you think you should patch him up or send him to a hospital?" "He is still a guest. I will work on his jaw." Dad was amazed as Hugh floated into the air. I held his jaw in place as we travelled to a room dad could use for the minor procedures. Wire was used to quickly keep the jaw in place using the upper jaw as a splint. Dad measured out something to make sure he slept then injected it into the still unconscious man. I helped by reading dad's mind and having everything at his hands when he needed it as well as moving the man as dad needed. Mr. Farley was strapped to the table to sleep the rest of the night. "He is lucky that there is only one break usually there are two." Mother had taken over holding Japera. As dad came by mom said, "Japera will sleep with us tonight." Dad was shocked at the idea but understood the reason. I picked up Japera and preceded mom and dad to their room. Japera's crotch was displayed to them as they followed. "Put her in the middle Shawn and we will get in on each side." When I had done this mom said, "Thank you Shawn for saving my sister." "I would do anything for any of you," then silently to mom, "Dad had a good view and is excited. Japera knew I was carrying her to entice him. She is definitely interested in both of you. She is so excited sexually that if you touch her breast she will orgasm. "Now may be a good time. Tell Japera to get him started. Now you leave us to our fun," she said on our private line. To Japera I said, "Mom wants you to start on dad and don't worry." "Good night everybody," I said to them as I went to see Lusa. Lusa had remained asleep throughout the entire episode cuddled to Derek the way she usually cuddled the doll while thinking of me. I smiled thinking of the way she would hold our children when they came along. I went to Mr. Farley and watched him as I did my research. Poor dad was being abused in his own bedroom. Mother was even cheering Japera on instead of protecting her man. Japera showed both mom and dad the benefits of using her mouth on dad's cock. Dad came back to life as Japera got on her knees in front of him. He got behind her and slid into the warm tight cunt he just left. Japera helped remove mother's panties and started kissing her way up the inside of mother's leg. Dad watched this with wide open eyes not believing what was before him. I helped a little and helped dad cool down or he would have been off like a shot. Mother got a little on the other hand to allow her to catch up. They grunted and groaned and finally succumbed to their small death. Japera moved her head up to allow her to scream her pleasure as her mouth was pounded into mom. The sound was loud enough to wake up Lusa. "Go back to sleep sweetheart they are just happy." I didn't say who because she would have wanted a lot more information. The next morning three sleepy adults came out of my parents' bedroom to find a large breakfast waiting on the table. A few minutes later Lusa and Derek followed. "Whu daa?" the happy boy asked. I supplied dad with the information that Hugh would awake in half an hour. "He is still sleeping. He will come out about the time we finish here." In the room with Mr. Farley I removed the straps but kept a close watch so he would not fall off the bed. I talked silently to the adults about Mr. Farley's string of black mistresses and his treatment of them. Later I told dad that he was awake. Dad excused himself and went to have a one sided talk with his guest. Farley remembered everything except how his jaw was broken. The story now was that Japera hit him with statue from beside the bed. One was there now in case he chose to look. Dad continued with the statement that Farley had been a guest and he tried to rape a woman under dad's protection. This was done after his wife had done the impossible and got Derek to speak for the first time. The man was remorseful but I knew for a fact that this would not last for long. In an hour the man and his son left. I knew that dad would not treat the man again if he could help it. In the next two months I continued my exercise regimen as well as my studies to be the best doctor I could possibly be. When I explained that I needed more people to teach me more about medicine dad came up with a plan to get me to peek into their minds. He would invite talented individuals over for a relaxing and entertaining night. Mother said, "Shawn, why are you restricting your studies to medicine? There are many diplomats, scientists, businessmen and what I would think is the mother lode would be the better professors at the university." "That is a great idea mom. My grasp of languages is not as good as I would like. I have not done enough study of history, geography, ethics and mathematics either. There are no more of those books in our library and some of the information is out of date already. Things are moving very fast after the last war and I would like to be of some help guiding the direction the world is going to take. I think too many people are thinking only of their return on investment rather than the social upheavals their policies will bring about." Mom said, "That's good because I can take you on a visit to the university and you can look out for informative people to assist you." Dad was much more tired now than he had even been when an intern. Mom had healed enough to receive his physical affections as she had before. The difference was that Japera had not left the bedroom when this happened. Japera and mom had resorted to pleasing one another and dad usually got so worked up that he overdid it each night. I think that if he didn't get a break when they had the menses I would be a semi orphan by now. The next day mother took me on a walk through the university grounds with me in a stroller. The paths were wide and all tree covered. The grass was very green do to the abundance of native gardeners. I did not see anything wrong with this because each of them required a job to survive and the work was not beneath them. Some young students helped mom get the stroller up the stone steps and into the languages building. She stopped to talk to a few friends and they all had to look at me and touch my cheeks. There is something special about people that need a tactile method of greeting. I resorted to crying when any were about to touch me. I was very happy to be here now. Not only was there a lot of hustle and bustle, but I could see that almost everyone had a much brighter aura. It was like sweat that came out of the body when working hard as opposed to energy when the mind did the same thing. An old professor that through the years felt that personal cleanliness was not as necessary as it once was because he could not smell himself. He was a real diamond in the rough. His mind was not as quick as it once must have been but it had a fantastic store of data. Not only did he know many facts about early English authors and their books but French as well. Mother was hesitant but invited him over next week for a home cooked meal. I went into the man's brain and made his sense of smell more acute and gave a subtle hint that he wash much more often. Mother invited a few of her friends over for a small party Sunday afternoon. This was her idea so that she could get back into what was happening at the university before the actual fact occurred. Before we left I found one more person for me. Mrs. Henderson taught classical Greek and knew almost all of the important Greek works by heart. Her grasp of the classical view of ethics was second to none. I could see that if she were invited she would find a way to avoid the party or miss a more private party at another time. We got to a group with three other professors that wanted to touch. I dissuaded their efforts with my crying. When it came to Mrs. Henderson I sent out happy thoughts and used my two month old arms to beckon to be picked up. It was no real contest. The old woman had a sore back but bent down to looked at me and I did all the cute things I thought a baby could do to make an adult happy. With a last few happy thoughts I had an old childless woman thinking she would make a great mother when we left. "Shawn you are a shameless flirt. How could that old woman resist your charm?" "She is a fairly nice woman under all that protective armour she wears. School and her books are the only thing the woman has now. Her husband was killed almost 20 years ago. He was in the British military and was not home too often after they were married." Just as we were leaving the tranquil grounds mother spotted a small gathering of natives and a few students. They were raptly listening to a young white man using his hands and gesturing to the Union Jack proudly displayed behind him. As we got closer we could hear the rhetoric he was using. The speech went on for almost ten minutes and covered all the ills of the present government. He explained how they were exploiting the native population of all their young people and of the countries vast resources. Mother was finally convinced to get out of the car and give her support when I said, "Mother, you must stay here. The police have been sent for and they will beat not only the speaker but the crowd too. I can tell because two men are here from the government and that is the usual practice in this kind of affair." "I must worn the people then. At least they will have a chance to get away." "Mom, they will only bring down more trouble on you. Let me do it." "What are you going to do?" "Please wait." With my physic eye hovering over the grounds, I spotted them. Three blocks over two large cars raced to the meeting followed with a truck filled with soldiers. I used my invisible arm to wrest control of the lead vehicle's steering wheel and cause the car to flip over. I controlled the roll so it would land between two other vehicles and effectively block the way. I checked the men inside the car and all were alive. One had a broken arm and another a neck injury. All were bloody and would not be able to enforce such draconian rules for the foreseeable future. With them out of the way I slipped the information about the troops coming into a few of the women. They were much more likely to leave and when the others saw the first few leaving they too decided to quickly depart. Before all had left the two agents came forward and arrested the man. I saw fear in his mind and knew he would be beaten and thrown in jail for months if not years. Some of his friends had even died when under police custody. "Let's go mom. There was an accident and a car flipped over blocking soldiers from getting here. The speaker is dreading the possibility that he will die but he is willing to take that risk for his beliefs." Mom drove close to the accident and saw soldiers directing pedestrians and vehicles to other roads. One large car was dinted all over as it had rolled along the cobblestone street. Men in pain were leaning beside the car trying to come up with a reason for the accident. When mom got home she was in quite a fit about the way the innocent man was arrested and taken away. I called dad and told him what had happened. I added how worked up Mom was and what she would be like for the next few days. He said that he would take care of it and to tell mom as such. It took Japera and me ten minutes to get mom calmed down enough to get her to trust dad's word on the matter. Lusa just watched mom rant and rave then tried to get me away from her. Since the tirade was fading, I allowed my girl to pick me up and carry me to her room. I cast my senses out to find the trucks and hopefully a lead to where the man was taken. It was difficult when I had not actually been close or met any of the people. I searched the main police station and then found out that there was a separate more or less official branch of the military that dealt in internal security. In the basement of a large stone building I found the man behind bars. Those adjacent to his were empty of everything but blood stains. A chair was bolted to the floor and the man was strapped to it ready for his questioners. In a sub-basement there was seven more prisoners and all of them were badly beaten. In a special refrigerated room with six small wooden doors stood a table covered with blood as if it were the autopsy room of a hospital. Behind two of the doors were roll out drawers holding two tortured bodies that were recently under police authority. I had to tell dad quickly. "Dad the man is held by Internal Security and already two bodies are in the sub-basement with seven others that may join them. The white man is in the basement above. There is a chance that a lawyer would be forced to tell who is employing him and then you might be in one of those cells yourself. It would also not be fair to the lawyer to be walking unknown into a situation like this." "Thanks Shawn. I will just have to gather a few reinforcements myself now to make sure the man is safe." I watched as dad phoned a sympathetic judge and told him about the man in the park and his probable location. "There have been many rumours of a sub-basement with cells where they beat a confession out of their prisoners. I would think that the necessity of a court case can be circumvented if the prisoners never made it to court. The papers say there are quite a few bodies of dissidents found in ditches in the area and all had signs of torture." Dad got home late and explained to mother what he had done. Nothing was mentioned about the sub-basement of the security building though. After my feeding, dad took me for a walk in the back garden. I used my powers to feed and exercise the dogs. He laughed for the first time as he saw the dogs chasing a fugitive bone through the rougher parts of the estate. Sitting on a stone bench with me cradled in his arms he said, "Shawn, that was a good thing to do in protecting that man. On the other hand you could have killed the soldiers doing their duty as they saw it. What I am trying to say is that I don't want you to get callous with human lives." "I haven't been dad. The car rolled as I wanted and I even protected the men from getting even more hurt. I snapped a metal rod under the car to make it look like that was the cause of accident." "That was very smart of you but the fact remains that somehow or other the government will eventually get wind of you. They already find your mother and I objectionable and would like to find a way to keep us from agitating for social justice. I can't think of a better way than for them to get their hands on you." I could see how important this was to dad and I said, "I will be even more cautious now. What I can do is look into men's minds and see how they think on keeping virtual slaves. The ones that find it repugnant and will assist you can be found. Also those that wish to worm their way in and try to get you in trouble can also be found. There is no risk to our safety with that." Mom and Japera prepared for the tea party. Mom baked an assortment of small cookies. I was lucky enough to steal a few for Lusa without mom finding out. The part time gardeners came and cut the grass and generally spruced up the garden. Dad had just enough time to paint the wrought iron furniture and Lusa and I helped as I sat in the stroller. I got less paint on me than dad got on him. Lusa was the clear winner and I had to spend quite a while in the bath cleaning my girl. When the women started to arrive the next day dad and mom greeted them and eventually dad went to hide in the garage to work on his cars. I helped him as a nurse would in changing the oil, filter and with my special eye, I was able to look inside things to see their real condition. When Mrs. Henderson came I more or less left dad even if I was really in the nursery. Searching through the treasure in her mind I saw all the Greek novels in our library but in their original text. She had quite an insight into the stories on levels I was not even been aware of. It was a long job to gain most of the information and I was worried I would not get it all before she left. Lusa brought me out to the party and mom nonchalantly fed me while she continued her talk. After the obligatory burp I got mom to pass me off to Mrs Henderson. The conversations faded out in her mind as she looked at me and imagined me being her child. The flow of information progressed much faster now and I was able to do a little tweaking in her mind as a way of payment. Her memory was getting slower because of all the data to sort through. I rearranged some of it in a more logical manner. Mr Spandler, the man coming in a few days was a widower. Because of the way his personal hygiene was becoming, most of the faculty had been avoiding him. I made a suggestion that she re-evaluate the man to see if he would make an acceptable consort. The rest of the party allowed me to look into the remainder of the guests. I found the newer books coming from Britain and the United States interesting. I absorbed the text and subplots but the depth was not as great because of the donor's mentality. The women here had been trained in their youth to play various musical instruments. Mom knew how to play a piano and I picked up the instructions on how to play the violin, clarinet, harp and oddly a guitar. After the party mom asked, "Well Shawn, what did you think of Mrs. Henderson?" I tried to explain the subtle differences between the English versions of the Greek stories and the originals. Mom knew about some of them and also about the same thing happening with the stories originally written in Latin. Translations were not always as accurate as they should be and the best thing to do was to learn the original language. This was much harder for others to do and I was glad I was able to converse at least in English with any professor mom or dad were likely to name. On Monday dad informed us that the lawyer and the judge had been able to free the man in the park. He was not badly beaten, partly because the security service thought that he might have to be released in fairly good shape. The newspapers had been slipped the story and it took a bit of work for them to even print it. They were the voice of the ruling elite and this was no different than most other countries I came to learn. Tuesday came around and Mr Spandler came for his visit. He had cleaned up much more than usual. Dad greeted him at the door and they talked for a while on some recent books. Dad had little time now to indulge himself because of his duties outside the family and his increased workload within. Over the meal Mr Spandler wanted to smoke as was usually done. Mother had kept me close so that I could act as if I were part of the family. Soon the windows had to be opened and even then the smoke came to me. I cried and let our guest know that he was the cause in a very subtle way but his addiction was so great that he could not really quit. Dad retreated with our guest to the garden. There I was able to find a deeper understanding of early English without the need to absorb all the toxins the man was producing. To repay the gentleman I worked in his brain to straighten out his memories and then made a lot of small ties between his smoking and some less than enjoyable events in his life. Lastly I caused his smoking to trigger bouts of coughing. Hopefully the man would be able to kick the nasty habit before it killed him. That night I worked on storing more of my plunder and in teaching Lusa more about the piano. She took a long time to get the technique down but very much faster than mother did when she first learned. Her playing was getting so good that dad was buying current sheet music so that we could hear them on our own instrument. Mother and Japera were very proud of Lusa. Dad saw her as his daughter and was thinking of getting a music teacher but was startled for a second when he remembered that she already had one. That night I bathed a very happy girl and took her to bed later to make her even more happy. In the far room her momma and mother were in a similar frame of mind. As usual in the night I woke up and transported myself through the air from the nursery to my parents bed. The room was still full of pheromones and the three sated adults were sleeping the sleep of the just. I pulled back the covers on mom's side of the bed. With a little turning I was able to position her so that I could get a meal while she rested. Her hands came over me and held me as close as possible while she enjoyed her half sleep state of existence. Later I just elevated myself a little and enjoyed the meal from the other breast. In the next few weeks dad had many of the better physicians over to the house and I was able to get some information from each. The pickings were slim. I found because dad was so good at what he did that they were more interested in learning from him. I did go through all the periodicals that dad had mailed to the house and I informed him about any tricks that they found or ones that we could turn around and improve on. Mom did her best to see me get a more rounded education and made many more parties than they usually would host. I was able to get a fairly good education in history and that seemed to dovetail with the politics I was learning from some of dad's patients. Getting the info long distance was not as easy or quick as it was when the guests were in the house with us but it was still workable. I was surprised at the naïveté of some of the historians when they saw the machinations of governments and institutions as benevolent or at least neutral. I saw in politics how everything was governed by greed and self-aggrandizement and perpetuated by large businesses. All were corrupt but some were more so. Storage in my mind was not a problem so far as I was continually pushing back the barriers. The difficulty was in the constant rearrangement of all the data from various sources. In many cases I was now not sure of the truth and was obliged to keep more than one theory until more evidence came in. Mother's Latin was completely overwritten by an elderly woman that still dreamed of the heyday of the Roman empire. She had great knowledge of most of the generals but little in the way of tactics and military procedures. Mother was due to go back to teach in the early portion of the new year. I was thinking with my stomach and trying to decide whether to get fed fresh milk or from a bottle. I went with the latter because I wanted to start on solid food as soon as possible. At the moment though Christmas was coming up and I wanted to get something for my family. Dad was well off and mom had her inheritance but we were not very rich. Dad spent much of his money on the poor clinic and this left enough for us but not enough to be 'wild' about it. I was getting my own allowance and had almost fifty pounds saved up. Lusa had the same but had spent some of hers on small gifts for her friends and family. I decided to make a more personal gift if possible and considered many possibilities. What decided it was mom looking through some pictures of ornamental gardens and the little points that set each apart. I used my eye on our property and then underneath till I found a large stone almost twenty feet down. I scraped the overburden for hours to get to the rock. The rock must have weighed a few tons. I was able to wiggle the rock and put soil under it in places until I eventually worked it to the surface. I threw some unsightly rocks that dad always wanted to remove into the hole and replaced the overburden as good as new. Starting with a few small stones I found a way to chip away at the surface to make various images. I made two small cupids and as a joke many small gnomes doing various duties that would be suitable for a garden. One little one was bent over defecating and this was to be hidden till an interested guest decided to find all the different fauna that we now harboured. The large stone was eventually worried down until I had 'Venus de Milo' but this time she had her arms and her face and body was of mother. Her hair tied back as she held a short spear and looked in the distance. Instead of a cloth around her loins, I had her naked except for a pair of Roman shoes with thongs running up her long legs to secure them. The effort took almost two weeks of my time and stood even taller than mother herself. It was hidden in a thicket at the back of the property till I would be able to place it to its best advantage. The women of the family would like some jewellery but the cost was prohibitive. I pushed my mind to the area of the giant diamond mines and looked for some of the gems. They were difficult to find and the larger ones were even rarer. Working at this distance tired me out very quickly and I could not extract them at this distance. In the last issue of one of dad's medical periodicals was a notice of a convention to discuss the poliomyelitis epidemic that was currently running rampant through Africa. The city of Pretoria was holding the symposium in one week and the city was only a few hundred air miles east of Kimberly. I talked to dad about making the trip profitable and at the same time a vacation, he readily agreed. Later that night dad broached the subject of us going to South Africa for a working vacation. Japera had immediate fears of being left behind and I mentioned this to dad. "Japera you are part of my family too. Would you like to go with us?" Her face was like the sun and Lusa came over and hugged her. ------- Chapter 5 Air travel was expensive but the only way to make the long trip feasible. We flew directly to Pretoria and dad registered for the symposium that would be held in five days. Through his connections we rented a hard to find car and enough ration coupons to get us to Bloemfontein and back again. An exhausting six-hour drive later we pulled into the judicial capital. It was getting dark and we managed to find room at a small inn. The local restaurants were segregated as they were in Salisbury and dad decided to just order the food and eat it in our room. That night mom refrained from making love because we were in the same room with them. After all this time and all the intimate knowledge we had of each other, mother persisted in a certain amount of modesty. The next day we left the small inn and took the borrowed car and drove as I directed. My eye was far overhead and I was able to see where the roads went and what condition they were in. After a few hours we stopped and had a picnic as mom had an uncomfortable time doing her business in the bush and not on a toilet. Japera and Lusa we used to this from their time in a small village. Dad held me in his arms and aimed me at some bushes and I propelled a yellow stream to irrigate the area. At our next stop we found a publicly run roadside picnic area. I was almost four months old now and starting to walk fairly well. There was a very odorous outhouse and dad held my hands as I added to the accumulation a few feet down. While everybody but me lay back in the shade of a large tree I scouted around for the geologic pipes that could contain diamonds. I knew that there was a little over a hundred of these stone columns. Not all had diamonds. There were two close by. One was barren, while the other had many small diamonds but at least a hundred feet down and extending almost three miles into the earth. There was no mining activity here and it was not known even if this deposit was registered. If it wasn't then this could make us rich but the majority of the diamonds were almost 500 feet down. The top of the formation had been eroded when the surrounding land settled after an earthquake. A small river flowed right across the area and eventually joined a much larger river almost fifty miles away. Instead of searching the formation in detail now I checked the stream bottom and almost immediately found a rough stone about 12 carats. It was only ten feet in the mud and I pulled it out and brought it to me. It was only about ten miles away and it came quickly. Nobody saw it fly through the air and land in the car and slide under the back seat. In the next hour I found three more of about the same size and they joined the first. Lusa was getting restless and mom wanted to see more of South Africa. If we were to get enough bobbles for a gift we would have to stay for a while yet. I told dad about the success and he suggested that I let the air out of a tire on the other side of the car and he would have to change it. By the time he was done changing the tire I had three more and a large stone of about 550 carats. We drove back to the inn and stayed the night. Dad was very excited over the stones, especially the largest. I had studied the way diamonds were cut and worked on one before dad's eyes while we sat in the car. The girls had the room to themselves for a while and knew nothing of my activities. A rough 13 carat stone yielded a beautiful seven carat stone and quite a few small pieces. One would be almost 2 carats. The rest of the stones I left until we got home. We would now have to fabricate machines to polish and lap the stones to give them the final touches they needed. "Son, I don't know what to think of this. That large diamond is worth a fortune and even the small stones would buy enough medicine to keep the clinic open for years." "The small stones I want for our family and the large has a flaw in it. I can only get a 250 carat stone and another of about a 100. The remaining 200 carats will have to be much smaller stones and diamond dust. These small pieces, we can sell to finance the clinic and some of the other stones can go as well. The other two large stones I think we should save for a rainy day. We will get much more if the stones are already cut." "Do you think we should make another trip to get a few more? I think we can do it without getting the girls to wonder." "If we need more diamonds dad we can come back another time. If I am four or so then we can go alone." Dad did a lot of thinking. The prospect of getting more wealth was almost too good to pass up. The diamonds we did have were worth so much that it would even be too much to count. "I see your point and I guess we will have to be happy with what we've got." We travelled throughout the area and stayed at outlying inns till the day before the symposium and then we headed back to Pretoria and registered in a large hotel. The only way they would accept Japera and Lusa was if they were our maids. Lusa was looked on as dad's illegitimate daughter. There were quite a few doctors and researchers in the dining room and dad ate a meal with mom and me only. Natives were not allowed in this room. I scanned the room and picked out some of the more interesting people and found what they were doing and saw a lot of difference to the way dad approached medicine. Dad treated people and these people experimented with the disease in a laboratory. I could see rows of glass tubing in their minds and different antibiotics used to isolate the elusive virus. The fact that the virus did not respond was no shock but they were trying everything they knew to try to find a cure. Much of the problem was growing enough of the virus to work upon. That night we brought food up to Japera and Lusa. They were used to the idea of being segregated but it offended me to have to do this to gain more information. In a bid to ease my conscience I started to make love to Lusa and soon her mother started on dad. Mom was not far behind and as a result we woke up very tired the next morning. Dad ate breakfast and sent room service up with a large breakfast for us. When the knock came to the door I was walking to the bathroom. I had to propel myself to the bed to look like an ordinary baby before mom opened the door. The native boy came in and looked at mom and Japera with the usual thoughts that males have. To play a joke I told the women exactly what he was thinking and Japera bent over to flash her backside. Mom not wanting to be outdone got me and started to open her blouse to feed me. Japera was exasperated and pushed the boy out before he could see anything more. After we ate, mom took us out and explored the town. It was not much different than Salisbury. I checked in many times with dad as he tried to meet researchers that would further my education. Some of them were of no use and dad went on at the next opportunity. Sometimes there was enough new data to warrant further study but it became apparent that the law of diminishing returns was at work. By the time the symposium was over we had all bought dad a Christmas present each. With gold at 35 American dollars an ounce, I bought a troy pound ingot of 18 carat gold to make some of the parts I needed for the jewellery. Mom did the buying and wondered at the quantity and felt that she and the rest were getting gold necklaces and/or rings. We flew home that night and were in our own beds. I had decided on the way home that I would have to start on the bottle soon. My system was not up to too much solid food yet. At my suggestion mom took some medicine at the house to stop her flow and I warmed up my own milk from the refrigerator when I needed it. Mom was in some discomfort but it only lasted a few days. The next day dad went back to work and I sorted all the knowledge I had gained. After the noon meal I examined the large diamond in great detail. I could see the existing fracture and tried many different patterns to see what would get me the best stones. With the best course decided I put the large stone down and worked on the remaining six stones for practice. Within three hours I had all of them rough cut and even the little pieces cut. Dad would be coming home soon and I didn't want him to cringe as I did the work so I split the large diamond and found that the largest stone was 168 carats. There were a 97, 60, 42, 21 and a few stones 10 carats or less. When they were polished they would be slightly smaller. All had a rich amber colour that most people would like. I would clean up the smaller fragments tomorrow and just left the gems in dad's desk drawer. After our meal dad and I went to his drawer and he opened it. His mouth opened then closed as he looked at the glittering gems. He took them out one at a time and placed them on his green blotter. Each was inspected in great detail. He looked at them all together and could only think of a crown where they would fit. His mind formed the image and could see it on his wife. It was still in his mind when he had seen King George VI once wearing his crown at a proclamation. "Shawn, they are beautiful but are not as bright as I thought they would be." dad said. "Yes they need polishing. Was it worth the trip?" "It sure was. You better take the stones you want to work on and I would like to put the rest in the safe. It is difficult to even look at them." I picked out four stones around five carats and many smaller ones. "These are enough for me. Save the two largest and sell the rest. I think the best place would be in Europe though. We are going to have to make some a small lathe to polish the stones and some copper to put the final touches on them." "I think Europe is the answer too but some of the smaller stones can be sold here. With the money I can even hire a few young doctors and get them to do a stint in the native villages." Dad was very preoccupied when we sat around the piano and listened to Lusa and then mom play a few songs. Mom was going to comment about it but saw that he was not worried or sad so she let it ride. Later I concentrated on the smaller fragments of diamonds and cut those up until there was only coarse sand left. Dad was home late after going to some industrial supply shops to find a small precision lathe. It was delivered the next day and mom wanted to know what was going on. The word 'secret' was as good as waving a flag in front of an enraged bull but I refused to answer. The lathe was set up and I pictured the crystalline structure of each diamond and ground one against the other till all the facets were as polished as I could get them. A large piece of copper was rubbed against the diamonds with diamond dust added. Soon the diamond started to wear away and supply its own dust until the stones were finished. The next morning after dad left, I pictured the jewellery I wanted and cut the gold to suit. After shearing diamonds the effort for the gold was minimal. The small block of ductile gold was stretched then holes punched in it then the holes stretched again. A chain was formed from a solid piece and no welding was necessary. Clasps were formed and a locking mechanism at the ends. Finally the diamonds were secured and the necklace put away. After making two more I used my eye to find one of dad's rings and with the size in mind I made a ring for him with a four-carat diamond surrounded by six one carat stones. My Christmas presents were now complete. Mom, Japera and Lusa were wracking their minds for something for me. I politely stayed out of their thoughts and let them have their fun. It was only a few days before Christmas and it was difficult to not see the surprise so I told them I would only use the basic senses for the next few days. On Christmas Eve Lusa was very excited and after her lessons had her reward but even that did not calm her enough. She was almost boiling over with excitement. When the house had calmed down I moved the one and a half ton statue to the place planned for it and set it into place facing the house. The large family of gnomes was placed throughout the garden to be found later. Dad had bought a few yards of black velvet and I placed it inside boxes I made out of a solid blocks of rough wood. Lusa was the first up and she went running to the music room door to peek in. Going in was not cricket but a peek was harmless. She saw gaily-coloured packages all in a pile. She ran back then to the nursery to get me so that she could go in more legally. I groaned and pretended to want to sleep more. She whined and complained and completely disregarded my wishes till I floated up and then to the floor beside her. "We have to wait sweetie. The adults want to see us opening presents and I want to see them do the same thing." "That is not fair. They want to sleep in when this is such an important day." "Life is unfair sometimes. Let's go to your room and I will do something to keep you mind off the time." "Ok." She took my hand and I had to propel myself or she would pull my arm from the socket. With only a few minutes of foreplay she was demanding to be satisfied. I picked her up and made two phantom phalli to enter her lower orifices. It wasn't more than a minute before she was contorting all over trying to come to terms with the sensations flowing through her body. When she thought it was over I began again and this time it was even more satisfying for both of us and she collapsed, knowing she was safe. I floated onto the bed and pulled the covers up over both of us and lay down beside her where I planned to be for the rest of my life. A half-hour later I heard the toilet flush so I got up to start breakfast. Lusa continued to sleep while I left her to it. I made sausage, potatoes, bread, sliced fruit and the obligatory pot of tea. Dad came out freshly showered and shaved and said, "Good morning and merry Christmas son." "Merry Christmas to you too dad. Did you sleep well?" "As well as one poor male could with two insatiable women." "I know what you mean. One is enough for me and she is quite demanding. I guess it will be different when I have the same types of hormones flowing through me but until then I will consider myself lucky." The shower started again and I heard a little giggling. Dad heard it too and smiled. The women came out soon after and sat at the table. Mom said, "Where is Lusa on a morning like this?" "She got up earlier and I had to calm her down so she would not get all upset looking at the wrapped presents." The adults looked at one another and I stayed out of their minds. A few minutes later Lusa came out and sat at the table. She was happy it was Christmas but angry at me for not getting her up a little sooner so she could get at her presents sooner. Japera said to her daughter, "Is that the way you greet your family on Christmas?" "I'm sorry. Good morning everybody, oh and a merry Christmas too." After breakfast I wanted to start the dishes but Japera said to leave them. Lusa took my small hand and pulled me to the music room. I had to elevate myself and float beside her or I would have been dragged, she was in that much of a hurry. I heard the adults laughing behind us. Lusa was given a paper wrapped package by mom and we all waited for her to open it. The girl untied the string and then carefully unwrapped the paper before opening the wooden box. It had many small pieces that formed different games. She put it down and said, "Get Shawn's now." She liked her present but was still bubbling about mine. Mom took me aside and behind a corner stood a brass five-inch telescope. It was aimed out the open window into the garden with the new statue. Mom had her back to the view and could only see my telescope and me. "Oh mom, this is great. I will now be able to study astronomy." I floated up and put my small arms around her neck and gave her a kiss. "Japera and Lusa contributed toward this too." I kissed mom again and floated to the floor and went over to kiss both of my other benefactresses. Before I could look through the telescope Lusa was at it and trying to see what she could. Looking in her mind I knew she didn't have it focussed and they looked out the window to see why the image wasn't clear. She stared for a while then turned to us and said, "Why is that woman in our garden?" Dad got up quickly and looked out. He just stared himself and said nothing. His mouth did open a bit and stay that way. Mom came next and pulled the curtain back and looked out then squinted her eyes as if to clear them. She stood up straight then ran to the French doors to the garden. Japera was undecided whether to run to the window or follow mom. Mom won out and she ran outside. Dad was careful and walked around Lusa and I but quickly went outside too. I took Lusa's hand and walked slowly outside in the warm weather. The adults were just staring at the image of the naked warrior woman with a spear in her hand. The face was mom's as well as the long hair but now it was tied behind the stone head with leather thongs. Dad looked up and down the statue and he looked at the pubic region and saw hair as good as I could get it considering the medium I was working with. Japera saw the stone breasts and the hand not holding the spear to be shading the eyes to see better. Lusa was like dad and just had her mouth open trying to think of how this stone woman got here. "Shawn... Shawn," mom said, "how did this get here?" "I dug up a large stone and made it. It was hidden till last night. Do you like it?" "Do I like it! It's fantastic. Any art gallery would love to have it. But what will the people think that see it?" "I think that they will know even more how much of a beautiful woman you are." Dad walked up to the statue and was about to put his hand on it to know it was real but stopped and brought his hand back. "It is very remarkable Shawn. I doubt if there ever was an equal to you in all history." Lusa walked around the statue and stubbed her foot on one of the gnomes. This one stood almost twenty inches tall. She looked down and said, "Mom look there's more." The spell was broken and the adults looked at what was before Lusa. After a moment Japera said, "There is another one by the roses." Mom ran over to that one too and then she started to run through the garden in her housecoat looking for more. Japera and Lusa followed their own paths and looked too. When one was spotted she would call out and everybody would look at the location for later. Dad said, "You never cease to amaze me. Even the gnomes look like they are real living creatures made of stone. If you can do this sort of thing you will be rich." "Thanks dad but I can't do that yet. A four-month-old cannot carve stone. You could be my representative but even that will be too risky. Better it be a one time deal where the person left and wanted to remain anonymous." "It will be difficult. Anybody that sees your work will want some for themselves and pester me until they get it." "Let's say a native lived in the back of our property to do the work and after he was paid he left. You don't know where he went or where he came from." We watched the girls running around the garden for almost thirty more minutes looking at all they had found. "Shawn!" came from mother. She was standing in a thicker section of growth and looking at the small gnome that had remained hidden till now. Japera and Lusa came running too. Dad bent over and picked me up as he too walked over to see. Lusa was smiling and had her hand over her face to stifle a laugh. "What will the ladies think when they run through the garden finding your stone family?" "It's natural. Even your ladies need to go to the bathroom occasionally. The small one looks like Lusa as a baby." "It does not," Lusa said because she didn't want people to make fun of her. "No it doesn't sweetie. But I am sure you must have looked even more beautiful even when you were relieving yourself." Lusa was still a little put out and Japera bent over and picked her seven-year-old daughter up and said, "He is only joking honey. Shawn would never hurt you." Dad came through as always and said, "Let's go back in. I want to see my surprise packages of socks, underwear and a tie." We did go back in but mom kept turning around and looking at the woman in the garden and hope the gardeners would not make too much of it. When we got in mom handed him a box containing a tie and he expressed his instant love for it. He did get some expensive shirts and pants though and these he did like better. Mom looked at the rough blocks of wood on the floor and wisely thought to ignore them for the moment. Lusa and Japera reached in and gave us more pieces of clothing. Mom got a new fluffy housecoat from Japera and a nice watch from dad. When everything was unwrapped and everybody but dad thought we were done I said, "I have something more for you." I got down and picked up the appropriate box for each and put them in front of the recipient. Mom bent down to the rough piece of a plank about 12 by 16 inches and saw the fine line around the sides close to the top. "Don't flip it mom. Just put it in your lap and work off the top." Dad had a much smaller one and he knew the women were getting diamonds and wondered why he was getting a box too. His opened easily and inside the hollowed our area sat a piece of black velvet and a large man's ring with a total of ten carats in diamonds. His eyes almost popped and he hesitantly put his fingers in and extracted the ring and looked at it between his two fingers. Mom was busy and didn't see dad's present. Her fingers found enough purchase and the top came up one side then the other. She put the top down beside her leg and then saw the contents of the box. Her eyes were the same as dad's. Japera helped Lusa open her box and both looked at the necklace within. Japera remembered her own and frantically tried to open her box so fast that she broke two of her short nails. The entire house was quiet for almost five minutes. Each wanted to talk but each decided against it when they heard no other talking. Dad finally said, "Shawn... this is beautiful. I know you can cut diamonds but this gold work is fantastic. Something like this could only be worn at a very rich gathering and I would cast the image of a very rich person." Mom added, "Are these real diamonds honey?" Turning to look at her I said, "Yes they are. When we were in South Africa I searched and found some stones and then used my mind to shear them. The gold we bought there too and I just used the same methods to work the gold and form clasps around the stones. I copied some of the patterns in the jewellery stores but most of it is my own designs." Mom and Japera put their new jewellery on and I went to Lusa and helped her with her piece. It did not look its best with her present clothing so I took off her pyjama top and it hung against her young naked chest. Though mom and Japera came close I thought my girl looked the best. That night as I sat in the highchair at the table and fed myself a puree of turkey. I said to everybody at the table, "I think it is time I moved in with Lusa now. I have been directly fed by mom since she has taken the medicine to stop her milk and I think I am old enough to stay beside the woman I plan to stay with for the rest of my life." Mom was choked at the thought of losing her baby but then thought a while and knew I would be here with her in any case. Lusa was young and only understood that I would be more hers now. Dad felt bad for a moment too but intellectually knew that I was not a baby in my thinking and that I had to make my own way. He was comforted by the realisation that at least now I would stay within the family. Japera was the only one that had predicted the event, even if I was still younger than she would have preferred. That night we played more Christmas songs and then went to bed. Lusa did not want to part with her necklace but understood when I put it in her box on the table. We both had a bath and were squeaky clean for bed. This time I would try to inspire my woman with only my physical abilities. I crawled over the bed to my mate and started with out some of the preliminaries by licking he tiny nipple. She shivered at the touch but remained still otherwise. I started sucking now but found myself doing it the same way I did when I wanted milk and changed a little by using my hand to reach over and pinch her other nipple with my small fingers. Lusa let out a moan and spread her legs for her fingers to start working on her clit. I could smell the scent coming from her and it seemed to do odd things to me. Before being born the smell was only a piece of data to be considered, now it seemed to work with some unknown mechanism to make me... I tried to think of the word and the only one was 'horny'. I checked my penis and it was still quiescent but my brain was very active and wanted more of something but I did not know exactly what. The smell still intrigued me and I started kissing my way down Lusa's abdomen until I came to her mons. I climbed over her leg and continued to kiss her soft abdomen. "Pick up your legs Honey and hold them to your chest." The legs came up and Lusa saw a baby use his strong but small hands to spread the outer lips and get close to smell the intoxicating lubricant coming from her interior. The head went lower and a small tongue came out and caressed the tiny button for the first time. This was too much and the familiar convulsions ran through her young body and she let out a loud moan. I could taste the essence coming from her and could feel the shape of the small clit hidden amongst the folds on her small mons. My tongue stopped its attack and went lower and travelled into her depths. Lusa shook and shook from the intensity of the sensations coming from her mons. Always my probings before were delicate but never this personal as it was now. I moved a bit and used my thumb to stroke her little button while my fingers stroked into her time after time. Eventually I added more and more but my fingers were still too short to reach her still intact hymen. This did not bother her for she started to throw herself all over the bed not knowing what to do with herself or the feelings running through her small body. Lusa needed a rest so I crawled up beside her and held her to me. It felt right somehow as if this was my destined place. Moments later she came more awake and found a small hand holding her non-existent breast and small nipple. She came to one of her decisions and slid away from me and slid partway down the bed and looked at my small penis and empty scrotum. It would be quite a while till they even descended to the small now empty sack. Lusa gave my penis a few licks and started to suck the small organ into her mouth. For the first time I felt it stiffen as blood flooded in. Lusa was very pleased with what she had accomplished and sucked harder to see what would happen. My small cock got a lot bigger and looking at it I knew it was larger than normal and quite pleasing to my woman. Soon she opened wider and sucked my small sack into her mouth and ran her tongue all over trying to get me to have the same enjoyment I gave her. After a few minutes I knew she was getting tired and I also knew that I would not be able to have that special feeling for perhaps years to come. Two days after Christmas mom had a seamstress over to our house. The necklace she was given would be hidden or not complement any of the dresses she already had. Time was too short to get a new dress for the New Year's party she and dad were going to. She went like a whirlwind through her wardrobe to find something that could be altered and settled on a low cut dress that now would be cut lower. The fact that her breasts were temporarily larger made her think that the other women would just turn green. Dad was dressed up in his best suit and of course his new tie. Mom had her newly altered dress accompanied by the necklace with a large stone and two smaller companion stones nearby which all shone on her skin. As dad was leaving he turned to see Japera holding me needlessly in her arms and was about to say that I should watch what Japera said, but he already knew that I could handle any problem better than she could. "Lusa I want you to watch out for these two. I am sure they will get into trouble." Lusa stood straighter at the responsibility put on her and tried to think of what she could do to help matters. I told Japera privately and she laughed in her mind to not hurt her daughter's feelings. The night was quieter than usual and we played with the games Lusa was given a few days earlier. As it got later Lusa went to bed and I stayed with her until she went to sleep then I got up. The night was very clear and I took my new telescope out and observed the moon. For a moment I wondered if I could make a suit with enough air so I could walk upon our celestial companion. When I started to get sleepy I put the scope away and crawled into bed with Lusa and she just shifted her body and held me to her. Two hours after midnight, I heard the door open and a very happy but tired mom come into the house followed by her equally tired husband. With just a little peeking I saw that she had one-upped the rest of her group and wanted to push the advantage home. Next morning I made breakfast but only partially cooked the food. It was hard to tell when they were going to get up. Dad got up just before 8 and I started the meal. Japera came with him and even played with him as if he were her husband. Looking into their minds I knew that they felt this was actually the case. When discussing the party dad said, "Mom was a hit and everyone came over to admire the original piece of jewellery. Even the men came over but they were probably there to look at your mother's breasts. We danced a little and mom suggested a party here. I am pretty sure she wants to show her crowd the statuary you gave us." "Do you think I should get another rock and start a satyr to hide in the bushes? The women might like to get a look at it." Dad laughed and said, "No thank you. I will have enough problems explaining what we already have." Dad went to work at the poor clinic. People got sick all the time and a holiday was no exception. In fact the holidays usually brought on more illness and accidents. When he got there he found a long line of people sitting on the grass and generally keeping in good order. Dad had a reputation of being fair and finding a way to make anybody that was not a gentleman or a lady on his property pay for the lapse. Two men were arguing and dad listened to both and then put them in the order he wanted. I peeked at dad and saw that he was swamped with work. He only had one nurse and she too was working hard. On occasion he was able to call in other doctors but this time of year it was very difficult to find any who were willing let alone able to help. "Dad let's try me doing most of the diagnosis again and you can just treat them." "Thanks Shawn but most problems are well known. I just don't have enough hands to sew people up, set bones, or even give them the medicine they need." "I have an idea dad. You have three treatment rooms. You treat some and I can do some. All they need is to be unconscious. You can even give them water or saline and I can put them out. If I can make gold chain and cut diamonds I guess I can suture people." "That is against the law Shawn. Besides it seems unethical." "It is unethical to not do the maximum possible. Lusa can stay here with mom and Japera can help the other nurse. Nobody will know and I have your memories to help me along with all the rest of the doctors I have met." "I don't have time son. Come on down with Japera and I will see what you can do." "Thanks dad. I know you won't regret it." Lusa was put out that I was going to work and she wasn't. I suggested that she make some sandwiches that we could eat later and be like my wife. Japera looked at me a little sternly but let it ride this time. She too was a little put out that she had to help. I explained how there was so much to do and so little people to help. Then I pulled a dirty blow and described some of the children that were hurt and forced to wait. The possibility was still there that dad would have to come home and they would not even be treated today. Japera and I drove into the parking lot or I should say Japera was pretending to drive the car with me directing all the things necessary to get us there safely. All this was done with my special eye and hands for I could not see out the windshield. Some of the people at the head of the line warned us to go to the back. That is when Japera laid into them with enough force to almost strip the skin off their backs. After that they were quite mollified to find out she would be one of the nurses. Dad came out and explained to his nurse how Japera would help. Nothing was said about how a baby was to be watched while all of this was going on. I saw the patients and directed Japera to take a patient into each of the rooms I had usurped. She was kind of squeamish about giving an injection of water but I gave her all the information she needed. After the injections I just entered each of their minds and more or less shut them down till I awoke them. I was able to come in another door and see the sleeping patient. I knew where everything was from all the times I had been following dad's technique. The first had a broken ulna. The bone had not broken through the skin and I just used my phantom hands to stretch the broken ends apart and guide them into position. The arm was shaved and I did everything dad would have done. The cast was built up and a sling put into place. Japera came in to take the patient out just as I released his conscious mind. A final gift I gave him was the absence of most of the pain for a few days. He looked in wonder at the new cast and thanked Japera for doing such a good job. She gave him all the data he needed to get his arm taken care of later. She was not very sure the man would even come back but take care of it on his own. The next room had a bleeding face from a drunken fight. I shaved the bearded face and especially around the wound, while pinching off the flow of blood. My eye was able to find small pieces of glass and those were painlessly removed. The blood vessels were rejoined and I used the sutures to make many small neat stitches so that the face would look as good as possible. Dad came in the back door and saw the work I had done and said, "Sorry I was late. My patient needed me." "No problem dad. This one had a little contamination and I tried to make him as pretty as possible. What do you think?" He looked from various angles and said, "I couldn't do any better and you did it pretty quickly too. Any other damage?" "I checked the entire face and it has no other recent damage. He is suffering from a number of diseases and I don't think we could treat him even if we had all the drugs we need." "Well let's get him out of here and start on the next." Dad left and I called Japera in. She brought the patient out and gave him all the information he needed to know. Again he got my form of pain relief and our own stock could be stretched further. The next room had a ten-year-old girl with a crushed foot. There was a lot of bleeding and swelling. I took control of the blood vessels and then saw the condition of the bones in her foot. I took some metal pins and formed them as perfectly as I had with mom's diamonds, then inserted the first one in the raw wound. I got it to go into one end of the broken bone then aligned it to the other. Three more times I did this, then started to join the torn flesh. The girl's mother was yelling outside the door wanting in and Japera was very busy trying to keep her away. I sent out a calming thought and the woman slowly settled to a chair. Another cast was made and formed around the foot. While it was setting I worked on the woman that was involved in a knife fight with her boyfriend. I sewed her up as well as possible then put a bandage on her. Japera came into the room and took the woman out and told her what procedures to follow. She added that it was to knife the boyfriend before he did it to her again. A man came in to take her place and he too had a knife wound too. A quick check told me that this was the boyfriend and he had actually been defending himself against the woman I just treated. I stopped his internal bleeding and sent in the small curved needles to sew up a partially slashed vein. This was much better than any doctor could do because of the small opening I could work through. I returned to the girl and finished the cast and told Japera to let her stay there for ten minutes and then explain how she was to act and when she was to come back. I left the room and went to 'the boyfriend' and finished sewing him up before a bandage was put on. Dad was working hard on a woman with abdominal pain and I saw that she had a tumour growing on her intestinal wall but which had not yet grown through it. "Dad she has a small tumour. I can get it out in ten minutes if you want. It looks like it starting to spread and then we have to cut out some of her bowel." "You want to start a surgery too?" "I can see inside her and can differentiate between the cells by just looking. This should be a piece of cake. If you want me to do it just inject her with some water and watch." Dad hemmed and hawed then said, "Let's try it." The woman was out and dad had her out of her clothing quickly. I came into his room and cleaned the area I wanted to work on. Using just my mind I made a small incision and then used my 'fingers' to cut away the tumour in small pieces and bring them out the small opening. When all the pieces were out I sutured up the opening and put a bandage on it. Dad looked at his watch and said, "You took four minutes to do what would take a fully equipped operating room at least an hour and a half to complete." "Thanks dad but the patients are waiting." Later, we had a quick break for a few sandwiches while I had to cut mine up very small to swallow. It was more of a puree of sandwich than anything else. I saw that dad was more or less filtering my patients. Many had diseases that could not be remedied by a lancet, haemostat and sutures. Many mothers were holding their children because the children could not stand up themselves from the ravages of poliomyelitis. All the less developed nations and to a lesser extent the rest of the world was affected by this hard to understand virus. With all the things I was able to do, still I could not help these poor families no matter what I did. Japera was run ragged by the time we were done for the day but this time there were no more patients to treat. I washed up with dad and Japera carried me to the car so that we could go home. Dad was a little shocked to see the car being driven by Japera but let it go. Mom and Lusa met us at the door and after dad got a kiss from mom she took Japera and dad into the bathroom to get them washed and for a little pampering. Lusa did her own pampering for her man who went out to work and came home to his wife for a meal and some relaxation. Dad came out with one woman on each arm and as he sat them down, I served the meal which mom and Lusa had made for us. Dad described to mom what I had done and how well the procedures were performed. Lusa would normally be a little green around the gills at the descriptions but took it well because it was her man that did it. Many more days were spent at the clinic and I got even better and it. Later I would scan the parking lot and the waiting room and find not only what the patients came for but what other ailments they had. Dad did a little alteration to the building's structure so I could go from one room to another even quicker. Japera now came all the time I did and once she got used to the situation she started to enjoy the work. Just before the end of January, dad read in the paper about a man found beaten and murdered. His body was found dumped in a ditch outside the city. This was not something new but he was a white man and dad had his suspicions. I cast my eye into the city and then to the morgue where I found the man. There was no doubt that dad was right about his identity. The marking were the same as many other black men beaten and their bodies dropped in the same general area. Dad made a few phone calls and found that there was little he could do. The police would not expend any work on it suspecting that the security service had done it. Even if a conscientious cop did follow through, his superiors would soon stop the investigation. I started to practice photography, especially the low light variety. Some of the proceeds from the sale of the smaller diamonds went into developing equipment and supplies. Given its intended use, the equipment was purchased in a way that it could not be traced back to our family. The sub-basement of the security building became my new haunt. Anything that was said or could be seen was recorded if I was paying attention to that area. Two weeks later a man was dragged in and beaten but not that many questions were asked. It became obvious that the lead questioner just wanted the man dead. With nothing that I could do I watched the man slowly die. His body was put in the small morgue but within four hours it was hoisted into the back of a panel truck and the vehicle drove through the mostly deserted streets of Salisbury. I had three cameras and I was able to use them at the end of my fingers even if that was almost five miles away. This time it was further. I put on some black clothing and sailed through the night air tailing the truck. As it slowed to a stop on a deserted stretch of road the back of the truck was opened and two men on the night shift threw the body into the ditch. Before the body left their hands the three cameras flashed then flashed again showing their startled faces. Guns came out and bullets flew under the flashes but nobody was hit. The body was photographed three times and then I actually turned it over to show the face. The men demanded 'we' surrender but I used my hands like clubs and hit each of them so it would like somebody sneaked up behind them. With the men far enough away from the truck I searched their persons to get their identity. One I already knew but now I knew that their papers would be with them when and if the police came. I phoned the two local papers soon after from a phone booth. Two separate reporters were called to come with their cameras to show who the killers were. This was not the exact truth but these men were at least accessories. The reporters came and got vary excited when they saw the tortured body and the two unconscious men. From the darkness I called to them in a Bantu accent and told them to leave because the police would seize their equipment and there would be no story then. One man stayed though and the other was able to get the story including the photos he took into his paper. The other paper had no mention of it. I had my hand in this too. The reporter that stayed was knocked unconscious and was not allowed to regain it until the story hit the streets. By then he was in police custody charged with assaulting two officers that happened to just find the body. I made many copies of my pictures including them throwing the body away. These were posted all over the capital and given to the defence to examine. Another pamphlet with the layout of the basement and the sub-basement of the security building was handed out. It had the location of all exits and the small morgue along with all the names of the people I knew to frequent the premises. The charged reporter was let go and all the newspapers warned. It would be very difficult in the future to get any story to the people. The two policemen were simply reassigned to an outlying area to carry on the work they were already doing. Mom had her party during the height of the story of the security bureau doing the killing. Mom was trying her best to get the women at her party to form some type of voice to protest the government's actions. All the women were horrified but as the time passed they stayed further and further from mom and her 'disturbing' ideas. Dad moved in quickly and put a stop to it. Mom would be completely ostracised and eventually the police would come and possibly take one of us to that same sub-basement. If they were to sneak in then any resistance we made would be used as a reason for them to attack and kill us. Even if our dogs attacked in the night they would just say they were chasing a criminal and were in turn attacked by our dogs. There was no way to match their strength against our plans. Foreign newspapers were the only hope we had because governments would do nothing unless it was in their own best interests. Even egalitarian Britain would do nothing unless Rhodesia were hurting their exports, or causing local unrest in that country. As I got older I learned that people just were not all good and that governments made up of the defective segment of a population were even worse. To this end we discussed backing a politician that would voice his concerns. We soon figured that nothing would happen in Britain because too much money was at stake trading with the African Colony. Mom and dad took me to many social functions but most were not the place for a child - even one that did not cry. At these I learned more of the ways governments were handled through the old boy network and through the back door. I did get to learn more about finances and how they could be used as a source of power and control. Dad and I did our best in both clinics. He became even more famous and thus more important to the existing social structure. I worked on dad to show his ethics in a new light. There were government ministers that were being treated by us when other doctors could not. Instead of curing them, as in some cases we could, we only did what was necessary to keep them alive and dependent on us for their continued welfare. Dad found this against his Hippocratic oath but I persuaded him that this way would keep our family safe. Mom had gone back to her teaching and found many instances where I could learn more about the world around us. I discovered references to nuclear weapons and for a time I absorbed all I could. It was not so as to make a bomb, but more the ability to understand ones enemy. Chemistry, physics and the language of both subjects, mathematics, became my new fields. Getting to understand my unique abilities was my incentive to do my best. On February third we had a call at our gate. Two men in a dark car were waiting to gain entrance. Even at this distance we could see that they had 'police' written all over them. Dad was fortunately home and asked me, "What do they want Shawn?" I stared at the men and after a moment I was able to gain access to their surface thoughts. "They are Security, not police, though they will say differently. They are going through the white population because of the cost and expertise needed to put out all the photographs and the inside information on the construction of the lower levels of the security building. Blacks are being discounted mainly because of their lack of funds and the security's bias that they could not do it. This time it is not the blacks that could be scourged. We are not suspected any more than any other people that oppose what the government is doing." "We better let them in and hear their questions." Dad pushed a button and the 'police' pushed the gate open. The car drove through and the man got into the car. The vehicle was parked at the side of the house and the two large men got out. With a knowing eye I was able to easily discern their hidden weapons. As the men approached the door dad opened it and closed it behind him. "Good morning gentlemen. I thought people in the Security Service would also look into our security and close the gate after entering. I try to keep undesirables out if I can." "Hello Dr. Boz," a tall blond haired man looking like one of Hitler's poster children said. "We are police officers investigating an assault." Dad said, "Are you going to close the gate, or am I going to get my lawyer over here to be a witness to our discussion?" The dark haired man that had opened the gate put on an angry facial gesture but turned around and walked the 200 feet or so to the gate and slammed it into place. Dad and the blonde officer saw this and dad said, "Not very professional for the Security Service." "I said we..." "Spare me your tales. You are carrying guns the way the security do, not police, you or at least your partner is arrogant. Your car and suits fairly scream security and the police have a smaller budget to be self-important in. If you want frank answers to your questions then at least don't try to ridicule my intelligence with your fairytales." The man stopped to think and said nothing till his partner returned from his short walk. "You win. We are in security." The darker haired partner opened his mouth to protest but caught himself in time. "In that case and in light of your honesty," dad said, "will you gentlemen like to come into the house? I believe our housekeeper has made some tea." After they sat in the music room, Japera brought in a cart with tea and left it there for the people to serve themselves. "Dr Boz, we came here to ask if you have the ability to develop photographs or to reproduce them?" "No I don't. I do have an old Brownie camera and a newer one for our family pictures. I get all the negatives done at the Pingle's in town." "Do you know of anybody that can develop negatives or reproduce them?" "I already said I get the photo shop to do this and Jim Pringle is the only one that I personally know of." The man was a little put out by being caught again but still asked, "Do you know anyone that would want to compromise national security by taking those pictures?" Dad got his angry scowl and said, "We are governed by the laws passed by our politicians and handed down by the crown. Security is supposed to abide by those laws and even enforce them. I see from the photos that they kill any and all opposition to the new hidden and illegal laws. If you say 'compromise national security' I would say 'expose the crimes against man and country by a public institution'. If that is the question, I would say every patriotic person that calls this country home would oppose you. Do you have any more questions gentlemen?" The men left soon after and left the gate open in a fit of indignation. "Mom came up to dad and put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Do you think that was the right thing to do John?" Dad felt a little bad at letting his anger get the better of him and said, "I guess I should have been more civil but the men already know our views and I doubt if it was unexpected." ------- Chapter 6 Dad came under surveillance off and on for the next year or so. They would park down the street and follow him to see where he was going. Usually they got bored of it and went after someone else. The two practices flourished especially the poor, except that being poor meant that they could not pay. The in-town clinic was not now paying enough. This was not because less money was coming in but that dad had hired more doctors and got them to administer to the sick for a salary. The overhead had eaten into the money we had earned from the diamonds and by this time, all the smaller stones had been sold and only the finished 157 and the 93 carat stones were left. On February the sixth of 52 we were all rocked by the news that King George VI had died. Dad took it harder than the rest of us because he knew how the monarch had held his country together during the war and was well loved by almost everybody. The entire country went into mourning for they all respected the crown. When the diamond money was getting low we decided to go to Antwerp to sell the remaining two diamonds. This would be a family outing and in the spring of 53 we would sail from Cape Town South Africa and head for Belgium. All the family was going and passports had to be procured by dad as well as substitute doctors to take over his practice in his absence. We packed and sent ahead by truck most of our luggage and flew to Cape Town. There was a fight soon after we landed. Dad wanted to make our trip worth while. He wanted to rent a car and find some more 'pretty stones' so that the enterprise would be even more profitable. I was three years old and looked four. Mom was to stay in the capital and shop with the rest of our family while we spent three or four days ensuring the success of the clinic. Lusa, now ten, wanted to go with us and considered me her husband in all matters. Dad was still dad and the males ruled the roost in our country. Mom didn't say so but she made it known that it was done with her approval. Eventually dad had his way but would have to pay for it later one way or another. With gasoline still rationed I pushed the car much faster than it would normally go when the engine set just above idle. This allowed our meagre supplies to be stretched even further. We bought food and stayed in a tent to keep our presence unknown. It was fun to go camping and who would begrudge a father and son doing so? In a decidedly rural area we were travelling along a side road when we saw a young girl in the field not any older than ten running around a figure on the ground. I could sense great urgency, fright, worry and from the other pain. "Dad, stop! There's a problem." Looking closer I saw that there was a birth taking place but something was wrong. "What is it Shawn?" "Birthing difficulties. Let's get your bag and see if we can help." Dad stopped the car as close as we could to the woman but we were more than a quarter mile away. I got our blanket and dad got his bag. We raced to the woman but I was too small to go fast enough so I just levitated both of us and dad seemed to struggle for a moment until he understood what was happening. "Next time warn me. You have flown before but I haven't." "Sorry dad. I will try next time." We came to a wide deep ditch and we stayed level and went right across. We would have lost a lot of time going down and up the sides, never mind the trickle of a stream at the bottom. When we got near the woman I said, "Make your feet run dad," and I lowered him to the Earth and finished the last little bit on foot. I had not been too intelligent here and kicked myself mentally. The young woman had seen the last part of our flight. In her state she could be mistaken I thought. I said in Bantu, "We are doctors," to the girl. The woman was so distraught that she didn't even know we were here. The baby had the umbilical cord around his neck and would strangle soon and possibly take his mother with him. I explained to dad and put the woman out. Using my hands I was able to push the baby back in a bit and then took my small hands and arms and pushed the baby in even further. The young woman became hysterical and wanted us out of the way so she could continue helping. Dad held her back so I could continue. Since I could see what I was doing it was a fairly easy matter of moving the cord. The baby was still getting oxygenated blood but the placenta had started to pull away from the uterine wall and blood was coming out of the dilated vagina. I shifted the woman and placed the folded blanket under her and turned her the other way and was able to get the blanket so that it would protect the newborn when he arrived. The dress was pulled up in a similar fashion as I did this so we would have the maximum amount of room to work. Dad moved forward and looked at the emerging head and felt the woman's abdomen. "Shawn wake her up so she can push." The girl was going to interfere again and I just locked her leg muscles to leave dad free. She cried in Bantu for us to leave the woman alone. I said, "The baby had the cord around his neck and both baby and mother would die." The girl did not really hear us in her state of mind. The woman came around and gave an immediate push to her baby. She saw us then and became so frightened that she tried to get away from some of the hated white men. I spoke into her mind, "We are doctors and trying to help you. Push when I say and the child will be fine." She still tried to get away and I used my phantom fingers to make an invisible barrier so that she could not slide off the blanket. She did push though and because of the pain, shoved the fear onto the back burner. Dad did the work now and assisted in getting the child into this cruel world. He spoke to the woman and told her everything was going to be fine, I guess it was his tone of voice, for she calmed a bit and started to fear us less. When the baby came out he was given the first lesson in this world, pain! He gave a great cry for one as small as he was and I could see that he would be all right. Dad did his own checks and saw that the child would have no lasting problems if you discounted the hard life he would soon join. Dad took one of his haemostats and cut off the flow of blood through the cord then took another and placed it close to the child's navel. His lancet made short work of the cord. Blood spurted out but only a little. Taking some line from his bag he wrapped it around the end of the baby's side of the umbilical cord. With that securely in place he removed the haemostat. Soon the placenta was ejected and Dad stood up and took a step to present the mother with her child. She had lost most of her fear now and dad talked to her as he would any worried woman. He was waiting to find out if there would be any haemorrhaging. I did an in-depth analysis and saw that things were coming along nicely. When all this was done I noticed the younger girl quiet for the first time. I said to her, "In a moment I want you to come closer and look at the baby's neck. You will see the mark around his neck and a slightly bluer complexion to his face. Then look at the bruised cord." Now I released the lock and prepared to set it again. "Dad, the mother has stopped bleeding but not enough yet to walk back to her village. There was too much trauma on the placenta and the uterine wall." "Ok I guess I will have to carry her." Dad paused to think of everything that must be done and then said, "Lead the way with the girl and I will follow." Dad put his dirty instruments away in a clean cloth and then placed this in his bag. We left the placenta where it lay. If these people had any ceremony or rituals they could just come and get it. The blanket was wrapped around the woman and child and I helped dad pick up the woman to his chest. The bag was my responsibility and I held it in one hand and reached up to that of the young woman. She looked at the hand then thought of the offer. She was used to taking care of children so her habits helped make her decision. She held the hand of the strange little boy as she led us to the small hamlet almost a mile away. Dad would have been tired out by then, except that I took most of the woman's weight. He talked about the proposed name of the boy the name of the village and many other things to get the woman to relax more. I talked to the girl too. She talked first about her father and uncles then about everything she knew — it would have been difficult to stop her if I needed to. Around the bend in the road we finally saw a thick perimeter of thorns surrounding a few small huts. Anana ran ahead and by the time we made it to the perimeter we found ourselves confronted with two old women and six sickly youngsters. Dad explained quickly and wanted to put the woman down in her own home. One of the old women led the way and dad carefully settled the new mother onto the bed with the newborn. Dad told the old woman that he was a doctor and that the woman and baby would be fine. Then he said, "I would like to wash up. Is there any water here for that. The water turned out to be from the stream we passed and looking into it I saw Escherichia Coli but this was not unusual. Turning to the people I looked into one of their intestinal tracts and found bleeding and evidence of diarrhoea. "Dad, we better boil this water. There is a strain of E. Coli here that is haemorrhaging the epithelial cells in their intestines." Dad looked at me in one of his looks and asked the old woman about the young children and the old folks being sick and dying. The woman was shocked but said a child died two days ago and an old man the day before. Dad put some tincture of iodine in the water and waited till we could use it to wash. My arms and hands were the worst because of how far I had to reach into the woman to free the cord. When we were more or less clean we just shook our arms to get the water off. "What are we going to do about these people dad. They will survive but not all of them. They need clean water and a way to treat the diarrhoea." "Then a well would be the best. Can your 'eye' find a good place for a well?" Instead of answering, I looked into the ground and found many bands of water. I walked out of the village and looked at the landscape. Animals were all over the place and their droppings too. This may have been the cause of the outbreak in the first place. Finding a piece of high ground I looked beneath it and saw a fairly thick band of water. It was 23 feet down and 15 feet beneath the eight-foot hill I was on. From my position I told dad, "This is fairly good. The water should be plentiful and nothing will drain in from the land. We need rock to shore the walls up and a barrier to keep the animals and children away." Dad looked around and saw little wood but saw an old hut outside the thorn barrier that might work to protect the well. I returned to the village and saw dad had got a line formed and was examining the people. It was the first time most had ever seen a doctor. He had gone into a hut previously and found another old man suffering from dehydration and thought of all the people he had seen die of this simple malady. Most of the adults in Africa thought that diarrhoea was normal and the usual method was to restrict liquid intake. Dad had been trying a method of his own and it seemed to work well. With no men in the village at the time, dad ordered honey and any sweets be brought, along with salt. There were a few large pots and dad immediately set me for the water because the villagers were too weak to fill them. With the stronger members sent to scrounge rare fuel I took one pot and filled it with water when nobody was looking. The second one made it back to the village along with the first without anybody seeing exactly how the transportation happened. The pots were put on the fuel we already had and started. As the wood came in it was added until the water started to boil but this took almost two hours. The tired men at this time came back from their fields and crops to find a strange white man and a boy in their village. They were quite upset till the women villagers told them what had happened. Dad gave his short explanation and said when all were back he would give the full details. Just as the water was boiling, dad started his watch so the water would boil for 30 minutes and kill any harmful bacteria. With the last man entered the village dad started explaining about disease and how it spreads. Diarrhoea was explained again and, as both he and I expected, the people did not believe him. The pots were taken off and their food prepared a little later than usual. I sneaked off and got our tent and supplies and brought them into the village after locking our car. It was not clean here and both animal and human stools could be seen around the back of all huts. Two thin dogs ran about and looked to be adding to the problems as well. At the end of the line of patients a father was helping his boy of three while his mother tried to keep him away from us. Dad talked to each of them to allay their fears. A lion had mauled the boy and if it weren't for the intervention of the villagers the boy would now be dead. From the description it looked like a rogue lion who was now too old to take down fast game and who had resorted to the very feared but easily caught humans. Already an old man had died and numerous cattle had been either killed or injured by this wily animal. Chiamaka, a tall strong native with a large scar on his left cheek, asked dad about all the things he had heard from the young girl. Dad replied, "My son is just small for his age and is really almost a man now. He is in training to be a doctor now and has completed many of his studies. The mother needed a small hand to help the baby but mine was too large. It could have worked but there would be a lot more pain, trauma and blood." I walked out the gate and surveyed the surrounding land. Animal faeces were all around. I set the tent where it was cleanest, after using my fingers to remove most of the contamination. They would take the cattle into the protected village at night to keep the large cats away. I was not worried that any cat, even the rogue, bothering us. Coming back into the village, I saw dad talking to the family of the mauled boy. In reality he was talking to everybody because everybody was close-by and listening intently. This time he talked about the need for a source of clean water not infected with manure or even dirty feet tracking dung to the well, where the rain would wash the substance into the water they drank. He talked about whole villages almost being wiped out. Then he went into the symptoms of bloody stools, very dark urine, even delirium. The points he made the most were what the villagers understood from what they were now confronted with in reality. We shared some of their food and in turn gave ours to the village. I saw dad thinking I could do some hunting but was reluctant to broach the subject because I had never really witnessed an animal die. Many people had come close to that state but none died while in our offices. The one I saw in security still haunted me when I slept. This would change in time I knew. On occasion I thought of the sport of hunting and did not find it objectionable if it were to feed some people like now. The fact that we couldn't explain my abilities was the only thing keeping me from doing it. With the boiling water now cool dad did some measuring and added the salt and sugar to the proportions he found worked best. The next thing he did was take a cup and give it to me to drink. It was not that great tasting but still drinkable. The children were all given some and their parents told about its dosage. I was pretty sure the contents of the two pots would be used as dad asked but it would still take a little more encouragement for the adults to make more. With the people mainly sick they could not afford to stay up late so we retired early. When everybody was asleep I used my powers to scrape the top of the small hill and start a large hole in the ground. Stones were separated and placed on clean soil for use in the walls of the well. Many more would be needed and all of them had to be clean of faecal matter. I did a reasonable amount of work so that we would only be remembered for helping and not magic. When the village awoke we were too and when they came out to work in their fields and allow the cattle to graze they found the small nearby hill denuded and much shorter. Dad and I put on a little dirt as camouflage and awaited the arrival of the farmers. Chiamaka walked up first at saw our dirty hands and clothing and asked, "What is it that you are doing here?" "You people need clean water and it has to be closer to the village," dad said. "We know that there is water under this hill and only the height of three tall men deep into the ground." The men talked amongst themselves then two went out and two stayed to help us do the job. Rope, baskets and shovels came to help us. Our own small shovel from the car looked very puny to me. It was to have done the work we had already accomplished. Dad and I worked harder this time because we had to use our own muscles more often. As the hole got deeper water started seeping in and the men became happy. Soon the hole was widened and then I took my turn. The wet mud came out in the baskets and I helped them a little to make the task easier. Stones, I found were stacked along one edge and the hole got deeper. Soon it became a losing proposition as the soil kept falling around the edges and I had to hold the sides in as I went deeper again. At 16 feet below the normal ground level I started using the stones and called for more. The men would throw them down with large splashes that would cover me with mud and water. With the walls almost six feet high, I left the pit and the small pile of rocks I was standing on. I was very tired and the men were very amazed at the amount of work I had been able to do. I looked four but dad said I was older and most thought me much older from my speech, mannerisms and strength. The men had much more difficulty finishing the next third than I had but by then the time to eat supper. We broke for a while and ate the meal the women prepared then went back to work for a few more hours. When we stopped for the day there was at least another days work to do but dad and I had our own mission to finish and get back to Cape Town before our ship sailed. That night Ellema or 'milking a cow', the excited young girl we first noted came to me and asked if I would like to sleep with her. I held her face in my small hands and said, "You are a desirable woman but I already have a woman who would get angry at me if I accepted your offer." She had not thought about that possibility and felt crushed at the way she had left herself exposed like this. I said, "Ellema, I will be gone tomorrow and you will probably never see me again. It is much better to end this way than if we become attached first." She left with a defeated feeling and I was happy that I did not make any more personal ties to complicate my life. The next morning dad and I prepared for an early start and the men and women coming out of the village went right to work on the well and dad just took out some paper and drew the plans for the completion of the project. Chiamaka walked with us to our car. He saw us off with many thanks for saving the woman and child and possibly the children too. Dad gave him another very short spiel about hygiene and we left feeling good inside. An hour and a half later we were parked close to the river running over the submerged pipe and I started looking for more stones. This time with more experience I was able to get 37 stones of 10 carat or more. The largest this time was only 60 but would be quite valuable anyway. With little time left we headed back. We came into Carnarvan and found a small campsite with a falls. We were able to get relatively clean for the first time in days. Late the next day we made it back to Cape Town with all the stones rough cut. I had experimented and found I could turn one stone against another and polish the stones as the lathe did. Some of dad's copper pence were used to hold the diamond dust to finish the job. Many were small because of the flaws that precluded the larger stones. Mom greeted us at the door and hurriedly ordered us out of our clothing and into a bath. I had only a chance to kiss each of the women before being unceremoniously stripped then scrubbed. We both came out pink and were quickly dressed to go out. Mom had been dying to try out a restaurant she had heard about across town. Meanwhile, Japera had cleaned the inside of the car of dust and we all got in for our new experience. A place was found to park close by and when we went to enter we saw the small sign on the door saying 'Whites Only'. Mom was heartbroken but refused to enter now. Across the road was a small park and there too the fountains listed what colour was to drink at each. We headed back to the hotel and ordered a meal sent up to our room. As we ate dad told of our adventures. Mom was very proud of us and said so. When it came to the girl coming onto me, Lusa's hand squeezed tightly until she heard dad's reply. Then I got a smile that would have lit the room. It was the last night in the city and we basically had no place to go as a mixed family. Dad returned the car to the agency and sold the camping equipment back to the place he bought it from. The ship had pulled in a day earlier but was unloading passengers and taking on supplies and cargo for the trip north. The room was left and our luggage was kept at the hotel till we called for it later. Dad and I had seen little of Cape Town and all of us walked through the parks. We ate from vendors and were constantly reminded of the differences the colour of a person's skin would make. At 3 in the afternoon we could come aboard the ship and dad got in a taxi to take him to the hotel to pick up our bags. Forty-five minutes later he pulled up and he hired a porter to carry our luggage aboard. An officer looked at our papers and told us where our room was. Mom organised the placement of clothing and we were soon able to wander the ship. Dad at all times had the diamonds on his person and I could see his mind working on the pros and cons of using the purser's safe. At the moment he still wanted to keep them because none of the women had seen them yet. They had done enough bugging but dad wanted to tease them a bit. Japera, Lusa and I went to see the pool. Mom and dad went to make a courtesy call to the ship's physician. It was always nice to know that there was another doctor around in case of emergencies. Later in the day Lusa and I went swimming and watched over by Japera as mom and dad got some private time alone. Some of the older passengers were from Africa and were quite put out that a black or actually a mixed race girl was swimming in their pool. The fact that they did not go into the water was completely irrelevant. The looks were not lost on Japera or Lusa but I kept them there so it would not look like we were forced out. During our play I called Japera "mother." This had the effect of some of the old women almost having heart attacks. I still had my platinum blond hair and a fair complexion. Japera had quite a bit of backbone from seeing how we treated bigots and got into the spirit of it and called Lusa 'daughter' and me 'son'. Not all of the ship was so biased. The ship was of British registry and most people were not as bad, not that they were good either. This did not stop many of the males on board from looking at Japera and Lusa with lust in their eyes. Many even saw me the same way. This was not different than how it had always been all my life. Just because I was on a ship with new people did not mean that this would stop. Dad and mom had gone back to being reacquainted again and I took my girls to lunch. We walked to the main dining room and I sat my girls as a gentleman should and the waiter came over looking at Japera for her order. He was surprised to find me doing the ordering in Afrikaans and in both English and French depending on the type of food. Lusa hung her head but not as a gesture of meekness but a way to hide her smile at the man's consternation. I talked to Japera in many languages audibly and then gave her the words to say back about my diction being fair but not perfect. By the end of the meal nobody would have been able to honestly say that my ladies were uneducated louts from the savannah. During the meal a combo had come on and started to play some light jazz for us. As we left our seats, the music stopped for a short break with some light applause. I felt a new way to rub some noses that stuck too far into the stratosphere. Stopping beside the musicians I asked, "Hello. My name is Shawn Boz. This lady beside me is Japera and this vivacious lady is Lusa, Japera's daughter." The four musicians had stopped at the unexpectedness of the conversation and said hello to us. I asked, "Since you gentlemen are going for a well deserved break, would you allow Lusa to entertain the audience at the piano?" Here Lusa was frightened. For the last three and a half years she had learned music and had only performed before the family. Japera had helped me make the bigots feel bad with their level of education being far beneath ours. Now they could hear Lusa's talent as it really was without my assistance. The musicians were not sure so I reached into my pant's pocket and pulled out a five pound note and it quickly disappeared. This was quite a bit of money for these men. The tall Scottish accented man took the hesitant Lusa over to the piano and sat her down. "Don't worry about the people. You will do fine. Just think of the music you love and let it flow from the heart. I am sorry sweetie but we only have a little bit of sheet music here with us." Lusa tried to get her fears under control and shook her head. She sat more comfortably and then flexed her hands. I looked into her mind and tried to quell any doubts and allow her to concentrate on her music. She started with Bach and then went to a nice piece by Mozart. With the audience clapping and my inaudible accolades she performed better and better. Sergei Prokofiev came next with a few of his études. As her last piece ended mom and dad came in and clapped hardest of all at the ten and half year old girl doing so well at her first public performance. The musicians talked to her and suggestions were made until she was the centre of four other musicians. The drummer having switched to a violin that he usually brought to his performances. There seemed to be magic in the air as I seated Japera close to her child and mom and dad came to sit with us. Lusa seemed to glow and the musicians brought out talent that I did not even know she had. After four pieces Lusa was getting tired but didn't want to leave. Rather than have her start making mistakes I stood up and took her to our table to a thunderous applause from the audience. The adults kissed her and I openly hugged her because I did not want to have too many tongues start wagging. The jazz musicians had to play classical for the rest of their performance. They smiled or nodded their heads on occasion but usually at Lusa. She was shy but really basked in all the notoriety this brought her. We listened till the end and dad sent them something to soothe their throats in-between pieces. That night in bed Lusa was beside herself and could not sleep. It was good that I did not need very much. Later I made tender love to her and this was enough for her to relax and finally go to sleep. We awoke late the next day and had a late breakfast. The old folks did not like the coloureds on the ship but backed off when Lusa and Japera walked around with their heads held high. Every once in a while someone would stop us and say how they loved Lusa's performance. It is kind of hard to argue with success. The navies of the world knew it was bad to have sailors with idle hands so found numerous jobs for them. The owners of the ships thought the same for their passengers and went to great lengths to find interesting things to do. Swimming, shuffleboard, bingo and art appreciation were only some of the many things offered. Dad went to the stern and shot trap for a while to relieve the tedium and I found I was propositioned through mom of course to pose for some women. When I agreed, even more people signed up for the course. Some were men that took a sudden interest in painting if it included a young boy they considered beautiful. Women too had the same ideas. Lusa had a small talent and I made sure she got to paint me too. There was talk of removing her until I stated that we were a pair, either both of us or none. I posed for almost four hours with only one break. When the sitting was finished I walked around and saw most of the pieces. Some were fairly good and it made me feel good inside to know I had inspired someone that much. With the room almost empty I took an empty easel and put a stretched and prepared canvas on it. In twenty minutes I had Lusa, a tanned wood nymph stepping into a forest pool with only a random placing of her hands protecting her pubis. Just before I was finished the teacher came in and stared in awe. She did not interfere and my strokes were quick and sure. The tones were mostly dark with the sun shining through the trees and highlighting Lusa's beautiful features. When I was done I said, "That is what you look like Lusa. A strong, sure woman, confidant in what you are doing." "I'm naked Shawn. What will people think when they see it?" Miss McIntyre came forward now and said, "That is beautiful. If I had not seen it painted before my eyes I would never have believed it. This belongs in a place where the public will be able to see it." She turned to me and said, "Little boy, can I show this to the captain? I am sure he will offer you money for it." I was a little put out with 'little boy' and the monetary aspects of a work I did for love. "The captain may indeed see this when it has dried. I don't want it bouncing around a ship and have the paint run. I also take exception to the 'little boy' nomenclature. Shall I call you 'old woman' because of the disparity of our ages?" The woman of almost thirty was taken back at my voice and even more so by a child that should do what an adult tells him to do. She did have the common sense to know that the painting could not be moved till it dried. "I am sorry young man. Will it be all right if it is stored in the supply room until it dries?" "That is fine as long as you take responsibility for the painting staying there till I decide what will happen to it." As we left the studio Lusa said, "That was a beautiful picture. I wish I really looked like that." I stopped and looked up to the girl I loved and said, "You do look like that. If I took a photograph of you walking into that same pool you would look the exact same." Lusa hung her head and blushed a little as she reached for my hand and held tight. The next day an officer dressed in white came to our cabin. He stepped in and took his hat and placed it under his arm and presented an ornate card to dad. He then requested verbally that dad and his family dine with the captain that night. Although we were fairly well off, the captain usually supped with the upper crust. Under more normal conditions, we would be far down the list of eligible dinner dates. Dad said, "That is fine. We require five places. And all at the same table." "The officer was actually the first mate. He looked around the room and said, "That's fine. As a matter of fact he also wanted to meet a very beautiful and talented young lady before this." When the officer left dad broke the seal and read the invitation presumably written in the captain's own hand. "I thought he wanted to see Lusa about her musical talents. However, it seems to be more. I wonder what it is." Then he turned to me, "What did you do Shawn?" "I painted a picture of Lusa. The art teacher thought it was good and she wanted to show the captain." "Oh," was the only thing he said. Mom on the other hand was shocked. Did she have anything to wear? Did Japera and Lusa have anything to wear? Their clothes were good but not up to the standard usually expected for the captain's table. Japera was drawn into the hysteria and started pulling out dresses and trying to see what was best in this situation. Dad and I slowly left the room leaving lots of cash on the bed to allow mom to go to the store on the ship and perhaps find some accessories that she would like. Dad and I wandered the ship and even wandered into the steerage section to see if the passengers travelling there needed any assistance. This reminded me of a term I heard once and laughed at, 'busman's holiday'. The air down here was not as fresh as it was above but was significantly better than it used to be. Great Britain had used the ship for a troop transport and it had just recently been refitted back to its former duties. Children ran all over the place while the parents and grandparents looked after them, read books, or more commonly talked. I was looking for all the hidden things and found tumours, cancer of many kinds, malaria and one case of abuse. "Dad, there is a man here that is unstable and beats his wife and son when he can't take the confining walls any longer." "Yes, we have seen a lot of that over the years but little that we can do. It is not our place to try to correct all of society's faults only the simple ones that a doctor can handle. If there were a way to help the man and his family I would try it but finding the right method and making it stick is hard." There was nothing we could do without stepping on the ship's physician's toes so we headed topside. We ran into a man who's job it was to keep the riffraff below decks and who wondered about our status then our reasons for going below in the first place. Dad took me to shoot some trap and showed me the correct way of handling a gun. I had learned this a lot sooner and it had come directly from dad's own mind. I nodded my head at the points he was making and even asked a question to make him feel like he had passed something to me this way. Dad fired off a half dozen shots and hit all his targets. When we made it back to our cabin mom had a dress in her hands and was using needle and thread to alter it to look its best. Japera was doing the same and Lusa had little to do and just ran errands for the senior ladies. Mom said, after our hello, "I wish we had been able to bring our necklaces. They would have made quite an addition to our dresses." Dad replied, "Not those. They were much too ostentatious for a simple meal with the captain." "You are right but the diamonds were so nice." "Dad," I asked, "You have some Krugerrand in your luggage. Could I have them?" Dad was about to question me then smiled. He bent over a large valise and handed me twelve of the one ounce gold coins. Digging a little deeper he took out a small locked box and opened it. Inside was a piece of velvet tied with some string. When it was laid open it had all our diamonds including the two I found when young. I sorted through the mass of diamonds and placed some in three separate piles. Everybody was looking at the diamonds. It was the first time they had been shown to the women and they were mesmerized. I looked at mom and tried to see a simple but elegant design and then did the same for Japera. Doing Lusa was different and I needed to be very subtle here or it would look bad for dad to give a child under his care a very expensive necklace. Once that was decided, I stretched the gold coin and started making the links and clasps for the stones. The metal was much softer to work with compared to the 18 carat I had before and the clasps would not be strong enough. "Dad I need a dime?" "A dime, you just got 12 troy ounces of pure gold. What do you need a dime for?" "Silver is much stronger than unalloyed gold. It will hold the diamonds and the gold will have to hold the silver clasps." He fished out a few coins and handed them to me. I worked with them trying to get a good design that would be good looking and functional. Instead of hiding the silver I accentuated it with long strands that hung to form clasps with a stone suspended from the end. This looked like the candy which Japera made when she let the thick boiling syrup fall from a spoon back into the pot to test its consistency. This was one of the few times that I let anybody see me do this sort of intricate work. In about 10 minutes I was done with the gold and took the diamonds with my 'fingers' and put them into place for the silver clasps. It looked good enough to my eye but not what I could do if I had more time. Mom gasped and put the necklace on. Japera and Lusa looked on too and admired how it complemented mom's frame. Japera was next and she got one similar but of a different design. She was speechless when it was placed over her head. "Lusa, because of your age, we need a much simpler design with a smaller stone or dad will look like you are his girlfriend and not mine." She seemed to understand and I made hers with smaller diamonds but used more of them. When I was finished I handed dad back five and a bit of his Krugerrand and three of his dimes. Dad was fascinated by how the necklaces looked on the skin or clothes of his family. The girls themselves were admiring one another then looking in the mirror not quite believing what they were seeing. Dad said, "If you girls don't hurry up you will have to go with just your necklaces." While they were dressing I used one last coin to make earrings for them. I had many small diamond chips and tried to get them as matching in design as possible. After they were showered and dressed I presented them with their new gift. Dad placed the hooks in their ears and shushed them out the door before they could even look at them. We got many stares as we walked to the dining room and the captain's table. The captain, who was a tall grey haired man of sixty or so, got up and introduced himself and in turn everyone in the family was introduced by dad. The captain seated mom and Japera before indicating where dad was to seat after shaking his hand. Lusa and I were to sit on each side of him it seemed. Lusa was seated with the same courtesy that dad treated mom and I was glad to see Lusa accepted this as her due. Captain Jamison had noticed the diamonds on the older women as he sat them and then too on even a ten year old Lusa. Part of his mind was discounting them as fake but seeing dad again he gave him the benefit of the doubt. The wealth seemed to be fantastic especially when it was placed on a mixed raced woman too. He finally spoke and it was directed to dad, "I notice you have a very beautiful and talented family Dr. Boz. I was informed of your daughter's musical abilities and then later I saw with my own eyes the painting your son made." "I think I am blessed in my family, even if I am picked on by the women folk on occasion. Japera's mother worked for Agatha's father when he was in the diplomatic corps. After he passed away Agatha wanted to retain as much of the family as possible and sadly was only able to get Japera to stay and help her. She and her daughter Lusa are part of my family now just like my wife and son. I hope Lusa will follow a career in music as I hope Shawn will follow me into medicine." Captain Jamison started to introduce us to the people around the table. I found that one of the old ladies present, Mrs. Timble, was one of those who had objected to Lusa's presence in the pool. She was fuming inside but would not give up her position at the table if the devil came to sup. Jamison looked at Lusa and me then said to her, "I heard that you played very beautifully. Perhaps one day you will find the time to perform again so that I will be able to hear you with my own ears." "I would be very happy to play for you. Perhaps you can even get Shawn to sing." "Sing? The boy can sing as well as paint?" "Oh yes. I wasn't going to play. Shawn put me on the spot and I had to try. I think he maybe angry with me now because he too has never sang in public." I had not been following Lusa's thoughts and was surprised at her assertion. I had sung a bit but there were not too many times it was called for. Usually Christmas and birthdays were the limit of the times I would vocalise. The captain turned to me and said, "Would you care to sing when Lusa plays someday?" "I think I can do that sir but I have a condition." "What is that young man?" "For six straight hours I would like to captain this ship with full authority and only subject to the common sense of the officers and men. You or your representative is required to be with me. They are to assure that I am doing nothing that will endanger the ship, passengers, or crew." Mrs. Timble snorted across the table at the impertinence I had shown. "That is quite a request. You sound much like a lawyer I had the unfortunate occasion to run into once." Then he thought some more, "Sometimes we let a sub-captain take over for a short time. Is that what you are referring to?" "No sir. I want you to consider me your apprentice and watch my moves and only correct when it is a matter safety, economy, or morale of the crew and passengers." "That is quite a bit different. How many years of ship handling have you had?" He joked. I looked seriously at him and said, "As you can see I am young. Dad trusts me with a lot of things and so does mom. I am just asking for the chance to try; and at the first mistake you may take command back. But only if it is severe enough that an adult would suffer the same fate." The captain looked at dad and said, "Is he serious about this request?" "Just close your eyes and listen to him. If his speech is of a child then treat him as such. He always was very intelligent and I dare say could do as good as any seaman in the usual duties a captain would be likely be called upon to handle." The captain looked down at me and thought for a while then said, "I am inclined to grant your request just to see how good you are. If you can sing as well as my other seat mate can play, then it will be even better." The steward came over soon and took our orders and left quickly. Lusa and Japera spoke clearly and looked the man in the eye part of the time. I was very proud of the way they carried the request off. I had inadvertently been handled a German menu and I replied in the same language. The captain quickly looked my way and saw the script. This was fun especially when I knew the steward could understand the language. Mom gave me a few pointers for Lusa so that she could finish the meal without a faux pas. We were having two levels of conversation. One was audible but the silent one I carried from one to the other like a postman. After the meal we had a conversation going with the captain more or less acting like the Speaker of the House. Mrs Timble spoke of her passion for roses and how she had won first place in a competition recently. I mentioned on dad's behalf how he was funding the poor clinic in Salisbury and how he won a card game while drunker than the rest of the people around the table. Mrs Timble humped again and said, "That is a shameless thing for a doctor to do." Dad said in his own behalf, "You are right Mrs. Timble and I said the same thing to the other players. One was the Minister of Health and the other was the Minister of Justice. The latter even inferred that I got him too drunk to play and threatened to call an investigation to the matter." Mrs Timble humped again and the captain laughed loud enough for the rest of the room to turn around and see what had happened. Mom recounted some of her more humorous incidence at the university. Others chimed in and some mentioned their children and what funny things they had done. The captain eventually asked me about my painting ability. I looked for a while thinking of the best thing to say and could only say, "Mom is quite talented, she taught me English and the arts. I have been doing stuff like that since I was little." I heard chuckles around the room and the captain asked, "How old are you, young man?" "Sir, you would not ask any of the ladies in this room that question. Why would you ask me?" "Well... you are a boy." "That I am but I believe it indelicate to ask that sort of question, especially considering my stature." "I beg your pardon then," and he started to talk about other subjects. In his mind I saw him estimating my age at 18 by my replies and a minimum of 7 for my immature body. He was positive that I was somewhere in between and his guess was around 14." In the next few days we just played games and swam in the pool. I spent part of my time teaching a boy of my own age, but a little smaller, how to swim. After making faces under water to get him to not be afraid of submerging his head, he was ready to try swimming. I used one hand and my special fingers to keep him afloat long enough to get his confidence. Later with only my fingers he felt that he was doing it all by himself and from then on it was easy. There were few young children for some reason. One girl wanted to play with Lusa but her mother, a woman raised in South Africa, refused her daughter permission to do so. Rather than fight the woman's prejudices I took Lusa below deck to the steerage compartments with many more children. Before going I went into the store onboard and bought some small gifts for the no doubt poor children below. Some of the prospective immigrants to Britain were from India and these seemed more than friendly to associate with us. They all spoke English to varying degrees but also spoke Hindi when alone. I searched and found a teacher of English and tapped his memory of the Hindi language and absorbed enough to get by in a simple conversation. Their culture was very rich and varied. There had been no East Indians in Salisbury for me to understand much about them. Lusa met three girls about her age and they began to talk. One asked about me and she said, "He is family. I look out for him and he looks out for me." She was quite prophetic for down the aisle came three boys in their early teens. The new girls did not see them coming and the boys pushed them out of the way and onto the floor. Lusa followed but not before hitting her head on the bulkhead first. Seconds later I was standing over three bleeding boys with my fists at my sides waiting for them to retaliate. All had red faces, two having the start of black eyes. I had slapped them with my physical hands and gave small punches to their abdomen. Somehow I had managed to kept control and not kill them. All were unconscious now, but one was coming around. I looked into his mind and saw he had an Irish belligerence and liked to fight like his abusive father. This time he figured he could take me since he was twice as big. He leaped to his feet and took one swing at me. I grasped his elbow and threw him further the way he was going. He hit the floor and I just waited for him to come at me again. He tried one more time and I used my feet to kick him four times in the face and stomach before I hit the ground again on my feet. He did not get up this time. The noise of the fight brought many people to look out of their room and into the hall. From almost ten doors down a large man in a grey under shirt came pounding up to see what had happened. He looked around and saw his own son on the floor bleeding and said, "You god damned kid..." and took a backhand swing at my face. Before it landed I stooped, grabbed his scrotum and threw him head first against the bulkhead, where he sank to the floor unconscious besides his son. Lusa had recovered a bit and got up on unsteady feet and ran to me while looking at the fallen boys and the man. The three girls just stood with their eyes wide and their mouths open. I could see where their cabin was and directed them over one of the boys and past the people looking at the unconscious group on the floor. I found that the three boys had been terrorising the younger ones since they got on in Mahajanga in Madagascar with most of the immigrants. Their father had brought his family with him when he took up a job for a British company in Madagascar. After five years he was finally going home. I took the girls to their rooms and told the parents in Hindi what had happened because the girls were getting quite confused in the details and I didn't want too descriptive of a fight scene to get into common knowledge. Lusa and I went out a different way and then headed back. We found the cabin empty and Lusa was upset. I calmed her the best way I knew and then placed her on the bed and climbed over her kissing and sucking as I went. Her breasts were getting larger recently and I gave them more than a passing attention. Later I was at her centre and sucked her clitoris into my mouth and used my fingers in her two orifices. She bucked and bucked until she almost fell off the bed. I used my abilities and brought her back but never relinquished my hold. A few seconds later she collapsed, a very satisfied woman. An hour later dad came back with mom and Japera. I told them what had happened and described how the father and son wanted to fight till they were unable to fight any more. This seemed to me to be very odd for a person to act in that way. Lusa, still naked, talked of how I fought to save her and her three friends. Dad could only say that I was right to stick up for Lusa and then for myself. At supper that night an officer came over to our table and asked us to see the captain at our earliest convenience after our meal. Dad said, "I think the shit has hit the proverbial fan Shawn. Don't worry. We are all behind you and there is nothing they can really do to you." After our abbreviated meal we got up and I led the rest of the family to the captain's quarters. I had taken the time to find out all I could about the ship once I knew this was the one we were going to sail on. Dad knocked on the door and a gruff voice of Captain Jamison said, "Come in." The captain talked about the serious nature of the altercation. In his mind he was actually happy about it when he found out what the Irish family below was like. When his spiel was over he asked how I did it. "Sir, I was very angry at how they treated Lusa and her friends. I am quite sure any person would have tried to protect the girls. I believe I acted like an officer of the Queen's Navy." The captain straightened his back his face scowled a bit then he said, "Quite right." I went back to steerage later with my dad and brought some small things that the girls would like. We went to the first of the crowded cabins and gave some of the gifts to the family after apologising for disrupting their lives. The family was actually frightened for me and was quite happy at what happened to the bullies. Dad said that he was a doctor and if they needed anything looked at to just send word to him. The family was very appreciative and took us to the next cabin. I went to the last and got them to come too. We finished a little earlier this way and the families saw us off to our section of the ship. ------- Chapter 7 That night the seas started to get rough. We were two hundred miles off Liberia and the captain steered a course into the storm and, with the way the ship was constructed, the vessel did not pitch too much at all. More entertainment was offered to keep the passengers occupied. It was difficult for most people to sleep; some had it hard even keeping their food down. The next morning the storm was still blowing and perhaps even a bit rougher. Noon found very few people at the tables. Weather reports came in by radio and it was mentioned how the storm covered a very wide area and was mostly at sea and on our course. Mom was a little seasick but pride made her ignore it and even pretend for our benefit. Lusa was in bad shape and I just let her rest in her bed until the worst was over. As it happened, the worst was not over quickly and the next day it got worse. Some of the passenger ships had stabilisers to keep the ship from pitching in the seas. Ours was older and would probably never get a refit the way aeroplanes were seemingly taking over long trips. I awoke Lusa and took her to the bathroom and later tried to get her to eat something. She did this for me but spewed it back up so I put her back to sleep. Thinking about the children in the lowest levels I took a few bags of candy and all I could buy at the store and went below decks. On the way I found an old newspaper from Cape Town and put it in the zip bag with the rest of my props. The crew's quarters supplied a short piece of rope that had been discarded. The ship was pitching slowly and I saw vomitus on the deck and the air reeked of more sources. I took a look around and found one of the three original girls and her smaller brother. In Hindi, I told them to go to the common room for a magic act. They did not really want to go but decided to anyway because there was little else to do. I placed my zip bag on the ground and told the girl that I had a magical cobra in my bag pretending to be a rope. I put my hand in and drew it out quickly startling my audience of two. Another quick movement and I snatched a recorder from the bag. This would have to take the place of a Pungi that the typical snake charmer would use. I played a few tunes and the small audience began to enjoy the music. Finally I resorted to the music of the snake charmer and, being as theatrical as possible, I coaxed a three quarter manila rope to push out the insides of the bag. The two were now worried that I might have such a snake with me. Soon others came by drawn by the music or the small congregation already there. I stopped and said with a worried voice, "You all better back up. This snake is very partial to small boys. He ate two before I came on the ship." The boy of two and a half backed up taking his sister with him. I continued with my music and the bag started to move with the same rhythm. Soon the end of the rope poked out of the bag and bent a few inches from the top to simulate a snake's head. It moved back and forth following my movements and bobbed to the music. The rope was raised slowly and soon it was almost two feet out of the bag and staring at the motions I was making. At the end of the song it abruptly hurled itself out of the bag and slithered across the floor to me. I heard screaming as the people in the front jumped back to get away from the fearful reptile. Nobody wanted a snake in their midst. I caught the snake in my fist close to where a real head would be and its tail realistically wrapped around my arm. "You are a naughty snake. You came out to dance then want to eat me," I said as I put the rope back into the bag. The screams had brought even more people and it was getting difficult for people in the back to see. Taking a few steps I reached behind the ear of some of the smaller children and plucked small candies. This was easy to do as I could move very fast and in this case I could even move the candies to where I wanted them. I took out the old newspaper next and using my fingers I ripped it into thin strips but did not separate them from the main sheet. When everybody could see the pieces I moved my hands very quickly and hid the ripped piece and substituted the whole piece with a flourish. It was handed to the people in the front row to see if they could find any damage. "I need a volunteer from the audience to help me with the next piece of magic," I said with a serious voice. Nobody came forth and I reached out my hand to the first girl but she was much too shy to help. Her small brother eagerly came forward at my urging. "I will put you in a trance for this experiment." The boy had no idea what I was talking about but moved as I pushed him. Soon he was lying on the floor with his full length viewable to the audience. "Pretend to fall asleep," I whispered, "and keep your eyes closed." Then for the audience's benefit I said, "Abra cadabra and presto," while gesturing with my hands. I looked down to the smiling boy and said, "Look what I found here!" I started to pull a long piece of cloth from his ear with one hand at his ear to supposedly help bring it out. The boy's eyes opened and the audience saw it as I knew they would. After almost four yards were pulled out I stood up and walked to the zippered bag and threw the rags in and the rope tried to get out. After capturing it again and pushing it into the bag I palmed some candies. The boy closed his eyes as I came back and I searched his body and found candy all over and threw them to the audience. The boy appeared to be a hoarder and had at least ten pieces in his navel. When the candies were gone I waved my hand again and then raised the boy off the floor almost a foot. The audience was spell bound now and some even gasped. I went to the bag and got out the rags and pulled the boy's sister to him. "Take the end and we will run the cloth under your brother." She was amazed at what she saw but did as I asked and we brought the stretched rags under the boy then all over him to prove that there was no support. There was none but the audience would always think that there was and know this for a trick. If I slipped again they would think it a trick and me being an amateur magician just practising. After I finished with the boy I lowered him down and offered him some candy as a reward. I bowed to the boy as if he did it all and started to clap. The audience was slow to catch on but clapped too. The boy turned red and ran to his sister. "Thank you for your attention and good afternoon." I packed up my things and saw that the people were less motion sick now and my task had been accomplished. As I went out some of the adults pressed small coins into my hands in thanks for a good performance. It felt like a lot when I considered how much they had to spare. I dare not refuse them either or they would think that I didn't value their generosity. The children in the back that had not received any candy thus far were delighted when I plucked some from their ears. When I left there was a lot less moaning and groaning than when I entered. The smell though was just as bad and this I would take care of now. I raced up the stairs and walked to the closest area I could to get to the captain. A large sign said that no passengers were allowed beyond so I waited for a crewmember to pass by. Luckily one was going into the crew's quarters and agreed to relay a message for me. He was a little incredulous about a little boy requesting this though. I waited patiently for almost ten minutes because I could read that the Captain was busy. When he came out he looked at me seriously and said, "Hello Master Boz. What can I do for you?" "Good afternoon sir. It is not quite for me but I would like the stewards to go below deck and clean up all the vomit on the deck. If this is not possible then you might give access to the cleaning supplies so that the passengers can do this themselves. I would recommend a slight monetary or gastronomic reward for their help." He replied, "I have been thinking a lot about you recently Master Boz and I still can't place you. Listening I would think you a very educated adult and I can't see how that corresponds to your obvious youth. To answer your question, how many hours would it take for the clean up? The men are busy now cleaning up the areas on the upper deck from the passengers with weaker stomachs." "Four man hours and another hour each day the storm continues, sir." "Would you organize the clean up if I allowed the passengers to do it?" "I can do that. I would suggest one pound be paid for the job for the duration of the storm. Food would be preferable but then there would be acrimony among the lower decks." "That sounds satisfactory. Now what about some music for the passengers?" "I was entertaining the sick children below decks and I anticipated the adults above deck too but I am afraid Lusa is sick and will not be able to play." "We have a good pianist and I am sure you and he can come up with an adequate repertory for tonight. I would like to see my guests eat and enjoy themselves." Pausing for a few seconds he continued, "It takes a while for food to leave the stomach. Are you up to singing for that length of time?" "I am and I would like all four musicians. Somewhere during the night I hope to get Lusa to start playing again and forget her own troubles for a while." With the Captain's word on the matter I approached the musicians within the crew area and talked with them. I managed to get a better evaluation of their abilities. I went through all their sheet music and then asked about some Scottish and Irish ballads that many of the passengers would like. I also knew that many of the English would enjoy them at the same time. One of the Captain's favourites was a take off of one of Robby Burns' poems. Here I had to learn the pronunciation of the dialect to make it sound authentic. With word of mouth advertising the dining room was filled somewhat more than usual. The Captain seemed to be risking his word on me without ever hearing me sing. Dad came early and sat at a table that was close to the musicians. The Captain was not yet present and we started with some Afrikaans songs that sprang from their Protestant background. There were few people present from South Africa but the ones that were tapped their feet or hand against their tables. Sticking to ballads, we played English, Irish and when the Captain came in, some Scottish pieces. The latter seemed a little out of place without the pipes but I think we made do. Most of the people were being served now, so I reverted to some English sea shanties with the use of alternate words for some of the racier sections or just left them blank and let the audience fill the words in with their minds. Here I danced to the music with my leather shoes slapping the floor and the audience beating time on the tables. I smiled at what I had done for the people and what they had done in return. This did not take away from me wanting to be a doctor but just that it was nice to entertain people as well. With Lusa finished her first major meal in two days I spoke into the large microphone and got her to take the pianist's place in accompanying me. "Lusa, play our Bantu song. This time play it softly." Lusa was frightened again and I helped place all the information before her so she would not feel threatened. I explained the song in English then Lusa started out very softly. I started singing in the soft Bantu language talking of life before the white man came and how a young man lost his life trying to kill a lion so that he could prove his manhood and marry his true love. The audience did not know that the Bantu had such a rich past and had not heard many songs in any case. This one I happened to make while thinking of Lusa a few months after I was born. To avoid showing preferences I sang a few German and Dutch songs. With the original pianist back at the keyboard, I sang in Spanish and we ended the night with a stirring piece in French. There was a lot of clapping and it seemed more people came from their rooms to hear us as the night wore on. Dad was clapping harder than the rest and mom, Japera and Lusa were very bright eyed as they clapped too. When it was time to leave the Captain came up to me and said, "That was much more than I ever expected from you or any musician. The passengers are leaving happy and even the storm seems to have abated. So Shawn, when would you like to get your compensation for your labours?" "The next watch starts in a half hour and I would like to begin then." "Young man you need your sleep. Let's have it in the morning?" "Sir the night is beautiful and perhaps a little less stressful as well. I believe the second mate would not object too much if you tell him the right way." The Captain knew the second mate was competent but did not work very well with passengers or especially children but payment had been requested, so now it had to be delivered. "As you wish. I will inform the second but I think he will be a bit truculent about it." "As temporary captain it would be my job to set him right in any case. I would look on it as a joke to see how well it worked in the morning." I was soon introduced to the second mate. He was a short wide man with enormous strength that had gone to pot recently. His drinking was the major reason but the realisation that life was now finite seemed to cause the former. "Mr. MacAndrews this is Shawn Boz. He looks young but is very knowledgeable. I would take it as a favour if you would follow his orders as if he were I. The only time I would like you to override him is if he does something dangerous to the ship or passengers. His orders are to keep a course for Southampton with as little trouble as possible." The helmsman and the radio operator listened to the odd orders and smiled at the probable outcome. "But sir," he said in a thick brogue, "he is only a wee lad." "That is true by his looks but his mind is as sharp as yours. Follow my orders in this Mr. MacAndrews." "Aye sir." When the captain left MacAndrews said, "You won't be giving any orders on my watch, boy." "I will be giving orders or I will have you thrown in the brig for mutiny. Don't think that I have not read and understood the articles under which this ship sails. Do I make my self clear Mr. MacAndrews?" "And who would you get to enforce that law boy?" "I will personally." This time he laughed. He saw a boy of about 4 or 5 perhaps even 6 threatening him with force. "I would like to see that 'captain boy'." I flew across the deck and drove my feet into his stomach and he doubled over from the unexpected pain. I landed on my feet and kicked him in the jaw and this knocked him out and he fell onto the deck. I walked over and dragged the heavy man to the wall and put him into the recovery position so there would be no problem till he awoke. I casually walked over to the chart as the two men looked at me with their mouths open. Finding a steward on duty I made a call and asked him to come to the bridge. The radioman was going to check on the mate when I said, "As you were Mr. Frisco. The mate is fine and will wake up when the watch is over." The man was used to taking orders and I used both the way dad and the Captain did in issuing them. Mr. Frisco returned to his duties but kept his eyes on me. I read the log and got a feeling for the style it was written in. I amended it to state that I had taken command. The steward came on the deck and looked at Mr. MacAndrews in the corner then to the helmsman for clarification. "The second mate disbelieved that I could enforce a command. A captain, even a temporary one has to be firm, fair and sure. I am trying to do that. Do you believe that I have the authority after the captain gave it to me?" The man was in a quandary and could only say, "Ahh... I think you can give orders and if they are fair I will play the game." "Thank you. The job I have for you is simple. I want you to go into steerage and then to cabin p36-b. Offer Mr. Sabal a temporary job of cleaning the vomit off the bulkhead and decks in the halls and public areas. You will need to give him access to the storage rooms and allow the passengers to clean up their own mess within their rooms." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few folded notes and handed him a fiver. "Give him this for his time and say that the captain thinks he is honest enough to be paid first." "But... ok. I can do that. Anything else?" "That is all. Since the storm is subsiding I think we should be in clear water in two hours and there will be less work for you." Every hour I wrote in the log our heading and speed. The engine room called to report everything functioning properly and I thanked the man. He was very startled by the voice but kept to his job. The radioman gave me his finding verbally. Another steward came to give us coffee and stopped dead in his tracks at seeing MacAndrews unconscious. I explained the problem and also said that the first steward neglected to tell him to get a reaction. He smiled at me and said, "Would the temporary captain like a cocoa?" "I think he would." The watch came in later after hearing from the steward and gave the standard report. After a while all sorts of crew came to ask one thing or another to see the taciturn MacAndrews still sleeping on the hard deck. Five hours into the watch I had this strange feeling of helplessness. I looked about and tried to find its source. After checking all the ship I knew it was ahead of us somewhere. There was no use using my eyes in the dark sky and the ship did not have the new radar the military had. I used my own eye and sent it far forward. The disturbance was still out there but not quite able to be pinpoint yet. "Helmsman come to a course of zero zero one." "But... , " he did a bit of thinking and saw that it was not dangerous and only headed a little closer to the shore than our nominal 250 mile distance. "Aye aye sir. Come to a course of zero zero one." My eye could not go too high without losing detail so I kept it at three miles and made a zigzag course looking for the source of the disturbing feeling. Ten minutes later I came on it. A ship had gone down and in the wreckage of the vessel hung eight people. One was a young female hurt from a cut on the forehead and was supported by an older man. Four males still lived and one young boy was holding on to a cushion but was weakening rapidly. Another wounded man lay on a plank. "Helmsman come four degrees to starboard and call for flank speed. There are some people in distress." The helmsman didn't argue but slowly changed course and the engine room started to comply. Within five minutes the captain was putting his jacket on and coming on the bridge. "What in god's name is going on here." Then he saw MacAndrews on the floor and then wondered even more. I finished making out the log and walked over and stood under the Captain's frowning features. A ship has sunk 23 nautical miles ahead. At present speed we should be there in 51 minutes. I believe there are survivors." "How the hell... How do you know this?" "It is a feeling. I got one once before and was able to save a woman with difficulties giving birth. If we hadn't got there; mother and child would have died. If I am wrong I will have spent 350 extra pounds worth of fuel and not made our trip any longer. If I am right I will have spent 350 extra pounds and this ship would be noted for saving some people' lives. I will pay for the fuel if I am wrong. If I am right the owners will pay and also get the credit." The amount of money was high but the sale of the diamonds would cover it. Most people were lucky to make even one pound a day. The captain saw the logic of the argument and started to give orders. "Sir I am still in command. Do you relieve me, sir?" "Get out of my chair we are not in the Queen's Navy now." He looked at the log and saw that there was no damage to it and then looked at MacAndrews. "What happened to him?" "I believe he stumbled before you came onto the bridge sir." "Get him to sickbay and alert Doctor Quigley that we may have some work for him." "Aye aye sir." I awoke the doctor, "Yes, what is it?" he said groggily. "We are coming on some survivors of a shipwreck in about forty minutes. They will be suffering from hypothermia, shock, exhaustion and I believe some to have trauma to the face and neck." "Who the hell is this?" "Shawn Boz. I was on watch and I am conveying the Captain's orders." "Fine, I'll get dressed and see what I can do to help. Are you going to get your dad?" "I was hoping you would say that sir." "He might not be." "The second mate is coming down with a contusion to the mandible at the condyle. I believe he has some problems with the ninth and tenth thoracic nerves." Dr. Quigley said nothing but I was sure he was doing his best to see the problem from my too specific answer. The captain roused all the crew and got the boats ready to lower. Doctor Quigley came on deck with dad and asked if this were a game. I had talked to dad and I verbally reminded him about the time that I recently helped him with the pregnant woman. Dad was vague but said how I once before averted a tragedy and caused him to stop and check on a woman 'close' to the road. At ten minutes to five the captain ordered the lights turned on and the horn sounded. The loud and sorrowful hoot could be heard for miles and after five times the entire ship knew something was happening. I suggested cutting speed and the captain relayed the message. At twenty minutes after five, I spotted the wreckage with my real eyes and pointed it out. The officer of the watch used his glasses and found it in the dim light. The captain ordered a full stop and the boats were sent out. One man hanging onto a plank for over a day could not hold out any longer and released his grip and slipped beneath the waters. I reached out and picked him up and held him afloat. Minutes later the boats were in the flotsam and pulling the survivors onboard. The majority of the lifeboats returned while the rest searched for more survivors. There were none to be found. All around our ship passengers used their cameras to take in the sight of the bedraggled and almost dead survivors pulled into the lifeboats. The seas were gentle but not for a small craft and it took a while to secure them and bring the survivors onboard. Crewmembers carried the survivors wrapped in blankets and both dad and Dr. Quigley sent them where they wanted them. Passengers again pushed the crew aside and the flash of their cameras bothered the rescuers much more than the rescued. Japera went back to her old duties and helped three other nurses with carrying out the doctors' orders. The 'Hidalgo II' was of Spanish registry and had set out from the Canary Islands. The owner, his wife and young son had gone for a trip to Dakar, Senegal. The crew of ten and a young maid had accompanied them. The storm came up and a massive bolt of lightning had struck the mast and destroyed the radio. An unnoticed fire had started in the hold and an explosion soon after ripped apart the ship and destroyed the lifeboats. The owner, his wife and four members of the crew had succumbed to the explosion, fire and exposure. The heavy cargo had pulled down the wooden hull along with all of the lifesaving equipment. The young boy only survived because one of the survivors that did not make it to the pickup had put the boy on a larger piece of wreckage and kept him out of the warm water more. The maid was only 14 and had been saved by one of the crewmembers by wrapping her in a blanket and lashing the blanket to a short section of spar. The blanket kept the water next to her body warmer than the surrounding sea. When the last survivor was carried onboard dad and Dr. Quigley relegated him to sickbay the same as the rest. I walked up to the man and saw his pale skin, felt his weak pulse with my hand and then looked into the man's mind and knew he had a cerebral embolism. Looking at both men I said, "This man has had a stroke." "How can you... ?" said Quigley. Dad cut in, "If Shawn says he has a stroke he has had a stroke. Let's get him on medication as soon as possible." Dad and Quigley pushed their way through the crowd of onlookers and allowed a path for the crewmembers and the stroke victim. I followed right after. When we got to the medical section one nurse was going to bar my way when Japera came over and said, "He stays with the doctors," and took my hand and pulled me into the operating room. Quigley looked up and was about to have me sent out but reconsidered and continued with his talk with dad over the best way to proceed. Japera and the other nurses were stripping the survivors and placing their valuables beside their beds. We came out of the room they were in and the nurses wanted me away from the naked people. Quigley said, "Let him stay. He has seen more than enough for his age and there is nothing here that's new." I looked at the girl's forehead and asked, "Who is going to suture her? If we leave it too long it will take a cosmetic surgeon to repair the damage." Placing a hand on a person's wrist I said, "And this one may need a heart stimulant. The rhythm is too irregular and shallow. Can we get some heat lamps in here to bring their core temperature back up?" The doctors looked at one another and started to do what was needed. I went into the small side room and found the small boy with one of the nurses. I reached out to his cold hand and found his respiration shallow and pulse weak from the effects of shock. His small body could not take too much of this abuse so I searched through Quigley's thoughts and found the location for the heat lamps and got one for the boy. I plugged it in and directed the infra-red onto the boy. The nurse was going to object but thought about it and decided she would have done the same. Taking a small hand towel I folded it and placed it over the boy's eyes. He was on a normal hospital bed and I had to reach far over to place it correctly. Next I started removing one piece of sheet at a time to find any damage. The nurse now reacted, "What are you doing? The little boy is in shock. Leave him alone." "Nurse, he is in shock as you have diagnosed but do you know everything that is wrong with him?" "There is nothing more wrong." I pulled the boy's arm out and showed her all the small puncture marks. "Is he a heroin addict or perhaps a diabetic? Take a blood sample now and I will see if there is a way to save his life." "I will..." "Dr. Quigley, will you come here please?" I asked. The doctor came in and the nurse tried to get her say in first. I just showed him the arm, then, "I think the boy is into diabetic shock. We need some blood work done to calculate the amount. I would suggest a sugar solution administered intravenously to start. It would not hurt in any case." "I think you are right." Turning to the nurse he said, "We are busy out there. Draw fives cc's of blood." He turned back to me; "Do you know how to run the equipment?" "Since I was little sir." "Nurse, give the sample to this young gentleman after you draw it." The nurse did not really understand but would do as the doctor ordered. The boy's mind was confused and due to his age not organised enough to find all the details I needed to know. The state of his mind was one to the reasons I considered diabetes in the first place. When the nurse finished with the blood she gave it to me in a way that made her feeling like she was giving a sharp knife to a child. "Will you get the intravenous now and administer it?" She was upset at things not being the usual stable way and absently said, "Yes doctor." The test took eleven minutes and during that time I checked the rest of the patients and suggested to dad that they too received some sugar in their blood. With the absence of sugar I knew the boy was in trouble. Too much or too little sugar or the same with insulin could put a person into a coma. I heard voices and knew that the Captain had come in to see what he could do to help. The doctors told him what they were facing and said basically that even a hospital could give no better care. A list was made of all the ailments and the doctor let it be known that nobody else on the ship was allowed to get sick or otherwise need his services. One survivor had a broken leg and another a concussion that might need surgery. "I can use some more heat lamps if we have any. All of the survivors are also suffering from shock." I finished the test and wrote out my findings. It was possible that most people could read my script even if most were in medical phraseology. This I believe was against the un-written code of all doctors. Quigley read the results and passed them to dad and said, "I guess your son was right again." The Captain asked, "What was that about?" "Shawn found many marks from being injected on the boy's arms. This could mean diabetes but could also mean other problems. We are looking into the matter closely. "That's good. I don't want to see anybody die after getting rescued. I have sent off a report to head office and to the Spanish authorities. All I need is a name of the ship and we have not been able to find any wreckage with that information. I would like permission to have the purser search through the survivors papers to find this information?" "That's fine as long as he does it here so that none of the identities are misplaced. I would not know who to send my bill to." The captain left and I went to the girl. Her head wound had only been bandaged because of the time. More serious matters had to be handled first. With the nurses out of the room temporarily I asked Quigley, "Do you want me to suture the girl?" Dad looked at Quigley and said, "Shawn is very good at that sort of work. I am neat but Shawn is an artist with oils and needles. If you want I would suggest that you give him a try while we work on the rest. We have quite a few hours ahead of us yet." Quigley looked at me, weighting the words and what he had seen and heard. "Do it Shawn but if you botch this simple procedure I will be the one to take the blame." "I know that sir. I have had quite a bit of experience and this is nothing new." Japera came into the room with the girl to assist me. I looked into the wound and found some wood fragments and a small bone splinter. None were visible from the surface. I said to Japera, "Let's push her out the side door and into the operating theatre. We need to be a little more careful. She needs to be prepped and we need to get cleaned up too. I will get the equipment I need." Japera and I pushed the bed into the next room and I used my ability to shift the girl onto the operating table. She was strapped down and Japera went to get cleaned and a fresh gown to put on. When she came back I went for the equipment then cleaned and dressed away from the nurses. The procedure was simple and the small fragments were put into a sputum cup and then I stopped the blood flow to the skin of her forehead. With tiny precise stitches the wound closed and I resumed the flow. It had only taken two minutes, much faster that even dad could do. I picked up the girl and placed her back on her bed but this time with some towels on the bed to soak up the eventual flow of urine. After wheeling her back into the room I elevated her and combed back her hair to make her comfortable when she eventually awoke. I cleaned up the theatre and removed the scrubs before going to see the boy. He was responding better and his colour was coming back. The nurse watched me feel his pulse and write on the report my findings. I could see the small body on the bed through the coverings and knew that he had a sprained left ankle and some contusions on his right side from hip to foot. I picked up the sheet in this area and recorded the data on the report. Dad was in the other operating room and Quigley was resting for a moment as he sipped on a tea. "So Dr. Boz. How did your procedure go?" I found a small bone fragment and three small pieces of wood. Other than that it was very simple. Would you like to come with me in a moment after you finish your tea? It is always good to have somebody do another check." "I will take a look later. I still have another patient to look at and I am not as young as I used to be." He looked at me considering his next words, "How am I going to explain all of this?" "If you mean the diagnosis and treatment of your patients, I would think that you would put down that you did a hell of a job and all your patients survived. Dad made the job go smoother and I just happen to notice something in all the confusion. Any more than that and all of us get into trouble." "I can see that. What about the Captain's words that you saw the wreckage an hour away?" "Previously to this incident, I once felt something while driving with dad. A woman was having birthing problems. The mother and child were in serious trouble and we managed to give them some assistance. I just knew that there was something important for me to do. It was as if a hand came down to me and pointed me in the right direction. This time it was the people in your little clinic here. It would be better for me if you were careful how you phrased your report. I don't want a lot of men in white coats chasing after me wanting to perform just one more test." "I can see that. I will have a talk with the Captain and the nurses to see if I can get our stories straight." "Thank you Dr. Quigley. Do you want any assistance with your next patient?" He slapped me easily and said, "No thanks. I am getting old but not over the hill yet." When dad was done, Quigley started his last patient. Dad cleaned up and threw his scrubs into the laundry. "Did you learn anything here today?" "Nothing that was medically related but I did learn that it was nice to not have to hide all of my abilities. However it's going to be a little difficult to try to contain this fact to as few as possible. The doctor and the Captain might keep quiet and the nurses might follow the doctor. I imagine he can put pressure on them if they want to work for the same company. The radioman and helmsman have probably talked to the rest of the crew and I doubt if the second mate would remain quiet." "Why is that?" "We had a disagreement and he refused to follow the Captain's orders. He then demanded that I make him follow any orders. I resorted to violence and he slept in the wheelhouse until you woke up. I am getting a little worried. I have had two fights in the last few days and none previously in my life. Something is going wrong if I cannot handle the situation without striking people." Dad put his arm around me and said, "It is much better to not have to use violence but sometimes you can't avoid it either. I had lots of fights growing up but they were other boys and they usually had the same capabilities as me. I can't very well tell you to not fight with adults when they think that they can use violence on you." Later Quigley came out after his last operation and washed up then wanted something to eat. This time mom and Lusa came to the sick bay and pushed a cart loaded with food before them. We all sat together and three of the nurses left. The last one ate with us. Mom and Lusa told of all the excitement the rescue had brought to the trip. They then wanted to know about all the patients and basically everything we had found out. I knew much of the story but could not say any of it. I feared that I would be separated from the rest of the people on board. Dad got up and did the rounds and I wisely stayed put. Soon the Captain came back and he was given an update. The lamps had arrived much earlier and were put to use. We talked for a few moments and Quigley checked on his patients. The nurse went too because the patients kidneys and bladders were now functioning. When Quigley came back he said, "I can handle things now and this is what I am paid for. Why don't you leave with my thanks and try to enjoy the rest of your trip?" In the hallway the Captain said to all of us but meant me in particular. "I believe the radioman received a distress signal and MacAndrews responded in an exemplary manner and brought us to the scene of the disaster. Do any of you have anything to add?" Everybody shook their head but I said, "I think MacAndrews needs to be given some type of citation. It is not often that someone on watch would do something like that while watching a young man trying to fill a Captain's shoes." The Captain just looked at me and said nothing and in this case nothing was really needed. It was understood that MacAndrews would have to say his citation was a lie if he ever talked about me. The next day dad and I visited the new patients and talked for a while with each. The boy in particular was weak and only understood Spanish. Mom and dad could piece the words together after a fashion because they knew a smidgen of other similar languages. The boy did not know that he had lost his parents and I knew that the girl was suffering a lot from being uprooted so quickly. I convinced the doctor to put them both in the same room and to accept visitors of about the same age. The passengers in steerage had some among their number that could understand Spanish and these were organised so there would be company. The Virgin Island authorities were notified and would start doing some of the paperwork for our unexpected arrival in two days. When the girl, Esperanza Moreno, was ready I got her up and with Lusa we wandered the ship together. She was amazed at all the splendour but disliked all the photos being taken of her. We decided to go to steerage and see her other new friends to get away from all the notoriety. I had read the girl's mind in depth and knew she was a little different than the rest of the girls I met. She had a natural affinity to others of her own gender and this was the cause of her employment. The owner's wife liked girls and engaged in sexual activities whenever they could. The little boy, Emilio Hernandez, had caught them once and it was decided to let him stay so that the act would not seem odd. This had the effect of ensuring the boy's compliance and a kinky turn in the mother. The liaison had been going on for a little over a year and the child thought nothing odd about it at all now. I left the girls to find dad calling me. It had been decided that the boy needed a bit of exercise and to get out of the room by himself. Dad figured that I would be the best because of our ages being so close. I did not mind but dad was associating me with the mentality of a two-year-old. I walked into the room and the boy brightened up. He had even asked me when he first saw me if I was an angel. He had just been injected with his insulin and was ready for the world. He stretched out his two arms as if in supplication so that I would take him down from the high bed. I had to smile and I reached up just as the nurse came into the room. The boy jumped and the nurse gave a small scream as the boy fell into my arms. He was less than half my size and with my strength he was easy to manage. I gave him a kiss on the forehead like his father used to do and settled him onto the floor. The nurse came close but stopped short saying anything. I stooped down and removed his pyjamas and removed my own clothing. There was a shower nearby for the doctor and I took the boy with me after snatching some towels, cloth, soap and shampoo. I could tell that the nurse wanted to stop me. She thought of all the things she had heard and seen about me and then reconsidered. Emilio kept his eyes closed and I did his hair twice. There was a multitude of dead sea creatures in his hair and I made horns with his hair and played as I worked. The child laughed for the first time and it made me feel good that I had caused it. When both of us were clean, I dried us then carried the boy back to his bed to change him. Sensing an imminent problem I quickly got him to the toilet in time. I dressed the boy in clean pyjamas and slippers before dressing myself. The nurse stared from the other room and seemed to resent me taking care of the boy when a woman and mother figure could and should do that job. I used my comb on his short curly hair then on my own before I was finished. I said to Emilio, "Hold on' you are going to fly then go for a ride." The boy smiled again and waited his fate. I picked him up then threw him higher before getting up and beneath him. He fell a few inches to my shoulders. I heard the start of a scream from the nurse and felt a little contrite for causing her this aggravation. I walked down the hall and used the elevator to the main deck then went to the store. I put Emilio down and searched for everything he would need; underwear, shirts, pants, socks and shoes. Before I was partway done a salesclerk came over and wanted to shoo us out. "You boys can't play in here." "Thank you for that observation ma'am. I am purchasing some clothing for this lad. We are not 'playing' though I will try to get Emilio to enjoy himself. I have cash and can call on more if needed." Then sensing her change of heart I said, "We require a blazer and a tie. Do you have anything in his size?" The woman was flustered but not too much. I took Emilio into the changing room and put on his underwear and tried on a few pair of pants. The pants did not have a hem but I decided to keep them anyway. If I could put sutures in people then I could put the same in cloth. I just got his shirt on when the woman came over and I tried the blazer on him. All of them were too large and would require a lot of work to take them in. The shoes were next and I picked the boy up and carried him to the chair where I asked for and got a few pair to try on him. Emilio seemed to like all the attention and didn't fidget too much. With a small stuffed animal had been added to the pile I reached into my pocket and paid the bill. I was beginning to see how expensive a child really was. With a few safety pins and the promise to return later for our purchases we headed for the tailor. We sat in a small room while a man was served. Another man came in and he was served ahead of us. When this was going to happen a third time I stepped up and said, "Sir is it your policy to ostracise a portion of your clientele? We have been waiting for almost twenty minutes now and you have completely ignored us." The man was fairly busy but never saw children as clients, perhaps someone to clothe, but the parent would be the customer. "Aa... I didn't realise you were waiting for me. What would you gentleman like?" "Emilio needs a jacket and I came here to look at some material for one. I was thinking of a grey gabardine in your lightest weight." The man did not know what to say especially when he had an adult waiting to be served as well. The tailor brought out a book of samples and I quickly found the right one. Two pairs of short pants in a complementary pattern came next. I picked Emilio up and the tailor measured him for the fit. Before he was done I asked him to do the hem of the pants he had on. The tailor removed the pants and quickly cut the excess off and put on a nice cuff. When we left I had put down a good deposit and got a promise that the suit would be ready tomorrow by noon. Emilio held my hand as we walked down to our room. I gave a special knock then said in my mind, "It is me with another young man." I opened the door myself and we both walked in. Mother was in her housecoat from washing her hair. Japera was busy brushing the hair to get it dry. The humidity in the tropics did a lot of damage to any permanent wave. "Mother, meet the new version of Emilio Hernandez. He dresses up quite well. Would you ladies consider being taken out by two young men?" Mom and Japera smiled. Mom stooped down in front of Emilio and adjusted his shirt a bit and said in her best Spanish, "You look very handsome Emilio." The boy smiled and embarrassingly turned his head to me to hide the fact. "Mom, he's shy. You are busy now. How about we come back in a few hours and escort you two to a secluded rendezvous in the dining room if you can get rid of your husband." "I think you will have to feed him too, Shawn." With Emilio in hand we walked to find Esperanza and Lusa in steerage. Emilio was carried down the stairs but walked otherwise. The boy looked in wonder everywhere he went. As we walked he started to talk more. Mainly it was questions and when he would venture about the whereabouts of his parents, I would do something to take his mind off the track his mind was following. I could feel Lusa close and knew she was enjoying herself. At a locked door I simply moved the internal parts and quietly opened the door. The room had beds and both girls were on the bed naked and in a 69 position. I closed and secured the door and found little Emilio getting an erection. In his mind I found that he had done more than just watch his mother and Esperanza enjoy themselves. He had been a participant even if he was poorly equipped to satisfy a girl or woman. Emilio was happy now and started to take off his clothing. In his haste he didn't take off his shoes first and I had to help him. Esperanza did not even know we were here till she felt him start licking her anus as Lusa did her clit. She immediately stopped what she was doing and turned around, dislodging two mouths attached to her. She saw me and wanted to hide behind Lusa who was much smaller than her. "What... what are you doing here?" "I came to get the woman I will one day marry. She was having some fun and I decided to see if I could join in. I already knew about you, your employer's wife and her son. Lusa likes to have her clit bitten lightly as you suck, you can twist her nipples too until she creams in your mouth. I do it all the time." "You would marry this girl?" "That's the truth. When we are older she will bear my children. Why does that surprise you?" "She is black and older than you." "That matters little. She is older in body and I am older in mind. What it all comes down to is whether we love one another to last a lifetime. What matters now is whether you continue with Lusa and we all have some fun." Esperanza would not continue now so I said to Lusa, "Take Emilio and make him feel good. He is only a boy still so it is ok." Then to Emilio I said in Spanish, "Go to Lusa and she will give you a kiss." The boy walked over hesitantly and Lusa positioned him before her and she started to suck on him. Instinct won out and he got hard. He placed his little hands on Lusa's head and pumped back and forth striving instinctively to get that special feeling. "Esperanza kiss my woman. She is waiting for you." Esperanza hesitantly moved around and saw Emilio having fun and hesitantly used her fingers then her mouth to please Lusa. With her rump in the air I bent over and started to lick her myself. She stopped working on Lusa till she was sure what I was doing. As she went back to Lusa I used my tongue to enter one then the other of her holes. With her holes moist I put my finger inside her and slid up and found no hymen. Looking in her mind I found her last employer took it with a plastic dildo. I used two then three fingers in her and she started to moan. The wet fingers came out and one went into her anus. She moaned louder and I used my power to enter both her openings and slide back and forth. She held Lusa tightly while sucking frantically. The 'fingers' were enlarged as I monitored Esperanza for discomfort. She revelled in the feeling of being entered twice and stopped licking Lusa as she was overcome with the sensation. I went as large as she could comfortably take and moved more furiously. She made all sorts of sounds as I pumped into her and the final one was a scream as she convulsed on top of Lusa and sent Emilio to the side of the bed. Lusa said, "She had a good one. Can you do me now?" "Yes love. Hold Emilio on your chest. He can have some fun too." Emilio had been entered with his mother's finger and this had allowed him to get closer to that special but elusive feeling. The boy was pulled over Lusa and his knees were beside Lusa's hips. I stroked Lusa now and entered both of her orifices. She started moving and hugging Emilio to her. I used a small probe and entered him and went back and forth. He found this only slightly different and much to his liking, so I continued as he started to become more excited. Esperanza came back to us and I started on her again. Soon I had all three groaning and thrashing on the bed and had to use more fingers to keep them from falling onto the deck. Emilio was stroking himself on Lusa's stomach as his small anus and immature prostate were similarly affected. Esperanza was in a world of her own. Never had she felt this way. Her system could not take it anymore and she convulsed. Lusa and then Emilio did too soon after. For the little boy this was the first time. I took Esperanza's naked form into the shower and cleaned her off and then dressed her in what she wore. I did myself at the same time, then Emilio was next, followed by Lusa. By the time they woke up there would be no evidence of what we had just done other than the scent in the air. Ten minutes later there was a soft knock at the door. One of the girls that had met Lusa and Esperanza had found this room for them and now wanted to see how they were doing. When I opened it they were frightened because Esperanza had said she did not like males. "Come in Darpana. The girls are tired and just resting now." She looked down at me and then remembered how my small stature had defeated three boys and one large father. "No thank you. I will wait out here for them." "Stay here and I will get them. Soon we have to go and eat." I woke up Lusa and she immediately gave me a passionate kiss. "Time to get up sweetheart. We have a guest and we have to eat soon." Lusa looked at the door and smiled. She looked around and at her clothing. This was nothing new and she climbed over Emilio to go to the door. I bent over Esperanza and gave the girl a tender kiss as I stimulated her to awaken. She did slowly and put her hand around my neck to pull me closer. I pulled back to give her air and said, "We have a guest. She is too frightened to come in. We have to run an errand and then go to dinner." She looked at me and realised I was male. Since she had not been hurt or victimised she smiled back and gave me a kiss of her own. "Thank you," was all she said as she got up. I stepped back and she went to join Lusa at the door and then realised she was dressed. She turned and smiled at me in thanks. Little Emilio wanted to sleep longer but we had things to do. I said to him in his own language, "Get up sleepyhead or I will tickle your foot." The boy heard and chose to ignore it so I jumped on the bed landing on my stomach and attacked his foot. He got away and I pursued and attacked his foot again. The laughing got louder and the girls at the doorway turned to see what was happening. With the boy held in my arms and my legs around him I asked Lusa for his shoes. She threw them to me and I put them on the child. Emilio stayed still enjoying being dressed by somebody else. When I got off the bed I helped him down then quickly made the bed. At the doorway Esperanza gave back the key and thanked the girl with a kiss. The girl turned red with embarrassment for the kiss was not the usual one she would get from another in public. When the girl left Esperanza asked, "How is it that I was dressed?" "That is simple. I picked you up after you had a beautiful orgasm and then washed you like a baby. I did the same for Lusa and Emilio." "You didn't take advantage of me." "I could have at any time and you would have loved it. Don't forget I am still young and would not be able to get you pregnant." "I saw by your lack of hair that this would be so. However I think if I were to have a child I would like it to be yours. He would be strong, smart and as caring as his father." "Thank you for that thought, but my heart is still made up. There is nobody but Lusa." "She is very lucky." "I think I am the one that is lucky." ------- Chapter 8 The store was still open and I picked out some new clothes for Esperanza and a few for Lusa. This time there was no hesitation from the saleslady. Lusa and Esperanza invited me into the changing rooms and I admired the view and gave my assessment of their choices. Esperanza needed a bra and I selected one and brought it to her. With a little suck on her buds, she held me to her and groaned. When she relaxed I put the bra on her and admired the flushed look on her face. "Why did you do that?" She managed to stammer. "Because they looked delicious. One day a man then some children will find those beauties irresistible." I paid for the new clothing and we headed for the bridge. Stopping in passenger's area I again asked to speak to the Captain if he were free. The gentleman came out sooner than before and said, "Hello Shawn," then looked at the people with me. "I see that our new guests are getting better. What can I do for you today? It isn't another turn on my bridge is it?" I laughed out loud and said, "No sir. The room next to ours is vacant. Our guests will be leaving in a few days. Would it be possible for these two to stay in that room. I will stay with them to ensure that the ship is not holed." The captain thought for a moment then said, "You are quite a man Shawn Boz. I think I will allow this. We need to place them somewhere and where better than near to your father who will be next door." "I understand completely. Thank you very much." "I will send the purser to you with the key. I trusted you with the ship and I hope you won't get into too much trouble with just a cabin." Only Lusa knew of our talk and I explained it to Esperanza and to Emilio too. In a way I would have to be the child's parent for the short time until he left the ship. The boy kept looking around for his mother and father but all the excitement kept him occupied and so he did not try too hard to find them. I knew soon it would be otherwise and he would have to deal with it in the usual way of a two-year-old. Mom, dad and Japera were waiting for us and I gave them the information. Dad was pleased that I was taking the responsibility and that it was at least temporary. If I did poorly the problem would leave. If I did well the same would happen, but I would learn from the success. Before the meal I asked the steward, the same one that first came to the bridge, for a booster chair. He was in a joking mood and said, "Would you like two sir?" I laughed out loud and said, "One day I will get even if I can. I am not so big now but one day when you are old and feeble I will leave you in a dirty diaper for longer than needed." "That won't be possible. I plan to meet a different fate before that time." I could read his mind and said, "You will be too old to use it very well anyway." I placed Emilio in his seat and he came a little higher at the table than I did. I ordered for Emilio and suggested things from the menu for Esperanza. I put a napkin at Emilio's neck and another on his lap. He got kind of fussy then and I told him to be good because we were going to eat some nice things. When the food came I made sure it wasn't too hot before feeding some to him and eating from my own plate. It wasn't very long ago that I was the one being fed when I was a baby. I preferred to do the deed myself and become independent sooner. The meal was fairly short and I found it a busy time trying to keep a conversation going, feed or help feed Emilio and enjoy my own food. In the far corner I saw Miss McIntyre talking to the steward and I remembered the painting of Lusa. It now made sense to have one more dramatic painting to commemorate this trip. I explained aloud that I needed to do some more painting and mom agreed that it would be good to develop this skill. We all went to see Miss McIntyre and I found her having coffee just outside the kitchen. She was quite ecstatic that a new painting was to be done and asked if the Captain would be allowed to watch. She left unsaid that she too would be watching my technique. With Esperanza present I was presented with a problem. One was that she would become very upset at the painting of her rescue. I corrected this by deciding to make two paintings and not let her see one. I picked a scene in my mind of Esperanza standing at the rail of the ship while holding her hand on her hat and the other firmly attached to Emilio as they watched the horizon. We left for the studio with the family and guests. I started painting fast but kept the speed down to something that was possible. There was no need to destroy all the good will I had accomplished by doing something that was impossible. I took almost three-quarters of an hour and I invited everybody to come closer. The Captain said, "That is beautiful Mr. Boz. What are your intentions for this piece of work?" "The owners may have his work; the work I did a few days ago; and the one I will do soon for a period of twenty years. During this time they will ensure that they stay physically on this ship. At the end of that time you will get the first painting, Esperanza will get this new one and the last will belong to Emilio. If those people have not survived the paintings will go to their estate. They may not take the paintings before that because they will still be my property." "You are very generous Mr. Boz. I am sure that the owners will ensure that the paintings are being well looked after." "I am sure as well. We can make the contract in writing and get it signed by the owners." I turned to Esperanza and explained all that I had said and she broke down and cried at the thought. Dad took Esperanza and Emilio away and I started on the next painting. This was to be much larger work with men and lifeboats picking up survivors among the flotsam of the 'Hidalgo II'. I tried my best to get the faces in of each of the individuals. In the background our ship with the name proudly showing on the hull stood ready to take the survivors on. This painting took two hours because of the details. Mom, Japera, the art teacher or the Captain never even fidgeted during that time. Miss McIntyre and the Captain even had tears in their eyes at the conclusion because of the recent loses out previous guests had suffered. In the next two days the rest of the patients recovered as we came close to the Virgin Islands. An official boat came out and asked questions and took depositions before accepting their nationals back. Emilio and the Esperanza gave Lusa and me a big hug and then later the others that had helped in saving their lives. Esperanza was being brave but started to cry as soon as she descended the steps to the lighter far below. It felt as if I had lost some of my family. To read the inner workings of a mind brought me closer and tighter than most people would imagine. I knew Esperanza would never forget me but Emilio being so young was a sure thing. In a way his memory would be a blessing considering the losses he had just endured. That night Lusa and I stayed in the now frightfully empty cabin and made tender love and cried. Eventually the ship pulled into Southampton. Two tugs took us to the dock and we were quickly tied off. Before anybody could get off, six men in expensive suits came running up the gangway and were greeted by the captain. They were all ushered into his office and I knew they were talking about the paintings and the rescue. Dad and mom prepared to leave but I knew it would be a while getting through the line up to the customs. An hour later the first mate came to our room and asked if we would all accompany him to the Captain's office. We locked up our belongings and took the jewellery with us. It had just been stored in a sealed box in the care of the purser. We came up the carpeted deck and the mate knocked on the door for us and stepped aside. We were ushered in and asked to take seats with the six men the Captain and lastly the second mate, MacAndrews. On the back wall were the three paintings I had made with special lighting over each. The captain began by looking at dad and saying, "I asked you here to personally thank you and your family for all that you have done to assist this ship. You were instrumental in the rescue, treatment and care of the survivors of the 'Hidalgo II'." The presentation went on for quite a while. The shipping company had reaped much favourable publicity in the rescue and as a matter of good faith gave dad and Japera a certificate telling that this shipping line would grant them two free passages for a family of five. MacAndrews being an employee was given his citation and a hefty bonus that made him happy even if he had to share the limelight with me. One of the six gentlemen was a lawyer and handed dad the contract that I had verbally given to the captain the day before. Dad looked it over for a few minutes then handed it to me. I went over it in a few seconds and placed it on the captain's desk. "There is the matter of having the painting evaluated every three years and adequate insurance placed on them. I dislike the wording. It is not definite enough as to who pays for the evaluation. The shipping company has to pay the premiums in a similar way that any museum or gallery would." The lawyer started to retort knowing that he worded it that way to avoid the cost. Before he could get a word in I started again, "The captain, though your employee, will still fall under this clause and you gentlemen must bear the burden of the entire expense. The portion about inconsequential damage has to be stricken and the company must ensure that the paintings are adequately protected from the elements." This time the lawyer said nothing so I continued, "Gentlemen, don't despair. Eventually my works will appreciate in value causing you an expense. The good point is that you have my very first three paintings. This alone should bring you some people that would have to sail with you to view them." The oldest brother and majority owner said, "Your first paintings? Or your first paintings viewed." Dad answered for me, "They are the first paintings Shawn has ever made. He has been working on other media and oils are just a new sideline. I personally would like to see what he does with water colours and charcoal." Their minds were active and now I worried that they would overwork themselves trying to find a way to make a profit from my labours. Dad figured the same thing and put a stop to it. The lawyer asked what changes I wanted and I said, "Loan me your pen and I will put them in." The startled lawyer did just that and I wrote in my best legalese at the bottom of the document and crossed out the offending points further up. Dad had to do the initialling and then handed the form to the lawyer. He went over it carefully and saw almost twenty changes. They were all the supposed loopholes he had put in to protect his clients from a lawsuit. "These are preposterous. We can't protect three paintings from an artist that has no name and incur all these expenses." Dad had been given some hints and said with his doctor voice, "You will do as my son stipulated or the paintings will be removed. The cost is minimal and the gains you make will be major. Don't bother trying to hoodwink us just for a few measly pounds. You get three major works of art for a period of twenty years and one of them signifies how your ship had a major role in the successful completion of the rescue." It didn't take long then and both dad and I signed the papers then the four owners and their accountant as a witness. After the meeting the captain expedited our departure by getting deck hands to get all out luggage and allow us to leave through the crew's gangplank and through a smaller customs check. Dad and the captain shook hands then he did the same with me. Mom was told how lucky she was and both Lusa and Japera were wished a happy journey. Outside the customs shed, sleet was starting to fall. I had heard of it but this was the first time I saw solid water falling from the sky even if it was in small pieces. Dad reopened his luggage and gave us each a sweater to put on. They were meant to keep us warm on a cool night in Rhodesia not in a snow storm in Britain. Dad had to call two taxis to take us and the luggage to the train station. The driver had an odd accent even for an Englishman. The name Cockney came from his mind. He had been offered a better job with more money further from the hustle and bustle of his native London. Soon we were crossing a bridge where we could see up and down the shipping channel. With the tickets purchased dad and I stowed our belongings securely and looked for some place to acquire warmer clothing to suit the unaccustomed dampness and the equally unaccustomed low temperature. The ticket agent gave us directions and both dad and I ran down the street like children through the wet snow and rain. By the time we made it to the men's store were both thoroughly wet and laughing. We went back to the station in a taxi we should have taken first but found the exercise good even if we were soaked to the bone. Mom, Japera and Lusa went in a much more civilised manner to a shop dealing in woman's apparel. After a good meal where dad reacquainted his taste buds with the local beer we headed back to the station to await our train to London. In a few hours the train then another taxi took us to a hotel in London that Dad had booked before we started the trip. In that time dad and I dried out and both looked a little odd in our by now rather wrinkled clothing. The exterior of the hotel had seen better days. Because of the war it had little spare money to bring it up to its old standard. Two bell hops helped dad take the luggage upstairs. The hallway was wide with a rich red carpet but it was worn down the middle and not been replaced yet, although much effort had gone into rebuilding the bomb damage. The current labour government kept the taxes high to pay for all the necessary repairs. This left little money for the more frivolous things. Our rooms were large and fairly comfortable. In any case we would not be here long. Tomorrow we would be travelling to the other side of London actually to one of the older towns where dad's parents lived. Dad spent a few minutes down stairs using the public phone to phone an old friend that would brave the current storm to carry the message to his parents. The war had caused many shortages and knowing they were helping in the fight could compensate for the loss of a phone. The next day was hectic. We went out for breakfast and found that portions were much smaller than home and the people accepted this as proper. Dad even said that this was the usual way that the British ate. With a final two cabs we travelled across London. There was still a great deal of damage from the bombing and it would take years and many thousands of pounds to fully repair. We pulled up to a fairly small Tudor home with a wooden gate and the remnants of last year's garden in the front and similarly in the back too. An old woman with white hair and a man going bald came out the door and hugged dad and mom. My grandparents were very happy to see the adults again, but it seemed they were even more interested in me. Grandma saw me as almost a girl with my long light blond hair tied back with a thong. She saw my face as too symmetrical and much more beautiful than handsome. Even though I was a little larger than average they still saw me as a child and there was no way to burst their bubble. I ran to her and said, "Hello grandmother I have waited a long time to see you." Granddad listened to my voice and inflection and correctly saw that I was more advanced than the usual three-year-old. The infrequent letters had talked about me but not in too great a detail. "Hello Shawn," she said as she bent down and wrapped her arms around me. I could feel her crying for joy in her mind and held her tight as well. I pulled away after a moment and said, "Grandma this woman behind me is Japera. She was my nanny, friend to all of us and my teacher in the Bantu language." Grandma was not used to black faces as there were few even in London at that time, but she shook Japera's hand then pulled the woman close and gave her a hug too. Before they had too much to say I added, "And this young lady is Lusa. She is Japera's daughter and my best friend." While grandpa gave a little hug to Japera, grandma hugged Lusa as tightly as she did her mother. Granddad mentioned to dad, "Your brothers and sisters are all over the country and did not have the ability to make it here now, but they will all be here tomorrow." The rest of the day we caught up on family history and the increase in members and sadly the decrease of some of the older members. Dad regained his old room and insisted that Japera accompany him and mom. Lusa and I shared a small bedroom and snuggled under the blankets in the cold. It felt good to squirm up against Lusa's warm body to keep warm or even for mental comfort. The next day was completely taken up with meeting relatives and old friends of dad. Word had even reached here about how good dad really was. Part of the reason was two proud parents that were not too shy about telling a great many people of his accomplishments. The next day was Sunday and proved to be a bright day. From what dad said this was a rarity. We all went to church. I looked up at all the massive stone supports and the stained glass windows and felt a sense of awe. The building was very old and not even the bombing had managed to damage it much. The pews were of oak and very old and had turned a darker richer colour over the centuries of hands and bodies touching them. After church we had a large meal with people from all over the place. I found I had cousins and more cousins. The house was almost like an ant colony in the way it was functioning. I joked to grandma about this being almost like an 'aunts' colony and she laughed so hard she had to sit down then go to the bedroom to change her panties. Later she told the joke to all her relatives and friends that would stay still to listen. I was not used to all the activity and told dad I was going out for a long walk with Lusa before our next meal. Dad would have worried about his three-year-old son going but not when he knew what I was capable of. I put on my sweater and coat to make grandma happy, even though I found I could alter my own metabolism to keep me warm. The buildings changed little as I walked and I looked for the older ones to peer into their styling. Lusa was amazed that there was no obvious segregation and all the people we walked by were nice to both of us. Later while looking in all the closed shops we heard sirens from all around. It reminded me of the radio when they were chasing some bank robbers. Lusa talked about how strange the buildings looked and how odd the people talked. We walked further down the cobbled streets and saw a large park. I scanned above and saw an unoccupied swing and headed Lusa for it. Dad had visions in his head of pushing a much younger mom on a large swing and mom loving the attention and the ride itself. We were very careful getting across the street as a few cars raced much faster than they should. The sirens did not abate too much but now seemed all around us. We came to the swings and saw nobody around. I encouraged Lusa to sit and I gave her large pushes with muscle power alone. She laughed and called, "Higher," many times. After ten minutes of hearing her loud laughter I spotted a boy of about my age with a bloody white shirt wandering around in a dazed state. I stopped Lusa and ran to the boy. He was obviously in an accident and had been hurt. His face was bloody and he was holding his arm protectively. I talked to the boy but he didn't seem to understand very well. He was in a state of shock. Lusa ran over too and I took off my coat and sweater and put the coat over the boy's shoulders and told Lusa to get some damp towels from a nearby public washroom. I washed his face and checked the arm and found a six-inch laceration on his left arm. Lusa reached into her large pocket and brought out a small assortment of supplies that I used the same way dad used his bag. I reached into the boy's brain and shut down his consciousness and laid him on a nearby table. I cleaned the laceration and sutured it as well as I could. With a piece of the boy's damaged shirt I made a larger bandage to cover the gauze I wrapped about his arm. His forehead needed a three more sutures and he had a slight concussion but nothing that was serious. My patient was awoken and taken to the nearby restrooms and Lusa came in with us to help as I cleaned the boy up better. I could tell he needed to use the facilities and I took him into a stall and helped. When he was done I cleaned him up and dressed him as warmly as possible. I washed my own hands and then looked into the boy's mind to see who he was and what happened. I saw him in the back seat of a car with a large man and a driver. A truck going the other way avoided a car pulling out of another road. The truck veered into the path of the boy and they collided. The two adults were hurt and that was probably the ambulance siren we heard earlier. The boy's name was Charles and he lived in a large home with lots of people running around. Digging around I finally found his name to be Windsor, or a variant. Looking at the boy critically now I could see his identity from some of the pictures printed in the Rhodesian papers. "Lusa, this gentleman here is Charles Windsor, or better known as Prince Charles." Lusa was not a monarchist but she could not avoid some of it wearing off in the British colony of Rhodesia. She gasped a little and wondered what we were going to do. I was a few moves ahead and considered a good way to further mom and dad's efforts to help the native population of our country. I combed the boy's hair and saw that he looked very handsome. The girls would sure chase him even if he weren't the next in line for the throne. I sympathised with him a little for I was pestered the same way and it was just for my looks. "Charles, Charles. We are going to take you home. Do you understand?" I got a bit of a response and knew he was recovering. Lusa took one hand at my urging and I took his other and we walked to the other side of the park to find a taxi. Five minutes later we were coming to the gates of the park when seven boys aged about fourteen or so entered. The first one stopped and held out his arms to stop the rest of his friends. I knew we were in trouble now. They wanted Lusa and for a while wanted me till the leader saw that I was probably male. This did not stop his rising lust and figured he would take us both. "Where you going girls? You want some love from us?" The leader said and his gang snickered. They had done this before and had got away with it. They also figured to do it one more time. I could argue or use logic but I would get us nowhere. I said to Lusa's mind, "Take Charles and back up a few feet but don't go away." Lusa forgot herself and said aloud, "I am afraid Shawn. What are we going to do?" I psyched myself up. There was much too much opposition and I had to fight much more diligently to protect my family. I raced forward faster than I believed any person has done before. I punched, kicked and elbowed all the tender places I could find on all of my antagonists. There was no need to hurt myself and in seconds all of the gang were on the ground vomiting and/or bleeding. I took pity on some and moved them so they would not choke on their own vomit. Charles was wide eyed but said nothing. Lusa was equally amazed but she had seen me do this on the ship. "Ok Lusa, Charles let's go." We walked around the boys and crossed the street to find a vacant taxi in front of a pub. I put Lusa and Charles into the back and walked into the pub to find the driver. After scanning the minds of the patrons I found him standing at the bar with an empty plate in front of him and an almost empty glass of stout beside it. I walked up and waited for the man to finish part of his conversation with his mate. I asked, "Are you for hire?" The man looked at me and saw only a young boy. "I am sorry..." Immediately, in front of his eyes a fiver appeared. "Where do you want to go?" "I am a tourist from Rhodesia and I want to see Buckingham Palace. Will you take me there?" The man swallowed his stout and said to his mate, "I have a fare and need to go. See you here later." We walked out and I got into the front. The driver looked in the back and saw Lusa holding a boy to her. He turned to me and asked, "What's with them?" "They are my friends. Can we go now?" We drove across the city and found the palace easily enough. I looked into the clearing brain of Charles and the driver and got the vehicle to circle the palace a few times to get the feel for the people and where and what they were doing. The queen and her mother were very distraught at the disappearance of their son. The father, in another part of the complex, was directing the police. There were many coppers out on foot now searching around the area of the accident. It wasn't so surprising that I had found Charles, as I now learned that the driver of the car had died and the bodyguard had not yet regained consciousness. I stopped the car and paid the full fiver for the service. The driver was very happy at such a good turn of events. With nobody looking our way I slipped between Lusa and Charles and directed them to the high wrought iron fence. A small opening not large enough for an adult but big enough for a child presented itself to us. We slipped through one at a time when nobody was looking then moved quickly across the grass to the wall of the building and close to the kitchen entrance. The nearby door was unlocked and I left it that way. Checking for people on a fairly quiet Sunday, I was able to get us into unoccupied rooms when needed. About ten minutes later we found ourselves in front of large double doors. Behind them I could hear crying and self-accusation. The father was there too and pacing the floor worried about his only son. I combed Charles hair again then straightened up Lusa as best she could be. "We are going to see your mom, dad and grandma now Charles. Try to keep your back straight and speak with a clear voice. There is no sense in worrying them further." After wiping his nose with a remnant of his shirt I knocked on the door. "Enter," came from within. I pushed the handle down and then the heavy door inward. I walked in with Charles in my hand and Lusa holding his other one. To say that his parents were shocked was an understatement. His father ran forward and was about to pick up his son when I stopped him by getting in the way. "Be careful he has a nasty laceration and it has only just been sewn up. " Prince Philip stopped, as I knew he would and said, "How is this?" "Lusa and I were in a park and found your son wandering around dazed. I assessed his needs and used some of my supplies to close the wounds. Let me take his coat off and you could see what I have done." The queen and queen mother came forward and looked at Charles. He just smiled a bit and I removed his coat carefully and draped it on a chair which had been in the palace before Rhodesia as a country even existed. The sweater came next and they saw his bruised and bare chest. I unwrapped the bloody cloth to a few 'ahs' in the background to show that his gauze had no seepage. "If you want you can call your physician to check but I doubt that he could have put them in any better." His dad knelt in front of Charles and tilted back his head to see the neat and small sutures on his forehead and just below the hair line. "I doubt if there will be much scarring, I was very careful," I said. Charles mother was worried and wondered whether to call the police or the physician. Luckily the latter idea won out, so while the mother talked I offered my hand and said, "By the way I am Shawn Boz and this is my best friend Lusa." Prince Philip did not understand any of this but he did shake my hand then shake Lusa's too. He was going to go to his son again when I said, "Aren't you going to introduce us to the rest of your family?" He turned and thought for only a second before introducing us to the boy's mother and grandmother. After a few words I turned to Charles and brought him over to a chair and picked him up and set him into it. "Lusa, will you stand beside him till his doctor comes. He is starting to get a little woozy." "Sure Shawn. When are we going to get something to eat? We missed our meal and I bet Charles is hungry too. Do you want to go out and eat at that pub? I never get to go in a restaurant with only you." "Sounds fine. Dad will be a bit angry at having to drive all the way over here to get us." The physician came in and was immediately told what happened. I broke in during a pause and discussed in medical terms what I had done and why. I added, "The wounds were cleaned well and sulfa was administered. If you remove his stitches to put your own in there will be scaring and then Charles will have to undergo some remedial action to correct your actions." We argued a few moments. I had to be firm with him in the end and try to get the parents to take my side of the argument. In the end they did and the doctor had to satisfy himself to a thorough examination. He found nothing that I had not already mentioned. The doctor suggested x-rays and I stepped in again and showed that they were uncalled for because of the things the doctor could readily see if he looked carefully enough. During this time Lusa had pulled out a chair for herself and sat on it but kept herself ready to catch Charles if need be. Lusa spoke up, "Shawn leave the doctor alone. He just wants the best and not everybody can be as good as you. Now let's go, I am getting hungry." She looked at Charles and added, "If you want you can ask and we can take Charlie after he gets a new shirt. Nobody will notice his pants." Our argument had stopped and we all looked at her. "Ok with me." I turned to his parents, "Charlie needs some sleep now and you no doubt will have him under observation. Can we come back Tuesday around noon and take him to a pub with us?" Charles brightened and said, "Please mother, father?" The mother offered an alternative, "Why don't you and your parents eat with us then?" "That sounds great. I think grandma and grandpa should come and Lusa's mother too. However, after we get back from Antwerp I want to take Charlie with us to a pub. It would be educational for us. Would you like to join us? It will be my treat." I got the feeling that this was a definite no so tried a different tack, "If you can't make it you can send some of those sneaky types to go with us but they will have to stay away or join in as family." The queen mother laughed and the queen smiled at the thought. I said, "We'd better go now. My mom and dad will be getting worried." Charles father stopped me now and said, "We haven't thanked you yet and I really don't know much about you or Lusa." I gave him a quick rundown on mom's family's diplomatic posts and dad's practice in Salisbury. When I mentioned that I was only three they started to laugh until they saw my face and knew I was serious. They had seen me as a boy but had accepted me as much older. Charlie's dad said, "You are only three?" Later we were driven home but I had the driver stop down the road so people would not see us getting out of a big Daimler with no number plates, because to the neighbour's prying eyes it would have been a dead giveaway as to whose car it was. Dad asked us what we were up to because the meal was over. I replied, "Made a new friend and I got us invited over to his house at noon Tuesday if you guys can make it." "I am glad you are managing to settle in so well. I think we can make it. You didn't force the issue and impose did you?" "Well a little but I think they really want to meet our family and both grandma and grandpa too." Dad took us out to a pub at Lusa's insistence and we found out what it was like. It was loud and filled with smoke but it was still entertaining. I encouraged this and tried to get everybody to buy some nicer clothes for our coming meeting with Charlie's parents. Mom liked shopping and took grandma around and even got her to buy a little but their income was not that great. When Tuesday came grandpa wanted to go back to work because the loss of money was hurting the family and they did not want to take charity from us. I had to resort to blackmail, extortion and anything else I could think of to get him to come with us. Dad kept a more or less constant eye on me knowing something was up. Lusa did not seem too thrilled by the monarchy or its money but kept her mouth closed when quietly asked by dad. At 11:30 we got into two taxis again and headed for the palace. I said to the driver, "Would you drive around Buckingham Palace first I would like to see it from every direction?" The man looked at mom and she just cocked her head and smiled. The other driver was just instructed to follow the first no matter where it went. Dad was in this vehicle with his parents. Lusa was pointing out a few monuments and other points of interest. She liked to show me that she was learning all she could about the world around her. When we came to the palace the driver dutifully drove around it one and a half times and stopped at the side entrance that Prince Philip had asked us to use. I got out and crossed the busy street while both vehicles parked close by. At the gate I said, "Hello, my name is Shawn Boz and my family and I have an invitation to enter." The tall man in front with a tall fur hat was for show and for the many tourists at all gates. The less dressy soldier further in was the one I talked too. The man looked at his list and then at me wondering how things could get so screwed up. "Hold on a minute." He phoned in and got confirmation then said, "You and your party may enter." I approached our driver and said, "We have an invitation here. Pull up to the gate and they will open it for us." "Whaaat?" He said explosively. "I said that we had an invitation and I don't want grandma walking all the way down the drive. Pull up at the side entrance and we will get out there." While the driver was digesting this odd turn of events mom said, "What are you doing Shawn? Do you know where we are?" "Mom, I am not always right but you must admit that I am mostly. Please have faith in your only son. I am not doing anything even remotely wrong. I am just going to see how Charlie is doing and have a meal with his family." The driver caught the idea and pulled out. The other taxi followed closely. As we approached the gate opened wide and the tourists stepped out of the way to watch us pass. Our taxi entered and the other stayed at the open gate. It took a moment but dad said to the driver to just follow. I pointed out the door I wanted and after the taxi stopped I paid him and gave him a tip. Mom had her mouth open and said, "What are we doing here Shawn?" Before I could really say it again dad's taxi pulled up and dad asked me, "What is going on Shawn?" "Going to see my new friends and his family then have a meal. I told you that they wanted to meet all of us." I left dad to pay the other driver as a liveried man came out and welcomed us. We were then asked to follow him. The palace had been open to the public but not this section. My grandparents held one another as they walked down the richly decorated hallways. Mom and dad did much the same with Japera holding tight to Lusa. The girl thought nothing special about it as this was her second time visiting. At a smaller and less imposing door, the liveried man knocked and immediately entered then allowed us to pass him. I entered first and found Charlie's parents and a few extra people sitting on some comfortable chairs. I said, "Hello," after a polite bow. Lusa was a little put out but did a curtsey as I had asked her to do. Prince Philip came forward and with a smile shook dad's hand then mom's. Stepping aside he introduced us to his family and his other guests. Dad in turn presented his family. There was one of those pregnant pauses and I asked, "Where is Charlie?" With the ice sort of broken the queen said, "He is taking his piano lessons and should be done momentarily. Won't you all make yourselves comfortable." I took mom and moved her to a chair close to the queen. This happened to be Philip's. Then I took both grandparents and moved them to seats. I picked up a heavy chair and moved it close to mom and got dad to sit. Japera was then seated in a similar way. Nobody was talking so I said, "You all seem to be at a loss." Looking at the queen I said, "Mom and dad always said they would attack some of Britain's complacency in the situation we see going on in Rhodesia. I will try to keep mom calm but she does fly off on occasion." "I do not." "Well start talking about children, the weather and local politics before going for your sovereign's blood." The talk did start slowly and progressed through the storm that had lashed Norfolk last month. The queen had been there giving her support to the beleaguered survivors of King's Lynn. The storm had claimed 300 lives before it was over. Servants brought tea and grandma and grandpa were too frightened to even try it. I moved to them and whispered, "Try the tea grandma. It is the nice lady's special blend. Once you start drinking you will start to relax and then you can talk about getting your section of town worked on. You were saying how there is so much damage but nothing much being done about it." Before long Lusa who had not been given a chair came over to me and whispered, "Do we have to stay here?" "For a while," I said loud enough for others to hear. "They want to start talking about me. I have to stay to be polite but would really want me to leave so they can talk." A little later the meal was ready and we ate. Again I watched Lusa but she had learned well on the ship and didn't need any more coaching. Charlie and his sister Anne came in and ate with us. The girl was my age and looked pretty. Charlie smiled at me and I returned the sentiments. After a leisurely meal I said, "You all want to talk and though I would like to participate, I feel it better to leave with the younger segment." Lusa and Charlie agreed and got up to leave. Philip concurred and told his son to watch out for us. We went to the door and I turned and asked, "Anne are you going to come with us? I bet I can pull a shilling from your ear." The girl was intrigued and came out too. As she left I said loud enough for the adults to hear. "Let's play doctor first," and closed the door quickly. The disturbance inside was mostly dad laughing loudly and mom trying to shut him up. He had to explain that I would do nothing to the princess. Philip took the opportunity that he had been waiting for since he had met 'the odd young boy'. "Dr. Boz, what can you till us about your son. He rescued my son, treats his injuries and then sneaks them in past the guards here to get him directly into our presence." Dad just laughed again and mom told him to stop. He regained his composure and said, "This is the first I heard of it. Tell me what you know and I will add parts that you don't." Dad was told the story from the parents' perspective then dad said, "First you have to understand that Shawn matured at a much faster rate than anyone has ever heard about. He learned language very early and then drove himself to be mobile. No other child has ever been so proficient. "His mind is now as an adult and I do not believe there is even a scale on the planet to measure his intelligence. His manual dexterity I am afraid is the same as his intelligence. He not only gravitates to music but to all forms of movement. He is good at sports and is a good fighter I have found even though he has taken no training at all. "Since Shawn was born, he started following me around as if administering to the sick was his true calling. His reading of standard then advanced medical texts increased phenomenally. He has a photographic memory and retains all that he reads. He of course wanted to speak the languages of those around him and learned Bantu then had to learn Latin for the medical terminology. Soon he was assisting in minor things when others of his age had not learned to even walk yet. When I found that he was making good suggestions is when I really started to think of him as a new Hippocrates. One day in a not too distant future, people will think him with awe." The queen and queen mother moved their head in to hear even better and Dr. Boz continued, "Before reaching our ship Shawn stopped me when he saw a woman in distress. I had not seen her because I was concentrating on the road. She was having birthing problems. The infant had its umbilical cord around its neck. Shawn had seen many births and knew somehow that this situation was different. He compelled me to stop the car and he was out the door like a shot. When I go to the woman I found that Shawn had already pushed the baby back into his mother. He then used his small hands and arms to move the cord and afford the child and mother a chance at life, for I knew they would die otherwise. "On the ship coming here we picked up some survivors of the 'Hidalgo II' and Shawn saw that the two year old boy had injection marks and correctly diagnosed his problem and recommended a sugar solution. The boy survived diabetic shock. A man in shock from exposure and stress had an infarction and his quick diagnosis saved his life too. "What Shawn will do in life is unknown but nobody meeting him remains unchanged. He I believe is the greatest treasure this world has." Unaware of the adult's conversation, Charlie led us to his suite of rooms and showed us his toys, games and instructional material. A large ornate globe, set in a large oak frame that would do any university proud, stood in a corner mostly unused. The room itself was spotless, no doubt the work of the servants. A small child's book lay open on a table and a picture book showed what dinosaurs would most likely look like. I admired his room and said how lucky he was to have one like this. He straightened out and smiled happy to get some praise. It turned out that he was encouraged to clean his own room and the servants just made sure it was even tidier. Anne was already a little bored and said, "Where is that shilling?" I turned to the little girl and she gave me a defiant look and put her hands on her hips daring me to make true my words. "Ah, now that we can accomplish but we need your brother's help." "Why?" "Well he has to do some work to assist me then we can crank out the money. You are getting the money so you should ask him." She was being a little obstinate but gave in and said, "Charles will you help?" "Ok." I told Charlie to take his sister's arm and crank it up and down slowly so as to not hurt her but to push out the money. The boy naturally did not understand the statement but did as I asked. I went over to the girl and pushed back her head and looked into her left ear. After some doctor type hmms and ahhhs I looked at the other ear and put my fingers in as far as they would go and caused a little pain but theatrically extracted a small value coin. "It looks like you are too young. We are not getting the shillings I was after," as I handed her the coin. This amazed her. "Anne, take your brother's hand and see what we can get from him. Her arm pumped wildly and shook Charlie. "Easier, you will rip his arm off and I will have to sew it back on." An active and similar inspection of Charlie brought a shiny shilling. "See, you can do it." We went back and forth getting coins from each pair of ears until Anne got her shilling and my pockets held no more coins. Charlie was happy with the coins and handed them to his sister and she was even pleased. Later we went to the music room and Charlie played some music for us. He complained that he was not making any headway. "You only have to stay with it. If you really want it to happen it will but it takes time. Like making your muscles strong. You lift some weights and you get tired but after some time you see that your shirt doesn't fit because it is now too small, or your pants are too tight. Lusa didn't play the piano before but on the ship getting here she played beautifully and everybody that heard her clapped." Charlie turned to Lusa and asked, "Will you play something for us?" Lusa was a little bored too and just went to the large brightly polished grand piano and started to play a simple song. Her next piece was by Bach and she played it well or as good as the piano could make it for it was slightly out of tune. However, it was better than the one on the ship, which was subject to all the sea air. Lusa said "Shawn, sing the song you made and I will play the music." She started right away and I sang the song in Bantu as I had on the ship. I encouraged Charlie to sing another song and we made a two-part harmony and laughed at how well we did it. Later I sang a popular love song that Lusa had recently learned. I got on my knee and sang it to Anne and she turned red and looked away. I took her hand and completed the rest of the song and saw that she enjoyed the attention immensely. My hearing detected approaching feet and I scanned to see who it was. The queen mother was coming to see what had happened to us. Lusa was just getting off the piano and I found that the woman loved music of the 20's. I only knew a few pieces so I sat down and ran my fingers over the keys then started to play them. The woman wanted us to go back but stayed instead to hear the conclusion of 'Rhapsody in Blue'. She said, "Come children, you are wanted." I didn't move and gave her the look. She then said, "and you too Master Boz." I got off the chair and walked over to the lady and said, "Thank you ma'am. I am a child in age but my mind is older but perhaps not an adult yet. I noticed you liked my music. Would you like me to play some for you later?" She pulled me to her side and said, "Thank you Master Boz. Perhaps later. At the moment you are the man of the hour." Once in the room mom wanted me and I walked over to her and she hugged me tightly. I could see that she had become emotional somehow and needed a way to release her feelings. I was happy to oblige for it felt great to be held this way. In a moment I went to dad and took some of his change when I silently asked for it. I went around the room with the children and tripped Anne into her father but I quickly rescued her before she fell too far. In the process I bumped into her father. Charlie's mother was now the Queen and she said, "Master Boz we have been having a discussion about you and how you have helped my son. Is there something within my power that you would want?" I bowed, as this was now a formal occasion and said, "Your Majesty, there is only one major boon I would like granted. It even may be entirely within your powers. I want the native people of Rhodesia free and this cannot be accomplished by even a royal decree. It is necessary to have the change come from within. My father and mother are fighting for this freedom now. That is why we are selling our property to finance the free clinic and let the natives know that not all whites are turned against them. I would like your voice raised in their support on this matter." "That is quite a selfless request along the lines of universal brotherhood. How would you recommend I do this?" "There are many times you give speeches or even talk to other influential people. When you speak thus I would like you to mention your disgust for slavery in all its forms from indenture to the feudal conditions prevalent in our country." "I will do as you ask for I agree with your aims. You might think a queen is all powerful but that is not the case. I am mainly a figurehead that allows the people to focus better on the good and the bad times. Is there anything else you would like?" "Yes." "What is that?" "The piano in the main music room needs to be tuned." The laugh went around the room and built on itself seemingly. Later Anne went to her mom and said, "Look what came out of my ears. Charles had lots too." The mother looked at the coins with her father's face in them and said, "You seem to be a prestidigitator too Master Boz." "I am not that sure. We can find out if I really am if you will assist?" She thought for a second and said, "I will." "Charlie, Anne, go to your mother and crank out a coin." The children ran to their mother and took her hands in theirs and cranked them up and down. I got a solid chair and placed it beside our sovereign and after taking off my shoes climbed on it. With my sleeves pulled up I turned the queen's head from me and examined her ears. With easily seen fingers I extracted a penny from her ear and showed it to her children. "Crank in time and go easy. We are only getting pence." The cranking continued and a clean white handkerchief came from her ear with a lot of tugging. "Anne you mother had a cold. I found her hankie." The child laughed and pumped harder and out of sync. Soon I had a long silk ribbon that moments before had been around mom's waist. I pretended to knock on the head as I made noises like a hollow barrel. "Empty on this side." Prince Philip started laughing so hard he had to hold his neighbour to stay in his chair. The rest of the room smiled or laughed if they dared. I moved the chair to the other side and pulled the coveted shilling from that ear then said, "There's more. Pump slowly but hard now. I pretended I had great difficulty and managed to start pulling something long and black from the small ear. When I exhaustedly handed it to her majesty she looked in wonder at the thin black leather belt. Everybody clapped and I bowed from my elevated position. "You might want to give this to the children's father before his britches fall to the floor." This time the queen smiled and tossed the belt to her husband. When it was time to go the queen had us driven to grandpa's front door. The chauffeurs got out and helped each of us from the vehicles. Inside everybody was glowing in the feeling of talking with such august personages. It was very late at night when the adults finally turned in. ------- Chapter 9 For the next two days many visitors came to grandpa's door to talk. I seem to have found that the trait of keeping quiet had actually come from dad's father and not dad. He refused to tell anybody about the large cars or the reason why he and the rest of us were in them. The neighbour women were real busy bodies and tried their best to wheedle any information they could out of grandma or dad. At our supper on the day before we were to buy tickets to the continent, a liveried messenger with a pouch brought word from our sovereign. We were to attend a small informal reception at the palace and each of us was invited by name. Mom and grandma went into a fit and wanted to get the best to wear. After a while Japera was dragged in and she too wanted something better too. Dad simply went out and bought me a pair of dress pants and a new shirt. This time the queen sent her own cars again and grandma had lots of time to wave to her friends as she got into the car to leave. Grandpa humphed but really was pleased. We were all ushered into the palace easily and were directed to a waiting room. The conversation continued about what was happening. Everybody but my grandparents were silently asking me to find out. I didn't answer to make the effect right. A messenger came and we all came into a large room with many important people. The Prime Minister of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, many earls, barons and commoner politicians were circulating around the room. There were baronesses all over and all sorts of titles for each person. They were working hard for the coronation even if that time was well off yet. Considering the amount of work that had to be done it would not be till summer some time. The messenger made it to the Lord Steward which in turn reached the queen's ear. She politely exited the conversations and walked toward us. I got a smile and then she smiled at the rest of us. The Lord Steward called everybody to witness. The queen said in a loud carrying voice, "Doctor Boz, kneel before me." Two scarred Ghurkha Orderly Officers flanked the queen. Dad did not move and I had to push him with both arms. A small chuckle went out and dad did as he was bid. A small stool was placed before the queen for his use. "I have been doing some research and found that you have helped save a distant relative of mine. The king of Spain, Juan Carlos Teresa Silverio Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg, Count de Barcelona, was happy to find that you have saved a distant cousin. It behoves me to perform this service in his stead. I have also found that you have selflessly formed a free clinic in Rhodesia and it is mainly funded by your own resources." The queen talked more about dad and about the obligations to his monarch and vice versa. With a nod of her head a man came forward with an ornate wooden box and opened it to present to his queen. The beautiful sword owned by her father, King George VI was withdrawn and the man stepped well back. The queen looked around the room and told of all the other things that dad did to help her people dubbed his shoulders. I mentally prodded dad to stand and he did. The queen gave him insignia of the Order of the British Empire. Dad had to make up an instant speech and in all slightly more than an hour had passed. There was polite clapping and a few comments about good will. The Duke of Edinburgh immediately shook dad's hand. Dad replied out of habit then moved in a daze and was a little unsteady on his feet. More people came and shook his hand too. When he felt he had greeted everybody's hand he returned to his wife and got a big kiss. I was about to congratulate him when I heard, "Master Shawn Boz, kneel before your sovereign." Was this true? I was only three. There were so many commitments that had to be made and I would have to meet them. I felt a push and almost fell. Turning I saw it was dad with a smile of his own. The queen said the same things about me and then added rescuing her son Charles and then protecting him against attackers in the park all without knowing who he was. She performed the accolade with her blade and said, "In the name of God, of Saint Michael and of Saint George, I dub thee knight. Be brave, ready and loyal." I got unsteadily to my feet and was presented with the signal of the Royal Victorian Order. My hand was shook this time by Charlie and I hugged him to me. "I hoped you didn't remember the fight. Nasty for a young man to see that." He smiled at me and said, "Nastier to have it presented to you." His father came forward and shook my hand and said, "I believe this will only be the first of the awards the people of this world will be giving you. As the ceremony dictates, be brave, ready and loyal and you will go far." My hand was shaken as much as dad's and I had to hold their hands on occasion to stand upright. I endeavoured to at least have a firm handshake even if my hand was much smaller. When I thought things over I returned to my family and found Anne with them. She ran to me like the little girl she was and gave me a big kiss and I picked her up so only her toes were on the floor. "You be good. I like you," was all she said before joining her grandmother on a chair. I kissed mom, Japera and finally Lusa. The last was done quickly so as to not get the young princess angry with me. Mom had tears in her eyes and wiped them with dad's handkerchief and said, "I am so proud of you both. Now I have two knights to protect me." I pulled away and greeted grandpa and grandma who had tears in their eyes from the ceremony. Before the meal we were directed to another room 'to pay our keep' and found reporters and photographers all around. The word 'press' sticking out of their hats and at least a third had the same thing in Spanish. Dad was bombarded with questions and ordered to pose just so. Dad's sanitized version of the "Hidalgo II" came out again but I told him that they already knew all of this from the captain. Dad continued and added just added the three pieces of artwork as a plug for the shipping line. Later he mentioned the reason for the trip was to get enough money to keep the clinic going with the increased services it was now performing. Dad was very diplomatic but expressed how little the white regime was putting out toward the care of the black population. When my turn came I was asked if I were a doctor as a trap. "In case you didn't notice I am three years old. I have watched my father save many lives and did what I thought was necessary to save another when there was no adult available. The BMA may eventually accept me if I meet their criteria but I doubt before. Now I think you should talk to a very bright lady that wowed the audiences aboard the ship with her abilities at the piano." Lusa stared bug-eyed at me until she was asked some questions. At the end of her talk she mentioned her piano teacher and how good he was. It was lucky she was not asked the name for she was going to incriminate me as I did her. Mom was asked questions and after saying how pleased she was she started on the inequities in Rhodesia. Dad let her carry on till she started to border on what the Rhodesian authorities could use against her. Both grandparents were asked about the goings on and were at a loss to explain how they felt besides happy and very proud. The dinner was formal and as recent celebrities, we sat closer to the royal family. Mom knew what to do but this type of dinner was an order of magnitude more intricate than even on the ship. I felt a little angry part way through the meal when a minority of those around the table were silently complaining about children and blacks here. I could do little but just endeavoured to remember who they were. I looked at dad's signal and saw all the diamonds and gold and knew it to be different but just as expensive as mine. The queen was one of the richest people on earth but she could not sell all the property she owned to acquire the money they were supposed to be worth. Best to say she was rich in property, art and love of her people. She was not poor in cash but not as rich as what others would have some believe. "Dad," I said in my head. "Hu?" "Dad, I was wondering if the queen would like first crack at our stones?" "Sounds like an idea. I trust her much further than any of the diamond merchants we are likely to meet." The queen was indeed interested and the next day dad and I were back. Dad opened his box and took out all the small loose stones. The next to be shown were the diamond necklaces that I had made so that the women could go to the captain's table dressed as they wanted. Lastly he took out two separate squares of black velvet and exposed the two large diamonds. The queen picked the smaller stone up and held it to the light then said, "How much does this weigh?" I let dad answer, "93 carats. The other is 157. They are not what you would call perfect but they certainly are good. The person that cut them was a genius and formed just the right number of facets to accommodate the size and peculiarities of the stone. The flaws are hidden so that each facet would capture the light in the most advantageous way." The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were incredulous when dad said he would postpone his flight to Antwerp so that the queen could have the stones assessed by her own people. Dad got a ride home and I stayed to talk with the Queen Mother and play a little Gershwin on the newly tuned piano. The queen was very busy but the Duke of Edinburgh listened with his children. I played Clair de Lune, by Debussy then some pieces by Igor Stravinsky and Aleksandr Borodin. As I got off the stool they started to clap and I bowed in acknowledgement. I was asked all sorts of questions about my musical abilities and agreed to teach Charlie a few lessons if I could get some lessons in return from the Ghurkhas and the weapons experts that protected the royal family. Charlie was eager to start right away so I gave him lessons and helped Anne a little bit too. I had little time to do a good job so I sneaked into his mind and arranged all his musical training in a more logical manner. By the end of the lesson he was playing noticeably better. It was getting late and I was invited to spend the night. This was the first time I had done this. Almost every day I had slept beside Lusa and I figured that some times I would have to be away from her for one reason or another. Because grandpa had no phone a driver was sent with an invitation that I stay the night. I could just see a closed mouth grandpa explaining to his friends and neighbours about all the royal vehicles stopping at his door. Soon enough the newspapers would have his picture along with the rest of us to commemorate our gaining knighthoods. I slept little as I usually did and scanned everybody looking for any information I would be able to use in later life. From the royal family I found their way of juggling politics so that they could get what they needed to assist the country and to be truthful some of their own wants and needs. The royal protectors gave me some world war one and two tactics and the importance of logistics. The Ghurkhas were even more proud to serve the queen than almost any other people on the earth including the Britons. Early the next morning I expressed my desire to take on a Ghurkha or two. The parents had many duties but wanted to see how well I would do. The queen already knew from police reports that I had been very precise in the way the hoodlums had been beaten. The Duke of Edinburgh led us to the barracks and the partially dressed soldiers came to attention as he alone came in. "I would like a volunteer to teach knife fighting. Is there anybody here with enough confidence not to be hurt if they fail?" Everybody took one step forward but said nothing. "All right then, let's go to the gym." We all went to a large room under the palaces that served to train security and keep them in top shape. The Ghurkhas filed in and gathered around the main mat in the centre of the room. They all stayed at attention as their charges were in the room with them. An old gristly veteran opened a cabinet and withdrew straight wooden batons the length of a knife. He handed one to a young man and looked questionably at who should take the other. I walked forward and opened my hand to receive it. He had held tight and was not about to release it to anybody but the right person. The Ghurkhas were very literal about their orders. They were very loyal even though they didn't even get the same pay as a regular British soldier would have. With the prince's nod the wood was placed in my hand. My shoes were undone and the socks put in them. The veteran asked if this was right. He got back from the Prince, "Let's not underestimate any opponent. I think you said that a few times if I recall." The young soldier was as tall as a regular Ghurkha but shorter than the usual European. I said, "I have fought before but never with a knife. Treat me as a serious threat or your mates will ridicule you later. On the other hand you may be far superior to me and beat me easily. I won't let that happen if I can prevent it." Not giving an opponent time was the Ghurkha way. I ran in quickly and deflected his half-hearted defence and slashed across the artery in his left leg. He turned to fight and I said, "You are almost dead. Your artery was cut and you are on the ground with your life running out." The man looked at the veteran and got a nod that I was right. I moved again and this time was able to only slash the front of his leg, not a mortal wound. His foot came out and I went flying but regained my footing just as he attacked me. I deflected his knife and punched him in the abdomen. I could not reach too much higher. A backhand caught me in the head and I went down and rolled. I came up ready with the knife. His stroke came in and I dropped my knife and grasped his wrist and flung both feet at his chest. He was off balanced and as he fell I got on him then reached over picked up my knife and sliced his carotid artery. I got off and the man jumped to his feet. The veteran came forward and said, "You were foolish. You should have plunged the knife between his ribs." "That is probably true. Now that you see how fast I am will you fight me? Your men will be angry if you beat me and less angry at me if I beat an old man that is on his last legs and about to go home to his family." This was the best fighter here and I hoped to get him to teach me. His arm and fist went for my face and a wooden knife went from his hand and struck my abdomen. "You are dead little boy." He looked at me and then said, "The Kukri is never thrown but my practice blade was not our usual weapon." I bowed and said, "Yes I am dead and I will always remember," as I picked up his knife and tossed it back. Then I said, "One more time. The old men have to teach the young ones everything." The man was surprised and I deflected his knife with mine and struck his hard abdomen with my fist then tried to bring my knife back for a thrust only to see the other knife coming at me and I had to retreat. The man gave an evil grin and attacked with knife and foot that knocked me back and he was on me quickly and plunged the wooden knife in my back. "That is how it is done. No tricks." I was able to get up and bowed again. "That was fast. I thought I was quick but you are even quicker. "Will you teach me more? I cannot be a knight and protect the weak if I too must be protected." "Ah, so you are the young one that saved our charge." "Only bandaged him. He would have been found and brought home in a city like this." I fought some more and acquired a few bruises as testament to my efforts. The royal family left but Charlie and Anne stayed. During a rest Anne brought me some water. "How can you fight like that? You are so very fast." "I thought I was fast but not as good as these men here. I believe you are very well protected, in fact probably the best in the world." The men heard me and they felt proud at my well-deserved praise. After another hour of fighting I had to call for a rest. I found I would rank below all of these men in ability. After they realised how dangerous I was I found myself beaten regularly even by the first man I fought. The veteran, Sgt. Rai took me to the range in the next room. Two formidable nannies came first to escort the children to their studies. I fit plugs into my ears and handled a large handgun for the first time. I was explained all the parts and how to disassemble and assemble it. After the first time I could do it without looking. Mechanics were explained next and I was told to fire at a target close by. I could read the expectation and I didn't want to disappoint any of the curious watchers. The large calibre gun discharged and I was flung backwards on my butt. The men all laughed and I entered into the fun too to show that I was not angry. The laughing stopped when they saw the bullet hole in the centre of the ring in the target. I was asked to try again and I fired the remaining five shells. They formed a small neat circle close to the centre with the result being a large hole exactly in the middle of the bull's eye. A heavy rifle was next and when told to fire one round I dropped to the floor in a prone position and hit the target without falling backwards. With only a few more rounds I had to quit because of the hammering to my shoulder and it was time for these men to begin their duties. I thanked each of the men for their help. They were very interested in me and wanted me back so they could see what I could really do. I had a bath and was loaned some of Charlie's clothes for the time being. After our noon meal I interrupted Charlie's schedule and taught him some more on the piano, instead of phonetics. His nanny was at the door listening to the music and keeping time to the rhythm with her toe. I started him on a simpler Gershwin melody to play for his grandmother later. "You know Shawn, my other teacher would not like me to do this. She thinks this music is not quite proper." "Your grandma is stronger than your teacher. Can you see them wrestling on floor. Your grandmother would twist the teacher's arm and throw her out the door." Charlie giggled at the sight in his mind and then continued with his piano. When he was tired we sneaked into an empty classroom. I used chalk and drew different dinosaurs. "What is this one?" "Stegosaurus?" "Good." I moved over and drew another of the extinct animals and he immediately said, "Triceratops." "You are good," Now how about this one? I stepped away from the drawing and he said, "Tyrannosaurus Rex." "Close, that one is an Allosaurus. Its mouth is different but not much." When the three blackboards were full I started to wipe them off when Charlie said, "Wait, leave them on. I can study them later." "Ok," then I redid the images that had been damaged. I wrote the names of the animals under each of the drawings. In a while Charlie stretched and said, "I'm getting hungry. Let's go see if we can find something to eat?" "Do you want to go eat with the Ghurkhas? They have curried lamb, I can smell it." "No, but I would like to go to a pub. You said we could." "I only asked. Let's try." The queen was very busy and so was Charlie's father but I could read that he would be done soon. As he came out an office later we were waiting. Charlie walked up and waited to be noticed but I interrupted, "Hello sir, may I have a moment of your time?" I got a nod and continued, "Charlie and I would like to see what a pub meal is like. Can we go with an old babysitter Sgt. Rai? We can go in disguise if you want. Charlie has to get out and meet the people sometime." He started thinking and said, "Follow me." Inside another office he sat in a chair and then after a moment said, "It is true that our family has to interact with the rest of the country. We were even thinking of getting Charles to go to a public school. Perhaps this is a good way to introduce him to the people and vice versa." He thought for another moment and said, "Let's check on Sgt. Rai's plans." There was a lot of surprise but the Ghurkhas would go through hell for the Royal Family. In a short time we left the palace in a nondescript automobile and went to the Rai's favourite pub. Our guide was dressed in civilian clothing and carried his Kukri at his waist. Charlie was in simple clothing and I had a hat on to hide the colour of my hair. The room was smoke filled and many people were talking. As we entered everyone stopped to see who was coming in. Once they saw the familiar face, they resumed their discussions. Two men got up in the back in preparation for leaving. I pulled Charlie to it so that it would be ours. One other Ghurkha, Private Gurung, was having a meal and a pint on his own time and stood at attention and seeing the prince and his commander. Rai spoke in Nepali and told him to resume eating and just watch out for trouble if it arose. "Stay here while I order. Fish and chips ok with you?" "Yes I like them but mom won't let us have them often." I got up and stood beside Rai and ordered for us and let Rai order for himself. I caught the owner's eye and plunked the money down and said, "And a pint for Sgt. Rai and one for the man at the bar that looks like he swallowed a fly." The owner looked at the other Ghurkha and then back at me, "Oll right mate. You will not be hav'n a bit yourself?" He joked. "I am trying to cut back. It's making me fat," I said with a smile. My bruised face doing a lot to disguise my looks. We sat and when the meal was ready we got up to get the food. Charlie dove right in and enjoyed himself. I found the food odd but palatable. Rai's dish was different but he seemed to enjoy it. Charlie after a moment had time to look around and saw all the sports memorabilia on the walls, the dartboards and of course the Union Jack displayed in a place of honour. There was an argument in the corner and Sergeant Rai tensed. I patted his hand and he jumped. "There are fights all the time and no need to worry, just relax and I will protect you." This made the Sergeant smile and he went back to eating. In a moment I asked the sergeant, "Can a British lad have a sip of your pint? It is probably his first." The sergeant thought then pushed the glass to me. I took it and pushed in front of Charlie. "Take a drink. Go easy or you will never live it down." The boy looked at me in astonishment, then around at the rest of the room and took the glass in two hands and had a sip. With a little contemplation he took a bigger one and set the glass back and said, "That was different. Not bad really," he said as his tongue came out and licked the foam off his upper lip. As we were leaving Private Gurung got up and wanted to go with us. I said, "We are just tourists now and I think you should just stay and finish your pint." The man was torn until his commander told him to stay. We walked down the pavement. There were many bombed out buildings still and some were being stripped for parts for the ones being rebuilt. In the next block we found a music store and I pulled my companions into the small establishment. There were rows of sheet music arranged by artist or composer. I spotted some by Gershwin and pulled Charles over too see as I explained how to select the music. Some were very difficult and some were for different instruments. I tried to steer Charlie to one that his grandmother would like and yet not be too difficult to learn. Charlie wanted to walk out with it and I explained how he had to pay first. I handed him a pound note and he went to the counter and put the money and the music on the counter. An old woman came to the counter and said, "Good day. Will this be all?" "Yes, I am trying to play some music for my grandmother. Shawn says that she likes Gershwin. Mother likes it too but she is always busy doing things." The woman looked kindly at Charlie and said, "That is the way it is sometimes. Mothers and fathers are busy trying to keep a roof over your head." The woman handed the change back and said, "Have a good day young man." I came over with a selection of my own and the woman looked over the counter at me and said, "My goodness, what happened to you?" "I was trying to stab some mean old bullies and they stabbed me back instead." "They had no right to do that to you. If I had them here I would give them a piece of my mind and turn them over my knee. You... said stabbed?" "Yes I was in training and you are lucky. Sergeant Rai is here now. He gave me four bruises on my back, chest and two on my face. But if you look at him you will find a few as well." The woman looked at the man and finally placed him as a Ghurkha then made the connection that he was one of those who were protecting the Royal Family. She quickly looked at Charlie and recognised him. Looking at my face she saw who I was from the papers. "Oh my God." "Are you going to punish him? I tried and failed." The woman opened her mouth and closed it again, trying to think of something to say. "Don't worry, if I stayed in London long enough I would wear him down till he got a few more bruises. Already the others are thinking I was picking on an old man." The sergeant came to his own defence and said, "The boy would make a good Ghurkha if he were tall enough to reach higher than my waist." I placed some money on the counter and took both my purchase and my companions out the front door to the tingling of the bell over our heads. When we walked back towards the parked car, Charlie found a girl selling cut flowers. He used the rest of his money to buy some for his mother and grandmother. I bought some for Anne so that she would not feel left out. When we got back I thanked the sergeant for his company and started Charlie back into his studies. His reading skills were well beyond that of an ordinary four year old, but that was because of his nannies and tutors. Later I had a spelling test for him with some of the dinosaur names still on the blackboard. His memory was good and his grasp of phonetics even better. We then worked hard on the music he'd bought and with the small tinkering he was doing quite well. In a few days he would be able to perform before the crowned heads of a small part of Europe. When the queen called a break he gave her the flowers and then gave the other bouquet to his grandmother. The two women praised his gifts so much that he felt very good for getting them. When Anne came in she saw the flowers and thought them only pretty until she got her own bouquet, then they were all beautiful. Over supper Charles mentioned everything he had done and promised to play the piano when he had mastered his latest piece. He got his dad to promise to come and see his dinosaurs later in the evening and see how he could spell the names. I mentioned that I had to get back. "Mothers were kind of odd about their children even if they could take care of themselves." The Queen Mother nodded her head in agreement. The queen said, "Your father has been asked to come here. Our gemologist says that the stones are quite good. Even the smaller stones are cut in a non-standard way that highlights each of their features. If it weren't for your father's concern for the natives, I would not sell them if I were he." "They are only minerals, granted they are rare but still just a rock. Value is in the eye of the person that wants them and I for one think them just pretty but basically useless." An hour later dad came in and the queen greeted him as Sir John. Dad had been getting it all day but felt different getting it now. Over a glass of sherry dad was offered a fair price for all the gems and dad looked at me then accepted. The only thing he stipulated was that the money be given by one of the queen's many charities and it go to one he set up a year ago in Salisbury for his clinic. The queen agreed and said she would like to fly to Salisbury personally to present the money. "With a little juggling I can make it around the first of May." Charlie then Anne asked to go too. I looked into the Duke of Edinburgh's mind and knew he too would like to escape the cold weather of Britain for Africa. Dad said, "I would love to have you come and even stay with us if you want. I have many patients to look after and need to start back soon. The doctors that I hired still need a little guidance now and again." Charlie asked, "Can Shawn stay with us till then? We can take him home and he can teach me more piano and about dinosaurs." The queen saw me as a positive influence and more along the lines of what she wanted for her son. She said, "Would that be all right with you?" "It all depends on Shawn. He is young but can make up his own mind like an adult." Everybody looked at me now. "I would like to stay for another month but I want Lusa to stay with me and I get to take Charlie and Anne too to see grandpa and grandma. She is a pretty good cook." The queen was concerned again for her children. I added, "The three of us can go and explore and at the same time try to make your job easier. I am sure our babysitter can be encouraged to come along. I think within a month you will even be more proud of your children than you are now." She had seen me fight, knew me as fairly honourable. She also knew I would protect her children and was intelligent enough to realise what my words meant. I went home with dad and we discussed what to do when I was here. There were so many things that I really didn't know where to start. Just inside the doorway Lusa ran to me and gave me a big kiss and hug. I could feel her anxiety, as she felt Anne was much better catch than she was. Mom was appraised of the sale and the situation with me staying for a while at the palace. Lusa was very upset until dad told her that she was invited by the queen to stay with them as well. Grandpa knew we were leaving soon but was overjoyed to know that Lusa and I would be staying longer. That night I made love with Lusa in the tenderest way I could. There would not be too many times we could show our affection at the palace for I knew we couldn't sleep together. Dad, mom and Japera stayed one more day before boarding a BOAC plane bound for Salisbury. It was a tearful parting on all of us. We took a taxi to grandpa's house and then with another parting we took our clothes and belongings to the palace. The first few days saw Lusa getting to know Anne and vice versa. After that Anne was taught piano while I taught Charlie what he would need to be a monarch one-day. I scouted some bombed out sections of public buildings in my spare time. I made my own assessment of their salvageability and the actual need to have them. I had used a taxi till the Duke decided I needed a car and driver to do this work. I made my recommendations on paper and the reasons for each along with a cost assessment of the completion. Some less useful buildings I hoped to gain beams, bricks and anything else that the current project could use. The queen looked over the four-page list and considered some of my recommendations. The first one was by grandpa's home and had the added advantage of him getting the locals to help in the rebuilding. This was actually put on the paper so that it would not look sneaky on my part. She agreed with the plan and Charlie, the driver and one of the Ghurkhas went with us to grandpa's. He opened the door and ushered us in. It had been hectic for him with everybody coming over to visit now that he was famous, at least by proxy. I had coached Charlie on what to say and he did a fairly good job of getting my grandparents to help. Leaflets would be put out tomorrow and the next day we would begin. Now they could go around and get their friends to tell their friends about the activities and why they were happening. The weather was co-operating and the morning of the next day was bright if chilly. There were a few people standing around and Charlie got on the back of a truck and told them about the work to be done. He told them that he was young but more than willing to dig in. "We have a great country and the only way to make it greater is for all of us to pull together and build." It wasn't much of a speech but good enough for his age. The people agreed and we started picking up broken bricks and throwing them into a hopper brought the day before. The women attacked the sections of mortared bricks and the piles of clean building materials grew. Charlie was tired but refused to leave. He was offered countless glasses of water or a cuppa during his work. At lunch time, a truck brought water to wash and food cooked by grandma and her friends. Sanitary facilities were brought in that morning and everything seemed to be working fine. I remembered the soldiers thinking of logistics and tried to plan for most things. I bandaged many fingers and put gauze and tape on cuts and blisters. The BMA might give me problems but I was only giving first aid. I had a very tired boy to take home to his parents but the newspapers had been there and taken his picture as he worked. The bandages on his arms and hands figured very prominently. The queen was justifiably shocked at his condition but I countered with how it was building muscles, character, calluses, goodwill and of course stimulating the country to work harder. The next day I increased the amount of services and when we got to the site there were many more people to help and hobnob with a working member of royalty. I pulled Charlie back from a wall that could collapse and climbed on the top edge myself to secure a rope. With many hands pulling the wall came down with a large billow of dust. That was the moment that the newspapers caught Charlie sweating and pulling on the rope. It took six days to clear the lot and on the seventh we rested. We had to, for the queen had demanded that we go to church and rest up. After services I talked to Charlie about the new building and tried to get his feeling on the purpose and styling. This was not necessary but good for building his character, confidence and esteem within the community. We took our proposals to the Duke. I pointed out the areas his son had wanted, then the features that the building would have over other public buildings. A sketch with shrubs and trees helped a lot. To be on the safe side I made logical variations and their own views. When he had decided he took the drawings to his wife and told her about what Charles would like. On Monday we dug up the basement floor and repaired and improved the sewers and the water supply. The Duke had taken the sketches and a set of plans I drew up and got them approved for a permit. Steel beams went up and trades people came in. Some of the existing beams I managed to straighten while still under the bricks so that the cost would be kept down. At other bombed out buildings I straightened some more beams and with a long chain pulled them miraculously from the rubble. Charlie learned to lay bricks after a fashion and soon Lusa and Anne came by to help encourage people. Anne filled countless cups with water for the thirsty people and became a darling herself. Our biggest problem was all the adults worrying about our safety and the problem of having such young people on a building site. There were some people hurt and I didn't treat them as I would in Salisbury. These were stabilised and sent to the closest hospital. The queen got the best estimates for the completion of the building and planned her trip to Rhodesia accordingly. The middle of May found her cutting a ribbon on the front door of a partially completed building. Many of the walls were not panelled or painted but the building was intact and could start to fulfil its duties as a civic centre. The queen's approval rating was already high and now her son's was gaining. It was hard to imagine that he was only four years old the way he started to inspire people. We made as few stops as possible going home. Each stop required a speech and a meal. Salisbury was no different but here she could come to our house for some peace for a while. Dad had hired some unarmed black security and together with the Ghurkhas the queen had brought, they formed a perimeter guard. The government had provided an additional cordon around our property. Mom was very happy to be playing hostess and she had a month and a half to prepare. The linen was perfect and much of the house had been repainted. Some furniture had been replaced and some rugs purchased. The queen had come with only her children for there were too many duties for everybody to take time off. That night we had just us and made it feel just like family in a way. I was able to once again sleep with Lusa and knew my place would always be beside her. The next morning I made breakfast. Lots of food was made to feed the security detail within our borders. Soon the cooks got up and pushed me out of the kitchen so they could do what they were being paid for. The queen was tired and I did my first tinkering with her and she slept two extra hours before awakening much more refreshed. As she drank her first cup of tea she looked through the windows onto our property. Her eyes lit on the statue I made of mother and said, "Oh my god. What's that?" She went out the French doors and almost stumbled on the large family of gnomes. She looked at the statue, then the face and knew it was mother. In a minute mom was with her and very embarrassed about the artwork. "I was going to have it taken out or draped with canvas." "Why would you do such a thing? It is beautiful. The sculptor had more talent than I have ever seen before. It looks as if you were actually turned to stone. I can even see a small blemish you have transposed onto stone." Elizabeth turned and admired the gnomes too, then bent down to examine each of them in greater detail. It took her an extra hour to finish looking at all of the artwork and she laughed out loud at the young one doing its business in the shrubs. A few more minutes were used to peruse the plants and the artistic setting. "Your grounds are so delightful. I would like one like this but it would be a too risqué for me." Mom felt better but still felt sick and kicked herself for forgetting the statue. Elizabeth smiled and said, "You should have seen some of the gardens my family has had. Yours are so much more mundane by their standards." Dad had seen the women in the garden and smiled at their appreciation of the stone work. They were having a good time so he decided to let them have some solitude. He now saw how a monarch's life was devoted to meetings, speeches, meals, concerts, travel to out of the way places, separation from family and of course more speeches. It might be nice to begin with, but very soon it would require a special person to handle a life long commitment like this. Earlier I had woken Lusa up the way she loved. Her hands came down and held my head in place as she moved me just the way she liked. I sucked softly then hard even to some small nibbles until her body could not take it any longer and started to shake. She held me still with her arms and legs. I would have asphyxiated if I hadn't long ago developed my lung capacity. When she recovered I climbed up and kissed her lips. She licked her juices off my face partly because she knew I liked to see her do that. My small erection was on her abdomen and I had to slide down to find my position and thrust in. I went back and forth striking the still intact hymen that had all these years been protected. The small hole in the centre would still allow my 'finger' to enter her vagina but the basic structure was there. When I grew big enough I would take it naturally. I thrust back and forth feeling Lusa's sensations and knowing just the right thing to do. I caressed her growing breasts and pinched the small brown nipples. She groaned in appreciation and held me tightly to her. With my hands caressing her breasts my mouth attacked one and bit lightly. When I switched to the other she spasmed again and held her mouth desperately shut to stifle the scream that her body demanded. When she had calmed down with contented sounds that I always enjoyed I said, "Woman, you are incorrigible. Get up, we have guests." She didn't but flipped over on me and slid down and engulfed my erection. After a few licks she pushed my legs apart and sucked my scrotum into her mouth too and purred like a contented baby. It would be a while yet before my testicles descended into their rightful place but that did not negate the feelings coming to me now. Soon a shiver went through my body, the closest I could get to an orgasm and I relaxed with Lusa still encouraging me to have another. "I want to stay longer with you Sweetie but we have company." She reluctantly pulled off and sat on her haunches. "You don't want me?" She said in play. She took her small breasts in her hands and rolled the nipples between her fingers. "I grew these just for you." "Lusa, my woman, you grew them for our children but I will play with them till they come along." She smiled at that and I continued, "Get up woman or I will have to stimulate you thinking like the men in your village do their women." She got up now and wiggled her bum like she saw other women do to entice their men. Before she got to the bathroom I said, "Just pee. I want to go swimming first." "Ok." Soon we were doing lengths in the shallow indoor pool. After only six lengths we started to get out and the door at the end of the room opened and both Charlie then Anne entered the room. They looked at us in the water and I said, "Now that you guys are here come on in. The water is warm." They walked closer and saw that we didn't have clothing. Anne said with some excitement in her voice, "You're naked." I stopped and treaded water in the deeper end and said, "You are naked under your clothes. Just put your dress on the bench and come on in." "That's bad Shawn Boz. I can never do that." I saw that she could not swim and this was the real reason. "That is ok. You are very young and I was going to teach you to swim. Charlie put your clothes on the bench and come on in. I know you can swim a little and we can teach you how to do some different strokes." He was shy still even around us and was worried about someone else seeing him. "Put a chair under the door knob and nobody can come in." This was enough and he did as I asked. Over the last month and a half he had never found anything I said to be false or hurtful. Most were good ideas that he had to get used to though. Physical work and exercise was the worst but he enjoyed the muscles that he was beginning to develop. He slid into the pool and found it was shallow enough so that the water only came to his sternum. He turned to his sister and said, "Come on in little sister. It is not too deep and the water is warm." Anne was much more adventurous than her brother and came to the edge of the pool. "Sit down on the edge and I will help you in. See where the water comes on me. It will be below your chin." She too had grown to trust me and only inhaled deeply as she slid into the water. "Lusa will you do some laps with Charlie? I have to teach some magic to Anne." Anne eagerly said, "What?" I only settled in the water so the level was above my nostrils and below my eyes. Bubbles came out and continued until my lungs had no more to give. "Now you do it. As soon as you finish come up to breathe." She did and panicked a little and came up but tried it again. Soon she was doing it easily. A panic came again when her head went under water but she recovered and flung the water from her face with her small hands. I used my special abilities and sat on the bottom of the pool with my eyes open like Buddha and let tiny bubbles come out my nostrils. Anne tried the same but couldn't stay down. Bubbles came out her nose till she laughed and then many came and she had to come up for air. With her fear of the water now only minor, I held her up as she learned to breathe out under water and turn her head to inhale. When her arms moved later water came into her mouth and she panicked again and stopped to bring her head high above the water. "You are doing great. Lots of people haven't done as good as you in this amount of time." She smiled and went back to her stroking. I moved my hands and used only one to hold her up until she tired. "I did it. I did it." "You certainly did. Soon I can take my hand away for a second and you will stay afloat. Then put it back and then you will know that you can swim." She was too tired and looked at her brother and Lusa out of breath sitting on the edge of the pool with their feet in the water. Anne looked at Lusa and asked me, "How come her boobies are big?" "Well... she is growing into a woman. She is six years older than you and one day babies will get milk from them to grow big and strong." "I am going to have two babies just like mommy has." "Ah that sounds good. Are they going to be quiet like your brother or jumping all over the place like his little sister?" It took a moment for her to figure that out then said, "They will jump all over the place and make me have to chase them." "Well you are tired now. Let's back up and try to swim to your brother. If you make it we can sit on the edge and rest for a while." She backed up with a little difficulty and I held her with two then only one hand. "Ready?" I got a smile and her hands went furiously. I removed my hand but used my power to assist. She moved closer and ran out of air. My hand immediately came back and her head came up for air. "I did it. I swam." "Told you, that you could. Rest for a while and let's swim the rest of the way." The next time her flailing hand hit Charlie's leg and she hung on tight and pulled her head up. "I did it. I did it," she yelled excitedly. I got closer and boosted her up so she could sit beside her brother. Charlie said, "You sure make a lot of noise. You did better than me the first time though. I took days to learn but that was before Shawn was teaching." I stood up and Anne innocently looked between my legs. There wasn't much too see accept I was a little bigger than her brother, who she had seen for the first time today. She opened her mouth to ask a question but thought it inappropriate so I answered for her. "You want to know about our different parts?" She just nodded her head. "Well this part here," pinching the skin on my penis and picking it up, "gets hard and it slips inside a girl. If the boy is old enough small living things come out and travel into the girl. If the girl is old enough she has an egg that the living things will go to. One may go into the egg and make a child. Not too much to it. There are a lot of good feelings that encourage the boy and the girl to do this a lot. The parents don't like the children not do this. A baby can be born that is not wanted right away and take a lot of time from a child's life as they have to do adult things." "What things?" "Like what your mom and dad have to do. They work hard and are not able to play with you much or have to go away for a while like your mother did. Your dad is not around and he misses both of you and your mother." I whispered, "Let's jump into the water. We can splash your brother." She got up and held my hand trustingly and jumped in. I brought my legs under me and she just jumped in with her feet. The splash was not great but both Lusa and Charlie got hit. With a faked cry of outrage they both jumped in but Charlie didn't keep his legs tight and the water hit him like a kick. He was bent over in the water with both hands cupping his immature testicles. I picked him up like a baby and started to take him to the bench when the door with the chair was pushed open. Mom then Charlie's mother came in. I continued to the bench and sat Charlie down and rubbed his back. "It will be ok in a minute. I fell off a bed once and onto a chair. Now that really hurt." Anne disregarded her mother and climbed the ladder and ran to her brother. "Did it fall off?" "With a straight face I said, "No, just hurt a little." His mother pushed me aside to look at her son. "What happened Charles?" "I... just jumped in the water and it hurt." She looked questioningly at me and I said, "When you jump in the water to make a splash you keep your legs together. Haven't you ever skinny dipped?" She said nothing and her mind told me she hadn't. "You missed lots of fun but have to watch out that you keep your legs tight. He will be all right in a minute just leave him alone." Elizabeth backed up and Charlie tried to stand then succeeded and gave a sickly smile to his mother. "I'm ok now." Anne grabbed her mother's arm and said, "I can swim now. Shawn taught me." We all walked over to the pool and I jumped in for security and assurance. We backed up a few feet and held Anne. She thrashed in the water and I gave her a surreptitious push and she swam almost two yards to the pool edge. "See mommy, I can do it." "That is very good dear but why are you in the pool naked with your brother and another boy?" I stepped in before Anne could be shamed and said to her mother, "Honi soit qui mal y pense." The queen opened her eyes wide and then said, "I am sorry Anne. Everything is fine but when you get older you won't be able to do this." Mother could speak Latin. She deciphered the phrase and smiled at my retort. The phrase meant 'Shame on him who thinks this evil' and was the motto of the knights of the 'Order of the Garter'. The same knights that the British Royal Family inducted. We swam a bit and the adults caught Charlie casting glances of Lusa as she walked around the pool. I think she knew what she was doing for she wiggled just a bit more than usual. It was fun to surmise without knowing everything. ------- Chapter 10 During the day the queen had to go on tours of the city and formal reception was to take place that night. That was the time the queen would make known the money for the poor clinic. Then she would talk on her feelings about the situation with the whites segregating the blacks. I would normally stay home and in this case be with Charles, Anne and Lusa. However, this time I would be at the meal because of my knighthood and Lusa would be beside me to show our family's feelings. Mom bustled around the house even more trying to get ready for the festivities. Dad's knighthood would be bad enough but to have a son too was difficult to get everything right. Fancy cars in the capital were now scarce and dad had to make do with his own vehicle. We pulled up close but security was tight and a valet had to come to us to park the car. The car left and we joined the line waiting to get into the public building. Dad had his invitation firmly in his hand when mom said, "Oh, I forgot my makeup in the car." Dad said that he would get it and I said I would do it or we would loose our place in the line. Lusa insisted that she come with me and we soon found the car and the errant case. When we got back to the line we found that dad and mom had made it in and Lusa and waited again till our turn came. The man doing the primary checking was Sergeant Colin McBride. He was one of the people from Internal Security that had killed and continue to kill any black that they thought was too uppity for their own good. Granted they usually got some severe warning first but no second chance. When it came our turn he looked at me and recognised my face from the papers and had been give word by dad that I and another family member was coming a little later. "Your invitation please." "I saw dad talk to you and inform you that we would be coming. Does security seem to be afflicted with memory loss?" "Look boy, you don't have an invitation so and you and this darkie can leave." "I am not boy. My name is Sir Shawn Boz. The sir might mean nothing to your obvious bigotry but my companion is part of my family and specifically invited by Her Royal Majesty Elizabeth II. Your choice of words shows that you are unsuited for your job on many grounds." Looking to my right I saw Corporal Kulbir following our conversation with more than a hint of levity. "As for the derogatory term you used, I suppose your wishes would be to only have whites allowed to attend the reception?" The man was angry but kept his cool and called one of his men to move us out of the line. When the man came and told me to leave I refused and then he bent down and grabbed Lusa in a painful grip and simply picked me up. Since this was assault I drove my hand into his shoulder and then across his throat. My arms were short and I could not move much but it was enough for him to drop me. The man's eyes almost blazed and he said, "I will kill you." He came at me again and I ducked and got under him then raised him by the scrotum and drove his head into the concrete walk. As he recovered I ran in and kicked his face with the sole of my shoes. I turned to find McBride pointing a revolver at me. "Halt!" The people that had retreated during the fight retreated even further. "Are you going to shoot a three year old boy, or are you going to shoot a person knighted by our sovereign and told quite explicitly to protect the weak?" My voice was loud enough to reach everybody even those just inside the door. The gun wavered a little but stayed on me. A man in a tux came running forward and looked at the standoff. He was the appointed head of Internal Security and felt quite exposed at the moment. "What are you doing McBride? He has been knighted and has an invitation. Put away that gun now." The gun came down but the urge to kill remained. The man looked at me and said, "You may pass." "I might but what is going to happen here? Is the next guest invited by the Prime Minister or our Sovereign going to be harassed, attacked, forced to defend himself and his companions?" "He will be disciplined." "What about your other thug that threatened to kill me?" "He did not. I was just inside the door." "Sir you are a liar and the leader of goons and thugs. Corporal Kulbir," I called. The Ghurkha came forward and snapped to attention as if I was his commanding officer. "Sir." "Did this man assault me at McBride's orders?" "Yes sir, he did." "Did this man on the ground threaten to kill me?" "Yes sir. Quite a stupid thing to do I think." "Apparently this liar in a tux would like to call you to task for that comment. Perhaps he can put forward the idea that since you are not white you naturally lie." "He would not do that to my face sir." "I don't think anyone would call that to your face but you would be a liar behind your back. I will talk to our Queen as to see who can be trusted with the truth." I held Lusa's hand and pulled her around the man and passed Corporal Kulbir, who had a small smile on his face. When we stepped within the hall there was no noise at all, even the kitchen was quiet. I escorted Lusa to her seat at the table with the queen and I stopped long enough to show her the bruising on Lusa's arm. She asked, "Are both of you all right?" "Yes Your Majesty. We just ran into the usual bigots and liars on the way in." She turned to the man beside her and asked, "Why is this beautiful county saddled with such people Mister Prime Minister?" He mumbled something and left to see what could be salvaged. I pulled out Lusa's chair and sat her before getting into my own. Dad and mom had serious looks an their faces and I added, "I had to make a stand. I couldn't let this bigotry be hidden any longer. Now they would assault young mixed race girls, at another time they murder men and dump their bodies out of town." The queen turned to one of her bodyguards and gave him some orders. I had not whispered when I had uttered my words and most of the people around the table were politicians or very wealthy business people. There was very little chance to get active sympathy here. The business interests wanted cheap dependable labour and the government controlled by business tried its best to assure that this happened. Conversations started and it wasn't for at least five minutes until the usual hubbub began. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice came back and took their seats. The bodyguard came back and whispered in the queen's ear, giving a concise rendition of the incident. The queen turned and asked the Prime Minister, "I hear when a security man gets caught doing something illegal or immoral in this country he is transferred to a different department and then carries on as if nothing happened." The men's faces turned red signifying they had been caught again. "Your personal appointee lied to Sir Shawn. How much of his dishonesty comes from the men around him? I feel as though I have fallen in with a pack of jackals." I was very surprised to hear these strong words. I saw that this woman had a lot of scruples and backed them up with her will and words. The meal progressed and the politicians around the queen felt that this was their last meal. When it came time the queen left her prepared speech and lambasted bigotry in general. She went so far as to say that it undermined democracy and all the things the monarchy now stood for. Reporters in the back were writing notes furiously. This was like no other speech she had given before. Dad gave his speech and talked of man working with man to build a better world than what we had. He got in a lot of jabs about under funding the native health care system. Nothing was said about education because it did not exist. I was given the microphone and had to get on my chair to be seen. This caused a few laughs and I laughed with them. "It is a real pain to be short and young," I started. "People treat you like a pet dog or ignore you. I have been born special. As you can tell I am more fortunate than the usual three year old and because I exercise I am stronger too. I have been afflicted with curiosity which has led me to explore and learn all about the world around me. "When my family went to Britain on a holiday we met some survivors of a tragedy at sea. Through a lot of effort of Doctor Quigley and dad we were able to save the ones we managed to drag from the sea. I was fortunate to notice something that proved crucial for two lives. "Her Royal Majesty saw fit to knight me for this and other things that I had done. My oath said that I was to be brave, ready and loyal. It was also said that I was to protect the weak and uphold the laws of God and man. "While at the palace I found a rare opportunity. My oath told me to protect but I could not do that well. The Royal Family have a group of soldiers that I would think are the most loyal, trustworthy and honest men the world has to offer. They were kind and considerate to teach me a few things that could save my life and those around me. "Outside this building I found that my parents had gone into this room before I got back from an errand. I tried to follow. Dad left specific word that I would be coming. This I heard myself, just before he entered the main doors. Because the girl beside me is not fully white the man called her 'darkie'. This is a common word and is meant as derision. "I stood my ground as any man in this room would. When we refused to leave this gathering, we were assaulted. I used the knowledge given me by those non white men tonight to fight a man and his subordinate. A man pointed a gun at me for protecting my family. He is from Internal Security. It seems that a three-year-old boy with the ability to fight with his hands and a ten-year-old girl are a viable threat to the stability of the country we love. "The head of Internal Security came out to rescue what he could at this time. He lied at hearing his man threaten to kill me, however I was lucky enough to have many witnesses. Some were honest civilians and others the queen's own men, they came forward and told the authorities what they had witnessed. "Now we come to the men who run this government. Will they hide this man away so he can continue to do his work or will they allow him to enter private industry so that he can do the same thing? I for one would look suspiciously at anybody that would hire a man like that. "If anybody thinks I have committed slander I want the Minister of Justice to look into it now and gather the facts. None of us want to hear 'oh I forgot to ask.' at a possible future trial. "Now before I sit down I would like the Prime Minister to speak as he was going to do and address these issues with plain talk. Let's all listen to see how he approaches the subject, or evades it." The Prime Minister was intelligent or he would never have got where he was now. He attacked my age and memory in a polite way but saw that he was getting nowhere. With everybody here having listened to the queen's words he was obliged to look into the matter and if the facts were true to terminate the head of Internal Security. That night dad, mom and the queen were all angry with me. I hadn't manipulated much if any of the situation. It was out now that I was very bright and able to fight after a fashion. I would be watched very intently and possibly killed because of the way I embarrassed the government. The explanation of their motives for keeping the native population in chains later proved even more of an embarrassment for almost each and every person in the room. The papers were full of the event and even the ones owned by interests in Britain were torn by loyalty. The queen had made a phone call and then another phone call had come back telling the local paper to print the truth or their editors would need to find themselves all new jobs. The one independent paper didn't print much of the incident, hoping to let the public forget. That night the queen, her children and her retinue left and I was sorry to see them go. I could have asked them to stay like I did but the threat to my life and that of my family made that unthinkable. Dad went back to his practice and his work did not suffer for his views. I had to help long distance for mom would not let me off our grounds. The poor clinic was the same way but this time there was money available for an additional doctor. The Ministry of Health gave us more money when they were shown to the world for being so stingy. The visitors to our home changed. The only ones that came now were people sympathetic to our cause. Here mom walked a fine line, for she knew we were watched and possibly the phone was tapped too. If she said too much a public trial could be held and jail would surely follow. Mom was getting so paranoid that I believe she overdid it. I was sent to London to stay with dad's parents and go to school there. A stipulation made that I stayed away from the palace for fear of carrying danger to the Royal Family. I bordered the plane with the greatest of reluctance. Mom, Japera and Lusa had cried and still found enough tears to shed when I got on the BOAC flight for London. Dad had shed a few tears as well but had hid them much better. I had hardly ever cried but found a few to shed as I walked up the flight or steps. The stewardess was a young woman and saw me as only a very young child that was sent alone on a long flight alone. I was given preferential seating in first class even though I told dad to book me with the rest of the ordinary people in economy. This time I was too distraught to argue and allowed the woman to buckle my seat belt and gave me a box of tissues. Two seats over a large man smoked a cigar that smelled up the cabin. On other seats men talked and smoked as they read the financial section of the paper. Just before the flight a young pretty woman got on with an older man. She was the 'secretary' that performed many special duties for her boss. This made me even more homesick and the wheels had not even left the tarmac yet. Lusa had demanded that I find a woman or two to keep me happy while I was away. She still didn't understand that the glands governing this type of action were inactive. I could perform though but it was necessary to use my brain instead. I really didn't know how Lusa would function because we made love almost every day since she was six. Mom and dad had set-up a large bank account in my name and arranged many of the things that I could easily do for myself. It was just their way of doing this last little bit for me as if I had the mentality of a three-year-old along with the body that was approaching the ripe old age of four. Japera cried so hard I thought that she would never see me again. In the last week I lost count of the times she broke down and couldn't continue. Usually this set mom off too and they would both cry. Mom though did not back down for she saw this as the best way to ensure my safety. Lusa couldn't take it so she played music for so many hours that I think she was fixating on it to exclude all else. Our lovemaking was almost animalistic in its intensity. She wanted me in her all the time thinking I could give her a baby. The sad fact was that she was not even pubescent yet. The engines started to roar and the propellers spun till they disappeared. I couldn't directly see them even if I was at the window because of my height. The plane started its run down the asphalt and soon the nose climbed and I was still saying goodbye to my family many miles later as we climbed higher and higher. I found in my anxiety that I had communicated almost a hundred miles before it finally faded. This made me even more morose and I curled up in my chair after taking off my seatbelt. The stewardess, Shelley by name, came by and asked in a child like voice if there was anything I would like. "Only a pillow. Maybe I can get some sleep. I just find it upsetting to leave my family for such a long time." Shelly was thinking of my speech and trying to reconcile it with my apparent age. When the pillow was presented is put it beside me and tried to think of it as Lusa. I must have slept. At home all the feelings of imminent parting had kept me awake and those of everyone else in the house. My eye flew down and I could see land and then I had to search the navigator's mind and saw that we were just crossing the southern border of Chad. The plane and its controls began to pique my interest because there was basically nothing else to do. The businessmen were thinking of profits and how they could screw the people above them so they could work their way up. Others already at the top looked how to screw competitors and fight off underlings from below. The engines were fairly simple but the hydraulic and electric controls proved to be fascinating. After another meal I started on the captain and his crew and saw all the things that must be done to fly a plane of this size and complexity. By the time we were touching down in London I figured I could fly the plane myself and do most of the basic repairs if needed. We coasted to a stop. A small towing machine came out and pulled us into position. We wearily disembarked. When the luggage was brought out I waited until most of the other people were done before fighting for my property. A young woman helped me with a small suitcase and asked, "Where are your parents, little boy?" "Thank you for your assistance ma'am. My parents are in Salisbury worrying about me being away from home and my grandparents will soon be here after I get through customs." The woman stood up straight and looked at me funny trying to see if I was a midget or something similar. I pulled over a frame on wheels and threw my luggage on it. I was at the end of a line when the customs and immigration man looked over the counter at me. "Hello there young man. May I have your papers please?" "I handed my new passport up to him and he read the changes to it. The 'Sir' stood out and he said, "This is your dad's. Do you have anything for you?" Children usually came in under their parent's papers and if they were from a commonwealth country, a birth certificate was good enough. "Sir, I thank you for your concern for protecting this country and of one small boy trying to make it to school here. But the fact is the passport is mine and I happen to have been knighted recently to get it." "Well I'll be... I never thought I would meet somebody like you here. Where are you going?" "My grandparents will put me up and then others will assess me to find my place in the British educational system. By my own reckoning I should be entering the final year of university while majoring in six subjects." The man looked at the passport and especially the date August 12 1950. He looked at me again then at the passport then at me again and started to laugh. "You had me there, young man. You won't be four for another three months." "Sir, I did not exaggerate. I will be a physician like my dad, a mathematician to understand physics and chemistry, I already understand many languages and will need a final topping up of business administration." The man believed my words but had a very difficult time getting the rest of his brain to accept it. He simply stamped my passport and because I was last he helped me to the room where grandma and grandpa were nervously waiting. The kindly man recognised them from their pictures in the paper but surprisingly didn't keep an image of me. I ran like any other boy and hugged one then the other. I finally turned around and thanked the officer for his help and his sympathy for a small boy alone for a time in a strange country. In the taxi home I was asked all sorts of questions and had to field some for the time being. Mom and dad were great I told them but worried about me. Japera and Lusa were the same and promised to keep working on a better education just as I was doing. I was given dad's old room and with all my clothes and some of dad's I felt less lonely. Grandpa had arranged an assessment the next morning and he managed to get some time off work to accomplish this. Over a cuppa I told him that this was not necessary, "Grandpa, I only look little. I read all the maps and know them by heart. Taxi drivers can take me where I need to go if necessary and the train schedule is posted and I will have it memorized the first time I see it." "That is good but you need an adult with you. I even think it is the law." "Grandpa I love you and grandma but I can manage this easy thing myself. There is no reason for you to lose a day's pay," I smiled, "or deprive the Chancellor of the Exchequer his portion of your wages." The next day I stepped out the front door in a cool day in the last days of May and waved to both grandparents. I had won this small battle and would take the trolley to my goal. With two changes of conveyance I was able to make it to my destination without incident even though most drivers were worried about someone so young getting on his vehicle. A public call box reminded me to make a few courtesy calls and I phoned a private number at Buckingham Palace. A secretary picked up the phone and I gave my name and asked for Charles. He was able to take the call and I explained where I was and why. With a few pieces of information I explained how I was only able to meet him where the Ghurkhas could guard us both. In a way he did not understand but in a simpler way he did. He sounded a little down and I explained how I could be invited to come for a visit if his family thought it advisable. After the call I climbed the many steps to an imposing stone building and looked at the heavy oak door. Its handle was out of reach and I had to wait till nobody was looking before opening the massive portal. The floor was stone and I walked down a deserted hallway to the door I wanted. The room had a counter and glass separating the front of the room from the important people in the back. Nobody came to see who the visitor was and cared little. "Hello, Is there anybody here?" A click of china was heard and someone pushed back their chair and slowly came to the small opening in the glass. The woman about 40 or so looked out and then down to me. "What do you want, little boy?" "I came to see Mr. Driscoll. I have an appointment." "Where are your parents, little boy?" "My parents are in Rhodesia. My appointment is here and now. I may be a little boy ma'am but my name is not little boy, it is Shawn Boz, as it says on your scheduling. Will you please inform Mr Driscoll that I am here and ready at his convenience?" "Who do you think you are, little boy? Your parents were remiss in your education and you are sorely lacking in your manners." I took a breath and let it out then took an oak chair and placed it in front of the opening then climbed onto it to see my antagonist face to face. "Madam, my parents went to a lot of effort to teach me a great many things, including manners. I was to respect age, intelligence and be polite to people that are polite to me. You show very little politeness and I tried to be nice. I assume you can understand my simple requests but I see you need stimulation to start this effort. First of all I am 'Sir' Shawn Boz. Secondly I almost brought down the government in Rhodesia and managed to get the government to fire the head of Internal Security. Do you think one receptionist in a minor building in a large city would be too much harder?" Looking at the grey haired woman harder I said, "Now please inform Mr. Driscoll of my presence as your job requires." The woman backed up and fled the room. Three other people were sitting at their desks, some with tea part way to their mouths, with said orifices wide open in shock or amusement. In a moment a door on the side was flung open and a heavyset man rushed out. "What is the meaning of this young man. You frightened one of my workers half to death?" "Since you choose to ask in public, I will reply the same way. Your appointment book has my name. It is not 'young man'. Your workers are having their break at 8am when the designated time is an hour later. That is of no matter as long as they handle their jobs. It seems that you do not run a very tight ship and that you have let things slide to the point that the ministry would have to be called in to rectify matters. Lastly I came here for an assessment not a confrontation with people that think that their senior position is the only thing to consider when dealing with the public." The man sputtered then gained control of himself. "Come into my office and we can get you sorted out Master Boz." I took a chair in his large panelled office and waited for the man to start. He was trying to think of ways to be vindictive and also throw roadblocks in my way. "There are quite a few tests to be done and we can start in the other room." His idea was to give me tests for a child starting school and work my way up through each of them then find one way or another to see that I fail. "Before we start Mr. Driscoll, I want you to save any and all records you have of this testing. If I do not like the results I will take them to the minister for a review. Second I feel I can enter university now. Give me the tests that will assist me in this endeavour. Failing this I will bring in my solicitor to make my wishes better known. My name by the way is 'Sir' Shawn Boz and I will gain the minister's ear if I need." The man sat up straighter and reassessed his course but not his objective. "There is no need for that young man." "That is fine. I believe the minister will personally view my scores in any case. After the completion of these tests I will tell him that you are busy processing them." The tests came in and I worked on them quickly. I put my name, date and a sequential number on each sheet I did. Within an hour I had completed more tests than were required but did them regardless. When Mr. Driscoll found nothing more for me to do, I wrapped them all up and made out a sheet of which tests I had completed and the number of extra sheets of paper that I had handed in. If some were going to be 'lost' I wanted the ministry to know that they were handed in. Mr. Driscoll refused to give me the receipt that I requested, so I took his phone against his wishes and stuck my finger in the holes on the dial and dialled the personal number of the Minister of Education. I was lucky that the man was in his office. I referenced the man's job title then gave my own name and title. I explained where I was and who I was with. I gave my suspicions about my tests and the failure of Mr. Driscoll to give me a receipt. A minute later I hung up the phone. "I believe you will be getting a call from somebody that will inform you to give me a receipt." "You didn't have to do that Mr. Boz." "I am past the point of trying to work with you. The name is Sir Shawn to you and I will not have you try to sidetrack my education because you and some old biddy like their prerequisites in an out of the way petty bureaucracy." We were quiet for three minutes until a woman came to his door and knocked then came in and said, "There is a call for you sir in the other room." I found this was done so that Driscoll would not have to take the call in front of me. Five minutes later a shaken man came back. In his hand was a receipt of the test taken. I handed him my more detailed receipt to put his signature on instead. When it was done I said, "You will find that the tests I did would be very easy for an adult to do. My score will be judged and re-evaluated many times in the near future. If you give me even one extra point everybody will know it. If I am not given a point the same thing will happen. I am only saying this so that I get what is fair and nothing more." I walked out of the building to see many people moving along the busy street. The confrontation that I had just came from made me feel ill, particularly it didn't make me feel proud to have had to call in assistance. Granted I could have taken the tests and in a few weeks be where I was now but that was counter productive in many ways. Their time and my own would be wasted. I could be learning so many new things instead of taking exams on how to add integers or see how Spot ran with Dick and Jane. I could see how this would drive an adult to drink. It took a while with trams and buses to get to University College London. The bus stopped on Euston Road and I walked a short distance to the Medical Science Centre just off Gower Street. I wandered into the building trying to get a feel for the place. Everybody was rushing about going to classes and I blended in but I had to worry about being trampled. I tried to stay out of sight as much as possible while I assessed the professors. They were quite busy with mundane things and what I hoped to find was specific information. The Journal of the American Medical Association that I'd read in dad's office had mentioned that Salk had been working on a vaccine for poliomyelitis and I wanted to see how the people here interpreted the man's findings. With a lot of digging I found little that could help me. This was not the centre of research on the virus and had no more information than I already had. Rather than continue with this line of research now I investigated the students and assessed their level of competence against their time in the institution. I saw that not all were as bright and resourceful as dad. Comparing them to mom's students I found them almost the same. Mom's at least seemed to be more inspired to do better. I had picked this school first because it was one of the first to open its doors to the poor, women and of any race or religion. Young doctor wannabes raced with books and notes clutched under their arms to their next class. This was an encouraging sight for I liked the egalitarian approach to education. Gower Street was not too busy and I crossed to get a snack. It was getting close to noon and I wanted to beat the rush. I sat at a small table and one of the students came over and said, "Are you lost little boy?" "Hello. I just had a fight with people calling me little boy but it seems to be all that I can expect till I grow taller. I am not lost but only a little hungry. I thought it better to eat now than have to fight my way through a crowd of famished students." She smiled and said, "Well what would you like?" I ordered and paid on delivery. I sipped the tea and followed the thinking of those around me. Some of the girls thought me cuddly and one of the males thought I was very desirable. This was what people usually thought and I was not really able to alter their thinking. Other people started coming in and ordering. One sat in a small table in the corner and was very upset. Looking closer I saw that she was having difficulty with an English assignment she had been given. It was to be handed in soon and it was nowhere near done. It was a simple matter too. She only had to work on a passage from one of Shakespeare's works. She had to describe in detail what some of the more archaic words meant and put them into the modern vernacular. The trouble started when the girl did not happen to have English as her native language. Her home was just over the channel in Paris. With my meal finished I picked up the dishes and took them to the counter and placed them so they could be washed later. Turning around I saw the girl again and a tear fall from her cheek to the paper she was working on. Almost before I knew it my feet were heading in her direction. "Hello, my name is Shawn. May I sit here?" She was frightened of me and I looked into her and found she was frightened of everybody here. I said, "You look ready to run. I am young and hardly able to take advantage of you. If you want you can arm wrestle me and see how easily you can beat me." The girl relaxed a bit and wiped another tear from her eye. "What do you want?" "I asked to sit with you. Everybody here is big and it feels nice to sit with someone else. May I take a seat?" "I am sorry but I am busy and need to get this project done by tomorrow." I looked at her work and said, "It's only 'The Tempest'. What is hard with that? Are you supposed to find out the arcane meanings of all the odd words? Look at this one here," I said as I read her writing upside-down. I explained the derivation then the various meanings that Shakespeare intended when he wrote the work on different levels of understanding. The girl looked at me and thought about it. "That is not true he never said that." "The author had one meaning for the usual uneducated audience and another for the educated. Look at what he is trying to get across. The conflict is there on the previous page. Turn it over and I will show you where it starts." The girl started to turn over the page and I began to say the lines. This here is the important word to begin this thought," I used my finger to point. "The passage is not too clear but this phrase here brings the reader back to the original point and down here you can see another phrase that reinforces the thought. When you go back to the original word you were having problems with you will see how it fits." The girl could see after a fashion and I said, "Write... No, give me your pen and a sheet of paper." I was handed her fountain pen and I wrote out the words and phrases out with a line in between. Then I wrote out the meaning that was needed to carry the idea that the teacher was after. When I was done the girl took the paper in two hands and peered at the words. "Yes, I see this now. How did you know that?" "I read this book long ago and had to work hard to understand the deeper meanings until my mother explained it to me. I was lucky for she teaches English at our local university. Some of the other passages have their own double or even triple meanings and it is just a matter of looking for them. Let me see the wording of your assignment and we can see." The girl handed over a sheet that she had copied from the blackboard. "Let's go over what you have done so far." The first few entries were only partially done. I had been standing still and moved over beside her and with a hand over her shoulder flipped the pages to the appropriate passage. Her book was marked up by people that had previously owned this particular copy and I just added my own with a pencil from her small purse. "These are the appropriate words and they form two distinct meanings. Try to think from the position of the two audiences the author would encounter." The girl worked and enlarged on her original work then started the alternate meaning. I underlined the next passage and the girl worked on them too. Within ten minutes she had completed the work assigned her and she grinned at me in accomplishing this task. The room was beginning to fill and I said, "Let's go to the library and I can help you with the rest of your work. The girl was so happy that she did as I suggested and I volunteered to carry some of her load. We crossed the road as she asked, "I am sorry but I forgot your name," she said as she looked down at me. Looking up at her I said, "The name is Shawn. I just came over here to see if this university was up to snuff. Some places have poor professors, facilities or just the buildings themselves seem forbidding. What are you majoring in?" "Oh history and perhaps palaeontology if things work out." "Oh good, I have a friend that likes that too but he is just beginning." We entered the large library and the un-named girl avoided groups of people like they were going to pounce on her. Coming to a table in the back she placed her books down and sat in a chair. I pushed the chair beside her out of the way and stood because my height would not allow me to see the books well. I looked at her assignment sheet but really looked in her brain to see what was needed next. Cromwell was the next topic and we went through his time. She knew this fairly well but I quizzed her on specific points and said, "I have seen more documents and they seem to indicate that he did not intend this action." "Oh?" "The book was in a private collection and dates from that time. The battle he was about to fight actually was an ambush set by the parliamentarian's forces. It was poorly executed and failed. He was just lucky that time that it wasn't a well thought out strategy, just as this and other books say." "I have been talking to you for a while now and haven't even heard your name." "Oh, I am sorry, I am Monique Bouchard." "Glad to meet you Monique. Did you know that Cromwell had a spy in the parliamentarian's camp?" "No." I discussed more of the information I had gleaned from the library in Buckingham Castle and would love to have a few days at the other Royal Residences. About the time she was done another girl came in and Monique froze till she saw who it was. "Oh, hi Monique. You get a new boyfriend?" Monique cringed at the comment because she had very few friends and none of them were male. I was a little perturbed at the thoughtless remark and said, "I think you're very rude with your comments miss. Monique shies away from everybody and you know it, or you would not have smiled as you said it. Do you enjoy torturing people or people you say are your friends?" The girl gave a disdainful sniff to the air and turned around to leave. Monique had both hands holding her face and was starting to cry. She had once been raped by a gang of boys. Since that time she had always stayed in crowds for safety and had only recently broken this rule to come back here with me. "Come on Monique. I will walk you to your dorm." I gathered her books into two piles and then stood her up and did up her sweater because her room was ten minutes away. All this had to be done as I stood on the seat of another chair. She took one of the piles and her purse and I took the other pile and headed out of the large library. Some people saw us and stared. Anybody seeing Monique would readily know she was upset. I led the way and asked Monique about the university to get her mind back on track. By the time we got to her dorm she had recovered and I walked her up the stone steps and into the building. We passed many closed doors and then a few at the end by the steps that were open with girls talking inside. Up the back stairs and Monique reached into her purse and opened the door and I walked in with her and laid the books on the desk beside her pile. Monique turned now and said, "Thank you Shawn for everything you have done. That project was hard and I would never have got through it." "Nonsense, you would have come here and sat down until you had it figured out the way you do all of your work. Most of your problems stem from not believing in your own abilities. You should listen to your friends more in this respect." She smiled at me but didn't take what I said to heart. "Well I need to go and you need to get ready for your late classes." "Don't go... Will I see you again?" "I don't know. I have never gone to school before and was looking for a good institution here in this city that will cover all the subjects I need to take." "I hope you come here." "I do too. Do you want to share a room if I do?" It was a joke and Monique dropped her head and blushed. I walked over and with two digits on each hand pulled her head down and gave her a small kiss on the lips and said, "Don't always be afraid. Not everybody will hurt you. If you never act outgoing you will never meet the person you are looking for." With my hand on the doorknob I looked at Monique and could see a little improvement already. She knew that I liked her and this meant that others could too. As I walked down the hallway a woman wrapped in a towel only walked across the hallway to the communal showers and eeked at me. "What are you doing here? This is for women only." "Miss; do you honestly see me as a threat to your chastity? I was just bringing a friend of mine here to finish her work." The woman's mons pubis was exposed as she clutched the towel higher but since I tried to be a gentleman I ignored that area and walked past her and down the front steps and out the door. More students were crossing the streets and I knew that some classes had finished. A few people looked questioningly at me coming out of the women only dorm and I walked down the steps to the pavement. In the distance I could see a bus pulling in and I decided I could get a ride to grandpa's house now. I raced across, but nothing to arouse anyone's eyebrows. I paid the fare and got a seat in the back. Soon the bus was very crowded and I said to a tired looking girl as I stood, "Would you take this seat? It looks like you could use a rest." The girl looked at me and smiled. "Why I thank you good sir. But I can make it to my destination standing." "Miss, I insist. I have been sitting long enough. Please sit," I said as I stood to one side and gestured with my hand. The woman considered and then sat. "Thank you sir. You are a gentleman." We rode in silence. I had to hold onto a seat back because I was much too short to reach the straps hanging from the ceiling. At the point where I needed to catch a southbound bus the woman got up too and I assisted by stooping and picking up her heavy bag of books. We got off the bus with a dozen other riders and waited for the next bus to arrive. At the curb the girl said, "You are certainly strong, educated and polite." "Why thank you but you left out short." "Well that may be true but everybody is short once." "That is true but I despair of ever getting tall enough to avoid the moniker 'little boy'." The girl smiled and said, "I had my own problems growing up too. Where are your parents? You do seem a bit young to be taking public transportation." "My parents are still in Rhodesia and I am here to find a suitable university to attend." "University! You look much too young for that." "Miss, I have more than enough qualifications to not only enter but to enter at the final year to gain certification in many fields." "Fields? Like what?" It was my turn to smile and said, "I already spoke too quickly. I do not know you and you do not know me. Anything I say now will sound brash and appear that I am into self aggrandisement." Others had been listening but did not intrude. The bus finally came and we boarded. This bus was packed and I was pushed from behind and into her soft abdomen. I placed my hands on her hips and pushed my hands away. "I am sorry. It was unavoidable." Her hand was on a strap and looked down and said, "It's ok. Many men would like to do what you have done." "A prelude to foreplay or just a quick thrill at an illicit act?" "Are you a midget? You sound much different to the way you look." "Miss, I will soon be four years old." "Four," she said loudly. "You will be four and you think you can enter university. I am having a hard time of it." "Miss, you are making a scene. Some things are easier for some people than for others." "But university? Who are you?" "Shawn Boz at your service. And your name?" "Boz, hmmm, didn't your father get knighted?" "He did recently. He was so surprised that I had to push him forward to accept the accolade." "Wait, didn't you get knighted too?" "Yes I did and it was a shock to me as well." "You are riding the buses with the rest of us?" "I am not pretentious, or I hope I'm not. With the things facing me in my life, that is one of the things that I must avoid at all costs. I have to walk a fine line between telling people what I am capable of doing and keeping silent. Sometimes I have to tell people so I don't have to go through all the preliminary steps to my goals." "I don't see this very well but you may have some difficulties I never ran into." The young woman got off at her stop just a half mile from my grandparent's home. I walked in the door and grandma came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dish cloth and said, "How did it go today dear?" I walked to her and she bent down for a hug. "It was best that I went alone this time. The appointment with Mr. Driscoll went poorly and I had to threaten him with our solicitor, after which I had to call the ministry to get him to mark my tests correctly." "Mr. Driscoll would not do that Shawn," she said even if she did not know the man. "Grandma, I am fairly intelligent. I was there at the time and I have met many people that do not like children, especially intelligent ones. He would do that if he could." Grandma still did not believe me but didn't say anything. "I took a trip over to University College and helped a student with her English and History. While there I looked into their medical research and found little that I didn't already know." Grandma was surprised, "You went there all alone?" "Grandma, I look very young but my mind is one of an adult. Why shouldn't I go alone? You already know that I can take care of myself intellectually and physically." She understood the idea and my words but she still thought of me as a baby. She got out some milk and some homemade oatmeal biscuits with raisins. They tasted good and I guess any boy coming home from school would like to have them. I wondered if the Ministry of Education had tried to get hold of me. It was too bad that grandpa couldn't really afford some of those luxuries. Even though television was around now, it was still only the rich homes that owned one of the units and could enjoy some light comedy, music or the news. I stayed with grandma in the kitchen and helped her with some of the cooking. She was very worried that I would get scalded, cut, or burnt. With a lot of arguing I was able to peel some vegetables. When grandpa came home I got the same questions and I replied much the same as I did earlier. We both read the paper and listened to the radio news. There was very little to do and I was still full of energy. I wrote a letter home and gave my love to everybody but remained vague because our mail would be intercepted by security still. I told them of my progress and then passed along grandma's and grandpa's love. "Grandpa, let's go down to the civic centre and I will play the piano or play you a game of darts. And before you complain about being so old, you should think of grandma here all day alone." He wanted to not bother but figured this time to humour me. "Before we go Grandpa, do you have a hammer, some cold chisels and a file?" "I think I do. Why do you want them?" "The large stone lintel over the doors and windows and across the front of the building was intended to be sculpted. We wanted a scene of the rebuilding our city. I intend to do the bas-relief of that scene." "You?" "Grandpa you saw pictures in the paper of my work in oils on the ship. Do you believe I did them?" "Well, yes." "It sounds like you don't. You wouldn't have gone to see Charlie's parents but you did. You wouldn't believe we were going to be knighted but we were. You did believe we put up the centre because you were there with the rest of us doing it. I want you to believe that I can do this as well." "Sure I believe you." "Whether you do or not, I would like to borrow the tools. It will take a while for the ministry to get word back to us and I can do something in the mean time." He didn't say any more but went into the basement and brought out the tools with an old leather apron and a pair of flat glass spectacles to keep the chips from flying into the wearer's eyes. Grandma changed and came to the door and walked with us the five blocks to the centre. There were some young people around the front and after we opened the large door we could hear people talking both upstairs and down. In the large room many people were playing cards, dominos, checkers or chess. Some on the far side were in small groups quietly talking about politics and especially sports. The piano and the area around it was vacant as I walked my guests over to a nearby seat and put the tools wrapped in the apron on the floor. I walked up to the piano and took a seat. I played a quick arpeggio then began with a current popular tune. I had to be careful and keep people's attention on my face for my hands could not span enough keys to play every chord. Sometimes a psychic finger or two has to come out and hit the required notes. Grandma smiled and listened intently to my playing. Grandpa was scowling but I knew he liked it too. Popular music as any adult knew rotted the brain and could lead to licentious conduct. I called grandma up and had her lean on the piano while I played 'Lilly Marlene'. "Grandma I am playing so you can sing a little for me." She just looked at me with my sad face and started "Underneath the lamppost..." and soon grandpa was beside her. Within minutes more and more people came over and listened. I played it a second time and one of Grandma's friends sang a duet with her. I played more songs and many people started to sing. After a dozen songs I got grandpa to play, but he fought tooth and nail against doing it. The crowd pressured him and eventually he sat and played a few more songs. I slipped out and found a ladder in the back shed that was barely tall enough to do the bottom of the stone lintel. I took it outside and set it up then went through the crowd around the piano to get the tools. The two chisels were sharpened and I put on the apron and glasses and climbed the ladder to the top. The glasses were many times too small and had to be bent to fit my much smaller features. I had envisioned the scene in my mind and began to gently remove the rock covering the form below. "You are going to get in trouble now, " came from one of the two twelve year old boys below. I turned my head and said, "Normally I would but this was in the original plan and I never had time to finish it." There was no reply and I began working again. This was different than using my abilities to shear the stone. It was much slower but almost as easy when I could see the underlying crystalline structure of the rock. Soon I had to stand on the top surface of the ladder and the boy and then his friend came to hold the ladder in place while I did the area above. I used the other chisel and finished the area I was working on and it showed the shape of the flag flying from a pole in the distance and some people working in the foreground. A face came out of grandma's friend inside singing and since it was getting dark and my arms were sore I quit for the night and climbed down. There were many more people behind me now. Two of which were my grandparents. I shook the dust and chips from my hair and approached grandma. "That woman in the stone is your friend." She smiled wide and walked around her group telling everyone individually and then the woman in question last. She came running over and squinted up but could not see it well in the fading light. She turned to me and said. "Is that me up there?" "Sure is, just as I saw you working when we first started to clean up this property. You were one of the most loyal people and came here often to give your sweat and blood to this construction." The last was said loud enough for all to hear and hopefully inspire them to carry on with the rebuilding of the rest of London. I put away the ladder and walked home with two very proud grandparents to get a bath before bed. The next day I went back to work carrying the tools and a sandwich. There were many people stop and look at what I was doing. By the end of the long day I had almost a fifth of the relief done and two very sore arms. I had missed supper and both grandparents ordered me down to eat something from their basket. After the short break I went back to work till it was getting too dark to go on. Again I was walked home between two grandparents, this time grandpa even carried the tools. After the shower I fell quickly to sleep. ------- Chapter 11 The next day I did the same thing but somebody brought a longer ladder and I was able to rig up a sort of scaffold to stand on so that the job was easier on my feet. When I went home that day there was still no letter from the ministry and I began to wonder about people being vindictive. After breakfast I got on a bus and went to the building I was tested in. The receptionist was more eager to help this time and I was very polite. Mr Driscoll came out and invited me into his office. "What can I do for you today Master Boz?" "I came to inquire into the status of the tests I took sir." "The tests were completed Tuesday and I was hoping to get enrolled at a university before too long. What is the hold up? "Surely you don't expect us to drop everything and just mark your papers. You yourself said the we had to be very careful as to how it were done." I could see his plan now and asked, "And how long do you thing it will take to get them marked?" "That is hard to say. The right people have to do them and then they have to be double checked then because of the need to be accurate we need to have them triple checked." This did make me angry and I wasn't about to resort to violence. "Perhaps I can find somebody to mark my papers." "Oh now they belong to the ministry." He laughed inside as he said it. "I think I can find somebody to mark them that would satisfy you." "Oh I doubt that. The papers are very important to me." "I am glad they are important because you will have kept them safe. I will look for an alternate person to mark them regardless. Good day Mr. Driscoll." This was difficult to handle. I didn't want to be seen going to higher authorities every time I needed help. Appealing to Driscoll's better side was useless because he would still stall. There was only one easy way to do this and it would require a camera again. There was a camera store a few miles away and I found a cheap camera. With a roll of film, batteries and some flash bulbs I walked to the trolley and got a ride home. Grandma and I had our meal and did a little talking to be sociable. My mind was still seething with indignation at the way I was treated. At 5:30 I was in the suburbs watching for a specific car to show up. I could feel Driscoll getting closer. When his car did approach I took a picture using just sunlight as he pulled up in front of a terraced house. Driscoll locking the car and put the keys into his pocket. I took another picture of him entering the building with a good looking older woman answering the door. I laughed at myself for most women were older than me. Following his train of thought I was ready with the camera at a closed window with the shades slightly parted. This I had managed to do with my abilities and figured this was the most likely spot for him to not make love but just rut. He pulled his clothing off and with very few preliminaries wanted to enter the woman. It would be good to take a picture now that I saw that he was not as developed as the average man. I had to satisfy myself with one shot only and this had to be with him on top of the woman. I was not completely without feelings in this matter and considered myself a sportsman in a way. I waited until his little death came and was able to catch some of the facial expression as he experienced this rapture. Both participants had their eyes closed and I waited till he pulled off and I could see his deflated member pointing south. This time the flash was noted and Driscoll ran to the window and ripped aside the coverings but saw nothing from the second floor. He put it aside as a stray beam of light reflected from some moving object. I went home then with my feelings in two camps. I didn't like blackmail and I didn't like what was owed to me not being delivered. My frustrations if you could call them that went into the stone work above the civic centre until I had to go back to grandma's. The good thing was that it would only take another half day to complete the work. The next morning I rode the trolley to Driscoll's but phoned the palace first. I informed the queen that a piece of art would be done at one of the civic centres she had opened. Charles was prominent in the work and she could send someone by to look at it and make a decision about what she wanted to do. The secretary assured me the message would be delivered. Driscoll was the same cheery and polite self and made a point of saying the tests still had not been graded. I smiled myself and threw a used flashbulb onto his desk. The man wondered a minute at this action and a look of horror began to creep across his face. I said, "It is 9:30 now. I expect you to deliver a copy of the completed assessment to me at the civic centre during your lunch hour today. You will do a thoroughly professional job using the impartiality supposedly found in your occupation. I find this action distasteful and saw no other course other than to call in the minister. I will be as honourable about this as I can, even though I feel sullied by this activity." The stone work was not as enjoyable as it once was. As I was putting the final touches to the work I heard a car pull up. A very worried Driscoll got out of the vehicle and waited for me to descend the ladder. "Here is a copy of the papers you requested Sir Shawn." "Thank you Mister Driscoll." I could read in his mind that the packet was as it should be and then said, "I have a roll of partially exposed film. Do you want to develop it and assure yourself that it is the only copy?" "Oh... no that is fine. I would like the roll though." I pulled the film canister from my pocket and handed it to him. "I try to play fair in my dealing no matter what you think. Your job paid for by the ministry was to provide a service not restrict that service for your own petty whims. I feel bad now and probably always will about what I had to do to get this packet of paper. This is the main reason I will always dislike you and people like you." The man remained silent and turned to leave. I added, "Nothing of this distasteful situation will ever come from me unless you first decide to bring it up." The man's head just bobbed in acceptance and got in his car and left. I took off the leather apron and the glasses then removed the ladder. Now I took a lot of time picking up all the small pieces of stone and only cheated a bit to make the job quicker when nobody was looking. As I was picking the last of the pieces a car pulled up with a photographer accompanying the driver. They got out keeping their eyes on the edifice. They walked around the front to see it from different angles. The photographer decided what pictures he wanted and said, "Hey, boy move a bit so we can take a picture?" I just finished picking up the last pile and did as he asked. The men seemed to like the look and compared it to other works they had seen. I left soon after with my packet of papers and the tools I had been loaned. When I got home I cleaned myself up trying hard to remove all the chips and dust. When I went downstairs I found some biscuits and milk. While I was enjoying my repast Grandma came in and I handed her my assessment and said, "The stone work is done and some people came over to see it then take some pictures. The queen had sent them. Charlie's popularity may go up a little I hope. This country needs all the icons it can get to get through this stage of rebuilding." Grandma and grandpa did not know that they as well as Charlie were in the last portion I had done today and left it as a surprise for when they next went to the centre. Grandma complemented me on the exams and on the professional estimate of my capabilities. We still had a 'Victory Garden' and I helped weed and cultivate the plot. The garden was just started and the plants were still small. When we finished, we went inside to prepare our supper. This time grandma saw how quick I was with the vegetables and was not as nearly worried as she had been before. This did not mean that she had given up her prejudices about young people. We were in need of a few more things and I went to the store about five blocks away and purchased what we required including some milk. I was the only person using it. When wondering around the store looking for something good I found the young woman I rode with on the bus home. Her name was Samantha but she had not told me such. "Hello miss." She looked up then down to me and smiled when she said, "Hello Sir Shawn. How have you been doing?" "Not bad. No physical fights and I got my papers back from the ministry of education. I find I will have to take some more useless tests before going to university. That will be another fight I am sure as they don't seem to like people learning any way except theirs. Plus, theirs takes much too long. How have you been doing?" "The same old thing. Classes, study, library, study, shopping, study and on occasion some time for myself." "Why don't you come over and have a meal with my grandparents and me? There's lots to eat. I know, I have been preparing it. I have been trying my hardest to wean my grandparents from the bland British diet they seem to crave." My persuasive power went full tilt and the woman, after mentioning her name, agreed to accompany me home. She felt odd walking with me since I was so short and immature looking. As we passed people on the street we stopped to chat and they commented on how they liked the lintel work on the civic centre. Samantha asked, "What work is that they were talking about?" "Just some sculpting in a limestone lintel. I wanted to show the people working on its construction." "Can we see it?" "Well it is two blocks out of our way but if we hurry we can get home in time to get the meal done before grandpa gets grouchy." We picked up the pace and I talked of everybody that was helping except Charlie. She was quite thrilled to visualize it but thought it would be a very simplistic representation. As we got to it some people had already stopped and were looking at the finished work. I pointed out the people in the stone and before I was even half way done the people in front turned around and saw me. The woman happened to be grandma's friend and Samantha looked at the woman and then to the stone then back again. "That is you up there." "It sure is dearie. Young Shawn here is very good with a chisel. If I hadn't seen him doing it I would not have known he was capable of it. In fact I doubt it anyone else is capable of it. That is his grandparents in the middle and our bonnie prince picking up a brick. I am so happy that I had a hand in making this building." "Prince Charles helped?" "He did too, and our Shawn here took care of all the small points to make sure everything went smoothly. Our prince worked long hours here and he was only six. The only one more dedicated was his friend Shawn. He even patched most of us up that got hurt and I don't think any of the doctors are as good as he is." More people came over and congratulated me on the work I had done. It took ten minutes more to escape and get to my grandparents and a few more to reply to other people's thanks. I asked Samantha to say nothing to my grandparents about them being immortalized in stone. We walked up to the small house and found that Grandpa wasn't grouchy yet. I introduced Samantha and slipped into the kitchen to finish the preparations. I was out in a few minutes and found all of them sitting in the chairs. Grandma said, "I will go put the kettle on." "No need to grandma. I already did. If we have time tonight, I would like to go to the centre with both of you. There is a larger than usual crowd because the stone work is done." Our meal was slightly different than common English fare but not much. Ah well, the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step. We had to hurry because the light was fading and they would hear about the images from someone else first. There were quite a few people out front and there was just enough light to see the newest figures. "Shawn. Are they your grandfather and me?" "Sure, Didn't you help too in clearing the rubble?" "But..." Grandma just hugged her husband then me. A car coasted up later and two Ghurkhas got out with Charlie and his father the Duke of Edinburgh. I gave a theatrical bow and said, "Good day your majesties. I was hoping you would come over and take a look." The Duke said, "Sir Shawn, I have to say that I have never seen stonework done with such fine detail as I see here." He thought for a moment then said, "Was it you that made that statue of your warrior mother and all those gnomes I heard about from our Queen?" "Guilty sir. I would like to introduce to you Samantha. She has kept her surname hidden from me but I hope to find it soon." Then to an open mouthed Samantha I said, "This person you may have heard about, the Duke of Edinburgh and his hard working son Charles. The Duke shook the woman's hand and so did Charles as I tried to get Charlie to do. When he was done he walked over to my grandparents and said, "Hello grandpa and grandma, have you any more projects planned?" The talk went on with the Duke looking at the people in the stone and finding them in the flesh then shaking their hands. The Duke's time was tight and they had to leave soon. Charlie invited me over next Saturday and I accepted. I just had time to say hello to the two Ghurkhas by name before they all drove away. After a few songs inside I took Samantha back to pick up her purchases and walked her home. On the way she said, "The streets are usually safe but a young boy like you could get into trouble." I gave her my best smile and said, "Those Ghurkhas you saw and the remainder of their unit trained me fairly well in hand to hand, knives and small arms. I used to get beat in a fight. Now they are more careful and I am able to give as many bruises as I get." "Ghurkhas?" "The nicest people you ever wanted to meet, except in a fight." We walked on and I got to see her home she shared with four other girls. She invited me up and I accepted. Two of the girls were home and Samantha was very excited to tell them that she had met the Duke of Edinburgh and his son. The others didn't even believe the tale till they recognized me from the old story in the newspapers. Samantha's story came out in pieces and didn't always make sense but the other girls accepted this fact. We talked for an hour and I walked home feeling good that I had made some new friends. Two days later I presented my papers as copies to the local school board and asked for evaluation in the new examination system, only just being introduced, these were the 'O' level tests. I ran into many stumbling blocks here caused by precedent and just plain inertia. The staff were fairly energetic and polite so I had really not too much to gripe about. I had to make a special trip to the Ministry of Education to see the highest authority to get around the present stumbling block. With a lot of discussion I convinced them to give me tests from years ago and grade me accordingly. I even said I would take two or more to assure accuracy. Every day I went to the ministry and I was shuffled from one person to another. Basically they didn't want to put their neck out and make a decision and I was not going to lower my sights and enter grammar school. On Saturday I took the trolley and got off at the side gate of Buckingham Palace and talked to the guard who could actually allow me entrance. After saying hello, he broke protocol and asked how I was doing. "I am getting frustrated. I am trying to get into a university and gather some worthless paper so that people will allow me to practice medicine." "You can get into the army young man. I will give you a reference but you are still a little too young to get even this job." Later Queen Elizabeth asked almost the same questions and I complained about my lack of progress. I knew I had to go to a private school but there was no way to get the papers to say that I was capable of entering any university. I knew that once I was considered I would still have to fight to get previous experience entered into the equation. I had no papers just the memories of people that had already graduated and my own improvements to the amount of data. "I have an idea that may help the queen said. "We can have a small reopening ceremony at the civic centre and I can bring some school administrators with me. Perhaps I can get you a job teaching art. I know it is not what you want but it gets you in the door." When I got home that day I came to the conclusion that I should hedge my bets. I contacted an art supply store to deliver a custom built stretched canvas six feet wide by seven high to the civic centre. I prepped the canvas and had to leave it to dry. I needed large amounts of oils, solvents knives, brushes and other painting supplies. The next day I was able to start and worked as fast as I could when nobody was looking. To help the matter I worked in the basement with poor lighting and ventilation. A piece of work this large would take a long time but I had different areas to work on so the paint would not bleed or run. When the time came for the queen to come, the work was fairly dry and had other things to do to it for protection. The gathering was informal as we could make it because of time restraints. We all gathered outside and the queen admired the work in stone and challenged the administrators to find another artist that could do as good a job. Grandma and grandpa had been forewarned and were here to see their grandchild shine I hoped. There was quite a goodly amount of praise from the group. Two of the administrators considered themselves amateur artists and used some fancy words to describe it. All could see, especially when I said that Prince Charles and my grandparents were in stone. It would be hard to mistake them in any case because of the clarity. When things were ending I said, "I wasn't too sure about how my work at sculpting would be greeted so I made an oil. For the last six day I worked in the basement here and would like to bring it out into the sunshine to be adequately viewed. Will some of you gentlemen assist me in getting outside?" Some thought this beneath them but a few did not begrudge me a little help. Four of us walked down the steps and into the back room. I dropped some coins in a public phone and called the art supply store and asked them to come as soon as possible to pick up the canvas I bought and to deliver it for me. The men had found the canvas and looked at it in an incandescent light and just stared at my work. The people outside were waiting so I hustled my impromptu stevedores but cautioned them about the wet paint. They carried it very gingerly and I was happy with the amount of concern they were showing this work. I kept the doors open and the men turned the work at an angle to get it through the final doorway. The queen could only see a canvas and was amazed at the size. We laid it against the building and on two clean pieces of wood to keep debris from adhering to the wet canvas at the bottom. The queen was speechless. I had used my powers to move the paint to an accuracy that nobody else could even hope to come close to. It showed her in the chair she usually used when I visited. Her husband the Duke stood behind her in his evening jacket and beside her Charlie stood with his arm on the back of the chair. On the queen's lap sat Anne in a nice but not ostentatious dress. All were dressed casually to make it seem more a family than royalty. "Shawn, this is very beautiful. I have never seen such detail. It looks almost like a photograph but it is in colour." "I am glad you like it. This is my present to you for your coronation. Unless you want the statue like my mom's." "Oh no," she said quickly. "This is more than I should accept for a young man like you." "Well you have to take it. Grandpa would like it but it won't even fit in our house. Besides, it is a gift from our family. If you turn it down mom will come over here and shake her finger at you and give you a lot of harsh words whether you are the queen or not." She laughed loudly and not her usual reserved self. "You win I will accept it." "Good, now that, that is settled. How do you like your shoes?" "Shawn!" She said after a look at the canvas. Apart from the barefooted Anne, all the rest had bunny slippers with eyes and ears. The Queen said, "The Duke looks comfortable in them but I need my usual slippers." I saw the delivery truck come down the street and said, "Rather than strap the canvas to the top of your car I called for a delivery van to bring this to where you want. I can come by later and remove your bunny slippers but I think they are so cute." A bodyguard waved the vehicle through and the two men got out and were amazed at my present company. They eventually loaded the canvas into the back of their vehicle and waited for the queen to lead them away. "Well Sir Shawn you have amazed me one more time. I can see that you would make a great contribution to the commonwealth. These gentlemen here would have to be seriously remiss in their duties if they let you slip through their fingers. You have this wonderful ability and should teach it to others." She ran her eyes over the administrators and continued, "You gentlemen heard me. Shawn is another Michelangelo Buonarroti or Leonardo da Vinci. Nobody can doubt what those men did for our world. If you let Sir Shawn slip through your fingers I will be utterly ashamed of the British educational system and you men in particular." The queen and her entourage left with the van following. "Shawn, we heard what the queen said. I have never heard someone praised like that." Grandma hugged me again, "I think you deserve it if anyone ever did." That night we had many callers and it was decided to meet at University College London with professors of medicine, mathematics, physics, foreign languages and of course English. If I could cover these subjects well enough there was no way I could be denied the credentials I sought. Thursday morning was set aside for me at the university. There had to be a lot of rescheduling for the appropriate professors to be on hand to ask questions. Then there was a lot of more or less useless talk and posturing until some of the questioning started. Mathematics was first because of its purity till it got to some of the more exotic fields where it took someone dedicated to the subject to see beyond a certain point. None present were at that point so I didn't have to play one against the other to keep me from being denounced. I used the blackboard to start an explanation of nuclear physics and then astrophysics and then my own theories on the way the universe was built. This did start a lot of controversy and some members were shocked at somebody trying to shake their long held beliefs. I struck up conversations with various members of the audience in different languages until they attested that I knew the particular speech. I made a joke about starting the same thing in English and answered various questions about the basic construction of our tongue. I finished off with Latin so there would be no question about me not having some of the preliminary foundations of medicine. I explained about how I had observed dad and how I debated diagnoses with him. I invited some of the people in biological science to quiz me then prove I knew what I was doing in the morgue. This got very serious because doctors are one of the most conservative of professional groups. It takes a surplus majority to convince them of anything, including whether the sky is blue or not. We broke for lunch and questions were asked on a more personal level. I avoided saying that I actually treated many people and left it to more like a very advanced first aid. This did put me at odds with the BMA and I rationalised it by stating that in Rhodesia, we were understaffed, under funded and without most of the technological marvels the rest of the world community depended on. The afternoon was a rehash of the morning with more questions on every topic imaginable. Around four they were going to wrap it up with me getting a favourable report and I knew I would be getting many offers. Before they could be put to paper for a legitimate offer I said, "Gentlemen, my offer to you and your institutions are thus: I will teach mathematics at a senior level for one term. At the end of that time I will write three series of examinations so I may gain a degree in those areas I have chosen but none will be in medicine. The next term I will teach physics at a senior level and again write three more series of examinations but this time I will write for my medical diploma. During the last term, I will work with the medical department as I did with my father to show them that I have the necessary abilities to be worthy of graduating as a physician." There were many words like preposterous, outrageous, scandalous, audacious, extortious and even to my surprise barbarous. There were more with the same suffix and thought some were even original. One administrator said. "You can't possibly mean this. Who are you to dictate to us?" "Sir I am not a regular student nor a regular teacher nor a lecturer. I have a very unique mind and want to use it to it's fullest. Others may take years to accomplish what I can pick up in a few days. Think how frustrating it would be if any of you were forced to repeat grammar school. I feel that all the time and can only broaden my abilities in a university atmosphere. Even here I will not proceed as fast as I can for I have to do original research and my other duties preclude me doing much of this. As compensation I can bring others of this land ahead faster than any other country is able to do. Why do you begrudge me a simple medical diploma when you will by then have known that I can perform all the duties of a physician?" "Your other diplomas will be unearned." "Sir, I speak many languages, none of you has taught me them. If I can complete the tests for proficiency, why can't I too have this diploma. There is very little work or time on your part to grant me this. Are you angry at the loss of a tuition funds when I neither want nor require the instruction?" "That is not it. Our country has never done things like this before and could start a dangerous precedent." I had to laugh and did, "Sir how many people are like me? How many others can do as I do? Where will this deluge of bright young people come from that will corrupt your sedate bureaucracy? I may be the first of many or the last our race will see for a thousand years. Nobody can tell. Please discuss this among yourselves in my absence and I will await your word. I must warn you though there are many other countries that may want my expertise although you have the first choice through patriotism." I walked out and the educators just watched me leave in silence. Their minds in turmoil over wanting me like a prized athlete and hating to give me something that they had never given before. I crossed Gower Street and entered the small café. In the corner, Monique was doing her work and drinking an almost empty glass of ice water. I walked around the room and approached her from the front and said, "Hello Monique, how have you been doing?" She didn't jump as much and had a ready smile for me. "Hello Shawn, what brings you back here?" "Just having a discussion with some educators about where I might fit into the system. They are a very conservative bunch and remind me more of bureaucrats protecting their perks than people supposedly to help the young people." "I have never known them to be any other way." She paused, "Shawn sweetie would you help me with 'King Lear' now?" "Well honeybunch I'll certainly give it a try." She smiled when the term came back to her. She gave me a quick rundown and I coaxed her into answering the lecturer's questions herself. While I helped, the waitress came over and I ordered a larger meal than I wanted. I knew that Monique was hungry but, like most students here, poor. I made room for some fish and chips then after eating a few, picked up a fry and fed the woman. She smiled the way Lusa did as she slowly chewed the food. It wasn't long after that I was eating only every other one and Monique was completing her work. A friend of hers came in later. She looked at me as if I had no place here and said to Monique, "Did you hear about all the furor going on in the hall? There are deans and head of departments arguing. George can see in the opening for the projector and says it has to do with hiring a new lecturer. Everybody wants this man. It even looks like they were going to fight. George even saw Dean Hislop shaking his fist under the nose of another man." It took a moment, then Monique remembered me saying I was talking to educators. "Was that you Shawn?" "Probably. I got tired of waiting and gave them an ultimatum." The two girls just opened their eyes wide and dropped their jaws. The newcomer said, "Why do they want a little boy?" "Well, this little boy can count, speak and draw pretty pictures. If I am lucky I will get a educator's job here but it may be any university here in the city." Monique had the difficult part done and I left for home. The girls now wanted to compare notes and didn't really want me around. The bus ride home had no Samantha but was enjoyable enough when I talked to a young lad in grammar school who was worrying about his own mathematics. I was able to give him some tricks but the boy was sceptical that a much younger boy could help a good student like him. Grandma had cooked some more of the biscuits I liked and I ate them with milk. "How did the meeting go today Shawn?" "Not too bad. A student that peeked in later saw the deans fighting, at least figuratively, I think I may have just got a job." "Oh that is so nice. I know you have wanted this for a long time. Wait till grandpa hears this. He will be so happy." Grandpa was happy until the knocking came on our door. Within ten minutes three different representatives came forward and offered me positions at their schools. I asked about salary and other benefits because there was still bidding taking place. Grandma made them tea and just watched me work and smiled all the time. Grandpa scowled but was really very happy. Moments later two more people came and one was from University College London. This one was the winner and I gave my verbal agreement after wringing him dry of concessions. The others were angry at themselves because the difference between their offer and the winning one was minimal. I got a salary of £75 per month, the use of a car if I needed it, providing I could find a licensed driver, a bachelor apartment with maid and laundry services once a week. I received a food allowance and best of all I didn't have to wear the gown every other educator had to wear at the university. There were a few other small things like access to the art department and a faculty gym. I had to pay for utilities and all the petrol the automobile used. My grandparents were happy till they understood that I would live on the other side of the city. With longhand I made up the contract and altered the standard one that the university had with them. Since I inferred this previously the man had no recourse to argue. Grandpa signed as well because my signature was not legally binding. One thing that was argued from the university's point of view was that I start immediately and continue through the summer months even though the number of students would be minimal. I was told that my classes would be well attended by students from all over the city. Later grandma cried but I told her I would come back when time allowed and I was just on the other side of the city not on another continent. She cried regardless and grandpa held her in his arms until she subsided. We celebrated the warm weekend by taking a train to the coast, like many other families were doing if they had enough money to do so. The water was cold but the air was not bad but nowhere as warm as in Rhodesia. I saw children running and playing games and I became a little nostalgic at not having Lusa here with me. We went to some nice restaurants and I insisted I pay because I would be getting handsomely paid. Grandpa grumbled but he got to pay for the train tickets. When we got home we found a packet in our mail slot. It had the keys and directions to my new apartment and a long list of don'ts. Grandpa borrowed an old car and we all loaded up my property and headed for my new home. Grandma had a happy face but was crying inside. When we found the apartment. It proved to be small with a bed that was sagging in the middle and a small kitchenette. There was no closet but there was a small wardrobe where I could hang up my clothes. A hot plate should supply tea but we had none of the leaves and there was only one chipped cup. A single plate and a minimum of flatware would provide for a frugal bachelor. A single pot and lid, along with a cast-iron fry pan completed the kitchen. A table hinged on the wall and a rickety kitchen chair completed the apartment. The bathroom was conveniently down the hall and around the corner. There was not even a refrigerator for perishables. A small fireplace in the corner provided all the heat for the apartment and no doubt contributed to the abysmal air of the congested city in the cold weather. I offered to make supper as soon as I ran to the store but they reluctantly left instead. Grandma cried as if I were leaving for China or America, or someplace just as horrid. There was nothing here to do so I went down three flights of stairs and headed to the medical library. On the way over a young man walking the other way stopped me and asked if I were lost. "No, just bored like you are and trying to find something to do. The library is the only thing that comes to mind." He just looked at me oddly and continued on his way. Apparently he had not read the notice stating that I had been hired as a new educator. If he did it was unlikely that he would see a boy of almost four as that person. The librarian was not going to allow me inside till I ordered her to read her notices of new hires. Even after I laid down papers stating who I was she still didn't believe but let me in until she found differently. I started with poliomyelitis and searched for all the text I could find. I ran my finger down the columns as quickly as I could trying to find any lead that could help me find out exactly how Salk's vaccine worked. The librarian was watching me and came in to scold me later about just running my fingers over the book. "Go over to the shelves and bring me any book you find." Finally I had to demand, "Woman, do as I ask." She came back in a huff and handed me the book. "Give me a page number." "What?" "Give me a page number." "200." I opened the book and scanned the short page and handed the book to the woman with the page uppermost, then started to recite the words on the page. "That can't be. Do 50." I took the book back and scanned the page and then recited it to her. "Do 20." "Ma'am, I have just done two pages and you picked both the pages and the book. I don't think I need do any more. Now let me continue with my research please." An hour later I had two tables full of books and many possible leads. Apparently there were four strains of Poliomyelitis and as everyone knew it was either made from a dead virus or one severely weakened so that the body could fight it off. My brain felt a little full and I stopped to sort the knowledge and throw out what was not needed or relevant. I was not supposed to put the books back for fear they would go in the wrong place. As I passed the librarian I said, "I am sorry for taking so may books out and adding to your work but I assume you want to still ensure that each finds its home safely." "Yes I do Sir Shawn." I walked closer and looked up at her and said, "Shawn is what my friends call me and I think we will be seeing a lot of each other, at least till I memorize all the books here." She gasped but I smiled to let her know it was probably a joke. There was the hospital to go to but I knew if I did I would be stepping on a lot of sensitive toes so instead I just headed in a random direction. This time I found, I was actually close to Monique. The policy was that a visitor had to ring and be escorted or the tenant would come down to greet the visitor. I just slipped in and found the best route that would bring me to her door unseen. I knocked twice and she said, "Come in." I came in and closed the door behind me. She gave a little gasp because she was wrapped in a towel and another one was wrapped around her hair. She was sitting on the bed giving herself a pedicure. Since she was frightened she pulled her knees up and exposed her nether region to me, something like the woman I met outside her door before. I walked closer and picked up the nail clipper and had a good look at her mons as I stood. "I just came by for a visit." I reached out and held her ankle and said, "Give me your foot." Without thought the girl did as she was told and I proceeded to trim her nails as I said, "I was given a professorship, a dingy apartment with a chipped cup but I did get the use of an automobile if I want it." "Oh that is good. I am so happy for you." This was all said in a nervous voice. "I am happy to be here too. Give me your other foot honeybunch." She blushed as she remembered her previous conversation but did as I asked. Her first foot came back up and I could see her mons again. I trimmed her toes and said, "Grandpa and grandma came over and dropped off my things and felt really bad about leaving me. It seems my endearing personality and wit have worked their way into their heart. To tell the truth I hated to see them go." I put her foot down and she put her other down with it, still not realizing she had been flashing me. "Sit in the chair and I will do your hair." She was about to refuse but did as I said again. I took the chair and turned it around so I could get at her back. "Where are your brushes?" She pointed them out and started to take short strokes at the ends of her hair and worked out all her tangles. When the brush started so did her voice. She talked about her home, parents, little brother and sister and then proceeded to her first years at school. Her hair was drying and when it had more than enough strokes, I started to massage her shoulders while she groaned and laid her head on her arms that were on the back of the chair. She reminded me of a cat that was easily hypnotized by stroking. I pulled back the covers of her bed and got her to go over to it. On the way I removed the last piece of cloth and continued to talk. I got on the bed and sat on her rump as I continued to massage her back and shoulders. Her words got slower and slower until she fell asleep. I got off of her and gave her shoulder a little kiss and she twitched at the contact. I turned her over on her back and put her in a comfortable position before pulling up the sheet and the thin blanket. "Goodnight honeybunch," I said as I turned the light off and left the room. Walking down the hallway I ran into the same woman as last time. She gave the same 'eek' but this time was dressed. "You look even prettier dressed the way you are now. See you next time." I left and the woman said many half things in her mind but nothing passed her lips. I walked again at random and found myself close to the gym. As luck would have it, it was closing so I scanned the chart in order that I wouldn't be caught out again. The thoughts of a naked Monique made me realize how much I missed Lusa. The only thing I could think of to do was find my schedule for tomorrow and see the best way of getting from point 'a' to 'b'. The offices were closed but my eye searched it well till it found a folder with my name on it and the signed contract. There was nothing else but on a wall was a posted notice with a memo to all employees that I was now working for the school. I had my own little pigeonhole on the very highest level and no chair to stand on to get it if I needed it. It did have a message with the classes I would have together with their location. Another document in another filing cabinet had a list of names of my students. Backtracking through each I found that they were mediocre students taking and engineering degrees and just trying to make enough points to pass and get their diploma. I followed through for each student and saw only one class that could be called wannabe mathematicians. I thought of many ways to challenge all of them and give them help in passing their final. Before I left, I pulled my class schedule to the edge of the pigeonhole and found a yardstick so that I could get the paper without having to ask. The next morning produced a dense fog and a drizzle to boot. I had neglected to purchase a brolly and didn't want my clothes damp, especially the first day. I experimented and found I could spread my 'fingers' wide enough that the drizzle did not hit me. With this taken care of, I ran to the main office to get my marching orders. The door was heavy but easily managed with my muscle but my lack of height made the vector poor and I had to appear to struggle a bit. I received questioning stares from a few of the lecturers but only gave a nod of my head in greeting. The front office was crowded and I pretended to look for my pigeonhole then for the yardstick. As the papers fell to my hand I heard a laugh behind me at my ingenuity. My request for a superfluous map added to the levity. I had no introductory talk about the aims of my particular classes nor any other type of orientation. Perhaps they were going to see how I would function without any guidance. I was able to walk to my next class without going outside. The room was huge and reminded me more of a Roman amphitheatre with walls and ceiling added. The double doors were open and I walked in. There were only a few students and I saw that the dais at the foot of the seats would allow me to be seen but I would not be able to reach high enough onto the chalkboard to make full use of it. I reversed course and found the art department. There I introduced myself to Mr. Cartwright, a tall, thin man of forty or so, with a receding hair line and thick glasses. He had heard much about me and hoped to learn more. I asked for some coloured chalk used in his classes and he asked why. "With a lot of diagrams, the different shades of chalk will allow the students to understand what I am trying to get across to them." "That is a good idea, I wonder why nobody used it before." On the far wall were some pieces of wood for various projects. "Mr. Cartwright, may I have a few pieces of your wood and the use of your tools for a moment." "Go right ahead." He watched intently as I picked a piece of thin hardwood. He had a junk drawer with odds and ends which I searched through and extracted four long small diameter machine screws, some washers and four wing nuts. Four small pieces of wood were cut to the same length then the drill press put holes in each of them and into both ends of the long strip of hard wood. The pieces were bolted together in pairs at each end and I used a larger drill bit to cut into the juncture of the two short blocks of wood. The art teacher was very curious, so instead of using words I took a rose coloured piece of chalk and after loosening one set of wing nuts, I inserted the chalk into the half hole in each piece then tightened the nuts. The other end got a piece of white chalk. I walked over to a scrap board and wrote 'Mr. Cartwright's Domain' from a yard away, then flipped the stick end for end and put quotes around the words in another colour. "Very ingenious Sir Shawn." "Thank you sir. I have to find many shortcuts to make up for my deficiencies." I continued to talk about his art class and how the university treated his requests for assistance. Funds were always hard to come by but right after the war they were even harder. Some of his students were talented while others were like sheep trying to spout Shakespeare. Heading back to my own class I encountered more stares. The room had twenty students and was only partially filled. Toward the front were some young men and a few women talking about their private affairs. I stepped up to a very surprised woman and said, "Hello, I am new here. May I borrow your text book for a few minutes?" The woman was incredulous that a very young boy was here and said, "Sure. Your not taking this class are you? You seem hardly old enough." "Heavens, no." I opened the book and went through it as fast as I could until I got to the end. Like most, it had errors and even some typos in math. "Thanks, may I borrow your notes?" She gave me the scribbler and I went through it even quicker and I now knew where they were in their course. If I was brought in so quickly it must have meant that they needed me to replace somebody else. "You need a little help in tensors." Turning to some of the other students I said, "May I see your notes too?" Two males seem to take it as a joke and handed me their work. The rest were at a loss to why a young boy would glance at their work, even if he spoke better than most. I scanned each and handed them back to their owners. When I was done the sampling I said, "I think we need a review of what you took so far. Most of you are weak in the same areas." One young man felt a little exasperated at my words and said, "You better get out of here little boy before the new lecturer comes." "Oh he already is here." "Where?" "In front of your face." The young man looked around, not understanding what was said. With a furrowed forehead he was about to ask then it came to him. "Yes, you're right. The little twerp is going to be teaching you girls and boys how to count without the use of your fingers or toes." Looking at them seriously I said, "My name is Shawn Boz. I recently came from Rhodesia and wanted to go to school here. This is where I ended up. May I have your names please?" Looking at one girl she complied and I shook her hand. The rest went the same way and I found out about the first of my students. The hall began to fill, reaching capacity a full five minutes early. I went around the hall asking everyone's names. As the others had already heard me they cautiously complied. I found all the students shocked and a few even belligerent at a young boy teaching them mathematics that they thought should be in kindergarten and not teaching it either. These I would have to win over if they were to have a chance of passing. I introduced myself again to the class at large and knew my hypothesis was correct about their being deficient in some major areas of the course. I called on people that knew the answers to my questions by name and after a while responded to me. Lecturers never asked questions before and just usually said what was needed to be said. With the use of my extended reach I was able to make diagrams to explain my points better. I asked questions seemingly at random to keep the class awake and to get them to respond better. Sometimes I had to get individuals to work out the answers in small easy to manage steps. Some things that were not understood by the majority. I went over this again using different approaches and different students. My quick, sure responses helped them overcome the perceived disparity in our ages and intellect. As the end of the class approached, I continued with my teaching and wrote their assignments on the board. The ones in front were easily impressed that I could do both at once without taking my eyes off the class. They just had time to get the information down before they had to leave. The next class was the same and then we broke for lunch. I did not have my voucher yet so I just bought food and sat with the students. I looked around and saw Monique and the girl that flashed me on her floor sitting with some other girls. I walked over to them hidden behind others in front of me. Looking at Monique is said, "Hello Monique, may I sit with you?" With a quick scan I found that this was never done. It was almost like a member of the nobility sitting with a strange family of commoners. Then I laughed a bit for I remembered that I was now in the ranks of the nobility. "Ah sure, if you want." I sat in the only empty spot and said, "Thanks." I looked at the un-named girl and said, "It is nice to see you again. My name is Shawn, what is yours?" "Ah Sharon." "Is Ah your Christian name? I haven't heard of a family name of Sharon though," I said with a smile. "There is a Bantu name that is similar but I doubt if you are from that region." "It's Sharon Somerville." "Glad to make your acquaintance. Would you be so good as to introduce me to the rest of our dining companions?" The young woman did as I asked and I made nine more friends. The girls talked about sweets, saying that they were the last food group to be rationed and now the rationing was completely finished. The girls talked about their boyfriends and ones they hoped would be boyfriends. Sharon asked, "Shawn, as a male, what do you think of our chances with the man we were talking about?" I looked at the women seriously thinking all the small things they could do and said, "I am still young but I think the poor male stands no chance. With just a little work though each of you could get a much better boyfriend or mate though." Sharon said, "How is that?" "You are all young and starting your child bearing years. A mate looks at those things among others to further his line. Wide hips and large breasts are instinctual cues to get his attention. But in the case of you girls, you can just act, dress and think a little different and you will have men eating out of your hands." "Do you know what to do?" "Yes, it is simple psychology but I have to say that you will not like my answer. You have to exercise and become fit. The old standard gave a woman an alabaster skin, she would be sitting in a chair, sipping cool drinks. Her head was empty as some men want it to be. This on occasion was sadly the truth." The women thought and each had different ideas of what I meant. I continued, "You become self assured human beings, not just females, hoping to snag a male by appearing less than you are so as to not hurt a male's delicate ego. Part of that self assurance is a strong quick responsive body. Males will see you as different and thus in demand. The war has done many bad things but it has done quite a few good things too. One is that women are no longer just a mindless body to give their mate children." I laughed out loud at their incredulous looks. "Next semester I may offer a course in female opportunities and alternate ways of thinking. Perhaps it could be called 'The New Woman'." The girls discussed this among themselves. Not all of them were in favour of such a step. Some thought it would end up with them losing any chance at a suitable mate. As the bell chimed the girls were still discussing the concepts. I put my tray away and headed for my next and last class. This one was only different in that it more of an introductory class with a different text book. The notes told me where I had to start but this took the first five minutes of the class. This class had two officials from the school to see how well I handled the class. On that point I had no problem. The students did groan when I had told them do some remedial work to bring them up to snuff. I gave them notice that I would be giving a test next week on all the areas that they should have known up to now. ------- Chapter 12 After class the men came down and after introducing themselves said that they were pleased with the work I had been doing. One also said, "Where are your texts?" "I memorized one of the student's books just before class and don't need one now. The same was done for the advanced classes this morning. I assume since I was not given any talk before classes started, that people would just like to see how well I did without it." One blushed because he was the one detailed to give me the orientation. Though to tell the truth the dean had not found out about it and probably wouldn't. I asked some questions to make life easier and got my voucher for food and the days for laundry and housecleaning. With some time to myself, I headed for the gym to see what it had to offer. It happed to be sorely lacking in most equipment, even some of that was broken. There was a boxing ring, punching bags, wall weights, dumb-bells, mats and some gymnastic equipment. I wondered how ageing academics would use equipment like this. There were showers in the back but only two worked and four didn't. Many of the iron or steel components had been taken for the war effort and had not been replaced. There was also a sauna and this I thought would be the main attraction. There didn't seem to be any provision for towels so I assumed you had to bring your own. I knew there was a supposedly better gym at the sports facility and I decided to take a look there too. I met Monique going to her last class and said I would meet her at the café if she wanted to go there. The gym was in a large building with an in ground pool that had proved too costly to maintain with a war going on. The gym equipment was more numerous but in no better shape. In some cases the iron weights were missing, rendering that particular machine virtually useless. As a result, there were people waiting around for their turn on the working units. I found the rowing coach by his shirt, hat and almost compulsory whistle. He was talking to three large students in long black cotton one piece suits designed to be light and cool during their exertions in a one and two place scull or a eight place with a coxswain. Oxford had recently won again and it galled them to place so poorly. I waited for the conversation to end and the coach just looked at me and said, "You better get the hell out of here kid." "Not the type of language I would normally expect from a school official, or are you one of the senior students?" "Kid get out of here before I put my foot to your haunches." I smiled widely and said, "You can give it a try but even the Ghurkhas could not always do it. It also would be a poor way to comport ourselves before our students." "Our students! How the hell do they get to be our students?" "Since I was hired as a lecturer, I would think. I would challenge you to a race to settle this like gentlemen but I would have to try to revive you after your heart attack. Let me challenge these fit young men instead. After a foot race we can try the parallel bars. The last can see if he can beat me on the rings. You can stand in the centre of the room afterwards, telling the entire world that you are full of hot air." "Me,... And what will you do when you loose?" "If this happens I will say that you are much better at sports than me." "John you need some exercise. Get out to the track, once around, then back right here. Run now." The young man took off in soft shoes and went out the door at a shot. I had hard soled leather shoes and I smiled and nodded and ran after. Within a twenty seconds I matched my opponent then pulled ahead. I did a complete circle while John took a shortcut but I was back first with a solid twenty yard lead. "George get on the bars and do your routine. Make it good, I don't want to loose to this kid." I had never been on the bars before and watched what George did. When he finally dismounted I went to the device and adjusted it to the width I needed for my body. I did a smoother mount and then was able to do things that nobody else in the coach's memory could do. His mind kept mumbling impossible but I only used my muscles and not tricks otherwise. For a dismount I flipped in the air and did a somersault before making a perfect landing. "Worried coach? Let's try the rings." Cedric put rosin on his hands and had wrapped his wrists with tape in anticipation to this. He jumped vertically and grabbed a ring in each hand. The crowd gathered and talked among themselves about the contest, commenting that the coach was a known sore looser. Cedric swung his legs then started his routine with a handstand, his feet held high above his head, remaining still for the count. He did a few moves then remained upside-down again for the count. During all this I saw all the things he would like to do but couldn't. The coach's mind was mentally trying to hold his student in place or move him just right. The dismount when it came looked so good that he would get top marks at any amateur event. I kicked off my shoes and jumped much higher in terms of my body height than Cedric did. I followed all the things he did and when it came time for holding the rings horizontally at the shoulder height I stayed much longer. I did a flip on the rings and changed hands after completely releasing the rings. As my body came down it twisted and I went up into the air again and twisted again and did another somersault to land perfectly vertical. "I carried my shoes and walked up to the coach. Do you deny that I won all three events coach?" "This isn't America. I am not 'coach'." "Good, then I am not 'little boy' then. Are you going to honour our bet?" "I didn't bet. I just asked what you would do if you lost." "You sent one of your students out to race me immediately after I replied. After I won you sent the other two to try to beat me. You said, 'I don't want to loose to this kid'. Competitiveness is one thing but are you going back on your bet?" "No," he hung his head in resignation trying to reconcile himself to losing the bet. "I will honour the wager." He looked around and said in a conversational voice, "I am full of hot air." He looked at me and said, "Are you happy now?" "No, you were supposed to tell everybody from the centre of the room but here is fine as long as everybody hears." The man walked with his head down then with a very sour face talked just loud enough for everybody to hear, "I am full of hot air." From all around the gym students cheered and jumped up and down. The man scowled even harder, glaring at his antagonists before seeing the futility of it, before a big smile creased his features. He strode back to me as if he had done a heroic task and said, "Happy now?" "I sure am and now that I have your attention, I wanted to ask you if we can repair or refurbish the gym. There have been many parts taken from the gym, new equipment needs to be added and the pool must be resurrected." The man looked at me strangely again and said, "Is it true, what you said, about you being a lecturer here?" "Yes it is. You know the old saying about a new broom don't you?" "Yes I do. Our budget is so far down the list of priorities that we get almost nothing. The weights left and I don't think we will get them back soon. We just got off rationing and most things are not only in short supply but are also very expensive." "I can replace the weights, bars and the steel of the benches, somebody else has to supply the padding. I noticed a few pieces of equipment needs repair. That should cost little in money or in time. Is there anything else apart from the pool?" "Our sculls are old and heavy. The other schools have more money and can afford the new fibreglass variety. They are considerably lighter and smoother so they tend to go faster." "Let me look into finding a source. Get the pricing and see into the possibility of getting engineering to fabricate them." "Not bad if you can do that. By the way the name is Malcolm Stone." "Glad to meet you Malcolm. My name is Shawn Boz. I am fairly new to your country and very new to this school." We talked a while about possible alternate funding or ways of convincing the powers that be to cough up more money for the student gym. Once he saw that he had someone that would assist him he opened right up with his suppressed ideas. We parted later and I could not make it to the café till well after Monique would have got there. I opened the door and found the girl with her books closed, anxiously looking at the door. "Hello Monique. Sorry I was late, the coach for the rowing team and I were talking of money for new equipment." The woman only stared at me and I saw that she had perhaps fallen love with me or maybe it was just infatuation. She thought of herself as a paedophile one moment and a mother wanting a child the next. Whatever it was it was not deep yet but I was very important to her. With her worried look and absence of conversation I said, "Let's drop off your books and go for a walk honeybunch?" This time I did get a reaction and she smiled and said, "Yes." She hurriedly gathered her belongings and left the table but kept an eye on me to make sure I would follow. I would hold her hand now to reassure her, however doing that at the university would not be good for her reputation, even if I was not even four yet. I peered deeper into her mind and saw that she had been thinking of me as her fingers relieved the tension the last few days brought on. She had castigated herself later but found she had to relieve the tension yet again. At the moment she was torn between thinking she was a paedophile again when she considered my age and then felt herself immature when she matched her mind against mine. Her old feelings of the unfortunate rape were temporarily submerged when she thought of me and all the things we might get up to. I had to assess my own feelings for her. She was good-looking and fairly bright. She was on her way to a good education and hopefully a place in an academic field. I loved Lusa and had refrained from pursuing any other shortly after I was born. Lusa knew I would feel lonely which was why she had said I could find others to love in her absence. The last thing I considered was that even though I had never had my own orgasm I enjoyed the act and how I made others feel. I had stripped moral turpitude from the contract and the university had not argued because of my age. Here I was though taking a woman that could be my student and contemplating doing all sorts of things to her. To be truthful, she felt like doing many more naughty things to me. Monique was talking to me and her mind was not on what she was saying. It was almost like her mouth was running in neutral. Her mind was now awash with hormones and she fought her inner self over the consequences. We made it up to her room unnoticed and she put her property down on her desk. "Where would you like to go Shawn?" "I think I smell a bit. Coach Stone is quite a character and I had an argument with him. I was forced to challenge him." "What?" "I challenged him to a foot race and a performance on the parallel bars then the rings. Three of his students actually did the work and now I need to shower. Let's take one together." Monique as again divided. She wanted this desperately but didn't want to be caught either. "This is an all girl house and even you are not supposed to be here." "Monique, have a shower please. Do you have an extra towel?" "Over there," she said as she started to remove her clothing before she remembered I was here. "You have to go, if I am going to have a shower." "I will turn around and you hurry up honeybunch." This thrilled her and also allowed her more puritan self to loose the fight. She walked all over the room naked watching me to see if I would peek but at the end she was a little sad that I hadn't. With a towel around her and her soaps and coins in her hand, she walked out the door and down the hall. I put my own clothing neatly on a chair and got a towel and followed. There was only one shower being used and I threw my towel over another door and opened Monique's shower door and stepped in. She had soap on her eyes and when she opened them to see me some got in. She was immediately in pain so I coaxed her down to her knees. I pushed back her wet hair and allowed the water to hit her face. After taking her eyelids one at a time, I cupped some clean water into each until the soap was gone. When she felt better she said, "You can't be here. What if they caught us?" "It is of no consequence," I said as I bent forward and kissed her on the lips with as much feeling as I could generate. She struggled a bit then her arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me tighter. The kiss was returned and we stayed there till the timer went off and the water stopped. My hands started to caress her face and then moved to her neck and the back of her head. She didn't resist at all and her mind was now only feeling the sensations that I was giving to her. Later I moved my hands to her breasts and she moaned and shook in my grip. When the feelings became too intense she shook harder and I had to use my mouth to silence her. When she had recovered I stood her up and mentally fiddled with the water timer so that warm water now fell on us, but Monique hardly noticed. Pushing her against the wall I started soaping her body. I left her mons for later and turned her around after taking care of all I could reach. The stall was not large but I had her bend over so her bum was against the wall and her head on the opposite wall. My hands now cleaned her openings with only fresh water. Monique would have collapsed but couldn't with her legs straight and the position she was in. Taking some soap I cleaned her pubic hair and rinsed it off. She was very pliant and eventually I just sat her on the floor with her knees against her breasts and her back in a corner. I washed her hair and then her face and under her arms as I would a child. When she was rinsed off I squatted down and stroked into her vagina with my fingers and my thumb striking and rubbing her little nub. She had her next orgasm and tried to pull me close. I released her and had a very quick shower myself. When I was finished I stood the woman up and let the final seconds of the timer rinse any residue from our bodies. People were in the hall and I just waited with Monique until they left. When the time came I picked up the woman but she was so out of things that she didn't really comprehend what was happening. I opened the shower door and then picked up the towels with my mind and laid them on her near comatose body. I walked to her room now dripping water and opened her room with my mind. I laid a towel on the wooden chair and turned the chair around like last time and sat her in it. Keeping her in place mentally I started brushing her long black hair till she was dry. She had come back to her senses in the mean time and was again at war with herself over what she had done to me. With the hair dry I wiped off any lingering water on her skin. "Shawn that was a mistake..." "Honeybunch, go lay on the bed." She wanted to protest but did as she was told instead. I climbed on the bed and moved up high enough to begin kissing her again. When I started pinching her nipples all fighting stopped. I moved across her chest and attacked the other nipple and used one hand on the one I left. With my upper torso supported by her rib cage my other hand moved down her abdomen. Her legs tightened together then relaxed. As my fingers started caressing her clit the spread wide. My hand pushed her leg and she opened as wide as she could. My finger entered her and soon three more joined the first. It was not that she was big but that my fingers were short and small. She moaned and thrashed at the feelings but did not know what to do until the special feeling came to her and I had to put a hand over her mouth to keep her fairly silent. After she recovered I flipped her on her stomach then manoeuvred her legs under her and spread so that her mons was suspended over the bed. With her mouth in the pillow I slid under her on my back and feasted on her charms. I had to hold her tight and keep her legs in place and it took only seconds till she screamed into the pillow. After another few moments with only occasional licking I slipped a tendril into her vagina to replace my fingers then stroked it into her. This was the first time since dad took Lusa's mother from me that I was able to enter a woman without going to all the effort of keeping her virginity. She thrashed now and the tendril increased in length and girth until she climaxed so hard that her mind fled all conscious thought. I felt very good for giving this young woman such pleasure. I took advantage of her state and slipped a tiny tendril up her anus and stroked it slowly to see what size she could accommodate. I put the other tendril in her other opening and did as much exploring as I could. The doctor side came out and I saw that she could bear healthy children and there were no lesions or other problems. Her anus only had a few internal haemorrhoids and eventually I would remove them for her. There were no polyps or anything else that would restrict an active sex life in this orifice either. When she came back to this world she found me holding her and with my head facing hers. A small kiss was all it took to make her look even more beautiful. "What..." "What we did was wonderful. The only thing to do about it is to discuss what we can and can't do." "What do you mean?" "We have to think as if we are forming a company. We each have to commit some things to the company to make it work. I unfortunately have many prior commitments that make our time together limited. I told nobody outside my family that I plan to marry a girl back home." Monique closed her eyes in pain and simply said, "Oh." "When I left, she gave me permission to take other lovers. This is the same as other people going to school here. You would be my first but not necessarily my last girlfriend, if you choose. Do you understand this?" "Will you throw me out if you get a new girlfriend?" "I would never do that. But you may have to put up with some sisters. I plan on staying in Britain for a few years and this means I build a home for all of us to live in." "Will I live with you?" "I certainly hope so. I will be your tutor and that means that I will help as well as I can so that you pass your courses and gain a job in the field you want. I also have to mark papers, help students and do many of the jobs an educator has to do to ensure that the student body is well taken care of. Time will also be spent on visiting my grandparents and new friends. The faculty will not see me as anything but a boy when it comes to sex. You will be seen as odd along with your new sisters for travelling with me and even staying in the same house as me. "The only camouflage I can think of is to start a large company that needs many personal secretaries. This also means that you must carry out those duties to maintain the subterfuge, along with your school work." "You seem to have this well thought out." "No, I don't. It only just came to me. To reiterate, you get a safe, comfortable environment where the family looks out for each other. I treat you as one of my wives in private. If you want to leave you may and I will still assist you. When the time comes for me to leave, I will assist you in finding a job in the field of your choice." Monique cried, she wanted a standard marriage eventually and a happily ever after scenario. A boyfriend/girlfriend union was good but she wanted just the two of us now. The entire approach was too much like a business venture she figured. Why did it have to be that way? I kissed her lips tenderly and answered her unspoken question. "Monique there are many things you do not understand about me. I do not like to have people misunderstand some of the things they think are true. The way I have said this may seem sterile but it is much better to lay my cards on the table. I could be like almost all other males and just go slow and have a love develop that is going to rip our hearts out when we need to part. This way you go in with your eyes open. Our hearts may still be shattered though." I remained silent as she went over all the information she was given. She had to weigh up her current difficulties in making ends meet, together with the mental state she was in before meeting me. School was not easy but she would get her degree. With my help she would gain a higher standing in her class and thus get a chance at a better job. Finally she knew she would not have to worry anymore for she would be taken care of. "Shawn, I have been doing my own bit of business and see why you have asked me this way. The only thing I seem to be giving you is access to my body." "No, I get access to your mind too. You are bright, kind, considerate and just the type of person I am looking for. There are many things I cannot do and as an assistant it would be your job to finish them. Now I want to lay on my back and I want you to turn around and let me lick you. When I am doing this you can do the same to me. I am too young to fill your mouth or give you a baby but you will have to be satisfied with that." Monique smiled and I moved into the best position. She did not know what to do really but I guided her around till she was over my mouth. I held her hips and started to kiss her nether lips and felt her find my small erection and suck it into her mouth. I sucked harder on her and she reciprocated. As she became disoriented later I slipped my tendril into her and started to stroke her slowly. I could feel her reaction and shifted the tendril so it brushed the nerve cluster in the roof of her vagina and caressed her outer lips. When she was so taken with her feelings I formed a small finger beside the tendril and caressed her clit at each stroke. She came with a scream and I used a mental force to push her face into my crotch to muffle the sound. The effect made all this worthwhile. When she recovered this time I decided to initiate our union symbolically. I put her on her back and pulled her legs up to the shoulders and slowly entered her. I squeezed her flesh together so we would both get the best of feelings and I started to stroke. I could now enter as far as I could with no fear of ripping a delicate membrane before its time. Adults are very hard to alter but I managed to get her aroused to me entering her more than it should. Moments later she squeezed me with her arms and her tight passage. When she opened her eyes I gave her a kiss and moved beside her and put my still erect penis into her mouth. She cleaned me and my empty scrotum clean enough to get dressed. I did dress her like a baby then donned my own apparel. "We need to do some more talking. You have a part-time job. You will find someone in a few weeks to take over and start working for my company. I have to find or build a place for us to live off the university grounds and the same for a business. I plan to start selling my art. What do you think of being a curator or an art dealer?" "I don't know. What will you be selling? I didn't know you were an artist too." "You can sell my paintings, gnomes and statuary." "Gnomes?" "Don't worry about it now. Let's get your work done for class tomorrow." We worked an hour and I managed to leave without anybody the wiser. Monique walked me to the front door and already she looked like a newly minted bride and I felt good to have made that improvement in her. Rather than go to my small flat, I went to the north and found a bombed out building and one beside it that was too dangerous to enter. It was in a mixed neighbourhood of residential and small business and was probably zoned for both in mind. If I removed all the brick I could make a good shop here that would allow me both to make my art and sell it in the front. The upstairs could be very open with glass in the ceiling and walls. I had not heard of this being done before but it ought to work. I went to five other locations, finding similar locations that each had something offer that the others didn't. I remembered how Michelangelo had made a large statue then took a long time to move it to where it had to go. I made sure deliveries of large pieces would be easy as long as the lorry was big enough. The building I envisioned had to have lots of steel to support the loads and I cast my eye far over London to find some I could expropriate. There were many businesses that had been bombed where not all the steel had been removed. One particular place seemed the best and I took a trolley there even if it was getting late. The place was a large warehouse complex that had one time also been a large factory. Brick and rubble had been pushed aside to allow the lorries to get in and remove what they could from under the collapsed roof. Some of the major beams were on their side and were very thick. I took a twisted section of beam with three large mental hands. One held the beam in place while the other two slowly twisted the inch and a half metal as if it had gone through a shear. I pictured the required sizes and shapes of the weights for the exercise machines and with the density of mild steel in mind I made imitations as accurately as I could. I used force to punch holes and form large groves to put the pins. Lastly I weighted them in my mind and did just enough trimming to bring them to the standard weight. The metal was now glowing from all the energy I'd used to form the pieces. With a last minute touch I pushed into the metal the weight of each piece and the logo from the university. I made discus and shafts to lift them and finally locks to secure them to the shafts. The university would have to drill and tap the holes for the thumb screws. I took some scrap pieces and tried to squeeze them together but this did not appear to be strong enough bond. I tried to work on different methods to fuse them when I heard in my mind a person in deep grief. It was such a very deep sorrow as if the person was hoping to remove all the pain once and for all. It was dark enough that I could fly as long if I stayed low. In another section of the large complex a girl of about twelve was standing on an empty crate lying on a disused loading dock. In front of her was a four foot drop, then another four into the pit. Tied above her head was a piece of wire that had escaped the scavengers and the other end was tied around her neck. Great sobs came from her throat. She saw her life as useless and could see no way to change it from the hell she had to endure every day. With a final heave she closed her eyes and thrust herself into the pit. I reached out with my power and held her still. Another hand sliced the wire a foot from her throat. She opened her eyes and saw herself floating and then move backwards and regain her footing on the cement floor beside the crate. I kept her secure as I approached. Now that she had regained her senses she could run away, then return here or to some other place to complete her mission. I had to think of a way to overcome this lapse of mine and could think of only one. I floated over a pile of beams and momentarily the light from the moon went across my body. The girl saw this and strangely was not as frightened as I thought she would be. With a final levitation I landed a yard from her. Since I was so close I released my hold and the girl. Instead of fleeing, she got to her knees in front of me with a beatific smile on her tear streaked face. The first thought after seeing me was that she had died and I was an angel come to fetch her. Her old aches and pains were still present so she revived her ideas that I was an angel sent to help her. I said in her mind, "Hello, Jessica Ironsides, I have come to assist you in finding your proper path." "Yes Lord. I have been so lost," came from her mind because she was mute and a little deaf. Still mentally I said, "I am not an angel but a man. I will still try to prevent the fate that was to befall you." She was still unsteady from the ordeal and all the other things that had happened in her recent past. "Sit on the dock and we can talk." "Yes master." The fact of our silent communication meant little to her now. Her altered view of me made me now only slightly less divine, as I reached out and held her dirty tear streaked face in my hands and looked into her eyes. Her family had been destitute and with no source of income. They had found refuge in a bombed out building. The building had been a death trap and collapsed one night narrowly missing her but taking all the rest of her family. With no other relatives, she had been living on the streets, her world filled with want as she was used by everybody she met. She was submissive to a fault and this meant that she had become a prostitute for every person she came across. Some were kind enough to feed her or give her cast-offs if they had any. She had just had sex with five men and boys and been rejected afterwards very vehemently. This was nothing new but she saw that there was no future for her in this life. Her mother's words had come to her about a better life after. "Girl, get over here," came a strong demanding voice that bellowed from the distance. The girl shook at the sound and her eyes changed to pleading. I sent my thoughts out and found a young man of twenty five in a group of nine others. Apparently some newcomers wanted immediate gratification. I just assisted Jessica to her feet and stooped to cradle her like an infant and I propelled us to the gate at the back of the property. Jessica tried to hold me but my size did not allow her to hold me well. Her eyes cast over the wreckage of the building a few yards beneath her. At the fence I set her down and said, "Stay here. I have to get something." She shook at the thought of losing me. "I will come back. Do not fear." I flew to the metal weights and barbells. I picked half of them up and carried the load to a secluded spot on the other side of the fence and just off a delivery lane dating from when the business was still viable. Another short trip brought the rest. I was not strong enough yet to carry this type of burden far or often. Taking to the air again I settled beside Jessica, who wanted to hold me tight so I that would never leave her again. I cast my senses out to her and found her both malnourished and thin as a rake. She stank, her hair was in tangles and looked as if it had never seen a brush. Looking closer I saw a trail of seamen leaving her vagina and anus. Bruising was all over her body and even whip marks from a thin stick were on her back and legs. Going into physician mode, I found parasites abounding in her digestive tract and some even in her vagina as would normally only be seen in warm climates. Luckily, she was not pregnant as it looked like she was experiencing one of her first periods of ovulation. Without her taking more care of herself, it was probable that the pregnancy prognosis would soon change. I did an in-depth search for pathogens that might occur with her being so long with so many sexual partners. There were only a few minor ones like Vaginitis and Chlamydia. After working on her immune system as well, I knew in a few days that they would all be defeated. "Jessica I need to do something that will help you but you will think I am just like the other men you have known. Please take off your dress and lay on the ground on your back." She didn't mind as long as I didn't hurt her. The dress came off quick and she laid down with her feet on the ground and her knees up. I got between her knees and moved them to her chest and instead of thrusting into her she felt something enter her vagina. She thought it a finger. I gathered all the sperm and pulled it out and threw it away. I went back a few times and gathered all the rest. In this effort I had discharged the small vermin living within her as well. I entered her anus next and did the same thing but removed a compacted stool and pulled out a long tape worm. I went further and found more and gingerly removed them too. I held her now and raised her up and left the soggy squirming mess that was before me on the ground. The dress I searched and removed some fleas and knew there would be many in the next generation if I allowed it to happen. I helped her back into her dirty ripped dress and looked for a place to hide her from the men now looking for her. A dry area under some beams was the best I could find. I carried Jessica over the pile and used my mind to remove the beam. Jessica and I descended and I reached into her mind and made her sleep. After she was made as comfortable as possible I put the beam over her and left for the university. This time I hurried and tried to stay out of the light as much as possible. The university had small vehicles for picking up lighter loads so I just settled in its shadow to open the lock and climb in. Without using the motor I pushed and guided the vehicle out into the quiet streets. It took almost twenty minutes but I came to my cache of weights and filled the back of the van. Jessica remained asleep so I simply removed the beam while keeping her in her present state and placing her in the front seat. All of the steel meant that the van was now rather overloaded so I proceeded to elevate a portion of it to keep some of the load from the springs. The road was so full of pot holes that I had to work even harder to keep the springs from breaking. Turning onto the main streets, the surface was smoother, yet it took almost thirty minutes to get back to the university. Driving by the gym I stacked a very high mound of weights by the side door. The van was replaced and re-locked in its old position. I had to wait for a moment for late night strollers to leave before I ran with Jessica in my arms across to the women's building. I'd had lots of time to think about the help I needed. Monique was the only one at the moment. My grandparents could have helped too but Jessica could very well revert to her old ways if I wasn't around. The building came up and I reached ahead to unlock the door. Once in I ran upstairs and deposited Jessica in the lavatory. The next step could be traumatic for Monique but I needed her urgently. Unlocking her door, I slipped in and kissed her sleeping cheeks while placing an image in her mind of me beside her. My image urged her to awaken because I needed her. She groaned and turned before opening her eyes and seeing me. She was frightened for a second and then said, "Shawn, why are you here?" "Honeybunch, I need your help." "Of course. What help do you want?" I told her of my wanderings and finding a girl in the process of committing suicide. I told her some of what she had gone through and said she needed help. Then I said she was down the hall asleep waiting for salvation. Monique got up in her thin nightie and raced down the hall and opened the door and almost yelled, "Oh my God. How could they do that?" She took a few steps before kneeling by the child, noticing that wire still tied around her pale neck. Monique held the child to her as I heard steps coming our way. I needed more help and surely a sorority would look out for others of their own gender. Sharon Somerville peeked around the door and saw the three of us on the floor. She didn't see me as a threat, in fact this was the third time I she had encountered me here. The dirty figure on the floor drew her like a magnet. I looked at Sharon and just watched her eyes travel over the girl on the floor and linger on the wire around her neck. "Wha... What happened?" I answered, "She had a very difficult life when all her family died. She was used by everyone she met. Things got so bad, she wanted to end it all. I found her just as she was about to jump." "Oh God. What can we do?" "Love her, care for her, she is no different than an infant in many ways. How would you nurse a wounded animal?" "I..." I took off my clothes now and laid them on a sink. When I was naked I bent over the child and took all the clothing from her and put it all in the garbage. Monique said, "What are you doing Shawn?" "Get some shampoo, lots of soap and some towels." Monique did not move, she was too stunned by the turn of events. "Monique, now." Turning to Sharon I said, "Who is the smallest girl in this building? Get some clothing that will fit this child, now." Both girls ran from the room as I bent down to part the heavy wire around the girl's neck. Using my abilities, I turned on the water and when it was warm I carried the girl in and started to wipe the dirt away from her body to start the long task of getting her clean. With some experimentation, I soon found her controls, voiding her bladder with a dark pungent stream flowing out from her small body. Monique came back with the soap and I used it to clean the child as best I could. "Monique take off your clothes and get in here and hold the child for me." There was no hesitation this time and she threw her clothes on top of mine and entered the shower. She held the girl to her and I washed more of her. Sharon came back with clothes and brought a small girl with her. I heard conversations and exclamations but continued with my work. After many washes the girl was finally clean so Monique could leave the shower holding the child. I came out and started to pat the girl dry as Monique turned her around I continued until she was completely dry all over. Sharon and Beth, the new girl, saw all the marks on the child and cringed. A moment later Beth started to cry and wanted to rush in to comfort the sleeping child. I took the towel myself and in seconds had run it over myself to dry my body. Taking the child from Monique I guided her legs to Sharon and said, "Please put some panties on her, but be very careful of her legs." Sharon was hesitant as if she had never cared for an infant. "Monique, put the panties on her." She came forward and completed the job. Looking at Monique I said, "She is sleeping with you tonight, she needs reassurance that only a warm body will give. She will not wake up and I will be here early in the morning with breakfast for both of you. Don't let her out of your sight as she is very likely to complete her suicide if given half a chance. She will go with me to classes and I will take care of her during the morning." "Sharon, you do not have a class right after lunch," I read from her mind. "You will keep Jessica with you always - even when she has to pee. She is used to that anyway. You will find that she is partially deaf and mute but she is able to read lips and hear if you talk loudly. She has had a traumatic life and forced to be very submissive. She has had this tendency since birth and will do what you say as long as she sees it as an order. Let's get her to bed now." We paraded down the hallway and into Monique's small room. "Get into bed first honeybunch." I laid the sleeping child against the older girl and was held tight. I reached over in an unneeded gesture and tapped Monique on the temple and she instantly fell asleep, otherwise she would have been awake hours worrying about the child in her arms. Turning to the others I said "Let's leave now." We walked back to the lavatory and I recovered my clothing and put it back on. Although both girls tried to conceal their glances, it was clear that they were looking at my immature genitals and my body. I took Monique's nightgown and all the supplies she brought, plus the clothing donated from Beth and went back to Monique's room and placed them on the only chair and turned off the lights. I was finally introduced to Beth and asked if she would help further. "Oh yes. That child needs all the love she can get. What would you like me to do?" "Do you have any spare periods tomorrow?" "No we hardly ever get them." "I will be busy till four thirty with students coming for extra help. Take this money and go with Sharon and Jessica to a clothing store and buy her clothes that you would buy for yourself." She looked at the amount in her hand and said, "All this?" "She needs underwear, socks, shoes, dresses and more. The girl needs more help than the government either can offer, or would be willing to. I can communicate with her much better but I am afraid she will not willingly leave me so I was hoping that the sorority would take care of her when I am unable to. She needs many mothers and I can't impose on any one too much or your grades will suffer. I know this is asking a lot but I think the child is worth it." All the work I had done was taking its toll and I went back to my one room flat and slept until early in the morning. After dressing I headed out to find some breakfast for my growing family. I purchased way more than I needed because I expected company. I was loaded down with bags and the waitress was nice to give me a large box to help. I unlocked the front door to the sorority house and raced up the stairs to Monique's room. Sharon was outside her door and said, Monique and the child didn't awaken when I went into their room. What is wrong with them?" "I have been studying many old and little known facts. I tapped Monique on a special cluster of nerves to make her sleep. Why did you think Jessica stayed asleep even though water was splashed all over her?" "Oh." "Open the door and let's wake them up." I put the food on the floor and stood beside the bed. Looking in Sharon's mind I could see that she could keep part of my secrets. Monique was still holding tight to the girl and the girl had slid down and nursing on the breast in front of her. The child had been more than just introduced to lesbianism and this along with her need for comfort caused her to act like this. I bent over and tapped Monique on the temple again in a theatrical flourish and as Monique came to her senses I kissed her lips. I heard indrawn breath from Sharon and I just concentrated on my woman even if she was only temporary mine. "Did you sleep well honeybunch?" She tried to bring her arms around me and felt her nipple slipping away from something. That is when she felt how sore her nipple really was. She put her arm down to feel it when she struck the girl in her bed. Memory came back quickly and she pulled back the covers to see the child questing for the nipple in her sleep. "Isn't she beautiful. I wish she were ours." The gasp made her look around and see Sharon in the room. Monique was very shy herself but trusted in me more than most would. "Is there a reason Sharon is here?" "I want her to know so that there will be less things to hide from her and the sorority. I don't want the rest to know yet but perhaps in time all will find out." "Oh I love that idea," she said as she sat up and wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. I returned the kiss and fondled the breast that was not sore. Monique groaned and then pushed me away. "I have to pee." She got up naked and even scratched her pubis as she yawned. Finding her nightie she left for her ablutions. Sharon asked, "How long has this been going on?" "Since yesterday after classes. To let you know, we will stay together till I have to leave the country in a few years. I made commitments to her and she to me," I said as I was checking the visual extent of the damage to Jennifer's body. I checked her back more and then her thin chest. "What are you doing to the girl, Shawn?" Continuing my inspection I said, "Before I came here I was for all intents and purposes a physician in Rhodesia. I made many life and death decisions and managed to save quite a few people who, if I may say so, would have died under another's care." I pulled off the girl's panties and inspected the two openings and saw that each had been seriously abused in the past. I called Sharon over and explained as I would to a med student what I saw. As I was talking Monique came back into the room and I felt her feelings of an irate mother protecting one of her children. Monique was angry but tried to hide the fact until I told her what I told Sharon and again explained what was evident to me. Putting the panties back on I pulled the top sheet off and wrapped it around the young girl. I sat in the bed and placed the girl in my lap. My finger came up and tapped her forehead. The girl slowly recovered and the first thing she saw was me. Her arms came around my neck and she pulled me tight. I said both aloud and in her mind, "I have brought you to some friends. You will be safe and we will all look out for you." The girl's head flashed around and seeing the other girls cringed to hide from them. I picked her up and placed her quivering form in the chair then knelt in front of her. "You have nothing to fear so let's see if I brought you anything that you would like to eat." This seemed to work, for a while as I fed her some food getting both Monique and Sharon to do the same. This was partly instinctual and partly fun for all of us. When pressure was building in Jennifer I sent her with Sharon to the washrooms dressed in her panties to void herself. Sharon stayed with her all the time and even ensured that she was cleaned well. When she came back she brought three other women in their wake. With the door now wide open the girls dressed Jennifer and then started to brush her hair. After eating more food she was shown how to brush her teeth. In the mean time I introduced myself and explained something about the Jennifer and explained that it was a secret only known to the sorority and I would like to keep it that way till we could find a better solution. I pushed some of the food on them and they gratefully accepted. I left the sorority house wondering exactly what I was getting myself into. What it was, felt right in every way I looked at it. Inside the main doors at the school I found the public telephone and called a real estate agent at random. It was early but one finally answered. I told him what I wanted and where. His job was to see who owned the properties only. I told him the amount I was going to give for the service and he laughed at the offer. It was fair. I considered that all he had to do was do a property search and I would do the rest. There would be a bonus later if he was able to come to the university later in the day and I would pay him in cash. I taught my first class of the day with Jennifer close to me. I could carry on a silent conversation to her and at the same time a verbal one with the class. I took up the homework and congratulated the ones I asked that had the answers right. Before the second class came in I sat and talked to Jennifer and told her what I was doing in the university. She had never had much school but generally got the idea. A few minutes later two women hurried down the steps to me. One said, "We are from Monique's and Sharon's sorority. Would you like us to take care of Jennifer until lunch? We worked it out that the ones with time on their hands can help out and she doesn't have to take mathematics all day long." I laughed at their feelings and said, "Sure but you have her life in your hands. Never ever leave her alone. She will do as you order but will slip away if she can. She has not fully recovered from the way she was treated." This straightened up the girls and they now took the job much more seriously. I told, then had to order Jennifer to go with the girls till noon. She cried as she was led out of the class and the new class looked in consternation of the crying child. When the students settled down I took up their work and singled out three people that hadn't put the effort in to do it. They were to see me at the end of the day. Most students were allowed to sink or swim in this matter but these were only lazy and would fail otherwise. At the student cafeteria I found a little girl dressed in new clothing running from two other girls to fling herself into my arms. She was bigger than me and I had to absorb her momentum slowly and get her to stand. She held me and gave me a kiss that brought catcalls from the students. We got into line and I fed all four of us and sat talking after. The girls had all put their money together to give her the clothes she now wore. Jennifer showed one piece of clothing after another but stopped suddenly as she was about to show me her new underwear. In the afternoon I got one new class and gave them similar homework, just going over the work that they were supposed to know better. The bored students who knew the work were easy for me to discover. To these few, I gave different assignments that would make them work as hard as all the others. After the last class I went to a study hall assigned to me and walked around the tables looking at what the students were doing. I was glad to see that the students who needed help were arriving and eventually asking for it. Sometimes I was required to explain a problem in many ways until it became clear to them. I would look into most students abilities and then compare with what they were supposed to know for this term. All the discrepancies were listed and they covered what we had not studied yet. The three young men from the gym came in to do their homework and I found they were still posturing with one another about their prowess on and off the sports field. The fact that they were falling too far behind to catch up with their academic work did not seem to register in their thoughts. Scanning their minds I saw that they thought many female students in my class were very attractive but had not been able to get them to go on dates. The selfsame female students were now in this room and I approached one after the other and asked them to follow me. In a quiet voice I mentioned that the three athletic males were lusting for them. This brought gales of laughter that was not easy to hold in. "Girls, the fact is that these young men are going to fail this course and I have only had them for two days. I propose a contest. If the two or more of those men get 75% or more in the coming exam they would each get five quid to go on a date with one of you beautiful ladies. You must volunteer to accompany them and act as a charming date for one night. Nothing more is required of you. On the other hand if two or more do not make the required 75% then they will work for twenty hours cleaning a bombed out building to make into my new home. To rule out bias another teacher will also mark the tests. What you girls get out of the deal is a date, possibly, plus the chance to see the male animal squirm and channel his lusts into a more constructive activity." The girls talked about it and with their assistance we all walked over to the men where I opened by saying, "Hello gentlemen, I believe that you three are headed to failure in my class, but as I don't plan to allow students to fail so easily, I have talked these charming ladies into a contest. I can see by your looks that you enjoy the present view so I would like to you know that the next test comes up in a fortnight. If two or more of you gain at least 75% then I will give each of you five quid and the girls will escort you out for a night on the town. If two or more of you fail to gain the 75%, you will work for me for free in clearing a bombed out building that will be my home." There were many questions asked and I moved the appropriate girl over to massage the particular male's neck and shoulders. This produced more than just giggles and the men had a difficult time thinking. More students came over and there was no way the three men could now refuse. The girls even volunteered to tutor them if it would help. "Girls, if you tutored them in anything beyond biology they would not remember anything you said. I know that if I were being tutored by the likes of you three I would have a similar problem but mine would much smaller and easier to handle." This brought more laughter and even the men laughed at the idea. The girls stayed to help the men anyway. They too wanted to share in the large reward they could possibly help the men to gain. It so happened that there was one young girl who was a fair student who wanted to get into the competition but was too shy to say so. She gave off enough signals with body language to allow me to approach her. "Hello Cindy. I can see by your stance, gestures and even your speech when talking a minute ago that you would like to get into a contest too. If you want a chance to compete, you being a better student will have to get 85% before I arrange a blind date that I guarantee that you will like. However, I will not say who it is till the time of your date. The other part of the deal is that you must also do 20 hours work if you do not make that mark." "Talk to me tomorrow if you would like to enter into this wager. Nobody else will hear of it from me if you want." Cindy was a little flustered but did manage to say, "I will think on it." Jennifer would now be shopping. She would probably have many mothers with her to see she got the best deal so I did not expect them back until late. ------- Chapter 13 When the period was over I said my goodbyes and left for the front office and hopefully the real estate agent. I found a portly man pacing back and forth waiting impatiently for somebody to show up. He already figured this to be a hoax and had considered leaving even if he had only been here five minutes. But business at the time was slow and he needed every pound he could get. "Hello Mr. Cox, my name is Shawn Boz. Would you like to sit down for a moment, you seem ready for a heart attack." The man was incredulous but then remembered the money and said, "Hello Mr. Boz," then remembering the name said, "didn't somebody get knighted with that name?" "Sure my dad. Do you have the information I wanted?" "Yes I do. Two pieces looked to be prime locations." I laughed lightly, "You are not selling this to me Mr. Cox. I can negotiate and do a more thorough search if necessary." "Force of habit I think. Here is all the information I could pick up." "How many of the four plots did you find information about?" "Ah... only three." "Then I will give you three quarters the agreed price but I will also give you the bonus I stipulated." "But..." "But you want to get paid for work you have not done? Find the rest of the information and I will pay the remaining 25% when I get it." I opened the package and took a quick look, then dug into my pants and took out the money and handed it to him. He looked longingly at my money but did nothing crude. Later I made it to the students' gym. I found 'coach' Malcolm Stone sitting on a small stool lining up the bolts for the new weights. There was a decided smile on his face as he worked. On other machines students put more weights into position. Getting close, I said, "I see you found the weights. I got some extra ones for the faculty gym too." The man got up and wiped his hand on a towel and shook my hand. "Hello Shawn. I was very surprised at the mountain of weights. Everyone I found is forged steel. I don't know how the hell you did it, or the short time span since we talked about it but I am very impressed." "I am glad to have helped even though I haven't done anything about making or finding some lightweight sculls yet." "I am not complaining. You have done wonders, so whether we get new sculls or not it will still be good for the students." There was just enough time to make it to the municipal building. I took a taxi to get there quickly. Inside I paid the fee and saw the legal description of one of the properties and then cross referenced it to a list of properties that the city had seized for taxes being in arrears. I made an appointment for the following day with a man who could allow me to see the property. At a stationery store near the university I purchased some writing paper and an envelope. I used their pen to write a letter home, giving all my love to each and every one of my family, with a special message to dad to give Lusa a kiss for me. I went on to say that I had finally found my school and the work load was not too arduous. I described my first math class and the personalities of some of the people in it. At the bottom I said that grandma and grandpa were good. Lastly, I mentioned that the university was paying me £75 a month and would issue me the tests later in the year. I had a good laugh because I had led them on till the end thinking I would be a student and not a lecturer. The woman behind the counter sold me a stamp and I mailed the letter down the block. The steps in front of the sorority house were hard but I didn't have to wait long before a dozen girls came down the sidewalk with one smaller girl in front as if leading the procession. When Jennifer saw me she ran immediately for me. Two girls gave chase but stopped when they saw where she was going. She tried to show how much she wanted me. Her old ideas about using her body to gain a boy's attention were clearly still uppermost in her mind. After a quick kiss the young women of the sorority made a few catcalls but were not so rude that they could break into Jennifer's consciousness. Holding Jennifer's hand I said, "I think you all did a wonderful thing for Jennifer and for me. I would like to show my appreciation by taking you all to dinner now." They liked the idea and I asked if there were others that helped but were not present. One would be in her room and all ran in to put their things away. We made quite a procession. There were actually fourteen young girls plus Jennifer and myself. The restaurant was not busy but was shocked to get sixteen customers in one group. I said holding Jennifer's hand, "The old lady and I decided to take the kids out for a meal tonight." The waiter just widened his eyes for a moment trying to overcome the contradiction and then smiled instead. We all sat in a corner for there were no tables large enough for the whole group. Monique sat on my right and Jennifer on my left as we tried many different dishes with some of the girls trying some wine with their meal. There were a lot of good feelings going around and I knew we were pulling together into a group. It was dark when we got outside but the air was just right and the walk would help settle the meal. Turning down a side street we talked more about the shopping and how one or the other of the girls would argue over which was the right piece of clothing to purchase. Comments raged about who had better fashion sense and other matters. I was just happy to be holding both of my girl's hands. Suddenly, from between two houses three young toughs sprang out. Behind us four more ran from a doorway. One in front stopped us with his hand. It appeared that one of the customers in the restaurant had tipped them off that I had a substantial amount of money. "Gi' me ya money and you will live." I did not give them a chance and moved forward and drove my stiffened fingers into his abdomen, turning sideways I slashed one in the throat. A kick to the genitals incapacitated the next and the fourth was poleaxed when the heel of my hand connected with his sternum. I ran to the back and struck one of that group, while another had a knife out already. As the second thug tried to get away he was accidentally knifed by the other. I jumped over the bleeding gang member and made sure the knife wielder stayed put. I ripped the young man's shirt off and saw the knife had entered his abdominal wall and punctured the small intestine twice. Turning to Sharon and Beth I said, "Run back to the restaurant and phone the police and tell them to call an ambulance for an abdominal wound. Go!" They ran off like frightened rabbits. Turning to Monique I said, "Take Jennifer home now. Take three girls with you and watch Jennifer diligently. She is in danger from herself now. Go before the police come and ask questions. I don't want Jennifer involved in any way. Go!" It was possible to do some repairs now but the wound was not immediately fatal. This time the BMA would have to look out for this gent. Talking to the remaining girls I said the last to leave were not here tonight. "The thug under my hand is going to live. His intestine is cut twice and a surgeon is going to have to open him up a bit and suture the gut closed. Not too much too it. I have done it many times. I remember once treating a woman that had been in a fight and had a cut to her arm. The next patient was a man that suffered even worse and had more cuts. After patching him up I found he was the other knife fighter. He didn't stand too much of a chance against the woman." It took ten minutes before a bobby managed to make it to us. He asked questions about the altercation and told me to get away from the assailant. "Can't do it officer. I am keeping the would closed and pinching the blood vessel that would make the man bleed to death in five minutes or so." "Who are you boy, some doctor." "I helped my dad in Rhodesia. I have sewn up knife fighters before." "Ya, and me grannie is the Queen of the May." "Believe it or not but my holding the wound closed will not hurt the man. Let's leave it to the doctors to decide?" He didn't say anything about it further. We gave our statements as a paddy wagon came and took the now awakening thugs while an ambulance took the wounded man and me to the hospital. The girls were to walk home now and try to relax. I would be finished in a few hours and talk to them then. In the emergency room I was told by the surgeon to let go and I refused until the patient was in the operating room. We argued all sorts of procedures and ways to save the patient. I accused him of sending patients to the undertaker for a commission. He threatened to have the guards take me out. I countered with him finding his licence as a free prize in a pop corn box. He said I knew nothing of medicine and I said, "I know little but more than you. If you don't want to do it right give me the damn scalpel and I will get him sutured up." Somehow, we made peace after that barbed comment so I held tight till he started to cut. I didn't leave but donned a gown and looked on as he worked. This time he was very careful with his stitches and opened the abdominal cavity and sutured the intestines. The wound was closed very professionally. I said as he took off his gloves, "They must have had some good licences in those cornflake boxes. I couldn't have done better myself but then again, I wouldn't have left the sponge in the patient." The doctor got a worried look then stared at me then saw my smile. "Get out of here before I call the coppers." "Certainly doctor," I said as I left. The same bobby was shocked to see me taking off a gown after leaving the operating room. "He will live. The doctor treating him hasn't gone senile quite yet and his hands only shake a little." The doctor heard me as he came out and actually laughed. "God damned kid, couldn't get rid of him. If I get a chance I will sew his tongue to the top of his mouth." "My parents might even hold me down for you to do that." He laughed again and I introduced myself. He knew something of me but not much. His reply was, "Sir Shawn, when I tell you... " "Do you really want to shoptalk in front of someone outside the medical profession?" "Oh. Well consider it said anyway." The police did not believe I could take out all seven thugs even after I said that I was trained by the Ghurkhas. "Fine. Get three more of your friends and bring them down to your gym along with ten bob." "Why?" "When I whip all your sorry bodies, I get to keep the money." "You can't do it. Why four of us?" I immediately thought, you will all be ready for me, you are all trained to fight. Besides you are all bigger than me, and the thugs. However, what I simply said was, "Put up, or shut up." "You can't." "Saturday afternoon. Four o'clock, your gym. Bring the money, medical supplies and enough ambulances." "Your on bo'... young man." "Ok, I teach at University College London. Leave a message for me. Bring your batons, I will show you something interesting." I went immediately to Monique and found her in her room with the four other girls. All of them jumped on me as if I were their rescuer. I patted each and sat them on the bed before giving a still worried Jennifer a kiss and then a much more substantial one to Monique. Monique asked, "What took you so long?" "I fought the doctor verbally and long enough to make sure that the patient survived. To do that I had to go into the operating room still holding the wound closed. Afterwards the police did not believe me, even with all the witnesses, so next Saturday we get to go to the policemen's gym and then I take on a few bobbies." "Oh Shawn, they will hurt you." "Bring some money to the gym and make bets. I will tell you how later. We can make enough profit to go to dinner again." I gave each of the girls a kiss for helping me and an extra one for Monique and Jennifer. I took no chances with Jennifer even if she was just going to run. I told her to go to the bathroom. When she came back I tapped her on the forehead and then removed all her clothing and put her into the bed. I held my right breast to remind her and said, "You should get in on the other side tonight honeybunch." The next morning I brought breakfast again and after the two had eaten, I handed them lots of change to have a shower together. They giggled like children and ran to the shower holding hands. More money was left as well. Keeping a child I knew was expensive and I could not have others taking the burden when they were so poor themselves. This day was like the last but I didn't have the period to help the students. Jennifer was being watched and I went to see the clerk at the municipal offices. I was ushered into a small office and the man incredulously looked at me. "What do you want boy, my time is valuable?" "So is mine. Do you want to sell these two lots or not?" I handed him the legal descriptions. "Yes I do. Who is going to buy them?" "My name is 'Sir' Shawn Boz. I got my knighthood for using my mind and helping people. Don't discount me for my age or size. I have cash to make an offer and if you want I can finish the deal tomorrow." "Fine, bring your solicitor. You are too young to make a legal commitment." He handed me the total of the back taxes to me. "You must think I was born yesterday. The city needs all the money it can get now. I will give you a third of that total. If you had foreclosed sooner then the price would be more in line with reality." We argued more and I found he had no authority to make deals. "Put a motion in before city council tonight and I will be there to argue my case. Now tell me about this property." I handed him another paper and all I could reasonably expect to find would be the taxes owing. Going back to the sorority house, I let myself in and climbed the stairs. There were a lot more people about and said hello to each by name and was given a very polite response. Monique was not the shy one now. She was giving suggestions that sounded like orders about Jennifer. It was good to see her changed for the better. Jennifer was holding onto Monique as if she needed somebody to cling to or be blown back to her old haunts. We went out to a pub frequented by students and had a meal. I told them of my plan to buy a property so I could build 'our' house. Only Monique actually knew what that meant. The city hall meeting should be a formality for they couldn't stick to rules and have everything their way. That was not to mean that they wouldn't try to get all they could. I had a little time to spare, so I helped the girls in the sorority with their work assignments, holding mini classes in almost every diverse subject the university taught. With a quick kiss I wanted to leave but I found that I had to do quite a few quick kisses to many of the girls before I could make my way out. Catching at first one trolleybus and then another took me to the municipal meeting and I waited for my presentation to be put forward. Although there was a lectern it was not needed and if I had tried to use it I would not be seen. So I just walked close and said who I was and where I worked. I explained that I wanted to open an art gallery and housing complex and needed the room. I explained that at present the buildings brought in no revenue and only would if somebody purchased them. They said that I had to pay the full amount of taxes in arrears. Sifting through the minds of the many people around the table I listed twenty three cases recently where the selling price was significantly lower than the taxes due. This stopped their arguments. I talked of other properties I would like to purchase and soon I got a better offer on them too. I negotiated with all my ability, outlining for them the asset that my presence as a property owner would bring to the city. One of the stipulations I insisted on was a group of engineers could overturn the city's engineering department if I found them too conservative. There were many new ideas that I wanted to put forward in steel, concrete and glass and I was concerned that an orthodox group would not bother to see if they really were feasible. I would be remembered for a long time after the meeting for the type of deal I had received. There were many provisos still in place and some could only be rectified after plans were drawn up. I signed a cheque and said my solicitor would be around to add his signature to the document and the cheque the next day when the contract was filled out. Although it was getting late, I went to my 'home away from home' to see my girls and tell them of my purchases. With a sketch I showed them the present condition and what things would look like when everything was cleaned up. I made various drawings of the finished building, pointing out the large studio and various bedrooms. I placed names on two bedrooms and said, "These will be yours." Even though there were others in the room I was tackled by two missiles and landed on my back on the bed being kissed. I took the abuse like a man and returned the affection. When I got up my hair was in disarray even more than when I had been fighting. I combed it with my fingers and said, "I see that I am more than just appreciated." Now talking to everybody I said, "I have an option that is good for one year to purchase for two more properties. I have already put a deposit of three hundred pounds on it and if I take the properties I will just have to pay the balance." "What are they for?" asked Monique. "A bigger home when I need it, then the rooms in the art gallery can be used for other things. There is a lot of money I will need. My dad spent a lot of money on the poor clinic and when I continue in his footsteps, I will need the cash too." The next day the sale was finalised and funds had to be transferred to cover the costs. There was less free time after school and I used it clearing the site of rubble. Monique and the girls helped some but I insisted that they study too. When the coach found out about my new home he and a few of his students came over to help as well. Soon I had many of my students helping and I had to spend time organising them because they were getting in each other's way. The warehouse complex where I found Jessica and a dormant property beside it were purchased. Part of the reason was that I disliked taking things from the site and another part was that I saw a good business opportunity here. Commercial enterprises here were spread out and required a lot of walking to get from one store to another. I had visions of stacking them three high and enclose the entire area in a roof to keep out the inclement weather. Costs would have to be checked but it might prove feasible to cool or heat the entire area to attract customers when the competition had them walking from one store to the next along the street in a downpour. The plans had been put in as soon as we worked out our requirements. As expected the Engineering Department balked at non-traditional structures. Part of this I was sure would be that they didn't want to embrace the future. I gave them the council's decision when I purchased the properties. "I know some of this is new but it isn't that different. The mathematics is the same and all you need to do is work out the structural capacities of each of the beams. Soon many more buildings will be built this way and you will be obliged to pass them if they are sound," I said to the chief engineer. After more arguing and more sketches he finally agreed and put his stamp of approval on the plans if the math worked out. A note was waiting for me at the offices requesting I meet some of the local constabulary at a specific gym. I took my cheering gallery and some money. The men were somewhat put out that women were in the gym area but had to accept it or I would leave. The coach came too, along with the boys I had beaten in the competitions. The policemen were in sweats and I put my own on too just having purchasing them together with new gym shoes to match. Gentlemanly wagers were made after which I laid out the four bobbies receiving only some bruises for my effort. I was not easy on them and after the initial sparring, they understandably were the same for me. When the hands were shaken and the money changed hands, I gave a demonstration of what the Ghurkhas had taught me. This was followed up by an hour of individual training. When it was time to go there weren't too many hard feelings, particularly when the coppers discovered that a few drinks on me at the pub down the street made the hurt feelings even easier to take. The people with me were quite happy to have doubled their money. All my winnings went into a wet lunch for the local police force. The plans for the buildings had many new ideas and they were not simply in housing and architecture. I put in new sewers, water mains, even the electricity and telephone lines were brought in underground. Engineering thought this a waste but passed it because there was nothing unsafe about it. I used my powers during the cleaning to break up the foundations and footings. When it came time fresh concrete took its place and forms were filled in for a much more substantial structure. Threaded rods were cemented in place and on a Saturday a lift truck filled a lorry with completed beams salvaged from the warehouse where I had found Jessica. Monday was raining just like the day before. When people came Tuesday they saw the steelwork erected and riveted into place. They assumed that a crew of steelworkers had done the job in the rain. The skeleton stretched far above the other buildings. My grandparents came over and marvelled at the sight. Nothing else was even remotely like this and wondered at the need to build so differently. Weren't the old ways good enough? Glass was my next need, however there was none that met my requirements. I knew that some glass could be made much stronger and tougher than the flint glass that we had been using until now. I rented a small warehouse, adding some machines which I'd fabricated. With a bit of experimenting I was able to produce the thick toughened glass that I wanted. I was forced to use some gold in the glass mix to keep out some of the infra red energy from the sun. My abilities with the forces of my mind were taxed to the limit to make the sheets of glass as flat as possible even with the bath of liquid tin. I then had to treat them afterwards to give them the strength they would need. In the same building I made frames, doors and all of the smaller things a building needed. Here too a large lorry delivered the finished product just in time for the tradesmen to put them into place. There were problems here to for the men were not used to this type of specialized work and had to be taught some of it. They didn't seem to like a young boy talking to them and telling them their job, but after a few of the ones with problems were let go, the rest settled down. During this time my classes were settling into a groove and this particular groove was much better directed to passing the course. It became common for other educators to sit through my classes and try to find my tricks. I was invited to many gatherings but used my building work as an excuse, thus begging off going as much as possible. Two of the three boys did not make the required 75% so I put them to work on building my home. This was not too bad because the girls that they were to date came to help as well, so naturally I tried to put the couples together as much as possible. The boys did make a good showing but not enough to get the prize I had offered. Cindy had after the first few days had decided to take me up on my bet. When the exam was over she did manage to achieve her goal and even a few percent more. Her reward was to be put off for a while to negotiate the terms with her prospective date. Cement was poured around metal conduit and the frames of the windows. Men on high scaffolding were completing the outside finish as the concrete dried. I knew it would be a long time before all the water left the concrete and dreaded any woodwork that the building would contain till that happened. A large 'I' beam went through the loft and extended outwards from a large door. This was so that large articles could be hoisted up to be worked on. Finished works could descend either to the store below or a waiting lorry. I got in touch with one of the queen's private secretaries to advise him that I would like to come by and alter the painting that I had made of her family. I requested three additional passes and asked if it was possible for Prince Charles to be there too. I was in the school's offices making the call and a hush came over it when it was announced I had the return call from Buckingham Palace. The private secretary said that the queen was too busy to come to the phone but that I could come when I wanted. Charles would be free after four o'clock and would like to see me. The woman who handed me the telephone looked at me very strangely as I handed the instrument back to her. I would have preferred to have used one of the public phones, but they were usually busy and very noisy at this time. I rounded up Monique, Jennifer and had the girls find Cindy so she could go on a very casual date. For the first time I had the use of a university car and Monique would be the designated driver. With the paint and supplies in my possession, Monique drove the car with Jennifer in the back and me in the front. We picked up Cindy as she rushed out her sorority's front door. She got in the back seat and she immediately wanted to know about her date. To forestall any problem I told her nothing and directed Monique on where to drive. I said to everybody in the car, "Let's make this a real surprise. Cindy, I want you to close your eyes when I say and then you can see your date's home when we are right in front of it." "Why?" "Just more fun for me and a nicer surprise for you. Will you do this for me?" "Well ok, since it is you doing the asking." I used my finger to point for Monique and said aloud, "Don't say anything at all. I want to do all the talking to the door man." She smiled at the simple request and said, "I will try." Ten minutes later I told Cindy, "Close her eyes now and bend over because I knew you will cheat." "I will not." "Close them girl and bend over. There is no such thing as a woman that is not curious." A few minutes later I pointed to the side gate at the palace and had to turn the wheel myself to get it into position. Monique stopped dead and I placed my hand over her mouth. "Quiet woman." I got out of the car and closed the door. I talked to the man at the gate and we had a short chat. We had trained together and I explained how I wanted the girl in the back to not know where she was until it was too late. I got a wicked smile and the gate opened for us, so I got back in and we drove to the side door. A servant came to the door to greet us but said nothing after seeing my gesture to keep quiet. Inside with a box of paints and supplies I told Cindy to open her eyes. She looked around then did a fast look all around her. "Where are we?" "Where do you think we are?" "A museum, or an art gallery, or a mansion." She caught sight of the uniforms and only said, "Oh my god." We walked to the room with the painting and found it already hung. The girls looked at the painting as I brought out my supplies. I mixed some paint and Monique took my hand. That is the Queen's. Don't touch it Shawn." She didn't want me to get in trouble. "Honeybunch I painted this picture. Look at the feet. Our monarch gave specific orders that the bunny slippers have to go." "You... You did this?" "Yes I did. Do you think we can make enough money to survive now?" "Oh yes, I think we can make a lot of money." My strokes were quicker than any other artist and soon one pair of feet sported comfortable casual shoes. Then minutes later the rest did too. It took much longer to repaint the background to take the place of the ears. I was just finishing the work and cleaning the brushes when the door behind us opened and the Duke of Edinburgh came in with his son. I bowed my head at both then smiled at Charlie. I made introductions and explained how Jennifer couldn't speak. The duke looked at the child and said, "I am sorry to hear that." "I had two ulterior reasons for coming." "Oh and they are?" "I want to get fed for my work. You have much better meals and Cindy was promised a date. I figure if your wife will not object strongly either you or Charlie would be her escort for the meal." Cindy turned red and physically hid behind Monique. The duke had a sense of humour and walked behind Monique and held Cindy's hand. " Cindy, I think you might get two escorts for the meal if you like." Turning to his son he said, " Charles, would you like to escort this lady with me to dine?" "Yes, she's pretty." Then thinking a bit, "All Shawn's girlfriends are pretty." This brought a chuckle and red faces from all the girls. Still holding Cindy's hand he looked at the modified painting. "That looks much better Shawn. Can you see me having to put on my uniform and try to deal with an emergency and forgetting to change my shoes?" The girls laughed, quickly putting their hands over their mouths to hold in the guffaws, but despite that, some of the sound did slip out. This had the desired result and the duke gave the girls a small tour of this section of the palace. About half an hour later we were all introduced to the Queen and seated at the long table, but not one used for state occasions. Anne came in and ran to me and I picked her up and swung her a bit. "You are getting prettier every day. You want me to paint you with no clothes on?" The queen raised her voice at that then thought how she was caught again. "One day Shawn I am going to see you spanked for some of the things you do." "From my study of psychology, some people like that. Did you want to have a try?" She just humphed at me, while the Duke laughed out loud. The queen asked questions of the girls to be polite. To Jennifer she just made comments. I didn't explain about her husband and son being used as an escort service for Cindy, but was sure she would hear about it sooner or later. When we were done the queen said, "Charles, will you show these ladies your room and Anne can show hers too." Charles knew the routine and tried to get the girls to follow. I had to talk to Jennifer a lot to get her to leave me. When the door was closed I said, "The reason I have Jennifer is because she has lost all her family. The people on the streets were using her body. She is a very submissive girl and eventually found that she had taken enough. She wrapped wire around her neck and had jumped when I caught her." "Oh my god. What conditions she must have suffered under." The duke said, "You came through again Shawn, I am proud of you. What is to become of her? She should be made a ward of court." I said, "That I don't like. I know enough that she will get the minimum that the state feels it must give but she is too vulnerable to any male or female that wants her." We heard a gasp from the queen. I turned to the queen and said, "Seeing a beautiful and very submissive child turns some people into animals." Then back to the Duke I said, "She need an operation on her ears and while I believe I can perform that, I am waiting for certification from the British Medical Association. The girl's life in the long term is still up in the air. I would see if someone could adopt her but I don't know of anyone I can trust that much with her life. I may have to keep her with me till she finds a mate. Already I see myself at ten or eleven walking my daughter down the aisle to give her away and that husband of hers better be good or I may do something nasty." Recovering a little from my perceived anger, I said, "Cindy is only a student that needed some inspiration, as I did with three boys before her opportunity to shine came up." The duke followed the conversation with me and asked, "What was the inspiration?" "Three boys with good minds were going to fail without some incentive. I got three girls that the boys liked to be their dates for one night, if they got a specific mark. If they didn't get that then they had to work on my new house. By the way I am building an art gallery and shop to go with it. When it is done I will present you with a family of gnomes to work on your grounds. Some will be naughty but it is all part and parcel of being a gnome. Your guests will see them and buy others from me. The girls of Monique's sorority will sell them and a portion profit goes to their house." Elizabeth ignored my talk of business and said, "I am still not comfortable with Jennifer, Shawn. She needs adult supervision, not that you are not capable but you are young and very busy." I turned to her and angrily said, "You mean I will have sex with her instead. If I wanted sex I could find it with people closer to my mentality. You forget that I still own a three year old's body with a three year old's genitals. Any feelings I would have would originate in my mind not in my glands. I at least have the agility to be less ruled by my body than adults are. I might remind you that everybody exploited her sexually. At best, all I wish is to do is paint her picture and perhaps save some other child's life." Elizabeth was taken back and said in her own defence, "Even if what you say is correct. The system will still want her to go to school and enjoy other children of her own age. They will still not see you as a proper parent. What about a mother to see to her needs?" "She now has many mothers, including Monique. They are keeping her on constant suicide watch and will continue to do so for the next few weeks until she can see that she won't be going back to a similar situation. The state would put her in a locked room with nothing that she can use to hurt herself. Who has a better system?" I continued, "Her substitute mothers give her guidance and love. Will the state give her that? At best they will not understand her needs." I paused for breath, to gather my thoughts, but somehow, I could not stop talking at that point. I had to get someone to understand the actual situation that Jennifer had fallen into. "She found her way into many groups that forced her to perform or use her body. Her present family is the only one that will not do that." "How do you know that Shawn?" "I have highly developed observational skills. This means I can do things that other artists cannot do very well. I can read pages from a book at a glance and I can see through all types of lies and deceit. I can perceive lust and want. I can feel avarice and pain. I can also see love, compassion, hope and joy. With all the things I have learned since birth that is what I have seen the most of around Jennifer now. There are some others can see these things as well, but are these others going to be watching out for Jennifer? I think not." They said nothing more and I remained quiet till Charlie pushed the door open and they all stepped through. I just got up and hugged Charlie and gave Anne a kiss and a hug too. "Remember how strong a family can be," I said to everybody in the room. The girls followed me as we walked down the corridor and out of the door to the car. It was quiet on the way back so we stopped at a park on the way back where we held hands and watched the birds and the different trees seeing how life always goes on even in adversity. The gallery was built very quickly and after the cement had dried enough Monique, Jennifer and I moved in. Fans were running all the time to help evaporate some of the moisture, fortunately the warmer weather had arrived. I painted when I could and tried my best to help all my students. The sorority came over or stayed over most nights and Jennifer I think had the best time of her life. No longer was she on suicide watch but one girl was always with her, as if she were their only child. Monique was almost a permanent fixture in my bed. I tutored her with as much levity as I could and her marks soared. I was very happy a little later in the year. Mom, dad, Japera and Lusa flew in to be at the coronation of Elizabeth II. There were very few people who could get invitations and only the most influential got to be in Westminster Cathedral. Although many favours were called on, with even more given out, we still did not get to attend the ceremony itself. We had to content ourselves with being on the sidelines and waving as the procession went by. I know that for a second the queen saw us and waved to us. We were invited to a party after and in fact to many parties to celebrate the ascension to the throne of a very competent woman. I had a long talk to Lusa and explained about my two girls. She was very happy to hear that Jennifer was never touched sexually other than a kiss or a pat on the bum, if that could be called sex. At this talk, Monique hadn't wanted to be present so I almost had to tie her up, but after meeting my family she soon settled right in. We all discussed Jennifer's submissiveness and since I had read every book I could lay my hands on felt that there was nothing I could really do except start teaching her to be more independent. Some of this was achieved by getting her to pick her own choice in clothing. Other times we performed plays where Jennifer's part demanded that she stick up for herself. One night in bed with both Lusa and Monique I felt that a significant part of my life had passed. I made passionate love to Monique then said to Lusa, "My love, at one time I wanted to save your hymen for our marriage. I now think that as a commitment to you I want to take it now." "Oh yes Shawn I have waited for that for years. You will always be mine and this only shows it more." I kissed her and did the usual things but this time she was even more enthusiastic. When it came time I stroked to the usual depth and then looking into her eyes thrust as far into her as I could get. The pain was small and Lusa held me tight and thrust her abdomen repeatedly at me to get all she could. In truth she had been waiting for this since even before I was born. Soon her cries could be heard throughout the house, shortly followed by everyone coming to our room to see the two sated women in my bed, a tired Monique and a tired but very happy Lusa. When she recovered she said, "Momma, Mom he finally did it. I am a woman now." When Monique came to she wondered about all the clambering around her bed then remembered she was naked and covered herself. Dad congratulated me and said basically that it was about time. Japera and mom kissed Lusa and me, then Monique as well before leaving. Jennifer was put to bed in her pyjamas but had them off now hoping to give more incentive to keep me with her. I opened my arms and she ran into them and cried. I realised now that Lusa's cry of fulfilment had made Jennifer feel that she was losing me. During the rest of the night Jennifer was permitted to watch me please both Lusa and Monique again and again. When we slept she lay on top of me while the other two were at my side. I felt nearly crushed by her but used my force to give me room to breathe. Morning found her sucking on my cock in her sleep and I could see the amount of contentment it brought her that I was loathe to remove her. I woke Lusa later in the morning and Monique too. They sat up and looked at the child and Lusa said, "She loves you Shawn, probably as much as I do. If you want to keep her and Monique I can find a way to share you." I kissed her deeply and said, "I love all of you. I thank you for the offer but I can't see this working. Monique has a career to follow when she graduates and it will not be in the fields of Rhodesia. Jennifer does love me but I always have to watch out for her like a child no matter what her intelligence is. A person will come by and tell her to spread her legs and she will. If I took her she would have to be watched by all of us." "That may be true but she needs sex just like Monique and I do. You have made her feel unfulfilled and I know what that feels like. You need to make love to her when she needs it." My family stayed a week and by the time Lusa left she was walking a little bow legged. Dad had got frisky as a result of the constant noises. His two women felt the same way, their cries telling me that they were making love almost as much as we were. When the plane left I felt almost as bad as when I left for Britain. Beside me grandma and grandpa waved as the plane passed in front of us. That day I stayed in my and my dad's old room and made love to my two women now. My birthday came and went the next month. We had a party and the house was full of gaiety and good wishes. My grandparents loved Jennifer and treated her like their grandchild and me like their son at the party. Monique was almost but not quite my wife and I had to caution them that I would eventually have to go home and to the woman I loved. They were a little shocked about sticking with my black girl and her being their daughter-in-law. They did see how adamant I was so they accepted it, but couldn't see why Monique or even Jennifer didn't fill the bill even better. The economy was not very good but the paintings did sell and occasionally I got a contract which allowed me to charge a price to reflect my abilities. Italian marble came in as well as other choice stone, so I tried using my abilities and soon found that I could do the complete work of a gnome in about an hour. This made such a life like figure that Jennifer didn't want to part with her babies. One day a large lorry pulled up and I loaded a large family of gnomes into the truck and both Jennifer and Monique sat in the cab with the driver to make the delivery. He only looked at me once when I told him our destination. We unloaded at a delivery dock and I managed to dragoon some of the groundsmen to assist me in placing the family to their best advantage. The queen might have had other ideas about placements, however I had made the figures for some very specific areas. I was given lots of complements on my work as the groundsmen dug small holes to fit the base of the gnomes into. When we were done I joked to the groundsmen about having to take a cut in pay because of all the extra help the gnomes would be giving We washed up later and sneaked into the kitchen to mooch some sweets before going home. The staff were familiar with me and fed us some of their wares. Jennifer especially seemed to get all she could eat. I did too because they still saw me as a young boy. Jennifer danced and skipped across the grounds with us because she was so happy. I too felt better because of her infectious mood. We walked as a family through the centre of London, eventually taking a trolleybus for the rest of the way home. Monique was humming a popular song on the trolley and I wondered if popular songs could be sold to artists. I made songs when in Rhodesia but only for ourselves. This was possibly another way to make a few pounds. By the time we got home I had five songs in my head and picked up blank paper and put the music and lyrics down. The first two were love songs and featured the names of my two girls. Two more were just love songs while the last was a ballad, where the girl died to save her lover and the lover died later, much like Romeo and Juliet. We had no piano but I did have a recorder. I transposed the music on the fly and Monique sang the lyrics. Jennifer was jumping up and down in joy and then even more when her song was sang. The next two were a hit but the last made them almost cry. This was a difficult song for Monique to sing for her voice caught many times. "Oh they are so beautiful Shawn. They are going to be very popular." "I hope so. Now I have to find a way to sell them." A recording company seemed to be the best bet and in three days I managed to get an appointment. I brought both my girls and played the piano as Monique sang. The man was very interested but I saw that he was going to try to wring as much profit out of this deal as he could. This was natural and what any businessman would do. This man though seemed to have even less scruples than most. More people came and we again performed the songs. We got congratulations and asked to sign us up to make the records. Monique was flustered at being a musician and I simply said the songs were for sale. The studio can get any of the popular singers to perform them. We were to be simply a supply house. The offer came and I knew immediately that it was pathetically low. I argued the song's merits but they countered with the opinion that I was an unknown in the trade. "I am selling the song. Your artists are well known. You like the songs so my public notoriety is of no consequence." The deal was getting tedious so the girls went out for a snack at a place we found on the way here. When the girls had left, I bargained much more aggressively. They wanted to tie the price into the sales but I knew I would never get to see the books to find if I were cheated and said as much. They screamed that they were maligned but an hour and a half later I was given a fair offer and accepted a cheque for the full amount. "We can try the royalty approach with the next batch of songs. I will write the contract and we can fight it out after you see how popular these songs become." A week later the girls of the sorority came running in to say that they heard the radio playing one of my songs. I celebrated by ordering a take out meal and everybody listened to the radio to see if it came on again. When the queen came back from some engagements, I got a phone call from her. Monique excitedly ran to me and said you have a phone call. Even without reading her mind I knew she was very excited. After a polite greeting our Queen said, "What is that thing in my garden?" "What! You have the only living troll your majesty. You can see by his large belly that he is old. His tusks are chipped and he is in his senior years. The sack contains his game and the spear is short and your guards should still better be on their toes. Professor J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a book called 'The Hobbit' and I decided to make one of his figures. Since I did not want your guards to destroy it out of fright I made it old and much less fearsome." "Well it did scare me. I was bent over looking for all your gnomes and came eye to eye with that troll. It was such a fright that I almost fell over trying to get away." I laughed at the sight in my mind and said, "I could well imagine that happening. Might I suggest that you watch other guests to your gardens, and see how they behave as they come across your hunter." This time I heard her chuckle. The Queen thanked me voluminously for my gift and promised to push my artistic career as best she could. In the next few weeks I had a steady stream of nobility and businessmen coming to see what I could do for them. I would read their minds and make sketches on a pad. They would make verbal suggestions and I would finally draw what they wanted in the first place. Family groupings were preferred and I eventually just reused old sketches. My orders now were very large and I stopped at the art department at school and talked to Mr. Cartwright. "Your department needs funds and I could use some help." "How can we help you? The students do not have even a small portion of your ability." "Your students can rough cut the stone and I will put the details in that they are not able to do. I will volunteer to teach a small number of students as long as they do not take up too much of my time. After they learn the trade they can work for me here making blanks. I will make a profit and give a portion of the profits to your department and a further portion to the artists." Mr. Cartwright thought for a while and said he would like to try his hand at stone sculpture. I wrote out my agreement covering all the points I could think of and both of us signed it. I trusted the man and left the paper with him for his records. I had delved deeply into Jennifer's memories and long ago found her birthday and her earliest memories. Secretly I let everybody know and invited all that could come to her party. On August 29, a Saturday, we had the school gym decorated. A caterer had produced a lot of food including a new dish called pizza from Italy by way of America. I had made a few pies and liked the taste as well as the girls did. I did a little finagling and got the school to make some more and paid them accordingly, but finding the correct ingredients proved to be difficult and time consuming. There was a local Italian community and I was able to purchase some of their home made products. Jennifer was led in like a lamb to the slaughter and when everybody said, "Surprise," I thought she was going to wet herself. They all flooded over in a line and congratulated her on reaching he thirteenth birthday. She was given many small presents that were stacked up behind her. She cried during part of the presentation but regained her composure when the end of the line came. She came to me and kissed me with all her body and then all her mothers. The 'coach' came over and complemented me on the pizza and said it was almost too tasty for his palate. I got more complements and thought of another way to make money. I had many cakes baked so I cut them to fit into one large cake and decorated it with icing with Jennifer's likeness. She cried at the sight but did manage to blow out all the candles. She cut and served the cake while her mothers gave her plates and others put ice-cream on the side. We played music and Jennifer who had only just been taught how to dance a month before found ample opportunity to practice. She found she had many more brothers or sisters that she could have believed possible before her rescue. The final dance was for both of us. I was still too short for her but I enjoyed dancing with my head just below her sternum. She pulled me close and even though I was off balance it was still very enjoyable. ------- Chapter 14 We took a very tired girl home at four in the afternoon for a little rest. I still had my present to give her though. With just Monique and Jennifer, I let her unwrapped the package. She found a hand made dildo that made her blush. She had used one many times either on herself or on Monique. This one was different though and I showed her when I turned a knob at the back connected to a rheostat. Power from a wall outlet lead to a transformer, from there it went to a small motor connected to a weight on its shaft. As the motor turned the weight on an eccentric caused the instrument to vibrate vigorously in her hand. "Monique, Jennifer, take off your clothes and I will show you how it works." They saw the cord but did not know what the machine was capable of doing. With some KY I lubricated a reluctant Monique and inserted it into her. She closed her eyes in pleasure as I stroked the instrument into her opening. There were no vibrations yet so I just continued until she had her orgasm. Jennifer wanted to give her more and I gave the instrument to her. She stroked for a while till I showed her that I was plugging the cord into the wall. A small hum came from the dildo and Monique suddenly opened her eyes and was about to sit up. "Just wait for a while, it will get much better." Jennifer continued stroking and saw that the vibrations were getting Monique very aroused indeed. I showed Jennifer the control and she turned it part way up, immediately making Monique look like she had been struck by lightning as she tensed up, but none of her usual sounds came from her lips. Her body started to thrash and moved faster and faster, so much so that Jennifer had difficulty keeping the instrument in Monique. Soon she could take it no longer and with a final convulsive shriek, Monique collapsed on the bed. I reached over had pulled Jennifer's hand out from between Monique's legs. "Now don't you think this is a nice toy?" Her head went up and down with her eyes almost blazing. She handed the still vibrating dildo to me and laid down for her turn. I looked at the child and saw that she was growing fine hair now and soon would look like a woman. Her breasts were developing and I thought part of it was her penchant for getting some of her mothers to service her or she them. Not all the girls responded. Most that didn't was because of a fear of being caught, or of being accused of being a lesbian. The great majority were heterosexual but crossed the line on occasion when their needs drove them or when a young pretty face pleaded their own need. I inserted the now inert device into the girl's lubricated channel and stroked it slowly and as lovingly as possible but Jennifer was anxious for the vibrations. With a slow start, I stimulated the girl's G spot and after a while this made her cross her legs and trap the device inside, as her abdominal muscles contracted repeatedly and she did sit-ups as a result. I turned it off and continued with small strokes. When she had recovered I pulled the device almost all the way out and set the vibrations higher, tracing lightly around her opening as her eyes almost bugged out. When it touched her small clit she shot away from the touch as if burned. Monique had seen the last of this and was eager to return the favour she had received earlier. She took the dildo from me and started to suck on the child's clit. When Jennifer started to respond Monique took the device and traced it all over the child's openings while holding her in place with her free hand. Sounds came from the child's throat, in fact the first I have ever heard from her. She gave into the sensations and again thrashed and contracted her abdominal muscles as she made the bed move. With a final noise representing a scream the child fell back on the bed and didn't move. Monique looked at me and said, "This is a handy toy. It can make the males of our species obsolete." That night I would have stayed in bed with Jennifer but worked instead. She had grabbed the wires on both sides of the transformer in one had and the dildo in the other. She went to all the girls that didn't mind a girl relaxing her and met Jennifer's new toy. All night long I could hear the screams of joy, so much so that by morning the house reeked of their excitement. Time passed very quickly until Christmas came close. With the holidays coming I wanted to get each girl a present that they would remember. Mom had written and hoped I could find enough time to fly down. I would like to take care of two jobs at once if I could. There were many preparations to make and it was touch and go whether I could get a ticket or not. When I did get one the girls were all upset that I was not going to be around for the festivities. This was even though I only made love to Monique and Jennifer directly, it was the pair who in turn had relations with all the rest. I was surprised at Monique though and saw in her mind how she had gone into a room to see Jennifer licking Beth to abstraction while Beth did not even realise that Monique was present. Jennifer saw Monique soon after and gave her a very wet kiss laden with Beth's essence. Monique liked the slightly different taste and knowing that Beth would never realise, she got up and licked the hairy crevice as she did with Jennifer so many times. Beth had come around in time to feel the exquisite sensation again and screamed into her pillow again. Later when Monique was licking Jennifer, she felt a tongue licking her. Beth had known and was now returning the favour. Meek Monique was taken by Jennifer to all the others that enjoyed this game and participated as well. The girls were all paid for their work in the business on the main floor even if they did little to help. Monique was given a larger sum of money to buy presents for us to give to the girls as I sorrowfully boarded the flight to Pretoria. I didn't want to come in through Salisbury for fear of having security spoiling our holiday. Dad had already booked a room in South Africa so I would not need to run the risk of crossing the border. The trip was long and uneventful till we were over Nigeria and then I heard some moaning from further back in the plane. A man was complaining of abdominal pains and the plane was at least three hours from even a fair hospital. I had my small medical kit and rushed to the group of six people surrounding the man. I pushed my way through, demanding that they move. I looked at the sweating man in the eye and said, "Hello my name is Shawn Boz. Even though I look very young I have helped my dad in his surgery. Would you like me to see if I can find what is wrong?" The almost hysterical woman beside the man said, "Get out of here boy. Can't you see my husband is in pain?" "What are you doing about his condition? Are you going to hold his hand as he dies, or let someone that may know what to do have a look?" "Let the boy have a look Muriel. The pain is too much." I undid the belt and then the pants. The chair was leaned back and I found the problem. I already knew what it was and needed this way to have the rest confirm it if necessary. "You have a perforated appendix. I know from the length of time we were in the air that we can't make it to a hospital in time to give a good chance of survival. If you wish to put your life in my hands I will do the best I can. I have performed this operation before and I think you have a good chance." The man was now very upset, "Are you sure this is my problem?" "Yes, you have tight abdominal muscles, diarrhoea, you had a pain around your navel and now it is on the lower right hand side. There is no doubt at all." Unbeknown to me, the man's cousin had died of this condition and he didn't want the same fate to befall him, even though it was rare. Without hesitation, he said "Ok, you can operate." "You can't be serious Bill. He is just a boy. For god's sake tell the pilot to land at a decent hospital." "No. Robert died of just this problem and I want to live to see my grandchildren." Turning his head to me with a grimace he said, "Do what you have to do doc. I am all yours." "Ok then." I turned to the stewardess and asked her to have the pilot climb to a more stable area and keep the plane level." She didn't move. "Get your ass in gear woman and tell the pilot now." "You, you and you. Pick my patient up and take him to the back of the plane where I have some room. Muriel, get some alcohol, bowls, some clean towels and your razor." Like the stewardess she didn't move. "So be it, see your husband die." The men were taking the man to the galley and Muriel got up to get what I needed. The captain with the stewardess came running back and said, "What is going on here?" I stood straight as if to fight and said, "This man needs an appendectomy or he will die. The appendix has been perforated and pus and matter from his intestines is in his abdominal cavity. If we leave this until we land he will die soon after because the doctors will not be able to save him. The condition will have gone too far by then. I have helped my dad and even done this before. The man gave his consent. Are you going to stop me when I can possibly save him?" "Let me radio for help." "And how long will it take a surgeon to get on the radio? Who will operate? I need to do this now." The pilot thought hard and said to the man, "Are you allowing this boy to operate on you?" "Yes, for god's sake leave him alone and let him work." "Ok, but the results are on your hands." I took the towels and put a layer on the floor and removed the man's pants and underwear. He had soiled himself. Once on the floor I tapped his forehead in a place with a large concentration of nerves and the man went unconscious. To the stewardess I said, "Get two soup ladles." I poured water into a bowl and washed away the faecal matter. Then I washed my hands in alcohol in another container and then the area I needed to work on. "Razor." Muriel handed me the instrument and I washed it in alcohol and removed a large area of hair. I opened my packet of instruments and laid the clean wrap on the towel. "Pour eight more bottles in another bowl and take this one away." This was done and my instruments were placed in the alcohol. With the scalpel fairly sterile I made a three inch long incision and worked my way very quickly through the muscle and other tissue over the appendix. I had no retractors because I never needed them with my ability. Here I had to use some help. Looking into each of the people's minds I said, "You crouch over here and you over here." The two men did as I said. Then I asked for a ladle. It was passed to me and I bent it a little, cleaned the end in the alcohol then placed the hooked end in my incision. "Hold this steady," I said to one man. The other ladle handle was bent, cleaned and inserted. I got the men to put one hand on my patient for stability and the other to pull opening large enough for me to work without my powers. The haemostat pinched off the appendix and then I sliced around the small organ then pulled the organ to the surface. I separated the organ from the lower intestine. "Small bowl." The waitress brought it over and I placed the organ in the dish. She dropped it and the organ fell to the floor. After that, the whole area was cleaned very well for this was what would kill him if it wasn't done properly. I sutured the wound in the intestine very quickly. The men released the pressure and I stitched up the incision in the muscle and then in the skin. I put the instruments in the alcohol and handed the ladles to the stewardess bowl first. I used a clean towel to clean the man's abdomen and said, "A successful operation. I got out the contamination and he should live to change his grandchildren's diapers." I picked up the appendix with the attached haemostat and placed it back in the bowl. This time the stewardess was much more careful and placed it gingerly on the counter. With a towel over the man's waist and legs I said, "I am sorry but my patient has to stay here till we land. Thank you all for your help. I doubt if I could have done this well without your assistance." I stood up and found a clear plastic bag and dropped the appendix into it and removed my instrument. The bag went into a clean bowl and I placed it in the refrigerator for later examination. The people just stayed and I worked around them cleaning my property and wrapped them in clean paper to be cleaned better at a later time. The bloody alcohol was dumped in the sink and I rinsed the bowl then set it aside. I did the same with the other bowl and the small one that fell. When I was finally done I asked, "When do we eat? I'm starving!" The plane continued on to Pretoria. A medical crew boarded then got my patient onto a stretcher and took him away. This was not before I tied the plastic bag to the stretcher with a small note. By the time I got to customs I was patted on the back innumerable times and the officials just waved me through. Dad with a worried look wondered what had happened. I said, "Can't go anywhere without plying my future trade. Had to perform an appendectomy. I kissed mom first because of the conditions in this country then kissed Japera and finally Lusa. I told her in her mind how sorry I was to do it this way. Once in the hotel I told them what I had done. Dad was following my description to see if he would have done any different. Lusa gave me a congratulatory kiss and a hug. It felt like adequate compensation to me. We went out to eat even though I wasn't hungry yet. Over the table I told them of my art gallery's latest sales and contracts. I explained about my troll and how the Queen found it. We all had a good laugh over that. School was discussed with mom and she gave her slant on some of my problems. I knew that they would work for her but being short and young precluded their success. Dad proudly said that he had gotten a military surplus plane for reaching more settlements and at a quicker pace. There was enough money from our 'sale' that he was even looking at another plane so that the other doctors could move around as easily. We stayed in the capital for three days and then travelled in-country to find more trinkets to support my purchases in London and for a little jewellery to give away. This time we all went and stayed at small inns again so we could see the country. We came close to the village that dad and I had stayed in earlier, but we did not stop to see how well our advice had helped the villagers. We did stop close to the same river but found no appreciable stones close by so I had to search the river further in both directions. On a hunch I went inland and found sedimentary deposits where the river had changed course perhaps a million years ago. There were some good stones and not too deep either. We drove on though because I couldn't get them from here. I followed the old path of the river with my mind and found more and more diamonds, luckily these ones were not bound in kimberlite like the ones in the original pipe. From three miles up I searched for an inn close by and zeroed in on an out of the way place with rooms less than our usual standard. Dad listened to my description and said it was good enough for one night if it was available. The proprietor that came out to greet us was as unkempt as his units. Mom didn't like them but decided to take two cabins for the night. When we unpacked mom wanted to take a shower and got ready after telling dad to hurry up. I could feel a strange excitement and knew somebody was going to be seeing mom naked. "Mom," I said in my mind, "don't move. Stay very still. Ok?" "Ok Shawn what is this about?" "The old man is spying on you now." "Shawn! What am I going to do?" "Do you want to flash him?" "Shawn! I am serious. What am I going to do?" "I'll ask dad." "Do something Shawn." I walked over to dad's luggage and found his fountain pen. It had the plastic cartridge and I formed a force to hold it and another right behind it. I moved around the room until I saw myself in the man's eyes then homed in on the small hole in the wall. Once spotted I moved the cartridge to the hole and pushed with just enough force to make it go into the opening and spread all over the man's face. We heard a racket from behind the wall and somebody falling over and taking some things with him. Mom ran over to the hole and could see nothing because it was dark. "He fell in a closet and all the things that were in there went with him. Mom kept her eye to the hole and soon a light was seen when the door was opened but that was all. I sent the image of the man to everybody as he ran to the kitchen sink and tried to get the black ink off his face only to smear it further. Mother started first then all the rest of us started to laugh at the antics of the man. Dad was more amused than angry when I told him how pathetic the man really was. We ate our meal outside and didn't see the old man at all. He was hiding in a back room with a club in his hand waiting for an irate male to come in and start beating him. We had a small fire and stayed outside talking of what had befallen us till it was dark. Lusa was taking lessons from another teacher and even though the man was a bigot he raved about Lusa's musical ability. Japera had begun to study a lot more and decided to take up nursing. Even though this meant that mom would have to do more work, she favoured the idea. Mom even went so far as to read some of the books too and help Japera with the ideas that were difficult to grasp. Mathematics was one of those areas that nurses had to know. Dosages could be misunderstood and a patient would suffer for it. It was the usual hot summer night in December and I thought of all those people north of the equator that might be battling the cold and the snow. Thinking also of my girls in Britain I figured I had a much better woman here right beside me. We went inside and I took Lusa to bed. She started on my penis and said, "It looks like you have grown a little." I looked at my appendage and said, "It is the same size, just bigger than your finger woman." She crawled up beside me and spread her legs, "I have my own way of checking. Put it in Shawn." This was the kind of orders I liked and slipped into her and just savoured the feeling as I was in all the way I could reach. I moved slowly in and out and changed the angle on occasion as I felt Lusa's reaction to the way I moved. I moved faster and both our emotions soared. I started going very fast and something different was happening inside me. I held Lusa tighter and thrust and Lusa started to shake and hold me tight. "I love you Shawn," was enough added stimulus that my body started to shake more vigorously than ever before and it felt like I was shooting something into my woman. My feelings went to Lusa and she pulled me even closer and moaned, "Oh Shawn." I didn't want to be analytical and just savoured the feeling of my first orgasm, for there was nothing else it could be. "Lusa, the good feelings I always had turned into an orgasm this time, my first ever." It was dry but that didn't matter for it changed my outlook on life. Lusa was like a mad woman after the feelings I sent her. "Do it again Shawn. Do it again." Who was I to say nay. I moved again and concentrated on how she felt. After she had three more orgasms I had another of my own and collapsed on top of her. Eleven o'clock was coming up and I left my sleeping woman and put my dark clothes on along with a black jacket. On the porch I called into the other cabin and said I was leaving now. Dad was the only one awake and said, "Good luck son and good hunting." I flew into the air and travelled back to the area of the old riverbed. It had only taken fifteen minutes. The diamonds were visible to my 'eye' and I reached deep down and pulled them to the surface. I flew from place to place and pulled them out like a clam digger did at low tide. As there were not that many times that I would be here, I worked the rest of the night following the old river bed pulling one diamond after another and putting them in my sack. Just before dawn I returned and opened dad's door and placed the sack on the table without waking them. My own bed beckoned me so I undressed and crawled in beside Lusa and was almost immediately asleep. I was awakened by Lusa pushing my shoulder and told to get up. I opened my eyes and saw my woman grinning at me. I had enough sleep and got out of bed and gave her a kiss. Without looking I said, "Why the grin?" "Dadda showed me some pretty stones, lots of stones." "Oh," I yawned a little and stretched. "Let's go see what he thinks." Dad had the diamonds spread all over the bed. There were almost two hundred and most were over twelve carat. Half of a diamond was usually waste and that made the pile weigh almost 1400 carats when polished. The largest one in the rough was eighty three carats but would dress out at fifty because of its shape. "Son these are simply..." "Dad where is your fountain pen I need to clean the nib again." We heard more movement this time and dad laughed, the whispered, "He didn't see anything did he?" "No, he just has a high testosterone level." We started back now and I started to feel a little sad again. Soon after the holiday I would have to go back to the university and my education. We did enjoy ourselves and ended up in a medium sized town over Christmas. Everybody had brought presents from Rhodesia and I had nothing to give except some diamonds but mom said that she had more than enough. I thought of one gift I could give and took a hundred pounds and gave it to the local black church to be used among the parish from my family. Everybody was with me and they all felt a special warmth at the gift. We left just after the noon hour. In a way we felt burdened by all the blessings that had been heaped on us. I felt further burdened by the blessing I had been given even before birth. I boarded the plane to Britain with a thick winter coat, shirts, underwear, pants, thick woollen socks. From dad I got a bag with most of the instruments a physician would need. The gifts were a surprise because I purposely did not look. The last gift in particular was meaningful, especially with Shawn Boz on the brass tag with enough room to append MD after it. The airline remembered me, and how I had saved one of their passengers on the flight down, so they changed my economy seat to first class. Fortunately on this trip, I didn't have to operate or save anybody, so was able to catch up on my sleep for almost the complete trip back to London. The airport in London was congested. Cold rain was falling and the day was dark with heavy clouds. I was surprised to see that many of my students were waving at me from the sidelines. When I came to customs the man looked at my baggage, my face, my doctor's bag, the cheering students and just stamped my passport and said, "Welcome home Dr. Boz." "Thank you, not yet I am afraid but very soon." I was mobbed by hundreds of well wishers. Monique and Jennifer made it through the crowd to me, telling me that the story of the appendectomy had made it here and been picked up by the major newspapers. The Tribune even had a further story where all the things that they could find out about me were published. On the front page was my picture and further back in the art section featured many of my gnomes and paintings, but thankfully not quite all! This was only the surface thoughts I could see and knew that there were many more things left unsaid. I squeezed my women but did not kiss them in public. They knew that this kind of publicity could be bad. I jumped on a nearby counter and gave an impromptu speech about being happy to be back. Some reporters had wiggled close after I started and started asking questions. I could easily foresee them going on to ask about dangerous areas, so I cut the speech short and just waved to my friends as I got in a taxi with Monique and Jennifer. Monique was bursting to tell me things so I just put my index finger over her mouth to have her keep quiet. I could feel that the taxi driver was all ears and therefore anything that I said would be sold to the newspapers later. Consequently, our conversation centred on how Monique was doing in school and the fate of our sports teams in a few holiday games. Getting out I paid the driver and the girls took most of the baggage into the house. Once the door was closed behind me the women jumped me. While Monique kissed me Jennifer took off her clothes and tried to push me fully clothed into her vagina. It took only a few seconds longer and Monique had her own clothing on the floor. I pulled the women to my sides and wrapped an arm under their rumps and picked both up off the floor they gasped and had nowhere to hold onto so they both just held on to their partner. I carried them upstairs to the bedroom and put them on the bed. My own clothing dropped to the floor and I went from one woman to another trying to see who tasted better. I laid Monique on her back and Jennifer on her stomach, but on top of Monique, and preceded to savour all four orifices at more or less the same time. I used my fingers and thumb of each hand to stimulate all their openings and when they were too wrapped up in the sensations, I switched to my abilities and filled them again. They not only had felt this before, they preferred this position. They got to hold one another and bask in all the love we had to give. My own member now wanted some action after seeing that I too could enjoy myself in an almost completely new dimension. The urge was even trying to overcome my commonsense. How could this be? I had always been in control and now my body seemed to have a mind of its own. I scanned for problems and saw that everything was perfect. On a closer look I found a heightened level of hormones and for a moment thought of the man in the bundu that had wanted to look at my family naked. This took me some time to consider. In the memories that I had copied, I found the problem. This was going to have to be the way it was for the rest of my life. I would have to strike some balance between following the way my brain dictated and the way the glands were pushing me to act. This took time to decipher but I had not left my girls unattended. They were thrusting their pelvises at one another. An orgasm was running through both of them and from the looks of it would last a long time. I moved the probes and stroked their G spots while another formed soft ridges that slowly went in and out of their anuses. Their thrusting increased in tempo and the bed rocked to their increasingly violent movement. When they were at their peak I formed two tubes that searched out and latched onto their clits. The mouths of the tubes sucked in the small morsels of flesh so that first Monique screamed, swiftly followed by Jennifer a few seconds later. Jennifer clawed Monique's back and sides causing deep furrows and I just increased the fervour of my actions until Jennifer collapsed. Her system could not take the stimulation and with no other distractions, Monique soon followed. I used my power to levitate Jennifer and place her on her back. Monique was moved further away and I looked at her wounds. I moved her flesh into the position it had been before and then shifted platelets into position so that they stopped the bleeding. The wounds would heal much quicker now and leave no trace at all in less than a week. This left me with a problem of my own and it didn't feel right to use my hand, even though all other males did. My mind detected Sharon in another room. She had heard our love making and decided to use her own fingers to relieve her tension. I had left the sorority alone and they me. Mainly I had no need to gain more women with two of my own to take care of me physically. Despite this, the others had sent all sorts of signals out and I had either ignored them or turned them into safe areas. Now my glands wanted relief and knew that if I took even one woman the rest would want the same thing. Although I could take care of all of them, it would be at the risk of having them become aware of my special abilities. Even now I had to wait till Monique and Jennifer were so overcome with sensation that they would neither know nor care what I was doing to them. If they did think about it, they thought I was using my fingers and my penis to please one or the other of them. Most times I had to cloud their minds as to what was happening and after a moment I could relent because they had a new pleasure cloud to contend with. My glands still wanted me to go to Sharon and in my mind I soon knew that I would end up loving her and all her sisters. When the inevitable time came when I had to leave for home I would be ripped apart just as they would be. I pulled back and fought down my urges and just went to my luggage and put my things away. In a corner a cloth bag held three quarters of the diamonds I had acquired. These would have to occupy my mind for a while until my girls awoke. It was not a good substitute. I had studied the stones carefully, soon coming to know each and every flaw in them. I carried the sack to my workshop and laid them on a wooden counter and swiftly used my power to shear the stones the way I wanted. By doing this, I was able to get larger gems with less waste than any other craftsman could at that time. When they were all cut I used my powers to polish and then with some copper I lapped them to gain their brilliancy. The small pieces I cut, polished and lapped till there was little I could do with the remaining diamond dust. An idea came to me and I went to my safe and pulled out a block of 18 carat gold and formed it into twelve sections that would form a hollow egg reminiscent of Faberge. The gold was squeezed into very exacting dimensions and it took on a lustre that normally only very fine polishing would bring. The material was quite thick so that I could cut away some material, much like the bas-relief I had used on the community centre. It depicted images of different prehistoric animals, starting on the left with the earliest. Legs were formed on the outside and closer to the bottom to allow the pieces to stand individually or in a group. The smallest pieces of diamond dust were pushed into the ductile metal in a way that highlighted eyes, teeth and claws. Hinges were formed integrally and a simple lock held all of the egg closed. The sections all closed on one another to keep the egg from falling apart. The outside of the egg showed a panoramic view of prehistoric Earth untouched by man. Trees had diamond fruit and the country side was covered with diamond rocks. Very small chips formed birds and small animals hiding in the grass. From the pieces of stone purchased for making more gnomes, I picked out some lapis lazuli and cut the mass into a form that would resemble bones that were all interlocked. The finished egg nestled perfectly into it resting on twelve gold ridges at the juncture of each of the gold slices. It did look pretty but gaudy as well. Faberge had taken a year to make some of his creations. This was very simple and would have taken him considerably less time, but with my abilities, it was all completed in less than an hour. With the gold still out, I picked up small gems and formed them into groups intended to form pairs. As there were 26 girls taking care of Jennifer originally, I had not allowed others to join. Many slept here and actually rotated through on a basis made up by the girls themselves. I formed earrings with the gold and placed the diamonds onto the metal and formed metal around the edges of the stones to keep them in place. This was rather more exacting work and it took over four hours to complete. Boxes were made from wood and the recipient's name carved into the lid. I put everything away except the earrings and took them upstairs where I found Monique was now awake and cooking our meal. I put the small boxes on the dresser and went into the kitchen. Monique ran to me and picked me up to kiss me very passionately. "You are so good to me Shawn. I don't know what I will do when you have to go." "That is a long time off and we will have many good times until then." With a kiss I asked, "What's to eat?" "Italian tonight. That recipe for sauce is great and much better than any on this side of the channel deserve." "I know. They like such bland food here but the pizza went over well." "You look to be cooking for our army. Are they all coming over?" "Yes, all of them have come back from their holidays and I wanted them over here for tonight to give you a little party." "Didn't we already have a party upstairs?" Monique blushed and said, "That was just for us. We didn't have Christmas together." "When does it start?" "In an hour. The lasagne is not finished yet. Where is that lazy girl of mine? She was supposed to help." "I'll go check." "Don't you start on her. I'm horny enough around you." Jennifer was coming down stairs, naked as usual and wanted me immediately. "Hold on girl, momma wants you to work. We are having guests tonight." "Oh poo, I wanted you in me," she said in her mind. "Later sweetheart, there is lots to do." Monique took my verbal words as a matter of course. She knew there was some sort of communication taking place but did not let it bother her. "Go get some clothes on." I went to one of the empty rooms and used my spare time constructively. Each of the rooms had a different but complementary theme. I used small coloured tiles on the floors and walls to show different views of Great Britain. Many historic sites were either present or were to be done as time allowed. This work was fairly quick because all I needed was the raw tiles and glue. I would break the tiles with my mind and when enough was done I would spread glue on the prepared wall and place the tiles on. I had just enough time to get only a few sections up when I felt the girls getting close. I ran to the shower and cleaned myself. I was dry and dressed before the bell rang at the door. Sharon had answered it. She and some of her sorority sisters were cleaning the house and washing the clothes. It was better to do it here because I had modern machines and they spent much more time here. I greeted all the newcomers and the ones that had come just after us from the airport. They knew Monique, Jennifer and I had a bit of catching up before we would have time for the rest of the family. They would bend over and kiss me with as much passion as they could trying to get me to raise their status from just friend to full girlfriend. Monique poked her head out of the kitchen and said hello as did Jennifer in her way. They were both busy and needed to get many things done before the meal and have a shower too. Everyone made themselves at home and some took over for the kitchen staff so the other two could get cleaned up. With a kiss or two the girls ran upstairs to change. Wine was opened and some had a glass as they talked to each other. One group wanted to know about my vacation and kept at it to hear my side of the appendectomy that I had to perform. I avoided the answer till all the people were present so that I would not have to repeat myself. Another reason was that I still had my playful attitude and wanted to keep them all on tenterhooks until the meal began. During our meal I mentioned that I had made another art work but this time in gold. Everybody was anxious to see it but I was vague about what it was. The conversation changed to other topics and soon we were almost done. We had pastries for desert before I found that the girls had been working on this party for the last few days. I let them orchestrate it and soon we were singing songs and using simple instruments. We played charades and then danced to the music from the radio. We had a good laugh when my ballad came on later. I then recounted my story about the operation on the aircraft, trying to be as descriptive as I could to get the squeamish ones to squirm. They told me in turn about all the questions they got about me from the newspapers and even an international magazine from America. The girls running the business in my absence had seen a dramatic increase in people coming in the front door after the operation became common news. Some reporters and photographers came but some were potential customers. After the conversation died out I went to get my egg. When I came back I placed it on the stone coffee table and they all looked at it closely. They made appreciative comments about its detail. I took the egg apart and strung the pieces out like a folding curtain and they all came to one side to see the detail of the interior. This was much more elaborate and their comments now centred on claiming outrageous prices for what they thought the egg was worth. I had to do some reconsidering myself. If my name was more famous then my work would be too. I did not dicker too much but the girls knew that they could drop a price by 5% if they thought it would mean a sale. Much of the store had displays of heavy glass to protect the merchandise from theft, vandalism, or accident. One more area that was to house small individual articles had not even been used yet. I went upstairs now and brought down the small boxes and placed them on the table with the names uppermost. The girls were intrigued to say the least and I told them to take their boxes and open them slowly. I heard exclamations of all kinds as they pulled the earrings out with their fingers and held them before their eyes. A few seeing all the sparkles and the shear number of stones actually wondered if they were real or not. Mirrors were suddenly in great demand and then some put the jewellery on the owners while others just slipped their own on. Hair styles would change at school now so that ears could be seen and jewellery flaunted. It seemed that this sorority wanted to exhibit the qualities of good grades, performing good works and of course flaunting each in their own particular style. School the next day found me being congratulated many times. Medical educators did not like it at all but had found out that the appendix I saved showed that the man would probably have died. Even with the Hippocratic Oath, some still had a small feeling deep inside them to let the patient die rather than have them healed by somebody who wasn't a doctor yet. It made me think of all the workers wanting to go on strike rather than both the company and them resort to something that would hurt the economy. With a hectic semester predicted I had many young artists displaying their works in my studio. This gave them a good place to present their talent. I took many pieces on commission or if I thought it good enough, bought it myself. With all this now going on, I figured that the building would be self perpetuating even if I were not here to keep it filled with my works. After final exams in the new year, I continued with maths instead of switching to physics. They wanted to have a better understanding of my abilities in this and other subjects. I was given tests in all the subjects I planned on teaching and passed all of them with the highest marks ever. The few marks I did loose were due to the fact that the educator was not up on current events in the particular subject. The pace could be called gruelling but I simply went from test to test without the need to study. Everything except medicine came my way and I got all the credentials I needed at one time, except the one I most wanted. A symposium I went to earlier had the leading mathematicians of the world and showed the school in a very favourable light. The visitors were a astounded that I actually knew far more than that which I was teaching. A similar event with physicians would not be as well received even if I proved every point I made. There were some new faces in class. Some students had enrolled here to be taught specifically by me. I had refused to teach small select groups, but not many of the people considered were up to the tasks I would hand them. Groups like this usually were where the educator was groping in the dark along with his students to find something elusive. I didn't know everything but I knew enough that I would only be teaching. I had to attend the labs for the medical students. It was a further way for the medical profession to keep close scrutiny on my progress. Simple for me experiments were usually finished when some students were only just beginning them. After a while I just stayed in class and regained my other role and re-taught what the professor had tried to teach. This didn't sit well with the some of the instructors so I left after completing my projects. Students had to come to me later for help. I had no lab or equipment to demonstrate the points I was making so had to rely on old pictures in books. After two weeks I drew the pictures in colour and made them large so that they were much easier to see. They worked so well that I sold partial rights to a publishing house so that both doctors and students could see things better than before. My exams were very good, so good that the professor was somewhat jealous and possibly even a little frightened as well. As a result, questions on further tests were selected with answers that were open to interpretation. Sadly the professor decided always that the way I picked was invariably wrong even if it meant the rest of the class failing those questions too. With finals coming around again I documented all the tests and with the words of the educator in print I sent the packet to the school and the BMA for clarification. When the time came for writing the exams, we all found that there was much less ambiguity in the questions. The first term at the university was partial, so as I had to complete two full terms, it meant another term of medical study. Many in the sorority would be graduating and looking for employment in their chosen field. I had written, talked on the phone or even seen in person a wide range of prospective employers. Through them I talked to others. I was instrumental in getting or assisting in getting the twelve girls jobs which meant the original 26 girls were now reduced in number to 14. What broke my heart was that one of those who were going was Monique - to a good job with a university in Paris. Jennifer cried so much that I decided to put her back on suicide watch for a while. I too took the loss hard. My concentration began to wander and I found that I even lost my train of thought once in a class I was teaching. The students noticed it right away and knew something was wrong. I tried my best to see each girl off and cried at least a little at each parting. When all had left that were going to, the rest tried harder to find a replacement for Monique. With the pain so great I politely declined, so I would not be hurt so much again. The art gallery continued to prosper, as did the school and the students in the art department. My gnomes were selling very well and I used up not only the rough blanks but again had to make my own from scratch. My 'dinosaur egg' had sold for a good price, as had a dozen replicas as well. The high price seemed to attract the customer more strongly than a simply reasonable price would have done. I had exercised my options on the other properties and got them cleared and cleaned up by others. Many times this was a project, so I paid the students for their work so that they would have some spare cash. The bombed out warehouse was by now almost completely stripped of steel for my buildings and the rented building for making glass was taken out of mothballs so that many sheets of glass could be produced. This time I made many times more than I would need and rented another building for storage purposes. All my buildings were at a cutting edge of technology or as close as I could persuade the local council's building department to get to. The structures were large and I incorporated ethnic businesses on the ground floor. Curiously, our pizzas sold very well so I opened my own franchises with quick witted entrepreneurs across the city. In the case of university students I even loaned them the money. I was trying to drag the taste buds of the people of London into this century, but in my heart I knew that it was going to be a long task. The rooms above became offices or lodgings. There was an acute shortage of this and I tried my best to fill the need. My diamonds sold slowly, especially as I had to do it through intermediaries. There was no way I could sell them openly otherwise the tax man would look too closely into where they came from. The banks became firm believers in me and I got all the money I needed to build what I thought best. I bought the school racing sculls and the coach could almost kiss me. He had his eye on Oxford and Cambridge deeply wanted to trounce them at the next opportunity. Our own hospital got an electron microscope that cost a fortune. My own 'eye' was even better but only I had it. The money I spent simply took the place of the taxes I would have to pay. Salk did his trials and it turned out that his vaccine was very effective after finding a novel way of producing the different strains of poliomyelitis in quantity. My most trying time came when a simple truant officer traced Jennifer to me. Schooling was not the only problem for I and all her remaining mothers taught her. She was not under the care of an adult and this involved the child protection agencies. I was able because of my mind to fill an adult job but I could see that I would not be able to do so if I had to care for a child. She was shifted around many times so that my home was not seen as her primary residence. The agencies tried to get me to turn her in as my duty. I was always polite to them for they were actually doing their job and thinking of the children first. The sorority was questioned and then even watched to find Jennifer. She found she could not even go outside without the risk of the agency taking her into custody. This semester would also give me my medical diploma and they were trying to throw all sorts of tests, exams and any other roadblocks to me gaining this goal. I had to do post-mortems and usually the cadavers I got were in an advanced stages of decomposition. I did my job to the best of my ability and on many cases had to argue with the examiner about contributing conditions to the causes of death. When only a few doctors were arguing with me I usually won my case. As the semester neared half way I was able to go to the hospital to give my diagnosis along with the other aspiring doctors. Quite often my findings were challenged and I had to back them up by lab work. If it were possible, and this happened a lot, then other possibilities were put forwards and I then had to refute them. This was a lot like French law where I was guilty till I proved myself innocent. Traps were sometimes set where a patient with a little known condition that a diagnostician would have to go to his books to find were given to me and me alone. When they wanted quick results I would question them to how long the doctor or doctors took to find her condition originally. They would lie and I would write their statements down on paper and both sign and date it. My diagnosis was sent to the dean of the school for safe keeping. Since I knew the patients' real names I sometimes contacted the original doctors who had found the correct diagnosis the hard way. Their words were put on a legal affidavit and brought back to haunt the devious professor. It was hard to be nice to some of these people. I found the opposite in the company of the other student doctors. Many needed help and I gave it freely. They saw many of the injustices but had few remedies to assist me with my problem. Very few of the physicians actually took my side because of the overwhelming opposition they saw facing me. I did fight back but there was little to fight back with when the same judges that were marking me were also the ones to find fault with their colleagues. Like police and barristers there was an unwritten law to not help anyone in a fight against a member of their profession. My classes were not suffering because if there was a conflict I just handed it to the head of the mathematics department and let him talk to the head of the medical department. My contract stipulated that they had to work my time out between them. My ability to need very little sleep was an asset because they tried their best to use sleep deprivation in order to make me too confused to function. My diagnoses were all on the money, even if they wanted to find other reasons for the symptoms. I had on occasion a need to have the family members of some patients appraised that their physician was wrong and a new one should look into my diagnosis. Many times I was able to see the records of a patient that I diagnosed correctly. Sometimes they would get the treatment they needed while I got a certificate to show that the people opposing me were wrong. This usually brought more hard feelings that I wasn't playing their game right. When the next semester came to an end I would be allowed to write a special group of tests. I was told before witnesses that because of my youth and because I had not taken all the preliminaries they had to test me more extensively. "You mean that no other student will get this test?" I asked another educator if he heard the statement. He didn't like me but did support me, clearly saying 'yes'. ------- Chapter 15 When the time and place of my examination came I was in a room of my own. An examiner was about to give me my first exam when I brought a barrister into the room. After introducing himself as my representative he presented a document from the dean stating that he had permission to be present. "But this is not allowed. Only people taking the tests are allowed." The barrister simply said, "You are here and so am I. Proceed with the examination or I will see about a court order." He sat down and watched the proceedings with interest now. The tests were designed to take up to thirty hours all run consecutively. I finished a four hour exam in an eighth of the time. "Next test please." This was going to be refused me but my legal representative stepped in, "There is no minimum time limit even if the test is not intended to be finished. Give my client the next test and record the time accurately." "You can't do this..." "I am authorized to initiate an injunction if you do not comply. It will name you and every one of the medical lecturers in this school and may go on to include the entire BMA. The timing will allow you to continue this harassment but the case will continue with meaningful damages sought." I got the next test and the one after that. A break was scheduled but I had all the tests done before that time. Each of my sheets had my signature, date, test name and page number with a total given at the end of the sheets. The doctor had to sign that all sheets were given him so that any lost would be on his shoulders. I got home to find Sharon crying. Looking into her mind I saw everything she saw and heard. A man who had tried to take Jennifer had been restrained and struck by Sharon. Jennifer had run off while Sharon had been arrested, but later released on her own recognizance. "Tell me all about it Sharon." "I... I... " "Take it easy and tell me one thing at a time." It took twenty minutes but I got her to say everything she saw. "You are not in trouble. The man did not identify himself and it looked to you like Jennifer was being kidnapped by a man." "Sharon, stay here no matter what and I will get Jennifer." "But..." "Stay here." "Ok..." My eye was doing a search pattern and I couldn't seem to find her anywhere. Using my mind I spoke, "Jennifer it is Shawn. Can you hear me?" I tried very hard and knew I could send well but Jennifer might hear me but not be able to respond. "If you can hear me, go to a phone and call us. I will ask questions and you can tap out an answer." I repeated my request and ten minutes later I got a phone call and nobody spoke on the other end. Sharon was still crying so I said, "It's Jennifer." Then to the caller I asked, "Are you all right? Bang once for no twice for yes." When the message came in I said, "Not so loud sweetie. Do you know where you are?" No. "Is there some big buildings nearby?" No. "Is there a park?" Yes. "Is there a statue in it?" There was no reply and I was getting worried. In a moment I got a yes. I called out letters one after the other and got a tap at the right one. Soon I had the street. The same thing happened for the address. "I will be there in ten minutes, you ran pretty far. Stay where you are and don't leave. Do you understand sweetie?" With a final yes I handed the phone to Sharon and ran out of the house. My eye had found her and there was no pursuit. A taxi drove me to the area and I knew Jennifer had run across the road because some young men were bothering her. I could foresee this as a potential rape and got the driver to go faster. He stopped and saw me jump a high iron fence and keep on going. I ran up to a youth and just drove my heels into his back. The two others went down just as quickly. I picked the distraught girl up and took her to the gate and waved my hand at the driver after putting Jennifer down. The driver was angry when I ran away without paying and he clearly was not over it by the time I got back to him. His loud voice was scaring Jennifer so I just reached in the window and pulled the man's shirt outside with him in it by my power and muscle. "Shut your mouth. Drive us back. Can't you see the girl was in trouble?" I let the man go and he lost his anger to be replaced with more than a little fear. We got into the back and the driver drove back to where he had picked us up, so I gave him the full fare together with a tip and just left. Jennifer and I walked in the back door and all the girls came out to see how she was doing. I gave them a rundown on the three boys and our rather one sided fight. I phoned the solicitor I had that morning and requested his secretary that he call me when he got back. The girls were upset and so was Jennifer. Part of it was that she couldn't talk to let us know and part that people were again chasing her. Her old remedy was sill a viable solution. When the phone call came I answered and had the solicitor on the line. I explained about the problem with Sharon and the man she fought, not giving any identification. I purposely said nothing about Jennifer because there was nothing he could do that would give her freedom without risk. I was told the matter would be taken care of and probably without a court case. I thought the man right and even had the possibility of a counter claim of assault if the agency did not see things our way. Now to the problems with Jennifer. For months now I had the solution and had only waited to pass my tests. The marks were not tabulated but other than outright illegalities the diploma would be mine. The matter of a one year internship still stood between me and the licence though. Jennifer needed to go away. She had to be with people I trusted. Those people had to keep her from doing something very stupid and permanent. She was definitely going to miss me and this could bring on another episode. I took Jennifer's hand and pulled her to her feet. Turning to the rest I said, "We will be busy tonight and I will see the three of you in the morning. Jennifer will be sleeping in. Sharon, I would like you to take first shift tomorrow." There was no need to tell her why. Once in my shop I said to Jennifer's mind, "Remember when I said that I would put you on the right track?" "Yes," came her silent reply. "I am going to fix you tonight and in a while you will start hearing better. Other things I will repair too. Do I have your permission to do this?" "Will it hurt?" "Not much but you will be better." "Ok." "Then go have a shower and use the toilet too. You won't want to use a bed pan do you?" "No." I cleaned my bench and laid a sheet on it along with a pillow. Most of this was theatrical and I wanted her to remember most of it. She came back in her pyjamas, which she usually never wore unless it was exceptionally cold. I helped her onto the hard bed. She saw the instruments on a clean cloth beside me. I gave her a kiss and her arms came around me as if she were going to leave me forever. "Don't worry you will be better in the morning." With a tap to her forehead she fell asleep. Looking inside her ear I saw the tiny bones misaligned. I used a tiny bit of force and corrected the problem and started the molecules around the junction to flow. Twenty minutes later I did the other side and had to do a lot more work because of degeneration. I took the scalpel and cut her behind her ears and then stitched the incision up. Soon she would be able to feel her stitches and think I had worked from the usual direction. All this could have been done long ago but she needed to go now not in a year's time. I sliced a small sliver off the inside of her throat and placed it where her larynx should have been. Both ends were anchored and the blood encouraged to flow where it should. The wound was repaired as well as I was able to. The strip of flesh encouraged to grow the way I wanted. This was very tiring work, even surpassing forging steel beams out of mild steel plate. Two hours later I rested a bit and had a drink. The girls were still downstairs thinking we were making love but they wondered since they didn't hear Jennifer's guttural screams. I ate some fruit and in a moment went back to trying to take one cell and make it grow into another. It had just been determined last year that the key to life was a double helix of amino acids. After hearing of it I searched and found this elusive target. Using plant cells first I was able to see how different groups on the chain could alter the plant if the sequence were changed. Fruit flies and others exhibited a similar pattern and I had spent a considerable amount of time to unravel the sequence. It was almost nine months now and I was only partially done. School and other commitments had slowed this endeavour very much. The cells did multiply but I had to go much slower than I would like. I gave the cells and myself a rest and picked Jennifer up and put her on a more comfortable bed. Three times I got up and went back to work. There were other things I could do for her but I was too tired to try to juggle so many things. With the first step done I went to sleep for a few more hours. Waking up later I got Jennifer up and helped her to the bathroom. She felt her bandages along with a little pain but I got a big smile when she heard things she never heard before. I was careful with her as a ploy and she slowly pantomimed out how she could hear much better but had a sore throat. She was only allowed liquids and after an hour I had her back on the counter top. This time she was very happy to go. To give the larynx a further rest I went for the area of her brain that governed her aggression. It was undeveloped and I worked at stimulating the cells to grow as in her throat. Again I had to take frequent rests and got more fruit to eat. For two days between classes I worked on my Jennifer. I seem to have lost a few pounds even though I was eating. Jennifer got up regularly, drank juice and after a little exercise and a shower went back to my shop. Half way through the fourth day I figured I was finished except for minor touch-ups. I cast my mind around the house and found some girls here that had no real job prospects at the moment. Some had decided to work for me full time instead after graduating and forego their careers. There were many places I could use this talent and did my best to teach them about business as well as their regular classes. Of the fourteen members of the sorority, ten had graduated and only three wanted new assignments. This was understandable because of all the money they and their families had put out to get them educated in the first place. The three would go in a few weeks and had that time to prepare. They also worked for me and made more spending money. That night I gave them plane or train tickets to their new life and again many tears were spilt. Beth was one of the ones to go and she was with Jennifer and I heard a scream like no other. I raced into the room and found Beth with a frightened face at Jennifer's mons. Both girls were shocked but for different reasons. Beth heard a scream like she did when Jennifer made love to her. Jennifer was just out of it, enjoying her most recent orgasm. I kissed Beth's lips and tasted Jennifer. "You started her, perhaps she will talk soon." "Talk? She can't talk" "I didn't just work on her ears, you know. Stay with her now and give her the good news. I never said anything to her about it." She kissed me hard and pressed her naked body against me. They were usually shy about making love to each other with others looking, especially me. But now it was different. Ten minutes later a naked Jennifer ran into me and squawked a sound something like my name. I held her too me and said, "That was fantastic Sweetie. I am glad your first word was my name." She pulled me close and I think she was the happiest she had ever been in her short life. We had a party that night and Jennifer tried to say all the girls' names but most came out almost the same. This was a vast improvement over having no vocal cords at all. I looked into Jennifer's mind to see the small changes which in a few years would make her behave like any other girl you would meet. The vocal cords might come relatively quickly, but the whole persona would take time to adjust to her more aggressive spirit. Who knows, maybe she could get into sports soon but she wouldn't do it here. We had another small party when I got my diploma it listed my degrees in medicine and all the other subjects I wrote exams for a term earlier. Next term I would be an intern and in my spare time teach if I could. I knew from other people that most had little time to do anything even if it was four hours a day of sleep. Sharon's case was quashed and the man was obliged by the judge to make his own apology or face the consequences. Sharon was very happy and kissed me in the court. I had been talking to Monique on the phone and she loved her job but missed us something terrible. I asked if she wanted some visitors and she almost came through the instrument at us. I hadn't told her about Jennifer yet so it would be a surprise. I had made arrangements that Beth work at the same university as Monique for an ulterior reason. Stephanie, one of the sorority sisters at loose ends, was offered a special job. Jennifer and she were lovers along with Beth and Monique. Beth was the only one of the three to hide with each of her sisters to make love. The rest basically had a free for all and enjoyed it. I told one of my first lies now and it felt as if I were stabbed. Jennifer was told she was going to visit Paris with Monique, Beth and Stephanie the later was to be her companion for the four month visit. Jennifer was both sad and glad but hated to leave all her friends. There was a party of sorts but everybody was too sad to participate. Three days later Beth and Stephanie crossed the channel on a ferry and took Jennifer's property with them. A day later and at night I brought Jennifer to the ferry and put her to sleep. In this condition I picked up her body and put her on my back. We flew under cover of darkness across the gap to the continent. The channel looks small on the map but it is very wide to fly across. I did cheat and rested on a ship for a few minutes and continued our flight. I chose this method to avoid checks for papers that Jennifer did not have. After we landed between two buildings we took a taxi to the ferry terminal and Jennifer saw a boat just leaving as I awoke her. She believed we came by boat and were safely through customs and immigration. A few hours later a train brought us into Paris and twenty minutes later we were knocking at Monique's door. Monique had just woken up. She had a hard night with her two friends and her legs, tongue and crotch were still sore. She hugged and kissed us both and said, "Come in and give me your jackets." "Thank you Monique," came quietly and hesitantly from Jennifer. It took a few seconds but Monique was now fully awake. "How..." "Shawn fix... fixed me good." We got another hug and this time I was worried about my bones. Beth and Stephanie were awake now too and smiled at how Monique was taking the news. The girls did a bit of talking but Jennifer went to sleep because I purposely made her stay up late to make her this way. With the girl in the other room I sat in the small kitchen and talked to the three girls. "It is getting too difficult to keep Jennifer in London. You three girls are the ones she loves the most in this world. I lied to her about being here four months. It may need to be three years until she is sixteen and can come back to London. Besides Jennifer's voice and hearing, I worked on her brain and she will become more assertive as time goes on. This means she will be in less danger from others and from herself." "I want to get you a larger apartment possibly closer to the university that the two of you will work at. Stephanie is to keep an eye on Jennifer and teach her French and all other subjects. For this service I will pay her and supplement the cost for a larger apartment. Beth and Monique will have to watch Jennifer to give Stephanie a break. You all love one another on many levels and I want Jennifer kept within the love of this group." We talked more on this and many scenarios were covered. Stephanie could leave if another came in her place. Money was placed in a bank with regular deposits to cover the cost of food. The girls would now live much better than Monique alone but not free enough that they could not work. The next day I searched for an apartment and ended up purchasing the building and the one next to it. The cost was low and like London the prices would only rise in time. Much of the city had been destroyed and the cost of property was cheap. That afternoon at an attorney's office I had the papers drawn up and the buildings were mine. A penthouse apartment was vacant and in need of repairs. Workmen came the next day and started doing what I asked. Monique wanted to see the apartment I 'rented' and I mentioned that it was being worked on. We saw the sights of Paris and I got to see into some very remarkable brains. The diplomats here were not the same as the ones visiting Rhodesia. They were even slimier however their thinking was rather more creative. Some furniture was ordered, delivered and set up. There was nothing more needed except the girls and their personal belongings. I presented each girl with a key. We entered the lift and Monique had to use her key to get to the higher floors. The lift had an antique handle and I had Jennifer do the honours this time and just said, "The top." When the door opened they saw large doors and rich furniture in the hallway. Equally rich carpet covered the hallway. Looking into the doorways Monique thought that somebody had left their apartment doors open. She said, "Those rooms are so big and beautiful. Quick. Shawn I want to see ours?" "You are in it." "Shawn this is a hallway. Cut the jokes. Where is the apartment you rented?" "Do I have to repeat myself woman?" She knew the voice and decided to search for herself. Soon the others started to wander about. Beth even knocked on a few doors to see if some of the other tenants would help them. I walked into a large room and kicked off my shoes and lay down on an antique couch that was worth a fortune. Monique saw me and whispered as loud as she dared, "Shawn get off that. The owners will come and call the police." "Recently I told you that I lied. Take a guess at how many times I have done that. Then remember my last words to you." Her mind worked through the logic. So many times it went right on the money then veered off from the impossible. She was still at it when Beth came back and said, "The place is empty. There is no clothes, shoes, food; nothing." Monique looked at me and then both looked at me. Monique repeated all my words as good as she could remember them and Beth came to the conclusion, "This is all one apartment and you rented it?" "No, I didn't." Jennifer pleaded with me and used her voice to say, "Pleeeese." "Ok, I own both the building and the apartment building next to it. This is my apartment when I am here and you will be staying in it. The four of you will have to manage the two properties by yourselves. Get used to French law and I will negotiate to get a good plumber, electrician and others to help you when you need it. The building is old but in good shape. Monique looked around and said, "You own this!" "Now let's get you moved and see what we can do for last month's rent." I took Monique to my solicitor here and had her sign some papers for me. She had a good business head but had little time other than in my store to use it. That night I flew back over the channel alone and felt alone now even more than when I first came here over a year ago. The train took me to London and I reported to the school for classes and to the hospital to see when I was needed there. Both institutions wanted me now so I called the mathematics department and explained, "I don't think I can handle the classes till I find out how I will be run ragged by the hospital. Already they are angry that I didn't report in at midnight." "That sounds like the usual way of handling things. I don't know why any sane person puts himself in their hands." "From my point of view as a potential licensed physician, I would have to say that I agree with you one hundred percent. I asked some questions and found that they hadn't even contacted me to tell me this but it was still my fault for not coming on time. Sounds a lot like the way it was last semester." "Get used to it Shawn. I will try to see if I can get a schedule for you that they will stick to and then you can see what classes you can teach. Don't even think about having weekends off. That is when you will be working the most to cover for other doctors." "Thank you sir." I was placed in geriatrics and actually liked dealing with older people. Then again most of the people in the hospital were older than me anyway. The patients were understandably shocked to see me even though I was in the papers a lot recently. A boy almost five (but not quite) does not at first inspire a lot of trust and confidence. Some patients with less than their usual faculties thought of me as their grandchild or even great grandchild on occasion. Here wearing a white smock and stethoscope in my pocket did not make me look as I should. Many patients thought me not competent enough to treat them. I would explain how I had done all this for years I was hit with derision and ridicule when they subtracted years from my apparent age. We would travel around in groups like a pack of hyenas and this was the only reason I got to get close enough to give a logical reason for having an accurate diagnosis. Standing out in the hallway and noticing that somebody had irregular heartbeat was sure to get even more tongues wagging. Sometimes it wasn't even the patients giving me grief. Visitors would object to their parents or grandparents being treated by me. The physicians now with their conservatism were obliged to stick up for me even if they didn't like to. It was easy to see how distasteful this was to most. The nurses had been following my career were in general much more sympathetic but by no means all were so supportive. They were at least professional and only talked among themselves. Things did start getting better when the nurses began talking to the patients and expounding on my virtues. One old woman was brought in but her name and her history were unknown. She had liver cancer and would die soon. She was dirty and looked to have lived on the streets for quite a while. The woman was unable to speak coherently and only mumbles came from her. By piecing together the random seeming events in her mind I was able to piece together her identity. The information though had to be found by other means or it would present me with a great many problems. While the rest were giving their reasons for what ailed the woman I went to her clothing and searched through it to get a reason to supply her name. Our resident said, "And what are you doing Mr. Boz? Looking for change?" "Sir, unlike you I will try to be a gentleman. The woman cannot understand us or even understand where she is. In a few days she will die of advanced liver cancer. Her present bout of hepatitis will accelerate the matter. She has been living on the streets for at least ten months. There is a slight possibility that this lady's next of kin will want to come and pay their last respects before the inevitable happens. Her clothing and skin suggest a possible middle class upbringing but the clothes may be cast-offs. Her hands have a vague outline of many rings suggesting she at one time could afford such things. There is a possibility that I will be able to find some evidence so that at least her identity can be determined. "As for the 'change' remark, I will have you know that I am no thief. Our sovereign has seen fit to reward me for some things I have done and I doubt if a common thief would make it through her screening. I might also like to remind you that I have gained considerable wealth here on my own merit and have no need for the coin or your bias accusation, sir." He made no apology but continued with the rest of his pack of followers. At the nurses station I made a quick call to the police and gave them enough information to helpfully locate the name from a missing person's report and then the woman's relatives. Most of the information could actually be gleaned from what was in the room and from the salt smell about her clothing. An hour later we broke up for lunch and our resident asked me to step into his office for a moment. "Certainly sir." Once the door was closed he turned to me and with saliva spewing from his mouth said, "How dare you insult me in front of the people that will one day be doctors. I have put in many years to gain my position and many more to build a reputation as a competent doctor. I will not have an upstart on my floor trying to ridicule me." I jumped in at a pause to gather more spit. "You may be a doctor and well thought of generally but you are a stupid man with a decided streak of envy. If you didn't want my retort why did you attack my honour in front of those selfsame doctors? Did you think I would take that from a man that hears my voice and automatically considers everything said false? If you go through my record you will find I am consistently correct in my assumptions while you are hesitant to make your own position known. Is it fear I smell when you have to make a decision near me? You at one time may have investigated the patient's background but you are not the same man you were when you were young. You have lost your suppleness and wit to gain your present position. Why else would you immediately jump to the conclusion that I was trying to steal something when you once may have done the same thing?" The man was now seething and trying to hold himself in check. "Are you going to strike me sir in the privacy of your office with no witnesses to the fact? Has your professional conduct suffered so much that your envy clouds your mind and soul?" With a visible effort he pulled himself together and said, "Get out." I left and closed the door behind me. The nurses and some patients had heard through the door what was happening. I had spoken just as loudly as my antagonist and wanted people to know what was happening. I walked to the nurses' station and said, "Hello Susan, if the police phone will you or one of the other nurses call me so that I may return the call?" I got a crisp, "Yes doctor." That afternoon I used the telephone book and called some of the woman's relatives. I quizzed them if they were missing a loved one. After the confirmation I told them of her condition and then that she was not lucid most of the time. I said that I had heard her mention the family name but this was only in her thoughts and never verbally. I had completed my rounds with the group and finished my classroom work much faster than the rest. This was one of the reasons the resident was so ticked off with me. I had returned to the ward and was sitting with the street woman trying my best to clear her mind. Part of this was accomplished by talking to her as her eyes rolled about the room. Most of the time I was getting through and felt some gratification at this. Into the room burst a heavyset man, his thin wife and an older child. They were all distraught and looked at the woman trying to see if this were the person they had been looking for. The man called out, "Momma," and reached past me to hug the woman on the bed. I moved out of the way but stayed in the room. I heard a one sided conversation and some crying. The wife turned to me and said, "What's wrong?" "I am sorry to say that your mother-in-law is going to pass on in a few days. She has liver cancer and there is nothing we can do for her except make her last moments here on Earth comfortable." "Who are you?" "Just the intern that called you and others of your family. She has not been of much help but I have spoken to her for a while and on occasion I was able to make out words and even names." This was not quite true but she did tell me in her mind. We waited a while until the son was able to take note of his surroundings then asked the same things his wife did. "That can't be. She has to live. We can get another doctor." "I am sorry sir. Your mother reminds me of my grandmother and I would feel just as bad if this were happening to her. You may get another opinion if you wish but I would like to show you something first." I showed him the yellow skin and all the large clues that led to a logical conclusion. The other facts I could actually see inside the woman naturally had to be kept secret. "Our resident and a dozen interns all gave the same diagnosis as to what was wrong." When the man went back to holding his mother I left for the nurses station and picked up some medication and a small glass of water. Walking back to the man I waited till the man looked at me. I said, "Please take this." "Why?" "You have a heart condition. Your grief has made the condition worse and I fear you need this before too soon." The man looked at me the way I usually get and took the pill and the water. "Thanks. How did you know?" I explained all the easy to see signs then went to the more minor ones that I saw. "You work hard on construction but you eat too much fat. If you were to eat more healthily now you will add at least five good years to your life." I wrote out two prescriptions and gave them to him to fill before he left the hospital. One was a sedative that would keep his emotions from killing him. "There is a palliative care ward where you and your relatives will have more room to talk to your mother. I am not her doctor though and it is up to you to ask for her transfer." At the nurses station I wrote a note stating the woman's last known address and most importantly her name. I had just enough time to run out of the hospital and make it to my mathematics class. For the thousandth time I wished that my dealings with humans could be as simple as this subject. The classes now were a little more demanding because I was actually getting the best students. Some were from other non-English speaking countries. When I could I spoke in the language they understood better even if there were sometimes no word that I could adequately use. One student saw that I wrote an important note in Arabic across his sheet so that he would remember it. Others were treated the same. This was nothing new just that the students here were very determined to do their best in this subject. I was equally determined to make sure they reached their objective. At the end of class I had an hour of free time and I decided to use it here since the classroom was not scheduled for use. "I will be available for 53 minutes after class to answer your questions. Make use of this time because I may not always be available to you." Questions were thrown at me and I explained to the limits of their intellect. Some were not quite germane to our present assignment but I answered as best I could. Einstein came up again and I explained so the class would understand. One student was very bright and I had to take a few minutes to explain it to him at his level and thus leaving the rest to try to decipher our words. At the last possible moment I said my goodbyes and fled up the steps and to the hospital again and made it just in time for the next instruction period. When the lecturer was droning on, I, like my own students thought about other things and was working on a better model of how our universe functioned. After the period ended I left for lunch and a quick shower at home. The store was doing quite well and I needed to make some things to sell to keep my girls employed. I filled out a few documents on my desk dealing with all the construction that was going on in my name. The one that seemed to suck in the most resources was the multi-business complex on the old warehouse site. More cheques had to be signed but lesser matters were handled by the professionals I had hired. Christmas was a long way away but I could start now and make special ornaments in solid gold. I made balsa wood cores and formed the gold around them. These only took a few minutes so I made almost four dozen before being ordered to eat. I figured that since my name was still good that they should sell well so I kept the price high. After a quick meal where we talked about school if they were going there and then the store if something special was called for. An idea struck me but I waited to finish our customary conversations then retired to the shop again. The graphs in mathematics were very regular and the symmetry pleased my sense of proportion. I took many pieces of sterling silver and gold and laid them out in a three dimensional array to simulate a mathematical concept. With astronomy now in mind I made many different versions of our solar system out of various materials. This should give my customers a little more to choose from. In the far corner was the fateful hank of wire that I had taken from around Jennifer's neck. For the longest time her face as she jumped from the crate over the pit drew me. With her safely in Paris I could finally purge my mind of the image if I could get it onto canvas. I did the back ground and body but the head had to wait. I was not emotionally prepared to do that part yet. I just cleaned up and went back to the hospital for my stint at night shift. I said good bye and locked the door as I left. The girls were happy because they had popcorn and the new television that everybody was looking at. Perhaps this would become a good way to advertise if enough units were being watched. The rounds were uneventful and I filled out the charts so that other doctors would know what, if anything, had changed. I did manage to stop at a few of my better patients and chatted with them a while. They told me about their families, their house, or neighbourhood. Usually I would get into a small squabble with some to get a debate going. If the other patients were not sleepy it could get quite boisterous. Sometimes I took one stance and other times the opposite side of the argument. I did not argue to win but to get the patient's mind working and eventually feel good at holding their own in a verbal dual. On occasion I would help a nurse. With her time thus saved she would argue about something dear to the lethargic patient in our room. More times than I can recall the patient sided with the nurse and both of them fought me tooth and nail. In the hall out of hearing we would discuss other points to bring up later to keep the blood at a low simmer. London especially, as well as the rest of England, together with Scotland were all fervent supporters of The Church of England. A Roman Catholic had little chance of getting a good job or of moving up the ladder even if he was good. An old woman came in that was dying and there was nothing we could do about it. One visit I found her crying which wasn't unusual but she didn't come to terms with it yet. I took out a piece of oak I had brought for her and with a scalpel, carved Christ on a cross with all the suffering and pain I could put into the small six inch icon. When I was done I gave it to the woman and she both cried and smiled at the gift. I gave her a kiss and cleaned up the chips and shavings and put them into the garbage. Her family sought me out later and thanked me for the gift and said how much it pleased the woman and allowed her to accept her fate more calmly. An ailing former educator from my university came in complaining of a sore chest. He had a decided problem with hardening of the arteries. His surgeon was going to operate and I agreed but my method would not be as intrusive. To be fair his surgeon could not pry the deposit from the blood vessels and just pull them out while I could do better. Even if I were given the chance of operating I could not do this for fear of arousing suspicion again. In my free time we talked of the school and how it had changed since his day. His mind was still active and I challenged him to a game of chess. This became a regular event and only took five minutes or less. I would usually win but make it look like he had a good chance. The day after his operation the bed was empty and the chess board put with his belongings. He had been a good friend and I would miss him. The next day I was asked to go to the emergency ward instead. I was able to diagnose and treat the patients faster than the regular doctors. It seemed that a few strings were pulled and I was reassigned here for a while after this was found out. The number of healthy people leaving our area increased and the hospital administrator saw fit to come down and congratulate us on our work. I said, "It is the quality and dedication of the nursing staff that made the increase possible." In fact this was mostly true for I gave clear orders that were easily understood and the nurses carried them out. I didn't berate anyone and treated them like my students most of the time. On occasion I would look at the way they wanted things done and took their advice. I came in for work one day and saw a girl die right before me. The previous doctor was tired but not overly so. The girl had tried suicide and got what she wanted because the doctor did not work hard enough to save the child. I wanted to scream and beat the doctor to within an inch of his life. I wanted him to suffer like the child suffered. I wanted him to feel the cuts across the blood vessels and the agony of what had driven the girl to this fate. The rest of my shift found me snapping at people left right and centre, but I stopped it as soon as I realised what I was doing. I apologised for my actions. That day after the shift was over I finally finished Jennifer's painting. I made an ebony frame for it and with a nail reminiscent of Christ I hung the wire on the nail for all to see. Between classes the next day the hospital administrator admitted me to his office and I offered the hospital one of my paintings but on many conditions. He knew of my artistic abilities and readily agreed. "Before we finalise this deal I want you to know the background of the painting I am offering you." I explained about Jennifer and her old condition. Then I went on about the recent suicide and how I felt about it. "The doctors will argue with you to remove it for many reasons but it is intended to remind them of their oath. I believe that if the doctor concerned could have worked just a bit harder then the girl would still be alive now. Drop by my shop and the director will take you to see the painting. You will find it disturbing. If it is too much I will retract my offer." The next day I was called into the administrators office and I could tell that he was still shaken. "Sir Shawn, that painting has more power than any other thing I have ever seen. I do want the painting but would you just loan it to us for a year? During that time I will have it protected. I think the long term place for it is in the British Museum because I am afraid that it may well be the cause of more suicides if depressed individuals see it. Our doctors though should be encouraged to work harder. Perhaps it can be placed where they usually enter the hospital instead of where the patients can see it." I shook his hand and said, "It is a deal. I will make an enclosure and deliver it within a day. When it is mounted I will bring the painting over." The enclosure was made at my shop and I made it as secure as I could. Even the glass I treated to make it the strongest possible. When the day came to unveil the painting I wanted it to be solemn. Newspapers came and there was a lot of commotion that I didn't want. I read doctor's minds and found that they thought I was grandstanding. With a few words and without naming names I pulled the cloth off the painting and locked the glass securing it. The noise suddenly stopped and even the cameras stopped flashing. The only talk was from the fringe of the crowd that couldn't see the front. For a good five minutes there was nothing said and I just retreated. The administrator caught me and said, "It affected me the same way. I can see how the doctors will keep their eyes averted whenever possible." My next shift brought a bit of weeping from the nurses but otherwise the situation hadn't changed. The next day I was harangued by many doctors who wanted the painting removed. They had already seen the director and heard his decision on it. I simply refused and let the doctors threaten. My fifth birthday was coming up and the girls wanted to give me a little party but I was not in the mood. I had not got over the girl's unnecessary death and knew that a physician had to push his fears and grief away and treat the people that needed him. So I put on a false smile and had a small party. Artists from the school and freelance ones that we dealt with came too. I responded to most questions except the painting and now they avoided it completely. I gave a few pointers for getting different effects in oil, watercolours, sculpture or the modern art that some were espousing. One of the girls called me over saying my mother was on the phone. It felt good to finally be able to get some of this off my chest. Before I started I listened to mom and within a few seconds I could tell something was wrong. "Mom, you are hiding something. Has somebody been hurt?" I held my breath hoping that this wasn't the case. "I knew you would find out even when you are so far away. Lusa was attacked two days ago. She is fine now and angry at the boys who... who attacked her." "Mother, tell me exactly what happened or put dad on who will." "Lusa was going shopping and two boys grabbed her and took her into an alley and they... they had sex with her." "How is she feeling? Was she injured?" "Ah... she is doing better now and she suffered only some scrapes and cuts. She was threatened with a knife and this is what was making her feel the worst." "Would you put her on please, mom?" "Ah... ok son." Lusa came on with a brave front but soon was crying to me about how she was threatened. She cried for a long time and I got most of the story out. It was two natives, one had a lighter skin and both were about eighteen. She was very upset and I thought about the girl in emergency and Jennifer. "Lusa Honey, will you put dad on please?" I got the story from dad now and he tried to gloss over it for my sake but said that Lusa was very upset. "Dad I am coming down to see you and take care of Lusa for a while." "What about the hospital?" "They will either allow it or I will find someplace else to serve my time. I will fly into Salisbury on the next possible flight. I will phone from the airport here to tell you when." "Fine son, we will be waiting." My mind flew to the airport and I saw the listings for flights and tried to see if there was a quicker way of getting to my destination. I phoned the all airlines and finally got a ticket on a flight in the morning at the soonest. Because of my name the ticket would be held for me. I turned to all my guests and said, "I am sorry but there is a small family emergency. I am flying to Salisbury in the morning and will probably gone for a few weeks." Turning to Sharon I said, "Nothing has changed in your duties. Keep the girls safe and try to run the business as you usually do." I stood straight and said, "I am sorry but I need to pack and be alone for a while. Please continue with the party and I hope I did not stop it. The girls went to a lot of trouble and it is a shame to waste it for one such incident." I put what I needed in one small case and then reconsidered and brought out a larger case. On my wall I saw the kukri I was given by the Ghurkhas and took it off and put it into my doctor's bag. It just barely fit. Phone calls to the hospital administrator went unheeded. I phoned his home and got his wife. After our greeting and finding the administrator absent I said, "Would you be so kind as to relay a message for me?" "Yes young man." "There is a family emergency and I have to fly Salisbury to see what I can do to help." "Oh dear, is it serious?" "Nobody had died yet but it may happen." "Oh dear, I will tell my husband." The chair of the mathematics department got my call and I told him much the same and that I would be back in a few weeks if everything turned out right. I had a sleepless night wondering what I would do. Images of Lusa as I first saw her and I watched her grow in size, intelligence, charm and of course dignity. In my seat on the plane I was asked about things a five year old would be asked by fellow passengers. I stayed polite and declined most of their offers. Part way through the flight a ten year old boy came by and saw my bag and said in a sarcastic voice, "Do you think you are a doctor?" I looked the child in the eye and said, "I certainly do." The boy left but came back later with a younger boy to torment me. I stood in the aisle and signalled the stewardess. When she came over I said, "My name is Sir Shawn Boz. Though I just turned five I have got my medical diploma but not my licence yet. I am in a bad mood and would like some peace from these children. The woman finally recognised me and said, "Yes, Sir Shawn. You boys leave or I will call the captain." I thanked the woman and regained my seat as passengers rudely turned around to have a close look at me. I either slept of pretended to for the remainder of the flight and even refused food. On landing in Salisbury I was greeted by customs and they looked into my bags. One pulled out the kukri and said, "What is this." "I am an intern. That is what I use for removing diseased tissue. Do you have a problem with what instruments I use in my profession?" The man just put the knife back and passed the luggage. Dad was the only one to meet me and I looked around for the rest. "They stayed home so you wouldn't make a scene a the airport. Lusa is doing fine and the women are just worried how you will take it." "I will tell you after seeing Lusa." Dad tried to get me to talk and I gave the minimum answers because I was so preoccupied. When I got home I rushed into the house and had eyes only for Lusa. She had feelings of shame at being raped when she was supposed to be mine. She felt worried that she had done many things wrong and I would not love her anymore. She also felt that soon I would change my mind and we would never be married. This lasted the few seconds until I made it to her. I held her tightly to me and cried at what thoughts had come from her. I felt so bad that she could even feel this way. "Lusa I love you and will never stop loving you. When I am old enough we will go to Britain and get married in Westminster Cathedral and raise so many children we will run out of names." She sobbed in relief and pulled me even tighter to her. "I was so scared that you wouldn't want me any more after..." I kissed her forehead and said, "Never." It took quite a few minutes before she had settled down and I turned to mom and momma and said my hello. They had been watching us intently and I could see that they were also wondering how I would take the situation. It hurt a little to have them not understand me even though I had access to their minds and they had no such communications. Picking up Lusa in my arms I took her to my room to show her in the oldest way how I really felt. I set her beside my bed and undid her buttons with my fingers and slowly removed each of her garments. She stood still mainly and just watched this old ritual of ours. With a kiss I laid her on the bed and removed my own clothing. Climbing between her brown legs I started to kiss and lick my way from her ankle to her apex. When I got there I found a new growth of fine hair. I would do this again to the other leg as well but she might even momentarily see my rejection of her charms. My thumbs gently pulled the lips apart and I went right for her clit and sucked it lovingly as if I had all the time in the world. A few moments later I licked around and into her opening. This time I used my powers to see if she had been hurt. I licked deep accepting her even if she had been forced to accept another through duress. After her second orgasm I climbed higher and entered her opening. With a few strokes I said to her, "You are mine and always will be mine." Her arms already holding me pulled me to her as if to never let me go. My hips moved slowly and eventually Lusa relaxed her grip and I made more forceful thrusts. As I suckled her breasts my member pushed deep into her and soon a feeling came over her and she urged me faster as her fingers sought a better grip to pull me in deeper. This time I decided to meet her peak and thrust in a frenzy as we crested. My groans were not even partially faked as I pushed forcefully into her as if delivering what I one day hoped to do in reality. We made love many more times and Lusa got up the next day with a sore pelvis and a happy face. Her clit was even more tender and she shied away from more activity before we arose from bed. Japera made breakfast for us and had a happy look on her own face. Not all of it was from her partners in bed. "I see you two have become reacquainted. It is hard when two people love each other to be apart so much. When are you going to come back to us Shawn?" "I have to finish my internship and that will take just over eight months. After that I just have to organize my business interest under Sharon and I will be free to return here. I want to travel for a while with Lusa to gather what all the different researchers have found. I hate to see people die when they can be saved." Lusa said, "Shawn, I want to be with you and I think medicine is the place for me. Mom is a nurse now and I still want to be yours." "Lusa, you are very bright. Why don't you set your sights higher and become a doctor? You can treat your own patients and get others to assist us. This way we should help twice as many people." "Shawn, do you think I can do it? I am only a black girl." "You are my black girl and your mind is very clear and organized. You could do anything you want in this world. But I want you to be my wife most of all." I got her in my lap. Almost immediately her mind started agreeing with me in every way. Dad and mom had already gone to work. I would like to work with dad openly now or for that matter mom. I didn't have a teacher's certificate but managed on the strength of my knowledge in each of the fields. Lusa though was my choice of where to be. Lusa was afraid of going out alone. This fear had not come the surface yet. It was a small tumour that should be excised before it grew too large. "Lusa Honey, I want to go to town and I want my woman with me. Get some clothes on all that beautiful bare skin of yours and we will go." She didn't want to go but wanted to be with me especially after I asked. Japera knew what I was doing and agreed with me. "Shawn, do we have to? We can go back to bed. It doesn't hurt that much." "I think we should go. You have been stuck in the house too long and I want to buy some things for you." "I don't need anything but you." "That is nice to know when you have nothing to eat and walk around when you can in rags. Now get dressed or I will take a husband's prerogative to beat his wife's pretty butt." "Ok Shawn. We can go if you want." I saw all the things Lusa did in going shopping on the fateful day, roughly trying to follow them with her now. We picked up what she originally wanted to get and came home again without incident. With her stronger interest in a career in medicine, I took her into our library to go over some of the things she had to know and know well. We were there all day except for lunch till mom found us there when she came home after teaching. Lusa was tired but also encouraged by me telling her how well she was doing. She felt even better yet when she gave dad correct answers to his questions. ------- Chapter 16 For the next three days we followed the same routine with nothing happening. The forth day was different, when we came across the two young men that had raped Lusa before. This time, they had two other friends with them as I took Lusa's hand in mine and purposely walked close by. Chike and Mablevi were the two guilty males, however my abilities told me that the other two had done much the same on various other occasions. It was almost a game to them and it didn't matter who got hurt as long as they had their fun. They stopped their talk among themselves and after recognizing Lusa. Chike said, "Oooh if it isn't the pretty one and she's brought along another white girlie for us. Did you come back for some more of this?" He patted the front of his pants as he grinned. "Actually," I said, "I was the one that wanted to see the big strong boys that hurt Lusa." "Now that you met us do you want some of the same? Even if you aren't a girl we can give you something to remember us." Chike nodded to his friends who grabbed us and dragged us into an alley. Coincidentally it was the same one that Lusa was raped in. As Lusa screamed a hand went over her mouth. Once in, I stomped down and broke the first attacker's foot. An elbow went out to strike the other's sternum, putting him down on the ground gasping for every breath he could. With a step sideways, I kicked and connected with the third man's scrotum, following which I jumped across to the fourth to pulp Lusa's captor's nose. As Lusa was by now frightened out of her wits, I said, "Look, my future wife. Your attackers are here and can't hurt you." As she looked up, she saw the one with a broken foot come at me again, so I kicked him in the testicles. He heaved the contents of his stomach as the other one that had received similar treatment a few seconds earlier. I looked into Chike's mind and found his reasoning centre and gave a small amount of altering. The other three got the same treatment soon after. This was the best I could do or else the next step would lead to either their mutilation or their deaths, which I felt was too much, even for rapists. Chike got up holding his nose, trying to find his bearings. Leaving Lusa to stand by the wall, I saw the anger and fear in the youth. "Lusa go to this animal and hit him." Chike naturally turned to Lusa and backed up as if seeing a horrible creature that was preparing to kill him. He backed up until he hit a doorway and fell down, never taking his panic stricken eyes off Lusa, but regained his footing to run backwards down the alley and away around the corner. Mablevi was next to recover, wanting to hurt me bad, but when he saw Lusa he ran away as if his life depended on it. The other two had to hold their crotches as they tried to crawl away as quickly as they could. "Shawn, what did you do? They just ran from us." "They ran from you Lusa. They now see any girl that they would like to rape as a killer out to take their lives. Now let's follow them and let them feel your pain, your rage and your revenge." Following their trail, I pointed out where they were hiding. As she walked up, she saw the young men flee in fright, with one of them even pissing his pants when he felt he had been trapped. Lusa chased them for a half hour till, tiring of the game, she jauntily walked with me to get an ice-cream. The next day Lusa forced me out of the house to go with dad where the examination rooms I'd used before to hide my existence now served to allow me to see my patients openly. Dad came out to the waiting room to tell his initial patients about me, after which his nurses carried his words to new patients. One young doctor working for dad was incredulous now that he saw me. Before my arrival, he had heard from dad all long that I was in London teaching and trying to get my medical diploma. Recently he knew of my internship as dad and mom faithfully clipped any and all articles from the papers about me or my art business. After we had treated everyone, we actually had time to sit and talk. This was unusual, as it was the first time it had happened for a very long time indeed. Dr. Higgins was locally trained and listened avidly to any pointers which I had picked up that could now be used to assist him. I explained some of the differences I saw in how the educational programmes were different. Dad talked about some of his old teachers and I said that some had even talked to me about 'the elder Dr. Boz'. We had a good laugh about some of their foibles and went on to have a civilised lunch together. I worked one more day at the clinic before I accompanied dad to his offices in the city. Here, even the clientele had heard of me. These patients seemed to accept me better than the ones who had not read of me in the papers. I did nothing different to that which I would do in the hospital in London, but felt closer to the people even if they were bigoted and tried to keep the natives down. They were still my people. With four days left, dad flew us out to the village of Lusa's and Japera people. We set up a small field office and dad now introduced me as a doctor, even if I was very young. Lusa was in her glory now that she could tell everybody that I belonged to her. She was not fully believed until I said before many in the village that she and I would one day marry and have children. As a doctor who came to the village on rotation with others, dad then confirmed what I had said. At this news, there was going to be a celebration but dad went on to say that he had to get back. "You may as well learn about your future in-laws and them you. I will be back in two days." Long into the night I talked of Salisbury and then London. It was difficult for some to even understand about the buildings, let alone what I talked of regarding the various things I taught or could teach at the school. Most could not think of any reason for learning them in the first place, medicine being the only exception. We were given a hut of our own after the present owners moved in with others. There were many ears that listened to Lusa groan and call out in ecstasy as she reached her peak so many times. Although I was up early, Lusa woke late in order to let her catch up on sleep. That morning, many aspects of both village life and marriage customs were explained to me but, after the previous night's vocal performance, for once a young man was not taught how to please a woman. When she arose, Lusa was mobbed by the village women who asked what I had done and how I'd done it. She wasn't shy in the least and told them in detail many of the things I had done. Later, she told me that some of the younger ones had slipped off to relieve their emotions with their fingers. In the old days when a boy had to prove his manhood, he had to kill a lion. Nowadays, lions were not as plentiful as they used to be, but I wanted to show that I could manage a substitute. It was the dry season and the migration of wild animals had passed by one more time. In the village, there were goats and other herd animals but as they had nothing extra, I decided that I would endeavour to provide some, so that night I announced I would go hunting for the village. Usually, the older men followed the boy to assure he did as he was required and didn't cheat. Manhood was a valuable commodity and not all in the past who had gained it had done so legitimately. With only my kukri I left the village and after walking a mile in the darkness, I took to the air. A herd of wildebeest were foraging in a valley which was rather more lush than most around this area. Although I had never killed anything before, I knew it as a part of the pattern of nature, so when I picked an animal it was not one in the prime of health but was so sick with intestinal parasites that it would soon die anyway. Unsurprisingly, the animal was by itself so from hundreds of feet in the air I worked on getting rid of all the parasites and their eggs. This was only something I had discovered recently and could think of many different uses for this ability. Lusa was very confident of my safety and had assured all her friends that a five year old boy like me had no dangerous enemies. As it was not good to be too quick with my hunting, I worked on the herd and treated them as my patients. In a few hours there were no parasites left, although I realised that this would only last till they ingested them again from the grass and foliage containing live eggs from their old droppings. A few miles away was both a pack of hyenas as well as a small pride of lions. The young of both groups were hungry and I could see a way to help them. A quick swoop and the sharp knife sliced the throat of the first animal which I'd cured and it fell bleeding to the earth. I had been silent, so the animal fell without calling out, but the smell of blood so close brought the herd to readiness. Although the animal was very heavy, I did manage to get it a mile down wind of the main group. Even I could not manage to carry it whole. I had to try it in smaller pieces. Once the butchering was completed, I took the entrails and carried them to the lions, dropping them nearby. The next trip brought the lower legs and the head. The male lions would eat as would perhaps the females. The young would get none for they were too old to nurse. This I hoped would give the females enough strength to hunt successfully for more. The hide was cut to be kept and the remainder was cleaned as well as possible. I found two small trees on an equally small island in a shallow river and took the saplings to my kill. The meat and hide were secured with small strips of hide. This I dragged behind me the rest of the night. I knew this was essential for the tracks would be followed back and the only thing that would be out of place was the loss of the portions that I'd fed to the big cats. Just at dawn the villagers spotted me in the distance and ran out to see what I carried. I refused help and tried to appear tired, which wasn't hard given the efforts of the night's hunt. The thorn bushes around the village had been pulled wide as the procession entered and now my biggest worry was keeping the hungry dogs away from my kill. Lusa ran to me and gave me a warm greeting that would have made any hunter proud. I cut the meat and shared it with the village, paying attention to the lessons I learned from the lions. While Lusa ceremoniously helped me wash I told her, "Hunting made your man want his woman." "No, it is daylight and everyone will know." so I just manipulated some of her flesh until she had her clothes off and I was pounding into her again. She didn't seem to care about the time or the amount of noise she made. Leaving Lusa to recover, I came out after an hour and the men patted my back and called me a good hunter. Lusa came out red faced somewhat later but got over it quickly for these people were her family. During the day I worked on the villagers as well as their cattle to get rid of other parasites. That night I told stories I read or stories others had read and I copied. When I was done, Lusa was more than anxious to drag me away to the accompaniment of laughter from some of the men. That night I talked to Lusa and told her that one day all of this would be gone. The white-man had come and changed things both for the better and for the worse. Already the balance of animals had shifted with the large, white owned, farms covering all of the good areas. One day her people would have to abandon the ways of their fathers and live like the half men that resided in the city. That night I went over Lusa like I did the village and found a strange growth. Looking closer I saw that it was attached to the wall of her womb. Excitedly I checked the rest of her system and saw that she had conceived on the first time she had become fertile. My mind went quickly to all possibilities; not whether she was pregnant or not, but what we would do about it. I could remove the cells and Lusa would never know it if I didn't tell her. This would also be Lusa's child. She would do as I asked but I had to be very right about what I chose. Her child would mean my child. Was I ready to become the father of a child that was not mine genetically? Although life was precious to me, it was more than abundant in Africa. For a few minutes I just held her to me and tried to come to the best solution that was good for us. Looking into Lusa's dark eyes I said, "I love you wife." "Wife? Why do you say that now?" "I looked within you and saw that you have become fertile recently. One of the two boys that attacked you planted his seed and it has taken root." "Oh no Shawn it can't be." "Tomorrow, dad will come with our mothers and be here when we are married." "Oh Shawn. I want this so bad but not like this. I want only your babies." "Do you want the life that is growing within you now removed? It will not hurt and nobody not even you will know it happened." She cried and thought then cried again before agreeing with me. That night after tender love I flew homewards till I could mentally talk to dad on my private frequency. I told him what I found and then he talked to mom and Japera. They were crying and Japera released me from my word given before and said we could wed if my parents agreed. Ten minutes later this too had happened so I took both the messages back to Lusa to give to her and the village in the morning. Japera especially said she had to make this wedding right. The village was shocked at the news that a boy that had hunted successfully for the first time yesterday was to marry an eleven year old girl. I explained that our parents knew this and would arrive to participate in the wedding. Around four in the afternoon dad's plane landed near the village. Mom and Japera got out and ran to us. We had been in contact for a while but they needed to touch us. Dad stood before me and shook my hand like a man and said, "You didn't have to do it this way but I am glad that you did. I always knew you would live your lives together." "When she first came to us and just before her sixth birthday I saw a glow about her that was different than any other woman I have ever met. I still don't know what it is but I feel it is the sigh of my life's partner." Dad didn't understand this but then again he didn't understand many of the thinks I talked about. Dad and I took the many supplies from the rather overloaded plane and brought them into the village. Mom, dad and Japera got our hut but it didn't take me long to find out that the tent that Lusa and I would share was actually for dad and I. Before the preparations could get underway for the wedding the following day, I sneaked off to the river a mile away where I teased a crocodile from the river before promptly dispatching it to provide more food for everyone. This I dragged to the village on the two saplings I used before. The beast was butchered and portions prepared for the feast tonight and tomorrow. A vigil was prepared for me so that I could be a man upon the morrow. As I remained without food, the women were fussing over Lusa like a queen. Clothes were brought and others altered. It was hectic for her but I sat outside the village perimeter with my eye to see what was happening. The meal progressed for everybody but me, despite Lusa wanting to sneak me some. Though not strictly keeping silent I told her to not bother because I would not be hurt by the loss of a meal or two. Mom thought the same but Japera knew this was the proper way in her village and traditions were one of the things that held a village together. Lusa had her own trials with the women doing a lot of talking to her about the duties she would soon face. She did not say that she had been doing them almost since I was born. They quizzed her on the lore that she was supposed to know but she passed the test only satisfactorily as she'd had no time to study it before the examination. Two men sat with me that night feeding small twigs to the fire to keep any predators at bay. I was taught chants but not allowed to speak them. I was told mysteries that the village men passed down from generation to generation. Interspersed with this were the old rites that had not all been stamped out by militant Christians. When the morning came I stayed in my position and wasn't allowed up until the sun had cleared the horizon. I was then taken by the rest of the men into a large hut where my body was painted. Another religious ceremony took place, this time with a ritual of fire, after which I was now considered a man. I was given some potent concoction to drink. I took a swallow and gasped as was expected of me and when we walked out I was greeted by everybody but Lusa. Later in the day the wedding began in earnest. I stood with Lusa before the village chief as first in the Bantu religion then secondly in Christian style he pronounced us of one blood. We ate and drank quite a bit and even danced around a fire in the dark. Men danced alone, then over at a separate fire the woman danced together. Much later Lusa and I were finally allowed to be by ourselves and I took my wife as the entire village listened. I was happy to say that Lusa's cries were loud and melodious and not faked in the least. The next morning Dad left with mom and Japera along with all our property except my bag and kukri. I would fly my bride home during the darkness. We waved goodbye to our parents and I told the village that we were going that night. I stood my ground and said I was a man and I would be responsible for my family. They didn't like it at all but after the meal and with some light still upon the land we walked out and towards Salisbury. At full dark I picked my wife up as she clutched my bag and I flew with her on our first honeymoon trip. Five hours later we landed on our property and we had breakfast with the rest of our family before going to bed - this time to sleep. I only remained three more days because I was concerned that my stay would jeopardize my internship at the hospital. I would have just enough time to get my physician's licence then get back to Rhodesia to see my son being born. Lusa kissed me behind a column at the airport as white / black relations were not allowed, at least not in a public place. "Shawn, I know the other girls need you too and you can make them feel good. Some of the women in the village say that a man who does not use his equipment will find trouble with it later. I want it working perfectly when you get back to me." "You will have a big belly and I don't want to hurt our baby." "You are always careful. But I will need you a lot." "I will make you sore between the legs again and then you will be mad at me." "Never, my husband." The trip back to Britain was as uneventful as the one coming out, but I was in a much better mood. Becoming a married man made me feel good. Becoming a father in nine months made me feel even better. The airport in London was overcast but our plane was able to land. Sharon was at the gate to welcome me back after I went through customs. I had taken the remainder of the diamonds I left with dad and given him a cheque from my accounts that would go towards our charity work. It would be much easier for me to sell the diamonds in Europe than he could from where he was. I gave Sharon a brotherly kiss and she drove me home. She gave me a rundown on the businesses and knew that they had and would prosper under her care. I had phoned the hospital and the university from Rhodesia and I was graciously allowed till tomorrow to show up for duties. As I knew my time in this country was to be limited, instead of resting I started to make what I could to fill the store. Works with my name and style were far more in demand even with the high prices that we were setting for them. I told nobody about my marriage. I doubt if the authorities in Rhodesia would see it as valid and if they did they would prosecute me for it. Here the information would just separate me more from the patients I wanted to help. There was enough that I was young but young and married would be too much for some. The hospital administrator was a little peeved at my abrupt absenteeism but believed my general terms after I had outlined its importance. The mathematics department was more forgiving so I decided to make it up to them somehow. When not working on patients or classes I put together two books. One was laid out more logically, the way I saw mathematics, designed to be understandable by most advanced students. The other dealt with all the things that had been disproved over the years and what the current belief was. Some I very clearly stated that I thought another answer was actually the correct one but not proved yet. Other than at work or school I almost became a hermit while producing many works for my shop to sell. My only time off was when I took one of the girls working for me to my grandparents for Sunday supper. This went in rotation and I despaired of it getting too regimented like the rest of my life was becoming. Many large paintings were commissioned and I did them hurriedly, but then kept them a long time to make it seem that they required a lot of work. The money from these alone would make me wealthy. Almost all the money was reinvested either in property of the various business ventures that I'd started with individuals who I thought would make good partners. Sharon got more and more duties so the store was transferred to another girl, as she took overall command of all my British operations. As the French economy stagnated, Paris was in the doldrums, so I purchased property there too and visited Monique, Beth, Stephanie and Jennifer at the same time. For Jennifer, the adjustment to Paris had not been hard to take and I had no doubt that when the original four months had elapsed she would not worry too much. Her personality was changing as well as she was becoming more assertive - giving her 'mothers' a few problems they had not had before. Monique as a mother, or perhaps leader to the rest, asked me about Jennifer. I only said, "I did what was necessary to her health. She may become too assertive but will remain within the boundaries of normalcy. Just do as you have been doing. The rest of our family here see you as their superior and follow your word. Beth may want to start her own family in a year so you can expect that she will start to seek a man for this. You are going to have to let go of her." I looked at her sadly and continued, "Our daughter will... , " she looked at me sharply but knew who I meant, "will look for a substitute for me and be dissatisfied with what she finds. I will have to look for one good enough for her and ensure that they meet." "Shawn how can this be? You always saw things that none of the rest of us could understand." "I have trained myself to be this way from birth. You can do all this too but it is a lot of work. Getting back to family matters, you too will begin to look for a man and again he will be blond and caring. Maybe I will have to look for one for you too." She blushed at the acknowledgement. "You know that Stephanie loves all of you here and would like to be your wife even after you get married. She will in the course of six months transfer half of her love for you to the man you marry. The poor man will have to satisfy two women but will be recharged when those two women make love before him." "Shawn I don't want that." I just smiled knowingly and said, "Yes you do. Both your children and Stephanie's will be cared for by her, while you and your husband work. I expect this triple marriage to be very stable." I knew that the search for a substitute would be long and arduous. It would be nowhere near as easy as plucking diamonds from within the Earth. Back at the hospital I enjoyed my time in emergency as all of us became a well oiled team. Our actions were termed miraculous on many occasions and the area received many awards and citations for our work. Although I didn't want to see such suffering, I did enjoy the challenge of a rapid influx of injured patients. They needed the right thing done at the earliest possible time. I had to accept also in these types of situation that death sometimes came from working on this knife's edge. Death became my adversary but a worthy one in its actions. I was often tested severely, sometimes having to accept a loss. It hurt badly but there were other times when I had to assist my enemy. Patients would come in with traumatic injuries which would, despite my working hard, mean that they would only be a living body and thus would become a terrible burden on the family. At these times I would pull back and let nature take its course. Stepping out of the hospital one night I almost ran into a young boy of nine. He was very worried about his mother and couldn't find her. I searched his mind and found Teresa to be the woman's name. The boy was not suicidal yet but had a wretched life. My mind went into the hospital admissions department and found the woman the boy was looking for. She was now a patient in the psychiatric ward, having been a prostitute driven mad by her craving for drugs. The sad thing was that she had this son, yet wanted nothing to do with him. The final nail in the coffin, if you could call it that, was that the boy was predominately homosexual. His time would be spent looking for an older male to be his father even if he did not know that was the reason. The boy's name was Sean. He was as dirty and unkempt as Jennifer had been but not quite as desperate yet. Before going back to the boy I remembered all the heartache, worry joy that she had bought me and my family here in London. This boy would be just as much of a headache, if not worse, but I could not see him follow the well defined pathway to an early grave that his future foretold right now. I had to pull him out of this deep rut and plot a new course for him. I walked over to the good looking boy, avoiding a few adults entering or leaving the hospital at this time, saying "Hello Sean, your mother is not going to be going home for a few weeks at best." "What... how... how did you know my name and how do you know about my mother?" "There is a café close by and if you will sit with me a few moments I will tell you. I am hungry and need a little snack. Would you like to eat with me?" His stomach was empty and in any case was never worried about what might befall him. In many cases like this he found a new lover, at least until he was thrown out later. I ordered a large meal for Sean and a smaller one for me. The waitress wrinkled up her nose at the smell but served us mainly because I had come here a lot. With hurt feelings the woman left us in peace. "Eat up Sean and I will talk." The boy started to eat but didn't take his eyes off me for very long. "I am about your age and because I was born so different I was able to work in the hospital." I paused to allow him to start digesting my words as well as the food. "Your mother was brought in with her drug problem again and seems to have had one of those episodes where she is very violent with everybody around her. I know you get hurt a lot and need to run away just to find peace." "How do you know all this stuff?" "I am like a detective at the hospital and I find what is wrong with people. Your mother had a history of this and I was able to find out about it. You are in the books yourself when she beat you before and the police had to come." "It was nothing. She was just worried about stuff." "It wasn't all worry. Some of it was the drugs she takes and some is the way her mind is made." "You can go home tonight but soon the landlord will kick you out for not paying the rent. Your mother won't be home for at least three weeks. Would you like a place to stay for a while?" "I can find a place. People let me stay for a while sometimes." "Yes they do, but they throw you out eventually. I am not a person that would do that." The boy had finished his drink and I asked, "Would you like some more milk?" He hesitated for only a few seconds before saying "Yes." I studied the boy better now that he was calmer. He wasn't very intelligent but still within the boundaries of what is called normal. He was beautiful in the same way that people saw me, but with such a trusting soul that it was amazing that he had not been seriously hurt before this. His body was undernourished but otherwise healthy. He had a chipped tooth and some cavities that had not been looked after. His anus was bruised and the opening was becoming difficult for him to keep closed without conscious effort. He had many broken bones and not all of them had healed correctly. At the moment his face and back were bruised when his latest lover wanted him to leave but Sean needed someone to stay with. "Sean," I said as he finished his meal, "would you like to stay with me for a few days?" He had no other alternative except to find a new lover so he decided to accept. "Ok but only for a while I have lots of other friends that will give me a place to sleep." "Sure, we all have good friends. Maybe we can be friends too." "You are kinda' young to be my friend but you sound older." We walked up the quiet street and a light drizzle had begun to fall. Sean asked, "What about your parents letting me in the house?" "I am like you Sean and I live in a house with only some friends. My parents live in Africa." "Africa! Wow. Did you see any lions?" "Oh yes I have. They were in the wild and had to hunt to stay alive. We have some here in the zoo but I have never gone to see them. Would you like to go on Sunday?" "Ya," then he thought of all the other times he had been promised things that were never meant to be carried out. When we got close to our door Sean stopped to look in the front window and admire some of the art in the window and in the glass boxes in the store. I opened the door at the side with my key and we headed up the stairs. Sean looked at the art work on the wall. All of this was by other artists and I happened to find it pleasing. One was Jennifer's and though childish had a place of honour at the top. All the girls were asleep and I walked into the large bath with Sean right behind me. "I am having a shower. Ours is very large. Would you like to get cleaned up before bed?" He didn't want to but after seeing my smaller equipment he wanted to display his to me and the shower was the way. I folded my clothing and placed it on a chair just outside our large bath. I stepped into the next tiled room and turned on the water. Sean just threw his clothing on the floor and came in. He kept facing me so I could see his appendage. When the water was warm I shampooed and cleaned myself. Sean did a very poor job and I just walked over to him and started to clean his back. "Whatcha doin'?" "It is hard to clean your back. I'll clean yours and you clean mine." He didn't say anything but accepted the effort I put in. I cleaned the back of his legs and part way in the front and he began to grow erect. "Bend over so I can clean you all the way." He did and my soapy hands cleaned his scrotum and then his anus. It had some hard deposits but they needed to be removed any way. Sadly, most but not all were dried blood. Sean spread his legs further and bent over to hold the wall. This was something he really liked. He groaned his feelings and I moved my fingers easily into him. I stroked his immature prostate as he reached down and started to stroke himself. Soon he shook in delight. As he was so shaky, I got a towel and spread it under the spray of water and placed the boy on it to clean his front. His erection came back and it got cleaned like the rest of him. With his head on my leg I washed his hair three times and used my abilities to bring in a comb to get out some of the tangles while still wet. When he was clean I leaned him into a wall, first drying him off and then myself. He was so sleepy that I picked his body up and carried him to my bed and cuddled in beside him for the remainder of the night. The next morning I found Sean clutching me in his sleep. I stroked his face till he awoke and I said, "Sleepyhead, I have to go to school this morning. Let's get something to eat and you can meet some of my friends." He got up naked and I pointed the loo to him. When he came back I said, "Here is a bath robe for now. I will get you some clothes soon." "How come you work at the hospital and have to go to school?" "I go there to teach. Would you like egg and bacon this morning?" "My favourite." As I had to get to school early, I toasted some bread for breakfast for both of us. Sean had slept well but not nearly enough. The smell woke up some of the girls and Sean heard movement and was surprised to see females coming in to eat. I introduced them and instructed them to watch out for him today. Sean thought it funny when the girl in question said, "Sure boss." On my way out I told Sean that I would be back at three o'clock today and would have to leave at five for work. I gave French variations of their names to allow me to speak to the girls in French as I left. I explained about Sean having ears that would catch any stray word and told them of his addict mother beating him and that he was interested in men not girls. When I said he was much like Jennifer but not at the suicidal stage they became very concerned. School was becoming more interesting now that I was getting the brighter students, especially as I could explain at a higher level without having to make so many compromises in my speech. At noon I just took some fruit and purchased some clothing suitable for a boy of Sean's age. When my classes ended I took the packages home and presented them to the boy. He didn't seem to care for the girls and had turned on the television. He was mesmerized by what he saw. I figured that television would make a handy device for parents but not necessarily good for the children. There would not be any interaction and much of the shows could only be described as drivel. When the show ended I turned the device off and Sean became angry. "What ya' done dat' for?" "Sean, the television is new to you but not necessarily a good thing. I came to talk and give you some clothes. Do you want them?" I opened the bag and took out a pair of underwear and helped put them on the boy. Socks, pants and shirt followed. I bent over and tied up his shoes and he looked pretty good except for his hair. I took a pair of scissors, hair cream and a comb with me and said, "Sean come into the shop for a minute please." He came and I sat him on a stool and wrapped a towel around his shoulders. Before he had too much time to react I had his hair cut. The cream went into my palms and after spreading it around I worked on his head to hold the hair in place. His head went back and forth with my strokes and he began to laugh at it. I combed his hair while looking at it critically. "There, you are done. You look very handsome. Let's show you off to the girls." We did and they made a production of how good he looked. We went back and I cleaned up our mess and started to work as anybody else would in gold. Sean watched intently and I made him a small ring to show our friendship. He was very happy to put it on. After the gold projects were done I started in oil and painted some pictures that were in the same style as Norman Rockwell. I pictured a large jolly barber cutting Sean's unruly hair and Sean making faces in the mirror as he watched himself being shorn. This went very quickly and Sean just opened his mouth in amazement at the detail he saw on the canvas. A tree was outside the window in the picture and people were walking by. Many things a barber used were on the shelves and magazines could easily be seen on a table besides patched seats. "Boy, you are good." "Thank you Sean. I will sell this painting and the person buying it will be very amazed to see the boy in the picture walking the streets of London." The next meal was ready and we were called to eat or they would throw it out. We made it down after washing up. I had to tell Sean to do the same and he like most boys wanted to know why. We ate our meal and I hurried to do some exercises. Sean followed as I took off my clothing and lifted weights and did twists in the nude. Any fast movements on my part required a jock because my scrotum went back and forth with my penis. I would leave this off until the end of my workout. Sean tried to lift my weights when I was finished and couldn't even get one end off the ground. I started to do some sit-ups and Sean came close to me and then put his hand on my leg and abdomen. His hand found my small penis and he started to manipulate it as I continued to sit up. Soon he bent over and sucked me into his mouth. I could feel his joy at this and also his relief that I did not reject him. In the back of his mind he wanted me to love him and take care of him. In a few minutes I stopped and just stroked the boy's hair and face while whispering words of encouragement. Pulling the boy's face away I kissed him on the lips in a tender way and said, "Take off your clothes Sean." He did very quickly and he went back to sucking me. I had never had sex with a male before but found the boy much like a girl child, just with a very large clit and a vagina in the wrong place. The addition of a prostrate was his only compensation. I turned him around and licked his larger member. Sean stopped for a second to savour the sensation. We went back to sucking slow and lovingly. My power brought some lubrication and I used it with my fingers to easily penetrate him. Sean's efforts redoubled when I used my power to enter him. He abandoned me all together as the feeling he received demanded his complete concentration. Soon I could move him anywhere I wanted and he did not even know that I was doing anything other than filling his rectum better than it had ever been done before. I picked him up without stopping and placed his upper body on a low bench with his knees on the floor. He just moaned at the thrusts and this reminded me of Monique or Jennifer who had the same thing happen to them when I had invaded both of their nether openings. I moved before his face and held his docile cheeks and guided him to my member. He returned to sucking as I continued to stroke into both of his ends. When he came I did too and we both collapsed on the bench. I recovered first to hold his face in my hands and give him a tender kiss. His eyes opened and did not focus for a few seconds and I asked, "Did you like that Honey?" His head only weakly nodded. I gave him another kiss and said, "I want you in bed no later than ten. I will be getting home a little later tonight. We can have breakfast again and then you are going to have to start learning something useful." I took him to the bathroom and then got him dressed again. I had a very quick shower and was off to my duties at the hospital. Sean waved to me as I left. This time he figured I would possibly keep him with me for a while at least. During a lull in emergencies I went to the psychiatric ward and visited Sean's mother, Teresa, among others. I could talk about her son but to tell the truth she did not really care. I couldn't see any way to help her short of stranding her on a deserted island, so I did the rounds to see some other patients. Some had an imbalance in their minds and I was careful to only readjust the delicate mixtures half way. It would be bad form to leave suddenly sane people behind me after taking a stroll through this ward. My eye monitoring the streets leading to the hospital saw an ambulance racing in this direction so I hurried back to meet it. Frank Cutter was on duty with me but always stayed as far away as possible. He was very attracted to me and was afraid of what he might say or do if he came close. He was bright and had a good future in London as a physician. He had tried to get into either obstetrics or geriatrics to get away from young males or males in general. Paediatrics would be good too as long as the children were young. A sudden thought came to me. Frank would never be happily married to a woman. He avoided young males because they could entice them like a friend did in his youth. Frank was looking for a mate and not just a child. Perhaps through a child, he could bridge the gap and work his way into the other role. All I had to do was get Sean healthy enough to start the relationship and get his mother to help us bypass the authorities. I looked at all Frank's pros and cons and saw that he could make a good match if it was approached correctly. The patients came in and we began to treat their ailments. Thankfully nobody had died when a car was struck by a lorry and catapulted into a group of pedestrians. As usual now, we got those worst hurt by the accident. When the patients were treated and sent to other wards, I filled out the forms and made my reports. Frank retreated again to his room where he still studied when not seeing to his patients. I worked on many books that I had plans of publishing and on various art objects I could deal with while at the hospital. The shopping complex I came up with was nearing completion and already many franchises were interested in buying in. I only leased space, but this gave them the option of moving if the location did not pan out. Very large refrigeration units on the roof would provide comfort during the heat of summer or the cold of winter, while the enclosed area kept the rain off no matter what the season. I was aiming to make this a community and made a large green area under the roof and places for children to play. Slides where kids could plunge into water safely came to mind as a way of attracting the new generation that would soon have money of their own to spend. The day ended with me repairing a broken face and arm from a drunken brawl. Police were in the room and when the man become belligerent my hand streaked out and the man went to sleep. The police were quite taken with the technique but for some reason could not match it. I laughed inside thinking they would hurt themselves trying to find the answer. I got home and after a quick wash snuggled up to Sean. He just acknowledged me and went right back to sleep. I thought just how much a child he was and simply hugged him to me and followed his lead. The next morning I ensured that Sean would stay sleeping and worked on his anus to see if I could get some muscle tone back into it. It was coming round so now I worked on the boy's brain. Frank deserved a good mate and one worthy of his intellect too. Although I started to organize his thoughts, I only dared to do a little because of his age. Some things could still be changed but in small steps only. When I was done I released his mind and allowed him to awaken. With a morning kiss he held me to him. He was very happy to awaken this way. I made breakfast again and taught Sean what I was doing. One of the girls was to clean today and I asked, "Sean needs some different kinds of education. Would you be willing to teach him for some extra pay?" The reply was a happy affirmative and I explained how Sean was to be taught how to clean, cook and take care of this home. He was suited to be a housewife and this way he could learn to do it right. Two days later I went to grandma's and had a meal with them and Sean. Grandma was happy I was making friends my own age or at least close. Grandpa pulled me aside and asked, "Sean looks to be a nice boy. Why is he with you? You always have an angle if not two going at the same time." "Well grandpa, his mother is an addict and a prostitute. She hates the boy and presently she is in the psychiatric ward. I am looking to find a place for him that will suit his needs." "Just like Jennifer." "Almost, but not suicidal right now, however he could be one day soon so I am working on creating a family for him now. I just have to get him presentable so he makes less mistakes." "That's nice." "I am taking him to zoo after and maybe some ice-cream. Would you and grandma like to come with us? I will give you an ice-cream and a lolly." He laughed at me and said, "You take your boy. We would just slow you down." Later we got off a trolley in front of the zoo and we entered the grounds. "Where do you want to start first Honey." "Where ever you want Shawn." He liked the words of affection I gave him and I could see him adjusting his pants on occasion. We saw the monkeys and watched intently as one used its long fingers to scratch its anus. When it then found the smell of it's fingers disagreeable, we howled with laughter like any children would. Adults around us did the same. I gave the name of every animal we came to and gave Sean a few pieces of trivia about each. "I was in Africa a week ago and I ate some of meat from a crocodile and a Gnu, they call the latter a Wildebeest there and the name comes from Afrikaans. That is the language they speak in South Africa." "Eeew you ate those?" "Sure did. Tasty and a lot different from anything you would eat here." When we came by the camels I told Sean about their disposition and how a little boy follows a caravan of camels. He picks up the droppings so that they can be used to heat food later. I received more little boy exclamations. The snakes frightened Sean a bit and he hid behind me as a large boa moved its head and flicked his tongue to detect prey. The large cats seemed to attract him the most. Lions, tigers, leopards were all in cages and I felt sorry for them. The least the zoo could do was to make very large cages or better yet very large pits so humans could see the animals in a more realistic environment. One lion though was sluggish and I could feel the pain in its jaw. The pain was so excruciating that I was sure the tooth had abscessed. If so the cat would die soon. I took Sean's hand and said, "Let's go Sean, we have to go to an emergency operation." "What!" "The lion that looks to be sleeping is going to die soon if we don't do something." A woman close by heard me and wondered what I was talking about. "Excuse me little boy. What were you saying?" "Madam, my name is Sir Shawn Boz and I am soon to be a physician. I may be small, young and male but I detest the thoughts that go with the term you used. To answer your question; the lion is looking like it is sleeping. It has an abscessed tooth and will die within a few days if not treated. Now I have to find the veterinarian or a dentist." I politely gave a small bow and left with Sean pulled behind. The main office was closed but a zookeeper did come around. I showed him my documents after telling him who I was. He had heard of me and seen my picture in the paper a few times. "One of your large cats is dying. I want to talk to your veterinarian or one on call that could save the cat." We had to call the zookeeper's superior and then his superior and finally I got the chairman of the board that managed the zoo. I took the phone and said, "Hello, my name is Shawn Boz and I just noticed that one of your cats is dying." "How would you know young man? Have you ever seen a lion close before?" "Sir my full name is Sir Shawn Boz. I normally live in Rhodesia. I fed some wild lions last week. I am currently serving my internship here in London in the emergency ward. I treat life threatening conditions all the time in the human animal. Are you trying to debate with me whether the animal is in danger or not?" "Ahhh... no but you aren't a veterinarian." "Are you competent in the profession to refute my observations? If you are then you can help, if not I would like some other suitably qualified person to save that lion. Please, will you direct a qualified veterinarian to check out the animal. I will assist if he wishes it." "Our veterinarian is in Bath on vacation and won't be back for a fortnight. We have no other." "Sir the cat will be dead in two days if not less." "Fix the cat yourself if you think it so important." "Quiet Sean the man is talking to me," I said but pulled the head zookeeper close to the receiver. "I am sorry I didn't hear that. Will you repeat that please?" "I said that if you want to fix the cat and are a doctor then you can do it yourself." "Sir that is uncalled for but I will see what I can do for the cat's suffering. Goodbye." The head zookeeper was perplexed with the statement and the way the zoo had been run in recent years. It looked like anybody that curried a little favour here or there got moved up the ladder of charities and such till they got an important post. It looked like this man had been promoted too high already but would make it higher in his circle of friends. Turning to the zookeeper I said, "You heard the man. Segregate the cat and get it into the infirmary. Do it now and do it quickly. I will fix the tooth or pull it." The man balked at my order, "You aren't a vet." "That's true, I am not, but I am a lot closer to one than most doctors would be. The cat is dying and I want to save it. Please get going - we haven't got all day." Given an order by the current management with no other options, the keeper did as he was asked. The healthy lions were prodded with long poles to a far end of the cage and then into through a door in the wall to a cage behind. The door was then closed and the lions were locked out. The sick lion was still in the front. "I need an electric drill, a long extension cord and some small bits. Then I need a small hammer, some chisels and a nail set. They would be in a cabinetmaker's tool chest or perhaps even a carpenter's. Bring a piece of wood an inch and half in diameter or a section of a branch with some thin rope. I also need a good pair of pliers if I have to pull the tooth. The vet's drugs are probably locked. See if you can find a key and if you can't, break the cupboard and bring me the antibiotic." ------- Chapter 17 The supplies came and I went through them. A branch I took and broke with my knee to get it the length I wanted. Then picked out what I wanted from a chest. Two penny nails were surreptitiously formed into small chisels. With everything now ready I asked Sean, "You want to try out for a vet or a dentist with me? I am going to put the cat out and try to treat it. I would like you to help." His eyes sparkled and he said, "Sure," but it sounded remarkably like, "Aye aye sir." I could almost see the salute. The zookeeper was very reluctant to open the cage but did after he got lots of witnesses to say I ordered it as the acting veterinarian. I walked towards the cat, sensing that he didn't want any aggravation, only relief from pain. When very close I just cast soothing thoughts and theatrically tapped him on the forehead as I did so many others. His head fell and I petted his coarse dirty hair a bit and said to the zookeeper, "He is asleep. Hand me the tools and allow Sean to come in and help me." There were gasps again at this and just concentrated on my job. I opened the cat's mouth and smelt a miasma of corruption. "Anybody got a camera out there?" Two people came forward with some good German cameras and I said, "May I borrow a camera. I will take the negatives after and have them processed. You will get the camera back today and I will mail you all the negatives including the ones I took to you." One person was hesitant but the other handed me her camera. It was the woman I talked too outside the cage. Putting the camera down I said, "Sean hold the cat's mouth open for me." I opened the cat's mouth and Sean had the cat on his lap and the mouth was opened wide. I took four pictures with flash and one of Sean bravely doing as he was told to do. With the camera aside I inspected the puffy area and saw all the pus. I squeezed the area after lancing the mound and cleaned it as best I could. At the same time I was using all my resources to get all of the pus and blood out. The tooth needed a lot of work and while Sean held the cat's head, I took the small branch and put into the back of the mouth like a bit used to control a horse. I tied it in place with the rope. I drilled into the tooth and then used some small chisels to make the clean cavity square in cross section and wider at the bottom than at the top. Fishing in my pocket I brought out a gold coin and with another chisel cut a portion of it off against a large pair of pliers. The small piece was hammered into a square nail and a small portion was placed in the cavity. I took a very fine nail set and hammered the metal into the bottom until the ductile metal spread to take the shape of the bottom of the hole. Another piece on the top filled the remainder of the hole. "Undo the knot and take out the wood Sean." The boy did what he was told and petted the lion like it was a domestic house cat. I passed the equipment out and then took the remainder of the film except two shots. I called the woman forward then took pictures of her and her children from inside the cage. My hands went quickly and I had the film rewound and safely in my pocket then handed the camera back. "Thank you ma'am and neither cat saliva nor his excrement touched it." She laughed at the thought and took the camera. The keeper handed me the antibiotic and after gauging the mass of the cat I gave it what I thought would be the right dosage. With everything else out of the cage, I tapped the cat and walked out and closed the lock behind me. A few minutes later I released my control of the cat and it got up and licked its mouth. I turned to the head keeper and said, "Two aspirins and call me in the morning." He laughed and slapped me on the back. "I got a problem in a tooth back here doc." "Sit down. I still have the drill and the tools." He smiled then laughed. I told the public, "The cat will be groggy the rest of the day, but sometime around noon tomorrow he will be growling for his food as he always did. By the way, the current chairman of the zoo board was unable to get a veterinarian this time, but he will set up a system where other veterinarians can come in when an emergency arises to treat injured animals like this. I would think that dentists would also be called. A cat without their large pointed teeth cannot eat well, so that is why it was repaired instead of being pulled out. "I would also like to point out one small boy by the name of Sean that followed me into a cage to assist me had never actually seen animals like this in the flesh. I think he needs a round of applause for being so brave and helpful." I started to clap then the rest followed. Sean smiled and blushed then hung his head so as to not meet anybody's eyes. Before we left for the rest of the zoo I got the name and address of the woman so her film could be returned. I squatted to say hello to her two children. When I stood up I smiled and said, "Your youngest is slightly allergic to cow's milk. Either switch to goat, sheep, or find a wet nurse. The other possibility is that you use a formula with soy products. It is in the stores now." "How do you know that? My own doctor thinks it is something else." "Switching to formula from milk costs you very little. If her condition continues then you may come and berate me for the poor diagnosis. I have to warn you that I am almost always right." Sean walked with me and wanted to hold my hand. I let him and even held his tight. He was very excited with what he had done and now wanted to be a vet or a dentist when he got bigger. We went through the aviary last and eventually boarded a trolley for home. When we got home he made sure everybody heard about our adventure and how he felt about his part in it. Later I said, "Let's take a shower. We smell like cats." Once in I washed his hair as he sat on the floor. Then I washed the rest of him as I would a baby. When we were done I said, "We need to get your teeth fixed too. We don't want you getting any abscesses and have to find a vet to fix you." He trustingly asked, "Will you do it?" "Of course. You are my boy now." After our meal Sean talked of his new career goals and everybody congratulated him on his choices. After the meal he brushed his teeth and met me in the shop. I sat him down and rendered him unconscious. I scooped out just enough of the tooth and filled them with gold. This time the forces used were even more precise than what hands could do. While he was under I worked on his anal ring and strengthened it. Small pieces of connective tissue were reattached to his colon to start to bring him up to what a normal boy would be like. I awoke him then and he raced to the mirror to see his teeth. His fingers went in his mouth to pull away the lips to see further back. "They look great. They are smaller than what the lion got." "He got lion size and you got boy size. I am going to paint another picture of you now." The boy smiled and watched avidly what I was doing. I took longer this time and made Sean sitting in the lion's cage with his hands on the lion's jaws while looking in trying to plan what to do next. Bars were accurately depicted as well as the people around the cage. The woman that loaned the camera now had it back and her children were captured in oil. The worried zoo employees were all there too, as they looked on to see what they could do to help. I had more time so I painted him standing naked in a tub of water on a kitchen floor as a matronly woman washed his back. His privates were not seen but his bum was. Many things found in a kitchen were shown and looked like a camera had taken a photo, except that this one was in colour. "Eeew, why'd you show my bum?" "Because it's cute. If I had you turn around the woman in the picture could trip over your equipment." His childish laugh filled the room and made all the things I did for him worthwhile. School allowed me weekends but the hospital was not as generous and I soon had to go back to work. Monday at noon, I ate my food quickly and went to the hospital and into the psychiatric section again. In the beginning, the nurses had given me a hard time but no longer. I found Teresa staring out of a window that was protected on the inside by steel grating. After I had introduced myself she said, "What the hell do you want?" "Oh nothing I just had some money for you." She clamoured after me and I left to return to classes early and perhaps help a few students. The next day I went back and she was still not civil, but better. I just turned around and left. I did say at the door, "I will only come so many times before I figure it is too much work." Wednesday and Thursday I didn't show up but I did on Friday. "Hello Teresa. How are you feeling today?" "Oh just ducky." "Do you want me to leave, Teresa?" "Sorry, you don't know what it is like in here day after day. By the way who are you?" "My name is Shawn Boz. I am an intern here at the hospital." "What did you say about money before?... Please." "I picked up your brat and can't get rid of him. I was about to call the authorities. He would get out of my hair but you would be sent to jail for abandonment." "No, I didn't do that. He runs away all the time." "Whatever, I really don't care. I can get rid of him permanently without the authorities giving me a hassle because I am so young myself. I brought a legal paper here for you to sign. If you do then I can get the kid sent away. If you don't sign then I get in some trouble for harbouring him. But if that happens, you go before the judge too for abandonment. I will give you ten bob to sign and you or I won't have to put up with the kid any more." "Twenty," "Look Teresa, I am an intern with my own money problems. Ten bob is a lot to me. Sign now and I will throw in two packs of cigarettes. That is my last offer, or I am leaving and not coming back. I have to go to court and talk about your kid and you have to do time for what you did or didn't do." "You got the money here?" "Yes but not the cigarettes." "Ok, I will trust you. Give me the papers." "They need to be witnessed. I will have to call two nurses." "Ok but they don't get any of my money." I called the nurses over as prearranged and the woman signed many different sheets of paper that could mean anything for she was not reading them. The nurses took the pen and signed and dated all the sheets even though some places for names were blank. When the nurses had left I reached in my pocket and brought out only a ten shilling note. "I will bring the cigarettes tomorrow at noon. You don't have to look after that brat again." "That is a relief, he is nothing but a millstone around my neck." "I know what you mean. He is so clingy." On the way out I thanked the nurses and said her child will now have a home. One nurse was so happy that she bent over with tears in her eyes and gave me a kiss on the cheek. During the next month Sean grew in many ways. His frame filled out with all the food and exercise he was getting. His mind was put into better order so that new facts could get in and be remembered better than before. All the bruising had faded and he would not have to worry about fouling himself now by accident. Mentally he was like any other nine year old boy but his sexual orientation had not altered. I tried to be more like an older brother than the father he was originally looking for. I loved the child and loved to see him happy. I made many more paintings and displayed them in my gallery. There was quite a bit of interest but the paintings were not yet for sale. Monday at the emergency ward I cornered Frank and said simply, "We need to talk in private. It is important." When he looked at me I said, "Drive me home after work." Frank was very edgy all night but did meet me outside. We got in the car and I told him where to drive me. I talked him into pulling up beside the building and he got out with me. "Frank the conversation has to start after you see something." I unlocked the door and turned off the alarm. When the lights flickered on Frank could see many of the things I sold. He walked around looking at one thing after another. They looked very beautiful to him but were out of reach on his meagre salary. He came to the back wall and looked at all the pictures of Sean and stopped dead in his tracks. This was a boy he was looking for all his life and this one was not Shawn Boz. He looked around then followed the remainder of the pictures. It wasn't the naked skin that drew him the most but the concentrated look as Sean looked into the lion's mouth. Since he had finished looking at the pictures I wanted him to see, I said "Frank, you know that I am a good doctor and I hope you agree that I am a good diagnostician. I see things the others don't and understand things the others never even consider. The boy you see in the paintings is upstairs sleeping right now." Frank became excited at the possibility of meeting the child he fell in love with fifteen years ago. "Why is he here?" "His mother just got out of the psychiatric ward. She is an addict. She prostitutes herself for her addiction and ten years ago one of the men got her pregnant. She doesn't have any more recall of who he is than she remembers the faces of the men she solicited last week." "Why are you telling me this?" "The boy was beaten by the men that used his body. His anus and lower rectum were seriously damaged but are now completely recovered. He is almost exclusively homosexual at the age of nine. There is no doubt in this matter whatsoever. Since he was very young he has been soliciting sex with men to try to find a father that will never come. "I took the boy in and love him deeply and know that he needs an adult male to look after him and not a big brother even if he is younger." "Again Shawn, why are you telling me this?" "You are a kind, considerate, caring man that just happens to be homosexual and needs a child like this to be his mate for the rest of your life." At this allegation of an activity that was illegal at that time, Frank's face changed rapidly and he just turned and ran to the door. He fought very hard to open it. "Let me out! Let me out!" He demanded. "Frank, turn around." The man looked as dejected as the thoughts running through his head. Suicide was contemplated but hoped to be avoided. "Frank I know you must have seen me as a substitute for a childhood friend." Frank looked up quickly wondering how I knew. "It is obvious about this deduction and many times this situation got its start in childhood. You hoped that I would be that boy but I cannot be. Sean, the boy in the picture had sex with me a few times but I am not capable of enjoying it as he is. I looked on it as a learning process and a way of bringing him some joy." This gave Frank some hope, as I was unburdening to him about my own sexual impropriety while he didn't need to admit anything. "The boy needs a father figure that will always be with him. This is a life long commitment for both of you. His mother signed many papers and some will say that you are his natural father. The boy also needs a sexual partner that will fulfill his needs and who will not let him to go to other men for his gratification. "I am offering this boy to you in the hopes that you will fulfill that dual role. In the next four months you two will date. Whatever happens will be the decision of the child. With his anus and rectum back to what a virgin boy would be you will need to be excruciatingly careful of his health. I know there will be bleeding but this can be minimized. He is not very big now but as he grows older he will probably be bigger than you. You may have to carry jelly around for your own benefit one day. "The question is now. Do you want to meet Sean and go on a few dates? This can be only under the condition that you are looking for a mate. I am not supplying a child for an adult's lusts but a child that will one day be a mate." I handed Frank copies of the pictures taken at the zoo and others I had taken after. He looked through them and I felt the love flow out. Five minutes later I simply said, "Frank?" "Ah... Yes Shawn. I would love to meet this boy. I have held myself so tight for such a long time that it is difficult to admit to myself my own feelings. Everything you said is true and I would not have the stipulations any other way." "That's good. I thought of this plan within an hour of meeting the boy. It has taken this long to get him into a position to meet you." "An hour?" "Yes Frank, an hour." "In eight months I will be leaving Britain to return home to our profession. You are not wealthy and in eight months you will not be much better off but that is the time the boy will be free to leave if he wants. Remember that he has to want to leave me and I am his older brother. Treat him right and I will find excuses to allow you to be together." Before Frank left he was allowed to see Sean sleeping on the bed with his foot out and his quiet snores filling the room. Next Sunday the three of us went to a quiet restaurant and I introduced the two people to each other. They talked about things that I had told Frank to speak of. I had convinced Sean that a dental job would be better and they talked about the profession all night. Next week we ate again and Frank suggested we go camping with him but I explained that I had to fill in for a doctor at work and couldn't make it. "Sean, why don't you go?" "Can I? I never went camping before." Later I heard that Frank said this or Frank said that but I knew a friendship had started. It took seven more weeks before Sean came home walking a little funny but very happy. The large business complex was rapidly filling with tenants and would soon be full, ready to have its official opening in less than a month's time. As I had requested the Queen to do this for me, to make it appealing for her, I would make an old female troll to match the one she already had. When opening day came there were 20,000 potential customers and after the ribbon was cut only a fixed number were allowed in. As people left, my staff at the main doors would allow only that number to enter. The Queen and I walked around the enclosure and she found it much more pleasant than the drizzle that was currently falling on the streets outside. I led her to one of the stores where she was presented with pieces of pizza. She removed her gloves and sampled the different kinds, but after six pieces of different types she said she was too full for any more. The next place I steered her to was a large toy store. Wooden dinosaurs had not caught on, nor had the books of coloured reptiles and stories about each. She was a smart lady and looked on the box and books and saw that they were made at my manufacturing and publishing plants. "Sir Shawn, who owns the store that supplied the pizza?" "Ah probably some Rhodesian exile. They would rob the panties off anyone," I said as I produced some white panties. The queen stopped with a gasp and felt inside her waist band and found hers still intact. "Shawn, one day you will come to an ignoble end." I sent home some press clippings of the opening along with my letters. Despite the cost, we still phoned but it was not as nice as getting the printed word. Lusa was not showing yet nor were there any signs of morning sickness. Since she never had her first menses the adults were wondering if I was mistaken. Back in Britain I pushed to get into paediatrics and this was allowed. The children were of necessity closer to my age and I had fewer problems with them. Candies appeared magically from their ears or navels, all helping to make me an instant success. Some children were slowly dying and this tugged at my heart even more than the emergency ward had. As a ward doctor I only had so much room to manoeuvre without finding the family doctor ready to lynch me. I was in demand though when other doctors recommended me as a surgeon. The idea spread from word of mouth and I soon found myself in the operating theatre more and more. I tried not to be intrusive and my hands hid some of the small miracles I was able to have manifested. Doctors good at their profession started to watch my technique to pick up some of the ideas to take to their own practices. Here I had to just be dextrous and astute. Magic here would not be so welcome in their world. Usually my operations were much shorter and thus easier on the patient. What really hurt was when I had to operate on a child that I knew would either not make it off the table or would die a short time later. Sometimes even if my magic would be employed the result would be the same. I tried to think of new ways of doing things and decided to operate on some children as soon as they left the womb. Small holes in a heart muscle would heal much faster when the child was growing so fast. This got me called all around the country and I did my best to save all I could. It got so bad for a few months that I had virtually my own plane. My internship was competed and I was given my licence, what I had worked so hard for and had wanted since before I was born. The ceremony was bitter sweet. The family had come up including a very pregnant Lusa. Friends, family, employees and even some doctors, educators, students and royalty showed up to wish me well. It felt so good but I was needed in Rhodesia as well as here. Skin colour or status meant nothing. The fact that there were so many doctors here and so few at home ensured that I continued as I should. Privately I gave Sean away and gave the papers to Frank to keep. Frank could keep Sean happier than I could for he was only doing the duties of a doctor, a father and a lover, while I had so little time to do what was needed. As a 'wedding' present I gave the couple the painting of Sean looking into the lion's mouth. All the paintings of him had sold well and this portrait was only saved because I knew they would want it. If they ever decided to sell it the price they would get would be substantial. Some of the sorority were placed as I promised but most chose to work for me through Sharon. All of the original group had graduated and I had only to worry about Jennifer and she was doing well in a private school in Paris. I figured I had everything taken care of except the painting of Jennifer. The hospital had mixed feelings about it but the British museum took it and my taxes were significantly lowered. Some evaluated it's worth at a figure that surpassed even the Mona Lisa despite the fact that it was created by a still living artist. We stayed at grandpa's again and talked with the family a lot more. This time I wasn't a kid to be ignored but a celebrity. I liked it better the first time. I said our goodbyes to Charlie and Anne and their family. The queen said nothing but was trying to figure out if I could be the cause of Lusa swelling. She did see me as more of a husband escorting his pregnant wife though. The queen did bestow another knighthood on me. This time it was the Order of Merit. There were only two dozen living members and it would always be thus. All the members were leading scientists. She told me that this was the best she could do. All other awards would have to come from within my own breast. On the plane home we were wined and dined and nobody had any abdominal cramps except Lusa but that was to be expected. The government in Salisbury made a big to-do about us and I tried to behave myself. Lusa stayed at my side where possible, although packing one in the oven. Some people actually thought I was the person that put the package there. Two weeks later I delivered a six pound three ounce baby at our home. Our boy was bright and that along with his health was enough for me. We had long known his gender and Jason was the name we chose. Lusa was radiant but still had some doubts about how I would accept the child. After a dozen of so 'my son' phrases she felt much better. Dad's friends came by and he presented his grandchild to them. It turned out that the ones that were more like his acquaintances were in the main those who were bigots, but of all the ones that did come, nearly all choked. Both mom and Japera were very proud of their new grandchild and doted on him. Lusa had to almost fight to get her time with Jason. All of this was so nearly overwhelming emotionally that I had to get my feelings down in oils, so I started a large painting. On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel there are many paintings now discoloured and cracked with age. One of them is the Creation of Adam. God's hand is outstretched to give to spark of life to Adam. Here I took God to be handing with two hands a small black child into a pair of eager white hands. I invited the family to see the canvas and they said nothing for a long time. Our family is very visual and it spoke to each member differently. Mom put her hand on my shoulder and said quietly, "This is so beautiful. This says many things to me and anybody seeing this would surely be similarly moved. How could people not understand that we are all one race, the human race." Japera and Lusa had tears in their eyes as I was held. There were many things they both wanted to say but little was able to pass their lips. Dad said, "This is one of your better works, if not your best. I think it will be reproduced and shown all over the world, although it may be some time till it is publicly shown here in Rhodesia." Dad and I went back to work at the clinics. I had accepted a residency which had been offered at the local hospital. Soon after, people from all over the world were coming to me for help. The influx was good for our economy and many spin-off medical related businesses started up as a result. Arguments sprang up all the time about me devoting half my time to the problems of the natives. Many whites thought it much better to allow the blacks to find medical help elsewhere, to allow me to devote all my time to the hospital or the white clinic in the city. Many times I threatened to treat only the blacks so the comments would die away, but only for a while. Some whites complained about how they had to pay a high fee while the blacks were treated for free or next to nothing. Dad and I countered that there were many whites at our poor clinic and they were treated no differently from the blacks. To my surprise, the painting I made to commemorate Jason's birth was shown in Salisbury and was acclaimed as a masterpiece by local and visiting art critics. It had to be guarded well, not just from theft but from vandals dead set against what it portrayed. To keep it safe I eventually sent it to the British Museum to be displayed. Lusa's twelfth birthday and my sixth came up. I jokingly said that she was twice as old as me but I was catching up fast. The parties were small and only family members were present. I borrowed one of the planes from dad and without a licence I flew to Japera's home village with Lusa and Jason. I was even more of a man in their eyes now that I had been able to beget a son and had been five years old to do it. We stayed for three days while I did what I could to improve life for all the villagers. Lusa again became queen and had not only girls her age and younger but older women trying to find out all they could. She explained about proper care and feeding, in a way trying to change the way it was done here for thousands of years. They did keep the village cleaner than most but not up to what I would consider adequate for the prevention of disease. They complained of armed men coming and wanting to recruit the young men and even boys to fight the whites in South Africa and here. I knew the conflict would take place and who would win was in doubt. Britain had settled this area and fought many wars to keep it. Settlers now would fight even harder to keep what their families fought for. Wars were always chaotic and messy. I didn't mind the men joining up but I didn't want wholesale slaughter of whites or blacks. I could see no way of stopping this and knew it would happen no matter what I did. Fighters stayed in Mozambique, Botswana, or Zambia to train and hide. Many were within our own borders and either hiding or doing what they could to evict the whites from what they considered their land. All the good land had been seized by the whites for their farms. They did manage to get much more productivity out of their land though. Dad and I bought a large area of good land with a good house already built on it. A large fence had been put up around it to keep out people trying to shoot the old owners or sabotage the equipment. I worked hard to gain the trust of the local farm workers that more or less came with the farm. Lusa and our son seemed to do as much as I did. Mom took a sabbatical for a while and wanted to stay longer at this property. She hired some of the locals to put in a garden the way she wanted and in the course of the building constructed some friendships as well. A new well was dug by me when others were not around and the water was piped to the small village that was close to the main house. I paid for a latrine to be built for the villagers and presented it to them together with the reason for its existence. The novelty of it kept the town clean for a while. We stayed at this house in the country during the warmer months. Dad and I commuted and tried to keep in contact via short wave radio as telephone lines were both expensive as well as a prime target for vandals and thieves. The farm was divided up into lots and the villagers and others worked them as more than tenant farmers. The large equipment and the cost of upkeep was split among the farmers. We got enough produce to pay our taxes and we assisted everyone in getting the best prices for their produce. This was a far cry from what others were given. Neighbouring white owned farms shunned us because they didn't want 'their blacks' getting similar ideas. Our practice brought in a lot of money, which promptly went out as quickly as it came in. The government was asked and agreed to add some, but usually at the expense of something else. As an example, to give us better medicine the sanitary facilities were underfunded as a consequence. I turned seven and looked back over the year and saw very little improvement. I had made many things to be sold in my store in London. That business and the large complex of businesses now called a 'mall' were doing exceptionally well. To avoid some taxes I built more but on smaller sites and in different centres of population. Germany too would grow during its rebuilding and I wanted to have my business there do the same. Dad and I flew to London to meet with our orders of knighthood that held reunions every four years. There were a few parties and then we visited relatives and checked on business interests. All my girls were doing well. They dressed well and spoke in a more refined manner, probably due to the clientele that they dealt with. Frank and Sean showed up looking like newly weds so I warned them about their appearance. They replied, "We know that but here with you we can act the way we want." Sean was studying hard to get into grammar school as the opportunity would arise when he turned eleven. A profession in dentistry was still his main goal. A small side trip to Paris brought me to the other part of my family. Jennifer had been waiting at the door for a long time and jumped on me in her usual proprietary way. "Shawn it has been such a long time. Your letters tell me about your baby. Tell me more about him." I walked into the room and met the others. After I got a rundown on their personal lives I told them about my family and especially Jason. His teething problems and then a minor virus were the main topic until I told them about how he reacted to his environment. "He's going to be somebody important when he grows up. Dad hopes that he will be a physician but I am not going to push him too much. He has his mother's disposition when it comes to being pushed." We ate together at a local restaurant till somebody recognized me by my hair and young age. We had to leave soon after. I saw the recent property I had bought and gave a few directives to make it better. I was happy to see that I could take Jennifer back to Britain. She could still be taken by the authorities but never again would she meekly submit to another's orders. Her larynx was good but she had a husky voice which meant that she would never be able to sing well, however that was really a minor problem. All good things must end and all too soon we boarded the flight back home. It had been another working vacation but none the less enjoyable for that. On the plane we read the London papers and found that there had been even more attacks and reprisals in Rhodesia. Sometimes the facts were not stated in our own papers and getting an outside source was beginning to be difficult. We radioed mom at the farm and stayed for another week to fulfill all the commitments we had in the city. Then went to see the family, taking some groceries with us. Things were getting both good and bad in '57. The British Commonwealth had placed sanctions on trade with Rhodesia. This made us feel good even though we would suffer with the rest. It put pressure on Salisbury to change its policies but it only entrenched them further. Britain had fought against the Commonwealth sanctions because they gained a good portion of their wealth from trade with Rhodesia. The black nations in our commonwealth though had an equal vote and Britain lost. South Africa became our main doorway to the world now that imports were restricted. The support was not altruistic for the South African government's cause had similar aims to Rhodesia. Medicine got through and our lives changed little except we went on a war footing because of the number of raids made on farms. Dad and I wanted our women back in Salisbury but mom wanted nothing of this. We compromised by making the farm more secure. Dad and I took more time away from the clinics so we could be home. I found great enjoyment in playing with Jason and saw some of the things that I never got because of the way my mind worked. Jason was too young to really play but he did join the other children of the village on occasion. Mom would get the women to bring in raw fruit and vegetables and then show them how the Europeans did some cooking. She had long since learned from Japera but she pretended to learn again to show that this was a trade of knowledge. Fuel for our plane became costly and scarce. Much of our travel had to be curtailed or done by land based vehicles. Convoys were usually used now because of sporadic attacks. We didn't use them and were ridiculed for not doing so. One day we were going through a hilly section and my eye high above spotted something unusual ahead of us. It was an ambush. Usually we would wait them out or drive around but this time they were closer to our farm. I wanted to discuss our position with them if there was a leader as opposed to a chief looter and rapist. Dad pulled the Land Rover into a thicket and I ran to the ambush site as quick as I could in the bright daylight. A quick scan of the six men confirmed that I couldn't deal with them. They had killed many whites and blacks alike. Raping was one of their specialities but now they were as bad as the worst. I pissed in the red earth and took the mud and small pebbles and placed the mixture in the barrels of all their weapons with my ability. I called dad to drive by. As his vehicle approached, I watched as the weapons exploded in four of the men's hands. The last two had been just watching the performance of the rest and took weapons hidden in their packs and drew a bead on dad. To protect dad I slammed the two men together and killed them quickly. I called to dad and he came running up the slope on foot. Before he made it to the top I pinched out the lives of the other four. Dad crested the small hill and ran to the men and wondered why I wasn't assisting. Soon he found that all six were dead. "What happened Shawn?" "They were going to stop any vehicle that came by and take what they wanted. They had stopped families before and none had made it back. There would have been no clemency for us or anybody else." "That..." came out but he thought harder and saw that this was quite possible. "Who were they Shawn?" "These were actually born in Rhodesia. With no sense of good or evil they just wanted to take what they could, when they could. We know some of the people they killed and... killed. I always wanted the Salisbury regime overthrown but not by people like this. Even the Internal Security was preferable." We had many weapons but took what we could to keep them away from other terrorists and had hopes of giving them to villagers to protect themselves. In a bag I found trophies collected from the people that one individual had killed. I vomited for the first time. After the bag was buried we moved the bodies to the road with all the property we chose to leave. It was an hour to get home but we said nothing the entire time. When we got to the farm dad explained what had happened. It was not quite self defence but it was still a good thing to happen. Mother ran into the bedroom with Japera following right behind. Jason was on the floor and I picked him up and walked with Lusa around the property paying attention to the fences. The village had its own fences put in at our expense but were not patrolled. Guns and ammunition had been given out. They practised sporadically but most were used to hunt. When it became necessary to return to the city dad and I looked at the defences and talked to the family and villagers. They didn't see us as the usual white farmer but our skin was still much lighter than theirs and could not be ignored. When our commitments were done in the capital we loaded up with some groceries and flew back to the family. I looked at the compass and made a slight modification to the course of the Cessna. A small wind shift had accompanied the change in altitude I initiated. The stars were starting to come out as the sun was setting over my right shoulder. "Do you think Jendayi will need the mastectomy?" I stated, envisioning all the complications and ramifications the operation would entail for our patient. "The last time we were at the village there was very little improvement in her condition. The chemotherapy will not be enough I am afraid. Did your investigations into homeopathic remedies turn up anything promising?" "Nothing yet. A type of sedge grass has some rather interesting properties though, you would find... " I paused, feeling uncomfortable - Mother, Japera and Lusa were very worried. They would have to be frantic for me to sense them as we were well over a hundred miles away. "Mother and Lusa need us. We have to go back now." Dad was used to my empathy. It was expected even. "Let's get back then. Do you know what is wrong? Are they in any danger?" I changed course trying to find the right altitude to get the maximum ground speed out of the aging Cessna 140. "I don't know yet. Just a general state of alarm." To give dad something constructive to do I suggested, "Why don't you radio them?" Dad adjusted the frequency to the usual one we used for conversations directed homeward, then picked up the microphone. He was getting excited as the radio message remained unanswered. "Can we go any faster?" I was already using my powers to push the Cessna to well over two hundred miles and hour. Considerably beyond what the motor could give alone. The wings began to flutter. I tried to maintain his speed and strengthen and stabilize the wings at the same time. Dad hardly noticed the speed gauge but concentrated instead on the radio. He would make short requests not wanting to miss any message that might be coming in. Eventually a call came, "John is that you? There is fighting in the village. When can you get back? We had time to close the gate but Gamba and Hondo are dead. Lusa and Jason are here with the rest of the household. See if you can radio for some help. We are using the small antenna in the house" "Who is doing this?" "We don't know. We don't have many guns. They were given to some of the villagers but most were just lost. A lot of villagers are dead already." "Try to hold on and I'll radio for some help." We both kicked ourselves. Mom had not wanted all the guns and ammunition and had vetoed any new arms. Mom was usually cool headed. It had to be very serious for her to speak this way on the radio. Dad radioed the town about forty miles from home telling them about the robbery or take over of our village and home. The only thing we could think of was a group of terrorists or outlaws from neighbouring Zambia. There was a possibility of one of the home grown terrorist groups trying to topple the Salisbury government being involved in the attack. There was nothing the police could do immediately because of the distance but they would send some well armed men to help. I wanted to talk to Lusa but this would require me to either slow down or allow the flutter to rip the wings off the plane. Dad got back to mom with the news. A moment later the radio at the other end went dead not even the carrier. Now both of us were even more worried. It sounded like they either cut off power to the radio or severed the antenna wire. "If this is wide spread then other settlements may be affected. Call out on a general frequency and warn the others dad. Have them talk in turn on different channels so we can hear if anything happens on ours." "Good idea." Dad was used to following my orders if they were good advice. He made calls to neighbouring farms and settlements. He gave a brief description and asked them to pass the message on to others before trying to raise mom again. Nobody reported any disturbances but this proved nothing as an antenna could be the first thing hit. Sweat ran off my face as I concentrated to get the maximum speed out of the aging aircraft. My hands gripped the yoke even to the point of deforming the metal and plastic. I had no idea of our speed as the needle of the gauge was still against the stop. When only minutes away I spared some of my mind to investigate our home. It was better if I didn't. I could now see through Lusa's eyes, armed men pouring into the room shooting Japera then mom. She had thrust the spear given us by the chief of the village into an attacker's chest. I knew mom was not unconscious she was now dead. The other women were spared as the attackers shot or stabbed the men. In a hollow almost emotionless voice I said, "Mom is dead. She was shot." Dad squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep the vision out of his mind. This could not be happening. He gripped the microphone tighter in a futile wait for the sound of his beloved wife to come from the speaker. The village came into view. Small fires and a few homes burnt furiously. People could be seen running in the firelight many still shapes littered the ground. I swung around to land the plane and saw through Lusa's eyes as a tall broad shouldered man back handed her and took up the legs of my son Jason and swung the small boy's head against the doorway. From then on I could get no vision as if the only control Lusa had was gone. A chill covered my heart my son was dead and my wife was in danger. "Jason is dead." I said in the same voice I used before. The sky was almost black but there was just enough light for me to make out the runway. I came in very fast relying more on my powers than the mechanical assets at my control. Shots rang out puncturing the cabin. I heard dad groan as bullets pierced his body. It was safer on the ground than being aloft in the night sky. More bullets entered shattering the windshield and making the engine scream before it stopped. I levelled out and touched ground. The prop had stopped so I used my force to propel the disabled craft toward the house. The plane came to a stop about a hundred yards short of the house at the chain link fence we had strengthened so recently. I reached over to dad and found him dying from a loss of blood. My mind focussed on the severed carotid artery and the small neat incisions caused by a high powered bullets that passed through each lung leaving a large exit wound. The doctor part of me knew there was no hope. Gunfire had stopped as the craft lay against the fence and in no danger of escaping. I searched in dad's mind and found his last thoughts to be for me to save Lusa. The Cessna shook as strong hands ripped the door open and pulled me out. Armed men in a combination of rags and military fatigues searched the small plane before pushing me toward the house. "No, dad," part of my mind knew that there was nothing I could do for my father. Another part just wanted to hold him and be held in return. As we neared the house I heard a single shot and finally got a clear picture of the interior. Lusa had been raped but this time she had grabbed a knife that hung from the waist of the man who killed her son and drove it between his ribs. She was sure he would die just as she would from the hole in her chest. The picture in my mind faded and I knew that all that I loved had now died. "Lusa," I yelled at the top of his voice. I ran to the house and was much stronger than any of my captors. They let me go knowing that the soldiers in house would soon stop me. I ran into the den to find men either doing up their pants or lowering them. Girls both young and old were being raped. Rudo and Banga my friends were being raped by men too eager to wait for a woman. Mom was in a corner looking almost peaceful. The assegai she used still in her hand. The small body of Jason lay where it was thrown with the top portion of his skull missing. Lusa on the floor with a large hole centred on her young chest and a spreading pool of blood. A tall man in cleaner fatigues stood with a revolver in his hand wondering how the girl had killed one of his men. "New meat." one large man smiled as he approached me with extended arms. I felt my old life die the way my family had. It did not really matter to me now if I died now or not. My belief, like my father's, in the sanctity of life seamed to fade somehow. I had once on a cool spring morning said the Hippocratic Oath before both my parents, Japera and my wife, because no institution would accredit me with the skills I possessed at that time. The grim reality of the present actuality conflicted with my given word. These men could only be termed as a virus attacking the body of the friends and country I loved and had to go like the men that tried to kill us last year. A hairy arm threw me over the back of an easy chair in preparation for my rape. I now knew what I must do. I rolled forward and onto the seat before other hands could remove my clothes. I came out of my lethargy. My mind grasped the assegai in mom's dead hands and pulled. It flew across the room and turning about so the blade was away from me. It seamed to slow as it travelled the short distance. The voices I heard lowered in pitch as the spear approached. I flipped the head of the spear over my head and drove the weapon through the man's sternum and out past his spine. The spear was much harder to control, as if it gained a great weight in its travels. I rolled onto the floor and from a crouch sprang at the man with the gun. One of my hands grasped the barrel while the other went for the throat. My speed and strength allowed me to rip the throat right out of the soldier before he was even aware of his own danger. I had the gun aimed even before I landed and three sluggish shots rang out. Much too slowly for my liking. It seemed as if all the people in the room were props, for they didn't even move. My mind had reached a much higher plateau then I had ever even considered possible before. I could almost see the bullets fly from the gun. The gun's trigger bent under the pressure of my finger trying to get greater speed from the weapon than the designer had ever envisioned. The men I shot had not even fallen yet. I pushed through the thick air to retrieve the assegai. I pulled it out of the chest of my would be rapist. The man had not died or even fallen yet. I wielded the spear like Chaka of old and found it difficult to move the men because of their inertia. I pushed each and sliced their throats or punctured their hearts. As I did this I saw the first of my attackers complete their fall. I was starting to become very hot from all the activity done in so short a time, so I paused stock still to cool down. My mind was a better tool any way for removing this vermin. My mind now went upstairs finding more rapists and thieves going through our family's property. I formed a mental assegai which I thrust through each skull I found. The back of their heads exploded splattering the walls and ceiling. This spear travelled much faster than a bullet. I quested about the house and clinic finding more soldiers, most sated with drink, drugs, or sex. I looked into each mind this time before thrusting my mental spear. The ones I spared were the young soldiers that had been kidnapped and forced into the army of General Mobutu and his freedom fighters. The child soldiers had been forced to kill or be killed themselves in the camps set up in Zambia. These I simply rendered unconscious. Two officers I found raping young girls. I stunned them for interrogation later. The girls would have run off and back into the hands of others so I passed a suggestion to them to remain in the room. They would be safe there. My spear travelled through the village until no soldiers stood. I returned to my normal state of being. This was done slowly and I began to shake as if held by a giant. I didn't know how I was going to cope with my loss but others needed me now. I took the bodies of grown men and threw them through the broken windows and into the garden as if they were weightless. I tried to help my friends and the surviving household staff. Some I tapped on the forehead with a finger rendering them insensible and temporarily free of their pain. Otherwise if not seen I just put them to sleep. ------- Chapter 18 I went to the clinic and picked up my other bag and filled it with drugs, bandages, tape and sutures. The bodies of our patients littered the rooms and hallways. Inside, I cried again at the sight of the dead, but it was the living who still required my help as much as I needed help too. My mind searched within the house and found some old women who had escaped detection in the basement along with some of the younger children. I went to the basement and called down telling that all who I was and that the soldiers were either dead or captured. "I need some help," I said as I looked at the people I could pick from. Six grandmothers, eight young girls that would have been raped, six boys who would suffer the same fate as well as twenty three young children. They all ran to me knowing who I was. I hugged many knowing how they needed a human touch. I scanned the older people and selected the ones that would not break down when the work was needed. They heated water and washed the victims prior to the suturing of their raped orifices, or other wounds. Some had knife and gunshot wounds that would require a quick operation. I found places to sleep for all my patients, for that was what they needed most. A few would heal correctly but would never be the same mentally again. When I stopped for a second to think about it, I was in this class of people too. Two I knew would die within the next few days and three others would be better off if they did too. The helpers went out and started on the village. I followed on foot with my supplies and did what I could. Some of the child soldiers had been killed in their induced sleep by the town folk wanting revenge. I had to explain that they were victims as well. The two officers who were frozen in place watching all this while unable to protect themselves were a different matter however. The girls they had raped became their only protection now. These girls would rather knife the men but followed my suggestions instead. I walked up to them and looked very deeply into each. I saw that Zambia was behind the attacks but only partially. Some unknown people high in the Rhodesian government were helping in the planning of the attacks. For all I knew, we were the only surviving settlement that had been attacked though there were three others nearby. Their only plan was to sow fear among the natives of Rhodesia to get them to rise up and overthrow the white only government or face more attacks. Our family was the first target on their list and there were special orders that none of us were to live. Rhodesia kept it's black or mixed race population uneducated and uninformed. This allowed the rich white landholders and miners a cheap source of labour. Locals were only allowed to own the poorest land in their own country. The British Commonwealth objected to this strenuously and a lot of infighting occurred to curtail this practice. The Rhodesian police and soldiers would probably arrive much too late to be of any assistance. The soldiers too seemed to be taking their time in coming to our assistance. I knew what would happen when they did come. All of the enemy soldiers would have a quick trial and a bullet. When all the major cases were treated I called all the walking wounded to a meeting in the centre of our small village. "Most of the attackers are dead. They will not hurt you now. Some are children that need our understanding not our hate. I am asking you now to help me save some of those children. You may want to kill them yourself but that is not right. The soldiers coming would shoot them in any case. I am asking you as a favour to protect these children till you know the truth of the matter. Will you do this for me?" All agreed most very reluctantly. I walked around to the sleeping soldiers and stirred each with my physical and mental touch. The youths were very frightened now, not that they weren't before. I ordered them to remove all parts of their uniforms to have them burned. Clothes were found for them so they would blend in with the rest of the villagers. Before they dispersed I talked to everybody again. "I will now speak to the soldiers that came to our village. I know that you were forced into General Mobutu's army. You either fought or were shot yourselves. Eventually the Rhodesian military will be here so I have asked the villagers to protect you on my word alone. This assistance comes at a price. You will help undo some of the wrongs done here tonight. You are now members of this village till I say otherwise. There is much work to do now, graves to be dug and houses to be rebuilt." The young fighters did not know who the young boy before them was but seeing how the villagers followed my words they would also. I reluctantly returned to my home and picked up the bodies of my family and took them outside in the now empty garden that my mother loved so much. I got soap and water and did his best to make my family presentable. I went inside again to bring out clothes and clean white sheets. I redressed dad first in his Sunday best. Mother followed with her long rose coloured gown. Japera had three wounds so she must have been a grave threat to her attackers. I finally cried as I placed the dress I had just purchased the week before on my wife Lusa. Large tears rolled down my cheeks as I held my eighteen month old son Jason and dressed him in his sailor's suit. I carefully tucked the clean sheets around each of my family. I walked down the driveway thinking of the inevitability of the soldiers coming to our house. They were more than three hours late on what would normally be a one hour trip. I picked up a large boulder placing it in the centre of this thoroughfare, before wearily walking the quarter mile to the centre of the village. I was thinking of all the things I lost today and would loose in the coming days. The villagers were only slowly coming to grips with the experience. Work was a good cure for both the villagers and myself. I organized teams to bring out the bodies and commence the task of digging graves. All the enemy dead were placed in neat rows. I counted forty three that I had personally killed along with seven killed by the villagers. Two had been killed by mom and Lusa but there were two more that had to have been killed by Japera. Twelve boys and the two officers could have been added to the rows of corpses. The freed boys now worked as if driven to expiate their perceived sins. I had some guns, ammunition and vehicles moved to a safe location so that if we were to be victims of an attack again, my people would be protected. The military might seize the equipment to keep it away from any terrorist that might use it against them. The time until an army or police unit could arrive in the event of another attack allowed the enemy to do as it wanted, yet still have adequate time to withdraw. I had my own dead to contend with but the military could alter my plans for revenge. I spent my time till the military arrived by looking into all the sleeping patients and reassuring them of their safety through my ability to plant thoughts. Two jeeps and two troop trucks finally drove into town. The person in charge was either uneducated or incompetent. If I were the enemy I could have killed most of the new arrivals with the captured guns at my disposal as they drove up. A white officer got out of the lead jeep with a Colt automatic in his hand looking for somebody to shoot. He was thinking that the enemy would be quaking in their shoes at the mere sight of him. Other white officers got out as well some with more sense spread out and looked for snipers. The first troop truck was for white soldiers while the last was all black. The arriving white soldiers wandered around viewing the dead as if they were for sale at an open air market. Eventually they got to the enemy dead. Most of the deaths resulted from my mental spears so there was little blood on the front of the uniforms. The remainder had died because of a spear to the heart, across the neck or through their skulls. The dead even looked organized. The first officer had got out of his jeep then signalled his driver to bring the vehicle closer. He climbed on the back to better be seen when he spoke. "Who is in charge here?" he spoke in a British voice not much different from my own but his arrogant intonation was altogether different. Nobody came forward because the head man was among the dead. The older people then the children turned their heads toward me. I was just elected the village headman or fool. He didn't know which. "I guess I am," I stated after the officer had to ask the question a second time. "No games now. Who is in charge or do I have to beat all of you until somebody admits to being the leader?" "You may find beating anyone in this village to be a very serious matter. I already stated that I am the new headman," I said as I read the man's mind. He was very strongly bigoted. Blacks and coloureds were only fit for labouring. The women if young and pretty enough would be allowed into his bed, as long as nobody saw. "And who are you boy to say such things to me?" "Shawn Boz, my family and I provide medical services to the people in this area. The officer was thin to the point of emaciation and did not recognize the name but somehow it had a familiar ring. He appeared to be around thirty years of age and of average height. His sandy brown hair was visible under his cap. His crisp and clean uniform was out of place in a situation like this. His nose he kept elevated either to show his disdain for the surroundings or to keep his senses further from the smell of corruption and death about him. "Who might you be?" I asked in a voice that was clear and strong. This surprised even me. "Lieutenant Webber of the Queens Own Rifles. Where is your family boy?" "Just east of here about a quarter of a mile." "Get in. I will give you a ride in a real military vehicle," as if offering me a lolly. I saw that none were going to vacate a seat for me and I would not crouch or sit on anyone's lap. "Thanks but I prefer to walk the short distance." The jeep rushed ahead to the only house that was not of native construction only to be stopped by the large stone blocking further passage up the driveway. The driver was ordered out and tried to move the large stone. The sergeant had to come out to assist in the stone's removal. Before the jeep was able to pass I walked by. The jeep went to the north side and toward the main entrance while I walked south to the garden and my family. The soldiers came around when they saw that the front door was broken open and nobody answered their calls. "Ok boy. I am getting angry now. Where is your family?" The village had been lit by the burning houses and the torches held by some of the people. Here in the garden. There was only the moon and stars for illumination. "Certainly, right over here." The soldiers approached slowly unsure of their step. I pulled the sheets back over each of my family's faces, one at a time. "Father I would like to introduce Lieutenant Webber. Lieutenant, this is my father Dr John Boz. My mother professor Agatha Boz of The University of Salisbury, my wife Lusa, her mother Japera and last of all my son Jason." The soldiers were speechless. "Please excuse my family. They seem to have a problem incurred by the less than prompt arrival of the military to our emergency call." The charge was not justified as almost all were dead before I even landed but the extra three hours taken was inexcusable. Lt. Webber did not want to loose face and especially not to a boy. "It is none of your business how the military does it's job. There are other important assignments occupying our time." He attacked now, "How can you have a blackie for a wife? There are laws against marrying outside your race in this country. You look many times too young anyways. How can that black get be yours?" I had looked into Webber's memories before and found out that he was spending his time with his black mistress and needed to finish before dressing and then organizing the patrol. "I was accepted into the tribe here when I just turned five, thus making me an adult. As for my wife; I have been happily married for almost three years to a girl of that tribe. The child was fathered by a man that really didn't want to live much longer but I allowed it. Whether Jason had my blood or not, he was still my son. He would follow in my shoes one day and become a fine surgeon and diagnostician. As to the military aspect; I think you were with your black mistress. You had to finish bedding her before finding the time to dress in your tailored uniform, get the men and equipment ready and drive out here. This doesn't strike me as the way a military officer is supposed to act." Webber was incensed and brought his hand to his shoulder in preparation for a strong backhand blow. I knew it was coming and ducked at the last second, rushed forward and removed the colt from his holster and doffed the revolver from the other officer with my mind. All this done in slow time, allowing me to position himself behind the falling Webber and keep my eyes on the other men. When the man hit the ground I was back to normal or as normal as I could be. "I don't like incompetent officers trying to assault me," I casually said. Webber lay on his back wondering how he got there and felt the colt prodding his neck while my other hand held the revolver pointing upward. Johnson, the other officer, looked at the pistol and frantically looked for his own gun. "I am going to arrest you for assaulting an officer," Webber started to splutter. He got no further as I put the colt out of the way and seized the fool by the throat and squeezed. Although he used both arms to try to remove my hands, no amount of struggling would free him. Johnson started to come to his companion's assistance as I brought the pistol casually up to point at his right eye. I was calm and seemed to be using no force at all on Webber but the stricken officer was turning blue and his thrashing was getting less and less. When Webber fell senseless, I released my grip and casually got to my feet then demanded, "Set ten of your better men around the village as sentries. The rest I want to assist the wounded and help bury the dead. Your trucks will remove the dead attackers in the morning along with the two surviving officers. Is that understood?" Johnson was used to taking orders but not from a seven year old boy. Perhaps he could go along with the idea for now and disarm the boy later. "Sounds good to me." I was aware of the nebulous plan and said, "Before you get any ideas about insubordination, consider who killed almost most the attackers and captured the two officers. The troops you brought are even less in number than your friends from Zambia. Are you looking to see how large a grave I can make with foolish men?" Johnson gulped a little and said, "No sir. We will do as you ask." I pointed the gun up and with a flick of my wrist caused the revolver to open and allow the bullets to magically fall out into my other hand. "Here is your gun. Take this carrion away and start your other duties. Webber will sleep till at least eight o'clock at which time I will kick him and most of the rest of you out of here. If Webber comes back without having changed his ways then you will get a chance to move up one notch in your military hierarchy." The soldiers now worked more professionally. Graves were dug with the help and direction of the villagers. I did my rounds, soothing or sewing as the need arose. Medics assisted the less serious. They even came asking my advice on some matters for some knew who I was. The freed boys were leery of being too close to the soldiers but as the night progressed they became accustomed to them. As dawn broke I got a meal organized for everybody. The soldiers ate in shifts while a few sentries came in and were replaced with others. There were no armed enemies around but it was good to keep the men on their toes. I called Johnson and the sergeant to get a few guards and accompany me in interrogating the prisoners. The military men were surprised to find two girls guarding the unsecured prisoners with only clubs. I released my hold on the men and they promptly fell to the floor groaning at the pain in their joints and muscles. I told the girls to get some water for the men. I said to the two officers, "Your men are dead and laying in the street waiting to be taken away and dumped somewhere. I would have both of you join them except that these gentlemen would like to have a chat with you. Topics of interest to them are the names of your backers in the Rhodesian government. If you are too far down the list of people who might know then you can tell us how we may find them?" I was actually informing the Rhodesians about the traitors and how to go about finding them. All the soldiers were very shocked to hear this. The Zambians for how such a young opponent had come about this information and the Rhodesians for the fact that there were traitors in their own government. I pulled Johnson outside and told him, "I expect you or your superiors to get orders to shoot these men soon. The orders will come from high up in the government. If an investigation is started now, each order concerning these men and their disposition can be followed up before it is carried out. If the prisoners are not killed I think they will be forced to commit suicide. Use thick leather gloves and metal line when fishing in these waters." I reached into my pockets and handed the bullets to Johnson. "One last thing. Don't trust anyone but the warning must go out. We don't know if there are traitors in the military and police but you need to be aware that there probably are." "Thank you for your help sir. I have been informed of your status and we will do our best. The men and I are very sorry for not being able to get here in time to save the villagers or your family." "I know that and appreciate your feelings. At the moment, I want revenge only." The girls came back and I went in with them to hold the cup to the prisoner's lips. Their ability to use their voluntary muscles had not returned. Before the trucks left I had a one sided conversation with Webber. "The trucks are loaded with all the attackers. Some of your men will remain here until the trucks are emptied and come back for them. You are going with the first load and I don't want to see you here again. Your speech will start to return around noon or so don't strain it. If you cause me any more trouble I will rip your throat out like I did the man that killed my wife." When the first load left town I walked around to the soldiers and individually thanked them for their help. I eventually trudged back to our house. I found the nicest place in the garden and started to dig. I watered the soil with tears till there were no more to shed. Canvas was put into the communal grave and mom, then dad, followed by Japera then my wife and child. I stood for long minutes just looking at the bodies. Eventually I covered each with their sheets then another canvas before filling the hole with the stony dry soil. A very large stone at the edge of the garden that had always been too big to dispose of was levitated and placed near by. My powers had increased since the fight for my life. By looking into the stones structure I could see down to the molecular level. I sheared a piece off the stone, just like the diamonds, leaving a large flat surface. The finished stone appeared in my mind with some minor alterations. I removed small pieces of stone to deeply incise an epitaph to my family. Below that I carved the likeness of each of those interred as they appeared in life. Though filled to overflowing with grief I knew that others were the same way. I cast my eye aloft and searched from many miles up. Some neighbours had been able to fight off their attackers while other hadn't. Bodies, some without clothing were scattered about. Even animals were killed as if a substitute for a white man. One small farmhouse had only two bodies and looking close I saw none inside. There were two girls of six and eight with their parents. Black settlements were attacked and without knowing how, I thought that some of the children were missing as well. I called the town's folk and got told them about my patients in the clinic and said that others needed my help. "There are many that I want to stop from hurting anybody else. This will be done permanently. The attackers will probably not come back this way but you know where the guns are. Give them to the boys and have them teach you how to use them." I turned to the boys and said, "You will protect my village; for if you run I will chase you to the very gates of hell." Not even for a second did any doubt my words. At a distance, my eye had found some rag tag groups of attackers who were dragging children or forcing them to carry booty. I tried but I could neither kill nor even force them to sleep from here. To my patients, I gave a final check telling them what I intended to do. Through their loud cries I got a backpack and loaded it with medical supplies, food, water and my kukri. I ran as quickly as a gazelle until I was out of sight then left the ground entirely to move at truly high speed. I laid prone to get even closer and avoid anybody that might see me. My mental finger reached far out and parted brush that would slap my face. My eye far overhead guided me to my first goal. This first group had stolen a van and the family pickup. I got a mile ahead and put my pack to the side of the road and waited in the centre of the dirt track. The vehicles stopped and guns pointed all over looking for a trap. The ones inside saw me as a gift from heaven but I knew for their future I would be from hell. A black man got out, holstering his pistol and planning to take me now. "What do we have here? A little boy or is it a girl. Come here. I have something special for you." His men that heard him laughed. There were more captives here and I didn't want them hurt any more by what they were otherwise about to see. They all went to sleep. I pulled the men out of the vehicles and after searching for data from their minds. I sliced their throat like any person in an abattoir would do to a pig. I picked the trucks up one at a time and faced them back the way they had come and away from the sight of their dead attackers. There were seven children and young girls. One child had already died, another would join in an hour or so because I had no way of stopping it. I thought of all the pain recently and silenced the small life to avoid even more pain. The rest I treated. There was lots of water and I gave them liberal amounts and used more to wash them. They all were naked and I searched and found what I could to cover them. A girl of sixteen came around first and recognized me even if her parents didn't want her knowing some black lover. "Shawn, Shawn Boz. Is that you?" "Yes it is Patty." I stood her naked form upright and placed a young man's pants onto her legs, before using a shirt with dried blood to cover her chest. She had not understood what had befallen her as I said, "Patty, I have to go and rescue more people like you and your sister. You can drive. Take the van and go back. Go to my home not yours. Understand?" She didn't but I had to leave. The living had been given what succour I had to give. I took Patty's hand and put her into the van. I re-packed the vehicle and turned the key for her. The vehicle started up and I jumped off to let it start its journey. On the side of the road lay a stack of bodies. The two now clothed children were placed in the pickup to keep the animals away from their tiny forms. I killed in twos and threes. Sometimes I rescued a child or woman and carried them to a barricaded house and asked for assistance. Only once did I change my mind when the white animal I would feed was as bad as the black animals I took the child from. The attackers now bypassed settlements and individual farms. Otherwise the trail of destruction would lead right to them. Large trucks loaded with looted goods went by and I stopped each and the driver and their passengers died a quick merciful death. Their memories spoke of the opposite happening to their victims. One large truck had broken down so the terrorists had pushed it off the road and into a small side hollow behind some trees. The four men held a coffle of children like slaves. Rifles, jewellery and gold decorated the men. The children were dazed and didn't even have shoes. The men then the children fell unconscious as I moved in. Stripping the men, I took what information I needed from their unresisting minds. They were all guilty of similar barbarities to those I'd witnessed the night before, so I moved them a distance away from the children before seizing the controls to their lives and twisting. Coming back to the children, I checked each out for damage, operating on torn bowels and suturing cuts, putting some clean dressings on one girl's disfiguring burns. I wondered why the terrorists would keep such a girl now that she was unsightly. I treated her face and chest with my talent and felt very tired when finished. I dressed the three girls and a pretty boy in the men's clothing. The truck was only a five minute flight and I recovered a large container and filled it with water. This was brought to the children. On the far slopes I found an antelope and killed it from a thousand yards. About my limit. I cleaned it rapidly and brought it back to camp. When the children awoke they found the meat cooked and water to drink. The rope which had been tied around their necks formerly was nowhere to be found. Sally a girl of not quite twelve opened her eyes. She looked around quickly for her captures and only saw me. She got up quickly and started to run so I grabbed her before she'd run even three feet. She screamed and fought me hard trying to get away. The others were now awake and saw Sally's futilely trying to escape so I quickly put her back to sleep and held her in my lap to show the rest that I was not hurting her. "The people that hurt you and your families are dead. I killed them. You have never seen me before but all of you have heard about my father and possibly me. My name is Shawn Boz. I am a doctor and now I am a soldier. You are all safe. I will not hurt you but you do have to do as your told. Sandra, come here and hold your neighbour while I get the food ready." The girl was shell shocked but when I talked loud and ordered her she did as I asked. I took my kukri and cut hot strips of meat to feed my hungry companions. Water was fairly plentiful and they drank lots till I cut them off to prevent them from choking. Sally was awakened slowly and I got her to drink water even before she was fully awake. She tried to run again and I simply slapped her. "Sally, eat this meat now." She stared at me like she did to her former capturers but ate from my hand like a scared animal. When they had eaten I took Francis the boy and got him to empty his bowels. He was frightened but did as I asked. I removed almost all sensation from his anus to allow the stool to pass his sutures. I washed him with my hand and some water like the Arabs do. Both for their embarrassment as well as their fear of the pain they would soon experience, the girls refused to comply, so I had to help them void their bladders and tail ends, before cleaning each of them too and starting to clean up camp. "Children, you know I am a doctor. You were cut and I sewed you up so you will heal right. There are more children and young ladies to rescue. We are going back to the truck you left and I will make it safe. The army will come by and take you to a safe place. I cannot stay with you." They went from frightened of me to frightened that I would go. I carried most of the equipment and one child, then cleaned out the cab and got each to pee. The girls cried again as the urine irritated their abused flesh. They had food, water and what other comforts I could supply. "Stay here until the army comes. It will probably be tomorrow. Call out who you are so they don't think you are the bad men." Sally had learned the hard way to try to influence her captures and started her hand to caress my chest. I simply took her hand and gave it a kiss and said, "I am not an animal Sally. Stay here for me please." I left quickly and twenty minutes later found a larger camp being set up with 19 enemy and just two captives. It would be doubtful if they survived the night. I stunned everybody and searched their minds. Three of the attackers were children themselves and had participated in the rapes. Sixteen naked men flew one at a time to a ravine and I pinched off their lives. The jackals would have a feast tonight. The two girls were treated much the same as the others had been. The three boys were awoken and went for their rifles right away. Only one gun was handy and the boy ordered me to surrender. "Shoot, you will not hurt me. Shoot!" The bullet missed and so did the other six. "Find another gun and check it for real bullets." They all scampered this time and now I had a hard time keeping all the bullets from hitting me. When the guns were empty they reloaded and I simply ripped the weapons from their hands. As the guns stayed still and with no method of support the boys ran. They didn't get far as I held each in a grip that would not be broken. They cried in Bantu and even a little English. I picked them up and walked over to the trucks and they followed but twenty feet in the air. When they settled to the ground I levitated myself to the top of the truck. "You are mine now. Part of your group killed my family. My father, my mother, my wife and her mother, then my son. For this, a lot of people must die. You three were saved when I killed all the rest. You are only children but children that have been taught to be bad. Do as I say and you will live. Run or disobey and I will take pleasure in killing each of you." I released my hold on them and floated down into their midst. They kneeled as if to a strong evil spirit in their old religion. I picked up the heavy truck and turned it around before setting it back the way it had come. The boys saw this and were even more afraid. "Put your hands our before you." They quickly found many reasons for agreeing with me. I put half a dozen slugs into each hand. They were very warm to the touch and they didn't have to ask where they came from. They were ordered back to the tents and I had them set a large one up. I took each girl outside and commanded her body to void itself. They were then dressed and given some water then allowed to sleep on a cot. "These girls are now mine too. You will each take a two hour watch and one will stay outside to guard. If your old band comes by you will kill them or die trying. If the army comes you will put down your weapons and say that you are members of Shawn Boz's army and are under his orders now." Their memory was usually faulty but this time it was perfect. I tapped two of the boys and left the third to stand first watch. I said to the only conscious boy, "One will awaken in two hours. You are to sleep after your watch and your only job is to protect my girls." I got a vigorous nod and I picked up my pack and flew away to the boy's amazement. This was necessary I thought for they would run at the first opportunity if I had not given them even more to fear if they left their post. I found one more camp and killed all that needed it, putting three child soldiers I wanted in the cabs of vehicles with the bodies outside the camp. The main camp was thirty seven miles away and I flew as fast as I could. Night time and relaxation by the soldiers can be fatal to the captives. This camp was in a light forest. To the north was a swamp while to the south was a river. It was defendable against a conventional force but not to me. A hundred and forty five soldiers guarded a cache of valuables and thirteen young people. Six of them were good looking blacks. There was no impartiality when it came to sex. Twenty seven of the soldiers were young but sadly only twenty one were salvageable. In the centre of the camp a captain gave orders after looking at a map. He was not the head of the army but only of this particular incursion into Rhodesia. Sleep came to them all very suddenly and I had to pull one from the fire before he stunk up the camp. Everyone singled out to die was stripped. The captain was last and I read everything he knew of that was important. I took the bodies into the swamp and fed the crocodiles as well as anything else that chose this day to join my banquet. One girl was dying and as there was nothing anybody could do for her, I eased her passage onwards to the next great adventure. A boy of five was almost at that point but wasn't quite gone, so I worked hard to save little John's life after which I just had to take some rest. I woke a few hours later as a car drove up the road and, on finding no sentries, entered the camp. It was an odd lot of Rhodesian military and Zambian politicians. The plan in their heads was to topple the Rhodesian government to get away from what they said was the government's 'soft line' in order to show the world what could really be done. In their minds, Hitler was one of the most greatly admired historic figures. After the coup the Zambian delegation would be killed or expelled and not get their share of the booty. The Zambians planned on toppling the new Rhodesian government just as it changed hands and was at its weakest. I was too tired to think straight and just stunned them to wait till the morning. Around four I had to shoo away some jackals and went back to sleep. At seven I got up and found that my rage had still not left me. I ate to gain some strength and disarmed the entire camp. The captives were treated the best I could with my meagre supplies and I was happy to see the boy that I worked so hard on still alive. It looked like he might make it now. I found more medical supplies and I used what I needed on my patients. The conscripts were now checked and I found many indications of old trauma on them as well. The automobile drew me and I picked all the information I wanted from the occupants. After stripping them, they too went to feed the jackals to recompense the wildlife for the meal that they had been denied during the night. My new recruits were awoken and, after looking around, decided to run in 21 different directions. They had only gone a few feet before I just picked them up in the air. They were held by one foot and dangled just out of reach of the ground. I just dropped them and the ones that ran again were given the same treatment, but from a greater height. In the end, only one could not see the inevitability of his actions as he went up a thousand feet and fell screaming all the way to make a dint in the hard packed earth. "All of you come here now; or you'll fill a similar hollow." They knew real fear now and came but not closer than thirty feet. "There were a lot more of you when I came. Their bodies are in the swamp and the people that were in this car are now feeding the animals that came to eat you last night. Do what I say, when I say it, and you will not only live but I will protect you. Run or disobey and you will not have such a happy end as your fellow soldier just had." I walked casually among them and said in a quiet voice. "There will be no more rapes. There will be no more torture. Is that understood?" I got many people talking all at the same time. Looking at the boys I picked four leaders and one as the nominal head. I pointed to each and gave them a rank of private and the leader got corporal. "Get your men to dig two graves, one for your bird that couldn't fly and another for the girl that your people raped and brutalized too much. Get the camp set up, then prepare food and dig a latrine." I turned without regard and heard the orders being passed. I went back to my patients and saw that they had more water and food. The corporal came back and I said, "Good job corporal. I will be leaving in a few minutes. You will be in charge when I am gone. Sentries are not needed for a few hours and I want the captives protected with your lives. I have no wish to kill any more here in this camp. All of you are important to me. I will be coming back with more boys like you and more captives. If men come, you are to capture or kill them. If I were you I would pretend to be on their side and get your best shots on one side and shoot to kill. Try to save any captives." I left in the car that arrived around mid morning and found my last group of soldiers still in their vehicles. With some threats and tricks I got the newest members of my new army to drive unescorted to the base camp. I continued my own trip and found the group I'd left earlier still in the abandoned truck, so I squashed them all into the car and drove to the camp. My eye had seen that the army had recovered the other survivors. Rhodesia had no other large bands of terrorists but the army was taking no chances. It looked like no able bodied man was without a uniform. Cities and towns were now posting patrols. The capital was just vigilant and did not to have checkpoints to further hurt the economy or inflame the populous. Our farm had a small detachment of black soldiers. I think it was because of me that we rated this favour. Our graveyard had grown slightly and I felt bad about not being there to do what I could. Our garden had changed too. Small clusters of flowers had been planted in the soil in front of the tombstone. Each had been watered and I had to stop for a moment as my emotions erupted. I saw again my family as they did their everyday chores or played with Jason. Everything looked so peaceful but I knew that I would never see them again. We pulled in and I honked the horn to keep the vehicle from being shot full of holes. Armed boys in pits on the east side of the road stood and saluted as I passed. The previous group of boys had passed around all they knew about me and if anything they were even more afraid now. I took the conscious survivors to meet the unconscious ones. The corporal came to me immediately to receive any new orders and ready to make a report. The camp was far better run now than it had been under the Zambian leadership. The corporal's name was Duniisai. He had been taken with four other boys in Zambia from a village a hundred miles from the Rhodesian border. He was the only survivor of the vigorous and brutal training. "Duniisai, you have done a good job. The camp is as good as it can be with the material and manpower you had. I think you would make a good soldier and perhaps an honourable one if you are shown the right way." The boy didn't know how I knew his name but like the rest of them disregarded anything that was not possible to him. I pointed out a stretch of road that I would like to have a hidden ditch put across it to slow a column of mobile infantry. A smile came across his face for the first time and he took a group out to accomplish what I wanted. The conscious abductees assisted me with the others. I monitored each and every one. I even took them one at a time to the latrine and commanded their muscles to function for me. The first few times I took a girl with me so the rest would know that I was doing nothing wrong. After that, it was not really new anymore and nobody was worried. I set up an operating table and worked on who needed it. A ten and a twelve year old became my nurses. When this group was done I had the corporal bring in the worst of his own boys and I treated them as I did the rest. Some of them had loose rectums and loss of muscle tone to the anus. Their instructors had used everything they knew to instil cooperation in the young recruits. My magic finger was now commonplace as the boys came in and I did what I had to do. Some had festering wounds and other maladies that I was all too familiar with. Not all were rendered unconscious. Some had to bear the pain if it was minor while others only got a check up. I now had twenty five boys in my army and fourteen other children that were abducted recently. A little after the noon hour we ate rations. The old hands hated them and the new crew felt even worse about them. The girls and young boys were very afraid of the boy soldiers and I brought them all in a circle and started with Duniisai. "Corporal Duniisai, I want you to start talking about where you lived before you were abducted." This was easy and all the good memories came forth. Most were a little rosier than reality, but that was the way his mind saw it. I translated quietly in English for those that were not offered the opportunity of learning a 'black' tongue. "Corporal, I will ask everybody and I want you to continue. Tell us of your abduction and what happened to you after. Please tell the whole truth, even if it hurts, for all the rest have similar stories." This turned out to be a long story and went into the brutal training methods. Duniisai talked of how he had to kill weaklings or he would be killed himself. He broke down a few times and by the time he'd finished his tale of training, most had tears in their eyes. I didn't get him to go into the Rhodesian operation luckily and I got others to talk of their experiences. Soon I had the girls start to talk and the rest saw the similarities. Part way through we had a break and then went back to talking. We ate rations again before we finished. At the end the boys knew what it felt to be a girl and raped, while the girls understood the similar pain and humiliation that the boys had undergone too. Both were bad but both were different. Duniisai set the watch and the rest of us went to sleep. I curled up to a black girl a little younger than Lusa and she cried herself to sleep in my arms. A boy on my other side did much the same. I moved once in a while to comfort some that needed it very badly. Some I just tapped so they could get some rest and heal. Around three in the morning I checked the watch and found the boys doing a credible job. They liked it when I complemented them, especially when the praise was warranted. I found game nearby and killed only what I needed. By breakfast we had fresh meat to grill. I got the girls to do this job and serve the army. This way they would see themselves as part of something greater. Kambo, a black girl of ten asked, "When are we going back to mommy?" Others heard the question and waited for the answer. "Well Sweetie, many of us like Johnny are a little too sick to travel. We have vehicles but everyone will be jostled too much on the rough roads. I don't want any more people to die. Most of you could go now but I think we need to stay together for a while yet. Black people see whites as people that give orders and don't care about things that happen to the blacks. Black people are seen as lazy and as people that are only fit to do simple jobs. There will be a war in a few years and many more children will be like us unless we find a way to understand each other." At breakfast I explained myself to the ones that had not heard. My boys were going to stay with me for a while until the uncertainty in their homeland abated. Already I was planning a trip to have a heart to heart with the good General Mobutu. I didn't know how much he was played for a fool but he was a force that I could possibly use. I started some physical exercises going and sorted them into groups of equal ability. Some were too ill to even watch the workout. A shower would now be in order. The river harboured many denizens that would find a way into a wound and cause more havoc later. For this reason I used my force to plunge a small hole into the water table and with some pipe, hooked up a small pump. More pipe and a crimped end made a more than adequate spray. With the motor chugging away I stripped off my clothes and picked up one of the small boys. We both walked into the spray of water. It was cool, but only a little when compared to the warm air around us. Half my army stripped and played in the water. A little girl I took and removed her clothes and went into the water clutching her. Soon she was enjoying the water without thinking too much about her loss of clothing. An hour later the water was used to rinse all the mud off the boys that had decided to battle. They had to walk around naked till they dried. The girls had seen all too much of male genitals but this time could look without worrying. They did become upset when they remembered what happened last time but I did this purposefully so that they would become accustomed to the sight and not the pain. The children were damaged in many ways and this was the only way I could think of to correct the matter. I was just sorry I had not kept the other children with me. They would be treated and loved but I doubted if they would recover as much or as well as my children. After we ate again I took some of the less mobile patients and before I changed their bandages I put them under the water too. Their cries turned to screeches and the sound of childhood felt very soothing to my ears. Other girls joined but kept their clothes on. The small boys didn't mind nudity and came in too. The other half of my army joined in the games and I only had to tell them to watch out for the young and the hurt. Johnny had awoken finally and I took him into the shade while we watched the others play. I got him to drink and eat a bit before he went back to sleep again. Beside me sat two other tired children that leaned against me mostly for a sense of security and shortly they went to sleep too. I put them to bed for a nap and went out in the smallest pickup and gathered what I could to keep our diets as balanced as possible. Small edible tubers from wild plants were even easier to pick than diamonds and I did not have to pull them far from the earth either. There was not that much food available as this was the dry season. There were still scattered herds of antelope about but they had mainly moved out to greener pastures. I did find another child in need of help. A female lion cub was lying under a tree and would die in a day or so from malnutrition and dehydration. I would normally let nature have its way but I thought of a way to help both of us. I transported water into the small body in a thin stream that flew through the air like it was enclosed in an invisible tube. There was some cooked meat in the truck but I knew fish were close by in the stream that was once a river. The fish was caught and cleaned. It, like the water, went into the cub to nourish her as she slept. I continued on my quest for food and kept an eye on the cub. When I came back she went into the back of the truck. I got a pathetic snarl and a growl but that was a good sign that she was recovering. Pulling up to the mess I called to the girls on duty, "Come out and unload the truck." I got an excited "eeek," and many more went to see my newest patient. The young boys fed her partially dried meat until the little lioness' tummy bulged. One of the worst hurt mentally sat beside her new friend and petted her. The cat was too full to complain and just took the abuse and tried to sleep. Some of my soldiers came up and were concerned because their old tales told them never to do this. I had to explain why this was all right this time even though it was usually a bad practice. I did my turn at KP and we all ate our fill even if it wasn't great. When the meal was over I had an army and a half searching for vermin to get the cub to respond. The girls would make funny noises and wrinkle their noses but watch as their girl ate her miniature prey. We talked again that night and I gave my own story. This time it was a rundown of my life but I kept the dates vague. They were with me as I was knighted both times and again with me as we worked to make a community hall. They were seeing through my eyes as I delivered a baby or stitched up an arm. It was bad but necessary for them to be with me as my family died and I killed the killers. This time the boys were siding with me alongside the girls as I went after other killers and their boy soldier slaves. The story was long and we went to bed after. Again I slept with whoever needed the contact and in the early morning went hunting again. I came back soon after hunting because a helicopter together with some fixed wing craft were finally approaching our hiding spot. Their search pattern told me that in an hour or so we would not have a secret location any more. Although it was difficult, I managed to get the frequency and the name of the commander for this area from one of the pilot's minds. I sat in a truck that was the furthest from the camp and tried to keep my conversation as quiet as possible. I tuned one of the radios we had and picked up the mike and called to the helicopter. "Who the hell is this? Get off the air. This is a reserved frequency," came back from my call. "You are a rude man and your parents should have tanned you buttocks to stimulate your thinking. This is Shawn Boz. Would you relay the call to Captain Henderson please. I do not have the range with this radio." "You that smart kid that's a doctor?" "Yes, that is me." "What do you want to tell him?" "First, keep your aircraft away from our position. I have fourteen survivors of the raids with me. They are all recovering but I need a bit more time for them to heal right." "You what?" "I don't like repeating myself. Keep your aircraft away till I talk to Captain Henderson. I have fourteen survivors of the raids and I am treating them now. It would be detrimental for you or anyone else to interrupt this treatment until it is complete." "Who the hell are you to demand this? We have been searching for the raiders for days now and the children too." "I am the guy that killed almost two hundred of the raiders. That is the simple reason you have found little or none of them. Do you and your army want me angry again? My kukri slices white throats just as easily as black. Relay the message soldier. That is an order." Our position was triangulated and two planes came towards us. Instead of warning the children, I took a rifle and gathered the boys around and let the entire camp know that I was going to shoot as an exhibition. "When firing on an aircraft you have to consider more than wind. You have to lead the target." I shot one round and at nine and a half miles it struck the side windshield of the spotter plane and blasted out the back. There was no way a bullet would go that far of fast but I helped it along considerably. The other plane got the exact same treatment. The radio was alive with the pilots talking about taking fire. Evasive manoeuvres were happening. Captain Henderson's words came to me relayed by the helicopter pilot. "The captain wants to know who is shooting at us." "I did. They went through the windshield on the far side from the pilot. If the planes come again I will put them on the other side. I told you to stay away till I talked to the captain. A helicopter is easy to hit too. Do you want to see some decorative holes in your tail?" "Ah no. I will relay the message sir." In a moment I heard, "The captain says, remember I am only using his words. You are to surrender yourself when our forces get there and release all the ah... former captives to us." "Thank you for the words. I know it is against military regulations and would get somebody in trouble but your politicians, physicians and psychiatrists should be contacted before another fool gets himself court marshalled and possibly worse." "Perhaps you are right but my hands are tied." "Thank you for your candour. Remember if you will that my patients come first even if I have to take on another army. You may contact me on this frequency every six hours and on the hour until you surrender. Is that understood captain?" I was quite sure he heard that I wanted his army to surrender. "Yes Mister Boz." I didn't tell the camp anything but started breakfast and checked on my patients. Johnny was getting better and I took him to the latrine and got him to have a bowel movement. This I had to assist in many ways. He was more than just constipated and I had to ensure that there was no damage done by the stool's passage. He felt much better after but still wasn't well enough to travel yet. ------- Chapter 19 We were fifty nine miles from the Zambian border but almost seventy five on the roads we had to take. It would be best I saw in hindsight to move camp to a location that would not be found for another week at least. That would also mean that I had to fly most of the children so the trip would not kill them. Some could ride the trucks but four would have to be flown and this would be hard to accomplish and tire me out when I may have to do something else. The military's camp was sixty miles further away from the Zambian border and presented a better way to carry on this war within a war. Before I left I gave the old orders again. They were to surrender to Rhodesian authorities and resist with all their might being overcome by any representative of General Mobutu. "I will also be doing some reconnaissance and be away for up to a day. Turn the water on when you need the supply and have fun for a few hours at least. I don't like dirty children that stay dirty." I smiled and they smiled back in return. They thought it hilarious to be ordered to have fun. I got some of my nurses to follow my written orders and I knew that for a day things would be fine. I ran into the bush and when I was out of sight of the camp flew towards the aircraft. They would be ordered to fly toward the camp even if they didn't want to go. I took a handful of pebbles and threw them one at a time toward the aircraft and punctured the wing tanks. The planes manoeuvred rapidly but had to land in the scrub brush below. The helicopter came in low and picked up the two pilots. A pebble destroyed the linkage to the main blades and this too was out of commission. I was certain they wouldn't approach our camp with so few and thus continued my journey to the Rhodesian camp in peace. An hour later I came across a small convoy of military trucks going to rescue the pilots and their machines and take my camp. Another pebble broke the front left axle of each vehicle and I went on to the camp itself. It was not large and was only of a temporary nature. There was no barbed wire, nor even that many sentries. The radio shack did interest me and I approached to hear the comments of the convoy that was heading east. During a lull I slipped in and rendered the radio operator unconscious. I changed frequencies and got another radio operator in Salisbury. General Morris came on the line soon and I explained my circumstances and the need to allow the children to continue therapy and medical treatment with me till they were recovered. "Sir, you are a military man and not a doctor. Talk to the experts in this matter before you do something rash. In a few days I would like two physicians and two psychiatrists to come and see how I have progressed. I won't accept any more but I won't have any soldiers threatening my camp either. "Quite a demand you have there mister Boz. How are you going to back it up?" "Back up my treatment or my protection of the camp?" "I already know that you are one of the finest doctors in the world. I was referring to the military aspect." "Oh that. I have been talking to you from Captain Henderson's camp and usurped his radio for this discussion. I immobilized a convoy that was going to rescue the three aircraft that I also disabled. Finally I will crimp all the fuel lines in this camp and if your soldiers want to come to my camp you had better bring more trucks or come on foot. I can't see you city boys wanting to walk though." I got a gale of laughter and then, "I pity Henderson. I hope you won't hurt anybody or cause too much damage. Parts are hard to come by." "You have my word. You don't point guns at me, my patients or my army and I won't kill any of you." "Army? Mister Boz." "I mentioned that I killed all I could of the rapists but I did capture twenty five children soldiers. They are undergoing therapy too. I call them my army to give them a structure to work within. At the moment half of them are running naked under a spray of water I set up. Later the other half will take their place. I am trying to get them to want to have water fights and not with knives and bullets. They are as much casualties as the white children." "That gives me a lot to think about Mister Boz. Please accept my condolences about the loss of your family. Your dad treated me a few times and I haven't met a better doctor to date." "Thank you sir. Would you consider a truce for a week? It would only require you to call Henderson off." "I am sorry. I too was given orders and I can't arbitrarily disregard them now." "That is fine. We are at war but I promise to take as few lives, but as many prisoners as possible." I heard more laughter then cut the signal. People were coming and I shut down the transmitter and took a particular vacuum tube and all the backups I could find. I was out the back window as a messenger came in the front and looked for the operator. I ran beside a tree and sent out my eye. There were many vehicles in the motor pool and even one old tank. Reaching out I pinched all the metal fuel lines going to the engines. Some fuel lines that I crimped were in hard to reach spots so a partial new line would not work. I made it past the sentries as the alarm went out. I too reached out and released my hold on the radio operator. In daylight it was hard to be stealthy but I made it to a deep ditch and flew a few miles until I was far enough from the camp. At a dead tree I dug a hole with my mind and buried the vacuum tubes for the transmitter. On top of the treasure I placed four rocks as a sign so I would only have to tell someone else where they were and not have to get them myself. Far down the road I walked by the stalled convoy on the road. I cadged something to eat and watched the mechanics working on the vehicles. I peeked into each vehicle and pinched their fuel lines too. I expected the Captain to be angry enough to rob from these trucks and put the parts on some of the others. Before I left I took the two glass windshields and the alloy bolts for the head that drove the blades. They sailed off and up the hill as I stayed below and showed the soldiers how to pull coins from the mechanic's ears. I left to a hand clap and bowed to my audience. The glass went back to the dead tree but the bolts stayed with me. I flew back and an hour later I was close to the three aircraft. There were only seven people and all were playing cards in the large helicopter bay and praying for more breeze to cool them off. A pistol was on the deck and I slid it and the holster close and got the gun without anybody noticing. The gun was loaded and ready. I jumped into the bay and shot a round out the door. The men almost lost bowel control. "Hands up gentlemen." They did as I asked. Some had weapons of their own and I pointed to one after another to take his out and place them on the deck. Only once was a man thinking of using his and before he could do much I had my gun pushed into his abdomen. "Not nice to try something. I might not be able to repair all the damage the bullet would inflict." When they were disarmed I had two raise their pant cuffs and remove knives the others did not even know of. "Hop out the door gentlemen and walk thirty feet away from the vehicle." When they got there I jumped down myself and said, "Who was I speaking to on the radio earlier?" A hand dipped a few inches and then rose again. "Ah, Good to meet you. My name is Shawn Boz. It was rude of me to disturb you as you were working on disassembling the rotor head." They bobbed their heads as they caught the idea. "You are my prisoners. Do I have your parole?" They didn't know what it meant. "It means that since you are captured, you could be put into chains. You will instead promise to do nothing that a chained man couldn't. This implies that you are gentlemen and that you don't go back on your word. An honourable man considering escape will not give his word and be free to try anything he wants to do." I could feel their acceptance of this easy solution, knowing that they would not honour the accord later. "Before we go further. I disabled these three vehicles. I stopped the convoy coming here with spare parts and troops to take my camp. I raided your base and talked to General Morris on your own radio. I crimped all the fuel lines on your vehicles that were in the base at the time. I came by the convoy later and did the same to those trucks and stole the spare parts destined for here. Some vacuum tubes and all the spares for the base transmitter are missing too." They looked at me as if I were lying. " My entire family was killed as were many of my friends before I could reach them. In return I killed, usually with my own hands, all of the Zambians attacking us. My word is important to me and if it isn't to you then you better decline my offer of parole. I will kill each and every one that goes against his word. This I swear on the grave of my family." Parole didn't sound too good now. Lieutenant Fredericks, the one I was talking to asked, "What do you plan to do with us?" "I was actually thinking of your welfare. Your relief will not come for a long time and it is more comfortable at the camp. You can play in the water with the children but you have to pull your weight in camp duties. A cook would be good. You could hunt for game or pull sentry duty." "Do we keep our guns?" "Your guns stay in our armoury or in your tent till needed. You are not going to walk around with them. Some of the children have been traumatized by men. They were black and wore guns, but men and guns will still frighten them. You serve as a way to slowly bring them back to a sane life in an insane world." Fredericks said, "I will give my word and if I can't continue with it may I turn myself in to you?" Five men now armed came to camp with me. The other two stayed to guard their craft. Before we left I borrowed an open sighted rifle and fired one shot. It was low and to the left. I mentioned this to the man who carried it. Four miles from camp we came upon some eland in the distance. I asked to borrow the rifle I had used earlier and fired two shots in quick succession. Fredericks said, "Can't expect to hit them from here. They are over a mile away and I can hardly see the herd never mind the individuals. I'll teach you how to hunt if you want. You have to come at them from down wind. They can smell a man from a long way off. The males..." He went on until we came to the rolling land where the herd was feeding on the dry grass. I took off my pack and took out my Kukri. "Where'd ya get 'dat?" "I took on a group of Ghurkhas to train and got beat up. I went back every day till I started to win. A month later they gave me this as a prize for beating the ugly old Sergeant that babysat his men." "I heard of those guys. They are one mean bunch. Take orders literally and don't stop until they are done. Heard the queen has a bunch guarding her." He looked at me and asked, "Was it them?" "Yes. Sergeant Rai is a tough old bird and we fought with real knives like this. I got nicked a few times but so did he. The queen got pissed off at us and left. She didn't want to see bloodshed. You know what women are like." "Ya mine comes at me with a skillet sometimes. I wouldn't want to see that coming at me. Whatcha gonna' do with that knife?" "Butcher some eland." He laughed and so did the rest. "Boy you got to shoot some first." In the next gully an eland was on the far side. I went over and used the kukri like a scalpel and carved it the way I wanted in less than a minute. The men were flabbergasted as they saw the neat hole through the eye socket that the bullet had left, not having enough energy to come out the other side. I threw the heavy carcass on my shoulder and walked up the hill. On the other side was another eland with another neat hole through its eye socket. The men ran ahead and inspected the hole. I threw the carcass to one and said, "You better start to earn your keep," I cut this one too and the men split the load between them. We came to the camp in daylight and some of my army came out with rifles drawn. They were very worried about adults and armed adults were worse, far worse. "Put your rifles down. These men are visiting and will do most of the KP if they can eat. They even brought their own food." The guns went up but stood ready just in case. Fires were started and the meat was taken away so it could be roasted, while thin strips were salted and others started to dry it to jerky. One of the little girls came out chasing the lion cub, but when she saw the men she started to scream. I raced to her and picked her up. "It's ok. These men won't hurt you." My free hand gestured down enough times till the men stooped so as to not seem tall and adult like. The girl cried still but there was less fear now. Others came with drawn guns and the men stayed perfectly still. I stayed where I was and made sure I didn't come closer. With a lot of soothing talk the girl relaxed and I tapped her head to give her time to rest. I came over to the men now and showed them the girl. "This one is Susan, she like the rest were... hurt and they need time to adjust to things. She has to learn to trust adults again. In small steps we can accomplish this. A group of men coming here can spoil the advance I have gained over the last couple of days." "Fredericks, do you have any kids?" "Two, why?" "You have another one now. She is on loan. Treat here like your life depends on it." He said nothing as I placed the child in his arms. He caught the last idea and believed I meant every word of it. "What am I supposed to do?" "Act like she is your child and your job is to raise her so she grows into a responsible adult. I put her to sleep now and it would be good to walk around camp to show everyone that you are doing your job." Other children had come at the scream and stood some distance away watching the five adults. I called Corporal Duniisai over and he approached and saluted because we had company. "Sir." "Corporal Duniisai, I found five new recruits to our army. Two more are down on the plain guarding our air force. Treat them with respect, but make sure that they do their share of all scut work. If they show disrespect to you or your other men report this to me. Stow their arms in the armoury but see that they have access to them for instruction and when they need them to perform their duties." Before the men could complain I said, "There are many people in the camp in need of therapy. Not all are of fair skin. Take the good with the bad and follow the same orders I just gave Fredericks." The men were not bad and actually tried to think of ways to help. Some were older than others, thus not as flexible of mind, but my sense told me that they too would try. I checked on my patients and found them satisfactory. Johnny had for a few minutes been able to feed our mascot before he got too tired. In a child's script I read the reports of the nurse and concurred with her diagnosis that Johnny was healing. I used my eye and found that Henderson had found a jeep to use and was angry at everybody for letting a boy gut his command. I wasn't sure but I don't think he knew about the parts missing from the back of the trucks. His short distance radios could not make contact with his downed aircraft. My mind sent the eye all around trying to find a threat and stopped at our farm. I saw the patients being taken care of by one of the doctors dad had hired. Into our garden the rock drew me. An hour later I was called for our meal and wiped the tears form my eyes and tried to form a smile for the members of my new family. The next day I sent two trucks down to get the two fixed-wing craft. It was a hot dirty job but it was fun because we all worked hard to accomplish this. The trucks left and I remained with the bolts. I levitated up when they were far enough away and removed one bolt at a time. The mounting plate was bent but it was easily straightened. A hair line crack was repaired and the nuts tightened to specifications. When the trucks were getting close to the camp the helicopter was there too and the boys waved to me as I landed. Fredericks ran up and was amazed that the machine was actually here. "How di... forget it. You got her here in one piece." "Why don't you get your lady and ask her if she wants to see your other lady. After that you should give some lessons. I doubt that skin colour will be a determining factor for curiosity." "Great idea. Gotta' go." Later a timid girl was sitting in the lieutenant's seat and could only see the gauges, for the windows were too high for her to see out of. An hour later the little princess wanted her kitten and off they went. Looking at the other planes I saw the men doing lots of childish things with the crew that helped them load the planes. They talked loudly of aerial combat and moved their bodies and hands making their voice go low and quiet and gain in volume and intonation until they had the audience captured. This was very amazing because each group spoke different languages. Later in the day the boys were given ground training and the classes were quiet as most of the boys knew little English and the men knew little Bantu. In another place a man was learning from six boys how to speak their language and they all laughed at his attempts to master it. Johnny needed up and I took him to the latrine and helped him with everything. He hated so much to dirty his clothes and he knew that the nurses were the same age as he. We came back and found the last pilot. He saw the child and knew most of his history from our talk. We went to the helicopter while I held the child and the pilot described a few simple things till the child nodded off. The pilot wiped a tear out of his eye and smiled. "Usually they stay awake longer." That afternoon we had another talk in the circle and this time all seven men had children in their laps. I was very happy to see some black youngsters in three of them. We talked again of what things were like 'before'. Sisters, brothers and parents came to us in words. Village life as the whites seldom saw was portrayed as it really was or as close as a young child could see it. I had to run a translation and the children paused to allow me to finish before carrying on. The 'after' times were in sharp contrast and after the third child's report one of the men had to leave. Only two were left when I called the session over. Some of the children had seen the men hide then cry. Probably their first tears in years. When word got around, some black children went to them and tried to give what support they could. It wasn't long before tears were falling down black faces too. There were more ways of communicating than with words. The next day the men formed teams and got down into the mud as the sprinklers spread water all about and called for riders. Naked black boys hopped on their trusty steeds and did battle with the opposing forces. This went on until the horses were bushed. Johnny had been awake and seen much of the contest and laughed in glee as the two armies got covered in mud. A plane very high up flew over and I knew they were photographing us. I waved my hand and soon the rest of my army was following suit. Three hours later I was called to the radio by one of my 'men'. General Morris wanted to talk to me. "Hello General. How are you today?" "Just fine Shawn. What did you do to my men? We see you have our aircraft." I knew he must have the aerial photos in front of him. So I said, "Look closer at the mud pit and you will see four dirty horses with both vanquished and victorious knights. I'll wait a minute for you to search for them." "Is that them? My god, what have you done?" "They were captured and I put them to work as war steeds. Actually they chose the jobs themselves. The children can now see an adult as someone who isn't always going to hurt them. At least, they know these seven will not. The other three at the time were helping in the clinic taking orders from two nurses age ten and twelve. Their training is going fine and soon the men will not be ridiculed for doing such slovenly work. In all seriousness that is a far cry from the way the girls were even a few days ago." "Would you like to talk to some or all of my prisoners? I will release them from their parole to do this." "Parole?" "Why General, a man of your position surely must know what the word means." "Yes I do Shawn and yes I would like to talk to them." "That is good because I want to talk about a prisoner exchange later." "Prisoner exchange! We have none of your prisoners." "I want all the children I rescued and any others that are similarly traumatized. In return I will give you one man in rotation so he can see his family." There was no talk for almost five minutes. He came back on and said, "Can we send the two doctors and two psychiatrists there?" "I can handle a few more prisoners but I want them one per day. They have to eat what we eat and not be old at heart. They bring bathing suits and some small toys but not as bribes." "That's fine. May I speak to my men?" "You may and I think the first ones will have children on their laps. They will be trying to detect any hidden messages being transmitted." "Understood." The men talked for hours and I had to fire up the truck engine to power the radio. When the conversations were over I was called back to the radio. "Shawn may I come out to your camp tomorrow?" "You may if you come in a vehicle that looks civilian. Your clothing must be the same and you come alone." "May I bring a camera?" "By all means. Shots of our security areas are not permitted. Bring some fruit, vegetables and spices. Some vitamins may also help. By the way bring eight pairs of trunks." "Trunks?" "A good horse is hard to find." "I'll be there early Shawn." We cleaned up the camp and the four horses were a little upset that they had been caught playing. "So now you are worrying about your status. A while ago you were worried about a lot of children that were hanging onto their sanity with their fingertips." They were chastised enough I knew and said, "The General is bringing food and some trunks for you and himself." This brought some smiles and I didn't have to read their minds to know what they were thinking. The next morning I sent a squad of three down to escort the general here and around our pitfalls. An old pickup coughed its way up the small rise and came to a stop at our gate. He was questioned, his vehicle searched and then allowed to pass. The three boys were still in the pickup. A florid man with a Hawaiian shirt that would stop a train stepped out of the truck. I strode forward and introduced myself and shook his hand. He kept his voice low and I introduced him to his own men first then my leadership cadre. The girls stood far away but did not run. They were worried but not when they knew they had their own army to protect them. I was able to introduce him to the girls but didn't force the girls to come closer. Fredericks came in later but stayed far away and introduced his girl. The general had even spoken a few words to her on the radio. We went to see our more serious patients and he managed to talk to Johnny for a few minutes. The lion on the bed between the boy's legs kept a watchful eye on who did what. The other children were frightened of the stranger and we had to leave before it got worse. "Shawn I am amazed at your camp. I don't think the children would be taken care of better if they were in Salisbury." "Thank you General. I only took this camp and just had to do a little remodelling. The boys run the camp well and I hardly have to guide them at all." "How did you take the camp?" "Classified secret General but at dusk I came in and killed any and all adults and subdued the child soldiers. I went over the intel and found that the organization behind this has planed the raid for a long time. The terms and names I found are all codes and the participants are formed into cells for security. Even if you catch one man he would be able to incriminate only a few." I didn't tell him that our farm had been assigned even more emphasis than other equally fortified homesteads were. "Oh!" "I killed some attackers at our farm and captured two more. Have they mysteriously died yet or committed suicide with a bullet to the back of the head?" "Ah well they were found dead in their cells one day ago. It looks like poison." "Did my message get to you about the possibility of this happening?" "Yes it did and we were watching. We were even watching for an assassination team but they were so good we didn't even find out till too late." "What did you find out in your investigation?" "We believe your information about someone in the government trying to form a coup d'etat, but more likely they will use the attacks as a way of defeating the government legally and then take over. The trouble is that everybody is clamouring for heads at the moment and it is probably only one faction behind this conspiracy." "I know a little more. It is right wing and partially lead by business interests in Salisbury and Zambia. They believe the present government is too liberal. Some see their version of the new ruling body as a reincarnation of the Third Reich and all that entails. They cannot fight the world but slave labour will allow its products to undersell all others. Business people will find ways to get around the sanctions and purchase cheap Rhodesian products. I think all they have to do is put 'Made in South Africa' on them." "My god Shawn, how do you know this?" "Come with me please." I showed him the official Rhodesian auto. "We have been looking for this for a long time. Why is it here?" "It was driven into the camp by an aide to a Rhodesian military officer. In the car was that officer, a Zambian politician and his assistant. I killed them and fed them to the hyenas. The rest of the camp fed the swamp creatures." "You killed Rhodesians?" "Before you get on your high horse, read the reports each had in the car. When you do you will see just how wide spread this conspiracy is. You are not getting the original documents but you may photograph a few of them. The sheets will bring you a death sentence and they will disappear just like the lives of the two prisoners. Here is a list of the persons in their cells." I handed him a neatly printed page and gave a little extra information that the Rhodesian government would not easily find." We walked over to a small tent that I called home and handed him the sheets I recovered. He read them all three times before asking, "Why did you say I could only have copies of some of these?" "Bait." He looked at me wondering what I meant. "I want some visitors. The children I saved earlier need to come here and the doctors too. As the camp grows I will get some uninvited visitors claiming to be relatives or government officials checking on the children's welfare. You will get more names if you are alive to make use of them." "You think I will be in that much danger?" "Yes." Later the General presented us with his groceries. A package came out with some shorts that could best be termed hideous. They matched his shirt very well. We had our meal and added the vegetables. I went around and ensured that everybody got their vitamins, including our guests. After the shorts were put on, the water was started and we had a mud wrestling match where the General had to keep pulling up his shorts. A free for all ensued with naked black boys fighting each other and later some of the white children participated, but this time the fighting was very carefully orchestrated. The men growled like war horses and pretended to snap at each other. It was very good to see that both sets of children wore the same garments. After the participants washed up and the others started to play the General came to me, "Were those stitches I felt on my back?" "Yes; Yes they were. There is great disparity between what we want our society to be and what man's innate and brutish nature will allow us." General Morris photographed the children and insisted on getting the black ones too. After changing rolls he took a few group pictures with my entire army and our mascot sleeping at their feet. I sorted through the documents and set out the ones that would be copied and the general took pictures of each. Changing the rolls again he retook the pictures to assure that they came out. When he came out and stood by his car I looked up. Far overhead a jet plane travelled directly over out position. He looked up too and said, "What's it Shawn?" "It looks like the Americans are taking pictures of us too." He frowned and said, "How do you know that?" "The white vapour trail is very high. I would estimate it at 80,000 feet. It would be a U-2A from the altitude alone. They have been using them for two years now to photograph Russian installations to find the extent of the disparity in bombers if there is one. It can fly higher but there is nobody here to shoot them down." "I never heard of that plane. How did you find out?" I just looked at him giving him the eye and said, "The intelligence community in London and Paris have been given information and I happen to have good ears. Everybody likes to talk. I do more than paint, teach and heal while I was there." "I will see what I can about it but I think it will be a wasted effort." "I think so too. They are just seeing if we are going to be overrun by our neighbours. This incursion has piqued their interest in Rhodesia, as well as in me too. Perhaps Washington will get to see the war steeds as our front line defence. An alternative will be those shorts; the sight of them would make the most determined enemies cringe." "I didn't want to appear military." "I know General. I was just having some fun at your expense. The shorts were a good idea and at least shocked the children a bit and got them to think instead of react." Before he left I gave him a map of the location of the transmitter tubes and the windshields. He didn't even ask about them but did have a smile when I revealed the information. The next day one of our sentries had to guide a psychiatrist into camp. I knew him from dad's memories of parties he had attended. Dr. Abrams was a conservative but still a good doctor. Of course a liberal doctor would be an oxymoron. After shaking the doctor's hand I gave him more information than he had received from General Morris. His clothes, though unsuited for this area, still contrasted enough with a uniform to make him less of a perceived threat. At the same time I kicked three of my prisoners out of camp and told them not to return for at least a week. They had a young family and it was not good for them to be away. I did get a lot of reasons why they should stay but I insisted and they left in the vehicle the doctor came in. The doctor brought a lot of plush toys and rope attached to a piece of canvas. The latter was dragged around the camp by the ambulatory children and attacked by the fierce predator residing here. There was as much laughter at this as there was at our usual mud battles. When we were in private I was queried as to why, after they'd been sexually attacked, the children were running around naked. "Doctor, the amount of clothing is cultural. Some European cultures had women go topless. Did this promote more promiscuity? Our own native population think nothing of nudity when young. If women wore cloth from head to toe, would there be suddenly be less rapes or would men's minds automatically think of other thoughts?" The man was bright but still thought that hiding a woman's body would make her less desirable. Another psychiatrist came the next day with six children. Four were mildly sedated and since I knew when they were coming, they got to see our water battle. Johnny sat in my lap and we watched too or threw scraps of food to Paka our resident eating machine. They all came over and sat in the shade and watched the naked boys play. A few had fair skin and seemed to be having fun made the scene much less threatening. The doctor was younger and had the same questions as the previous doctor. I asked for the notes and he very reluctantly handed them over. I read each and handed them back. He thought I just glanced at them. One little girl named Sandra was very withdrawn and I took a piece of meat and got Paka to gain her feet and waddle over to investigate the food. Her coarse tongue took the food and gave a lick to make sure she got it all. The girl's eyes did get wide but only for a few seconds. A thin switch about a yard long with a rag tied to the end made Paka jump at it. This got more reaction and I put the stick in her hand and closed her fingers around it. After a few movements she threw it to keep from getting mauled by the cat she was playing with. Her respiration and heartbeat was higher and I could see some of the old fear leave for a milder case of a newer fear. The switch went the rounds as everybody was captivated by Paka's antics. The good natured screams from the water attracted everybody's attention as a larger black boy coated in mud pretended to be an animal attacking another boy. A small naked white boy jumped on the animal's back and it took three bucks until he fell into the mud himself. That night some of the newcomers had difficulty sleeping so I helped them out before the doctors could administer some conventional sedatives. I had checked the children's conditions and saw that they had been treated well. The dosage and other facts indicated that they relied too much on drugs and not enough on human touch. A physician came the next day and I was happy to see that it was a she. Maryann Jones was a very bright woman. She had to be to get her licence. Physicians still looked on women as people providing services like a nurse. After she was given a tour we had another therapy session and I was able to get half of the newcomers to participate in describing how they had seen their old life before the attacks. Dr. Jones became upset and wanted to stop the session when some of the children started to cry. I laid a hand on her and had to squeeze once to have her concentrate on the pain and follow the rules she had agreed to. After the session broke up for a meal, she immediately attacked me for my methods. "Dr. Jones, you will do as you agreed or I will drive you out of here now. You are not a psychiatrist and I at least have studied more minds than you have. Stick to your expertise and leave the other things to people that know how." "How can a boy know about minds? You are almost eight not eighty. Any experience you had would have, has to be minimal." "Not too observant for a woman that forced her way into a male dominated profession. I got my licence in a third the time it took you and I have many other abilities that are becoming more widely recognized. Why do you think I have so little training in psychiatry and psychology? I have been studying both for as long as I have been studying the other subjects. This is my camp and I have as much credibility in our profession as you. Your job is to assist me in my method of caring for the children. If you think something is wrong you are to discuss it with me in private first." The woman saw the blacks as disrupting the children. The fact that the blacks were children too did not really fit into her idea of children. Sadly, her ambition had been so single minded that her bigotry had grown unchecked, so there was little I could do. If there were any other problems she would have to go the moment that next doctor arrived. In the middle of the afternoon another plane flew over and I believe was photographing our position. Perhaps General Morris's photographs had whetted somebody's appetite. I went hunting with some of my army this time to allow them to practice their trade even if it was forced upon them. We picked up brush and dead tree limbs to provide fuel. There was a man with a good scope watching us from a few miles away and he wanted to get closer. He was just given a job and was not one of the conspirators, just somebody in their pay. The next day Patty the girl in the group I had rescued first and her sister Jenny came to the camp. Sarah, a young woman of seventeen that had been rescued later, accompanied them. Another doctor, James Ireland, came with them with a professional manner but he was always looking at Sarah as if he too would like to sample her charms. Nothing overt was done so I couldn't very well accuse him of something he was thinking. Most males would look at Sarah and want the same thing. The four military personnel were no different but at least I trusted them more than the new doctor. Patty saw me first and ran to me and hugged me tight as she cried out her loss. She had no immediate family other than her little sister. The six year old came too and held my other side as they cried anew at what fate had dealt them. I carried Jenny and pulled Patty to her new home. Looking over my shoulder I said, "Hello Sarah. Will you please come with me too?" I had a tent set up for them and when we came in they found Paka on one cot as her own. The girls stopped. Sarah immediately looked around for the rest of the pride. "Relax Sarah. Paka was rescued from starvation and thirst. She is as much a survivor as you girls are." I put Jenny down and Paka just opened her eyes and stared at us over her crossed paws. Sarah had no interest in the cat but Jenny did. I put a suddenly frightened girl on the same cot and the cat shifted as the weight was applied. The cat slid onto Jenny's abdomen and stayed put. Both were unsure of what was going to happen next. Jenny's hand was grasped in mine and then forced to stroke the coarse hair on the feline. Soon the cub's head fell back onto her paws and I released Jenny's hand. It stopped for a half minute or so then resumed on her own. I turned to Patty and said, "You are in my army now. I am here to protect you and everybody else here. You have to be part of that help too and you are obliged to take small arms training." "I don't want to Shawn. Guns scared me before, now they do that even more so." "Patty, what would you do if the men I killed were alive and coming at you now?" She was very afraid not and even started to shake. I moved in and held her to me and said, "If I were you I would aim my rifle at that man and shoot him. Patty look at me, this was a raid and there have been others before and there will be raids after. If you were trained now there will be no way a man can do that sort of thing again. My soldiers protect their sisters and their brothers. You will use the rifle and both of us will hope that you never have to use it." I turned to Sarah and said, "You met me before under unpleasant circumstances. Here you are safe perhaps safer than any place else on Earth. Come walk with me." She was hesitant, "Are you afraid of a boy of almost eight?" She accepted my hand and we walked to a quieter section. "Sarah, you are dealing with your problems differently than the rest. Have you been told that I was physician?" "Yes." "Well a physician's job is to heal and I plan on healing you." "I don't need any help." "You do and you're going to get it regardless. You are in my army now and will do your job. Some of us have different jobs and yours will be in the infirmary." "I don't like kids. I don't like anybody." "You did love people. Your boyfriend that wasn't there to save you. You loved your parents but they weren't able to save you even if they died trying. You accepted your country but they too failed you. Sarah, I have to tell you that you failed you. I didn't see a rifle in your hand killing terrorists. I didn't see you stabbing a knife into and attackers heart." She started to cry and held her face in her hands. "No, no, no... ," came from her. "Sarah, I will be your parents. Nobody will get by me. Your family will protect you this time. You will only protect the ones that can't protect themselves." She fell to her knees as I knelt with her and pulled her tightly to me as her fists struck my body. When she was tired out I took her to my tent, the only one empty and put her on the cot and wiped her face and hand with a damp cloth. "Stay here for a while and rest. Later I will show you your brothers and sisters." If left unchecked, I knew Sarah would be trouble for all of us as she was her own worst enemy at the moment. I walked back to Patty and Jenny and saw them resting on their cots. Paka was making her rounds and fitting into the family very well. The ones that needed monitoring were checked and I took two to the bathroom and walked around the camp for a few minutes with them so they could feel better. Normally I would use a wheelchair but the personal approach was much better. I introduced myself to the newest physician and explained a few things not covered by his indoctrination by General Morris. "Later tonight I would like to have a meeting so we will get to know one another. Your escort brought you to your tent. Is it satisfactory?" "Yes it is fine for a tent." "I see less of mine than most. Before too long it will look like a haven but we have work to do. As I told the others the black children have to get treatment too. They have put up with worse than the girls and for a much longer time. I understand you took the time to learn a little Bantu." "My family farm. We had many blacks." "Here blacks are our family not our labourers. I take my profession as a physician very seriously." "Seriously enough to kill?" "Definitely, you administer antibiotics and kill billions. I am much more selective. If I used a sharp enough scalpel I would be able to remove the tumour without harming any healthy cells." "Doesn't your oath mean that much to you?" "Before these attacks, I would have been upset and angry at your comment. But for your information I am much more of a realist than you. I can exterminate while you can't. You would treat casualties in the battlefield and expect the enemy to not shoot you because you are a doctor. You are probably brave enough to enter a battlefield to save our men but you do so with a false understanding of your motives or humanities. Our breed is vicious, greedy, hateful and envious. You don't see that and only see a peaceful city with police that keep the bad people at bay. Life is not like that even though we wish it were otherwise. I also gave an oath to help humanity. This was a far more encompassing vow. Let's leave this till tonight and you can think of a suitable rebuttal then." The meeting was indeed a debate and I had to get them all to cooperate to attack me on the same premise. I promised them that at other times we could work on other issues. I had work to do for I was going to get some unwanted visitors. They had been coming towards us for almost an hour and had a new scope on their rifles that allowed them to see after a fashion in the dark. I called Corporal Duniisai and said that I was going out tonight. "Why is that sir?" "A special form of hunting. I just wanted you to know that I would not be in the camp." "Would you like me to accompany you?" "No thank you Corporal. Just make sure you act no different or you will spook the game." Instead of a worried look, I got a smile. "Good hunting sir." Although the sentries tried hard, they were not yet so good as to be able to detect me as I slipped by them. Perhaps in time I could make them good soldiers but I would rather they be happy children instead. There were seven men approaching our base. Two had the special rifles, while others had larger calibre weapons with sub-sonic rounds and silencers. They thought I was special enough that they brought lots of explosives and automatic weapons. I didn't want them getting too close and hurting my people so I put them all to sleep. I felt a startled thought and knew there was an observer. I flew out and found two. They had their guns out and were staring into their night sights. They had seen me flying and their troops falling. These got stunned before they could shoot. Their minds were well organized and saw that these had been the ones that killed the two officers I captured. The bad part was that they had been contacted by telephone and had no idea who was paying them. A fee of 20,000 Rand had been paid ahead of time. The assassins knew they had to deliver or somebody else would be after them. Otherwise there was no usable information except the techniques they used to complete their assignments. I saw also that they used oriental forms of unarmed combat that looked simple to me. They also had moves I had not considered. I might have just killed these two but their orders had been to kill all the children possible. Apparently there had not been any comment on an order like that. I searched their pockets and found no identification even though I didn't need it. The two rental cars that had provided transportation were secreted seven miles from here. The men were all carried to a common area even further from our camp while I gathered all of their equipment. There was no more data that was pertinent. Some had families that they loved and many had people that depended on them. I could not understand their ability to follow their orders but knew that they would be back with others if I let them go. I left them clothed and quenched their lives. It was a shame to do so but I saw them no different than the blacks I had killed just a while ago. I debated leaving some explosives but knew that the kind brought by these men was superior to ours. Back in the camp and in my tent I inspected one of the rifles and its night scope then shut off the batteries. As I was storing it I knew Sarah was coming. She just opened the tent as if to catch me. She strode in and looked at me. She had made up her mind and wanted somebody strong to protect her and she would use her body to gain that service. I was not the best choice for my body but my reputation as a physician, the money I had and the new mystique as a warrior made me the best around. "Shawn, I have come to talk to you about something. I..." "Sarah, you are a beautiful woman and I would normally like to know you better. My wife, child and parents have died as your parents have also. I have not had time to grieve for them yet." "How... How did you know?" "I am trained to see things and treat them. Do you not think that what you are trying to do is the first time this had been done? You need somebody strong to hold you and keep all your fears away. Why do you think that I wouldn't do this for you? I don't need a soft receptive body to make me do this. One day, when this is over and you have regained your balance I may accept your offer. Until then I see my family and that part of my life that you wanted to fill is closed." I walked her back to her tent and found Corporal Duniisai. When he came into the tent his eyes went to the things that I had acquired. "Corporal, I want to show you a new rifle that you will absolutely love." I took it outside and walked with him to the perimeter. He looked through the scope and saw everything in green but some white represented animals feeding in the dark. "Where? Forget that. This is truthfully the finest rifle I have ever held." "Train your men in the dark. I have three more. There are some other toys that you may like. But first I have a mission for you." "Yes sir," he said proud to be of any help. "Some visitors came to us and stupidly blew themselves up. I want you to form a squad and detonate the explosive so that others will know how clumsy they were." He smiled at the thought. "Use our explosives I would say about ten pounds should be enough. I want mangled flesh covering the small valley they are in. You better hurry before the hyenas start to dine." Two hours later a loud explosion was heard but it was muffled by the intervening hills. Two hours after that the Corporal came back with four of his 'men'. "Sir I would like to report an explosion. When we investigated the scene we found only some small pieces of flesh and scattered pieces of uniform." "Thank you Corporal. I doubt if you will run into any more clumsy people for a while." The next day I reported an explosion to General Morris. I mentioned that we found only scattered pieces of what had once been people. Their equipment was odd but sadly destroyed. "I will send somebody there to investigate." "That won't be necessary General. I am stepping up surveillance though because of some of the weapons we found. I don't want even your people running around the hills now." "If that is the way you want it. How has the camp taken the news?" "It happened when they were asleep and the ones that awoke to the disturbance went to sleep soon enough. The explosion was not near our camp." "That is good to hear. Would you like me to send a load of fruit and vegetables out your way?" "That would be very appreciated. The newer patients are starting to come around but not as good as the ones that were here first." "What is your estimation of when you will be finished?" "Eight days now. Some patients could go now but it is good for the rest to see that others are recovering." The General delivered the supplies and I showed him what I had recovered. "How did you do this. These weapons are what would be used by a special squad designed to terminate protected opponents." "Still a secret General. Much later you can say that I had one of these scopes at my disposal all along. Actually I didn't, but it sounds more plausible that way." Sarah came by and looked at the general and sized him up for second prize. The general liked the looks of the girl but thought that his wife would not understand and remembered what I did to people hurting my people. His mind swiftly went into grandfather mode as he slipped out of her grasp. Things were progressing. Johnny was able to stay awake longer and even played a little with the other injured children. In the distance we heard gunfire as Duniisai trained his new troops. The firing had gone on for days but only at prearranged times. The report of the new rifles could be heard but ammunition was hoarded and used by the best marksmen. ------- Chapter 20 The therapy sessions were starting to help the newcomers. Even the four doctors were starting to come around, but only starting. Some of the things I was trying to accomplish were not in the approved category and the three men and a woman strongly disapproved. I could feel somebody else watching us and I knew that something was up. There was a sense of excitement and even fulfilment but it was nebulous at this range. A ball of fire was pictured and I deduced the probable cause. "Corporal," I called loudly. He came running up and saluted. To him alone I said, "Take some of the new explosive we got this morning and take all your men and fan out and walk down the hill. Get somebody but not you to drop a half a brick two hundred yards from me. Bring back fuel but keep your men away from the explosives. It will be used soon. Do it now but don't appear to rush. We have a spy and I don't want him too suspicious." I sat down to eat again and my senses went out as far as I could. My eye went high and I looked for miles around for more than just the single observer. Twenty minutes later the boys were far enough away and I had to just wait now. Trips back were from the other side of the hill and far enough away for safety. I called my army back and they started to play in the water but this time they were not happy and waited for something and didn't know what. Seven miles away a very new and expensive jet fighter came at us just under the speed of sound. I blew up the explosives and before the cloud cleared a hot white light leapt from the crater and raced for the approaching aircraft at many times the speed of sound. At five miles the plane turned into a ball of plasma and the explosion moved us at even this range. Tents fluttered over and people fell. I only knew this after. I had used so much energy that my mind and body could not take the massive drain. It was almost an hour later that I found the four doctors around me and Corporal Duniisai making sure they did nothing wrong for he had an automatic in his hand, ready to use at the slightest sign they were doing anything wrong. My head ached like it never did before and my entire spine felt the same way. I groaned and tried to get up but was pushed back. I managed to get out, I think, that I was going to sleep for a while. A few hours later I got up and found our base overrun and General Morris in command. When I awoke he came in and said, "How are you Shawn? What happened?" He helped me sit up and I held his shoulder. "A fighter was coming at us and I released our missile. It seemed to be a little overkill." "Is that what it was. The explosion was heard for fifty miles and must have been like twenty tons of explosives. What did you use?" "Secret General. The plane had bombs and fuel too. I suspect napalm was the choice but that is only a guess." "Shit. My men are going over the area and can't find anything larger than what a pair of tweezers would pick up. Any chance we can get a missile like that?" "Not a chance. Help me up I have to see how my patients are." "They are doing much better than you. They are mainly worried about you." "Then help me up so they can see I am living." I stumbled once but made it to the sun and took a look at the camp. It had been put back together. Sarah ran to me and almost smothered me in a kiss and a hug. Her breasts pushed into me and it felt wonderful but this time like how a mother would hold her son. I got her on my other side and with the General went to see the rest of the camp. My soldiers stood at attention where ever they were and saluted. Their hands stayed in position until I passed. Even some of the girls did the same thing. Rhodesians under the General even saluted, but not with as much enthusiasm. There were four more helicopters and they were all flying a patrol around our base. I pulled the General close to my mouth and whispered, "Pull the copters back a bit. I have an audience of one to escape." "What?" He yelled. "Search more to the west." We made it back to the clinic and I found our ailing youngsters increased by two but Johnny made a supreme effort and sat up to see me. "You made it Shawn." "Sure did. Who is going to take care of you if I didn't? Now lay back down before one of your nurses decides to spank you." Others I found had been hurt in falling. One managed to fall into a fire but was not too bad. I got three more days treating the patients with a cordon all around our camp. At the end the General's own men took the patients away. We had a very tearful parting and I knew that they were still going to need care for their bodies and their minds. I kissed my patients to the distaste of the doctors and was kissed back in turn. Johnny and the more seriously wounded were flown out by Fredericks. He kept his other girl with him. His mind revealed that if possible he would adopt the girl if no family came forward to claim her. Sarah was herself arm in arm with a young soldier and I figured one way or another she would get someone that would protect her. I made it known that I was going to keep track of everyone. Those that were to go to an institution were to come to the farm instead. When the General cleared out what equipment belonged to him, he said, "Shawn, what about all this military equipment you captured? Your boys need a place to stay too." "If it is all the same to you I would like to form a convoy and move to our... my; farm and see what I can do to correct some of the damage done. I still expect a few tries on my life and don't want innocents hurt." "What are you going to do personally?" "The same as I have been doing for the last few weeks. Besides it is best you don't know." "Oh... that bad?" We got to the farm and set up camp. The hidden members of Mobutu's army were called out and joined their compatriots. Latrines were dug and a kitchen assembled. The camp took two hours to set up and I went home. The house was repaired and even the bullet holes were filled. Painting would have to be done later. The people of the village and later some of our wealthier former patients had done this for me. The plane was patched and once again in the hanger but blood stains were still on the seat. The clinic was mostly empty and one of dad's doctors took care of the few patients we had. Rudo and Banga came running to me. Both boys seemed different since the attack but seemed happy to see me. This was partially to take their minds from the loss of some of their family members. The new arrivals brought a different level of anxiety and I made sure the camp was on the other side of the house from the village. The three native girls that had been abducted were still with me till their relatives could be contacted. All the white children had been taken while the blacks seemed to have less emphasis placed on their well being. I asked Rudo, "How have the two of you been doing?" Banga the more outgoing one, said, "Not too bad. We got the new boys to help and they were hurt too. They are not from our tribe but they are all right. After a week some wanted to play with me but my bum was too sore yet. Theirs wasn't sore and Rudo slept with three of them." "I did not. It was two and I had to get back home to work." "Was three. I saw the other one by the stream." Rudo was caught and only smiled. He had a good tool, he thought, which he liked to check was in working order. "Well, I see that much of the village has been repaired. Thank you for working on our house. I think that even when it gets painted it will never be the same to me." Banga said, "We had lots of help. Even some white men came here for a while but didn't stay very long." "Oh, when was that?" "Just about a week ago I think. Do we get to see your new trucks Shawn?" I knew something was nibbling at the edge of my mind, but I said instead, "I started my own army. If you want to join you can but you won't get special treatment by being my friends before the others." "Do we get guns?" "You get to join an army and learn to drive a truck, shoot a gun, cook food and how to fight so you can protect our village." They liked that idea very much and planned to get all the children into the army as a form of training like the children in Britain had. I went back to the house and with a different perspective went through the building looking for things as if I were after information about the owner. Dad's files had been searched but put back but not quite as dad would have done. The current doctor would have no reason to check on the older patients. I opened the safe and found it disturbed. The family jewellery was gone and some of our records were missing. The safe was unmarked by the entry, so it had to be the work of a professional. I wondered how our house in the city had fared. It was just as vulnerable and had the large diamond necklaces of mom, Japera and Lusa. I had to stop for a moment as the vision of all three came to me. They were all smiling and then Jason unsteadily walked into the room helped by dad. They all looked at me as if to say they were all right. I Searched the rest of the house after I recovered from my vision. The clinic produced nothing new. Old memories and those not so old assailed me as I walked. It was difficult to finish this job but I stuck to it until it was done. I went through the village and checked into their welfare and also searched for any leads to who had broken into our safe. With a lot of small pieces of information I got a fair look at the three men. There was nothing special about their automobile and nobody got clear look at the plates. In the village that night I talked to everybody. I told them a cleaned up version of everything I had done. My army of boys and possibly a few girls were mentioned and I praised their efforts to help all the rest of the injured children. The villagers had been fair with the boys I left behind and would be even more so when they had more reinforcements now. I brought up the unpleasant thought that more raids could happen in the future and I did not want any of my people killed or even hurt. The children first and then the adults were invited to train to fight off any new attacks. I had to fight some of the adult's ideas because they thought that fighting would bring more deaths and I had to patiently explain how this was a falsehood and would only encourage others to come here for 'easy pickings'. My three new girls were introduced to perspective and temporary mothers. Like the boys before them they were encouraged to help even if they were hurt too. I said in no uncertain terms what I thought the children had to endure and also what they were not to experience. A plain description of what I'd done to one group of attackers made this vividly clear. We would have some semblance of civilisation here and everybody free to chose as long as they didn't infringe on anybody else's rights. That night I flew the plane to Salisbury and found the house professionally entered and all the other pieces of jewellery missing. I knew some of the more wealthy dealers in stolen goods from having looked into some unsavoury minds over the years. After finding their addresses I searched their premises with my mind. I did find some new acquisitions but after going to the home of the business I found that they had been locally acquired. I did look to find any other leads to other 'merchants' but nothing was new. I had some assumptions and my mind went to Internal Security. Not that they would or wouldn't be part of this conspiracy but that they also might have some of the answers. Records were a lot more difficult to search so I just waited two hours and rested before the executives of this organization showed up. They ended up knowing less in many respects than I did. They had been alerted but had no leads. Their prospects, though tenuous, were also very numerous. I didn't like these people and their rationale but I liked the people I was looking for even less. I made something to eat and remembered how good Japera's food was before the pain in those memories forced me to quickly return to my job. Right wing and fascist would imply the large businesses that employed many natives as another possible lead. I was aware of many owners of medium to large businesses and around four in the afternoon I found my first piece of evidence. Jason McIntosh headed a large publicly traded corporations and he had to go to a meeting tonight for his group. They were put out by the failure of their venture in destabilizing the present government. I found five other names from the man's mind and found three of them within the city. Each was busy with the running of his business but his mind was open to be investigated too. It turned out that these were not even the ringleaders but others more important controlled their moves. Though they didn't know anybody's names, they all had assumptions on who they might be. After these had been scanned I checked the ones they thought as possibilities. One, the Minister of Agriculture, the Right Honourable William Norton was one such man. He happened to be the only man in his group to know the identity of the man above him. In this case he was a minor functionary in the Department of Transport. Every one thought they were doing the right thing for their business or for business in general and to help the country. Pain, suffering and even death was a minor matter to them as long as it was somebody else. That night I went to the meeting with Jason McIntosh and his fellow conspirators. Arthur Bloomfield was one I couldn't find and I saw that he was still suffering from the loss of his experimental plane. It had been in the testing stages so that it could be sold to the government or any other that had the capital to afford them. The loss of the plane was tempered against the fact that no evidence could be found to identify it. He was angry at me because some of his own people had to die in an accident that hid the supposed theft of the aircraft. He didn't know but the others planned to kill him tonight. The story of the aircraft theft was far to flimsy to satisfy an investigation. Since everybody had a breaking point they reasoned that a quick death would all save them from a similar fate. The automobile that Bloomfield came in needed a little alteration and two men came into the parking lot and did what modifications they needed to ensure the man died somewhere far from the meeting place. My 'eye' indicated that it was a simple timer set for 55 minutes now. A phone call that went answered from a place not too far from the meeting was the code and the conspirators now knew they had to keep the meeting going for 45 minutes plus or minus two or the plan would fail. I on the other hand had to consider a change in plan. I wanted the men punished for killing my family, friends and neighbours. When I had uncovered enough names the people owning them would die themselves. Governments and especially courts are malleable. A guilty but important man in a position not easily replaced would be found innocent so as to not disrupt the economy. Understanding this was the reason I wanted to remove these people from the body politic with the sharpest instrument available. It actually looked like the rot went far into the business community and if all of those people suddenly died the effect on the people living here would be catastrophic. I wanted my vengeance but I didn't want everybody to suffer. Even the blacks would suffer when the business they worked for laid them off. Food riots and lawlessness along with loss of life would be too high a price to pay. Bloomfield got into his car. As planned nobody was around so as to not bring notice to the group. At a stoplight I brought my kukri up from the back seat and put it to the neck of the man. "Turn off the engine," I said in my most ominous voice. "Wha... Wha..." "Turn off the engine now or die." "Sure... just watch that knife." The car engine stopped and I climbed into the front seat and said, "Get out now." When we were on the dark street I prodded him to the front of the vehicle. "Do you know who I am?" "No." "You are lying and I think I will take a hand." "Ok ok I know who you are." "Open the hood now." He did as he was asked and I said, "Look on the firewall by the master cylinder. Tell me what you see." He jumped back a few feet and just stared at the bomb. "The members of your cell thought your lies to the authorities would not float and decided to remove you so they would not be incriminated." I walked to the man and punched his abdomen, then his jaw when it came into range. He went into the passenger side and I drove on one of his probable routes home and got out. I dragged Bloomfield out and carried him across the road and behind a wall. I slapped the man awake and he got wide eyes and tried to push me away. A quick thrust and the knife came into play. "Your car is around the corner in the middle of the street. Wait and learn." It took only fifty or so seconds but the bomb went off and bricks fell all around and some would have hit us if I had not put my 'fingers' up to intercept them. I pulled the shaken man to his feet and pulled him to see his car. It was engulfed in flames and a nearby wall had fallen on the wreck. "So you want cheap slave labour and you get dead. Come with me now or you will wish that you had been in your car." He didn't move because of fright and disorientation. This was a good enough excuse and I twisted the sensitivity in his brain up as far as I could. He fell with silent scream and the new pain put him completely out. I put the control back and awoke him again. "Move now, or you get more." The man quickly got to his feet but in his haste stumbled and fell. The second attempt was not much better and he had to hold a trash can to stand straight. He followed me and at the same time running all the things that I had done before and added the new ones. Seven blocks away I called a very private number and got Samuel Jefferies out of bed. My name was enough to keep him on the line and he quickly wrote down what I asked. I gave a list of Bloomfield's deeds and said how the five conspirators had tried to kill him. "You can get your men down to the auto and seal it off and pretend there is a body in the car. There will be spies watching and you need to make it realistic. Use four men and keep them cloistered because some high ranking people will want to know how dead the body was. Others will try through the morgue. You better provide a body for the wife to recognize or it will all be seen as a sham." "I know what I am doing." "Sure you do. I found thirty seven conspirators and you found none. Follow my script and both of us can have a chat with the walking corpse beside me." We walked for another hour and I grilled the man. At every lie and a few truthful statements I pushed a poorly hidden box that sent pain through the man. We came to the truck entrance of the Internal Security building. This was the same one that bodies had left by, not too long ago. There was an alarm and a lock. I opened the door and shorted out the alarm to make everything seem realistic. Once inside I opened one more door and gave Bloomfield a tour of the empty room. The small morgue was empty and I walked through the cells. There was one guard and I caught him napping and after disarming him, placed him into one of the empty cells. A beaten black man that had the audacity to stand up for his rights and then set fire to the building owned by the main political party was in another cell. Nobody had been killed in the fire, but there was a lot of damage. Two firemen were slightly burnt but not seriously. Bloomfield got another cell and I amused myself by looking through all the files I had only seen with my inner eye all these years. The guard was making a fuss and even with the sound proofing I had to warn him of the consequences. At seven, the guard's replacement came in. The previous guard now gained a cell mate. At eight fifteen Samuel Jefferies came into the building. Just as he sat the internal phone rang. "Jefferies here." Using the name of the new guard and a rough voice, I said, "Sir the prisoner in the lower cells is talking about a conspiracy to topple the government. He is implicating many important men in the government." As Samuel Jefferies came through the door with his aide, I took their weapons quickly before they knew I was here. "Have a seat gentlemen and we can get down to our discussion." I didn't point the guns but they were held ready just in case. "Down the stairs and to the cells." Bloomfield was almost a basket case and the two guards called so they could get out. "You can't do this," began the aide. "I already have." To Jefferies I said, "The black goes free now and stays free. I have killed a few people with white skin and they are just as easy as black. Your skin is no harder to cut. Are we going to have a problem with this Mr Jefferies?" "He can go." I unlocked the cell door of the black then the two guards. "Give him his property and ten pounds and set him free." I reached my hand out to Jefferies and he reluctantly gave me the money. The black didn't have any idea what was happening but was more than ready to go. To Jefferies I asked, "Are we going to get a tactical team in here now, or just some trigger happy flunkies from your department?" "Joe, Bill both of you go and stay out unless called. If there are any guns out there I will fire both of your asses. This is just an unscheduled meeting and I do not expect to be hurt." When we were more alone I began, "Here is a partial list of the conspirators. Some are government officials and some are business owners. One other is even here in the building handling your records." I handed them the sheets with a small paragraph or two about their dealings. "Where did you get this?" The aid asked. "I wrote it out in my own handwriting. If you mean the information it came from illegal wiretaps, the kind you people use and from some of the people I pay to find such things out." They read for ten minutes trying to memorize all the information and sort it out. "None of this will stand up in a court. We need iron clad data or their lawyers will get the cases thrown out." "I was going to kill all of them but decided to give the law a chance, even a corrupt law like you want in this country." The aide started to object but I stopped him. "I will accept real sentences, where the man pays not where the government compensates him for his losses later. There has to be real punishment or I will do the job myself." Jefferies said, "How can you do that? You are only a boy." "Who got this information? Who brought this man to you? Who stopped an incursion form Mozambique? Who took out an assassination team and then an aerial assault Mr. Jefferies?" "Ok." "I can see that you mean, 'ok' till someone, perhaps even your department, kills me. If that is what you think will happen, then there would have to be a lot of elections to fill the empty seats. Do I make myself clear Mr. Jefferies?" "Abundantly," came from him with a snarl. I got a place in the planning of the raids and went through the possible men involved. The names I checked with the list in my head and found each. Some I crossed off as undependable or inept. One more got the word "spy" beside it. The judge was similarly labelled and we went through a list until I found one that was ethical enough to keep his mouth shut. Bloomfield spilled everything he knew and this was used to obtain all the arrest warrants as well as the searches of their property. Since this was so wide ranging I asked, "Why not take our judge with us. If something unexpected crops up and we need to get into their office fast, we've got the paperwork available. A camera crew would also present evidence. This can be a two edged sword but the prosecution can't just lie and expect a jury to believe their words and not their eyes." The army had to be called in because of all the manpower needs and any spy would have a hard time getting away when his men were looking for such action. We didn't get a camera crew but I was active as all the warrants were issued. Phones lines were cut, troops cordoned off a particular area. The guilty people knew where the incriminating evidence was and that is what we took. House after house and even corporate headquarters. It took two days and the airports were closed and cars were stopped at the city limits. I especially liked it when the Minister of Mines had his home safe searched and my family's jewellery recovered. The army had to keep all the prisoners and it looked like the country was at the breaking point. Even judge's homes were entered as iron clad information was discovered within them. It took four months to even get started. I investigated all the lawyers for both sides and had informal talks about making sure that those found guilty would pay. The accused were afraid of me now. Not for my mind but for the way it came out that I was able to kill so easily. I mentioned that the judicial system should give them a punishment or I would. Now it came to bargaining so the punishment was less, but they admitted their guilt. Now I manipulated the newspapers and my name was mentioned less and less. I gave them substitutes to follow that opened another facet of the case. When the court cases were over I was given another diploma. I could now practice law if I chose fit. The uncleanliness of it would not allow me to follow this occupation. This profession like politics was not for me, even if I had to dirty my hands on some occasions. I fought for and was given by special statutes a backdated birthday that would give me the rights of an adult in the rest of the world. Another law allowed me to be legally married to a black. I was trying to break the law altogether but I had few options left after all the men had been put in jail or hanged. The ones that were fined also had to provide me with their businesses' books for ten years to ensure that they were not given the money back or given other gratuities in compensation. I was given a job that I pushed for. Rhodesia was under sanction but they still had diplomats. As a voice for the country I could tell the world what it was really like in my country. This was very hard to get because they wanted the blacks to be seen as little as possible and any dirty dealings could be swept under the rug. I planned to highlight the native African's culture and let the world see that it was as good as theirs. Since I was home so little I wanted our family home protected. The government could levy any and all taxes they wanted but the same government had to cover those costs as well as protect the property even if it was to drive by four times a shift. Not too many people would try now to get me angry and the property was safe except some curious boys because of a naked woman hiding in the garden month after month. An early morning a few days before my ninth birthday I strolled through the camp at the farm. The camp was still asleep but it wouldn't be for long. It had grown considerably in the last year or so. Paka was up early and came over to rub her head against my hip. She had grown a lot in the year and didn't take the guff that she had when she was younger. We walked by Rudo and Banga tent and heard them and their two tent mates grunting hard. They liked girls but boys bums were much handier and there was no coercion at all. In fact most of the boys liked getting their prostrate stroked. Sgt. Bristol and Sgt. Lunda were up early too and drinking coffee or tea and just wanting to have a peaceful breakfast before the barbarians attacked. Both had been retired and General Morris had recommended them when I asked for competent help. They still wore the official uniform of our army. Hawaiian shirts and clashing shorts. When they were all lined up in parade form. It actually hurt my eyes. The army was really an academy that trained the students to be good officers. There were presently 57 boys and 14 girls enrolled. The girls were fixed by me and couldn't get pregnant unless the procedure was reversed. Strict rules were enforced and a dalliance had to be after hours and after homework was done. Those guilty of breaking the rules were always caught at first. Later they knew enough to just obey the rules. They found out how much I knew about what they were doing and the state of their homework. My reputation when I first met the boys stuck even if they found it hard to believe now that I held twenty one of them up by their ankles at one time. My flying then was because I was a magician as I proved once a month when some boy needed some money for something special. Some still looked in others ears on occasion to see if any extra cash had worked its way out. Sgt. Lunda, a large black man, was in nominal charge of things and Sgt. Bristol made it a point that he as a white man was subordinate. "Good morning Gentlemen. You are up bright and early," I said. "Have to boss, or we never get any rest." A large black hand came down and caressed Paka's head and the cat put her head onto this thigh. "Rudo and Banga are having fun again. You can hear them all over the camp. Perhaps we should have placed their tent on the outer perimeter." Sgt. Bristol said, "When those boys fart now the rest of the class laughs especially if there is some girls. They have lost most of their muscle tone. Back when I went to school the same thing happened but it was hidden. I don't know if I will ever get used to how casual people are here about sex." I replied, "Africans are always casual about it. Here they are safe and I think much of their sex games have to do with when they were forced to do it in the Mozambican group they were with." Lunda added, "The kids are going to get into trouble outside this camp. The boys tried to get us to participate and the girls are even more blatant. I am glad we have our wives or I would be bucking your rules." "They know the rules too and are flirting. We can all remember what they were like when they came here." They came from rapes and sometimes were troubled by other matters but the fact remained that they needed help desperately. There were a small percentage of white boys and three girls but racial tension hadn't reared its ugly head in camp, or not after I found out about it. Not all boys or girls participated in sex and I made sure in my classes what no meant. Girls were also told about what to do or not to do to make a situation clear to a star struck boy. The wake-up call came and soon the sound of children from all over the camp was heard. This was the week we went into the field and thus the reason for the tents. The children ran to the showers and washrooms. A good portion ran naked or in underwear. At least half the girls ran naked because it was permitted at this time. Their objective was to tantalize the boys and the teachers if they could. Once dressed Hawaiian they came into the mess hall and had their last breakfast like this for a while. They came over and said hello and petted Paka if she looked like she wanted the affection. Today she did and the children were happy. After breakfast they had to clean themselves, change into fatigues and strike their tents. The sight of fatigues used to be a traumatic time but the children had mostly got over it. The tents were slept in last night so they would know if there was any problem with equipment. A pack was inspected at the end and it was expected that the children work as infantry. Two buses and a truck accompanied a Land Rover. With military precision we left for the field. This time it was toward the end of the dry season and vegetation would be scarce and animal life would have migrated to where they could find food. Paka rode where she wanted and today it was in the Land Rover with me. I could now drive it legally since the government did as I asked and did some fancy legal footwork to allow me to be more than double my age of almost nine. We stopped four hours later and watched the students set up a temporary camp and begin the meal. All the instructors watched or sometimes gave instructions but this usually didn't happen. A mistake now would be ridiculed by their peers later and each person was on their toes. Paka went off to do her own hunting and I had to keep an eye on her to see that she didn't take a liking to a farmer's livestock. We broke camp quicker than it was set up and we headed out towards the base for this year. I had scouted many sites and this was one of the nicest available. Wealthy farm owners had taken all the good plots of land and while this should have been used by the natives, it suffered from not having enough water. There were shallow veins of the precious substance but not enough to support humans and livestock for extended use. The camp was set up before it got dark and I didn't assist in setting up the well. This was a test and our small drilling unit found water the first time. Paka came back empty of belly but happy. This time the placement of tents was altered a little to let most of the others sleep. Rudo and Banga and two others got guard duty the first watch. The first few days we did manoeuvres. Marksmanship was practised and the winners got to go hunting. The camp was split up into colour teams and they hunted each other during all hours of the day to hone their skills. They were a good group and kept childish noise to a minimum and even their fires if any were as small as possible. I saw other lion sign and felt secure with Paka being safe from starting her own family even if she was just a year old. Many of the girls went among their group and tried to see if they could subdue more males than another girl. This was acceptable as long as the group did not have too much stress within it to affect its performance. My eyes went over the girls more than it did the boys and I felt that I was possibly getting over Lusa now. My hormone level showed I was not entering puberty yet and perhaps I was just looking for the closeness I once enjoyed. Two particular teams had a bet where the winner got to have sex with the looser. This was unofficial and not meant for me to find out. The way it was worked out was that the partners were already matched and agreed to. Since the boys were more numerous the girls had to choose girls to make the game interesting. I told Lunda and Bristol and we watched avidly for how this contest unfolded. One night the red team used a herd of wild animals to work their way toward the green and got into a good position for an attack later. The site chosen was not accessible to the opposing sides and considered safe ground. We refereed the match and red team won hands down. "Well, red team, since you had such a hard earned victory that you should get double the bet." There was cheers from one side and boos from the other but it was all in good fun. On the sixth night I heard a shot fired off in the distance toward the Mozambique border. My eye quickly hunted for the source and found Paka wounded and running from a group with guns. She was bleeding so I picked up my small medical kit and put it in a canvas bag with some water and food. I debated to tell the camp for a second then just flew out and over the sentries toward Paka. She was out of breath and in a lot of pain. I came down were she could catch my scent and then approached her. She gave a growl but I wasn't worried about that. I put her asleep and inspected the wound. Her shoulder was grazed and the furrow was almost eight inches long. My sutures were more for humans than the tough hide of the cat but I did the best I could. A stream of water entered her mouth to replace lost moisture. I picked my girl up and flew back to our base. At my tent I put in better sutures and administered some antibiotic on the wound itself. Early in the morning Bristol found Paka still sleeping and stopped in to see his family's pet. His eyes even in the twilight found the shaved area and the stitches. He got up to come to me when I opened the tent myself and said, "Mobutu has a group of eight doing a reconnaissance patrol in our country. It is like us just for training and for some intelligence if there is any to be found. Their camp is 5800 metres west of here. They have Chinese Kalashnikov 47s and two Samozariadnyia Vintovka Tokareva 40s with sniper scopes." "Quite a scouting party. They must have been issued the toys and wanted to try them out. I would love to get one of those SVT-40s." "If Mobutu's men lost it he would loose his life too. The man is not very nice as a despot." Looking at Paka the man asked, "Is this grouchy bitch here going to be all right?" "Should be. Put in heavier stitches but she will pull them. I will keep her sedated for a while and someone has to nursemaid her." "You going somewhere?" He asked with his eyebrow high. "Never did make Mobutu's acquaintance. I will just have a look to see what he is up to. I will take some supplies and leave after our next meal. Send a team out to watch our visitors but have them know that this is real and the sniper rifle is fairly good and fires real bullets." "My kids?" "This is the way to learn and adds a lot of spice to the humdrum work we are doing now." The camp awoke and Paka was immediately the centre of attention. After breakfast Bristol issued the orders and extended our stay for a few days if necessary. Our visitors would be monitored and my students would get their first training with hostile forces in a year. I ran in the low areas and around the hills. Once out of sight I flew low to the ground. In moments I got my first view of the team with my own eyes. Two older soldiers led five younger ones trying to teach them the finer points of the art. They were not new to this but trying to hone their skills. The Mozambican border was only seven miles away and in moments I was past. My eye far overhead kept me away from prying eyes and my senses were wide open just in case. The leader of the group knew that Mobutu would be in one of his homes and the most probable one would be Vila Pery. Two hours later I was fifteen miles from that city. I had to use other methods of travel now and boarded a very crowded bus for the city. All the dark faces on the bus looked at me as if I were the first white boy they had ever seen. It was actually the platinum blond hair that I always kept long and tied with a thong. I stood by a seat and watched my fellow passengers flow from one side to another and the bus went down the dirt road. In the centre of the city I boarded another bus and headed for Mobutu's estate in the north east section. This city showed Portuguese styling and flair. A small plaque on a large building had 'Republica de Mocambique' on it. This must have been an official residence once. I got off the vehicle and walked a mile further to the walled grounds. Two men pretending not to be soldiers stood in the hot sun guarding the gates. Thirteen more were inside but only a few were on duty. An older woman was Mobutu's wife and mother of his daughter Dimuna. I slipped into an adjoining property and sat in the shade while I scanned the house. My quarry was not home and would not be here till much later in the day. He was further out of town in a large military base. The Portuguese that administered the country didn't want any destabilising influences but Mobutu was strong and hard to catch. They felt it better to just pretend that he wasn't here. The house had a well stocked armoury and a secret tunnel under the house to another house three doors down. Two safes were in evidence and I spent my time going through them. The papers were mostly in Portuguese and while I could use Latin, Italian and Spanish to get a feel for the contents, it would be better to find a mind well versed in the language to teach me more of it. The town drew me back and I looked for official buildings or even businesses so that I could pick more than just a smattering of the language. I chanced on some military officers and not only picked up the language but the current gossip and the layout of the military base if I ever needed it. Down the street was a chemist's shop and by the looks of it the only one around. I walked in and went to the chemist in the back and wrote out a prescription for a drug that would remove some parasites now living in Chessa Mobutu's body. She had been complaining for a while but her doctor didn't look for this particular malady. The chemist laughed at me and wanted to sell me candy instead. I talked about his trade as only another pharmacist could. He had heard of me vaguely but hadn't enough time even following events in his own country. Even with my identification I was unable to secure what I needed. My mind worked feverishly and I purchased over the counter materials instead. I left with a few curses for the proprietor. It was in the middle of the afternoon when I got back to my hiding place and after a thorough check I flew over the wall and into an upstairs window. The dogs on the property didn't even know of my entrance. I needed a heating surface and some glassware. Using this meant that I had to have control of the house. This was not a good thing to do but then Mobutu had sold the services of his men and they had killed my family. Nobody was currently in a dangerous position so they all went to sleep. I came downstairs and walked through the house and stretched the people out in a comfortable position. Only the guards at the front gate still performed their duties. Chessa was laid on a padded chair and I went for her daughter Dimuna. She was in her room looking at a magazine of young men and playing with her clit when I put her to sleep. She was a pretty girl of thirteen and her breasts were developing well. Her mind still had the picture of a Portuguese film star in her mind and he was doing everything to her that her friends told her about even if she had never experienced them herself yet. Her body was put in a less compromising position and her hand removed. If her father found her now he would be angry even when the act was personal and natural. I found glassware in the house and used it over the gas stove to fabricate a distillation apparatus. I mixed the ingredients and heated them then added more ingredients before using a glass sheet and put the mixture under a partial vacuum. When the mixture was cooled it went into the retort with some baking soda from the kitchen. The condensate was collected and allowed to cool. Chessa was slowly awakened as I sat on the floor a few yards from her so I would not appear a threat. Her first words were, "Hello boy. How did you get in here?" "Hello Mrs Mobutu. I sneaked in so I could talk to your husband when he comes home later." She was not very worried but was confused with my diction and my apparent age. "My name is Shawn Boz. I will be nine in a few days but I am already a physician. There is a possibility you may have heard of me with news from Rhodesia." "Oh yes, I do recall some of that. My husband commented a few times about you and how you are a thorn in the side of the white government." "I am afraid that is true. Whites are educated and driven to excel. Blacks should share in what this continent has to offer. This means that an agreement has to be reached where the riches are shared fairly." "My people talk of this on occasion and the Portuguese are no different from the British I think." "That is true but the imperialist do have the ability to keep all the tribes from one another's throats and guide the natives to work together. This continent has always been ruled by families and there will always be fighting even if the whites left. There is a word called symbiosis and means that two different peoples can work together to the benefit of both. Now the whites are strong. Soon the natives will be strong. It will take centuries before natives gain a European education and there will be bloodshed and killing until that happens." "That is an odd thing for a white boy to say. What happened to the guards, son?" "I wanted to talk to you first and I have. You are not afraid of a nine year old boy. Your guards and your daughter are sleeping at the moment. Would you like to come with me to see them?" She got up immediately and as she saw men sleeping her footsteps quickened. The mother ran upstairs and found her daughter safe with an open magazine beside her. The smell in the air was still here and the mother did not notice it. She turned to me. "Why is my daughter asleep and why did you come here?" "Two reasons. The first is to talk to your husband about his men going to Rhodesia. A while ago he hired them out and they killed my family. I found more of his men today and decided to come here and see what he intended to do. My second reason is you." "Me?" "Yes. I am a doctor and I know you are suffering from something in your body that is making you weak and sick. I went to purchase the drug that will make you well but the man that has this drug will not sell it to me even when I told him I was a doctor. He believed me but refused to sell regardless. I bought supplies and made the drug for you." "Your daughter will awake as soon as I want her too but we have to leave the room first." "Why?" She asked thinking the worst. "You were a young girl too and needed your privacy. Let's go and when your daughter comes down do not make her upset. I have no intentions of hurting anyone in this house. Your husband I may be angry with but I won't hurt him unless he threatens me. Is that fair?" We were downstairs at a large wood table when Dimuna came running down stairs to get a drink. "Mom, Why is everybody sleeping?" Came from the front hall. She continued till she saw me and her worried mother and she ran over and said, "Who are you?" "My name is Shawn Boz. I live in Rhodesia and came over to see your dad for a while Dimuna. Your mother and I were talking politics." "Dad is always talking that. It's a waste of time." "Oh no it isn't. It is the way people with different goals get along together. Politicians can be slimy but some can be very good." "All politicians make my skin crawl. Do you want something to drink?" "Sure, water would be nice but don't disturb my apparatus in the kitchen." The mother and Dimuna went out and looked on the table and the stove. "Your mom has something wrong with her and I couldn't buy the drug she needs, so I made it. I used your glass cooking implements and I will have to buy some replacements." Dimuna said, "These things are so beautiful. It is hard to see how they could be made." "I sell things I make. Usually they are stone or paintings but I make things of gold too." "Can I see?" I took the container of the yellow tinged drug and got a spoon from the drawer as if I lived her and sampled a bit. "Doesn't taste good but will work. Mom come over here please and take your medicine." Thoughts of poison went through her head but she did this thinking it would keep me from getting angry. She screwed up her face and took the spoon and made an even uglier face. "Ah... that is bad." "But good for you. Take a spoonful a half hour before eating and do it until the dish is empty." I saw that she would not want more. "Take it all or I will get your husband to paddle your bottom. On my honour as a physician and a knight there is only something good for you in that container." Dimuna heard the terms and said, "You are a knight?" "I was knighted twice by Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and I am a physician too." The girl's clit started to tingle and her mother caught the same thoughts. Dimuna thought me beautiful like a girl but now I was even more appealing. Chessa said to her daughter, "You have to help me with our meal." This was not really true but she wanted to keep and eye on her daughter. "Change into some work clothes we have a big meal to prepare. Mr. Boz, will you like to eat with us tonight?" "I would love too." Turning to the mother only and winking I said, "I would love to taste some real Portuguese food." Then to Dimuna, "Do you have any special recipes? I like pastries." The girl brightened at the thought and started to get moving on impressing me with her culinary skills. I took the glass work and set it aside as the girl scampered upstairs to her room. "Chessa, your daughter is safe with me but I may not be safe with her. You will protect me?" The woman was still laughing when her daughter came down dressed in her best work clothes. She was sent up to change again. I awoke the guards and Chessa informed them that I was staying for lunch. They were chagrined about falling asleep and didn't see me as a danger. The mother, her daughter and I talked in the kitchen as the food was prepared. I ran small errands and only mixed things because males traditionally knew nothing of cooking. This I found had to be the truth because both females told it to me many times. Two cars pulled into the driveway late in the afternoon and parked in the garage. A tall black man with a bit of Portuguese blood entered the house and found his wife by the noise and kissed her then his daughter before seeing me. He had seen many of my pictures in the newspapers and knew that his forces had killed my family. His hand inched to his revolver and I said, "Hello General. Let's have a talk so the ladies can finish their meal." The hand withdrew a bit and he said, "Yes let's talk." He pointed to the next room and I just shook my head and pointed outside. "What are you doing in my home?" He said with his hand now on the gun. "You are not very polite General. I have been invited to dine with you and your daughter made some sweets just for us." "You can't come to my home like this." "Like the way your men came to my home a year ago. They didn't stay to have dinner. I believe they raped my wife and killed my mother and mother in law. To make their stay memorable one casually swung my child against the doorway and removed the top of his skull. When my father and I came we were greeted with bullets and my father died in my arms. Your men then wanted to sample my body as well." The General knew all of this and was ashamed of how his men operated but he knew that he could only point them and not control them further. "When I came here I also found what was wrong with your wife and prescribed a cure. Your family was not threatened and will not be threatened by me. You and I have a lot of things to discuss." We walked inside with a temporary truce in place and ate like civilised people. I complemented Dimuna on her puff pastries and she turned red and hid her face. Her dad looked close and saw what her mother had seen earlier. ------- Chapter 21 After the meal we went into a room downstairs and had my talk. He learned both the good and the bad of what I thought of him. I could accuse him of being stupid but he did not have the same type of mind that I did. He was feeling his way and stumbled many times. He wanted whites out of his country and out of Africa too. I had to play the devil's advocate and explain how whites were needed. It was late and we had not finished. I was given a room and a chance to talk tomorrow. When the house was quiet a soft set of foot steps came across the hall and opened the door. It closed then the same steps came to the bed. "Shawn, are you awake?" "Yes I am Dimuna. Come into bed with me if that is what you want." She was shocked that I was awake, knew her in the dark and also that I knew her intentions. She slid into bed and her hands found my body unclothed. Her fingers slid down and found a small but hard rod. She got back up and took off her robe and slid naked into bed with me. She played the aggressor and found my mouth and then she kissed down my chest to the place she had heard so much about. She found no hair. This was odd because all the times she found men they had hair there, even her mother had hair between her legs. The thrill was even better because she would not have to put up with the sensation. Her mouth kissed around my pole and then she could not take it any more and she sucked me into her mouth and moaned that she finally got what she always wanted. Her thoughts told me of the smell, texture and taste that she found. Her tongue started to move as if it could increase the sensations running through her. I moved my hips to let her know that I appreciated the effort but left her to her quest. Saliva was leaking beside my scrotum and to my anus with the amount of work she was doing. I felt the special feeling that I had not felt for over a year and shook and moaned softly. Dimuna almost accompanied me but she had needed a bit more stimulus. I pulled her up to me and kissed her trembling lips. She was so excited now that she didn't know what to do but I did. I laid her on her back and placed a second pillow into her hands. I slid down the bed and down her body as well. I kissed her neck and licked under her ears. She almost had her orgasm then but I pulled away just in time. I worked on her chest and kissed around her breasts making smaller and smaller paths till I had her small dark nipples in my mouth. She let go of the pillow and grabbed me to hold me in place but I took her hands instead and held them on the bed as I followed the same tortuous route on her other breast before pulling back again. "Ohhh noooo came faintly from her lips." I released her hands and started to lick and suck further down. My hand found her lightly covered mound that was just beginning to produce fine hair. My lips finally found the same place she had worked on me. I licked the area and her legs spread wide in acceptance. I shifted position to get between her two dark legs and elevated her pelvis to my lips. Her strong black hands held my head as her fingers tightly held my thick hair. I licked slowly and eventually reached the little bud. I teased it for only a few seconds before her hands forced me to take it fully. My hand snaked up and when coated with her lubricant worked into her opening as I sucked harder on her centre of being. She had a sudden convulsive movement and pulled my hair unmercifully as if trying to force me into her. I continued to stroke her with my finger as I sucked lovingly on her small clit. As her body relaxed I was able to remove her fingers and I climbed onto her. My penis making contact with her clit and vagina as I made slow movements. Her hands came around me and I said, "Dimuna, do you want me to go to the next step? I can give you no promises for I cannot stay here. We can make love but I will have to go." "Oh I need you now. Make me a woman." I bent down to kiss her as my member forcefully shot into her tight canal. The pain was minimal because I was not large. When she recovered I started to move slowly until I had to muffle her screams of ecstasy. An hour later I worked into her other opening with the same result and she shook hard in sympathy with me. We rested a bit then went back to making more love. Before six o'clock Chessa got up to use the washroom and looked in her daughter's room to find it empty. She came across the hall and pushed my door open to see me holding her daughter in sleep. The serious look I gave her stopped her dead. "Before you begin, remember what I said about protecting me? She was bound to find someone sooner or later and I was very gentle - something most women never find. She will not have my child for I do not have the seed. She is now content and will make a man happy one day as his mate." She was going to say something and I interrupted, "Come in and close the door Chessa." She did as I asked. "Why did you do this to my baby?" She asked. "She came to me in the night. Her body grew like her mother's. Tell me Chessa how you found out about love. You must have been younger than your daughter. You were in love and the boy just pushed his cock into you and left. He only returned when he needed relief. You still loved him though." "Yes, oh yes, how did you know?" "You are sensitive woman and you would have tried even sooner if the chance came. You were no different from your daughter." I pulled Dimuna's arm back and then the sheet. "She is as you were at this age. Her body screams for release. Now is the first time she has slept since I put her to sleep yesterday afternoon. She is the same as you. Do not blame her for the way she is." Chessa thought a lot and saw that I was right. At least I was not her brother to take her gift and I had treated Dimuna much better than she herself had been treated. The woman went out still running the thoughts through her head and when she went back to bed she worked on her husband then mounted him in his sleep. For the next hour there was a lot of noise coming form their room. I got up and showered then went downstairs and started to make breakfast. There were two guards sitting at the table and I had them clean up and get the dishes. I found the large griddle and after preparing it started making crêpes. The other men came in and ate as I made strong coffee. I found preserves and they went onto and into the crêpes. The biscuits were rising in the oven and the smell was permeating the house. When Mobutu came down the men quickly got to their feet. I said, "Please leave them alone and sit down General." He did as I'd asked so I poured coffee and then put a plate before him with preserves in front of him. The biscuits were done and I threw three to land on his plate as if guided there by invisible hands. The guards got the same and were startled by the accuracy. Chessa came down later after fixing herself up. I sat her down in the last available chair and served her like a French waiter even to the language I spoke. They did not have French roast coffee but I made a substitute in the oven and pulverized the black beans and made a thick dark coffee. There was lots and everybody got some. I made some for me and put the sugar in and stirred it. Chessa was served with crêpes and biscuits as I continued in a language none of them knew. By the time I was done, more plates were given to the already stuffed guards as they left to share with the others. I sat and sipped my coffee and ate some of the biscuits. "Thank you for preparing the meal Mr. Boz. It was different from our usual one, but still good." "You are welcome General. Shall we continue with the conversation we started yesterday?" We again went to the office and continued as if I had not stopped. He fought back trying to explain how he was balancing his ideals with reality. When this was completed I explained how the Rhodesians were going to fuck him for all his work. Mobutu countered that he knew this and had something else planned. In the end I explained how he would loose the gamble and probably end up dead into the bargain. I tried to get across to him that not only Rhodesia but all Africa needed the whites together with a strong black presence. The blacks would have to be educated and this was difficult to do in such a poor continent. "Schools are the answer to winning wars. Like trained soldiers are much better than conscripts. You have to take what wealth you can get and invest it in people that can run a country. The other thing is to get them to see themselves as Africans not Tutsi, Hutu, Xhosa or Ndebele. They need to forget some of their roots or they will take the weeds with them and strangle what they are trying to build." "I know that. Always we have great ideas and fight hard to achieve them. Then we find we cannot trust others. We then rely on our family and tribe." "Yes but they see a chance to get ahead and resort to corruption. Instead of money going where it should it goes into the pockets of a select few." "How can I stop this?" "You have saved 473,622 pounds sterling. Use some of that to educate boys that will be the leaders of tomorrow." "How do you know that? Even I do not know the figure." "I know that because I had a good education. Some of it came from my parents, some of it from books and some from talking to people. I teach mathematics while others my age could barely count. You are an open book in many ways. When I came into your house I opened your safes and looked at your books. It is just a matter of adding up all the small things till I got the total." "You..." The general got up and was ready to hit me. With visible effort he sat down. "Get..." "If you came to my home you would look at everything you could. Are you going to be a hypocrite too and say you wouldn't?" He almost hit me two more times until it was time for tea. Dimuna was up and the General could see that something had changed; dramatically. We ate our noon meal and the General was shooting daggers at his daughter and me. Dimuna was not even here enough to see what was happening. When we finished I thanked the cooks and kissed each on the cheek. The General was at that point where he would explode. "General, let's go for a ride and have the remainder of our talk?" We just got in the car and the windows up in the hot African sun and he yelled, "What did you do to my daughter?" "I made love to her. She is very much the same as her mother..." A hand came out and I stopped and paralysed his side. "As I said, she is the same as her mother was at that age." The general couldn't speak so I gave him a theatrical poke and he recovered. "What did you do?" "That is between your daughter and me." "No my body." "The Japanese and other Orientals know about nerves and how to strike them. Learn from them and teach it to your soldiers. Talk to your wife when you get home and listen to her. She has been the crutch you have leaned on so many times and would do so again. You squander her like you do your daughter." Later I rubbed the General's nose in the double standard he has and how Dimuna was like Africa. "She is bright and yet she has very little schooling. You can't blame the Portuguese because you could have her trained. She has a flair for numbers and if you spent some of your money on her education you would have a person that could make your money grow much more than it is now. If I had your money when you got it I would by now have a few million pounds." "Million?" He said almost speechless. We fought till dinner time and the general started to see things more my way. If he were to take over a colony, I wanted him to cultivate the whites not kill them. When we got back I said, "If you resent me making love to your daughter I will leave now with a smile for her sake. Is that your wish?" We stayed still for a few minutes then quietly he said, "No." As we got out of the car Chessa ran to him to see if there had been bloodshed. Dimuna ran to me and kissed me in front of her startled father. Both were very worried for they had talked to people about my past. Chessa's own brother had been killed by me on my march and I would do it again if given the chance. Chessa knew her brother and didn't really want to know the specifics. After our meal I invited Chessa and Dimuna to our talks as I explained about how a stable government had to be formed. How a bloodless coup was the preferable over anything else. There was no realistic way that a colonial power would allow themselves to be voted out. Chessa asked some very penetrating questions that shocked her husband. I went into teacher mode and drew her out to answer her own question. Dimuna was asking questions so I had to draw the answers from her too. Finally I said, "I must leave. My academy is waiting. I believe by now they are playing with the men you sent to train. Talk to them when they get back and see." The General thought and said, "Stay the night Shawn." I picked up Dimuna's chin looked at the tears in her face that suddenly blossomed. "Are you sure General? I don't want to sleep alone." We both looked at the man and Chessa just took his hand and lead him to bed. A hand found mine and pulled just as hard. That night there was no need of muffling her cries as Dimuna succumbed to orgasms one after the other. Mother and father listened intently and started to make noises of their own. We all came down late. Both women were in love but I had to leave regardless. As a parting gesture I took Dimuna with me as we visited two of her friends. I was very solicitous of her and her friends could see the attraction. A few hours later I left after telling the mom and dad that I was just an infatuation for her and now she would talk to her friends for years of how she got a male first. Chessa laughed as she visualized the scene. I shook hands and left. Mobutu ran to offer me a ride and couldn't find me. On my way home I hoped I had saved thousands of lives and kept a country from facing the horrors of war and a failed economy. Two weeks after my ninth birthday I headed for Paris. I was now a cultural attaché and with some native Rhodesians I put on plays and gave concerts to show just how rich the native culture was. Paris seemed to be a much more cosmopolitan city than any other. Blacks were people here with dark skin and not somebody to look down on. I stayed in my apartment with my girls and saw that the girls had been bringing the men around to satisfy their lusts as I predicted. This time I was the one to satisfy them and I worked hard to make sure each had what they wanted. Some called in sick at work and were walking bowlegged until I left. I got even more stares at the airport as all five woman tried to suck my viscera through my mouth. Bonn was next and we performed before both American and West German audiences. Our performance competed in the newspapers as one proclaimed about the new space race and how one side was better because they put a monkey up instead of a dog. I did know that soon a man would go and I felt bad that it wasn't me. Our own show was rated highly, but only on a cultural scale. With my abilities known to all it was inevitable that the Communists would talk to me. This was clandestine but the West German security forces were with us too. Both sides knew each other and tolerated the talks. It was better to know your enemy and watch him that to kill him and not know who to watch after. I put the two startled people together in the same booth and said, "Communism is a better political system but the sad fact is that it will not work because people are lazy and greedy. It was doomed from the start and now that both sides were buying friends, Communism would fail even sooner because Russia could not handle the strain that was going to be put on its economy." I paid for some beer for both and left to find my bed. Before I left I did see that communism seemed to have many more spies and moles than the west. This I attributed to people that just couldn't quite see as far as I could. They did believe in communism though and with their entire heart. We played two weeks in Britain, one week in London alone. Grandpa and grandma seemed to have aged ten years but made it to hear African music and plays. African art went to my studio and sold well. I painted some canvases in an African theme and decided to write a few books to get people to think of how the continent really was. I had an even bigger send off when I left for America. There must have been a hundred girls along and my face was covered in lipstick by the time I took my seat. We played in Washington, New York and Boston. The reviews we got were fantastic and very encouraging. Los Angeles and San Francisco proved to be almost a waste of time. We didn't have enough hype and we weren't 'in'. Some of the girls though were very outgoing and I was looked on as 'surf god' by the time I left. I flew back with the chargé d'affaires to Lisbon to discuss how to coordinate some of our future efforts in bringing enlightenment to the world. I would grab a flight to London and visit my family privately for a week when we parted. The airport was abuzz with the type of hype that our group didn't get when we were playing California. There was going to be a beauty pageant, with contestants travelling between countries. Their next stopover was in Beirut for more judging. The city I heard was like Paris in many ways. I took a good look myself at the contestants. Not that any one was that beautiful but that there was so many beautiful people here at one time. There was even spin off contests where the junior version competed against their own age group. To not be outdone a young boys group was added to the list as an experiment but would not compete with the girls. Parents of the children clamoured about making sure their little Jill of Johnny looked their best even if was for an airport crowd. My ticket was purchased ahead of time and I just had to pick it up. I put my identification down and received the ticket when two men purposely walked by in haste. They simply radiated sexual excitement. I had to look and found a horror unfolding. I ran after them through the heavy traffic as they rushed to BOAC flight 643 to Beirut. The men were ushered on board and the door started to close. The entire flight was devoted to contestants only and family had to take other flights. I pushed the door with my power and the attendant tried to find out why it wouldn't close. I had to get on and I knew that with my clothes and looks I would be recognized almost at once. All I needed was one person to see my suit and then my face and word would travel throughout the plane very quickly. I could think of only one way to keep people looking at my face. I undid my fly and ripped my underwear so people could see my groin and a small boy's flaccid member. "Wait for me," I said as if a child. "I was lost. The stewardess looked at me and saw my face and hair and knew for sure that I would be in this contest and allowed me to enter and the door closed behind me. I continued as if I was in pageants for years. Girls started to giggle as they looked at me and then the older ones did too but I just smiled at them as if they were being friendly. I found the boys section and sat with them. They too giggled like the girls and the small boy of eleven pointed to my zipper to warn me. I looked down and cried, "Oh no," and hid myself like children did. I did up my zipper and allowed more blood to come to my face. I sat down and wiggled back because my legs were too short to reach the floor and wouldn't for years. The boys' ages were ten to thirteen and each could be said to be beautiful. They looked at me and thought the same thing. I buckled my seatbelt and smiled at my neighbours as I looked at the minds of those around me. The one that warned me found me attractive. He had a friend that played sex games with and missed him badly. He looked at me wistfully and wished that I would be of like mind. Quicker than usual the plane got clearance and took off bound for Lebanon and its path would take it along the northern shore of Africa. I found five men and a woman knew of the plan and gloried in it. The women and children were to be sold as white slaves to wealthy Arabs. The plane was to appear to crash on a small Mediterranean island and be lost in the resulting fire. I looked around again and saw that most of the future slaves were blond like me. It was well known that the Arab men preferred this colour of hair for those in their harems or seraglio. The latter was just a brothel. Looking for help I focussed on the cockpit. I saw that the captain and the navigator were in on it too. They would get a villa and two each of the passengers along with enough money to last them till they died. I could knock everyone out but the perpetrators would just try again and others would be hurt. I had to root this out and get all the participants. The plane flew over Spain and then crossed the Mediterranean and headed west across the northern fringe of the Sahara. This took an hour and I found one of the men were Spanish, the other was Turkish, the woman was East German and the other two in nominal charge were American of Arab descent. The captain was British as was his navigator. There was 124 potential slaves with me included. The co-pilot and the engineer were to die but not the six stewardesses who just happened to be young and blond. I worked hard trying to get specifics but they were to be hidden until the last minute and coded radio messages were to be used to communicate. I did know that the pilot was to report a drop in cabin pressure and loose altitude. An old plane similar to ours was to fly below radar and as we dived to that area it was to raise and take our place. It was assumed that the plane would be destroyed as it crashed into the island and burn all the bodies with the enormous amount of fuel it would still have aboard. Ours would stay low and land where they were told. A new horror came to me. Bodies would burn but not completely. There had to be some trace remaining. The other plane had to have bodies in it. Was it possible that they were still alive? There was nothing I could do till the radio messages arrived. A message sent now by me would mean that I would have to commandeer the vessel. I could fly this craft as I had learned years ago on my first flight to Britain. I would have to find some very convincing and tangible proof or I would have to admit to reading minds. The trouble was that there was absolutely no evidence other than in the perpetrators' minds. The possibility of rescuing the people on the other plane was possible but remote. The flight was over 2500 miles and the plane only flew a little over five hours. I knew it couldn't arrive and tried to find their plan. It made sense to change the flight over Libya and go overland if it were direct but that would be too dangerous for the people wanting to buy these people. The logical alternative was to have the plane disappear over the Gulf of Sidra in Libya and head to one of the poor north African states and change planes. Peter Jessome the boy next to me was sleeping and his hand and head were on me for support. He missed his parents and was lonely because he had not made friends yet. The stewardess came by and I always had my head down. I got some water and managed to get three apples. The men and even the women made excuses to walk around the ship. They would look at the ones they wanted to sample before they were sold. I was approached by all but refused to look up. The stewardesses were considered fair game for the men as they were not expected to be virgin but two were. Two men had to go to the washroom twice to relieve their passions. The rest saved themselves for the real thing when it happened. At the mid point of our intended trip a message was broadcast to the plane and a particular coded packet was opened by the captain. The coffee came later and two members of the crew not in on the kidnapping got drugged. A small silenced gun was the backup. The captain now radioed that there was a cabin leak and had to loose altitude because the emergency air could not keep up. He was asked all sorts of questions by the closest airport and had the answers ready. I felt us dive and some passengers woke up and looked out the window into the dark of night. The captain used the intercom to inform the passengers that there was no danger just a precaution. This was also a code to the kidnappers. I searched and found a plane about forty miles away coming from Libya. The frequency of our radio was altered and coded messages flew. We dove lower and the approaching plane and us flew tandem. Before it rose I knew that the plane was loaded with dead people. An entire village in Eritrea had been sacrificed for this purpose. The other plane now followed our old course as we headed inland. Twelve minutes later we crossed the Libyan coast and flew at a very low altitude. There were no lights of any kind and even our running lights were now switched off. A stewardess walked quickly to the cockpit and came out white. She saw the two men lying unconscious and the pilot supposedly heading for a hospital to save them. Their plan was to set the plane down in the north west corner of Sudan and be 'rescued' by men in trucks that would be conveniently waiting. I had to bring this to a head before this happened for we would be at a great disadvantage once we landed. The problem was that the kidnappers had not shown themselves yet for what they were and neither had the captain or the navigator. There was inkling that white slavery had been flourishing and many more women were already slaves. I needed not only more information but needed it before we landed. Peter was still snoring on me and I pushed him up and said, "Give me your jacket Peter. I need it." The boy was groggy but handed me it after wiggling out of it. I took his cap too and loaded the three apples into the pockets. I walked toward the cockpit and opened the door. A stewardess rushed to stop me but I was there first. To the pilot I said, "Why are we heading deeper into the desert and not for Tripoli? It is close and in the other direction." "Get out of here kid this is restricted area." "Are we being kidnapped?" I heard a gasp behind me and the captain snarled, "Get out of here or I will kick you out." "You are kidnapping us. Are you trying for our ransom?" The navigator got up and I jabbed my fingers at his abdomen and then slashed him across the throat. The pilot set the auto pilot and came at me with the gun in his hand. I kicked then turned and kicked him again. He fell to the floor and I had time to kick him in the face before I was grabbed by a man behind me. I used my elbow and thrust hard into his lower abdomen and then turned to drive my knee into his face. The women hijacker was running in and had her gun drawn as I kicked her violently in the crotch and lifted her nearly a foot off the floor. The three others were now running towards me and they too had their guns drawn. My apples came out and I threw them at least three hundred miles an hour and hit them in the forehead. Their heads snapped back and one would never get up again. I ran to the guns and picked them up before getting back to the cabin. Those guns joined my collection and I got to the controls. Autopilot was never meant for flying this close to the ground. The written orders we had to follow were the only set open. It gave our course and altitude we had to keep. Fuel was getting low but I was not concerned yet. It was time to leave but now we were being hailed by another aircraft and given alternate orders. A fighter was using minimal power and demanding that we follow him on a new course. In the back I heard screaming as the passengers found the man dead and the others unconscious on the floor. I took the mike for the radio and tried to mimic the captain's voice and said that I understood. Two stewardesses came in armed with a long knife and an equally large fork. I didn't even look at them but said, "Stop and listen to me." They did pause. "If you looked at me when I got on and not my little penis you would have recognized me. Come and have a look." One came forward and looked as I took off the cap. "You look familiar." "My name is Sir Shawn Boz. I am a physician, lecturer and at the moment the only one that stands between all of you and an Arab's harem or a bordello." I turned and let them see my face again and one gasped because she did recognize me. "There is a fighter leading us at the moment. The two men on that plane want us to follow them to another country. I think it may be Ethiopia. There we would be put into trucks and sold at an auction like animals." "That can't be," came from one. "Nobody does that anymore." "Wake up woman. Man's intrinsic nature has never changed. If they can get away with it they will. Take the men and the woman to the back of the plane. They won't wake up until we land. You already know that one kidnapper is dead. Grab him too. While you are doing this I will talk to the passengers." "Use the radio and call for help." "Long before the help came we would be a ball of flame. I told you we were ordered to follow the fighter and the fighter has weapons that can easily destroy us." I picked up the intercom and said, "Good day ladies and gents. My name is Sir Shawn Boz. I got word of something happening on this flight at the airport we just left. I sneaked aboard to see what I could do to help. You were going to be kidnapped by the captain, navigator and some of the adult passengers that are now unconscious or dead. A fighter is guiding us and it would be difficult to escape at the present time. We cannot radio for help or we will be shot down. We cannot climb to where radar will see us or the same thing will happen. I will inform all of you as news comes to me. Peter Jessome, will you come up here and get your jacket and cap before they get damaged. A few moments later the boy tentatively came into the cabin, "Sir?" He had been crying and after looking into his mind I saw that all the younger ones had been doing the same thing. I slipped out of the jacket and handed it and the cap to the boy. "Thanks, for the loan of your jacket Peter?" "Sure. Ah... where are we going, sir?" "Ethiopia is where they want I think but I will need to destroy the fighter first. You don't happen to have a spare air to air missile do you?" "Ah... no, do you want me to look?" "No Peter I was joking. You are all upset and afraid. I won't let anything happen to you or the rest of the passengers. Come and sit in the co-pilot's seat for a few moments as I talk to the first group." This was a life long dream of his and the boy scampered into the seat. His worries now forgotten. I told him to watch for some things as I flew. This kept him busy as I called in the intercom, "Will the ladies in the first two rows of seats please come into the cockpit." Some came and some were deathly afraid. I talked casually to them as I continued to fly the plane at this low altitude. "Hello ladies. I am sorry for making this flight such a horrible experience. If I had not come then you would be landing in the next hour when you would find yourself being taken away in trucks to what they would say would be freedom. It would be slavery literally. Please think first and listen to the others then ask me what you need to know." "C... can you fly this plane?" "Sure," I winked and said, "I am even training my co-pilot now." "Ah what is going to happen to us?" "Nothing bad if I can prevent it. I want to ask you girls a question. Have any of you read more than gossip about me?" I paused then, "I figured so. Talk to the rest of the passengers and perhaps you will find out. Next question." I got many questions and some were very stupid but the women were worried. I answered as best I could. Some I had to say was secret information and led them to believe I worked for British Intelligence as well as Rhodesian. The intercom had been on all the time and questions came from the back of the plane. These too I answered as truthfully as I could. "Sir we are getting a message," came from Peter. "Girls, back to your seats fast. Everybody buckle up." We were ordered to make a course change which we did. I explained to the fighter how we were getting low on fuel and had to land soon. The person I was talking to tried to say that everything was fine but this did not increase the amount of fuel in our tanks. We headed more east now and in another twenty minutes were called again. I replied to the summons as if I was the pilot and was told to land at the field fifty miles ahead of us. "Will there be landing lights?" "No," "Fly ahead of us and I will follow you. You have military instrumentation and ours has not been upgraded yet." The idea was accepted and the plane changed course. Its large engine belched smoke as its propeller pulled it ahead of us. Far ahead I could see the waiting vehicles and the men around them. The fighter pilot talked us down and at the last minute I gunned our own engines. I reached out and forced the stick of the fighter far forward and guided the plane to one of the line of trucks. It went to port and crashed into the trucks parked to the left of the runway. I hoped that the passengers if we survived would think that I only used the plane to force the fighter to crash. There was not even any gunfire from the ground because the slavers on the ground were too shocked and thought it an accident. "Ladies and gents the fighter has been destroyed and took many of the trucks with it. We are almost out of fuel and will turn and land. I cannot even get high enough to have our radio reach an airport because of the hills. I turned the plane around and prepared to meet our supposed captors, but as we had so little fuel, could I possibly perform a dead stick landing? Unfortunately, the fact that it was the only option didn't make it any the less dangerous. If we did stay I would get to the bottom of this slaving ring. The field was not in that great a shape but was long enough for us. I turned, trying to use the least fuel and brought the plane in. I thought that I had made a perfect landing. I didn't land close to the trucks though. When the plane came to a stop I turned to Peter and said, "If I don't make it back in an hour gas up the plane and fly to Tripoli." The boy stood up and came to me. "I can't do that." I just reached out and gave the boy a hug and said, "Yes I know. But you are going to have to try to keep the girls out of here till I get back. I killed the engines and reduced most of the power to the passenger compartment. Picking up the guns I inspected them carefully. I only took two and slid open the window and slid out and dropped to the ground a good twenty feet below. There was plenty of light from the burning plane and trucks. Fourteen people were still combatant and I ran among them. After getting all I needed to know I started to shoot them. Bullets started to come at me. I was careful to make sure that the plane was not behind me. When everybody had been hit by my bullets I checked for any yet alive. I twisted the controls to their life and now there was no opposition. All through the fighting shots cooked off from the fire and for a moment almost a hundred machine gun shells fired from the burning fighter plane. The only one alive was a caretaker that managed this seldom used strip. The owners of the strip was the one behind the kidnapping. A tall antenna fell when I pushed it to forestall any warning. With it comfortably down I could now play out the hand fate dealt me and have an excuse for not calling in the authorities. I dragged what bodies I could to one side to make them tidy. There was a large collection of old but serviceable weapons. There were three trucks and a bus with its seating all fitted out with shackles. There were other vehicles here but none were usable without a lot of work. There was no telephone and I knew that when the radio did not report in that an armed party would come and see why. This small strip was about thirty miles from Debre Tabor, which in turn was 200 miles from the capital Addis Ababa. The small town was to house the captives until they could be brought to auction in about a month. The captors had thought that much time was needed to get the slaves to act like slaves. This would mean beatings, anal rapes, food and water deprivation and all other things man has thought of over the last hundred thousand years to handle slaves. With a short rope and some metal I fabricated a grappling hook and regained the window of the plane. Peter was being harassed by older women of eighteen. "Ladies, leave the boy alone please," I said from the window. They turned to me so abruptly that one fell to the floor. I climbed in the window and helped the girl up. Picking up a microphone and flicking a switch I said, "This group of slavers will not bother us any more. When word does not reach the leader of this operation, a new group will come in about ten to twelve hours I believe. It will probably be a plane first but it may also include trucks, however this will take a much longer time. I will capture or shoot down the plane. After that I think we can expect a few dozen heavily armed men about six hours after that. Those men will be more difficult to stop but I will do my best." Questions came from all around and as before I tried to answer the ones I could. "Ladies and gents, Ethiopia is hot, dry and uncomfortable. Try to get some sleep now and you can see what the morning will bring. At dawn I want you to help me push this plane into the hanger to hide it from our would be capturers." I explained about food and water rationing till we were able to leave and entrusted this to the stewardesses. None of them had ever lived through this and had a rude awakening coming. I got one of the many blankets and wrapped Peter up and told everybody to get some sleep. I checked on the co-pilot and engineer. They would recover and I could use my power to accelerate the healing to their systems but I didn't want them interfering with my authority yet. Their own bodies would have to do the most of the repairs. Even at a modern hospital it would be this way. There were more people here at risk than just those the plane. Just before local dawn I opened the door and extended the emergency slide. I invited the passengers to disembark but brought the boys first that were anxious to try the ride. Some of the others were not as happy to do this. Most came out voluntarily but I had to throw a few physically out of the plane. The large doors of the hangar were open and the plane slowly made it in. The caretaker was hiding a thousand yards away peering at the strip with binoculars. I came up behind him and he almost died of a heart attack. I used his own language to get him moving. On the way I said, "Old man, I know you were not part of this plan and you will live. I would like some help because the children on the plane know next to nothing about life." I let him carry his old gun and we walked back to his home. He began to jabber at me telling me an awful lot about nothing. The old man ogled the ladies and they all knew what that look was. The girls inspected the armed old man with quite a bit if trepidation. I explained to the girls and the few boys now what the man's job was and who he worked for. Next I told each to go see the dead and then inspect the three vehicles. I especially wanted the other vehicles inspected when they cooled so they could see the iron jewellery that was waiting for them. When this was done I took everything of value from the corpses and threw the bodies into one truck. I was going to dispose of them and while I was gone I wanted the entire luggage compartment emptied. Explicit orders were given to everybody and a few were given some authority to have the luggage moved as I wanted it to be. The food and water was not to be touched until I got back and I think most were sufficiently afraid of me to follow at least that rule. Ten miles down wind from the landing strip, I threw the bodies where something or other could benefit from them and returned to the plane. I found that there were a lot of shirkers. Broken nails or sweat stains were too horrible for them to contemplate. The ones that worked got fed and this was according to their output. "Where is my meal?" asked a strawberry blond girl with nice upper body development. "The ones that work get fed; the ones that do little or nothing get only that in return. You are a lazy female that would die on your own. You would normally use your good looks to get others to the work for you. Look around girl, there is nobody here that feels substandard and needs to suck up to you. Now go over to that mountain of baggage and sort it for the owners." She didn't move and I just ignored her after. I could feel a great deal of anger at this from both the girl together with others who thought that their looks should get them anything and everything they wanted. Some of the children were still crying and I heard calls for mommy but there was nothing I could do about it now. They would eventually cry themselves out and then I would try to do something with them. Small jobs for others were handed out and I didn't check to see if they were done. I made sure the potential leaders got jobs that required help. We needed to set up a camp and since I was living in one off and on for a year, I knew what to do. Later I explained what was going to happen to us when we were attacked. And asked for suggestions to get them to think. Only a young boy suggested traps and I praised him for thinking. One leadership candidate took a crew out to dig a ditch across a road. One girl had worked on a farm and could drive the big truck. Another group got to dig a trench across two thirds of the strip. It would still be usable at the edge for large planes but you had to know where the trap was to avoid it. The girl in charge of sorting started her job and was sweating and cursing when she was done. The prisoners from the plane were secured to the wall of the hangar by the chains that were intended for us. I had a heavy wire so they could pace or use the pot I put beside them for body wastes but not go far. The woman spoke in English about this not being fair. I replied in German about what she planned to do with her captives and asked if that was fair. The men with her were warned about treating the woman as their toy. We needed food and this area was known for drought, plague, famine, war and of course people ready to sell food for money. The youngest children, including the boys, were not very useful and I had them throw out all the leg irons out of the bus and for them to get in. An hour down the road and over a dirt tract a farmer had his small farm with quite a bit of excess because he had access to water in this fairly arid area. I pulled up to the farm house and the man came out with a gun that would have been old even in the first world war. I explained my needs and he explained what he could part with. The children got out and ran around then sat in the shade. I had disturbed the man for he had been working on an old truck that had blown a hole in the top of a piston. His own children, who had all been working, came over and tried to talk but they could not understand the children I brought. It took twenty minutes of dickering till I had all he could afford to sell us. He made a good profit for this area and I sent 'my' kids off to catch the chickens with his. We both laughed as the children that knew nothing of the birds tried their best to catch them. Some even released the birds when the birds pecked or squawked. The bus was loaded with farm animals and kids. We all waved as we left. We went back the way we came and with another small detour managed to negotiate more produce which the children had to protect from the livestock until we got back. I stopped many times for the children to water the bushes and pick up those same bushes if they would make suitable fuel. The girls were a bit more dainty though. When I got back I selected fourteen girls that were more predisposed to cooking. I killed, gutted and skinned a chicken in seconds and when I had prepared enough, gave the birds to them to prepare over small fires. Others cooked the vegetables and greens I bought while others again tended the fires. The meal was just finished and we began to have a chat around the coals. My eye was doing sentry duty as I knew we would soon have company. The fires were put out and evidence cleaned up. We had time to hide. The old man knew nothing of what was happening but did wave to the pilot of the small plane as he made two passes over before landing. When the plane landed, it narrowly avoiding the trench. I greeted the armed man and simply took his weapon. I now had another person that could model some of the iron jewellery that was available to us. His mind told me of a remote village that had contributed all its population to the death flight. He had overheard it mentioned but was not a part of it. This did not mean that the atrocity meant anything to him, for it was only a way to make money and human life was very cheap here. The girls wanted me to immediately leave and seek help. "It would be three hours to a phone and make it back. Who is going to protect you from the six men that came out to see what the problem was? What damage can six armed and vicious men do to you till I got back. Perhaps you can promise them favours and they would wait. But I kind of doubt that they would negotiate with any of you. Do you want to find out? Perhaps they are armed missionaries seeking to save your souls. Is that what you want?" When they didn't answer I added, "Their radio is short range and I cannot even use that. We will just have to wait a bit longer." The small plane went under ours and we waited. Less than three hours later a small truck came over a rise and couldn't stop fast enough as it ran into the ditch we had made. Two men were hurt and one actually killed. The other three wanted to kill now. Some of the girls were hidden so they could see but not be seen. When I approached with a rifle over my shoulder the enraged men started to shoot at me. I casually unlimbered the heavy rifle and with three shots, the three men died. I cleaned up our ambush and the girls sweated as they carried the two surviving men back to the hangar. I set up a clinic and removed their clothing to treat their wounds. I was quick and sure and the men slept through the ordeal. These men were a bit more wealthy and I got more money to add to our war chest. The truck took the bodies away again and the smaller truck they arrived in was pulled out and placed in the hangar. It would need some front end work before it was usable. In the back of the hanger was a large metal water tank on wheels that had a hole in it. It was designed for transporting drinking water. There was a local well but the water was sulphurous. It would only stand a few gallons being extracted before it began to suck air. In twenty minutes it could be used again but again only a few gallons could be taken at a time. There was an oasis close by but I hesitated to tell the girls. They were learning so well now and it would be a shame to find things easy again. I did clean the tank and patch the hole though. My newest family need some training and we needed sentries. I told some girls and some boys to sleep because they would be pulling duty for three hours each night. I explained the need and one girl offered herself in trade to me later. I just ignored her and said to everybody that anybody caught sleeping on duty or not fulfilling their obligations would be punished. "You all must know that I repair bodies and take lives very easily. I do not usually kill in anger but I will be angry if any of you are derelict in your assignments. These jobs are important to the survival of our group." I had my own snooze in a quiet area a bit secluded from the rest. Peter came over and looked at me and I just patted the ground beside me. He happily laid down and soon he was asleep. An hour into our supposed sleep Peter slipped his hand down and felt my penis. Soon he moved down and was basically eye to eye with his goal. He looked at me and saw that my eyes were now open. He blushed at what he had done. He hoped to do a bit of investigation and then perform his own type of bonding to me. He was very insecure and this I honestly felt would make him feel good too. When he saw that I had not rejected him, he asked for permission but the words never quite left his lips. I just took his face gently and placed him where he wanted to go. He opened my pants and fished my member out. Before too long I pulled out of him. He didn't know what my plan was and was worried I would leave or ridicule him. He had such great plans in his head that I did not want to deprive him. I undid his pants and turned him around before eventually stroking into his backside. I played with his cock until he screamed and had to bite his own arm to remain quiet. This was the best time ever. Nobody else seemed to be able to get him to feel this way. He was just old enough to produce some watery discharge. I pulled out and gave him a kiss and got him to sleep now after getting his clothes arranged again. Mine were simply put to one side so the air could keep me cooler. It was an enjoyable experience but to tell the truth it was mainly for Peter. The boy he knew and loved at one time was not quite so important to him now. Two hours later I was awoken by one of the girls I thought capable of leading. I got up and stretched. When she saw that I was naked, a great many thoughts went through her pretty head and one was that she got a sampling of the boy before her. I was certainly younger than her but I was more man than anybody she knew. To encourage her I walked over and gave her a kiss and said, "What is it Susan?" "Ah... the prisoners need some water and go to the bathroom." "That maybe true but also they want to find out their limits so they can escape. They have been known to hurt or threaten." I got dressed and walked from the room. I helped my prisoners and I was not jumped. Perhaps it was when I bent the steel bar and placed it around one man's neck and through a link in a chain that they decided that I was out of their league. I found a cable and used cable clamps to make two loops. The pilot could now help the others and in fact had quite a bit of freedom although he could not get away. A line drawn on the floor told the girls how far he could go and they were warned to stay out of this area. The woman was still angry but she had not touched yet. Her voice was like a harpy as she accused the men around her of incompetence. ------- Chapter 22 I went out at dusk to hunt and plotted my course to efficiently get to any of the water holes in the vicinity. My eye had found most of the surrounding features and I took to the air to make better time. A sluggish river over twenty miles away, just over a high ridge, also gave me hope. The first oasis was certainly beautiful but didn't have that much in the line of large animals. I didn't want to deplete any particular area to feed our growing number. We had ten prisoners, 130 passengers and stewardesses, the old man, the co-pilot and engineer to take care of. The river though was very wide and had a large crocodile population. I chose two and butchered them beside the river. I flew the much lighter burden to our camp and started to cook them. I had even brought a dead tree for fuel. The girls wanted to know where the food came from but were very hesitant to ask me. I explained how to prepare the food and they went to it. It was still night and the fire would allow them to get on with the job of making breakfast. Susan was not presently on duty and wanted me away from the rest. I knew what was to happen so I went with her. In two minutes I was inside her and starting her on her first orgasm. It happened again and again till she had to sleep. Peter was in the corner hiding and I said, "Come out now Peter." The boy came thinking he was in trouble and also worried that I didn't want him any more. I kissed him then got him to kneel. He opened his mouth to say something and I pushed slowly into his mouth. "Taste her Peter. She is good but tastes somewhat different from a boy." He enjoyed me more but he found the girl's taste only acceptable. This was the best way I know to introduce this boy to what a girl would be like. I pulled out and took his clothes off and slipped into him. I went slowly and my power had opened him gently and he felt no pain or discomfort. I was soon pumping hard into his rectum and he had another orgasm with me. I pulled him over to Susan and spread her legs. "Lick her for me Peter. The taste is good and you just have to get used to it." The boy was still in the after stages of his orgasm and didn't mind as much doing something he thought kinky. He was shown that girls had a lot to offer. He was at that stage where he could go either way in life. Possibly now he would take the path that would lead to a family and far less to hide. He liked what he was doing especially when I caressed his butt. When he pulled up for a break he smiled. I simply picked him up and kissed his wet lips and sent him off. Susan got up later and sucked me too but I had cleaned myself already and she tasted nothing nasty. I had another dry orgasm and Susan was happy for pleasing me. I helped her dress and she left. Some of the crocodile was done and I sampled it and said it was more than just good. The others sampled it too and didn't find the taste that unusual. The cooks though felt good at their accomplishments. Both animals had to be cooked or they would go bad in the heat. This would take until well into the morning and I gave the cooks some help. When everybody else had some meat I fed the prisoners and gave them water. Susan brought in three of her friends and said, "Shawn this fear is making very tense and perhaps horny. Is there anything you can do about it to help?" "Get some blankets and I will give you my prescription." They hurried back with the blankets and undressed for me. I removed my own clothes and started on Susan because the others would see that she was done right. I kissed and nibbled and seemed to be going slowly but I was using my power to manipulate all her erogenous zones. She had an orgasm even before I entered her. A probe entered her anus after two more orgasms causing her next to make her scream and faint. The next was actually a virgin hoping to relieve that condition finally. She had heard of me and couldn't think of a better person to do this for her. This girl I sat beside and held for a moment. "Rachael, do you want me to be your first? You are here with your friends but I don't want you pushed into doing anything you are not ready for." "Oh I want you. I want you bad. How did you know about me?" "I can see that you are very worried. If you had been with a man before you would not act that way." I could see that she was still eager and I said, "I will be gentle, baby." Rachael had two orgasms before I entered her and she only grimaced for a few seconds then started to respond again. She had four more because it was her first time then I left her to sleep. The next was not a virgin but had her own problems. This one had a hooded clit and could not feel the sensations like other girls and as a result her only orgasms were from her own hand. I worked on the girl's mind instead and made what sensations that came to her much stronger than other girls felt. She had just as many orgasms as the virgin before and I laid her to rest on her blanket. The last girl had played with her clit and had many orgasms before even touching me. Sofia had a very sheltered upbringing but seemed to get involved with these girls. It had been so much fun, that is till the kidnapping. She had done nothing sexual with them other than talk but she had played with the little man in the boat many times after. She was another virgin except that a brush handle had been the only male substitute she ever had. She had other girls when she was younger but never a male until now. She was on pins and needles and I knew she would scream her joy to the world and almost any touch I gave her would give her what she was after. She reminded me of a bomb ready to go off at the least touch. I took her wet panties and pushed them into her mouth. This reminded her of both bondage and felt very kinky about tasting herself and had another orgasm. She needed no foreplay and I slipped into her vagina and stroked only twice before she screamed loudly and her hand came to her mouth to muffle the sound. I took out the panties and fastened my mouth and probed with my tongue as I worked on her anus with my 'finger'. She would take one breath and scream then another breath and scream again till she fainted like the rest. Girls and boys were all around the area came peeking in to see or hear everything. Some had hands in their panties and had their own orgasms. Two of the boys had wet underwear and to others would if they could. I went back to the old carrot and a stick. "Marcie Sanders, come in here please." The woman in the back was caught and came in to me with her hand still in her panties. When she got to me she said, "Yes sir." "If you wish you may remove your clothing and come to me." Her clothing came off so quickly that her panties even ripped. She kneeled in front of me and sucked me into her mouth tasting my last lover. I pushed her over and she went to her back and automatically spread her legs. I bent over and returned the favour then sat up and licked my lips. She smiled and I slipped forward and into her depths. She had many sexual partners and was not nearly as tight. I did find all her spots and worked to make my own member as large as it would go. She groaned and held tight and I just held her down and pumped her like a machine that knew exactly where and how much force to apply. She came loudly too and then continuously as I strummed her brain like a fine instrument. She gasped and floundered because she did not know how to deal with her emotions. He vagina tightened up and I too was able to have my joy even if it was short lived. I called eight more women and pleased each of them more than they had ever been pleased in their lives. I placed the women together for warmth and covered them all. I walked out of the room naked and everyone not on duty looked at me with want. Even the boys that were mainly heterosexual wanted me. I was the number one male and they would be my woman if I wanted it. After cleaning in a cup of water I got dressed in tight shorts and visited my patients. I checked the sentries twice and they couldn't understand what they were seeing or the reason for my lack of suitable attire but didn't mind the view. My body was very well developed especially since I drove it so hard so that I would never be caught wanting that extra bit of strength that should have been there. I cast my mind toward the nearby town and found it of the very sleepy sort. I could see the empty buildings where we were to be kept but there was nobody there now. The men I had killed were supposed to do the majority of the training. Some of the now dead men had images of their employer and knew how to get to his home. Perhaps I could find out something even from here. The outskirts of Addis Ababa was much further away. I traced the route to a large villa with many guards. This scene was in two of the minds of the men that I had captured or killed. There were many residents. Twelve concubines of European ancestry, their children and another group of two wives and their children. They all looked to be slaves of the slaver who had fabricated this kidnapping. I searched for a safe and saw that the owner had his dirty fingers in just about any deal that would get him some money. He could and would bring the military in to take me if he thought it necessary. Six guards patrolled the grounds and were housed in a separate building. They had a fair arsenal of good weapons, some even modern. I found a hidden passage while looking for an escape tunnel. It had two more safes. One was even hidden here. Both were heavily booby trapped. There was enough wealth behind those thick walls to alleviate some of the abject poverty Ethiopians worked with every day of their lives. The owner was in the minds of the people and his likeness was in the paintings and photographs on the walls but the man himself was absent. I came back to my camp and looked about. There were so many things to juggle and most had actually been prioritised before I had originally landed the plane. This new data fundamentally changed the way things had to be done. This could not be a simple 'kill the bad guy and return' to what I knew of as civilization. There were many old wrongs that had to be set straight or at lest straighter than they would get normally. With dawn an hour away I drove a large truck down the track towards Debre Tabor. The town had a market and I would be able to purchase more vegetables to supplement our basically carnivorous diet. The thirty mile distance turned out to be half that again along the path I took. The market was already doing business as I started my purchases. The people had a light skin but had never seen mine before or the shade of my hair. My forceful manner let them know that I was not a child to be trifled with. I bartered, cursed and summed up their dubious ancestry enough to be respected in my dealings. As my purchases grew I was forced to hire a man with a lame leg to watch my property as it came to the truck. Along with the food I bought rolls of cotton cloth and footwear for my girls and boys. The girls had raised platform shoes, good for displaying their breasts but bad to walk in and especially bad in the broken soil of our camp. Two large tarps that had seen better days were thrown on the top along with some wooden poles and some rope. When I came back the last time I had a special purchase in my pocket. Tamirat, the man of about 25 who was still guarding my property, was failing his family because of his infirmity and that meant he could find little work. But the solution was easy for me. "Tamirat, you see me as a boy but I am also a physician. Your leg can be repaired and you will have to wear a cast but that is no different than you using your crutches now. In a few months you will be able to throw your crutches away if I help now." "I would like that very much but I think a boy as young as you cannot do this." I overruled his brain and searched for the way to his home. I found the local equivalent of plaster and some small strips of wood. With these I helped him into the truck and we drove to his hovel he called home. The man went inside and we talked to his wife and children. He was not quite a zombie but he was not acting exactly as he should. I gave the family a portion of the food I had bought and the man was compelled to lie on his bed. With his wife watching I put the man to sleep and removed his cotton trousers. I shaved his hairy leg. The wife was instructed to mix the plaster now and when she turned to do this I re-broke the leg. The woman turned at the noise but said nothing. I made a small incision and sculpted his bone ends with my power and removed the deposits. In my pocket I removed a stainless steel bolt and hid it from view as I squeezed it into the shape of the internal structure of Tamirat's leg bone. I removed some of the bone marrow and slid the steel pin into place. I realigned the bone and slid the steel up half way to reinforce the break. My kit was open but I used my mind to align the ends of the blood vessels and got them to form connective tissue. The wound was closed and sutured. His leg was prepared further and the wood and plaster applied, because I would not be back. I left an open space over the incision and completed the cast. I told his wife, Buzayue, "In six days the small stitches may be removed. The cast will come off in the usual amount of time but the leg needs to be exercised and a new cast applied." I showed her how to push on her husband's leg and flex it but only after the cast was to be removed. I paid her for her husband's work and a lot extra. "He will wake up tomorrow morning. Leave him where he is until then." "Why are you giving me all this money?" "Your husband worked for me and this is the payment plus something more for the children." She just cried into her hands at the windfall thinking of how badly off her family was. I left for camp after saying goodbye to her children. The girls at the camp were relieved to see me and came running to the truck as I approached the hangar. There was so many assisting in removing the produce that I didn't have to do any more. Susan came up and gave me a hug and Peter hung back wanting the same thing but afraid to ask. I pulled him in with my other arm and hugged him too. "Susan, have the girls been working? I am a little concerned with some shirking their share of the labours." "I had a talk with the ones that were not too energetic and it looks like they are coming around. It is surprising what someone would do if their mommy and daddy aren't around to do it for them. The younger ones are the easiest. It is the older ones that put up the most fuss. The boys seem to do anything I ask. They are so sweet." Peter blushed at the comment and all of us knew why the boys acted this way. I could see that even Peter was beginning to change some of his views. We had our lunch and most commented favourably on the crocodile. For some of it was still warm. It took a long time to do up the two of them. The fresh fruit was different than we usually had but was still good. The tarp, poles and rope went into a small truck after I repaired the steering linkage and I drove off again after checking for threats approaching. This was my method of getting them out of the way for the time when the large attack would come. The oasis was about a half hour away by bus or truck and the area was not large but everybody could fit in the water but there was not that much room for each of us to have some place to rest or even sleep. I drove a few miles away and then carried the heavy tarp, poles and shovel the rest of the way. I stood at the top of a hill and looked down into the hidden depression far below. It had trees though not many and I could see how I could make a bit more area to rest in by moving some rocks to one spot. I picked up the equipment again and flew down. A hole was dug for each post and then the earth was packed hard around each pole. The tarp was held by many fingers as I tied the it off to the upper portions of the poles. The lean-to was large but not enough for everybody. Another tarp used a tree and two poles and would handle more. The water in the pool was tepid and was fed from a small underground stream that didn't flow very fast this time of year. I searched out any threats like leaches and other waterborne parasites. In a moment there was none alive to bother us. There were some fish but these were not harmed. When I got back the girls were resting from the heat. "Girls get up." They looked at me but did do as I asked. Pack lots of food and blankets. We are going on a picnic." There was lots of excitement at this. The co-pilot and Engineer were loaded into the bus and in their fatigued state they needed help to stay in place on the sometimes bumpy trip. The trucks and bus were all full but I made sure the old man came with us. There was no way the prisoners could escape and were given extra water and food. The procession looked very long and we went slowly because of the sick. We turned off the already very bad track to travel along an even worse one for about twenty minutes. There were natural hills hiding the oasis and I didn't want to destroy the site by digging. When we all got out, the people were not impressed. The country looked like any other area and only had a long hill in front of us. "Peter, take the boys and the younger girls up the hill and put your things down on the far side. Come back for more. Now get going." I heard a little grumbling even from the older girls. The youngsters scampered up the hill and when they were over the top they disappeared on the flat top. They cheered to each other at what they saw but we didn't hear that. The bigger girls helped the two men up the hill and had to get relieved part way up and again at the top. Without using my mind I knew that they were angry at me for the useless work I was putting them through. I carried my share but came up last. The boys and young girls ran by me going the other way and some girls stopped to give me a quick kiss. Since last night they wanted to do more but had to work up the gumption to take the plunge. Most young girls and boys were virgins these days but I didn't know how long this would last. The world was changing dramatically and even I could not see the end. The older girls were running down the hill and I was worried for the two men in their care. The oasis was in a depression with rock strata showing on two sides. Sand filled an apparently ancient river bed behind me which continued for a few hundred yards before ending in another wall of sand. The rock walls were at least a hundred feet wide and the water itself occupied a scant 120 feet by 80 in an elliptical pattern. There were a few dozen palms and no wind to speak of in the depression. The girls ran to stake out areas and put their blankets down and ran to the water. Marcie came to me and said with a put on pout, "Shawn you should have told us about the water. We could have brought our suits." I started taking off my clothes and put them by the food. I stood naked and ran quick toward the water and jumped more than any broad jumper ever did and landed close to the middle of the pool. Laying on my back, I said, "Marcie, come here. I want you to teach you how to snorkel." Most of the girls did not understand but did get the idea of removing their clothes. Some kept their panties and bras on while other went buff. Peter was the first to get in with me and shivered in the warm water. He stroked to me and when beside me whispered, "I would like to learn too but not with all the people around." "Peter you are free and outgoing. I love you and wish you could join my army at home." "Army?" "It is really an academy. The boys run around naked half the time and have lots of fun with the other boys. The girls there play mostly with the boys but like to be with girls too. Most are black but some are white. The girls and the boys would not give you any rest." "I would love to go." "I know. Later I can talk about it but your parents will have other plans and I doubt if you will be allowed. You have to also understand that girls have to be a large part of your life even if you do not understand that yet." Marcie had come to us and while treading water asked, "What was that about?" "I run an academy for boys and girls. Most but not all are black and almost all had problems. I teach them some of their courses and hire soldiers to teach them others. It is a lot of fun but there is a lot of love in the school and very few go a night without having at least one orgasm." "Ohhhh, sounds like my kind of place." "Well go underwater now and see if you can breathe." "Ahhh someone is here." "And last night almost everybody was there." She smiled in acceptance and sank under the water and held me tight so she would not have to fight her buoyancy. Her lips found me and she sucked for almost a half minute before coming up. After flinging the water from her face she said, "It was starting to work. Let me try again." She submerged again and tried to get me as close as possible but she couldn't hold her breath enough. I said, "Let me try now. Peter get behind Marcie and hold her under the arms and on her pretty breasts. You are to keep her from sinking." "Ok Shawn. That sounds easy." "Marcie, that thing you are going to feel behind you will not be a torpedo but close enough." Both laughed as they got in position then I breathed deep and sunk. I got Marcie to hold her knees at her breasts and started to feast. My fingers explored her holes and my lips fastened onto her clit. With two fingers working into her anus I felt her tremble and forget to hold her knees in position. I came up ten yards from them and approached as if for the first time. Marcie couldn't breathe properly and was gasping for her life. Many people were in the water but all had stopped at what Marcie must have done. "Peter, what did you do to this young lady? Were you playing with her?" "Ahh ya, I guess I was. What do you mean?" "The poor lady was overcome by what you were doing. You better take her to your blanket and rest with her till she recovers." "But it wasn..." "Peter, be a gentleman and do the right thing." He still didn't understand but I helped him take Marcie to the shore and both of us carried the girl and placed her down on his blanket. Her legs came apart and Peter just stared. "Peter, people can see inside her. Lie down and put your hand over her private area and keep people's eyes away." Peter was young and didn't know what was happening until he got into position, then a gigantic smile came over his face. A breast was nearby and he had to sample it as his friends looked on. Each one of the boys were sporting a lot of wood. The others got back to playing and most that had clothes on soon removed them. I looked around and the two injured men were sleeping and had missed the show. The old man had his own clothing off and his hand was rapidly stroking his thin dick. He had seen nothing like this in all his life and had not even imagined it. Within a half hour blankets were being moved from the tarps and to the base of the date palms. Not all girls were about to start a lesbian act and have the rest say something of it when we got back to civilisation but with a few it was close. I walked around to different girls and took their hands and joined them with others that perhaps they did not know very well. Marcie had awoken and felt Peter and with me not around had to have him. She pulled him on top of her and got him inserted. Peter started to thrust and I got too them just before he shot. I slapped his ass and the pain made him stop. "Marcie you are fertile today. Peter has just started making seed but it is possible that he might have enough to make both of your lives miserable." "Oh," came from both. "Peter get up and sample that little bump between her legs. Quite tasty even without additional seasoning. Wine does go good with it but I have to say that we are out." Peter did get up and went so fast his small dick almost struck Marcie in the eye. Her stronger hands moved his hips and soon both were back to enjoying themselves. The old man was tired. I read his mind and he had three orgasms and his dick was starting to get sore. The boys sneaked off and were doing the same thing. Some of the girls just sat with their knees up and hid their hand and fingers under a blanket. Later we had a leisurely meal and just laid around enjoying the first enjoyable part of this nightmare. I went over to the two injured air crew members and helped them sit up and watch the now more chaste action in the water. They did see the boys with perpetual hard-ons and then they saw Peter and Marcie. It looked like Peter had fallen in love but I knew it was just a passing thing. I did hope that he was now on the right path though. Some of the girls I had put together were playing stinky finger and enjoying the excitement of doing it with so many others around. Two were doing themselves and then getting the other to lick her fingers. I knew what they got together later they would get the taste from the source. My eye had been keeping track of an approaching column of trucks and even an old one man tank that came on a large truck. No planes were evident but when I scanned their minds I knew that two were coming to give intelligence. The military had donated their use along with the pilots. It looked like approximately a little over an hour till the bullets would start flying. I found six of my leaders and two of the stewardesses and told them to stay here. "I have a job to do and it will be a lot safer here." One of the stewardesses asked, "What are you going to do?" "What I always do when people come to hurt my people." "Oh..." I climbed the hill after getting dressed and once out of sight started to fly while looking for prying eyes. I made it back to the airport without incident and I checked the prisoners. They had tried valiantly to escape but had not made it. I dressed some of the scrapes and bandaged some of the raw areas. When I was done I moved heavy machinery around them to give them some protection from stray bullets. "Your friends are coming. I doubt they are here to rescue you but to regain the slaves they want. Stay low and you should be all right." Twenty minutes later the two planes approached. I didn't want them to know that the people had left so I had to chase them away. They were military and just doing a job that their commander had given them. I was outside and picked up some pebbles. I sorted them for shape and then threw them one at a time at the planes almost ten miles away. They hit like cannon fire and destroyed many nonessential parts of the planes but killed nobody. One was leaking hydraulic fluid while another was belching smoke but I thought they might be able to make it to their base safely. They frantically radioed their base telling them that they were taking heavy fire and had to break off. The planes looked quite a sight as grooves and holes were all over each of the craft. The tank on the other hand was already being lowered for use. The front wheels of the truck that carried it were lodged in the pit across the roadway. I watched the procedure with interest as the machine and the trailer itself almost killed some of the attackers. The tractor was just over the hump of a hill while the trailer was on the uphill slope. The machine was small and old. The barrel was only two inch and much smaller that regular tanks but still deadly. I flew closer to the attackers and saw them fan out to use the tank as a way to get through an unknown enemy's perimeter. At this range it was easier to read their thoughts and saw that now they were to take us and to hell with the casualties on either side. Apparently the money from the sale of slaves was not enough for the man to risk his other assets. Either we were to be taken or killed. Some of my opponents were just hired mercenaries who would be killed after the excitement was over. Others were long time employees of Alem Neh Mebreatu and would do his bidding or face his wrath. The men were worried about unknown forces that had taken their prizes and then defeated the small forces sent afterwards. This time they were taking no unnecessary risks. The small diesel in the tank fired up then settled to a steady rhythm. There was nothing more to be gained and I was about to put them out when I heard shots from the hangar. I quickly sent my eye there and found another group had flanked me and shot all my captives. Checking the first group I saw that they did not know of this group at all. I put everyone to sleep and raced back to the hangar and saw that there was little I could do to save my prisoners. The killers had been given explicit orders and told to kill these witnesses and provide a second attacking force with the other crew meant to occupy me. It certainly worked for I only considered one attacking force and these men had managed to gain their objective without me seeing them. There was nothing worth saving in this group. I removed their clothing and the fetters from my prisoners and flew all of them to the other group and placed them in a now empty stake truck. I sorted through the men sleeping and killed all the old hands and placed their bodies in the truck with the rest. The mercenaries and the tank driver were far from innocent but I decided they were not quite guilty enough for them to die. I removed their weapons and laid them away from the trucks. There were twelve of them and, counting my old prisoners, twenty nine in the truck. The men awoke and as they saw me they looked for weapons. Some started to run but the pistol in my hand fired and they stopped. I was a complete unknown to them. First I was only a young boy with a gun and they had just arisen from the ground unarmed and with no other enemies in sight. "Look in the back of the truck," I said simply. Some did and then the excited words got the rest to see what had happened. "You would have joined them but you are not Alem Neh Mebreatu's men." They looked at me not quite believing I knew this. "He had plans of killing each of you after even if he had recaptured the women and children." They didn't know what to think but they did know that life was cheap on this continent. Some had heard of Mebreatu disposing of his tools after they were used. "There are seven horses in a gully," I pointed the way. "There are twelve of you. Take the horses and bring them back to Mebreatu's stables in Addis Ababa. I do not want word of your coming to reach his ears before I get there." I could see that they would agree but in a while when they were free would rethink their plan and call ahead hoping for a reward. To this end the tank rose in the air and resumed its old position on the truck. But now the gun was aimed at them. The work was very difficult for me even if it was close. By the time I was finished I was also finished myself. I pointed tiredly to three men and said, "Drive this truck and dump the bodies for the animals. Bring the truck back here after. Fail me and you will never be able to travel fast enough to elude me. Go now." The three left with wings on their feet. I looked at three more, "Find the food you need for your journey in the trucks." I looked at the final six and said, find the horses and bring them here. The horses have weapons bring everything here with them. Go." The men scurried to do what they were told and I had to lean against a truck because I was so tired. My head and the entire spinal column hurt but at least it was not as bad as it was before. I hadn't recovered yet when the men returned from searching the trucks and set out all the food and drink. It was another hour before the others came back and I was able to stand on my own feet again. The guns were carefully laid at my feet as were all the other things found on the animals. I picked through the clutter and sorted it out. I took some of the rifles and put them with one of the twelve piles. Closing my eyes other rifles flew threw the air and landed on similar piles. I had no use for them and at least the men could hunt or protect themselves as they went home. The last thing I did was to take some of the money I had just found and give each a fair payment for their services. This was placed in each pile. A good sword was the only thing I decided to keep for myself. I pointed to a man and at a pile before me. He came very hesitantly and stooped and started to pick the property up. His eyes hardly ever left mine as if he were going to be struck down. More men were chosen and piles designated for them, until all were done. "The other piles are for the three in the truck. Wait for them and then pack all the food and water you want then leave. I may call some of you for some work when I get to Addis Ababa." This last part was almost as much a shock as the tank raising. The men would come back and the entire group would do as I said. My steps took me back to the hangar and I saw all the blood again and felt angry at myself for allowing prisoners under my control be killed. It was time to return to my group so I walked for an hour to regain some strength then flew the rest of the way. I descended to the top of the hill around the oasis and walked down. My approach was slow and some ran to greet me and ask what had happened. When I was close to everybody I said, "The last group came in two sections. I didn't see one of them and they killed all of my prisoners. If any of you had been there you too could have been murdered. I made a mistake and it cost some men and a woman their lives." Rachael and Sofia had been together since last night's lovemaking and I saw that they were quite a pair. Both were meek and mild tempered and the latter also was very sensitive to the touch. Sofia said in a determined voice, "It is better this happened to them because they would be hanged when we got home. I am happy to see them not able to hurt us again." Some of the other girls were nodding their heads in agreement. It was nice of them to say this even if I still felt that I had failed. "There were some more deaths and I let a dozen mercenaries go. They are travelling on horseback to Addis Ababa and have to share the seven horses. There was no need to kill all of them." The girls agreed with me even if they knew nothing of the criteria I judged the twelve men with. It was a very close call with them for, in truth, they deserved what the others had received. "We are leaving this place and starting for Addis Ababa tomorrow too." The girls being older saw that this would mean that we would now be parted. Many including myself did want this to end so soon but many would now believe we were all dead. We went back to swimming for an hour and packed up to leave. We had to make more trips to carry the tarps and poles but everything fit in our vehicles. The two sick crewmembers were concerned about what they heard. They had been conscious enough to understand that many lives were lost. Everybody in some place in their minds wondered how I was able to do all this. The Rhodesian army had asked many questions on the same topic. I told them the same thing that I had told the Americans, British, French and West Germans. They each had a great many ideas but became suspicious and confused when I let slip that one of the other countries was helping me with some fantastic training and weapons. When we got back to the airfield, the murder scene was visited and they saw the holes in the hangar wall and my barrier of machinery that had done nothing to protect the prisoners. Blood was on the floor and the ever present flies were gorging themselves. While the meal was being prepared Rachael and Sofia asked to speak privately with me. We walked out into the afternoon heat and Sofia started her plea. "Shawn, Rachel and I have been doing some talking. You have made us feel better than we have ever felt in our entire lives. We don't want to loose you when the outside world learns we are still alive. What we would like is for you to marry us. Each of us need you so much. If you won't marry us will you keep us with you? We will be your wives in every other way. We will have your babies. Please say yes." We had stopped as she talked and I reached out for a hand from each of them. "That is the most heart warming offer I have had since I asked my wife to marry me. I have to point out that both of you are seventeen and I am nine. There is no way I can get married again without an act of parliament in Rhodesia. You both make me feel more than good when we make love. There would be untold problems with your parents if I were able to accept." They were now quite heartbroken. They saw a lifetime commitment based on how the nerves in their body made them feel. They were lovely creatures and I wanted to let them down as easy as possible. "I am a very busy person. I work for my government to bring our culture to the world. I paint and sculpt for my art gallery. I have written almost twenty books so far and three more are waiting at a publisher. I am a physician and a teacher. I would love to accept you both but it would be unfair to you. When would we be together? It would only be stolen moments and that is not right. What I can do is have both of you as my girlfriends. This way when you find somebody else it will be sad but I will get over it in time." They saw this as their only choice and accepted it. In a few months they would see the futility of this situation and go back to being something like what they had once been. The girls were very intelligent but didn't use that much of their faculties before making the offer. They were both very beautiful and any man would accept them for a mate based on their looks or their intelligence. Eventually my long absences would make them reconsider their offer. They knew almost nothing of life and had, in one way or another, both been virgins till yesterday. I just could not invest my love in a person and have them leave because her expectations were so much different than mine. One after the other I pulled their faces to me and I gave them a kiss to seal our bargain even if it were only temporary. Rachael said, "I am so happy. I know we can make you happy. Our parents would have to agree with us. We were going to university in September and I will stay with you instead, Sofia would too I think." I said, "You both have to go to school. What would we ever talk of, a cool band or some music by Bach and how it compares to the band. I like to go to plays not just the cinemas. We can like and dislike all sorts of things but we have to be able to communicate. That communication comes from learning about other facets of our world. Don't forget I am a university lecture. As my girls you will have to be the best." They were not sure but would do as I asked. Rachael said, "If you want me in school I will go. What about you Sofia?" "I will go to. We have been together this long, I don't want to be separated now. "Good, then both of you are my girlfriends but you better not say anything to the rest of the group now." "Why?" Asked Rachael. "We are not home yet and everybody needs some assurances. If Susan comes to me she will need the same as she got last night. Even Peter needs some attention." "But Peter is a boy." "Yes he is and he is going through this phase where he needs a male to reassure him. You two have reassured each other today and last night too. There is nothing wrong with it." They both turned red with embarrassment but said nothing. When we wandered back to the group, the two girls were very happy but the rest could not get the reason from them. That night others took sentry duty. They worked it out among themselves and wanted to share. Others didn't want to share but were forced by the leaders of this fledging military. The boys took the first watch because of their age and because I used the ramps and slid the tank down onto the ground. With the exception of the weapons they could patrol with this. This brought as much excitement as watching sex and was better because they could use the machine. I was sure that no boy would leave the machine until it was much too dark to see. Rachael and Sofia came around first saying they had to go on watch later and would like some loving first. We weren't exactly alone and told the girls this. They knew but could see no way around exposing themselves. I took off my clothes and had to stop them because I wanted to do this. I went slow and went from one to the other frustrating both. As I removed a garment I would kiss and lick the newly exposed skin. Sofia, the more sensitive of the pair, orgasmed first and her actions set off Rachael. It was lucky that both were lying on their blankets. I took Rachael now and slid into her sore vagina but the pain didn't last long. She held tightly as I pushed into her and the images in her mind were of me making a child within her womb. I didn't reinforce her image and just continued to push hard as if I were trying to get as far back into her as possible to ensure my seed took root. I held her a moment then moved to Sofia. Sofia took less time but came just as hard. I continued this one more time but plucked at their minds and they came the next time with such force that they went unconscious again. I wrapped them up and put them together and found all the stewardesses behind me wearing only their skin. The one that had given some leadership responsibilities asked, "Will you take us too? We..." How could I say no. I worked on all six and found half had actually not had a man yet. I treated the other three as if they were the same and in a little over an hour and a half they had to be wrapped up and put aside. For a moment I felt like a spider paralysing its prey then wrapping them in silk for a casual meal after. I was just finishing and the junior version came to me. These were the children that would have suffered most under a man's hands. These had to be treated different for I didn't want them to go home and their parents wonder where their hymens went. Their talk would be bad enough but the evidence could damage me. They were all at least three years older than me but still not enough to get the full treatment. All eleven naked girls lay on their blankets and I kissed and feasted on them to multiple climaxes and then worked on their brains and the last one put them into that place I sent most women now. There were only fourteen more that night and I got Rachael and Sofia up for guard duty and went to sleep myself. Morning came early and I groggily got up. Yesterday's activities had tired me out and I was not fully recovered yet. Many of the girls came for a morning kiss and I didn't disappoint any of them. We ate breakfast and I brought out the cloth and shoes I purchased earlier. I found one of the many girls that would now strip for me, after which I showed everybody how to dress as an Ethiopian. The shoes were not good for sensitive feet but were better than their shoes with heels. The boys would have enjoyed the show but were all back at the tank playing war games. I dressed some of the girls that had to stay in the open trucks and others were able to go through their suitcases to find something to keep the sun off and be cool. Some even had practical shoes but wouldn't wear them because of the competition. We had to come back for the girl's property and perhaps the plane eventually but before that happened we would all stay together so I could keep an eye on them. Some of the girls went out and dug the ditch holding the truck a few yards wider but slowly tapering to the road level. We were able to get it out of its trap. It went to the runway and was turned around and came back. The ditch was filled in then and the truck safely drove over it. The rest of the vehicles made it to the hangar. Even the bloody one was put to use after it was cleaned. The tarps were used to shade the back of the open trucks but high enough to allow the wind to blow in. Our water tanker was attached to one truck and was only half full. I made hammocks for the two men and got them as comfortable as possible. They had their own nurses and would do better than most of us on the trip. I called the tank over and all the boys came with it. There were eight rounds of ordinance and the boys drew lots and got to fire them off. I think they had a harder woody from this than from a naked girl. Peter was the exception and his would be equal. The tank was now left behind. The small plane was not put on the truck. This would be fairly easy to do but it would be hard to travel down a two lane highway this way. I could see a wing leaving as a truck went by. It would be here when I returned. The old man I took aside and said, "In a few days the man that pays you will be dead. You have a home here but there will be no money. Do you want to come with us to Addis Ababa? I will try to find you a job there." The man was grateful but said no. I accepted his choice and paid him over a year's wages and said, "Repair the runway and all the other things that were damaged. The tank is yours. It might make a good but heavy tractor. We will be coming back for our property so you must guard that for us. There will be no more men from Alem Neh Mebreatu coming here." We shook hands European style and we set out on our path to freedom. The roads were bad and the drivers inexperienced but we did the best we could. In Debre Tabor we stopped and everybody went for a small tour to see what could be seen, which wasn't much. I made a short stop at the house of Tamirat and found Buzayue outside. Once she recognized me she came forward and greeted me like a brother. Tamirat was inside and I inspected the sutures and said that everything was going as it should. He thanked me for this great feat I had done. He could not travel to a doctor nor could he afford one if he could make it. I left with his thanks ringing in my ears. We were making about fifteen miles an hour and stopped at noon to have our meal. It was not as efficiently done as the academy but they were getting the hang of it. We made only five more hours before stopping to set camp, which made it only a little more than half way. That night sentries were out again and this time more vigilant at my suggestion. There were a few four legged predators as well as two about. The girls were mostly tired from the trip so I was only deluged with a few requests for companionship. Four hours into the morning the main highway was seen. We camped and had our meal for the next part we would have to deal with other traffic. Noon found us on the slightly better dirt road that had some stone and a grader go by once a year or so. We stopped a little early because there was little chance of finding a better space to camp for the night in the remainder of the trip. After the camp was set up a truck pulled up and the men in it wanted us to vacate the property or pay them a rent. The property was not theirs and they didn't even know who owned it. I knew that if I paid, then others would be by and would want their pay too and maybe to sample the women as well. This was no reason to kill anybody but I just wanted to be left alone. If they were not impressed enough they would just get some friends and then there would be trouble. The thin man doing the demanding held out his hand and before he knew what had happened I had struck him four times and he was on the ground. Others came to help him and they too ended in a pile on the ground nursing bruises. I brought out some of our weapons and put a pistol to the man's face. "Get up," I said. The man did and stood holding his sore stomach. I took a piece of cloth from him and ordered him to walk to a tree about a half mile away and tie the cloth to a low branch. The alternative was that I shoot him here. The man did as I demanded and as he finished I raised the pistol and without aiming, shot the branch off just before the knot. The men were now suitably impressed and were very happy to leave. Sentries stayed out nevertheless. That night I took the stake truck and drove to the Alem Neh Mebreatu estate. I wanted to come before him and make him tremble or give him some of the pain he had given others. This was infantile I knew, so when I got there I just put everyone to sleep instead. The man was large and would be quite formidable in a fistfight or a free for all. I did see all of the commitments he had in his mind. His family depended on him as did countless other families for a pay check. This meant that it could not be just the quick death I once envisaged. His organisation had to be taken over and managed. This was no different than what I had said about blacks taking over a country without the knowledge of how to run it. It made the old simple pleasures of just killing an enemy a thing of the past. Bodyguards and everyone else in the house were assessed. Many were found wanting. I took the defective ones out and worked on each one as I had once done the young men that raped Lusa. They were now hesitant about doing anything illegal and would try to get gainful employment and use what money they had to ensure the continued well being of their family. The bodyguards were awoken and looked in fear at the situation they were in. I walked around with only my sword in my hand and looked at them as if reading their minds. I had already done so and I just wanted them to fear me even above their old employer. That was now the case. I gave a task before anything else was done. Eleven men got into the truck and carried a note to the girls asking them to allow the men to drive the vehicles here. They left immediately after they got the note. One of the remaining men was a government bureaucrat who got his money from graft. He was suddenly stuck in his job with poor pay and no wish for gouging people. He had enough money from his job already to retire but I liked it better if he now gave something back to his country. Others were treated about the same but pain would come to them to keep them on the straight and narrow road. This was necessary because there was no way they would bend to my will otherwise. When dawn came the remainder of the men were done and I sent them on their way. Hopefully I would never need them again or at least, not for their original jobs. Ah hour later a long line of vehicles came onto the property and I flagged them to where they were to park. The girls and boys got out happily. Some had urgent business and had to be shown the washroom. It was good that there were so many rooms. I showed them their would-be slave master sleeping on the grass. The house and the fourteen sleeping wives or slaves/concubines and their children were next. "These people were abused and forced to bear this man's children. He did keep them fed and sheltered. Most of you would not have been even this lucky. The women you see have also been kidnapped and for years have given up hope of ever seeing home again." The girls hugged each other thinking how close they had come to a similar fate or one possibly worse. The adults and some of the children had bruises and a few even had scars. I awoke the European women one at a time and tried to get them to speak their old tongue. Two had been beaten so badly that their minds refused to remember it. I had to tell them that they belonged to me now. This was very unsettling to them but also a small relief as well. Their new master might be bad but surely couldn't be as bad as the first. The wives were told the same thing and they accepted it as well as the concubines. They got up and started to make our morning meal. There were no cooks or servants really, just the women that lived here. Showers ran constantly now and towels were used many times till they were wet and had to be dried in the sun. The co-pilot and the engineer were bathed and put into a spare bedroom. There were not enough rooms to house us all. I put the friends together but the rooms were now very crowded. The hallways were soon filled and would have to stay this way for a while. ------- Chapter 23 It took a half hour of working on Mebreatu's brain to convince him to see things my way. This was longer than anybody else and I wanted the lessons that I taught to be remembered and remembered thoroughly. At 9:20 Mebreatu's solicitors came to the property and found that their client wanted to sell everything he owned to me at a modest and almost fair price. They argued with him and even offered him more, knowing that his many properties were worth it. Mebreatu was adamant that I was to buy the properties so the lawyers left to have the papers drawn up. I found many of my people looking at the odd phone and thinking about contacting the rest of the world. The loss of what we had now weighed heavily on their minds. We had a meeting and I explained what some of my intentions were. Some points were vague and I let them suggest some points so that the ideas were partially theirs. They liked the idea of shafting Mebreatu for everything he owned. All of the concubines either knew English or at least a little, together with their own language but were still afraid to contribute their thoughts. Four local restaurants started making deliveries to the house and I paid in cash. The original residents were encouraged to work with the newcomers. This worked better with the older children but the young ones were helped by the girls who suddenly wanted to show me their maternal side. As more deliveries came I had to open one of Mebreatu's safes to pay for the goods. I went to my new group of women and told them that I was a physician no matter what I looked like. The children were checked first and I did what I could to ensure their health. An older child of nine needed a cavity fixed and I did this with my power and some gold. He went around the house showing his mouth to his family. Peter took him under his wing and ohhed and ahhed at the filling. They could not understand one another but the game of football really didn't need any. The yard was big enough and the ball was kicked from one end to another and then a game began with everyone that was young enough to run in the hot sun chasing after the ball. Every once in a while somebody would go over to Mebreatu and look at his slack features and wonder what happened to him. His family were still afraid but I could not see any pity in them for the man. When the children were done I started on the most submissive concubine and gave her three fillings and then examined her body with one of her 'sisters' there to assist. I could only put some cream on the bruising and rubbed it in with my hand. I looked at all fourteen women and filled whatever teeth needed attention or removed the ones that weren't salvageable. Apparently a dentist cost too much and the women and children had to suffer. There was one tumour and I put the woman out and operated immediately. I was working at close to my best but not completely, because I wanted evidence that the woman needed what I did for her. The incision was very small, much smaller than any other doctor could manage with. The growth came out and was put into a bottle and submerged in vodka. There seemed to be a lot to alcohol and drugs here, yet this was an Islamic state. The solicitors came back and I read the contracts very quickly. Their minds were read just as quickly as I sent the contracts back with many corrections. I demanded that the corrected contracts be brought back early tomorrow morning. Mebreatu, with pain and fear to goad him, demanded the changes too. An hour later a small car pulled up with a truck full of soldiers in the back. A captain working for a general wanted to know what was going on. I talked to the captain with Mebreatu beside me. "Mr Mebreatu is selling me all his assets and he is going to retire." "That can't be. We have many agreements that have not been completed." "The drug business I am sorry to say has ended for Mr Mebreatu. You had best find somebody else to work with." This caused a further argument and he threatened to call in the soldiers in the truck. At this point as if by magic the sword that I had kept was in my hand moved. I sliced much of his uniform off with such quick strokes that he didn't even have time to blink. As he left I made him feel pain anytime he saw me in the future. This could substitute for fear and would have much the same effect. Mebreatu was taken like a child to the washroom and was then fed. He was put in a corner of the garden and told to stay there until called. The family started to settle down to sleep and I took sentry duty. Peter came out and found me sitting on a chair. I opened my arms and sat the older boy on my lap. "The phone calls will not be the end of the world Peter. Your parents are grieving now about you and the rest of our flight. It is not fair to have them feel this way when you can stop it. We will always be friends." The boy cried at the thought and held me as if I was his only life preserver. I got him to sleep and I thought of all the friends that would drift away as time passed. All would change and had changed. They were not the same self centred individuals some were at the start of our journey. Perhaps the lessons would be remembered and they would fit into the world around them better. Inside the house a little girl, Kirsay was crying. She had awoken with her usual nightmare about her father beating her. This was usually prophetic for the man usually came in and beat the child to keep her quiet. I put Peter into my chair and walked down the crowded hallway and found the girl in a room with her other half sisters. She immediately stopped crying and went into a panic at seeing me. I picked her up with a small blanket and took the quivering child outside to my chair. Kirsay was so frightened that her bladder let go and I had to hold it for her. I got her to squat on the grass and removed my control and a small flood ensued. I relaxed her muscles and allowed the remainder to leave her. She was about four. She had dark hair like her father and a pretty face like her mother. A small scar on her forehead attested to her father's rage. I just straightened her clothes and wrapped her in the blanket and put her in my lap in a chair beside Peter. I sang quiet songs to her till she relaxed and finally went to sleep. A few hours later another nightmare started and I put myself in the child's mind and protected her from a large abusive man. The child went back to more normal dreams until the morning when she woke up in my arms. She was not afraid of me now but wasn't completely sure either. I took her to the bathroom and had to clean her the Arab way without toilet paper. This was necessary because there was very little paper in the entire capital to use, even if I wanted some. I fed her some leftovers from last night and played a game pretending she were a fledgling. Mothers started coming out and watched as I fed my little birdie. When the child was fed I started to clean up even if the women felt that this was their job. I started talking about my old life and how I had always helped. Judy the oldest stewardess came out to see if she could help and I called her over to give her a kiss as I subtly aroused her. Two more kisses was all it took and I had to carry my large bag of jelly into the other room to recover. The women were all young or Mebreatu would not have them. One woman was the mother of the nine year old boy and had only been thirteen when she had conceived him. No woman was older than her and she was just twenty three. The stewardess I just took out was only a year younger. My monologue continued with me telling the women what I thought of as a family setting. It had to be altered a bit to accommodate a polygamous setting but it was basically the same as my original view before I was thrust more into the adult world. Three trucks were being loaded at the local military base. The captain with a worried look followed the verbal orders of his general. 'Bring this boy in, ' had been the words. The duties before had been relatively easy but taking this one boy in would be extremely dangerous. Word had got out that anybody sent against him never returned. Even aircraft took heavy fire from multiple sources. There must be a large gang of hoodlums working with this boy to do this. My eye had been watching the base and I found the captain from the day before taking some troops out. I looked into his mind and as I figured he was ordered to arrest me. Thankfully the orders had been verbal. The general in question was now working on his papers relating to the drug trade passing through this country. There was no way I could see of getting this man to stop unless I treated him like Mebreatu. That took a long time and in the end I would have to have him leave. There were too many complications with this and I saw the old way of doing things fit this situation. The base was on the other side of town and the only way there that would not draw attention was in one of the vehicles in Mebreatu's garage. I excused myself and left the house for a moment. I raised the door of the garage and entered. One vehicle was older than the rest and would suit my purpose. It took a quarter hour to arrive at the sprawling base. A high fence surrounded the base and I just parked in a more deserted area close to the fence. I was over the barrier in a flash and ran between the buildings. My eye ranging above me to keep me from running into base personnel. Between two buildings I saw a small unattended truck. I would need this to get by the people walking and driving about. The truck went into neutral and I drove it with my mind towards me. When it swung into position I got in. The general was now making calls about his sideline occupation as I drove closer to his position. The captain on the other hand was stalling trying to come up with a way around his orders. The men under him were the usual military efficiency and found their own reasons for not leaving the comfortable base. The general's office was at the back of the building and his parking spaces were not all full. This area was quiet and I was able to fly out of the vehicle and up to his window. Up to this time I had been looking for a way around the inevitable but saw none. As the general hung up the phone he died. The slack body flowed out the window now and after another look around into the back of the small truck. Five minutes later the body was in the boot of my car and the truck was being driven back by remote control to where I got it. This proved difficult because of the effort needed to push the truck and the distance I was from it. Thankfully the automobile I was in had a functioning motor and I drove around to the front of the base. The captain had come to the conclusion that he would be executed by the general for failure to carry out his orders. It might not be done by a military tribunal, but by the general's own hand in some dark alley. There was the remote possibility though that the boy might be killed or be convinced to come. This had to be tried. The Captain ordered his men in now in a rough voice and they headed out of the base with him leading in a car. Just out of the base and perhaps a half mile away he had to stop because of a large number of civilians on the road. He had the driver honk the horn and the crowd parted. As they came close they had to stop because there was a man on the road. The Captain got out because he saw a uniform. Pushing the people aside he got closer and saw it was a general. The body had been decapitated and each of the limbs severed from the body. He ran over and looked at the head and his fears were confirmed. This had to be a sign. It had only been a short while before that the two of them had talked and he had received his orders. The image of the blond haired boy flashed in his mind and his fear grew to such an extent that he almost wet himself. The boy would now be left alone even if he had to run to another country to avoid the orders if he was given them again. Back at the house I found breakfast was already prepared. The car was put back and the garage closed. It now looked like I had effectively severed the connection to one part of Mebreatu's drug empire. The papers on the general's desk might close it more. The possibilities were remote because the military like all professions stuck together to protect their own. I went into the house and started waking the first crew to use the facilities and begin our new day. The house was not designed for the large family that I had assembled. The septic system was full and the back lawn very green and wet. The well had been altered just two years ago to have an electric pump instead of the crank hand pump and a tank in the roof. The well itself was close to many forms of contamination and this was no different than others in the city. Nobody it seemed cared if water could cause their death. A public water system was not even available in the capital city. Two hours later the captain and his trucks returned to the base and an investigation had already begun. The captain knew nothing and had only been taking his men out for a training exercise. Mebreatu's hidden assets had to be sorted. A secret room was entered and I had to nullify all the booby traps and then open both safes. There was more than enough money to buy Mebreatu's assets. After Mebreatu took possession of his own money, I would get a receipt and the money would come back here. The contracts would be witnessed and everybody happy except Mebreatu and his business partners. The solicitors were approaching so I got Mebreatu out and again took him to the washroom and fed him. He looked a little unkempt but not too bad to arouse a lot of suspicions. I cleared a wide area on a patio and set out the chairs that were needed. The cars pulled into the drive and parked beside the old trucks and some of the legal profession's finest got out. On the patio after some tea I read the contracts. The listings of his properties neglected to mention his half interest in a small shipping line, a fish processing plant, a downtown hotel and his many aircraft and other vehicles. Three of the lawyers also kept the books and had decided that Mebreatu was under some distress when he was selling all this property and they thought that they could manipulate the recourse to show that they now owned the property. Again my sword came out and three men suddenly felt cool as the sword came so close that it shaved the hair from their body. "I am not a fool, coward, or stupid. Complete the list of assets or I will make women out of each of you and send you to the slums to make a living as whores." They started to protest and the sword shaved hair again in quick slashes. "You three are liars and thieves. Put what is Mebreatu's on the list. I will give you no other chance," I said as the sword was laid on the table. The three solicitors left and I continued with the remainder. I told Mebreatu as if he were a friend what his lawyers had tried to do. His old anger showed and since it was not directed at me the murderous rage showed through. The rest of the men at the table shrank back at the sight. Some of the other papers were in order and were signed and witnessed. Mebreatu just looked into a suitcase at the cash and considered this portion completed. The property we now stood on was mine. Before the lawyers went I left for a moment and went into the house to find Mebreatu's women. "Your husband and master is now going to divorce you." Some started to cry knowing they had nothing to support them or their children. They would be forced into prostitution if they were lucky. I took two of them and shook them for a second. "You will now be mine. You may not be my wives but I pledge to look after you and all your children as if they were my own. I will not beat you or my children and all of you will get an education and money of your own." They didn't believe this but walked out on the patio with me. Mebreatu stood up and before witnesses divorced the women after saying it three times. Immediately after I claimed all of the women as my own. Two of the solicitors were angry because they were each promised a blond haired concubine when Mebreatu was finished with them. I went around the house and rounded up Mebreatu's children that were now mine. I sat down on the floor with them and said how I was going to be their father now. The man on the patio was going to leave and never come back again. There was some crying because they were now leaving a life that was bad but was at least familiar. I took a few minutes and talked to a few of the children. The babies I just held and thought of Jason. The solicitors were forced to wait while the other three came back with different suits, but I sensed that one had a gun in his coat. The papers were now in order and many of the charges that they had tried to gather had now been put where they belonged. Another suitcase of money changed hands and the papers were witnessed. Two solicitors stayed after Mebreatu paid them for their services in cash. These I hired as being more honest or perhaps less innovative than the rest. They were to register my property for me before the end of the day. They left in the last car to go off to do this for me. Mebreatu was going to have to stay with us little longer. As it was, he could just enter his former businesses now and demand whatever of the proprietors thought was his, at least until they had found out about the change I ownership. I had no intention that he should live in the style he had been accustomed to so I had him shave and get clean clothes. I wanted him to take two suitcases for his clothes and his papers eventually. I had to present my ownership papers to the businesses I now owned but this would have to wait till tomorrow. I went to my new concubines, for that was the only legal term in this country for them. I told them to bathe and prepare themselves for me later tonight. They were not sure of this as I was the same age as the oldest boy. They had seen my effect on the stewardess and in any case had nothing to loose. The telephone operator put me through to London where I contacted the gallery and Sharon. "Shawn, you are alive." "I sure am. I am sorry I couldn't contact you earlier but there were no phones were we landed." "Oh Shawn, we were so worried about you. You disappeared and a plane had crashed. We thought that you got on it." "I did Sharon. The plane did not crash though. It was part of a gigantic white slavery plan. A plane load of people did crash but it was not us." "I am so glad. Were you hurt?" "I am fine but I have a few more commitments in my life now. I want you to talk to my grandparents and phone Monique when you can and tell them that I am still here." "Where is here?" "I am in Addis Ababa now but I will fly out in a week to Britain. I am going to make some more phone calls and let people know that most of us are still alive. Don't spread the word to others outside the family yet and tell Monique to not spread the word either." "Still alive... what happened?" "I will phone in a day or so and give you more detailed information Sharon. It is a long story as you can imagine." My next call was to Buckingham Palace. After giving my name I was eventually handed to the Duke of Edinburgh. "Shawn the family were quite upset. We thought that you were dead." "Only came close. The entire flight was kidnapped. We are all safe and the only ones dead are the bad guys. In my course of being a knight errant, I have found more property. The oxymoron can be explained later but there are more people in need of therapy now and I can't leave for a week." "That sounds just like you. What would you like me to do?" "This is actually something that may help your family. Tonight at six your time you can announce that a joint British/Rhodesian security detail rescued the passengers of the ill fated flight and will fly back to London some time in the near future. I will call the Rhodesian Prime Minister and get our story straight. He will announce the same thing at the same time. You can get Scotland Yard to notify the parents that all the passengers are safe and I will call to let them know. I just have to find enough phones and a ton of coins." "Why can't the Yard phone now?" "Then your announcement will be old news and your family will get little benefit from it. A lot of people look up the monarchy and I just want to shore it up a bit. I will phone again in two hours and you can have the Yard on the line and we can get the details worked out." The call to the Rhodesian prime minister went about the same but without as much incredulity. He already knew from recent experience that I was capable of some pretty strange things. My next call was to the hotel I now owned. The manager did not believe me so I called Mebreatu to the phone to confirm it. The manager would not really believe my word until he saw the legal papers. "How many vacant rooms do we have at the moment?" "Let me check sir." A moment later he said, "There are forty seven sir." "That will have to do then. Reserve all the rooms for me and get whatever help you need to handle that many new guests. We will be arriving in an hour." "Very good sir." The call after was to get aviation fuel delivered to the field with the plane. This was more tricky as somebody had to come by and pick up the cash for the fuel ahead of time. I just sent him to the hotel to meet us there. Mebreatu rode with me in the old bus to the hotel and it was a pleasant surprise to find that it was upscale for this part of the world. It was in fact one of the best in the city. The doorman did not approve of all the foreigners getting out of a decrepit bus to enter his hotel but the sight of Mebreatu changed his mind. Mebreatu told the manager of the change of ownership and now I got much better attention. The stewardesses were given two rooms first and told to organise the other two bus loads coming later. I promised them money and the chance to phone home when I returned with the last load. Once everybody had space in a room I drove back for the next trip and then the last. The bus didn't quite fit in the owner's reserved space but a spot was found. Mebreatu stayed with me so I could keep an eye on him. He was bucking my control harder than any other I knew of. I used the manager's phone and called the palace again and very quickly got to the Duke and Inspector Waters. I explained what I had done and why. Some of the story had to be fictitious but I made it as believable as possible. The attacks at the small air strip were played down except for the killing of the kidnappers and their killers in turn. My present status as the owner of Mebreatu property was likewise glossed over. They had enough information now to go public. Another phone call had to be made to say the same thing again to Rhodesian authorities. At six GMT I allowed the passengers to start their calls. I had to find some people that spoke English to handle the calls for the overseas operator. The hotel switchboard was very busy for a few hours as some people either wouldn't or couldn't get off the phone. Everybody was formed into groups with the leader's word as law. They had money now but had to stay in the hotel till the morning when I came back. There was one full time hotel detective and I got him to provide additional security. The manager held a bag of money for the fuel deliveries and would hand it out when the man arrived. At eight o'clock I left with Mebreatu in a borrowed car and went to 'my' house now. We picked up the things I wanted him to have and a good bit of money. I drove him to the airport. He had a ticket to the Ivory Coast and that was the best I would do for him. Soon every law enforcement agency in the world would be after him. His business partners would probably find him first though and the man was running scared. Instead of going back to the hotel I went to my new concubines. The term kind of made me tingle but knew it wasn't right. The women needed to be assured that they were indeed wanted and I wouldn't mind showing them how much. I scanned ahead and found the women nervously pacing about and cleaning the house and doing anything to keep their mind occupied. When I parked at the front door the children were all hustled to their rooms and the women worried once again about what they had got themselves into. I opened the door and said, "Hello ladies. Mebreatu is on a plane to the Ivory Coast and will never come back. If the police don't get him the criminals or his business associates will." The women seemed pleased at this information. "Now I intend to enjoy our nuptials. You will be like wives to me and your children will be mine," I said as I took the oldest woman present and guided the 23 year old woman to our bed. With the door closed I heard the rest sneaking close so they could at least hear everything possible. The native woman's name was Ayana, she was taller than me as indeed all were. I undid her thin diaphanous clothing and set the garment aside. The discarded clothing revealed that her breasts were large and her pubic hair dark. I removed my own clothing as she watched. When she caught sight of my penis she was a little disappointed. She equated size with pleasure. I got her to lie on the bed as I crawled on beside her. I went slowly because she was the first and kissed her lips tenderly and sucked on her lower lip. She was not used to this for she had always had to spread her legs and in a minute the male was done. I kissed Ayana's ears and throat while getting her mind more worked up. When I worked around her breast she wanted to move my lips to her choice of target but wouldn't consider speaking out loud to direct a male thus. I eventually grasped the nipple in my mouth and sucked hard a few times and released it. Her gasp was heard on the other side of the door. Ayana could not take it longer and moved her body as if I had difficulty finding her other nipple. It took twenty minutes but I made it to her clit and sucked it into my mouth. She could not understand a man doing this to a woman. Only a woman did this to another. The thirteen other women in the hall listened intently so I started to work on them too. When the woman in my arms had her second orgasm half the ones in the hall did too. I climbed the woman's body and she raised her knees for me. I slipped in and so did my power. Within a minute I was bigger than her only other man and I started working tentatively on her anus. Soon she had her third ever male induced orgasm. The first two were only moments before. She held me tightly to her and I thrust hard as if trying to plant seed directly in her womb. She was completely out of it now and mumbled, pleaded and groaned to my touch. I used my force again and stood on the floor. My arms under her legs forced her up and down on my cock. She was now only supported by my arms and my cock. She was moved away to change the angle then pulled higher so I could stroke her clit as I plunged back in. She screamed and didn't stop. The girls in the hall experienced the same thing but to a lesser degree. I laid her on her back at the edge of the bed and continued to thrust into her at a faster pace and this time we both came. The climax was too much and she went to sleep as now seemed to happen with my women. When the door opened I saw the women outside sprawled on the floor. I picked up the next oldest and took her to another room. This time I left the door open and was eating her within seconds. She climaxed almost immediately and I slipped into her. Again I filled her as her anus too was stretched by one of my invisible fingers. In three minutes she had too much and fainted. The next woman wanted me desperately but had her period. I threw two towels on the next bed and slipped into her straightaway. She was very nervous about any man taking her at this time of the month but that was soon forgotten as she groaned, thrust and twisted to get all the sensations possible until I picked her legs up and entered her already loosened anus. She screamed the loudest of all and clawed my back in her uncontrolled movements. When I eventually came tiredly to the youngest woman, I found that she had already had many orgasms but eagerly awaited more. With fourteen women the chances of having one fertile was good. This one was such. I kissed and sucked on her like a man should then after two orgasms mounted her and started to thrust. "Fannah, you are fertile now. If I were older I would be able to plant a child within you. Do you want my child?" She had not had a child yet and feared having one before but this time she wanted mine desperately. Part of this change was her new tie to me and her instinctual need to have superior children. Her cries as she orgasmed at the thought was enough for me to thrust harder and come myself. I left all the women to sleep and had a shower. The children (then I reconsidered) 'my children' were concerned about their mothers'. I had no clean clothing so I walked into the room naked. This was nothing new and the children themselves were naked many times. The girl I consoled last night was the least scared now and asked, "What happened to my mommy?" I walked over to her in the large room for girls and sat on the bed beside her. "Kirsay, I am your new daddy. Your old one was bad and I made him go away. He hurt your mommy and hurt you too. What I did to your mommy made her feel so good that she had to scream in joy. All the mommies felt that way and said how much they liked the way I loved them. They are all happy now and sleeping. Give me your hand and we will go see them." We walked from room to room and the little girl saw the women sleeping peacefully. She asked, "What's that smell?" "When a woman makes love and feels good she makes a slippery stuff like oil. It has a smell and men like it. When you get older you will make it too." "Oh," was all she said and I knew that she was satisfied with the explanation. We walked back and checked the children and then went to the boy's room and saw Benyam under the covers playing with his penis. When he saw me he quickly stopped. We sat on his bed now and I said, "Benyam, I see that you are growing to be a man. Will you come with me please? I think you believe that I hurt your mother and the other mothers too." I took his hand but he pulled away as if I would hurt him. He was as naked as me. All three of us retraced our steps and he saw that the women were apparently fine, although there were still some lingering doubts in his mind. When we got to his mother I gently kissed her and woke her up. As her eyes fluttered open I gave her another kiss and said, "Did you enjoy that my love?" "Yes master." "Please call me Shawn. Our son is here and thinks that I hurt you. Will you talk to him please?" She caught the possessive form of address and said, "Oh Benyam your new father was very nice to me. He didn't hurt me at all. If I thought I could take it I would have him do it again." The boy was still unsure of this for it was all new to him. The birds and the bees had not been explained but he had seen his old dad take one of his women and put his penis between her legs and move for a few seconds and stop. There had never been any noises except some from his father. He was glad the man had gone. He had heard that from his room but why did his mother have to take another boy that looked no older than he was. Perhaps he could do this for his mother and then the boy could go. I said, "It's past your bedtime Benyam and you too Kirsay. I picked the girl up and held her at my hip and held out my hand for Benyam. He reached out and took it. We walked out the door and down to the girl's room and placed Kirsay in her bed and tucked her in. I bent over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, "Have sweet dreams tonight. Nobody will beat you in this house." She said nothing for she didn't know what to say. I took Benyam's hand and pulled him to his own bed and tucked him in. He too got a kiss and the boy thought it strange but nice too. "Sleep without fears Benyam. Nobody hurts my family if I can prevent it. Tomorrow is a busy day for all of us." His mother beckoned me and I slipped into bed beside her and she quickly leaned over and kissed me. This was the first time she ever initiated sex and I saw that my job would be less if this were encouraged. My hands found her breasts and I gently caressed her nipples. She groaned in my mouth and I shifted down the bed and sucked a nipple into my mouth. Her last orgasm was over an hour ago but its effects were still lingering. She pulled me tighter to her and my hand found her clit. Her head turned and she screamed into the pillow and her legs tightened up. Moments later I got her into the unfamiliar position where she was on top. She wondered how my small cock filled her so well and after a moment didn't care. A finger she thought entered her bum and it too grew. She couldn't take it any more. She screamed and then collapsed. At the door Benyam watched us from the dark. "Benyam come in and sleep with us. You are safe." Benyam did not know want to do. His little cock had got big and the strange boy called him in. He had to go or he would look afraid. The door opened further and he climbed into bed as he did when he was hurt or when he had to know that somebody loved him. In seconds he was asleep. It felt good to have a family again even if it was not the same and probably not permanent. Before I went to sleep I looked at the hotel and found everybody safe but not necessarily asleep. Rachel and Sofia were not all the ones that needed something extra to get them to sleep now. Outside this house others looked and wanted what we had but were afraid to try just yet. The new owner looked young and should be easily parted from his valuables. The next morning I went into the hidden room and took out some gold coins. These were quickly fabricated into rings for everyone in the house. The babies would get theirs when they grew older. Their mother's would hold them till then. I made breakfast and thought about all the valuable property hidden. The family and the house needed protection but it had to be protection that I could trust. I also needed managers to take over this organization but be able to fight the crime figures that would demand a share or compensation for past losses. The children I woke up first and fed while talking to them. This was never done before for them and they had to get used to it. The babies were onto solid food so I heated it up and fed them two at a time. There were eighteen children at the table. Some women had two children while only one was childless. They all looked healthy now, at least not as unhealthy as the general population. They just needed some exercise, good food and lots of love. Education I knew had to work its way in but we would get there. In my talks I would walk around the table and take things from noses and ears that the children were amazed were stored there. When I got to Benyam, he put his hands over his ears and a pinky over each nostril. From the large hole in the top of his head I did find a large gossamer scarf though and the younger ones laughed or the ones old enough to understand. The children in Ethiopia did not see cleanliness the way Europeans saw it. After breakfast I set two towels in the bath tub and put a few inches of water in it. The three babies were washed and shampooed then changed. While their brothers or sisters watched them I cleaned the next set until I got to Benyam. He wanted to be touched but said differently. I compromised and washed his back and shampooed his hair. I wanted to talk about prehistoric animals to him as I imitated them with his soapy hair but he knew nothing of them. When we were all finished I got them dressed and then found the sewing equipment and some of the old clothes in the closet. I made a set of clothes for me then made things for the children. The original clothes would find nobody to wear them in this house for many reasons. The children were dressed in the new finery as they became available. Benyam didn't mind too much dressing his siblings or even getting the new pants that he thought looked good but he was only noncommittal in his words. After another diaper change the mothers were getting up after oversleeping a little. They didn't find their children but that was not unusual. One mother would take the group or part of it and do what had to be done. It was just the male never did any of this. They found me sitting tailor fashion on the floor and our children dressed in new clothes. They stood at the doorway awaiting permission to come in. This was usual in many places for servants and all the women were servants to their former husband. I said, "Come in girls. I am the head of the household but not a dictator. Come here and give me a kiss." This they understood and gave me one and they got progressively hotter till I had all fourteen. "If I get kissed like that in a few years you will all be walking around with big bellies." The women understood but the children didn't. The women did blush and smile at the thought. I picked the needles and scissors up to keep them away from the babies and said, "Come ladies. I had started breakfast for you." They didn't understand this yet but sat with their children at the table as I fed them. The children wouldn't eat much and Kirsay said that they were already fed. We tried to talk as a family but the women would only answer a question if directed at them. They were not just under Mebreatu sway still but the way a woman had to be in this country. A woman was little more than a chattel. I sent the women to dress for going out and to dress the remainder of the children too. A phone call to Mebreatu's former lieutenant got me a run-around until I said that I had killed many of his former friends and a few more wouldn't matter much. A better bus came for us together with extra drivers. One took the car I borrowed back to the hotel and all but one drove the trucks away. They went to a compound that I now owned. The family all got on the bus and the older children had fun walking between seats as we drove. At the hotel the last spare driver took the old bus away and the newer one was parked in its place. The driver would now wait for us. The hotel detective was very happy to see me. He had hired more help. He said that this morning the local and then international journalists had arrived. This was bound to happen. I just didn't know for sure how it was going to be taken. Sometimes even small stories get blown up when there is a scarcity of news. My girls saw me and came running and gave me a kiss and a hug. Benyam felt that I should not do this because I belonged to his family. Word got back and more and more of the lobby got filled as the girls said hello in their own way. Peter came running in and called, "Shawn," and dove for me. I caught him and gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, "Peter, good morning. You almost knocked me over. You are going to be good at rugby." He just smiled and remembered that he was showing a little too much affection for me in public. "Did you talk to your parents?" "Oh yes. You were right. They thought that I was dead. The police phoned them first and they were waiting for my call. They are happy about you getting on our flight. They want to meet you. Mom said you should get some reward." "I already have Peter," I said as I smiled at him. I walked by the desk and asked, "I don't want any more rooms let out till I say so. Only guests are allowed in. Hire somebody big to make sure it stays that way." "Yes sir." Peter asked, "How come that man did what you said?" I whispered in his ear, "I bought this hotel yesterday." He just looked at me stunned that this could happen. Nobody owned hotels. They were too big. There was a large meeting room and we went there and a bellboy unlocked the door ahead of us. There was more than enough room for everybody to sit down. Some of the passengers were not even here yet. I explained in English and in a few quick words in Amharic, as to what I was doing. "The reporters and photographers will come here to talk to you then Scotland Yard will come or wait in Britain for us. They will be a little disappointed at not having anybody to prosecute I think." I got a chuckle at that. "I want you to tell the Yard everything they ask you. The reporters though will be looking at ways of selling newspapers or magazines and will twist a story around or try to use parts of it to sell many more. All of us, and that means all of you, can be hurt. Peter kissed Marcia at pool and maybe did a bit more, but the papers would have it come out ugly. I did see Peter's bum in the air and it didn't look particularly ugly to me." This got some more chuckles and went on to explain how they were not to talk to strangers or others that would sell the information to the papers. My new solicitors came over and were allowed in. They informed me that all the real property titles had been transferred into my name. I handed them a cheque with Mebreatu's name and asked them to put this money and all others in new accounts with my name on them. There was little now that Mebreatu could get his hands on if he wanted to apart from the money and property he had hidden at his house. Another order given them was to organise a meeting of all my new employees to explain about the radical changes in the way the companies did business. I had spoken none too soon and when we walked out after the meeting I heard a commotion at the main doors. When I got close the reporters saw me and redoubled their efforts to get in. The poor doorman had to protect the entrance by himself. The pack acted more like sharks and I knew that the story must be hot news for them to act this way something like blood in the water. This meant that the girls would be hounded and they were not ready for this. It would be much better to have their parents and other relatives protect them. In their absence I would have to handle the situation. The other alternative was to hide all of my new friends. I had just the plan. I gave some quick orders and my immediate family left by a back door and boarded the bus. A group of older and younger children left with them and hid on the floor of the bus. It pulled out with only Ethiopian looking women and the reporters ignored it. When it was safely away I left the building and walked the opposite way on foot. Soon the school of sharks following me. It took only a few minutes for me to lose them. The bus made two more trips loaded with my extended family and all headed for a large open air shopping district. By the time the first bus arrived I was already there. Amharic speaking members that knew English were used to form a nucleus for the groups in the people following. I explained about negotiating for what they wanted but knew that they would not get far at it. They would go home educated in one more facet in everyday life. The only two exclusively Amharic speaking women, Ayana and Brihan, came with me along with their children. Rachael, Sofia, Peter, Marcie and three young girls that had felt my caress a few days earlier added to our group. We went from shop to shop searching for gifts or just interesting things to buy. Peter liked the knives and swords especially after seeing me shave the legal profession with a weapon. We just looked though and the man came out explaining how good his wares were. I bought clothes for the younger European children so they would more closely match what the natives wore. Peter and Benyam were dressed up as tribesmen and even got knives to go at their waist to make them feel important. Jewellery attracted the girls but I didn't negotiate for them. Ayana had some the ability to haggle because she and two others usually went to purchase food. She had managed to hide some small coins on occasion and used it to supplement the meagre allotment for clothing that the family needed. They would ask my opinion and I would look at it as I did art. Most were not suitable but a few trinkets were bought. We came by a stall with all sorts of rifles, revolvers and ammunition. In cases in the back were more shells for the small tank. The boys headed right in hoping to get a rifle to wear on their shoulder. The equipment was shoddy at best and I didn't want the boys being armed like this. Another stall held better women's clothing and I bought again. Meseret was only two and Ayana's other child. She was getting tired so I picked her up and carried her on my shoulders. Zema was only seven months and he came into my arms to give his mother Brihan the opportunity to shop unencumbered. I found a good costume for me. It had a hood that would be adequate to hide my hair. We talked at a stall that offered food and drink. Ayana was very happy about being able to shop for what she wanted instead of what she was instructed to purchase. She was also happy that her children were accepted by me. Benyam was essentially my age and the idea did occur to her that I would not want the child because of that fact. Meseret was always afraid of adult men but her new master did not bring out the same reaction. The girl Lakech was six and held her mother's hand almost always. This was a very special event for them. Sofia, Rachael and Marcie saw me with the children and wondered about me again. They knew I liked sex with them but wondered why was I wasting my time with having the babies around. They saw the other members of my new household as competitors for my affection. Meanwhile, the three little European girls thought the same thing and had worked together as a team last night to find a way to get me to notice them or do what I did before. Their own fingers were quite busy as they remembered the event. Peter was not upset yet because everything was so new here and even exciting. He had found another friend and even the problem of not speaking a common language was enough to show that both had things in common. Benyam didn't see me as a father but as a person of power over his mother and the other women he had known most of his life. He liked the new freedom and the exciting things happening. He still wanted his mother to let him take care of her instead of this stranger. The other boy with him was fun, partly because he had never had a friend like him before. He had to go to the mosque to learn to read and work with numbers but all the boys there were like he was. Other groups came by on occasion and some stopped to tell us what they had bought. More of the younger girls wanted to latch onto our group but I vetoed it. The mothers conversed a little in Amharic and could barely control themselves with this new freedom. The children's faces were wet with saliva and candy and I called them over and cleaned them up. They were still anxious to explore and we parted to continue our adventures. Two men stopped the three older European girls and wanted to know if they wanted somebody to escort them through the dangerous marketplace. Ayana spoke for the girls since they didn't know what was said, "These girls are protected by our master. He would be angry at you asking them." "Where is your master?" I was at the back of our column watching for the children and still carrying the baby Zema. "The girls are adequately protected here thank you." The men made a production of looking around and one said, "Where is this man?" "I am their protector even if I am young. Perhaps you have heard of me on the radio. Some men have died recently when these girls and others needed protection. Are you going to contest my claim?" The men had indeed heard the news but had not got the specifics that this was the mighty hero that had killed most of a gang of kidnappers. However, they felt it not in their best interest to find out more, "No, we just know that the market is dangerous for European women." "Thank you for your concern. The other women in this market are under my protection too. Please do not worry about them." The men gave a nod and gestured as if to an equal. I did the same and we parted. Ayana and Brihan grinned with their faces bowed. Ayana would never have talked to the men but knew that the three foreign girls needed help quickly. Marcie asked, "What was all that about?" "They liked you and tried to pick you up. Nothing new for any of you but in this country the men don't respond to the word no as quickly. Let's head over to a stall and I will buy all of you harem slippers." Marcie said, "Ouuuu I will wear your harem slippers any day." We did find some nice footwear and the slippers. We also found European clothing. I purchased clothes for the fourteen new members of my group as well while Peter and Benyam got roped into carrying most of it back. Eventually the load was dropped off at the bus and we went back to shopping. Others had the same idea and by the middle of the afternoon there was little room for the passengers. It was hot as usual so I suggested we get back to the hotel and have a shower. My group stayed at the bus as I went alone to find the other groups. As I came across them I sent them back to the hotel as well. ------- Chapter 24 Our bus took my newest family to the house while I went to the hotel for to meet Inspector Waters. My eye had seen him loitering around the front of the hotel after being denied entrance. With the family going home I came up behind the man and said, "Good day Inspector. I didn't expect you to come here yourself." "What? How did you know?" "I am a detective too. You are wearing the 'London bobby' suit and look like a harried bureaucrat. Reporters and..." The reporters saw me and almost jumped on me as they started to ask questions. I interrupted right back and said, "Tomorrow I will have a meeting with all the reporters. The wall in front of the hotel will have the time and place noted by six o'clock tonight. Please leave me and the people I helped alone, or you will not be allowed to the meeting. Please enjoy yourselves in this country at your newspaper's expense until you are able to submit your story. Good day till tomorrow then." "Will you..." I was in the reporter's face in a second and said, "Are you willing to miss the meeting or do you think I am going to go back on my word now that it has been given? Bother me again and I will ensure that you have difficulty producing children. If you wish to call the local law enforcement you will find that I can indeed get away with it. We are not in Britain now." The inspector and I walked off without any further harassment. "You have a way with words Sir Shawn. Do you always threaten people that you don't like?" "Usually I try to appeal to their better side. I have found that this doesn't always work with all people and if you show some the slightest weakness they will never leave you alone. If I tried being nice they would just walk all over me. Don't forget I have been putting up with obnoxious people a lot more than you." "I don't know about that. I have superiors and most of the people I deal with as a policeman are unsavoury at the very least." "That means that you are meek and mild to them and the suspected murderers confesses all to you because you threaten to make doilies for them?" "No but I don't threaten them." "Inspector, as you said, 'you are a policeman, ' don't start lying to me when you say you don't threaten. You may not say you will strike them but you threaten and use your power to let a suspect know that he has to give you want you want." "Well, maybe you are right. Where are we going by the way?" "My new home." I called a taxi and talked of the situation in Britain. We pulled up to the house and I invited the man into the house. The women came and bowed to me and my guest. "Ayana, will you get us some tea with lemon please?" "Yes mas... yes Shawn." We sat on the patio out of the sun and Waters said, "You speak the language. I had heard that you spoke a great many." "Languages like most things come easy to me. My mind sucks them up like a sponge. You are thinking of this home and how I got it. It is easy to see with your eyes wandering all around trying to pick out all the details. The facts will unfold as I tell you the story." The story began with me saying I heard two men at the airport. I was standing in front of a urinal. The men began talking in Arabic. They didn't think a blond haired child would understand their language or their coded speech. They had last minute confirmation about the kidnapping and everything was ready to proceed. The inspector accepted this crucial piece of fictitious conversation and I went into how I tried to gain the support of the Captain. With two people unconscious I naturally thought of a mutiny and assumed the Captain was part of the plan. I went into some of my karate moves with the result that the plane was only on autopilot. The commotion brought the rest of the rats out from the woodwork and I mentioned how I used apples to subdue some with one even dying as a result. The fact that I was able to land and even fly the plane was difficult for him to understand. My wallet showed him my pilot's licence from Rhodesia, which helped a lot. The fighter's destruction I attributed to me startling the pilot into making a fatal error and him crashing as a result. All fighting from then on was just a rehash of what I had done immediately after my family had been killed a year earlier. Kirsay brought the drinks out and I poured for both of us and asked her to go get two more cups. When she came out I poured her a cup and added sugar and picked her up to drink it in my lap. I continued with the story of the two pronged attack while I had the passengers in a safe place. The results being that the kidnappers were killed and I did the same to most of the others. The mostly fictitious story continued with me finding out from various captured people that Alem Neh Mebreatu was behind the plot. I explained how I used threats to him to gain his business. The financial assets he now had would allow him to run from the law while I liquidated the property slowly to help the people that needed it. "Where is Alem Neh Mebreatu now?" "If you check the flights to the Ivory Coast yesterday, you will find he took two bags of money and left. I doubt if he is there now." "So this house was his?" "Yes and he divorced his two wives just before leaving. The children are now fatherless and that is why I wanted to stay a bit longer. I want you to see something else." I set Kirsay down and said, "Honey, please get all the women in the house to come out here for just a moment." The girl smiled and ran off. "What did you say to the little girl?" Rather than answer, the door opened and all the woman came out. I introduced every one of the European women by their original name that brought tears to each of them. They started to cry so hard that they had to hold each other for support. I finished with the names of the two Ethiopian wives. "What is the matter with them?" The inspector asked. "The Europeans were kidnapped long ago. They are from Finland, Norway, East and West Germany and other countries with beautiful blond women. Inspector, it was only a little over twenty years ago that slavery was supposedly abolished in this country. You see the results of one man's unconcern for the rights of others. He has fathered children and I plan to make sure these people are taken care of. I will give you a list of their names and you can see about repatriation if that is their wish." "God!" Was all he said. I spoke in Amharic and told them that the man with me was a police officer and would help them find their parents, their brothers and their sisters. I said the same thing in English and knew that the man would help. "I have to tie up matters tonight. Mebreatu was a businessman but also a crook. I will be meeting the heads of some of his businesses tonight and explain how things have changed. I would invite you to come but you will not understand the language. There may also be opposition to this change. In this case they will try to remove me and go their own way. Some people will need a physician or perhaps a mortician." "You are going to kill them?" "Inspector, your feet are on Ethiopian soil not British. I will do things the local way and you can take your prejudices and preconceived ideas with you when you leave. I work within the morality and customs of where I currently reside." Fannah, or by her Christian name Ingrid, sat with us as I dismissed the rest. "Fannah tell us of your life before coming to this country." The girl had not spoken English for a long period of time until just recently. She started slowly and cried and smiled, then cried again as she unloaded many of the things that had been inside her for a long time. I poured her some tea and placed in her hands. I left the two to talk and I went in to comfort the others. They were still crying and I held them as best I could. The children were upset because their mothers were crying. The children were told in simple terms that they were just thinking of the life they left before coming here. Ten minutes later the Inspector came in with Fannah. She ran to me and was hugged as with the rest. She had never had any hope of getting home because it had been beaten out of her at an early age. The women got up and started our meal as I took pen and paper and wrote a page about each blond haired woman. I put enough for the police to find the particulars without giving too much and them wondering where the information came form. I listed the children too so that parents and grandparents would know about grandchildren in advance. The inspector took the phone and called the information in to London, so that another investigation could be started immediately. Hopefully something would be accomplished for I planned to take all of them to Europe with me and see that they found adequate homes. Otherwise they would have to remain mine. When he was done I phoned the hotel and reserved a meeting room for ten o'clock in the morning and another at six tomorrow afternoon. I would give the inspector a room but I didn't want him browbeating the group without somebody to protect them. We ate a meal but this time the males ate with the females and children. They were starting to get used to this but it would be difficult for a while yet. Inspector Waters left in a taxi and I left for my meeting. The sword and some documents went with me. The driver of the car was provided by my new lawyers. He had heard a great deal about me and was afraid. I carried the sword with me. Many Ethiopians still did the same thing along with their rifles. The steel was imperfect and though it was good, it wasn't great. As I travelled, I thought about the carbon and silicon atoms and shifted them to make the molecules as precise as possible. Finally the molecules were formed into the most neatly aligned crystals possible to give extra strength. Finally, a trail of pure Carbon atoms in the classic tetrahedral structure were placed in a very compact matrix along the edge. Effectively diamond backed steel, it was now was the sharpest sword that I had ever made. The two lawyers were there ahead of me. We were in a large warehouse used for both legal and illegal business. Chairs had been put out and a raised dais of crates would serve as a stage. Though the meeting was not scheduled for another half an hour some people were already here. They uniformly discounted me as man enough to lead their company or the group as a whole. As idle chit chat I told them of how I had killed some of the people they knew. This time I lied again and said about the guns, explosives, knives, hands and especially my sword that was now sheathed and laid on the head table. More people came and some mentioned how others would be late. Punctuality was not important here and coming late was a way of showing importance. Many of the people present were just smaller businessmen and not outright crooks. None was an angel though and would do what was needed if they were pushed into it. Exactly on schedule I started the meeting and explained again who I was. The ones that would come late would be the crooks and the largest businesses that were able to come. The papers were displayed so everyone would know that the business were now in my name. My statements that the businesses would act within the laws of Ethiopia and within the spirit of the law too brought on a round of derision. This was a handicap that the competitors would not have they said. "That is true. I still want the businesses to be honest. You will get something that none of the others will have though." "What?" Came from many mouths. "My brain and my name. I am well known and probably have the best mind for business around. I don't want to grow so big to be the only company for our product or service but I want to be the biggest conglomerate. Ethiopia is growing and the coffee industry is but a start. The people here are intelligent but need training. The population in general needs schools so that your workers are trained enough to make things that other countries can't." As I talked men came in and were not acknowledged. They sat in the chairs further back. I continued, "There are ways that can double or triple the value of the businesses you manage if you only work with me. I have the right to change my managers but I want the ones I have if they will try." I had to go into specifics about each business and all the comments revolved around what I could do and not what they could do on their own. The last group to come in were obviously gangsters and the rest cringed from them. They had come armed, but that was not odd, for they were always ready to fight to protect their interests and their lives. I continued to chat about ways of maximising profits and dealing with our own companies as a source of supply. Accountants would now have to have a position in the companies but I told them that accountants had no heart and that I needed real men to lead the companies. From the back of the room amongst the gangsters a voice rang out, "We are not going to follow a child that knows nothing of our business." I continued till the end of my sentence before turning to the main opposition. "I thought you men would be too frightened to come here tonight, you usually deal with a man that fails to pay back a loan or fails to pay money to you so that the businesses are not hurt. Your work will now change as you are going into the military business and putting all that aggression into a new and profitable venture." "Like hell we are. Nobody tells us what to do. Even Mebreatu was polite to us." "Oh dear, I guess I have to do some more work. You boys must have noticed that in the last week your numbers have dropped significantly. I found that some colleagues weren't so cooperative and they had to go. You men may need to go where they went too." They knew roughly what had happened and had come this evening to kill me and keep their business for themselves. "In case you are too stupid to understand what I just said, that means I may have to kill a few of you as well." Guns came out and pointed at me. The people before me ran to the side in panic and waited only for the blood to flow. My blood. "Put the guns on the floor or some people are going to suffer for this," I said in a quiet voice. Nobody moved and I opened my hand and the sword slid from the sheath and floated to my hand. The blade was now glowing. I had excited the surface silicon at a molecular level and as the electrons fell back they gave off visible light. "Last chance gentlemen." Bullets came as their answer so, moving extremely swiftly, I was behind them before they knew what was happening. The ones that had the most to loose and the ones least likely to change were struck by the sword. I worked hard to bisect each with surgical precision. With eight of the twenty three men dead, I put the sword point to the floor and stood as bullets flew at me and never landed. One man broke and ran, then the rest followed. I was among them again and punched and kicked to put them out as a normal man would. I walked back to the stage and the petrified solicitors hid with my guests. "Regain your seats gentlemen. I am sorry for the demonstration but I knew this would happen. This was another reason why we are not at a carpeted meeting room." The men did not move. "I said, please retake your seats gentlemen." They came this time and sat far back on any chair they could find as long as it was far from me. "That crew were going to take over the businesses you manage, very soon if I hadn't stopped them. Now let's continue with my talk. Heartless accountants will have to be used." The men hardly heard me for they were looking at the living and the dead on the floor. "Gentlemen, please pay attention to me." They reluctantly turned to face me. "There will be a uniform way all the businesses report. We will pay our full taxes but we will try to find any loophole we can to avoid what we can. This country and our people need the money we will make. I just don't want it going into some corrupt official's pocket or to pay a gangster similar to those ones on the floor." There was more talk about how to increase the size of the businesses, bringing wealth to all. "There are two more things before we leave tonight. The first is that you will be given a salary and a bonus, based on a percentage of how well your company does. The second is that all of you were cheating Alem Neh Mebreatu and would continue to cheat me. This will stop now. What you have stolen up to yesterday is yours and what you stole today will be put back. What is stolen tomorrow will be taken from your body a piece at a time by me. Is that understood gentlemen?" They understood this very well. "I would ask if you have more questions but you are all too frightened at the moment. Our next meeting will be in a better location with no unsightly bodies littering the floor. Please pick up the chairs and stack them in the corner. I have to get this mess cleaned up." They scrambled to obey and one slipped in the blood. I walked to the pile of gangsters and picked up the living two at a time. I walked with them held high and placed then against the wall. A container of water used for drinking was thrown at three and they awoke with groans. The solicitors brought more water at my bidding and the rest were similarly awoken. "Gentlemen," the men were very passive now and tried to get away. Their eyes travelling to their former commanders that lay in two portions on the floor. "Gentlemen, look at me. I don't think you want me angry at you again. Clean up this mess. Wash the floor. Bullet holes will have to be repaired within a month. There will be no evidence of how foolish you men can be. Tomorrow at six I want you to be at the hotel for another talk. If you are foolish again I will not kill you but cut your legs and arms off. Then I will make sure you remain alive." I just left with my property and had to get a ride home with one of the petrified solicitors for my own driver had left at the sound of the first shots earlier in the evening. The women were unaware of where I was and just wanted me with them. They had sent the children off to bed early when they saw me coming. "Fannah, bring the children back out please." When everybody was present, except the babies, I got the rings I'd made and presented them to each, starting with Ayana. There was an inscription in each with their name and saying they were from me with love and devotion. I took each woman's hand and placed the ring on her finger and kissed her. Then I told her what it said in each band. They cried and I did a little too because this was as close as we could come to a wedding ring. After I had handed them out to all the women, they were all crying together. They were surprised when I went to Benyam and gave him a ring and kissed him too. "Yours says that I love you too and I want you to be the best son you can be. The boy cried too and I hugged him again and gave him another kiss and handed him to his mother. The rest of the rings were handed out and each got a kiss and a hug. The mothers of the infants got rings for their children placed in their hands. That night I told them of what I envisioned their futures to be. Most cried thinking that they would leave me to go to their old countries and their parents. I talked of school and how I demanded that they get at least a minimum requirement. Some were not suitable for higher education but could do with much more than they presently had. To Benyam I said, "I would like you to follow me as a physician and keep the line going in our family. Your sister Meseret has a crafty mind and would make a good solicitor or a fine accountant." The rest became the centre of attraction for a while as I picked out what I thought they would each be best at. The three babies got the same treatment. Most of my choices were wishful thinking, for a young child's mind was far too mercurial to put a label on. When I was finished I went to the kitchen and make some warm drink for the children before sending them off to bed. I wanted to make love to their mothers. The children snickered a little but drank the sweet drink I prepared for them. When they were done I personally put each to bed and tucked them in with a kiss. Benyam at the last enjoyed the attention and the kiss. He liked it even better when I said, "Goodnight son." I washed and found the women ready. This time we were all in one room and I started with Brihan the woman just younger than Ayana. She got the full treatment and the rest this time were very ready when Brihan had her final climax and fainted. When the rest were all done I too was satisfied so picked up each of the women and put them to bed, then came back and cleaned up the menstrual blood. All the women had to know they were loved and not just for sex. Most men didn't like this time of month and I was one too, but the situation demanded that it be done and performed with love and compassion. That night I slept with Brihan. The next morning when I woke up she was trying her best to please me with her mouth. After my orgasm I returned the favour and her cries during orgasm woke up the rest of the house for me. I made breakfast with help this time and again we all sat down to eat. Everybody still wore their rings and admired them at any chance they had. Ayana was given more money than she knew existed. She was told that this was for the home. She had to write down what she spent the money on when she did it and how much she spent. I had already said that she would be an accountant and this was the start of her training. Each child got an allowance and could spend it or bank it for later. The mothers got money specifically for them and their children to be spent as they chose. By ten I was at the hotel. It was a hit or miss thing because the women wanted to show me how much they cared. The reporters were let in and had to go directly to the meeting room. I smiled to them and carried my sword that had proved so dramatic the night before. Inspector Waters and some Ethiopian officials were at the meeting too. I started the meeting by addressing the officials by name and then the representative from Scotland Yard. They were amazed at my perception, but not that much because of all the things that they had heard. I gave them the same story as I'd given to Waters, pausing at certain points to answer questions. Most of the time I had to say that the explanation is coming. The death by an apple was questioned quite strenuously by one man and I had the kitchen bring me one of the fruits and a wooden cutting board. The man was asked to stand against the far wall and hold the board out in front of him. He made a smirk and agreed to the joke. "In front of your stomach please and about eight inches away sir." "Like this." "Perfect. Are you ready sir?" As the word yes came from his mouth the apple flew across the room, struck the board, breaking it in two with the remainder striking the man's suit jacket. He collapsed on the floor as if somebody had struck him viciously there. His fellow journalists picked him up as he slowly regained his breath. When he looked at me I asked, "Are you satisfied with my explanation now sir?" "Yes, more than enough," he stammered. The pain made his voice hoarse. "Then the cleaning staff will clean the applesauce off the walls and we will continue." When the flying was brought up I showed them my pilots licence and how many hours I had logged flying. The destruction of the fighter was explained when I jumped at a man in the front row and he fell when he instinctively tried to avoid me. My ability to kill was next brought into question. This time I was lucky that the man asking had a short beard. "Sir I can prove it without hurting you like one of the other doubters. May I give you a shave? You will not be hurt. If there is even the slightest nick I will give you an hundred pounds and an apology. You must give me a pound if there is no blood lost." The man thought it over like he was being asked an important question by a mythological being. "Sure." Again as the words left his mouth I brought the sword out from behind my back and slashed five times. He moved after the first and I compensated each time to slice the growth from his face. As his hands came up I stopped and he screamed and fell to the floor. He had even wet himself. I put the sword away and tried to help him up but he didn't want anything to do with me. The rest of the crowd were the same way and thought me a madman. "Sir, please feel your face and tell me if you are bleeding." Everybody looked at the wide eyed man. He didn't move at all and was in shock from the event. Hotel staff took him out to clean him up. I would have to give him an apology later. "Does anyone here believe I am too slow to kill men intent on killing me or kidnapping my friends?" There was no reply so I regained my old position and carried on to the next point. The reporters had a difficult time but started asking questions again. There was no incredulity this time mostly the questions were just a way of clearing up a point or two. Alem Neh Mebreatu was finally brought up as the man behind all this and I explained how he had made so many wrongs that I took most of his property. I made it very clear how I was using the proceeds to help the people that he had hurt over the years. I stated how he abandoned his family and I was protecting them and seeing that they recovered from his draconian rule. The passengers too had to be compensated. Both groups needed our support to get through this trying time. I surprised Inspector Waters by introducing him and getting him to talk on the whereabouts of the mastermind. He stood and mentioned that the man had apparently left the Ivory Coast and nobody was sure of his present location. Police agencies all over the world were now looking for him. Questions came again and lasted an hour. When the questions came about Alem Neh Mebreatu's family I said in an ominous voice that they were to be left alone. The reporters were getting the hang of it now and asked other questions. When they were running out of steam I called for Marcie, Peter, Rachael, Sofia and for all six stewardesses. "I have called for some of the stronger people from the plane. I ask you kindly to ask one question at a time and keep them simple. You have five minutes each. They are still under a strain and even this meeting will put a great stress to them. The first person to my right asks the first question and so forth. You screw up and I will get angry. Is that understood?" They all now understood clearly about my anger. The people came in and I sat them in chairs and explained what I wanted them to do. "Just tell the truth but remember that you are dealing with a pack of jackals no matter what they sound like, or say." The reporters resented the remark but said nothing about it. The Ethiopian officials were in the front row and took their turn as well asking questions, like a Crown Attorney, but being very polite. Everybody found out that they only saw the man killed by an apple and the rest had always been cleaned up by me first. Except for three that were shooting at me. Later the conversations between the kidnappers was brought up as they accused each other of not doing what was needed or seeing the correct signs. The lone woman kidnapper was especially pissed that when I came on board everybody was looking at my penis instead of my face, hair and clothing. The reporters got onto that and asked the girls why that was done. Marcie said it was a small diversion but it worked. Everybody laughed at my expense. Peter piped up out of turn, "I told him about his pants being opened and he turned red and hid his face and wouldn't look at anybody." Most of the people were shaking their head in understanding and continued with their turn. Eventually the girls were asked what they thought of me. This was what I was dreading. This could have untold repercussions for all our lives. Sofia the most quiet one answered, "Oh I love him. If he was old enough I would tie him up and take him to the church and marry him." This opened a new line of questioning and all the girls even the stewardesses said about the same thing. Peter said, "I want to be his friend forever. I feel better being with him than anyone else. He even let me drive the tank and shoot it." The tank had never come up in the discussion and that was followed with Peter getting more and more excited as he and his friends drove it to protect the rest at night. The last five minute interval for the last person was over and Peter still talked. I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder, "Everybody needed something to do and they all got important jobs. The boys did an excellent job of protecting us and so did the girls. We had sentries around the clock. Basically I started another army." The time was up to question the girls and Peter but I went into why I did what I did. Strong, self assured individuals were not the kind to suffer later. My technique was questioned and I used my other army in Rhodesia as a good example. I said how my forces had been tracking General Mobutu's men when they came to Rhodesia for training in an enemy's land. This got the questioning onto a Rhodesian theme and I dismissed the witnesses. Everybody was getting hungry and I told them they would be able to talk to perhaps a dozen more people but to do it in this room with me present after tea. "If you ask more than the weather of any of them you will be thrown out. I am not speaking figuratively either." The restaurant had been warned and we made more of a profit that day. The three officials and Waters sat with me where they asked questions that they didn't want answered in front of the reporters. They mentioned that they had kept the local police from making our lives miserable. I thanked them for it and said the favour was returned but would not say more on it. At the end of the meal I took the check and the leader of the three said, "The Emperor Haile Selassie I, the Lion of..." I let them finish and said, "Sure. Tomorrow morning good?" More women and children were brought in for their meal. This time I had the remainder of the boys, only excepting the one who was still very upset. The reporters drew lots this time and only spoke for a while because these people were still somewhat delicate. I could have pointed out that there was a direct relationship between the healthy people and the ones that I made love to but wouldn't dare mention it. Perhaps when we were all dead and gone the true version would come out for all the good it would do. The questioning was not as intense as it had been with just myself as the object of the reporter's enquiry. A boy mentioned pools of blood that had been cleaned up. "Shawn took us swimming and later he disappeared. When we got back the bad people were gone. We found horse poop," he blushed then, "behind the hangar, but no horses." Another boy went on about 'our' tank and how they practised loading the gun and taking the shells out. You could almost see how the boy would have an orgasm as he talked about the gun and how he had been lucky enough to fire a shell. There were only three female reporters and one asked me, "How could you let the children in a deadly vehicle like that and let them play with it?" "How is it that you and your paper have not run a story talking about all the child soldiers in Africa? They are forced into bearing arms at a much younger age than these boys. Could it be because it won't sell as many papers? There are literally thousands and thousands of children dying, never mind being kidnapped, in hostilities in Africa each and every year. "I on the other hand gave these boys a chance to live and to protect themselves. They were a lot safer in the tank than outside it. "Your white readers do not care enough about what is happening on this continent. You and your kind will not rub the daily unpleasantness in their face because it will make them think. That is only one of the reasons I told the previous group that you all were a pack of jackals. You resented it I know, but it was a very good analogy. Your job is to sell papers. Secondly it is to inform the public but most of the time you are working hard to protect your own interests. Is there anyone here going to stand up and refute that statement?" Nobody got up. "I will fight only with words. On my honour." The first Ethiopian official got up and said, "Sir Shawn. The news media is also driven by the public. The media is only providing what they want like a drug. It is a vicious circle and is a fault within us all. They are not to be blamed for being jackals. This is the same as blaming the shark for being a predator. It is all within man's nature." The man was giving it to the media but phrasing it much better. He was also giving me a way out. "You are correct sir. Humanity is our own worst enemy. Let's call and end to this conference." With a few half-hearted questions the people filed out to send their stories in. All the phones were in use I went up to the two crew members and took my four guests with me. The engineer was stronger and could get from bed to chair fairly easily while the co-pilot was not there yet so was still relying on help. They were steadily recovering and I hoped to take them home with me when we left. Waters and the Ethiopians were considerate and didn't overtire them. The stewardesses had in rotation been doing their best for both men and I planned on giving them a reward. I used the phone to call Sharon before she read it in the paper. There was a long pause as she was called. She had been on pins and needles waiting for more information. My explanation started with me stating that I was sorry for not calling sooner. I explained some things in detail and said how the newspapers now had my story or at least a very superficial view of it and they could expect a better one when we got back. I gave her the job of getting us enough transportation for my guests when we arrived. There are 32 in one family and I may have a few extra if there are no relatives. I am concerned for two that will not be met. Of the others, I don't know. "I will do my best." "The airlines would give us a large room so that family and friends can meet in private. I won't be able to leave until they have a chance to talk to me." "Anything else?" "Phone my family for me and give them all my love." The hotel manager found me a driver that just happened to be his son-in-law. He drove me home and I found the bus still there with the driver. I dismissed the bus driver and told the other to be back for my 6 o'clock meeting before entering the house. This time I got the women coming to me and a few of the children too. Children got first preference and I talked to each by name. The mothers were shown no less love and it was returned to me in equal measure. To the group I said, "We are going to Europe in a week. The weather is warm there but cooler than here. I want you to meet my grandparents and my friends." This got them excited and they wondered what to bring with them. I told them of my first trip to Britain in the winter months and what had happened. The children and the Ethiopian women did not understand what the words snow and sleet meant, let alone felt like. With paper and pen I started to teach each of the children the English language. At the same time I taught the others who didn't know the language. I made fun by making odd sentences that were foolish when translated. This was not much different than trying to teach mathematics. All of them were like children but some were just more fun. This only lasted a half hour because of their short attention span. There were paper and pencils in the house so I started to draw pictures of each of them starting with Benyam. The boy was amazed at the likeness as he rode an Arabian horse leading other as yet unseen men in a heroic charge, his hand held high with a gleaming sword in it. Ayana came over to watch and loved the picture but wouldn't take it from her son. Every child in descending age was similarly done. Some scenes were in a military fashion while others were teaching, studying or doing work at their desk. The faces were as close to what they were now as was possible for anyone to draw without using my powers. When all 18 children were completed, individual mothers were portrayed, their children standing beside them or resting on their laps. The mothers went sentimental again and I was often kissed, more lovingly than passionately. Some of the smaller children came up to me too and bestowed a kiss on me. I returned the favour and set them back on their feet. Paper was distributed and the children tried to see what they could do. Each one I encouraged and tried to guide their lines and hands with words only. They had little training in this and had only learned the Amharic characters and numerals. The boys received more training than the girls but all got very little in any case. School was new to most so I got a length of thin rope and got Fannah, the youngest concubine at 16, to hold one end of the rope and swing it as she did in her youth. The children were familiar with this and jumped in and got some exercise. The boys too did this, especially after I said that many fighters did this for coordination and speed. The mothers were encouraged to act like girls and skip too. They thought it unsightly for them at their advanced age. Benyam took my side and I took the first women and stepped into the skipping area. After a few minutes we came out and another came with me till again all had a turn. The area behind the house was large enough to support a lot of children's toys, including a swing and perhaps a small house built off the ground. I missed swimming and hoped to swim lazily in a pool too, but this would have to wait until after I found out how many mothers and children I would be losing. That thought brought me to a crashing stop as I found I had already started to love everybody here far too much for my good or theirs. All too soon I had to leave for my appointment. I had a shower and wore some of the Ethiopian clothing I had purchased earlier in the day. The sword and scabbard went over my shoulder as a statement. I doubted if I would use it again but it did tend to remind people in this country to avoid making me angry. The meeting this time was much more cordial. We now greeted each other as old friends. All the gangsters were here and only a few brought guns. The businessmen were still upset about the blood, killing and of course my special abilities. Tea came in with small sweet pastries and some fruit. I invited the men to partake and they felt forced to because now it appeared as a command. I ate a few pieces to let them know they were not poisoned. Last night's business was rehashed and I called for comments. This too appeared to be a command and some came forth. Soon they were not forced as I explained in more depth what was to happen and the results of that action. Questions were now asked by me of how certain situations were handled. Different men had different answers. Some of the terms I had to use were not recognized by the men and they failed to see how the gross national product had to do with them. I explained but it didn't sink in till I said, "The figure is in the multi million pound range and our companies will be making most of it. We are not talking a business of six to ten employees, I am talking of employing thousands and we will not even be the biggest. Suddenly avarice turned my words to gold. The lesson went on for another half hour then I called a break for some tea. During the break I went to the gangsters, or should I say raw recruits and said, "Your place in all this is coming up soon. With the amount of money we are talking about we need a security force with the best equipment and the best training. When I talk to you later I want you to disagree if you think you are right. We will both learn much that way." After the break the growth of business in line with the economy was discussed and I brought up the need to protect all the property from theft, extortion and especially graft. An honest government was an impossibility but I wanted to try my hardest to make it a reality. My security force was now discussed. Everything I wanted it to be was laid out in as clear a form as I could make it. "How are we going to do these things. It would take a German Superman to do this." Education and training were hammered as the answers. I listed many organisations in other countries that ran businesses like the one I was proposing. The attributes of the raw recruits to the seasoned agent was explained. I explained how I would underwrite their training and their families would have enough money to live on. This was only half believed but I continued. Most of the men present were of little use to me in this scheme but would have to be the old hands that trained the next generation of my security forces. Maritime security, counterespionage, protecting officials and dignitaries, plant security were all added to make the scope of this undertaking looked fantastically large and the men here knew they were getting in on the ground floor. I explained what a company could make in this country and how much the low, middle and high salaries would be. The eight men that committed suicide last night on my sword were discussed and then I made monstrous waves by giving more malleable men some of the positions. Others had positions taken from them and given others. The positions now required the managers to work together to train their replacement and at the same time learn a new job. This would cut drastically into profits but give me a breathing space while I shaped the companies without a manager that thought he knew everything about it. This undertaking was going to be one of my most difficult. In Europe there was a ready supply of highly trained young people that could do certain tasks for me. They were few and far between here and I would have to bring them in or train them myself. The universities here I felt were far beneath my standards. The meeting broke up and I went home rather than upstairs. These people would soon leave me though some may stay for a while. This parting would be hard on them as well as me and I wanted to taper off the love making slowly. My driver took me home and I dismissed him for the night but said I needed a clean car for an important trip at 10 o'clock in the morning. Brihan, third in line met me at the door and gave me a welcome home kiss that was intended to get me interested. It happened to have the desired effect and I leaned her far over and she was forced to hold me as I kissed her back while stimulating her mind. When I stood her up the rest of the women got up and waited impatiently for me to take them to bed. When the last was put to bed I checked on the children with my eyes. It was so much better than my mind possibly because it was partially instinctual. I tucked in a few that had tossed their sheet off and helped one two year old boy to the bathroom and gave him a drink. A quick shower brought me to Brihan's bed and I climbed in with her. The Ethiopian woman sucked me into her mouth and poked a finger into my rectum searching for my immature prostrate. The feeling was much better and I was forced to hold her face as I thrust back and forth until my orgasm overtook me. I pulled out slowly from her still active mouth and put her doggie style on the bed. Her vagina was hot and wet but I knew she wanted her other opening taken too. When I was well lubed I moved some of the moisture to her other opening and pushed in slowly. Mebreatu had taken her backside many times but always there was pain and degradation. This time there was no pain and she turned into an animal in heat. She bucked and grunted and came many times till I had my next release. After a few minutes I pulled out of her and washed myself and then Brihan's backside. I slept for two hours before my senses told me some burglars had finally made up their minds and were going to try my defences. Werkneh and his brother Abebe had climbed over the wall and were approaching our back door with tools in their hands. From where I lay I put them to sleep along with Mulu Ken, the person watching out for them. I slipped out of bed and went out the back door and closed it behind me. My sword and scabbard were with me. The first two men were close. Werkneh was about 35 and his brother Abebe was 27. I reached out and plucked Mulu Ken from his place on the wall and brought him over. This young man was a cousin of the two brothers and was only 19. I knew they were going to yell when awoken so I paralysed their larynxes and their legs. They came around to see a naked blond boy sitting in a chair in front of them. There were many questions travelling through their minds but none came to their lips. Hands came up to stroke their throats. I started out with the law, "Isn't the penalty for a thief to have his hand removed?" They shook their heads no but they knew differently. I picked up the sword and let them see the scabbard. "I think you are wrong." I removed the blade now and let it glow a bit so that they could see my face. "It is also true that a landowner can kill burglars on his property." Again they shook their heads no. Their eyes large as they gazed on the blade. "You are not very smart thieves. You didn't bother to find out who I was before trying to break into my house. You do not listen to the radio and cannot even read the newspapers. For your information I have been killing bad people for the last week. There have been so many I have almost lost count. You would only add three more to my total for this month. Their hands came up in supplication as they worked their way to their knees. "Do you want to beg for your worthless lives? Are you going to make promises that this is the last you will rob? Well I won't believe it anyway." My sword slashed out and the men had just a fraction of a second to think that they were going to die. I stood back and the men fell on the grass. I went closer and kicked the men and they groaned in pain but were surprised that they were still alive. "Do you men give me your service or your lives?" Their heads went up and down rapidly and their brain screams that they capitulated fully. "Do not move," I commanded. They stood still and the sword came to one their throats. The voice returned and the paralyses in his legs left. The rest remained even more still as the sword came and gently touched them. I got all kinds of apologies now and most meant nothing. These men had lived a life of thievery and would not soon change. After telling them to be quiet I told them their names and what they had done in their miserable lives. The sword's light pulsated and I acted as if I were listing to a conversation. I then told them of all their close relatives and where they lived. "You will renounce theft now or you will soon die. This I know for a fact." The men swore great oaths that would never be kept when they got hungry. "Go home and take a good bath. You all stink. Put on clean clothes or wash what you have and come back here no later than a hour after dawn. Fail to come back and you will die before the next dawn no matter where you go or hide. Go!" The men took off like frightened rabbits leaving their tools and some excrement on the grass. The later was picked up and floated behind me to the washroom. I didn't want the children to be dirtied by it when they played. Instead of sleeping I considered my invitation to the Emperor's palace. A gift would be nice and I wanted it to be unique. The sword came to mind and I decided to work on it further so it would continue to glow for him. I took the atoms of carbon in the sword and changed them to an unstable isotope that would emit alpha particles and a blue glow. The alpha particles were not too dangerous and a sheet of paper would stop them. They were an unavoidable by product of the light generation. The scabbard was simple leather with metal fittings. The leather was smoothed out and intricate detail work was put on all exposed surfaces. I tried to get some scenes from Ethiopia's long history. The sword was put away and I worked on making more clothing to fit me from the garments in the house. Again I made clothing for the children that had been missed before. The simple act of providing for the children made me feel good. Almost as good as curing someone but these ones here were mine. When most of the old clothing was converted I went into the hidden room and sorted the different currencies and precious objects. There was lots of jewellery and precious metals. The value was very high and I could see many ways to put it to use. The currency could be spent here but the rest would fetch more money if converted to art objects. Some new ideas had already occurred to me and I would bring some of them to reality before I left. ------- Chapter 25 I started breakfast and saw the groceries were getting low and knew the girls would have to go out and shop. Now they at least would have the bus driver to take all of them when they went. When I was just about to wake up the children I felt that I had the three robbers back with me. They stood before the house waiting my pleasure, looking much cleaner and they didn't stink now. Their beards were bad because I had slashed them off but left major portions behind. Although they were very poorly educated, they were not really stupid. I took a paring knife from a wooden block and concentrated on it for a while in order to produce a mono molecular edge as I slowly walked outside. The men saw me coming with a small knife in my had and just closed their eyes. Prayers were being mumbled for they thought they still might go to meet their maker. "Squat down. You are only getting a shave. All of you look ratty." One then the rest did and I shaved them in less than five seconds each. Their hand came up and felt the smooth skin and still mumbled prayers. "I am offering each of you an honest job. Protect my house from burglars, thieves and anybody else that may take advantage of this property when I am gone. You will get paid so your families won't starve but you will not steal again from anybody. The alternative is that you die. Is my offer acceptable?" I got all sorts of head shaking. An agreement that left them with their lives was always welcome. Each was given some money to start and I sent them around the property to get a feel for it in the daytime. "Look for how others would come to this property and tell me of ways to prevent this." "Yes effendi," came from three throats. I woke the children up first and started to get them ready. Many of the children now extended their arms so that I would get them up and give them a kiss and a hug. After the young ones had been washed and changed, I seated them in their chairs as I later fed them their breakfast. When we were all done I cleaned faces and set the children down on the floor in another room to play. They now had quite a few toys to play with which would keep them occupied. I heard some screeching from another room and knew right away what had happened. I ran to the room and found Yeshi and Nishan the fifth and seventh oldest holding each other and pointing through their doorway and out the window in the back room. Werkneh had walked by investigating points of possible entry into the house. The girls had seen him then his cousin checking the wall. Both girls were Swedish and had hair close to my colour but a little darker. They were just 20 and 19 and had a child each. These had managed to keep their old tongue because they had been purchased at the same time and managed to talk clandestinely to one another. I walked up the girls as they wore their gauzy nighties. Their thin blond hair displayed under the hem. I took a hand from each and said, "Yeshi, Nishan," when they looked down at me I said, "Do not worry. I hired these men to protect this house if I am not here. The only predator in this house now is me and I am hungry." I picked up Nishan and laid her across the bed then laid Yeshi beside her and picked up their legs and sucked on one as I fingered both of them. In a moment I switched and did it the other way. As they relaxed from their fright I slipped in my probes and worked both of them until they climaxed in unison. The two year old son of one and the eighteen month old daughter of the other came into the room to see me making their mothers happy. At one time they would have been frightened but the older children had explained this to them. I shifted again and again till the women were no longer worried about anything in the world. I gave each a kiss and moved them to a more comfortable position in each others arms. These two were also lovers. The rest of the family knew and sympathized. Most had times when one or another of them would relieve the tension for another member and be loved for it. The two children I scooped up in my arms and took them out. The little girl reached up and touched the saliva on my face then smelt it. Its odour was not new to either of them. I took their clothes off and my own and got into the bath tub with them and while I washed off we played. There were floating toys where only soap was before. The hand soap was definitely from Paris but it did clean and was hard so it lasted a long time. The soap scouted all over the bottom of the tub as the children tried to catch it as it nibbled on their toes. By the time we were done the room was wet and we had lots of visitors. Their mothers had recovered and stood at the open doorway that others had opened and watched the play. When we were done I rinsed each off in clean water and handed them to their mother's waiting arms. When it came my turn Teru the second youngest and the mother of the youngest child came in and dried my back then fell to her knees in front to do my legs. Within seconds portions of me were being washed again and I let her continue as my power worked on her openings and clit. She came first and then I did. This girl was from Belgium, she had been kidnapped at the age of ten and had been sold at an auction. She like the rest had been here ever since. She did like to have her love on the rough side. She saw Mebreatu's rough attention as love and it would be difficult to get her to change. I would meet her half way and give her love and more energetic sex. I pulled my cock from her lips and she sucked to get all the moisture off. My hands went to her shoulders to get her up then I grasped her thighs and used my power to position her. Her legs spread and I lowered her onto me. She groaned in contentment and hugged my neck. Soon my power was into her too and I raised her up then down and slowly picked up the pace until her tight breasts rose and fall to their maximum extent. Her groans turned to grunts and pleas for more. I opened her rear passage and continued to take both her lower openings. I worked in further and further and her cries went incoherent from the sensations flowing through her. She cried loudly in the tile enclosed room and everybody at the doorway saw her actions. Some of the mothers were playing with their clits and Benyam had his hand in his loose fitting trousers. With some powerful grunts I dropped her hard repeatedly on my pelvis and had my orgasm. Teru clutched me even tighter and had her own and just melted onto me as the quivers racing through her body subsided. I waited a few minutes with Teru in my arms and then carried her to her bed and carefully laid her down. Her arms tried to hold me but I just kissed her lips and covered her with a sheet. I went back to the bathroom with everybody looking at me. The women wanted me now. The girls wanted me for more than a father and the boys were excited but didn't know what they wanted. I took a quick shower instead and put the clothes I made this morning back on. The women stared at me, like lions did at a gazelle, but I made breakfast for them and encouraged them to eat. Nishan got up and staggered to the table. I had to feed her as if she were an infant till she got the message and ate herself. I wanted to call them my wives but I knew that this would only make things harder later but I did say, "My loves, the pantry is getting bare but we will be leaving in a week. I want all of you to go out with the bus and make whatever purchases you want. The driver will go where you want and stay until you tell him to leave. Take all the children and have a fun time. The men that you saw on our property are my new employees and will be here to protect you when I am absent. I will even be watching when I am away and you will all be safe. Wub and Zema will come with their father. I will meet all of you back here at two." They knew who this 'father' represented now. I made the phone call and the bus would arrive in an hour. I warned the driver to bring drinking water because the women would be shopping till the last minute. All the mothers were concerned about me taking the two children and the children's mothers in particular. This was only because they thought a male could not take care of them. Zema was a boy of only six months and fully Ethiopian. Wub was a half Icelandic girl of three. The mothers got the children ready and I made a bag with the things I would need to care for the children. If I handled it right it could go over my shoulders like a pack. Wub cuddled up close when I sat on the chair and Zema used his fingers to move them over my face and I would catch his fingers in my lips. When my car arrived I kissed the others goodbye and got in. I tried to get the children comfortable. Considering the precious cargo in the car I felt that it would be good if there was a restraint system similar to that which fighter pilots had. The children would be much better protected. My sword sat in the back seat with me for another type of protection. "Good morning," I said to the driver. "Please take us to the palace." "The palace?" "Yes, do you know where it is?" "Yes effendi." We travelled across town and I demanded we turn into a residential street with old trees. I opened my window and threw the sword and sheath out and it flew into the air and rose to about a mile and stayed there. Wub was shown some of the interesting things but, being only three, was not that interested. When we pulled up to the main gates I gave the guards my name and who I wanted to see. The man scanned a chart and curtly let us through. The gate closed behind us. When we got to the main entrance to the building a man came down the wide steps and opened the car for me but was concerned that it contained children. To the driver I said, "We will be a few hours. I suggest you try to stay with the vehicle as much as possible. The guards here are proficient and would shoot you if they even think you are a danger to the Emperor." I put the bag on my shoulders, carried Zema and walked with Wub in my right hand up the steps. Behind the door we were all searched and the baby bag was even more scrutinized. Wub was a little intimidated but I said that all was fine. "They are just looking for some bugs and a mouse. Did you bring one?" She shook her head and said, "No," and after a second she added, "daddy." We were shown a large hall where we were to wait. The Emperor was still talking to a minister and I set the bag down and looked at all the artwork that depicted different eras of Ethiopian history. I guessed at the figures depicted and talked to Wub about what I saw. She said, "They look silly." "When we get to London you will see the people there and think they are silly too. You will be different then and I will get you some clothes like what girls your age wear there. It is going to be colder than here but you will get used to it. We will have some fish 'n chips and you can say cheerio once in a while." She laughed at that. We walked around and saw more things. I had to take Wub's shoes off so she could stand on the chair to see some of the finer points. A major-domo came in and was angry at where she was but said nothing. It was almost an hour later when we were called in for the audience. I had to get Wub off my lap and sling the bag over my shoulder before we could follow. The man walked fast and I went at what Wub could manage as she looked at the different things in the long hallway. The man was going to tell me to hurry up but declined when I looked him in the eye and dared him. Large doors were opened and I was ushered in. The thin man with his grey beard sat at a long table with six bodyguards and the man from the interviews at the hotel. I bowed my head and raised it slowly in respect. The emperor did not go in for small talk, "Why did you bring children to this meeting Sir Shawn?" "For the same reason you have six bodyguards and more hidden behind the walls with rifles. You are afraid of me and what I can do. I brought my children to put you at ease. You must know by now that they come first and I would not risk them for anything." "We had heard that Sir Shawn. Now, why have you come to our country uninvited?" "Next time I will ask my kidnappers to get your permission first before stepping foot here." The man that had stuck up for me at the meeting said, "You are being more than just impudent now." "We came here to talk and I brought some of my children as an act of good faith. Your boss has heard about the kidnapping and pretends he doesn't like a little boy. I had heard your monarch was not senile but why is he acting that way?" A guard came forward as if to strike me but stopped waiting for his master's voice. Wub began to cry and Zema woke up and did the same. I just looked at the guard but said to Wub, "Don't worry Wub these men are playing a game and think I am an ignorant hill man that will play with them. They won't hurt you." The Emperor now said, "How do you know that Sir Shawn?" "A lot of people know me and also know that I try to save lives until people I loved were attacked. Then I only kill the real bad ones. Sometimes the young can be salvaged and sometimes not. If I were hurt or imprisoned then you would be looked on as the bad person not me. I do have some influential friends and they would bring up about you harbouring rapist, kidnappers and thugs in your country but imprisoning me. Bringing the children with me would mean that I had not gone to you with an evil intent." Zema was still crying so I stopped to move him around and give him a chance to stop naturally. The boy stopped and then and peed in his diaper. He gave himself a little shake and used his hands again at my face and I captured his fingers and licked one. "I think you are far older than what your folder says Sir Shawn." "In the mind perhaps, but the body is still nine years old. You can kick out the guards now. I promise that if you don't try to hurt mine or me I will not hurt yours or you." "Quite magnanimous of you Sir Shawn and I am inclined to agree." A guard was called over and in one of the other Ethiopian languages said to remove the sharpshooters from the wall and to leave us." The guard was about to argue but did as he was told. Since I had not been offered a seat I went to the long ornate table and put the heavy bag down on it then took out the blanket one handed and placed it still folded on the table. Zema went down and I started to undo his diaper and as his little penis came up I quickly put the diaper back in place. A few seconds later I knew he was empty of urine. "Your guards did search for weapons but missed two of them." The guards that were leaving suddenly stopped and waited to attack. Haile Selassie said, "What were those Sir Shawn?" I picked Zema up and presented his front to the emperor. "Quite formidable for one only six months. Wait till he is eighteen. He will beat people with it." The guards being guards were still ready to attack. The emperor and his minister laughed and told the guards to leave. "What is the second Sir Shawn." "We must wait for that too. I think three hours and I will have to use another diaper. I will tell you truthfully you will want to run from him." I got more fatherly laughs and I dressed Zema and walked to the Emperor and placed the boy in his lap with a small flannelette sheet. I turned around and pulled a chair close and called Wub over. I sat in the chair and brought Wub into my lap. "Now you hold the balance of power. Shall we begin now?" Zema looked at the shiny buttons and the medals and reached for them and cooed. "What do you plan to do with Alem Neh Mebreatu's property Sir Shawn?" "The property is mine now your majesty. Many people were hurt in this man's rise to power and even more hurt afterwards. I have already turned his gangster arm into a security service for the other companies that I now own. "The companies have all been ordered to pay the taxes that are legally due, but also to search out for any legitimate loopholes. The people hurt by this man will be compensated. Your country was hurt and I plan to dig many wells in the surrounding land and pump purified and chlorinated water to the city. This I will do at my expense. You have to supply electricity and the piping from the main line that will go through the town. I will build a large swimming pool but it is for all not just the elite. You will supply electricity, chlorine and the lifeguards. We can split the cost of the land if your jackals get wind of this." "You alone are going to pay for all that?" "Yes I am as a way of compensating Ethiopians for what they had to put up with. The companies will pay their fair taxes and will not cheat. Accountants will begin to rule the country and you will have to slap them down like the political factions you do now. As you know I hate corruption and I will root it out and destroy it, as it comes between the people and the things they deserve so it will have to be removed. The head of an international drug distribution organization has been removed already." "That was you?" "Yes. He was sending three trucks of troops to take me at my home. Not smart of him at all. I could have dragged him out and taken all the incriminating papers on his desk but I left them. The military would have protected even the rotten ones and the court would have found him innocent and cost the people a lot of money." Zema was getting tired so I said to Wub, "Go get the blanket then the bag for daddy please, honey." The child slid off and got the blanket that dragged on the floor. I shook it out and laid it on the table so that Zema could lay down on it and perhaps sleep. Wub climbed back and I arranged her to sit comfortably. "I also want a university here to train engineers and managers. I will pay the instructors in lieu of taxes. I will find those instructors. You find the students and where to house and teach them. Does that answer your question?" "Pretty much Sir Shawn. When is all this going to take place?" "I intend to take my new family, along with my older one from the plane, home with me when I leave. I will leave a bank account here in the sum of one million pounds sterling. When I come back after getting my other affairs in order I will begin construction. I need permits to bring pipe and pumps in. You pay me for the pipe I bring for the feeder lines or you get it yourself. I will need chlorination equipment and the liquid chlorine. I am not going to be charged any government fees on any of this. My company will administer this service at a small profit. That is on my word. I will need to talk to your engineering staff to see how to get the electricity to the pumps." "Do you require some partners in these ventures Sir Shawn?" "Do I require people always asking questions about the business or their stake in it? No. Do I need people trying to get their incompetent relatives into a good paying job? No. Do I need a way for more graft to sink in? The answer is the same. I will work honestly and I expect the people I work with to be the same. The ones that don't like it or can't do it will go no matter who his relatives are." Before we left I took Wub onto the terrace after opening the tall French doors. I returned to the table and said, "Before I leave today I want to give you a gift. The emperor got up and put Zema to his shoulder after the small sheet. He walked to me and I met him half way. My arm came from behind my back and the sword in the scabbard was placed in his startled hand. I came forward and took Zema and the sheet and retreated a few feet. The emperor marvelled at the workman ship and the simple attachments. This was a sword that would be used to fight not for display. "Sir Shawn this is beautiful. I have never seen such detail." "Go to a dark room and draw the blade. Remember this above all else. The edge is sharper than anything you have ever known. Draw the blade now and hold the edge upward." The man did as directed and I took Zima's sheet and threw it one handed so it landed across the blade. The sheet did not even slow down but parted where it touched. A small portion that missed the blade kept the two pieces together. The emperor's eyes went wide. He could not believe the blade. "Many bad men recently felt this blade. This blade was meant for a warrior not a bureaucrat. When you go into the dark I think you will see the 'Light of Allah' but don't trip or you will cut you penis off." The emperor said nothing just stared at the blade. I waved goodbye to the minister and walked out. When I got to the main entrance the major-domo rushed to open the door for me and then the automobile. Before stepping in I looked up and waved to the two men standing there. One waving a sword and the other watching the blade very closely tried to do the same without being hurt. From then on things moved quickly for us. The passports for Ayana and Brihan were easily obtained. The other children that would normally get to ride on their parents passports were listed as my children. Perhaps in some ways their new surname was better than the old one. In almost every case though the children had not even been registered. The twelve European women would not be given passports because they were now seen as foreign nationals. Other documents were issued in their real names and these would be used until they could get the documents from their own countries. As a public service I went to the two hospitals and donated my services to assist the people of this city. Mostly it was the poor who received my services till the word got out that I was a world renown physician and then I had the more wealthy trying to push their way into position. Benyam was dressed as I was, in a long white smock with a stethoscope hanging from his neck. I would discuss things with him as if this were a teaching hospital. Soon some of the patients were asking him about their pains. I called another company meeting and everybody attending was happy that I did not have my sword with me. I told them about the work and how some could gain from my spending. My 'security force' was issued uniforms and given the job of watching my extended family and giving my businesses an image boost. There was grumbling among the people forced to wear the clothing but they knew it was necessary if I said so. My home security unit was incorporated into the security service and received training from the other professionals but this time for the opposite effect. The municipal engineers were consulted and their words listened to. I knew the strata beneath the city and its environs better than they did. One of my companies got the job of building large water tanks to keep the pressure even. Men, machinery and horses were readied for the pipe that would be laid in the trenches. Another of my companies shared a contract to manufacture fire hydrants. A large area in the city was set aside. This was to form our staging area. Soil would be dug from here and separated into pea gravel and other sizes to form a bed for the pipe. Eventually this would be our municipal swimming pool. The people from the plane were escorted by my security service wherever they went. The men seemed to enjoy being photographed with their celebrity clients. The co-pilot and engineer were pushed around in wheelchairs I made and finally got to see the sights of the city. The plane had been loaded with enough fuel to make it to Addis Ababa. I deposited most of the money in the hidden room but kept 20 percent for my family. A presentation ceremony was made where the Emperor declared that he wanted the project for the people of his capital city and I presented him with a cheque that went into an account only for this project. Many entrepreneurs came out of the woodwork and tried to see what they could get from this venture. The family was readied and with coordination from the security service we were prepared one night. I flew out to the airfield under my own power and almost gave the old man a heart attack. "I am sorry but I also came to give you good news." "What is that effendi?" "You now are working for my company and I want you to continue with the field maintenance. A grader will make it here soon and it will be levelling and widening the road as it comes. It has a map so that the field can be lengthened. So you still have a job. The original owner is running not only from the law but also the people that have always wanted to kill him." We used the tank to pull the plane out of the dark hanger and I went over the aircraft carefully. I used much more stringent requirements than the most picky pilot ever did. It was in good shape but I made a list of things that were not perfect. I waved goodbye to the man as I taxied out and flew the short trip to Addis Ababa. The plane was fuelled and employees cleaned and stocked the plane. My hotel now had the contract to stock the plane and the food would be many times better. At three in the morning everybody boarded the plane. This time harsh memories came to most and outright fear to the ones that had never flown before. I felt good because the airline had no control over how their plane got delivered. Before the ramp was pulled away I thanked the security service for the exemplary way they had performed their duties. I got a military salute from men that had not long ago been nothing more than street thieves. Before we took off I called for Peter and Benyam to help me fly the plane. Peter took the co-pilot's seat and Benyam took the navigator's spot as he tried to make out what duties he should do. Over Libya the Addis Ababa family came in to see what we were doing and they saw the confusing arrays of lights, dials and indicators that filled the entire cabin. I got up from my seat after setting the autopilot and told Peter to fly the plane. He took the controls and tried very hard to make no mistake as he 'flew the plane' while on autopilot. Benyam was better only because I had partially trained him on this job and he knew what instruments to check and then use the circular slide rule to plot our position. After we crossed the Strait of Gibraltar I regained the pilot's seat and took us off autopilot and let Peter feel what it was like to really fly a plane. We flew into London and I let Peter take most of the radio traffic as I monitored his performance. I had cued him in to the correct terminology and we performed fairly well. At four thousand feet I took over and landed the plane as well if not better than it had ever been landed at this particular airport before. When the platform was pushed to the waiting door the most recovered people descended first. Flashbulbs made the girls blink and shade their eyes. There was no running and they descended the steps like ladies. The parents and family were behind a barrier with police to control the crowd. Everybody was clamouring to get through and to their loved ones. The line of returnees went to a very large and brightly lit room prepared for them in advance. At the end of the line I assisted some men to get the co-pilot and engineer from the plane. Behind me came my family. As they passed me at the bottom of the ramp, I took two of the infants and carried them to the room. Behind me two men with heavy boxes carried the gold and precious stones that I brought with me. I wasn't going to let this out of my sight, for things at airports went missing all the time, whether in the smallest bush airstrip in Africa, or the largest international airport in London. I found seats for the family and kept the two infants in my lap. The president of BOAC came onto the stage and started his speech. As quietly as possible I translated for those that didn't understand. He said that he was going to get to the bottom of the matter but the truth was that there were few survivors to prosecute. Alem Neh Mebreatu had died under torture and his body was found by authorities a day before we left Addis Ababa. The outside doors were opened and carefully screened individuals were allowed in. They ran to their children and the heartfelt reunion let me know what I did all this for. The hall filled and after twenty minutes we were directed to where we could snack on some food and drink. Soon the next round of speeches would begin. This time the back of the room held a line of reporters and photographers. Both my grandparents and Sharon came in and she led them to me. I introduced everybody. I found grandma had been angry at me for risking my life again. Grandpa was proud of what I had done but wanted me safe. I had to translate again after getting some hugs and kisses. The children were kissed too. It was many done because of what I thought of children in general and these in particular. Somehow the women got an equal treatment. Partially this was because the youngest woman here was only sixteen. Too soon I was asked to go to the front. I put the babies back in their mother's arms and gave another short speech about what happened. I stayed away from mentioning my family as much as possible. I talked about how Alem Neh Mebreatu's money was now being spent on helping Ethiopia. I mentioned how they were only one of many countries that could be brought into the twentieth century. The speech was as short and sweet as possible and I took my seat again. A few more speeches and we were free to go. We waited until the end to ensure that nobody was left behind. All had made it to family one way or another. Sharon had a rented city bus for us but we had to go through a cordon of flashing bulbs and loudly thrown questions to get to it. When everyone was settled the bus driver took us and my crate of art supplies to the gallery. Sharon had found places for everybody else and we were going to take over their rooms temporarily. At noon I made a meal as the children sat enthralled around the television even if none of them understood the language. The device had to be shut off to allow the children to eat. After the meal I talked to Sharon and my grandparents about what had happened. They were all very uncomfortable about me taking so many lives. They also saw the alternative but still did not have to like it. The excited voices of the children brought us to the television and found images of us travelling from the plane and later the procession from the building to the bus. I gave a rapid translation so everybody would know what was happening. They went on to tell of a documentary which was going to be aired tonight about me being both a compassionate killer and healer. It looked like the media would find another way of attacking or at least upsetting me. For the next ten days we used the bus to visit many sites and to go shopping. The women especially liked the shopping mall that I had built. They sampled all the food and picked up more toys than they could use at the moment. During this period of time I went to all the embassies that were related to the nationalities of my girls. When it came to the part entitled 'father', of the children, I put my name regardless. On the business front I found steel suppliers and a tender was put out for all the things that I would soon need in Ethiopia. This would have to be gone over very carefully, because it would have to be shipped into the landlocked country. Tutors were hired for the girls and the children. The girls that worked for me were pressed into service as escorts while I went to the girl's original homes. I would not allow any of them to even set foot in the country without knowing how the girl and their children were going to be treated. Interpol had given me all the particulars I needed and took an early morning flight to Iceland for the first girl. I was met at the airport by the worried and anxious father. The mother had passed away a year ago. I gave the man copies of the photographs of children and in this case one grandchild. It took only an hour to tell him that he could have his daughter back with his grandchild. I said straight out that I would fight him in all the courts if I thought he was unfit. Soon I was on another flight to Stockholm and was scheduled to meet three sets of parents. It took three days and I had found homes for eleven of the girls and their children. In only one case did I have to go to an older sister, because the parents I found to be unfit. In this case I went to the courts to pave the way to make this a legal obligation because the girl had not reached the age of majority yet. The last girl and her two children were more of a problem. The girl had been kidnapped from East Germany just after the war. I had to get many permits to leave one Germany for the other. In this case the mother was the only survivor and she was in bad shape financially and physically. Family was contacted and I worked with them and the state authorities to get what commitments I could. I left similar endowments but this time I put in more to pay the relatives to assist me. Communication was required from both them and the girl for this to continue. I worried that I would have to sneak back one night and spirit the girl and her children away again. Two days after returning I flew with each girl and her children to their new home. This was not a good time for any of us. I felt that my heart was being ripped out when the mother left and just as bad when the child left. I would stay a night to get them settled in and leave the next day. I set up an allowance for the mother and child and another one for both their educations. In two weeks I was done and hadn't felt so distraught since my family had died. I submerged myself in art during this time, hoping to loose my grief for at least a while. I would go to bed late at night and find release within the arms of my two remaining women. Sharon and the others were happy about the new art but not about my condition and tried various ways to get me back to the old way and I just disregarded them and their attempts. It was six year old Lakech that pulled me out of my depression. She came crying and wanted me back. Her mother Brihan and Ayana had been crying for a long time and had missed the girls themselves. The children too felt bad in almost an empty home. Four children were not eighteen by any means. I felt guilty about what I had done and decided to spend time with the remainder of my family now. It was a Monday and it was raining lightly. Perhaps this was even the best time. We all got dressed and I took everyone to the zoo where we walked around the almost deserted facilities as I had once done before with a lonely boy. Zema and Meseret sat in a pram with the canopy up, so that they were protected from the rain. We travelled the quiet walkways and all the workers I met greeted me. I was very well remembered by the keepers and I greeted them back by name if I had been told them before. When we came to one particular lion we found she was asleep till I mentally prodded her to awake. She didn't remember me but when she yawned we could see the gold filling in her tooth. We stood there for ten minutes going over what the two of us had done not that long ago. We came out of the park and headed for a small restaurant nearby and sipped hot chocolate and strong tea as the rain came down even more heavily outside. The rain did not let up as we continued our walk which was rather dispiriting as my family was definitely not appreciating the rain - especially when their country was so dry. I had a had 50 percent interest in a shipping company and had worked with various cargoes and ports to get one particular ship to come to Portsmouth to deliver some cotton. It would be picking up in turn the pumps, a large motor generator set, the entire consignment of pipe and some necessary construction equipment, plus some general cargo bound for the area. My family would enjoy the owner's cabin with me, as we sailed back through the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and then the Red Sea. The day came and the cargo was all loaded. We had said our goodbyes to old friends and new and took the train to the port. We boarded the ship and I shook hands with the captain. He had heard a lot about me and what I had done to the previous partner and swore in his mind to leave us alone. He and most of the crew saw us the way men do but would not do anything even if I did not have my reputation. The voyage was routine for the crew and delightful for us. I taught the children what I could and the same for Ayana and Brihan were taught as they never were before. I gave them my knowledge of accounting and sound business practices. For good measure they got the ability to defend themselves along with a better understanding of the English language. The former we practised on deck and it looked like any one of them could take out almost any man they wanted to. The children learned the same things but less of each. Zema only got language and some mathematics. In my spare time I exercised my mind and removed barnacles from the hull then strengthened and repaired some damage. The engine was old but I was able to do some things even as it chugged away. We stopped just after the Horn of Africa, in the small country of Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden. We had a chance to see the port as the cargo was unloaded. It was to be shipped by train now and within a few days would be in Addis Ababa. We bought supplies and boarded the train as well to ensure the cargo got to where it was intended. An officious customs man was the usual way of extracting more money for his meagre income. In the middle of the night the train stopped at the border and four men got onboard to search the identities of those entering the country. Four more stayed outside the train to ensure that anyone running away would be stopped. Two men swaggered down the higher priced area looking for sheep to be shorn. When they got to us I opened the door first and presented them with our papers and a manifest of our cargo. The papers were scrutinized and the men did not recognize me or my name. "These are not in order. You need an import certificate." I showed them the paper signed by Haile Selassie himself and said, "Your Emperor wants this done with the least red tape. It clearly states that you are to give me all assistance in getting this cargo to the capital." "You still need the correct papers. We will have to keep the cars here with your cargo until the documents arrive." "Come with me a moment I have something to show you." They readily came because here is where they would get paid. We stepped off the train and each fell asleep at my feet as did the two guards came over and pointed their rifles at me. I searched the train and got the other two inside and the two outside and brought them all to the same place. I woke them all up and gave them pain as if they were on fire. Five seconds of their screaming was enough and I stopped it. "I do not like graft and corruption. It hurts your country and the life blood within it. Stay here," I said with a small snarl. I went to their small hut and called their commander. There was no other place to talk to him in any case. The commander was at a small base about five miles inside Ethiopia. "Who is this?" came a very irate voice that had been awoken by the man I first contacted. "My name is Sir Shawn Boz. Your guards tried to extort money from me and your Emperor. I have the papers here that give me free access. Are you going to tell these men to let the train through or am I going to have a chat with you too?" The man was familiar with me and wasn't very sure if the rumours were true but said "put one of them on." I yelled for one man to come and the now pathetic creature ran to do whatever I said. "Tell the truth to your commander. Everything you did. Miss something and the fire will last even longer." The man spoke so fast and his conversation was broken up. It was difficult for me to grasp. The man handed me the phone at the extreme distance of his reach. The commander said, "You may go. They will tell the engineer to start." "Thank you for helping us stamp out corruption." I pulled the man to the others so I only had to speak once. "No more demands for money even if your commander demands it. If it happens again you and your commander will regret it. Tell the train to start." I jumped on the train and was back inside the car as the train started. The family did not even know what had happened. A few minutes later as we passed the camp. I could hear a voice screaming for five seconds then quiet returned. The next day the cargo was unloaded and we went to our home. It was clean and tidy even with flowers in pots. The security patrol of two men saluted and I returned the gesture as snappy as it was given. While the family settled in I went for a walk on the route the pipe would take. Eight miles of the route were through solid rock and very expensive to move. At a slow walk I covered the distance in ten hours and the rock was broken small and I was completely tired out. A taxi took me home to sleep and the family was satisfied now. They were where they belonged and I was with them. Heavy earth drilling equipment found little solid obstructions and made the wells in a very short time. Liners went in and water started to fill the hole. Concrete covered the ground and the pump went into place with a roof and walls to protect it. Each of the fourteen pumps took five days but they could be started one after another. In ten working days the pumps were operational. Trenches had already been started and the first lengths of pipe lowered into a prepared bed. Much of any city's water was lost to leaks so I ensured that every one was as tight as it could be. Horses and men drove scrapers that scooped the soil up and deposited it for removal. Most went to the staging yards where the fines came back for more bed for the new pipe. While I was doing this Ayana and Brihan were doing books for the first time and doing it well. They hadn't gotten all of Ethiopian tax laws yet but were close. They worked hard at straightening the books and showing the managers how to save more. This carrot and stick I thought should help make the transition as smooth as possible. The generator set powered up one pump at a time and the wells were tested for flow. This was mainly to satisfy the engineering staff because I knew each well was in the best possible spot. Water towers went up and took all the water we produced when testing. In forty days the mains were in and much of the feeders. My plumbing company was ready to install the fittings into homes with a meter in each. Others could too but did not have the necessary supplies to do so. We sold the supplies and the smaller companies made a profit too. Public fountains supplied clean water to those unable to pay for this commodity but required them to bring jugs for the water. Now that the main work was done the pool was excavated and hundreds of men not now laying the mains worked on deepening and widening the pool. Drain lines were installed and piping went to the building with the chlorination plant. Cement went into the pool over the stone that was carefully laid for strength. This job alone took three weeks and kept many people busy. As one part of the pool was being poured another part was dry and was getting its first coating of paint after being ground smooth. A larger pool that would only be eight inches deep with fountains in the middle was also made. These cost almost as much as the deep pool but would be safer for the infants. Change houses and washrooms were added as well as tables cemented into the ground for parents to sit and watch their children. The water from the washroom went to trees transplanted from outlying areas. Three months after starting the project and employing thousands of workers the Emperor showed up for the inauguration. It was a typical hot day but everybody was in a festive mood. He carried the new sword and smiled at me as he fondled the grip. He threw the switch and the first pump started and all over the city in a sequence more started to move the precious substance. We got in some cars with my family and went across town to the pool. Here a sixteen inch valve was turned by the Emperor and water gushed into the pool. It was brown at first but soon cleared as the sediment was flushed from the lines. My family stood behind me in the shallow end as speeches were made about the water the pool and about how it would benefit the city in general. The emperor stood before me and brought me up for a speech. I stressed what good people could do in a city like this if we all worked together and fought corruption. It didn't quite sound like that but those were the main points. When the pool was officially opened I threw Benyam and Lakech into the pool first. Meseret was just lowered in but he started to scream so was pulled out. All around the pool thousands of people jumped into the water. The deep area was flagged off but the life guards in boats saved many too exuberant children and adults. I wondered how many of the emperor's life guards could swim. I watched my own children and had to strip to my underwear quickly to help many of the children whose parents thought they should instinctively know how to swim. During this Benyam and Lakech started a water fight and this spread to others who were not presently drowning. With no dying children around I got out of the pool and approached the Emperor. "I brought a pair of trunks for you from Britain." Ayana handed me the paper wrapped package and I gave it to him. "Thank you Sir Shawn but I can't do this and keep all my dignity. My country is ruled by factions and they will jump at any excuse to try to bring me grief." "Well one dark night you might sneak down here and we can swim. I bought bathing suits in Britain for my women but the sight of all that skin will drive men crazy." The Emperor turned to look at both young women and said, "It probably would. Perhaps I will get a pool made at the palace." "I know of a company that makes good pools at a reasonable price. Would you like their name and address?" The Emperor left soon after with his entourage and we stayed to watch the children play. The water was getting darker but the naked children were going the other way. I knew the filters and chlorine would take care of everything. I got back into the pool with Meseret and Zema in my arms. I felt good again for the first time in many months. Before we left the area Ayana and Brihan were cajoled to take off their shoes and put their naked feet into the water. People walking by could actually see eight inches above their ankles. Others around the pool thought it quite scandalous. Prior commitments would not allow me to stay here indefinitely. Travel was necessary and the girls had to work for a new company I formed. It was basically a management company that processed the books of my other companies and gave financial advice. The men were very reluctant to follow the women's advice even after I showed how they could help. The men were told they were still in charge of their units and the women were my eyes and ears. Each had shown a good profit but our fiscal year had just begun. The men were greedy and saw ways to make even more money and I had to explain how the others kept people employed and competition kept them and us on our toes. I had to stress again that I did not want to dominate any particular sector, just to be big enough to show the rest how things should be done. In the end it would be good for the country and good for the people. Avarice made the men very short sighted. A large swing made of three inch pipe and a small pool for the whole family was constructed. A child's house was attached to the large swing to keep the children occupied on some of the long days and weeks when I would be absent. Meseret then Lakech started calling me 'daddy' then Benyam got past my apparent age and started calling me father. This made me even prouder that they were able to overcome some old preconceptions. A month after the water project ended I had to leave again. This time we were driven to the airport and the family was much more used to being free to choose what to do. I kissed and hugged the children and then did a much better job on their mothers. Quite a few people stopped to see this. I did it to help both women get over what Ethiopians would call 'their place'. I boarded the short flight to Cairo then a flight to Paris where I caught a flight to Ottawa. The short stopover in Paris allowed me to catch up on things with the girls there. Beth was now going steady and it looked like a fair match. I met the student when he was a student at a local university and arranged the introduction. The two seemed to hit it off fairly well. The National Gallery of Canada was having a showcase for African art and I was going to be there to promote Rhodesia and its native population. Since this was one of the Commonwealth countries it was important to have this done correctly. We landed in Gander Newfoundland as usual when flying from Europe and then went directly to Ottawa. It was quite a shock going from the temperatures of Ethiopia to the snow on the ground of eastern Canada. Dominique Laurier, a pretty nineteen year old assistant. She met me at the airport late Friday afternoon and took me to the hotel I would be staying at to drop off my bags and register. She was very low in the hierarchy at the gallery and even volunteered to be here to meet me. This was usually only done with famous artists and apparently my fame had not preceded me to this continent. The woman had been to Paris and seen some of my work then visited London at a later date and did the same. She spoke delightful English with a French Canadian accent. We talked about my schedule and other pieces of important data till I was able to speak to her in Québécois French. She was born across the Ottawa River in Hull Québec. This country like many in Africa had more than one official language and French had equal billing here with English. As we pulled up to a very nice hotel in the centre of town, a doorman opened my door and said, "Bonjour monsieur." I replied in the same language. France at one time had many dialects and regionalisms. The people originally settling in Québec had difficulty understanding their neighbours and picked the French of the king's court to converse. After the French revolution a different French emerged but Québec retained the old tongue. In the elevator Dominique asked, "Sir Shawn, how is it that you speak our language so well? You sound as if you were born here." "Please, my name is Shawn. I speak Parisian French and had to pick up the differences from people that spoke your French. Answer a question for me now. Why is it that you decided to assist me when your gallery does not see me as an artist at all and only as a lowly cultural attaché?" "Ah... I think they are not aware of your talents. I was in London and saw some of your paintings and I just stood there for hours until I was kicked out at closing." "Thank you but the painting you were probably looking at was supposed to be disturbing. Too many people take life nonchalantly and this only leads to apathy." We talked about Canadian culture for a while as I unpacked and asked her, "Would you have dinner with me? I have never been to your country before." "Of course Sir... Shawn. What kind of restaurant would you like to go to. The one in this hotel is famous." "How about a small restaurant favoured by students. A little local music would be nice." "I know just the place. It is over the river in my home town and many students go there to let off steam. Are you familiar with the way students are?" I had to laugh, then told her how I taught mathematics, physics and some medicine when time allowed. "How is that? You look so young." "Most countries on the continent know that I am a physician but I taught university math and physics to get there. It was a form of tuition and the school gained from it as well as I did. When I find some different, and I hope better, ways of doing some procedures, I publish in some medical journals or in one of my books. On occasion I go to an educational hospital and perform the procedure there. In a way I have to do the same for math and physics when I go to a symposium. In January I have to go to Toronto to explain my views on how the universe was made and what I have recently found out about it." "But that is astrophysics or astronomy?" "Still physics in my book. Everything we do is physics in one way or another. Tell me about your painting." "How did you know I paint?" "You work at a gallery and go to other galleries to view art. You mention my art but only the paintings, so naturally I know that you paint." "You are quite a detective... Shawn. I do paint but it not nearly good enough to be shown at a gallery but I have sold a few pieces." "May I see some of your work?" "You, want to see my art!" "Sure, maybe you can teach me something new." "Me teach..." "Everybody can learn more. I don't know everything. Let's go to that restaurant that you talked about." "It's a bistro with unsavoury people there sometimes. They are known as beatniks. Have you heard of them?" "Well, I'll nix my garments and we'll blow this pad. Dig?" The restaurant was not that small and a stage was prominent. I saw empty wine bottles with candles and old wax dripping down the sides. They sat on small round tables with iron work chairs set the theme. The room was only beginning to fill and some musicians were starting to warm up. Almost everybody in the room of both genders wore berets as if in Paris. The men would have trimmed beards of all kinds to show their individuality. Moustaches were individually thin and everybody seemed to have a cigarette in their hand. The women wore long black body stockings coming to mid calf with a coloured sash around their neck or waist. The men's footwear were sandals and most had glasses and at least half were dark. The women wore thin low black shoes. "Is this restaurant suitable Shawn?" "It is fine." A waiter dressed to fit in took our order. He looked at me oddly, trying to see how I would fit in with this crowd. We talked of art and of music till our meal come. Between bites we continued our conversation and sipped the compulsory cup of black coffee that everyone here drank. Eventually a man came on stage. He had a black leather jacket and a horizontally striped shirt under it. A Parisian style neckerchief with the knot on one shoulder and a gold necklace accented his head. A black leather beret and dark glasses finished his accoutrements. Through a full beard he invited people to come up to perform a piece or two before the band took over. Apparently this was amateur night and the tables could go up by number. Ours had the digit seven under the candle. ------- Chapter 26 The procession started and instruments that had hitherto laid on the floor were picked up and checked. The saxophones and bongos were preponderant but guitars, clarinets and trumpets were also evident. The first table had four people and all went up to play. The group had been practising a while but still less than a month. A woman sang and the three instrumentalists played a fairly good tune. When they were finished the audience snapped their fingers in lieu of clapping and the people sat with a glow on their faces. The next table sang currently popular songs without instrumental accompaniment. The one after that a man brought out his papers and read poetry he had written but in the disjointed beatnik way of delivering it. "Dominique, do you remember some of the folk songs you learned as a child?" "A few, why?" "We can sing a duet. What ones do you know and I will see if I know them too?" "You want to sing! Can you?" "I can give it a try. Now tell me the songs." I knew none of the songs for they had not left this continent. This was much like what I was trying to do for the native cultures of Africa. She said the words to me once and by the time the next table of musicians were done we were at least partially ready. When it eventually came to us I was ready and Dominique was very nervous. Passing the last table I stopped at the man that had played his guitar and said, "Excuse me. I was unfamiliar with this custom and didn't bring my own instrument. May I borrow yours for a few moments?" Since I spoke kindly and tried to look like someone not about to damage his instrument I was loaned it gladly. The instrument was slightly out of key and I adjusted it without the owner noticing. Dominique nervously looked at me and I said, "You lead and I will follow. Just play the slow song slightly slower than the way you sang it before. She sang and I was a measure behind her and stayed quiet enough to allow her voice to be foremost. The guitar too was quiet and the crowd enjoyed the old song played the way we did it. Her voice was good and perhaps she missed her calling in going into visual arts. When the song ended we were applauded with the snapping of fingers and the next table gestured for us to continue for a moment. We sat back down and discussed another song with more of a lilt to it. At the end of this song we were again asked to continue. The crowd loved us and after five more songs Dominique wanted to sit down but the crowed wanted us to continue. I put a hand on her shoulder and said to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, I just made a song while sitting here. May I have your indulgence while I play it? It will be my last of the night. Others have to play as well." I turned Dominique to look at me and played a ballad of a love struck boy pining away for an older girl. The girl thought me too young and wanted my much older brother. The boy asked for a single dancing lesson and in that time the girl found her love. The song of necessity was a bit long and there was only a small part repeated about the look in the girl's eyes. It was played in the best tradition of the folk songs we had just sung. I used Dominique as the girl and sang to her with all the emotion I could put into my voice and gestures. At the end of the song Dominique bent over on her stool and gave me a kiss as I bent forward similarly to receive it. There was no noise for a moment but then snapping then clapping came and then all were clapping hard because they liked the music so much. Dominique turned around and saw that she had just kissed a strange young man in public that she hardly knew. The fact that the boy was only nine did not seem to matter that much. Before regaining our seats, I gave the guitar back with my thanks. The man said, "That was a crazy scene, man! What's your jack?" "Shawn Boz." I put my hand out and continued, "Lay some skin on me." We shook and I had to do this with the rest of the table. I sat with Dominique and her eyes were constantly on me. It took a few minutes for the next table to get up for it is hard to go on after a performance that would be better than theirs. When the next act was done the man that had introduced the performances came to us and crouched down and said, "Are you two interested in a job? The musicians I have are not full time. I can pay you six dollars for three hours." The man was serious and this was not a bad wage if we had no other employment but the money would have to be split between Dominique and me. "I am sorry but I have a job and will be leaving in ten days for Toronto, then a week after that the troupe will be going to Montréal then Vancouver." "Troupe?" "I am heading the Rhodesian government's presentation of native dancing, art and culture. I manage and the others perform." "What a drag, you're a hep-cat and could make some serious bread." "Dominique will be available and I can write some songs for her." Turning to the girl I said, "You want to try it? I will give you some original material and with your voice you may even get to record." She didn't answer with her brain muddled like this. "She will give it a try next week at five dollars for two hours, you provide accompaniment and buy her a meal." The man got as good a deal as he was going to get and shook each of our hands in agreement. Dominique asked, "Why did you do that Shawn?" "You can sing when not working or painting. I do more than one thing, you can too." At eleven I had other things than music on my mind and said, "Let's go see your art." I paid the bill and we left together to her apartment. Dominique's mind saw this somewhat like a boyfriend coming here and wondered how I was going to fit in. She had a steady boyfriend but he was working out of town at the moment cutting trees. I was young in her eyes and fit into two camps. I took off my coat and hung it beside the door and helped Dominique off with hers. She said, "Please disregard the house. I didn't expect anybody to be coming home with me." The art was in a spare bedroom. She brought them out in order of when they were done and I saw a steady improvement in her efforts. She did have talent but needed more time to let it emerge and told her so. I suggested other artists that painted similarly and how she should study their works more. When I went through all the paintings she asked, "Is there something you would like to drink Shawn?" "No but I would like to shower. I hate tobacco smoke and it is all over us and our clothing. May I have one here?" "Sure, the shower is to your right and I will bring in the towels after I get a chance to take my nylons from the curtain rod." She did get the bathroom cleaned very quickly and I went in and started to undress. The door was left open and I got into the shower. Dominique came to the doorway and said, "The towel is on the rack." "Dominique, will you come in and have a shower with me?" She hesitated for a while and said, "I don't think that is proper Shawn." "I am in a strange town. I find you attractive and I think you find me the same way. We are adults even if I am young. There is no commitment being made." In three minutes she got into the shower with me but didn't know what to do. I got her to sit while I shampooed her hair to remove the smell of smoke and then squatted to do her shoulders. Her arms were raised and I washed each of them as I did my children. With her now standing I did her back and worked to her feet not missing to clean everywhere. She responded favourably to cleaning her butt and between the juncture of her legs. I turned her around and continued on her front and made sure everything was squeaky clean. When the soap was rinsed off I worked on her clit and stroked into her with my fingers until she had an orgasm and held me tightly to her. When she recovered she cleaned me the same way but squatted and took me into her mouth. My own orgasm came soon and I picked her up and kissed her lips as tenderly as she had earlier. I helped her out of the tub them pampered her as I dried her body. I did my own quickly and picked the startled woman up and carried her to her bed. As I laid her down I remained on the floor and kissed he body. When I got to the juncture of her legs she parted them in invitation. I climbed on the bed and sucked her clit into my mouth and used my fingers again to enter her. It was a matter of only a minute till she grasped my head and thrashed about as she groaned out her next come. With that finished she looked at me between her raised legs and smiled. I climbed higher and slipped into her depths. I was not as big as she was used to but I did hit all the important points. After her next orgasm I used my power for the first time and enlarged myself and she stated to orgasm almost constantly. A 'finger' entered her rectum and she thrust violently at me not knowing what was happening to her but she loved every part of it. I finished my own orgasm as she passed out. With my powers I turned off the lights and covered us. I just turned us sideways and stayed within her but only just. An hour later she awoke and tried to get me further in and had to turn me onto my back and she mounted me and thrust to her own tempo. I caressed her nipples and soon she shuddered and collapsed on me. I had been playing with her anus and moved her unresisting body and got her to sit on me with her anus now directly stimulated. When she came to her first few strokes felt different. "Oh Shawn. Nobody has been there before. Why isn't it hurting? I heard it would." "If the man really cares for the woman he will go very slow and open his woman up first. I am also not very big. You will have something special to teach your boyfriend when he returns." She smiled at the thought and started to move her body as I manipulated her clit and her nipple. This felt fantastic to her and she had to have two more orgasms before quitting because she was getting sore. She got off and fetched a damp cloth to clean us before climbing back into bed. The next morning Dominique was shy about last night so I made love again and she ended up on the bed unconscious with her legs wide and her opening the same way. I pushed her legs together and covered her on the frosty morning. She had nothing for breakfast so I listened to the radio she had in the kitchen. I heard the news and turned it off. I picked out what I wanted Dominique to wear and after washing her with a cloth and basin then dressed her. We were almost out her door when a cold blast of air finally woke her up. We drove to my hotel and we had breakfast there. The only extra thing I took from her apartment was an empty valise. We went out shopping later at an upscale dress shop. I picked the clothes I thought she would look best in. She was concerned about me buying her things because it was seen as buying her. "I enjoy buying things and I like to dress up girls. Won't you allow me this small pleasure?" She just looked at me and I gave her this little boy look and she bent just a bit and kissed me. Dominique constantly wanted to smoke. Most people did too, but this was even more prevalent in the French Canadian segment of the population. I had to work on her mind a bit to get her craving under control. On three occasions she had to lie in the front seat of her car while I drove so that she could relieve her oral fixation. In the changing rooms of various women's stores I would return the favour. By noon she was too sore to continue even though she desperately wanted to. In my room, her back opening served for a while until it too became inflamed. We ate downstairs and Dominique had difficult time sitting. She did have the look of a well fucked woman with the smile on her face. She said, "I don't know what you have done to me but I just can't get enough." "It is the African way," I simply said. She pointed out the window at the Rideau Canal and how people enjoyed themselves by skating. Having never tried this sport we went out and I bought a pair of good skates and got them sharpened. We drove back to her apartment so she could get hers. We dressed a little warmer and drove to the canal. After parking we walked down the snow covered steps to the ice surface. I tied Dominique's skates then my own. The ice surface was almost five miles long and we had started at one end. Part way down in a bay some boys were playing hockey and I stopped to allow Dominique to rest for a moment. She said, "You can skate better than me and I have been doing this almost all my life. I am out of shape but you are phenomenal. The Montréal or the Quebec City teams would love to get you." "What about Toronto?" I shouldn't have asked for she started to run down the team as if they were a bunch of bullies that cheated at everything they did. In her mind I saw that the teams were all as prone to mayhem and that is the way the crowds wanted it. As she was running down the team others came close and not only agreed but added their comments. They were a little perturbed at the refereeing and saw this as an English versus French battle that had not ended on the Plains of Abraham. A tired youngster had come by and rested while leaning on his hockey stick. He added his own thoughts to the pot. He was speaking about Joseph Henri Maurice Richard and said, "The Rocket was robbed so many times by the English that there had even been a riot." His friends wanted the boy to continue with their game and I said, "May I try this? I was never on skates till today." "Sure but watch the other team, they are bigger and like to push us around." I took the stick and raced out onto the ice in the boy's place. I had more than enough sources of hockey rules from the boys and found it fairly easy to score three goals. The opposing team took exception to this and had two players began to shadow me but I still continued to score. They tried to check me legally and illegally but never were able to do so. Instead of hogging the action I set up the others on the team so they too could score. When the opposition tried to slash me with their sticks, my team players I called a halt and called them on their poor sportsmanship. The boy got his stick back almost fifteen minutes later and his side was now ahead by twelve goals. He had his mouth open at the way I had played. "You're like a missile. Even Richard could not go that fast." "Rhodesia produces some fairly good hockey players too," I said in jest. It was fun to play this sport and even more fun to play from the underdog position. The boys on both teams were the same except one side was larger. I knew the small fry would do the same when they had a chance. My companion wondered if my country did have some good players and tried to think of the nationality of those not Canadian. Dominique and I skated some more but now I held her hand in mine like many of the other couples. She was trying to understand her body's insistence to stay with me. Her mind was not opposed to us being together but the thought it odd to be controlled by her body. She did ask, "How did you learn to skate so well?" "I just have a natural inclination for sports. I know what my body can do and my brain seems to have a good grasp of where each part is. It is a lot like when I paint. The brush becomes an extension of my body and the media is spread as I wish it." We passed many others and watched the children play and the speed skaters going up and down the ice. I estimated that the long section of ice must have had eight thousand people on it. At the far end of the canal I heard a commotion. This was not through my ears but through the psychic variety. My other senses went forth and found through a witness's mind that there were some children that had fallen through some thin broken ice and could not be helped immediately. My mental eye found a girl in ten feet of water on the other side of the large barrier that was not supposedly open to skaters. A boy was gamely holding onto the ice but was not going to stay afloat for long. They were a mile away and one was sinking further into the icy depths. The girl was running out of breath and futilely tried to gain the surface but her muscles would not obey her commands in the frigid water. I took off my coat and dropped it to the ice and then my wallet, change and keys from Dominique's car and then skated as fast as I thought I could get away with. At the end of the rink was a series of steps almost ten feet high. When I got to them I drove my skates down hard and I flew over as if I were high jumping. On the top I did this again and I landed on my skates close to some people trying to help. There was large expense of open water with floating chunks of ice from the ship traffic still moving on the mostly frozen river. A rope with a life preserver was in a man's hand. I skated to a halt throwing up a large spray of ice. I just took the ring and gave him the whip end. "Hold this tight," I ordered. At the last portion of solid ice I jumped and arched high and dove into the freezing water. The ring I left on the surface and within seconds had the girl's coat in my hand. She was numb from the water and just got to see me before she went completely unconscious. When we reached the surface I towed her to the ice and saw that it was too thin to support us. The boy had just sunk below the surface himself. I put the ring around the freezing girl and heaved her onto the ice. My muscles were starting to cramp and I just used my power to bring the boy up. He went onto the ice with the girl. I was quickly freezing myself so had to close off the capillaries in my skin to conserve heat. I yelled in an odd voice and waited for the rope to be pulled taught. I struggled getting onto the ice myself because it kept breaking under our weight. I did get up but only with the use of my power. We stayed flat on the ice and I had a good hold of the boy's coat in one hand and the ring with the girl in another. When we were both dragged to safer ice we were all picked up. I could not get up myself with just my muscles. They had seized up in the cold and I worked desperately to get them to function. The girl's and boy's wet coats were removed and three people put their own coats on us. The children were suffering from hypothermia and then I had to remember that I was too. We were pulled to a car and all of us were hustled into it. I insisted going in the back with the girl and this happened quickly to avoid problems. The car sped off to the closest hospital. I checked on the girl's condition and saw that there was only superficial frostbite on some of her exposed skin. The woman holding the girl didn't know what to do so I said to her to bring the girl's face to her chest and abdomen and not to rub the skin as she was doing. The woman did not understand and I had to say it again in English. She continued as she was taught until I said, "Madam, I am a physician. Do not rub her hands. Just hold them to your body or put them in your arm pits." "Son, you are just a child not a doctor." "I am licensed to practice in Britain and almost all commonwealth countries. Please do not do as you were taught for it is damaging her skin." The boy was doing better because of the way he had been dressed. I asked the man holding me to take off my skates for me. It was cramped for him but he managed it. I asked the people in the car their names and thanked them for their efforts and for the warm dry clothing they had loaned us. They were in turn worried about us and I said that we will all make it but the girl would have some blistering the same as I would. They calmed a little and asked me about myself. I was able to give them a very short version till we got to the hospital. I was helped out and into the facilities on a stretcher. I saw the area for doctors and stopped the people pushing me. I quickly abandoned the stretcher and ran through the door. I got the shower on and stepped in. The water was cool but felt hot. As it warmed up it felt boiling. I turned it down until it was bearable. The nurses and my rescuers looking at me from the doorway. I said to them, "Thank you for your help but after the shower and a change of clothes I will be fine, though I may not look very pretty tomorrow." The nurse demanded I get back on the stretcher in no uncertain terms. "Nurse, who is the physician here? You or me? I may not have treated much frostbite or hypothermia but that doesn't make the proper treatment unknown to me. Kindly find some clothing and I will be out in a few minutes. Take care of the children these kind people brought to you." I stayed for ten more minutes and was able to increase the temperature gradually. When I was done I got out of my stall and onto the ceramic floor. I took off all of my wet clothing and started to dry myself. A belligerent man barged into the room and roughly said, "What the hell are you trying to do boy? Get out of here. This is for doctors only." "And who might you be?" I asked calmly. "Head of Emergency Medicine." "What is the approved method of treating superficial frostbite?" "What is that to you?" "You probably don't know, do you." "Warm the affected area, restrain from manipulating the area, avoid damaging any blistering." "Congratulations you remembered. Now that I have gone through much the same training as you, I too know the facts. If I had my wallet I could show you that I too graduated and served my internship. Now if you will get me some dry clothing I can get out of your hair." "You are no more a physician than I am the Prime Minister. Now get out of here now." I picked up my clothing and wrung them out and walked by him naked into the hall. The man pulled me back in. "You can't go out there naked." "Make up your mind. I asked for dry clothing and you refused my request and ordered me out. Won't look good on your review I think." "What review?" "The one I call about your conduct, unless I get some dry clothing now." The man saw no alternative and I added, "Bring a comb too please." Ten minutes later I was dressed in children's pyjamas and slippers. When the nurse that brought them left while I changed. I rummaged through a stack of linen and put on a white smock that was much too large to fit me. I left my clothes on a rack and left by another door and with a circuitous route found the girl down the hall. I walked up to her shivering figure and pulled a heat lamp out from storage and directed it at her from ten feet away. She was semiconscious and her eyes were following me. When I got another blanket I put it on her then sneaked out for another heat lamp and returned to put it into position for her feet. "There you are. By the way my name is Shawn. I am the person that found a mermaid swimming in the canal. Do all you people live there in the cold water?" Her eyes registered me but her mind was not all there yet. "I went swimming in an Ethiopian river once and found a big crocodile. His teeth were smaller than yours and his skin was rougher. Had a big tail and was always hungry. Would you like something to eat or drink?" I got a head movement and took it as a no. Just then the door opened and an intern came in with a stethoscope around his neck and a clipboard in his hand. His name was Jeremy Thornton and had been one of my students in London before majoring in medicine. He looked at the girl then me and his eyes opened wide. "Hello Sir Shawn. I didn't think you were working here." "Hello Jeremy. I'm not. This lady took a cold bath and I fished her out. In the process we both got a little cold. How's the boy doing? He was the least affected by the cold." I just came from him, he is doing fine. He's under heat lamps like you have done here." "I am sneaking around now. Your chief of Emergency Medicine and I had words and as usual I am on the outs." "What do you want me to do if Dr. Fellows comes here?" "Don't act like we are friendly but not antagonistic either. Just say who I am. He will be angry enough at me and I don't want it overflowing onto you." I looked at the girl and said, "This pretty young lady was thinking of giving me her name but hasn't mentioned it yet. I think she may be shy. What do you think doctor?" "Oh... that may be so. Though I haven't met anyone that can be shy around you for long. What is your young lady's condition?" He asked. "She will have some blisters but even that will be minor. I was working up to a date with her but it looks like she doesn't want anything to do with a worthless Rhodesian." I just got his incredulous eye then I continued. "While I worm her secrets out, will you tell the nurses to just leave this room alone?" "Sure Dr. Boz. I will come back in ten minutes. I'll keep an eye on the boy." "Thank you Dr. Thornton. Will you also keep your eye out for a lady in emergency with an empty coat and shoes looking to have them refilled?" Jeremy smiled and left the room. I looked back at the girl and knew her name was Elizabeth but liked Liz better. She was visiting relatives when she fell into the water while taking a dare from the boy her cousin in the other room. "Hmm let's play twenty questions. Is your name Agnes?" I got little response and then said, "Is it Bethany?" On the fifth try Elizabeth got a response but weak. "Ah so you are an Elizabeth. You are in good company. I know some girls in Britain with that name. One carries around a big club once in a while to beat people with. She has two children younger than you. Their names are Charles and Anne. Another Elizabeth is at the zoo. She had big teeth and has two cubs. She is pretty like you but her breath stinks most of the time from the raw meat that she eats." She was calming down now and started to go to sleep when the door burst open and a woman came in followed by Jeremy and two nurses. "I want to see her now," she said before turning our way. Jeremy stopped her for a moment and said, "This is Dr. Boz. He was one of my professors at university. He is the one that pulled your niece from the water." The woman waited till he was done and ran to the girl to look for herself. "Thank God she's alive. Thank you doctor. I'll never be able to repay you for saving the children." "You are entirely welcome. I was just getting Elizabeth's address, to take her out for some ice cream." This got some movement as if to say no. "What? I thought you said you liked seaweed ice cream. All you mermaids are well known for their love of that flavour. The only one they like better is fish guts." "Ewww," I got this time. Much better than how she was doing before. I looked at the aunt. "This one is a keeper. Smaller mermaids are thrown back to grow bigger. I am not her doctor but she should be able to go home in a few hours if the doctor is so disposed, but tomorrow at this time if he is not. I don't see any lasting problems other than the blisters we are both going to get tomorrow." "Thank you doctor. I will be eternally in your debt." "Think nothing of it. I needed a bath and now I have to run. My nemesis is coming down the hall." To the nurses I said, "You know now that I am a physician. Keep an eye out for a young lady with my coat and shoes. I am going to hide in Dr. Fellows' office as he searches the hospital for me. Please bring the clothes to me when she comes." The door just closed as the other opened and Fellows looked in then searched the room with his eyes and left again. Fifteen minutes later a small knock came and I opened the door. A nurse slipped the articles in and left. A sack with my wet clothes and the wet skates were beside it. The coat went on and the shoes over the bare feet. With the articles in hand I sneaked out and managed to attract Dominique's attention. We got to her car and quickly drove off. In the car she said, "What was that all about?" "I am just too young to look like a doctor and nobody takes me seriously. One doctor is actually pissed at me for usurping the physician's shower stall." At the hotel I gave the laundry to the valet for cleaning and took Dominique upstairs for some tender loving that lasted a long time. We went out at ten for a late supper and then went back to bed. Sunday we went on a tour of the Capital and found most businesses closed, just as it was in other European countries on the Sabbath. I saw the outside of the buildings and decided to just go to Dominique's apartment to paint. Upon entering I turned up the temperature and started some tea. All day Dominique had been free of cigarettes and I wanted her to continue. I opened her bed and took her clothes off her. She was willing but sore. When she was covered up I went into the other room and brought out an easel, paints, pallet and other necessary articles. There were no blank canvases and I asked, "Dominique, may I paint over one of the paintings that you told me you disliked?" "Take anyone you want." I picked one and with my power smoothed the surface and shook the dust into the garbage. I pulled back her coverings and positioned Dominique so she would look seductive but still lady like. The fact that she would be naked was considered irregardless. In half an hour it was done and I left it in place as I disposed of the tea I had drunk earlier. As I made a noise in the toilet I heard, "Oh Shawn it is beautiful. I only wish I looked like that." "You do. Look in the mirror and make the same face as in the canvas. You look like a beautiful lady that wants to suck a man's cock until he can't take it any more." "Well, come here and we will see about that." Monday morning I made it to the hotel in time to get showered, changed and to the meeting at the gallery. John Towson, the person in charge of this venue said, "Good morning Sir Shawn. It is so nice to finally meet you. Miss Laurier as been filling me in on your background. I am very sorry to say that I just thought you were a cultural attaché and left it at that. She says you are an accomplished painter and sculptor in your own right." "To toot my own horn, I also work with gold and gems. I am usually quite busy to do much of that." "I sympathise. I paint but have little or no time to practice. Tell me about what your troupe will be performing." I discussed the standard venue and told him about what we were going to do here to make the performance different. The dancing was not going to be choreographed by me but the dances would be from some of the many tribes Africa had to offer. The songs too were just mixed with, but never altered, other forms of entertainment. "If their flight is on schedule, they should be here around noon from Paris." "That's good. You have them resting here tonight for their first performance Tuesday night. Did you enjoy your own weekend here?" "It was a very enjoyable weekend. I met a singer and took her out to a restaurant. Your town does have some very remarkable women." Dominique in the background was turning red, her head hung low so people wouldn't notice. Dominique was occupied at lunch so I went alone to the airport to pickup the two couples that comprised our troupe. The flight was a little late and I waited a half hour for them to land and then had to help them through customs. When we met there were hugs and handshakes around. We had been apart for months as I had my own things to do in Ethiopia. They continued the tour on their own but found it much easier if I were there. Also the audiences were thirty percent greater when my name was mentioned. On the way to the taxis we were surrounded by reporters. One of them asked, "Sir Shawn tell us about the children you rescued." Here was some free publicity but I had to give some of myself to get it, making it far from free. "This is the troupe of performers from Rhodesia that I am travelling with. If their time is going to be taken up with this discussion there better be equal billing in your papers." They all shook their heads yes. "Gentlemen and ladies, my request is genuine. Either equal billing or I will be offended by both you and your paper's actions." I explained about the cultural event first and the reporters wrote their notes. I mentioned the adults by name that had helped us by pulling us to safety and giving us their coats then driving us to the hospital. They too should be singled out for what they did to help the children. When I gave the high points I added about being treated by Dr. Fellows and the wonderful time we had. I hoped the news people did not see through the sarcasm right away. Before I was done I mentioned about the high efficiency of the nurses and how they were like pit bulls before they found out that I had medical training too. The taxis were still there as I got the people and their clothing loaded and they drove to the hotel. In the adjoining rooms I was asked about the reporters and I gave them some additional information including how the doctor really treated me. That night Dominique apologized about not being able to go on a date. She had to travel to Bolivia and escort some archaeological treasures that would complement the art that was going to be displayed next month. That night the troupe, Dominique and I went to the bistro and sat as a large group. Even though it was not amateur night, we got to go on. The drums were a fantastic hit and many budding and established musicians came up to inspect the African variety. I had to do the translating even though the players spoke some English, they were completely in the dark about the slang the beatniks spoke. The troupe played another song with the single and double bongos and said the sound was good but not as rich. When we got back to the hotel I found a note for me from Mrs. Snyder. She was the mother of the boy Bryce and the aunt of Liz. It was after eleven so I decided to not to call her until morning, instead I was able to phone Ethiopia and talk to my family. The children were very anxious and told me about what they had learned from their tutors. Their mothers said how they missed me and wanted me home as soon as I was finished. They knew from my voice that the sentiment was returned. Just as I got in the shower my phone rang as it was apt to do. Sharon was just saying hello and trying it see how I was doing. Later she told me about two girls phoning from here in Ontario. They were Sofia and Rachael from the hijacked plane. I was given their numbers and found they lived in or near Toronto. These girls were not eighteen yet and lived at home so I had to do the same thing and phone in the morning. Sleep was not as easy as usual because I knew what the girls wanted, and it was not all physical. I got up at three and started working on some of my books. I was ahead of schedule as my small company could not really put out more than six limited edition books a month. Some of the larger runs had to go to larger publishing houses. Text books were a prime example of this but fiction was starting to catch on with me and a significant profit came from it. I was itching to write a science fiction novel but I just couldn't see any bug eyed aliens in my future. Romance had worked though but this required me to go under a pen name, for who would believe I actually had carnal relations with others? At six I went down for breakfast then came back and wrote some more. I heard activity in the other rooms and when the knock came I went down stairs with them to order their breakfast. When the two couples were eating in the dining room I phoned Mrs. Snyder and got a sleepy Bryce answering the phone. "Hello Bryce. This is Shawn. How are you feeling today?" "Fine," he said in an uncertain voice. "Are you the guy that pulled me from the water?" "That's right. Your mother wanted to talk to me for a minute. Is she awake?" "Mom!" was yelled from the phone without moving it too far from his mouth. "Shawn's on the phone. The guy that pulled us out of the water." Moments later I heard the extension being picked up. "Hello Dr. Boz. I am so glad you called. Are you free tonight. I wanted to invite you over for a meal with the family." "Thank you very much but I have a performance tonight at the gallery. There are lots of people depending on me. In fact from four to eleven I will be booked up every day until I fly to Toronto in a week." "Oh, that is too bad. My husband and I wanted to get to know you better." "That may not be what you want." "Why is that Dr. Boz?" "Shawn, please. The articles will be in the newspapers tomorrow morning and you will see some of my chequered past. I am no stranger to violence when it is directed at people I care about. If you still want to meet me I can send tickets for the four of you to come to one of the performances later in the week. Is that all right with you and with you too Bryce?" We heard a click and Mrs. Snyder said, "That is a good idea." "Before you commit yourself, the events are usually black tie affairs with many outstanding people in our community. This means special clothing. I am mentioning it so you will not feel out of place. A few hours of talking to a high strung boy about what to do or not to do at the performance may be necessary. Perhaps only you and your husband would like to come. Don't get me wrong though. I enjoy the company of children and they can get something from watching other cultures." "I'll phone you after talking this over with Harold, my husband." The next call was to Sofia. It was picked up before the ring was even completed. "Hello." "Hello to you too Sofia. You must have been expecting this call." "Oh Shawn I hoped you would call. I am having all sorts of problems. I tried to get a boyfriend but I can't let anybody but you get even close." "Does Rachael get close?" "Yes she does but she is just as bad off as me. Can we see you some time? We are making money now and saving it so that we can go to meet you somewhere. Oh Shawn I miss you so," she cried into the receiver. "Sofia, Honey, I was your first man not the last." "I don't want any more. I only want you. These last few months have been horrible. The only reason Rachael and I aren't failing is because you want us educated. We are even in the same city but both of us don't go out with others and all we talk about is you. This isn't infatuation. You were gone for four months and we still feel that way. You said we were your girlfriends. Shawn, we need you desperately. Tell us where you are and we will come." "Ok, you win. I will be in Toronto in a week and will be spending a week there. School will be in session and you have to attend classes. I will be able to be with the two of you after school to about seven or seven thirty. I have to do my own job too Sweetie." "Oh Shawn, that's perfect. It is a good thing you phoned me now. My parents are worried about me and are wondering if I take drugs. They are even worse than they used to be." "You have to tell them it is me you are going to be with. I will even pick you up at school. What about Rachael?" "She has more freedom than me but not a lot. She is probably in the shower now and her mother would have to get her." "Well it will look better if I have both of you with me at the same time. I will phone her this afternoon. You can tell her to not wear it out. It is mine. She can only use it." "Oh, I will Shawn. I have been doing something too as we were talking." "Are you alone now?" "Yes." "Put your finger in, move it deep and slide it around." In a moment I heard, "Oh Shawn I feel as if you are doing this." "Does it feel like my fingers sliding in? Am I sliding in and out trying to make you have another great come?" "Oh yes Shawn," she grunted. "Rub your clit and when you are well into your come, put your fingers in you mouth and taste what I want to taste too." "Oh... oh... ya... oh here it comes. Oh Shawn I love you." The phone dropped to the floor but I heard gasps as she tried to keep her vocal orgasm secret. In a minute she picked up the phone and said, "Oh Shawn, that was great. Wait until I tell Rachel about talking sexy over the phone." "Honey, I have to go. I will call Rachael at her house at three thirty. I will tell her information for both of you." "Oh Shawn I know you have to go but I want you with me always." "Goodbye Honey." "Goodbye my love." I didn't think the two girls would be still so attached to me. They had a normal upbringing and had nothing defective in their minds. This would have to be looked into very deeply. They had been given my physical love and over some time they had got to know a small part of me. No matter what they said, it had to be infatuation at their age, even if it came about at a traumatic time. When I got back to the table everybody was looking at me. All I said was, "Girl trouble." This broke them up and their laughter made the rest of the restaurant turn to see what was the cause. We toured the city and arrived at the theatre early to give me some free time later to talk to Rachael. I put the microphones were they would do the best. The theatre was good but I could see many improvements that other engineers did not know of. Perhaps I would build a new hall to test my ideas. I could pay for it myself but usually such buildings lost money all the time and had to be underwritten by large businesses and governments. At the right time I dialled Rachael's number and just as Sofia did the phone was picked up before it could complete the ring. "Hello Shawn," came a breathless and very hopeful voice. "Hello Sweetheart. Sofia tells me that both of you are having problems." "Not just problems. I can't get you out of my head. You are there when I am in school, at home studying, in bed and in my dreams." "All I can say is that I will try to leave a little early and meet you both in Toronto. I have to work and I will try to see what I can do. All the performances are at night and of necessity you have to go to school in the day." "We can skip school for a few days if it means being with you." "I don't like that. I will find out how both of you are doing in school. If it is not a bad time we may be able to meet during the day, but it all depends on your schools. I know you are young but you are graduating and your marks make a big difference as to where you can get your education. You're lucky in a way having grade thirteen. You go to college much better prepared. Not a lot of countries can afford that." "Shawn can we... like..." "That would be nice but we can't now. I will be arriving in Toronto about six, next Sunday morning. There are not that many flights. Phone me from school just before it starts tomorrow and I will have more information. I will be tied up till then and tied up after too." I gave her my number and hoped she understood that her mother, or somebody else was listening on the line. I called Sofia right away and found her eagerly waiting Rachel's call to her. I told her what had happened and warned her about eavesdroppers. I gave her a kiss on the phone and had to hang up. Our troupe's performance was greeted as enthusiastically as in other enlightened centres. The minor fiasco in California was still bothering me and that was quite a while ago. I was introduced to many government ministers and then translated some of the comments that were difficult to understand into Bantu. A provincial minister was happy to hear me translate his thanks and get the return in his own language. At a party where I drank water and some of the ministers had something else, we talked about my recent swimming experience. The Minister of Health and The Attorney General of Ontario and their wives laughed at the situation in the doctor's shower room. The laughter increased when I told them where I hid while the good doctor was searching for me. Slipping undetected from the hospital topped it off. These people did not know much about me and had no reason to really learn. Africa was a far away continent and the name Boz was easily forgotten like a politician's promises after an election. This morning's papers would probably change their attitude a lot if they had time to read them. I just hoped they didn't equate me with the performance of the four people with me. By the time the party was winding down all sorts of rumours and half rumours were circulating. Apparently some had read the papers and had talked. We left the party early and went to the hotel. The performers were very familiar with me and knew that I had to get away. They were optimistic about their acceptance to the audience but I did not know how the public would take me as being a part of this show. I called later that I would like to the Snyder residence and Joan, the woman of the house answered. "Hello Dr Boz. How did the show go over?" "Shawn please. It looks good but not everybody had read the paper before coming. The number in the audiences of our next shows are in doubt with me here." "Why is that? You saved two children that surely would have drowned." "That may be true but there have been a lot of others that I killed. When my family died I killed almost the entire force that came into our country. Governments don't usually like me if they find me against them. Even Rhodesia suffered when I dragged everybody that was responsible for the attack before the courts. I have to tell you now that I threatened the courts with upholding the law or I would give my own justice. Not a nice thing to say or have to do either." "We believe in you. Harold asked for four seats if the offer is still in effect. Bryce will behave or face more of what he got last time." "I doubt if that will work. He is just at that age where his brain will not allow him to do what he knows he should. Anyway, what day would you like? Saturday is our last and is usually hectic for many reasons." "Tomorrow will be fine or the day after. Harold will rent a tux and try to fit in with the government types. I have a nice dress that fits because I just went to a wedding." "Shame on you. You should have made it legal long ago." "It was my best friend's daughter Shawn." "Still you should have married before this." "We are married. Ah speaking of marriage Elizabeth has read the article in the papers twenty times and had her uncle get different papers. She is quite taken with you. She is older than you in years but has her sights set if I am not missing my guess. Be warned... Shawn." "Thank you for that. I spend a good bit of my time dodging people like that and dealing with the ones that I can't escape. She will be no problem." "That's good to hear. I was afraid you would get offended. I have to tell you Shawn that Liz is very shy and has been to a specialist a few times to see if there was a way around this problem. Her mother hasn't found it yet. I for one am very surprised she wants to go to a public place like the theatre." "I would never be upset about a thing like that or people with her problem. I usually have a way with children and even though I only got an 'Ewww' at the hospital, I already assumed as much. Anyway, how about I look for tickets and phone you about them tomorrow?" We talked about times and places as well as the tuxedo rental company. I had a short sleep then worked on some of my projects until it was time for breakfast. Two of the books were done now and would be mailed to the publishers some time today if possible. One was on stellar phenomena that I saw with my eye but attributed to photos I had seen of other researchers' work. The photos I had to get permission to use but the drawings and illustrations were all my own. The other book was odd things I had found in mathematics. This was triggered from my observations of things at the other end of the spectrum. Now I was looking at molecules and atoms and the odd way they acted and how my mathematics could predict their actions. We all met for breakfast and I told the performers that I would be going into doctor mode today and see what I could do to help. I phoned three hospitals before getting someone that wanted me to donate my time for two mornings. Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario's administrator happened to know that I was much sought after in Europe and readily agreed to me giving my opinion on some of the patients. The phone rang and I picked it up and said, "Hello Rachael." "Hello Shawn. How did you know it was me?" "You were going to phone this time, remember?" "Oh, I am sorry for acting stupid. I should have known but it is hard to think when I am talking to you." "That is understandable because I feel good when I am around you too." On a more pragmatic note I asked, "Who was on the extension at your home?" "Mom. She is always trying to run my life. She practically forces me into those pageants and contests. Somehow I think she wants to feel that she is winning the awards instead of me." "Don't be too angry at her. Many parents are that way and just see it as a way of doing things that they would like to have done if given the chance. That doesn't make it right just normal for some parents." "I don't mind winning myself but there are other things to work on besides looking my best. It is as if I had no brain, just a body." "Well you are going to school so in the future people will see the brain too. That was only one of the reasons I wanted you to work hard at your studies." "Shawn... when you come down will... will you... have time to take us someplace private?" "If I took you some place private I might be forced to take off your clothes and lay you on a bed. Then I would have to kiss you all over. I would start on your ears and suck then nibble on your lobes. When you start to shiver I will run my hands across your naked chest and caress your breasts and pinch your nipples till you can't take it any more and come for me." Her breathing was becoming ragged and I continued, "When you have calmed a bit I would let my lips go where my fingers were and suck tenderly on those beautiful orbs. I would suck them into my mouth and stroke them with my tongue until you had your second come." She was trying to control herself but I went on. "My fingers would trail down your abdomen till I found your thin hair and search in it for the prize. This would be stroked for only a moment for I couldn't wait any longer and my lips would find you and suck the delicate morsel into my mouth as my fingers stroked into both your openings..." I stopped because the girl groaned and the receiver fell and struck the wall as it hit the end of its reach. Rachael came back on the line in a moment and said, "Oh Shawn, you shouldn't have done that. Some of my friends saw me have an orgasm while here in the hall. They are all laughing at me." "Just smile like you are above them and there will be no trouble. They will only continue if they know it bothers you. I don't think it a wise idea to mention my name though. They will know you are my girlfriend and at the moment we don't need your mother knowing too much about us." I said she was still my girlfriend and had to leave some of her pussy for me. She was allowed to take Sofia and do to her what I wanted to do to her. She was not that sure about how I would take the fact that one of my girlfriends liked other girls. I had to go and promised to make sure the trip to Toronto would be memorable for all of us. ------- Chapter 27 A taxi brought me to the children's hospital and I found Mr. Surbert's office with no problem. I further explained my feelings of why I was donating some of my time. He walked with me to the head doctor of one ward and we walked around for an hour. Most children were recovering, partly due to the help they were given but partly also the body's own repair mechanism. In four cases I pointed out how the diagnosis was incorrect and what was really causing the problem. It most cases this was really attributable to more than one cause. A young girl that had never left Canada had acquired a rare tropical parasite. I could actually see the organisms. This was very hard for them to believe and I drew some blood and was able to actually get a sample. I drew a picture of the organism then placed the sample of blood under a microscope. Both men were startled to see the same parasite on the slide. "I suggest you ask this girl's relatives if anybody had brought back untreated water or food from the tropics. Check too for other organic products as others are at risk too." During the day many samples of blood were taken and many different tests made. I found a small hole in a small boy's heart and two children with different genetic disorders but here I had to be vague and suggest more tests be made. I couldn't be perfect in my diagnosis but I could do so when the symptoms pointed to them clearly. I left without taking lunch and went to the theatre around five. There was less to do because all the props were set up from the day before. After checking on tickets I found that they were selling exceptionally well. I was given four for the front row for the Snyder family. Later during an intermission I phoned them to say that I had their tickets for tomorrow's performance. Mrs. Snyder asked, "How are the public accepting the show now?" "It seems the newspapers have increased the attendance instead of lessening it. The government and civic organizations are buying blocks of tickets and I think there will be another party after the show. You don't mind attending if you are invited?" "Who would be there?" "People you know from the newspapers. I was told that External Affairs has purchased many tickets so it is natural to assume that a few diplomats will be their too. The radio said that a fairly high ranking minister in the Chinese government is here and he may show up." "That sounds exciting. Too bad we don't understand any Chinese." "If everything works and if they attend the party I will teach you a few phrases if you want." They did attend as well as the Prime Minister and their wives. I was introduced before the performance and expressed my happiness that they were able to attend. I used no interpreter and actually did the duty for a few phrases others spoke. The Chinese ambassador and the minister spoke in a different Chinese dialect to try to find out who I was, other than the cultural attaché and the head of a troupe of performers. One of their spies gave a quick rundown that was fairly accurate. This was nothing new for every country had spies in their diplomatic missions. The minister switched to Mandarin again and asked about my books. "I sent two off today about the very large and the very small. I will send a copy of each when they are printed to your mission in London in your name." The man gave a slight bow and accepted gratefully. Just before the performance started I was able to get to the front row and found Harold Snyder and his wife Joan, son Bryce and niece Elizabeth. The man was tall with red hair and looked out of place in his suit. I introduced myself and shook his hand. Joan I smiled to and said, "Glad you could make it." I picked up Elizabeth's hand and said, "I am happy to see that you could make it too. Tonight's performance I am dedicating to you." I brought her hand to my lips and kissed the back as if I was of the old Prussian aristocracy. Bryce didn't want his hand kissed but did shake mine. The performance was even better than normal and the four performers would occasionally look at Liz to let her know that they knew of the dedication. At intermission I was busy with some work with some of the props. An assistant to the Minister of State asked if I and the performers would like to attend an informal party after the play. "I would be happy to if I can bring four more guests." "Certainly," came the reply. I gave a stage hand a quickly written note and directed it to be delivered to the red haired gentleman in the front row. The second half of the performance was as good as the first and the performers bowed and the curtains closed. I talked to my people and said, "You are invited to get drunk again. Any sissy want to stay behind?" This was our long running joke for they thought their duty was to remove as much alcohol from the world as possible. Fifteen minutes later I had tidied up enough and was ready to go to the hotel to have a shower and change. The party was the other half of my mission. Important people had to see African culture as a vibrant and necessary part of life. Songs, dancing and stories were not enough to bring understanding about. The Snyders were waiting in the lobby as directed. I walked up to them and said, "What did you think of Rhodesian and African culture now?" I was given the usual response. They never believed that the customs were so spirited, aninmated and vital. Liz said simply that she loved it. Bryce was enthralled most of the time with the colour, sound and the action. The music was especially appealing. A van drove the performers and me to the hotel. The Snyders followed and came upstairs with me while I changed. My shower and change was quick and I had time to talk before the rest were ready. They as usual were coming in the clothes worn in our country before the white man had made too many inroads on their culture. As I promised I gave them a few phrases in Mandarin and they practised them among themselves. Bryce saw no point so I said, "When you go back to school your friends will ask you what you did when you were off. Most will know that you acted foolish and almost got yourself killed. To keep them off your back you can say you talked to the Chinese ambassador and the Minister for Trade. When your friends ask what you said you can reply that you said nothing because you refused to learn. You could also reply that you talked about the status of hockey and other sports in China." I stayed with the family as we followed the van to the party in the Chinese Embassy. This allowed Bryce to learn even more. I sat in the centre of the back seat and talked to Liz and Bryce. After a while I held Liz's hand and she didn't relinquish it until we left the car. Security was a little tight but the Snyders got in after signing the guest book. The party had already started and I stayed with the Snyders. My troupe handled these functions all the time and started to talk to anybody that would listen after they were suitably lubricated. Our group finally found the Chinese Minister of Trade and after I was brought into the conversation I asked, "A boy I know would like to ask you a question if that is not too much of a problem." I introduced Bryce and he greeted the man in poor but understandable Mandarin. He went through his repertoire of phrases quickly and basically wanted to know why China had not sent over a hockey team to Canada. The Minister spoke slowly and Bryce heard some of his words come back to him. I translated after and Bryce bowed and thanked the Minister for taking the time to listen to him. The minister asked me how long the boy had been working on this and I mentioned that it was less than an hour. He was impressed by this. I introduced Bryce's family and they too gave different greetings and usually they were even more understandable. Liz was almost petrified but while looking at me spoke as she should. We drifted off to talk to others. This time the family had no problem, the man only spoke English. He was talking to my nominal superior here in Canada, the Rhodesian Ambassador. I was introduced and in turn introduced the Snyders to John Diefenbaker, their new Prime Minister. He asked about the two children and I stepped back and introduced him to the two mer-children. He laughed and shook their hands then the adults accompanying them. Bryce asked about the Chinese lack of a hockey team and asked him what he was going to do about it. The ambassador asked me to come by tomorrow but I had to decline and tried to get the meeting rescheduled. "Why can't you make it Sir Shawn?" "I committed myself to be at a children's hospital tomorrow morning to see what I could do to help them out. Since it is a paediatric hospital I am even more committed to go." The ambassador had to back down now or he would look like a man that thought his affaires came before some Canadian children's. In an hour the children were getting bored. Since it was getting late I suggested that they go home. "If you are going then possibly you can give me a lift." The adults were a little relieved themselves and drove me to the hotel. I shook hands with all till I got to Liz where I moved close and gave her a kiss. She was sad at my departure but almost had an orgasm at the kiss. I had not stimulated her mind or body with my power. This was entirely her physical reaction. That night I looked at things from the children's point of view and saw that they had improved, perhaps even grown up a bit. I had seen how Bryce had seen things much differently from anything he had ever dreamed about previously. Liz had been hanging on by her fingernails all night. She now was more confident about meeting others and definitely more infatuated with me. For a moment I wondered what it would be like to make love to her but banished the thought because she had just turned twelve. She was much too young for me, even if she was bright. Thursday morning I did my stint at the hospital and had to put up with a doctor that was pissed that I was second guessing him. He still was upset even when I said that I was leaving and just giving a more thorough diagnosis. They were his patients and he would rather have them sick and he cure them or they cure themselves rather than another come in and do it. This was nothing new and I just put it down to normal human irrationality. I did manage to help a few children before I had to leave for the theatre. When I got back to the hotel after the performance that night I was given a message at the desk. Dominique was delayed and would not make it back until Sunday. As she knew that I would be gone by then, she wished me luck and said she was sorry she couldn't be here with me. I felt sorry too. The sex was nice but I also liked the girl a lot. Just before midnight I got another phone call. It was Liz, she had sneaked to the phone while the rest were sleeping. "Hello Sweetie, what's wrong?" "I can't sleep. I have all these visions in my mind and they just won't leave. Can you come over for a while and talk to me?" "Sweetheart, if I came over you would definitely not sleep. I'll tell what I will do though. Tomorrow I will ask your aunt and uncle if I can take you with me. It might not be exciting but we will be able to talk a bit. I will still have to work now and you will be bored most of the time." "Oh that would be wonderful. I will get ready now." "Elizabeth, you will not. Now go to bed and go to sleep. I still have to get the permission and I don't like smart ladies acting foolishly. Wish me goodnight and go to bed." "Goodnight Shawn," she said dejectedly. "Goodnight sweetheart." I wondered why I had done that. The only reason I could come up with was that I was thinking of the girl sexually now. I had to ponder this for a while because it could all go wrong. I worked hard at my projects to push the thoughts of the girl away. I was more or less successful and went to sleep much later. During the night a storm had blown in and there was eight inches of new snow on the ground. The natives were used to this and ploughs were out all night clearing the accumulation. Nobody seemed unduly perturbed and cars went slower and braked sooner so there were few accidents. This put me in mind of places that received little or no snow going into a panic when one inch fell and many accidents resulted because they didn't know how to deal with nature. I started out earlier to the hospital to commence my duties. I had fewer chaperons today and enjoyed interacting with the children. Some had not had visitors in a while and I lingered a while to cheer them up. My old magic act pleased them no end but I did find a few other minor troubles to add to their charts. At a convenient moment I phoned Joan Snyder and asked her, "Liz would like to spend some time with me and to tell the truth I would like to spend some time with her. I am free Saturday morning and would like to have her till our last performance that night." "Are you sure you want to do that Shawn. She is much more animated now but you don't have to go to all that trouble." "It is no problem. I believe she will be going home this weekend to Toronto. I can save you the long trip and take her myself." "Shawn, we can't let you do that. We were going to drive and you will be flying." She left unsaid about the cost of the flight and how hard it was to make ends meet. Liz's mother was supporting Liz and her younger sister after the father skipped out three years ago. "Nonsense, I make more than enough money to easily afford a ticket. I believe Liz has not flown yet and this will be an experience for her." "Let me talk to Harold about the flying but you can have her Saturday if she wants to go with you. I'll take that back. I know she will want to be with you." "Good, at intermission tonight I will phone again and I can get your decision. That will give you a chance to talk to her mother and pack her clothes if necessary." In the wards of the older boys I ran into a familiar problem. They were confused about my status and didn't accept me checking them. I didn't need to be so close so I didn't push the matter much. Some children were here because of beatings given them by parents or family members and it was difficult to leave this. A parent had a right to discipline a child but that had to be within reason. Some children here had broken bones from 'falls' or 'being clumsy'. The best I could do was put my suppositions on the report and hope for the best. There was no way I could police the entire world, as my father had reminded me many times. The older girls were the same way but didn't mind me coming around. Some thought it quite wicked to let me use the stethoscope on their chest or back. Most had chests like the boys but tried to use what they could to get me to notice. When I left the hospital that day I was thanked by the administrator and some of the doctors present. I was welcomed to come back next time I found myself in the capital with the opportunity to help. As I left the grounds and headed to the theatre I saw many vehicles with skis strapped to the roofs going to the hills to enjoy a weekend of skiing. I had never tried the sport and would like to try it one day if I ever found the time. At intermission as promised I phoned the Snyders. Liz anxiously answered the phone and said, "Hello." "Hello, I am looking for a pretty girl to talk to." "Ah..." She definitely was not ready for a comeback. "It's ok, Sweetie. Did you get any news about me taking you out for a date?" "A date!" "Well, when a young man takes a young lady out it is usually but not always called a date." I waited a moment then asked again, "Did you hear anything?" "Aunt Joan phoned mom and mom says I can go. She says I can fly with you too if the offer is still open. Are you really going to take me on an aeroplane? I have never been even close to one before. Is it scary? Am I going to be with you all day?" "Hold on there Liz. We can talk about that later. May I speak to your aunt please?" I found out that what Liz said was true. I explained about the early departure on Sunday morning to Joan and asked if I could have Liz with me until then so we would not have to come back to get her suitcases and disturb the family at that time. She hesitated only a moment before saying that it was ok. I wanted to come by at nine in the morning but Joan asked me to come and have breakfast with the family and I agreed. Liz got the phone back, "I am going to be with you all day?" "Only if you want. I still have a show and this time you can be backstage with me. You don't have to wear anything fancy and right after you can sleep for a few hours at my suite before we go to the airport." "Could I come with you tonight?" "No Sweetie. You have to pack your things, get a good night's sleep and then say goodbye to your relatives." The girl sure seemed to have changed by her voice. I knew she was still very shy but I appeared to be drawing her out of her shell with my attention. The performance went as planned and I was asked to attend another party, which I accepted. This particular one was put on by the entertainment industry in a mansion just outside of town. The house was packed with film people, musicians, vocalists, playwrights, television, radio show hosts together with the financiers that made everything work. The hostess introduced me to a few people. A television producer in the group asked, "Shawn, since you came here I did a lot of digging and find you are an even more remarkable person than you let people believe you are. Do you have some secret to how you have accomplished being a doctor, university professor, author, artist, businessman and one mean person to be in a fight with?" "I was born the way I was. My parents noticed some of my abilities at a very early age and helped me develop. The only trick as I see it is to have these qualities at birth and have an equally inquisitive mind." To get the spotlight off me I said, "Didn't you start acting and singing at an early age? I think most people in this room must have done so." I asked and most agreed with me and I continued by asking them what they did. Soon they were all patting themselves on the back for what they did as children. I approached some of the people funding documentaries and tried to interest them in doing something about the natives in Rhodesia. The performers too were told how they too could learn from watching others perform. That night I looked at what I was doing in bringing African culture to the world and saw that it was not going as quickly as I had envisioned. I tried to find a way to bring this information to more people and saw that the only way was with more help. Rhodesia would never change its ways unless it saw that the rest of the world thought they were wrong. Remembering my commitment to Dominique I wrote one more song to bring the total to four. People might come first to hear her original material but I knew that they would stay to hear her voice. The next morning I went to the gym and exercised more than just the little bit I did in my room and after a shower took a taxi to the Snyder home. It was an older home that had been kept up. I proceeded up the snow shovelled walk and onto the veranda. A single push of the button and five seconds later the door was opened by Bryce and I was welcomed in. A few seconds behind him was Liz running from upstairs trying to be first to greet me. I gave Bryce a hug which normally he wouldn't want but enjoyed now. "How are you doing Bryce?" "Not bad. You should see the way..." "Bryce, do you want your secrets told too?" "Ah... no." "Good, then let me talk to the beautiful girl behind you." He turned and looked around and saw only Liz and said, "Where?" I opened my arms and Liz ran into them. With a kiss on the cheek, I said, "Your cousin is blind." Joan came from the kitchen wiping her hands on a cloth and wearing an apron to keep the hot fat from her because I could smell the rashers cooking or as they said over here bacon. "Hello Shawn. I am glad you could make it." She took my coat and hung it in the closet while I removed my boots. When I set the boots down on a mat I swung around and picked up Bryce and threw him over my shoulder. The boy let out a wail but all I did was extend my other hand to Liz and said, "Come." We walked into the kitchen and saw Harold coming from the basement with a gallon tin of maple syrup. He said, "Good morning Shawn. Did you find a way to keep Bryce out from under foot?" "No just bringing him in to get his eyes checked. With his brain uppermost now perhaps the blood will run to his optic nerves. If you want you can stimulate his thinking with a bit of paddling. He is in the right position." "Aw, let me down Shawn. I was only joking. I won't do it again." "Are you going to apologise to your cousin?" "Sorry Liz." I bounced him up and he grasped for air before falling into my arms again. I put his feet on the floor and hugged him to me. "Be nice to her. One day she will be able to make your life miserable and if all she remembers is the bad times then you will get exactly what you deserve." Even if he was a little younger than me, the boy had eyes that gleamed and I knew he would try at least for a while. Breakfast was large and I was soon stuffed. I would drink some coffee but I thought if I did then Bryce would copy me later and not drink his juice or milk. Conversation was light but constant. Harold asked, "Where are you going today?" "Skating on the Rideau again and this time the mer-children will have to stay on top." I turned to Liz and could feel her fear but said anyway, "I would like you and Bryce to skate for a few hours. It will help you both get over your fear of the place, the activity and the water." "How... how do you know I am afraid?" "I would be if I were you. Will you go with me?" She thought for a while and then reluctantly said, "Yes, if you want." "May we take Bryce with us if he will come?" "I guess. I don't know why you want him," came from Liz. "Thanks, Sweetie." Then turning to the boy I put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Will you come with us?" Bryce was outwardly calm about the events but was afraid inside of ever going skating again. "I can stay here." "Bryce, I want you to come." The boy wanted to do as I asked but his fear was still strong. When I squeezed his shoulder to let him know that I was still here he only nodded his head in acceptance. When the children were dressing for an outdoor activity Harold asked, "What was all that about?" "The children are still very upset about almost drowning. Since I would be leaving soon I wanted Bryce to get a bit of my time and see how another young man acts. Even though he is young he is still capable of thinking more but doesn't. He looks up to me and I will try to be a good role model." "Quite an undertaking. I was like him when I was young and it took a good woman and a lot of time to outgrow it." A taxi came and took us back to the hotel and I dressed for the outing. I checked my skates. They had come back in good shape from the valet's tender mercies. Telling both of them to use the facilities and then we were off again. We stayed away from the end they had fallen through and simply skated and talked. More hockey games were going on but I did nothing but watch. An hour later we came to the other end and climbed the steps to look over the edge into the area that had been churned up by work earlier. The ice was still thick and the area that the children had fallen through was broken again by work being done in the area. In all my activities I acted as a polite gentleman and Bryce followed my actions with wonder. Not that it was hard to understand but because I chose to do it. After tying a youngster's laces, Bryce asked me, "Why?" "Because Bryce, I am older in my mind than most and I see ways of helping people that can use it. As a doctor I enjoy treating everybody but children I love the most. Adults are capable of helping themselves and usually are set in their ways. They are difficult to teach and have the lesson stick in their minds. That little boy might one day help your son or daughter tie their laces and enjoy a nice day like today." We sampled hot food from vendors and soon removed our skates to leave. We found the washrooms to relieve ourselves and found another taxi to drive Bryce home. We had a small chat about our time on the ice. Joan had been worried and looked quite happy when she saw the children happy too when they returned. I called another taxi as Liz said goodbye to her family, while even Bryce gave her a hug and a kiss to the surprise of all. We loaded up the vehicle and I shook hands with Harold, kissed and hugged Joan and then did the same to a tearful Bryce. In the back seat Liz was a little tearful herself and held me tight to compensate. After the suitcases were in the room I said, "What would you like to do now Liz?" "If it is the same to you I would rather sit here and talk." "Sounds good. Tell me about your family as I make some tea." She told me about her mother Mary and her little sister Sally and after a while about her father that disappeared one day with lots of his clothes. She talked of growing up and her friends then. Later it was about the friends she had in school but there were never very many because of the way she acted. Her shyness had been misconstrued or the other girls didn't think it worth the effort to find out anything further. With the tea drank Liz very tired even groggy. I helped her to the bathroom and reached underneath her dress and pulled her cotton panties down and sat her on the toilet. She cleaned herself and I picked the panties back up. She had been worked up last night and had little sleep. I took her to bed and removed her shoes and dress and got her to lay down under the covers. I lay beside her on the top of the covers and stayed till she was asleep. I worked quietly for a few hours and then woke up Liz. She turned to me in the bed with her and I gave her a kiss on the lips. "You have to get up soon. You have to go to the bathroom and freshen up, get dressed, go get something to eat then go to the theatre." The girl screwed up her courage and reached out and pulled my head to her and gave me a dainty kiss. Then ran to the bathroom and it wasn't until she was ready to sit did she realize she had no dress on. When she was done she was worried about coming out in her underwear. "Take a shower Sweetie and I will get your clothes ready," I said through the closed door. She did as I asked and got everything she needed because she wasn't prepared for me to come in and help her. She got out and dried herself then wrapped her small body in two large towels to be on the safe side. She tentatively opened the door and walked into the room. On the bed was the dress I wanted her to wear tonight along with all the undergarments. I got up and gave her a small kiss and went for my own shower. I got out with a much smaller towel because she had taken the only two large ones. She looked at me as I walked across the floor with only a towel held at my waist. With my back to her I dropped the towel onto the floor and picked up my clothes and started to put them on. Liz had dressed but was nowhere near ready. She had completely stopped to watch me dress. I got the electric hair dryer and plugged it in by a dresser. Next I manoeuvred Liz to a chair where I combed the tangles out then used the dryer to finished the job. When I was done a brush from my set came out and I worked her long hair till it gleamed. Peaking into Liz's mind I knew she felt like a queen at the luxurious treatment. When I was done she was still in that contemplative mood. I pulled her hair back from one ear and brought my lips down to nibble on her earlobe. A tingle went down her spine and directly to her sex. She shivered but recovered quickly. I started to take care of my own long hair and regretted having someone here. I was usually able to use my power to fix the long strands quicker. Later than usual but still in time I put on my shoes as Liz did and after I helped her with her coat we descended to the main floor. There were three taxis out front and we got in the first and headed for the theatre. The rest of the troupe would already be there and warming up for their last performance in this city. On the way over we talked about the technical aspects of the performance and how lighting and even the order of the different pieces affected the overall enjoyment of the audience. Inside the building I showed her where to hang up her coat and we walked into the change room. Some of the women were sitting naked working at their makeup. On man was sitting down sewing a ripped garment while only wearing a headdress. They were glad to see me and one of the women not yet with the make up on came over and gave me a kiss and a hug. She stood up then and said, "Who is your girlfriend Shawn?" "This is Elizabeth but Liz to her friends." Liz was staring at the man fixing his garment in the nude and looking at me. When the man looked at Liz he saw where she was staring. His wife yelled at him in Bantu to hide his snake. I had to turn to Liz and physically move her head so she was looking at me. "These people are very comfortable with one another. Where we come from it is natural to walk naked or nearly so. These ones here are even worse. Because they like to perform they naturally like people to look at them. Don't think it is restricted to the men. These women flash their big breasts at me all the time hoping I will act like a baby looking to get fed." "They were naked and one woman kissed you." I whispered in her ear. "A while ago you were in just your underwear and you kissed me too." She just blushed at the memory but didn't regret doing it. I held her hand and turned around to address the rest about some small changes in this last performance. I spoke in rapid Bantu then translated it for Liz. Questions came and I answered them then told Liz what had transpired. She became less worried about their nakedness. When she was asked to help by the women Liz readily assisted as best she could. When the time came to start the show Liz was running all over the place to assist as best she could. Part of the reason was to keep her busy but also to keep her from being nervous. The time rolled by quickly. She had only momentary rests then hectic action to get ready for the next activity. She was breathless and excited as the last dance ended and the audience started to applaud. One of the women reached behind the curtain and pulled Liz out. Another held her other hand as they all bowed to the audience for their kind treatment. When the curtain finally fell Liz ran to me and jumped into my arms and gave me a kiss that was everything she had to give. I picked her up and held the cheeks of her butt as her legs wrapped around me like her arms. "Oh Shawn. Did you see me on the stage? It was so scary but it was so exciting too." She finally realised where she was and how she was held but instead of trying to get away got even closer is she could. She had to flex her pelvis and this sent shivers through her and she rested her head on my shoulders afraid to look in my eyes. I put her down as the last of the troupe filed past. "You better continue with your job. There is still a lot of work to do. Go help the ladies and I will help the gents." There was a lot of talk mostly in Bantu about the performance. Everybody was happy and excited mainly because of the way Liz made them feel. This time there was everything to pack and the sets to dismantle. When alone this went very quickly. The wooden props would be shipped to the theatre in Montréal but it would have to be built anew in Toronto and Vancouver. I thanked the orchestra and the stage hands that had helped so much. The latter were going to do the shipping for us. The head of the gallery came in later and thanked me for making the venture so profitable for both of us. We said our final goodbyes, left the building and got into the van. The troupe's costumes were going to be trucked to Toronto as we had a chance for a short rest. They were staying until Monday to leave while I went a day sooner as usual. The women used most of their English to talk to Liz for they could still see how excited the girl was. When we got to our room I dialled out to the Snyder's home and handed the phone to Liz. She did not understand but soon she started to tell of what happened and how she felt. She was dancing around as she mentioned how she was pulled out onto the stage to bow with the performers. After the third time saying the same thing I asked for the phone and said my hello. "Shawn, what have you done? Liz was never like that." "Sounds like she is peeking out from behind her armour. I wonder if her mother will think I substituted a doppelganger." I heard a loud laugh at the other end and then Joan came back with, "I am not sure she won't. I better phone ahead and warn her. You certainly have done wonders for her. Put Liz back on the line and I will wish her a good night and you can try to get her to sleep." When the greetings were given and the phone hung up I said, "Time for your shower young lady. I will make up your bed and you can get a little sleep before we have to leave." Liz scampered for her pyjamas and scurried off to clean herself. She came out quickly with a comb and shyly handed it to me. "Will you do my hair again Shawn. I like when you do it. I feel so... so nice." Hoping that she would fall asleep as I did this I took her to the pull out bed and got her to sit in the middle as I turned the lights down. I asked more of her life and she told me things she had not mentioned earlier. She told me of the boys and girls she liked but stayed away from the former because she thought it would offend me. "Shawn tell me of your life now. You know everything about me." I started telling her some of the nice things and about the people in my family. She was excited to find these things out as I was to learn about her. I talked slower and lowered my voice and soon she was almost in dreamland it was a form of hypnosis. I continued till her hair was dry and brushed many times until it shined. I moved onto the bed and moved Liz so I could still caress her so she would continue the process of falling asleep. I could just make her sleep but this way was much nicer for both of us. I turned her over on her back and got her to keep her eyes closed as I traced my hands over her face and neck. This would usually put somebody into slumberland but she was still worked up sexually and would not be able to sleep for long. Moving closer to her I started to extend the distance my hands travelled till I was caressing her small breasts. She moaned and held my hand in place so I would continue. Getting my freedom I slid down her abdomen and approached her pubis and she opened her legs as if she were doing this herself. My finger parted the thin hair under her pyjamas bottoms and I stroked her as she did herself then with a few changes I brought her to a satisfying end. Liz squirmed as she held my hand until the tremors abated. I bent over and kissed her lightly on the lips and said, "Sleep sweetie. Morning comes early." She released my arm and I moved her into a comfortable position and covered her so she could sleep. Leaving her I sniffed my finger and knew she was becoming a very erotic woman from the amount of discharge. After washing my hands I returned to my own labours. I put Dominique's songs out for delivery together with some of my correspondence for my widely extended family. The embassy had delivered my mail because I changed addresses so often. The family in Ethiopia were doing well, with the children working much harder to learn their studies now that they had private tutors. The other blond haired girls were not doing as well, finding problems reintegrating back into a society that they had been forced to leave too long ago. Their children missed the others but they were young and making new friends was not too difficult. The women, girls and boys from the hijacked plane were doing well after the initial notoriety wore off and things got back to normal. Some had dropped their boyfriends or tried to retrain them but it wasn't working out. It seemed the girls had formed a club and wrote letters to one another on how they felt and how they were getting along. It seemed to be an informal self help group and I was all for it. Peter was missing me particularly hard and I tried to help. I was concerned about his mail being read by his parents and him getting in trouble. Thankfully he was aware of the problem and wanted to get a post office box in Denver where he lived. I answered all the letters but put them aside to be posted later and prepared for my own rest. A knock came to the door and my eye saw that it was Dominique. She was back earlier that she said. I opened the door and she rushed in and hugged me to her. "Oh Shawn, I missed you. Can I sleep with you tonight?" "You have little intention of sleeping I think but you are welcome here. I do have a guest in the other room though and we will have to be quiet. I notice how you make lots of cute noises showing how pleased you are." "I do not, ok I do but only with you. Now let me get to the shower and then to bed." On the way by, Dominique looked at the girl sleeping with a smile on her face and said, "Trying for younger women now Shawn?" I stood beside her and said, "This is Liz. It was her and her cousin that I fished out of the water. I am taking her home to Toronto in the morning. She has been with me since this morning and was a great help in the performance. She is ultra shy or was till she was dragged onstage at the final curtain and bowed with the troupe." "She is pretty. Do I have reason to be jealous?" "Dominique, you have a boyfriend to go to that may eventually marry you. Isn't it me that should be jealous?" "Well ok. You want to come in and wash my back?" I washed much more than her back and took care of all those spots inside her that needed to be tended to. After drying her roughly I carried her to my bed to do a better job. She had to take a pillow and scream into it as I cleaned the crevices in her mons. Climbing higher I was able to fill her adequately with a combination of me and my power. The pillow was used many times. I was about to plumb her other passage when I heard Liz behind me. Instead of turning I made tender love to Dominique so Liz would know what to expect one day. She had her hand inside her pyjamas and was bent over in a squat to give herself room to move her hand furiously. I took off the pillow and Dominique's head went back and forth uttering unintelligible mouthings. As the pace of my thrusts increased so did Dominique's utterings. I held back and continued again to make this one the best and when it finally happened she could take it no more and orgasmed violently and almost threw me from the bed. I bent over quickly enough to muffle most of the scream coming from her. In the background I knew Liz had hers as well as she too crumpled to the floor. I got out of the bed and moved Dominique to one side then picked up Liz and placed her on the other side. After turning out the lights I climbed into bed between the two. I got two hours sleep and was awoken by Dominique quietly talking to Liz. She had found out all the particulars especially how she was a virgin and knew next to nothing about coupling. Dominique had pulled back the covers and was showing Liz my genitals. "Honey, it doesn't look like much now but when it gets hard it fills me like no other man has ever done before. That small sack underneath makes seed that will give a girl a baby but Shawn is not old enough to make this yet. Give me your hand honey." The hand came out and Dominique placed Liz's on my pelvic bone and slid it down to contact my dormant member and then my scrotum. "That's it honey. It is a little sticky because I make a lot of juice when I am with this man." She slid down the bed and said, "Here is the way a woman who loves her man cleans him." She licked my bare skin and legs of all her spend then took my flaccid member in her mouth and gently sucked me while she groaned in the feeling going through her body. She pulled off occasionally showing her how I was growing. "Come down here Honey." Liz slid downward. "Kiss the side closest to you while I kiss this side." "Kiss his thing!" "If I know Shawn we will be the happiest girls in the world soon. Kiss him now because I know you love him." Liz was shocked by the statement but knew it was very close to being true. Dominique sucked one side of the head of my penis and Liz slipped forward and gave a kiss, then pulled back. She tasted nothing wrong and moved forward again. In a few minutes Dominique moved lower giving Liz sole possession of the head and the girl sucked me into her mouth. Liz took more then started to gag. Dominique said, "Take it easy, it takes a while before you can take all of him." Dominique in the mean time was prying my legs apart to get all she could. This included beside and beneath my scrotum. A man would have to be dead to not wake up to this treatment. Dominique was coming to that realisation already. She sat up and walked on her knees over me and had to push Liz out of the way with her pelvis. Liz stayed to the last second and succeeded in accidentally licking Dominique's prominent clit. "That feels good Honey but back up for a moment while I sit." Dominique wiggled and reached beneath her and guided the missile so it would enter her. She slowly sat with a contented groan. Come here Honey and let me see you." Liz approached and hands reached out and undid buttons until the small breasts were exposed. "Take it off Honey." "My top?" "Yes honey, your top then your bottoms. Hurry up or it will be too late." Liz didn't understand although her innate shyness did not stop her from doing this insane act. She stood with an arm across her breasts and another protecting the juncture of her legs from view. "Come here now." Liz came forward and Dominique got her to stand on the bed and the bed shifted. "Squat down now Honey." "But Shawn will see me if he wakes up." "Squat now Honey. He will never see your face." She squatted and said, "But he will see between my legs." Dominique started to undulate and Liz almost fell on me. I had to reach up and hold her legs and attacked her small opening with her tongue. She tried to stand and screech at the same time but could not move. She fell forward onto Dominique who just held her steady as I attacked her tiny clit now. Dominique kissed the girl to keep her quiet and it took a minute or so before it was not needed any more. Dominique was not really into girls but did kiss fervently while she was thinking of me. Liz was far forward and put her hand down to support her and it landed on my pelvis. She moved it forward so it would be off my abdomen and instead it struck Dominique's clit as she came to the bottom of her stroke. Dominique took the hand and put it in the best place so she would get the benefit. Her other hand guided Liz's mouth to one of her breasts and commanded her to suck. Soon Dominique was sliding back and forth as well as up and down to get the maximum stimulation. I moved Liz's knees and was able to get pretty good access to her. My tongue snaked up her vagina and this sent even more sensations through the girl. At the moment she was just along for the ride because she did not know she was sucking Dominique and playing with the woman's clit at the same time I was doing such things to her. I increased my size in Dominique's opening and then started on her anus again. She started making odd noises again and her strokes got stronger and less coherent. Her hands holding Liz became cords and when she could take it no more she took the child from her breast and brutally kissed her mouth and screamed into it. Her pelvis had stopped moving and her muscles clamped up and held her from even attempting to move. Liz was no better and had her own orgasm from my actions and that of Dominique's. The woman was out of it but Liz was not quite unconscious. I pushed them to the side of the bed and got out from under them. Again I placed them where they would be safe. I crawled up to Liz knowing that I could do anything to her that I wanted. I pulled her knees up and wrapped her hands around them. She held only loosely so I assisted then went back to licking the girl. In moments she was groaning and I started to slide my fingers into her opening. She released her legs and instinctively pulled me closer so she would not loose the action of my tongue now that she was so close to her goal. The second finger was all it took and she started to scream. I used my power to put a pillow over her but the sound was still loud. The only reason that the girl stopped screaming was that she was unconscious. I still had my own needs so I flipped up Dominique's legs and with my abilities I opened up her lower opening and I slid in and stroked for a moment. I worked on her mind and awoke her. When she opened her eyes she tried to pull me to her. Instead I started to stroke into her instead. Her eyes got big and her hands came down to her clit as I picked up the pace and just as she orgasmed again I had my own dance of death. I used my power to turn on the water in the bath and bring a damp cloth to clean both of us. It went back into the bathroom as I settled between the girls again. At four thirty I woke up and turned on the light in the other room so it would not be bright in the bedroom. It would be easy to have a quick shower but knew it wouldn't be. I turned on the shower and got it warm then picked up Liz. She awoke enough to hold onto me. She opened her eyes and I said, "Good morning Sweetie. We are going for a shower now." I stepped in the tub and water struck the girl and she tried to climb on me to get away from the spray. I put her on her feet and got her all wet. She shivered and shook from the shock of the water but I continued. Shampoo was put on her hair and worked in. After the hair I continued on her body and worked my way down without being too erotic but not avoiding the spots either. Liz had reverted to her shy state but did not hide from me or try to hide her breasts or mons. She was thinking of where all this might lead. She, like all girls, wanted to be a woman but was afraid of the pain that she heard about when overhearing some older girls once. When she was done I started on myself. Liz wanted to help so I sat at her feet with my face on her abdomen as she worked in the shampoo as I had done to her. When I got up she started to wash me and felt a little disappointed when I didn't get big for her. I allowed the reaction to happen and she became much happier. When we were drying each other she talked for the first time. "Shawn, what will happen to us now?" "Well, sweetie, that depends on a lot of outside factors. Your mother will have to agree for me to see you for one. Two, I have many other commitments and people that need me too. Last night there were three of us. Sometimes there will be more. They want me the same way you want me now. You have to be able to share and to participate with the rest. Last night you made Dominique feel good. Others will need to feel good too and they have to make you feel that way. Dominique is staying here but Toronto has Sofia and Rachael." "Do they do things with you too?" "Yes, they do. They are almost eighteen while you are only twelve. I know they will share but I don't know if you can." "I would like to but I don't know what it is like for a girl to do things to me." "They are more gentle and know better what to do to make you feel the best. There is no forcing and you are welcome to join in if you can make it. To be completely honest with you there are many more people that have ties to me. In Ethiopia I have two concubines. They have four youngsters that I consider my children. A boy is even a bit older than me but now calls me father. You are one of the youngest girls I have ever made love to. I admire intelligence, an artistic talent, wittiness, a good conversationalist and beauty. The latter is not always on the outside." "You think I have all those things? I can barely talk to people. I am quiet in class and everybody ignores me. I have only two friends. I read and hide in my room most of the time. I only..." "Liz, you are standing naked in front of me and talking seriously about your old life. Don't you understand that you have changed in the last few days. If I wanted to kiss you in your classroom, would you give me that joy?" She hung her head in embarrassment and said, "I would do anything you wanted me to do." I picked her head up with a finger and said, "Would the old Liz do that?" "No, she wouldn't. She would run away or just curl into a ball afraid to even run." "You read and studied a lot because you were lonely but that also made you learn more than most. Now you can put that knowledge to use when we talk. I know you care for others and would make a good mother. What else can a man like me want?" "Children?" "I will have a few wives, not just one. They will bear me children and I will treat them all alike. The children will be taken care of by the group. Everybody will have an important job that will be of benefit to the family. Some could be a lawyer, accountant, purchasing officer and care givers. My companies need people to run them and who else but my family." "Companies?" "Yes I have over fifty of them and make a lot of money. Most of the profit I plough back into the companies but a good portion goes to helping the disadvantaged. I spent over a million Canadian dollars in Ethiopia to bring fresh water to Addis Ababa. Other countries and peoples get millions more. My girls make sure the companies there do what they are told." "A millions! Nobody has even a million dollars." "I have much more than that. Now let me get you dressed. We have a plane to catch and you have to be ready." I dried and brushed her hair and went through her packed clothing till I found what I wanted her to wear. I repacked it quickly then got dressed myself. Dominique was still on the bed sleeping and I walked beside her and kissed her on the ear and nibbled it a bit until she woke up. "Oh Shawn it isn't time to go yet. Is it?" "Soon Dominique. I made four more songs and wrote out the ballad I sang to you. They are on the dresser. They will be exclusively yours to use for a period of time but they remain my property. In a year I want to put them in a book. When I come through Ottawa again I would like to meet you again. I suspect by then you will be very busy yourself and your new career will not allow you to be here often." "Career! I am an assistant director at the gallery." "Only now. Next week you may be somebody completely different. You are a very talented woman and will go far in this world." "Oh Shawn, I don't want to see you go. Will you take me with you. I will do anything you say. I need you so much." "Our paths will cross again. If you want to send mail just send it in care of the Rhodesian embassy. They will get it to me every once in a while." She got up and out of the bed before hugging me as tears rolled down her cheeks. I put the woman back to bed and got her to sleep. I gave her a final kiss and covered her up. "Shawn, she loves you," said Liz. "Yes, a little, but she also has her career to think of now. Remember her well Liz, for you will see her on magazines, on television and record jackets one day." I put all of the luggage in the hall and called some bellboys to help take it down. The desk took my payment for the room and I asked them to make a wake up call at ten just in case Dominique was still sleeping. After a quick breakfast we headed for the airport and our plane. Liz hung tightly to me while her mind told her to never release me. The plane took off roughly on schedule and Liz again held me tight. This time in fear. She would look out the window and then shiver. Soon she did the same thing again till the fear was more controllable. "Shawn are you never afraid of heights?" "I flew a plane like this, a year ago if you remember. It is a lot different in the pilot's seat compared with sitting in a passenger seat like now." "Did you really kill all those people?" "They were bad people and would never changed even in jail. They didn't give me too much choice in any case. A lot of good came from it though. Twelve other girls were set free and are now living with their original families. The letters I dropped off were from the people on the plane and those twelve. We still keep in touch and I make sure they are still taken care of." "It must be nice to be loved by so many." "You get out of life what you put into it. I care for people a lot and they see this. There is no trick to it." We were quiet for a moment and Liz was squirming on her seat. I thought she had to use the bathroom until I looked closer. She was running through some of what happened to her recently and was just horny. It was nice to see a woman this way but it was nice to relieve the itch too. I took off my coat and placed it over Liz as if she were cold. "What are you doing Shawn. I am not that cold." The seats were only in pairs and I turned so my back blocked the view of the only ones that could possibly see. I whispered to Liz, "Sit at the edge of the seat." She did as I asked. I reached under her dress and between her legs and grasped the crotch of her cotton panties. "Pick your bum up sweetie." She didn't question me but did it. I pulled the panties down her legs and she sat down on the seat again. As I pretended to look out the window my fingers were stroking her lower lips and slowly working inside her till I was almost at her hymen. I stroked now and every time bumped her clit. "Shawn," she gasped. "I may scream." "I will take care of you." That was enough and she twitched a little and spread her legs the most she could with the panties still on her legs until she started to shake. With my other hand I picked her shoulder up and kissed her mouth just as she would cry out. It took a few minutes but she recovered and I carefully pulled her panties up without anybody knowing. I sent another shiver through her as I took my fingers and slowly licked each one. There was a scent in the cabin and I took some cologne and spilt some on the floor to disguise the odour. "Shawn, why did you do this here?" "Would the old Liz have let me?" "No." "Then many times before you die you will remember this and what we did. It will make you feel warm, naughty and maybe foolish. We can do things that will be remembered as long as we don't hurt anybody. You can tell your grandchildren what we did today." "No I can't. Nobody tells them that sort of thing." "Don't make statements that may never come to pass. People might see you as an extrovert in the future and wonder what you were really like when you were young. Besides, don't you feel better now?" "Oh yes I do Shawn." She looked in my eyes and said, "I love you." ------- Chapter 28 We landed ten minutes later and collected all of our luggage. Liz phoned home and didn't get an answer and was worried. "Sweetie she is here at the airport looking for us. Let's find her. You go that way and I will stay with the luggage. Don't go outside the building." She gave me a peck on the lips and ran off. She was quite changed from a week ago. My eye had already found her mother Mary and that was why I shooed her off in that direction. Soon a young looking woman of twenty seven same to us holding Liz's hand. She looked more like an older sister than the mother. The girl was bounding all over the place telling her what had recently happened to her. When the mother got closer I was shocked and staggered a bit. She had a glow about her, like Lusa had, but it was more subdued. Everybody had an aura but normally it was hard to detect and took a bit of concentration on my part. Hers was brighter than most but had a dark area around her abdomen. This told me that something was wrong. When they got close, I tried to control myself and faced them. "Hello Mrs. Norton. I am happy to finally meet you." "Hello Sir Shawn. I am even more glad to meet you. You have done wondrous things with my daughter. Nobody else was able to do anything for her." I was still stunned by finding this aura and especially this woman. "It's all in the approach. Not many wanted to start the session by jumping into cold water." "That is the most important thing I have to thank you for, Sir Shawn." I studied the woman more intently than I had any other woman I had met other than my family. "Please; Shawn only. As for understanding people, you must also understand that I have a much different perspective. The professional people you talked to were much older and followed doctrine to the letter. I am young enough to know the difference." She looked at me closely. It was hard for her to understand what I had done in my life and compare it to the boy in front of her. "Where are you staying Shawn?" "I made reservations at the Marriott." "We have an extra room and would love to have you stay with us." Liz was jumping but also trying to control herself at the same time. I smiled politely and said, "I keep odd hours. I get back late and sometimes leave early in the morning. The worst part is the noisy friends that stay with me on occasion." "That doesn't matter. There's more than enough room. We will give you all the privacy you want. Besides, Sally and two of Liz's friends are dying to meet you." "I will accept your generous offer then." Liz was so happy she ran to me and gave me a kiss in front of her mother. Then remembered where she was and who she was with. Mary wasn't just surprised, she was shell shocked. Her daughter who'd always been so introverted was now giving a very public display of affection. The second thing which caused her eyes to widen was the way I held her daughter protectively. "There is a condition though," I added. "As a member of the household I get to provide for the others without an argument." Mary kept her eye on Liz as she held me close. The mother could see that her daughter was very dependant on me. "It seems my daughter has grown quite attached to you in the short time you have been together." "If you recall the way we met, then the attraction is self explanatory. I too find your daughter pleasing to the psyche and the eye. She is bright, caring, witty and of course beautiful. I can also see where she gets these attributes from." She smiled and wondered why I was trying to flatter her. "Will you accept me into your home with my condition?" "Yes I will. You seem to be much more than even I expected." She did not know that I found her much more than I had ever thought too. The suitcases were loaded in Mary's old station wagon. The trip was almost fifty minutes long because of both the slippery conditions as well as the distance. The house was in an area just north of Toronto, not too far from where Sofia & Rachael lived, but it was old and needed a lot of work. Seeing the condition of the property and a peek into Mary's mind told me that she didn't have too much extra money to put into frivolous things. After setting the luggage down inside the front door, "Let me take your coat Shawn." I handed it to her and said, "Thank you Mrs Norton." "Call me Mary please. I'm calling you Shawn." "Thank you Mary. You mentioned a small admirer of mine. Where is Sally?" "She is next door with a neighbour. I didn't want to take her to the airport even if the roads aren't bad. Give me some of your bags and I will show you to your room." I handed her my attaché case and I took the two suitcases. She gave me the eye then walked up the steps to a fair sized room. I admired the view but I knew that I would love it no matter what her shape was. The furnishings in the room were old but in good shape. The rest of the house contained similar furniture. It was good but worn from a lot of use." "This room looks fine. I should be comfortable here. Thank you for inviting me." "You're welcome Shawn. Let me make some tea after I get Sally and we can talk." I helped Liz with her luggage and took out her clothes and sorted them for wash and put the clean garments away. "You start the wash Sweetie and I will get a few of my own things." "But mom usually..." "Your mom is busy. You need to look out for yourself and not rely on others. Find your mom's and sister's soiled clothes too and we can clean them." "Ok." While this was happening I phoned the hotel and cancelled my reservation. Rachael and Sofia were next and I gave them the address of the house and asked them to call taxis and I would pay when they arrived. I also said that they had to behave because we would not be alone. One decision was made for me by fate but others had to be made too. I had to wait for the girls' arrivals to find how I would plot the rest of my life. When that was done the front door opened and Mary came in followed by a three year old cutie in a snow suit. When she saw me she hid behind her mother making it difficult for Mary to get her coat off. I stepped forward and assisted. I hung Mary's garment up and she thanked me. "Hello Sally. May I help you with your snowsuit?" She came out of hiding but didn't come closer. "Well I guess I will go back upstairs then." After only one slow step the girl ran to me. I slowly turned around again and with a smile picked her up, then sat her on a chair and started to take off her boots. "Where I come from there's no snow at all. Your suit reminds me of my cat." "We had a cat." "Mine goes away too sometimes and the neighbours get mad and call me to take her back. She is a lot bigger than you though. When she yawns her mouth is so big you can put your head into it, but her breath is bad from all the raw meat she eats." "Cats aren't bigger 'n me." "Mine is. I found her one day on the plains. Her mommy didn't have enough food for her and left her to die. I took her to my camp and fed her. Now when she leans on somebody they have to lean back or they will get pushed over. She hogs my bed too." "How big's your cat?" I showed her with my hands and had to use the wall as a reference point when her tail was added. "I have a picture of when she was young if you want to see it." Sally's head went up and down and a grin was on her face. Mary asked, "What kind of cat do you have Shawn?" "Felis leo. She's only a little domesticated but accepts everybody at our school after getting a good sniff. You have to keep your legs tight or it can hurt," I said as I removed the snowsuit. I opened the closet and hung the suit and put the boots into the tray by the door. "I used your telephone to make two local calls to two of the girls that were on the plane with me that flew from Lisbon. They don't live too far from here and they are coming over for a visit. I would like you to meet them and we can all go out to lunch together after." "I would be happy to meet them Shawn," said Mary. As her mother observed, Liz was a little heartbroken as she wanted me to herself for a while longer. We sat down for some tea and a chat. Liz had to go downstairs and shut off the washing machine so she could be part of our talk. I gave some of my early life but as usual I glossed over much of it. I talked a bit about the help I gave father in Rhodesia when young and then about our trip to Britain including our meeting the royal family. I adjourned the talk and went downstairs to put the clothes through the wringer and rinse them in the washer one more time. Mary came down a moment later and said, "You don't have to do that Shawn. You are our guest." "Remember what I said about me being a member of the household. That precludes me from being a guest." I finished the laundry with her standing beside me. I went outside with Liz to hang the clothing on the line. The day wasn't that cold for this area but it took only minutes for the clothing to freeze solid. Liz handed me the warm wet clothing and I did the hanging. She at least had warm material to keep her fingers warm. She now understood a bit more about what her mother had to put up with. When I got inside I chased the girls around the house with my cold hands until Sally almost peed herself. Soon after that a taxi pulled up and I went out to welcome Sofia in. She had a shopping bag with her that had a change of underclothing because she was wet already and would be wetter even more after seeing me. She couldn't restrain herself and gave me a kiss but tried to keep it chaste as possible. I pinched her bum a little and paid the driver before escorting her into the house. The people in the house had not seen the pinch but did see the kiss. On the way up the walkway I said, "Liz is twelve years old and wants to join us. Be especially nice to her please." I didn't mention the mother yet but she was going to be in my future if I could manage it. "Yes master," she giggled to me. "I love you." "I will show you later how much I love you too." After introductions we sat at the table again and talked about all the recent happenings of the people who were on the flight. I explained the background of the people we were mentioning. The stewardesses had mentioned that the co-pilot was now a pilot and that both he and the engineer were back flying. A honk was heard and I went to get Rachael. I got a kiss from her too as I paid the fare. When the taxi left I said, "Hello Sweetheart, Sofia is in the house and Liz is with her. She wants to joining us but I am not going to push in any way. Be nice to her for me." "I'll do anything for you Shawn. Are we going someplace private after?" "I sure hope so. I want to throw your legs over my shoulders and feast on your clit as my finger slips into your vagina." She stopped at the imagery and had to hold my shoulder until she recovered. Her panties were now soaked but they had been getting wetter as she came to the house. "Master, you are so cruel." "Master is it? I guess you and Sofia have decided to call me that. I think I am going to have to dress you in harem silks. What do you think?" I got a very big kiss in reply and knew she loved the idea. She and Sofia had not fit in as well on returning to Canada and I knew that I wanted them with me. It had hurt me to part with them in just the same way as it had hurt to part with the girls and children of my Ethiopian family. When Rachael sat at the table to talk, the smell of aroused female came to me even stronger than it had done while I was outside. Since there were only five chairs I picked up Sally and put her in my lap as I sat in her chair. She just cuddled to me and was happy at the trade. My mind now scanned all of the women in the room. Mary was now part of my life whether she knew it or not. Liz was just a nice girl but now I would have to keep her as a wife for she could never go back to a daughter if I took her mother. I looked deeply into Sofia and Rachael as I studied them more than I had done beforehand. They seemed to be attracted to me as strongly as I was now to Mary. It would be cruel to abandon them now. They would slowly recover in a few years but in that time their attraction to me would cause them to lose interest in school and probably fail in life. The other side of the coin showed that if they stayed with me they would truly blossom and make their mark on the world. I mentioned more of Ethiopia and how the Emperor wanted some help from me in dealing with the educational system we were setting up. There were more explanations of the criteria I was looking for in potential educators for the country. Rachael and Sofia were told that they could be part of the restructuring of the country if they would get a teachers licence and learn to speak Amharic or one of the many other languages spoken in Ethiopia. "You think we can teach!" Sofia said. "You are both very bright, the same as I think all of you around this table. With the right courses you could teach at the local university and live at my home in Addis Ababa. You have to remember that the amount of education you get here in Canada will be far superior to that which the natives can get over there." This was only one of the possible solutions. If the girls taught in Ethiopia then more of my family would be together in one place. Liz asked, "What could I do?" "I am going to start up a corporation here in Canada. Probably in British Columbia to facilitate trade with the orient. Japanese articles are now looked on poorly but are bound to improve as their economy grows. Like Germany, they have had to completely rebuild from scratch and this will make for a vastly improved business climate. Their machinery will be new and state of the art thus making them more efficient and accurate. In a few years after graduating from university with a business degree you can begin in that corporation." "What! How do you see that?" "As I already said all of you are very bright. Business will be a snap for you. I can coach you on a few points if you want and you should make a top notch executive. Possibly taking the presidency later." Sally squirmed a bit in my lap and looked at me and said, "What about me?" "You my little monkey are going to work hard at school and then go to culinary school after high school to become a chef. You will tour the world for a while and then set up a culinary school of your own." "Mommy, mommy, I'm a chef. Can I cook something?" "Not right now Honey." She turned her inquisitive eyes to me and said, "How do you see all this Shawn? Is it just where you would like people to go?" "I talk to people and get ideas from them and others that know those individuals. I can see trends that others can't. That is why my companies do so well. It's not too much different with people or companies. In this case I choose to vocalize my assessment to you. Normally that is not done because it would conflict with my plans but it won't this time." Mary now asked, "Since you did everybody else, what about me?" "You will go back to school and get your BA. When you have graduated with top marks, you will take up residence in British Columbia in a small import/export business that will bloom to a very substantial size. I have to warn you though that another graduate will be gunning for your position. You will probably have to take a new job in Ethiopia or South America." Mary just sat there with her mouth open. Her mind was working fast and in its haste was missing important points. Nobody talked for a while till she was finally able to vocalize, "I can't go to school. I have a family to support. I was never that good in school in the first place. You are going to give me a job in a company that doesn't exist yet?" "What's so hard to understand? I invest in companies, countries, and causes but mostly in people. Now let's go for lunch and you can think about it over a nice meal." Chairs were reluctantly pushed back. Liz took Sofia and Rachael with her to talk and get ready. I still had Sally in my lap. As I put her down I said, "You, young lady go to the bathroom first. I will get your clothes for you." She hurried off without even looking back. Being the only one left I walked to Sally's room and pulled out some of her better outfits and laid them on the bed. Mary came by to do the same thing after dressing herself and saw what I had done. Sally raced around her mother and into the bedroom. I bent down and took off her top and pants. She needed a bit of cleaning so I threw her over my shoulder and took her to the bathroom again. Mary followed, interested in what I was going to do and not worried for her daughter. I started the shower and when it was warm removed the rest of the girl's clothes and popped her in the tub and quickly washed all of her except the hair. In two minutes she was done and I wrapped her in a large towel and threw her over my shoulder again. Within another minute the girl was dressed. We got downstairs to see Liz changed too and holding the hands of the other two girls. It seemed that they had come to a bit of an understanding. With my coat and boots on I opened the door and when Mary passed, I asked for the car keys. "Shawn, you are too... Is it legal for me to give them to you here?" "Certainly. Remember I have my pilots licence and an international drivers licence too." She fished in her purse and handed me the keys. Everybody was standing beside the car waiting for me to get in so they could sit beside me. I opened the door and got each in as a gentleman should. Mary sat in the front with me. I adjusted all the mirrors and started the engine. I had to adjust the seat and drove off. My eyes were not that high above the dash and I had to cheat a little and pick myself up a bit. The trip was about ten minutes and I stopped in plenty of time but used my ability to assist in steering and acceleration. The girls talked in the back and Mary took her claw like hands from the dash and door when she saw that we were not in any imminent danger of having an accident. We only had one close call and that was when somebody slid through a stop sign and I had to avoid them. "Toronto drivers are not nearly as aggressive as the ones in London or Paris, that's where I have to really concentrate on my driving." In a parking lot still covered in a compressed layer of snow. I revved the engine and the back end of the car fishtailed. When the vehicle swung around it lined up with the parking spot. I casually backed it into a position that would keep it the safest. Sally liked the manoeuvre; Mary didn't but said nothing. The restaurant was nice and the décor was tasteful. The girls were apprehensive because all this cost money. I took the girl's coats and hung them on hangers at the front. When the waitress took us to our seats I sat each of the girls. I asked to see the kitchen and when word came back I took Sally and went through the double swinging doors. There was a fair amount of activity and a lot of noise. Cooks and one chef raced about using economical steps to get the various meals ready. Most glanced at us as they worked and soon the chef came over to kick two children out. Before he said anything I stuck out my right hand, "Good day sir. My name is Sir Shawn Boz. We just came to see if the reputation of your establishment was warranted." The chef already had his hand out before thinking and paused as he remembered facts he had learned about me. "Hello Sir Shawn. You are the first knight I have ever spoken to. Would you like me to give you a tour?" "I would like that very much but I want to introduce you to a chef that in two decades will be world renown. This is Sally Norton." "Sally, this is Chef Henri Colson. He is the reason this restaurant is as popular as it is." Henri put out his hand and the little girl blushed but shook it. The man said, "I am very glad to meet an up and coming chef, especially one starting so young. Do you have some special recipes you would care to share with a fellow chef?" "Ah, no." I looked at the chef and said, "I am not joking about where this young lady will go in life. I predict that twenty years from now you will fondly remember this time." Henri was not disbelieving but found it hard to conceive of this girl finding her way so soon in life. He took out a sheet of paper and a pen and said, "Please make a picture on this." Sally used her childish strokes to put a flower down on the sheet as her mother taught her. I took the pen too and wrote my prediction and then signed and dated the paper before I handed it back to the man. "Now we would like the tour if it is still available Chef Henri." Ten minutes later we sat at our seats. Sally had a big grin and ordered right away from Chef Henri's suggestions. Mary asked, "Why were you two so long in there and why is Sally ordering things she never even heard of before?" I looked at Sally and said, "Tell your mother Sally." "Ah; we had a tour and told us the good stuff." "That sounds nice. You will have to give me a taste of your food. Does this mean that you do all the cooking now daughter?" "I'm too small mommy." When the meal was ready the chef himself came out and theatrically did a flambé as he served Sally and then the rest of us. The diners in the area were dressed nice and appeared fairly wealthy. They looked at out table and some began to talk as my name was whispered about. The servers confirmed their suspicions and the talk returned to normal. The meal was very good and when we were done I sent my thanks to Chef Henri and we left. On the way back to the house I talked to Mary about the need to be with Sofia and Rachael for an hour or so. She claimed to not mind but now had a bit of jealousy creep into her thoughts. Then after this went around a few times in her mind she wondered what I did to her daughter when I had her alone. She thought that because I was young I would not be interested in sex. New thoughts and permutations made war in her mind and she decided to wait before making any drastic decisions. She was already becoming attached to me through my own aura but it was just taking more time. Liz was heartbroken for a while until my words of sharing came to her. Now she just hoped that I would have time for her too. The two girls in question just turned red and hung their heads. The thoughts of our coming encounter made them squirm in their seats. Liz recognized what they were doing from her own actions earlier this morning. When we got into the house Mary just said, "I am a little tired and I'll go for a short nap," She picked up Sally and said to Liz, "You should go for one too. It was a tiring day." When Mary took Sally upstairs I said to Liz, "Don't be worried. There is nothing wrong and soon things will be just great for you. You trust me don't you?" "Yes." "Then go to your room and leave the door open. These two girls are always noisy." Looking Sofia in the eye I asked, "Aren't you?" She squirmed and then said, "Yes but I can't help myself." "That is the way I want you both. Now go upstairs please. I will be up in a moment." As they walked up the stairs they looked back at me till they entered my room and closed the door. To Liz I asked, "Liz I have decided I want to keep Sofia and Rachael as my women, not just girlfriends. They need me close to them or they will fail in life. If they stay with me they will grow in leaps and bounds and also make me very happy. One day they will have my children." "I know that I want you too. There will be many other women but usually they will be all over the planet. Some will be just friends but only a few will be in my family. Don't answer now but soon I will ask if you are interested in joining. The part that you may not understand is that I find your mother the same way. She has something about her that I love and I have to stay close as Rachael and Sofia are to me. Soon I know that your mother will feel the same way. Would you object to sharing her with me?" "You want my mom too!" "She is not yet thirty and would be an asset to our family. If you do not want me as your man I can be like a father." The last part hurt and she cried because she wanted me to be more, much more. "I would like you to have my children too but I will understand if you don't want that." She flung her arms around me and said, "Oh I want you so bad. I will share even with mom if you want. Just don't leave me." I kissed her then said, "I will make love to your mom tonight after Sofia and Rachael. I will talk to her after and see what she thinks about sharing with you. If she agrees I will make love to you later like a man." "Ahh, I want that Shawn." I simply threw her over my shoulder and took her to her room and removed her clothing then put her into bed with some tissues handy. "Listen to the girls well my sweet. Soon you will be singing with them." Sofia and Rachael were in bed naked and waiting for me, even in this odd encounter. I took off my own clothing and climbed on the foot of the bed and sat facing them. "Sofia Honey, I have to talk first." "Ok," she said tentatively. "I see how attached you and Rachael have become to me. I am afraid I am the same way to both of you," she smiled wide and her anxiety left her. "What I wanted to ask each of you is what will come of it? We can enjoy sex often and that is nice for everybody or you can be something close to a wife, just without a formalised contract. I will not really marry anybody but in a way you will all be my wives. You also have to know that there will be many other women like you in everyplace I go. As a husband I will support you and guide your education and your careers. You will run the family businesses and bear my children." They started to come at me now but I held my hand up. "Mary and Liz; I want them to join our family too. You know every other person I want, although I will slow down in my acquisitions. I would never have enough time with each of you or the children. Please don't answer now because this needs a lot of thought. You both have to complete high school and go to university. We may not see each other very much until you graduate. If you accept me in this verbal contract you will not be able to have a man of your own." Sofia said, "Shawn, I only want you, forever." "You got us now Shawn and we will never let go," said Rachael in a solemn voice. "I never thought I would want somebody as much as I want you. Say the word and I will do anything for you." "Well I want to make love to both of you. So prepare to go to sleep." They looked at me questioningly and I had to say, "It doesn't take long until you have too much and your mind shuts you down for a while so you can recover." Sofia was my first choice this time. I walked on my knees to her and started to kiss her lips and moved to her ears and eyes. My hands caressed her breasts and gently pinching her nipples. Her beautiful face contorted to a vision exquisite agony. Her demeanour just asking for anything I would bestow on her. My lips moved lower and found the first nipple and slowly sucked it into my mouth taking a large portion of her breast with my wide mouth. She was in a sitting position and I lowered her to her back. In another moment she had her first orgasm. She groaned in the sheer pleasure of it and twisted some but stayed at the source of her stimulations. Just as she started to settle I moved between her legs and slipped inside very slowly. Her arms came up to hold me tight and her mind only felt me and nothing else. Her concentration was on an image of me and I now slipped into her mind and inserted an image of her with the children she would one day bear me. Her pelvis worked furiously now to make the vision true. "Sofia I love you, this is the first time I told you this. I want you as my woman till the end of our days." She held me even tighter and had a small orgasm. "Yes Shawn, always," she pledged as I started to thrust into her faster and faster. She was pushed toward the headboard and thrust back at me. "Oh yes, like that Shawn. Faster, oh faster, I am almost there again," she shouted as her emotions overcame her again and she inhaled for a scream. I managed to stifle most of it with my mouth as she thrashed about in the bed causing the headboard to strike the wall a half dozen times in succession. I had my own orgasm and continued to stroke into my woman as if trying to gain entrance. I brought my powers into play and her vagina was stretched a bit and her anus entered. Seconds later her scream was so loud that my mouth could not contain it well and she collapsed senseless to the bed. Pulling out of Sofia, I moved her limbs so they would not be hurt and looked at Rachael. "Are you ready for me Sweetheart?" Rachael had been playing with her self and was almost at her second orgasm when she stared into my eyes. Even without reading her mind I knew her desperate need and laid her down beside Sofia and slipped into her. She was very wet and in less than a minute completed her orgasm as she ground her pelvis into me. I said, "Rachael, will you share my life and bear my children?" She thrust at me with her mind screaming "Yes, yes," but the sounds never reached her lips. Five minutes later her openings were larger and she screamed verbally now and collapsed like Sofia. I got off the bed and admired the two ladies. They were intelligent, beautiful and now very motivated to do their best. I felt very lucky to have met them and made them mine. After putting a short cotton robe on I left the room and entered Liz's. She had a few orgasms by her own hand and I picked her up and took her to my room and put her between the other two. She looked at me questioning my motive. "I like my women together. Listen to what I say to your mother now." I pulled the sheet and comforter and covered them all up and turned off the light as I left the room. The door at the end of the hall was closed and my eye could see Mary in bed with Sally. The mother had been playing with herself and trying to keep the fact unknown to her young daughter. My knock at the door was completely unexpected. I asked, "Mary, may I come in for a moment?" I saw her use Kleenex to wipe her hand and then more to go between her legs. "Just a moment Shawn." She had taken off panties and now wanted to get washed and dressed before meeting me. I turned the knob and walked in slowly to allow her to jump back into bed and hide the fact of what she had been doing. "It is important that I talk to you now Mary. It involves your family and your future." She didn't know what to say so I walked to the side of the bed with Sally and picked the girl up and sat on the bed with Sally's head in my lap. After positioning Sally I caressed her head and especially her ears and the back of the skull. The girl loved the feeling and just snuggled to get comfortable. Mary said, "What is this about Shawn?" She was thinking frantically of a way to get cleaned up and meet me in a better situation. "Sofia and Rachael have a special relationship. They have become dependant on me since we met on the aeroplane. I have to confess that they fill a void in me that has been vacant since my wife died." "Wife?" "There is an awful lot you do not know about me. When I was very young I chose a girl six years older than me to marry. Over the years our love grew much stronger and we would make the union legitimate when I got old enough. She was accosted by three young men while I was in Britain gaining my medical degree. I had to fly home. I knew she was now expecting and I decided that I wanted the child. We exchanged vows in front of our parents and her entire village but this was still not legal. When the child was born he was accepted and loved very much, however when our family farm was attacked my entire family perished under what I will call 'extreme conditions'. You may have heard about how I tracked down everybody that took part in the incursion. I exterminated the ones that needed it and tried to save the ones that were salvageable. "Since my family's deaths, I had mostly remained celibate but found myself drawn to the people I saved including the wives and concubines of Alem Neh Mebreatu and their children. The European adults had been kidnapped as children and I took each back to their families along with their own children. This hurt me very much more than you can imagine but it was the right thing to do. The children all have my last name and the records show me as the father even though I have a son older than me." "How does this have anything to do with my family?" "Liz had fallen for me and I for her too. I want her to join Rachael and Sofia as my women. I offer security, education, love and of course children when I am able to produce them." "You want my daughter to be your wife?" "I will never marry again Mary. The women that agree to join my family will all have the same rights as what married couples have here. The children will all be mine and treated equally to the best of my ability." "This is a lot to consider. You are so young and my daughter though older is still too young to make a decision like that." "Only my body is young my intellect is older than any adult I know." "What about Elizabeth? She is only a child and hasn't even started dating yet. Children of that age make and break relationships all the time." "She will be given adequate time to commit herself. Even Sofia and Rachael will have until the end of school to make up their minds. I doubt very much if they will though. In the meantime they will be termed girlfriends for the sake of a label. The physical side of our union has already begun. The pathetically shy girl that you used to know had welcomed me and my lips. Her cries were no different than what you heard a few moments ago. You will have to agree that she is changed and much to the better since falling through the ice. I would like to fully consummate our love on your bed while you watch. This way you will know that she is loved." I knew that Mary was not prepared to give her daughter away at this time so I called loudly, "Liz please come here now. The way you are." The bed in the other room creaked and a naked Liz came running into the room. She tried to hide herself with her hands but still came to my side. Sally and Mary looked her over because they had never seen her naked like this before. "Yes Shawn?" "I have been talking to your mother. She knows I want you to be mine. When you are old enough to make a decision like that we will be boy and girl friend. Tell your mother what you think of this please." "Oh mom, I love Shawn. I want him so much, I am willing to share him with others. He made me feel so different than I ever felt before. This is not just how he kisses me but something much deeper than I ever knew existed. I am ready to tell him yes now but will accept being just his girlfriend till you say I can be his wife." Mary said, "A girlfriend is all that I can accept now and I am surprised that I am even agreeing to that." Liz ran around the bed and hugged her mother now not concerned with her lack of clothes. "Thank you mom. I'm so happy now." "Let's just hope this lasts because I think it is probably a schoolgirl romance that is doomed to fail because of your ages." I stood up and placed Sally on the edge of the bed and walked around to Liz. I took her into my arms and kissed her then said to Mary, "Thank you Mary. Only time will tell from your point of view. From mine it is set and complete." I turned and kissed Liz again and said to her, "Do you want to go the last step now?" "Yes, Shawn I have wanted this since I first met you and didn't even know what it was." Liz was turned and pushed into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. Mary moved to the other side and couldn't go further because Sally was on top of the covers. I started to kiss the girl's lips and caressed her naked body. Almost immediately Liz started to groan and pull me even closer to her. My caresses changed slightly and in a few minutes I was at her small breasts. At this point I laid her on the bed. As my fingers found her thatch of hair her legs parted as wide as possible inviting me to whatever I wanted to do. Mary's fingers were back unconsciously rubbing her own mons while Sally sat up and was watching her sister intently. She started to have strong feelings that had only begun after she first met me. She didn't know the reason but knew she wanted me too. As my kisses travelled down Liz's body her hands came up to guide me to where she wanted me to go. I climbed on the bed and picked up her legs and started to kiss the insides and worked my way down to their juncture. Liz was breathing hard now and urging me to continue quicker. I went to the other leg instead and started to kiss it too. When I again came close to that spot she wanted me at I relented and slowly stroked the outer lips and this was enough to send her to her first orgasm. Her hands held me tight as her legs clamped on my skull. Her screams rent the air and her abdominal muscles contracted forcing her to do six sit-ups. Her eyes were wide and she could only react to what I was doing to her. After two more orgasms I allowed her to rest and asked, "My love, do you want to go to the next stage now?" I only got a head nod and an eager smile. "Get up and let me lay down." I took her hand and helped her up then removed my robe. When I was on my back she started to climb on right away. "Mary, help your daughter. Guide her." Mary already had two orgasms and had to work her way out of the covers for she was trapped with our weight on the sides. I moved a bit and allowed my side of the bed covering to come up first. "Ah... Usually you wet the man first Liz. You should back up and use your mouth." I looked at Mary and said, "You do it for your daughter this time." Mary was unsure because we were watching but desperately wanted to do it. My hand went out and coaxed her head down until she was sucking tentatively on me, then after a few seconds much more eagerly. She stayed there long minutes till she finally remembered where she was. She pulled off as if reluctant to leave and said, "He's wet now Liz. Walk on your knees Honey." Liz did as she was asked and once she was above me, Mary held me still and said, "Sit Honey. The pain will only last a moment." Liz sat and found that she slid back and had to get closer to my head then tried again. When she made contact Mary moved my penis to cover the head with the secretions from her daughter's opening. Liz was anxious and started to take me inside her. Mary kept her hand on me and Liz finally stopped as she found the barrier inside her. Mary said, "It is like a bandage. You rip it off fast and the pain is gone. Sit down hard Honey." Liz waited only a few seconds to gather her courage and then did as she was told. Only a small groan of pain escaped her lips and her eyes were tightly shut. My hands came up and started to caress her chest and pinch her nipples. In a minute she opened her eyes and smiled at me. "I did it Shawn. I feel so full. This is where I think I should always be with you inside me." "You make me feel so good my love. When you think you are ready sit up a bit then sit back down." The movements were short as Liz felt what it was like to be a woman now. The strokes came faster and longer and soon she was going up and down as quick as she could. My hands were on her chest and her hands were over mine for comfort and stability. Mary's hands went back to her own opening and the other now to her breast. She was uncovered and didn't care who saw now. Her fingers stroked in time to her daughter's movements and both had an orgasm at the same time. After a moment of rest Liz resumed her movements. This time I thrust back into her at the right time and soon we both had another orgasm. When she was recovering I moved her on top of her mother's legs and slid out. Her hands reached out to hold me to her. "My turn Honey." I positioned her and slid in easily. She got a groan of satisfaction as I took my rightful position. This time I worked on her mind and body to give her the best I had to give. She started to make incoherent sounds and thrashed about until she had a scream that must have been heard by the neighbours. The shriek was cut off as she went unconscious from all the stimulation. I pulled out some Kleenex and then pulled myself out of Liz. My penis still proud; her discharge now showing; a small amount of blood. I used the Kleenex to staunch the flow from Liz saying to Mary, "Come here woman and clean me." She took her hand from her mons and came hesitantly and started to suck on me till I was clean. "Get off the bed and take your clothes off now," I ordered. Mary was on autopilot and did as I commanded, then stood before me. I got off the bed myself and moved Mary to the side at the foot and got her to sit. She just looked at me uncomprehendingly and did everything as I directed. I pushed her back and then picked up her legs and said, "Hold them to your chest." She was coming to the conclusion that she was doing something wrong so I kneeled quickly and started licking her raw opening. In a moment she had no compunction and started to call out like her daughter. My tongue slithered into her opening and soon my powers entered the other. She was very responsive and had one orgasm after another until they all ran together. Standing up I looked at the beautiful and still young woman before entering her. She released her legs and they wrapped around me and pulled me in to her. The orgasms continued and I called out to the other room for my other two girls. They came in to see me pounding away at Mary with Liz asleep with her legs spread and Kleenex in her mons. Sally alone was dressed and she watched intently at what I was doing. I picked up Mary from the bed with my muscles and my power and held her cheeks as I dropped her onto my penis as I drove up into her. Her arms were holding me only a little for she didn't care what happened to her as long as the sensations continued. Her large breasts were still firm but moved violently as she came to an abrupt halt on my pelvis. I enlarged myself in her vagina as I did in her anus and continued the almost violent, animal like mating. She, like her daughter mumbled unintelligibly as her voice rose she built up to a crescendo until she just fainted on me. In a few steps I laid her back down on the bed and her legs stayed splayed to the world. Sally was the first to talk and said, "What happened to Mommy? Did you hurt her?" The girl was worried and I tried to do my best for her. "She just had the same good feelings that your sister had and couldn't take the fun any more and had to rest." "Can I have some too. Can I?" "You are kind of young to be a wife but I want you to be my girl too." She didn't know this meant because I wanted her as my daughter. I knew that she was too young to understand. The girl ran around the bed and stood in front of me waiting for me. I picked her up and held her to me. "I think you are very special. Do you think I can be a good daddy?" She was shy and only nodded her head while her hand went to her mouth. Sally was placed beside her mother and I walked around the other side of the bed and said, "Rachael will you come here please?" She came from the doorway like a robot and I laid her down and her head rested on Liz's abdomen. I kissed and sucked like I did to Liz and used my power to open her body and her mind. She only lasted a few seconds longer before she screamed loudly. This time I didn't try to stifle it. Her call made Sofia orgasm as she stood watching and manipulating her clit. Sofia was last this time and within moments she too was sleeping with my other wives. Mary I knew would do anything for me as long as she got her share of my love. Sally would make a beautiful daughter and I was very happy I had done this. When she got old enough she would want join the rest but I would never allow it. She would remain my daughter. By then she would have a few brothers and sisters looking to her for guidance. I took the last two girls and floated them to the other room and let them sleep. Sally's eyes got very big at this. Back in Mary's bedroom I moved everybody so they would be comfortable and warm. Mary I awoke first with a blanket over her form. "Hello Sweetheart, I assume you are one of my girls too now? You have the option of saying no or waiting till things are clearer to you." "Oh Shawn, I have never in my life had sex like that. I want you now that I found you. But you are so young and I am so old." "Let me worry about that. I was making love to you, not just having sex. I told you before about sharing. You will have to share me with your daughter and the rest." "I can try but it will be hard. I can still feel you in me and I only want more. Will you make love to me again?" "I would love that." I slid into the cramped bed and started the process again as if seducing her for the first time. With my power active she did not last until I even slipped into her. The screams awoke Liz and startled Sally. The first thing Liz did was reach for her clit to get some enjoyment. With a bit of juggling I had Mary riding me forcefully till she had a another wild orgasm. When she began to start again I pulled her off and took her to the shower. She didn't like being denied but accepted it as I washed her quickly. A few moments later she was dressed and I sent her to make a snack for us. The other two were cleaned with a cloth and a basin of water and dressed and sent downstairs for a meeting. I kept Sally with me to compensate some for what the others got. I asked Sofia and Rachael to phone their families to agree that we would all meet at a good restaurant to talk later. Each was on the phone longer than needed as they fended off the attempts to get more information. When we were finished I sat at the table with them and said, "It's nice to have a family again. Since ours is growing we will need a bigger place to stay, closer to where all of you are going to go to school. The first house will be an existing structure that we will make into a home." To Mary I said, "You are going to sell this house in the spring. The rest of us will make it look nicer to get the best price. I want flowers around the house and the house itself painted inside and out." "We will eventually buy a property and build a house from the ground up. I don't like the plumbing that I have been exposed to and I will have to design some new fittings and probably sell them at a good profit. This new house should cost upwards of a million dollars without furniture or landscaping." Mary burst out, "A million dollars! I only make thirty seven dollars a week. Who could afford a home like that?" "We can easily. You didn't just get a poor young husband." Liz was shocked at this and looked at her mother. Sally said, "Mom?" "I guess I am one of his women like you are." She looked at Sally and then asked me, "What about Sally, Shawn?" "She is now my daughter and everything that entails. It will never change." On another topic, "We have to decide where the best schools are for each of you. They may or may not be here in Toronto though. For our privacy I would like it to be far enough away that Sofia and Rachael's parents don't show up all the time." Turning back to Mary and her children I said, "I have to go to those parents this afternoon. It would be better this time if you stayed here. The parents will want to know that I am not abusing their lovely daughters. I won't be telling them that I want their daughters as my wives though." To Liz I said, "Will you wash the bedding. Some girls I know got very juicy and wet the sheets. Watch out for the wringer as I don't want to have to treat you for injuries when I get back. I will be home around seven tonight and we can have a much more in-depth talk. Sally, I want you to think of what you want to eat tomorrow. You and I will cook it." I now answered their questions, taking over an hour to do so. Some dealt with who was to perform which specific duties. More had to do with how the group was to function because none of the women were particularly dominant. Sally was the only one I altered a bit and that was only to keep her quiet about the activities within our family. The Nortons were very enthusiastic now, but I also knew that if I wasn't around they would soon start to doubt their own judgement. ------- Chapter 29 It was now almost three o'clock so I helped make the house presentable. Some wooden chairs were glued and some seats coverings needed tacks. I assessed the house to see what had to be purchased to make it easier to sell. The piano was the only extravagance and I used my power to tune it. When everything was done I called a taxi and while waiting played some music. My hands were now getting large enough to make most of the chords so my abilities were much less needed. At last, the taxi arrived so I had to cut short my recital as we got into the vehicle and went over to the Casa D'oro. The four parents were there along with six other adults and seven children. I shook hands with each. The parents I had met earlier in London when I flew the plane back. I was introduced in turn to the rest of the family and tried to give each person a bit of my time to know they were noticed and perhaps appreciated. Our waiter came over and I had to absorb his dialect from his village in Calabria. There were not many blond Italians from his area in the south but he looked to see me better. I had to say I picked up the language instead of being from that district. He could speak the Italian spoken in Napoli but not as well as he would like. I ordered for myself, Sofia and Rachael. The rest used English and got whatever they liked. When the food came three bottles of complementary wine came with it. I half filled my girls and my own glasses then asked my neighbours if they too would like some. Canada was nothing like Europe and had very antiquated ideas about alcohol. You had to be eighteen and the girls definitely weren't, also some of my guests thought I was too young as well. I picked an excuse and told them about Canada's parochial views. I knew what they were thinking and formed my opinion on the subject so as to not allow them a chance to counter attack my choices. My main reason for talking to them other than to show I was interested in the girls personally was to bring up the matter of the girl's education. Their marks in grade thirteen were falling until I phoned. I said that I would see them again and demanded that they return their minds to their work. Each set of parents wanted their girl to go to the University of Toronto. This way they would be at home and the costs would be lower. "I have been looking at the University of Waterloo. The school is new and has a good engineering and mathematics department. Sofia and Rachael will do well in the business department." One young man of about twenty four and a young uncle of Sofia asked, "Are you going there when you graduate?" I chuckled good-naturedly and said, "Scott, I graduated when I was six. Since that time I have been a university professor in quite a few fields, as well as gaining my licence to practice medicine. I still teach when I have the chance." The man had not really looked into my background and hardly even followed the news. "You must be pretty smart then." "I was just lucky to be born that way and to have a great curiosity. With those two things almost anything is possible. I hear you are an actuary. Tell me what it is like working for your company." He brightened at this and told me about the insurance company he worked for. The seven children I also got involved in the conversations, so they would not be considered just as unformed people but as young adults that had something to give to the whole. Towards the end of the meal I was invited to a family trip to Collingwood to ski. I had to decline because of prior commitments at the theatre, however in return they were all invited to one of the performances if they asked ahead of time. Most gave a favourable reply and said they would respond to me when they could. After the meal I took the bill and paid it. The cook had come out and I mentioned how the meal was excellent and that I would recommend the establishment to others if the occasion arose. I helped Sofia and Rachael from their chairs, then on with their coats. They each gave me a kiss on the cheek and they went home with their family. They looked at me longingly but they knew that they had to go. On the way back to Mary I felt bad about leaving the two girls for a week. I would only be able to see them in a few stolen moments unless I planned something special. When we pulled into the driveway Sally ran to tell the rest that I was home. When I got to the door it was like the way any father or husband would want it. The girls were all lined up waiting to be greeted. Each was given the best hug and kiss I had and when we were done I pulled them all into the living room for a talk again. Mary asked, "How did it go with the parents?" "Fine as far as it went. I let them know I was going to continue looking out for the girls. I think some were relieved and perhaps hoping I would help finance their children's education." Liz was trying to be sly and asked, "Were there any more girls at the restaurant?" "Liz there are many pretty girls. Just because I see them doesn't mean I have to have them. Your mom, you, Sofia and Rachael are enough for me now. One day I may get others to join our family but they would have to be very special like you are. Don't forget I have a family in Ethiopia with some children depending on me." "Why I wanted to talk was to get some other things cleared up. Sally has three blemishes that I would like to remove before too long. It should be painless. Mary you have something that has to be looked at too. It will take a bit longer and again there will be little pain." "What is it Shawn? I'm worried now." "Oh just a small growth that should be removed. I will do it and you will only miss a day off work. Speaking of work, I would like you to give up your job at that shop after giving notice. I will supply you with more than enough money for the family. In the meantime you have to start studying some texts on business. That way you can be home with Sally if you want or continue with the sitter. As for Liz, would it be all right if I go to your school with you for one morning?" Both girls seemed eager for this and Liz wanted to show me off to the few friends she had. I taught piano for an hour then because school was tomorrow I took Sally upstairs and gave her a bath and put her to bed with a kiss. She went to sleep then without incident. Liz's bath was much slower and I made tender love to her with my lips because she was sore and would be that way for a few days. Now that we were alone I told Mary more about her growth but did not make too much of a deal with it. I equated it with a tooth extraction. The radio was turned on and we danced to some music. Mary saw me smile and asked, "What?" "Nothing, the lyrics talk about a man dancing with his woman before he makes love to her. I wrote that song and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time." "Oh Shawn. I love you and I hardly even know you yet." "You have no regrets about taking up with a younger man. You may be ridiculed later because of our age differences. Nobody will comment that you are closer to me mentally than any of the others." "I will have to take that as it comes. My alibi would be that you are taking care of my daughter and I am just accompanying both of you." "Well the girls are asleep. Would it be all right for me to look after you? I don't like sleeping alone either." Later after some very tender lovemaking I started to work on Mary's tumour. Even though it was not too large it was starting to spread. I was able to cut off the flow of blood to the area and went looking for cells that had been displaced and could start again. I took my time and went over her body many times and found only the occasional cluster that may or may not produce a problem later. Next morning Mary woke up with a little bit of a fever. It was a reaction to all the dead cells in her system. I could only say that it was the flu and said that it wasn't morning sickness yet. I got up, awoke the girls and started to make breakfast. They got up a little grumpy as usual till they saw me making their meal. They got a kiss and told to get ready. Mary got up and enjoyed being fed for a change. School was a fifteen minute walk but would be longer with the snow that fell during the night. Liz made her lunch and I added some fruit. She didn't argue but would normally have. I was able to clean the car and shovel the drive and walk before she came out. I went in and gave Mary and Sally a kiss and said I would have to go to the airport later to pick up the performers flying in. The morning was brisk and our breath was easy to see as steam in the cold morning air. We talked of school and friends and how Liz felt about her relationships within the school. We came to a large brick building whose spacious grounds marked it clearly as a school. We heard and saw children that had come early playing or talking in groups. This school only went to grade eight and this was the grade which Liz currently was in. Liz wanted to enter via the door that the girls normally used but I insisted that we use the more formal front entrance. I had a request to make and I didn't want to do it from an inferior position of entry. Accordingly I said to Liz, "We have to talk to your principal first to get his permission. Since this is official we have to enter the by the front door." I opened the massive oaken door and allowed Liz to enter first. She took my hand into hers, somehow needing the security that the touch conveyed. The walls were a light green colour, the floors the traditional terrazzo. I stamped my feet to dislodge snow before going any further. Liz pulled me to the left toward the principal's office. I looked through the clear glass in the door to see an older heavy set man with a balding head and thick glasses. He was reading a paper with one hand while the other absently held a mug of coffee. His desk was littered with paper work. A long wooden counter separated the large office into an area for teachers and supplicants. It reminded me a bit of Britain and my difficulty in getting into the school system. A feeling of dread pulsed from Liz. I wondered for a moment if the administrator an ogre or was this unaccustomed event the cause of the unrest? This door opened much easier but this time I entered first, seemingly to protect Liz from any attack. She seemed to be falling back into her old ways and I had to stop this. "Good morning Mr. Worth," I stated. A puzzled look appeared on the old man's face for I could feel no anger at the interruption. The thick glasses in the black frames were adjusted to better see the visitor. "Good morning to you too. What can I help you with young man?" The man was not bad but he, like his British counterparts, were a bit conservative in thinking. I brought my briefcase up and put it on the nearby counter to access it. Out came a heavily embossed leather folder with gilded text and a coat of arms. He saw the expensive folder and read the text: 'The Federated Republic of Rhodesia' then below it, 'Department of Foreign Affairs'. The principle wondered how I had come by the briefcase and folder, for he had not thought of ever meeting me. "My name is Shawn Boz. I would like to audit one of the classes Miss Norton takes today. I wish to present my bona fides to you then ask for your permission." "Audit? You want to audit a grade school class. That's only done in a university." "The term can be used in many situations. I write text books. I would be surprised if you didn't have some of my works here in the school now. This is part of the reason I would like to observe how a class in Ontario is conducted." The man looked at me a lot closer now and said, "I have heard the name before. Weren't you involved in killing a lot of people in Africa not too long ago?" I replied with some regret in my voice. "They killed my family and friends. I was protecting my country. Would you have done any differently?" "I couldn't do what they say you did. I see Miss Norton behind you. She was in the papers recently too. You did a fine thing there Mister Boz." He turned to Liz and asked, "And how are you dear? That was a very dangerous thing to do." "I know sir," came shakily from her. "What I remember most is sinking down and seeing Shawn swimming to me. After that it was mostly a blur." The principle listened to Liz's every word and I could see his vivid imagination filling him in on the details. I replaced the embassy folders and closed the briefcase. I pulled the shaking girl close and kissed her forehead. "Don't be upset. Everything is all right." I raised my free hand to elevate her eyes as I made the statement. I gave her a small kiss on her lips causing Liz to almost melt against me. The principal was quite shocked that this act of affection was displayed right before him. He was ready to say something but considered the things that he had recently found about me and desisted. The newspaper articles of my exploits reminded him of not only my abilities but what I was like to those that I protected. I turned to the man and said, "May I have your permission for the audit sir?" "Yes young man, certainly you may, I would like to see what comes of it. I'll write a note for you." He wrote out the slip and added a lengthy post script in Latin about me having to be watched carefully. He was not too sure about me. He also wanted to know all the details so he would have something to talk about later. Classes would not start for at least fifteen minutes and I decided to drop the note off to the teacher without the students witnessing too much disruption. We climbed to the classroom but I already knew it to be empty. Here I had to go through the motions one more time. Before we had gotten half way down the stairs, an old woman in a very cranky voice said, "And where do you think you two are going?" Liz tried to get behind me, she was so frightened. Students were not allowed into the school before the bell I quickly found. Before replying I could feel the dread coming from Liz. This made me angry that somebody entrusted to look out for the children could be so cruel. "Down the stairs ma'am. Is there any thing else you would like me to help you with?" We made a short pause waiting for a reply. I just stared at the tongue-tied woman. When no answer came we just resumed our journey. Immediately outside the girl's entrance we laughed to relieve Liz's tension. I held her very close. It seemed to work as the girl looked up into my eyes and gave a small smile. We stood on the landing looking into each others eyes as our lips made another lingering touch. Some of the early arrivals looked in wonder that two people who would actually kiss in public. Sue Gresham came running up seeing her best friend and stopped in her tracks. She watched a strange boy kiss her friend. This was so odd to her. Liz was so timid and here she was doing something that she had hardly ever seen. I could feel the curious onlookers gathering around. They were all girls for this side was reserved for their gender only. Rather than embarrass Liz further I relented and held her hand as we turned to face the audience. "We have company." We walked down the steps with Liz at my side. I could see the way Sue looked at Liz; they were good friends. I steered our path toward the girl. She moved hesitantly to Liz and away from the strange boy she saw. Males were starting to get very interesting but only a few girls were old enough to find out some specifics. I saw that Sue was attracted to me too. She saw that I was tall, light blond hair, tied in the back with a leather thong which would look very nice on any girl. She was not sure if she liked it on boys but it seemed to fit me well in this case. My arms were covered by an expensive coat but she could see the highly developed muscles well enough. She looked at my wide shoulders. The face she could only describe as beautiful. She felt ripples start at her neck and travel down her body. Perhaps she had been too hasty and should have moved closer to me instead of away. She felt an aura of competence and harnessed violence this seemed to attract her. She suddenly wondered if I was the person in the newspapers that rescued her friend. Sue was a very pretty and freckled red head. She was taller than Liz and had even larger breasts and hips. "You must be Sue. My name is Shawn." Both girls looked at me. Liz was not over how much I seemed to know everything about her. Sue assumed that Liz had mentioned her name. I held out my hand and could sense her attraction to me already. Usually the boys and girls did not interact very much in public but Sue put her hand out to be shaken. Most girls were attracted to me and Sue seemed to be no different. Luckily this infatuation would soon be over. Sue though was a nice girl and even more important a friend of Liz. I would try to be especially nice to her. She was very shocked when I seemed to float very close and brought her hand to my lips to give it a kiss. She tried to jerk her hand back but was powerless to even try. After the first touch she considered never washing her hand again. The tremors from before were nothing to what she felt now. She looked into my eyes and felt a rush through her sex. She had only felt this in the privacy of her own bedroom before. She looked into the deep blue eyes before her that seemed to sparkle with a life of their own. She came close and had to hold me. I pulled her close for a hug. She suddenly realised where she was and wondered how she go here. She looked about and found Liz with a worried look on her face. The strong arms under her promised many things but she felt bad about her feelings for her best friend's companion. I stood with Sue in one arm and smiled at Liz. Sue asked, "What happened to me?" Liz knew and did not want to upset her friend too much. She stepped closer and hugged her friend. When her lips were close she whispered in her ear, "You like him too." I felt the girl stiffen and begin to pull away. "It's ok. He makes me feel that way too." The girls relaxed and separated slowly. Sue refused to look at Liz or me. She still felt that she would be seen as trying to take me away. Liz knew the probable feelings going through her friend and said, "I'll share him with you but remember he's mine." This was all done without consulting me or the other women she knew I wanted. Sue looked at me to see if it were true. A kindly smile greeted her for I didn't want her to feel bad. Liz's attitude was quite a change from the girl I had been looking after the last few days. Perhaps I had done too well in getting Liz to come out of her shell. There had to be some joker thrown into this hand for I figured that once Liz was back in her class she would revert the way she did when meeting her principal. Other people had made their way forward and heard Liz's statement. They were still all girls and most were from Liz's class. I could feel a teacher quickly coming forward to see what had happened. The old woman from the steps. Had she seen something and come scenting blood? "What is going on here?" She spoke loudly, trying to assert her authority. The circle of girls parted quickly, fearing the teacher's notorious bouts of anger. The woman wanted to know why the boy that embarrassed her earlier was here holding onto a girl and not where he should be. She stared at me trying to cow me. I released the girls and put one hand across my stomach and supported my elbow. The other hand came up to my chin while I used body language to give the idea that I was evaluating her. Mrs. Gundy was taken back by my attitude. In thirty five years she had never had a problem before where she did not come out on top. She started to question herself while I only slipped some images to her. Why did she really want to bother this boy? Boy: perhaps not a boy. The young man had still not said anything, just his judgmental attitude and his girlish hair and a man's body but small. That face she had seen before but where. That old book on Norse mythology. He looked like the artists rendition of Thor, Thor the god of war. She felt weak, weaker than at any time before. Her mind went back to her childhood and her father when he had been angry at her. Her father had yelled at her, spanked her and worse of all the feeling that he didn't love her anymore. Mrs. Gundy lowered her eyes and carefully retreated not even bothering to pretend that she had won. She was very confused. Never before had she questioned herself in such detail. All the girls except Liz thought that any offender to stir up Mrs. Gundy was due for the strap. She would lay ten on each hand, somehow gathering strength from the act itself leaving happy at the outcome. All that witnessed this about turn in behaviour wondered at Mrs. Grundy's actions. My internal clock told me that it was almost time to enter the building. "Time to go in girls. I started to pick up my briefcase but Sue got it first and slipped her other hand into mine. Liz saw the play and happily put her hand through the other just as the bell rang. We lagged behind the rush until we were the last to enter. The halls started to empty. Some of the grade eights were climbing the right side of the steps making their leisurely way to the top floor class. This was our destination too. When we got to the top, I took it away again by kissing both quickly and slapping their butts hurrying them into class. Some in the class and the ones we passed on the steps saw this. I took the principal's note from my pocket and entered with my briefcase. Miss Joan Wu was a young teacher who had snagged the grade eight job because of her excellent marks at teachers college and her way with the younger teenagers. She stood about five foot six with long black hair which hung to her waist, not the way the school board would recommend, but what she was determined to have regardless. She wore a long cotton print dress on a very attractive frame. She had been busy and had not noticed the scene outside her door. Her eyes came up at the unexpected silence that pervaded the class when we entered. When she turned to look she saw a beautiful young boy enter. Long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, muscles pushed out his expensive overcoat, showing more definition than she had ever seen before. His thin waist and tight pants showed equally powerful legs. He carried a briefcase, much like a businessman would carry. She knew of nobody in public or even high school that would be seen with one, not that they were bad but that it was just not in style. She noticed vaguely that Liz was back, she had been gone for more than a week. The newspapers had told her that she was very lucky to have survived. I found the woman simply beautiful, no doubt the boys in her class would have many fantasies about her. I had found out what Miss Wu was thinking and knew that she was looking on me very favourably. I started sending out suggestions to smooth out any troubles I may run into. This had the effect of also getting the woman slightly aroused. She still had the authority to deny me my audit of her class. "Good morning Miss Wu. My name is Shawn Boz. I have a note here from the principal, explaining my presence." All the students had seated themselves except Liz and Sue, who seamed to await my preference. "Put your coats away and take a seat please," I whispered to them. Miss Wu asked me to be seated after reading the note. When I too hung up my coat in the 'boy's cloakroom' she inquired if we could talk later about this situation. I picked a seat towards the back, so I could keep an eye on my girls. I seemed to have acquired another, a teacher to my other two admirers I reflected. I looked at Liz and saw that she was not jealous yet and to be truthful there was no reason to be. I had more than enough commitments but it was nice to flirt or to make friends. It would also take Liz out of her worn groove and force her to act differently for the girls would now see her much differently. The girls in the class were disappointed, as only the unruly boys sat at the back. I managed to smile at all the girls that turned to look at me as the morning progressed. The boys found my younger look to be too feminine so I must therefore be a sissy or queer. I spent the morning scanning the minds in the class, especially Miss Wu, or Joni to her friends. The suggestions I had sent earlier had worked well perhaps too well. Apparently the commands had also worked on the other females as well. One small boy on the other side of the class seemed to be affected as well. I scanned him carefully. Jimmy was very intelligent and had skipped the last grade. Unfortunately he was being molested by some of the larger boys in this class. He was forced to perform oral sex, not that he objected too much, more that he wanted a choice in the matter. He was usually beaten afterwards. Rocky a large boy that happened to be the oldest pupil was the ringleader. His group would corner the younger boy in a quiet place and demand to be serviced. Rocky presently sat next to me now playing with his genitals and hoping that Jimmy would blow him or that Miss Wu would lay down and spread her legs for him. I dug a little deeper and found that young boys and teachers were not the only prey Rocky and his group sought. I searched minds about me to actually do some work on a book I was writing. Each class had its own dynamics and I just tried to see if anything was new. The bell eventually rang. The class waited to be dismissed for recess. I waited knowing that I had to speak with Joan. All the girls seemed to lag behind so they could meet the new arrival. Jimmy waited the departure of the boys then passed by still looking around carefully trying to avoid Rocky and his gang. He needed the washroom but not the beating after he had been forced to suck. I followed the gang and Jimmy in my mind. Miss Wu came over having to more or less fight her way through the admiring girls around my position. Sue and Liz had fought harder to get into their positions. I could plainly see that the girls were very eager to meet me in more intimate surroundings. Of the fifteen women in the class only the teacher and now Liz were not virgin. I would have to control the suggestions a little more in the future I knew. The girls started to ask questions as I just listened and nodded my head retaining the queries till most of the girls had run down. I now knew that I was needed. "Excuse me a moment ladies. I will be back in a few minutes to answer most of your questions." I could now sense the commotion in the washroom. Two boys lounged beside the door trying to act other than the guards they were. When I approached they stood straighter and actually blocked the door daring anyone to get by them. They smiled at me with an evil glint. I felt that Jimmy did not have the time for me to use peaceful means of gaining entry. My hands came forward and grasped each by their shirts below the neck, lifted them and using their bodies to strike the door propelling it open. Their heads hit against the door a split second after their bodies did. The now unconscious youths were dropped to the floor inside the room. Rocky had his hands in Jimmy's hair forcing Jimmy's mouth around his engorged member. Another boy had his fly open waiting his turn. I calculated my position and then the opponents and moved forward very quickly. Very quickly as when my parents had been killed. I slowed and pulled the boys together then with my hands on opposites sides of each opponent pushed them together with just enough force to knock their heads together. I felt them fade into unconsciousness as they sagged to the floor beside their companions. I stooped to the floor in front of Jimmy and carefully moved the hair around the crying boy's face. I pulled him to me and gave him a big hug whispering consoling words. In a minute I picked the boy up. He needed to use the toilet still. I backed him up into a stall and lowered the boy's pants and underwear before seating him. I retreated closing the door as I went. "Hurry up Jimmy. I need to have a word with your friends and I want you there to see it." I knew what his body required. "Don't flush the toilet though." With the unconscious boys on the floor I worked to put a little fear of Jimmy into their minds as I had done to Lusa's rapists. Not enough to incapacitate them from being in the same room with Jimmy but enough to see him safe from retribution when I was gone. In a few minutes or so Jimmy returned leaving the stall door open. I grabbed each of the unconscious boys in turn and used the full toilet to revive them. I picked them up as if they only weighted a few pounds. Jimmy had never seen anybody do something like that before. Rocky was last and ending up getting a flush as well. The boy was thrown onto the others as if he were just a toy. "Well girls," I said to the now conscious punks, "if I find you doing this again I will have to take more drastic measures. If you want to meet me after school, be my guest." I got some toilet paper and moistened it at the sink as I wiped Jimmy's face, treating him like a much younger child. This is what the boy needed. I held the boy's hand as I brought him back to class and the flock of females awaiting me. Jimmy was distraught and I sat him at Rocky's desk by mine. He tried to leave thinking how mad Rocky would be, until he remembered that the entire gang were on the floor of the boy's washroom. Joan asked, "What happened to you Jim?" Before Jimmy could answer, I said, "We had a problem in communication with some of his classmates. I believe the situation is being given serious consideration." Then to get the subject changed, "You were asking me some questions previously. I can answer some now." I paused. "First of all, I actually have two birthdays, I was born August the twenty second nineteen fifty in Salisbury Rhodesia, so that makes me nine. I have a job with the government there looking out for some of its interests. My dad was a very successful doctor. He spent much of his time helping both the white population and the natives. I helped him the best I could when he was alive." I paused a while reliving the good memories that I shared with my father. "My mother was a professor of English at the university in Salisbury. They both taught me at home. I was never at taught at a school like this before. I am writing a book about teens and felt this was a good place to start. "I live by myself now. My parents died in an attempted military take-over. I have been on my own ever since." I paused again remembering my early life. My love for Lusa and my son Jason; then the night it all came apart; rape and murder had ripped my family apart; I hadn't particularly cared then whether I lived or not, as long as I got my vengeance. I remembered where I was and said, "... so I went to Britain and taught Mathematics and Physics at a university in London and became a physician at the same time. Now I want to observe how students are taught in a school in North America and decided to see how much fun it is." Some of the girls groaned thinking the exact opposite. Joan asked, "You said you were on your own since you were eight. How is that possible? There was quite a bit in the papers about you but not that." "I played a small role in preventing General Moboto's men and some politicians in Rhodesia from taking over. The government granted my wish to have my birthday officially moved back twelve more years. So I am now twenty one years old and that allows me to fly my plane or drive the car. Once you get to know me you would find out how self-reliant I really am." The bell rang startling the girls because of their concentration on my every word. "Miss Wu would it be permissible for Jimmy to move his seat over here?" "I think that is acceptable as long as Rocky doesn't object." "I doubt if he will object." I was actually thinking that Rocky would probably like to change schools if he could. The desks in the classroom were new and everyone had individual ones. The holes and marks on the floor showed that the older style furniture, where the desk held the seat of the one in front, had recently been removed. I got Jimmy to stand up and grasped the leg of Rocky's desk bringing it and its contents into the air. I walked across the room holding the desk in one hand then stooped and picked up Jimmy's desk in my other hand, placing Rocky's desk in its place. I returned bringing Jimmy's. The boys that went out to recess returned and sat down, but four empty seats still remained. The class began. Miss Wu becoming more worried as the minutes passed. Eventually she walked over to the phone on the wall and dialled the front office. She heard how the four boys had slipped while in the bathroom, falling on their backs and bumping their heads. It was mentioned how the boys were wet and stank although there was no explanation as to how the stink or water had gotten onto them. In any case they had gone home to change. The class only heard one side of the conversation but I knew it all as I looked at Jimmy and smiled. I saw a boy smitten by hero worship, and no small part lust, who smiled tentatively back. By the time the noon bell rang, I had decided how I wanted to spend the break. I put my hand on Jimmy keeping him in his place then looked at Liz and indicated that I wanted her and Sue to remain seated as well. When the others had left I said, "Miss Wu would you be so kind as to accompany my friends and I while we sup?" I said very formally. She would come because I was giving her very subtle instructions to for the last few minutes. She did not know why but she was very happy to except the invitation. "Yes I will, thank you." I asked Sue and Jimmy to accompany us as well, telling them to leave any lunch they had and accompany Liz and I to a restaurant. The lunch that I helped Liz make would now be taken home. The business I wanted to patronise was only a five minute walk away. I walked my guests through the snow up to the fashionable Italian restaurant and waited for the maître d'. When he came I said, "A table for five please." "Yes sir." he hummed thinking of the seating arrangements, "Come right this way please." I ordered quickly and assisted the children in their choices, while making idle talk trying to get everybody to participate. Joan inadvertently started some harsh memories. "Liz, what happened to you in Ottawa?" Liz froze, only her eyes travelling around trying to find an escape. She had been comfortable with me but now she was back in her old situation. I reached out quickly and held her hand and sent soothing thoughts to her. All around the table had seen the abject fear the innocent comment had caused. It would be quite a while till she recovered from the ordeal and from her shyness. "I am sorry dear. I didn't know it was that painful." the teacher added with a very concerned voice. I spoke for Liz. "She was playing with her younger cousin as you must have known from the newspapers. I helped her out of the water and then again in the hospital to get treatment." "I am better now. Shawn saved me," the girl stated. The teacher ran through her mind, the way Liz was before. She was a painfully shy girl with few friends and hid at any excuse. This girl here was different than the one that left a week ago. Sue asked in an very concerned voice, "What did you do for her?" "Just had her body temperature stabilised and ensured that her frost bitten skin was not damaged. Joan said, "There was talk in the local paper about you too. Apparently you jumped in and rescued Liz and her cousin. The papers gave some of your background. It talked more about what you said about your parent's deaths. You stopped an incursion into Rhodesia a while ago and killed the soldiers." Jimmy asked, "Did you shoot them?" He apparently had not been reading the papers. "Some of them." The teacher wanted to ask many more questions of her own but with the children present she decided to wait and see what she could find out later. "Then you could have killed Rocky and the others today." "Yes I could but they were not trying to kill anybody. With only four little boys to contend with, I had to be a lot more careful in the way I handled the situation. Life is too precious to waste." The teacher asked, "What happened today, Jimmy?" "Predation," I said for Jimmy. Jimmy regretted the conversation now. He felt that everyone would know about what he was forced to do. He started to cry, not too loud but his life felt much more nebulous. I could see that Jimmy was very upset now. Liz was in better shape but suffering herself. "Liz will you go with the other girls to the washroom to wash your face and comb your hair? I will go with Jimmy." I put my hand under Jimmy's elbow and got him to the washroom. Again I took care of Jimmy, blowing his nose and wiping his face. People were coming and going into the room when I gently pulled Jimmy over to the last stall and entered with him. The boy needed a little privacy. I held the boy tightly trying to calm his fears. I pulled back and stroked the distraught boy's cheek before giving him a small kiss on the lips. This was intended as something personal but not sexual at all. A thrill went up and down his spine. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed back very passionately. I knew Jimmy needed something special so I kissed back while stimulating that portion of the brain governing the sex drive. He reminded me of a young boy in London desperately needing a friend. Jimmy's grunted in his kiss, his pelvis started thrusting back and forth as the sperm travelled up the urethra and into his underwear. More came out now than at any previous time for he was very worked up. After a moment of holding, I allowed Jimmy to sit on the toilet to rest and get himself cleaned. Jimmy had other ideas than rest though. His hands came up to my pants searching for his prey. Surprisingly he found no hard bulge that the gang usually sported. I knew that Jimmy was in need of some oral gratification. I could still enjoy an orgasm even if it was still dry. I allowed my pants to drop and my flaccid member to be sucked. It began to grow as it became larger than a person my age would usually have. He tried to get as much of it inside himself as possible, the gag reflex he usually had was gone as he felt gentle hands caressing his face and head. He was not being forced to do this and he knew that even when the time came he would be free to move as he chose. I had been enjoying myself through Jimmy's feelings. Time was running out though and decided to have my orgasm now. Shivers from my feet and head started at the same time and led to my cock. I moved back and forth the way Jimmy would want before slowing down. I picked the boy up and kissed him again, the same way as before. Jimmy who had time to recover, now just added to the mess already in his pants. I knew the washroom was now clear and did up my pants and retreated giving Jimmy more room. He reminded me so much of Peter. "Pull down your pants and sit on the toilet Honey. You can use the paper to clean yourself up. Hurry up Sweetie." I looked in the mirror and straightened my clothes. Jimmy cleaned himself but left his pants down at his ankles trying to think of what to do next. He wiped himself then the underwear. Everybody would see the wet spot and know what happened. I came over, stooped and picked up the pants and arranged them the best possible. Then led the boy over to the sink and cleaned his face before giving him a small kiss in the process. After cupping my hands I threw some water on Jimmy's shirt and pants. The walk back to school should dry everything nicely even if it was cold outside. We left the room to see the ladies just seating themselves. Apparently Liz took more consoling than I thought. When everybody was again seated I knew that the worst was over. On a closer inspection I saw that the women and Jimmy were infatuated with me. This was probably a survival trait that held over from the time of our remote ancestors. Another contributing part was the small amount of conditioning I had given them when entering the class for the first time. To break the silence I said, There is enough time to have some Italian ice cream. Would you like to join me in some spumoni?" They all agreed and ate the strange to them ice cream, even in the winter months. As they finished I asked, "My time at your school is short. Many parents may feel uncomfortable about a person that can end a someone's life so easily, attending a school with their children. That is why I am only here for one day." The others stopped to think. They decided to try to try to offset this if they could. Most parents had read the papers and those that didn't would hear of it soon enough from those that did. When ready to leave Joan remembered that a twelve year old boy had brought them to the restaurant. Did he have the money? She brought her purse up trying to think of how much cash she had. I saw and felt her concern and immediately brought out my wallet and put down enough for the meal and a generous tip. The teacher could see that I had more money in my wallet than she would make in six months. She thought I was crazy walking around with that much money. She then she remembered the dead people that tried to take my life. She reconsidered and felt that my money was quite safe. The walk back to school was slightly different. I held both Jimmy's and Liz's hands. Eastern Europeans and Arabs found nothing wrong with two males holding hands and I felt no reason to comply to the social aspects here if they were unreasonable. I chatted to my two companions and the other two ahead of me who were holding hands as well. At least it could be excused with the slippery conditions. We got to school just as the bell rang and all of us went in the main front entrance. Students were not allowed to do this I again read in my new friends. Miss Wu though was not worried. This was one of the entrances she used. The last students to arrive in the class were Rocky and his gang. Rocky stopped abruptly when he saw me. The bully feared a rematch. His eyes travelled to Jimmy in his seat. I just looked at him and pointed across the room to where his seat now was. Rocky was actually glad to be further away now. The rest of the gang looked more for a place to hide. I indicated their old seats close to him. I was getting bored of the simple class and vowed to do something constructive while the class went on. There was still some work done on the teenage psychology book. Reading minds was not enough it was necessary to form interactions to bring the facts to light. I opened my brief case and retrieved the necessary articles. My pen flew across the page laying out text at my usual rate. In a moment I found Jimmy mesmerised by the simple act of putting down characters but at the rate I was doing. Joan found her gaze always drifting over to the enigma in the far corner. She spied Jimmy though, his mouth open in astonishment as he watched me working. Now she saw my arm flying over the page. Within a minute another then another page was filled. What was he doing, she thought? The room quieted as all the students saw what the teacher was seeing. After five or so minutes I could feel the attention on me and looked up putting a smile on my face. My hand still flew over the page while I looked about. When the page was done I stopped and put the finished papers together and into my case. I had disrupted the class by just doing what I usually did but I had gained a bit of data in doing so. Joan cleared her throat and tried to pick up where she had left off in her lecture. The students turned forward again at her voice. I could possibly influence the class to not notice me as I completed the book but this seemed counter-productive now. I got out a clipboard, some unlined loose paper and a pencil. This time I held the clipboard up in one hand to hide my strokes from the rest of the class. An image materialized of Joan cresting a hill on the back of a tiger. She carried a blood drenched sword in one hand and the reins controlling the beast in the other. She was dressed in a thin leather harness that just covered her crotch and breasts. An alien moon hung in the background suspended in a cloudless sky. Joan's features were only moderately enhanced. I prided myself in making the figure as lifelike as possible. The pencil continued laying out shadow and form until the picture appeared to be a photo. This I was sure would get some additional interaction. My work in art had fallen when I had to deal with so many other things. The art I was doing now would not really fit in with the gallery in London but may get the students to think a bit more about their goals. I did others of Liz friends riding war cats and displaying muscle, courage and beauty. Then finally a battle scene where all of them were fighting a group of trolls. A destroyed village of huts held the heroes as they battled a superior number of well armed, slathering trolls. This used up about a half hour. I knew I had enough paper left, so I drew the remainder of the class in a situation that best depicted each of their intimate fantasies. Most boys and a few girls had to have their second most favourite one done. The first was not quite up to open dispersal. I even portrayed Rocky as he would like to be; as a king before an adoring public. Rocky's first few ideas centred around him crushing me, or raping Joan. Jimmy he avoided now in his mind hoping to not even see him. Joan usually walked around the room checking on her student's progress. I could see that she did not trust what she would do when she got close to the new boy in her class. A few minutes before the end of the class she came over to see Jimmy and his work. When finished she noticed me gesturing to her. I presented her with the stack of drawings, with hers on top. She was shocked by the amount of realism. The images of her appeared to stand out from the page, the bust and sword were very prominent. She thought these pieces of art were worthy of an art gallery. As she started to leaf through the rest the bell rang. The students fidgeted but did not leave because they had not been dismissed yet. They looked from one to the other trying to find out what had amazed the teacher so much. She was usually prompt in dismissing them. "These are the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever seen." When she had gone half way through the stack she asked, "What shall I do with these?" "Give them out to their new owners." and to the class, "just don't fold them or smear the lines. It's only pencil." Joan tried to hide hers while giving out the remainder. The first recipients were swamped by others to see what had aroused the teacher so much. The crowd was strangely quiet as they fell under the spell of the quality of the art. It especially hit home because each picture was of what the recipient thought of themselves most, or nearly so. Jimmy was one of the first and he saw that the bottom sheet had folded over and allowed all to see the rendition of a partially covered teacher doing battle. Jimmy seemed to draw strength from his image. No more would he be passive when someone wanted to push him into something he did not want to do. Joan eventually dismissed the class. They left much slower than usual, even Rocky treated his picture very carefully. Except for Rocky and his frightened friends the rest came to thank me for the very moving images. With only my group left I hugged Jimmy and said goodbye. Sue got the same but wanted to stay even more. When only Liz and Joan were left I held one of Liz's hands and one of Joan's. "I promised to talk to you later. Would tomorrow at noon be all right?" "Ok, sounds good to me." "Till then. Good bye Joni." I plucked her address and phone number from her mind in case I ever needed it. Leaving her to wonder how I knew her preferred name. On the way home I said, "I have to go to the airport to get the troupe. Would you like to go with me?" "That sounds great. It must be fun to travel all over the world." "Right now I am travelling all over the world and can't stay here with my new family. Travelling is not all that great. My happiest times were at home, or the home I made and stayed at for a while." I pulled her closer and occasionally kissed her as we walked. Or more correctly how she stumbled even with guidance. "I will phone the air terminal and see when the plane is due in. We might have some time for some fun if you and your mom are up to it." Liz knew much more about sex now. "You want us together?" "That would speed things up but remember it is all dependant on the plane arriving." Mary met us at the door, somewhat worried, because Liz was ten minutes late. Since I was with her she had to be safe enough. We came around the corner hand in hand like lovers she knew us to be. She wished she could have been with me today too. It had been very lonely the last few years. We climbed the front steps and entered the house. I saw Liz and little Sally and Mary. All with long brunette hair on an almond shaped face. To be entirely honest with myself, I would have to admit that I would not have wanted to miss this family for the world even without Mary's special aura. The decision was influenced by the sheer beauty, grace and intelligence the entire family portrayed. I had not looked yet as to why such a person as Mary, had not married or at least dated. "Hello you two. How was your day today?" she asked both of us. "Much better than I thought it would be. I was right about me going back today. You should see the drawing Shawn made of me." Liz opened her binder and displayed the art. I walked around the girl and took Mary in my arms and kissed her like I missed her dearly which was the exact truth. "I need to use the phone. If there is time we can go upstairs together. That is, if you want." "Oh, I want." She looked at the paper her daughter held and said, "This drawing is simply beautiful." "Thank you. When I have such beautiful women to inspire me then the result is easily accomplished." I smiled and turned to the youngest member. "Aren't I going to get a kiss Sally?" I opened my arms to one of the smallest linebackers around. After picking the child up, one hand on her bottom and one behind her shoulder blades. I tried to be slow but the child wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled forcefully. I kissed my newest daughter and felt content. I just held her still making the experience more memorable. When she calmed I looked into her eyes with all the love I could possibly give. ------- Chapter 30 Mary had seen Liz act the same way with her father when she was young. She knew that the girl was enjoying having a father again. She wondered how each of them had got so involved with this young man to react that way. Then she remembered what it had felt like last night. I lowered the child to her feet. Liz had taken my briefcase and rushed upstairs to clean herself in case we had time. I stood still, making sure Sally did not fall, then walked over to Mary. "Are you too busy to give me another kiss too?" I knew that she must be reacting now more to my own aura. Her vagina had been leaking when she thought of me, but had been especially active for the last ten minutes. Would she react like her daughter again? No, she was more mature and could give a kiss like a loving wife, not a sex starved teenager. I put two arms around her and bent her over to nearly a horizontal position. Apart from a few pounds on her feet I supported her entirely. The kiss was slow and sensual. Mary's arms came around me for safety and then for comfort. She started to convulse as I stimulated her pleasure centre. Her feet pushed down hard forcing her pelvis into the air repeatedly. I picked her up and carried her as easily as I would a baby and set her down on the couch in the living room. She no doubt had been waiting all day or all her life for me to get back. Now she would be disoriented for a few more minutes. I took the time to make the phone call and found the flight was late by an hour due to another snowstorm. If I hurried I would have time for my family too. I removed my clothing and placed it on a wooden chair, then removed Mary's. She could not resist even if she wanted to; which she didn't. Liz had come down and I could see that she wanted her mother to be happy, as well as wanting her own turn. If another woman was to get me, it was best that it be her mother. Sally was still not sure what was happening but knew that two of the most important people in her life needed some time together. Mary now knew she was naked in front of me and her children. It didn't matter at all now. She got to her feet and saw how my muscles stood out from the rest, how beautiful she thought my entire body was. Then she looked at my slowly rising cock so thin, so beautiful. I whispered in a sultry voice, "You are very beautiful and I love how you respond to my touch." I stepped forward and clasped her face as I gave the woman a tender kiss. The woman collapsed against me and I was forced to support her weight again. I picked her up quickly and placed her back on the couch. I started licking her nipples. She groaned as she pushed them into my mouth. I moved on top of her pushing her legs apart with mine. She pulled her knees up offering me anything and everything I wanted. I concentrated on my cock and inserted it into the tight hole. I was used to controlling its size now. Lusa had helped me learn many things about my body and hers. Other than last night, it was a long time since Mary had anything in her, other than her finger. I made short strokes that lengthened as she loosened up. Mary had easily orgasmed at my touch. I had to actually suppress the pleasure centre now because of the added contact I gave. This had the effect of putting more weight on the relief valve of her pressure cooker emotions. My cock worked in her and my power extended into her cervix. I deadened any discomfort and used my mind to open the other door. Phantom fingers entered and went beyond. Short strokes at this depth eventually brought our pelvis' together. I ground my hairless crotch on hers, stimulating her clit to a point where she would have long ago lost it. I forced more blood into my cock as I stroked. It grew wider and wider. When I thought I was big enough I started moving faster. Mary had never felt so full before. Her canal was at the point where any more stretching would start to cause her pain. She tried to get me deeper, my pelvis was now slamming into hers. She thrust up, almost in a panic. She would give anything to keep me or even part of me. She instinctively tried to get sperm into her womb to have my child. After she came to that decision she did her best to consciously milk the sperm from me. She knew that I would not even make any sperm yet but instinct still ruled. She felt that I seemed to know all the buttons to press and how hard to push. I bent forward taking her nipple into my mouth. Small bites made her pelvis raise but I controlled the powerful strokes and did not hurt her. She was now higher than she had ever been before. In fact she was way beyond even that point and still no orgasm; she was desperate; she began to wonder what was wrong? She needed the orgasm and to gain my seed. I released her nipple and sat back, my arms bulged, swept her legs up and placed them on my shoulders. I had hardly missed a stroke. My pelvis worked at a furious rate. It was good that Mary was shedding so much lubricant. She groaned and howled like a bitch in heat. The precipice was so close and she could not seem to reach it. I did not want to hurt the woman that meant so much to me. I slowly released the hold on her mind. Mary now bucked with maniacal strength, almost throwing me out and off of her. She screamed at the top of her lungs. It was good the radio was so loud and the house closed up. Her bladder let go with the contractions and I could feel her warm pee wetting me. The contractions around my cock would set any other off but I wanted this woman to have the best. I continued pumping and Mary continued having orgasm after orgasm after orgasm. I looked into her mind and only saw the animal. A clawing, biting, even vicious animal. I had not gone to this stage even with Lusa, as I slowed down, trying to bring my Mary back to me. Liz and especially Sally were worried what had happened to their mother. Was the kindest of men torturing their mother they wondered. Mary was still thrashing but the throws were getting weaker as she came back. I could fake an orgasm but never needed to. I continued to please this woman for as long as possible. When the time was right I sped up and had my dry contractions. This caused Mary to have another series as she felt the tremors. The last was already too much and exhausted, her mind fell away from consciousness. I turned my head and asked Sally to get lots of towels and Liz for a basin of warm water. When Sally returned I placed one under Mary's butt and pulled my now deflated dick out. A stream ran out of her spendings. When Liz came back I washed my woman with a lot of love. "What is wrong with mommy?" asked the worried two year old. "She had too much fun. She couldn't hold it all in and went a little crazy but a good kind of crazy. She is so tired now that she is sleeping." I got off the couch and used a clean towel to cover Mary. Sally's eyes followed my cock as it moved with my steps. "Is she going to have a baby now? Will you still be our daddy?" "Your mommy is not having another baby now. I am not old enough to have any seed to put into her. I always want to be your daddy though." Sally wanted me around and said, "Oh, yes." Liz was in the background with a towel around her and felt both pleased and sad. "Go upstairs to your mother's bed love." Then in the way of children, Sally pointed and asked, "How come it's not big now?" Pointing at my cock. "It has finished making your mother and me happy and is resting." "Can you do it to me too?" "I want you to be my daughter and me to be your daddy. If I am your daddy then I can't do that to you ever." She was now a bit sad at not getting the same kind of treatment the rest of the family got but I pulled her to me and gave her a kiss but one a father would give. "Let's go upstairs and make your sister happy." I put Sally on top of Mary then carried them upstairs with me. Liz was now worried about her little sister coming. What was I going to do? She had forgotten that the girl had seen everything last night. I put Mary on the bed and placed Sally on a soft chair, out of harm's way. Holding Liz I said, "I am going to kiss you again Sweetie but this time you will not get the good feelings right away. You will want them very bad and when they do come you will think you have gone to heaven." "I already feel like that when you kiss me," she retorted. I placed Liz on the bed beside her mother and got onto my stomach and manoeuvred till I had her knees to her shoulders and my lips over her delicate opening. I kissed the inside of her legs first to get her prepared and suppressed her brain as I continued. The girl started to squirm trying to get the spot she instinctively knew was my goal under his mouth. I licked the girl as she moaned just like her mother. I tasted pee and knew that she was very anxious but knew this was one of the costs of making the girl happy. My tongue wormed a short way into her vagina before working its way to the bump hidden in the folds. Back and forth it went, as the girl went higher. I released my hold on Liz and like her mother threw me about. Her scream even in the same octave but only little quieter. The girl like her mother was a squirter and peed a bit when she got this excited. I continued my ministrations letting the drops flow onto the towel. Mary had recovered and watched her daughter being pleasured and was aroused herself again. She thought that I gave everything and got nothing in return. This time I would be on the receiving end. She got off the bed and kneeled on the floor on the other side of me. She kissed my back and neck but stayed away from what she thought were my voodoo lips and their electricity, it was my turn not hers. Her hands found my cock dormant and sticky on my leg. She got on her back and then under me. She kissed her way down my abdomen until she was able to get me into her mouth. Her hand stroked my legs and torso as she moved her tongue back and forth. Liz moved her eyes and saw her mother working under me. She was too wrapped up to think of anything for she had not gotten over her own orgasm yet. My mouth had gone back to work on Liz. My tongue plunged into her opening as I manipulated her clit with my power. Again she orgasmed but I continued through it. Before she recovered she felt another one coming as I attacked her clit. My tongue did go faster than anyone else could possibly go. Her mother was doing a similar thing to me at the moment. Liz orgasmed again but not as strongly as the last. I concentrated on the feeling in my own body and thrust into Mary's mouth as if I were giving her my seed. When I turned over Mary smiled as she returned to my cock. She tried to give as much pleasure as I had given her. My hand came up to caress her hair as her head bobbed. Liz and Sally watched their mother as she gave pleasure back to their man. Sally wanted to try it too and advanced on me. She couldn't get close enough. Strong hands picked her up and placed her over my upper body to keep her from doing what the rest of her family were doing. "No sweetheart. This is not for daughters." I called Liz to take her sister away. Mary continued but was getting out of breath. I relented again and allowed my own orgasm to pass and my whole body shook from sheer joy. We all tried to fit in the tub, but failed, so I just cleaned each of them one at a time. I said after a few minutes, "I think that within five minutes Sue will phone to find out all the gossip she can. Hurry up or you will keep her waiting." Sure enough, as the toilet flushed the phone rang. Mary picked it up and while looking at me, said, "Hello Sue. How are you?" not quite sure if it was even the person she thought. I put Sally down and told her to help her mother prepare supper. I told Liz about the phone call and said that I was going out to get the performers. Liz wanted to come but wanted to talk too. "You should talk to Sue now and get some things off your chest. Perhaps you can invite her over sometime," this got a smile at least. A taxi got me to the airport on time and I still had to wait an additional hour for the plane to land. It took longer for my friends to come out the door from the baggage area with their luggage in hand. We hugged and in rapid fire Bantu I told them I was not in a hotel but at a private home. This raised a few eyebrows but they kept their suppositions for themselves later. They could see things changing, as it always did about me. We took a taxi again and went to the hotel. I got them settled in then I went alone to my next contact so that I could inspect our theatre. Nothing much changes in this matter and I luckily only had to call for some plywood and paint so that I could produce the props we would need. Their supplies were on hand and I could start at any time I wanted. After phoning Mary that I would be a little late working on making the props, I started my work. Plywood was sheared with my force into perfect pieces and then nailed together. Three pieces at a time were painted by phantom hands and all I had to do was let them dry at the end. While this was happening I cleaned up the scraps then phoned Rachael. She had already phoned herself but Mary said that I was working. I said, "I love you Rachael. I just wish you could be with me more but that will not happen till after you graduate. After that time we only will only have our duties to keep us apart." We talked more and I said that I may have a surprise for her the day after tomorrow but said nothing about it. Sofia was almost the same but I said that it would be the day after Rachael's surprise. I again rode home in a taxi and found the roads slush covered as the temperature went a bit above freezing even as the day was ending. The meal was good with Mary making one of her specialities. When we finished I wanted to go out shopping. Very few places were open late but we got out as a family. An upscale clothing store caught my glance, as we went in the saleswoman turned up her nose at us and a younger salesgirl came out because she was ordered to. She was polite enough though and through her I ordered dresses, coats and undergarments for my family. Sofia and Rachael would be pleased when they found out. As Mary read the price tags she became very nervous for me. The coat she received couldn't even be paid for with two weeks pay never mind all the other things. The saleswoman came over after seeing how much of a pile we had and wanted to take over. The clerk got part of their pay from commissions. When I threatened to leave if the present lady did not get credit, the older woman relented and left to smoke a cigarette along the back wall. As I was about to pay Mary said, "Thank you Sir Shawn. I know we will be able to see the performance that you and your countrymen are putting on." She smiled at me when she said this to just playfully tell the salesgirl who I was. The girl stopped as if struck. She looked at me then said, "Are you the diplomat that saved the girl and killed all those bad people?" "I would like to be known for the first two but yes that was me." "Could I have your autograph, Sir Shawn?" I took a piece of paper and asked, "What is your name?" "Sherry, Sherry Taylor." I wrote a quick note to her about being a good salesgirl and thanked her for her kind and conscientious service. "Take that next time you go for a raise or a new job." "Oh thank you sir. I will always remember this." On the way out the store I said to Mary, "You like flaunting your new husband don't you woman?" She felt bad about it after she first did it but truthfully said, "Yes." Our next place to go was the food market and I enjoyed this simple joy as Mary and Liz pushed carriages and I carried Sally as we walked up and down the aisles. Lots of the things they would normally bypass now went into the carriages. I still stayed away from junk food and was conscientious of their health as well as mine. On the way home I quizzed Liz about her phone call but let her know she should answer as she pleased. She did say that Sue and a few other girls mentioned that she was told that she was the luckiest girl to ever be born. They wanted to know about the kiss I gave her and how it felt to be kissed by a man. She said, "They asked if you put your hand on my breast. I told them you were a gentleman and wouldn't tease me like that. They asked if I had seen your bare chest. They had seen your shirt and knew you were very strong." She looked up eagerly and asked, "Can you go with me to school tomorrow?" "I have work to do at the theatre to get it ready. There are many people I have to talk to and then I have to get the troupe to the theatre to see what they think. I can walk you to school and when the bell rings you will have to enter alone. I doubt if you will be lonely. There will be thousands of questions about you, me, and us which are all going to be asked." We got home early enough to have my girls put on some of their new clothing. At the store I bought by eye as I would know what would fit and what wouldn't. Sally was brought out in Mary's arms with a red velour dress and matching socks and shoes. Mary was wearing skin and I complemented her on the good choice. Liz wore her underwear first but only tops or bottoms to keep me interested, as if I needed it. She was still too sore for me to enter her again but even knowing this she wanted to use her newfound talents on me. When the fashion parade was ended I kissed the two older ones and took Sally for her bath. This time I did a quicker job but took extra time to get her hair just right as I told her a story that I just made up about a tiny princess and an obstinate mule. Twenty minutes later she was asleep and I gave her a kiss and turned off the lights. Mary and Liz were doing homework. Liz would pass easily but studying was a good habit to keep. Later I gave her a bath too and took her to bed. I kissed her all over and she had a series of good orgasms from my lips and fingers before succumbing and falling asleep. Mary was more than ready for her bath and we started earlier in the love making in the tub. I treated her like the rest and brushed and dried her hair then made languid love to her. Five minutes after her last orgasm she too went to sleep. I stayed with her for three hours to sleep and to snuggle to her warm body. Later I got up to work on some of my projects. I had a good start to the book on teenagers but needed an older sampling to complete it. Around five I finished some exercises and went for a shower. Half way through Liz came in and used the toilet. "Shawn can I come in there with you?" "That would be great but you need your sleep. You wake up grumpy if you don't get enough and can't function very well at school. Please go back to bed. I like you bright and cheerful." Liz complied and wiped herself better now than she used to do because of me. I phoned Ethiopia when I got out and Benyam picked up the phone and said, "Hello father," in English. "Hello son. How are you and the rest of the family doing? I have missed all of you very much." "I missed you a lot too. I do nothing but learn what our teachers say and it is for all day long. I only went to school for a few hours a day before. This work is very hard." "Benyam, I have a place for you as the president of an important company. You would be in charge of many people. If you fail they will loose their jobs but if you do well everybody will think you are a very good citizen. I want to be even more proud of you than I am now by taking some of the burden from me. So it is important that you learn everything you are taught." "I will try father. When are you coming home? Mother and Brihan are in their offices, do you want to talk to them now?" "Not right now. I like talking to my son too. Are you on the football team yet?" "It just started a few weeks ago. Brihan gave some men a lot of money and they bought soccer balls and uniforms for the players. You should see all the colours. There are now almost twenty teams and the Emperor has come to the first game and he was cheered by the crowd. It was not my team that played, but it was fun to watch." "That's good. Next year we will spend more money in other cities for more teams. Who knows, maybe we will be able to defeat Brazil or Italy and win the World Cup when you get older." "Mother is coming now father. I will give the phone to her," he said in very good English for his age. The phone changed hands and I said in English, "How is one of the most beautiful women in the world doing today?" "Oh husband, it is so lonely without you. The children all want their father home and your wives want you too." "I miss you all very much. I am now thinking of hiring somebody else to do this job for me and I will have more time for my family. Did my package come for you and Brihan?" "Yes it did and I was shocked when I opened it. Those things are no substitute for you." "Did you use them all my wife?" "Well, yes. I couldn't have Brihan hurt with something like that. She does like the little one in her bum a lot though. Can you bring some more. I think I can sell these to the women here and make a good profit for us." "I will do one better. We can start to make them there and put little motors in them so that they vibrate." "What will that do?" "I will make one and use it on you one day. I want you to remember the question you just asked and answer it yourself then." "Yes husband. When are you coming home?" "If I find a person to do my work here, I can be home in four weeks. They may need a little training though and that may take a week longer." We talked a while longer and gave my number here in Canada. I said the same things to Brihan and then a few moments with the younger children. When I got off the line I saw that I had talked for over an hour and felt that I had not said enough or heard enough. I wanted some tea and decided to start breakfast but the phone was attached to the wall and the cord was short. It would be useful for the phone to be hooked up to a radio so that I could talk as I moved. A substitute could be a telephone with a large microphone that would pick up conversations further away and a larger speaker to transmit the sounds to me as I worked. The idea was not bad but it was illegal to attach anything to the phone lines and would have to go through a regular handset. With the water warming up I phoned Britain and talked for a while with Sharon. As usual she wanted more artwork to sell and a little guidance in some business. A company that I wanted to sell had unexpectedly increased in value do to a surge in sales. It would be sold anyway because its long term prospects were quite dismal. If she had any more problems she knew where to contact me. This brought a new idea to me about keeping in touch. Sputnik had just been launched and would start a race for space. If I could find a way of capturing energy or producing it in a nuclear fashion I would have the means of powering a transmitter that would allow me to communicate over a wide area. If I put up a few satellites, then I could cover the entire planet and sell access to it like the phone companies did now. Launching would be easy if it were done in modules and then assembled in orbit. This brought a pleasant shiver to me as I contemplated the possibility of being the first man in space. The size and weight would also be a complication. Transistors were very new and smaller than the standard tube but they would have to be much smaller to not take more energy than my power sources could supply. This would be a new industry and possibly one that would be very profitable, maybe even make a few million pounds a year. Next I got in touch with Paris and talked to Monique for a while. The girls were all healthy and fairly happy they said even if I wasn't around to take care of them. The companies there and in Germany were doing well with very little interference from her at headquarters. While talking I used my mind to move the boiling water off the stove and make tea from a distance. Searching through the pantry I started to make some things that we had purchased last night. My girls here were not used to a rich breakfast and I wanted to give them a taste before I had to go. Monique told me that it appeared that some of the girls in Paris were still not settling with one man each. After what I did to please them it was hard to find a substitute. We then talked about some further acquisitions when Sally came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes and wanting up. She had wet herself and this is what had got her up. Her eyes watched the things flying about in the kitchen but was not too concerned because she had seen her mother and the two other girls float the same way. I got off the phone and picked the girl up in my arms. Her urine was already leaking through my robe. I took things off the burners and headed for the shower again. Her underwear went into the sink with her pyjamas and I took us into the shower and rinsed us both off below the neck. When we got out I patted her dry and got her dressed in some of the new clothes. She looked very cute and I knew one day she would break many boys' hearts. I went back and rinsed out the soggy clothes and hung them up to be washed later and took my little girl downstairs to finish cooking. She cuddled close and asked, "How do they fly daddy?" This made me feel very good and after a little squeeze to show my appreciation I said, "I can do magic. Want to see more?" With an eager smile and a nod of her head the fridge opened and a bottle of milk came out. The cupboard opened and a small glass came out and milk was poured into it. The now half filled glass floated to her but easily evaded her grasp when she tried to get it. I placed it in my hand and brought it to her and she took it and drank a few ounces right away. The house was dry with the cold dry air outside and not that much water put back into it when it warmed up. I made some breakfast for us and we played at feeding one another. I heard the alarm clock upstairs and knew the rest of the family would be up soon. At the right time I started to cook more and had it hot on the plate as they came into the kitchen. "Good morning wife. Sit down and eat," I said holding on to Sally and kissing Mary as she sat down. "I like the sound of 'wife' when it comes from you. I wondered where she was until I saw her clothes drying. Do you do windows and vacuum too?" "I do what ever it takes to make the family work. I like doing things that are hard for everybody else but really enjoy the simple joys of just being with family. I have been on the phone a lot this morning and everybody else is doing well. Benyam is in on a soccer team now and seems to enjoy it. He grouses about his schoolwork but still does it. The little ones are doing well too but they are still fairly young. Lakech, the six year old I told you about is taking after her mother and working hard. This is a very different situation in Ethiopia for the women are held back there even more than in the rest of the world." "Meseret is just half of Sally's age and not able to accept too much. I have high hopes for her because I may have got her early enough to accept what I am doing, over and above the cultural attitudes of the rest of their country folk." "How many are actually in our family Shawn?" "Two wives and four children in Ethiopia. Hopefully four wives here with one child. Paris and London may turn out to be none as I am trying to get them married off. What worries me a bit is the survivors of the plane hijacking. Some of them are having a difficult time adjusting but they are still in better shape than the twelve women and their fourteen children that were repatriated. They had to readjust even more when getting back with their families. Some of them may not be able to jump the gap so I may have to take them back later." "That is an awful lot of family Shawn. How will the children or your wives ever get enough of your time?" "Well the children are raised in a communal atmosphere and there is absolutely no shortage of love. The wives sometimes have fun with each other when I am not around but not everybody is that way. There are still a lot of serious activities done besides sex. I am running a large enterprise and everybody has a job in life." "Do you have any family now in Rhodesia?" "Oh a very large one but not the same as here. They are all older children that I am raising with the help of some adults. I hope they will be future leaders of their country. The soccer teams in Ethiopia will be educated too in my plans and they will form a responsible form of leadership as well. You had each better eat as your food is getting cold." Before Mary and Sally were done, Liz came down in one of her new outfits. She stopped and pirouetted before giving me a kiss that definitely promised more in the future. "How do I look Shawn?" "Good enough to eat." Liz blushed and had hung her head because that was what she wanted to happen to her. "Sit down and eat sweetheart. It's still warm." I phoned for a taxi to meet me at the sitters in forty minutes and kissed Mary before leaving. She would go to work and I would drop Sally off at the sitters after taking Liz to school. Liz held my hand and my other held Sally to my chest as we walked along the snow covered sidewalk. "Shawn this feels so good to me. It is like you are my husband and Sally is our child. If only this could be the way it would be." "It can be like this but there will be sister/wives to share with and all the other children too. In the future some will be ours. If you decide to be my wife, when the time for the decision comes, I would like you to think more about our family and what you could contribute. That is in addition to your job with the company I will form in British Columbia." "I want to be your wife now Shawn." "The offer won't start till after you graduate high school. More than enough time to think about what you are getting into. Most girls your age hardly date yet and will only have thoughts of a conventional marriage after high school or possibly university. Your fate may be much different and the thoughts of having a home, husband and children of your own may be too much to only share a small amount of a much larger family." "I don't care, I want you." "Well we will leave it that way until you either think differently or can't come to a decision." As we came close to the school we were joined by other students. Our conversation had to change and Liz sort of preened herself and held onto my arm very possessively with two of hers. She showed them her new clothes and tried to appear as a sophisticated woman. I helped her by looking like a dutiful and quiet husband walking with his family. When we got closer to the school Jimmy came running up to us but stopped because of all the girls around me. He came close and I released Liz for a second and hugged him one handedly. "How are you doing today Jimmy?" "A lot better than before. Can you come to class with us again?" "Sorry, I have a pretty full day scheduled and I know you will have no trouble with the gang. Walk up to them before class and see how they cringe away from you now. But I don't want to see you being a bully now. I don't like those kinds of people." "Ok." I released him and took Liz's hand back and continued our walk. Sue came running up next and pushed beside me on Sally's side and held my arm as if she too owned a piece of me. It didn't matter too much because I would not be here long and just kept walking. Jimmy was both jealous and sad because he too wanted to hold on to me. We stayed and talked till the bell rang and I gave Liz a kiss and said goodbye to the rest. I was quite sure the kiss this time would be the talk of the school at recess. I talked to Sally until I handed her over to the sitter. She didn't want to leave me but after a little talk she finally let go. At the door she said, "Ok, bye bye daddy." I had taken off her coat and boots and at the door said, "Goodbye Sally. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow morning. Your mommy or Liz will pick you up then." Whoever came to get Sally would surely get the third degree about me being called daddy but this was unavoidable because I would not put all those restrictions on the child. The taxi pulled up outside and I said goodbye to the woman taking care of Sally and rode downtown to an art supply store. I was early and walked around in the cold windy streets till the store opened. I walked in and started to collect some prepared canvasses, an easel, paints and other supplies that I would need. The proprietor came up to me and said, "Son this equipment you chose, cost a lot of money." "Thank you sir but I have been painting for years. My name is Shawn Boz. I just need my painting fix and I happen to be here to get it. Would you show me your frames please?" "Are you Sir Shawn the painter?" "Guilty sir." "Oh great. I finally get someone really great in my store and I don't have a camera." "I can make a deal with you. My paintings and even my drawings run many thousands of pounds each. You supply all the materials I want this time, deliver them to an address in this city and I give you a signed painting of your establishment to do with as you please." "It's a deal Sir Shawn. What frames would you like? They are in the back room. They don't sell that well here." I picked out five and another prepared canvas. I set up an easel and put one of the canvases down. I took a clean pallet and applied the paints I wanted and put them to the canvas. The man stood back with his mouth open as the store quickly took shape. I made sure the sign overhead was more tasteful than the one he had and showed the owner dutifully shovelling the walk. I put as much detail as possible into the work as I could. His face was easily discernable and showing the effort used shovelling. In twenty five minutes I was done and gave him back one frame and picked up another pallet and easel from the pile on the wall. "Are you satisfied with our deal sir?" "Oh more than satisfied. Thank you very much Sir Shawn." "Here is the address I am staying at this week. It is just a small private home," I said as I handed the happy man the note. I walked out happy to have made another man happy as well as getting a good business deal for me. A branch of The Bank of Commerce was about seven blocks away and I made it to the door as it opened at ten o'clock and walked to a counter and asked an employee, "May I speak to the manager for a moment please." She looked at me and knew the man was having his coffee. "He is a busy man. If you want to start out an account you can get in line for one of the tellers." "Ma'am I dislike adults seeing me as an insignificant person because of my age and stature. Do you believe it may be possible that I have a valid transaction here that requires the auspices of the manager of this branch? Perhaps I should start out my own bank. I have enough businesses already to warrant it. For the last time will you get the manager for me even if he hasn't finished his morning coffee?" "I'll get him," she said in a shocked voice and hurried off. A heavy set man came out of the office followed by the woman and said, "What can I do for you young man?" "I ran out of cash, I would like ten thousand dollars please. My name is Sir Shawn Boz and I believe my government and my companies deal with your bank when in your country." "Ten thousand!" The man knew this was a lot of money. You could buy an average house only a fraction of that kind of cash. "What did you say your name was?" "I am the cultural attaché from the Federated Republic of Rhodesia. I believe I transferred in excess of two million dollars from my own accounts to your bank three weeks ago. Why am I talking personal money matters here and not in your office sir?" To say the man was shocked was an understatement. He opened his door and I sat in the guest's chair. I reached into the breast pocket of my suit and took out my identification. I handed it to him and waited for him to peruse the documents. "I suggest you call the main branch and see about getting this transaction authorized." The man left to use another phone and came back in ten minutes and said, "I am sorry for the way you have been treated Sir Shawn. If you come here at any time in the future you will be much better treated. I will also instruct the tellers to treat everybody regardless of age, alike." "That is fine. Most fully grown people see children as non-entities and I object to that. Will you bring the documentation and I will sign it and I can be on my way. I trust you have large denomination bills? My wallet is only so big." "You want to carry around money like that?" "I have a reputation for getting angry at people trying to take things from me. A thief would only try it once." He gulped a bit and said, "I will get the papers for you and all our larger bills." I signed the papers and was given my own papers back. A small stack of money was there now. Four one thousand dollar bills and the rest in hundreds. This was the best he could do. I thanked the man and shook his hand and left. I took a taxi to Rachael's school. I had just asked to see the principal without giving my name. I stood beside some hard chairs with two unruly students awaiting judgement. They looked at me dressed in a suit and top coat that cost more than they could guess and wondered where I fit into this. I refused to sit because my feet would not reach the floor making me look more undignified than I should be. I got in ahead of the students thankfully and the nervous principal asked, "What can I do for you young man?" "My name is Shawn Boz. I have been doing some work in your country and I am now trying to mix a little work with more work." "You're Sir Shawn Boz? We have certainly heard of you." He stood up and walked around his desk and shook my hand. "It certainly is a pleasure to meet you sir. What is it that you would like?" "I am writing another book and this one is about teenage problems and foibles. I need to be with a few of your students to observe the way they act. I happen to be free tomorrow morning. I would like to teach an Art class, Math, Music and Physical Education. For the last class, I want to teach just the girls. I understand they are segregated here as they are in most schools. Is there a way you can accommodate me?" "The papers say that you taught at the university level in Britain. Is that true?" "Advanced mathematics and physics were taught as well as medicine. Physical Education was just for fun when I filled in. I haven't had many unruly students because they were advanced students or grad students. I also did a bit at the University or Rhodesia in Salisbury. The same one my mother taught at." "We can accommodate you. Your art is well known to us and I would be happy to see what you can accomplish." "I want to do some work in oils. If the teacher has enough canvases then I can do a little with them. If there isn't enough then that is fine too." "I will check, let me make a phone call." "Before you do I would like to have the class of 13A for my girl's gym class. I happen to know Rachael very well. She was on the flight to Ethiopia that I was on earlier in the year. I would also like to have standard classes not ones made up of your best students. I need variety and spontaneity not just compliance." "I will check on that too." "Please do not mention my name ahead of time because it alters the way the students act and also spoils the surprise I have planned." I heard the phone calls as he disrupted classes a bit to tell teachers that there was a special teacher coming for the first, second, third or fourth class depending on where the individual teachers placed. "You are on, Sir Shawn. The home room teacher will do attendance and when the classes actually begin you can take over." "Thank you very much. The teacher may sit in on the class and I may even ask him or her to participate if it will benefit the class. On my word I will not try to embarrass any of them." "I hope not. Is there a chance others can sit in?" "Only if you have closed circuit television or two way mirrors, I am afraid. The students react much differently if you are there." "Is there anything else you require Sir Shawn?" "I am Shawn, please. I cannot think of anything more. I will be making similar arrangements at another high school the day after tomorrow with different classes. Probably Chemistry, Theatre, Home Economics and Auto will be my goals." "You asked for a music class. Have you taught this subject too... Shawn?" "If you turn the radio on a popular station you will probably listen to two or three of my works in a two hour period. Singing and playing instruments are good but very time consuming. At the moment you must know I am heading our small musical troupe from Rhodesia. Tonight is our first performance in your city. We have three more days then it is off to Vancouver then back to Montréal." "That's amazing. You seem proficient in just about everything. I have heard about the performances in the paper and found the tickets sold out already and nobody here has seen the show. Is there any chance of getting some tickets?" "I will try to get some tickets but I cannot promise anything. I had planned on giving the students some too but I'm not sure if they are even available. The other school would want the same in any case." "I think if you did, you would have a very happy faculty." "Well, I have one more school to attend to and I will see you tomorrow morning sir," I said as I shook hands with the man. The three people waiting the principal had grown to four however they would probably get an easy time of it since he was now in such a good mood. The next school was much the same except I had to wait a half hour because of a meeting. In the mean time I struck up a conversation with a large student that didn't see the necessity of learning math because he would never use it after graduating. At the moment he was cooling his heels because he disrupted math class one time too many. "Hi Larry. Having trouble in math class again?" "How the hell you know my name twerp?" His voice denoting his less than simmering anger. "The book that you carry has your name on the edge and it looks like it had gone through the war. The writing tells me that you don't like math in the least. It is too bad you are so wrong." "How the hell could you know? You don't look old enough to even go to this school." "You are right I am young but I am old enough to use math all the time to my betterment. I am a businessman that uses math to make money all the time. You can graph the way a company or a segment of society prospers over time. When it is low you buy shares and when they get high you sell. Next, if you understand math you can keep the government from taking more than it's entitled to in taxes and other charges." "How would you know kid? Do you have a paper route?" The young man laughed. I looked at him seriously and he stopped abruptly. "I own a publishing house and you have probably seen some of the books I wrote." "Ya, your parents own the place and you get to play in it." "I write the books Larry. My parents are no longer alive and I run the business at a good profit. That is something that the companies here in Canada can't quite seem to manage." I pulled out my wallet and took out the money I just got from the bank and some smaller change. "These here are thousand dollar bills Larry, not Monopoly money. The rest is mostly hundreds. "I smell lubricants from your skin, if you run a garage will you have somebody add up the customer's bill for you? I predict that automobiles will improve a lot in the coming years but soon they will be tied together with controls that you cannot understand. You will need every bit of your mathematical ability to keep the business you will probably have by then." The young man just stared at me then after a few minutes he asked, "How did you know that?" "You are the type of guy that gets out and does things. You are angry at the world for keeping you back. The only way you can do as you please is to own your own business. You will work as you do now out of your parents' garage but soon the restrictions will make you open your own venture. You will do a fair business for twenty years but after that you will start to suffer and you will rely on your children to run the business or have to sell it. Things will be just too complicated. Stay in school Larry and get the best education you can get. Look at your schoolwork as a problem with an automobile and work at it the same way. Study math the same way you study the repair manuals and you will do great." Larry calmed down a bit and listen more to my words and asked questions about the trade he wanted to follow. I told him the things that were probably coming in the future. I ended with a small box that had literally millions of transistors that would control every function of the car. The same way the phone companies wanted a similar device to control their traffic. At this time the principal had come back and the woman behind the counter said that I could go in. I closed the door, shook the man's hand and told him my name. He too was familiar with it and quite excited to meet me. My requests were laid out and he accepted the conditions easily. He too was hoping to see my technique but I told him the book would explain some of the things I was going to do. "Toronto is a place I will be coming back to. If you want, I can tell you when I am available and I can put on a presentation of some of my techniques. You will have to see about getting a large enough auditorium and to supply any and everything the teachers will need. This may entail documents that you will have to mimeograph. These I can send by mail with enough time for you to get them printed. Is that suitable?" I continued with some thoughts on Larry sitting outside our door. "Sir, may I suggest that you give Larry the job of calculating the wear on a given tire over time. And then have him use his car to find how efficient it is at different speeds and graph it out. He sees math as something that is not easily understood and useless for day to day work. This would of course be done on his own time after school and have to be handed in within two weeks. I imagine his shop teacher the day after tomorrow can show him how to do this." "That is amazing, I was thinking of expelling him this time. Perhaps your way will work and we can save the boy." I took the taxi downtown and met the troupe. They asked a few questions and I gave them the phone numbers that they might need. I also gave them some money for whatever they wanted. They usually saved it because there was little they could carry with them and even less that they needed for almost everything was supplied. "Remember, there is another party tonight and this time we will also have members of the black community there. I believe that there will be a lot of theatre people there too. If I don't miss my bet they will try to cut all of your work up out of jealousy." I got lots of laughs at this because it invariably happened to one degree or another. We went to the theatre later and practised. I worked with the scenery and other props we needed. When the manager came I was only able to buy tickets for the last night because most of the others were sold out already. Eventually we had something to eat and prepared for the audience. The performance itself was good and the audience found it well worth the money they spent. The party after was the usual kind and I mixed with the other guests hoping to find a lead to a person to replace me. I got names and attributes for hundreds of people. Some were long dead and others not able to do the work anymore. There were some though that looked possible. Another notable here was planning a similar party for Thursday and she asked if it would attend. "I would be happy to attend. Is it possible that you invite a few more people I would like to meet?" "Sure, give me their names." I gave the names and the she grinned because they were people she knew of and approved of having at her party. I got home late and after a quick shower slipped into bed with Mary and snuggled close to her back. She awoke and turned on her back. "It may be more comfortable for you on top... husband," she said tentatively, worried that she was being too forward. "Mary, I love you. Not for the moment but for the rest of my life. I come to my decisions quickly and you haven't really understood that yet." She kissed me while using one hand to caress my cheek. "I still don't see what you see in me. I am an old woman to you." "I see things that others can't see. You will have my children and make a great business woman. Our family will be much better off with you. Now spread your legs and I will practice making babies." She did move a lot and her muffled screams did not wake the others. Later we slid into a sound sleep until I had to get up for my day back as a teacher. During breakfast I said, "Mary, you will have to take Sally to the sitter, and take Liz to school. Today I have to go to teach at Rachael's school. Tomorrow it will be at Sofia's. Neither know that I am going so it should be a great surprise." Mary told me of the art supplies coming and then about a few things about her job. It appeared that her employer now saw her leaving and wanted to pay her more if she would stay. We both laughed at this and I kissed them all and left in a taxi. The main office to the school was not too busy. I put down my gym bag and watched the students as they got things straightened out. I got the list from the tight lipped principal and checked what classes I would be getting and where in the building they were. The teachers that I was going to substitute for, first of all wanted to come in and meet me. We talked quietly in a corner while the rest of the office glanced at us trying to find out what was happening. Art was my first class and I had an easy time through the halls because most students had first period in their home rooms. I opened the door to the large room cluttered with art supplies. The teacher, Mrs. Genkins waved me forward and said, "Class, this gentleman is Mr. Boz. He is an acclaimed artist and will teach this class today." She turned to me and said, "They are all yours." "Thank you Mrs. Genkins and hello to all of you. I work in almost all types of media but like oils the most. They..." I went on about some of the things that could be done in words and used the chalkboard to list my points so they could be remembered. Mrs. Genkins got out the supplies and I explained the way that oils were usually put down and the small improvements that I did that helped me. The class was typical students and did not recognize me, other than from what their teacher had just said. When the students started to do some of the strokes, I helped them in holding the brush right and to the best posture to take when doing a portrait. They were making fair progress and as they worked for the last ten minutes I told them about all the troubles they would have in dealing with gallery owners and with the general public that would be buying their works. There was nobody here with the talent for making it to the big time but could find jobs in the field in advertising, interior design, animation and design of marketing paraphernalia. On the board I listed the companies that they should look into for employment along with their names and what each of the companies did. On the way out I shook each of their hands. The larger males were a little uncomfortable treating me like an adult but managed well enough. This time I shook hands with the teacher and had to run to the next class. The halls were busy this time and I was pushed a little but all unintentionally. The music room was entered as the students were sitting down in their seats. I was watched like a hawk because they thought I was too young to learn with them in this advanced class. When I went to the front the teacher shook my hand and told the class that I was the teacher for this period and then went to the back to observe. "Hello everybody, my name is Shawn. As your teacher said, I will conduct this one class only. I look young because I am. I also wrote many songs that you listen to when you relax." I listed twelve songs and a few that they were just starting to hear from Québec. "Part of what I am going to teach today is psychology." There was one groan but the rest were attentive. "The human mind likes certain rhythms that mesh with our culture." I took up various instruments and played short pieces to dramatize each of the points I wanted to get across. Questions started and I answered them as deeply as I thought they could understand but made their minds work to see some of the extra points I was inferring. I took out a chalk and quickly marked notes on the blackboard then added lyrics that should be a popular song when it got out. I told them this and went into detail why this should be so. I asked for some music paper and wrote out the rest of the song as I completed the class. "This song now belongs to this school. Practice it well and get your vocalists to try out. The four that work the best together will sing and you will play. I will get a radio station to tape your music and play it on the air. You will then see how good your are and how accurate I am in what I just taught you. A record company will cut a single and it will go to the rest of the world a week after that. In a month you will be able to make money for you or your school." ------- Chapter 31 The bell rang and the students just stayed there. I handed the music to the teacher and fled the class before the first student got his wits back and decided to leave. Math was different. The students taking this were here because they had to do the compulsory subject but most were not against the subject like Larry in the other school. After my introduction as Shawn I went into lecture mode and told them about what mathematics was really about in engineering, physics, chemistry and all forms of human activity. I tried to explain about Einstein's theory in their terms. Engineering and electronics were based on many of the features I spoke of and told them how. I gave them the title of a few books I had written and told them to go to the library to understand more. "For those of you in this room who may become tomorrow's leaders in whichever fields you want to enter, you will have to understand more mathematics. The world is not getting simpler but much more complex. In ten years time, when computers come out that can sit on the top of a desk, you will be compelled to make programmes for them that will enrich our daily lives. All of the programming will be based on mathematics and common sense." As with university I left some time at the end of the class to answer questions. Some were simplistic while others delved deep into what I was trying to get across. One question allowed me to talk about multiple dimensions and I explained that there were many more here than just the three that our senses detected. The bell rang and the students clamoured for more answers much like reporters did to get a story. As I left I said, "I am to speak soon at a symposium on this subject and others. I will send an abstract to the school and you can go over it. I am sorry but I have another class, goodbye." The next was the one I was looking forward to. After a trip to get my gym bag, I headed to find Rachael. I found Mrs. Merser alone in the gym. She opened a door to a small storage room and I took off my clothes and changed into the clothing from the gym bag. I was out in a minute and had time to privately talk to her. "The principal asked me to relinquish my class to you. I hope you know what you are doing. Males, even young ones, are not usually allowed to teach this class to ladies. I fear they will not work for you." "No problem. Just sit back and watch. I will get much more from the girl's in this class because they will try to impress me more. I think you will see that they want a more strenuous work out in following classes." "That is hard to believe." The girls came in and saw me in tight shorts and bare feet. My body was tanned and very well defined, probably better than any other person my age. The girls stopped then toward the end of the line I heard, "Shawn!' It was yelled loudly in the large room and Rachael ran to me and remembered where she was and stopped right in front of us. "What are you doing here Shawn?" "I wanted to see you. There is also the matter of the book I am writing too." "Which is this one about?" "About the care and feeding of teenagers. I came here to get a bit of data and see is some of my teaching methods work. Will you introduce me to your friends?" She went through her double class and I shook hands with each. All of the girls here knew me even though I was only introduced as Shawn. "Ladies, I would like to try something with your permission. You have all taken gymnastics and some were happy to leave it. I know that you have been back into it for the last four months. You can do better than ever before if you will allow me to train you at least for one day. Is there anyone here that doesn't want to try?" The teacher quietly ducked out of the door heading off for the teacher's lounge to have a cigarette, figuring I would be all right with the class now. There was no abstainers but I could see that not all liked to sign onto something that they didn't know about. I knew who the best gymnasts were and started everybody doing warm-up exercises. The first four got in line and I jumped on the vault, catapulted into the air and landed on the sixteen foot beam. I did a minute and a half routine then dismounted. The first did the usual vaulting procedure and went through their usual routine. I called out encouragement and instructions as the girls did their best. I used my hands on occasion and the girls didn't seem to resent this in the least. The eighth in line was awkward and I subtly helped her to finish her routine. When she got off all the girls clapped and she smiled and turned red. This was the best she had ever done and her friends acted as friends. Rachael was very nervous of my presence and made many minor mistakes till she started to fall off the far side. I shot forward and under the four foot beam and caught her before she could fall completely. The way she was falling would not make for an easy landing. "You ok Honey?" "Ah... yes Shawn. I was distracted." "And I know what with. Get back in line and try again. It is important that you can do this because you may one day have to defend yourself, or the family." This seemed to do the trick and with a ferocious determination did better than ever before. I nodded my head giving my ok to her performance and she stood straighter and felt much better about herself. With the teacher gone I called a break and said, "Ladies let's take ten for a break. I suppose all of you know that I am a physician among other things. I am definitely not a shy person. I believe that if you hem and haw enough you will lose the chance that you have. Is there anything you want to know about a woman's body or a man's. When the teacher gets back I am sure you would be too embarrassed to ask those sort of questions." One short girl in the back screwed up her courage and said, "You are so young, can you make... ah never mind." "Can I make babies?" The girl nodded a small amount and I said, "Not yet. My testicles are not producing any semen but I still have an orgasm when I am with someone I love. Speaking of semen, when a boy says he is going to pull out or you won't get pregnant at a special time, consider his drives. Most males cannot help lying to get a girl into going with them. Inserting a penis into a girl can result in pregnancy. Always use a condom, even if you think the cost is too high. The cost of raising a child is even higher, I know." Another girl asked, "Do you have children? You said you can't make that stuff." "I have many children. One is even older than me. I take care of their mothers and the children are mine too. I take this duty very seriously. I killed very many men. Some of those were with my bare hands when they killed my first family. They also killed my son. He was only eighteen months old and his mother had been raped. I loved that woman the most of any woman and she died shortly after her son in an attack on our village and home." The girls were very depressed now at the thoughts of bringing all these old memories to the surface again. "Anyway I have many children now and take an active part in how they grow up. My oldest, Benyam is getting a very good education in Ethiopia and is actively working at football or what you people call soccer. Some are still toddlers but when they grow up will help steer the country to a place among the better nations. Your teacher is almost back. Get up and let's go to the uneven bars." I did a simple routine. Part way through the teacher slipped into the room and came over to watch. I got the group to try it after me and didn't do too bad. I said to Mrs. Merser, "You did a good job of teaching. They know what to do even if they would like to shirk the job." "Thank you Mr. Boz. Oh sorry Sir Shawn." "You are wrong on both counts. It is simply Shawn, Mrs. Merser." "Muriel." "Yes, a good job Muriel." I went back to coaching the girl's performance and saw that they were improving. It was getting close so Muriel said, "Girls, you have done much better for Sir Shawn than you have done for me. I will expect a better performance for the rest of the year. The class is almost over now and I want to thank you for taking the time to come to our school and help the students." "You are entirely welcome. I also gained some information for my upcoming book." She shook my hand and looked at her watch and said, "Girls, to the showers. Goodbye Sir Shawn." The woman left and the girls dawdled about. As the teacher left they started to ask more questions. "Ladies, I can answer more questions but I need a shower too. May I take one with you. I promise not to peek." Rachael laughed and said, "Get your stuff. You can wash my back." The girls didn't really mind me with them but were a little shocked at Rachael's attitude. "Yes dear, right away dear," I said as I got the bag and headed to the shower. Rachael hurried up to be with me. I went to her locker and put my clothes in an empty one below hers. I quickly took off my shorts and stood naked as the girls watched me. "Shawn, help me off with this top please?" I helped her off with the top then helped with the shoes and socks. I helped her to her feet and pulled her shorts and panties down to her feet. I nonchalantly picked her clothes up and put them in her locker and saw that the others had not moved. "Girls, showers, now. Rachael hurry up and you can do my back too." The shower was quick and I did nothing that I shouldn't. Rachael came out a little disappointed but cheered up as I dried her well and combed then brushed her hair. "You are going to get us in trouble you know. That many girls and one is sure to talk to her friend and then the whole school and then the city will know." "I can take it. I still intend to be your..." I put my hand up because a girl had got out and decided to eavesdrop before entering the room. "Don't stay back there listening. It isn't polite." The girl came out shamed a bit at what she had done. To Rachael I said, "That decision is still half a year off yet. Things may change for you but never for me." I helped her into her clothes like a baby and the other girls watched this with interest. I got my own clothing on and gave Rachael a good kiss to show I loved her. "Lunch is your next period. You can take me to that swanky restaurant called 'The School Cafeteria'." "Sure mister, if you buy my meal, I don't come cheap." I looked at the rest of the girls and said, "Will you ladies join us. We may be three minutes early if we leave now." I got lots of nods and went around helping the girls dress. In one case I did up a bra and in others I pulled up some panties. Shoes laces were less than a second and then we were all off. Entering the cafeteria just as the bell went off I asked, "Pick tables for all of us." Rachael pointed and I ran and put my bag down in the middle and met the girls as they formed a line. Rachael was last and handed me a tray. We went down the line and I investigated the food. Nothing was bad but it seemed unpalatable for the students. I had eaten things that others would gag on and wasn't concerned. We took two tables in the back of the room and students coming in eyed us because we were usurping long standing seats. This was the quietest area though and I wanted to stay. As we ate our meals, I continued to answer the questions that I had been asked earlier. This was some of the stuff that they had not even considered and was new to them. The questions got raunchier and raunchier until I called it quits. By then most of the meal had been eaten. I started to talk about my army in Rhodesia and how they were progressing. I got a few 'awwww's' when I talked about the lion cub. I stayed away from their sexual activities and stressed what they were learning and why. A girl asked, "Where does all the money come from?" "I own may businesses. The money I make goes to help the poor and train children to lead the country if and when they get elected, otherwise they will rule the country through the bureaucracy." The same girl asked, "How can we join?" "Your culture is too much different than what it is in Africa. You would never fit in. If I had time I would start an academy here and try the same thing. Even with good help I have very little free time like I enjoyed this morning. In an hour or so I have to start preparing for our performance this afternoon. Tomorrow I am going to Sofia's school to do the same as here. In that one the subjects will be different and I am going to teach Home Ec." I got a few 'ewwww's' again but this time in distaste. "You girls have to consider something. I cook most of my meals and think that a woman who can cook is an asset over one who can't. A male is the same way. You don't want a slob who can't do anything except watch television. You would work at a job away from home then come home to cook and clean too. Do you think that is fair? Does he change diapers or get up at night? Pick carefully girls, the best ones are not necessarily the star athletes." We all left together and put our trays away and walked toward the office. I stopped and said to the girls, "I am setting up a contest. The winners get to go to the performance Friday night. There will be no favouritism other than that I had purchased a ticket for Rachael and Sofia. If you want to enter, do so please." Rachael couldn't help herself and hugged me to her and gave me a kiss with all the trimmings. "Thanks Shawn. I was afraid you would go without us." "There is still the weekend and I want to go skiing. I have never gone before and hear Collingwood has a new resort there. You want to go? I have to see if the rest can go to though." She smiled wide and was about to kiss me again as more students came by. "I would love to. I don't have any equipment though." "We can rent it there I am told." We went into the office and almost filled the room on this side of the counter. The principal came out and we shook hands. "I see you have found some friends already." "You are right there sir. Here are ten tickets to split among the teachers that have been inconvenienced or to do with as you choose. Here are twenty more for the front row that are to be used as prizes for a contest. Let's say for the best reason for going to the performance. They are all for Friday and you have to collect and assess the reasons for me. Can you handle that extra duty?" "I think I can. And thank you very much for what you have done. The music I heard will be very popular and make the school famous. The Mathematics class is hounding all the math teachers now for more details. The art teacher is planning on staying after school or face a lot of students that will be up in arms if he doesn't. All those classes and I see you have everyone from the PE class here. This tells me that your students are very highly motivated." When the principal finally left, I called a taxi and walked to a side door. All the girls came with me and I kissed Rachael goodbye then went down the line kissing each and everyone. I took my time and did each one right. Some that were very close, I pushed over and held them till they recovered. At the end I kissed Rachael again and made her come a second time. When she eventually opened her eyes, I said, "This weekend love and don't tell Sofia that I am going to her school tomorrow. It is a surprise." "I won't Shawn," she said breathlessly as I opened the door to get the taxi she said, "I love you." "I love you too." The performance was even better received the second day and I went home and cuddled with Mary after a shower. "Shawn, you better go to Liz. She is feeling better now and wants you." "I have a better idea." I got up and walked to Liz's room. She had a big smile for me and invited me into her bed. "Hello my love. Tonight we have to do this the way it will be done in the future. We can't have too much individual time because so many people need me. Take off you clothing Liz." She got up and took her pyjamas off and I scooped up her naked body and carried her to her mother's room. Mary saw me carrying her daughter in and felt better because she missed me even if it was for only one night. Liz was laid on the bed and I started to kiss her lips and then down her body. She was still shy around her mother but this soon ended. After she was licked to an orgasm I picked her up and lay in the bed in her place. "Liz, Honey, crawl on top of me and sit down. Mary get out of bed and take off your nightie and crawl over my face." "I can't do that Shawn. Liz is here." "Mary you accepted the position as wife, now do as your husband says." She desperately wanted this but wanted to be forced so all the training she had given her daughter would not seem wasted. She got over my face and sat down slowly. My tongue started right away and she barely had enough concentration to hold my penis as her daughter sat on it. Liz groaned as she sank closer and closer to my pelvis. "Oooh mom, it feels so good. Is it like this always?" "With your father it was good at the start and then not so good later. I think Shawn will make us feel this good or better. I want him for my husband even if he is young and I will share. I will never want him to leave now." They moved a bit and I continued to work on both of them. This time I worked more on their brains to allow them to orgasm easier and this had the desired effect for they had to hold each other to keep from falling. When they were far gone I inserted a tendril into their anuses and moved that back and forth. The orgasms joined together and I slipped one into Mary's vagina and tickled Liz's small clit. Before they fell unconscious I had my own come. They were senseless so I picked them up and laid them on both sides of the bed. I was between them and used my long finger to turn off the light and pull the blankets up. We slept close together and Liz moved her pelvis in her sleep as she dreamed about me. Mary had my babies all around her to tie me to her with bonds her dream self knew I could never break. Around three in the morning I got up. There was too much work to do to stay here. I floated Mary and Liz together and covered them up after I stood on the floor. They enjoyed having company in their bed and snuggled together. I considered myself very lucky to get such intelligent and caring women to want to be mine. I checked on Sally sleeping in her small bed and again felt blessed with my new family. I went downstairs, set up the easel and got the painting supplies out. I started with a portrait of Sally. She was sitting on the floor in the kitchen with all sorts of pots and pans around her. The inside of the cupboard was visible and many small details were added to make it look as perfect as possible. So far I had not used any brush but made it entirely with my mind. This was much faster and the results much clearer because I could concentrate pigment where I wanted down to the molecular level. Liz was next and I had her skating in an old fashion scene. The setting was a pond cleared of snow and shovels put into the snow bank around the edge. Her clothing was dated but she had a short white dress and white fur cap and muffler. She was in the process of doing a pirouette on her skates and her one leg was up showing some of her panties. Her body was in perfect balance and a joyful and mature look on her beautiful face. She would score top points at the Olympics for this activity. Mary was a mother figure but to be honest, it was partially because she reminded me of my own mother. She was on a high hill overlooking a bay with a single sailing ship in it. She was dressed in a thin cotton dress that was blowing in the gentle wind as she looked out to sea. A wide brimmed hat matching her dress was in her hand. The most important feature was that she was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Her face was radiant, like it was in the dream she just had. I put as much love into this because the child she carried was mine. I was sitting having a tea when I heard movement upstairs. I put the mug down and went up to get Sally. I was in time to get her to the bathroom and assist her. She opened her arms for me and said simply, "Daddy." In another few months she would be four and in a way I liked her the age she was now. "How is my little girl this morning?" "Fine daddy. Carry me downstairs," she said as she opened her arms wide for me. Already she knew that she could wrap me around her finger. At the bottom of the steps she asked, "What's that smell?" "I painted some pictures, Honey." I made her breakfast and had some quiet time to talk to just her. She was having fun at the sitter's even though another girl was bothering her. There was a dog and she usually got licked and had to be cleaned of slobber after she first came to the house. The shower started and soon my other two ladies came down stairs. Sally got down from her chair to greet her family. I got up too and saw Mary pick up her daughter and say, "Good morning Shawn." She came over and gave me a kiss as she used her free hand to pull me forcefully to her. "Now that I have you I never want you to go." Liz pulled me back and gave me a high wattage kiss and said, "Me too. You are mine." "I thank you ladies. I have a present for each of you," I said as I pointed into the front room. We all walked in and Sally said first, "It's me mommy, it's me." Nobody else said anything. Mary's mind was in shock for her face was clear in the painting as if it were a photograph. She immediately noticed the larger abdomen and knew that it was not the wind or fat that made her image that way. Liz knew that it was her image but a slightly more mature version. She was the same size as now. "Shawn the painting is beautiful. You made me so beautiful." "I didn't. All I did was to have you change your expression on your face. Look at the picture of your mother. She has the same face but it is just the expression she has on it." "Shawn, mom looks fatter, no... is... is she pregnant?" "Yes she is Sweetie." Mary spoke in a low voice, "Is that the way you see me?" "Yes, a definite mother figure. You are quite beautiful and I didn't have to take much liberty with you except for your waistline." "Oh Shawn I want you now to make the painting true." "I am sorry but you will have to save it for tonight. I have to get to school soon." I squeezed Liz's shoulder and asked, "How are you this morning, sore?" "Only a little but it doesn't hurt now or even then. I would love to take you upstairs too." I gave her a kiss and two envelopes. One was for Miss Wu and the other her principal. Each had two tickets for the performance. I had not mentioned it to them but it was only fair even with such short notice. "Please give these to the people listed on the outside of the envelope and say that it is a gift to them." Liz smiled at me and put them in her bag. Mary said, "Rachael and Sofia phoned last night and sent their love. Rachael was telling me all about what happened at her school. Her friends all want you soooo bad. Most want you to be their first man. What did you do to the poor girls, husband?" "I taught four classes and the last was with Rachael and her classmates. At the end when I had to leave, I gave each a kiss. Some got that nice feeling and you know how girls talk." "Well hurry up then. I am sure that there will be more hearts to break at Sofia's school too." The taxi brought me to the school and I headed in to find the principal waiting with the four teachers. This time I discussed more openly how I wanted to do each class and the educators agreed. Auto was my first class and I was happy to see Larry as one of the students. He wasn't sitting at the back as he did in Math. I was introduced and I said hi to Larry and the rest of the class. The young man was concerned that because I was so young, I would still be his teacher. "To get started gentlemen, I have never taught auto before but have taught a lot of future engineers. To start off I want to talk about the future of the automobile." I mentioned how automatic devices would creep into the auto's systems until it became a flood. A few minutes later I talked about lighter metals and plastics taking the place of metal components so that the vehicle would be lighter and more fuel efficient. "Gentlemen you see a great many of these vehicles on the roads but in the future many more roads will be built for all the new vehicles produced. Japan now is selling vehicles here and soon it too will be a flood. The quality is poor but the price is low. In the future the quality will go up and the domestic manufacturers will be at a disadvantage." Larry asked, "How do you know all this stuff?" "I also happen to teach advanced mathematics at university. I can see things because I look for them before others do. You just plug in the information you have and with a few guesses you can see that the world is changing very rapidly. We have the atomic bomb and satellites over our heads. Soon you will see men in space and then travel to the moon." This got quite a few laughs. I let them finish then used a blackboard to list the points that were already done and the fact that the 'Cold War' was pushing development of almost every technological niche in existence. I used facts and figures as well as data readily available from government offices to show what would happen and approximately when. "You gentlemen laugh at my predictions. I have a roundabout way of proving my track record at seeing what will happen. Two days ago I opened my wallet to show that I was successful. I will tell you now that I have formed and that I own many companies. They are currently valued at over twenty million dollars. I had an inheritance of almost two million dollars but I spend almost five million dollars each and every year on helping to poor. If I was full of shit then I would certainly not have this much money." They were without words now. "Gentlemen I am telling you that automobiles are going to get much more complicated and you are the ones that have to keep them running. That means that the backyard mechanic days are coming to an end. This will not happen soon but it will happen and when it does only the educated mechanic can hope to survive." Later I asked Larry, "Larry, how is the fuel economy derived in the auto magazines?" "They put a measured amount of fuel in a warm engine and run it around town or down the highway." "Sounds logical. You had an assignment about finding fuel consumption at higher speeds. How do you think it should be done?" "I guess you run it at each speed with the same amount of gas." "Logical again. What about acceleration to reach the desired speed using fuel?" "That's harder." In a moment he said, "Put a measured amount of fuel in and then accelerate and when you get to the speed you want, stop and measure how much you used." "That will work but an engine sucks fuel through the carburetor when it is turning. I think a shut off for the fuel would make it a little more accurate." "I like that." "Good. Put a valve on your fuel tank so the engine has to run from a small container. If you are driving straight, get your friends to find out what direction the wind is and how strong it is. Run your car and record which direction it is going. Put all this information on a graph. It will look something like the ones that you study in your auto magazines. "For your second project, go to a wrecker buy a gas tank like yours. I will give you the money for it. Show your teacher the calculations that allow you to come to arrive at the volume when it is the fullest. That means that the tank is stood on its edge to get the maximum fuel into it. If you are within one percent of the actual volume, I will buy one of the new automotive diagnostic machines for your school." "Hey, that is great. What is the catch?" "You will have to do all the work of calculating. You will see a small portion of how valuable mathematics can be." "Is that all?" "Yep. But you have to do this not your friends. Your teacher will check you and all this must be done on your own time. Your time in school is too valuable to use on this. Is this acceptable?" "It sure is. That machine costs a fortune." "Then your getting it for the school and this puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Don't fail them." The class went on with new ways of looking at what they thought were cut and dried ideas. I used mathematics to show how they worked, even going to a used tire and after calculating a few variables discussed how it would do for different applications. I gave the teacher two, one hundred dollar bills and said, "For the tank and for any extras you can't get through the school." "Thank you, Sir... Shawn. A class like this can always use the money." I made it to the Home Ec. class room after everybody had arrived. The students that all happened to be girls, turned to look at the arrival. Sofia in the middle of the room stood up and almost shouted, "Shawn, why are you here?" I looked at the teacher, "Good morning Mrs. Fraser," then to the class, "Hello Ladies and of course Sofia. I have missed you and thought we can meet here and share some recipes and write a book with you ladies helping me." Mrs. Fraser said, "Sit down please Sofia." I walked to the front of the class and said thank you to Mrs. Fraser. "Sofia, I have found to be pushy at times and is known for fits of violence. Once she... I better not talk about that. It got quite messy. Had to do with her and a rifle." "Really, tell us more. I always knew Sofia to be very mild mannered and even respectful. That is till recently when she has been acting more like the rest of the girls in this school." "My bad influence, I am afraid. I gave her and a friend a crocodile or two one day and they butchered it up, then took turns cooking it. In that type of heat meat goes bad fast. Sofia cooked some vegetables that people here in North America haven't discovered yet. They tasted very good and I am officially thanking you and teachers like you that saved my stomach." I was watching Sofia and so was the teacher. Soon everybody was watching her as she just hung her head and turned redder and redder. The teacher seemed to get some enjoyment out of doing this with me. "Did she hit the sides of the bowel while mixing? I take marks off when my girls do that." "I don't recall her doing that but I saw her with a knife over a crock that was almost fourteen feet long cutting away at the meat. As soon as it was cut somebody would take it and start cooking it. We could have given Colonel Sanders a run for his money." "I have taught the girls of the benefits of soup. Did she make any?" "Oh yes, we had croc soup but she wasn't the cook. There were many more eager hands to do jobs like that. It was nice to see people from all over the world pulling together to help the rest." During a short pause a girl asked, "Are you a secret government agent? I read about that in the newspapers once." "If I told, then it wouldn't be a secret any more. No I am not a secret agent but I do work for the Rhodesian government and I have helped the British government on occasion. People from many countries, come to me trying to get me to work for them but I do what I think is right. Now let's get on with the class or I will be here all the time answering your questions. By the way I really am nine as it says in the papers." "Today instead of crocodile soup I want to talk about beef stew. Can anyone tell me what the most important ingredient is?" The talk continued with me getting each of the girls to talk. Even the most reticent soon were eager to have their views known. We went on to how to make a budget and to stretch it to the limit. "One of the leading causes of discord in a family I found, other than apathy is monetary problems. At the moment a family has a man bringing home a pay cheque and watching television. The woman is a housewife that takes the money and raises the children. That will all change soon. The woman will decide to work too and then have to come home and care for the children and her husband. Families thankfully will be smaller but most of the burden will fall on the women. Now what do you think is a reasonable thing to do?" I got many different ideas from remaining single to a small booklet on the training of a husband. I had to say, "There is one thing that all of you have to remember. As a person gets older, they become more set in their ways and you cannot change them much. That is true for males as well as females. The only thing you can do is train your children to see jobs as non-gender specific. Women already know this but still unconsciously do the wrong thing." A close friend of Sofia said, "How do you know all this?" Sofia tensed a bit because I would either tell them the truth, or sidestep the question. I decided that some of the truth was the best. "In the societies of the world, men are usually in charge even to enact laws to keep them there. I have always taken the side of women and children to counter balance this a small bit. In the course of my life I have taken women and children into my care. Some children have been given my name because their father's name was too heinous. These children and their mothers needed guidance and love. I have many children that call me father or daddy, even though some are older than me. I study the children and do the best I can with my time. I want them to grow up to be the people that will help their country and the world prosper." "How many do you have?" "That answer depends on how many am I assisting or how many do I tuck into bed at night when I am home. I also have an academy in Rhodesia that looks on me as their father and almost all of the students are older than me." Before the class ended, I told the class of the contest that would be announced over the intercom. Everybody going to the cafeteria would be issued a number at the door and twenty people would be able to attend tomorrow's show, if they chose. The girls were pleased with this idea. "Sofia will not be issued a number though because I already bought her a ticket." Sofia was going to jump up and kiss me but getting out of her desk reminded her of where she was. "Thank you Shawn." "I have to take care of family first Sofia." There was silence in the room as all of them looked at her trying to see what this meant. Sofia instead of blushing and lowering her head as I thought she would, smiled broadly and her face radiated love that anyone could see. When the bell rang I said to her, "Will I see you in the cafeteria at lunch? I have some good news." The other two classes went much like the others. I just hoped that the students remembered what I taught them about the subject and the job prospects in the new world they were entering. The announcement came in the middle of the last class after I had already told them. I found that most of the boys even wanted to go to an obviously cultural oriented event. I met the principal in the cafeteria and handed him the teacher's tickets and just told him to give them out as he chose. Sofia came up to me even if I was beside somebody that she would never usually approach. We got our trays and sat with her few old friends and many of her new ones. I said to her, "We are all going skiing on the weekend with the family. I will talk to your parents to make sure you are going too." This time she didn't hold back and kissed me very thoroughly. She took her time and rubbed her breasts on me as if marking me as hers to her friends. "Thanks Shawn. I thought I would have to wait until you came back to town to see you again. Are we going to Collingwood?" "That is the closest. I will get you some ski clothes and we will rent the equipment there. We may be able to leave late Friday and come back Sunday night." Half of the other girls were wondering about the sleeping arrangements and all of them were wishing they could go too. We ate our lunch in the very crowded cafeteria and toward the end the principal had a grade nine girl fish the winning tickets out of a small cage that had already been made for such occasions. When the numbers were called out people jumped up and walked quickly or ran to where the tickets were drawn. The ones not wanting or able to go were to just remain seated and another ticket would be drawn in their place. I said to our table, "Excuse me ladies, we have to go for a moment." I helped a startled Sofia to her feet and we walked to the principal. To the winners I explained the dress that would be required. I said that they would all be picked up at the school by a taxi and be taken home by one as well. Their parents were to be asked and if there were any problems the parents were to call the principal if necessary. Sofia handed out the tickets one at a time and shook their hands in my place. I could see that she would make a fine leader someday. I was thanked for my efforts in the school and for the donation of the tickets. This time I had to shake a lot of hands and as soon as possible left for our table. As was standard policy now the girls followed Sofia and me to a side door that was fairly quiet. I had been working on them for five minutes and got almost one hundred percent orgasms when I kissed them. Sofia took them to the washroom next to the door to allow them to recover. At the theatre I was able to contact Rachael's and Sofia's mothers'. I asked if they could go with me as part of a larger family grouping to ski. They were a little hesitant but did relent because they could not realistically deny me after what I had done for their daughters'. They were still good parents but liked to control their children more than most. The show was again warmly received and I made ready for the party and a meeting with prospective employees. I was warmly met at the door and introduced to more people. It was held at a much larger home and there were people throughout the house. As usual some of the women and some men tried to flirt with me. More of the older women thought of me as a son or grandson though and this was acceptable to a point. The two people that could possibly take over my duties I found in different gatherings. I just searched their minds to see who was free and who might be interested in his work. It worked down in one case to a man who was more widely known and would help to bring in more people. In the other case, it was a woman who was relatively unknown but who could work with the troupe better. It was not ticket sales that drove me but being readily accepted by the public and the policy makers. Rhodesia had to be encouraged or forced to change or it was doomed. Sandra Morton was my choice. I might be able to find better somewhere else but I thought she could be helped to be as good as the best. She was talking to a group of five others. Her husband was just coming back with a drink in his hand for her. I walked up and listened politely to the talk and made small comments if I agreed or not. Five minutes was all it took before I had a chance to talk on the topic, so I changed its course just a bit. A few moments later I was able to ask Sandra, "I am looking for someone to take my position with the troupe." She was currently unemployed and wanted the job but had to act with a bit of reserve. "That is very interesting. Your show has had very good reviews and I always wondered why you stayed so short a time in each city. The show could play to packed houses for many more weeks." "If I stay in one place to saturate the area, then other areas have no coverage at all. My idea is to bring Rhodesian culture to not only a country's government but its people too. The only other method I was considering was to have multiple shows running. The idea of making money is really secondary to my prime reason. You can guess that this is a definite departure from the way all other shows are produced." I didn't have to pull Sandra away for she did that to me. "Tell me more Sir Shawn." "I have you and one more person in the running for this spot. You want it as bad as the other one will. He has more experience and a name that will draw people but you will do just as good after you get some training and acquire your own name. My research shows that your husband doesn't particularly like his job. I will agree to hiring him to oversee the things that you don't need to. That way you will be together as the husband wife teams that form the performers. I can see in a year splitting you and your husband up temporarily to play two smaller locations and then join for the larger ones. This will give him a chance to try his hand at managing a group as well as you. This also means that I can hire more dancers and singers." "How do you know I want your job?" "I know you want it well enough to accept it even if you have to leave your husband home. I can see by your breathing, heart rate and the way your eyes dilate. You have a fairly hard face to crack but to me I can see those things. If you get your husband over here we can get his commitment and I will tell you the small details." Twenty minutes later I had them both so convinced that they would go with me to Vancouver on Monday morning. I told them my arrangements and that they would be doing the set after this. When I got home I found Liz in her mother's bed and a space in between. I had a quick shower and slid in and pulled the women close. They didn't awake but they did put their arms and legs over me. Mary woke up at four and found me when she went back to bed. She cuddled up to me and was soon asleep again. An hour later I got up and put the two together. They may complain a bit but both liked the closeness and enjoyed when I did it. Exercise and another quick shower gave me enough time to work on some of my projects. The first piece was to phone a twenty four hour reservation desk for the hotel in Collingwood. I made the reservation in my name and said it was for a family of six but in a suite. I cast my eye to the family car and saw that it would make the trip with only an oil change and a general clean up. I would buy a new vehicle soon but the family would have to pull up stakes and move elsewhere. Sally slept in later today and she didn't awake till her mother's alarm went off. I hustled her to the bathroom ahead of the rush and got her ready before her mother came in a moment later. With a quick kiss I said, "I have a surprise for the weekend. I'll talk about it downstairs." She smiled as she sat on the toilet and a flood of liquid was heard. Liz was still trying to get a few more winks but I took Sally and attacked her on the bed. Liz screamed and fought me off and Sally laughed the entire time. Soon she was using her pillow and I took Sally and dodged some of the blows and let Sally take some of the weaker ones as she continued to laugh. Mary came out of the bedroom naked as she went in and felt not too many qualms at the change from her old self. She stood with her arms crossed and leaning on the door frame as Liz tried to hit me. When I lured Liz back toward the bed I used Sally to push her onto the bed and set the younger sister on her. "Sally wins this bout with one fall to none. Now get dressed you two and head downstairs. I have a surprise to tell you." They wanted to know right away but I just took my daughter with me and headed to breakfast. They dressed rapidly then came and sat. "What is it?" Came from Liz. "Eat your breakfast love." "But..." was all she got out as I raised my finger. She ate quickly and was about to ask again when I pointed at her mother's plate. She scowled but waited until her mother was done. "Ok Shawn, what is it?" "You are hasty today. How is school?" "Fine. Miss Wu wonders if you will come back. Sue and the other girls want to see you too. Jimmy is even more interested. Why is that?" "You are a bright girl. What do you think?" Her eyes brightened and she said, "He..." "Just drop it Liz. He needed someone to protect him then and he is a little different from other boys but very similar to you. He is also a very nice person just like you too. Don't hurt him. He is not as strong as you are now." "Ok." "Now for the news. I want you to all go to the last performance tonight. Rachael and Sofia will be there with people from their schools. When we are done we will get in our chariot and head for a weekend of skiing. The other two girls will be going with us. You will sleep a bit as we travel and then stay in the suite I booked for us there. I will be buying some clothes and boots today and rent the rest up there." "Oh Shawn, I want to go but I have never skied before." "That's ok. I have never done it either. Shouldn't take more than a minute to learn. I will teach you. Sally is going to go with me when we ski." I asked Mary, "How much experience do you have?" "Only a little and I am rather out of shape." "We can try the beginner slopes first and work our way up." Mary got up this time and hugged me. "It will be so much better with you on the slopes Shawn. You always think of us. I want to be like the picture of me in the other room." I caressed her face and said, "I intend to have you look that way a few times my wife." She kissed me hard as if this alone could do it. With my head swimming I added, "And at the soonest possible time too." As I walked to school carrying Sally, Liz asked, "When can I have a baby Shawn?" "You have to enjoy being a child first. Then when you are old enough to make an informed decision you will be my wife and have my children after that." Sally asked, "I want to have your baby too." "You Sweetie are extra special. You will be my daughter. That means that you get extra special treatment." Liz's friends and Jimmy came up and said hello to us. One of the girls had an older sister in Rachael's gym class. She had been one of those who had an orgasm at our final parting. Their younger sister did not know what had happened, only that her sister was very much taken with me. This meant that this girl wanted something too but wasn't too sure about how to get it. Jimmy was the same. His poor penis was raw from masturbating. He had got brave and used things in his anus hoping that this area might attract me to him. He was too shy to ask and even more shy around all the competition he saw. It was a shame that I could do nothing for him. I would be leaving soon and any relationship we developed would have to come to an abrupt end. The same was true of the other girls and as Liz said, her teacher too. The bell rang and they all left reluctantly. I kissed Liz but not enough to get her too stirred up and left with Sally. The girl was very astute and asked, "Does that boy want your baby too?" "Yes Honey, he does but I don't want to love him then let him go. I love you and will never let you go." She hugged me hard and grunted in the effort. This let me know that she heartily agreed. ------- Chapter 32 Snow was beginning to fall again and I called a taxi from the sitter's house. Before that the woman was trying to get information from me. With my picture in the paper she knew who I was but still treated me as if I was the child I looked to be. It was early for a good sporting goods store to open. Even standing in the blowing snow now was not hard for I was able to adjust my body to put out much more heat to keep me warm and my fingers made an invisible barrier that kept away the wind. If I did it right I could stop all of it as if I were in a deep sea diving suit. As it was I had to leave holes in it or I would overheat. The doors opened ten minutes late due to the near blizzard conditions and the difficulty of employees getting to the store. I shook myself off and entered the store just as the owner unlocked the doors. The man said, "Quite a storm coming son. What can I help you with?" "Yes I think it is. Should stop in two hours. I came to see if you had some good quality ski clothing and some equally good boots." "You're lucky. We have many sizes to choose from. Is your mother or father coming in? The clothing here is not cheap." "I have cash sir and I am competent in making an informed decision." His mind told me that there was a sale starting tomorrow and I added, "If you give me your sale prices I will look at your merchandise. I am looking for six sets in total." "You have enough money for six outfits son?" "More than enough. I need boots, gloves, hats and goggles too." "I will give you a ten percent discount." "Your sale was on average seventeen percent. The store down the street has good equipment," I said as I started to leave. "Hold on. You can have seventeen." "Now I want twenty, for trying to cheat me and make my children go hungry." He laughed and said, "Coming from a boy your age I find that doubtful but you can have twenty. Now what would you like to start on?" I checked garments by my eye against the girl's measurements in my mind. I picked colours they would like and threw them into a pile. I bought socks and boots, again using my eye and my memory. When I was done we had a large pile and I said, that should be all. We totalled it up and I paid with cash. The owner saw my wallet and glanced at one of the thousand dollar bills. "Son, may I see that bill you have. I don't believe I have ever seen one before. I handed him the bill and he looked at it as if it were counterfeit but deduced it wasn't. He was about to ask where I found this money when he remembered seeing my picture. The name came a second later as he handed the bill back. "Thank you Sir Shawn. I am a fairly wealthy business man but I have never held a thousand dollar bill before." "You are entirely welcome. May I store my purchases here? I think I should go down the street and purchase one of those four wheel drive vehicles. They are a lot safer for my children." The man didn't know what to say at the mention of children but did say yes to the temporary storage. After he showed me to the door, he pointed the way to the local Roots Motors Inc dealership that could fill my needs. I walked off down the street, but couldn't find the company he'd named — in the place the owner had described there was a shiny new sign which just said Rover Motor Company of North America — Headquarters. Forty six minutes later I left a shaken president of the new dealership with a brand new example of the recently developed long wheelbase LandRover with the ownership made out to Mary. The car was very expensive and cost forty three hundred dollars. The price originally was higher but I knew how low they could go and stuck to it. The deciding factor was when I took out the thousand dollar bills and then laid them on the table with enough hundreds beside them. I drove to the sporting goods store and the owner together with one of his employees helped me load the vehicle. The owner shook my hand and asked, "How much did you have to pay Harry?" "Actually, it wasn't Harry any more, but this is a four wheel drive vehicle which has a lot of extras. I got it for forty three and you should have heard their president scream and cry — although he did say it was the very first sale that they had made since setting up and getting the first vehicles over earlier this week. Anyway — he did much better theatrics than even I do and I could use him in my production if I were doing one of Shakespeare's money lenders." The man laughed hard and shook my hand again before wishing me well and going back into the store. As the snow was piling up, I decided to drive home and pack. I made it into the driveway and shovelled the walk, veranda and some of the driveway. The rest of the driveway I used my power on and got it clear, down to the gravel. I brought the clothing in and laid it on the beds to be inspected. The better clothes were packed, including the clothes I bought for Rachael and Sofia. The snow stopped and the ploughs were still out throwing salt and sand from the street into people's front yards and especially the driveways. I took the last two canvasses and thought of Rachael and Sofia. I saw Rachael as she appeared on the balance beam with a leg up and one down. Her face was radiant as she did the difficult manoeuvre and was looking at me to tell me that she knew that she had done well. Sofia was back in Ethiopia using a knife to butcher the croc at her feet and the sweat running down her body making he clothing stick to her. Her shorts showed her legs to her advantage. She looked very primitive but also very beautiful. In the background the hangar and the nose of the plane could be seen. Everybody else was drawn indistinctly or looking away. With the unusual free time I made a quick meal and handled what business I could. I still thought of the first Sputnik and Sputnik II that was orbiting the Earth, wondering anew about what it would be like. I envisioned a submarine and made a ship in my mind that would cruise the depths of space instead of the depths of the ocean. For propulsion I didn't want to use rockets because they were very inefficient. For the first time I really worked on the basis of my kinetic abilities to see if they could be duplicated mechanically. I came to no real answer but I would continue to search for it. I phoned a large local taxi company and talked to the manager. He would pick up all the students at both schools and individually drive them home for me. He gave me a flat rate after finding out who I was. He even agreed to drive me to the theatre and conclude our deal now. Mary could load the new vehicle and be ready to leave tonight from the theatre. I left a note for Mary and cleaned the rest of the snow before the manager came to take me to the theatre. We talked more about what I intended to do and wrote things down in a small notebook. When we got to the theatre I paid him for the entire job and a tip was added too. He shook hands with me and was very happy to have gotten this contract. The cast of our production were a little shaken when they arrived late. Apparently their vehicle had been hit by another on the slippery streets. Although there was some damage to the vehicles, fortunately nobody was really hurt, but now was the time to take their minds of the past, so I told the Bantu couples that I needed some help with the production and that I was hiring a married couple to help me. Arriving about half hour later, John and Margarete Du Bois, the two people I hired were excited at the small production and their possible place within it. They knew that as new comers if they could not adjust it would be them to leave. Introductions were made and hands shook. Everybody was on their best behaviour and I hoped it would stay that way. By the time the curtain was ready to rise, I knew that they would work well enough together and so I could now relax and enjoy the show. The front two rows had my family and the students from the schools. The teachers were happy to be sitting almost fifteen rows back but still near the front. They were close enough to the students to monitor them and far enough away to have their own privacy. I walked out the side entrance of the stage and greeted my guests. Mary sat beside an empty chair and held Sally in her lap. When I got there I found her all smiles and she said, "You shouldn't have done that Shawn. My old car would have made it for a while yet." "I want all of you safe. You are much too important to me now." I greeted Sally then Liz. They all looked good in their new clothes. Beside them Sofia and Rachael looked good in their new clothing too. They were very excited when Mary had phoned them. She took them to the theatre with a stop over at her house first. They had very wide eyes at the new vehicle Mary was driving. They had enough time to change and look at their skiing clothing before packing it all away and putting it in the back of the large vehicle. Two of the girls I had kissed had made it here after making good essays on why they should be the ones to come. They were welcoming me with their eyes and I knew if I took them behind the curtain I could have them, they were that infatuated with me. I spoke briefly to them, then went over to the teachers and shook a few hands and said we would meet at intermission. Meanwhile, John & Margarete duBois were busy checking everything out and meeting every few minutes to share what they had found. I was very happy with their enthusiasm and drive. When I came backstage again they had some insightful questions that I answered as best that I could. At intermission the dancers took a much deserved rest and I talked a bit more with the two managers. I found the teachers and talked to them and their spouses. They were very enthusiastic about the very energetic African dancing and the soft spoken music. I had a few minutes to find my family and saw how all of them were bright and happy to be here. Sofia and Rachael held me to them to thank for making them more or less immortal on canvas. That was the way it came out and I had to dissuade them from that idea because it was just canvas and pigment. Those paintings were to keep and to decorate our new home. Liz used the other girls to block her as she gave me a kiss. She absolutely loved her new outfit. The colours and size were perfect. I had to go back and helped educate my two replacements. When the performance was over, I walked onstage and thanked the patrons for their enthusiastic support. I then talked of our itinerary and the possibility of coming back if we didn't kill the dancers with overwork first. At the end I was given an applause too and bowed as I accepted the acclaim. Behind the curtains I brought John and Margarete into the dressing room. They were not shocked at the nakedness though. Margarete was amazed at the size of the men. The Rhodesians saw this and used every opportunity to flaunt themselves. John found the men interesting too as he had had a chance to discover this side of his life when he was only fourteen. Talking to the performers, I said how I was going skiing and would be back Sunday night. To Margarete I said that it looked good the way she was meshing in. I gave her a note with the hotel and its phone number and left after telling her that we would be flying out Monday at noon. I stepped outside the door and found the students and my family waiting. I talked to them for a few minutes, mentioning about their taxis waiting and wished them well in their future endeavours. The girls in this group were waiting for something more but I had to disappoint them. I ushered them out the front doors and waited as they got into the waiting taxis. Back inside I kissed each of my women and Sally held out her arms and I knew I had to give her one too. I gave last minute orders to the crew cleaning up and had them store our props. If we came back we could use them. I was now free. The girls were sent to the washroom and I cast my eye high above to see if one route was any better than another. When Mary brought Sally out I was finished. Mary came up to me and said, "Shawn I am sorry, my time of the month has started." "Why should you be worried about that? It means you will be fertile in a few weeks and if I were ready I would plant seed then. All the other girls will be the same. The only bad point might be that a group of women sometimes start to synchronize their periods and then I have a dry spell for a while." I was given a hug and after a look around a big kiss. "Men are usually put out by something like this as if it were a woman's fault for doing this to them." "Yes and some men are fools. Let's get our vacation started." I drove first and headed out of the city. There were many stop signs and lights. The highway was only two lanes and had many level crossings that necessitated us to start and stop. The four wheel drive was very complicated with high and low ratios as well as a third stick for the transfer gearbox. It was also quite noisy with the special snow tyres that I'd bought as an optional extra but had fitted to the vehicle for immediate use. Fortunately, Mary had the sense to take the normal off-road tyres out of the back and store them in her garage before packing earlier in the day. Everybody wore the lap belts that I had purchased as an option. The girls all groused at the feeling of being attached to the vehicle but I saw it as a safety measure that they should wear them. Sally was too small for them so I worked out a seat that I would make later with belts that would hold her better, then the lap belt would hold the seat in place. Mary handed a sleepy Sally to the middle row of seats as she laid down on the front seat herself. Her head went onto me lap and her fingers found my zipper. She undid my belt while I assisted by sitting up for her to slide my pants and underwear down my legs. She had to get up and move to a better position before she could swallow me and remain comfortable herself. She groaned in satisfaction and made small noises. Her own hand had Kleenex in it and it was in her panties trying to bring herself off. I assisted and stimulated her mind and at the same time stimulated her openings and her clit. Her noise alerted the girls in the back seat and they undid their belts and looked over the seat at what Mary was doing. I used my mind on the three older ones in the back and soon they were rubbing themselves. In a few minutes Liz and Sally went over to the third set of seats. Rachael and Sofia began to take off their clothes. It wasn't long before they were laying one on top of the other trying to please each other. In the back seat I saw Liz and Sally undressed. Liz was teaching her sister about the joys of oral sex. I was concerned with this for a while till I remembered pleasing my mother when I was very young. If Sally was not forced to do anything and I was not expected to do anything sexual with her then everything was fine. Mary was having her third orgasm but continued to please me. I had one of my own but the vehicle stayed straight and safe. When Mary became tired I removed her head and got her to lay on my lap as I caressed her head with my free hand. Sofia and Rachael had at least five orgasms each and Sally had a good feeling but not exactly an orgasm yet. I worked harder on Liz and she had to scream in the back seat because of her pent up emotions broke through all at once. The rest of the girls just smiled and relaxed more. I turned the heat up high and directed more of it to the back. When everybody was asleep I made sure they stayed that way and dressed each of them. At the next chance I would buy some soft blankets for them and maybe a few pillows too. I straightened up Sofia and Rachael and put Liz between them and did up their belts. Sally floated up front with her mother and they too were soon buckled up. We got into Collingwood and paid for the suite. They were hesitant about renting it to me until I slapped my diplomatic passport down and pointed to my legal age, after which they were most apologetic. I drove to our spot and awoke the girls one by one with a kiss. I got their coats on and hustled them inside and too our suite with the luggage carried by a sleepy bell boy. I got the girls to the king sized bed and curled up myself for a few hours. Bright and early it was at the rental shop where I got the equipment that we needed. I brought our own boots along for them to adjust the bindings, after they'd found out that we were all novices. I had no roof rack for skis but luckily they fit inside the vehicle well enough. Breakfast was ordered as take out and this is what woke up the girls. They got out of bed naked except Mary who had to wear her panties now. Sally was cleaned up and left to run naked as the rest were. I took off my own clothes to fit in. We sat down to eat and it was good that I had ordered more than usual. The girls were ravenous. I fed Sally by hand and she cuddled close at the gesture. After using the bathroom we all got dressed and I ensured that they had everything and that it was well adjusted. After getting the lift tickets we went to the beginner slopes and I began to teach each of them what to do. I cheated again because they were my family and improved their reflexes and coordination. Mary brought out her old camera and took many pictures. I encouraged her to shoot a lot because we could buy more film from the shops. Liz's first time on the slopes allowed her to fall less than the usual novice. Sally fell but did not get disheartened and just got up for more. Mary was careful and did not fall at all. I enjoyed the beginner's slopes with my family. Sometimes I skied backwards in front to them encouraging them to follow me. I had to do a small trick with the back of the skis so they would not dig into the packed snow. In a few hours we went to the intermediate slopes where things became more exciting. The spills were uncommon but more spectacular when they did come. We stayed here till it was time to eat. The girls had rosy cheeks and were very animated about their experiences. Almost everybody in the lodge came over to look at us. There was no ill-formed feature on anybody at the table and the older four were especially looked at. Single men or ones dodging their wives or girlfriends came to the table to see what their luck might be. Mary displayed a lot of pride when she said, "We are escorted by Sir Shawn thank you. He is showing us the slopes and explaining to us how to ski." One man of twenty eight said, "I have much more experience. I have skied these slopes and many more in British Columbia." Liz piped up, "Shawn is better. This was his first time on skis and I can see that he is better than anybody else here today." The man just humoured her and laughed as he left. Sofia the shy woman, suddenly stuck up for me after the man turned to leave and said, "Shawn can do anything anybody in this room can do and do it better. I'll bet you anything." The man turned to her and with an appraising eye looked at her. He knew she was indeed beautiful an well worth the effort when he won. "I will bet you miss but I doubt if you will be willing to pay." Sofia just realised what she had blurted out and said, "Shawn can still do anything." The man turned to me and said, "Hello Sir Shawn, my name is Jeff Mathews, is what the young lady said, correct?" "I spent most of my life in Africa and only small part in Britain. This is my first time in Canada and the very first time on skis. I will take up the challenge though if you want to risk it." "I would like to make a wager with you. How deep are your pockets?" "Very." "Say a thousand dollars then." "That's acceptable. I have more than that in cash. Can you match it?" Jeff did his calculations, of what money he brought against expenditures and had just enough. "Sure." We went to the desk clerk and we gave him a thousand dollars each and the man said, "The first one here to claim the money gets it all." The clerk understood and put the money away. A small crowd followed us outside and we picked up our skis. Mine were investigated and seen to be simple rental units that were strong and not as fast as the man's high priced pair. Even his poles were expensive. He worked as an engineer in his father's business and could easily afford to loose if need be but he had so much of a competitive spirit that he would fight like hell to win. "What do you propose for a course?" "We take the lift to the top and when both of us are satisfied that it is safe to go we will ski down the hill. The fastest will come to the chalet and get the money." "Sounds fair, let's go." We walked over to the lifts and my girls stayed around me knowing that I would do all right. Their faith in me was that strong. Mary knew I was rich and the loss of a thousand dollars was not a big thing. This time the lift took us up much higher than the intermediate course. The drop too was much more abrupt. We paused at the top as I did a search for the fastest way down. I used Jeff's own memories to pick out the better places and what to do when reaching any of them. My skis were not as good as Jeff's and I would of necessity be slower. I did see a quicker route that would cut a lot of time off. The problem was that it led through a fringe of trees, festooned with wild grape vines and brambles. This led to an edge that dropped thirty feet to the same path Jeff would have to take but I would take a short cut across a long hairpin turn. "Jeff I am about ready. So you are saying basically that the first person back to the money keeps it all. If I do things differently are you going to put up objections?" "How differently?" "That is my secret. I will not interfere with your skiing, or with you. I have never been accused of not being a sportsman and I don't intend it to start now." "That is fine with me. Tell me about those girls with you though. They are all very lovely." "Jeff, the two that are not quite eighteen yet, they and some others ran into a problem and I killed many men to protect them. I am even more adamant to protect them now." "Oh." "The twelve year old girl I jumped through the ice to save her and her cousin Bryce. Her too I will protect with all my energy. Her sister and her mother naturally fall into the same category." "I am sorry. I wasn't too sure of your reputation. Did you kill all those guys in Africa too?" "Those I killed when I was younger and angry. I took satisfaction from it at the time when it was being committed. They had killed all my family and I would gladly kill them again if I were presented with those conditions." "Well I will be a very proper gentleman around your ladies Sir Shawn." "Thank you. They deserve it. Shall we start the track seems to be clearing?" "On your mark then Sir Shawn." I counted to three and yelled, "Go." I pushed off with the poles and one broke in my hands. I left it and raced down the hill. Jeff with two good poles raced ahead and didn't even know that I had only one pole. I used one pole to push on one side and soon picked up considerable speed but Jeff was already a hundred and fifty feet ahead of me. The place to turn off came and I sent my power ahead and sheared the vines in many places and cut some of the brambles. Soon I was dodging trees and low branches, the brambles were easy but I had to dodge a large rock in the centre that the glacier left long ago. The edge came and I crouched then jumped at the right time to sail over a fence at the edge of the precipice. As I fell over the edge I oriented my body and plotted my landing point, a second and a half later I struck the deep snow and slid down a near vertical incline for another two seconds. I ran parallel to the run and had to jump high and sideways to land in the worn section. With one pole I continued to push for the maximum speed. Two more turns came and I had to assess the snow and ice to see what angle and speed I could take. Some I had to actually slow down. I passed other skiers as they went as fast as they could, unknowing of my approach. Sometimes I could crouch to lessen wind resistance and other times I had to stand to push with the pole or switch it to the other hand to make a turn at the maximum speed possible. The way ahead of me was clear because other skiers had known of our bet. Not twenty feet behind me Jeff was pushing himself to the maximum. The doors to the lodge were held open and I made a final jump in the air, unhooked the bindings and grasped both skis. As I came down I propelled them to stand vertically with many others. My own path intersected the opening and I slid through the doorway on my boots and slid across the floor to the desk. Although I wasn't actually out of breath but I breathed a bit extra to show my exertion. "Good day Sir. Do you have my money for me please?" Sofia and Liz were there to see me as they had seen most of the race through the large glass window. As the startled clerk handed over the money, Jeff came running across the floor and slowed when he saw that he was too late. He came to me completely out of breath and clapped me on the shoulder. "You... certainly... earned the... money." "Thank you Jeff for the sport. I broke my pole on the very first lunge and had to improvise as I went down." Rachael came up and I held onto her, not for support but for the warmth of it. "You did that... I was trying out for the Olympic team and I had excellent equipment." "Jeff, I jumped over a cliff to take a short cut. I know it is not for everyone but I knew you would win if I didn't. If we were in the Olympics and you'd followed the same course you would beat me easily." The people all around us had witnessed the race and I knew that if there were a record then Jeff would have already broken it. Mary came carrying Sally. She got on the other side and I held her too. Sally stretched out her arms and I took her into my arms and continued to talk to Jeff. "Will you join us on the slopes? I am afraid that they will have to be intermediate level." The throng parted for us and we all walked outside. I had to go to the rental to report the pole breaking and was given a replacement. Soon Jeff was introduced to the rest of my family and it didn't take him long to see that the girls were only interested in me but would talk to others. Jeff was a vibrant and exciting person and all the girls asked him about the Olympics. "I haven't been there yet. I am just in the running I hope. There are many events that I have to compete in before the Olympic committee will give me their blessing." Jeff stayed with us and helped by giving some lessons. It wasn't too much longer when I said, "I am getting hungry. Let's all go for supper. Jeff will you join us. Since I am the big winner today it will be my treat." He especially liked Mary and she played a game with him. I knew for a fact that she would not give me up for him even if he was closer to her age. "I would be delighted. I think I will have to order some of the expensive dishes tonight." "Please be my guest. I would like to change and we will meet you in an hour as it takes us all much longer for to shower than for one alone." This told him even more and he wondered how a person of my age, even if super bright, could keep all these beautiful women. "An hour then." We went up to our suite and clothes went flying all over the place and I had the view of a lot of naked flesh. Mary came over and said, "I was looking through the binoculars you bought me and I saw you suddenly fall over the cliff and I almost died. Don't do that to me again please. I don't know what I would do without you." I held her and looked up to her eyes and replied, "I may look to be doing something dangerous but it's not. People using the ski jump are only mildly in danger. I am still young and don't have a problem with coordination or reflexes. I see many things in slow motion if I speed up my mind. You are all too precious to leave. I plan on growing old with each of you." Sally came over wanting up and I moved Mary over to the couch and sat with her as Sally climbed into my lap. On the way up she stopped and inspected my penis and even picked it up to see it better. "Daddy, why is it small now?" Mary and I laughed as I picked the girl up and gave her a kiss. "This is for putting seed into girls. I don't have any seed yet but I like to practice just the same." Liz went into the shower after with the other two. Sofia and Rachael wanted some relief and decided to bring Liz in even if she were young. One day they knew she would be my wife alongside them, so starting now was not really a chore. I had to go in before things got out of hand and said, "Girls, I hate to be a party pooper but please save some of the games for later. We need to get ready for supper." I got three oks and a three giggles right after, for saying the same thing at the same time. After they were done I washed Sally and handed her to her sister as Mary climbed in with me. I brought my finger up to my mouth and then bent Mary over and away from me. My fingers found her opening and I slipped in easily. She brought her legs together and this was even tighter. Soon I was moving quickly into her and worked on the pleasure centre in her mind. She quaked and would have fallen if she had not been held. After two more I had to put her in the bottom of the tub and wash her like a baby. I washed myself as quickly as possible and then picked Mary up and dried her with two towels. I carried her to bed and laid her down then started to dress her. I even put her pad on her and got her to move as I wished. Sally asked, "What is wrong with mommy?" She wasn't worried but just curious. Rachael said, "Looks like you daddy was trying to make babies again. Your mommy is just very happy that he was trying so hard." Sofia and Liz laughed at the way the word hard was emphasised. We made it downstairs just in time and found a larger table close to the fireplace. Jeff was at the bar and came over with a few of his friends and their dates. Jeff asked, "May I invite a few more to eat with us? They were either on the slopes earlier or were too shy to come over to meet you." "Certainly, just move that other table over here." Jeff introduced his friends and gave a small rundown on each. They were some of the best skiers Canada had to offer. The women were not only Jeff's friends but also were trying out for the women's team. I introduced each of my girls but left out any descriptions. With a little verbal slight of hand I got many conversations going so that I would not be the one to monopolise it as usual. It was fun to see Liz talking to a woman that might be going to the Olympics and discussing her newfound skiing ability. Jeff asked me, "Bill caught the first part of our race and brought back your broken pole. You must be exceptionally strong for he saw you shoot forward with just the power in your arms. You could easily gain a gold medal representing your country. Are you thinking of trying out?" I chuckled a bit and said, "This was my first time on skis and I doubt I would try out for this or any other event. My country has no skiing team to speak of, so I could just register and go to the Olympics with no other competitions. It would take too much time from other activities though. I have a large business concern that needs the occasional tinkering but I am getting others to handle the Rhodesian dance and song performances. I don't mind showing off in small groups once in a while but I don't want to become a public commodity. That is why I don't sing or perform for profit." "Well that is a relief to the men here. We put our heads together and know you are a doctor too. I imagine that takes a bit of your time as well." "Yes it does. I don't usually do that for a profit. I just do some diagnostic work for the local hospitals in the cities we travel to. Toronto was the first time I had more important work to attend to." I felt my family straighten out their back when I said this. Apart for Sally they knew I was talking about them. Jeff had seen the reaction and with previous information figured the truth too. I said, "I remember reading in the newspaper that you were interviewed recently. Tell us about that." Jeff was now listened to and even Sofia asked a question after. Our meal arrived and we started to eat with only light conversation now because we were all hungry. When the coffee cups were refilled Jeff said, "Sir Shawn, there is a piano in the corner. You said you can play and sing?" I said, "Now sir I will put you on the spot. I will play if you will sing. Are you going to chicken out of this." Jeff was shocked and his friend on one side clapped him on the back at the way he was caught. "The people here did not pay for a floor show so an amateur singing is a bonus." Jeff's friends encouraged him to try but he still remained seated. A chant built up to get him to accept the challenge and the people at the other tables looked over to see what was happening. "Ok ok." He asked me to play the current most popular tune. "Sorry, can't do that one. I promised Dominique that she would have it for a year." One of the women asked, "Why is that?" "I wrote the song and four others. I promised Dominique that she has full rights for a year." I mentioned a few others and Jeff picked one. Before getting up he asked jokingly, "Did you write them too?" "Yes Jeff," and got up with him. I had to backtrack to help him to the piano with me. When I sat on the bench I asked, "You ready Jeff? It is important in your friends eyes that you do this. I will stay with your singing. Think of this as another form of competition." He nodded his head, not ready to use his voice. Taking cues from his mind he cleared his throat and I began. After three bars he started and sang the rest of the song. He was not a bad singer but just not one that would ever be able to make a living with it. Because I was in a playful mood, I told the room of a woman at our table and how she was going to sing a particular song. The woman was very shocked and had to be pushed from her chair. She came over to the piano with a scowl on her face. "I will get you for this." "Promises, promises. Sing the song and by the time you are half way through you will be happy you did." Her face started to change as she sang and soon she gave a small curtsy to the applause and wanted to go back to her seat. "One more," I said and started another song that she knew. Her new scowl ended soon at the end when the applause came she gave another curtsy and fled to her seat. I called four of the men over, two were the ones that pushed the women to me. They too had scowls but sang together fairly well. I even did a common barbershop quartet piece and they sang it with their arms on each others shoulders. They were about to leave but I said, "Gentlemen will you please wait a moment. I need you here." I then called Sofia and Rachael over. Mary had to get them to go after a few words. They came hesitantly and looked at me. I told them the song and began to play. They sang to me and the men provided some harmony. This was done very well and the audience clapped very loudly. The girls fled back to their chairs and the men chuckled at the speed they travelled at. "One more singer tonight from my table. Sally will you come here please?" The girl got down and ran to me. She climbed up and I put her on the bench. "Sing Silent Night for me and I will sing it with you." She nodded and I began the piece and sang low but loud enough for her to start with me. I gave her a few cues directly to her mind and she sang well enough for her age. When Sally went back with a lot of applause I got up and took a woman at a nearby table and almost forced her to the piano. I played a song that she knew well and I let her go. I went around the room and took one person from each table if they had any talent. When I had exhausted the available people I got up to leave myself. Mary called out when she saw this and asked out loud, "A nice song please, Shawn." I took a step back and sat again. I played a slow romantic song that was best played with just two people. The song put me in the mood and I made another song as I played it. At the end I bowed to the applause and went back to our table. Sofia held my hand because she felt the song was for her and Mary thought the same. We called it an early night and the girls clustered around me as we walked out of the large dining room and returned to our suite. This time the clothes were hung carefully and they all went into the bathroom, then for a partial shower. Mary wanted to go sleep in another bed but I said, "Your place is here Mary. Others will have their periods too. Just bring a towel if necessary and change your pad." "You really want me the way I am?" "You are my wife. How would you be any different? Now hurry up or you will miss out on the action." Mary was on the far right with Liz beside her. Sofia and Rachael came next and Sally was on the bed by Liz's feet. I turned the lights down and lit the fire and began to work on Rachael. The rest were rubbing themselves as they watched what I was doing. I picked up Rachael's legs to her chest and she held them in place as I started to lick the insides of her thighs. When I got to her mons she had a small orgasm so I let it finish before I continued. I licked her opening and nibbled her inner lips then her small bud. A much greater orgasm followed. When she calmed down a bit I moved up and slipped into the woman I loved. With well practised strokes I hit all the important spots as I licked and sucked on her breasts. Sofia had an orgasm the same time Rachael did. My partner went rigid and held me very tightly as she tried hard to not scream out her joy. She relaxed and I moved slowly to prolong the feelings. When she was finished this orgasm and not quite into the next, I backed out and move over to Sofia. She too was quick to respond to my tongue. Beside me Sally was eyeing her sister as she had her legs in a similar position. Sally made a decision and moved up to her sister and kissed the inner thighs in the same way I was doing now. When I moved to the inner lips the girl did as well. She saw me use my tongue and suck on Sofia's clit so Liz then got the same treatment. Mary was speechless at this activity. She wanted her daughter to marry a man one day and have children, not do what she was now doing and live a life as a lesbian. Then she remembered that she too had done similar things when she was young and she had turned out heterosexual. She remembered one more thing. She knew I liked to see my girls pleasing themselves so Mary decided to leave her younger daughter alone. I abandoned Sofia for a moment with an apology and got off the bed. Walking around the other side I picked up Sally, who was now looking at me very worriedly. I gave her a kiss and held her to me as I sat on a comfortable chair not far from the bed. "Sweetheart, I am not angry at you but I would rather you were off the bed when I make love to the others. If you want to kiss them or do things, then that is fine with me but not when I am here. I am only one man and can't be expected to take care of a lot of ladies by myself. They have to help one another and maybe you can help too." "Will you stay here and watch Sweetheart? I will try to spare some time for you to later. I have a new story about a bear and a big snake. Do you want to hear it?" She shook her head energetically and I continued, "Then let me finish making my other ladies happy and I will come back." I move back to Sofia and started from the beginning again. She had cooled considerably while I was away but warmed back up. When I mounted her with her legs over my shoulders she grunted as I pushed forcefully into her. "Rachael, Liz, Lay on her arms and nibble on her nipples for me." Sofia was a too far gone to even take notice of my voice but arched her back when she felt her breasts being attacked. I worked again to stimulate all the pleasure centres of the ladies on the bed and continued with their clits. Mary had her hand inside her panties. Her fingers active and her eyes were closed as she felt the tension building. When she and the others were close I slipped into their vaginas and stroked their 'G' spot gently and soon they were flexing their pelvises trying to get that last little bit to push them over the edge. I enlarged my probes and inserted a larger one into Sofia's vagina. This was too much for them; they thrashed about while poor Sofia was held down and could only take my continued thrusting. Rachael had just enough presence of mind to put her lips over Sofia's to keep the scream down. I slowed my strokes down and eventually stopped. When they came back to normal or as near as they could I moved off the bed again and pulled Liz's naked body over her mother's. After placing her across the foot of the bed I slipped into her and picked her up, as I stood. Her arms went around me and my arms wrapped around her beautiful ass. I started off slow and soon Liz released her tight grip and she was thrown up and down like a doll. Every downstroke she grunted her pleasure as I ensured that her clit was stimulated on my pelvic bone. Again I treated the others to what Liz was feeling such that in only a few minutes they were all thrashing about, curled up with both hands between their legs. Sally to was playing with her small mons inside her pyjamas, trying to get what the others had got. I put Liz down in the chair with her sister and walked to the bathroom to bring out some more towels. The girls were not all there yet so I elevated Mary and slipped the pieces of cloth beneath her. She was coming back and I was able to remove her panties and set her down again. Before she could object or start to feel bad, I slipped between her legs and penetrated her. This time I started out larger and pounded away. Her mind retreated again and it could be only used to collect and experience the sensations coming to her. I thrust into her and her feet came around me to ensure I didn't leave now. My probes went back to work and entered my girls' vaginas and soon their anuses. Rachael and Sofia were rolling about on the bed as they felt themselves being stimulated and when they rolled together they held on as if in a storm and thrashed against each other. I looked at Liz and saw that she had her sister's pyjama bottoms off and was licking and sucking on Sally. The little girl had a visage of a girl in exquisite torment as her hands held tightly to Liz's hair. I timed myself to the little girl so she could have her enjoyment too. I pulled back from the others and continued to thrust into Mary. When Sally was getting close I worked harder on the rest and soon all of them grunted and groaned as they flung themselves over the bed, floor or chair. I allowed my own mounting passion to find release as I thrust even harder into Mary. I lay on Mary for a moment savouring my release and her comfortable body. Everybody was out of it so I just picked Mary's senseless body up with the now soiled towels and took her to the shower. She stayed mentally floating until the water was warm and I stood her up in the tub then allowed her to squat. I cleaned my genitals then allowed the water to gently flow onto her. In a moment she came back and smiled at me then saw my deflated penis. She moved forward and engulfed me till I was hard then moved back and forth to give me back some of what she thought I deserved. With my arms under hers I urged her up and turned her around. When my fingers found her anus she was about to tell me she had never had anyone there before but instead let me have this orifice too. She didn't understand how she opened so easily and so wide. When I slipped in, it was as if I were made for her. She was tight and warm. With my hands reaching around her I was able to pinch her nipples while my insubstantial ones opened her other opening and tormented her clit. Within a minute she was experiencing another orgasm and her muscles tightened so much I had to stop my thrusts but everything else I continued. Later I brought Mary back to the bedroom and laid her on the bed with her well sated future sister/wives. After I picked Liz up I tucked them in and covered them all up. Sally with only her top on watched me intently. I was something that she wanted more than anything else in the world. I picked the girl up and took her to the bathroom and let the spray hit her mons as I cleaned it. She squirmed a little and held my arm tightly. I dried her with a fluffy towel and put her bottoms on. I went into another room and lay with her as I started my new story. Very soon the girl felt safe and happy and a few moments later was sound asleep. I gave her a small kiss and went back to see if I could find a place on the crowded bed. The morning found me out on the advanced slopes even though it was dark. The lights were all out and the lift not working. This allowed me to use my own power unseen as I tried different things with my equipment. With a constant push I was going over a hundred and forty miles an hour and my jumps even unassisted were very long. I slowed after a while because the skis were not up to this kind of punishment. As the dawn approached I made one more run and kept the speed down because I knew I was being looked at. I satisfied myself with making high speed turns and avoiding obstacles. I pulled up the lodge and stored my skis then went in to order breakfast for the family. An older man came up to me after I ordered and introduced himself. He already knew my name from the staff. "Sir Shawn, I am on the Canadian Olympic Skiing Committee. Would you consider skiing for us?" "Thank you but I prefer to watch instead. Skiing would bring me before the public's eye much more than I would like. I admit to being human enough to like the idea and that may be why I try as hard as I do but now we are talking even more people seeing me. Television is now becoming very popular so I would find it even more difficult to go out into a group without being recognized." The man was a little dejected as I took the food and left him standing in place. I got the girls up early with coffee and in one case chocolate. They groused about being woken so early. "Get up women. We have only today to ski and then we have to go home." I got more groans but they did get up and cleaned themselves but stayed naked to eat from a room service meal. Rachael had planned this, hoping I would get interested in them instead of the slopes. It didn't quite work that way and we skied until five. After a good meal we left for Toronto. The girls tried to stay awake but soon succumbed to the effort they had made today and slept. Rachael's home was first and I stopped and took her luggage out and set it on the veranda. I went back to get the girl as her mother came worriedly out of the house. I whispered, "She is tired out. I will take her upstairs to her room. Just keep the door open for us." I carried her upstairs and undressed her as her mother watched from the doorway. I tucked her in and kissed her forehead. I closed the door and said to the mother and now the father, "She skied a lot yesterday and I made sure they did a lot today too. She will be a little stiff tomorrow, just tell her I said to stretch her muscles no matter how much pain she has." I was asked a few questions and I replied as best I could but soon broke off telling them that I had others in the car who also needed to get home. I shook hands and left for the car. Only Sally was awake and I put her in the middle seat with her sister. Sofia was much the same but was a little more awake and didn't need to be carried. I did get her to bed too and said the same thing to her parents that I had said to Rachael's. I carried the last three of my darlings inside and put them on the toilet and controlled their muscles to evacuate themselves then after some wiping put them to bed. Sally stayed awake for a moment so I talked a few minutes then put her to bed too. Though tired myself I worked on a few things that needed to be attended to. I made a list for Mary even though she would be awake tomorrow. Her old car had to be sold and I gave her a list of books to study in my absence. I put in many suggestions and said that she should do only what she could. Rachael and Sofia would be around more to help and to be with family, even if they had not joined it officially yet. The telephone allowed me to talk to the other members of my family who were in different time zones. I talked for almost an hour to Ethiopia, to adults and children alike. Paris and London was too late in the day. I could see the need now to have a machine to answer the phone and record my voice automatically. The phone too was very necessary for business otherwise there was no way I could stay in touch with things. The best I could come up was with a radio that would interface with the phone system. Again I came up with the limitations unless I could put something in orbit like the Russians had done. Bell had tried their own radio telephone out in one city but there seemed to be a lot of criticism of it. Soon after my call I went to bed and curled up with Liz. She snuggled close and I wrapped my arms around her. I slept a little later than usual and hurried to make breakfast. I was just in time for the girls, who had just got up after their long sleep. They were listing to one side because of the pain in their muscles. There were a lot of groans as they had to stretch a bit. When they had awoken enough I said again how I would be gone for a few weeks. Vancouver and Montréal would both require a week each. First Liz then Sally started to cry and I had to tell them that this was normal and they had to get used to it. That was one of the reasons they had to all stick together now. Mary got her list and she read it. Liz got a verbal list that was much shorter. They would be busy when I was gone and that was what I intended. I sympathised but told Liz that her mother only had one more week to work after which it would be home full time for studies for her. I made more phone calls to Rachael and Sofia telling them that I would miss them till I came back in two weeks. They would find school very different now that I had been there. I walked Liz to school one last time and then took Sally to the sitter. They had more tears but I knew they would get over them. I made it back in time to give Mary a kiss before going to work and gave her money for groceries plus all of the phone charges I had incurred. John and Margarete Du Bois were contacted and we all got ready for our flight. This time we would all be flying together. We met at the airport where I passed out the tickets before we boarded the plane. We discussed more about the dance and singing but had to put up with the cigarette smokers all around us. The least the airline could do would be to have a smoking section so the rest of us would not have to breathe in the same air. The Du Bois' were just as bad, for both went for short walks to the bathroom to get their nicotine fix. Vancouver was a long way away and the flight would be even longer for me. While flying we had raced the sun, so it wasn't too much later in the day when we arrived. I got the performers settled in a hotel and took John and Margarete with me to see about the theatre we were going to be working at. Our scenery had arrived and I talked to the manager about some of the finer points making sure Margarete listened to all of the questions and the answers too. She asked her own questions and this at least showed me that she was not taking a back seat to running the show. ------- Chapter 33 The week went slowly even if the weather was a lot milder on the west coast. I had time to pick out places to build warehouses and learned the important people to contact who would be able to assist me with the next group of businesses. Land was expensive in the city and I knew without a doubt that it would only increase in value with time. The orient had a great attraction for me. The possibilities of doing business, both over there as well as with them over here was an even greater attraction. One of the things that interested me was ship building in Japan. Though some of their products were termed shoddy their ships were not. The shipping line I half owned needed some new bulk carriers and larger ships meant that the same crew could carry many times the usual cargo. Oil was a new commodity that needed to be shipped. The world was using more and more of the finite resource. One day the supply would run out and the price would climb to astronomic levels. Tankers to carry this oil would need to be made very large and would need offshore terminals because their size would be too great to make it into conventional, shallow water, harbours. I negotiated and bought some land with some buildings within the city. They would be able to make a profit for me and begin to pay for themselves. A very nice location was chosen for my west coast home and I began designing the building. I wanted it to harmonize with its setting, disturbing as little as possible the unspoiled wilderness that it would sit in. Half way through the week I went skiing and found that it was not the same without family. The mountains here were very high and the runs much longer. The people were just as nice, or as obnoxious, but I kept to myself and tried to do different things on skis. I invented a single wide ski too that would be like a surfing board to travel on the snow and found that it was much more manoeuvrable and could be handled by just the way the body leaned. The Du Bois' were working out fine and the troupe seemed to get along with them well enough. When the week was over I would monitor them as they negotiated the same process in Montréal. On the long flight east, I worked on designing new engines that were driving our craft and tried to find a way to push the machine even faster. This was self serving, for a trip with less smoke filled hours was my first goal. Selling the design later could also be very profitable. We flew nearby Toronto but later we were even nearer Ottawa on our way to reach our destination. Margarete did a passable job this time and her ability to speak French was a definite asset. I phoned family again and talked about business as my mind teemed with new ideas about setting up shop here in Montréal for the port was open all year long and eastern Canada used imported oil. As in the other cities the show was well received. I wanted to see some of the other shows but that would mean abandoning mine. The Du Bois' were ready to fledge but I wanted to see how they started the next city. We headed south this time and hit Philadelphia just as a snowstorm was approaching. Margarete did well and after the first performance I headed back to Toronto. I was met at the airport by all five girls, even though it was a bit late. I could see some troubles coming, so I drove Sofia and Rachael home first. On the way I talked about the properties I had bought in British Columbia and even provided some pictures. It was a shame that they could not see the colour. The cameras were out there but they were very large and cumbersome. Perhaps one day they would be small enough for the average person to carry around. The girls loved the site and made quiet talk about how they wanted things done. Sally was just glad her new daddy was back and cuddled close. We dropped the girls off and went home. Mary told me that she had sold the old car and put the money towards the mortgage. I complemented her on the idea and asked a bit about her studying. She had for a little over a week been a housewife and liked having Sally home with her. She told me that the two other girls were over all the time studying too and helping her with what she was learning. Liz was kind of quiet and I found out that it was her first period coming on. Mary had deduced the reason and I agreed, but Liz was still upset. "Honey it only means that some day we will be able to have children." We almost had an accident for Liz jumped up from her seat in the back and hugged me tightly. I would have to berate her later for not wearing the seat belt, especially in the city. I stayed for only three days and made another painful farewell as I left for Japan. The flight across the pacific would be long and basically boring. There were a few stops for fuel. Nobody on the flight needed my services as a physician but a young Japanese boy of ten stayed with me more than his father because I spoke his language and of course I was his age and gender. "How can you speak our language so well. You don't look Japanese." "I learn languages easy. How come you can't speak English?" "My father said I should learn but no matter what teacher I get I don't learn very well. My father gets angry at me then." I coached the boy, Nori for a few hours until he got bored and went back to his father to tell him in English how well he was doing. The father who I had met earlier sent his son back with a message. "Shawn, my father would like to talk to you." This was fine but the Japanese are very class conscious and would never think of going to see a boy in a seat further forward. He also did not know who I was. I on the other hand was not really put out by this and went back to see what he wanted. The man had been a captain in the Japanese navy and had a very proper way of looking at things. When I got to the seat he said in Japanese, "Mr. Boz, you have made great strides in teaching my son. Would you consider a job in teaching him more of your ways and your language?" "Mr. Ishida, I thank you for the offer but I have a great deal of work to do in your country. I need your country and I know your country can use my help." The man looked a little perplexed and said, "How is this?" "Sir I am roughly your son's age but already I have started many companies and I am fairly wealthy. I plan to teach some of your engineers how to build much better aircraft engines and then help them build tankers that are many times larger than anything now afloat. While I am at it I will set up an import/export company to sell Japanese products abroad and bring in necessary things that the Japanese need." "Mr. Boz, this takes a lot of money, who will listen to a boy as young as you?" "I am a physician, a university educator, a fairly rich business man, an artist and I have am a minor diplomatic position for my country of Rhodesia. You might have heard of me in the newspapers." The man was shocked now. "Are you that boy that... ? Yes you must be. Forgive me for asking these questions... Sir Shawn." "There is nothing to forgive. I am young and a bit more malleable in my outlook. Talking to Nori or to a company president are the same to me. Children are usually preferred because they are more truthful. May I ask in turn why you have been in Canada?" Japanese people will talk about sex and other intimate things to complete strangers but will not talk business for fear of giving something away that will be used against them or their company. "I was looking for raw materials for our industry." "British Columbia has good wood and metallurgical coal, plus being close to the Alberta oil and the natural gas fields. Ships that could go under the hammer I imagine would also be sought after. Perhaps we can find something that will be mutually profitable. I have a plan for compressing natural gas and once liquefied it can be transported anywhere. Another is to build nuclear powered ships that will not be owned by the military. The American government is behind the construction of the 'Savannah' that will be launched in a few years. At the same time, I plan on designing and building a tanker of at least 400 metres in length, with a 25 metre beam and displace over 500,000 tons deadweight." "How... ? These are very ambitious projects. You would need a shipping company to run them," he said hopefully because he represented one. "Yes I do but I already own one. It is not very big but can be increased in size. I hear that Japan is favoured with many good sailors." "Yes it does. Are you looking for a partner?" "Let's talk about that when we land. The information would be valuable to others. Tell me in general terms about the shipping company you work for." "How do you know this?" "The way your eyes lit up when I mentioned shipping." Mr. Ishida told me many of the things that could easily be found out about his company. His mind gave me the rest of the data. His company was making money, slowly growing but the process was slower than other companies. They seemed to be getting favourable treatment with the American occupational forces in his country. The underworld too was making its inroads and they had to be placated. Basically they were like any other business but the sharks that abounded in these waters were much freer to act. Graft and corruption were still prevalent but a concerted effort was underway to reduce it. Long before our flight ended I was invited to stay at his house in Tokyo, which I gratefully accepted. It was almost midnight when we landed and the rain was falling hard. We walked hurriedly from the plane and along the tarmac to the terminal. Customs checked my papers very well but because I was not on official business for Rhodesia my luggage was only searched perfunctorily. A taxi took us through the streets of Tokyo and I saw the same type of damage I had seen in London, Berlin and many other European cities. There were still great areas that had been completely burned out. If Japan was to become the powerhouse that I believed it would one day be, then the capital city was too disorganized to accommodate the expansion. The only alternative was to build up and down. Public transportation was the other vital ingredient, for this many people living this close together would find difficulty moving even one mile. This would require a city planner with a lot of power for most people were very hesitant about change. The Japanese people were even more so. We pulled up to a small house with a wall around it. It held a small garden and a little pool of water. We stood under the large overhang of the house and removed our shoes. Nori got some of his slippers and gave me an extra pair to put on when inside his home. An older woman came from the back of the house with small shuffling steps, I was sure that she was not even fully awake yet. Mr. Ishida gave some orders and the woman raced quickly to set up a mat for me in a separate bedroom. Tea was made and Nori went to bed after saying goodnight to his father and me. He was very proper and I could see warmth between the two even if most westerners couldn't see it. The housekeeper was an older woman that was more or less rescued after the war and had the duties of keeping the house and watching our for the owner's son. Apparently Nori's mother had died a few years ago and Mr. Ishida had not remarried. We talked for a few hours about how I could use his company. The payoff would not be from me directly but from what we could sell to others. I explained that my devices and projects would be patented or kept secret. His company would get access to some. Certain components I alone would control. Computers were a thing basically unknown and I planned on making them a household article, much the way radios had become and televisions were just starting to do. Before going to bed I was given a name of a man that could get me in touch with many others that would sell me the property I saw on the way here. The next morning I had a small meal and we parted company. Nori had to go to school and his father to work. Finding my contact proved difficult for he was out with prospective customers. Mr. Ichiro proved to be a disappointment and didn't respond to me till I fished his main competitor out of his mind and threatened to go there. I was told that I as a foreigner could not own property without a Japanese partner. The land though was fairly cheap now and I knew it would only grow in value as time passed, like all other bombed out cities. American soldiers were evident everywhere and not all were in uniform. They were easy to spot because of their Caucasian or African American faces. There were still many children on the streets that had no supervision, or a steady flow of meals for that matter. This was a fertile area for the growth of crime and it was evident almost everywhere I went. I stood out like a sore thumb but I was not harassed as yet. I ate with the locals and tried to absorb as much of the feeling I could as to how the country was being run and what was needed to fix it. There were quite a few hard working politicians that had to deal with very conservative nationals as well as the American authorities. The latter wanted things made as democratic as possible, to erode or even take away the power of the Emperor and his supporters. I checked the store shelves to see what was available and saw that there was not that much food. Things had not got back to normal even though the war had been over for quite some time. American aid was still very common and the writing on the larger containers was still in English. Around five I made it back to Mr. Ishida's home and enjoyed a good meal with my host and his son. The housekeeper ate what was left or what she could eat as she made the meal. After the meal I was asked to go to a meeting tomorrow morning to see his immediate supervisor and his boss. There was an impromptu party tonight that served as a way of getting drunk. This was the usual way of seeing how much of a man you were by your ability to handle large quantities of drink. Because of my true age they were hesitant about inviting me. "Yes I will go with you. It will be a good way of finding out more of your customs." A car picked us up in a half hour and dropped us off at a large home on the outskirts of town. It was dark by the time we got there but I could still see the meticulous way which the garden and shrubbery was cared for. A butler met us at the door where we just nodded our heads but bowed to the host, Mr. Hitomi, when he appeared. The Japanese had an entirely different mind set and it was at odds with everything else I had run into. There were too many things that were different to mention from the dominant position of the male to the very close way they banded together to keep outsiders where they were thought to belong. Soon we had many people around us as our host asked me some questions. The usual came first about my qualifications as a doctor or an educator. I asked my own questions even though I already knew the answers. I did not want them to gain too much or for me to loose too much face in their terms. I tried to balance things as equally as possible. Drinks came around and everybody had them. I took mine too and threw it back and took another. This was very strong sake served in warm if not hot in small square wooden bowls. Later in the night pleasure girls came and some of the men drifted off for a while and returned a while later. Their wives would not look at this as wrong for a virile male was supposed to keep a mistress and also perform at parties like this. The only stipulation was that the wife served all formal occasions while the mistress was only for pleasure. "Sir Shawn, tell me about the ideas you want to put into practice." "Let's go to your office to talk then. It is much quieter there." The need for secrecy was foremost in both our minds as we walked into the large room with his second in command. I scanned both men to see their objectives and then scanned the walls. There were two curious magnetic fields that had nothing to do with the electrical power, clocks, telephone, or burglar alarms. The two men did not know about the presence of these articles. I continued to talk in a urbane manner but said nothing really important. I was able to check the locale of the particular microphones. "Mr. Hitomi do you have a sheet of paper, some tape and a pen please." "Certainly, Sir Shawn." Once I had them I drew an arrow and ripped the paper off then drew one more. I put my finger to my lip in the universal way of asking for silence. I started talking myself and went to the two spots and taped the paper so that the arrows pointed at the slightly visible microphones. I went back and against custom used my hand to pull my host over to see each of the mechanisms for picking up his voice and about any deals he would make in this room. He was about to blow up when I shook him and glared. The man stopped to think and I said, "Let's go out to your garden before I begin. I can tell a lot about a man from the way he treats his staff and his property." Mr. Hitomi gathered his voice and said, "Yes that is a good idea." We put on our overcoats but the rain had already stopped. Once in the garden Mr. Hitomi was quite indignant that I had laid hands on him. Before he could talk, even if it was not about being touched, I said, "If I didn't touch you then you would not know about the microphones and you would tell the people listening to our conversation that you were aware of their activities. It may be better to feed them information that will harm them instead of feeling good about ripping out the wires right away." "How did you know of the microphones existence?" "You are a fairly wealthy man and in a country that is more like the American west where the only law is the gun. Here it is not much different but the gun is your company's ability to stay alive. It only makes sense to listen to your plans and to do so in the place that is usually your sanctuary. This is your house and you should do what you want. Just think first like a wise man would instead of a wounded man that has his home violated. "To answer your questions; I want large double hulled ships. This requires new dry docks and larger yards. This also means that you build the ship in large sections and large cranes pick up the pieces and fabricate a ship much more quickly than you would ever believe. The ships will be so large that there will have to be floating terminals off the coast to safely moor the ships and to take the cargo. "Eventually other ships will be nuclear and we will build the reactors along with my companies in Ethiopia. Some ships will carry liquefied natural gas from the western shore of North America to markets here. I have developed a safe way of doing this. I must also make a pipeline from Alberta to the sea, for this venture and more. "I have done my research today and know that you cannot afford to bankroll much of this venture. My name is good and I could probably get a hundred million American dollars for this venture but I am hoping for the Americans and Canadians to finance the structure on their shores." "This is very important news Sir Shawn. Why are you telling us?" "Simple, you are fighting for your company's life and I can be a partner that supplies most of the new capital and some engineering that you will not find anywhere else. My ships will be stronger, cheaper to run and faster than any ever built. You give me the manpower and the equipment to make them. You get to use the enlarged and modernized yards. You also suffer from organized crime. That I can take care of too. It is a given that your office will be similarly wired. Tomorrow I want you to start an electronics company. We will be partners with me having fifty one percent of the shares. I will make a list and begin next week hiring workers to make devices that will find these vermin hiding in your walls." "You want me to finance this company and make a product that is probably already on the market?" "You finance half the company and the competition is a cumbersome device that needs a suitcase to carry around. Mine will be the size of larger package of cigarettes." "What about your reference to our gangsters?" "First I am trying to help you in this matter and help myself too. I can get rid of the gangsters on my own, but sadly you may just think that I am too powerful and my word will be law. That is not to be so, we will be partners and I am just doing this to clean our new house. Now let's talk more about what you have to offer and how much I will have to pay, for I will own fifty one percent of your ship building company too." Both men moved back a step as if I were trying to take it by force. "Mr. Hitomi, you need the money to keep your company going I am just trying to buy my way in. You will not loose any money for soon you will own half of a much larger company instead of all of a small one." "Did Ishida become your man?" "I met him and his son for the first time on the plane flying here. I knew nothing about your company nor much about Japan itself. If I had not found you and your company I would have found others that I would buy a share of. You still have the option of saying no, but I will still take care of the organized crime as a way of expressing my appreciation for this evening's hospitality from good Japanese people." We stayed out another three hours and came upon a price. I had to show the grey lining of their silver assets. When we were done we were both satisfied with the price we arrived at, although I had to still deliver on my plans and the cash. Before re-entering the home I said, "Let's keep our secret a secret a bit longer. There may be hidden microphones at any place in the house." "Yes that is a good idea, Sir Shawn." We came in cold and damp from the late night air but in good spirits. The invited gentlemen were laying about on the furniture in various states of inebriation. Of the women, there was no sign. Two older women had come in and when the men were not looking cleaned up what they could. The smell of vomit was in the air faintly and all I could detect was a damp area on the small rug. A woman of almost sixty came out from the kitchen, came close then bowed her head and waited to be noticed. "What is it Echiko?" "Your daughter has been calling for you sir." Mr. Hitomi was starting to be very worried and said, "Thank you Echiko." He turned to us and said, "Excuse me a moment gentlemen," and started up the wide steps to his daughter Juni's room. I could tell that his daughter was quite sick and all the prognoses he had gotten for her were very poor. "Mr. Hitomi," I said as he was half way up, "I am a physician. Is there something that I may assist you with?" The man paused with his back straight. He wanted help but was very proud. It was looked on as a sign of weakness for him ask. The prospect of getting one more person telling him that his daughter was in trouble hurt but the possibility of the opposite was also there but very dim. "Please come Sir Shawn." I raced up the stairs and was with him as we got to the top. He walked down the hall to the far door on the left, which was slightly open. Mr. Hitomi slid the door open all the way and I saw an older woman on her knees beside a mat. A girl I could not see was behind the woman but I did see her aura. It was the type Lusa and now Mary had, but was considerably brighter. I knew without looking that she would be have to be my wife one day. We were linked in some way and there was nothing I could do about it. My host got to his daughter on the other side of the pallet. He started to talk to her as he too got on his knees and held her hand. The woman shuffled back to give them some room and the father asked how she was feeling now. She replied that she was fine but pain stabbed through her body and she was forced to wince. Her father noticed this and knew the truth. "Juni I have brought another physician. He is young but is very knowledgeable." "Please father, I don't want to see another doctor. They all say the same thing and I can't take it any more. Ask him to leave." "It is too late, for he is here now," he said as his eyes came to me. Juni turned her head and saw me for the first time. Her heartbeat increased dramatically and she started to say unintelligible things to her father. She was very afraid now and thought I was here to take her into the land of the dead. She was actually able to perceive my own aura and through her mind I saw how mine glowed very brightly, even to hiding the area of the room behind me. Her eyes had to close and her other hand come up to shade her eyes. "Fa... father I am not ready to die yet. He will take me from you." "Nonsense he is..." "Mr. Hitomi, please leave your daughter for a moment and come into the hall. She is very upset at seeing me and I will tell you why." The man placed his daughter's hand back down and got up with a lot of aches and pain but tried to hide all of them. I turned and walked further from the room followed by Mr. Hitomi. "What is all this about Sir Shawn?" "This may be difficult for you to understand or accept Hitomi san, I have an ability most others do not possess. Everybody has an aura or a cloud of energy streaming from them and I possess the ability to see this if the emanations are strong enough or if the other person is in-tune with me. I can see your daughter's aura very clearly and she for the first time can see mine. This appears to be very bright to her and the only thing she can think of is a deity coming to take her away." "That can't be. You are not spirit. Are you?" "No, I am all too human, but my aura is still visible to her. This has serious repercussions for all of us. For her to see me means we are linked, she to me and me to her. I see others and try to leave them even as I am pulled. I am afraid your daughter will seek me out and in all honour I have to tell you that I will seek out her. I have only seen a few people that have such a strong auras and this means we are fated to be together always." Suspicion came to his mind, "Have you been planning this? You are trying to take over my family and my business?" "On my honour, I have not searched out information until after I met Mr. Ishida on the plane. I only knew in passing about your daughter but knew nothing of her age or condition. You have a decision to make. Send me away now and you can complete the business deal or not. It is up to you. The other choice is to ease your daughter's mind and tell her that I will only try to keep her with you. What ever you decide about business or your daughter, I give you now my honourable word that I will try my best to cure her. I also predict that she will come increasingly attached to me no matter what I do." "I don't believe this is possible but I want to see if you can help us. Let me go in first then I will call you." "Yes Hitomi san, that sounds best." He went in alone and talked to his daughter. "The doctor tells me you see something. Tell me what you saw." "Father, he is a spirit sent to take me away. Did you send him away? I saw a very bright light coming from him. It was very difficult to even see him clearly because of it." "His name is Sir Shawn. He is of British ancestry, coming recently from Rhodesia. He is a good doctor as I said and he tells me that no matter what you think, he is here to keep you out of the spirit world. Will you trust him? He is a man of honour I believe." "Father he is going to take me, I know it." "Daughter I want the man to see you." The girl quaked with fear and the father saw that the best way was to get this over fast. "Come in Sir Shawn." The girl curled into a ball when her fear became so great. I walked in and the girl's eyes got wide as I sat in the area the older woman had just vacated. I reached out and touched her forehead and she instantly went to sleep. As the girl collapsed the father asked excitedly, "What did you do?" "She is only sleeping. The excitement is bad for her." I looked over the girl's face and saw she was pretty but would gain more beauty as she did her years. "Mr. Hitomi, I need to do an examination and this will require me to remove her clothes. May I do this?" The man paused in thought. It was not right to display his daughter's body, especially to a relative stranger. It was not right for the father to look on his daughter after she reached a certain age. He also knew that I was a doctor and needed to see and even touch his unprotected daughter. "Do what you must Sir Shawn." I asked the girl's nurse to remove the girl's clothing and the woman looked at the father if this was what he commanded. The man only nodded his head before standing to step outside. Only after he had departed did the woman begin. When she was done the girl was covered with a light blanket. The old nurse was gently moved to the girl's feet as I pulled the blanket to the waist. When I touched the neck the girl moved in her sleep and her nipples became very prominent. This was not lost on the witness. I checked the various areas of the body keeping away from the erogenous ones. The girl had a small tumour on her brain and this was what gave her the ability to perceive my aura. Another four tumours were in her thoracic cavity and yet another within her pelvis. The last one had been there the longest and was effectively rendered her sterile. This was the father's first big concern, that he would have no grandchildren. His two boys had died in the war and he had no wish to begin with a new woman and children. The horror had grown as the man slowly found out that the cancer had spread and was considered inoperable now. I turned the girl over and saw how thin she was and how little reserves of strength she possessed. There were a few more problems but most had to do with her being in bed such a long time. I was drawn to the girl as if by a magnet and had to turn the girl over again and cover her up. I stood and so did the nurse. "Cover her, I must speak with her father." When I walked into the hall he was nowhere to be seen, so I followed my instinct until I came across him. "I find myself drawn to you daughter very much and can't really help myself. I do have good news for you though. I can remove all six tumours and ensure that she regains her fertility." "She has only four Sir Shawn and these were found with an x-ray machine." "There are four in her chest, one in her brain and the last next to her uterus. The bad news is that I must spend a long time curing her and in the process she and I will become irreparably attached. For your part I sympathise. If I save her she will be mine, if I leave her now she will die in a year or less." "Why do you say that Sir Shawn? I get my daughter to regain her life." "I am not Japanese and that makes you uncomfortable at best. I imagine you have traced your ancestors back a long time and now you see your line polluted." The man stiffened at this statement, then realising that he was taking it as an accusation not simply a statement, unbent a fraction and just nodded his head. "You are right Sir Shawn. I thought I had kept it better hidden. At least this way I will get to have my daughter alive if what you say is right." "She will live to an old age failing accidents. There is one more piece of bad news for you. When I was much younger I married a native girl of my country. She was murdered and I killed many men to avenge her. My country did not want interracial marriages and when I had the chance I forced them to recognise our union even if she were already dead. Since then I have overcome my loss and started new families. Women, some with children have become attached to me for security and comfort. The children have been given my name but none could be mine genetically for I cannot produce seed yet. The women are my wives even if the union is not sanctified by state or religion. "Your daughter would be an equal among the other women and the present children along with the future ones, will all be treated equally as well regardless of who fathered them. I will never marry again for if I did it would show that I show preference of one over another." The man just turned now and walked away trying to get a grasp on this situation. Caucasians had conquered his country and now he was seeing his own family vanquished. If the boy could really cure Juni then a living daughter as a mistress to a boy like this was preferable. Juni was always head strong and if she didn't want the boy then this would solve the problem. "Sir Shawn if you can cure my daughter and she wants you then you have my blessings. Just..." He stammered a bit then stopped. "I will do my best for her now and for her after she recovers. Like you, I think family is very important. Please call the nurse out and leave your daughter and me alone. Tomorrow I will get some supplies." "How long will this take?" "The best doctors must have given your daughter only eleven months. I believe four weeks will get the tumours removed and her started on recovery." I walked with the man back to the room. He called the nurse out and sent her to the servant's quarters. When the sliding door was closed I took off my clothing and got under the covers with Juni. She seemed to snuggle closer to me, even though she was deeply asleep. The blood supply around the tumours was restricted to just keep the healthy tissue alive. Like Mary it was an exhausting process and I didn't allow myself to stop till it was done. Individual cancerous cells that had escaped were tracked down and destroyed. My coming was none too soon for it looked like the cancer was starting to spread very quickly. By morning I was done the preliminary work and was too tired to leave. I just slept for two hours until I got up and prepared for my breakfast. Juni I picked up and took out to relieve herself. As usual I had to control her muscles and clean her after. I got her back to bed and myself dressed as her father came to get me. I opened the door and the man stepped back for the odour was not what he expected. He looked at me and saw a person that hand been under a great physical or mental strain. "How is she Sir Shawn?" "She will live. Today she will be sick and vomit and void blood and dead cells. The nurse will be alarmed at this." "How is this possible, you have no supplies?" I simply opened my pouch and took out the surgical supplies out of one pocket and the pharmaceuticals out of another." We had a quiet breakfast and after it he asked, "Sir Shawn, would you like to take a bath. The servants can prepare one for you." "Mr. Hitomi, I need a bath desperately and so does your daughter. As a partner and a businessman I am Sir Shawn. To my friends I am simply Shawn. Could you overcome your hate for my people enough to accept me as one of your friends?" He was honest enough to say, "I will try. More effort will be used when I see that my daughter is truly recovering." "That is fair enough for me. In relation to our business venture will you arrange a meeting with the Development Bank and the Export Bank? The sooner I can get the loan the sooner we can get started." "Is the money that important to you... Shawn? Everybody I know in business is driven by it or the power it brings." "I should let you see my books. You will find that my profits are split roughly equally between building the company and to helping the poor. I admire the way a Japanese company takes care of its employees as if they are family. I try the same but have to delegate the part of assisting Hitomi san." "That is a thing I was wondering about. I usually take a long time to find out about the people I deal with. This time I only got a few pages of information. That is no where near enough to base a partnership on." "Perhaps, like your daughter you can sense my aura and feel confident in your decisions. I like to think of myself as a man of my word but for you I think you should wait a while without judging to find out the truth." Mr. Hitomi left for work and the servants filled a large tub with water. This time it was lower because I picked up Juni and brought her into the tub with me. The nurses Kochiyo and Maeko were scandalised by my behaviour. I talked to them as I bathed Juni and myself. I explained that her tumours were now dying and either I removed them or let nature take its course and her body would do the rejecting for me. Maeko volunteered to clean my hair while Kochiyo did Juni's. When we were done both of us were doused with clean warm water and I stood up with Juni in my arms. Kochiyo asked, "Why is Juni not awake. Water is enough to do this." "She is frightened of me and I am keeping her asleep now so that I can take care of her. Soon she will vomit blood from both ends of her. This is normal and is part of what the body will do to get rid of the bad cells I killed. Soon I will have to awaken her and both of you will have to take care of her for me." Maeko scurried off to change Juni's bedding. When we were both dried by Kochiyo, I took Juni to the washroom and got both women to get dry and damp towels to clean Juni. Stepping outside for a moment, I used my theatrical touch again and Juni slowly awoke to see her two nurses and then felt her stomach heave. Dark blood came out and was cleaned up. The girl was quite concerned with this but the nurses had been expecting this and calmed her. By the time her stomach had emptied I worked on her anus and blood and stool came out. She was again cleaned after which she was put back to bed. She asked immediately, "Where is that spirit that came for me?" "Oh he is down the hall I suppose waiting for you to get dressed. He was holding you naked all night I think and then in the bath. Do you feel different between the legs Juni?" Juni thought for a moment and said, "No, I just feel sick but I feel better too. I don't know how to explain it." "The man said the things in your body are now dead. He killed them for you. He explained that you have to eat and drink a lot to build your strength." "How did he do this? The others couldn't do it." "I heard part of his talk and he talked of magical things. I don't think he is a spirit but he may have one inside him. He is British I think and I don't really trust them but this one seems to be worthy." "What magical things did he talk about?" "He said that you can see light coming from his body and he can see it coming from yours. I didn't hear it too well but he thinks that the two of you are tied together now and he is only a boy. Did you see the light child?" "Yes, it was so bright I could hardly see him. That is what made me so frightened. Will he come back?" Maeko said, "I think he will and soon. His clothes are beside your bed." Juni reached over and felt the fabric and brought the shirt to her nose. "Go call him Maeko. I want to see him now." "He is naked child." "That is good, no I mean, then he can't hide, can he?" Maeko got up and came out to the long hallway and found me sitting half way down. She didn't have to say anything and I came back up the steps and walked with her to Juni's room. I walked in and stood far enough away with my aura held mostly under wraps. I raised my arms and turned around so she could get a good look at me. "My nurses say that you have cured me. Is that true?" "Your tumours are dying as we speak. You body is removing them slowly but I may have to remove the larger portions to be safe. After that I have another job to do on your reproductive organs. You will need to have at least two children but I think you will have four." "I cannot have children," she said a little haughtily. "You were also told you would not get better. Soon your father's ears will ring with your complaints and he will be angry at me at curing you so quickly." "I will not. I am a very dutiful daughter." "That you may be but you will also tell him everything you see wrong. From your new house guest to the taste of the food." "Who is the new guest?" "Me." She changed the subject, "What happened to the light I saw last night?" "I am a magician as your nurses said. The effect was dampened like when you put your hands around the light of a candle." "I don't believe that. You are only a boy." "Then watch as I bring my light out Juni." The girl watched and started to cover her eyes but the image went through it to her brain. I eased back again and the girl looked at me in awe. "Are you a spirit?" "No just a special young man," I said as I walked around her and started to put on my clothes. When I was done I sat down as close as I could without displacing her nurses. "You are the only person that I have ever met that could see my aura. It is nice to see that others have this ability but it may have to do with the tumour that was in your brain. I will find out before I have to leave." I saw that she was still not sure of this and asked, "Are you hungry yet?" The woman stopped to think and said, "Yes," she smiled then, "yes I am. I haven't been hungry for years." "That is a good sign. Soon I will be able to take you out to eat." "You presume too much. Why would I want to go out and eat with you?" "Because you want to be with me. At first it will just be because you want to find things out. You don't even remember my name." "Well, you come into my bedroom glowing so hard that you frighten me. It is easy to forget a name, especially one that I never heard before." "Forgive me then. My name is Shawn Boz. I have British ancestry and I was born in Rhodesia." I went on and gave her some of my early life without going into too much detail. Ten minutes later I said, "Let me go down stairs and make some food for you. Otherwise you will go hungry till your father comes home." "You would do woman's work?" "Yes I do. It is a joy to make good food and another to eat it. The only woman's work I know of is to bear children and feed them. I have used a bottle enough to feed the little ones to make even that job not quite a woman's any more." I went down stairs and started the fire and made some of Juni's favourite foods. I drank some tea as I was doing this and soon found Maeko watching what I was doing in her kitchen. I had made lots of food. I took a tray and brought the food back upstairs. Maeko followed me and I sat in her spot and took out the chopsticks and fed her like a baby. "I can feed myself Shawn Box." "You probably can but I enjoy feeding you as much as you like me feeding you. Open up here is one of my favourites." I popped another piece into her mouth and she chewed, savouring the taste. "You don't cook too badly. Maybe I should keep you for a while to give my nurses a rest." "Why thank you my lady." I looked at Kochiyo and said, "Open your mouth. The woman did as I asked and she didn't even see the food fly from the chopsticks and into her mouth. I looked at Maeko and she did the same and the same thing happened. "I feel like a momma bird and enjoy doing this." The women accepted this odd practice because I was a guest. They didn't know how I was so accurate all the time but took it as natural after a while. The lone teapot was brought out. I used a chopstick and a rapid gesture and produced four cups one after the other. When they were filled with tea I handed them to the others and they sipped them. We talked a little more and I got up. "Ladies will you take our charge to the washroom. I am going down stairs for a moment." "I don't need to..." then her hands came out frantically and the two nurses took her quickly away. I went out into the garden and admired the simplicity of it. There was a full time gardener and there wasn't too much chance of even a fallen leaf marring the pristine condition of the sand. The women were talking, once they knew I was outside normal earshot. When they were done I went in again. Juni had been changed and I just went to a large chest and picked out some soft blankets. Juni was about to question me when I sat her up and put the blankets around her thin frame. I picked her up quickly with only a small shriek and took her outside. I sat her in the garden by a small pool. She had not been out here for almost six months and enjoyed this spot. I stood by the wide bench with my hand on her shoulder. The two frightened women just stood until I told them to sit on the benches provided. "Why did you bring me here?" "You ask many questions. Hasn't it occurred to you yet that I do this because it will please you?" She said nothing to this remark and leaned against me feeling loved. My hand came up and I played with her long hair. It had not been tended to as it should but would be lustrous soon enough. If she was capable of purring I knew she would have. After an hour of getting all the women to talk about themselves I said, "Juni, is your bum sore yet?" "A little Shawn." "Then let's go inside and you can pee and I can start drawing plans for a ship," I said as I moved the blankets needlessly and picked Juni up. She held on casually this time as if this were the way it should be. In her room I put her back onto her pallet and took back the blankets and put them away. I gave the girl a kiss on the forehead and said, "I have to make some drawings for your dad." The girl was surprised by the kiss because it was not done in her customs but was not adverse to it happening again. "I will be downstairs. Juni was now anxious that I stay with her but controlled herself. She even started to berate herself for starting to feel something for a round eye. In a chest I found paper and brushes as well as a roll of paper. Instead of working, I painted a monochrome picture of Juni sitting in the garden alone and looking at something in the distance. The new Juni had recovered much from the ravages of her sickness. Her pose showed serenity and of her acceptance of what life was going to bring her. When this was done I started on the outline for the large tanker I envisioned. The different features were brought out but the basic idea of shipbuilding had not really changed. As a comparison I drew other ships that were well known and compared them in size to the tanker. I took a break and made our noon meal because I knew everybody would be hungry. I was just finishing up as Kochiyo came in to start. "You are too late. I made it already. We will all be eating at the table this time." "Yes sir." Juni spread her arms as I picked her up and carried her downstairs. We all sat around a low table on the rice mats and started to eat. This was not usually the case for the women and children to eat in this way. A guest or the head of the household would be served while the women ate in the kitchen. Kochiyo stopped eating first and looked behind me at the picture on a small pedestal. Soon the others noticed her reaction and looked as well. Juni could see it well if she turned enough. In a moment she turned back to her meal and just put her chopsticks down and put her hands in her lap. She was both embarrassed and pleased at the picture. Nobody had ever painted her before and she didn't know how to deal with it. After a moment I asked, "Is my food that bad that you don't want to eat it?" "It is not that. I... I just wondered why you drew me?" "Because it pleases me to see you happy and it pleases me to see your likeness. You won't get like the girl in the picture unless you eat more." After the meal I showed her my tanker and she loved it, mainly because it looked like a picture as opposed to a technical drawing. "The ship I will draw this afternoon will be for carrying liquefied natural gas. It is so cold that steel gets very brittle and I have to use aluminium. The aluminium I want produced here if I can and the electronics in Ethiopia." Juni said, "I heard of that country. It is very poor and the people starve sometimes. They do not know how to make devices for a ship." "You were right once but I own some companies there and they have already started manufacturing the parts for me. They may not go fast yet but they certainly do good work." "What can they make?" "Oh, they will make things that you have never even heard of soon. There will be a machine that will follow thousands if not millions of simple instructions. It will fly an aeroplane or go into an automobile. I will use it to allow my employees to guide many companies at once." "Is this machine a spirit, to do this?" "No Juni. During the last war the Germans had a simple machine for codes that did many simple instructions too. You have an abacus that allows you to add and subtract very quickly. For a shorter period we have had the slide rule. Soon you will be able to do many calculations in seconds on a small device in your hand that a mathematician would take hours to perform. My ships will all have safety devices that will also help them go faster than ships now travel and with greater accuracy. Another thing I plan on doing is to launch satellites into space that will be much better than the Russian or American variety. You will just pick up a special phone and could talk to me from any place on the earth's surface." "You can't do that. Nobody can do those things." "You are getting better and in a week will be walking in the garden with me. That too you would have said that this would be impossible. You saw the plans for a ship that the world has not seen yet. It will be built in record time by your father and his people. In the process I will make Japan a leader in ship building and in heavy industry. Tokyo will become a city of many millions of people. They will live happily in large buildings that will be safe from earthquakes. You will live on the top of one of the largest and help me oversee and empire that will be the envy of almost everyone on earth." The girls were following my words as I planted images of what I thought would happen in our future. Juni shook herself and said, "That is an impressive dream. I only wish that it were true. I even saw myself at a large desk talking to government leaders and moving thousands of millions of dollars as if they were nothing." "I imagine a vision like that would have children in the room with you. Were their features the same as yours?" The girl-woman just opened her mouth and stared at me. "Yes, come to think of it they did. One's name was... How did you know there would be children in my imagery?" "We are linked in some way. It is what I would have wanted to see if I were you." ------- Chapter 34 I left soon after and went to a medical supply service and purchased some equipment that I would need. I could work without it but it was good to have around to show that the operation was indeed done with its assistance. There were only minimal problems in getting the equipment because none was restricted. My passport had to be shown before I was believed enough at first. The sale to someone that was only nine years old was odd to say the least. In a small park I sat on a damp bench and cast my eye out over the city. In my mind I tried to visualize how it could one day be without destroying any buildings already rebuilt. This would be an even more difficult undertaking than building ships that had never been built before. I could imagine the future with a very large subway system that covered much of the city. The tunnels would provide malls like the one in London but much longer than a simple a hundred miles. Mine would even have four levels. High above on the surface I saw parks and buildings suited to the way peoples lives should be run. Time and intransigence would be my biggest enemies in this venture. Japan needed Tokyo rebuilt and this venture would take long to complete. Japan was rooted in the past and it would be hard to get the country to take on a new point of view. If this could be accomplished then all I had to do was make the plans and sit back as the builders ran with my ideas. Tokyo had a great many ugly buildings on streets that spread out like a spiders web. The streets themselves were narrow and winding. They travelled around hills and might make the city memorable but was very difficult for anybody to navigate. If I had been born sooner, I could have been on hand just after the war to get the city straightened out. Now the job would be much more difficult. I could see some buildings and none were over ten stories high. Most buildings were made of wood and had been torn down easily. The same ugly kind of structures went back up though. The city seemed to be a uniform grey and was quite depressing to me. A taxi took me to the ship yard, by Tokyo Bay. The doorman was very adamant that I was not to enter till I explained that I had business inside. Mr. Ishida bowed very low. I found that he had heard that I was to be a half owner in the future. "Mr. Ishida, I am still the young man you met on the plane. In some cases it is important to show position but I was hoping we could drop that formality when we are alone. How is Nori doing?" "He is doing... fine Sir Shawn. He asked about you yesterday." "Please tell him that I am doing fine and will be living with Mr. Hitomi for a while until his daughter has recovered." "Sir Shawn,... I heard that she will not get better." "Other doctors are not me. Soon she will be up and around and in a few months I want her to start tennis lessons and swimming." "She will completely recover now?" He said as if my remarks were just dreams. "I believe so. I also came to thank you for offering me a place to stay at your home but I am needed elsewhere for the next little while." "You are very welcome Sir Shawn. Would you like me to send your luggage to Mr. Hitomi's home?" "I would rather pick it up myself and talk a moment to your son. Perhaps I can take him with me on occasion to further his education." "I would like that very much and so would my son. Thank you very much for the offer." Mr. Hitomi was just getting out of a small meeting with his accountants and I met him soon after. "Hello Sir Shawn. Would you care to have a seat and enjoy some tea?" "Thank you sir. I came to tell you that your daughter has regained her appetite and much of her wit. She sat outside in your garden today with the nurses and me. She needed no support and her headaches are greatly diminished." The man smiled and bowed to me very low to me. "Thank you sir Shawn I... " "You are very welcome sir," I said as I walked across the room and pointed to a small lamp with a small dark spot on the base that didn't quite match the others. "Would you be so kind to show me some of your facilities?" The man had come with me and I pointed out the suspicious spot then walked around the room further. "Ah, certainly," he said. "Would you like to go now? I don't have any meetings for a while." "Yes that would be nice. If you don't mind me making an observation, your offices could use a little decoration and I am sure your employees would enjoy having their spirits lifted by a brighter coat of paint and perhaps work harder for you then." I shook my head in the affirmative and Mr. Hitomi said, "That would be a good idea. It would make me feel better too." In the next minute I found one more microphone and pointed it out to Mr. Hitomi. In the hallway I said, "If you don't mind Mr. Hitomi, I would like to see some of the rooms that you would like to have secure from competitors. The redecorating will also remove all the microphones but by then we can give them some information that could hurt them. Perhaps you can put up for sale a small business. You tell somebody in confidence that it makes millions of pounds a year in profit. Our listeners will come forward and buy this business at an inflated price." "I will think on this idea and perhaps divulge many things before the microphones are removed." We walked down the hall and into a few rooms and I searched each of them to find any listening devices. A board room and a small meeting room off of engineering were the only ones that had more devices. In the engineering department Mr. Hitomi introduced me as a very honoured guest, after which he advised me that I should be able to get anything I needed. I talked to the three engineers and saw that one man was wholly inadequate for the job and the other two were only marginal at best. A large draughting board did draw me to it. I put a large sheet of paper on it and then drew freehand some of the ideas I wanted to incorporate in the large ships I planned on building. This particular one was to provide a desalination process that would provide clean water from the waste energy of the diesel engines. Later it could be used on a nuclear powered ship, if we were ever able to get some made. More systems were added including radar and sonar. I didn't mention the radio that would also transmit to a satellite overhead that would also keep track of the ship at all times. When we got to a secure room Mr. Hitomi said, "Sir Shawn, many of the things you want on the ship have not been even invented yet. Where are these things going to come from?" "Ethiopia and the electronic business here that I asked you to help me start. I have the circuits in my head now. The problem is that I want them many times smaller and that means that I have to make machines to make other machines to make the parts. A few days after getting my machines made I will be able to show you how I can cut thick steel with light alone." "That is impossible... I would like to see this device. Do the American's now of this device?" "It is only in my mind at present. I should be able to sell machines or the technology after we get an edge with its use. Picture a large steel plate for our ships that is cut to within a thousandths of an inch." "That is fantastic. So you are saying only we will have this technology?" "For a while, yes. There are too many spies and government agents to keep this a secret long. Were you able to get an appointment with the two banks?" "Again we have two meetings. One is for tonight and the next is for tomorrow afternoon. I will have to be with you I believe. They do not have my confidence in you yet." After work, I went home with Mr. Ishida to get my clothing and talk for a few minutes to Nori. I stayed for only a half hour as I had the meeting later with the bankers. I had to promise Nori that I would come back to talk again from time to time. Mr. Hitomi was sitting with his daughter Juni when I arrived. He had asked some very pointed questions and was not too happy with the answers. Juni was starting to stand up for herself again as she used to do before she became too sick to do so. It seemed that his idea of getting Juni to reject me was not bearing quite the response he sought. His eyes did brighten when the doorman allowed me in. The taxi stayed on the street with my luggage just in case. "Sir Shawn, you have performed a miracle. My daughter is recovering." "Yes she is Mr. Hitomi but there are a few places that need a very delicate touch now or Juni will still have problems." I smiled at the girl and she just bowed her head to me as if she were the very obedient daughter she tried to be. "Two large tumours still have to be removed and I brought some equipment to the house to do it. After talking to your daughter, have you decided about where I will stay? In any case I will still do my best to have Juni fully recover." "You will stay here of course. My daughter is still ill and as my future partner I have to help you adjust to a different country." Juni's eyes came up at this. "I thank you sir. I would like your permission and your daughter's to purchase some properties and place them in her and my name. Your laws state that I cannot own land here in my own name." "What is this land for?" "I want to buy a large area here in Tokyo and eventually start on a building that will be the headquarters of my companies here in the east. I have allotted thirty million dollars to this alone. If I could, I would spend a thousand times that and straighten out the city the way it should be." "Thirty million dollars is a very great sum of money. You can purchase square miles of property now. What would you do with the rest of the city if you bought it?" "Fabricate a gigantic cement plant and build underground homes that will line the tracks where electric trains will bring people into the city. The surface will be a large park. Beneath the surface you will have cooled air in the summer and warm air in the winter. I own a very large building in London that has many businesses on different levels. This would be a much greater undertaking but it is still feasible. With the city planners I would make straight roads that will bring in everything the city will need as it grows. Before the end of the century I think this city will grow to at least ten million and be about two hundred and fifty square miles in size. This means that we have to have a way of transporting most of the population every day. This also means public transportation because private vehicles would make this city a hell on earth." Mr. Hitomi said, "The city the way you see it will still have the problems we now have. Will it really grow that large?" "If I have my way, Japan will be a world power but by leadership in business. Ships, consumer goods, automobiles, aeroplanes and heavy equipment will be our strengths. Ethiopia will have the electronic industry and Rhodesia will have space if the country can pull itself together and if I can find the money to get the ball rolling." "Space?" Asked Juni even though she was supposed to remain silent by her customs. "I will launch satellites that will revolutionise the telephone industry. You will be able to talk to anyone on the earth as I said this morning but you could be on the top of a mountain when you wish to speak and the opportunity will be there for you. Later I will have metal shipped from Japan and with electronics from Ethiopia I will make a habitat in orbit around the earth and perhaps even on the moon." None of them spoke for quite a few minutes. For a while Mr. Hitomi thought all the words I spoke to him only conveyed my dreams. When he took some of the ideas one at a time they appeared rational and well thought out. The part about going to space was too much to take though. Nobody would be able to go to the moon for at least till the end of the century if then. "I don't know what to think Sir Shawn. Your dreams are so vivid that I can almost see them myself. I am afraid this world you are making will need too many new discoveries for even you to accomplish." I went out and had the taxi drop off my luggage and I gave him a generous tip for waiting. I brought the items upstairs and put them in a bedroom the furthest possible from Juni's room. Mr. Hitomi's driver took us to a men's club in the Marunouchi district that night. This was the major but not the only financial district of Tokyo. It was just east of the Imperial Palace. A doorman opened the car door, Mr. Hitomi got out and I followed. We were escorted inside by a doorman into what looked like a garish nightclub. There we were greeted by some very influential people. Most were in finance but many were in manufacturing as well. This party was not for us but we were just invited as a way of seeing what we were like in a social setting. Mr. Hitomi had his honour on the line by bringing me here. He was more or less sponsoring me. Mr. Sakamoto was a thin grey haired man that felt a bit above the rest. He was a high ranking supporter of the Emperor but had barely escaped being deposed from his position by the American military. This was done to most of the old elite to keep the old aristocracy from hindering efforts at modernisation. Mr. Baisotei was next. He was heavier set and appeared jolly. He hated the idea of an occidental entering his club and trying to enter their financial game of power in this country. This was all done behind a smiling face and cordial words. Mr. Hanabusa was about the oldest man in the room and you would think the most conservative but he had a chuckle in his mind at seeing me. He had studied me fairly well and knew that the whole town might be shaken to the foundations by my appearance and what I would shortly be doing. This man I smiled back to and talked longer to than the rest. He seemed to enjoy my presence as I did his. Eventually he introduced me to Mr. Sugiyama. This man could be seen for the slippery lawyer he was. He like the rest had strong ties to the underworld but this man had more than most. He had little personal power. He could make use of his client's power and did so on many occasions. Mr. Hitomi stood with me all the time, little knowing how sharp the sharks' teeth were. There were quite a few more introductions but no real crime figure was here. Apparently this was just a simple scouting mission and the real bosses were too busy for a small fry like me even if I were considered very rich. We all had a hot bowl of sake and they watched my reaction to the drink. They saw none, as if it were warm water I was drinking. In half an hour the people had got me to drink over a pint of the potent liquid with no ill effects. With a little work I was able to neutralise the alcohol before it affected my mind much. We discussed my goals and immediate wants and just hoped that the alcohol would get me to give them a much clearer look once my guard was down. I explained how I wanted the city to be improved and volunteered to do much of the engineering work. The chance to get the shipyard to be a prosperous concern was of course also discussed but I didn't mention too much about my novel ideas on shipbuilding. Sugiyama asked if I was interested in partners and I declined by saying that I may in the future. His idea was to have the organization he represented eat us later. My refusal didn't bother him because he felt we could just grow bigger and be easily plucked when ripe and even more juicy. Later in the evening ladies came in and went to each of the important men. With a few words from Mr. Baisotei one woman came over to me while holding onto his arm. "Sir Shawn, you seem to be quite a man. You show little effects of our sake. How are you with the ladies?" "I have made some investigations on the subject. It is you that I am worried about." "Why is that Sir Shawn?" "You don't like westerners; and in your shoes, neither would I. If I were to play your game and the woman were unsatisfied then it would justify your prejudices. If I on the other hand made the lady very happy then you would get upset. In either case the loan I wanted would not be assisted by your efforts." "You offend me Sir Shawn. That is not true." "It is I that am offended because it is true. Tell me sir how many westerners came to you trying to get your backing for a loan? Then tell me how many of them received your backing or at worst a mild indifference. You sir are a bigot, in a war torn country, who would rather continue the fight with any westerner than see your country prosper and perhaps change for the better." The man turned and walked away together with Sugiyama showing some solidarity with his compatriot. Hitomi quietly but urgently asked me, "Why did you do this? He is a very influential person and could hurt my company very much if he took a mind to do this. With the way you have insulted him he certainly will. Shawn san, why are you embarrassing me so much?" "Mr. Hitomi, I have told you my dreams and some of the things that I can draw from my dreams. Please have faith in me for two more days and I will show you that I just brought this situation to a head. Soon one more pustule will be lanced and your city and country allowed to recover." "I don't understand this. You come to these people with your hand outstretched and then you insult them." "I did come for a loan, and more, but they have a very closed society and just as closed a mindset. I would not get the loan backing from most of these people. Later when they find out that I am indeed a man they will reconsider. Please be patient. If I fail then I will just get the money elsewhere." Mr. Sugiyama came back to us after having a small hidden conference with his colleagues. "That was a very dangerous thing to do Sir Shawn. Mr. Baisotei has been hurt by your accusations." "He may be hurt but if his judgement had not been clouded with the way he feels about foreigners then he too would see that his actions are not fair. You too I think are biassed but you manage to avoid it clouding your wisdom and judgement in a better way. We are all businessmen and have to learn to get along with other's deficiencies if there is enough profit in it. It is a shame that Mr. Baisotei is so childish about it." The man sputtered a bit at the accusation but in his heart he knew that this was true. Mr. Hitomi was also shocked at the way I was talking and how I knew that a great offence had been given. Sugiyama left after I told him of the sad state of the legal profession even if he had not been introduced as a lawyer. I took four more cups of sake in a fifteen minute period and staggered for a bit then said goodbye to our hosts and left the building. Mr. Hitomi said, "You have ruined your chance of getting the money from our country. I could see the way everyone was displeased with you. Now my company will suffer for your indiscretions." "Mr. Hitomi did you notice how Sugiyama and Baisotei were smiling when we left?" He thought for a moment temporarily forgetting his sorrow. "Yes they were, come to think of it." "That is because they want to teach me a lesson and you too. In the next day I will be attacked and they will try to hurt me severely but still allow me to live. You may get some of the same treatment as a reminder of your place." "What are we going to do? I heard you can fight but you drank enough sake to kill you." "Do not worry sir. This has been planned out long ago when I knew I had to deal with business and their underworld allies. Nothing will happen to my family even if you do not consider me a son-in-law yet." Three blocks later as we travelled through a bombed out section a car suddenly cut us off and two that came from different side streets. "Sir, stay in the car but listen and watch." I told the driver the same thing and had knew that he would much rather stay in his seat. I got out and closed the door behind me and pretended to stagger a bit. Twelve men came at me. The ones in the back had pistols and two even had submachine guns. The ones in the front grinned and came at me with hard pieces of wood joined with a short length of chain. One had a shinai sword used in kendo that he planned on beating me with. I moved around so that my back was to one of the attackers cars and waited. The man with the bamboo and metal sword came in as the others fanned out to cover me with their guns. There were no words spoken and I was to assume that I would know why this meeting was taking place. The sword came down and I moved just enough and with a controlling finger caused the metal end of the wooden sword to break a window. I looked through their minds and saw that each one had committed murder many times over. It looked like the best troops had been sent against me. As I dodged a second strike I reached through the broken window and took out a katana that seemed to have been used during the last war and brought along to cow me if necessary. My mind speeded up as the world around me slowed down. The cheap sword was difficult to use. I altered its course quickly this required much more energy than usual. The men with guns were my first objective and I had no compulsion to let them live. Seven men died as their heads began falling to the ground. The remaining five were left alone as I caught my breath from the work out. I slowly came back to normal reflexes and simply stood with my hands on the sword as its point settled between two cobbles on the street. The heads had not even come to a stop. The men looked for me for they thought that I had simply disappeared into thin air. Looking around in the dark street they fanned out until one then another found their headless countrymen. With a sudden flurry of speech then they went for the guns at their waist. "Use your guns and you will die," I simply said. Three of the men did and their guns shook. I just looked at them and said, "Put them away now or I will kill you." I waited no more than fifteen seconds before two men put their weapons on the ground and one put his back in his shoulder holster. All five men stood petrified. I left the sword standing in the street and walked over to Mr. Hitomi and his driver. "I have found some new friends here. Would the two of you go home now. I can find my own way in a few hours." "How... how did you do that?" "Part magician and part fast reflexes. Now I get to talk to the men that will help us the most. We had strong enemies and now I will turn them into strong friends that will change their ways about how they see the law. We will have our loan and more within a few days sir." To the driver I said, "The gangsters that sent these men will think it unkind if you start telling how they were killed. Please forget you saw it and nothing will happen to you. Will you remain silent in this matter?" The man only shook his head in acceptance. "Back up a bit and drive around the car in front of you. Goodnight to both of you." I watched the car move and when it drove forward it drove over a leg of one of the bodies. When it was a block away I used my power to turn the lights on in the automobiles. When their sight returned I made a gesture with my hand and the sword flew to me very quickly and made a noise as it slapped into my palm. "Put the bodies in one car and the heads in another." The men still did not move because they were so frightened. "I know you are frightened and with good reason. Now all of you take the bodies and put them into that car," I said as I pointed with the sword to the one that stopped us. The men scrambled and then had to get the keys and open the trunk because all the bodies would not fit. They stood around the vehicle after the bodies were removed waiting for death or more orders. With the sword I gestured, "Put the heads and the weapons in the trunk of that car. I don't want to be accused of littering." This too was done quickly. With the sword I gestured to two men and told them to get into the latter car and one into the first. The last two got into the car so far untouched. "We are all going to Mr. Tsuji's house. When we get there you will all stay where you are told. You will tell him what you saw tonight. If you follow all my orders I will not hurt or kill you. The ride lasted fifteen minutes and I ended up in a beautiful home that cost an awful lot of money even in a war-torn country like this. The home was protected by a high stone wall and gates. We came up to them and they opened by themselves. The driver and the man sitting beside him were amazed and even frightened by this. Guards stationed here would not allow just anyone in. We all pulled up before the house and I got out. "Stay in the cars unless you have to pee," I said as if they were children. The large front door opened and I walked up the steps and across the wide stone veranda. The door closed behind me silently. The house was quiet in the front but the kitchen and the back bedroom had some activity. The guards went to sleep and I floated up the stairs and down the hall. The owner of the house, Mr. Tsuji was sitting at his desk working out how to make his criminal empire perform as well as possible. I had to admire him in some way. If he were legitimate then he might even be termed a good businessman in my books. He did run a gambling empire, owned many brothels and used strong arm tactics in his loan sharking schemes. I was able to just freeze his voluntary muscles and opened the door. His head fell to the desk in front of him and I walked into the room. "Good day Mr. Tsuji," I said as I allowed him to now move everything but his arms, legs and voice. "My name is Shawn Boz. You must know me because some of your men went out to teach me a lesson." The man was afraid but not nearly as much as I wanted. "We are going for a ride now." I pointed my finger at the large window. It unlocked itself and rose to its full height. The finger pointed at him and he too rose from his desk. The muscles he could control flexed but he could not get out of my grip. I arose a foot off the floor and floated out the window and he floated right behind me. Once outside I gave him back some of his voice and we rose rapidly into the air. "I am going to go up a few miles and drop you. Some of your men are dead because you sent them after me. I want to see how close to the ground I can stop you. If I miss you will die. If I manage to stop you sooner we can try it again till I see how close I can really come." "Why?" Came weakly from his lips. "You tried to teach me a lesson and now I am going to teach one to you. Sounds fair to me." At twelve thousand feet I said, "We are over two miles straight up. See the lights of the city below us. Let's start our game now." I dropped him and his scream began in earnest. Almost a minute later I caught him and brought him to a stop right above a small tree in his back yard. We rose again and I said, "Wasn't that fun. We can come much closer next time." We did this twice more and the next time he went into Tokyo bay with a small splash. He had soiled himself and this was the way I chose to clean him. I brought him out of the water and he just fainted now, overcome with the things happening to him. We flew home and in the open window. I took him to the washroom and let him settle before awakening him. "Clean yourself quickly Tsuji san, or I will take you back to the bay." The man was petrified and I simply sheared the clothing from him. He washed and I threw him a towel. After drying I floated him to his room where I threw clothing to him to dress into. "Outside now," I commanded. When we went out the front door I turned the front lights on and this bathed the entire front of his property in bright light. I undid the two trunks and opened the car containing the bodies. I told the men to get out and line up. Mr. Tsuji was allowed to follow me and could see the carnage that I had wrought. "I know that you don't think much of your people dying but you will be next if you don't follow my directions." To the men I said, "Dispose of the bodies so their families have a chance to mourn. When you are done come back here for more orders. Come no later than dawn or I will go looking for you." When the men scrambled to get away I took Tsuji back inside his home. "Sit," I commanded. I listed all his holdings and I told him what to do with each of them. Not all were to be sold because some were legitimate or could be made that way. "Mr. Tsuji, you are now going to be an honest businessman. You don't have to worry about the competition because they too will be doing the same thing soon." "How... ?" "Do you mean how is this going to happen or how am I doing all this? Speak." "Both." "I will have a talk with the others like you and see that they change their ways. If they don't then I will just take over their empires directly and liquidate them. As to how this is done, it is a secret that will not be revealed for a while. I can say though that I got much stronger after my family was murdered." I let him think that this had to do with his religion and the intervention of spirits. "The plan for you is to be one of my men and this will allow you to prosper alongside me as your country does too. Do you have any problem with this?" "Ah; no." "Good, now here is my plan for your country." I told him what I wanted to do and roughly how it was to be done. I was just getting finished making him remember the facts and conditioning him to follow my dictates when the thugs started to return hours early. The various enterprises could not be folded overnight and would have to be slowly closed. The protection racket was now a protection service and now client companies were actually protected. I would have to see how the former strong arm artists took on others of the same trade. I walked out front with Mr. Tsuji and I told the man that they now worked for me even though Mr. Tsuji would still pay them. They were now in the security business and would be upstanding citizens or inhabit a grave. They didn't doubt this statement for a moment. When I got to Mr. Hitomi's home I found him still awake. "What happened Sir Shawn?" He asked in a very worried voice. "Mr. Tsuji and I came to an understanding. He is now going to be an honest citizen that will take his orders from me. His loan sharking will now be at a fair rate of ten percent per year. It is more than a bank but the people he deals with can hardly complain because a bank would not loan them money. He will now protect merchants and companies from predators and his men will wear uniforms to show their affiliations. Prostitution I am sorry to say has to stay because it is intrinsically linked to man's basic drives. Drug distribution has just started and has just stopped too." "That is amazing if the man means it." "Oh he does. I also showed him some of my plans and he can see how he can make even more money legally if he helps me. I have an appointment with others tonight to convince them of my plans. Taken as a whole they can convince the city government and the banks to assist us. As a group of developers they are very powerful. I will have a good city with happy and prosperous citizens yet." "Sir Shawn, how did you k... How did you fight those men so well?" "Not all ninja have an epicanthic fold sir. I am very fast and very sure of my movements. I also try to be very ethical in the way I work because I do not want people to fear me that have no reason to. This includes you, for I think that you are showing some of the fear I told you about after I discussed things with your criminal element. I would even leave Mr. Sugiyama and Baisotei alone but they were going to let your country stay in the old world when your people are destined for the stars. The analogy is not just figurative either. One day men will leave this planet and Japan will be one of the countries leading the way." "I have seen some things that seem impossible. I just hope the other things you talked about come about. I am afraid of what you can do but believe that with a great power comes a great chance to use it when you feel the need. That is the way of a dictator and will only lead to your downfall and perhaps my country's too." After a few hours sleep I got up to find Mr. Hitomi up too and preparing for work. We had breakfast together served by Maeko. I showed him the picture of his daughter that she had already shown yesterday and the plans and drawings for the different tankers. He seemed to appreciate all of them immensely. "What time is the meeting with the two banks?" "It was to have been just before lunch so this means we may be having a meal with them. One of the directors plays golf and likes to play as he talks business. Have you ever played golf before?" "No but it can't be hard. I should be able to knock the ball into that hole easily." He looked at me to see if I was jesting then came to the conclusion that I was not lying. "You are supposed to let the man win to gain his favour." "Are you a good player?" "I have just played three games in my life and I am abysmal at the sport." "Well tell him that I am an expert. If he is good then he can play with another good player. You and I can team up and still try to win." After he left I told Maeko that I would be going upstairs to see Juni soon and she went off to inform her mistress. Ten minutes later I went up to my room for some massage oil then to Juni only to see her sitting up and crying. I came forward and her face came alive with a smile. Her eyes squinting at my aura until I turned it down a bit more. "Juni, what is wrong? I don't like you crying." "It is nothing mas... Sir Shawn. It is only a woman thing." I stooped down and cradled her jaw in my hand and said, "I am Shawn remember but you can call me 'darling' if you want." Her smile widened and she closed her eyes because she could not lower her face. "Now that smile is better. Today we have a treat for you. I get to torture you then you get to have some oil massaged into your skin to heal some of those spots on your cute backside." She brought her hand up and pulled my hand down so she would not have to look at me. "How will you torture me?" "I will show you instead." I pulled back her covers and got her to lay back. When she was straightened out I picked up her two feet and pushed them into her chest. "Push back Honey. We have to get your muscles strong again." She grunted and groaned but liked me coming close to her pelvis. Her house coat rode up and I was a gentleman and didn't look. Maeko tried to bring the garment back but Juni just said, "Just leave it Maeko. He has seen all of me before." "But he will see..." "I said that it will be fine." I continued for a while till she got too tired and I just reached down and pulled the housecoat down while looking in her eyes. She was breathless but not all of it was from her exertions. A delightful aroma came to me that I knew one day I would get to taste. She looked to my penis and was disappointed that I was not erect. I reached down and undid the belt at her waist and pulled it aside. I could hear Maeko and Kochiyo drawing their breath in as I prepared to reveal the body of their mistress. I told them, "Do not be worried. Juni needs some oil and I will show you how I want it put on." I opened her garment and I could see her white body and black patch of pubic hair. I got beside her and raised her shoulders to allow her to get her arms out of her sleeves. I whispered in her ear, "I can control myself and not show that I am excited even when I am. Now lay back honey and I will put some oil on your skin." As I laid her back down I could see her erect nipples just begging for attention, but I had to leave them. "Kochiyo, get a sheet please." She went to a trunk and wanted to cover Juni but I took it and folded it so it was three layers thick and moved Juni's naked body onto it. I took some oil and rubbed it into my hands to get it warm and started to stroke Juni's left calf. I looked into her eyes as she moved her right leg a few inches further away trying to get me to look at something she figured I would find more interesting. In a few moments I was at the juncture of her legs. I released her leg to a groan of regret until I worked on the other leg and took my time again. Her legs seemed to spread of their own accord and the smell got stronger and stronger. When I stopped Juni was worried that she had done something wrong. "I just want to see your pretty bum Honey." I moved her and Kochiyo helped keep the sheet under her charge. I worked on the legs again but more vigorously. We could hear Juni's cries of pleasure. When both legs were done I moved forward and massaged her thin bum. There were some marks and even a few sores that had only recently started to heal. More oil went on and I rubbed it in easily till she was used to the touch and I started to put more pressure on. Her back opening was exposed and the skin pulled around her other opening and she was getting very stimulated. I left her frustrated as I moved to her back and caressed her as I knew she should be. Soon a small shiver went through her. I bent over and kissed her head. When she recovered I turned her over and her arms came up to pull me in for a kiss. I bent over and kissed her as tenderly as I knew how and felt another shiver go through her body. "Oh, Shawn I... " "Yes I know Honey. Now just relax as I teach your nurses how to give you a massage." "Yes Shawn." "Kochiyo get two more sheets please. Maeko take off your clothing so I can show you how to massage Juni." Her eyes went wide. She was excited by watching Juni but was afraid of me. "I am only going to give a massage. Now get up and do as you are told." The woman responded to the direct order and stood and disrobed for me. Kochiyo laid the sheet for me and I got Maeko to lay on her stomach. I started easy and soon she too was groaning. By the time I got to her bum she too had a small shiver shake her body. When I got to her back and neck her shiver was a full fledged shake and she groaned loudly as she felt her release. "Kochiyo take off your clothes and lay down for me." The woman had grey hair but was very quick in doing as I asked. This time I got her on her back and massaged far up on her legs. Her back came off the floor and her neck and abdomen tensed in her release. This time I worked higher and worked on her chest but stayed away from her breasts until her hands came up and guided my hands to her nipples. I manipulated her sagging flesh and pinched her nipples till her knees came up offering me everything she had. Soon she screamed as she had her release and almost went unconscious. I took off my clothes and went back to Juni. "I don't want to get oil over my clothes Honey. Do you want me to massage your chest too?" She was breathless and just nodded her head vigorously. I adjusted her frame again and sat just below her pelvis and worked on her chest. She too moved my hands to the spots she wanted and urged me to work on her small breasts. Her skin was smooth and almost free of blemish. Her nipples were as hard as little pebbles. When the time came she orgasmed as strongly as Kochiyo and screamed her release. The second time I bent forward and kissed her to keep the noise down. Her arms came around me to hold me to her as if she never wanted me to leave. It took almost five minutes but Juni came back with her arms still around me. "Shawn, I have never felt that way before. I love..." I kissed her to keep her quiet again. "Yes I know. I don't want you committing yourself yet until you are healthy and do not need me as your doctor. Then we will talk more on this matter. Now let's have a hot bath together and I will torture you again." At eleven o'clock I entered the offices of Hitomi Enterprises and then to the owner himself. Just entering building, I felt a small tremor and saw a small trophy shake. Mr. Hitomi just ignored it as he did the many others that happened each year. We bowed and he said, "It is good that you arrived early. Mr. Akechi would like to talk to you a little before the game. It seems Mr. Tsuji has had a talk to him and he is very anxious to meet you." "I think this would seem to balance out what happened at the party. At least Mr. Akechi is much closer to the president than the people we spoke to. Are we still golfing?" "Ah; I talked about that and since you were determined to win I bet him a hundred pounds sterling. He likes to win so he has found a man in his company that he thinks can help him accomplish that." This time the atmosphere was not as poisoned against us as it had been the previous night. We actually met at the club house and I was again introduced to a lot of people. Mr. Akechi was a very wiry old man of sixty two. He was very physically fit and seemed to exude good cheer to all those about him. After we greeted he shook my hand and said, "I hear you are a very good golfer Sir Shawn." "I think I should be. Sports are an easy thing for me to master, something like languages. If you will allow me to hit the ball a few times before we actually start I am sure we will win the wager I heard about." The man looked at me strangely, "Mr. Hitomi told me that you were an expert golfer Sir Shawn. You are now telling me that this is not true?" "Of course not. I have never held a golf club in my life or hit a ball. That does not mean that I will not enjoy seeing you pay Mr. Hitomi the money at the end of the game. Would you like to make another wager with me for another hundred pounds?" "I doubt if you are telling me a story so I will make the wager with you too." Mr. Akechi and his young golfing partner walked out on the green. This was the winter months but the climate was so warm that this game was played all year long. I set up a tee and put a ball on it then borrowed Mr. Hitomi's driver and hit a ball. I saw the way the club worked and hit one more. The ball went far but the spin on it caused it to veer to one side. The last ball went true and into the rough where I was aiming. Mr. Akechi said, "You can certainly hit the ball. The last one looked to go over three hundred and fifty yards." "Thank you sir but it will be hard to get the ball in the hole with only one swing. I can probably hit harder without breaking Mr. Hitomi's clubs. Do you want to make another bet on how many times I can put the ball in a hole with only one stroke?" He laughed hard and so did the rest. We had three caddies and they laughed at the thought as well. When Mr. Akechi calmed down he said, "That doesn't happen too often. I believe the club will give a little over a thousand pounds depending on the exchange rate to a person that can do that." "Can the club afford to loose eighteen thousand pounds?" Again I got the laughter and he said, "I believe so Sir Shawn." They all teed off and I was last. I took out a ball and marked it with a pen and concentrated on all the variables that would affect the ball's flight. There was a good wind higher above the trees and coming in from the ocean. I found my own centre and swung what I thought was perfect. Everybody watched the ball bounce on the green and land a foot from the hole. The men and caddies were incredulous. Mr. Akechi said, "That is amazing Sir Shawn. I have never seen someone come so close on this first hole." "The wind shifted a bit or it would have dropped directly into the hole. Tapping it in now seems too easy and not really sporting." As we walked I told Mr. Akechi about my plans for the city and how a park could be made on the surface. "I suppose we could make part of it into a golf course of varying difficulty. I hear in the United States they sometimes have alligators on the fairways. We can have some of those Komodo dragons if we can breed them. That way, if you are slow, you get eaten." "Quite ambitious Sir Shawn. What about the older players?" "They should pay their club fees a year in advance I think." He choked for a minute then laughed. I used the driver again and sank the short putt. Thereafter I used the driver exclusively except when Mr. Hitomi was using it. The fifth hole got me my first hole in one but the ball rolled into the hole and I was still not as happy as I thought I could be. I didn't cheat and help the ball in but used my own senses to determine what it should do. After that all three were asking my opinion on how to swing. Mr. Hitomi was feeling bad because he was playing so poorly. I did coach him a bit more and his game steadily improved. I was getting the hang of the game when I was able to sink the ball directly on the seventeenth hole. By then I had a large crowd around the greens to watch my drive come in. There was a lot of unaccustomed cheering in the normally stoic Japanese. They followed us to the club house after the last hole and had the traditional cup of sake and I was congratulated many times. The president of the club came in by car and he too started an impromptu meeting where he praised my abilities. More drinking ensued and our foursome was photographed many times. When we were all together I took out a one hundred pound note and before everybody, presented it to him for winning the game by one stroke. "Mr. Akechi our wager was a hundred pounds and here is my settlement. You are a good golfer I find but you do take more than one stroke to get the ball into the hole. Perhaps if you take a few lessons you can try getting your score down to eighteen." He looked at me seriously then broke into a loud laugh and patted me on the back. He held the note in two fingers as I did too. A photographer took many pictures and I knew a few would go into his collection. Mr. Hitomi looked in his wallet and found a similar hundred pound note and after looking at me presented it to the winner of the bet with all the traditional Japanese dignity he could muster. Again photos were taken. Mr. Hitomi left his car to his driver and we all went back to the Export Bank in one car discussing the loan I wanted. A portion was for the acquisition of half of Hitomi Enterprises. The larger portion was for the purchase of many properties through the centre of Tokyo. I explained how I wanted to alter the street layout and put in an underground railway that would transport millions of people each day and keep the city from being congested by the inevitable privately held automobile. I explained about all the concrete I would need and the fabrication of hundreds of miles of underground shopping and accommodation. Power, air, water, natural gas, communications and sewers would all be provided. Even the sewers would provide a supply of natural gas but the tanks would be far outside the city proper. "Sir Shawn, the project you see is far beyond your means. The cost of excavating and supplying the concrete alone will be measured in the thousands of millions of pounds." "I have been doing some work on this. Concrete I can make at less than half the price of the way it is done now. I plan on making large trucks that will carry five hundred tons each. These vehicles will be sold worldwide to mining interests. Our price will be lower than any future competition because of our scale of building. "Conveyor systems will carry the soil we remove and separate the components so that it can be mixed with the cement. The remainder can be used as backfill or go into the bay to enlarge the size of our city. "I have invented machinery that can be easily moved and can dig this long trench at a fraction of the cost of the way it is done now. "The ships I want built will transport clean burning fuel to power the electric generation plants we will need. These plants can be built in modules and be sold on the world market. "What I do lack is the backing of enough influential people that will assist me in doing this. There are more than one prefecture and each will have men that will be too blind to see my dream or too conservative to want to change." "Sir Shawn, the disruption to our city would be great. What about all the existing business that have already been built?" "We just lay out the city the way it should be. The cemeteries and very important landmarks have to stay but roads and buildings can be laid out logically. If a building is in the way we simply build a new building in a suitable location and then move all the machinery or merchandise into it then remove the old building." Soon we were at the bank and continued talking even as we entered. Mr. Akechi cancelled all his appointments and listened as I presented figures to go with my dreams. "Sir Shawn for this larger venture to succeed we will need to schedule many meetings. You will also have to demonstrate this cement plant at its rated efficiency and some of your gigantic trucks. Not everybody can see as far as you can and will need if you will excuse the pun, concrete evidence of their feasibility." "I can start on a preliminary layout of the city which will have people fighting one another and possibly preventing buildings being erected where they will have to be torn down. A small loan will purchase my share in Hitomi Enterprises and start the tankers I want. A similar sum will be needed to build a plant to manufacture the trucks and to pay for the necessary parts. An existing tire plant will have to purchase the equipment and to make the tires I need. If the latter does not pan out, I will have to start my own tire plant. The cement plant has to be out of the city and close to shipping. I can build a small one that should produce a few million tons a year for only ten million pounds. After it is up I can get the other cement plant owners to join me as partners. That way nobody should suffer very much." Late in the afternoon we broke till the next day. Mr. Akechi had many people he had to see to get the ball rolling. I presented a bank draft for forty million pounds from my own bank. I wanted to get started now on getting the water front properties purchased before the price started to climb. Mr. Hitomi was shocked because he now knew that I could have purchased his business outright if I'd wanted to, just with my own resources. We shared a taxi and he asked, "Why didn't you just buy my business? You had more than enough money." "I wouldn't get you or all the experience you had if I were to run the business. This way I help supply plans and expedite some processes but you still run the business." "What about all the other businesses you are starting? You have no experts to assist you there." "I will find or train them. I found in Ethiopia, that it is better to do the latter because some things in physics are not well understood and others are incorrectly understood. I just have to teach managers and engineers what to do and let them carry on. Some of the things I have found out I don't want others to know about. This is not just about monetary gain but about giving much more than fire to a group of children." He remained silent for a few minutes then asked, "How did the British money get into my wallet?" "Simple. I put it there because the wager was for that exact sum and you only had yen. This way he will keep the two notes and always think of us." "I will have to give you back that money." Juni ate with us and her complexion looked much better than it had before her massage earlier in the morning. I told her what we had done today and what I thought had been accomplished at the bank. Her father didn't quite scowl but was not pleased in having a woman learn the financial dealings that only a man should know. ------- Chapter 35 After the meal I again worked on a street by street map of Tokyo and another one of exactly the same size that showed how I wanted it laid out. I did almost eighty large maps that listed even small neighbourhoods that could be shown when I had to convince the leaders of the local prefecture. I was still saddened by the large percentage of land that still had only bombed and burnt out buildings. Although this made my job possible, it had only been made so by the loss of so many lives. I had the plans of the cement plant in mind for a long time but decided to enlarge it and make it even more automated. I could also dispose of scrap rubber, solvents, old foundry sand and other commodities that should be destroyed at high temperatures. The electronic control devices had not been fabricated yet but would be ready by the time the plant was completed. I stayed until three in the morning to finish the prints. I put everything away and went out the front door travelling west toward the Nagatacho district and Mr. Akutagawa's sprawling home. The man had the misfortune of supplying three of the men that had attacked me last night. They had guns at the time and were now all dead. This time I put the complete household to sleep, even the ones that were had started that way. The house had a burglar alarm but was supplemented by many armed guards to assist. Apparently after the three deaths, even more had been called up. Mr. Akutagawa was sleeping with his wife and I just floated him out of bed and took him outside and sat him on one of his stone benches and awoke him. The man was about fifty years old and overweight. His bald head gleamed in the moonlight as he slowly came to his senses. His eyes went back and forth then recognition came to where he was. I stepped out of the shadow and his eyes found me instantly. He needed glasses but could see my almost white hair and size and could guess who I was." "Who is there?" "You know who I am Mr. Akutagawa. I came to change the course of your life or simply kill you." He tensed his muscles and before he could jump on me his legs gave out and he fell onto his face. Only his hands kept him from being hurt much. He pushed his body up to look at me and said, "What do you want?" "I already said what I wanted. To be more specific I want you to drop some of your illegal activities and alter some of the businesses you own to provide a needed service. This keeps the law from attacking your interests and allows you to pay taxes. I know who you pay now for protection from the police and courts. This will stop now." "What makes you think I will do that?" "Either you do this after I demonstrate my abilities or I break up your empire and sell the parts. This way I make a tidy profit and you are beyond bothering me. Now to begin, your folktales mention spirits taking to the air and travelling from one place to another. You will now do that with me and I will drop you from a few miles up. I like the timing because I have exactly sixty seconds to catch you before you hit the ground. If I miss I have no problem. Let's begin now." He screamed as he was hoisted rapidly into the air and soon he was too high for his voice to be heard. At the same height as last night I stopped and allowed Mr. Akutagawa to have a view. He was laying horizontal on his stomach and could see some of the lights below. "Your city was famous and will be so again even if I find it dull and drab. Are you ready for your fall Mr. Akutagawa?" "No, no just put me down easily and I will give you anything." "That is what you are saying now but I have to make sure." He fell screaming all the way and I caught him a bit lower than Tsuji because of his weight. We went up higher this time and he fell again and again, till he was thoroughly soiled. I set him down at the front of his house. He was crying pitifully and stayed on the ground as if he could hold on to it to keep him from ascending again. "Mr. Akutagawa listen to me now." His head slowly came up and I told him what he would do in more detail. "We are going inside your home now and we will make some notes so that you will not forget. Now stand up or we will go for another flying lesson. The man quickly got up and followed me across the cobbles and inside to his bathroom. "You have five minutes. Clean yourself or I will drop you in the bay to do it." He came out in three minutes with a towel wrapped around him and I led him into his office. I shut off his alarms and we entered his inner sanctum. He sat at his desk, while I stood. Paper was provided and he began to write as I dictated. When I was done I went to his small safe in the wall and opened it. He had cash and stolen jewellery as well as personal papers. The safe door I ripped off its hinge and then used my power to push a hole through the metal and then stretch the resulting ring until the opening was twenty inches in diameter. "This jewellery belongs to an important man. Give it back to him but tell him you recovered this as a favour to him. I want his help in the modernisation of your city." I assisted him in remembering all this and opened the window and flew out. Part way down the street I removed my block on the people in the house and went to the next person on my list. Mr. Ayugai was almost as hard to convince but I was fairly certain that he would assist me. The sun was coming up and I had to hurry home before somebody saw me flying about. I was a little sleepy but had got by on very little rest for days at a time. I just had tea made as Kochiyo got up. She came into the kitchen after seeing the light on. I sat her down then gave her a cup of tea and a kiss on the cheek. "Nice to have someone make tea for you for a change?" "I have to do this work Sir Shawn. I do not want to lose my job." "You would not lose your job. Mr. Hitomi likes you and so do I. If the worst came to the worst you would work for me and take care of my family." I made the meal and served her as I nibbled from a plate across from her. When Mr. Hitomi came to eat he found me awake and we talked about what the day would bring. "I have completed the plans for the proposed changes to your city and made new drawings for the cement plant. The location I chose is good because it is close to a clay deposit and the coast. I think I will form a partnership with your daughter, with your permission. She would own half of my new companies and allow me to buy property." "My daughter would only give her name?" "Yes, that is all I need. I was thinking of Juni Cement Company but it doesn't sound as good as I think it should be. There will also be a lot of property purchased in the city and I will use the vacant properties to move people and businesses around. One day I think it will be worth millions of millions of pounds. That is only one of the reasons I am doing this. I can be like a gardener working on his bonsai tree but I know this tree will get very large. I just want it to grow free and straight." Later in the morning I found a small shop close to the waterfront and made a deal to purchase it. A cash down payment followed and I continued down the street till I had bought everything I could find owners of. At noon I made some papers that were in the finest tradition of Japanese jurisprudence and had Juni sign them with Maeko and Kochiyo signing as witnesses. I called Mr. Tsuji, Mr. Ayugai and Mr. Akutagawa and asked them to come to Mr. Tsuji's home for a legitimate job. Mr. Akutagawa and Mr. Ayugai were not over their fright yet but did as I asked. An hour and a half later I walked up the walled driveway and gave a small courteous bow to the two guards. The three leaders were out front too and I gave them a bow. I was given an even deeper one in return. "Good day gentlemen. I would like to have a small meeting first if that is all right." It most definitely was and we were all seated inside, with a cup of tea. I brought out a large map and had three different areas shaded with different colours. "Gentlemen I want to start buying property now. Each of you men will choose a colour and I want you to find out who owns the property and where they are. Some may have reverted to the government. I want each of you to buy as much as you can get. This time you will not cheat or threaten anybody but act in good faith." Mr. Tsuji asked, "How high must we pay to purchase this land?" I gave him a maximum and a minimum per square foot. I didn't want future generations saying I stole the land from the present owners and told them so. To Mr. Ayugai I said, "You have prostrate cancer but it is operable. Check with you doctor to prove that I am right. I will cure you without losing your sex drive. Ask any doctor you think competent and see what their prognosis will be. They may give you only three years to live but I can do much better. Mr. Akutagawa you are overweight and your arteries are clogging up. You must go on a diet and some regular exercise. You have a long profitable and happy life ahead of you if you do as I ask." Turning to Mr. Tsuji, "You sir are very healthy but don't get enough exercise. I would like you to work out, then relax a bit with your grandchild." Sitting up a bit I resumed my previous talk. "Gentlemen, the properties you purchase will be signed over to me and I will pay you full price for what you have paid yourself. I plan on buying much of your city and you will help me. Tomorrow I would like to met at Mr. Ayugai's home and discuss what to do next." It took almost ten days until the loan was approved along with a large line of credit I attached to it. As in London I went to the many prefectures and negotiated for large tracts of land. The former underworld bosses and a few more I acquired assisted me in this matter. Three of the hoodlum leaders were not quite sane and they died. Their assets were split up among the rest. The plans for the cement plant were approved and building started at once. I gave contracts to many companies and they would build sub-assemblies to my specifications. During this time I talked to all of my family and told them what I was doing. The ones in other countries wanted to come to me but had things to do where they lived. Juni was gathering her strength after I removed the large growths from her head and abdomen. The latter required me to assist in getting her ovary and a portion of her uterus to grow and replace the dead tissue. She spent only a few days recovering and showed a marked improvement. The sad part for her was that she could not now see my aura after the operation. Mr. Ayugai came to me and told me his doctor's prognosis and I decided to operate. This was done in front of Tsuji, Akutagawa and eight other men. I used no hands and they thought they saw an invisible spirit manipulate a scalpel. The man got up ten minutes later and participated in our meeting. Two days later he told his colleagues of how his doctor thought the way he was healed had to be magic. The shipyard grew to a monstrous size. At night I cut large blocks of stone from the seabed and placed them in deep holes, resting on the bedrock of the bay. They were many tons each and I had to rest after each but I was getting stronger all the time from the work. I also came to a better understanding of what I could do and used the information to tap even more power. Soon I was using very little of my own power but could draw what I needed from what I thought was a different dimension. Mr. Hitomi had his ships add to the top of my undersea wall and soon it was twenty feet above the sea at high tide and fully fifty feet thick. The muck dredged from the enclosed area was deposited behind another wall and this increased the size of our properties. Small shops were building sections of the ship I wanted. Some were so small that they had to form temporary partnerships with competitors to make the large sections. They were mostly 25 metres long by almost that high and ten metres thick. Forty sections had to be made but most were very similar. I designed much larger cranes for the yard and got them ready for when the shops finished each sections. The parts were built and delivered just as we needed them and the ship went together in record time. I insisted that all welds be x-rayed and many flaws were found. I found many more and had them noticed by others. This way quality control was stressed much more. In Mr. Hitomi's home I made my first monolithic array of transistors. The small but powerful laser burnt a path that was only one and a half nanometres wide. My mind could make smaller paths but these devices had to be made by others. They would be forced to use the laser. My first chip could only process a hundred thousand instructions in a second but the second could beat that by a factor of ten. With three small lasers I was able to make a three dimensional hologram that would display almost any of the data that I wanted. This could be displayed on a ten feet wide by eight feet high grid but the lasers worked better at dimensions only half that size. This project was a long time coming and I had been working on it for almost four years. I had published no information for fear it would be used for something immoral. I was able to transfer data from my mind directly to its memory. It used the basic type of transistor which could only be in the on or off state. A crystal that was scanned by a eight pairs of lasers would store over eight to the twenty third different transistor states. For my own uses in future versions, I wanted to work with three state transistors that I found. Here only one electron at a time could go through a particular gate. This would produced a great increase in efficiency and in speed. I took the device that was only ten inches square by three inches thick to breakfast with Mr. Hitomi one morning. We sat with Juni and ran my hand over her shoulder possessively trying to convey my love. She leaned into my caress even if her father was present. The machine operated on my mental commands but would work much slower on voice instructions. The intonations of five language groups were stored in the machine at present. Many versions of Japanese, English, Amharic, Russian and Chinese were commonly used. In all there were almost a thousand distinct language files stored and cross referenced. "What is this device Sir Shawn?" "A machine I was telling you about when I first came here. It has many pieces of information stored in it. It can use true or false decisions and others based on value to decide what to do. It can do mathematical operations, basically but can show results in many forms. For our present purposes, it can display pictures that I have put into the machine. My ship design has been entered and you can go from one of the prints to another very easily. It is like looking through vellum till you see the print you want and remove the ones over it. The best part is that it can use voice commands to operate." "That can't be. Nothing can do even a fraction of what you say. I will admit that the small control modules you made are amazing." "Well just try it. Get close to the machine and say your name and say the alphabet and count to fifty so it can record the differences in your voice." "No, it is too foolish for me." "Well I can think of another way. Juni will try it but since you have made your decision, you cannot take it from her until tomorrow at this time." Juni did speak into the device as she was asked. A mechanical voice came out and asked her to repeat words the way she would normally speak them. This was a shock and both had to have a few minutes to recover. "It is only a machine. A telephone talks to you and you are not upset. Please do as it asks." Juni stood further back but did repeat the words. When the list had been completed the machine simply said, "Working." It took almost three minutes for the data to be stored correctly in her profile. Then it said, "Complete." Both people looked at me and I told Juni, "Say, 'computer, display ship zero zero zero four six two, in profile from one thousand metres and an elevation of fifty metres. Proceed now.'" She got it wrong twice but the third time the ship appeared in front of her and she fell backwards. Her father was no different and he scrambled out of the way of the ship before him. I remained sitting on the floor and they could see me through the hologram but only vaguely because the graphic was so rich. I got up and walked around the table and helped a stunned Juni to her feet. She fired questions at me non-stop till I placed a finger on her delicate lips. Her father was the same but quieted when his daughter did. "Say 'computer, distance two thousand metres. Proceed now.'" She stammered so much she had to do this four times but the ship shrunk in size. There was many more questions but I just said, "Just work with this and try different things. You will not damage it and hopefully you will learn a lot." I took out a small device not much larger than a small battery and pointed it at the ship. A red beam of light shot out and intersected the hull at the bow. The light did not diverge much and was still an eighth of an inch after travelling almost twelve feet. "Take this light and press the button. Now Juni, never point this in someone's eye or where it can be reflected there. Do you understand?" "Yes... Shawn." She pointed at the bow and repeated my words. "Computer, reference position. Distance twenty metres. Elevation neutral. Proceed now." The ship hull now filled the screen. The black painted hull and the bright white lettering showing the name I chose for the ship. The name Juni was easily seen but was off centre. Both people looked at the hull and could see the way the steel plates joined. The weld was prominent but not much. The wire rope strung around the edge to prevent people falling overboard. The stanchions were in view and could easily be seen for what they were. The display was close to a photograph but I could see too many places where I used mathematical algorithms to replace what would be seen to make it real. The hull was perfect and in reality there was always small imperfections. "Juni, you don't mind this big fat ship carrying your name do you?" "I... I; I think it is fine." "Good, it is settled. Now say, "Computer, Distance fifty metres. Proceed now." This time she did it right the first time and we saw the ship from further away. "Let me try now," came from her father. "You have not been registered in the machine yet and I think Juni needs to have her turn to see how it will be used. Ask her to do what you want and we can see what works the best. The man didn't like it but had to work through his daughter. An hour later he was late for work and I suggested seeing the engine room. All of a sudden we were in the room and we moved from one position to another. He got Juni to zoom in on the engine and he could see the serial number quite plainly. I could have told him to superimpose the text over the picture and he could have read a whole book on the engine and what it was capable of doing. Leaving it to later would give him a bright jewel to find. "Juni move in further and say 'computer, animate'." She did and then saw the engine working even to the flames from when the fuel burned. It had purposely been set to a low default speed but it was still easily understood what was happening. Maeko, then Kochiyo came in to clean up but stayed to see what was happening. I whispered in their ears that this was a machine I made and would sell in the future. They were invited to watch. Juni got the idea and went into the generators and the gear reduction units and saw how they worked. Some of the data was not complete and there was no shading or many choices of perspective. Juni's father had to call in and say he would be even later. He hurried back and I was just pulling out of the steering gear and asked Juni to go to Tokyo and display it from an altitude of six miles. I guided her to our shipyards and showed them what was happening as of three days ago when the data was entered. We moved over to the house and she saw herself in the garden. When we got close the figure looked up and stuck out her tongue and then walked into the house. "I never did that Shawn. Why did you make me do this?" "I knew you would come to the house and I wanted to see what could be done. Go to the washroom by your bedroom." In a moment we found Maeko squatting and ordering us angrily out of the room until she finished. I heard a commotion and knew that everybody was now upset. "This was like a animated cartoon I made. It never happened. It was just a joke and each one of you are in it." Juni asked, "What is Kochiyo doing?" "Search the house and find out." We found her father working at his desk and when we came in he angrily gestured for the viewers to leave. Juni did then went back and the same gestures were repeated. Kochiyo was in the kitchen making a meal and tasting the food to see that it was seasoned right. She wagged her finger at us to evict us and again it was repeated when Juni went back in. They searched and didn't find me till I told them to wait over the bathtub. My figure came out from under the water gasping for breath and hiding my genitals from view. I didn't order anybody out but my figure did turn red in embarrassment. "I can put sound in too but that will take some time to get right. The five of us in this room are the only people that know this device exists. I want to install this in a large meeting room and let everybody in the world think that this device is very big. I will make a new display unit that if it is stolen or damaged will not benefit anybody else very much. The reason I am doing this is because devices like this will be worth many millions of millions of dollars. We will use them in almost every electrical device. They are working on one of these computing devices now and it takes up a very large room and will only be able to add and subtract. We are many years ahead of the competition and I want to stay there for a while yet. When the world finds out there will be people bothering all of us in this room for any information that we have." Juni asked, "Why not just give it to them?" "First it is worth too much to just give away. Second, I can use one of these devices to send a nuclear tipped missile around the world and hit an area only two foot square. Do you want the military to get this now? I have to make things so that they will not learn the real way this machine works." In three days Mr. Hitomi chaired a meeting of his engineers, foremen and suppliers. A large steel cube with very heavy cables from it sank into the floor. On the top could be seen a thick glass enclosure that was permanently bonded to the metal base. When he was discussing some of the fine details of the ship, he actuated the machine with a FM microphone that sent a radio signal to the machine that was supposedly in the basement. The hologram he wanted to display sprang up. Shocked was not a strong enough word to use to describe their feelings. He continued his talk though as if he were narrating a eight millimetre film of home movies he took. Areas of concern were shown and what was proposed to change so that it could be easily remedied. The display was at its maximum and we could see the ship as if it was outside our window. After a half hour he took us through a simple tour of how the machine worked and how the ship was to function. Then we went through the hull and down the access holes to the areas he really wanted to talk about. He had chosen the harder sections so that his ability was more readily seen. His words didn't register much as all the engineers and other yard owners craned their neck to look at this feat of magic. I felt a bit like Pandora after the box was open but knew the world had changed again today and hopefully for the better. After the computer came out of the box I released the next horseman. I had shifted production to components for a satellite and even with all the miniaturization I could, it still weighed in at over three hundred pounds. This device would send back encrypted radio messages as well as receive the ones I sent it. Surveillance and television transmission were also installed. This would be the first of my satellites that would allow communications wherever I went. I made six hand units that could easily fit in a pocket. The face of each had twelve buttons but two of them allowed different menus to be used so that the real total was much higher. The satellite had its own propulsion units but could not make it to orbit this way. With my insubstantial fingers wrapped around me I could descend far into the sea without getting wet or high into the atmosphere and still carry some air with me. With my new found increased power, I dragged the satellite behind me and travelled up to three hundred and forty miles and pushed it far ahead of me. Like a whale I had to dive back into the atmosphere for air. With the hard part done I chased the satellite and moved it higher and stabilised the orbit. When I got back to earth to test the phones I just realised that I had not only been the first man into space but I had circumnavigated it as well. Mr. Hitomi used the computer at other meetings where he tried to get them to help in restructuring the city. This time the word had gone out and everybody came to our meeting room to see the fantastic device. He didn't say anything too important because it would not be remembered anyway. In coming weeks the people that ran the various prefectures came to find the machine less intimidating. The small wireless telephone allowed him to keep in touch with me even if nobody knew that they were doing it from a satellite. Everybody had their own part to play but wanted to protect what they already owned. They expected me to work around them. The arguing continued and I was happy because the machine could be used to show what would happen when each obstruction was left as it was. Photographs sent back were displayed as aerial reconnaissance photos to show some important features. Mr. Hitomi had been playing with this machine almost like an addict most the time. He did justify it by saying he was becoming much more proficient at it. Others from our company used the device to understand more of the mechanics of how the various ship's systems worked. The problem for them was that they had to use it at night because their boss was almost always on it. Soon after, many strange people started coming to the meetings with small hidden cameras. Half were from companies all around the globe and the other half were from governments. I had been asked by many people I knew if I would sell the technology to them or some of the units. I finally used the newspaper to say that I would sell similar units in a few years when I could produce enough. This did not stop the spying or the asking in the least. Juni's father saw us together most of the time when he wasn't working. She had used a second machine at home when she could get it away from her father. She went to many of the meetings at the yards and elsewhere. Even though she was a Japanese woman, she fought for what she believed in and the men did listen. In January I had told her more of my life and by March she knew of all the rest of my family. She would even talk on the phone to them after I taught her English with a British accent. Her father thought this miraculous but that was common place around me by now. At this time my cement plant was almost done it was fitted it with the controls I wanted and I buried them under cement to protect them. A tire plant had decided to make the tires that I designed. I made the moulds and they supplied the trained personnel to produce each piece. The tires were eighteen feet in diameter and even when laid on their side were over eight feet high. I was making the smaller truck first and only needed six per vehicle to carry five hundred tons. The company that made large diesel engines, took my designs and made sixteen engines of three basic designs. Some would go into the 'Juni' and smaller turbo diesel went into the first truck. The engine was only a few times larger than what a large transport truck would have. Our own yards made a large wheel that had many buckets around it. Large electric motors pushed the device forward and it would eat soil at a fantastic rate. The contents of the buckets would land on a long conveyor belt and be carried back to be processed. This device could move almost a hundred tons a minute and I knew it would gain as much of an audience as the computer did when it was working. The machines for making my computers had long since been shipped to Ethiopia. I was going to leave Japan at the first part of May, in just three days. Juni was almost in hysterics when she knew I was going. Her father saw the futility of keeping her and consented to let her accompany me. The next morning Mr. Hitomi and I were alone I said, "Sir I think it is time we continued our talk about your daughter. She knows about all my family and even ones that I treat as family. You allowed her to accompany me but I want her as my wife. Your daughter and I respect you and she still possesses her hymen. It would make us both happy if you were to give her hand to me." He knew this was coming and had run through many different scenarios but all came back to me gaining his daughter. Since most marriages were arranged this did not have the usual stigma attached to it. "I knew somehow that this was inevitable... Shawn. Please call Juni in." I noticed immediately that I was simply Shawn now. "I would like Maeko and Kochiyo to witness this if possible. It is the closest we will come to a real wedding and it is very important to her." All three women came in and Juni said, "Yes father," not knowing what was happening. "Shawn has asked for your hand. He means to have you more than his mistress but less than what a wife should be. What are your feelings on this?" "Oh, father. I love him. He told me he would court me the second day I knew him. I even knew then that he was right for me. I know all his family and I am willing to share in the love that I know all of them have." "Then go to him daughter for you are now under his care." She ran instead to him and gave him a kiss that the stoic man had not gotten before. She turned quickly to me and gave me a kiss with just as much emotion but with a much different feeling. I hugged her tight and then pushed her out to arms length. "You are now one of my wives and I will always watch over you and our children. This I swear on my life." An hour later we were upstairs in my room and I took my newest wife to bed with me. She tried very hard as Japanese customs demanded to be quiet but she could not help herself and called out. My mind knew Maeko, Kochiyo and her father were very happy for her. It took us a few hours to come down and by then she had clothes that I had purchased previously for her. She was absolutely radiant as if everybody could sense the aura that I saw. Maeko and Kochiyo kissed her again and we went out to do some shopping together the first time as man and wife. With our trip in mind I purchased what she would need to travel and some western clothes. Two days later we boarded a flight to New Delhi. With a small stopover later in Beirut where we stayed a day before going to Addis Ababa. We got off the short plane trip and went through customs. My computer was thought to be a container and they wanted to open it for inspection. I had to do a lot of explaining because I refused to pay any bribe to get it in. Ayana and Brihan met us outside the terminal with Benyam, Meseret, Zema and Lackech. I gave them all a kiss even Benyam and I introduced Juni to them. She had talked to all of them over the phone but this was the first sight of them other than my photos. All the children had grown and little Zema was almost twelve months. All the children spoke English now. Zema would speak better but he was still young. Instead of going home we went immediately to a complex of buildings outside the city that housed the electronics factories. The shift was changing and four buses were leaving the fenced enclosure for home. I pulled up and presented my identification to the guard even if we knew one another. "Good day Sir Shawn. It is nice to see you back in our country." "Thank you Gaelan. It is good to be back. Did your wife have her child yet?" "Not yet but any day. I managed to get her a job here and thankfully she will have a doctor take care of her now. Too many children and mothers die at this time." "That is why we have the doctor. I don't like people dying needlessly. Give her my love." Juni asked about the conversation because she could not understand it. I gave her a quick rundown and was able to finish just as we pulled up to a very secure entrance. I got out and presented my family through the glass and then handed in identification from all the adults. As per regulations the documents were scrutinised before we ourselves were studied through the bullet proof glass. An electric lock released the door and we were allowed to enter. The door closed behind us before the next one opened. When we got through the next heavy door we were greeted by the manager, five electrical engineers and my head of security. I knew them all very well and introduced Juni. The rest they knew from their infrequent trips here to study the bookkeeping. The engineers eyes strayed all the time to the small dark case in my hand. I could almost see them drool because I talked quite a bit about it. They had made and assembled units but they were effectively dead because they had not been programmed yet. In a large office that the girls used for checking the books I set up the computer. "Ladies and gentlemen," I said in both English and in Amharic. "This is what you are going to manufacture and one day sell." The presentation started with an exploded view of the computer. Sound had been added and a male voice I had synthesised told them in Amharic what the parts were for. This was in layman's terms but were still enjoyable by everybody here. Juni had helped make this and knew the English or Japanese translation by heart. When the technical specifications came out later the engineers were startled with not only the speed, storage capacity, the ability to show graphics and text but especially with its ability to understand voice commands. All this time they had not really understood what they were building. "Here is another presentation that shows some other features." The ship came on and went through an automated series of pictures accompanied by some Japanese music. I switched the speech over from Japanese to Amharic and let it continue. After thirty minutes I said, "I am building this too. Two of our simpler computers will be in this ship along with specialised communications gear, radar and sonar. One day we will have satellites that can see the ship from orbit and allow the people onboard to talk to us with a telephone. The satellites will also give a signal that will allow anybody to plot their position on the Earth to within five feet." I could see a lot of disbelief but they had the same incredulity when I hired them. They were true believers now but had to digest their latest meal. The fabricating machines were in operation in a sealed room. Another building next door grew silicon crystals of enormous size to act as a substrate. The crystals were cut extremely thin and sent here for etching and final cutting. There were hundreds of thousands of processor units made but had a failure rate of almost twenty three percent. The failed chips were not completely useless for they could be used as controlling units where the demands for speed were not as high. I made a written memo and gave it to the manager and the head of security warning them about a heightened level of industrial espionage. "How are they going to get by our security? It is one of the best." I replied, "They can threaten our employees to do what they want. It works in other countries and will work here. I had a lot of people come with hidden cameras and friends and acquaintances asking me to sell technology or the complete units. If paperwork leaves the building there is a good chance it could be stolen. Even our garbage will be searched. The list of ways is very long. You are going to be driven paranoid by this. To make you feel better they may decide to attack and steal the machines and kidnap the engineers." "How am I going to counter that? I don't have enough people." I left the worried men with their problems and left with my family. We went through the streets of Addis Ababa and found the capital much more prosperous than when I had originally arrived. The people were dressed in bright clothing and there were fewer beggars. The emperor, now with more tax money, was able to spend it on education and make-work projects for his people. Benyam insisted that we stop at the swimming pool so he could show Juni the pool that we made. We got out and found the housing around the pool had been torn down and more expensive homes put in their place. Trees had been labouriously transplanted and the then watered. The city was taking on a much different air than it had only a year ago. The location that made the crystal memory and another location that made the many different lasers were hidden and only a select few knew of their existence. The men and women operating the machines were a dedicated bunch that kept their entire family in one new town south of the capital. The emperor kept two garrisons on the two roads going to the town but even the soldiers did not know that they were actually guarding the settlement. I took one of my automobiles one afternoon and was by myself for the first time in quite a while. There were many small to large shops in the capital that I owned outright or rarely with a partner. One of these latter ones I entered first. My partner shook my hand vigorously. The shop had grown many times in size and was now able to bid on many of the contracts coming up in the city. "I would like to use a lathe to cut a few pieces of nylon stock for some toys." "Certainly Sir Shawn. I have some in the back but if there is none that you find acceptable, I will purchase some for you." I didn't need the lathe but I did need the nylon rod he stocked. I put the inch and a half rod into the chuck and hollowed out one end. I did this six times and used various outside diameters. Small metal discs were cut from scrap and drilled just off the centre point. When I went to pay for the rough cut nylon the partner refused payment and said he was glad that he could find something to assist me. In a small electrical shop I owned, I fabricated several different sizes of small motors. Each was fitted with good bearings and all the connections necessary to connect them to a direct current source. With transistors so easy to fabricate I made heavy diodes that could be used for rectifying alternating current. Six small transformers that were similar to those used on the new electrical trains sold as toys were already in stock and I connected cords to connect them to the mains. C cell batteries were on the shelf and I took two dozen of them as well. At the front I paid for what I brought with me. The manager said, "Just take the parts. They all belong to you." "I happen to know some very inquisitive bookkeepers and you had better account for everything that goes through your hands." The man hung his head because he had already experienced a run in with my wives and come out the loser on almost all occasions. I took my next project home in a box and after greeting the family, went to a small room in the back to work. The nylon was now worked to very exacting tolerances and the finish on the outside was very smooth. Some I added small raised sections that resembled blisters. The small weights were attached to the motor shafts and then this assembly was pushed into the nylon and seated as only I could do. A long strip of solid copper wire that I had formed into a thin strip came up the inside of the tube like a flashlight. The three batteries could be placed in and made contact with a connection close to the motor and a cap could now be screwed on to compress the connections and complete the circuit. The motor started up and the out of balance weight was thrown in an arc that sent strong vibrations through the device. Another one was made but connections went outside through the cap to a step-down transformer and my rectification device. This too vibrated well. When the voltage and current were adjusted, the vibrations were dampened considerably. The other four units used batteries or a replaceable insert that would allow power from the mains to be employed. One small unit had to have the smallest motor and couldn't use the batteries at all. I washed my hands and all the equipment and took it to the front room in the box but covered with a clean towel. Later in the day Ayana and Brihan came home with Juni and I kissed them after they entered. They asked how my day went and I told them 'fine' but added, "I made something for you girls. It is not a new wrinkle on and old invention but it may have some twists that are not on other units." Juni asked, "What are they Shawn?" Take off you clothing my wives and I will show you." They looked at one another and then at the younger children then did as I asked. "Ayana, please get some petroleum jelly and a half dozen towels." She ran off to the bathroom and the other two stood around nonchalantly. When Ayana handed me the small jar and the stack of towels I said, "Ayana lay on the floor facing the couch please. The woman did as I asked. I was able to get one folded towel underneath her before she reclined. She had a curious look on her face as did the others. I took out a battery operated device and the girls eyes opened very wide. I coated it with jelly on the end and bent down and used my other hands to part her lower lips. Her legs parted to accept anything I chose to do. The device was worked in very slowly and I got beside her so I could play with her breasts. My other hand though could still work the device into her. Zema came over to see what was happening and found the long white nylon slipping deeper and deeper into Ayana. I moved it back and forth and Ayana started to respond to me. She had a quiet orgasm and I stopped for a moment after she came down. "That was nice Shawn but we have used these devices before. It is much better when you do it though." "This one is different. It can vibrate and I want to try it on you. Can I start now?" She was only a little unsure. She also knew that I would not hurt her. "Yes, my husband." My hand twisted the end and a gentle hum came from the device and her eyes opened wide in surprise. I had to use my other eye to see this and I knew that the vibrations were pleasing. I increased the current to the motor and her eyes got wider and wider. It shook more vigorously and soon she had another and much more pleasing orgasm. She almost melted into the floor and I waited to let her enjoy the after effects. Soon I was taking the device out and touching the side and the end of the device on her g spot or directly on her clit. This was as if she were electrocuted and she thrashed and twisted uncontrollably in my hold until she collapsed again. I took the unit out and let Ayana lay on the floor to recover. After I shut it off. "Juni lay on a towel over there." I pointed to an area close to the wall outlet. She had seen what had happened to Ayana and was adventurous enough to want to try it. I plugged in the transformer and after putting some jelly on another device. I stroked the dormant device into her for a few moments and she closed her eyes and held what she could of me. I turned on the device and her arms became like cords and soon her pelvis came far off the floor as a strong orgasm raced through her body. Ayana had recovered in time to see the results in Juni and both she and Brihan smiled as their new sister was pleased. I took out the device and laid it on the towel between Juni's legs and turned to Brihan. "Kneel over there my wife. I have even more of a surprise for you." The young woman moved and I took out the smallest diameter unit and plugged the power supply into the wall. I dipped the end of the device into the jelly and handed it to Ayana to hold. I used some of the jelly on my own fingers and started to play with Brihan's lips and clit. When she had a small orgasm this way I took the device from Ayana and worked the tip into Brihan's anus. The woman was very surprised but accepted the invader readily. She loved the feel and I was able to move it to all the places she liked. "Ayana turn the device up a bit please." When the vibrations came Brihan's back sunk very low and the angle of her colon altered radically. I continued with this and once in a while nodded to Ayana who turned up the power even more. At the end I had to hold the woman with my power as I stroked into her and she came with a yell that would be heard by the neighbours. She collapsed and I extracted the device from my wife. I laid the soiled article on the towel and use a far corner of the cloth to clean her anus. I picked the woman up and placed her on the couch with another towel under her. I left to wash and Ayana had picked up the device and was studying it. Juni too was looking at the device that was used on her. When I came back I said, "You three are my research and development team. Go into the bedroom where you will be more comfortable and use the devices on each other and yourselves. Write down what you think of each and how they can be improved. If you give them high enough marks we can start making these and sell them all over the world." I took Meseret and Zema out to play in the back on the swing and heard a lot of grunting, groaning and of course the occasional scream of delight for the next two hours. The children were happy to have me around and I sat with them as they played in the sand box with their toys. We came in later and I bathed the children and gave them a snack. Ayana was the first to come out and walked very funny as she approached me. "My husband the devices are good but we found many improvements. But... please can we get others to test the next batch out?" I just smiled and gave her a kiss. After a meal that night I went over the suggestions and found many good ideas. White was not necessarily the preferred colour especially when the men in this country were tan. The rigidity of nylon had its points but a synthetic rubber would be better or perhaps another soft plastic. They also wanted the phallus to look more lifelike. Another idea was to have a protrusion on one side that would directly stimulate the clit as it was inserted. Most but not all of these things I had foreseen but let the girls do the suggestions. I just took an hour and drew up many designs that incorporated these improvements and let the marketplace decide what they liked best. I spent thirteen days in Ethiopia getting reacquainted with my family and visiting the other electronic fabrication plants. I built with my mind all the components that went into three additional satellites. The source of crystals and pure silicon made all the tasks a bit easier. On three consecutive nights I took a satellite into orbit and placed them over London, Addis Ababa and the lastly over Salisbury. Five dozen simplified computers were assembled with the satellites and were sent them under guard with an equal number of large monitors to the camp so my army could train with them. Each of the students and the teachers would get a phone that could interface with the computers. As a security feature they were hooked up to the satellite overhead and the buttons could be seen in sunlight, infrared or in star and moon light. This way they could be used in the field. This time I used radio and landlines to lead to the transceiver for the local satellite. Much simpler hand transceivers would communicate with this earth unit. Hopefully only the transceiver technology would be at risk. I had buried the earth to satellite technology in concrete with only its antenna and an external power supply coming from the large block. Acid and explosives would destroy the unit before it could fall into hostile hands. My family and the managers got the new stripped down telephones. Juni had fun talking to her father while he was using the computer at home one night. The video capability was in place in the machine that Juni's father had but I had not made any camera for her phone yet. We said our goodbyes one more time. Juni and I flew to Rhodesia. In Salisbury I had an in-depth talk to both a select group of politicians and their supporters. The Commonwealth still had their sanctions in place and I offered them a way out. "Your neighbours are all black and will one day overwhelm all of you here regardless of what you do. Repression is the term for what you are now using. It will come back to haunt you later. The native people will be so angry by then that you and all your families will be swept away. The way around the problem is to give the native population a significant say in politics and a portion of the good life this country has to offer. This will also entail that all our people of both colours will have to be educated to the same standards." There was a growing animosity to me and I was glad I had an amplified way of speaking to them. "Our country makes most of its money from agriculture and some manufacturing. I have plans for making and entirely new telecommunications medium. This may be centred in this country. There will be enough money generated to triple the GNP inside three years. In three additional years it should at least triple again. The revenue gained will more than offset the cost to our country of the changes I envision. Since natives form the majority of our country, they will form the majority of my employees. Together we can get the sanctions lifted and form a better market for all our goods." I continued, "There will be many opportunities for suppliers in this country. The spin offs should be enough to make everybody here much more prosperous. This all hinges on you gentlemen making the laws suitable for these changes. I will not waste a lot of time on these laws being formulated because I too will loose a lot of money and opportunities." We got down to some concrete figures and the problem with phone lines across Africa came up. "I need many satellites to be placed in orbit. Radio will mainly be used and land lines will be for backup or for people not wanting my service. You will be getting the main ground station here to carry on the expansion. This means that Rhodesia will be launching my communicating devices. We will not do as the Americans or Russians are now doing." Now there was a real explosion of consternation. Most couldn't believe that this was possible. I walked a distance away and on a small table I put out the computer and activated it. A hush fell over the crowd when the lights were darkened the image grew even brighter as if looking at the object through a window. "Here is a view of our country from almost four hundred miles up. I want you to see how small it is in the general scheme of things." The scene changed and the earth was portrayed from a distance and satellites started dotting positions over the major land masses. "There will be hundreds of satellites launched and they will have various functions. Some will broadcast television signals so that we can see programs from around the world and other peoples will see ours." The audience had their mouths open at the presentation and my words. Most of my units will do all the functions I want them to do. "Many will transfer telephone and video from one person to another. Sound soon will not be enough. Others will find valuable resources which are difficult by other means. I have done this already and found gas and oil properties where none are currently looking. Another large group will be of benefit to mankind in general because no cost to them is involved. With their hand held telephone they will be able to tell exactly where they are within a few feet on any portion of our planet. Aircraft, ships, automobiles, bicyclists and pedestrians will know exactly where they are. This machine you are looking at will interface with this machine before you. It will project a map that will allow you to see down to the level of individual homes." They were all in a form of sensory overload because I had changed graphics to go with my words. It must have been this way when the first moving picture was shown. I was at the meeting till three in the morning because nobody wanted to go home. Phone calls had gone out and soon people that were too busy to come at first suddenly found time because of their friend's advice. ------- Chapter 36 We stayed at my home in the city for a week as I got the businessmen kick started. I almost wanted to do just that in reality. I was heartened though when the newspapers started talking about human rights and the need for the native population to take on many of the tasks that the whites had to bear. We flew out to the farm and visited my other family. Paka took an immediate liking to Juni but the girl was almost frightened out of her wits when the two first met. This was more of a time to unwind and it was easy to do so here. I was only called a little to practice my trade and most things were simple. Some of the villagers had difficulties but were much better than the population in general. The courses at the academy now got much more difficult. When the large shipment of computers, monitors and phones had arrived, orders came with it to leave it alone. I now opened some of the boxes and set up just a few of the systems. The teachers and security staff were briefed first and I showed them how to log onto the system and access the satellite. It was getting late and I used the cameras to show our village and individual buildings. I increased the magnification and we watched the students going about their activities. It was difficult to tell who was who because we were almost directly overhead. They did not believe it so half went out and performed various antics before coming back and then being told what they did. The other half had a turn until all partially believed what was happening. This group had to share twelve machines, leaving four dozen for almost a hundred students. I had to have it this way till the teachers learned what to do to teach the rest. I went into what a computer was good for and how it would form an integral relation with mankind very soon. They were told they had to share a dozen machines. Juni assembled the next unit using as much care as she could to make sure everybody would be remembered. When the staff had their allotment of units, we used cameras and microphones to allow them to be linked even closer. In an hour I had each of the instructors and other staff talking to each other and seeing who they were talking to at the same time. The students' education was my goal. One avenue was to learn about the computer through the use of the telephone in conjunction with the machine itself. I was forced to use one of my high tech uplinks and this had to be hid as it was in Ethiopia. Some of the people in Ethiopia had been waiting and those that spoke English helped the even newer people here. I gave the first few lessons to the students myself the next day. Juni did quite a few as well. The engineers in Ethiopia were called on again and the students were amazed at what was happening. My speech to them after the lessons was very serious. "The people in this room have to learn about this machine and other machines too. In a year or less you will be broken up into groups and will go out into our country to teach many more adults and people your age. If you fail, the ability of this country to compete in world markets as anything more than farmers will be seriously harmed." They were very solemn at this statement but I knew that they would work even harder to get ahead now. This group was one of the best educated group of natives in Africa and I planed to flaunt their expertise to the Europeans. The next night I told the academy what I had done so far because they couldn't follow the news very well. The ship, autos, planes and space were not really believed but the computer was thoroughly believed. Some students after only one day, took on the trappings of a religion with the computer. When the presentation came on after dark they all could credit some of the other facts to me now. I spent a few days camping so that Juni could see the African wildlife but we were in the end of the rainy season now and most times it was very wet. I could just about see the earth soak up the water like a thirsty man and give a little groan of contentment. Before we left I was able to chase Juni through the savannah when both of us were naked. Juni ran in feigned fright and tried to stay just out of my reach. When she stopped, too tired to carry on I pounced on her and did to her what each of us wanted done. We came back to camp muddy and me holding her in my arms. I don't know if it was her aura or not but I felt closer to her than anybody since Lusa. Mary was next to be sure and I had to assume it was something inside us that made the attraction so strong. The next day we flew to London. My artworks were selling well but there were never enough of them. For most of the flight, I painted scenes in my mind so that I could put them on canvas when we arrived. A sketch pad did allow me to catch Juni in moments that she was thinking her own thoughts and I even put some of her aura into each. Sharon and some of the old sorority greeted me very enthusiastically. Juni was a little put out because she thought them more of my wives that I had not mentioned to her. In a quiet moment I told her that the girls were just friends and that I had not touched any of them. Grandmother and grandfather seemed to love Juni for some reason. They were still put out about the war and the Japanese part in it but Juni was definitely different in their eyes. One night we stayed in dad's old room and then we all went to the civic centre the next day. Grandfather showed her the building and the bas-relief as if he had been the one to do all the work. I chuckled at this for he had become something of an authority on this area of the city. That weekend we went across the channel and went into Paris to see Monique and the other girls. This time I was mobbed by less but they were even more ardent. Monique and Beth now had more or less steady boyfriends so I just treated them as good friends. Jessica and Stephanie were the only ones still shopping around. Jessica was still looking to have me as her husband and Stephanie loved all the girls but especially needed Monique's company. I caught up on business as the girls showed Juni the city. More real estate had been purchased in my absence. I inspected the properties and found them to be good investments. That night we went to a fancy restaurant and Juni sampled many different Parisian dishes. That night in a bed kept specially for me, Juni and I made slow love until she was exhausted. Jessica came into the room and slid into the bed unasked. "Will you make love to me Shawn? It has been such a long time and I really need you." I looked at Juni and I got her headshake and I just kissed Jessica as an answer. Her cries were eventually so loud that she awoke the rest of the girls but they politely stayed in their own rooms. An hour later she was sprawled on the bed and Juni was again ready to start again. I did not stint and sawed into her opening many times till she fainted from the exquisite feelings running through her. We went to sleep then but later I was awoken with Jessica sucking on Juni's clit. Juni had awoken half way through the encounter and when she saw me sleeping, she simply let Jessica continue with what she was doing. I got off the bed and found Jessica's back opening and worked my way into it. She sped up her endeavour to please Juni as I worked in her bowels. Juni came first then a minute later Jessica followed. After cleaning myself then Jessica I put the girl on the other side of me and we returned to sleep. On Monday we travelled back to London. We had enough time to show Juni the 'mall' I had built and how I saw the idea incorporated into the underground shops in Tokyo. She liked the idea immensely even if she had seen the computer generated graphics many times before. At the airport my grandparents saw us off on our flight across the Atlantic. This time I took watercolours and whiled away my time producing many canvasses for the gallery. Juni did not mind too much because she was in most of them. After a stop for fuelling in Gander, we flew to Toronto. We were met by only Mary and Sally. The rest were still in school and knew better than to skip classes. I kissed Mary as a husband should and passers by found this odd enough to stop and stare. When Mary was out of breath I stood her up and picked up my little girl and gave her a kiss too. "Oh Daddy I missed you so much," she said with a lot of feeling. "I missed you and your mother too. This lady here is the woman that spoke to you on the phone all those times. Sally meet Juni." All the girls hugged each other and we got into the LandRover and travelled to Mary's home. It was not actually hers now because she had sold it and had possession only until the end of June. When we got out of the vehicle Juni ran her hand over the body of the large vehicle. "This car is so big. It could carry a large family or lots of cargo." "We have a lot of snow here and this is a good vehicle for travelling then. We will have to sell the vehicle though because it will cost too much to transport." Mary piped up, "I can drive it to British Columbia. It should only take four or five days." "I have been keeping it a secret but I want you with me in Japan instead. You must learn the language and the girls can go to school there. The import export business works best if you meet the people that you are dealing with first. Are you willing to go there and help me?" "I will go anyplace you want me to go Shawn." Inside the house I took Mary upstairs and brought the other two with me. I removed her clothes and started making love to her. Juni saw this and removed her own clothing too. Sally copied what the older girls did. When Mary had her third or fourth orgasm I moved over to Juni and did the same thing to her. With two almost unconscious women on the bed, I floated a frightened then a pleased little girl to me and got her to lie down on my chest so she could calm down. An hour later I heard the front door open and Liz run upstairs. She at least was quiet at the top and found three naked females sleeping around me. I smiling at her as she said, "Did you save any for me?" I just brought my finger to my lips and slowly got up with Sally still on my chest. This had to be done with my extra abilities for I was too top heavy. When I got up to my knees I placed the girl down in my place and got off the foot of the bed. Liz came to me with her arms to help and said, "I missed you so much. You don't know what it was like to lose you after I'd just met you." "I missed you too Honey. Let's go to your room now." She smiled, took my hand and raced to her bedroom. Now the bedroom was much cleaner and in fact the whole house was cleaned up. They told me how all the girls had decided to paint the house together. This allowed them to stay over and both Sofia and Rachael found new bed partners. Liz needed no foreplay and I slipped into her as I heard her groan of contentment. She was able to meet my thrusts for only a minute before going into overload. The next few orgasms just took the edge off her appetite though. The next one took a long time because I held her back. When I did allow her to orgasm she did so very loudly and my mouth was barely able to stifle her call. I had been worked up enough that I had my third release as well. I felt more than just content that each of my ladies had done this for me. Not too much later a car stopped out front and Rachael's mother dropped off her daughter and Sofia. The girls just waved goodbye and entered the house as family would. I was able to meet them at the top of the stairs. They looked up to see my naked form standing there with a reliable indicator telling them that they were wanted. They called my name and ran up almost knocking themselves down in their haste. "Hello my loves. Do you want to go to my old room?" They definitely did and started taking off their clothes as they went but Sofia stopped part way and stopped. She had her period and just remembered. She felt very bad about this and I knew if she were left alone she would break down and cry. "Rachael, Sofia, we are going to have a shower first. Get naked and get running." In a flash they were in the tub and I turned the water on till it was warm. I washed each of them and then slid into Sofia as Rachael held the girl's arms and kissed her lips. I stayed in Sofia until she had her allotment of orgasms and I had one as well. I carried her wet body to the bed and put her down on some towels before returning to Rachael. "You are last this time darling," I said just before kissing her. Soon I was pounding into her as I did Sofia and she came even sooner. She had three vaginal orgasms and one anal. The last one was in sync with me. I washed both of us off and took her out to lay her beside Sofia. In the doorway were Mary and Juni watching intently what I was doing. Apparently Juni was taking the old axiom seriously about being in Rome for she was as naked as the rest of us. She came to me and asked, "Are these the other two?" "Yes, this one is Rachael and the other is Sofia." "They are very beautiful girls." She left unsaid why she was picked as a wife. "You are beautiful too. As you get older you will even get more beautiful as your features fill out. I am not lying to you to make you happy. What I said is the truth." She kissed me regardless and she was only a little afraid to believe me. I closed all the drapes and pulled the blinds for privacy. Mary, Juni and I sat around the dining room table because others would be joining us when they woke up. Mary had heard our conversation and said, "Shawn is right. You are beautiful and will get even more so as you age. When he told us about this aura thing I didn't know whether to believe him or not. After meeting you, I know he was right because I see a lot of similarities in us." She turned to look at me. "Shawn, what do you see in each of us?" "I see light coming from around your head and your extremities. When I met both of you I knew that you would both be my wives. Lusa had the same glow and I have come to the conclusion that it means that we are meant to be together like the north and south poles of a magnet. Everybody has an aura but there are differences in colour, intensity and even shadings. Both of you when I found you had tumours which I had to remove to save you. Those appeared as black areas in the affected parts of the body." Mary asked, "What about the other girls?" I brought my finger to my lips and said lower, "Auras change over time and they may or may not get yours." Just then all the rest of the girls came downstairs with Sally being held by Sofia. The latter was the only one with panties on. When they came into the room I stood and introduced them to Juni. She was kissed like a very old and dear friend. I took Sally and seated the rest. When they were comfortably seated I said, "I have a surprise for you three. My work in Japan has turned out to be a very serious affair. I have committed all my resources to making the city of Tokyo the best it can be. The import/export company will need lots of training and I want all of us to go to Japan. You will each learn the language and meet the people. School will be taken care of there and you will learn what it will be like to deal in very large business deals. I will be selling not only toys but I will also be selling oil tankers. What do you think of moving there this summer?" The girls were very happy mainly because they would be with me. Instead of going out I made a meal and we all sat around and talked as if we were nudists. Liz got a few phone calls from friends that she would never have gotten at one time and I was happy to see she was fitting in so well. Soon I had the girls doing their homework or studying. When this was done Juni in an unaccustomed bout of openness started to teach the girls Japanese. This lesson would be well remembered because she used me to let the girls learn about male body parts. The girls had a fun time saying some of the words and even repeated many of them so they would set in well. Juni liked to hold the part in question and repeat many of the special features. I had to cut the lesson short because Liz wanted to start with some of the Japanese verbs having to do with this activity. Juni was sleepy, mainly from spanning the different time zones. She stayed up as much as possible but I put her to bed early and took Rachael and Sofia home. I had the girls phone ahead and I met Rachael's parents first and talked a bit about what I was doing in the world. A half hour later I was doing the same thing at Sofia's home. The parents of both girls were similar and wanted the best for each of their daughters. They knew that the girls followed my dictates to the letter and this made them much better at school. Shy Sofia asked me to keep my cock in good shape in Japanese as we left. Her parents thankfully did not know the language. I said in reply, "I want to spread your legs and nibble on that delicate morsel there for the rest of my days." She blushed even though none of them knew what I was saying. Sofia could only guess at some of the words. The next day I went to Bay Street and basically picked a businessman who would give me a lead to a good corporate lawyer. When this was done I spent an hour finding all the peculiarities of Canadian law as it pertained to import, export, telecommunications and banking. It was not that much different from the British system. Both did have a lot of waste in how a law was applied and how things could be done. It would take a Supreme Court decision in many cases to see which of the many laws I would be able to work with. The girls' birthdays were coming up. Rachel's in two weeks and Sofia's three weeks after that. This would be their eighteenth birthdays and of a legal age to go where they wanted. When they graduated high school I wanted them with me. Already the parents were a little tired with me not giving any guidance and had worked out where they wanted to send the girls. None of the decisions would be anywhere close to what I had chosen. I stayed long enough to draw up some plans for the special engine I would need to power some aircraft I wanted to build. An American plant in western Toronto would have to do for the rough engine spindle. I negotiated with them telling them my requirements. They of course wanted all the engine not the main shaft and bearings. I was adamant and we arrived at a fair figure. There was little they could do with the drawings I gave them because of the radical design of the engine. It would take a month to make and then it would be shipped to Tokyo for me. I signed a cheque for half to get them going and made sure there was a penalty in the contract if they were late in delivering. Most of the things I set out to do had been completed so the next day we prepared for our flight home with almost a two day stopover in Vancouver. The girls started to cry again even Juni did too. I said, "There is only a little over six weeks to go and you will be flying to Japan. Your birthdays are very soon and I will get your schools to send your transcripts to me. You will then be enrolled in the University of Tokyo. Mary, Liz and Sally will have a private tutor to get them up to speed as fast as possible." After a lot more hugs and kisses Juni and I boarded our flight. The trip was tedious and again I worked on my watercolours. This time I painted at the back of the plane and called any children that were present to come and see what I was doing. Some parents offered to buy my art but after I had told them what it would cost at my gallery they quietly but quickly backed away from making any offers. I pointed out nice places in the Rocky Mountains as we flew high over them. Apart for Mount Fuji there was little snow ever in Japan. Like there, I knew snow was in the mountains here all year long. Once we landed I just showed Juni some of the places I thought would be good for our warehousing and sales. If the trucks were sold, they would come in as subassemblies and would be assembled on the site of any large earth moving operation. Automobiles could come in here if I made ships that could accommodate that kind of cargo. We discussed the properties I already owned to see if we could find a better purpose for them. When we got off the plane I called a resort and we were driven higher into the mountains for a relaxing day. At noon the next day we were driven back to Vancouver and a taxi drove us around to see many of the sites I wanted to investigate at a much closer distance. There were a lot of Oriental people here and Juni struck up a conversation with a shop owner about the weather and opportunities for making a profit. The talk went on for five minutes till the owner deduced who I was. I urged Juni out at this point. We shopped for a few nice things for souvenirs and when it was time to go. I recovered my paintings and shipped them to London. When we finally arrived in Tokyo many hours later, it was raining hard as we ran down the steps and across the tarmac to the shelter in the terminal. Customs recognized me immediately and we went through very quickly. Juni's father was waiting for us and she ran to him and Juni gave him a big kiss in public. Mr. Hitomi was a little put out about the showing of affections in public but secretly liked it nevertheless. Our bows to each other though were very formal. In the car Juni told about her around the world trip and what she had done. Vancouver was most recent in her mind and she talked about how beautiful it was. Kochiyo and Maeko descended the front steps of the house when we arrived. Maeko opened the car and offered to carry the heavy suitcases. I gave a lighter piece of luggage to each and one to Juni as well. Mr. Hitomi gladly carried the computer while I took out the rest of the luggage and let the driver take the car away. Inside Juni opened her suitcase and gave out souvenirs from all the places we stopped at. Juni was soon very sleepy and went upstairs to her old room while I had a quiet talk with her father. "Sir now that your daughter is my wife it is up to me to provide a place for her to stay. I have more women and a child coming in a month. Would your household be unduly upset if we stayed here until our own home is built. This may take up to two years." "My home has been quiet for a long time and I think I will like to hear the patter of little feet. Tell me more about the child." I took out my pictures again of Sally and the other girls and told him more about the child. He seemed captivated by the girl because in some ways she reminded him of his daughter at that age. When I was about finished telling everything about the family I said, "You have taken on a heavy responsibility. Being Juni's father will make you a grandfather to the child. She is not being brought up with Japanese customs. She will be what is called a 'holy terror' in this house." The man chuckled mainly because he would have two women to run interference for him. I took out of my pocket a small device with a blunt antenna and pushed a button to turn it on. A tone came from the small speaker and Mr. Hitomi asked, "What is this for?" "Go into you office with this and walk around." The man did and when it came close to the microphones a much higher tone came from the machine. He gave a big smile and walked throughout the house trying to find more. When he came back he said, "This is so small and so sensitive. I can be yards away and find the devices. Lamps, telephones and motors make a much different sound." "I have been doing some thinking and I believe that soon they will be putting things in the telephones or on the line where it leaves the house and pick up information from your own phones." I took out a small head set I had made and plugged the end of the wire into the device. He looked at me questioningly and I said, "They can hear the tone and know they are found out. The way it is now, you will know and the others will not. The meter on the face will also give you an indication. These are what our plant here makes. It took a while to get the special chips fabricated but they are being made in small units. In a few months I will get the individual circuits patented and then the unit will be for sale." "Ah a very good idea Sir Shawn." "Before I left Mr. Hitomi, it was simply Shawn. I would like to be thought of as your son-in-law." "Shawn it will be. My name is Morie and I would prefer if you call me that." I was pleased and said, "Well Morie here is my next plan and I think you will say your usual, 'impossible'." He shook his head no, so I said, "I want to go the American base and buy some of the scrapped B-47 airframes. They have no engines and no instrumentation." The man looked at me questioningly and I continued. "I have partial engines coming that I will complete here. The new plane will now be able to fly well over a hundred and twenty miles." This was actually a very short distance, so I continued, "from the earth." "Impossible, where did you get an idea like that? The plane was a high altitude bomber then given the task of doing the same thing at a few hundred feet. It is a good plane but the new missiles can take it out easily." "I may not be able to outrun a missile but I can make it almost fly to that altitude. My engines are designed to be very powerful and will do the job easily. When they get very high scoops come out and funnel additional air into the engines to allow them to function at a higher altitude." "Still impossible." "The part I think you will find impossible hasn't been spoken yet. In place of bombs I will have electronic packages that will be propelled by a simple scramjet engine that will take the instruments up many more miles till a rocket places them in orbit." This time I was only given a look and I continued, "The satellites I will begin launching will provide phone coverage for the entire planet." "I still do not understand your reasoning. We have land based telephones and radio now. Why go to the expense of launching satellites?" "There will be a lot of money to be made when anybody anywhere can talk immediately to their friends or fellow businessmen. Consider the possibilities if I were in a plane leaving Tokyo and I just thought of a way that would make you a million dollars. Should I wait and perhaps have somebody else pick up this money?" "It would usually wait until you landed and then phoned me." "But not always. Instant communications is a thing that will make my company very rich. Another thing my launching will do is bring the world's attention here to us. Soon I will sell the system to other countries for a lot of money. My satellites will be up there first. Like our ships, they will be there first of a new way of thinking. We will be able to sell the technology to others for a good profit. Television and surveillance will be very lucrative." "I want to keep the technology for the ship to ourselves. You made a good design and we can use it for many years to come." "Well Morie they will steal our ideas if we don't sell them. This way we make money. Also I want to tell you about a new ship that is four times as fast and can still carry 500,000 dead weight tons of petroleum." The man's eyes fairly glowed in thought of this. "This ship will be even more secure from storms because it will travel a hundred feet beneath the waves." The man's eyes now came back with the shock. "Don't joke like that. I am an old man." "Well, old and revered father, I was not joking. I found that a submarine can travel much faster beneath the waves than on the surface. I will have our ships carry equipment that the world's navies do not have. This will make their trips safe and perhaps even boring." I saw that he was not over the shock yet so I added, "We will wait a few years at least before we consider selling technology but the other ship yards will know our present plans much sooner." Most of the wealthy families and institutions had banded together with me to form a large company now. I owned large tracts of the city and the company with me owned much more. In a month I had the large excavating equipment ready and started to dig a trial trench for an underground rail line that would only have three sets of tracks in them with a small maintenance walkway beside. In twenty four hours we had dug six miles of trench forty five feet deep by a hundred feet wide. The machine had a large wheel that would rotate and scoop earth and dump the soil onto a belt. The operator would swing it to one side and scoop more. It reminded me of a large chainsaw because of its great voraciousness. The machinery was just in the testing stages and I kept the speed slow to make sure it didn't break down with everybody watching. The conveyor following the rotating buckets was outside the trench and only a short but very fast conveyor was used to dump material on the other belt. Before we were done the day's work steel had already been put into place and a moving form and been made to be pulled behind us by another machine. The trench was very wide because homes and businesses were now going to be incorporated into the matrix. A freight train at night could stop on the tracks and a business could just unload directly into their lowest basement. Elevators would move the cargo to where it was needed. The ground level entrance would provide a place for retail activity to take place. The two levels above would supply housing for the owners and their employees or just rented out to families. Below the rails in the trench very large storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water pipes and utilities such as electricity, gas and land based telephone cables were laid. I even installed empty conduits for future expansion. The last article and the gas, were hotly disputed by the others in the company because there was no gas supply in Japan. The cost of this and the space for future expansion was minimal but over the entire project was then seen as an unreasonable expense. It took a while for cement to set and by the time a week had passed we had made almost fifty three miles of trench. The pace had picked up but we had difficulty with the long high speed belt. Along the way large tracts of land had been set aside for storage of soil. At places where future roads would be, small underground areas were prepared. There people could wait to board a train. Half of the areas were much deeper into the earth because other trains would cross going at a right angle directly above or below. Fifteen weeks later the stretch of trench was done and the track had been laid. I made sure the track was suitable for very high speeds especially the centre one. This meant that it was anchored well and all joints were flush. We had many tradesmen from all over Japan here to work and they had to go through a compulsory training course or they would not have a job. Some of the things that were done had to be done perfectly not just well. After a lot of arguing with Morie, we contacted other large manufacturers and gave them plans for the electric trains. Cars were drawn in detail as were the engines, except solely for a portion having to do with the way the motor would be constructed. They would still do most of the work but the secret of the motor I wanted to keep as long as possible. A small box that would do the actual controlling was absent but all the electrical data was given. Just after the start of this project Mary and the girls arrived. I had done as I said I would but things were still hectic. Right up to their birthdays they had been worried, but when I phoned they now saw this all as a huge adventure, particularly now that they were of age. Juni and I got them settled and she stayed with them as a friendly face in a strange country. They had been taking Japanese lessons privately but could speak only a little of the language. They came out to the site many times but just as many times I was at the cement factory, the current area where they were pouring this product or a little ahead where the reinforcing rod was being placed. The homes and businesses along the track had been what had sold the project the most. We could get an almost immediate if only partial return on our money. There was a long list of merchants wanting to move in. We did find some time together and I introduced all of them to English speaking friends or acquaintances. I made it abundantly clear that the girls were my family along with Juni, her father, even her old nurses. When this particular construction project was done. I could see the backfilled portion tamped back into place and sod placed among the young trees. A cobbled walkway for the pedestrians to travel from one shop to another made this much more human oriented. Further back only fertiliser and grass seed were spread because we could not do all this section this way because of the cost. The buildings looked a bit like row housing but were much sturdier to handle some of the smaller tremors. The typhoons that lashed the country a few times a year would not damage these buildings at all. The emperor no less, came out and cut the official ribbon and thanked the men that had made this project the success it was. This could be readily seen because the first homes/business we built were already occupied and open for business. Part way through the procession I was presented. Since I wasn't Japanese my standing was very low. Normally I would be happy with that but I knew that eventually everything would change, however Juni and her dad were not impressed though and thought I should be standing beside the emperor throughout the presentation. The girls did give more of their own awards and I felt well sated. As I caressed each one tickling all the areas that would get them aroused. I sorted their memories and added more and more of the Japanese language. Time was at a premium and love making had never been a thing that I had to focus more than a portion of mind on. Morie had changed since I had come back. He took Kochiyo and Maeko into his bed after I assured him that they were more than willing. The man treated them more like mistresses now and it was nice to see a more open display of love. Juni loved the women and was happy for her father. I was putting out feelers now about a satellite phone system and was getting some favourable responses. Japan's system was antiquated at best and only partially functional even this long after the war. I compromised a little with the system and made ground based receivers that would transmit to the satellites themselves and much simpler phones. They sold very quickly in Japan, so much so that my companies in Ethiopia could hardly keep up. It was not unusual for people in all walks of life to be strolling down the street talking to family and friends. The roads and houses in this city were for the most part poor. That did not stop many people at the moment from wanting to protect their own property and the way it used to be. Most nights I only got two hours sleep or less and the rest of my time was spent on the satellites. As soon as I would get one done I would place it in orbit and come back to rest because of the strain on me. When the latest Japanese project was done I had a chance to rest a bit more. This allowed me to teach a select group of engineers a deeper understanding of some things and a new understanding of things they always thought as true. They were to go to Ethiopia and assist my companies there in making more, as well as different, products. Electronics was only one of the things I taught. Ethics was stressed and I said in one class, "The Japanese people are very loyal to their employer and you are no different," I told them. "Foreign governments and businesses will actively pursue you for any secrets you may divulge. They will lure you with sex and blackmail you into helping them. Your family will be threatened or you will be offered fantastic sums of money. I have a very efficient security company monitoring what is being done. Contact security at any instance for all our benefits." I used the fabled computer to teach and they still thought it actually resided in a heavily fortified room in the basement. I explained its inner workings and how some components were made in Ethiopia. The size and arrangement of the parts was not mentioned. I had to give the world a computer but I didn't want it anywhere near as powerful as mine. A way of restricting the technology would be to use my telephone system. This would allow everybody to communicate with text, graphics or video but to also provide complex groups of instructions that would provide ways of manipulating this data. These programmes would sort numerical data and align text to a page. To the last endeavour I would have to make a device that would put this information onto paper. At home I was able to teach Sofia, Rachael, Juni and Mary many of the things that they could use to become competent engineers. It would take them a few months to catch up to the other engineers but I was willing to assist them. Liz would remain a child a while longer and enjoy this time. Sally was in heaven because she had all the people around to play with her. Kochiyo and Maeko took delight in teaching her to cook. She helped make our meals and made her grandpa many novel creations. He ate each and always said how good they were regardless of how he really felt. My British publishing house had been given orders to produce a book now on the new telephone system. It had everything in it even to the still unnoticed satellites far overhead and their encryption capability. Television was stressed the most because that was what would sell the best. There were numerous and different systems of TV transmission. For a short while it would be difficult to have people all over the world watch shows from other areas. I had not even begun to get regulatory approval yet for my proposed television system because it would mean telling them that I had already launched some systems. My tenth birthday came and went with congratulations coming in from people all over the planet. We had a quiet time with only a small party at home. The greetings reminded me of the way I did things. I wrote at least a hundred letters a week to people I had met at one time or another. Sometimes I had to space out the letters because one individual or another would write back as soon as possible. Many of the letters were from the flight to Ethiopia or from the European women I rescued there. My simple computers were explained in a second book. In a way it was a sales brochure that the customer would pay a lot of money for. This book had to go to more than one publisher because of the expected run on this printing. For this reason I had millions of books printed at my expense and in many languages. Morie through some intermediaries got me to see some of the B-47s that were being scrapped. I bought three of them and basically got a hollowed out plane with only the hydraulics and landing gear extra. The basic engines from Canada had long since come in and I had to make all the fan blades for them with my abilities. They were much larger in diameter than any other turbojet engines in existence. They had to provide all the power I would need to get where others could only dream about going. The ability to work at a very high altitude played an important role but control would have to be with rockets for the wings would never be large enough to guide this craft at high altitudes. The fuselage of the plane was basically scrapped and I only had a framework with six of the orbital vehicles that would take my satellites where they were needed. A seventh unit was just to provide a symmetrical way of containing the units and supplying me a place to operate the ship from. The wings had to be strengthened and made to sweep back as the speed increased. The fuel tanks had to be made to work in the near vacuum conditions that the plane would encounter. Almost a year from entering Japan I was ready to show the world what could be done and drag them into the future. In the first part of February 1961 I started the last portion of my plan for the phone system. The Japanese aviation authorities gave me quick clearance to test out my experimental plane. It was one o'clock in the morning and this was to give me a bit more security and also allow me to land during daylight to cement any deal I could arrive at. If the authorities here waited, foreign governments would try to slow us down and that would be very detrimental to my immediate plans. The hangar doors opened as the very odd looking plane appeared. The engines were very oversized for the craft. The skin of the old bombers covered the framework of orbital insertion vehicles. This plane had many more times the load of that which the old bomber was capable of. The wings had been lengthened as well to support all the weight I would be carrying but were not as thick as would normally be called for. I had used some of the secrets I found out about metallurgy and carbon polymerization to ensure that the plane would be able to make the trip and come back safely. This had been planed for a long time and people had long since been given secret instructions. In many cities all over the globe television time had been purchased and equipment had been in place to feed the local transmitters with what was about to happen. Britain, France, Germany and the United States had been heavily covered. In the Eastern block I had not been able to gain this time because they thought it would hurt their image of what Communism should be. The rest of the world did not know what was happening either, just that I was going to transmit a rather large news event. Television commentators that spoke the languages of the countries I wanted to communicate with were brought into a secure room and appraised of what was going to happen. One of the terms of their employment was that I had to keep them incommunicado and show them what I was going to do and why. All this would take time and they were obliged to stay in seclusion till the mission had ended. They didn't believe me but would go along with me because they were paid to do so. My engineers would assist with making sure the different effects were handled as I liked. I was able to split the viewing screen and have more than one person talking or to show what was happening. They would be handling feeds from fast aircraft that would follow me. Others images would be from telescopes and last of all from space based telescopes. The last had taken a long time for them to get over the fact that I already had units in orbit. My story would be that I was finally going to use a new type of ship to insert satellites into orbit much cheaper than the Americans or the Russians. The fable would also say that I had used small one satellite delivery units on many previous occasions to put the ones I did have into place. They mentioned about me secretly flying around the earth in this type of craft on many occasions. The last would be not believed for nobody had gone into space yet but both of the major powers were working hard to do so. I made a suit that would protect me from the cold and vacuum of space. My family dressed in eye-catching uniforms helped me into the plane and helped me buckle in. Small cameras on each person showed everybody what each of the girls saw. Last to leave was Juni's father who ceremoniously shook my hand. I was towed out to the runway and after communication with the tower brought the engines up to half power and accelerated rapidly down the runway. I had lifted off in a very short distance even with the load I had. As I headed east I talked of what I was doing as it was being done. Onboard cameras focussed on the altimeter and speed gauge as well as one ahead of us and down. I still did not say what I was doing or why because there was still a chance of interception. At a hundred thousand feet I allowed the commentators to reveal the secret and bring out diagrams of how the plane and the insertion vehicles were constructed. At seventy miles altitude I was completely safe from missiles and had to engage the scramjets on the vehicles to assist me in climbing higher. They were taking fuel from the mother ship so I was not worried about them running low. My own engines reconfigured, as did my wings, to the rarefied atmosphere as all was still being conveyed back to earth. At a hundred and fifteen miles altitude I saw that I would be getting diminishing returns by continuing. I started to release individual vehicles to continue their flight. At a hundred and sixty miles their scramjet engines fell off the rear of the craft and a small blaze of rocket engines could be seen as they continued into orbit at a height of a little over four hundred miles. I had previously positioned a satellite to capture all the details of how the solar collectors unfolded and prepared themselves for eventual use. This video was hard to view, even if I positioned it over an area illuminated by the sun. The rays would have to hit the new satellite at the correct angle, instead I had to rely on the computer rendition I had prepared earlier to let people see what I was doing. When the last pair of vehicles had been launched, I stayed to ensure that they functioned properly and then started my descent. Forward pointing rocket engines slowed me down and I gradually lost altitude. The wings and engines were useless because there was not enough air for them to function. Back at seventy miles altitude and I was able to get my engines restarted, soon feathering the rear ducts to redirect thrust forward to slow me down dramatically. All this was necessary because the plane had picked up a fantastic amount of speed with the scramjets and everything would be heating dangerously if we continued like this in thicker air lower down. My own feed from earth told me of the dangers of this manoeuvre. I wanted to build a little suspense but the fact remained that this was one of the most dangerous times. Communications became difficult and cut out all together. The engines were now fuelled by liquid hydrogen with the fuel being used to cool the leading edges of the aircraft's skin before being introduced into the engines. The aircraft was difficult to manage because the thrust re-directed forward did not promote smooth flight and I had to constantly monitor and correct this. If anybody else were flying this machine, they would have to have a computer present to make all the small changes or the ship would fall apart in seconds. I finally dropped subsonic over the Atlantic after passing completely over North America. I was slightly further along than I had anticipated. From a thousand miles out I used my telephone and called the tower in London and officially asked for clearance to land. They had been briefed sooner and the matter of fact response was accepted as it was relayed to the rest of the world. I stayed just below the speed of sound and in an hour and a half my wheels touched the tarmac as hundreds of thousands of people ringed the airport. My own people came out to greet me and help me from the plane. Before shutting down the transmission I thanked everybody for staying to watch. I had done an underhanded thing in purchasing only an hour of television time. When I was at the height I wanted to launch the insertion vehicles that time would have ended. The stations would be forced to keep their audiences happy and continued to cover the event as it unrolled for free. I was helped into an open LandRover and I waved to the crowd as I was brought into the terminal. The Queen and her immediate family were there to greet me. My grandparents stood proud beside the royal family as did dignitaries from the government. By the time I got to them I was able to doff my helmet and gloves. The Queen gave a short speech of welcome back to her country. The Prime Minister did as well and talked about all the benefits that were sure to follow the technology I brought to them. This was easily said because as I rose above missile range folders of my mission were given to all the heads of state and to their security agencies. An hour later I went with the dignitaries as everybody waved to the crowd. It was getting to be a bit of a circus and that had to be accepted for this to work. As I was leaving the airport my plane was towed to a hanger with my security men ringing it as heavily as I could get away with. The Prime Minister and some of the other more influential members of parliament had offered me a ride and I accepted. As predicted they started on me even before we went through the gates. "Sir Shawn, tell us about your fabulous aircraft." "I am sorry sir. There are literally thousands of items on the craft that are not yet patented. I cannot talk about it unless I use general terms." They shook their heads in agreement and I continued. "When I work a few more bugs out of the system I will sell the rights to the engine. I am sorry to say this country will have to bid on the rights if they want to build them. I imagine my engines will push existing craft much faster. They use thirty percent less fuel and I can put a modification on it that will abate the sound about the same amount without losing much efficiency." They thought on this for a while then I said, "I am prepared to build a space station and I think all countries can join in the effort. Many things can be made easier in space where gravity is more or less nullified. From there we can start our exploration of the solar system and perhaps send some people to the closer planets. I also want to start a small colony on the moon within ten years." Now the men were completely quiet. During this lull I took out my small phone and punched one number that searched a data file and dialled a longer number for me. When a person picked up the phone I mentioned who I was and asked to speak to the ambassador. I was put through quickly and a gruff voiced individual praised me for what I had just done. I thanked him and said, Would you be interested in a small meeting at my hotel to discuss space?" Later I called four more men and invited them too. When we pulled up before a hotel where I had reserved a suite a month ago. I said, "Why don't you gentlemen come up and we can talk further." They did want to talk. I got out of the car in by bright grey uniform and walked to the desk with my helmet in hand and my gloves stuffed into it. "Hello, I believe you have a suite and a meeting room reserved for me." The desk clerk was used to important people coming here all the time but was definitely at a loss with me. Nobody yet had come in wearing a space suit. He took out the register and I signed it then he proceeded to ring for a bellboy but saw that I didn't have any luggage. In my suite I took off the suit. I only had underwear on underneath. "You gentlemen may inspect the suit but I warn you about body odours first. I have to take a quick shower." They did look closely as I washed. Before I was finished a knock came to the door and the Minister of Trade and Commerce opened it. One of my security men came in with a small suitcase of my clothing and other things. He came into the bathroom and when I got out I dried and changed. "Please start your scan now." The man walked out of the room with me and went over the room with a small device to find bugs. A small piece of tape showed where each was located. The parliamentarians just looked at the small device and watched the man efficiently place many small pieces of black paper tape throughout the suite not knowing the reason. "Well gentlemen, let's get down to our meeting for soon the others will arrive." The Prime Minister asked what are the pieces of tape for?" "Oh just curious people that want to find out what I am going to say. Most are American, Russian, Chinese, or businesses interests, wanting a hint of what I am doing so they can use it for their own advantage. Some are no doubt British and they have the same reason. While I was in the shower I called security and asked them to sweep the little vermin up. The meeting room will already have been cleaned. Shall we go down and see what decisions we can come up with?" ------- Chapter 37 It was five in the afternoon when the diplomats started to trickle in. I greeted each as they entered and the men they brought with them. Not all of the aides arriving were giving their real name. Germany, the United States, Russia and China were present. The ambassador from France was late so in keeping with my tradition, I started the meeting regardless. "Gentlemen, I have asked you to come here to hear my plan. I have shown that space can be an environment that is obtainable at a much cheaper price than you thought possible. The Americans and Russians have found it to be very expensive to put a satellite into orbit. I can leave the actual figures to you gentlemen to find out from the parties involved. They will certainly downplay any high costs." There was some talking between the diplomats and I let it run down before I continued. "My engines can place smaller payloads into orbit or I could have used larger rocket engines to place the entire craft into orbit. I have already travelled around the planet on much smaller craft to insert much smaller satellites. Those simple ships were crude and I had to abandon them because of the danger involved." The ambassador from Germany asked, "When can we get these engines?" "There is more work to be done on them. Patents have not been even applied for yet. There are many more improvements that are to be made and I think that three years is not an unreasonable time to wait." The man agreed and I went on, "The scramjet is a vast improvement and that too has to be patented. It can work on the highly rarefied air far above our planet. The airframe itself is many times stronger than the original manufacture made it and also many times lighter. One product alone can give you access to space. I have made a fibre that can be taken into space and an end lowered to the planet's surface. A small device will climb to the upper terminus dragging a similar fibre with it. Other machines will follow until the group of fibres are strong enough for heavy cargos and men to ascend to the heavens. This will be much like a freight elevator in many ways. Of course the time taken will be in the order of days. The cost of using it will be correspondingly low. "With space in my grasp I was able to bring together humanity as never before. I have sent books to your governments as a favour. Soon they will be sold throughout the world and nobody will be able to stop them coming. Telephones are the start for they allow us to talk to each other on a personal level. Television will follow so we can all see what it is like in another country and see it less as a threat. Later we will come to an all-in-one unit. You have all heard reports of my computer by your spies or business associates. I have not tried to hide it. The units that I will sell will calculate thousands of times faster than a roomful of mathematicians. Your productivity will go up because you can keep abreast of what is happening. "The computers will be hooked up to the satellites above and you can instantly send data to each other. The data can be text, graphics, movies, research results, your voice and of course your photograph. This will be the better telephone where you can see and hear who you are talking to." The French delegation came in and I asked them to just find seats. "I would like to demonstrate this for you if I may." A very large device looking like a television came out on a high stand and pushed by one of the security detail. Next came a small desk with a box on it. In front of that was a keyboard unlike any typewriter in existence. The keys were Latin based but the uppermost row had Greek and Cyrillic letters. The box had a small goose neck like those found on lamps. At the end was a small sphere the size of a plum with a small grill in the lower portion. I turned the desk to face the same way as the audience and nodded my head for the device to be turned on. The monitor took two minutes to warm up before a picture formed. The computer was ready in less than a second. I proceeded slowly, going step by step. Menus came on the screen in text format and in vivid colour. Their clarity was vastly superior to any black and white television unit that had been manufactured by my competition. I selected video and made a call to my home in Tokyo. A picture immediately appeared of Juni holding a sleeping Sally in her arms. "Hello Shawn," came from a set of speakers, "it is nice to see the meeting is on schedule." She looked up at the audience when I moved to one side. "Hello gentlemen. Thank you for helping us with this test." "Juni, is the Emperor ready?" She looked to one side and said, "Yes he is. There are four gentlemen with him." "You can stay on. Let me coach the people here first." I got a nod and turned. "We are now going to talk to His Majesty, Emperor Hirohito the Emperor of Japan. It is polite to stand now and bow to him as he will bow to you." The audience got up and I said, "Please group together so you may all be seen." I selected the correct menu options from the keyboard and instantly a crystal clear picture appeared of the official residence of the Emperor. When the man saw that he was live he stood and bowed with the men beside him. The men here did the same thing. I quickly introduced each of the participants even if they were the ambassador to Britain and not Japan. I introduced the American first and he came forward and was a little unsure of what to do but thought to treat this as if the Emperor was in the room with him. The Russian came next and they were able to converse in English. Each of the other representatives came forward and had his say. When all this was done I said, "This is like Marconi when he first broadcast across the Atlantic. Each of you gentlemen will go down in history in one additional place." When the Emperor signed off I went back to Juni and discovered that she had found a place for Sally to sleep. Her father and Mary sat quietly as their image came to us. To the men behind me I said, "The gentleman here is Mr. Hitomi, he is my partner in shipbuilding and Juni's father. The other lady is Mary Norton. Both ladies are for the sake of a name, my wives." There was a gasp on both sides of the world and I just let it slide. "My family will be listening in and voicing their own remarks." I discussed more of the system before me. The clarity was the most notable but the size was a great advancement as well. I went through the units abilities but knew that the men present would not know much about this. I took only an hour to show what I could because they would not be able to recall much. "Gentlemen, the unit before you is the one I wish to sell to the public. There are many things here that are not patented. If you will grant me the rights under an international patent I will give each of your governments one of these units. The ability to use the telephone is integral and regulatory approval is needed. A list of the patentable items will be issued at the end of the meeting. I will also give you an assistant to show you some of the finer points. You may film this and use it in your own country. "When we formally agree on the terms for hooking up to the new phone system there will be much more help. This agreement will be based on business decisions between the various countries and my company. I will not be making a deal with a government if they do not allow free access to the general population. Not only profit would be lessened but also understanding. I am in this for more than just a profit though. If we see each other as human beings then the chance of a future war would be greatly diminished." We talked a bit more and I had the diplomats call home on my unit as it interfaced with the Japanese phone system. The British and every other country other than Japan and Ethiopia were not hooked up together and I could not legally bypass any of the local statutes. As the men left I handed out the books on the computer and the phone system. Hours before the mail had been swamped with similar items going to others in their government. Next morning bookshops all over would start to receive their allotments for sale. I stayed a week in Britain, then fuelled up the plane and flew east again toward home. I cruised at an altitude of fifty miles where the engines worked very efficiently and was soon in Japan without having to refuel anywhere along the way. My family, along with much of Tokyo, greeted me on my return. A month later only some of the countries had decided to consider the telephone integration. Without a majority of the countries or at least the larger ones accepting the agreement my proposal was dead in the water. Some countries tried to get me to sell them part of my system. I knew this was more of a test for I had told them it was an all or nothing deal. The western powers had patent laws and would honour them but the applications I sent in would be very well scrutinised to find some improvement. When one was found then a new application could be presented and then another company could begin production. This was actually the bait for they would learn a lot but not enough to worry me. It was the basic idea of communication and eventually television that I wanted to happen the most. Our first tanker was by no means that way though. With newspapers from all over the world invited we staged a gigantic launching. With cameras rolling Juni dressed in the traditional Japanese garb swung a bottle of champagne against the hull. After much clapping we left the stands and Juni turned a giant valve to let water flood into the dry dock. Other valves were opened soon after and the vessel started to rock a bit then floated free. When the water level was equalized the hawsers were pulled tight and we boarded the ship. Pictures were taken of the ship from the air and sent around the world. Morie had fun as captain for a while as her sea trials began. She performed better than he allowed himself to believe and two weeks later the ship set sail for Indonesia to purchase petroleum. Work had been backed up as the ship was fitted out and we almost had another ship in parts waiting for us. The dry dock was now dry again and the welders were busy fitting the portions together. We had enough cash to pay for this next ship but after that we would have to rely on sales if any more were to be constructed. A smaller dry dock remained empty where I wanted to build the slightly smaller gas tankers. There was little use yet because the Canadians and the Americans had not yet built their respective pipelines to the coast. I was a minor partner in those ventures and the only buyer as yet. Another agreement in Indonesia was being worked on but I had little resources to spend on it at the moment. The first trench in Tokyo with the homes and businesses above, was a great success and people were clamouring for more of my 'type one' buildings. We did as the people asked and built more of these to support the fringe railway lines and to satisfy this group. I wanted to work on my own area and it was promising to be a wet time to do so. Not only did my vision require a very wide trench, it had to be very deep as well. These shops and homes would be completely underground leaving open parkland above. There were a few smaller merchants willing to try to locate here but I needed large retail outlets with a known name that would draw people to this area. These crossways were to be major intersections with many people passing through or by each day. In a second I had it. I couldn't release my technology because it was not patented. It could be physically stolen and eventually a possible threat to mankind. I could have an area where my own devices would be on display and people could come to learn. Security would be tight and patrons could only enjoy and learn what I wished them to learn. I worked much quicker now and enlarged all the plans of the area. Deliveries and people could only come from some well defended positions. This necessitated that my larger areas be off the main concourse. This would keep the areas much more secure and not disrupt regular traffic. Men I knew were like children in many ways and I thought of quite a few scenarios where a man can play out his fantasies. These games or lifelike situations would have to be very realistic and then people would spend a lot of their money to play. War could be used for many scenarios while sports and athletic events could be used for others. Chess came to mind if the players saw lifelike animations that would fight one another and have predictable results. I immediately visualized the images in my mind and added them to the computer. When all the pieces were done I fabricated a board. Making the program was fairly easy and I ran through a few games with myself. It was almost six in the morning so I waited till Morie arose and came down to eat. When he came in we greeted each other and sat on the mat for our usual small meeting to start our day. "Morie, I predict you will be late for work today." "Why is that Shawn?" "Because I am going to play a game of chess with you." "For an intelligent person, why would you think I would play a game with you? There is no chance at all for me to win." "I challenge you to a game anyway. I had a small army in Rhodesia and you were former navy. I say that you have to fight me on at least that ground." Morie agreed reluctantly and all I had to do was tell him the names of the individual squares. He was a little perturbed because chess was played on a board with fingers and a mind hard at work. I spoke out loud to the computer and the game began. He was so shocked at the start with the graphics and sound that he fell back in fright and these were his own men, or perhaps monsters should be the term used. He called out his first move after quite a few minutes of studying what I had done. I played to keep the game going. The snarling, clashing of edged weapons and the cries of anguish brought the rest of the family soon enough. He decapitated some of my small trolls that served for pawns. My knight came out dressed in ancient Japanese finery on a charger and slashed and killed his general that served as a bishop. Juni came over to my side and watched in wonder. "Take over Juni. The honour of the army is at stake." She fought her father but didn't have the killer instinct and she lost after fifteen more moves. "Liz come here and fight the navy for me." This game was short too. Mary and Kochiyo fought but Morie didn't lose until he fought Maeko. In a rematch she won again and Morie looked at his watch and said, "I am late for work." That day I made many more games including the last war. I had to only do some of the work because I had to find all the data on all the ships participating in each major battle. When I told Morie of my latest project that night he was appalled at the thought. He had lost friends and even family in those battles and didn't want anything to do with it. My research did find that some old warriors still clung to the belief that they could win if they had known a particular piece of information. I contacted Ethiopia and Britain most everyday and so did the rest of the family. They now had the video capability of the telephones working in Africa and we could see one another as if they were standing or sitting in the room with us. Sally had found friends and for hours they would play. The Japanese technicians had arrived and improved on the cathode ray tube factory. Many of the simpler components were farmed out to various suppliers that seemed to sprout up as we needed them. The core products that needed to be kept secret were still only done by family. There was a need for people to be able to make their own programming so we had made four books at varying levels of difficulty. The other technical books were being purchased as fast as we could print them. More publishers had to be contacted to fill the need. These books too, went to publishers in the United States, Germany, Russia and China. The latter two had been difficult to find but there were enough diplomats I knew that could arrange this work. The orders themselves were very large because many languages had to be covered and I had to alter each book because of the countries it was aimed at. The next week looked like a good one to start excavating. I had a single rail running on each side of the proposed trench. A thin framework of bamboo supporting a clear plastic film. All this was in a cylindrical section so that water would run off both sides and keep the excavation as dry as possible. The end of the frame work could be added to as could the rails as the trench lengthened. Pumps were brought in when water did manage to seep in. Inside the canopy, two more rails on each side supported a crane that was like the one we used building ships. It would span the entire width of our excavation. The giant wheel turned its usual speed and dug a wide swath. When it completed a path it was retracted to start again and again till the full width and length had been dug. This took three days and soon we were back at the start again as we did everything again but went deeper this time. The pile of loose dirt looked like a mountain by the time we were done. Everything was in readiness. The steelwork went in with the wooden forms that would form the storm and sanitary sewers. When the lower levels of reinforcing rods were completed, I brought forward another idea of mine. A large pump would take the concrete poured into it and the crane would direct the pipe to where it was needed. There was little need for taking small amounts of concrete anywhere. A sudden storm came up and the plastic covered roof was brought over the work area and the work continued around the clock. The problem was that so did the storm. Water was leaking in, in many places and once the erosion started there would be a lot of damage. I was the proverbial Dutch boy. After two days of constantly being on the job site Mary wanted me home. I refused and only ate what she brought. I had to stay there on a cot and she could not understand why. I was getting more and more fatigued as the battle continued. Morie came too and wanted me to leave but I could do nothing. A few hours later the storm stopped but I had to hold back the saturated sides for another day until it was firm enough. I just slept there exhausted with my family around me. On my eleventh birthday we finished the site and were able to back fill. It was tamped down and more fill put in. In all it took another three days to fill around my dream child. The year 1962 looked to be a good start to my business ventures. I walked with the family through the brightly lit underground. The tracks had been laid but both ends had been blocked off because the line did not reach this area yet. The air was damp from the water still in the concrete but dry air was continually brought in. Conduits would bring wiring to almost all the points I needed. A sub floor had to be laid yet but I could see the small rooms with holograms allowing the contestants to fight or to play with whomever they chose. I had debated making a series of rooms where some people could allow their baser instincts free reign but decided not to. My name in some quarters was not very good and I didn't need to give them more ammunition. Security was always a problem but it was becoming even more important. Spies were trying very persistently to get into secure areas of our plants in Ethiopia. Some were employees of the Ethiopian government and were turned away. They had tried to use the army and then the courts. The Emperor had sided with us and placed his own loyal people with their own orders around our plants. As I predicted the higher levels of management were placed into positions where they could be blackmailed but had steadfastly refused. Then they were offered fantastic sums of money. I was waiting for the extortion and had security on a heightened level. Security itself had to be watched because they too could be attacked. Here in Japan there were people with parabolic microphones trying to pick up any tidbits of information. They even had people that were able to lip read working for them. People had tried to plant more microphones but had failed. Some of the more notable underworld characters when they turned honest sent me their best men to watch my properties. They found it odd to be working with my uniformed security. Some agents threw small packages onto our properties that were capable of transmitting information out. This failed every time. One enterprising group had run a lead up our sewer pipes. Another group had crossed an invisible line. A Japanese official had come to our home looking into the possibility or Liz and Sally being used sexually. The man was doing his job but the laws that were being challenged were never used. Later the next day I found this man's boss and followed the trail to Britain. I flew to the country the next day while doing business. I followed the leads to the majority owner of an aircraft engine manufacturer. This man was far from clean and it was easy to build up a thick dossier. His past showed where he had indulged his tastes in very young flesh. This I followed up till I came to one of the girls that had grown to be a woman. She was now a lonely clerk in a small shop. I made my complaint to the police and they had a long talk to the woman and she broke down and told them of what had happened to her when she was young. Luckily she had could provide corroborating testimony with similarly abused friends. The Exchequer got all the information on ways the man illegally evaded taxes. Places where the evidence could be found and people that could be brought in for questioning were added. Three days later the man was arrested. When he was able to get out on bail, I was on the steps of the jail to meet him. "Hello, I see you are having a bit of trouble. More is coming your way soon." His lawyer was beside him and I added, "Something important happened in Wales in July 1954 that has not been resolved yet. There are three others before that. My security has been able to find an awful lot out in a short time. So far nobody else knows. If you want to fight dirty I am more than happy to play your game." Before I turned to leave I gave one more shot. "If I wanted to, your company could be attacked monetarily and you would loose the majority of your wealth." The man said nothing and I was in no mood to listen if he did. My grandparents were visited and I saw that they were getting much older looking. I asked if they wanted to stay in Japan with me or have an extended visit but they declined. They loved their country even if life was still a bit hard for them. Another reason for the visit was that I had not received the periodic letter from Demeku or her original name of Marlene. She had a little boy of seven now by the name of Shumetie. They lived in a small town in West Germany. I was beginning to get concerned. From Britain it was difficult to see clearly so I had to get closer. I took a flight to Nancy in France and took a train until it got close to the border of West Germany. I could cross legally but then people would know that I had done so. I used my phone and talked regularly through the satellite link to home and later to Ethiopia. Luckily it was getting dark and I hung the phone on my jacket and let the others see the area I was seeing too. When I was close to the border I said I needed to turn off the phone and flew across the river at only a few feet. I continued for almost twenty miles till I found a railway station. There was a train going to Marburg in an hour and I waited on a dark bench on the platform. While sitting I cast my eye to East Germany and saw Brihan or her real name of Ester and her two children sleeping with her family. They appeared well fed but I didn't know how she really felt even if I did get regular letters from her. The train came and it took three hours to reach my next stop. Bad Laasphe was a small town not too far away that held the woman and child that were dear to me. It was very dark now and I was able to fly the short distance and found the house easily. Marlene was sleeping alone in an upstairs bedroom. Down the hall her son now named Hans Boz was peacefully sleeping. Marlene had been sending letters to me regularly and for some reason they had not been getting to me. I checked her family and found they didn't really like her continuing with our correspondence but had not stopped it. The post office was my next destination and I could see inside information about who was running the small operation. I memorized the list of three people. Twenty minutes later I found from the postmaster himself that he had sided with Marlene's family and just destroyed the letters. I was back at Marlene's house in minutes and landed outside. Marlene was sedated and floated outside with her bed covering and we both flew a few miles away. When we landed I set her down in my lap and kept a light comforter around her. I noticed that on her left ring finger she still wore my ring. Looking into the house now I saw her son with his ring on a necklace around his neck. They were still tied to me more that the simple gift would warrant. She was allowed to wake up slowly. She was holding me and then came to the conclusion that she was not in her bedroom. "Demeku," I said in Amharic. "You are safe. It is me Shawn." She could not see me in the dark but her memory of my voice and her nose told her that I was really here. "Oh Master I have missed you so much." "I have missed you to Demeku but I am not your master. I am only Shawn. The master business is long gone but I still care very much about you. Our boy is growing very big. You are feeding him well and he is getting strong." "I missed you deeply Shawn. Did you come here to take me back home?" "You are not treated that bad here. Your family love you and our son, even if they do not show it very well. I did come here because your letters had stopped arriving. The postmaster is a friend of the family and thinks it is best to destroy the letters so that you will forget me." "What am I going to do? Do my letters to Ayana and Brihan get through?" "Those have stopped too." "Shawn what am I going to do?" "I will have a talk with your family and they will tell the postmaster to let the letters through. I have made some special phones. Watch what I do." I took out the phone and called Ayana and Brihan. They took a while but came on line with the video already working. Demeku gasped at the sight and thought it magic. Brihan could not see us because of the darkness here and she called out in Amharic asking what was wrong. "Say hello." The conversation got off to a rocky start then went very fast as the woman and almost sisters got back together if only this way. Benyam was put on and he talked for a few minutes then got the rest of the family. The youngest two did not remember but did manage to speak politely. The conversation got on the subject of my satellites and Demeku as asked if she had seen me on the television. "Oh we don't have a television but I did hear a bit about it on the radio before my parents refused to have it turned on." She turned to me and asked, "Did you really fly into space?" "Well near space that time. I flew much higher before. I want to build a space station and some settlements on the closer planets." "Can I go with you there? I have been so lonely. I won't go near any of the men. I want only you." She started to cry and I could hear the others in Ethiopia sympathising with her. I said our goodbyes and cut the connection. "Shawn I need you. Will you... ?" "I would love to make love to you. Get up Honey and you can lay on the comforter." She did get up and looked around and wondered only for a second how she had gotten here. She had given up trying to find out how I did things. She removed her clothes very quickly and I did the same but slowly to get her expectations up. When I was done I kissed up and down her body until she almost forced me into position. I slipped in very slowly. Her vagina was tighter than before and I had grown a bit but not more than average. "Oh Shawn I always want you where you are now." I moved back and forth rubbing against all the spots that needed the attention till she had her orgasm. Before she could recover I was working faster and faster in her and the next orgasm came and remained with her. Before the point came when she had to find an escape in unconsciousness I had my own orgasm and thrust madly into the women I loved once and still loved today. Dawn was coming so I put all our clothes over her sleeping body and flew us back to her bedroom. When she woke up the next time she had been cleaned and re-dressed. "Shawn," she said as she hugged me to her, "I want you as my husband again. Your son misses you. Can't I stay with you now?" I pulled away a bit and kissed her lips. "You may return to Ethiopia and stay with Ayana and Brihan. They and the children miss you and it was very hard to let you leave me and come here. I am working hard in Japan now and go to Ethiopia six or more times a year. It is not much I am offering you but it is all I can give now." She smiled wide and pulled me onto the bed. "Make love to me my husband." I did as I was told and I gave her a gentle release that lasted a long time. Her door opened as we were resting and in came a sleepy Shumetie. He took one look at me and yelled, "Daddy," and ran to the bed. I hugged him tightly to me and gave him a big kiss. "Hello son. You have grown big. You even got another name now. Which one do you like better?" I said in Amharic. The boy actually liked both names, so I called him his first one as I was speaking that language. Demeku came out of her stupor and watched us as we had a quiet conversation. "Benyam was asking about you. I think he misses his best friend. Would you like to see him again?" "Oh, can I? It was so much fun where we use to live after you came." "We will see. Let me get dressed and then we can have breakfast." I dressed myself and Demeku got out of bed and dressed too. I took my boy back to his room and got him dressed better and then we all went downstairs together. I made a breakfast similar to what they used to eat. Before it was served Demeku's parents came down stairs ready for work on the farm and found me serving food. The father quickly said in a guttural German, "Oh hello Sir Shawn. We didn't hear you come to the door." "Hello sir and madam. I wouldn't have come at all except your friend the postmaster decided to assist his good friends and destroy your daughter's letters." The mother replied, "Oh he wouldn't do that." "My security can find out how a government or a company is trying to hurt me. Your friend's simple work is easy to find. Why don't you ask him for yourself?" They sat down at my urging and they were fed along with their daughter and their grandson. I talked about what Hans now was doing and about how Marlene was fitting into the local society. Her mother was worried because she was refusing to mix. The father was very proud but could see that the daughter that came back to them was not the daughter that left so long ago. I stayed polite and pointed out many of the ways that Marlene was not going to make it in this society. I pointed out some of the bad points of the way Ethiopia was and how it was now changing for the better. The conversation went on where I mention the changes in Japan and even the smaller changes happening here because of my businesses and their good works. Most of the better stores carried my cameras. "As both of you have already guessed, I have a few wives. Ayana and Brihan remain my wives in Ethiopia while others are in Japan." The mother was shocked. She was from good if adamant Lutheran stock and didn't see anyone having more than one mate. The fact that the topic was out and on the table was very uncomfortable to her. "Why are your appetites so strong?" "Ma'am, I am in an eleven year old body and I haven't entered puberty yet. I see people that need love and affection and they respond to me. They are not rejected after a short fling. It was a very hard thing for me to bring your daughter back to you. I see now that this was the right thing to do but now she has to come back to me. I love her and our son Shumetie. They will be leaving soon and going to Ethiopia." "Our grandson can't go," stated Marlene's father. "He has my last name and if you look on the records I am listed as his father. I have been supporting both of them since they came here. They are going with me." In a quieter voice, I said, "They love you but you both are too distant. Where they will be going, they will be welcomed into warm arms. We are going in an hour when the train leaves." The mother broke down and cried and so did Marlene and Hans. They were upset at the hostility and how they had to leave a safe home again even if they knew where they would be going. I said to the parents, "The two of you will be welcome in my home and may come for a visit anytime. Your daughter will be getting a good job and your grandchild will go to the best schools. You are not losing them again but only have to go further to see them." I stood and picked up Marlene's arm. "Take the suitcase you came here with and only pack enough clothes for you and Hans for two days. On one of your visits back here, you can get the rest if you want. Pack now please and take your mother to help you." Both crying women got up and went upstairs. I could hear the arguing but knew Marlene would be strong. The father just stared at me defeated but a little pleased because he would not have failed in his duties because his daughter would not be here under his care. When the women and the child came downstairs with the suitcase I said, "Will you walk us to the station? You will be able to say goodbye there." I left unsaid that their friends would see us go with their blessing and thus would not ridicule the man and woman for their decision. The train finally pulled in and we waited until everyone had boarded and when the last call came we left. The parents seemed to break down a bit and kissed their daughter and their grandson. In two hours we were in capital, Bonn and I stayed with them till they caught a short flight to Paris. Monique would take care of them and send them on their way to Ethiopia. It felt bad again to see them leave but this time they would be going home where they would fit in much better. I waited a few hours doing what business I could in West Germany. At nine I took a train to the French border and crossed back through the air. It was good to know that this time there were no plots behind odd things happening to my family. From France I took a direct flight to Japan. On the plane I talked to Juni and Mary about what I had done. Some children and a few adults came to see the telephone and then were very surprised to see that I had a video of them too. When I was done I explained what the phone was capable of doing and what the usual model I was trying to sell could do. They were greatly surprised when I said that the signal went up about four hundred miles and was transferred to the appropriate satellite and the signal sent down from there to the other earth receiver. A few Japanese businessmen were onboard and I offered my phone to them to call their families. There was a good chance that their families actually had one of my devices. They bowed and I did in return. The rest of the passengers were only now beginning to know who I was. We landed about four in the afternoon and the family and some security was here to greet me. I could see that nothing was wrong just that they were happy. That night I explained to the family what I had done and why. They were sympathetic but were worried about not having me around enough as it was. Sofia and Rachael had kept more than each other happy because Mary, Juni and Liz were now being all consoled by each other. Morie had heard noises and could only guess at what was happening but decided to say or do nothing because he was not confronted with the situation. We talked to Paris and found that Monique was keeping her visitors a few more days to get to know them better. The shipping line I had a half interest in brought a full shipload of merchandise into Tokyo harbour. When customs was done with it I had all of it taken to my arcade and other buildings in the same area. When I was alone for a few hours I used my power to plane the concrete walls perfectly flat and clean up any small imperfections. The heaters along with the copious amounts of air had not dried the concrete enough to put the electronics in. They stayed in another room that could be watched around the clock by a very proficient security patrol. They were all former elite Japanese soldiers trained to fight and fight hard. They had stopped other minor incursions before but the equipment at that time was no where near as valuable as now. I was able to set up many of the security cameras throughout the various entrances. In a dryer area I had a console set up with many small monitors checking the feed from each of the cameras. To be on the safe side I had a computer check the feed from each camera and compare it to one in its memory. A significant discrepancy would bring the fact to the guard's attention. Part of the shipment was transistor radios. These were basically the same that were going to Europe and both North and South America. The sound was much superior and I made the circuit to hold the station better while excluding most of the noise. They had outsold any competition and were bringing in much needed funds. The Japanese auto industry was in trouble the same as its fledgling electronics companies. Many of their products were seen as junk even when brand new. I heard people abroad say when they saw the sticker, that if it was made in Japan, it was automatically shoddy. To tell the truth this was usually the case. Morie had asked me to attend a meeting later in the week to see what I could do to help the automakers. I had long since devised power storage units that could hold a substantial charge and release it over time. I did not want batteries because I saw them as an eventual blind alley. They could be greatly improved but in the end the capacitor would have to carry on. My invention was a variation of the electrolytic cell that could hold three times the charge of a lead acid battery at a quarter of the weight. It had a much faster charge rate and its life was longer than that of the car body. The meeting took place in Osaka, the capital of the Kinki prefecture. This time I went without Morie for he had his own work to do. I did see a few faces I knew from the investments in the development of the city of Tokyo. Mr. Hanabusa from the first meeting with the banking group was presiding and before the meeting started I walked up and bowed in greeting. The man gave a small smile in return and bowed low to me as well. "Good day Sir Shawn. It is nice to see that you could make time in your busy schedule to see us." "It is I that am grateful. It is not very often I meet a man of good will. This country has many great men but not all will take the time to help. Today I fear, I will be accused of trying to rob you." "Why is that Sir Shawn?" "Do we have a place where we may talk in private? The meeting is scheduled to start soon." "Come with me please." We left the group standing with him and we went down a long hall and entered a room with his name on the door. Before he could say anything I took out the microphone detector and put my finger to my lips. I scanned the room and found one microphone under the lip of his desk and another inside his telephone. "The air outside is still fresh. Is it possible that we may take a few minutes to savour it before we go into a room filled with cigarette smoke?" We went further down the hall and out a side door. Because of my paranoia I turned my back to the closer buildings and said, "Somebody has placed microphones on your telephone and one under your desk, close to the left hand side. Will you still listen to my original reason for coming here?" "Yes Sir Shawn. I am angry though that the competition is able to plant those microphones." "Who said it was the competition. It can just as easily be the people above and below you." "That is true. Now what is it that you wanted to say to me?" "You cannot sell the cars well because they are not made very well. The body fits improperly and they rust out quickly. The engines are seen as too weak and fail too often. The brakes need replacement more than they should and any buyer will sell the car in a year if he is able to. I will give better designs that will bring the cars into the area reserved for the prestige vehicles. For this I get twelve percent of the company." "What!" "Please wait. I will also bring about a truly electric car that will outperform any other electric car you could imagine. For this I get an additional twelve percent. Your companies can improve quality dramatically. I can provide the materials that will allow this company to be the leader in car sales for the world in just a few years. Most of the equipment will be made in-house and not cost you too much." The man thought for a while and said, "It is good that you talked to me first. I think you need to talk to some other people before you ask for that payment. Your claims will have be substantiated." We went back in and after the minutes were read I was introduced. I put my computer on the long table and turned it on. I showed graphs of the companies performance. The figures were secret but I was still able to find them. Especially since the men in the room had the information I lacked. I made long term predictions based on standard and accepted logic. There was a boom time coming and they would not be able to benefit much from it. I went through all the automakers problems and no matter what car line I picked the trend was all the same. Next I compared the vehicles with the ones in Europe and in North America. They all had similar problems but were not as severe and we would gain ground in sales if we were prepared. "Gentlemen, I will give you a very valuable piece of information: The world will enter a period of rapid growth then a great slump in the seventies when oil prices will skyrocket. The prices will come back down because the Arabs will see that they are killing their golden goose. During that time a small fuel efficient car will be everybody's dream. We can supply that dream." "You need to correct your problems now to gain enough market share. When the crunch comes the buying public will jump at the chance of getting one of your vehicles." During the entire presentation I was showing Japanese automobiles driven in North America where salt ate through the metal. I showed many accidents from all over the world where the vehicle was badly crumpled. Beneath the graphic was the number of people in the car and the number that didn't survive, or were severely hurt. When this was over my visions of what cars should look like came on with a large chart scrolling down one side telling of its technical data and performance criteria. "This particular car will cost twice as much to produce and will sell for forty percent more. The costs can be carried on to other models I have here. The expense will be spread out and will be little more than the forty percent of what that the auto will bring. Your market share will go up by seven full percent around the world on an average." I showed more vehicles then I came to four kinds of electric cars and went through them even slower. These last vehicles were to be sold in Japan first and only when the oil crunch came would they go to the world. "Gentlemen, I can make your drivetrain much better. I can produce accurate and beautiful automobile bodies and I can make them safer than any other auto on the road today. As a supplier I can provide you with superior radios and when my patents go through a computer will produce a map that will tell you where you are in any place on the earth." Questions came very fast and I used my voice to print them on the air with my lasers. I then answered them and the reply was printed beneath it. This went on for three hours until a break was called. I took out another box similar to the computer and stacked paper into it. In seconds the printed copies of my entire conversation started to come out. Rough colour coded parts were shown so that different aspects would be more visible. I handed all of these to Mr. Hanabusa, who gave them to an assistant to copy. "Sir Shawn," he said. "will you come with me please?" I was led into another large room. Six other men came with us and were prepared to sit. I turned on the small detector and handed it to Mr. Hanabusa. "Just follow the signal to find where it is strongest." He went around the room and the other six men thought he was playing a joke. They all heard the odd noises from time to time. When a fifth had been found I pointed to a dozen more likely locations and three more microphones were detected. "Let's get some fresh air gentlemen. The sun is setting and I enjoy this time of day." They did not like me usurping the meeting like this but did follow Mr. Hanabusa to an area with benches, grass, sand and a small pool. I took the device and even here I found some bugs. These I carefully extracted and gently pulled on so that the wires went back to a small transmitter. When this was done twice and the devices turned off I asked if they knew what the things were. All of them did but only a few had ever decided to use them themselves. "Mr. Hanabusa, how many were in the last meeting room?" "I counted eight but there may be more." "Thank you sir. Keep this device if you will but it is not patented yet and I would not like to see a competing company bringing this article to the marketplace. In a few months it will be made available to the public." The man bowed deeply at the trust and thanked me for the gift. Till it got too dark to see we talked about my plans. The computer display worked very well in the dark and I expanded it to its maximum and talked beside the men. I hinted at my expected payment but qualified it by telling them that I could produce each of the automobiles with their help and they could just copy what I made. They choked as I finally gave my demands. I had told them that the value of the stock that they would own after the merger would be three times more than what it was now. In years to come it would multiply many times. They dickered with me and I listed the criteria I had to pass to get my cut. I put it in detail on each vehicle and on the way the new electric car would work. When we were done I would get twenty percent of the new company but there were thousands of hoops I would have to jump through. This would all hinge on the remainder of the shareholders even if the ones present made a majority. Instead of going home I went to the foundry with Mr. Hanabusa. I got the manager to give me some of his men to present the company with on of my commitments. I went to an old milling machine and started making a pattern. The machine cut many times slower than me alone but I continued anyway. One of the patternmakers followed my written instructions. I took the computer out and directly sent instructions to print some of the drawings I wanted. I gave the man his print and I went to another machine and started another pattern running. Another man took over and was given his print. I started a lathe and worked to form four cylinders and asked the next man to make four of them. There were not that many machines around and I started making another pattern for the head. "Are there any other machines around and some machinist to operate them?" I was led to the area where maintenance was done and I quickly printed out three more prints on the paper and gave one to the man. I took my machines and walked around the dusty foundry and wondered how people would work in such an environment. It was not that hot because of the wide open doors but the noise, dust, smoke and chemical contaminants were hard to take. "Mr. Hanabusa, I am sorry to say that I will be here for a while. You can look in on us at around eight o'clock tomorrow evening." He bowed and left but didn't know what would be accomplished by then. ------- Chapter 38 By morning I had most of the patterns roughed out. I stayed with the equipment as the new men came in for the next shift. The night shift personnel did not want to leave. I used a hand grinder and then a sand paper disk on one to smooth the rough edges. More of my prints went to men that would hand make the cams and crankshafts that I wanted. We made some cores and I threw most out till I had more than enough good ones. The production machinery could not be used because that was what was making all the money. I took a crane and a heavy weight and pressed the sand in a series of drags, then another pattern was pressed into the copes. The cores were placed in the drag and the crane carefully lifted the copes and placed them on the drags. The furnaces were checked and I found that they did not check on the quality of the iron they made very much. It was sometimes very hard and brittle and other times much too soft. When metal was to be poured into a large ladle, I picked up some extra copper and gauging it correctly, threw it into the empty vessel. White hot metal was poured into it and then the container was placed on a fork truck. The ladle of molten iron came to the flasks. I had found where the supplies were stored a thick ceramic disk perforated with many small holes. This went into the top of the mould and a handful of inoculant went on top. I turned a gear driven wheel and molten iron poured into a basin then down a hole in the top of the cope dissolving the easily destroyed inoculant. The resulting mixture was filtered by the ceramic disk. Flames and smoke came out the other holes as gases and water vapour escaped from the sand. Break time soon came and the men shared their lunches with me. I was cleaner than them but still very dirty. After the short break the heads were cast and allowed to cool. Spark plugs, valves, springs rocker arms, lifters, distributor, carburetors and clutch assemblies were stock items that I could use. The intake and the exhaust manifolds I chose were from engines that the company made here, as were the bearing caps. I only had to form an adapter on the intake so that it would connect correctly. The connecting rod were from a heavier truck but could be whittled down after the engine had been tested. The pistons were from a different model car too and the manager was sent out to purchase three complete sets of each from a supplier. I slept on a bench in a locker room after washing. In a few hours I got up and broke open the flasks, allowing the red hot sand and casting to emerge. A hook on a chain dragged the castings away and I allowed them to cool naturally. I left to find something to eat and ordered in some food from a local restaurant. I treated the men working with me to a hearty meal. When we were finished the heads had cooled enough that I could work on them. The tooling did not last long but I was in a hurry. After one was done the machinists did the others. The rough blocks were now cool and I put them on a large boring mill and used my eye to align the cutters. I took the least time course and was finished a block in an hour. I did the next one as well while the machinist worked with hand tools to polish the cylinder bores. The last block was left as a raw casting to show the company executives. I could see in the future the computer doing much of the job a man was now doing. The problem that would arise then was to want to do with that man. Most I was sorry to see would have to find jobs elsewhere. We fitted the crank into place and put the bearings on with the caps and torqued them down. They had to be released and the bearings scraped until it fit perfectly. The connecting rods were put on a surface grinder and a hundred thousandth of a inch taken of both sides. These were attached to the pistons and the rods to the crank. The assembled heads were installed with a slightly modified gasket. The men were very intrigued because the head had two camshafts instead of the one and that was in the block. The intake went on next and then the carburetor onto that. I allowed others to install the distributor while a man familiar with sheet metal made an oil pan for us. I was all done and turned the distributor where it would work best. This was easy when I could see inside the engine. A muffler from a gas lift truck was welded to a flange and this went onto the exhaust manifold In a large room I hooked up a hose to the cooling system and allowed the water to flow through the engine and out to a drain. The starter was connected to the ring gear. A can of gasoline fed the carburetor from a few feet above the engine. We went out to eat again to everybody's discomfort even if I was paying. The engine was ready and everybody wanted to see how it worked. At seven o'clock, an hour early Mr. Hanabusa came back and found us sitting down. After a polite greeting he said, "What have you accomplished Sir Shawn?" "Bring your car around and we will use your battery to find out. I have not tried to start it yet." This was very surprising because he did not think we could have done that much. Booster cables came out and I hooked them up except one end. The gas was allowed to flow into the carburetor. Two separate wires went to the coil. "There is only a small muffler so the engine should be noisy." I brought the last clamp to the frame and pulled it away again. "Anybody want to bet that it doesn't start or run smooth?" The cable came close again and then pulled away. "Is there anybody that wants to back up for safety?" Still no takers and after a very long twenty seconds I grounded the clamp on the block. The starter turned the flywheel and after just two complete turns it started and I removed the connection. I adjusted the carburetor and over the noise said, "This engine will give close to the rated horsepower I told you about. There are many more improvements and they will surpass my figures. We will change the intake manifold and throw the carburetor away. You will need forged cranks and a much stronger transmission. For its class it will win all races it enters. "I would like to make a plaque to be hung in the main lobby of the head office. On it will be the names of everyone that helped me make this engine." I shut the engine off and continued, "I have completed the first part of my deal and I will draw up all the prints necessary. This engine should be studied carefully and then put on display to show the world what your people here will be able to do." There was a lot of pride behind me and I knew that if they were asked to help again I would get the utmost help they could give. I took another shower and Mr. Hanabusa drove me home. On the way I talked to my wives then said to him. I will have to give your company more assistance than I thought. Do not hire more people. I will make machines that will throw people out of work and I do not want that to happen. We will expand very quickly but your employees will be able to handle the increased work. This is possible because they will be using their minds more than their backs." "How is your engine better than ours? They look very similar." "Check the iron in the cylinders and you will find it harder and able to last many more years than even the North American blocks. The angle of the cylinders as well as the way the crank and cams were cut all effect the efficiency and the power produced. You will be able to prove this with the engine I gave you. I will provide a design for the new manifold where fuel will be injected into the engine. This will be similar to the way a diesel works. Let your engineers test out what I design and hear from them what the improvements actually are." In the next three days I supplied the drawings for the three different engines together with all their related parts. The generator was removed and I used a three phase alternator in its place because it would generate more power at low speeds. The water pump was altered to get a larger longer lasting bearing. The transmission was placed beside the engine and both would be used to power only the front wheels. Next came the remainder of the drivetrain. There was an easy way to even remove the starter motor but this would require the computer to find the best firing sequence. I tried to retrain all of the standard parts I could. The car was made a bit wider to give more room and also allow the mechanic easier access for any maintenance in later years. The body was formed of galvanized steel that would take the salt and corrosion much better. This would also allow me to cut back on the thickness of the metal. The glass and seats were of necessity made radically different. I had found a way of strengthening glass in London and planned to use this to help keep the car safer. In a front-end collision I had the engine and transmission break away easier and go underneath the automobile. Seatbelts were only an option but I made these similar to what a fighter pilot would use and made special locks that had a pendulum. With a jerk or a sudden stop would cause the belt to lock almost instantly but give freedom of movement till that time. A bit of advertising would have to be used to let the driver know he was stepping into a performance vehicle and needed the same protection as a fighter pilot. Remembering Sally I mounted a bracket where a child seat could be fastened. One of my own companies would manufacture these seats. The brakes could be improved and I did. I could not find a good way of allowing them to not lock up in a panic stop. Many people were killed because they could not steer out of the way. The electric car was completed too with a radically altered motor. The electronic drive and the power cell were placed in the vehicle but not in detail. They would have to give me the first ten percent before the secrets of the electric car would be fully divulged. In the interval, Rhodesia was again in the news. There had been an aborted coup after a group of large landowners and some industrialists decided that the government had gone too far in helping the blacks. The government had acted ruthlessly and many of the conspirators were now dead. I could see this as a sharp departure from their methodical liberalization of their laws. There could now possibly be interracial marriages. Black children were going to school now but as yet were in native only classes. The straw that broke the proverbial camel's back was when a town by the name of Mount Darwin near the border of Mozambique had elected a native to the position of city councillor. Perhaps now would be a good time to start my own assistance. I placed a call to Vila Pery in Mozambique. After the phone rang four times it was picked up. Chessa said, "Hello." I replied in Portuguese the same way and told her who was calling. "Shawn," she said excitedly. "It has been such a long time. How are you doing. I see your name mentioned many times in the newspapers." "I am doing very well. How is Dimuna doing. I imagine she has had a few boyfriends since I was there." She laughed loudly and said, "Yes she has. You were right to say she took after me." We talked for a few minutes then I asked, "Is your husband close-by?" "No, he is out at one of his meetings. He has been different since you were here. He is still very set on his goals but is not against the whites so much. I think it was a good decision that you helped him come to." She told me when he was going to be home and I mentally added another two hours and promised to call then. The structural members in the aircraft that I had taken to near space had been made from a special fibre made of polymerized carbon. There were problems with the material but it did have fantastic strength that I didn't have to augment. The strength was so great that I knew I could make an elevator into space to make a cheap if slow method of gaining access. The trouble with making a cable three hundred and fifty miles or longer, was minimal but the fact that it would be strung from a platform orbiting the earth and the other end mounted to another floating platform were horrendous. I could not lift that amount of cable easily and the platform that it had to be hung from needed mass to keep it in position above the same spot all the time. I called Ethiopia and just had Brihan contact one of my hidden locations and make some large spools of filament with the specifications I wanted. She talked for quite a while and said that Demeku was now taking different classes and was coming along fine. Shumetie was in the other room with Benyam playing a game. The boys were called out and I talked to them for a few minutes and I could even hear in Shumetie's voice that he was happier here. When I hung up I knew that it would be a long process to make all the fibre. Right after they finished this shipment they would have to make more lengths to add to the one that would be hanging from orbit. Here in Japan I drove to a machine shop I owned. Inside I worked on different metals to make a set of rollers that would grip the carbon fibre enough to lift itself. The motor would come from Ethiopia as would the solar panels. The bottom would be a different type of panel for it would have to intercept energy from a land based laser beam that would give it supplementary power. The basic unit would have to remain here until I had a chance to put the additional parts on it and begin testing. I had time before the phone call and gathered all the information about the re-entry vehicle I would need in my mind. The modified B-47 was strong but suffered from the effects of the heat when re-entering the majority of earth's atmosphere. Titanium would be a light material to use but would suffer under the high heat. There were metals that I could use that would take the heat much better but were very heavy. The best that I could think of that a normal human could use would be a ceramic outer covering. My engines could be mounted far back and small canards in the front would give stability. During re-entry the engines could be folded inside the body or disposed of to fall to the earth later. I settled with a skirt that would come out and cover the folded away engines and just protect them from the high heat. Rockets on the wings would suffice for control and even thrust to change orbits. A simpler machine without air breathing engines and the ceramic coating could be used in space but would have to remain there. As usual I retained my plans because I could not work on them full time now. I picked up the phone and called General Mobutu. The man picked up the phone on the second ring and we said our hellos. This took about ten minutes as we caught up on old news and things that were not very sensitive because we both knew that his or my phone lines would be tapped if they went through other countries. "I have a job for you that will make an honest man of you. It involves you securing some of my installations from sabotage and espionage. It will be in the open in Rhodesia and the country will give you pardon for any past wrongs. They are changing and I have to give them something substantial that will keep them from falling back to their old ways." He asked vague questions and I just asked him to go to Ethiopia and talk to me from there. I had the use of the satellites and they could not be breached by any other company or government on earth. He had heard of my satellite system and was intrigued especially in the business he was in. Since it was still daylight in Addis Ababa I picked up the computer and sent the data over. A unit there would print what I had just sent and when the General came he would be given the large package of paper to read. I was able to get three hours sleep and was up to make breakfast for my family. The day was going to be hot and also promised to be hectic too. The large earthmoving trucks I wanted were completely assembled now. The smaller one had only six wheels on three axles but the box was large enough to handle five hundred tons of rock. I made the box a specific size because people would put as much into it as the box would hold. If lighter soils were put on then they would have to be satisfied with fifty tons less or so. The larger truck with eight wheels on four axles could carry seven hundred tones but was more difficult to steer so I had to make the two front axles both do this job. They had been made at the ship yards because of the presence of the cranes that were used on the old ships that were made before. Reporters and construction people from all over the world were coming to see what we had made this time. The show was going to start at noon but there were crowds around the yards as soon as the trucks had been exposed. We had a very high shed with a gigantic door to match to build them in. Morie got into the smaller truck and fired up the diesel engine. The noise reverberated through the building and his co-pilot sat in one of the four bucket seats in the cab. Behind them was a fridge, sink and even a stove to allow the people to work without stopping. Sally was very excited and her mother had to take her to the bathroom. I had carried her up the high ladder to the deck with the cab. She sat in the truck that had seat belts but since its top speed was only eighteen miles an hour empty there was little need of them. After giving her a kiss I left her in the care of her 'Grampie' and went down to the ground to talk with the men that had worked hard building these two trucks. With the systems warmed up Morie drove the huge truck outside and sounded the loud horn to the crowd waiting. The large dump body started to raise and I could see with my eye that Sally was the one making this happen. When the top edge was a little over ninety feet in the air Sally sounded the horn and Morie drove forward a hundred feet or so. Morie came out on the wide deck and held Sally up for all the world to see. The girl was frightened by being so high but knew that her 'Grampie' would not allow her to be hurt. The men in the yard then the crowd clapped their hands. Morie went back inside the cab and the dump box was lowered. It was then driven to an out of the way corner and backed into position. The various television monitors and cameras mounted on the truck showed him exactly where he was at all times. I called all the workers over and had them climb the truck and pose with Morie and Sally for pictures. The scene was so good that I knew I would have to paint this in oils for the main entrance of our yard. Once the workers descended, Morie started down the ladder and then Sally was encouraged to go with him. He stayed behind her all the time so if she fell it would only be into his body. When he made it to the ground he reached up and helped Sally to the ground. The girl was no fool and wanted him to carry her. Morie knew who was the boss and carried her in his arm as he accepted accolades from the workers. More photos were taken beside the truck so that the massive tires could be shown. Morie called me over and I had to have my picture taken too but it had to be with the rest of the people that helped bring this to a reality. At the appropriate time for the presentation Morie drove the larger vehicle out. The truck was just as high but the box was longer. In the cab were most of the potential buyers. Some sat in the comfortable seats or stood on the large deck around the cab. Even more hung onto the chain around the external deck to see the earth almost thirty feet below them. I was in the vehicle with them telling everything that Morie was doing. The speed was the same because I used a larger engine to drive this much larger vehicle. They loved the comforts of home and tested out the shower and the toilet but only from a distance. I jokingly said that it was an expensive motorhome to buy." A large diesel motorhome would get about seven miles to the gallon. This truck got fourteen American gallons to the mile. The men had a turn at driving the vehicle and even a few reporters did too. Everybody raved about the feeling of power and how quiet the cab was. One of my better radios was playing soft music throughout and it could always be heard throughout the test. The hot day proved to be a boon as the air conditioning functioned flawlessly, even most American autos did not have this luxury. That afternoon the smaller truck travelled up the beach to the cement plant almost thirty miles away. When it arrived a newly arrived ship loaded the truck. We could all see the plimsoll line rise as the limestone left the ship and fell into the truck box. There was quite a bit of time taken even if the conveyors were very fast. They inspected the cement plant itself. We used a special dry method of making cement and all the gases and dust were effectively captured. I showed them where things detrimental to the environment were safely burnt. A generating station made use of the hot gases and the final product leaving the plant was a dirty water. Even the cake left when the water evaporated was put back into the mix. The tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide produced from breaking down the stone and the by-products of combustion were captured. This was compressed and sold. Chemical plants used it for their processes. I used it for the many fire extinguishers and half was sold as dry ice. The truck was finally full and the engine roared loudly as it started gently up the hill. The driver was cautious and took his time with the incline which was fairly steep, but the truck did not slow much. All the spectators were impressed again. The truck was driven back down the incline and the ship began using the standard conveyor to feed the plant. The truck was not needed here and was just here to demonstrate its power and ease of use. For many hours the loaded truck went up and down the long incline to the shore. I was the last to drive and told them, "Since you gentlemen are only trainees, you could only use the lower settings. I flipped a switch that gave me full power and I almost flew up to the plant. One of our own men used the installed cameras and backed the truck up. The rest of us got out and watched the front lip of the box climbed far into the air and then lower again. As the truck parked the men walked up to the pile of stone and could see how high it really was in human terms. In the hotel that night I negotiated for the sale and delivery of fifty three of the smaller units and a dozen of the larger units. Six of the vehicles were destined for Indonesia and I could send them on the empty tanker heading out. The next day I started to call in the sub-contractors and gave them the good news. Morie was quite pleased too. He had no real link to the trucks other than the yard I used was half his. Mary happily said how Sally could not sleep that night because she was still excited about her driving the giant machine. Because of the order I purchased more engines, generators and negotiated with shops to machine the very large steel castings that I would need. Prices dropped a little because of the quantity and also because they had already made up the jigs for the first two units. Things looked good enough to dig another of my underground facilities. They worked even better three days later and the long high speed belt was much shorter because the two trucks were used to carry the soil away. As many people come to see the digging as did to see the trucks perform. We had rain but this time I had sloped the land better to keep the water further away from the edge. The steel was put in and then the utilities till finally the two crossing track sections were added. Again this time I made large areas instead of the small ones because I wanted the rooms to attract more people. Another crew paid by our consortium drove a boring machine that was fourteen feet in diameter. The earth and stone removed went on a conveyor to be dumped further back. My lasers here were used to keep the long lines straight and to meet up with matching tunnels with very little misalignment. Steel and concrete were being constantly put in and finished. We were making so much headway that I suggested that we make a larger unit and bore a tunnel from our island of Honshu north to Hokkaido or south to Shikoku and Kyushu. Apparently this was a dream that had always been in their minds but had not ever had too much work done on it. The bridges worked but a train was the preferred method of transport and the electric one was even better. They wanted me to drop everything to start on this and I had to dissuade them until I had a better chance to evaluate the situation. If this did work then I could dig under the English Channel and then do some similar work in Scandinavia. Digging through the Alps or the Rockies was also a possibility. My phone started to beep and I took it out just after the meeting. General Mobutu was on my phone system and his face came readily to me. "Hello General. It is good to see your face again. I assume that you have read the sheets I sent to you." "I did and I had to take a while to think of the good and the bad of this deal. Are you really offering me the job of head of security?" "Yes but in Europe and Africa. Japan is too far away as yet and so is the upper portion of our proposed space station. When we can speed up flight then those other areas will be under your authority as well. The pay is only adequate but the prestige should bolster your career. There are many things to learn that you never knew existed before but I am sure you can make up for lost time." "I want the job," he said, "but I don't know if I can handle it." "You will have to do as I do and learn as you carry on. There are men here that have been on the other side of the law that now work honestly for me. They may give you some insight into how a criminal may act and allow you to find a counter strategy. You will get a phone like the one you are carrying. I may be reached at almost any time if it is important. Your phone though will have booby traps in it. If you make a mistake it can blow up in your hand." "I am used to that kind of security. What about all the other things I have been involved in?" "Oh you mean the military overthrow of Mozambique and Zaire. Well you can still plot but you can't do anything without my ok. I don't like the people either but we can't have wholesale killing. The people running the country are corrupt but at least they have an idea how to guide the populous." "I will take the job then." "Good I will talk to the people in Rhodesia to see if there is any problem. If there is we will shift to Mozambique and make the platform there." We talked a bit more and I got Ayana to give him the special phone and a detector for microphones. We would have to talk further when there were not as many people around. I sent a computer document to Addis Ababa and had security send it by currier to Salisbury but only after Mobutu read it. If things worked well then our space station was ready to become a reality. We excavated for more of the first type of track/business/home complex. We had found a few ways to speed the process up and things started to move much faster here. One new trench did hook up to the second of my complexes but the security was not needed as strongly in this location. The boring machine was very fast but not fast enough to do all I wanted so I put the order in for another machine. When the bad weather came I wanted us to be as dry as possible. The storm sewers led to the bay and I put sensors all along it to find any source of contamination and take the people responsible for any illegal dumping to court. Large sanitary sewer pipes were leading to a waste disposal area. I built the best plant I could in this instance. A very large area had covered settling ponds and all the waste was collected and stored. The methane gas coming off was hastened by the new variety of microbes I introduced. This gas was sold to some of my companies. When natural gas could be shipped in I would distribute it to the city for everybody to use as the piping was already in place. Rhodesia gave their ok to let Mobutu take the job I offered. Soon after he was shedding much of his old responsibilities and taking on new ones. Rhodesia shared a common border with Zambia and the line went through the 175 mile long Lake Kariba. This was part of the Zambezi River system and ended up at Victoria Falls. I had exclusive rights to a few square miles of the lake for my company for a period of just under a hundred years. The cost was minimal to make sure I put my business here, paid taxes and employed the locals. I had been there only once and knew that I had to gain access to the lake for supplies and for cargoes heading up. This meant a commercial airport, hotels and all the infrastructure that comes with a low budget space venture. This would be the earth terminus to my sky cable. My engineers got a small job designing a floating platform that would take all the storms that lashed the lake, provide the ability to defend itself and take on cargos. I wanted to see what they could come up with on their own. Months before I had personally contacted the aircraft companies and offered to give them a chance to come and witness the take off and hopefully the landing of my modified ship. Now with the change in plans, I would be forced to take a different cargo aloft. The start of the space station needed many things and I could not take it all up at one time. The B-47 nicknamed 'Sally' was altered a bit to get some of the tiles placed on the leading edges and on the underside of the fuselage and the wings. This time I did not have to pay for television time and had many commentators coming to Japan to find out what they could. General Okumura was my head of security here and was a very patient and thoughtful man. I explained to him what I was going to do and required him to speak for me to the reporters and to the people of the world. He spoke beautiful Japanese but could not speak any other language very well. Juni was to be his interpreter even if she knew more already. The man had presence and that was very useful at times like this. I didn't need everybody ogling my wife as she got excited and talked about me. My cargo this time was life support equipment. Oxygen in large containers weighted a lot. I made sure I brought one of my inventions that would take electric power and strip the carbon from it's oxide. I would put plants or an algae I had developed but needed more light and heat. Both were available but then I would need a person or the computer to keep things running. A habitat was to go up where men could sleep. Other units would be very similar but would become work shops, storage areas or factories. When this planning was all done I would have the facilities to work on drugs and electronic components. This would also give me a jumping off place for the planets. The enclosure was not even built yet but would be here soon enough for me to check it out and fit my plane around it. The tank arrived January the seventh 1962 and I checked each weld and joint better than any x-ray that had ever been used. The bolt pattern and location was checked too as was the small airlock at one end. The entire package was so large that this time I would have to go all the way with it. This had been known months ago and could see no way around it. Weight was not too much of a problem but the sheer size of the unit definitely was. On January the ninth I made a final check, kissed the family and took off. The small Japanese air defence unit stayed with me for a while and I just waved to them as I climbed higher and higher. I was not one to let a chance for free advertisements go by so many of my products that were not too heavy went with me. The cameras caught all of them but it was as if chance brought the focus there. This time at a hundred and thirty miles I continued to climb till I had little fuel left in the external tanks. The scramjet engines on the tail end started and we went up another thirty miles until they starved even with the large scoops. The rockets took over and I was pushed back into the chair. I would have liked more acceleration to get out of the gravity well sooner but this was all I could manage. An hour and a half after starting I had achieved orbit even if it was a bit wobbly. I called home and the world could hear the love in my voice as I talked to all my wives and other family members. When I was over Ethiopia I did the same again and the world knew that I had family in both countries. The children came on and called me Daddy which made me feel very proud but especially now. I took almost three hours to circle the globe at this altitude and brought the living quarters into position over Rhodesia. I now went into a speech about how Rhodesia was changing and how it was a much better place to live. I went on longer about the space station and how it was a difficult job for just one person even if I did have a lot of help on the ground. I had to throw a few plugs for the people in Japan including the auto manufacturing business. The orbit now was only marginally stable and would need some attention with steering and stabilising rockets. This unit had none of its own and I would have to launch more units to eventually make it worth while. I took a camera and mounted it on the fuselage and stepped out and flew with just a small tank of air on my back. The tail section of the plane had to be temporarily removed. I was prepared for this and had the tail tied down because of its propensity to drift off. The bolts were normally easy to take off but I had to find purchase with both feet and a hand before I could turn the nuts. One did come free and I nonchalantly snatched it out of the 'air'. The large tank pulled free after a lot of tugging but its mass was not just hard to start in motion but equally hard to stop. A rope had been tied in at the start and I didn't have to worry about it as the rope stretched and then relaxed. The tail was put back into position and the nuts re-attached. During all the work I kept up a running monologue to what I was doing and why things were happening the way they were. I got back into the cockpit and talked for a bit more because it was not yet time to begin my descent. Ethics was my main topic and how man treated his brother. I think I did it well enough to make the people think but not get bored. Towards the end I talked about Russia and China not wanting telephones that would allow the free interchange of ideas. I mentioned that any political belief could be aired on the television portion of the signal. A person could choose to watch the glories of socialism or capitalism. I mentioned that I was a capitalist but had a social conscience. Socialism had its place but it had to also see that there were other realities. With a small blast of a rocket I drifted away from the tank. In moments it was small in the camera's viewfinder. Another rocket came on for a second to align us correctly and we started our burn to slow us down. The descent lasted much longer this time because we were in a higher orbit. The hydraulics had brought the engines inside the protective sheath and I could see the earth spin faster after leaving our stationary orbit. The ionizing effect of the air caused me to loose the ability to be heard. I came in faster this time and could see the ceramic tiles heat up. A fiery glow was all around me and it was comforting because the time before I had to use rockets to slow me down. At ninety miles I had cooled off enough that I was now free to transmit. The engines tried to come out but the speed was too high to allow this to happen. Most of my calculations had a lot of thought behind them and this failure had brought me up short. I was too quick to get this project going and I had run into trouble. I was not worried and just dove to fifty miles before trying to level out. I was well into the supersonic range and just coasted till I was slow enough for the engines to be deployed. They came into position and they locked into place. In minutes fuel in containers protected from the vacuum of space went to the engines and they started one after another. I was actually over part of mainland China now and could expect a missile if they wanted. My reach would probably be enough to keep a missile from detonating but it was still a scary thought. As usual I was talking as I flew and did mention that the land I saw beneath me had no lines in the dirt so this could mean that we were all one family. I left their domain but went over North Korea and wondered if they would try. I guess they too were watching and wouldn't like world opinion even more against them. With a little over a thousand miles left to go I cruised just below the speed of sound and in an hour and a half after picking up my escort again I landed in Tokyo. The crowds welcomed me with open arms and I was brought to the Imperial Palace where the Emperor proclaimed me a Japanese citizen and gave me his version of a knighthood. The crowds loved this and my family was there to share the moment with me. The next few days were hectic again. The aeronautics companies wanted my engines and the craft to learn its secrets. I told them that I needed to have access to the Russian and Chinese people with my phones for this to happen. They could put some pressure on their own governments to see if they could help me. I was considering some help on the space station though. There were many parts yet to be made and they could help if they wanted. The American space effort seemed to falter when I put my own satellites up as did the Russian. In fact the only person now really interested in space was me. There were many parties and I took various wives to them. They could not keep up the constant pace so it was good that I had a replacement or two. There was time to start setting up the arcade and this was fun to do too. Security and some of the younger children in the area were encouraged to assist. General Okumura was against it but I mentioned that they were taken at random and would give his men a chance to see if any were spies. This took about two days of around the clock work to get the machines in place and then mount all of the lasers and other effects to make the game interesting. Only the boys that came the first time were allowed to come in again. When I completed testing each of the units I walked up to the group of boys and said, "Thank you very much for your help. I wish to pay you for it though." The boys were basically 12 to 17 and could use the money but I offered them something else. "I asked my security people to help test the machines. You will watch them for a while and if you want money you many have it, or you may have time on the machines. Nobody here knows what they are like except me." "The first game will be a game of chess and I challenge General Okumura to one game." Looking at the General I added, "this will require a stout heart and perseverance. Will you accept my challenge?" The general bowed and we all entered a larger room and I used my voice to turn the computer on. The characters appeared this time but stood as straight as they could and only moved their eyes or fidgeted. Everybody backed up and some of the children ran from the room. They had to be calmed and the ones that ran sheepishly came back. It was much easier when I was able to walk through a monster and appear on the other side. Finally the general was told the names of the squares but he said he knew them. "Begin," I yelled. The room came alive with snarling and growling monsters that had once been so tame looking. They stoutly defended their squares against all the others even their own side. The General gave his first move after a long pause. I countered instantly. The game was made to last a while and the children and the security detail got to see many types of mayhem. Some moves were appreciated more than others. The berserk charge of a sword wielding ancient samurai General was one. The queen's bare breasts and karate moves were loved too, especially when a hint of pubic hair could be seen. The trolls died in many entertaining ways but were very gleeful when they managed to take an opponent. In the end I manoeuvred for a draw and it was happily accepted. Five more boards were started so that six games could be played at once. Our hour was long up and I asked the children if they wanted to see more. Stupid question so I brought the ones not playing chess to another area. They walked into a large room filled with eerie sounds in an electronic jungle. I handed them clear helmets and a small metal ray gun with a laser beam. "Put the helmets on and keep them on," I ordered. A jaguar immediately jumped out from high on a branch and I brought up the laser and burnt a hole through its side. "Look over there. A python is going to get you." Everybody shot the snake and the computer extrapolated the data and made the holes appear where the beams struck. I yelled as if in panic, "Above you; a spider." Some lasers went off but another spider came down and was preparing to attack three boys. Two boys turned and ran while one stood his ground and shot the creature. Now all the boys left were worried and were looking around all the time. A rabbit ran from the brush and a dozen beams flashed at it but none struck. More animals came out and the speed was slowed a bit because the computer determined that the boys were in the novice class. At the end a beautiful but naked girl ran through the brush. If a laser struck her it did not register. The boys looked at one another now and started moving through the insubstantial foliage, questing for game. I used my voice command and everything disappeared. "Come here boys, the next game awaits." The boys that had run away had stopped to wait their friends outside the room. There was a lot of ribbing for what had happened. They hung up the weapons and the helmets and walked to a console of various racing cars. Each strapped themselves into the seat as the game required and the race began. As the throttle was pushed the scene changed to suit. The realistic noise was deafening but the boys continued to race. All the controls were functional and the seat they sat in moved accordingly to their commands. The rumble of the engine was transmitted here too. A few boys from the chess room came in and I put them into aeroplanes. In this case they were all Zeros. They crashed and killed themselves even faster than the ones in the cars. Some of the security detail came in and I placed them in more Zeros. The men seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the boys. Small rooms had armed combat but two swords clashing did not deflect each other. Points were awarded and the contestants name went on a scoreboard. New players would be added and perhaps even remove this name after enough higher scores were registered. An old American wild west shoot out happened too, along with another gun fight where an army had to clear a town. This was mainly for the security team but I hoped others would like it too. There were variations of chess but would not show the boys because of the erotic content. The routine would have to be saved for some special players. I let my employees play as much as they wanted because eventually, like candy factory employees, they would tire of the fare before them. General Okumura came out of one of the rooms and hung up his toy weapons. He saw me and had a guilty look but came over to me. He bowed low and said, "Sir Shawn those rooms are unbelievable. The machines understand what I say and the visions before my eyes look so real I believe the leaves and the opponent are really there." "Thank you General. I tried to make them as close to life like as possible. I would like you and your men to continue to play the games. There may be some inconsistencies and I would like you to note them for me. Eventually I need the men on duty to not see the games but see the people sneaking around trying to take my inventions." He puffed up his chest and stood at attention, "We will always do our duty." "I know you will and I also know how a persons eye drifts to something exciting happening. Our opponents know this too and will use it. If our people are familiar with the game then they can do their job much easier. This is a fact of human nature and not a slur on you or your men." He was mollified somewhat and we just walked around looking at the people playing the games. In his own mind he found out that I was right for the rooms were very exciting and the ones he had been in could more readily be scanned for problems. In a few hours I paid the boys and sent them out even if they would rather have more game time. The word would now spread and I would have no shortage of patrons. Another shipment came in delivering the carbon filament and the equipment necessary to complete four platforms to ascend the small cable. The captain himself happened to be my partner in this venture and came to see with his own eyes what I was doing. He handed me a thick sheaf of letters from Ethiopia and some forwarded from all over the world. Quite a bit of time would have to be spent on replying to the people I had met or helped in my life. I took the captain with me and he could see that everything that was new in Tokyo. Some was radically different from the surviving older architecture. He was introduced to a few of my other business associates that were around and he could now see that our shipping company was actually very small portion. Morie took him with him as he wanted to show off his newest tanker to one of my older partners. It was good that Morie's English was improving for the owner spoke very little of Morie's native language. The cargo was off loaded and put into secure storage again. The fibre itself had to be checked along all of its three hundred and fifty mile length even though that had already been done in Ethiopia. It would be very costly in many ways if the cable parted under load. Of the seven complete spools only three were good enough. The rest I would use to weave structural members. The bulk of the cargo was more of my computers. I had found that these should be linked in one container to make the system many times more powerful. This required me to re-write the basic operating system from scratch. My comments about doing all the work myself had hit a sympathetic chord in the American public. Their Congress had passed a bill to spend up to three hundred million dollars on the construction of a space station. I found that the money would be all spent within their country as export credits. This was acceptable. Companies now were lining up to see how much of the government largesse they could get. Nobody had contacted me as yet as to what I wanted or even for a standard set of specifications. I expected that when the bickering had been done I would already have the station set up and working. France and Brazil offered some help too and did ask for basic specifications and what they could manufacture for me. I gave them the basic aluminium structure that I had already launched and gave the welding procedures necessary to ensure that it was as good as possible. I demanded full x-ray coverage and the negatives to be numbered and saved. When Ethiopia added its assistance I made sure the world knew of its present poor state. I was trying to shame some of the richer countries to seriously help. When our newest ship was nearing completion a potential buyer did come over to see the ship being built. He had never even been on a ship this size before but wanted many changes to be made. He got polite but firm denials. We had Russian, Indian, Chinese, American and British engineers coming over to look. None had any intention of buying our ship but did want to see how it was made and perhaps use the information for their own country's benefits. In the coming month twenty seven more confirmed sales did come for the large truck and six for its big brother. It was quite a novel situation because none of the trucks had done actual work at a dam or mine site yet. My small vehicles were doing very well though. The automaker had built a dozen samples of all the engines and drivetrains. They were tested them on a simple dynamometer. They had surpassed my figures by a small margin and were now clamouring for the fuel injection unit on each of the engines. Two weeks later I was almost dragged into corporate headquarters again. They had nothing but superlatives to say about what I had drawn up. While this was happening I read some of the engineers' minds. I found how they were working on making the units just a bit cheaper to save some money. They had hand produced nine different body styles. We went into a very large and secure room to see them. Guards were at the door and the sergeant used the device I gave Mr. Hanabusa to scan each of us for working microphones. Some of the people were even searched for cameras. The machines did look good. They were complete but without the engines and transmissions. I sat in each and a young engineer took everything I said and wrote it down about things that had been altered by their engineering staff. When I was done inspecting the interior of each vehicle I went to the trunk and checked it and found it solid. The hood had a metal rod that would support the lid instead of the standard spring loaded hinge. I grasped the hood and wiggled it side to side and it would take the abuse for a while. The doors were not that good and I saw how all of the vehicles were made much lighter so that it would save on metal and cost. One lightweight door came off in my hands and I completed the job and threw it onto the carpeted floor. I wanted to show that the vehicle was not made as strongly as it should be to protect the occupants. There was complete silence as I went to the other doors and ripped off a few of the substandard ones there too. My foot and then my fist went threw other panels. Mr. Hanabusa came over and I said, "I believe your engineers know more about their job than me. They took perfectly good prints and decided to save a few yen on each vehicle. The public buying a substandard vehicle as these have turned out to be, will be justified in calling these and all other Japanese products junk." I had not whispered but had talked loud enough for all to hear. "I gave you, step by step plans for bringing this country to financial independence," I said to all in the room. "I find that you actually think that my mind is faulty for why would you make abortions of the ideas you were given. You have caused me to lose face now. Others will believe that these monstrosities and deathtraps were of my conception." I just left the room and in the reflection on the wall I saw that all the vehicles had been damaged as if they were in an accident. Mr. Hanabusa came out just behind me and got me to stop. It seemed he too had lost face too. "Sir Shawn, please wait a moment. The car bodies will be made again but to your specifications. Give us two weeks and we will even have the rest of the automobile completed." I was still angry but agreed to do as he asked. I was sure that somebody or a group of somebodies would get chastised or demoted. I went home that night a little disheartened and I found that the family did wonders to cheer me up. After a longer than usual sleep I talked to Morie about my angry reply to the automaker's efforts. At first he didn't believe me how I destroyed the auto bodies but then remembered my fighting and truly believed. Rather than stay angry, the next day I went to an aluminium mill and talked to the manager and some engineers about some very large aluminium spheres I would need for transporting liquefied natural gas. Other units for my space effort were also discussed. For the latter they said they would work for cost alone as a way of helping me. The larger spheres would be so large that they would be difficult to make or transport. I explained how they could alter some of their equipment only a little to make the sections of thick aluminium. Once bevelled they could be welded together in large units. I showed them how they could make basically one shape and weld all of them together. When it came to shipping I said how the aluminium sphere would float if sealed and a tug could easily pull a long line of them to our yards. ------- Chapter 39 The next week between more of my class one type home construction, I took some of the latest shipment of computers and installed them into my second habitat. More games had been added and some ideas came from the security detail that tried to find any bugs. I worked my best to get the persons name into the game so he could tell everyone that he helped make it. Some of the simpler games had targets flying across a wall and a heavy gun fitted with a laser shot at the target. If it was hit it would fall; if not it would carry on. Mind games would be popular and I made many geometric puzzles that would have to be destroyed or stacked correctly to work correctly. Most were time dependant and it was easy to get addicted to these. I brought the family down and had them play the simpler games with little or no violence. Sofia was the one that surprised me by being the most bloodthirsty even if she used to be the most shy. My now honest gangsters were asked to attend one of the meetings at the arcade. During the first moment of a game three shots were actually fired as the frightened men thought that they were being attacked. With little damage really done they took out the laser weapons and decimated most of the electronic predators fighting them. I tried the erotic chess game, pitting Mr. Akutagawa and Mr. Ayugai against each other. A flip of a coin determined which side represented my beauties and which side represented my brawn. The naked male characters on the board preened themselves, showing muscle and even the large one between their legs. The female characters were naked too and tried to be indifferent to the male characters. When the game began Mr. Akutagawa played the female characters and the females used his name often to get their turn to move. The two genders on the board were constantly doing lewd acts, gestures or calls. The male characters demanded that Mr. Ayugai play them first. Headgear was the only way to know the players chess piece. The game had to be stopped many times to allow the spectators to wander onto the board so they could walk through the phantom pieces so they would know they were not real. When everybody was at least a little satisfied the game began in earnest. If a male piece entered a female's square, they would engage in various sexual acts and the vanquished piece would disappear. Mr. Akutagawa was a better player or perhaps he could separate his mind from the action before him but the women would trounce their male opponents more often. In the final move the victorious queen squatted on a very well endowed rook and sent him off the board for a true 'mate'. Mr. Akutagawa came to me later and asked, "May I invite some of my richer friends down here? With some of my girls handy, business should be brisk." I smiled at his idea and had to suggest that he open a brothel closer to the arcade. The idea did occur to me that a sex arcade could be opened after the technology became well known, as long as my name was not on the business. The two weeks were up and I went back to a much more subdued meeting with the automaker. I went right to the many cars and found them very close to what I had wanted. Some changes had been made to suit their stamping mills but all were acceptable. Night had fallen by the time the verbal portion of the meeting was over and we got into the cars and went around the track that was used to test cars. The vehicles were fast and very responsive. The majority of the executives were actually happy that the vehicles were made to spec because the vehicles responded better and they felt the safety rating was much higher. When we were done talking I went out to the car I drove and brought it to a workshop. Here I brought out another device, some tools, a few other exhaust parts and some new duct work. I took one car in particular and without asking opened the hood and started to unbolt some parts to make room for my additions I brought. I connected it to the exhaust system and the air intake. Some parts were not able to put back or I had brought replacements. I changed a few settings and asked Mr. Hanabusa if he would get in the car with me. We went around the track once at a regular speed then stopped and asked for us to be timed. I turned around to gain some room and then turned back and stopped. The pedal was thrust to the floor and the car accelerated much faster laying rubber stripes on the road in all gears. This had not been done before. When we got to the starting line we were already at sixty miles an hour. Our trip around the track was so quick that the man trying to time us had forgotten to push the button on the watch. Mr. Hanabusa had been frightened by the speed but after a short time saw that I was in complete control of the machine and began to relax. "We seem to be travelling much faster than before, Sir Shawn." "We should be doing 149 miles an hour. If the track were straight we should get to four more miles. With some modifications, I could get this engine to give us twenty more. Are you interested in a larger engine to get over 200?" "I don't think so Sir Shawn. My old bones have difficulty taking this speed." "Would you like me to slow down so you are more comfortable?" "No, please continue." When we pulled up to the group of executives they didn't move for a few seconds thinking the vehicle possessed. When one did start, the rest did too. They were all clamouring for information. I simply said, "Look under the hood. The turbocharger has been around for over fifty years and I just put it in here to see how well it worked. It may be a great selling point because it cuts down on fuel a bit and gives a dramatic increase in horse power. It is a little slow to catch up though and would be better suited to travelling where the speed does not alter much." I had thought for a while of fitting such a device to the diesel engines in the trucks and the ships but knew that the bearings would need regular maintenance and would not get this attention as an aircraft or a race car would. Cooling though would help a lot to keep this sort of maintenance to a minimum. The benefits would be enormous in fuel savings on this type of engine. It was all a matter of suitably impressing the owners of this needed maintenance. They wanted to go back in and talk more. I had to bring them up to speed on the dynamics of such a device. Its advantages were obvious but the drawbacks were not given the same amount of attention. I had to re-emphasize these latter points and tell them the cost of repairing or replacing the units at their expense when their eventual breakdown occurred from poor maintenance. A race car though could use this equipment and even perhaps a way of chilling the air after it was compressed so even more could enter the engine. Mr. Hanabusa asked the important question. "How much will your improved invention cost us?" "No money at all. I do want your patents and your minds though." I paused a bit for effect then, "I will supply all the radios to this company. Mine are much better and will cost more accordingly but not too much. I will remove the points in the distributor in a few years and the new electronic modules will be purchased from me. As new electronics comes into the vehicle, I will supply it. After three years of supplying any particular part you can call for tenders and if you can find a better part cheaper you may do so with my blessings. The final request will be hard for you to swallow. Your culture and to a lesser extent the rest of the world sees women as weak and submissive." "If I am able to satisfy you on our first agreement I will gain the first ten percent. My wife Mary will sit with me and be my voice when I am busy elsewhere. She will vote the next ten percent too when you find my electric car so appealing." Nothing much was said but the latest request was indeed hard to swallow. I left much later and was not too sure how the directors of the company would react. I had assessed each of them but they would interact and then some point would be stressed. Innate bias against a 'round eye', a woman and a neophyte would enter into the calculation. To predict what would happen was even too hard for me. It was three in the morning but still early for me but I got into bed with Sofia and Liz. Sofia immediately turned and held me to her as her mind responded to my presence even if she was asleep. As her leg came over me I just positioned myself and rubbed the smaller head on her opening until she was able to painlessly engulf me. She started to come around as her pelvis was slowly stroking me. "Oh Shawn you're back." She had to pause as some particularly good feelings travelled through her system. "I missed you. Hold my shoulders and suck my nipples. Ohhh ya, like that." The bed moves slowly but soon Liz was wide awake too and rubbing her clit. It was still a little tender from the way Sofia had sucked on it but that was of little consequence now. Liz reached in a side drawer and took out two phalli. She quickly coated the larger and put it between her legs. After a few satisfying strokes she stopped and coated the smaller one. She wiggled a bit and got behind Sofia and slowly inserted it into the girl's rectum. It was stroked just a bit then inserted all the way. I could feel the hard lump through the thin membrane between both passages. Sofia was having such enjoyment that she did not care what was done to her. When the unit started to hum softly then increase in amplitude she did respond. Her hands came to my head and her slim fingers wrapped in my hair and she squeezed as a different orgasm passed through her body. She grunted then let a long drawn out groan pass her lips. When she recovered she released my hair and held the pillow under my head. Liz started to put her finger in Sofia's anus and pushed on the plastic phallus and then pulled the unit back on the cord only to push it back in. With me working on Sofia pleasure centre she had no choice but to spasm hard and even trap Liz's finger as her body shook uncontrollably. Liz turned off the device but left it where it was. I moved Sofia's unresponsive body aside and climbed over Liz's waiting frame. I slipped in as if I belonged there. Her legs came up and wrapped around me and pulled me in when she felt me thrust. In then minutes she had three orgasms and I had one. I kissed her sleeping face and covered both of the girls up with a sheet and moved to the other bedroom. Juni was awake with Rachael. In the next room Mary too was awake but alone. She had her menses and preferred it that way. I pulled back the covers over Juni and she just spread her legs wide and welcomed me with her arms. With my first slow push Rachael too woke up and looked at us. The moon shed light through the window and she could easily see each of us. She kissed me with her had around my neck to ensure that she got what she wanted. In a minute she pulled back and smiled down at Juni then descended to kiss her lips then travel to her breasts. My thrusts remained slow but my angle changed to stroke the portions she wanted done. I pulled Juni's legs up and put them over my shoulder and she picked up her pelvis to help. Rachael had more room and her had slid down Juni's body and stroked the small bump that was being rubbed by my cock as it entered her opening. With one hand I pulled Rachael's hips closer and worked my fingers at her openings. Both girls were really getting aroused now. My mind inserted the finger into her opening now that her guard was down. She started to catch up to where Juni was and both rocked in step with me. When they were close I sped up and increased the sensations coming to them. They both orgasmed roughly together but I continued my motions. With Rachael laying on her side I started to thrust with renewed vigour into Juni. I held her orgasm back but increased the sensations going to her till she started to plead with me for release. Her body could take more so I kept on for another minute before giving both of us what we wanted. Her strong muscles contracted and held me so tight that I knew her bones and ligaments were under a lot of strain. All of a sudden she just collapsed with a sigh. I bent over and gave her a parting kiss and pulled out. Rachael was watching and waiting as I laid down behind her and slipped in with her legs closed. She bent at the hips more to give me the most room and I began to saw into her opening. With my mind I worked on both lower orifices and she too started to orgasm until she collapsed in my arms. When she settled into a more natural sleep I pulled out to her small groan of loss. I covered her and then walked around the pad and closed Juni's legs and covered her too. I walked to Mary's room and saw that she was waiting. She had gone to the washroom and used a douche and then returned. There were three towels under her rump. The women all wanted sex and the time when they would normally miss out bothered them. They didn't want to hurt my sensibilities but needed the reassurance I gave them. The only solution I could come up with was to have all of them no matter what time of the month they were on. As wives they felt obliged to do as I wanted and hid behind this fact as they too wanted this to happen. Mary wiped herself and placed the slightly damp paper in a small waste basket. "I have been waiting for you Shawn. Do I still have to?" "Yes, you have to. Your husband's carnal lusts are just too much for you." I kneeled between her legs and held her head as I kissed her lips. My member found its way unerringly home. She gave a sigh of contentment and started to respond. Mary was not as turned on when she had her menses but I did my best to overcome this problem and soon she was calling my name incoherently as she thrashed on the pallet. After this orgasm I made tender love to her from the back and we both fell asleep together with me still inside her. When morning came I pulled out of my woman and plugged up the opening with my insubstantial finger. The coverings were pulled back and I picked Mary up and carried her to the washroom. She came to her senses as the warm water hit her lower body. She looked around indifferently and saw my face. "Good morning husband. You can put me down now." "I guess I could but I like you in my arms." She pulled her face closer and she gave me a tender kiss to show a little of how much she loved me. I did put her down and then I started to wash her. As she knelt I started to shampoo her hair and she decided to suck me as she waited. Her hand and her tongue only moved. Soon I had to stop and hold her head as she like it as the shivers went through my body. In a moment I continued to wash her hair and then got her up after rinsing and gave her a thank you kiss and did the rest of her body. When she was done, she went downstairs to make breakfast for the entire family. Things had changed in the last year and a half. The women in the house rotated duties. Kochiyo and Maeko were more like wives of Juni's father and so were treated differently now. They still worked hard but had to share some of their previous responsibilities with the other women. I did some work around the house too and still loved to cook. With Mary starting breakfast I went into Sally's room still a little wet and started to tickle her foot. Her foot came away and I followed till the other foot tried to push the antagonist away. She came awake slowly as she usually did and opened one eye. When she saw me she said, "Good morning Daddy. She stretched a bit and she released a small amount of gas and smiled as she bent her face away from me. "Get up Sweetie. I will give you a hand in the shower if you want." She did want and pulled the covers back and stood up. With only a small look at my member she took my hand. We walked together to the washroom and I cleaned her for her day. She still tried to use her body to 'accidentally' touch me. I always let her have these small accidents but hoped that over time she would see me more of a father and less as a potential mate. Nori and some of the other boys were over here a lot at my urging. They played with Sally even though she was a girl and she seemed to enjoy the company. I dressed Sally and tickled her feet again then carried her as she squirmed downstairs. When she was put down she ran to Kochiyo and Maeko calling them their name preceded by mommy. Her own mother got the name 'Mommy Mary'. Mary didn't like the term because she figured she should be the one and only mother but let it ride when she saw how it helped the other women. When Morie came in she ran to him calling "Grampie" and was kissed by the older man. He had a tiring night but enjoyed the attention of his 'grandchild' nevertheless. She was escorted to the table and sat with the men and then the women to have our morning repast. It wasn't long ago that Juni was the only one allowed to do so. "Shawn, an Arab company wants to look at the tanker. They must be fairly interested because they are sending over a dozen people to go over how it is built. The president is coming too. Can you speak Arabic too?" "Yes, if I am not around just call and I will get to you. I am not going to the airport again to get anyone. We give them the red-carpet treatment and they only want to steal our ideas." "This may be different but I agree with you." "I gave the auto company my turbocharger and I think they will accede to my demands. I think General Motors is planning something along the same line as what I am doing. Perhaps we can get to market sooner." "That's good. Those old men don't bend very much and it takes a lot of force to get them to change any of their old ways." Looking at Mary I said, "How are your companies doing?" "We took advantage of a few government incentives and got a contract to build three more cement plants on Hokkaido. Some exciting and profitable new ideas to go with them occurred to us." "Tell me about your plans." "Juni is going to sell me one of the pieces of land. It is near the clay that we need and seaborne transportation. I have already signed a proposal to purchase. The cities that need our product are putting together a plan to issue a common bond. We will in effect get a zero percent loan covering all three properties for ten years. Juni and I worked out that it will have been easily paid for by then. That is the time you wanted to start a rotating maintenance schedule so that you can refurbish all the cement plants we own. "One of the smaller machine shops is not at capacity and could be working on some of the smaller parts. I wanted to talk to Mr. Hitomi here about a contract to use his rolls and men to fabricate the dryers and mills. There will be just enough excess capacity for our own cement plants to supply us with our own building materials. "The furthest area has a fairly consistent river nearby that could supply alternate electrical power and I have made up a proposal to dam a small stretch and generate our own power until our own generating stations come online. We are very near a high voltage corridor and we can sell our excess very easily. We could also purchase but the first way is profitable. "When your electric cars become popular we can set up a quick charge stations and have a convenience store to bring in some extra cash. There is more than enough traffic to warrant this expenditure. The other two areas have little extra at the moment to sell them. Our own power could be used for quick charging with the amount of traffic but the cost of transporting surplus power will be prohibitive. "Long term prospects for all three are excellent and towns or at least suburbs could be set up in each area. Our emissionless process will allow high density building and a ready market for our power and products. "I have already drawn up plans for integrating all three areas into our rail system. One site has a block of properties next to our proposed plant. It is presently listed as for sale. Sofia and Rachael are working on a proposal to show you. They want to make a large amusement park. They asked me to get your feeling on the matter first." The girls in question simply bowed their head and kept quiet while Mary talked for them. "They say that they will need an initial outlay of ninety million American dollars. An additional investment of only ten will see the park running till it gains profitability. They and the rest of us believe we can get at least twenty percent return on our money per year till competition in other countries attracts foreign tourists away. Disney had opened a park in Anaheim, California six years ago and after a rough start had made the park a must-see for any family with young children. "By that time much of the boom will have past and we can safely demolish the nearby cement plant or as I suggest make it resemble a particular theme in the present planning. We just remove the equipment and shift the capacity to other plants. "Liz came up with the idea of putting the Japanese terminus of our space link at this area too. Actually her vision has merit. People will come to see cargos travelling to space and stay for the park. Juni has more suggestions and you should hear them from her." Juni was unaccustomedly shy and said, "I want to build large hotels based on themes from the park with a monorail taking visitors to various areas. The nearby ocean could support yachts and even a small port if you provide an adequate break wall. We could make a large area exhibiting marine life. "Your glass is very strong and with rubber gaskets in many places would be safe to make giant tubes that would carry visitors under the water and allow them to see the local fauna. We have heard of some areas in America having large pools with captive animals. I was proposing a series of pools so large that they are almost free. This portion of the park will only bring in fifteen percent on the money that other areas will bring." She added after a pause, "The start up cost will be much higher too and that was why I was hesitant about bringing it up. You may have to design and build large ships to harvest the oceans. The seafood will be sold for a good profit. Your figures show that the present population will grow immensely. The poorer choices of fish can be ground into fish meal to be given or sold very cheaply to the third world. The offal can be packaged and fed to the inhabitants of our marine exhibit." I thought on their words for a while and saw that they had indeed put a lot of thought into these proposals. Mary and Juni had a thick sheaf of papers using sound accounting principles why we should continue. They had not given them to me yet but were prepared to if asked. "How will this impact on our cash flow? Will partners be needed or should the park go public?" Mary answered first, "We looked at the prospects for your dividends in the new automotive market. You should bring in twelve million a year to start and a further fifteen selling parts to the company. If they can be convinced to go electric sooner then the prospects are even better because we make the motor, control systems and the energy cell. We might even be better to make our own cars. Your other business ventures will not be impacted, other than some positively as we purchase supplies and services from them." The girls had worked on projects before. They had given reports like this to with Morie present but this was the first time he actually realised the intelligence and remorsefulness of his daughter and my wives. These were a little upsetting for he was raised to think that women were not capable of doing this without leaving their femininity behind. The noises coming from the rooms when I was absent suggested that this may be a reason. To think that his daughter and the rest had changed into men was very disheartening. A small part of his mind fought the trend by saying that women down through the ages had done that sort of thing when their men were unavailable. Other ideas came flying through his mind at the mention of the large fishing boat. This seemed to push the distasteful idea of woman's sex from his thoughts. The image his daughter gave reflected the one he had nourished all these years but had never found the possibility of interesting a buyer in. With his new son in law he knew that the possibility of building a ship like this was much greater. "Shawn, I don't know about the rest of the proposal but I like the idea of harvesting from the sea. We can process all the fish onboard and with large diesel engines we can make giant freezing units. Small ships are so ineffective and dangerous that I think we should build one or at the least make plans for them." "I think you are right and so are the girls." Turning to the rest, "Did you run all the criteria through the computer?" Mary answered again, "Yes we did and I downplayed the figures consistently to be safe." The next day in my very private workshop, Morie phoned, "Come over Shawn. The Arab wants our newest ship and is ready with a cheque." I put the large aluminium flange I was working on back on the floor and drove over to the yards. Morie was easy to find and I saw him with a short dark man of about sixty. Abdel Assad was the president and manager for a Saudi prince that had decided to ship the oil his family owned. It was a profitable sideline and was a way of using some of the large amounts of money the state produced. When I climbed to the deck I waited and was introduced by Morie. I replied in Farsi which the man spoke very fluently. Arabic was the main and official language of the country but Abdel Assad had come from Iran as a boy and preferred this language. There were three others present and I addressed them in Arabic and asked what they thought of the ship. We got superlatives to no end but it looked like this time it may indeed mean a sale. We discussed additional equipment and saw that the price was not that important to them. I stressed the safety equipment for the ship and for the crew more than most would. I explained how our radar was better than most military units and that I had a simple sonar that would give depth soundings all the time. The expense of the double wall was stressed because it was a major cost and I didn't want petroleum to be released into the oceans or as had happened onto a beach or a fishing ground. With my new turbocharger in mind I talked about the efficiencies and power of the diesels when my new modifications were added in a few weeks. The man though was not worried because oil consumption was what he was in favour of. I stressed as much as possible that the bookkeeping would show how efficient the ship was and how much this would reflect on the president. We produced records of how the 'Juni' was doing as evidence. I mentioned that the next time she came in we would install the turbocharger on her to along with the cooler. A computer was also considered because I could see the engine one day reaching an efficiency of fifty percent. The men left to converse with the prince and return the next day for more information. When they finally left I told Morie what I thought and found he thought the same about the sale. We walked over to the main office and I took the draughting board and drew up the plans for the additional equipment. On the maintenance schedule I made sure the unit was to be serviced regularly. Morie took the plans and then looked at the detailed plans of the turbocharger itself and said, "Who will make this?" I thought and saw how I could juggle some jobs and get one of my shops to make a few of these units. The ducts could be made by others as could some specialty clamps. When the list was made I gave it to Mori and called some of my shops to tell them to finish the present job but start on the new job I was going to give them next. I dropped the prints off to the shop and went back to making more modules that would be needed in space. Next week we sold the ship. The prince himself came to see the purchase and to meet me. In his country the term Prince was only used in the cadet members of the family while His Royal Highness was the approved method. Here the term prince was denoted for people in line for the crown but that was not the way in Saudi Arabia. I gave him a generic set of platforms that could be used to transfer cargo in ports not deep or big enough to handle the ship. There would have to be made in any country wanting the cargo. A small island close by with a steep drop off was ours and the petroleum was carried by large diameter pipes to the refinery a few miles away. I demanded half down on the ship and the prince was wondering why all of that was necessary. My reply about the money needed to build the space station sounded very good to him. "Sir Shawn, have you considered taking passengers to space for a fee?" To Prince Yaseen I said, "Your Royal Highness, the suit alone cost much to manufacture and is built for only one particular person. The fuselage of the ship can accommodate one or more people but the cost of putting them in orbit is very high. Not only fuel but canisters of air, water and a larger life support unit are needed. The Americans figure that it takes one point two million American dollars to place a man in orbit. My figures are much lower but there is still a similar cost in equipment. Not many people could afford such a high cost for such a short trip. One day I will make a large ship that could take people from the earth and be much like current aircraft but that day is not here yet." "I would like to go into space. A little over one million dollars is not too much." "That figure was just the cost. If I were to take you as the second man to go into space I will demand much more." The prince was taken back by this and asked, "How much more?" "More than you are willing to pay I think. I want your country to make habitats that I will send into orbit. You will pay not only for their manufacture but their other facilities as well. I will incorporate them into a large wheel that spins, making it feel a bit like earth. Your country may not be able to make these articles but I want your father to make a machine shop and teach your people how to make these articles. The final cost will be thirty or more million dollars." I let him stew for a moment. "On each of the cylinders you will put your countries name in Latin characters and Arabic. A boy in your country can look through a cheap telescope and see how his simple but rich country is now joining the advanced countries in their difficult path into space. Fast cars, sand and oil will have to give way. This will give your people new hopes and the chance of gaining the stars." The prince just stared a moment then got up and walked to the window. His gaze fell on his ship then eventually rose into the sky. I knew his eyes could see the future written there with his family's name prominent. He turned back to me and said, "I will do it. My family will surely help. You have only to make your requirements known so my family's employees can assess what the end cost will be. For all this will I be going to space?" "You will but not as a prince but as a co-pilot. You will work harder than I believe you have before to learn how to fly my ship. I will have no idle passengers but I will have room for crew. You will have to be an employee." The man happily shook my hand and we began the finer details of what he had to do. There were drawings handy and I gave him those. He left an hour later thinking of how he would be looked on in a thousand years as the second man and the first Arab to go into space. The programming for a simulation of my aeroplane was made and sent to the arcade for storage and possibly a simulation game or what a pilot would really face. Government leaders and other important people now came here to see what I was offering. This was all free but prices were posted at each stage and they would know in the future if they wished to come back. Some aircraft mechanics and an engineer put together my cockpit and I gave them controls to place on the various switches and analogue devices. My mathematics was as simple as possible and they used springs, weights, or ran the controls attached to both hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. Although the feel was not right yet, it was getting there. When I had free time I would work the simulator and leave notes about what I found that was in need of correction. Eventually I was able to hook the computer up to the device and use the windscreen as a display of what would be seen if the pilot were really flying. I put in many scenarios that were in various stages of difficulty. Small faults would happen in the craft's functions and the pilot would have to decide what to do. Not all led to a 'crash and burn' but some of necessity did. Former pilots that I thought good enough to fly my plane were brought in and worked the simulator twenty four hours a day and argued amongst themselves to why something was happening. The Prince was added to this group as he also had to be one of the team or else he could not work with me. The arcade was finally open to the public and the number was carefully monitored. People could not go in unless an equal number came out. The trouble was that very few people came out. Work called me back and I finished the flange then rolled the thick aluminium until it was as uniform as possible and fused it to the ends I had made earlier. So far I had only five more cylinders and would have to start making the main components of the space station. The inner section of the giant wheel had to accept a craft that was flown into it without stopping the station. The only solution I could think of was to have a large cylinder at the centre independent of the main structure. Motors could drive it so that it appeared to remain stationary as the remainder of the station continued to rotate. After a ship had entered or departed the centre could regain its proper place and lock onto the inner spokes of the station. The amount of aluminium and titanium was fantastic. It would take me many years to get all the parts into orbit and assembled. Those years could be better spent here on earth. It was just so hard to get the various countries to cooperate. The communist countries knew deep down that their ideas were more flawed than capitalism and thus sought to protect them in any way possible. The present leaders of any country whether communist or not would want to hold onto power as long as possible. A change in political ideals would usually mean a change in leadership. Despite over 10 years of peace, Europe was still basically war torn and could not find the strength to assist me without giving up all hopes of reconstruction. Brazil and France had each shown some incentive but it was still debatable what form this would take. The Americans had granted a lot of money in the form of export credits and the companies had just now sent representatives for the basic specifications. Japan was still reeling from the war and trying to get on its feet. It could and did help some but not like I needed the help to come in. Canada had decided to ask for my specifications but I had no real hope of them helping at anything. It was hard to find private capital there and many good ventures failed because of it. They tended to be much too conservative to my taste. The best way would be to hold a public offering and have private investors from all over purchase shares. The only rich country at this time was the United States and they would end up owning the majority of the shares. Saudi Arabia's possible entry into the mix gave me some hope. Shame did not work very well but the thought that one country would gain a significant advantage over another might do the trick. Pride was another avenue but one that had to be carefully watched to ensure it didn't either get away or get in the way. The constant building and consumption were a more than steady drain on my financial resources. The ship's sale would only give me a little for I intended to help the world with better products and to help a war torn country in particular. Novels and songs brought in a steady income and the fictional books seemed to sell better now under some of my other pen names. Sally had been talking recently about Sleeping Beauty and the recent 101 Dalmatians. Disney had a good thing here and was making a lot of money from it. Japan could benefit from some home grown animation to pick up their sagging spirits and make a bit of money to keep my financial ship afloat. I made many stories and had sold them in book form but a few I saved to see how I could do in the movies and video realms. I needed space to be stressed but not many could conceive of what the conditions were truly like so far above the earth. I made a story about a small kangaroo rat that went into a large bottle to get some moisture. A human had found the rodent and after capping the bottle had thrown it into the ocean. Nasty sea creatures had pulled the bottle down and a rescue team of other small mammals were to go and rescue their friend. The story was expanded as I imagined each of the scenes till I found the length too long and had to cut back. When the characters' movements, facial characteristics were finalized, I went back and filled in the background and what the plant life in a shallow lagoon would be like. The soundtrack was not as difficult as I thought and added it to my memories. The new computer came into play and I used my mind to directly transmit the data to the crystal. I ran the computer animation through and corrected a few minor points. This was good enough for a first try and knew that Sally and Liz should see it first so I could get their reactions. The violence was subtle and basically it was made for an audience of children to the age of sixteen. Now it was time for home and bed. I locked up the shop and set the alarms. My security force greeted me as I left. The next morning, after breakfast I set up the computer and started the animation. Sally sat enthralled and soon the rest were too. The characters spoke Japanese and the mannerisms and even the psyche of the Japanese people were in the characters. Other nationalities even with perfect translation and minor changes for movements of the characters mouths would not find the same result. The gestures of the Arabs and the Italians would not be found in North America or in most of Europe and if the characters spoke another language the gestures would give them away within seconds. The male hero of my story was in trouble at the climax. An octopus was just ready to kill him when the female mammals rushed in to save him. It could be readily seen as my family did as to who the characters really were. I was able to get in a few of each of my family's gestures in and had even Morie in as an aged but wise old being doing his best to assist the younger ones. I gauged my family all along and I was surprised at how taken they were with my effort. Sally came running to me happy as could be at the outcome and could only climb into my lap and kiss me as her way of thanks. Liz did too but when the rest did I could see it was their way of immortalising them this way and allowing their characters to outshine the hero many times and especially at the end. Morie clapped me on the shoulder and said, "What are you going to do with this movie Shawn?" "Show it a few times to some distributors and then use a camera to film the individual frames. Copies can be made and distributed throughout Japan. The cinema will have to be used because there are not enough people with our televisions or the other kind to have this work. I transferred the animation to both of my arcades and started on another work that would reflect the life in Ethiopia. Here I used the things that the people normally faced. There was heat, drought, insects, warring bands of individuals, marauders and an evil spirit to thwart the people. The aging Emperor sent a common lad out to get an important article and in the travelling became a man. In the end he helped the Emperor regain the country. This production took almost four hours and I sent this file to both arcades too. It would be good if I had made a good sized theatre and then I could show the work without recourse to the poor way film functioned. The Japanese movie industry had not yet recovered very much but I was able to talk to a few individuals. This time I took them to one of the arcades and without any games being played, showed them both works. The second production had Japanese words come out, but not to the movements of the mouths yet. These men liked the animation and were eager to get it. Their offer was very low and I went on about all the good points and used their own minds against them. In some cases I was able to use the data better and suggest more ways of making additional revenue. If I translated the film into most of the Asiatic languages and made the animations work with the diction I would make ten million American dollars. The contract was only for a year's time for I had plans later to broadcast it over my own network. They had their own ways of cheating me and when the time came for the contract I put in plugs to all their loopholes. They screamed but did sign the documents. I had to go to Ethiopia many times and one time I brought the film version of both movies to the Emperor. He liked one in particular but both were rented out to cinemas in this country too. Benyam had no difficulty seeing which character had his attributes, even if he wasn't warned of the fact. Shumetie was just as pleased as Lakech and Meseret. Zema sat in my lap through two showings but was still too young to see his character. The children's mothers had been told by one of my other wives but this seemed to only add to the excitement. We had gone to a public cinema at the first showing and sat with other families and we could see how the work had been accepted. The clapping and carrying on at the end was heart-warming even if the parents had difficulty getting their children out of the theatre. At home that night the children hounded us again and they saw both movies again on the computer before going to bed. The women showed their own gratitude after. More animations were made in the next few weeks for North and South America but I could not flood the market so I limited myself to only two a year in each area. The northern market brought in much more revenue and I put a portion of it back into the country I got the money from. This lessened my taxes and in a way said thanks to the people that paid me. On a trial basis I got some of the Japanese and Ethiopian engineers to work more generally with the simpler computers. They were fairly proficient in their use and I started a school to train people that wanted the education. The school was on our property and guarded by a very vigilant security unit. When I went back to Japan I would have to start a similar school there. The price of tuition was going to be high and the locals would get financial assistance. This would still mean that we would get lots of students. The engineers would have to train their own replacements. In three weeks I flew back to Japan hoping that the school would work out the way it should. At the airport in Tokyo I was met by the family and the usual crowd that looked for celebrities. I shook a few hands and even signed a few autographs. Juni and the rest would sign too but found this sort of thing tedious after the first few months. A few hours later I was at the local university going through the student records for those that were good in math and abstract thought. With almost two hundred names I winnowed it down to only a hundred and sixty. These were invited to the come to Arcade #1 as I called my first complex. A day later they trickled through security and I invited them to sit as I had a view or a very frozen polar winter on one wall and a hot dry desert on the other. In front was a scene from a tropical isle looking into the ocean. All were animated and would be hard for them to distinguish from actual video footage. I counted heads and saw that everyone was here almost an hour early so I began. "Gentlemen and ladies," to make sure the three women were covered. "I want to show you some of the things that can be done with a computer." I had made up a program to simulate a ledger with small cells. These could take both numerical and textual content. I went through some fairly complex formulas and showed how the program could give almost instantaneous results that would take them days if not longer to calculate. I took only an hour and saw that the students or even grad students were very interested. Next I showed them a program that catalogued all the parts we used in the shipyard. This was similar to the previous program and both allowed a search to be made to find particular criteria and to re-sort the entire set of fields as I wanted. There was a simple program for placing text down so that I could put it very neatly on paper. When I was done showing these programs I told them in that I had a job that would pay fairly well and start them on a new field of computer programming. In the mean time they would learn from me and some of the engineers I had trained previously. "When you ladies and gentlemen are done you will train others. When these computers come out there will be a great need for your services and a corresponding amount of money given for it. Your education will take many years but at this point you will get off very light. Most of you will learn as you work." The students were allowed to see my simple computers and ask questions for an hour. If they wanted the jobs they could come back tomorrow and register after thinking on it. I could see before they left that very few would say no to this offer. In a far room I knew my pilots were working hard learning what they could to keep alive in one of the harshest environments of all. I walked in to see one of the computer scenarios where two engines failed. The situation was recoverable but in many cases the pilots had failed many times. Prince Yaseen was close to the front with his hand on another pilot watching one of their number doing a difficult manoeuvre to save not only himself but the plane too. My next stint in the plane was tomorrow when I would be taking some equipment into orbit. The pilots had already helped me stow the cargo on the unit and had gone over the craft both before and after this was done. There were so many differences from anything now in existence that they had to do much more than training. Even some of my simple explosive bolts intrigued them. In the next ten days I took five more cargoes into orbit and when I came back the pilots took the plane for some high altitude flights to test them and their machine. This necessitated me giving them suits. The colours were garish and gave their name in their native language and in Latin characters. When they were first presented with them they were dumbfounded because they had practised hard but thought I would always do the flying. The suits made them realise that they were part of something much larger than any one country. Prince Yaseen told me that his family had agreed to the terms and the fact that one of their number would gather glory from this was frosting on the cake. Of course it was not said that way and was actually delivered much more politely. General Mobutu and the investors in Rhodesia had secured the earth terminus and were even building a large airport and hotel complex. The way it sounded they were putting out tenders for souvenirs. On my twelfth birthday, August 12 1962 I flew a historic flight. The best spool of carbon fibre was flown into orbit and anchored to a fairly complex mechanism for keeping the cable taut and to move the high wear portions around so no portion of the cable became unsafe. There was no way to simply tie knots in this and hope that they would work. A rigging with three rockets flew earthwork with the end of the cable in a central position. Twenty minutes later a parachute opened and almost a mile of loose cable was found almost a hundred yards from the water's edge. A ceremony was going on with the Prime Minister and some of the rulers of neighbouring countries. A large boat took the cable out into the lake and the engineers attached it to a mechanism to keep this end in place and safe. This had been practised many times and in three hours an odd device started climbing the slender cable towards me. Another ceremony was going on now and was broadcast over the earth. It talked of how Rhodesia had changed it ways and the much stronger country was now going to the stars. The fact that the vehicle would take a week to get to the other end was mentioned but not too negatively. This multi national ceremony was what I was after for a long time and knew that much of the old injustices would be temporarily forgotten. I also had no doubts that there would be backsliding for the wounds could not heal very fast. With the cable now something that everybody could see I decided to patent the polymer. It had many applications and the device that was now climbing heavenward would accentuate only some of them. The next day my old school in London received two dozen sculls made of this material. My only hope was that the coach could now beat Oxford the next time out. My security people had been wearing vests made of this material for a long time now. I even had plans for making it into structural members and body panels of some future cars. My new fibre 'Carbonette' could be woven into cloth, rope, or other flexible shapes. With hardener it could form complex shapes that were very strong but exceedingly light. The section of the wing of my plane and some of the tanks were shown. Even some of the space platform could be made from this material, allowing a much larger structure that could normally flown aloft. ------- Chapter 40 A week later a large ship pulled into the harbour with all the parts I asked Saudi Arabia to provide. When they went into storage I found each piece to be as good as I had demanded it to be. That night I called King Faysal and invited him to come to Japan to see his son fly the first section into orbit. We discussed many things including my telephone/computer system and how it would help his people. He would come and see for himself what could happen with most of his family. The prince's ship had left and the new owner had ordered six more to be delivered as soon as possible. Morie was more than happy and was not even too upset when we had to call on other yards to assist us in this venture. He would loose many of his people temporarily as they went to train others on how to fabricate these ships correctly and safely. The new line of cars was selling very well and we were unable to make more auto transports that I said we would need many months before. These too had to go to other yards. I had gotten my first ten percent and Mary had been to all the board meetings and many of the smaller ones where the real decisions were made. This was hard for the old men but Mary would not take any guff from most and would give as good as she would get. Some of her own ideas, especially what a woman would like to have in an auto were looked into and may were accepted. Interior mirrors were understood but the safety she stressed I knew would make families buy our cars over other brands. Sofia and Rachael had taken many of my designs and worked with Mary to find what kind of machines were needed. They made a new company and hired many machinists to assist in making the new type of computer operated machinery. Security was not growing as quickly as it was being needed. Crime had nose-dived in Tokyo and I knew I was the cause because I demanded that crooks be captured by my men after which I would interrogate them. If they were salvageable they were given a new job and helped out of their present jam. Other Japanese cities were not so lucky. I worked methodically and mixed business with my quest for more people to fill the ranks in security. Only a few of the diehard kingpins died and most came to believe much faster after talking to the first converts. Japan was too big to police alone so I used the one time gangsters to do it for me and send possible recruits to me. They and their associates were offered as an incentive the chance to do legitimate business on the space station and on other planets and moons we would set up shop. Graft and corruption were down and I had to restrain some people in authority that were counting on the additional bit of money each week to improve their lifestyle. There were many rumours about me over the years and the one that I could fly with the help of spirits was only one of them. Some I had even constructed myself so that I could laugh at them as unbelievable when others talked about them. Most who were very excited could not recall events very well. Other times, images crept in and out of their memories. Not all of them were real for the mind was a wondrous thing. The former gangsters did believe that I had supernatural assistance and they tended to be some of my most trusted associates. King Faysal came over earlier than expected and visited the emperor soon after arriving. A day later I got a call asking if I could set aside one of my arcades for a few hours so both men could see what was happening. I countered with the request that all of their families came and all found out at the same time. While they were there they could see my flight school and take a turn at flying my plane in a simulator. People didn't normally make this sort of request, but this time I got away with it. A long line of the new cars I had designed pulled up instead of a somewhat shorter line of limos. This way they could see how good these vehicles really were. I greeted them at the entrance and security escorted them down the corridors until they were safe. The guards then backed off as far as possible. Prince Yaseen as my employee, showed them the flight school and talked about how the students worked. Mary and Juni accompanied us as did Sally. A Japanese student did some complicated manoeuvres and the spectators almost though they were in a plane with them for they leaned this way and that as the plane banked and the scenery changed. The Prince took over later and flew a fairly simple flight to the site in space of our station. Everybody could see the Saudi units and the name of the royal family prominently displayed. The last one being carried by the prince himself. All the constructs were still on earth since this was just a simulation. From further away it was easy to see the Saudi contribution. The two monarchs declined to try the complicated plane but did sit in a simulated racing car and raced each other around a track. Family members were encouraged to join in and soon the speed was limited because of all the others playing on the surreal track. The emperor was not as good in the automobile and lost to his larger adversary even if they both lost to the younger players. Chess the way I made it was explained because it was not good to have a leader run in fright. Some of the women refused to watch the game. This one the emperor won hands down. Juni and Mary took some of the women and played games that would appeal to the younger set or to the women. Short animated movies in Japanese and Arabic came on the screen with subtitles in the other language. These were avidly followed and after an hour wanted to see the longer ones. Juni picked one in Arabic and sat through it with the rest as the men and older boys played more games. At the end the men were very pleased with what I had done. King Faysal in a quiet moment offered me a very substantial price to have one of these arcades installed in his palace in Saudi Arabia. "Sir, almost everything here is secret and not even patented yet. I can only allow it here where my security can watch out for it. As I gain the patents I will start marketing these machines and you will be one of the first people that will get one. I must warn you though that I am egalitarian and would have to set up these arcades for the common people to use as well." I was pushed a bit but this was just his way for he usually got what he wanted. The process was quicker than he thought though because already many of my simpler devices were being patented under many different lists of criteria. Both the simple computer and the phone were on this list, along with what things I knew would be found out soon. They all could be copied but nobody yet could do a good job. Selling the product later would surely make me bring the person or company to court. There was enough time left and we set out to see the plane accompanied by my pilots. The pilots showed many of the features to the guests and Yaseen showed both his father and the emperor the cockpit. It was readily seen that now that there was room for a co-pilot. One of the king's wives was taking a few pictures and I talked to the king and got the camera removed and the film taken out. Some of the secrets were visible but the woman was not aware of what she was possibly showing to others. The only good thing about it was that the camera was one of my German brands that had become so popular now that colour film was so common. A flight came in that night while my family and I had dinner with the Emperor and the king. The plane brought in some of the Ethiopian and Japanese engineers from the electronic factories in Addis Ababa. They settled in as we enjoyed ourselves that evening. The next morning I met the engineers at the large and noisy factory that built our railcars for us. The manager and two of his own people met us with the usual dignity we had come to expect and receive in this country. Our agreement when signed stipulated that we were to complete the motors and install the drive. The unfinished motors were left in a shop and we started to wind the wire onto the armature and stator with the utmost precision we could accomplish. The first motor was baked for an hour and more dielectric added after it cooled. When we were doing this some of the others were putting the large drives into the cab to control the motor and units in the cars it would lead. This was sealed in thick steel for security reasons. The locomotive in this case supplied guidance and a good portion of the pulling power but each car had its own smaller motor controlled from the locomotive. That night the motor was installed in the locomotive and six of the cars. The controls had been tested many times before being brought to Japan and although there had been some problems, as there always were, but after some chips were replaced the unit worked well with the replacement Japanese parts. The test track was actually part of the track we would normally run and when the train accelerated it was easy to see how it outperformed any other. There was very little wastage and even the braking energy was used as a source of power to speed other trains along. The engineers stayed a little over a week as the six engines were completed along with the three dozen coaches. Armed security guards stayed vigilantly with them and the vehicles. At the first opportunity the trains were brought to our sites so the cars could be watched much better. The manager and owners of the shop were worried. They had been paid ninety percent of our agreed price and the further ten was to be after the trains had been tested more fully. An even bigger worry was the placement of more orders for these trains represented a small portion of our overall requirements. Yaseen and some of the pilots worked on the plane loading the cargo brought from Saudi Arabia. The next day amid a drizzle we took off with both the Emperor and the Saudi royal family in attendance at the space airport. The latter was a little tired for he had spent much of the preceding days in the arcades playing different simulations. Today though they were all excited though and the king himself came to see his third born son in the co-pilots seat. This would be the first time two people would have gone into orbit. I wanted Yaseen to fly the craft and we took off fairly well with the unaccustomed heavy load. Soon we were above the clouds and the rain. Yaseen concentrated very hard on what he was to do. Like all of my pilots he was very professional in his attitude. He wouldn't even be here unless his father had indulged him at an early age and allowed him to take pilots training. With only a few words we flew high enough to get the scramjets to engage. Yaseen gave a running commentary because not only was he speaking to his father as well as the emperor, he was speaking to the world. Eventually the rockets pushed us gently back and in two and a half hours we were stationary over Rhodesia. "Well Yaseen we have got work to do. Just remember to go very slowly and think where you are going to go and what you will push off on." The man undid his belt and pushed a bit with his hand and he went quickly towards the controls over his helmeted head. My hand shot out and held him while my body took the shock because I was still in my harness. Yaseen blushed at what had almost happened and concentrated even harder on what to do next. The only thing I had done to prepare Yaseen or the other pilots was to give them much higher immunity to motion sickness. Everything else they would have to find out for themselves. The cabin was open to the atmosphere and in this case meant that we had none inside. Yaseen took a thin rope lanyard and attached it to himself and the frame of our ship. On his back was a large pack with a power cell, air and a heater. The cell would power all his radios and cameras as well as the re-breather and heater for his suit. In his hand was a small reaction pistol and a long thin probe with a piece of plastic on the end. I had the same equipment and after hooking up we shot across to our first objective. This had been drilled into them but it was all in earth's gravity field. Yaseen and I both brought out our thin probes and absorbed our momentum as well as allowing us to slowly relieve the excess static electricity that all the equipment up here was sure to get after a while. In twenty minutes we had the first piece attached to the small platform. My intention was to build a small enclosure here that would allow people to stay and work for a while. The rotating wheel would be built here on this platform from all the smaller pieces and would grow as the wheel did. When the time came the wheel would be cast adrift and eventually started to rotate but in a higher orbit. True space craft could be sent up in modules and assembled here for journeys to the nearer planets and the moon. That portion of the trip would be much easier for the first few hundred miles was the hardest and most expensive. After the first had been tested we played out a long tether and Yaseen jumped a record distance and only had to use his reaction gun a few times till he was heading straight to his target. The jump was near a quarter mile distance and I commented on the performance as if it were an equestrian affair. I used words as a diver would use to describe Yaseen's undulations and corrections. I was sure to catch some sort of repercussions because he was third in line to the throne. Yaseen tied a short line to an eye bolt and I braced a bit and pulled on the line. It took a while but the part did come to me with Yaseen looking like a charioteer but more often than not he looked to be upside down. This was what the earth saw as the man and weldment approached. I braced again and since I had given only one short pull to get everything going, stopping the heavy article was not too difficult. We worked for four hours and took a break. Water could be sucked from a straw and the suit took away our wastes but had to have the fittings attached to us. We worked for a total of eight more hours before crawling into one of the life support modules anchored to the platform and had a short sleep. As Yaseen slept soundly I went through all the things I usually did. A good idea came to mind about space and the humans going into it. The book was completed in little time and transferred to the computer on the ship. A few more games were made and some planning done on smaller systems of the space station were completed before I too went to sleep. The next morning we awoke to the cheery voice and face of Mary on our phone, wanting to know what to make for supper. Yaseen woke up slowly and greeted my wife. Later he had to settle for some bar to chew that was already in his suit for his breakfast. We worked to get all the other components anchored and then checked all the units that had climbed the thin cable to see if they had anchored to the platform as they had been designed to do. Two had to be changed a bit but basically the system worked fine. The solar panels were aligned and now power would go to the platform. In a few days it would be warm enough to be used. Our own cargo was added finally and I reversed the plane so our cameras and lights shone on the structure. The gift from Saudi Arabia was clearly seen by everyone of our watchers and recorded for posterity. Yaseen flew back to Tokyo and since he was doing the flying and talking received more of a hero's welcome when we landed. I just stayed close but behind so he could get the adulation he seemed to need. His family now would be behind this project much more firmly now. There was a little parade and at a ceremony were given some awards by both sovereigns. Now that the platform had been started there was no reason for the plane except for emergencies or if we needed to expedite some cargo. Passengers would really need a much different plane to make the relatively short distance required to the station or the platform. During the ceremony the television screen that we transmitted, was split to show a large multi ton load was slowly climbing the cable in Rhodesia. This consisted of satellites and rockets engines to place and hold them in orbit in a precisely arranged grid. Rhodesia would now be the centre of the space activities and hopefully the black population of Africa would start to participate in the riches that this would be sure to reap. I had to get the other form of transportation recognized. My rail transportation company needed much more than public acceptance. Things were turning around much quicker now and the country was regaining its feet after the devastating effects of the war. Unemployment had dropped to almost zero. With some government assistance I had a great many casualties of the war that had survived but not healed properly. They were now being offered high tech jobs that they had been trained specifically for. Some with good minds and hands learned to use a computer. Ones with no hands or arms for that matter used their voice to do the same thing. One group of bright engineers started putting small motors and servo units on specially designed chairs. This gave many people a freedom that they never thought that they would have again. This company was open to the public and now had grown fantastically when anybody with any money in Japan put their savings into our company. It was a boom time for the company and I flouted some laws to make sure the boom was very slow and controlled so there would be no bust soon after. The track to Urawa, a town on the alluvial plane with Tokyo had been improved and straightened out. The track to Maebashi further along had been improved too. A test was to be made of the speed and the amenities on this train. At a preset hour, police and even the army blocked off the line. When the train went through the town of Urawa a very large crowd had gathered but kept far from the track. This operation required the help of many thousands of people to make it work. This trip had only a four engineers with me and a few computers to monitor many different functions and record what happened. I pushed the leaver from the engineer's chair and felt pulled back. The engineers with me had to hold tighter to straps or to find support at a wall. Within three minutes we were going almost two hundred miles an hour. The scenery flashed by and in seconds we were flying through Urawa and twenty minutes later we were slowing down in Maebashi. Rather than waste time I called the coordinator and made our return trip at two hundred and twenty five miles an hour. We made four more trips before settling on two hundred and forty seven miles an hour for a useful speed. This was almost double the previous maximum speed set in France. Our train could go faster but the combination of track bed, wind shear, grades and curves limited the overall speed to something less. With much more funds I would look into an elevated train or possibly a monorail to link Japan's four main islands. When we pulled in for the final time there were thousands of people lining the way and many, many times more at the station. In the forefront were my family and the major investors. Congratulations were handed out and photographs seemed to never stop. The next three weeks saw the intercity rail system start up. The first week being free to all people that wanted to try our services. They were made to go to the ticket sellers and pick up a token though that would allow them through the turnstiles to board the trains. Mothers took their children and I saw that there were so many of them that something would have to be done. My trains only worked on some routes while other trains worked other lines. More contracts were let out for simpler equipment for the mainly underground tracks while the other trains travelled between cities. These tracks were unimproved and would cost a lot of money to upgrade. With the huge earth moving trucks selling so well I had to protect myself before they were delivered, so I swiftly patented the electric motors in the wheels and the large generator that was driven by the diesel engine. The same kind of motor was used in the train so these units could be sold to other countries. In my busy schedule I found time to take some Japanese and some Ethiopian engineers into space. They worked at getting the electronics integrated into a complete unit. A half dozen men were left in orbit to work while Yaseen and a co-pilot brought more equipment into orbit. This was the first time I had sat out a flight and I was worried about the outcome even if I had passed the team myself. His Royal Highness King Faysal wanted telephones and computers for his country. I worked out a fair deal and sent a team over to install secure uplinks driven by solar power and my energy cells. Japan had been buying four thousand phones a month and I had luckily started to stockpile much sooner and was able to find partners in Saudi Arabia to distribute the phones and collect the cost of the phone and forward the revenue to me. There was a surety that I would be cheated so each phone I had ever made was fitted with many different encoding methods so that a phone could be tracked and its usage tabulated. The computer shipment was small because there was nobody around to teach potential customers how to run the equipment. My partners had to send their own representatives so that they could be trained. Ethiopia was much closer and it was done there. Shipments of modules from France and Brazil had come to Japan and Rhodesia and been taken aloft. The modules from the United States were well made but I found that there were much fewer of them. The companies dealing with the government had worked it out so they got the most money for the least effort. Capitalism worked well but had to have a few checks and balances and one was the basic idea that companies would compete against one another. It looked like they were getting together and forming a monopoly where everyone lost. Price fixing was an old practice and it looked like that the government over there was powerless to stamp it out. Ethiopia suffered a momentary cessation of activities as one of the uplinks self destructed when being bored into with very expensive machinery. Backup units immediately took up the slack. The emperor was sending his own security people to investigate with my own. There were no survivors in the secluded location but it was easy to figure out why the intrusion occurred. Ethiopia was also going through a minor boom with revenue from my businesses leading the way. For each currency unit I spent, it generated five more in the local economy. More and more of the patented articles were now farmed out and my biggest problem was ensuring that the parts came into my plants up to specification. They were only now getting used to making things that were similar and my needs meant that they had to be a lot closer to what I wanted or the units were sent back. This caused a lot of acrimony but it was stated clearly in the contract about what the parts had to be like. More and more people were using my phones but not to the extent that the Japanese had embraced them. Computers too had been accepted but only by the educated minority. This was one of the things I was now trying to change. The computer had very high resolution screens that showed images beamed down from the satellites. The bandwidth was getting so acute that I had to make much better uplinks to handle this load. Schools were some of the first beneficiaries. Well stocked, university classrooms were televised. The images were sent to children of all ages throughout my system of associated countries. Rhodesia, Japan and Ethiopia beamed information about their countries to anybody that would listen. I ensured that the political content was at a minimum and people could learn not just the good points but the bad. The countries putting out this propaganda did so in the old form of the word. This just meant information and not what the Russians had been doing with it now where it was decidedly slanted. The other countries were not innocent by any means and their own citizens were bombarded by information the governments wanted them to swallow even if it were only partially true. My troupe of performers did a few special performances that seemed to work very well. When they knew that potentially millions more viewers would be watching they outdid themselves in their singing and acrobatic dancing. Some of the hams that told old African stories had a very fine time before the cameras. Men with cameras were explaining about different species of animals and even went underwater to film fish and aquatic animals. Education in many different subjects was free but most could only audit. But a person paying for the service had the option of asking questions and getting them answered on the air. When examinations came they were proctored at a local level and the appropriate certificate or diploma issued. Math was taught at many levels. All levels of computer use were taught as well. 'How to' courses on the various programs I had made could be found at all hours of the day as the information was stored on crystal and contiguously ran. Programming was starting to become a fascinating pastime as more and more people signed up for the various courses. I promoted a production featuring automobiles. Some mechanics talked about various models and years. Cars from all around the world were represented. Their good points along with their bad ones were mentioned together with cost and upkeep. The new Japanese models were compared with the old vehicles and then compared to what the rest of the world had to offer. This turned out to be very popular especially when it gave handy tips on how to repair or diagnose difficult to find problems. Paper I had hoped would one day be replaced by electronic media but sadly the reverse was true now. All sorts of documents had to be printed from entire books to recipes. A children's show had Sally talking about cooking in English one day and Japanese the next. Soon Ethiopian would be added as she worked hard with Kochiyo and Maeko to learn everything she could. I even came on as a featured guest to give some of my own recipes. Sally would always lick her lips subconsciously when I talked about her favourite foods. Within a few weeks girls and some boys were chasing after her to get autographs as they had me for so long. Through diplomatic channels I contacted the powers behind the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and got them to play some of my compositions and some of their own. These were played live for three hours once a week. The Russians wanted this and I wanted some culture. The agreement was that I do the televising and they did it for free. The sound that did come through was as good as any high priced stereo. In fact, I had four different channels for sound, so that it appeared as if the listener were actually at the live performance. To balance things out, I negotiated with British, American, French and to a lesser extent European television and got rights to their sitcoms, comedies, plays, children's shows, game shows and sporting events. My cameras fed a much better picture to the satellites and to the people on our system. The people putting on the shows had to use their inferior equipment to transmit to their own viewers. Their equipment could not produce better images without revamping all of their system and that included the basic television set. Our own brands of television had been made to the appropriate country's specifications but we were not allowed to add our standard as a backup. I got to sell my German cameras with Ethiopian components to almost every studio that could afford the best equipment. It was still not as good as what we could do. Late one afternoon I was watching as the fifty seventh underground habitat was being dug. A group of girls from a local high school were in attendance. I felt a bit uncomfortable. I watched what was going on with the construction and about me but also what was within me. I could find no pathogen or other causative agent for my problem. Soon I began to get an erection which was the first time my subconscious had ever decided to act on its own. Immediately I looked in my blood stream and found much higher levels of testosterone. With managers here well versed in the way things should be done, I left immediately and went home. Everybody except Morie was present and I called all of my girls together. "I have something important to tell all of you." When they all gathered that piece of data I continued. "I am starting to produce much more testosterone. This means that soon I will be able to make you fertile. My mood and actions will change a bit and I will try even harder to control my actions. One I know will be an increased interest in making love to you. The other will be irritability and mood swings. The positive benefit will be that we will start to have children." The women took that for an invitation and jumped at me to give me an indication of how they felt about my news. Mary was the one that started to undo my clothing. She dropped to her knees and engulfed me to see if I tasted any different. Her hands busy all the time trying to remove her own clothing. She pulled me on top of her before the rest were really cognisant of what was happening. I needed no encouragement this time and worked vigorously in her until she had one orgasm after another. When my own release came it was fuller than before but not as complete as I knew it would one day be. Juni threw off her clothing and was next. In the next two hours I made love to all my wives here and felt more complete than usual. Sally was naked too and looked sad. I just picked her up and gave her a kiss and placed her small mons over her sister's mouth and let them please each other. With visions of my children in my mind I phoned Addis Ababa and told my other wives. They too were very happy and I just had to see who could be spared first to bear my children. I knew from their lips and from their minds that they all wanted to become pregnant but the companies would suffer if everyone was in the same state at the same time. While on the phone I asked Ayana to get Benyam and Shumetie prepared for a trip. I wanted them in Japan with me to learn different things than what they learned in their own country. The fact that I wanted Demeku, Ayana and Brihan now was a secondary part. In three weeks the latest construction was finished and the cement hardening. All the other underground businesses had sold exceedingly well. People stopped off on their journeys from home to work and purchased from the vendors in these locations. The first type one construction was doing well but not to the same extent. People were coming from all over Japan to shop here just to see what we had done. Tourist money from the rest of the world was starting to be a significant contributor to the economy. The trains they seemed to love and the bright and now colourful city seemed to beckon them. Golf courses, parks, wide bikeways, pools, tracks and all kinds of outdoor sport arenas were put on the cleared area above the large complexes. This area was for people not for habitation or machines other than roller skates and bicycles. I built a very large theatre that had a roof that would slide to one side on good days that would double as an amphitheatre for concerts. This was a money losing venture by itself, but money was now pouring in and I had to find places for it. Many of the other cities in Japan were starting to recover and I had sent each long ago plans of what they could do to minimize any future discord. My flight landed in Addis Ababa and I was met by my family there and the ever-present security. My family was kissed and I was kissed in return. The children were even more warmly greeted. Being called daddy was even better than being called husband in some deep recess of my mind. The security men were well dressed as were most of the population now. These and a few other people were fortunate to have invested as I directed and were fairly well off now. They stayed with me because of the challenge and to be on the inside of all the exciting things happening in their country and to a lesser extent, the world. Crime here was down and the trouble makers had been found soon and set straight if at all possible. Graft was also down because the country was getting more money to pay its civil servants a higher wage. The greedy ones were found out soon enough when the people complained to my unofficial police. The emperor took my peoples word over the police force and many were let go. With their roots in violence I found out that the people that wanted recourse to the law after being caught were warned and then died. I couldn't fault their tactics but told them to clear it with the emperor before they did it again. That night I made love to my wives many times and I found I was always trying to give more of myself but was unable to do so. It became frustrating and this caused me to work even harder hoping that one time the inevitable would happen. With an internal look I saw that I had not developed much more than the week previously and had to accept the fact that it would be many months before my testes started to produce. My nerves were on edge with the hormonal imbalance and I just had to get up and do some work. The morning found me still at it, by now sleepy and wishing that I had been able to get some rest. I did stay up to play with the children and caught up with what I had missed in the last month. I knew everything from the phone calls but it was nicer to hear it from my children's own lips. We went around to some of the problem spots and I did what I could do to assist. One had a problem with the glass blowing machinery that made my monitors. The demand for these products were getting very high and even this one line being down would cause a serious delay in my shipments. Travelling by automobile on a road that was starting to be congested by more fossil fuel burning vehicles reminded me easily that I was not in Japan any more. My mind saw the city and where I would put trains or other public transportation. This would be very expensive and the return on investment would be considerably longer. Buses within the city were the only realistic answer for the roads were not made for modern automobiles and definitely not in this number. People were leaving the poor farms and coming to the capital for work. This meant that there was less food produced in a country that was well known for droughts and famine. In a meeting with the emperor I said, "This country is making enough money to buy imported food now but the majority of the people are still very poor and could not afford this to happen." "Why are you worrying? This has happened for thousands of years," the emperor said. "Our people are resilient and though a few die the rest will always carry on." "They don't have to die. There are more ways of helping this country and I want to give some of them a try." "What do you want to do?" "Good high speed trains between cities would be a start. Buses in place of all those cars that I see destroying the air and the roads. Most of all I want to change the way we farm. We can buy grain from many countries to feed the people. The common vegetables are very susceptible to drought though. I want to build lots of greenhouses that will keep moisture in and produce enough to export to our neighbours. The requirement is lots of glass and plastic along with enough metal for the structure and concrete to anchor the base. There are more than enough people that would love to work in a more automated environment for cash." "Do you know how many greenhouses you will need to keep the population from starving?" He asked rhetorically. "There is just not enough money to do this. The people could not afford the food produced. During a drought there is not enough water to allow a farm like this to work." "Does that mean you want a large or a very large greenhouse here at your palace to tinker in?" "Better make it a very large one. The pool I ordered was too small." The balance of trade was getting a microscopic adjustment as the special glass, pipe and aluminium items came into the country. I had spotted water at some of the deeper levels that had not been taken advantage of yet. The area was north of Addis Ababa and in the rolling hills. Large areas were levelled, the wells dug and the pipes attached. Greenhouses covered the entire area with electric fans, automatic watering and even the windows overhead were opened and closed by the computer. Looking inside it appeared as three hundred and twenty rooms each exactly two acres in size. Roads for farm vehicles and people were around each of the buildings. This also helped service the utilities that served the buildings themselves. Large pads of rich earth filled half of the rooms while plastic pipe with many holes filled the remainder. Hydroponics had been developed sooner and I knew if diseases could be controlled this would prove to be a boon to this society. When this undertaking was first contemplated I had sent word by courier to Debre Tabor, close to where I first landed the hijacked plane. Tamirat, who had a poorly healed leg bone and his wife Buzayue were invited to leave their home and come here to work if they wished. They had arrived in a wagon pulled by a donkey and their four children loaded on top. They were both ecstatic at the paid work and the home they would be getting. They dove into the task with more gusto than I thought they were capable of. Demeku or her old name of Marlene now was in charge of education and she would make sure the children and their parents were given at least a modicum of what was needed. More would be offered if it was warranted. I had tinkered with some seeds that would alleviate some of the disease problems as well as producing higher yields. As there were not nearly enough these were carefully conserved in a single area until there were enough to share among the other buildings. Other unaltered crops were started and my family came down one day to help out. The emperor came with old clothes and enjoyed getting dirty with the rest of us as we played at being farmers. Intermixed with the greenhouses were large storage areas that towered into the air. On nearby hills, houses built similar to my type one construction could be seen. They were small but most of the building was in the ground where it remained cool even in the hot days of summer. The people working on the farm would get these homes as part payment for their labours. Ayana had small stores set up that could serve the people and the others in the vicinity. Labour was cheap and she planned on having some of her employees running these businesses. After bringing in some experts to run this business I left the business in Brihan's capable hands. I took Shumetie and Benyam to the airport with the family. Their mothers were tearful and their siblings wanted to come with us too. Through all the turmoil I kissed my family goodbye and we boarded the plane to Tokyo. It wasn't much of a departure for each of the boys were on the phones all the time talking to their family of what they saw and how they felt. I was no exception for I was getting things organized for when we landed. Others saw our phones and wondered why theirs did not work as ours did. They had to rely on the transponder in and around cities while the boys' phones went directly to mine that sent the signal to the satellites. There was much more traffic between these two countries as their interdependency increased and their economies strengthened. Japan had heavy industry, while Ethiopia had electronics. Rhodesia's ability to produce food and its grasp of space though tentative at the moment would ensure that all worked well. The only fly in the ointment was the ability to protect these countries on a major scale together with a way of keeping peace in the world. Every time we had a war now, untold millions perished. Economies were destroyed and most survivor's lives were cast into a pit of agony. By the time the plane landed I decided what I had to do. We were met at the airport and both boys were kissed as well as I was. This was the only the second time for both boys to leave their country. The woman made sure that the boys were welcomed and would be treated as their sons or possibly friends. TV Broadcasts of the city had been seen by the children but actually being here was much different. We stopped at the large train station under the airport and wandered around the stores. Sally was quick to point out which ones were controlled by her mothers. We shopped for some new clothing and then took the train home. It was only a few minutes to walk the remaining distance and the boys were very excited to see first hand some of Tokyo's old intermixed with the modern. On the streets we could see the occasional electric vehicle. Now that they were going into production the rest of the special components of the car had to be patented. One such vehicle was in our drive and I knew Morie had made it home from work. We went in and I introduced the boys and the boys returned the greeting in faultless Japanese as if they had been brought up here. They had been taking courses on the computer with some help from the engineers I sent over there. Their grasp of the language was enough to get by if they were lost but not as other children their age would have. Morie stated, "The gas tanker has run into a snag Shawn." "What is wrong?" "The latest shipment of balsa has not arrived and there is little we can do until it arrives. It is too difficult to put the wood in after the cryogenic tanks are installed." "Any alternate suppliers here?" "Indonesia is our next best bet. I have the 'Juni' carrying back a deck cargo of the wood as a precaution but we will be three days idle by the time it gets here." "You will just have to move them over to the oil tanker. Jobs can be found for them." "We are running as quick as possible and these men will just get in each others way." "They can start welding up another truck frame. The parts are already in place." The natural gas lines from the North American prairies had crossed the Rockies in both the United States and Canada. I wanted to be the first company to take advantage of the pipeline and was rushing to get our latest ship built. Our terminal just east of Tokyo had enough capacity for three complete cargos of liquefied gas. This I considered a safe distance for this gas could be quite dangerous if not handled well. The pipelines into Tokyo had already been prepared and now I just had to sell gas appliances to people that were used to having fire to cook on. Many industrial uses of the fuel were planned. Glass, plastics and chemicals were the ones I planned on using it for. The jet engine I used consumed both purified kerosene and hydrogen gas. The latter was very expensive and I would shortly be able to make my own much cheaper. My eye caught the newspaper on a table. It mentioned about the communist push into South Vietnam and what the American response would be. Here is where the Americans could work as a global police but would be hampered by a jungle war. The same thing had happened in Korea and I was worried that they may end up damaging their own economy by taking this action. The most practical way to fight a large well equipped army was to fight a sniping war the same way the Americans had won against the British almost two hundred years before. A large army was hard to control and small units could be lured into ambushes very easily. I had been following Chairman Mao's policies as he tried to gain more control over his party and his country. People were forcibly moved to the country so that communes could be set up to provide an abundance of food and also have some industrial capacity. The sad thing that was happening was that the Chinese people were starving in record numbers. Their projects were poorly thought out and no infrastructure was in place for any gains the people made. Most of the world didn't know that China was a desert country that had a tough time feeding itself. The idea they were after ideologically was attractive to them as the capitalist Chinese had at one time abused the population severely. This had gathered very much hate against them, reminding me of the bad old days of feudalism when the workers and their families were virtually slaves of the old land and property owning classes. As a pendulum went from one immoderate swing to another, so did the country while the people suffered from the extremum at both ends. This always was the case as far back as there were people inhabiting China itself. The phone rang twice before I was able to get to it. having picked up the receiver I said, "Good evening. How can I help you?" "Ah, We... Good Morning, I was calling to talk to Sir Shawn Boz" came a man's voice with a heavy American accent. "You have him. What would you like?" "The secretary of Defence, Robert McNamara would like to have a few moments of your time." "Then put him on if you will." When the man came on we talked a while about inconsequentialities. Eventually he got down to what he wanted to ask. "Your telephone and computers are vastly superior to ours. To tell the truth we can't find a way of copying them without infringing on your patent. My office and other government agencies have talked to you before about gaining the use of at least your satellite phone system. I thought if I made a personal call on behalf of my president and myself, you would reconsider." I said withe a sorrowful voice, "I am completely inflexible in this instance. You can have the phones, computer, satellite television and computer communication as one package and only as one package. I will not sell piecemeal any of this system. Since it is you speaking I assume that you wish to use this communications functions in your growing dispute in South Vietnam. Americans taking my package will be covered in Vietnam if the Republic of South Vietnam also requests this service." "This will include computers to securely exchange documents with the CIA headquarters and any man in the field. Local calls to; say an artillery officer's office can be much more secure than what you are now capable of doing. My units are smaller and tied to individual subscribers. An enemy picking up the phone would have to know the password or torture the subscriber to get it. If my company gets a list of a dead or captured individuals I can forward all the calls to Langley together with the identity of the man that owned the phone." "That is quite impressive Sir Shawn. In my position I find many claims by contractors that are not quite as good as they really are. Regardless, we only wish to get your phone system for our operations in South East Asia." "That is too bad sir. I guess we will make no agreement today and I am also quite sure that your people have tested out my phones very well in the countries they are issued in. The ones that have found their way into your hands and have returned to North America are now useless I believe. You must already know this or you would not have made this telephone call." "Well... you are right about the security aspect for we have not been able to break the code even if we can strip the chip a millionth of an inch at a time. You have done a remarkable job of making the chip both secure and with redundant circuitry." "I do my best as you do too. I imagine your phone companies, television equipment manufactures and broadcasters would be the stumbling block to this agreement." "Yes they, as well as the American people, have made quite an investment in televisions made to our specifications. Your companies have made quite a bit of money selling these products to us." "Yes we did and we were not allowed by your laws to even sell dual units. I believe that the choices your government made has come back to bite them." "Touché, Sir Shawn, I guess that we are not going to get very far this time — please do drop by any time you are in the country and thank you for your time on this call." We parted amicably but still with nothing accomplished. There were too many vested interests in keeping things the way they were. Even a large scale conflict coming up was not enough to get them to change. A month later the gas tanker was launched with the name 'Sally Jane' after my daughter. Mary had a little laugh when she commented that at times both had a lot of gas. I had done the last of my major underground complexes in Tokyo so now took on the job of working on other cities. The ones that had taken my advice by leaving a corridor of destroyed buildings alone got a much better deal, because I had something simpler to work with. To get uninterrupted construction access, I was given almost carte blanche. The government expropriated land and I built a high speed link from one city to the next, usually skirting the congested downtown. My heavy machinery came right after and started to remove rubble and dig for an underground local rail system. In the course of my travels I picked up some old factories and was able to revitalise a few into making steel and other products I needed. On a weekend in Tokyo I took some the family out to play in the newly opened Imperial Park at Ueno and hoped to have a quiet time in what was then my home town. Morie was away on business and so was Juni. The house was fairly quiet. I tucked Benyam, Shumetie and finally Sally in bed and gave each a kiss. Even the boys looked forward to this show of affection and their reply of 'daddy' paid for it all. I felt quite pleased now with my life as I walked down the hall to my bedroom and my wives. They and I were quite anxious because I had been away for almost a week this time. I turned the light off and began to take off my clothes. Sofia was first this time and I was beginning to feel that I would be able to give her something special one day soon. The chance of a child being born even then was very low but it made all the difference in the world if the possibility were there. I worked on their minds and found them very ready for the room started to take on that special aroma I had come to love. I kissed down Sofia's chest and worked gently around her breast till she grabbed my head and forced me to her nipple. A long drawn out "Ahhhhh," came from her. When I came to her clit she orgasmed in anticipation but I latched on anyway and rode out her gyrations. Then minutes later she was almost comatose and I had one of my own still dry orgasms. Liz was next and when I was done I put her on the floor on her pad along the far wall. Rachael's turn was next and finally Mary. She fought hard to stay with me as she always did but succumbed at the end and raked my back with the intensity of her feelings. Just as I was in the middle of having my own orgasm the house was rocked. I staggered trying to stay upright and wondering how hard this quake would be. More and more movement came and I thought it was an odd earthquake. The wall suddenly blew in and I immediately put up my fingers to protect me then the family as I could see through the smoke to the street beyond. A portion of the floor and ceiling broke away and fell in all the dust. The house was being destroyed around me and I looked around quickly for more information and found men with rifle propelled grenades and mortars firing at this house. I intercepted the projectiles in the air and directed them back where they came from. Before they landed I lashed out with my mind and slashed each of the men that would survive as if I had a sword. This brought me back to the horrible time I had destroyed men that attacked my family before. There was almost thirty people and I searched for observers and killed those too. Coming back to those around me I found my girls bleeding. I moved each to a firm section of floor and went back for more. Rachael had a deep gash across her forehead and Mary had a piece of wood driven through her abdomen. Sofia appeared unhurt but she had to have some problems. I went to Liz and found her on the floor below. Her body crumpled and under a large section of wooden beam from the roof. This couldn't be and I tried my best to see if she could be revived but I was too late. I just wanted to stay there and cry but others needed me. Immediately I started on Mary but my eye went to the rest of the house. Sally's bedroom was completely destroyed and I almost stopped working on Mary as I discovered the child blown apart from an explosion. The boys were shaken in their room as a large beam had fallen between their beds. I sedated them to keep them where they were and looked for Maeko and Kochiyo. Both women were at the other end of the house and on a floor lower. They were safe but very shaken. I held Mary and concentrated fully on her as I closed off blood vessels and emptied sections of bowel. The long piece of teak was removed and carefully placed beside her. I cleaned the wound taking any contamination, blood or faecal matter away. The bowel sections were carefully reattached then all the blood vessels. The concentration at this level helped me forget the other horrors in the house and to my family. The various layers of tissue, muscle layers then finally skin were put back and strengthened. Her mind was instructed to carry on with the repair and I floated her to a bed to sleep. Rachael was next and I could see that her skull had been broken and I pulled the sections to their proper locations and worked hard at knitting the bone and skin. The brain itself was bruised and this too I tried to repair. She was picked up and floated to the cleaned pallet beside Mary. Sofia had many small wounds and these took quite a while to repair. She too joined her sisters in the bedroom and I looked outside because I wanted to avoid what I would find in the house. ------- Chapter 41 There were some dead security men around the periphery while some wounded were sent to the hospital. Police were arriving as neighbours came out to gawk. There was little I could do outside and forced myself to go back in. Maeko and Kochiyo had been trying to get upstairs but the steps had been destroyed. I just called to their minds telling them that there was no need to come upstairs yet. At the same time I corrected some of the trauma they had received during the attack. In particular their hearing was the worst effected and this I worked on with intense concentration. The boys were similarly damaged and this I rectified before searching for anything that I may have missed. Sally's room was simply not there anymore. I picked up pieces of flesh that used to be a loving child and placed them on a clean surface on the room below. This too took all my complete focus as I found even the smallest pieces. Tears started to roll down my face as I saw the red liquid flow from the pile I made and fall off the surface. Liz was even worse for I could see the girl's features as I gathered up her body and placed it comfortably on another cleared area. I stayed here as I lost track of time the only thing that brought me out was the intense feelings from outside. Juni was back and wanted into the house but my security didn't want her to enter for fear of getting hurt. The police were similarly kept out. I surveyed my patients, my family and then went out the bedroom door and saw the destruction in the house. The floor below was a shambles and starlight streamed through an open area that had been blown apart by a mortar. My body went forward through the space where a railing once was and I descended to the floor below. Rather than climb over the beams I floated over the debris and went to the doorway. The doors were far behind me and I could see many people at the perimeter looking at me. I just settled to the earth and walked to Juni. She stared at me wide eyed then ran through the cordon and embraced me as if her life depended on it. "Oh Shawn you are alive. I was so worried. How are the rest? Maeko and Kochiyo, said that they knew you were somehow alive." I just held her and said, "Liz and Sally are gone now," I felt her body stiffen. "Mary almost as well, but she will recover. Rachael had a head injury that I hope will get better soon. Sofia, Benyam and Shumetie were only hurt a little and I did what I could for them. Maeko and Kochiyo were hurt too and I helped them. Let go now please. I have to see to my people." Juni reluctantly moved back and I walked over to the wide eyed chief of security, Captain Ishimaru. I bent over to see what I could do for one of his men. An attendant had moved quickly away as I checked the man over and saw he had bullet wounds in the leg and the arm. His carbon fibre vest had stopped many more. From the chief's mind I knew that some had died and this man, though gravely wounded, was left until the more seriously hurt went first. I put the man asleep and straightened him out. I then gathered the pieces of his shattered leg and knitted the bones together. Blood vessels were similarly treated and even the skin held in place. The bones in the arm were undamaged but I tried to repair the damaged muscles and closed the wound as best I could. A first aid kit nearby provided some of the simple necessities that I required. The man's brain was instructed to work harder on repair and I ensured that certain tasks were stressed over others. To the attendant I said, "Splint the leg. The breaks are still not healed." I looked around and went to one more man and found that he had died before I could begin treatment and there was nothing I could do. I searched for the highest ranking police officer and took my head of security with me to see him. As I approached I could see abject fear and I understood now what was happening. Everyone had seen my aura for it blazed forth as if I was on fire. They had seen me float to the ground inside the house. I turned the aura down and decided to keep a small portion. The people could only think of spirits having this ability. I chose to just say that I had help from them. It was much too late to just have this sight quietly forgotten. With a smaller aura I got close and the man bowed deep in respect. "Captain Higashikuni there are four more dead attackers in houses nearby. Please secure the bodies so I can find some clues to why this has happened." My finger pointed in the general direction of each location. "Yes sir. I will do as you wish." To Captain Ishimaru, I said, "Sally and Liz are dead. The rest are healing. Get two ambulances and three cars. I want to take my family to the shipyards for safety. The house has to be still protected. Nobody but Mr. Hitomi may get in." Juni was still following me so I took her hand and held it. "We are going to the offices at the yard. Please stay outside here while I do what I must in the house." She understood and only nodded her head. I stepped inside and floated down the boys and some of their clothes. I carried them outside to Juni, for I knew she needed someone to hold. Back upstairs I dressed my wives and took some spare clothing and floated each down. Each was carried outside and laid on some bedding till the ambulance arrived. Sofia alone was awoken. I stayed with her and the rest for a few more minutes knowing that there was little I could do now to help her. When the ambulances came I picked up Mary and put her in one and Rachael in the other. When the girls were in the cars I said, "I will be a few moments." Back in the house I took some of the salvageable pieces of teak beams and used my power to slice them into boards. The ends were made with joints that slipped together to form two large boxes. Liz was carefully placed in one and Sally into another. I could not see with my eyes and had to rely on my senses as I finished this job. Each box was carried outside and laid on the littered soil around the house. The boys, Juni and Sofia cried even more as the boxes were laid out, for they knew what they contained. To Captain Ishimaru I said, "Contact a place to keep my girls safe." I didn't wait for a reply and just got into the last car and left. I helped everyone sleep until almost noon. Morie had come by around ten and wanted to see for himself the survivors. I took him by each person and explained how they had been hurt. He found it difficult to see Juni, Maeko and Kochiyo sleeping even though they appeared healthy. I responded to his unspoken question, "They are hurt inside and need the rest for their minds to adjust to what has happened." "Who could have done this?" He wondered out loud. I too was trying to think of the same thing. Morie went for some food and I woke the family up one at a time and helped them clean up. The crying never ceased only slowed till it picked up again. The police came to make their report and so did security. Men had tried to loot the house and had been killed without remorse. Even the police didn't seem to mind. These men were probably sent here to pick up any stray pieces of expensive technology. Mary and Rachael were confined to bed. They would know soon enough of our loss, so I told them about the two girls. Mary cried thinking of all the times she held her children, nursed them and had fun with them. Now it was all gone. The others cried just as much because they were mothers too or at least grandfathers or grandmothers. Later in the afternoon Morie and I went to the hospital to see the men wounded on my behalf. I did what I could but the men were simply cheered that I came to see them. I gave them my thanks for protecting my family and said how proud I was of them. An hour later I talked to the hospital administrator and was able to view the many bodies. Most were Japanese but four were different. Two appeared to be Chinese and two Vietnamese. Their clothing and effects were missing and were in police custody. The police station was our next stop and we were ushered in as honoured guests. After a few moments of preamble I requested to see the dead men's property. We went to another room and we examined one package at a time. When I finished going over the clothes that had no identification I knew who had done this. "The two Chinese men had clothes made in their home country. The same was true for the Vietnamese. The weapons are local but I believe this is tied to the conflict in Vietnam. The only thing I can think of for a reason was to kill me before I could give aid to the Americans." The Chief of Police asked, "Were you going to?" "Only phones and computers as we have in this country. That would give them a serious edge even if they didn't have all those weapons. They did not accept my proposal though." Over the phone I made arrangements for Liz and Sally. Morie insisted that they be interred with his family. I thought it quite appropriate especially when I knew how much he loved both girls. Morie was devastated that his granddaughter had died but tried to work through this as I was doing. Ethiopia was called and I found that local security had already done so. All the businesses were on a heightened state of alert. General Mobutu even strengthened his defences of the earth links and the ground terminus of the cable. My wives there had cried and felt guilty for the safety of the two boys. The next day was sunny and I helped Mary into a wheelchair, then Rachael into another. I pushed Mary while Sofia did the honours for Rachael. The funeral was long and we all cried thinking of our loss. With us were important men from all over Japan. Some were diplomats from other countries and some high ranking American service men. Rhodesia had a large embassy here now and the ambassador stayed close as if to offer any aid he could for us. Hours later after we said our goodbyes to the girls and went to a large hall so I could thank the people that came to wish us well. The emperor had come too and though he was fairly short stood very tall when he said that the Japanese people were behind me in anything I chose to do. When the wake was over I gave written instructions for many of the long term projects we were involved with. Morie was given my power of attorney to carry on with the girls taking care of the businesses they usually controlled. That afternoon Morie and I went back to the house and we climbed over the rubble to recover the phones, computers and other high tech articles that would encourage people to come and risk their lives. In the large room with the shrine I could see the daisho hanging in a place of respect. The two antique buke-zukuri style swords hung together. The long daito and the shorter shoto in identical koshirae seemed to catch more than just my eye. Morie saw my stare and said, "These have been in my family for a thousand years I am told. They are certainly very old. I will have no more children and my line will travel through my daughter. Will you take these weapons and give them to my grandchildren?" I felt very humbled by the offer. "I will take these fine weapons but I have to tell you that I will use them soon. Your ancestors will see the blood of our enemies flow." "Then take them with my blessing," as he took the two weapons and handed them to me with his two hands, as if he were presenting them. I drew the small blade and concentrated on the steel. Slowly I rearranged the molecules and moved carbon and silicon atoms to where they should be. Lastly I put the subdued blue glow to the blade. When it was done I put it in the saya and put it into my waist band. The daito was unsheathed and this too was altered to make it very strong, hard and sharp. This went into the its saya and went over my shoulder. Morie just stood in wonder at the visual manifestation even if he did not know everything that had happened. When we returned to the fresh air and away from the smell of blood. Security was ready and when they saw me with the two swords they bowed in respect and knew that my enemies would die. I felt in their eyes and their minds like one of the hereditary commander-in-chiefs in feudal Japan, called a Shogun. They would follow my lead anywhere before but now felt almost compelled to do so by their very genes. Captain Ishimaru, my head of local security was still here and I said, "My father-in-law will be giving instructions in my absence. There should be no further troubles because they wanted me dead not my family. I stayed for a week at our new home to ensure that everybody was healing right. I gave Mary the long piece of wood that had impaled her. She felt the scar on her front and her back and wondered how she had survived. I just held her tight to let her know that I would do anything for her. They were all doing well and Mary even wanted her phone back to keep in touch with the business she was in charge of. The rest did the same thing for this was a therapeutic way of getting over our loss, or at least postponing it until they had a chance to come to grips with it. I realized that I was the same and the coming confrontation was my way of coming to terms with the loss of my two girls. During the night I would leave and patrol around the diplomatic community to find what they knew. The Chinese embassy finally gave me the lead I needed. A man by the name of Ding Sung reported in and when I searched his mind I found that he was recently sent from Peking to find out what had happened to two of their staff that had not reported in. He did not know why I was specifically being targeted but surmised the same as I did about who's side I would help if the need arose. With some addresses I plucked from the man's mind I went to the men's homes. My eye was the only thing that entered and I found the apartments thoroughly searched and I could not even find anything new. Outside the apartment though American intelligence was watching the buildings and recording who went where. These men in turn lead me to the American base here in Tokyo. After another night I found that they knew more but not too much. The two dead Chinese were reported to be some of the best their country had to offer. The Vietnamese dead were well known military officers. Even the hired Japanese thugs were termed the elite and were termed very proficient killers. They knew this because they had reasons now and again to use these same people to do some of their dirty work. They were at a loss though as to how I had survived. The exemplary manner my security force had operated in taking out all the attackers was their only reasonable answer. My aura was reported as the small fires burning in the background and the amount of dust stirred up, again gave a reasonable answer. I followed Sung and found out that he had made his determination about the deaths and came to the same conclusion as the Americans; that I had much better security than had first appeared. The good part was that he was going to Hanoi to make his report the next day. I quickly memorized the names and his memories of the faces of the men he was going to see, because I would be seeing them myself soon enough. President Diem of South Vietnam and his younger brother Nhu were well known as opportunists that had little empathy with the plight of their people. If these were the men fighting the communists, then the country was doomed. Nobody in the country wanted the man as a leader but he was being propped up by the American Government and the CIA. Hopefully a military man might step in and do a better job but the small amount of American advisors would not be enough to prop up this man. The communists would stage a full scale attack if they figured a coup were happening. My plan for the war happened to start with the two brothers to see what I could get resolved. Yaseen was contacted and told of a special flight the next night. The plane had come back from the last mission and had not been loaded with the next consignment of goods. When I told the family my intentions they started to cry even Maeko and Kochiyo did. Rachael was getting around with only headaches her fears had lessened but she still had nightmares of what had happened. Sofia turned out to have more strength than I thought for she and Juni kept the family together through this very trying time. Morie was more pragmatic and sided with me but was unsure I could accomplish much other than a few deaths of the enemy. He was quite confident though that I would be home safe and sound soon. I made love one last time with my wives. This time had to last so they would remember it till I was able to come back. They knew that they always succumbed to my lovemaking and worked strenuously to stay awake to see me leave. I did let them stay awake the whole time and when they were good and tired I kissed them again and then the boys. They cried too because they like the women thought I was going to die. At the hanger changed into my new clothing. I took out the two swords and shook Morie's hand and he surprisingly pulled me into a hug for he saw me something like his own sons. "Shawn, I know you have to do this but be careful. If not for your wives then do it for me. I have no male heirs and very much want some soon." "In a year you will be not saying that for there will be babies crying for attention all the time. You will then want some peace and hide in your garden studying the patterns in the sand." He got a thoughtful look and I knew he could see this happening in his mind. Yaseen met us and he bowed to Morie and he promised to watch out for me until I left his care. I took with me only a small parachute, a cylinder of compressed air and a harness to hold the swords and my phone. I laughingly said, "If I ever got hungry I could phone up and order take out." We flew at a eighty thousand feet and Yaseen said, "Why are you doing this Shawn? You can not bring the girls back. You can only get yourself killed." "I have some people to kill that will make me feel much better. South Vietnam is a cesspool in many ways but it can be a beautiful country if given the chance. The people are just in need of a bit of education and a good government. After that they will know what it is like and try to keep that kind going. The north is no better in many ways but it too needs a chance to ponder its ways without Russia and China egging it on to fight knowing that it will make the United States fight them too." Over Saigon I left the plane and dropped to the earth. The air canister was not needed nor the parachute. I shredded both of them and let the debris scatter. It was four in the morning, local time and I headed for the presidential palace. It was brightly lit and alert guards patrolled inside and outside the walls. I made my way to where the guards minds told me the president's brother slept. This was the man that did all the president's dirty work and I could feel from here how bad he was. His thoughts told of his recent actions. There was little difference between him and any of the animals I had killed before. I slipped through security easily because I stayed very close to the ceiling and was able to unlock doors and then open them before I got there. His shrewish wife and he were made to stay asleep as I floated the man out the door and to his older brother, the president's wing. These doors opened too and everyone sleeping stayed that way except Diem himself. In a receiving room I woke both brothers up. They went through the usual monologue about who I was and who they were and what they would do to me later. They at the moment could not speak very loudly. "I have come here to talk about your people. I know you cheated greatly to get where you are now and that the others that would have been elected were no better. I want the country protected not just your sorry bodies." "I will have you beaten then shot for what you have done," said Diem. "I will have you killed slowly then all your family put to death to show an example of what it is like to try to thwart us," said his brother. I had enough of this man now and I scanned his mind for all the information I needed. After a few moments of forced silence I said in a calm voice, "Last week some men came to my house and tried to kill me. They knew it would be difficult, so they used mortars and grenades. They succeeded in killing one of my wives and my daughter. I will show both of you what I think of that." Both men could not speak and I started to squeeze Nhu more and more till he waved his hands frantically until he could not breathe. Within a minute he was unconscious and I continued to squeeze till he burst like a festered pustule. The ichor showered all over the room. Diem was turned the whole time and could not help seeing his brother die. I squeezed him a bit too and then stopped. I raised him so high that his head hit forcibly on the ceiling. Then brought him down. "General Quang is in the city. Call him now on the phone and tell him to bring a dozen aides here right away." Diem was very eager to do this and didn't even try to call for help. The fact that he was staring at his dead brother's purple face seemed to help. I scanned the man further trying to find out more of who his enemies were and what their abilities and qualifications might be. After that I would do the same thing for his allies, even if they would turn on him in a moment's notice. Diem next called his guards and told them to bring Quang and his men to his waiting room as soon as they got here. While Diem floated on his back around the room I searched for all the other information I would need to make this coup work. I saw the amount in the treasury also how much each brother had hidden away for a rainy day. Art, money, gold and artefacts were stashed away in bank vaults in many countries. Private homes of the rich also had some of this booty and it was promised to be returned to Diem or Nhu when it was asked for. I personally thought this hilarious. The rich would keep the possession because the usual reason for the brothers wanting it back was because one or they were being deposed. I had a very good idea of where all the bodies were buried when Quang and his aids came into the room. The doors were closed behind them at the President's orders and I stepped out from a side room. "Yes Mister President," said Quang a thin white haired man of fifty. He was a Buddhist but found the ability to fight even if it was against his religion. Come to think of it Christians were not supposed to kill or fight either but seemed to do so at any opportunity. The President kept quiet and I walked up and stood beside the man and looked at the officers. There were only nine aides but I could see that two were collaborating with the north and had been instrumental in getting many of their own men killed. "Hello gentlemen. My name is Shawn Boz. You may have heard of me, or of what has recently happened to my family. Some Chinese and North Vietnamese went to Japan and hired some killers to assassinate me. They missed, but they did manage to kill my wife and my daughter. I came here to end this war and kill a few of the nasty people that would condone an act like that. If you look on the walls, ceiling and floor you will see Diem's brother Nhu scattered about." I reached behind a chair and picked up the head by the hair and showed each of the men my trophy. Some went for their guns but they had already been removed by the presidential guards. "To end this war quickly," I said, "I want you, General Quang to take command of the military and drive the attackers back to where they came from. I will assist you in many ways and I can start here and now." The two traitors floated off the floor and I squeezed them quickly and only slowed down when they were ready to burst. Blood and gore shot into the air and I used my invisible fingers to catch the heads as they bounced off the ceiling. When the heads floated to my hands I just held them by the air and said, "These two were selling information to the north. The rest of you are going with me for a short trip." I removed the bars from the window and then opened the window completely. "I have taken the opportunity of rendering each of you senseless for a moment. You will not be able to move your muscles." I rose up and then slid through the large open window as if I lived under the water. The nine men followed and I went to some of Diem's allies. From a thousand feet we stopped at one house after another. I put everyone to sleep and took the hapless victim outside and after gaining any useful information I simply killed him. By the time dawn came up I was only able to go to five homes. Back at the palace I set the men back down. "I wonder if you will do as I bid in the future or will I have to give the ceiling a new coat of red colouring?" They seemed very adamant to help me in what ever I wanted to do. "Diem, go to the washroom and clean the blood off of you. If you decide to cross me now you will get your brother's fate. Cooperate and you will live, comfortably but not richly, for the rest of your life. Go now." The man ran from the room narrowly missing the three heads that were between him and his goal. "Gentlemen, I plan on cleaning this country up and then doing the same to the north. You know what Japan was like when I arrived and what it is like now. You can be part of this solution but this is no bribe. You people don't see anything wrong with bribes, graft and corruption but I do. Your ethics will have to change and your country will follow. Your country though will prosper when run efficiently and with sound business practices." "Diem will call a meeting soon where all the remaining members of his government will meet. The ones that retain their seats will work hard to support you. I want you to gather all the officers in the surrounding area. The traitors will be disposed of and the rest sorted to see who is fit to lead. There will be room to advance and it will be based on an officer's own ability, not his family or his politics." Before they were dismissed I brought out the daito. They saw it glow brightly even in the bright fluorescent light of this room. "I have much help from my ancestors in what I am doing. They carry me around and carried all of you too. They worked together and squeezed the life from three traitors. I do not think there is anyplace you can hide without the spirits finding you and either killing you themselves or telling me. Do as I ask and I will watch out for you and this country. Become a traitor and you will die. Now please go about your duties, there is a lot for you all to do before tonight." When Diem came out after a very good shower and only one call, I got him dressed in his own bedroom where he looked at his sleeping wife, wondering why she had not awoken. I floated out of the room with him and back to the recently decorated room. I took the three heads and put them in baskets and then they went into the bar fridge. I had to take out all the drinks to make room for them. "Diem, call your security officers in here for a little chat please." In an hour I had killed eight of the eighty officers and men that Diem had. Two were traitors and six would sell their own mother to make some money. I had just allowed their hearts to stop to keep the mess down. They rest flew about the room and regained their feet. Nobody now wanted to even draw a gun on me, never mind threaten me. "Diem start your calls. I want the meeting at noon at the latest. Call housekeeping and get the mess in the room cleaned as soon as possible. Oh, the plane you are thinking about will not take you anywhere." "Yes sir. I will do everything you want," came his reply. Some of the officers stayed and the rest went with me after a little chat about what I expected and what I would give in return. I walked through the barracks and made everyone sleep. The bad ones died and the not too good would be transferred into the military. "You now have a clean slate as far as I am concerned. Be loyal to your country and follow my orders. There will be no confusion, for I want your country free too." "Get a truck and take the bodies to the morgue for burial later. Get the bodies of the men that used to work with you. They will be on the grass soon. The men just stared as I floated a foot off the ground and went back into the palace. There was more housekeeping to be done and I found the eight new bodies and threw them out the open window and then threw the two heads right after. Only Nhu's remained. In an hour a large cry went out when some of the people found out that a coup had taken place. It didn't seem to go beyond the walls because I didn't want to track all the men down that would be a pain in my side later. I simply walked around greeting people and acting like an American politician looking for votes. The British version I found was much too subtle. I stayed with the title 'Sir Shawn' and I think the people were more comfortable with it too. I had time to make some phone calls and told the family that I was all right and was making some headway. I didn't even laugh at the unintentional pun. I suggested to Morie how he could invest in the stock market now and even told him which way the stock would go. This was always the case but this time it was the market reacting to me that made to practice seem more ethical. When noon came I went to the large meeting room and scanned it closely. Everyone here was a piranha, as I knew they would be. Swimming in these waters brought out the hungriest. Here they could protect what they were able to steal with the law more easily than most of the civilized countries. They all went silent as I walked into the room whereupon I quietly ordered them to line up against the wall. I used only my voice to start with, but the ones who argued I threw fifty feet or more to strike the wall. Some would never get up again. In two hours I had gone through almost two hundred and fifty cesspools. Fifteen were outright traitors but instead of killing them I simply gave them the symptoms of a stroke. They didn't know where they were and would not even be able to go to the bathroom unassisted. Forty six more were struck dumb and could do as they were told but their intelligence was definitely limited. I took three or four minutes each to scan the rest individually, using the time as a did so to say out loud all of their secrets and how they had cheated others, some of whom were still in the room with them. When this was done I gave them their orders and their warnings, then dismissed them to meet me the next day with the information I wanted. The same thing happened that night and many men were promoted. A few tainted ones were too valuable to lose so were demoted until they proved themselves. This was like any other organisation where a person was promoted above his level of competence. My new army started to shake itself out in the next few days. Many people wanted to leave, taking their ill gotten gains with them. My security at the airport, docks, railways and even the roads stopped some individuals when my eye found them. The people fleeing were only stopped while the rest of the population went where they pleased. I was interviewed by the local newspapers and radio and I told them bluntly my intentions of straightening out the country. In the coming weeks I kept the people informed. Foreign newspapers carried my words and ideas to other countries including Russia, China and the United States. Many times the police or military were used as stalking horses to take me away. Shadowy figures from the three major world powers tried their best to get me charged with murder and crimes against the state. My hold on the elected individuals gave me a broad based pardon for any wrongdoing and even said that they encouraged me to continue with their approval. The army had gone about the city arresting northern sympathisers, while other units went out and attacked squads of Cong or even North Vietnamese regulars. This is what I wanted to do myself but holding the capital was very important at the moment. Soon I had people of all the embassies coming to me and asking more pointed questions to what was going on. The Americans were the foremost among these. They had almost ten thousand men here training the South Vietnamese Army and doing a little bit of shooting themselves. I just kept saying I was an advisor too and just cleaning up a poorly run country. The Americans had put up a lot of effort to support South Vietnam. It ranged from money, men equipment, intelligence and of course their enthusiastic support of Diem as a manageable leader. They were not happy about losing this last hold and having to deal with me. I could walk through the streets now and people would stop me unafraid even if I did have two swords. They never did see my security detail and this made them a bit bolder. Some simple elections took place in the next two weeks and with one rather terminal exception, there was no cheating or electoral fraud. The newspapers played up the simple election with only the principles and the issues being voted on, not the ability of the people running for office to pay for favours. Some of my people came from Ethiopia and brought all the simpler phones they had and many links to the satellites above. The army got many but these were given to the people in the field not the ones who fought from Saigon. Some of the brighter Vietnamese soldiers were introduced to the computer and I used a small light plane with a good camera that could be flown from the computer station or from the field. Drones had been used before but never with this type of computer control, surveillance gear or engines that allowed the small planes to fly higher that the soldiers could shoot. I considered allowing access to the much better systems on the satellites but countries would be sensitive about allowing this above their own soil if they knew. The military men had heard many rumours about me by now but knew I didn't kill without cause. They never saw me with a bad mood and even when some of the students were being particularly dense I didn't berate or threaten in any way. The public too saw me as somebody dangerous but only if crossed. The politicians even came to me with questions that I answered truthfully. With this overhead surveillance we were starting to take back some of the countryside. The American advisors were very interested in what we were doing but they did not know anything for sure. After a week of training the Vietnamese military knew about the drone system well enough to present it to others. The American military were invited to our well defended base and the natives now taught the Americans how to run this system. The commander was even given one of my conventional phones and was allowed to talk to his boss stateside about what he was able to see. "But sir, it looks like what I would see looking out of a chopper at a hundred feet. I can count the lice on some of the heads of the regulars." It went on and on till it got dark and then we switched to infrared. The detail was not as good, but now we could get a good idea of what was below the thick canopy. They were able to see how the troops they trained could function when given up to the moment military intelligence. Continuous communication was taking place and any ambush was turned when either artillery or mortars took out the enemy. My private interface with the satellite imaging equipment allowed me to hint as to where to look sometimes. A portion of the base was given to our allies so they too could familiarise themselves with the equipment and its abilities. I did try to stir a bit of polite rivalry up, trying to find who had the better operators. The result being even more enemy being found and neutralised. The army here had other jobs too. The courts seemed to get a very unaccustomed bout of justice and used the police or army to get back all the things that people had stolen over the years. The number of judges had momentarily fallen as the more corrupt among them just had to retire. Younger but suitably experienced lawyers of my choosing had been given temporary appointments to bring numbers back up to par. My own security got some contracts and recovered some valuables from other countries in return for a commission. The South Vietnamese Army was not up to stopping all the insurgents coming from the north through Laos and Cambodia. There were a few points that could be closed that would make sending reinforcements and supplies more difficult. This would take heavy bombing and I did not have a good air force or even the bombs necessary for this. Any craters made would be soon filled so the destructive power of the bomb had to be high. I had once tried to push grain of sand at a fraction of the speed of light but this took a heavy toll on me. I was now much stronger but would not be able to keep this up. My discovery of this dimensional door that allowed me to use much more energy was the only answer. I was thinking of being able to use my power to produce small amounts of antimatter. The particles would have to be formed into atoms for easy storage but they could then be used a large amount of gamma rays plus other particles to cause lethal effects. On the other hand, a kinetic device would have a lot of power but would not generate such charged particles. The main problem I foresaw would be having to accelerate the particles almost instantaneously. This in turn would have to follow Newton's third law of Action and Reaction. On a hill I could use the land as a place to push from, not bad, no big problem there, only limited by needing lots of hills to make all the attacks from. From a plane, I would be able to consider a number of targets, but the reaction to the first shot would rip the craft apart. Space based weapons were going to suffer in the similar way but I would have a better view of all my targets. Unfortunately with the new devices, I reckoned that artillery wouldn't be an answer because the projectile would travel in a straight line and leave earth's atmosphere if the air did not burn it up first. The answer might be a variation of the force I used in slicing molecules or opponents. If I could use this to form a tube then an antimatter projectile could enter the earth a matter of twenty to fifty feet and react with regular matter there. The gamma rays produced would mostly be absorbed by the overlaying soil and the hole made would be proportionately larger because the energy would be confined. Putting all this in a weapon that others would see would be difficult. Simple rockets would have to do unless some serious problems came up. This weapon required concentrated study and experimentation. At the mouth of the Mekong, roughly fifty miles out to sea were some fourteen small islands collectively known as Con Dao. The French had used the largest for a prison and had many 'tiger cages' still on it from its colonial period. There were many very small islands that were even further away, some of which were submerged at high tide. When all my theoretical work done, it was time for a few tries at seeing if the energy source could be even produced. I found a small island of solid rock that stood almost seventy feet from the surrounding ocean. While floating I used my power to hollow out a cave that sloped upward into the rock. This would be my refuge during the test. A mile and a half away were seventeen much smaller land masses, some of which were never above the surface of the water. I formed a small door in my mind and pictured it on the other side of one of the sunken island. The resulting explosion formed a hole in the ocean a hundred feet deep, erupting water so high that it took over two minutes for it all to fall back again. After picking myself up I began again. This explosion had just been an energy release as I had not able to get any of the antimatter I'd been seeking. Scientists believed that when the big bang occurred there was just as much matter and its antimatter equivalent. They were still at a loss to where it all was for none could be directly located. My hypothesis was that the antimatter had formed in another dimension that did not interact with ours. I seemed to be the only one that could bridge this gap. I tried sixteen more times that night. By altering the door that I was forming, the explosions got smaller but I was not able to remove any of this substance from behind the doorway. It was a tiring experience but I cast my mind further away and tried a dozen more times. The last time I seemed to get something for I could detect the presence of gamma rays. The explosion was far out to sea and I could see the large wave coming to me. It was no tsunami but it would wash many boats onto land and when it got to the mainland it would do some minor damage. I got back to the palace before dawn and managed to get a bit of sleep. The rest of the day I had to put up with diplomats. The Chinese were getting downright nasty saying in a vague sense that I had no right to the leadership of the country. This didn't bother me too much because they said the same thing to Diem. The president now worked very diligently and I had to rethink my first idea of sending him away because he was making himself very useful. His wife was sickly sweet as was his brother's widow but they hated me with a passion that was hard to believe. I just gave them jobs where they had to work and couldn't load the job on others. The radio told of earthquakes centred around the Con Dao Islands. Damage was minimal by all reports. The foreign diplomats did not get any messages telling them of the gamma ray burst on the last large explosion but then again they would never be directly informed. It took three more nights before I succeeded in getting a fraction of a microgram of material from behind that portal. This time I was much further out. When the material reacted to terrestrial matter the ocean opened wide enough that the ocean floor almost eight hundred feet down was exposed for a second. The force of the blast knocked me back and into the ocean. I was just in time to fly away before the wave almost six hundred feet high crashed in the spot I had just been. Rather than go back empty handed I waited for the ocean to settle and did the same thing again but took much less material. This explosion was just like what fifty tones of explosives would do and I knew I was on the right track. With six more explosions I was down to only twenty five tons and thought this about right too. I formed my fingers around the very small amount and was able to hold it for many minutes as I studied the minuscule piece of creation. The second part of my plan required this substance to be isolated from all other terrestrial matter and I could think of magnetic fields, electrostatic fields or even lasers propelling it enough to counteract gravity as possible solutions. Boron was a light metal that seemed to have to property of holding some of the force I used to cut or sculpt. The edge of the swords even had a layer a molecule thick over the leading edge. This coupled with the force I charged it with kept it sharp enough to cut anything known to man including diamonds. A small boron sphere a quarter inch in diameter went out to meet the other fingers holding the antimatter. A vacuum was formed and I was able to get the particle inside the small charged sphere and close it again. When the vacuum was removed the tiny sphere remained otherwise unchanged. My senses told me that the energy would degrade in a few months or as soon as my mind took it away. I went up ten miles and further out to sea. I propelled the pellet down and opened the sea before it. At four thousand feet in depth, I could still see some change in the water as the antimatter met the matter of the pellet and exploded. This time was a test and it was only a few tons in yield. My bullets were made, now I just needed a device to propel the pellets to their target. Saigon was the same dirty old place it had been before but the continuing reports of minor earthquakes at the hours after midnight and before dawn were duly noted. American war ships were going to be nosing around now to see if it were the Chinese or Russians up to no good. I took some money from the treasury and went to the large American base. I had no papers and the two swords had been cut to none but the soldier demanded I wait until his commanding officer okayed my visit. I was passed and went into the air conditioned office and sat for a while talking to the base commander. He saw me as the person that directed this country now even if it appeared to be a dictatorship. This was nothing unusual for many governments condoned if not encouraged dictatorships in other countries as long as it suited them. I was an exception for I came in and people did what I said out of fear but I had no army and I usually went around unarmed. Eventually I came to the point. "I would like some two inch copper pipe and a similar sized aluminium conduit." General Macalister thought for a second and said, "You are welcome to what we have. Let me check to find out." He made a phone call and we talked a few moments about local politics till his answer came. He listened to the other end of the phone and said, "I am sorry Sir Shawn but we have only sixty feet of copper and eighty feet of aluminium. We do have more of the inch and a half size though." "That's great. If you allow me to have this material I would want to pay for it. I don't like graft or favours unless they are known ahead of time." "You can have all we have and the payment will be to ask what you are going to do with it." "Oh just some simple strategic weapons to disrupt the North's supply lines. I will experiment with the metal to make a few simple rockets to knock out the entire supply route of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hanoi if I must." The general laughed at me, knowing that the trail and all the side trails were over a thousand miles long at a conservative estimate. He stopped abruptly when he remembered that I wasn't a boy but a person that had effectively taken over a country. "I am sorry Sir Shawn but there are too many miles of trail to disrupt. If I had my entire military here I could not destroy it because I cannot even see enough of it to accurately bomb." "You are forgiven. It does sound hard to understand but I still plan on putting large craters every five miles so that they could not be bypassed so easily. I would also advise you to ask your operatives and troops to stay away from the trail in the coming weeks. Say ten days from now I will start my offensive and then the army can go in and clean up what is left." "What? It sounded like you yourself are going to do all this work." "I am. Rockets are easy and all they need is good guidance and a suitable warhead. I have both and I will just bring my plane here and load missile pods on it then remove the threat. After that I intend to parachute into Hanoi and take care of a few people that killed some of my family." "You are going into Hanoi yourself. You stand no chance of success. They will kill you." "General Macalister, I came into Saigon two months ago. I got them started on the long road to becoming a free society or as free as we humans can make it. The north should be harder but not impossible." Macalister himself even delivered the metal tubing. I didn't need it but it was my way of informing others that they had to get out of harms way. I made a large pod that would launch missiles like a belt fed machine gun. The launcher allowed me to disperse twenty missiles a minute but I would be firing them very slowly and guiding each with the help of the satellites and the surveillance craft. I didn't think the latter would survive the ordeal. Yaseen arrived with the plane and I put it immediately under very heavy security. It was possible a sympathiser or a North Vietnamese soldier to launch a small missile at the plane while it was either taking off or landing. The work with the politicians told me that I had bitten off a very large chunk. It was like trying to hold back the saturated sides of the trench while more water poured all around. If I ever rested even for a moment the water would wash the soil in so fast that I would have to stop a river. I couldn't take a rest now either because the people wanted to always take the easy route like the water and erode everything I had gained. Someone responsible had to take over and force the country into the twentieth century. There were many good men but not strong enough to stay that good or to do what had to be done for the job would be consistently difficult. My talks with Yaseen told me that his father had similar problems and always had to find ways around a problem. Sometimes he was able to play one person against another or even one faction against another. Mary talked to me more than usual and missed me more I thought since the loss of her only two children. It was difficult to keep her away because the telephone made it easy to communicate wherever she was. Vietnam was still not a safe place to be. Many times I had to plant ideas in people's minds that I was impossible to kill and would only heap vengeance upon them and their supporters after the futile attempt. The truth of the matter was that anyone with a bomb or a sniper rifle could take her out, if I took no precautions. I was only fairly safe myself at close range where I could sense the thoughts of those close to me. On the streets I had to constantly keep my fingers around me to ward off any harm but as yet nothing overt had happened. ------- Chapter 42 The day finally arrived and the launchers were installed on the plane. A long line of small missiles were placed onboard and filled each of the launchers. I had a choice of explosive power and would choose which was best for each particular target. General Macalister and some of his aids came over to watch and asked if they could take some pictures. I let them take quite a few even to the launcher and the individual missiles. One missile I took out and held in my hand. It was only twenty six inches long, even shorter than air to air missiles carried by fighters. I casually tossed it to the General so he could see it for himself. The general held it in his hands and asked, "What damage do you expect one of these little babies to do?" "Well instead of talking, why don't you run a pass over the trail after Yaseen and I do our thing. The army has been ordered back and to prepare for my run. I am sure you have already planned this so you will see. Make sure the pilot is far back. I am going in daylight after I phone President Ho Chi Minh and tell him that I am coming." "What?" The general yelled. "Certainly. I want him to know what he and his men had done to deserve what will happen. Besides what I told you has already filtered to the north. There are many spies here and your office has more than one microphone in it." So saying I took out my phone and pushed one button that connected me through Japan to Hanoi and to the President's Office. I politely told the man at the switchboard who I was and asked to talk to President Ho Chi Minh. I was not believed but his immediate boss was called and I said again who I was and what I would like to do. It took ten minutes but eventually I talked to the man that lead the country. "Hello, Who is this?" "I really am Shawn Boz," I switched to Parisian French and continued, "My pilot and I are about to fly north and see what we can do to destroy the areas your troops are using to come south. After that I will personally parachute into your capital and have a serious talk with you about what you and your underlings have done to my family." The reply was as quick as it was straightforward, "You are always welcome to come for a visit but you may find things not as easily accomplished as it was in the south. My people are morally strong and can resist you and all the army of ghosts you have." "You have people of strong convictions in the north as I do in the south. There will be an end to this dispute soon and I want Vietnam to be prosper. That doesn't mean that I will lead it though." "You take over a country then just want to step aside?" "I believe myself to be moral and have no wish to rule a country. It is time consuming and frustrating. It is much better to make things and allow people to be guided by what they see as right." "That is hard to believe, Sir Shawn." "Like I told General Macalister, you will have to see for yourself. I am getting in my plane now and will start blowing large holes in the route your soldiers are using. I will try to avoid killing as much as possible but I see many thousands being killed regardless." I was not believed but I eventually signed off. I took the missile back from the General and placed it where it belonged. Yaseen and I put on new helmets that were hooked up to a new targeting computer that I had designed. It took a bit of getting used to for we could switch from one camera to another and have the feed come to the helmet. It was the plan to use the small camera in each missile to direct it to its target as opposed to being close and accurate. We waved to the ground crew as we took off at full speed. We were almost at five hundred miles an hour as we cleared the fence around the base. Yaseen asked, "What will the missiles really do Shawn. I have seen devices like this and they have little effect against large targets." "I explained to you what they would do. I knew then that you would just have to see the effects with your own eyes to understand." We headed north west into Cambodia and soon found the major troop concentrations guarding what had become to be called the 'Ho Chi Minh Trail'. Our troops were dug in and I used one of the larger yield weapons and directed it at an area that would be hard for an approaching enemy to circumvent. The same feed was sent to Yaseen. I fired the missile from sixty miles up and we watched the device rapidly descend to its target more than forty miles to the north. It was able in the last split second to make a minute change and have the missile come down in a depression almost ten feet deep. The helmets went opaque and a large flash of light and heat were seen through the filters. Yaseen jerked the ship away but I had control instead now and said, "Relax, there is no fallout. The warhead is not radioactive." "That was a nuclear explosion," he stammered. "Yes it was like one but it wasn't exactly. That one was equivalent to fifty tons and was the largest I have. I told you about the yields but you refused to believe. Yaseen, we have a trail to destroy and we'd better be about it." We made a large turn and took up where the first explosion let off. Large clouds of dirt, rock and trees took a long time to settle to the earth as I selected the best weapon to use. I came by a battalion sized group of North Vietnamese regulars and instead of shooting I told them with my mind to get far from the trail because I was going to destroy it in a an hour with them on it or not. The soldiers fled but the officers in charge did not understand the message even if they wanted to follow the men. They did hear the thunder of the explosions coming to them from down the trail and had to take a minute to figure out what to do. I stored the information about the target in the computer and continued to destroy the area behind the advancing soldiers. It wasn't long before we left Cambodia and entered Laos and continued with the targets. Again some areas were skipped and warned. Near villages or other habitations very low yield explosives were used of only ten tons. When we were getting close to China we headed east and destroyed some of the staging areas in North Vietnam. Our stores of munitions were getting low but had been accurately calculated. Yaseen flew toward Hanoi and I prepared to leave again. Before I did so I reiterated my orders. "Do not go back with any missiles. If you do it will be stolen no matter what security you put on it. This weapon's construction has to remain a secret or the whole world will be endangered." Finally is said, "Destroy the areas I put in the computer." Yaseen slowed down and I was ejected out the back of the plane and began my long descent. I could still see the long cloud of dust in the air as Yaseen climbed to our operational altitude. Instead of landing I stayed in the air floating in broad daylight. My only companion was some dust that I formed close to me to represent my ghost legion that had come north for vengeance. A larger cloud of dust above me kept me from being seen by my own surveillance. There were many men with guns on the streets below but none shot at me. Many thousands of people saw me carrying only two swords and my small group of insubstantial and ghostly shapes. I followed the streets around the capital and slowly closed my circle until I came to the government buildings where the war was being run from. This too was circled till I settled to the ground in front of it. Immediately bullets from many windows flew at me while I just waited with my fingers open to deflect all of them. I used dust to travel to each of the men firing and used my power to take the weapons from them. In ten minutes I walked inside and directly to where Ho Chi Minh was making last minute orders to have me removed. The hallway rang with fire but the dust took more and more weapons. The door was locked and barricaded so I pushed through the wall and entered. Now the generals and Ho Chi Minh himself fired until their guns went dry. I dropped all the guns I was carrying in my insubstantial fingers and picked up the men in their place. I had to protect them from the bullets that still flew from behind me till I got to a large meeting room. I opened the door and put all the men inside. To a general I said, "Tell your men to stop before someone gets hurt. My army has had to protect all of you from your own men." One man talked to the soldiers in the hall. They had seen that bullets were futile. The government officials' eyes constantly followed the dust that floated in human shapes about the room and were so frightened that they had soiled themselves. I talked quietly with one of the many aides and asked him politely by name to get some water and many glasses. Before he left the room I called out who was leaving so the man would not be shot. I began the conversation with the remaining men on a casual basis asking them about their wives, mistresses and children by name. I inferred that my ghostly cohort was giving me all this information. When the aide knocked on the door I called for him to enter. In all this time all I was able to get from the men were some head movements and some gasps. I served the men some water and bade them drink. After another three minutes of my monologue I said, "Let's talk outside. Go to your quarters and change and have a shower. I will meet you all out front for a simple meeting. Please go now." I had to pick some of the men up but they did leave. The last aid I stopped and said, "Please get some chairs set up on the grass and bring some refreshments. There will be an important meeting after your leaders have had a chance to recover." I got a simple, "Yes sir," in response. The hour went quickly as I searched the building I was in for any data that might be useful. There were names of the many people in the south that had collaborated so I saved that information for later. There was no need now to punish them but it would be good to find out why each had turned. There was time for a few phone calls and I talked to General Quang and Macalister at the same time, telling them where I was and also about the forthcoming meeting. Quang knew of my orders concerning capturing their enemy. He had not understood when I said that soon they would be brothers not enemy. My wives and Morie were happy to find me both alive and confident of what the future might bring. The gunfire had stopped but still rifles were trained on me. The best I thought I could do now was to put the snipers to sleep. One after another they fell to the floor except in one case where he fell out the window. This one was caught and laid peacefully on the grass beside his firearm. Some lower ranking officers came out and were heartened that they had not been killed. Their superiors came out later and all found seats. Twenty minutes late the President, some of his cabinet and the military took the remaining chairs. Instead of lecturing them I sat on my own chair facing them and talked of what I wanted for all of Vietnam. This took a few minutes because I was talking generalities. I attacked both Communism and Capitalism for their inherent wrongs. Socialism sounded great I told them but it just will not work well because the people will think that the country owes them a good living. Big and small businesses were faulted for having little or no social consciousness. I let the dust drop long ago and started asking individuals what they thought about some of my points. Usually I got back dogma published from the party newspaper or from speeches they heard. I tripped them up in many places where the party was weak and showed them a better way if possible. There was quite a bit of opposition from the Chinese contingent about my plans to have the state abandon Communism for my own managed capitalist plan. These men were indeed worried for I attacked the basis of their beliefs. The state was a parent to them and saw to all their needs much as the military did. It was as hard for them to see the people on the lowest rungs of society as it was hard for a successful businessman to do the same. During a break I talked privately with the President and asked him to order a meal be set up in a large hall so the debate could continue. He agreed and called over one of his own aides with the orders. Just before I was going to start again my phone rang and I picked it up. One of Quang's men said, "Sir Shawn there are many tanks and men coming from Haiphong and Yen Bai. They are going to trap you between both forces. They should be at your location in an hour." "Thank you for the information Lieutenant. I will take care of them." I walked over to the President and said, "Some of your officers have decided to evict me from your city. You and a dozen more men will go for a ride through the air to Haiphong and stop the troops coming from the harbour. The reason you are going is to show you how easy it is to defeat an army of the living. Since the men coming are some of the descendants of my army there will be little or no deaths. The generals and party functionaries unwillingly came with me as we rose into the air and travelled east. Dust acted as my escort and to also keep the drones from seeing us fly. Soldiers, merchants, farmers and peasants thronged the roads and many accidents came about as they saw us flying easily forward. Each man stood as if on the ground and no wind touched them as we travelled a little over a hundred miles an hour. Just east of Haiphong, the first contingent of the relieving force was found. Our simple presence brought the line to a stop and I put everybody to sleep as we passed. Within ten minutes was all it took before everybody was snoozing and I searched for the commanding officer. When he woke up he saw me first and went for his gun. He couldn't get it from his holster so I waited until he saw the futility of resistance. This took a while because he went for all the weapons of the men beside him. Finally he jumped at me and tried his own hands and feet to accomplish what nothing else could. I said to Ho Chi Minh, "This man is certainly brave. Will you tell him to stop his attack before he damages himself?" It only took a few moments then the president ordered the man to cease and even return his men and equipment back to their barracks. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger. I awoke other officers and their own subordinates relayed their president's orders. When all this was done I just looked up and waved to the sky. Nobody asked but they wondered what I was doing. I got on the phone and as the soldiers all around us awoke a faint droning sound got louder and louder. Soon it was flying only a hundred feet overhead. "That gentlemen is a small drone that can fly almost forty miles overhead." This was not believed but I ignored it. "It has a small camera that can see even a mouse on the ground even at night." This too was just bluster they thought. "They are controlled from Saigon and through the satellites I put into orbit in the last few years." The drone rose at my order and circled the city as it gained and even better view of what was below. I used verbal commands to the phone and its small screen showed the area around Viet Tri that was north west of Hanoi. The soldiers from Yen Bai would be close to that city in their approach to Hanoi. I handed the president the phone and told him what he was seeing. Some verbal commands showed a closer view till he and his associates were sure that the city we were looking at was the one I said it was. The armoured column was sending up smoke and a little dust for the area was slightly damp. I panned out and brought the camera over Hanoi and zoomed in on the front of the building where we had been holding our meeting. The chairs were still there and only a few men. It was easy to see that this was real-time or very close to it. I zoomed in so close that we could almost read the words on a scrap piece of paper blowing in the wind and momentarily caught by a chair leg. Soon after this, my party took to the air again, travelling to meet the other column which we had just been viewing, stopping it as easily as we had the first. The general this time told his people to leave because we were having a meeting and didn't want to be disturbed. When we got back to Hanoi we went immediately to the meeting again and the generals told the rest of the audience what had transpired. His talk of the drone's capabilities were spoken with derision but I could see the audience wanting to believe anything I said. Another general's talk of seeing the paper outside though was taken as gospel. Soon after we all went to a large hall and were met by even more people. Some had guns and grenades while other had planted high explosives where I was supposed to sit even if the President was close. I simply cut the wires to the detonator and waited to see if the other weapons were to be used. The food was not poisoned and tasted reasonably good. Ho was coming to the fact that I was not going to kill indiscriminately and tried to take me to task on many points. He was an old hand at trapping people with his arguments but I could see all the traps coming and avoid or sidestep them. My own attacks worked much better. After a while we debated while the audience listened to our rebuttals and accusations. In a half hour he saw that I was acting as a gentleman and as he followed suit our conversation became more conciliatory. I agreed to some of his assertions and he did the same for me. We did agree to talk tomorrow. We shook hands and then I did the same with the generals and even the representative from China. During all this time I was narrowing down the best general I could find in the room and the choice came to General Wei. He had a similar temperament to Quang and I could see them eventually becoming friends if they could stay alive long enough. I crawled under the platform that we were on to show the General all the explosives and the sheared wires. When we got out I gave him seven names and said, "Those men were trying to rid your country of a person they saw as a threat even if all of you had to die with me. Please take that into consideration. They would make good aides for me. You can be readily sure that they are not sympathisers, at least not yet." President Ho offered me a room at his house. It was not luxurious as he would like but frugal as he tried to impress his people with his piousness. Many people called him Uncle Ho and I knew he would make a much better leader of a united Vietnam than any other person I could think of. His wife was very worried about me when I arrived and would like to have fled. Ho took her aside and explained things as well as he could in the short time and told her to get my bed ready. Before turning in I found a hand bound book of Ho's poems and I read them all. I asked for a pen and paper and made a longer poem of what I was trying to accomplish today. I emphasized force on the trail, strength at our meeting, forgiveness at the approaching forces, cooperation in the final meeting and finally rest at a friend's home. Ho read the poem four or five times and carefully put it away in a French provincial desk. At breakfast next morning, Ho asked, "Did you sleep well Sir Shawn?" "Very well thank you Mr President. I contemplated for a long time about me coming here. Originally, I wanted to kill some of the people who decided to kill me. Now that I have met them and found that they are not wholly bad perhaps I should let them live. Others when I find them will have to be assessed and they may be found wanting." "I can understand your desire for vengeance, for many of my friends and family were treated badly by the French and the Americans. The British too seemed to revel in the idea of turning one country against another for their own ends. I too have enemies and would like to see them die. It does things to me though that are difficult to say. I hurt inside and it is not from the tuberculosis or any other of the maladies that I suffer from." "I feel the same way Mr. President but I also feel cleansed when I can remove something evil from the earth." After eating, the two of us drove to the local university and we walked to the technical department. I requested a student assembly and was given one right away, with the President and myself both scheduled to speak. The students came in very cautiously but when they saw their President moving around freely and apparently happy they too felt much better. When the room was more than filled to capacity I went into lecturing mode and explained why I came north and what I extended to do. Japan was called into play and I mentioned what I had done and how the country had benefited, even as I had. With coloured chalk I gave them modern cement plants and very efficient steel mills. All this was erased though as I started my next drawing. It showed an elevated monorail going all over a united Vietnam and beyond into Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and Malaysia. The motor was explained in detail and the way to get the best out of the steel and concrete making the machine move even faster that the trains I made in Japan. "This is some of the things I will give to you. The socialist among you will think me out for the money but if you take the time to look; I spend my money on helping the disadvantaged, not simply giving money that they would not know what to do with." The students could not quite believe the specifications I put on the train and the system but knew I made the fastest train in Japan and had done many other things that nobody else could do. We stayed a few more hours, but on the way out I could feel some people waiting with anticipation. A bomb had been placed near the entrance with a large truck that was carrying gasoline. My arrival at the door would see the school set afire and if I wasn't killed, the death of Uncle Ho would make people hate me even more. I put one hand on the President's shoulder and one on the dean of the university. "We have to stop for a moment as I am told that a bomb will go off and both of you will be killed. It is hoped that the people will raise up in arms even more and continue the fight with the south. The school will be badly damaged and many students will also die." "I will call the police," came from an indignant Ho. "Better I go out a different way and put the troublemakers to sleep and disconnect the detonators." "Then do so. I will still get the police involved." I went back the way I had come and went out a window on a second floor and flew above the school obscured by my dust. The wires were easy to cut in two places then I put all the conspirators to sleep. A short walk to the front doors again brought out the two men and some very interested spectators. I gave the name of each person and what they were really like. Some had even been students once, while others had been so taken with the communist cause that they could not see reason anymore. This reminded me very much of religion in many ways, especially those that accepted a new faith after the loss of somebody very important to them. The police did come and as the people were taken away they were awoken. Some managed to shout slogans at us and even called the president a traitor. We left the car and walked through the streets until we came to a small eatery and stepped in to have some midday meal. The proprietor was very shocked but did bring a good meal to us. Our fellow diners gawked at us and even people in the streets stared. When we finished our simple dish of noodles and fish I said, "A ship from Ethiopia will be docking later today. It has the same things on it as the south has been given. When you and your generals call back the troops I will help you make the drones you saw yesterday." "That is very generous of you. How will we ever pay for this?" "You personally will pay the most." He looked at me very seriously, "I have very little money of my own and our country is not rich." "You will run in an election that was never allowed to happen. Diem is alive and you will run against him or another opponent but in the end you will have to help govern a united Vietnam. You will not have a communist government but you will take care of the poor and have a hand in how the companies are run. I warn you though that governments always make a poor board of governors of a company but can make many useful ideas." "That is what I was going to do all along Sir Shawn. Why did you stop me?" "You were doing it for the wrong reasons. The Russians and the Chinese were pushing on one side and the Americans on the other side. Soon the war would escalate and millions of people would get involved with death and destruction all around. Just think for a moment what fleet after fleet of American war planes can do. They can kill almost everybody in both halves of Vietnam. The United States is building more warships and even the old ones are being taken out of mothballs to pound the coast with their heavy guns. Your allies will help some and give you lots of weapons but the Vietnamese are the ones that will do most of the dying." Ho nodded his head in agreement for this is what he already foresaw himself. "China is a very powerful country and so is Russia. My country is like a piece of hot steel in a vice that will be hammered to any desired shape." "I was angry at Vietnam as a whole and came to set it straight. Soon I will go to Russia and see what I can do to turn their country around. By now they will have seen that their economy cannot grow fast enough to play the game that America and the other capitalist countries have laid out for it. We both know that when the last war ended it was decided to not invade Russia but to keep it as an example of a bad cause. The western taxpayers would have to continue forking out money the way they did for the war, to support an ever growing military and industrial powers. With no enemy this would not be allowed to happen." "That has been explained to us very many times and in various ways. Countries seem to take a good man and drive out all the things that made him that way and accentuate what is remaining." "I agree and that is why I want to build, develop and perhaps guide but not govern. That, I am sorry to say, I leave to people with stronger stomachs than I have. Now let's get up and stop the way things were going and get the major powers to leave us alone to vote on a new leader for a united Vietnam." By the time we were a block away our entire conversation was halfway across Hanoi and soon would be all the way to Saigon. I knew Diem would not object but he was still a good administrator and it may be difficult to find him a good job to do that would keep him alive. That afternoon after three more assassination attempts and a large meeting of ardent communists I went down to the harbour in Haiphong to supervise the unloading of the cargo from one of the ships. By noon the next day it was completed and I called on the military to assist me in setting the uplinks. Power came in and two antenna systems came out. A large load of high explosives went around the equipment and a sophisticated detection equipment went with it. My own security stayed with each site and were in constant communication. In two weeks my teams had all the sites completed while I had already started with my computer classes and the 'for export' models were in civilian hands with the military getting the majority of the phones again. A cease fire had gone out and the south Vietnamese air force had dropped special phones to the enemy so they could hear from their own leaders what to do. Most just kept their weapons and just boarded trucks and buses protected by the South Vietnamese Army for a return home. Newspapers from around the world were at first happy with the end of the small war. The major powers were not nearly as pleased. They had their own agendas and needed small countries to carry it out for them. I was beginning to be more than a pain in the side to them. Yaseen had been arrested by the Americans when he got to Saigon and charged with making war. The South Vietnamese had been prepared for this and would make war with their American allies to get the man back. Yaseen was only in jail an hour and a half before he was released. The plane though was seized and it had a very thorough going over and was in many parts within a day. The important targeting computer and even the main ship computer along with our helmets, were dropped to security people on a small parachute just before returning. There were lots they could learn but nothing that would give them too much of a lead yet. When I did go south I was greeted with a lot of hostility till I reminded them of what I could do when their fear quickly chased the hostility away. I explained quite forcefully that after the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu, the foreign ministers of the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France decided to meet in Geneva to see if they could bring about a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Vietnam. It was decided that the warring parties would separate. Later a General Election for the whole of Vietnam would to be held before July, 1956, under the supervision of an international commission. That election was never held and the people did not get a chance to vote as they should. The Republic of Vietnam was formed in the south and, although it was now many years late, an honest vote would come now, no matter what the great powers wanted. There would not be any communist take over but business would have some constraints on it to make it accountable for what it did. Mary told me in her many calls that pressure was being put on the Japanese to thwart all of our businesses. The automobile sector was the most vulnerable for legislation was now before Congress to curtail all importation of Japanese cars. Australia and other countries purchased our vehicles and they to were starting to feel the heat. Later any legislation could be easily be changed to all products. Radios and other electronic equipment were going to be heavily taxed so that their importation would be prohibitive even if they were much better in quality. Japan was in no position to weather this kind of fight. The people wanted to forget all the conflict and wouldn't want to even engage in a trade war. This could easily be put aside if they just remove me as a player in world politics. We traded little with our nearest two big neighbours but I knew that they too would start to make their displeasure felt. Britain and France had been knocked down from their old positions near the top of world opinion but were still being listened to. The problem I saw that these two countries was that they would side with their other first world countries to put a stop to my efforts to help unite Vietnam. Presenting a fait accompli was the only thing that I could think of that might work. There was nobody to run against Ho so I decided to make it a referendum. This had to be short and brutal or it would not work. I called Ho on his phone and left a message. In the mean time I called the south and talked to some of the leaders to see about the possibility of getting voting stations set up. The conference call I made indicated that the men were afraid of losing their jobs and perhaps their lives when the old communist took over. I had to be very firm with them that this was not going to happen and even the north would start to be much more capitalistic in the coming days. I ordered the men to find transportation and come up to Hanoi to see for themselves what was happening. Ho came on the phone from between meetings and I explained how I needed a quick vote from both halves of the country. I told him about all the laws that needed to be altered so that the men coming north would see for themselves that the country was indeed changing. I volunteered to help move recalcitrant politicians but he assured me that he was already using my name and the laws were being changed as we spoke. The next week the southern politicians did come and were met by their northern counterparts. There was a lot of stiffness because each had said many things against the other and it was hard to step back from those words now. Diem was here too and shook hands with Ho. The smile was very political for both men didn't like each other at all. To the roomful of enemies I gave my own orders. The vote was on regardless of anything else. We now thrashed out how the country would be governed. The basic principles were put down as I would to a group of students and I let them work with that. They haggled and cried, threatened and implored, then resignedly agreed to a plan. Former businesses owners in the north would give more money for the businesses that were seized by the state. Some of the men present would benefit from this. Electoral districts were to be reassigned but everyone would still have a seat in the new parliament. The country would be run as a capitalist body politic but would have social welfare incorporated into the future constitution. There would be a multiparty parliament with all campaign funds drawn from the public purse. Many more changes were made with an odd marriage of socialist and capitalist ideas. It was a foregone conclusion by everyone that Ho would win. Only the hardliners on each extreme would be out and they all knew it. Chairman Mao did not like my interference and sent an army to stop what he saw as heresy. Ho was very worried about this development and wanted to get the army ready to repel their long time enemy. "Ho don't worry. Pull all your units back far inside our borders and my army will deal with them." "They will kill you. Where will we be then. I have to send the army." "Ho, remember a few days ago you saw my army stop two small armies. Why do you think that they will not do it now?" "I remember very well but the Chinese are very strong." "Ho, please understand that the Chinese people are starving and it is only the army which seems to be getting enough food. We have our own problems here but I want a convoy of food to be sent north toward Cao Bang. I will stop them before they arrive at the city. I would like some of your army put officially under my control to forestall any fighting and to assist the Chinese. I think they are just as concerned about the wild Vietnamese as you are about the wild Chinese." Ho and his upper echelon of soldiers watched the Chinese approach with the help of the Japanese and Ethiopian techs. As night came they saw that the main road into Cao Bang had many holes and they took a lot of time repairing the damage so their mechanised division could advance. Their advanced units were now on the outskirts of the city but they too found travel difficult and were at a loss to say how the holes came to the road behind them. As night fully fell the commander, General Lee began to feel very sleepy and against his orders he stopped and made camp. The division was made up of five full strength brigades with a total amount of soldiers, numbering almost 15,000. They spread out and made camp in an orderly fashion. Everybody was exceedingly sleepy but a meal was made and the soldiers climbed in their tents. The unlucky ones had drawn guard duty and had to stay awake. One after another each of them became so sleepy that they had to sit down for just a minute. At three in the morning I put all the camp to sleep and used my telephone and a flashlight liberated from one of the troops to show my position to the drones far above. I picked my way through all the tents until I found the command centre and the much better facilities there. General Lee's tent was very close and I stepped in to see what I could find from the man's mind. It appeared that Chairman Mao was a nasty character along the lines of Stalin. The orders stated that I was to be killed or captured or the army was to die trying. Lee was an ardent communist but was rapidly becoming disillusioned when the men in power now fought to keep the power instead of for the common good of all the citizens. In the surrounding tents were the rest of the general staff and quite a few political commissars. These were used to keep the general and his men in line and were Mao's most trusted people. These men I sorted as to who could be educated as they educated the general staff before. Some were just thugs while others were still enthused with what communism would one day bring. Six were too far gone and didn't even fit the term human very well. They died a quiet death. This wasn't for political reasons but because the men would irrationally continue to oppose me in my struggle to free Vietnam. They would have no hesitation in killing everyone that would even think of siding with me. By eight o'clock the North Vietnamese army came in, with no weapons but carrying both medical equipment and field supplies. I met them at the edge of the camp and they rigidly came to attention and saluted. Apparently I was given the title of 'General' and these were temporarily my men. I gave my orders and they drove into the centre of the Chinese encampment and began to administer to their patients. There were almost eight patients to each Vietnamese. I allowed the Chinese to awake but they were so groggy that they needed a lot of help to do everything, from eating to using the latrine. The weapons were stored but not even locked up. More latrines were dug and breakfast began. I spoke to Ho, Quang and Wei about the operation and they were quite pleased at this one-sided victory. The phone came into play and I called some numbers in Australia and India. Both had major stockpiles of wheat and rice and would be happy to get rid of some of it. With only my word I got the wheels going for millions of tons of grain to be delivered to both North and South Vietnam till the new harvest could come in. The deliveries would be in a month at the earliest and I had to convince the Vietnamese to share what food they had with the Chinese until that time. My hope was that the Chinese did not intend to send more soldiers for us to care for. I just wished I had enough money to afford to give such purchases of grain. Russia and China were having immense difficulties with their five year plans and their crops. Instead of going back to Hanoi, my dust cloud and I went north and crossed the border into China. Before getting to Xinjing, I started taking major sections out of the road and putting small barriers on each side to keep people from falling in. This would slow down any army but hinder local trade too. It would be good to have a heart to heart with Mao but it would probably end up with him dying for there was no way I could see him altering his plans. The people around him would eat him alive and a new ruler would emerge that would be just as vicious as Mao himself. A few days after returning to Hanoi the Chinese delegation went to see the condition of their army. They saw everything peaceful with the soldiers being helped by unarmed soldiers and could not really complain. Their reports to Peking were not believed but soldiers coming to assist their brethren would find it difficult to get here. The Chinese protested about the use of gas in warfare but in the previous statement said that there was no war. The United States passed its laws and automobiles from Japan were effectively banned. The excuse was that they polluted more than they should and were unsafe. The truth was the opposite and the Japanese soon found out that the law was just a way of punishing the state for harbouring me or more truthfully my works. The electric cars that had only been tested there were not really introduced because some claim would be made against them too. Britain brought into play many of its tax laws and shut my gallery down even though I was very scrupulous in what I paid to the crown. France too buckled under and slapped court orders on some of my properties for various reasons. Rhodesia had not really got into the swing of the sky cable yet and it found that its services were not needed. Nothing much had changed. Ethiopia had been given food on a humanitarian basis now found it was dramatically cut back and markets outside our group for its products were drying up. The value of my companies took a sharp plunge and any loans that could possibly be called were. I had a fair reserve but I had to pay banks their interest and principle or they would be forced to foreclose by the world powers. The vote was finally held and we celebrated for four days. A new flag for a united country was flying from many flagpoles from Saigon to Hanoi. The American advisors were just as happy for they found themselves not in the front of battle but tried to put a front on as their government wished. The Chinese were the same but hid their feelings better because if they did not, they would suddenly find themselves dead. In the short term, the only thing I could do was to encourage trade within the affected group. Rhodesia sent many tons of food and minerals. They got Japanese cars and the newly patented energy storage unit. Ethiopia sold computers, monitors, phones and radios and got automobiles in return. There was a huge backlog of orders from Japan, Saudi Arabia and a lesser extent Rhodesia and Vietnam. This country would be the least affected but Rhodesia could weather the storm easy too because it was not dependant on the sky cable for much of its economy. Saudi Arabia sold oil to us and took both electronic supplies and automobiles. American and British cars faced a levy which we didn't have to pay. His Royal Highness King Faysal offered me huge loans at low interest rates because he too had been pushed by the developed countries many times. Vietnam had little to offer but, despite its difficulties, offered to supply food if necessary even though this was in chronically short supply because of mismanagement and waste. The countries affected saw the injustice because it was published in all the papers. Very few actually blamed me for what had befallen each. It was heartening to see them reacting as if in war and starting victory gardens and saving everything that could be valuable. I used the satellites to locate possible oil bearing deposits both on and off shore in Vietnam. My eye made sure the deposits were adequate and I got Japan to send pipe to extract both the oil and gas. Another contract went to a build a refinery and related chemical, plastics and fertiliser plants. Nearby I started cement plants as I had in Japan and worked on building up an economy that would keep the population from falling back on old ways with old grievances. Japan got a contract for a monorail train and this time would build it all because it would use the simpler computer. I knew that within three months I would have to take King Faysal up on his generous offer. Japan and Yaseen were continuing with the space station because most of the parts were in orbit and all it needed was the people to see that it was put together right. With my powers used to the maximum I was able to get the oil started in less than three weeks. The building of the plants that would use this product was still years off. Japan would get some of this oil to keep its industries running. The cement plant was easier because I had the parts ready to be used in Japan and simply took them to Vietnam. With a few alterations I was able to use crude oil as an energy source and begin making cement within two more months. King Faysal offered me a job making the same kind of monorail for his country and even for the cities themselves. Japan got the contract for the train while Ethiopia got a small contract for the electronics. I suggested to the king that he buy new tankers and raise the price of oil to everybody except his own fleet. This would keep Japan busy and give the king a way of fighting back for me. Vietnam was becoming a much safer place. Mary found some time to leave her jobs to visit. The transition from gasoline driven cars to electric had kept everybody working and the diesel trucks and electric cars were sent to Vietnam on credit. The only thing left to build was electric plants and again I got my Japanese companies to start building what we needed. Ethiopia was bypassed for the generators because of their massive size. The turbines would be the world's largest. Everybody assumed the fuel would be oil from the field I found but I planed on something much cleaner. There was enough power around to run the computers and the phones and the children throughout the country were learning from the ground up what was important to the country's future. I was heartened to see some of the people that had abandoned communism enthusiastically take up building their country in the image of my dream. Not all had actually abandoned the former but simply found room to help. My body was changing now and I could see pubic hair forming. Mary's arrival brought out my first sample of sperm. When she left a month later she was carrying my child even if the concentration of sperm cells was extremely low. On a trip to Ethiopia, Ayana became the same way. Japan made me feel morose for I went to visit Morie's family vault. I could still see the girls as they appeared in life and felt bad about taking no more lives. The guilty had too many things to promote them staying alive. My companies had built cement plants in Saudi Arabia and bought steel and copper from Japan. The king and I worked out the proposed monorail and pylons were begun right away. They were prestressed on a large floor and shaded from the hot sun till finished. Deep holes were dug and steel beams driven in even deeper. The pylons were attached and more concrete poured around each. My design had the structure looking like a capital 'T' so that it could support two trains at one time. Their height was such that it would be many years before any blowing sand could possibly interfere with the free travel. Japanese cars were disparaged just a few years ago throughout the world. The price of oil had risen in Europe and North America and the price of gasoline with it. The Japanese cars were now being sold as used cars were reaching more than they did when new. There were about a thousand electric cars in the United States and intended for the economy market. The present owners were now being offered prices reserved for new luxury cars. Russia made a deal with Australia, Canada and the United States so that they would sell their surplus wheat for some of the immense reserves of oil within the Soviet Union. Before I left Saudi Arabia I said, "I think I will deploy my air force here to protect you." The king was now on his guard and wondered if all the good feelings we had for one another had gone. "What do you mean Sir Shawn. I don't want a foreign power on my soil." "Well it is a foreign power because it will be my plane but my commander of the air force is the only pilot I am sending. Perhaps you might even know him." I got a big grin and King Faysal said, "I will make an exception this time. Will you be sending him with some of those very small nuclear missiles?" "If I did then you would be overrun even more quickly because everybody would want to find out their construction. The missiles will be what you usually would see but they will be very accurate. I expect if you were invaded it would be by a neighbouring country that was put up to the job by one of the super powers." ------- Chapter 43 Japan was not gloomy at all and seemed to thrive as it felt oppressed by the rest of the world. The Russians turned up the heat by trying to claim more of the islands north of Japan and had even put troops on them. The area was believed to have oil or gas but none yet had been discovered. This appeared to be a direct provocation. A strange series of undersea explosions had sent a wave of water almost two hundred feet high sweeping north across island, wiping it clean and sinking the Russian warships. Within a few hours Japanese troops had made their own presence on the island again and hoisted their flag. Japanese people asked nothing about the mysterious explosions but were more than ecstatic when their flag on the island was displayed on television. A song was played on the radio that grabbed the people's spirits and gave them back some of the glory they had before the war. The emperor would only say that the author wanted to remain anonymous. The Chinese had sent more armies but they all fell asleep on their own soil and of course Vietnam was accused of unleashing this terrible weapon on them. Flights of Chinese military jets flew over Vietnam were ordered to leave and after three tries were fired on by swarms of very fast, nimble drones that never seemed to miss. Most pilots were able to bail out and were taken to the border and told not to come back. Laos and Cambodia were getting all sorts of aid from everybody. Their economy was starting to grow as was their military. It was not unusual for different battalions to be trained by six or more foreign powers. Russia decided to send a task force to cow us. As they entered the Gulf of Tonkin and in our territory the props fell off the larger ships. A small storm was coming up and the smaller ships had to tow their larger brethren to a safe harbour. A small almost homemade submarine with a Vietnamese flag surfaced after the ships left but in time for the drones to pick it out. Television was again used to show what was happening. 'Top Secret' was attached to the way this had happened but most people in Vietnam knew it was the spirits of their dead that protected them. Russia was very upset and even more so when some salvage ships brought up the props from the sea bottom and cut them up for scrap. Morie had completed his 'factory ship' and this proved to be very economical. Time and effort was put into the crews comfort and many labourious or dangerous jobs were as mechanized as possible. Japanese loved whale meat but the world and I did not like eating these decreasingly few animals. Laws were instituted to stop this activity. Vietnam under one of its publicly held companies ordered many of these fishing ships. Former Japanese navy personnel and fishermen trained the Vietnamese in the proper use of the ship and equipment. Our plans for raising the general level of education in the country ensured that many people that wanted to get ahead took some of the thousands of courses available to them. Most were from the satellites and all of the affected countries provided the teachers. The gas tankers came to Vietnam and Saudi Arabia for fuel. Behind them came cargo ships with finished goods in trade. The gas and oil fuelled a large plastic industry that brought the goods back to Vietnam. Metal to build planes also came and I started an aircraft industry in Vietnam. Men with any of this skill in Japan were sought out and I went there to pick the ones I needed. Some aircraft assemblies were made in Japan and I assembled them there. I made one of each of four types of planes. Some were exceedingly fast and agile fighters, while some at the other end were large enough to hold almost a thousand passengers if they didn't mind being a little cramped. This latter type was called AP-1 for atmospheric passenger ship type one. The engines were strong enough that any flight we chose would be many times shorter than anything else available at the time. None of the seats had ashtrays and smoking was prohibited on all flights. I even put smoke alarms and sprinklers in the washrooms to help remind people. The skin of all the planes had a small amount of boron on the outer surface and I used my power to make it strong and very heat resistant. The wings and in fact the entire structure of the plane could be made much smaller and simpler. The fighter should both do up to fifteen times the speed of sound but it had not been tested yet. The larger of the two ships would only able to reach mach five because of their size and weight. The small four place fighter was designated A/SF-1 because it was able to function in air or space. It was designed for a wide array of weapons and an even better targeting system that I had on my first plane. The larger combat plane A/SF-2 was designed to enter space as well and had more life support and larger weapons. It was a little larger than an old B-52 but much more streamlined. There were many interchangeable weapons platforms, including a laser that went from one end of the plane to another. It was able to fire from both ends. The crew of ten and a very good computer assured its accuracy and the ability to bring the crew back. The last ship, A/SP-1 was still bigger than anything currently in production except our own AP-1 model. It could accommodate four hundred and thirty people or cargo to orbit. My largest conventional engines would do most of the work and at speeds well above sound, the scram jets would engage. At a hundred and sixty miles the rockets would take over and propel the craft an additional two hundred miles into orbit. The wings would fold back for supersonic flight and even further when entering the lock at the space station. I was slated to test fly each of the models to make sure they performed well. I knew the other countries were watching us so I was on my toes regarding any possible attack. Once these planes and weapons became operational our antagonists would no longer be able to do anything to us. Mary was in her eight month and was still going strong. She would sometimes have two phones in her hands at one time and still talking to those around her. The glow about her had increased with the child and I knew even more that she was my mate. Juni was growing a bit too but her waist had not started to bulge yet. She was just as busy as Mary but not as busy as Sofia and Rachael. These two girls were very busy. They got some of the best engineers around and began the plans for the amusement park. Since funds were contingent on the sale of automobiles, the amount of building was less but more thoughtful instead. I now owned a gothic cement plant with many extra steel beams to support a complicated rail system that was driven by gravity after the cars went over the highest section. Some of the cars performed a corkscrew and had a long section of free fall. Restraints had to be designed for every sized person and the car itself had to be secured to the track with an extra set of bogey wheels. The rest of the park was laid out systematically and the cheaper to build amusements were started first. The centre had a lagoon with a floating dock already completed that would provide our link here to space. The park itself was very large and made Disney's park in Anaheim seem minuscule in comparison. An area of land was set aside at the far end for a real space port. They just needed the planes, buildings and tarmac to complete. At the moment it was masquerading very well as a large abandoned field. The other end was on the ocean and provision was made for the hotels and for two types of marinas. One would house the aquatic life that Juni so much wanted. Morie had built more cranes and used the dry dock to build another ship. This was fine but both ships would have to be ready at the same time. In a smaller dock the finishing touches were being put on another cryogenic gas tanker and would be ready for sea trials in a few weeks. Another ship would be getting ready soon, now hundreds of people were working on the space station. The wheel was a quarter mile in diameter fully four hundred feet wide. There was provision to add to either side of the doughnut to create a long cylinder, but that would have to wait. Since it was tied over Rhodesia it could not be seen directly from Japan, however there were more than enough television cameras on and in the structure to allow almost any Japanese, Rhodesian, or Ethiopian citizen to feel at home if they ever arrived. Yaseen still carried lots of cargo as did the other pilots and decided with his dad that his staying to protect his country was not needed yet. Weapons were made that could be quickly loaded and used. When and if a fighter was needed, they felt my new ships would work better. He had seen both the A/SF-1 and 2 and loved the smaller fighter. Its speed and manoeuvrability were unmatched by anything around and even the onboard computer would fly the craft if the people were incapacitated in any way. He wanted to be the one to test fly it but I knew that there would be many bugs to work out before he or anyone would ever fly the machine. The world was sliding into a recession, mainly because of restricted trade. The communist countries would be most affected because their economies were so weak. It was because the people running the individual companies were not managers but party faithful. The oilmen in America were happy because they and the other oil producing nations could raise their prices to match the Saudi's. It was the consumer that was taking the brunt of the trade war. No only did they have to pay more but they usually got shoddier merchandise. My son James was born October the tenth of '62, a few months after my thirteenth birthday. The entire family was present and this made everything seem even better. I looked into the little one's mind and saw only the usual features of a normal child. With a little regret I increased his ability to read minds and stretched the small room that would hold knowledge one day. This little man would have a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders and would need all the help he could get. People from all over the world sent their congratulations. Some were from important people but the ones I liked best were from the people I touched one way or another up to this time. Mary was a beaming mother and had to fight a bit to get her own child from my other wives. Ayana looked good holding James in her arms and over her own swollen abdomen. Benyam or the others didn't seemed put out to have more new brothers or sisters, mainly because I told them that they would have to guide the younger generation. Tokyo and the other cities I had helped were now growing very large. The larger industries were located outside the city and the fast train service made commuting very easy and cheap. Already the prefectures in the area had raised the tax on gasoline and diesel cars within the city. Kobe had banned them completely and I expected more cities to follow the trend. The many large parks encouraged people to get out and exercise or to play sports. The television shows were designed to be entertaining but not keep people attached to their chairs for hours on end. Juni had attacked the American's pride. She got some children that were difficult to manage and formed some baseball teams. She took her coaches and managers and said her team could beat anything the American children could put together. These were fighting words and within a month we had regularly televised amateur baseball games. A hefty percentage of the royalties went to amateur sports and to the teams playing as well for uniforms and equipment. She had to eat her words publicly after the first set of games but vowed revenge. The Caucasian children took the challenge seriously and practised with a will. For the next set of games she donated tickets to the amusement park for every player and the coaches. In reality she had tickets for everybody produced but this way the teams would try harder. The Americans were not into soccer as they called it but they were challenged again for different rewards. Japan won these games easily but a rivalry was heating up. Benyam was one of the better players on the team and in his mind he was thankful for all the practice he got in Ethiopia. After carefully plotting the orbits of the other satellites, I tested our own two military aircraft. I didn't want the various countries to get too upset at their capability so I decided to hide it from them. It took two nights but the craft did appear to be at least as good as I could make them. The energised skin though could not be duplicated by anybody else though. The separation of the space station was another major event for the whole world to see. The parting was not dramatic but over the course of an hour the station was a few hundred feet away and accelerating. Television was flooded with images from both the interior and the exterior. I made a point of getting the countries names that had contributed to this endeavour. People working in shirt sleeves were seen slowly drifting to an outside wall and having to now start to correct for this force the first time. They played their games again like tossing food and drink to gobble it as it travelled. The local audiences were familiar with this but the rest of the world wasn't. My entire family was aboard the craft even my grandparents from London. I had the A/SF-2 space fighter waiting for any possible attack in the lock. Speeches were given and after a count it was mentioned that almost five thousand people were aboard for this auspicious occasion. General Mobutu was frantic trying to make sure everything was safe while we were in space. He figured this would be a good time to attack the other facilities as the world's attention was elsewhere. After two days we figured the danger had mainly passed and began to stand down. The United States and Russia did launch rockets the old way but after looking close I found them to be only spy cameras and equipment to pick up clandestine transmission from the ground. In a way I was heartened because the major powers had started to band together for mutual support, not war. This also made it clear they were worried about me and my abilities and were getting ready to do something about it. A few weeks later the family was again together but this time in Ethiopia. Ayana gave birth to a boy. This one was called Matthew after my grandfather. He had his mother's looks and my platinum blond hair. Mine was starting to grow again after having it sheared to fit inside the helmet I used in space. He too was normal and I did for him what I did for his brother hoping these minimal gifts would be enough for him to make his way in this world. Juni was getting bigger and couldn't wait for the due day herself. She was very busy and found the baby slowed her down a bit but she wouldn't trade the life within her for anything. Morie was very solicitous of all the women but at this time even more so for his daughter and what I told him was his granddaughter. That night Brihan and Sofia each had one of their eggs fertilized. If the eggs attached themselves to their respective womb walls, we would have two more children in nine months. The rest of the family congratulated them. Rachael and Demeku were heartbroken, but were consoled when I told them that they wouldn't be in six months when their turn came. While we stayed in Addis Ababa for a few weeks I took some of the silicon wafers and worked on some one of a kind prototypes for the next generation of computer. Using only my mind I was able to get the traces down to just wide enough for one electron at a time to pass. Electrons at this level behaved oddly and I used a third state that would allow me to build a completely new level of complexity into the chip. This unit would control sixty four of the other two state chips to see how well it performed. The slave processors were pushed to their limits to keep up with this new chip. Storage went up by two levels of magnitude on the main crystal but each processor had to have it's own area to work with. The mathematics even in base three this time was much more complex and I found that I was making many wrong choices when programming. The system was not operating as I thought it should. I spent a considerable amount of time working on this model in my mind and found that I had to change this structure to what the system demanded to make it work. The unit took an inordinate amount of time to program and I had to go back to it many times and change previous code to make it match what was needed later. I did not like this for it was as if I were working blind and fumbling as most other humans did. Everything before was thought out until completion then the ideas put into practice. It took more time to program the unit with its basic operating system than it did to design the four planes. The better interface with my mind made the difference, otherwise it would be weeks to do this job. I had only so much time to spend on this unit so it was made to learn by itself from the data it gathered. The best if not only place to put it would be the space station. Our A/SP-1 passenger plane was wheeled out. I was under no misapprehension that it was unknown. The last time I flew completely full. The 6500 mile trip to Ethiopia took only two hours and I flew over China. They could not shoot me down if they tried. I was not only too fast but many times too high. The AP-1 could do the same trip but carry twice the number of passengers. The trips were necessary to show the Vietnamese more of the world for I had plans of my own with Vietnam. They would be my aircraft and space craft builders. Ho and his generals now wanted immediate delivery of all the units I could make. I agreed to give them two of the smaller units but I had to approve of all the pilots. Japanese technicians came over and started showing how to make the various components with their computer operated machines. For now, the weapons would be made only in secure facilities. The engines would have to be built by the Japanese technicians till the Vietnamese had passed my form of apprenticeship. This time the A/SP-1 would breach the atmosphere. It would show some of its ability to the world and in this case hopefully bridge a few gaps. The soccer championships were being played and televised world wide. Not many stations wanted this feed so substituted in what they wanted instead. Benyam had this season brought over some boys from Ethiopia to play the Japanese and the Americans. None of the youngsters were over sixteen and their amateur status was easily seen. The action was quick with many changes of players but the game was played with a lot of sportsmanship. The two American teams were defeated early and only one Ethiopian and one Japanese remained. The score see sawed. Some great plays were seen as the boys played their hearts out. In the end Benyam tried to even up the score but was one goal short and the victorious Japanese shook hands with the opposing team then with the other four teams that played. The emperor was in the stands and handed out a trophy and congratulated all the boys on how well they played. As he finished he said, "One of our most famous citizens has agreed to offer not only the winning team but all six of them a all expense paid trip to his space station." The cheering got very loud and most would never think of doing this when their beloved Emperor spoke but the man understood and waited until the acclaim died down. "The officials and the coaches are invited to but I am told they have to watch out for their charges." More appreciation was shown and the spectators took their time leaving. I entered the locker rooms and congratulated all the children on doing so well. An official handed out all the paperwork in large manila envelopes. When I got to Benyam's team last I got a hug and the boy was not concerned that he did this with his father. The boys didn't really see me as a child but a very young looking older man. Two days later the players and officials that wanted to avail themselves of the opportunity got on the plane with all the techs and some cargo. Benyam sat in a fold out chair in the cockpit with me and a Japanese co-pilot. We climbed quickly and within a minute the wings started to fold back. Over the ocean we increased thrust and climbed rapidly. It took little time before we were well away from land and over the open Pacific ocean heading east. Seventeen minutes after takeoff we were weightless in space. The boys were strapped in along with the techs who were old hands at this. They helped the few that went against rules and ate before going on the trip. I consulted the computer to double check and nudged our orbit a little higher and twenty minutes later we were coming to the station. Our construction was not what was seen in films for there were no exposed spokes to our wheel. Ours were separate rings and progressively got smaller as they came to the centre. This gave us a very high amount of floor space even if it happened to be on what some people would be on the ceiling. We came into the brightly lit hanger with our wings folded completely back. Space suited figures locked the wheels to the deck. There was a little bit of creaking as electric motors started to turn us till we gained the same speed as the rest of the station. A docking tube came out of the wall and a space suited figure swam out and made sure the fittings were perfect. The boys were at the windows and they soon deduced that the figure was a woman. Tests were run to check the tube then a light and a bell rang. The sound we all knew meant that there was air. Some older women came down the tube and opened our hatch. Only a small sound of escaping air was heard. "Hello, my name is Echiko and I am here to see that you find your first few minutes on the station very memorable." She went on and on but the boys only wanted off so they could explore. As each boy passed he was given a plastic strap that went around his wrist. If it came off a loud alarm would be given. This was my way of knowing where each were all the time. Benyam took his bracelet quickly and tried to lead his team to all the neat places. His coaches and any others that wanted to began to follow. He just gave a small jump after telling the rest, then pulled either the straps or the long plastic bar that led to the outer periphery. The matrons kept the passengers in small easy to manage groups and took them to the spots that were on their itinerary. One had to hurry to catch up to my son. After I left the cargo would be removed and the plane readied for descent. I took the package only a few feet away and opened a door using my mind alone. Normally retinal scan and palm prints were needed for this particular door. I contacted control from this station and when the ok was given I connected the box up to all the connectors and turned the machine on. Boot-up was almost instantaneous but it now had to interface with all the equipment. This took less than a minute. I checked what the computer was doing and tweaked it a bit to see the response. There was an emergency override that would put the old computer back in control. The controls for this were all over the station. I met with station personnel and greeted them if they were off duty and talked more if they were on. The station was very big. With a quarter of a mile in diameter and 400 feet wide I was able to get over 55 million square feet of floor space. Nearly a third was taken up with equipment and another twenty percent with bulkheads and various types of plumbing and electrical conduits. This still left 640 acres or one square mile of accessible rooms. This was more than enough reason to wear the bracelets. I found Benyam and took his people to the bridge to see the controls and who was running things. They were disappointed to find that only three people were on duty. When I used my voice the computer responded but the children were used to this, however the computer's voice this time was adjusted to be sultry and even provocative. Benyam looked at me and smiled. A view of the exterior was asked for and it was displayed over a large area. Here we used the lasers again and the view was very clear. I asked the computer to lock the coordinates and we zoomed in on the moon. With the new computer and the good lens system it looked like we were looking out of a window above the lunar surface. The boys let out their breath in appreciation and so did the adults with them. Most of the boys and adults had cameras and I was fairly certain that none had been used yet. "Why don't you all take a few pictures with the moon in the background?" There was a lot of scrambling and small flashes went off and I was certain this time that less than a third of them would ever turn out. I sent Benyam off with a device that pointed the way to destinations verbally expressed. The first would be the bathrooms. They were closer to the rim where the acceleration was close to one gravity or perhaps even more. The large greenhouses built on the side that was to face the sun provided a relaxing environment along with fresh oxygen for the whole station. At the moment we were burning the produce to keep the carbon dioxide levels up but that would soon change. Before the next group came I ran more diagnosis and tried to show some of the bridge personnel some of the new tricks this computer could do. A listing came up on the large screen telling all the basic functions and a short rundown on the ones that were appreciably changed. The telescope worked much better after it was dissociated from the wheel itself. It trailed us by a mile and a half. Minor differences in earth's gravitational field still made it shake, throwing some settings off by a small but measurable amount. The Japanese astronomers like the Vietnamese, Rhodesian and Ethiopian counterparts wanted the scope and themselves moved out of the near-earth-orbit system completely so that the view could be even clearer. They had told me that they were thinking of getting beyond the Oort Cloud, but this would necessitate a two light year round trip and even with constant thrust it would take many years to get that far away, plus an approximately equal amount of time to return. My counter argument of going to some of the closer stars was not the same in their eyes for they were just after a good place to see the ones we always saw from home. To minimise the small flutter we had from imbalance, water or mercury was shifted from one area to another to compensate for people moving about this station. The present computer would not just react to the imbalance but plot probable courses and move mass as individuals walked to compensate. Eventually the last team came through and it was the second American soccer team today. They saw the representation of the moon and nearer celestial bodies. The coach one of seven American service men said, "Sir Shawn, why don't we see different nationalities here on the station?" "Most races are represented. There are white and black Africans as well as the Arabs and Ethiopians. Japanese and Vietnamese form a large portion mainly because they worked so hard to make this station." "I, a... mean. Why is there so little Caucasians when our race is so common in the advanced countries?" "Your country was invited to participate and gave us some supplies. You can see the donated equipment with their name prominently on them. Politics showed its ugly head and the advanced countries turned its back on us. Some important people have their own plans to control the world and I seem to have spoilt those plans. If your nation wanted to join me then they could now. Instead, they are trying to restrict my options and continue with their present trade policies." The children did not understand but I made it as polite as possible so that the entire group would grasp the ideas. I could continue but the children would soon get bored. I took the group to one of the gyms and had them work out for a while. After a meal and more sightseeing they boarded the plane and we set off for home. We were only one less for Benyam wanted to learn more of the station and one of the matrons took him under her wing. He didn't say anything so that his friends would not be too upset about him staying aboard. Once back down the families of the boys came forward and more pictures were taken. I purposely had photos sent to all the major papers in the world to let them know that the station was starting to be open to the public. The fact that the American children and servicemen went there too was not that subtle. Mary had tidied up most of her dealings before we boarded our largest plane the AP-1 and flew to Vietnam. The trip could be done in less than an hour but I didn't push the plane too hard. The plane was full, when we landed some six hundred workers got out along with four hundred tourists. Mary looked good walking down the steps with James in her arms. Wei came to greet me and talk about the Chinese situation face to face. He could not quite get over the security aspect of the phones and he liked the personal touch anyway. In his car we talked over the current problems as we went directly to the aircraft plant. The military and civilian personnel were busy constructing two A/SF-1s. Our only complete unit was hidden away in case of need. If Mary and James were not with us I am sure that security would not have let them through. On the way here we had seen antiaircraft batteries and rings of soldiers to keep more than just prying eyes out. Mary stated, "Shawn, this plane makes me shiver. It looks very fast and deadly as if it can kill by its looks alone. I know from your talk that it is the fastest plane there is." "It looks sleek because it has to be. I don't really want to kill in wholesale lots. With the weapons, computer and surveillance gear we should be able to be very selective in our targets. Lots of times when the officers are taken out the common soldiers will look to easier ways of gaining an objective or simply return for more instructions." "I just wish we would never need to use it. You have always taken care of the Chinese armies coming in, so that there were few deaths. This machine looks like it could kill men by the thousands." Wei entered his own feelings. "Mrs. Boz the plane is going to make a very great donation to our country's safety. Your husband has said that the old conflict would have escalated until millions were killed. The majority of them, I was sorry to hear, would have been Vietnamese. When we have a few of these planes operational, both the Chinese and the Americans will think twice about attacking us. We have been lucky so far and have kept spies away but soon they will know about this plane's performance and I fear they will make a pre-emptive strike with warplanes, missiles, artillery and perhaps even warships." He added, "As a soldier I am prepared to lay down my life for my country as are other soldiers no matter what flag they fight under. It would be much better to use this plane to fight soldiers than unarmed civilians. That has happened recently in our civil war." Ho was in Saigon and after dropping off our suitcases at our home we went for a visit. Lian the last of Ho's wives met us at the door and ushered us in. She had lost her fear of me as she saw how much I worked for her people. Lian kissed Mary and took James, "He is so big already. You must be eating the food I suggested." "I am and Morie makes sure I eat what his mother used to say was good too. I do have lots of milk for him and it sounds like the food works. He is usually quite hungry and will grow like his father I think." Ho came from the back room and I saw that he was looking quite frail. "Shawn, how are you? Mary it is so nice to see you again. Your son looks to be getting bigger. I think it must be the Vietnamese food." Mary and I laughed at the similar thinking of our hosts. We sat down for refreshments and discussed some of the problems. There were a lot of hydroelectric units but the power did not get to the villages where the people could make use of it. They were so used to being abjectly poor that they could not envision some of the possibilities now open to them. The children now leaving the village for an education could come home on occasion. It wasn't long ago that somebody leaving like this was not likely to come back. Ho wanted a new copper smelter set up to take advantage of the ore that was available. Electricity here would be used to purify this product enough for it to be used for transmission lines. The huge generating station I was building could power by itself all the country and take care of Laos and Cambodia as well. Its completion was still a half year off. The monorail would be 93% finished except for the massive structures that had to be made for the wide valleys. The speed of the train made a straight line run even more important than ever before. Travelling in excess of 300 miles per hour made even a small deviation in the track very stressful for the equipment. Small sections had already been opened and the trains worked at carrying both passengers and cargo. We had visitors coming from all over the world to see this train. The track in Saudi Arabia had not quite been finished yet and the king wanted to open the entire system and not do it piecemeal. Wei and Quang had been working together to protect the country and they let their fears be known. Ho had been in contact with the Chinese embassy many times but their assurances were not very good, even if they ever committed to anything. The sleeping army had all been evacuated and the equipment returned. The only reason given for the original incursion was to repel the capitalist that was taking over the country and enslaving the people. The enslaved people were now the freest they had ever been and were being educated as well if not better than any other country on earth. When the problems were discussed, Ho brought out some of his poems after being asked many times and he read them to us. Most were simple and to the point but said everything that was needed. Lian showed us some of her needlework and brought out some clothes to fit a small prince. She gave them to Mary for our son. The clothing was very beautiful and it was done very accurately. I could see James in the clothes and knew they would complement his looks very well. Mary brought out of her purse a water colour I had done on the way here. Even though I was the pilot the extra task was easily done especially with the automated controls. She presented it to Lian. It was a picture of old Saigon before the French had come. Lian treasured it especially after seeing my signature at the bottom. Already her mind was thinking of the best place to put it. James needed changing and feeding. When the women left us alone I said, "Ho you are looking very weak. You are going to die a lot sooner than you must because you refuse to let me treat you." "I have been just too busy Shawn. I know you are the best but I just can't afford to be idle even for a few days. The Chinese make unreasonable demands on me and the politicians I am saddled with whether from the south or the north continue to nibble at my power." "Ho the country will suffer when you die. You know I have no wish to take over or to see some inept fool do so. You have to take some time off and get cured. You have a good telephone with video. It will carry your image live to where it is needed. The longer you put off the longer it will take to cure. The coming years are very important and your good health is what may make or break this country." He thought for a while then said, "I will do as you wish. When will you like to begin?" "How about now? I will start the treatment immediately and impose on you as your house guests for the next few days. I hope the sound of a baby crying will not upset you?" The man smiled. "No Shawn. I have many children and I only regret that I have never had time enough for them." That night we moved our bags over and I stayed with Ho for the night. In the morning Lian and I had to bathe him for he stunk of his sickness that was slowly leaving his body. That afternoon I chased the women out and watched James and Ho in the garden. It took three days for the man to get enough strength to go back to work. He was much thinner but his colour had returned. Baring accidents or assassinations he would now live to be an old man. Mary and I went out on the monorail to the large valley that was the current bottleneck. It was almost five miles across and had a meandering stream through the centre of the swamp. The plans usually called for many excavations that went down to the bedrock. Steel would be inserted to ensure that any structure built on it did not shift. Forms were to be placed in the hole and concrete was to be put in with further steel rods for strength. These were placed fifty feet apart. This deep and long depression could use a long bridge for truck and foot traffic. The pylons for the train would extend from the centre and raise high above the traffic. As the summit nearly a hundred and seventy nine feet from the valley floor, would be the 'T'. This would be added to support the trains that would run here. This way instead of over five hundred individual pylons we would have a large bridge with massive but fewer columns. The excavations would be the problem for the intervening land was a complete quagmire. It would need to be dredged and the water pumped out for the equipment to be used. Pumps, steel and men were nearby ready to begin this Herculean job. I called the engineers and general manager and asked that the people and supplies get moved back beyond the ridge of the valley on both sides. The general manager, a short rotund individual with an overbearing personality asked simply, "Why?" "I am going to blow holes in the soil down to the bedrock and across the entire width of the valley. You will be able to use barges to carry the concrete and there will be little overburden to remove. The earth and water that is removed will come showering down for up to ten miles around. Everything will be covered in mud. The benefit will be that the holes will be dug in minutes, giving you an extra three months for your complete project." The man knew what I had done to the Ho Chi Minh Trail and dropped all his doubts. "How much time do we have?" "As much as you need but I expect that twelve hours should be enough." Early the next morning I flew over the area with the A/SF-1 and used my mind on a line from one side of the valley to another. The condition of the soil, water content and distance to solid rock were all calculated in advance. I pictured the door in my mind and placed the exact amount of antimatter deep into the earth. I was safely over the edge of the hill when it came into contact with standard matter. The process took seventeen passes and left the sides of the excavation covered in glass. The stream was boiling in sections and it was impossible to see for miles because of the suspended dust from a very wet swamp. Water vapour took at least an hour to blow away. When I gave the all clear it took some very brave men to look over the edge to see the devastation below. There was no residual radiation and it was as cleaner than if I had used conventional explosives. Chemical explosives made quite a few noxious gases. I came in for a landing and altered the flaps then directed the thrust forward so I landed the plane in less than three hundred feet. The engines were so powerful that I could take off in that much space too, if I must. Standing with the general manager we surveyed the valley. It had been only a habitat for frogs and mosquitoes but now even they did not live there. The sides of the valley were all coated with mud and that had been baked by subsequent blasts. Some of the lighter pieces of equipment had been moved back out of the way but all of it now was covered in dry soil. The heat of the blasts had driven any moisture it might have had away leaving dust and glass to fall for many miles around. The manager stooped and picked up some of the glass globules and marvelled at the heat that had been used to make them. Orders were harshly given and men went down into the trench and began placing a temporary dyke almost half way across. Men from the other side were doing the same. One of my large trucks with a boom lowered a large diesel driven pump then lowered a large hose. Soon what water trickled through the glass reinforced sides was pumped further away and the holes were started for the bridge supports. I left soon after in a new cloud of dust and saw people waving to me from a safe distance. They were now it seemed, expecting me to pull a rabbit out of the hat whenever it was needed. In the coming weeks I found that the Russians had seen the first blasts and focussed on the rest of my barrage to see what they could find out. I had kept the plane sub-sonic but they were at a loss to see the missiles that must have penetrated the ground and moved all that overburden. Wei had his own problems for he had a much harder time keeping people away and he was not even thought of as a high priority target by our neighbours. Vietnam was searched as well as the super powers could but still they could not find the plane. When their was no surveillance above I had simply landed outside Hanoi and drove the plane into a warehouse where it was usually stored. Some of Wei's most trusted men were stationed here and out of uniform. I had to hurry back to Tokyo because Juni was due any day now. Mary and I flew back this time in the same large aircraft but were just passengers this time. We watched a short movie because the plane flight would not allow a longer one. A harried stewardess ran up and down the aisles selling liquor because I did not want it given away. If someone wanted to drink then they could, but they had to pay for their vices. Three days into the year 1963 Juni presented us with Sumico. This was also the name of her mother and Morie's long dead wife. Juni half heartedly wanted her named after my mother but I refused. The child was very beautiful with a mixture of features of her mother and me. Again she like James had platinum blond hair. I increased her mental communication to a higher level. Like many women she already had a small amount of this ability. She was very smart already but like her siblings I increased the area to store information. It was fun to see through her eyes at the strange upside down world. Instinct already told her correctly who mother was though. Morie had rebuilt his home but in a fit of grief had sold the property for a profit and remained with us at the yards. It was much safer here anyway for armed guards patrolled the yard all the time. The employees were not offended and knew the security would help them too. Things in a way were coming to a head. Oil prices had continued to climb and I had been able to talk about Japan's electric cars as a very cheap alternative. Only a bit unjustly I insinuated that American oilmen were the cause of the expensive oil in their country. Similar things were said in different countries about their own oil companies. Large profits were made by these enterprises and in the end it was still the ordinary people that had to pay. It was hoped that these ordinary people would put up enough of a fuss that the government would have to stop part of their grievances with me. Our car company built many thousands of electric cars and stored them for when the day finally arrived when they could be exported. Saudi Arabia and the rest of the oil producing nations raised their prices again the next week. Temperate countries were crying about the high cost of heating fuel but I was the one that had to say that the oil companies were making the profit and the government was taxing some of it away. A lot of other newspaper articles came out reinforcing my ideas. The governments were forced to promise to give some small subsidies to the people that needed it. Russia was making out like a bandit for it was exporting millions of barrels of oil. It took a long time to build a pipeline and they had to deal with smaller capacities. They were now able to feed their people with the wheat that they were now purchasing. Saudi Arabia was cutting back, so as to not flood the market. Through a lot of pressure Iraq and Libya held back production too. Through some holding companies King Faysal and I bought the mineral rights to an area of the Gulf of Mexico just off of the Texas coast. The drilling was done for show as I directed the crews to dead areas. They consistently came up with dry holes but were observed working. The North Sea was similarly done and here I had to start different holding companies to spread the claims. Here I was obligated to form partnerships with other companies but usually they were small and King Faysal and I owned a majority of the shares. Before they would make any real strike we would buy more of the company. While this was happening I was working on the generating station. The large turbines had started to come in and we made a special set of tracks to get the units to the site. There they were hoisted into position close to the very large boiler. This was nothing different to any other plant, except for the gigantic scale we were building it to. The small portion on the boiler was to house many years worth of antimatter and was very well protected from attack. The engineers helping me figured I would bring the oil or gas burner in at a later time. Waste heat drove a water desalination unit that would give us distilled water for the plant and pure water to send to neighbouring towns and villages. Heavy cables now ran to a copper smelter that had not been completed yet. An aluminium smelter was further away and would get our power too. We did not hide the project but we did not discuss the fuel source because none knew of it but me. Demeku and Rachael had synchronized their menses and when the time came the whole family flew to the space station for the occasion. In just a few days the last two of my wives became pregnant. It would take a while to find the genders but I was not concerned at all. I found it easy to relax here and hardly did any work. I just pondered a few ideas on space travel as I pleasured my wives and shared myself more with the family. We talked a lot more. I already knew about their lives and let them know lots more about me. The children had a lot of fun in the low gravity gym as did the adults. They would jump from one area to another flapping their arms or doing acrobatics. The babies though took a while to get used to it. Their incessant crying hurt the mothers but I insisted that the children stay. Like teaching them to swim at a young age they soon acclimatised to the almost weightless conditions. The greenhouses that provided food and oxygen, also gave tranquillity and another sense of creation. Our lovemaking took a lot of getting used to. Visions of the Kama Sutra came to mind and I was even able to add a few new positions to the total. Demeku and Rachael were especially inventive but this was before I told them that their eggs had taken. Sofia became even more demanding because she wanted another child very soon and I wanted to space them out a bit to allow the mothers to recover. Morie worked on his own studies with Maeko and Kochiyo. The children all wanted more siblings. The chance to practice their skills and perhaps to show me that they were responsible was part of the reason. Benyam was looking all over examining all the unattached ladies thinking of starting his own family without fully thinking of the consequences of the act. I had another talk with him because he could see me making love and I was slightly younger than him. Some of the Japanese girls had been giving him the eye but their parents would only accept a son in law. At least they had gotten over part of their hatred of the 'round eye'. I had to console him with the fact that his time would eventually come. Thinking of my space ships I said, "Benyam, I am working on some more ships. These will be made to stay in space and go between the planets. Some will be small enough for a few young men to go exploring. One of those young men might be you. If you study hard you could make it as one of the many jobs onboard. Perhaps you could even be the captain." His eyes lit up and I just hoped that he would work hard enough to accomplish this task. I was not going to bend too many rules to allow him on such a ship if he was not qualified. A month later, and after a lot of money had been spent on articles in major world newspapers, Britain decided to accept our electric cars. Their government fought it hard but an election was coming up and it was obvious that the people would get the vehicles one way or another. The government stipulations for import were very high and I just produced more newspaper articles to inflame the people till the government gave me the same stipulations as other foreign car manufacturing companies. The dealerships that had closed before the trade war reopened. The new rules I demanded required all similar cars to have the same price. There was no dickering and everything was posted on the dealer windows. The first boatload of cars entered Britain a month before my fourteenth birthday. As other federal elections in other countries came about, I put out similar types of articles in order to get the sanctions on electric cars lifted. Everything else stayed the same though. Russia was only a little perturbed because it would take many years for the capitalist countries to switch over. Mao was seething though with my latest victory. He was still unsure of me and would like to invade to take the pressure of his manager's ineptitude. His losses meant only that he would probably loose again however he couldn't afford to loose more face. King Faysal wanted to start the other oilfields because his exports were very low. This was necessary to keep the price of oil up. The North sea came in first and we found that we owned a little over eighty percent of the find. The news made oil prices fall for a week until it got home that it would be years before the oil would reach any refinery. The same thing happened off the coast of Texas in September. Like the other field this promoted a lot more exploratory drilling by all the oil companies. The good fields though had already been staked by us and there was only crumbs left for the rest. We hurried our own development and the tests and flow-rates said that we had a very rich find. Share prices were very high and the king and I began to sell in small lots. The large generators in Vietnam came online to feed the two metal plants but the world was led to believe it was natural gas being burned. When the market for oil shares had been saturated I caused a world sensation by fully powering up the plant and saying that we were using antimatter. When I said that the fuel was very cheap to produce and the plant had almost ten years supply the price of electric shares fell as did the price of oil shares. We had been prepared and raked in enormous profits from the puts we had made in advance. With the cash we bought back all our old shares at a fraction of the price we originally sold them for. Before a backlash against our power source could be mounted a space ship that was being built in space left on a two week trip to Mars. Benyam and Shumetie along with some other cadets went with them. Most had been taken from the academy in Rhodesia and really could do the work assigned them. Morie was the captain with Sofia as his second in command. Mobutu went for security because he said the group may have to be protected from Martians. In all almost four hundred technicians left. And the security headache of hiding the expedition was finally over. The big business leaders and defence contractors in the United States gave up their fight and told the government to remove the sanctions after the ship returned from the red planet. Russia and China had little trade with me but decided to follow suit or they would be left out. Part of the reason was that many of the lighter but valuable materials were fairly abundant on the planetary surface. In the coming years Jimmy Carter succeeded in his second term in office and the United States took one small step to the left. That same year Nikita Khrushchev was assassinated by some Ukrainians dissatisfied with life in the Soviet Union. Three months late Mao suffered the same fate. Both countries took a good step to the right. Chiang Kai-shek came out of Taiwan and formed an opposition party in the now multiparty country. He never became the leader but was instrumental in bringing much needed reform. United States based companies got the contracts for many of the new space craft and soon people were exploring the entire solar system powered by antimatter. The fuel source was still a secret, but being sold so cheaply, it vastly encouraged space exploration and growth. The Russians took many of the ships and set up gigantic smelting operations that brought back metal and minerals from both planets and the asteroid belt. The Chinese took many more smaller ships and began their climb to a dominant position by becoming the solar system's most proficient capitalists. Their small family run businesses went out and traded with all the other races. The United Nations went into orbit and governed a truly united earth. There were many squabbles still but that was the nature of human kind. A standing army of only ten thousand people guarded earth from meteors and the occasional uprising. Most of these were American and Nepalese. Shumetie led the first manned expedition to the stars. He and a ship of almost a hundred thousand men and women flew to Epsilon Eridani. Other than a giant planet three smaller ones were reported by robotic probes. The children began businesses of their own and took over ours as well in coming years. I worked hard on my wives bodies and kept them younger than they normally would be. In 2003 I had finished all the research I could think of and hid portions of the results all over the system. Somebody one day would find some of the data and this would surely set off a new treasure hunt for more information. I had hopes by that time humanity would have grown up enough to use it without destroying themselves. Antimatter has been stockpiled to last for at least a thousand years even at a high demand. This was as it should be because none of my many sons or daughters came close to any of my abilities in that single respect, and I was always too fearful of the consequences to train them. Now my time is taken up with my newest crop of children and grandchildren. My family is widespread, successful and happy, so I think I can take a well deserved rest. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-12-21 Last Modified: 2005-12-29 / 12:06:54 am ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------