Storiesonline.net ------- Oscar Meyers by Lazlo Zalezac Copyright© 2004 by Lazlo Zalezac ------- Description: Oscar is a screwup until he encounters the God in a dust devil. Follow his life as he grows from being a soldier, to scholar, and finally to prophet. This is a story about duty and the price of honor. Codes: MF MM rom ------- ------- Copyright© Lazlo Zalezac, 2004 ------- Part 1: Foo Fighter ------- Chapter 1 A common fallacy is that anyone can be anything they desire; that if they work hard enough they can achieve their dream. This is patently false. The man locked in a wheel chair will never be an Olympic long jump gold medallist. Not everyone has the mental capacity to be a rocket scientist. Some people are so ugly that no matter how much plastic surgery they have they will never be Miss America. People are held back by natural limitations of all kinds. Some limitations are physical while others are mental. Some people are not emotionally stable enough to bear the stress that some activities require. It is important that people recognize those limitations and not waste their time trying to do something of which they are incapable. Natural limitations are not as severe as one may believe. The limitations that one puts on oneself are far more destructive and limiting. These are artificial barriers and their existence makes people chose to not pursue those things in which they may actually excel. The loss is theirs and the world at large suffers. Occasionally, something happens that is so amazing, frightening, and strange that it changes the lives of those involved. The result is a sudden elimination of many of the self-imposed limitations. The people appear to change direction in their life, becoming new people energized and capable of anything. An example is the near death experience that changes a shy person into a charismatic preacher. When artificial barriers are destroyed, it is as though a whole new world opens for the person. Simple things that were once impossible now become easy. They possess great energy. That energy is contagious and affects all that come within their sphere of influence. Overnight, they become leaders in their chosen field of endeavor. When a natural limitation is removed by a supernatural means, the result is miraculous. Impossible things become possible and the effects can rock the entire world. They are driven by a force that is impossible to conquer. ------- Every branch of the military has one. There is the one soldier that never breaks the rules but is never successful in carrying out his orders. He's the one that repeats boot camp and ends up performing worse the second time. He's the one that drops the live grenade in the throwing area during training. He's the one that drops his rifle during the close order drill demonstration during the graduation parade at the conclusion of boot camp. He's the one that spills his food tray on the base commander the first day he arrives at his post. This is the guy that, after completing his full tour, is still a single stripe and actually wishes to reenlist. His desire to please and the energy that he puts into each task only exasperate the problem. The one in the army was the one and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Meyers. Jacob Meyers, in a slightly inebriated state on the day his son was born, had given the poor lad the name, Oscar. That's right, the great army screw-up was named Oscar Meyers. Almost everyone that met poor Oscar was initially tempted to call him hot dog. Usually after ten minutes of experiencing the clumsy young man, they would give him the nickname Bologna. Girls liked him, but none had ever considered dating him. He was viewed as mostly harmless by women. His early life had been filled with bullies that took advantage of his small stature and clumsiness. He had been the butt of jokes for as long as he could remember. While he was physically clumsy, Oscar was not stupid and had made very good grades through school. That also had been a factor in being treated poorly. Unfortunately, he was too clumsy to even be considered a nerd. Oddly, he understood the attitudes of other people towards him. Oscar had harmed more than one individual through his clumsiness. He had lost jobs because of accidents that were his fault. It wasn't fun being around an accident-prone person; it was downright dangerous. He felt guilty about the number of people that he had harmed although it wasn't intentional. Joining the army had been more difficult than he had expected. He assumed that the army accepted anyone. He just barely met the physical requirements in terms of height. The recruiter had even tried to talk him out of joining after Oscar had tripped over the brochure stand causing it to crash over, landing full force on the recruiter's foot. Oscar had been desperate and forced the issue. Unemployed and effectively unemployable, he had no real future except the military. Oscar had joined the army for several reasons. There was the hope that the discipline imposed on him would translate into more control over his body and give him greater self-confidence. He hoped that his fellow soldiers would treat him as an equal. Also, he couldn't afford college and planned to use the benefits that the army provided to pay his way through school. Despite his expectations to the contrary, life in the military was rather lonely for Oscar. His fellow soldiers did their best to stay away from him. He had caused several of them to be injured in the past; each time had been an accident, but that didn't relieve the pain he had caused. His fellow soldiers didn't want to stand in front of him when he carried a gun because they were afraid of being shot in the back. They didn't want to stand next to him out of fear that he would drop a live grenade. They didn't want to be behind him, because God only knew what Oscar would do to screw things up and get one of them killed. It was often joked, in the grim manner of hardened soldiers, that in a battle he would be responsible for the majority of purple hearts his unit would receive. He had gone through several nicknames by now. It started with hotdog. After his first accident, they started calling him Wiener. After several more screw-ups, they changed it to Bologna. This was followed by the nickname, Fuck Up, which was shortened to F-U. Even F-U was too much so they shortened it to Foo. He did his best not to answer to it, but the frequent use of the term demanded him to reply; even his Sargent called him Foo. It was a fine summer morning when Oscar found himself driving an empty Hummer through the Afghani desert. Even though it was morning, the temperature was rising towards triple digits. The Hummer was empty because no one wanted to ride with him. His rifle was in the back seat, placed there by his fellow soldiers, where it could do no harm. He was several miles behind the convoy and driving fast in the hope of catching up with it. He had stopped a half an hour earlier to go to the bathroom and they had continued on their way. It was important to note that they had waited for him during his first two stops, but he was single-handedly holding back the entire convey. When he had pulled over the last time, they went on without him. It wasn't that they did anything wrong. After the last stop they had told him to return to the base on the assumption that the route was safe, but he had decided that he could continue in the hope of catching up with them. If something happened to him, they would probably get in trouble. If they stayed with him, they would definitely arrive at their destination late and be in trouble. Before he could catch up to them, his stomach cramped again. He pulled off the road and parked by some rocks. Grabbing the roll of toilet paper from the seat next to him, he raced into the rocks while undoing his belt. He only tripped once causing him to drop the roll of toilet paper. Miraculously it was the only incident that marred his dash to his temporary toilet. Dropping his pants, he sighed as his bowels emptied themselves for the fourth time that morning. As he squatted, he looked over the desert appreciating the harsh beauty of it. To his surprise, a convoy of white trucks headed towards the road that his convey had taken. He watched as they met up with the road and turned down it to follow the route taken by his fellow soldiers. He was about to wipe himself, when his bowels boiled again. He put the convoy out of his mind while his ass burned from going one time too many. The sad thing about this situation was that he had done it to himself. He had drunk the laxative thinking it was Malox and would calm his upset stomach. Even worse, he had dosed himself twice trying to alleviate his stomachache. The discovery of its true nature occurred much too late to do anything about it. While he groaned, the laxative took effect again. He wiped the dirt off the roll of toilet paper; bemoaning his fate as a klutz. After ten minutes, his intestines calmed down. He wiped himself off and pulled up his pants. He went back to the Hummer and put the roll of toilet paper on the front seat. Returning to his makeshift toilet with a shovel, he covered it with a light layer of dirt. He looked up at the sky, where he believed the Gods and Goddesses resided, as he said, "Sorry about that, at least the toilet paper is biodegradable." He returned to the Hummer, only dropping the shovel twice on his way there, and put away the shovel. Pulling back from the rocks, he returned to the road. He floored it in the hope of catching up to his convoy. The dark cloud of dust on the horizon placed the convey well ahead of him. Of course, he thought it was odd that the cloud of dust was almost black in color. The soil in this region was a dirty reddish-gray. The nature of the terrain changed from flat to hilly. Ahead the terrain would become mountainous and that was where his unit was being deployed. The unit would be spending the next few months searching for terrorists hidden in the mountains along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This was an assignment that he did not want. He was not afraid of the terrorists, but of hurting his fellow soldiers. Oscar was sure that his clumsiness would create a disaster. Twenty minutes later, he came around a bend in the road. Half of the convoy of white trucks he had observed earlier was headed in his direction. He knew things were bad when bullet holes appeared in his windshield. He turned the Hummer in a huge circle and headed back the way he had come. An RPG flew past him and exploded harmlessly beside the road. His stomach clenched, only this time it was out of fear. He drove like a maniac trying to get away from them. Half of the time, he was looking over his shoulder trying to watch what was occurring behind him. Each time he looked over his shoulder the Hummer swerved all over the area. It was only on the road half the time, but that was actually to his benefit since it gave his driving an unpredictability that prevented the terrorists from targeting him. His efforts to outrun the white trucks were not successful. They slowly gained on him while the rear of the Hummer rang as bullets struck it. Unable to return fire while driving; he knew he needed to stop and defend himself. Finally, he spotted a pile of rocks and decided that he could take cover among them. He drove the car up to the rocks and parked the Hummer. In his haste, he stopped far too short of the rocks. He reached into the back seat for his gun, firing a round through the door as he did so. Unfazed, he leapt out of the vehicle and took off towards the rocks. Without tripping, he made it to the rocks and threw himself behind one of them. The dampness seeping into pants where his knee touched the ground made him realize where he was. He had just knelt in the middle of his former toilet. In an irony that he didn't notice at the time, he swore, "Shit!" He readied his gun as the six white trucks stopped. Two of them had machine guns mounted on the roof of the cab. He started firing, miraculously hitting a couple of the people in the trucks. He ducked as they returned fire. He rose and fired a few more rounds in the general direction of the trucks. The sounds from the next volley of shots in his direction informed him that he was being surrounded. Oscar knew he was about to be trapped in his current position. His stomach clenched in fear as he looked around for a way to escape. The only way out required him to pass through a huge dust devil moving towards his position from the rear. Things were pretty hopeless and there was no one to rescue him. He had no idea what had happened to his convey, but he was sure that it wasn't good. By now, Oscar was more scared than he had ever been. This was the kind of fear in which the whole body reacts; belly churns, asshole clenches, the skin sweats, and limbs tremble. All he wanted to do was to get out of there. He rose and, in panic, fired the rest of his clip in the direction where he thought the enemy was hiding. When he knelt down, he realized that he was out of ammunition and almost surrounded. The Hummer was too far away for him to return to it for ammunition without getting killed. His situation was hopeless and he knew it. He was basically unarmed except for his knife while they were fully armed and more than happy to kill him. There was no doubt in his mind that it would likely be a long slow painful death. Everyone stationed in the area had heard stories of people being tortured to death. He remembered the stories about the news reporter that had been skinned alive. His hands trembled from the fear. He turned to examine his only avenue of escape and looked at the dust devil as it moved closer to him. He would never be able to explain why he did what he did next. It may have been his fear that drove him to it or it might have been his curiosity about what would happen to him. He did know that he had nothing left to loose and that there was a chance that he would be shot to death rather than captured. He stood up and ran as fast as he could into the dust devil. The dust devil was huge, about fifty feet across at the base. The wind wasn't that strong, but it was loaded with dirt and debris. He was nearly blinded by the dust when he stepped into it, but that didn't stop him from continuing into the eye. When he reached the calm center, there was a naked man standing there with his arms crossed. Oscar froze and stared at the man. This was the last thing that he had expected to see. Remembering a myth that Djinni lived in dust devils, he asked, "Do I get three wishes or something?" The naked man looked at the pitiful figure in front of him. The knees of his pants were stained brown from kneeling in shit. He was sure that if the man had not been to the bathroom so many times before that his pants would have been filled with it. The naked man laughed before he answered, "Sure, why not? What do you wish for?" Oscar stood there for a minute and then thinking aloud said, "I wish I was wise and intelligent enough to make good use of these wishes." "Okay," acknowledged the naked man as he raised his arms and nodded his head in a fashion that Oscar expected of a Djinni. He asked, "Your second wish?" Oscar thought about where he had been and declared, "I wish I had the strength, grace, and fortitude to do what needs to be done." "Interesting. Granted." The naked man looked at Oscar for a minute before he asked, "What is your third wish?" Oscar shrugged his shoulders as he tried to think of a good third wish. In a flash of insight, he said, "I wish to use these gifts to serve the Gods and Goddesses to the best of my ability." The man nodded his head and Oscar suddenly found himself in a meadow facing the naked man. The meadow was eerie; the colors were too bright, the sounds too loud, and scents that would normally be unnoticed stood out demanding attention. The naked man was taller and sporting an extremely large erection. Oscar stared at it for a minute, incredulous that a male body could support anything that huge. For a moment, he was glad that he hadn't asked for the biggest dick on the planet. Oscar came to a realization as he stared at the man. In an awed voice, he said, "You're not a Djinni, you're the God." The naked man smiled as he looked upon Oscar and replied, "Yes, I am." Before Oscar had a chance to react, the man reached out and grabbed him. The clothes fell off Oscar as if they were leaves on an oak in autumn. Strong hands on his shoulders forced him to his knees. His scream of surprise was cut off as the huge cock was shoved into his mouth. His eyes opened wide at the situation in which he found himself. Despite his first impulse to fight the invasion of his mouth, Oscar chose to accept it. After all, this was a God and they lived by their own rules. A mortal man could not hope to fight off a God. The situation was complicated by the fact that Oscar was a virgin. He had never been with a woman in any kind of sexual situation; he had never even held hands. He had no real idea what a blowjob was supposed to be like. Oscar tried to remember what he had read about getting a blowjob, but the stories read while masturbating did not cover the details about how to give a blowjob. Even if they had, he wouldn't have paid them any attention since he expected to be on the receiving end rather than giving one. He put his hands up and started to stroke the base of the monster cock. The effort seemed to spur the man on to more vigorous thrusting. Oscar's cock became erect and started leaking pre-cum almost immediately. It pooled on the ground around his knees. His sexual excitement in these circumstances surprised him making him question if secretly he was gay, but years of jacking off to pictures of naked women argued to the contrary. As his erection continued to demand attention, he took one of his hands off the God's cock and placed it on his own. Oscar tried to lick the cock in his mouth while his hand stroked the base of the cock. The cock was so large that his efforts were ineffective and it was so far into his mouth that he was licking insensitive shaft. After what seemed like an hour, the naked man came. He shoved his cock deep into the Oscar's throat and emptied himself. Oscar forced himself not to vomit as his stomach was filled with come. Oscar came at the same time with an orgasm that was far more intense than any of his previous experiences during masturbation. It was more intense than any of his masturbation fantasies had conceived. His hand and cock were quickly covered with a thick coat of come. The amount of ejaculate was impossible. He knew a man only ejaculated a teaspoon of come, but this felt like a gallon. Even while Oscar was recovering from his orgasm, the man pushed him onto his back and grabbed his ankles. He parted Oscar's legs and pulled his ass off the ground exposing Oscar's asshole to easy access. With a single thrust, he shoved his cock into Oscar's ass. At least the cock had been coated with saliva so it wasn't exactly dry. Oscar couldn't help thinking that at least the laxative had emptied his bowels. Oscar groaned at the painful sensation as the invading cock stretched his asshole beyond what nature had intended. The cock was huge and his ass was too small. He did his best to relax and not fight the intrusion. He felt stretched as tears in his rectum produced considerable pain. His cock was hard, so he began to stroke it. His previous orgasm had coated it with his come so his hand slid easily along its length; like when he used hand cream when masturbating. The cock continued to thrust into and out of his ass. As Oscar absorbed the punishment to his ass, he realized that his first sexual contact was with a God. How many people could make the same claim? The thought made him come, but his ejaculation wasn't nearly as copious as his first. The God continued to ravage Oscar's ass. By now, the reaming was becoming too painful to bear. Oscar tensed the muscles in his ass in the hope that it would cause the god to come quicker. His anus was so stretched that the effort was pitiful. After an hour or more, the naked man came. He slowly pulled out much to Oscar's relief and released his hold on Oscar. Oscar's legs and ass hit the ground in an undignified manner as he lay there catching his breath. Oscar stood on legs that shook. It wasn't clear if it was from the orgasm or from the conflicting emotions that roared through him. He didn't want to go through that again, but he wanted to know if this was just the first round. He took a breath and then asked, "Is there more?" "No more sex, the magic is complete." The naked man pointed to a small camp that was in a desert area below the meadow as he ordered, "Inside the terrorist camp is a medallion. Get it for me." Oscar looked at the desert area that started ten feet from thick green woodland. He tried to make sense of the proximity between desert and woodland. He decided this was a mystery and that it was not intended for him to understand. After a glance at the God, he headed towards the edge of the woods. He would use the cover of the trees to observe the terrorists. He looked up and saw that the sun was directly overhead. It would be a long time before it got dark. As he moved, crouching to avoid being observed, he wondered how he was to deal with the terrorists. He was naked and had no weapons. As he neared the edge of the woods, he noticed a large trash dump a good distance away from the camp. Apparently, the terrorists had been here for a long time and had generated a significant amount of refuse. He reached the edge of the woods and knelt down beside a tree. From there, he planned his course of action. He would go to the dump to see what he could find. There was a small ravine on the other side of camp. He would make a large circle around the camp to the ravine. He would enter the ravine and edge closer to camp. Once there, he would have to decide how to approach the camp more directly. He left the protective covering of the woods making his way by crawling on the ground to keep from being seen. The rocks and scrub brush irritated his cock, the thorns cutting it. It took him close to an hour to reach the dump. Once there, he dug through the rotten food and various pieces of trash in the dump. Amongst the trash, were several empty rice sacks made of a burlap-like material. According to the writing on the sacks, the rice had originated from a UN food program. He grabbed them thinking that he could make some clothes out of them. He stopped for a moment and wondered how the terrorists had received the food. He continued to dig through the trash pile finding a stick about three feet long and two inches in diameter. One end was forked and the other looked like it had broken. The stick looked like it could have been used as a crutch at one time. He picked it up thinking that he could use it as a weapon. He also located a tin can with the lid attached. He removed the lid recognizing that it could be used to cut things. He folded the lid in half so that he would have a smooth side to hold. He kept the can, there was no guessing how it could be used. He dug further and found a very large pair of boots that were worn down to nothing with the soles separating from the upper parts. The boots were useless, but the frayed shoelaces could be used. He removed the laces and added them to the pile of junk he was taking with him. He continued to search, but found nothing else useful. It was a paltry set of stuff that he had taken out of the trash pile. He took a minute to fill one of the rice bags with all of the items he had collected knowing that it would be much easier to carry everything that way. He used shoelaces to tie the bag closed and to tie it to his ankle. That would allow him to crawl and use his hands if necessary. He made a large detour around the camp to reach the ravine. He crawled the entire time in order to keep as low of a profile as possible, stopping when he spotted someone moving around the edge of the camp. It took him more than an hour to reach the shallow ravine that ran along the far end of the camp. He untied the rice bag and lowered himself into the ravine, relaxing once his feet touched the ground. He pulled his sack of goods after him. He froze when he felt something rub against his foot. Looking down, he was shocked to find several snakes on the ground around him. As he looked around, he saw that there were more snakes further along the ravine. He examined them carefully before recognizing them as Cobras. He froze, trying to blend into the environment hoping that the snakes would not react to his presence among them. An idea slowly formed in his mind. He unpacked his rice sack, removing the walking stick and the other sacks. He used the stick to pin down the head of one of the snakes. He picked up the snake and put it into one of the rice sacks. He repeated the process, putting two or three snakes into each sack. When the floor of the ravine was clear of snakes, he was left with six sacks filled with snakes clutched in his left hand. He moved along the ravine towards the camp. It was slow going since he feared walking into another nest of snakes or being noticed by the terrorists. He finally made it to the point closest to the camp. He looked up at the sun and realized that it was still straight overhead. Apparently, he was not going to be able to count on it getting dark here. He went to the edge of the ravine and examined the camp very carefully. Several men, extremely hard and callous looking, walked around the perimeter of the camp carrying automatic rifles. He watched their actions seeking some sort of pattern that he could use to his advantage. After a while, one of the terrorists pointed to the sky, an action that was followed by all of the men moving quickly to the tents. He remembered a movie where terrorists would get under cover when spy satellites were scheduled to cross overhead and wondered if that was what they were doing. Oscar nervously licked his lips and began to climb out of the ravine making sure that he held the bags closed. Once out of the ravine, he ran towards the camp. The movement excited the snakes in the bags, making them extremely dangerous. As he ran past a tent, he threw a bag of snakes into it. Snakes, hoods puffed and heads raised to strike, literally flew out of the bag when it hit the ground. They struck at everything that moved, eliciting screams from those who were bit. When he had completed his run through the camp, he noticed a pole in the center with a medallion hanging on it. He turned to pass by the pole and grabbed the medallion as he ran past it. It was awkward running with a sack in one hand and the medallion in the other. He wondered what to do with the last bag of snakes and decided to get rid of it. He threw the bag over his shoulder as he ran away. The whole camp was in turmoil as men shot at the snakes in their tents or ran out of it. The presence of a naked man running through the camp distracted some of them sufficiently that they were slow to fire in his direction. He ran in a serpentine fashion hoping to avoid being shot. Those that followed him found themselves facing very angry snakes released from the last bag that he had thrown. There was no pursuit as a more real threat was closer at hand. When he reached the edge of the meadow, he threw himself down on the ground breathing heavily clutching his side from a stitch in his side created by running. He glanced at the medallion held in his closed fist. He opened his hand to examine it. Before he had a chance to even look at it, it was lifted out of his hand by the naked man. Oscar looked up at him and said, "I got it for you." The God placed the medallion around Oscar's neck as he said, "You have done well, Oscar Meyers. It is time for you to rest." Oscar woke a short distance from an isolated hut in the desert. Looking down at himself, he was surprised to be alive, but even better was that he felt healthy. His stomach and intestines were calm since the laxatives appeared to have worn off. His clothes were clean and looked like new. His eyesight was sharper and his hearing better than ever. He sat up slowly taking in his surroundings. A local man squatted next to him and watched him with an intense look. Oscar looked over at the man and noticed a chain around his neck. Feeling the heavy weight of the medallion around his neck, he reached in and pulled it out to show to the man. The man stared at it in disbelief. He frowned and looked down at Oscar as he said, "I am Omar." It took Oscar a moment to realize that the man was speaking to him in Arabic. He was surprised to learn that understood the language now. In perfect Arabic, he answered, "I am Oscar." Omar gestured for him to rise as he said, "Come with me. I have something for you." Oscar stood up and followed Omar to a hut that he entered behind his host. The Arab sat down on a cushion and gestured for Oscar to do the same. Following the example of his host, Oscar sat down and took a minute to look around the inside of the hut. It was plain room with a small stove and a bed. The dirt floor was covered with carpets and cushions. A small table supported a hookah. Omar reached over to a small pot and poured a very small cup of coffee, which he handed to Oscar before pouring one for himself. They raised the cups in a salute and then each man took a sip. The coffee was very strong and very sweet, forcing Oscar to take his time drinking it. He found that he really enjoyed the exotic flavor and decided this was not going to be the last time that he would drink that beverage. The bottom half of the cup was filled with finely ground coffee, a fact that he discovered when he drank more than intended; receiving a mouthful of grounds for his effort. The men set the cups down at the same time. With the social business completed, Omar nodded and then stood up to go over to a small trunk on the floor. It was with very deliberate movements that he opened it. From within the trunk, he pulled out something before closing the lid. He turned to Oscar and held out a gray bundle. He said, "This is for you." Oscar accepted the bundle and opened it, discovering that it was a hooded cloak. He put it on and realized that it would blend perfectly into the desert outside. Wearing this cloak would make him virtually invisible in the desert. He said, "Thank you very much. This is amazing." Omar shrugged and then replied, "Thank you for the praise. It is my service to the God." Oscar adjusted the cloak, appreciating the fit and feel of the cloth. It was perfect for his small stature. He noticed that there were pockets at the bottom of the cloak and then realized that if he put his feet in the pockets when lying on the ground, that he could make sure that his entire body was covered. There were small loops inside the cloak. He could use them for the same purpose with his hands. He looked at Omar and said, "You have done great work in your service to the God." Omar nodded his appreciation for the complement and then replied, "You must go now before we are caught. Servants of the Gods and Goddesses are not appreciated in this region of the world. Do not let others see your medallion; they will kill you on sight." Oscar walked to the door and turned around. Taking a moment to look at the other man, he said, "Thank you for the cloak and your words of warning. I shall not put you at any further risk. Goodbye." The Arab rose and bowed slightly as he called out to Oscar. "May the Gods and Goddesses keep you safe, Oscar. I wish I could do more for you." Oscar left the hut and walked off into the desert. It was the middle of summer and the air was hot and getting hotter. In light of that, he would only be able to walk in the morning and late afternoon. Long term survival would require him to rest during the middle of the day, but for now he needed to find cover and that wasn't here. He paused and looked around with no real idea where he was. He thought back to his escape earlier. He had been heading west to catch up with the convoy and then turned back to head east to avoid the white trucks. The rocks that he had hidden in were south of the road and then he had run south into the dust devil. If he wanted to meet up with his unit, he would have to head towards the northeast. He headed in a generally northern direction towards an outcropping of rocks on the horizon. He was alone in the desert without food, water, or weapon. Despite this, he felt for the first time in his life that he was capable of handling the situation. In the past, he would have been unable to act. Once he thought about it, he realized that he hadn't tripped once since waking up outside the hut. His visit with Omar had not been interrupted by any kind of accident. Walking slowly to conserve his energy, he covered a surprising distance. After an hour of walking, he noticed a small trail that lead to an outcropping of rocks in the far distance. The trail had been made by generations of people walking along it and years of trucks following it. He turned to follow the trail, walking with a constant pace, but taking frequent breaks since hurrying here would be a disaster. When he reached the outcropping of rocks, he took a quick look around to see if he recognized the place. It was with a little relief and much disappointment that he discovered he had never been here before. He had hoped it was the site where he had fought the terrorists. He was relieved that it wasn't because of the bad memories associated with the place. He was disappointed because it meant that he was still lost. He explored the area around the base of the outcropping. In one little ravine, he was surprised to find a small pile of rocks in a circle with a larger rock laid across it. Curious, he removed the larger rock and found a hole in the ground. There was a rope that was fixed to one of the rocks with the other end in the hole. He pulled the rope up and was relieved to find that there was a small bucket on the end filled with water. He had heard about wells like this being located across the desert. After taking a sip of the refreshing water, he turned to watch the horizon making sure that there was nothing threatening coming his way. He took a moment to inventory his possessions. In addition to the cloak, he had his knife, wallet, belt, watch, and clothes. It wasn't much and he knew that his next few days would be a time of marginal survival and that it was time for him to adopt a survival attitude. Now that he had found water, it was necessary for him to devise a way to take it with him. He cut off the bottoms of his pants and fashioned a container to hold water from the pant legs. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than trying to brave the desert without water. He filled his handmade canteens and then covered the well again. He looked inside his wallet and found a condom. He laughed as he thought back to his experience earlier as he wondered what would have happened if he had tried to force the God to use a condom. Of course, it would have broken while being stretched over that monster cock. Not having an immediate use for it, he put it back in his wallet. His money and credit cards could actually come in handy if and when he reached a town. Leaning against the rocks, Oscar pulled out the medallion and examined it. He tried to remove it, but it slipped out of his hands. He tried several more times and then decided that he would just have to examine it while wearing it. There was a phallic symbol on both sides of it. On one side were the words, "Protect the weak from the strong." On the other side were the words, "Stop evil from destroying the good." Oscar smiled to himself and called out to the sky, "Those are orders I will gladly obey." He considered his near-term situation. It was rapidly beginning to approach dark and he needed cover. Lost and alone in enemy territory, he would have to be careful. There weren't many choices, so he chose to spend the night deeper in the rocks where he would be less visible to any that might come to the well. Standing, he headed into the rocks, taking his time and watching his step. Spotting a snake before it had a chance to strike him, he picked up a rock and killed it. He was left with about a quarter pound of meat after cutting off the head, removing the skin, and cleaning out the internal organs. He found an area that he felt safe and sat down while pulling the hood of the cloak over his head. Nibbling on the raw snake, he sat there watching the horizon. At least he had food and water, even if the food was raw and tasted like chicken. The lack of shelter was not a critical problem that had to be solved immediately. He leaned against the rocks and waited for the sun to set, thinking that it had been a long day. ------- Chapter 2 Dawn came early for Oscar. He woke stiff and cramped from leaning against the rocks while he slept. It wasn't the most comfortable position to have slept in, but if he had been woken by a noise, he wouldn't have had to move in order to search out the source. His robe had kept him warm through the night. It always amazed him how cold it could get here at night. He had heard stories that they could make ice even in the hottest of deserts. He looked around his surroundings to see if there was any source of danger to him. A man lost behind enemy lines needed to remain aware at all times. He was about to move when a very small cloud of dust appeared on the horizon. Dust was caused by movement and movement meant danger. He waited to see what form of danger was causing the dust cloud. He wasn't worried about being spotted. With the cloak and its hood, he could look like just another rock by keeping still. The height of his location gave him an advantage as far as watching what was going on. The distance gave him a disadvantage if he had to engage the enemy. Armed only with a knife, he needed to be within reach of the enemy. There was no doubt that they would have guns. Twenty minutes later a white truck pulled up to the well. Two men got out with cans for water. He couldn't tell if they were terrorists or not. Too many people out here carried guns and white trucks were very common. The men disappeared from view when they approached the well. In the still morning air, their voices carried a far distance so that while Oscar could not see who was speaking, he could hear every word they said. "We killed a lot of infidels the other day. That was good." "Too many of our men became martyrs that day." "Still it was good to kill the Americans. If we kill enough of them, they will leave. They are weak when it comes death." "They think there are rules to war." "That is another of their weaknesses." "Did you see that one run into the dust devil? I had to laugh at the dog." "I wouldn't waste the bottom of my shoe on such a coward." "He got away." "Bah! The Djinni got him." Oscar flushed in anger, despite that his reaction unreasonable. He didn't appreciate hearing his escape discussed in that fashion. What choices did he have? To stay and die? To run while only risking death? The problem was that he didn't know if his flight had been cowardliness or if it had been a willingness to die. He considered the actions that he could pursue to deal with the two terrorists. He felt with some confidence that he could move down and take them both out with his knife, particularly if they were busy filling the water cans. On the other hand, if he waited then he could follow them to their destination. There was no doubt that they were part of the terrorist group that had attacked him and they would soon be returning to their camp. His thoughts were interrupted when the men resumed talking. "Azim will be happy to martyr himself using the captured Hummer." "It is a good plan. Drive one of their own vehicles into their camp and then blow it up. He will kill many of the infidels." "Azim is very committed to Allah." "Seventy-two virgins." On hearing that, Oscar's decision was made for him. He had to follow them to their camp and prevent them from using his Hummer to kill more men in his unit. The problem was that he had no idea how far he would have to walk, but he would follow them day and night until he found their camp if that was necessary. He stayed where he was and listened to the rest of their conversation, but there wasn't anything of interest to him. Finished with filling the cans, they loaded them into the rear of the truck. They started the truck, the engine noise announcing that it wasn't a Fusion Motor. He waited until they drove away before climbing down from the rocks. The tire tracks were clear and would be easy to follow. He took a sip of water and then followed after them. Eight hours later, he spotted the terrorist camp as he came over a hill. He backed down so that only his head was over the horizon. With the hood of the cloak, he looked like one rock among many. He stayed still watching with eyes that hurt from the glare. As he lay there, he realized that he had changed in a significant way, he had become deliberate in how he acted. The camp, nestled in a small valley cutting into the next hill, was covered with camouflage netting to prevent it from being seen from the air. From above, it would look like part of the hill. He examined the camp from his location looking for strategic solutions on how to attack it. Knowing it was guarded; he examined the horizon attempting to locate the guards, but he couldn't spot them. Baking under the hot sun, he realized that he would not be able to get into the camp during the day without being spotted. The situation demanded that he scout the camp while it was still light out so that he could assess the security. Settling in, he watched the camp from his position. The heat of the day created mirages and he could hardly make out the men due to the distortion. In light of the mirages, his chances for moving closer without being spotted were good if he were to belly crawl towards camp. There wouldn't be much risk of detection since he would look like a minor distortion in the mirage. Before heading out, he finished the water in his pant-leg canteens. They had been slowly leaking water and only a few sips remained in each one. He remembered someone saying that the best place for water was inside the body, but he didn't remember the context in which it had been said. No matter what, it would be best for him if he drank all that was left before losing it. Now that he was out of water, his next drink would have to come from inside the camp. Even as he drank, he knew that the decision to drink his water had committed him to attacking the camp. He tied the remains of the pant-legs around his knees. If he was going to crawl close to the camp, then he wanted to protect his knees from the rough surface. Adjusting the cloak and taking a deep breath to steel his resolve, he started crawling across the burning rocks. He took his time, laying down on occasion and moving forward at an imperceptible rate. The hot sun beat down on him, but the heat coming off the ground was even worse. The temperature was well over a hundred and he felt like he was baking in an oven. The sweat ran off him, making his clothes damp and binding. Three hours later, the sun was just over the horizon. Oscar was much closer to the camp. Lying on the ground covered by his cloak, he had arrived at a spot where he could make out the locations of the guards set up around the camp. There were two men guarding the entrance to the valley and one man up on the hill. He watched as the guards were relieved; an event that confirmed his observations. Oscar waited for nightfall. Lying on the hot ground he began to get thirsty beyond belief. He sucked on a pebble, a trick to keep the mind off his thirst. There was no water anywhere near him except within the camp. His tongue was beginning to swell, but he waited using the opportunity to rest, knowing that he wouldn't move for another six hours. It was better to be patient than to rush into action. The sun set and the sky darkened as the hours passed. Oscar began to move slowly and silently towards the camp, stealth was the key to his survival. The only light was from the stars and the small sliver of moon near the horizon. He had the locations of the guards committed to memory and moved along a route that would allow him to approach them from the back. His progress was slow as the rocky terrain made his footing unsure. It took a long time, but finally the guard was ten feet in front of him, facing away to watch the poorly lit desert. Oscar moved closer until he was within two feet of the guard. Striking as fast as a snake, he covered the guard's mouth with one hand and shoved his knife into guard's kidney. Pulling the knife out, he slit the throat fully aware of the awfulness of his actions. He searched the body of the guard finding a canteen, a rifle, knife, and pistol. He opened the canteen and took a sip of water. The warm tepid water tasted sweet as honey as it flowed down his throat. It was tempting to finish it in one long draw, but he controlled his desire and replaced the top after a good-sized sip. Swallowing too much water too fast would make him sick. He put the pistol in a pocket of the cloak, but left the rifle behind. He did grab the ammunition and put it in another pocket of the robe. He would get the rifle of the other guard. He took his bearings and moved in the direction of the other guard. With three hours before the next shift change to execute his plan, he moved away from the guard position, balancing the need for speed with the demand for silence. When he was three quarters of the way to the other guard, he slowed his approach, taking care not to make noise by placing each foot with care. He didn't concentrate on the guard, feeling that the man would feel such concentration. Instead, he focused on a rock next to the guard. Just as he reached the guard, the guard's stomach growled. The guard turned to pick up a packet on the ground, but Oscar jumped him before he had a chance to see him. The knife flashed in the dark as it cut the guard's throat. It was over in just a few seconds and without enough noise to raise suspicions. The smell of blood was thick in his nose. Oscar searched the guard finding another pistol and rifle. He grabbed the rifle and slung it over his shoulder. Remembering the growling stomach of the guard, he looked for something to eat. On the ground next to the guard was a small package, which when he opened it found that it contained some bread and a piece of goat cheese. Oscar smiled as he ate it and drank some more water from the canteen. Even though he wasn't particularly fond of goat cheese and flat bread, the meal tasted great. It was the first thing he had to eat since the raw snake the night before. He circled around the camp and snuck into it from the rear. His Hummer was parked at the rear of the camp, covered by camouflage to prevent it from being seen from the sky. The camp was not quiet as men snored in their sleep. There were still men awake in what appeared to be the command tent so he avoided getting too close to it. The last thing that he wanted was to be spotted by men that were alert. A sleepy man would be much easier for him to overcome. Oscar moved slowly and quietly from tent to tent. He stopped outside each tent to listen to what was going on inside it. Tents in which men were snoring he went past while tents that were quiet he entered. One tent was empty and he assumed that it belonged to the guards that he had taken out. He entered another tent and found boxes stacked within it. He opened one of the boxes and found several stacks of explosives. Other boxes held weapons, ammunition, or food. He collected a number of blocks of C-4 and noticed a stack of timers nearby. He had never dealt with explosives and it took him some time to figure out how to wire them to explode. The detonator caps went into the C-4 and connected to the timers. He crawled out of the tent to place an explosive charge just outside each occupied tent. When he was placing the first set of explosives, he realized that there would not be any shrapnel. Shrapnel would assure that the explosion damaged stuff rather than made noise. He went back to the tent and grabbed two boxes of ammunition. He sandwiched the explosive between the pair of boxes. He checked his watch and seeing that it was a little after three, set the timer so that it would explode at the top of the hour. He repeated his actions throughout the camp until the only tents that did not have explosives next to it were the command tent, the empty tent, and the supply tent. He checked his watch. It was getting close to four and the time when the explosives would detonate. He moved away from the camp, up the wall of the valley, searching for a place that would offer some protection. He didn't want to be anywhere close when the timers went off, but he did want to be close enough to engage anyone that survived. Private Foo had not had any training with explosives, so he had not known what he was doing when he had set up the explosives. That didn't prevent them from exploding, but he hadn't realized that the explosion would also set off the bullets in the ammunition boxes. Five hundred bullets per box and sixteen boxes all exploding at the same time meant a very big bang. He realized why the car bombs made of various kinds of ammunition were so dangerous and destructive. No wonder they could bring down entire buildings. He had expected to have to have a fire fight with the men inside the command tent. Instead, he had spent the next five minutes hiding behind a rock for protection from the bullets flying throughout the whole area. He made himself as small as possible to avoid the bullets and casings that were ricocheting off the rocks around him. Stunned when silence finally descended, he peered around the rock to see what had happened inside the camp. It looked like a tornado had blown through area destroying everything in its path. Tents had been knocked over, the camouflage netting had been shredded, and debris was scattered over the entire area. He watched for movement within the camp with his gun at the ready. Nothing moved until the stunned guard from the hill came down into the camp. He followed the man's progress and fired when he had a good shot. He took the man down with a single shot. He waited for sunrise to see what would happen. Nothing stirred in camp. He drank some more water from the canteen he had taken from the guard. Even as he drank it, he hoped that there was still some water left in the camp. As the sky started to lighten, he looked over at the Hummer. He could tell from where he sat that it was shot up pretty bad from the chase, but had come through the explosion well. He climbed down from his hiding place and headed towards the command tent. He entered it with his gun ready, but the men inside were dead. Bullets had flown through the tent in every direction. He examined the contents of the tent just to identify any possible threats. Once he was satisfied that he was safe, he went to the dead men on the floor. He bent down and searched the dead men one at a time. One of the men had what looked like a map in his pocket. There were x's, o's, and t's connected by lines. However, there weren't any major landmarks on it that he could tell. He folded it and put it into his pocket. He searched the rest of the tent with the result that the only thing he found of interest was a video camera. It was easy to assume they used it to record their training activities. Picking it up, he filmed the faces of the men in the command tent. At least he would leave here with a record of who he had killed. There was no telling how important these men were to the terrorist organization. The only other item of any significance was a laptop computer, but it had several bullet holes in it. He looked for disks or other storage media, but there weren't any. He considered what to do about the computer and decided to take it with him. He had no idea if the techies could get any information off the disk drive, but it was better to take it then leave it behind. He went from there to the remains of a tent that he had blown up during the night. He pulled the shredded canvas of the tent away and looked at the bodies inside. The bodies were not in good shape, but he videotaped them as well. He searched the area, but didn't find anything of value. There was a small box of personal possessions that contained nothing of military value. He did find one small flashlight, which he put in his shirt pocket. He went from destroyed tent to destroyed tent videotaping the bodies. If he was going to get in trouble for being separated from his unit, at least he wanted proof that he had accomplished something good. He had no idea who was important and who wasn't, but there were people that knew that information. They would want to know who had been stopped in this raid and the video tape would answer that question. He soon found himself outside the supply tent. He went inside and checked out the goods within. It had been dark the night before and he was sure that he had missed some items of importance. There was a crate of food that had been dropped from the air when the troops had first entered Afghanistan. He opened and ate one, surprised at how tasty it was. He took another sip from his canteen before putting a number of the packages in his pockets. He set the crate next to the laptop computer. His hunger abated, he went out to examine the Hummer. The Hummer had a number of bullet holes, but it looked like it was still in workable condition. Opening the door and looking around, he smiled when he spotted his roll of toilet paper on the passenger side floor. He guessed they weren't worried about someone stealing it since the key was still in the switch. The Hummer started right up, which let him know that the fusion cell was still functioning. He gave a sigh of relief and turned the key off. He checked out the back of the Hummer, expecting it to be loaded with explosives, but he found that it was empty. Returning to the supply tent, he carried out boxes of ammunition setting them in the back of the Hummer, adding a box of new rifles to the back as well. He dug through the supply tent again, locating two boxes of RPG launchers and a number of boxes of grenades. He carried them out to the Hummer and set them in the back. Taking out one of the launchers and a grenade, he assembled it and tested it out by firing at one of the white trucks that was sitting off to the side of the camp. It exploded in a great fireball. He put another grenade in the launcher and set it in the passenger's seat. He went over to the white trucks. These were a problem and he didn't know what to do with them. All of them were still in working condition and he was sure that if he left them there, the terrorists would reclaim them. He finally decided that he would destroy them where they stood. He set explosives on the engine and set the timer for three hours confident that he would be long gone by then. These were gas-powered trucks rather than fusion powered and would blow up in a spectacular fashion. He went through the camp again before he found cans of water, although only a few had survived without bullet holes. He carried them to the Hummer and stepped back satisfied that it was now fully loaded with all that was valuable within the camp. He had transportation, food, water, and weapons. Laughing as he recalled an advertisement for the Army, he said aloud, "I'm an army of one." He sat down in the driver's seat of his Hummer and examined the map he had found. It took him a long time before he realized that the map was coded with locations. The x's were camps. The o's had to represent wells. He tried to figure out the t's represented and then decided that they were weapons caches since the t looked like a knife. The lines were the caravan trails and not roads. A local would know the trails while an outsider wouldn't. He tried to figure out which point he was currently at on the map. He noticed that there was one well with three trails leading to it. One trail led to an x in the direction that he had taken to get here. One trail led southward to another x, which was where the white truck that had visited the well had come from. There was a trail in the other direction that lead to a t. He assumed that was a weapons cache. He started the truck and headed in the direction of the well. Looking overhead, he noticed that vultures were already circling the area and knew that his raid wouldn't remain a secret for long. He wondered how long it would take before people showed up to investigate what had attracted the vultures. Then he realized that the real question might be which people would show up first, the army or the terrorists. He drove carefully looking out for locals and white trucks. His passing through the area in a Hummer wouldn't be a secret for long. The trip to the well took much less time than on the previous day. He waited at the well for the timer on the trucks to reach the desired time. Looking in the direction of the camp, he was pleased to see a plume of smoke rising from the area. He drove along the trail that lead away from the camp and towards what he assumed was a weapons cache. While the trail on the map had showed lots of turns, the trail was actually quite straight. He was getting worried that he had been incorrect in his assumption about where he was on the map. After having driven far enough that the trail should have started twisting according to the map, he was convinced that he was incorrect in his reading of the map. He swore, "Shit. I'm really lost now." He stopped the Hummer and examined the map for several minutes before he realized that it wasn't drawn to scale. Then it dawned on him that the length of the line was probably related to how long it took to reach the destination. The weapons cache was a long way from his current location if all the twists and turns were correct. He drove on excited now that he was convinced that he understood the map. Several hours later, the trail met another trail. One end turned to the north and the other turned to the south. He got out the map and examined it. There was a southern trail leading away from the weapons cache, so he must be in the area. He wondered about the northern trail questioning if the map would show trails that didn't lead to important places. Uncertain, he hoped that he had been lucky in his guess about his initial location. After driving the Hummer to a location where it would be hidden from view, he parked it and got out to scout out the area. He looked back the way he had driven and realized that he had left a dust plume that could be seen for miles and pointed directly at him. The area where he had parked his truck was the only place where one could hide a vehicle around here and that meant that if all of his guesses were correct, then the cache must be nearby. He scouted small circles expanding outward from where the truck was parked. At last he found what looked like the mouth of a cave. The entrance was partially closed with mud bricks so that it wouldn't be so obvious from a distance. With his gun at the ready, he entered the cave by crawling into the small opening, once inside, he could stand up without have to bend over. Five steps into the cave, he almost tripped over a box. His examination revealed that it was a box of grenades. He had found the weapons cache. Using the flashlight that he had taken from the terrorist camp, the small circle of light allowed him to avoid the obstacles on the ground. He went further into the cave finding an incredible amount of weapons and ammunition. There were also several boxes with Russian writing on them. He grabbed a box and opened it, finding that it contained twenty Russian field rations. He opened one of the rations and started to eat, grimacing at the taste. The American fare was much better, but he finished it anyway. He didn't have much food and this stuff was better than nothing. He searched around trying to locate anything that might be useful. He found several seventy five liter cans of gasoline. He laughed as he realized what that meant; the terrorists were still using gasoline- powered cars. Hummers used fusion-powered engines and could last for two years without need to refuel. Now that he had found the weapons cache, he was at a loss what to do about it. He could easily explode the weapons inside. The problem that he was fighting wasn't one of weapons, but men that did not hold life sacred. These were men that would strap a few explosives to their body and then blow themselves up when they reached a crowd. Blowing up weapons wouldn't stop the terrorists, he had to stop the terrorists themselves. Clearly, he would have to booby trap the cache as a way to make sure that when it exploded that it took several of the terrorists with it. He wanted to set up several different kinds of traps as he didn't want to take a chance that they found the only one and disarmed it. After looking around to see how he could set the booby traps, he went to work. Tripwires were run in places where individuals were expected to walk. A box was set up to explode if it were moved. He took his time as he didn't want his efforts discovered. Satisfied with his work, he left the cave believing that it would be a death trap to the next visitor. With all of the explosives in the cave, he didn't doubt that it would take out anyone standing outside as well. He started to walk back to the Hummer, stopping to look back at the entrance to remember it. To his dismay, the entrance of the cave was filled with footprints that gave away the fact that he had been there. He went back and eliminated anything that might indicate that he had been there. Returning to the Hummer to examine the map, he studied it carefully trying to decide what would be an appropriate destination. As far as he could tell, there was no way to locate his unit based on the map. He stopped and thought about that for a minute. His unit was headed to where they thought an enemy encampment was located. He had a map of their camps. If he could figure out which one his unit was headed towards, then he could go to the location and meet up with them. The map led him to conclude that his unit was headed to one of the northern most locations. From where he was on the map, he would have to go south to one of the other camps, head west to another weapons cache, and then head north. Alone behind enemy lines, it would not be wise to take the direct route. If the terrorists figured out where he was going, then they could ambush him. He searched through the Hummer for a pencil. Several minutes passed before he found one on the floor. It took him some time to work out a less direct route that would take him past more wells and weapons caches than camps. It would look like random actions to someone receiving intelligence about camps getting destroyed. He added a camp that was out of the way just to confuse the issue even more. He smiled as he realized that the southernmost camp would now be on his route. It was getting late and he was tired. Needing a place to rest for the night, he decided that this would be a good place. There was cover and he could see a long distance. With the food and water that he had acquired, he could take his time returning to his unit. More important, he had transportation that would allow him to cover long distances across the desert. He got out of the Hummer and walked around scouting the area for a place to sleep. He didn't want to spend the night in the Hummer since if it were discovered, it would be the first target they would fire upon. He sat down on the ground a fifteen-minute hike from the Hummer and took stock of his situation. He was covered in dust and filthy; his sweat had combined with the dust to form mud that had dried and cracked in the creases of his skin. He was hungry and tired, having eaten an average of one meal a day and getting less than four hours of sleep in the last two days. His pants were cut off above the knees, the bare legs were red from exposure to the sun. Of all the negatives about the experience, he had acquired one thing that was precious to him. He had not tripped or dropped anything in three days. He had moved with grace and acted with determination. Satisfied, he fell asleep on that thought despite the fact that it was still daylight and slept through the night. He peered around the edge of a boulder on the hill cautiously. It was still dark, but it would be getting light soon. He had taken to driving just after sunset and just before sunrise to avoid having easy to spot dust trails. The Hummer still created dust plumes, but the lack of light made them difficult to spot. It also meant that his progress was a lot slower than it had been since driving at night required that he drive with much greater care. He couldn't use his headlights as those could be spotted from miles away. He was just outside the southernmost camp that he was going to visit on the way to meet up with his unit. His last two raids had been spectacular successes. He had killed over a hundred of the terrorists in the two attacks by following the same pattern of setting explosives outside of tents and then standing well away from the explosion. This camp, more of a small town than a camp, was too big for that tactic to work. There were too many men moving around during the night, a fact that meant he would never be able to sneak in. This time he was going to try a different approach. He had spotted the building in which the command was located and the supply building easily from his current position. He was going to shoot both with an RPG and see the effect of that action. Once the anthill was stirred up, he planned slip off and hide to return later. He readied four of the launchers with grenades. He would fire one and then drop it to pick up another. He figured that would allow him to get off several shots fairly quickly. Two rifles, set on automatic fire, sat at his other side. He would use them on whoever survived. He took a deep breath and readied the launcher by aiming at the command building. Holding his breath, he fired. As soon as he had fired, he tossed the launcher aside and picked up another. The explosion in the building sounded, but he didn't bother to look at the results. He aimed the second launcher at the supply building and fired. The rocket flew straight at it. Throwing the launcher to the side, he picked up the third launcher when the explosion as the supply building rocked the ground. Secondary explosions started as the ammunition inside the building cooked off. A number of men had gathered in one location, so he aimed and fired at them. He picked up a rifle and started firing at everything that moved. He would fire three quick shots and then pick another target. When the gun ran out of ammunition, he dropped it and picked up the second one. It was faster than reloading. He continued to fire at anything that moved. A group started running for the trucks. He noticed a stack of barrels near the trucks. Picking up the RPG, he fired at the barrels. They went up in a cloud of flames burning most of the men running towards the trucks. Dropping the RPB, he picked up the rifle to fire at the few men that remained moving. Men were now returning fire at his location, hidden behind walls of buildings. He crawled to another spot where he had stashed additional weapons. Using an RPG, he fired it at a clump of men. He tossed it aside and picked up one of the rifles. Again, he fired at anything that moved, but most of the men had taken cover. He noticed another building that had no traffic coming out of it. He picked up an RPG and fired at it thinking it was another supply depot. This one didn't explode like the first although a huge cloud of white smoke flew out of it. The cloud slowly drifted across the camp towards him. He stared in amazement as men started dropping and thrashing about in spasms. The tent had contained a chemical weapon and the cloud was approaching his location. He knew he had to get out of the way. Knowing that staying meant certain death, he fled as fast as he could without taking any care about whether he was seen or not. It is his goal not to get exposed to the material and his hope to avoid getting shot in the back. In his desire to leave as fast as possible, he left his equipment behind, preferring to lose it rather than be slowed down. He reached the Hummer and drove away in a direction that would return him to his planned route. Driving without regard for pursuit, he felt that anyone down there that had the nerve and fortitude to follow him deserved to pursue him. He didn't stop until he reached the water hole, realizing that it had taken him only three hours of reckless driving to cover a distance that had taken him almost two nights. Climbing out of the parked Hummer, he dropped to the ground shaking from the after effects of adrenaline. He had no idea what he had done, but it had been big. The thought of chemical weapons concerned him. There was no need to wonder why they had a store of weapons of that type; they were the perfect weapons of terror. Finally collecting himself, he stood up and walked around the Hummer. His bladder was about to burst, another consequence of his fear, so he stopped at the rear tire to piss on it. It seemed like most of the tension left his body as he played the stream of urine across the tire. There wasn't any real reason for him to piss on the tire, it was just that he felt better pissing against something than just leaving a wet patch on the ground. He said aloud, "I wish there was a tree around here." He stood on the hood of the Hummer and looked around checking his surroundings before getting back in the driver's seat. Now that he was oriented, he drove off in the direction that he needed to go. He drove for about an hour until he found a spot where he could park the Hummer without it being too visible. After parking it out of sight, he reached over the front seat to get another rifle and ammunition from the backseat of the Hummer. He also took the time to grab two packages of food. He left the Hummer and hiked a short distance away. Selecting a spot with good cover, he sat down to watch for anyone that might have been following him. He opened a package of food and slowly ate it savoring the flavor. The next day he would have to start eating the Russian food and he wasn't looking forward to that at all. He would have to eat that stuff until he found another supply of food. He nodded off after three hours of watching for a telltale plume of dust. He woke near sunset and looked around at his situation. There were no dust plumes and no sign of vehicles in his area. He ate his other meal watching the sunset. It was quiet there and he enjoyed the peaceful environment. This was a desolate region, but if it wasn't the site of a war it might almost be attractive. The landscape was rugged and barren with mountains cut by rugged ravines. The ground was covered with a fine dust that could hang in the air for hours. The number of plants covering the ground was pitiful and the land seemed dead. He watched a desert hawk fly over; as high as it was in the food chain, it suggested that the environment held much more life than the surface suggested. It took five minutes, but the hawk slowly dwindled into a small speck as it disappeared over the horizon. There was life here and a good potential existed for improving the area. It was a shame that people were so busy trying to bring the rest of the world down to this primitive level that they didn't try to improve what they already had. He waited until dark and then returned to the Hummer. It was time for him to move to the next position that he had selected for his route. He drove slowly with his headlights off, keeping to rocky terrain to minimize his tracks. Stopping frequently to scout the area in the dark, he searched for a place to spend the day. In was nearly three in the morning when he found a suitable spot. He hid the Hummer in a location where it would not be visible and then moved a good distance away from it. He slept until the sun rose and then checked his position as seen in the light of day. It was much better than he had realized. The Hummer was exceptionally well hidden and his location had lots of cover. He sat back and watched the desert around him. It was around noon that he noticed a major change around him. There were dust plumes rising from many different areas of the desert. It didn't look like they were searching for him. Most of the plumes were all headed in the same direction, towards the camp he had destroyed the other night. He looked up in the sky. Far to the north and west, jets left contrails in the sky. He could see helicopters moving on the horizon. It appeared that news had leaked about the camp that had been destroyed. He watched the activities and wondered if he should stay where he was for a few days. He didn't want his own side taking him out because they thought he was a terrorist moving alone through the region. However, it bothered him that they were staying so far to the west. He opened up a can of the Russian rations and groaned when huge gobs of fat floated on the surface. He sniffed it and almost wretched at the rancid smell that came off it. He stood up and walked a hundred yards away. He set the opened can amongst some rocks and returned to his previous location. There was no way that he was going to have that garbage near him. First, it would make him sick. Second, he had no idea what the smell would attract. ------- Chapter 3 Oscar had hidden the Hummer that morning about three hundred meters into a ravine and went to scout the area around it. When he had come around a boulder, he had spotted a guard on the mountain across from him. Squatting on a boulder, the guard watched the pass below and, fortunately, had not seen him. It had taken him the entire day to scout the area without the guard spotting him. With a smile, he knew that he had found the camp that represented his final destination. It was a small camp and appeared like it would be relatively easy to take out. Appearances could be deceiving. The men in the camp had that hard look that suggested they were battle hardened and wouldn't panic. It was approaching sunset and he was sitting twenty meters away from the guard. He had stayed still and close to the ground, looking like a boulder amongst the rough terrain, for the past several hours. His ability to hide himself in the open was confirmed when the previous guard had walked within five feet of him when he had been relieved. Over the past three weeks, he had gained a lot of patience and could wait for hours without moving. Now, he waited for the sky to darken even more. The sky slowly darkened, but the moon rose a quarter full. It was brighter than he wanted for tonight's operation, so he waited for the time to come when it would start to set before creeping up on the guard. He took him out with his usual efficiency before he moved to the location of the second guard. The muscles in his legs threatened to cramp from the long period of inactivity. It took him an hour to get close enough to take the second guard out. He moved into camp with his normal stealth. The tents from which snoring sounds were emitted were not of interest while tents that showed activity were too dangerous to explore. He went into a quiet tent and was surprised to find two men sleeping on cots. He quietly slipped out and went on his way. He finally found a supply tent, only to discover that it was very poorly stocked. He realized that meant these terrorists had seen action lately and would have to re-supply from one of the weapons caches soon. Perhaps they had already tried and died in the process. There were no explosives here for him to use and he was at a loss for a moment at what he should do. Making a quick decision, he picked up four RPG launchers and carried them to one of the guard positions. He returned for two boxes grenades and took a moment to fill his pockets with several clips of ammunition. Returning to the guard position, he set his rifle on the ground next to him and prepared the four RPG launchers with grenades. He waited for dawn so that he would be able to see his targets. It wasn't easy to remain alert because of the number of hours that he had been awake. This was a very dangerous time. If a relief guard discovered the other body, then he would have to act immediately. When there was finally enough light to see, he aimed an RPG at the command tent. He fired and dropped the launcher only to pick up another RPG and fire at the supply tent. He watched as the grenade hit it and shook his head, as the explosion was disappointingly small. He fired another RPG at one of the tents where he was sure that men were sleeping and none had emerged. He picked up the rifle and began shooting everything that moved. He would fire three shots and then switch to another target. He kept it up until there was no more movement in the camp below. He stopped and changed his position moving carefully so that he could not be seen from the camp below. He found a position that had good cover and watched the camp. One of the terrorists crawled out of a tent. Oscar fired three shots at the man, stopping him with his body half out of the tent. He waited several hours more, watching for movement. He ate one of the Russian rations while waiting, amazed that he was able to swallow the horrible food. The camp below was still and lifeless while above, the vultures circled ever lower. He froze when he heard sounds approaching the camp. For a minute, he wondered if he had attacked a secondary camp rather than the main camp. He readied his gun for action. He still had one RPG left and could use that if necessary. Ever since his encounter with the God, he had heard nothing except Arabic. The men coming were whispering commands in English and this presented him with an interesting dilemma that he had not considered. He wondered how he could establish his identity to soldiers walking nervously into the site of a destroyed terrorist camp without getting shot. They approached the camp, moving carefully, while he waited. He removed the cloak making his American uniform, such as it was, visible. Thirty men slowly crept into the camp observing the damage wrought by Oscar's attack. The man in charge had the men spread out to look for the possible causes. Quiet, Oscar watched as a man headed in his direction and was disappointed when he didn't recognize him. He set his gun down quietly and then called out, "Private First Class Oscar Meyers reporting for duty." Every man in the camp turned in his direction with rifles pointed at him. He slowly stood up without his rifle. One of the men in camp shouted, "Oscar Meyers, what do we call you?" Believing that he recognized the voice, Oscar frowned as he called back, "Foo!" The man in the camp shouted up, "Get down here, Private Foo!" Oscar climbed down from his position. He walked through the camp looking at the damage he had caused, he glanced at the man that had shouted. There was no doubt, he had been correct in identifying whom it had been. He walked up to the Sergeant and saluted. "Reporting for duty sir." "We had you listed as MIA," barked the Sergeant. He looked over Oscar, taking note of the short pants, ripped shirt, and dirty appearance. He asked, "Do you know what happened here?" "Yes, Sergeant," replied Oscar. He relaxed a little as he looked around taking in the damage that he had caused. He said, "I took out the camp." "Single-handedly?" "Yes, Sergeant." Oscar, in a flash of insight, realized that he was no longer scared of the Sergeant. He relaxed and said, "I took four RPG launchers and some ammo. I sat up there and shot the command tent and the supply tent. I must say that I was rather disappointed at the results of hitting the supply tent. Usually, there is a much bigger explosion than that." The Sergeant stared fixedly at Oscar for a minute. He barked, "Everyone, form up and let's get back to camp." Oscar asked, "Do you mind if I get my Hummer?" The Sergeant ordered, "Come with me and we'll pick it up later." Oscar nodded and headed up the hill to where he had been. The Sergeant shouted, "Get back here, Foo." Oscar ignored him as he went to where he had dropped his cloak. Bending down and picking up his cloak, he put it on before heading down the hill. He reached the Sergeant and said, "That's Private Oscar Meyers, Sergeant." The Sergeant stared at Oscar and shook his head. He could see that the man had changed in some significant way. It was hard to believe that Oscar had gone up the hill and back without tripping. There had been none of his normal accidents, he spoke with assurance, and looked him in the eye. He ordered, "Come with us, Private." Oscar shrugged and replied, "Yes, Sergeant. I might add that I have video tapes of the people killed in about six terrorist camps and the laptop computers from those same camps. The only one that I didn't get any data on was the site where some poison gas was stored." The Sergeant froze in mid-step at the news that Oscar was claiming that he had destroyed the camp where the WMD had been stored. He turned in slow motion and asked, "You were the one that blew up the WMD site in Iran?" "I have no idea where it was located. There weren't any national boundaries on my map. I just followed the directions there and took it out." The Sergeant called to one of the other men in the squad, "Peterson, take the squad back to camp." Peterson replied, "yes, Sergeant." "Take me to your Hummer." The Sergeant followed Oscar as he moved across the rugged terrain. Much to his surprise, he was having a hard time keeping up with the sure-footed private. Oscar had to stop several times to wait for him to catch up. They had just reached a spot overlooking the Hummer when Oscar said, "Hold on. We need to get down." The Sergeant lowered himself to the ground. The rocks pressed unpleasantly against his buttocks. He looked around and didn't see anything. He looked over at Oscar who was staring at the horizon. Even as close as they were, he realized that Oscar was almost invisible among the rocks. Oscar said, "There are three trucks over there coming from a terrorist camp that's located about twenty klicks to the east. They are either heading here, in which case we need to get ready for a fight or they are heading to a weapons cache." As the Sergeant reached for his radio he said, "I'll call in supporting aircraft." Oscar, holding up a hand, interrupted, "We only need to do that if they head this way." "Why?" asked the Sergeant. He was finding the new Oscar rather difficult. The man was on top of the situation like a real veteran. It appeared to him that Oscar knew more about desert warfare than any of the other men in the unit knew. He observed things and acted immediately on those observations. The dust plumes were still very small specks on the horizon. He found himself talking to Oscar like a peer rather than as a Sergeant to a Private. "They'll all die if they go to the weapons cache." Oscar watched the dust plumes with total focus. He smiled when he realized that they were heading to the weapons cache. He sat back and said, "Watch what happens now." The Sergeant looked at Oscar in disbelief. He turned to watch the dust plumes. They slowly dissipated. About a minute later, a huge plume of dust rose in the air. He could hear the distant explosion as a very small pop. Oscar turned to him and said, "Very nice. I booby trapped it two days ago. Looks like I did a good job." The Sergeant nodded as he watched the dust rise higher in the air. It had been a major explosion and he was impressed as he said, "Yes, it does." Oscar stood and headed to the Hummer. When he reached it, he opened the passenger side door to remove the stuff on the seat and put it in the back seat. The Sergeant watched as Oscar pulled out an RPG launcher with a grenade and another rifle. When the Sergeant came over, Oscar explained, "Sorry, I didn't expect to have any passengers." The Sergeant examined the back of the Hummer and whistled. He said, "You've got an arsenal in there." Oscar shrugged and replied, "I've been borrowing weapons from the enemy. Can't ever have too much except when it is more than you can carry. Funny how excited they get when I return them." The Sergeant nodded at the black humor and then caught his first full whiff of Oscar. The man stunk to high heaven and he said, "You need to take a shower man." Oscar laughed and said, "I know, I smell like those guys laying on the ground back there. I need to change out of this uniform. I've been living it ever since I was separated from my unit. I also need to eat something. I've been living off Russian rations and they really suck." The Sergeant thought about what Oscar must have been through over the past month. "When we get back to camp, we can arrange all of that." Oscar replied, "Thank you, Sergeant." Oscar drove to camp following the directions provided by the Sergeant. It wasn't that long of a trip since he was able to drive directly there. He did think that the Sergeant was about to get sick because of his odor. All of the windows that hadn't been shot out were down to get fresh air into the truck. He pulled into camp and exited from the Hummer, stretching as he looked around at all of the people in his unit. He looked at each person and realized that they didn't intimidate him any more. The camp was huge with a mess tent and a supply tent. His eyes automatically searched out ways that the camp could be attacked. The Sergeant looked around and pointed out a tent. He said, "There's a spare bed in there." Oscar nodded and said, "I'm afraid that all of my gear was lost. It was blown up in my first engagement." The Sergeant said, "Get to supply tent and get what you need from the Sergeant there. Then get washed and fed. I'll be in the Colonel's office briefing him." Oscar opened a door of the Hummer and reached in. He pulled out a stack of laptops and the video camera. He handed them to the Sergeant and said, "Here's the intelligence that I've gathered." Oscar headed off to the supply tent to get a fresh uniform and other supplies. He entered and strode up to the Supply Sergeant. The man took one whiff of him and handed him a clean uniform. He said, "Get clean, then come back here." Oscar turned and left the supply tent with a clean uniform. He walked around looking for the showers. He finally stopped someone and asked, "Where are the showers?" The other private pointed to a tent and said, "On the other side of that tent." Oscar walked to the other side of the tent; smelling the water in the air he was able to go directly to the tent with the showers. Walking in, he smiled at the thought of being clean for the first time in a long time. He stripped and turned on the water making sure that it was hot. In minutes, the floor beneath him was running with mud. He looked down at the floor, surprised that all of that dirt had come off him. He also noticed his cock for the first time, staring at it for a second shocked by the size of it. He told the wall, "The women are going to love that." He lathered up and washed his hair. He had a thick growth of beard, but didn't have a razor on hand. The fact that the water ran gray when he rinsed forced him to wash a second time checking to make sure the water ran clear when he was done. Finished with his shower, he took a few minutes to stand under the hot water enjoying the feeling of it running over his body. Finally, shutting the water off and stepping out of the stall, he dried himself with a towel and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't look any different other than the beard and unruly hair, but he felt different. Dressing in the new uniform, he put on the cloak and picked up the old uniform. He went to the tent the Sergeant had pointed out and put the uniform at the foot of the bed. He'd find out what to do with it later. He searched the pockets of the old uniform and put the items in his new uniform. It was only when he pulled out the map that he realized he had forgotten to give it to the Sergeant. It was lunchtime by the time he exited his tent. He went into the mess hall and joined the end of the line. Most people didn't even take notice of him; he was just another private waiting for lunch. The line progressed fairly quickly and he eyed the food ravenously. Too long of a time spent living off Russian rations was about to end with a feast. Oscar was still pretty far back in the line when two men in Special Forces uniforms came into the mess hall. They pushed their way into the middle of the line, intimidating the regular forces. Infuriated, Oscar stepped out of line and went to them. Despite the fact that they outranked him, he ordered, "Apologize to everyone here and then get in the back of the line." The two men looked down at him and laughed. One of them asked, "What are you going to do about it?" Oscar looked up at the man and stared him straight in the eye. In an even tone of voice that showed no fear, he answered, "I'll cut your balls off and fry them for my lunch." The other people in line started backing away. Both men towered over Oscar and tried to look intimidating, but with no luck. The one he had answered looked down at him with anger flashing in his eyes. He said, "I'd like to see you do that." Oscar turned and headed towards the door. A number of people breathed a sigh of relief until he called out, "Come on, mister tough guy. Let's see if you can push me around." The two men followed him out of the mess tent. Oscar turned and faced them. He was calm and relaxed. One of the big guys said, "Come on. You don't expect us to fight you. You're a shrimp." The other taunted, "Why don't you run home to mother now?" Voice even and filled with steel, Oscar replied, "The strong are supposed to protect the weak, not push them around. If you apologize to everyone in the tent, I'll let you go." "I'm not apologizing to anyone!" Oscar spun and kicked him across the face. He returned to his original stance looking at the two men. They charged and the fight heated up. A large crowd gathered around to watch as the fight continued long beyond what anyone believed possible considering the difference in size of the combatants and that the smaller man was out numbered. The commotion was enough to bring Oscar's Sergeant and the Colonel from the command tent. The Colonel stopped the Sergeant from breaking up the fight as he watched Oscar dance around and strike the special services guys at will. He took a few hits, but they didn't slow him down. The Colonel turned to the Sergeant and asked, "Isn't that Foo?" The Sergeant watched open mouthed as Oscar took down one of the special service guys with a leg sweep. He answered, "Yes, sir. That is Foo. We found him at the camp that I was telling you about." "He's become quite a fighter." "Yes, sir," replied the Sergeant. He looked at Oscar and said, "Something happened to him out there. He's not the same Private Meyers that got separated from his unit." The Colonel said, "I once saw an exhibition with that fighting style. He's using a form of Brazilian Martial Arts. Those two guys he's fighting have never experienced anything like it." They watched the fight progress. It suddenly ended when Oscar got both men on the ground. He pulled their own knives and held them to their throats. In a very calm voice he stated, "Apologize to everyone." The two men swallowed and said, "I'm sorry for cutting in line." Oscar smoothly stood up and threw the knives to the ground. The points of both knives were buried in the dirt. Taking a deep breath and turning to the crowd, he said, "The excitement is over." As crowd of people broke up, Oscar reached down and helped the two men up. Nodding at them, he turned and went into the mess hall. A line had already formed and he returned to the end of the line where he waited patiently despite the stares he received from others. The person in front of him, nervously offered, "Would you like to go ahead of me?" Oscar smiled and shook his head, as he answered, "No. Thank you for offering though." The two men he had fought returned to the mess hall and went to the end of the line. He nodded at them and returned to waiting his turn. The guy in front said, "That was pretty amazing what you did. I was sure that you were going to get clobbered." Relaxed now that the fight was over, Oscar laughed and answered, "So did I." He went through the line looking at the hot food with delight. More than a month without a hot meal was too long of a time. He told them to load up his plate. They either took note of the events outside or they could see how hungry he was, but the result was that they piled the food on his plate. At the beverage station, he grabbed a cup of coffee and a glass of iced tea. He carried his tray over to an empty table and set it down. Hardly able to refrain from thrusting his head into the food, he sat down and looked over the meal. He picked up the iced tea and drank half of it down. The cold liquid did more to make him feel like he had rejoined civilization than the shower. He hardly knew where to begin eating. Closing his eyes, he set the fork onto the plate. It was over the green beans, so he started there. When the two special service guys came over to the table, one of them asked, "Do you mind if we join you?" "Please, have a seat," replied Oscar. He moved his left hand out of the pocket of his cloak where it had been resting on his pistol. They sat down across from him, looking at his plate and seeing his obvious enjoyment of the food. They took in his beard and shaggy hair. One of them said, "You eat like you've been out in the field for a while. Have you been out long?" Oscar thought about it, not knowing if almost a month in the field constituted a long time, but he answered, "Yes, I have." The other asked, "Seen any action?" "Some," replied Oscar. He was sure that what he had done would be considered a lot, but didn't want to boast. The first one who had spoken said, "I'm Tom Greelley and this is George Rocha." Oscar extended a hand saying, "I'm Oscar Meyers." The two men looked at each other for a second and then shook his head. The men in their unit wouldn't believe they had been beat by someone named Oscar Meyers. There was only one thing for them to do. Tom asked, "You ever consider joining the special forces?" Oscar laughed and answered, "Until a month ago, you guys wouldn't have been interested in having me." The two men looked at each other in confusion by his answer. This guy had beaten two highly trained fighters and had not worked up a sweat. They shrugged and started to eat their food. When they were nearly done eating, George looked at Oscar and said, "I've never seen that fighting style you used on us. What is it?" Oscar thought about it for a moment and then answered, "I don't know exactly." Tom asked, "Where did you learn it?" Oscar looked at both of them seriously for a second. He answered, "It's just how I fight. I didn't learn it anywhere." Tom said, "Well, I guess we'll have to believe you. Anyway, you may want to look into joining us. We can use people that can fight like you." Taking their offer with the seriousness that it deserved, Oscar nodded and said, "I'll think about it." The two men left while he was enjoying his coffee. The hot beverage tasted great after a long bout of drinking tepid water. Three members of his unit sat down at the table. One of them asked, "Foo, what happened to you?' With eyes narrowed, Oscar looked up at him and replied, "Don't call me Foo, call me Oscar." The guy was about to make a comment, but a nudge in his side reminded him of what he had seen outside. He definitely did not want Oscar to force the issue. He said, "Okay, Oscar. What happened to you?" Oscar frowned and thought about what had happened. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to talk about it until after he was debriefed. He answered, "I can't talk about it now." "You aren't the same guy that was here earlier." "I can't talk about it." The men in his unit stared at Oscar, shocked at the change in him. They slowly stood and moved away from the table. He watched them go, sad that he couldn't explain what had happened. He didn't want to talk about meeting the God and didn't feel like he could tell them about his actions in the field. He picked up his tray looking at the empty plate on it. He couldn't believe how much he had eaten. He carried his tray to the proper place to drop it off and looked around the room. As his gaze swept the room, people looked away with embarrassment at having been caught staring. Somehow, he had changed from being a figure of disdain to one that was feared. He headed to the command tent to meet with the Sergeant and the Colonel, intending to get the rest of his gear after meeting with them. After entering the tent and waiting to be acknowledged, the Colonel turned and looked at him for a full minute. Oscar came to attention. After a minute the Colonel said, "Come with me Private Meyers." "Yes, sir." He followed the Colonel into a private part of the tent. He stood at attention while the Colonel sat at a table. The Colonel pointed to a chair and said, "Sit." Oscar sat in the chair that had been offered to him. Uneasy at being there alone, he looked at the Colonel as he said, "Sir, I thought that Sergeant Wilson was to be here." "Oscar, this is over his head. I need you to tell me exactly what happened." Oscar sat back and wondered how to start. He cleared his throat and said, "I don't know where to start." The Colonel sat back and suggested, "Start with the morning before you left camp with the caravan. There are some details that need to be cleared up about that morning." Oscar blushed in embarrassment and then said, "well, that morning I had taken two doses of laxative thinking it was something to calm my stomach. By the time we left camp, I couldn't go for more than twenty minutes without have to go. Oh, it was miserable. After the third or fourth stop, the rest of the unit went on without me." "Why were you alone in the Hummer?" "The rest of the guys in the unit were afraid to be around me with a loaded gun." The Colonel laughed and said, "I remember the very first day you joined my command. You spilled your tray all over me. If I remember correctly, you did that several times after that, too. I guess I can understand why the fellows in your unit wouldn't want to be around you with a loaded gun." "Yes, sir." The Colonel said, "I just want to make sure that we are in agreement about the kind of soldier you were up to that morning." "I guess you might say that I was a Fuck Up. That's how I got the nickname Foo," Oscar looked at the Colonel directly when he said that. The Colonel replied, "I think the operative expression is that you were a Fuck Up. There is no might about it." "Yes sir." "So you are left behind as you are suffering from the consequences of your accident with the laxatives. What happened next?" Oscar took a deep breath and answered, "While I was there I saw some white trucks moving across the desert and get onto the road behind the convoy. I finished my business among the rocks and got into my Hummer. I was racing along hoping to catch up. Suddenly I find all those white trucks coming at me. Bullet holes started showing up in my windshield." The Colonel made a gesture for him to continue. Oscar licked his lips and said, "Well, I turned around and tried to put some distance between them and me. They were shooting at me and I couldn't return fire. I finally stopped the Hummer and went for cover. After a very short firefight, I was out of ammunition." The Colonel leaned forward putting his elbows on the table. He put the fist on one hand in the palm of the other and rested his chin on his hands, watching Oscar very intently. The story, in an odd way, was fascinating. Oscar continued, "I was quickly becoming surrounded and was without ammunition. Behind me was the desert and there was no place to hide. About that time I noticed that there was a huge dust devil coming towards me. I don't know why, but I ran into it." The Colonel sat back in amazement. He said, "You escaped by running into a dust devil?" "Yes sir." Astounded, the Colonel returned to his original position. He asked, "What happened next?" Oscar thought about how to answer that question for a long time. Finally, he said, "I renewed my vows to the Gods and Goddesses of my religion that I would serve them to the best of my abilities. The God answered me." The Colonel sat back for a moment and opened the folder on the table. He looked it over and then looked up in surprise. Just to confirm what he had read, he asked, "You are pagan?" "Yes, sir." The Colonel nodded his head as he started to realize where the story might lead. He stated, "That explains much. Did they give you anything?" Oscar hesitated, unwilling to discuss the medallion, and then answered, "Yes sir." "Continue telling me your experiences." Oscar took a deep breath and stated, "I have no idea how much time passed between entering the dust devil and waking outside a hut. The man inside the hut gave me this cloak. He said that it would help hide me in the desert." "He spoke to you in English?" "No. He spoke Arabic. I now can speak Arabic and Farzi." The Colonel returned to his forward position as Oscar continued, "Well, I left there with nothing except the cloak and the items in my pocket. I walked across the desert for a day until I found a well. I spent the night in the rocks above the well. The next day some men came to the well. I overheard them talking about the attack on the caravan and this lowly dog they chased into a dust devil. Of course, they were referring to me." "Rather than kill them there, I followed them back to their camp. That night I raided their supply tent and used their own explosives against them. In five minutes it was all over. I went through the camp and retrieved the Hummer and stocked up on supplies. I found a video camera and taped the people that I killed in that raid." The Colonel had watched the tape. It was shocking the number of high level terrorists that Oscar had killed. He said, "I watched the video tape." Oscar reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the map. He handed it to the Colonel. He said, "I also found this map. Once I figured out what it meant, I knew that it gave the positions of the camps, wells, and weapons caches. I had no idea where I was, but I did figure out that if I worked my way to a terrorist camp in the area where my unit had been dispatched, that I could rejoin it." "Good thinking." Oscar smiled and continued, "I didn't think it wise for me to go directly to the camp. I wanted it to look like I was moving around randomly. I booby trapped the weapons caches as I went. I attacked every camp along the route that I had selected. I did take one detour to a camp that was the southernmost one on the map." Sitting up straight, the Colonel focused all of his attention on Oscar. His gaze was piercing as he commanded, "Tell me about that camp." Oscar nodded, understanding why the Colonel would want to know more about the raid on that camp. He said, "It was the biggest camp I encountered. There weren't tents; they actually had buildings. There must have been two hundred or more men there. There was no way that I was going to be able to take it out in my normal procedure. I set up about five locations with RPGs and rifles with extra ammunition. I watched until I was sure I knew where the command building and the supply building were located. I fired RPGs at those locations first. All hell broke loose. I shot the rest of the RPGs at clusters of men and barrels of gasoline. Then I picked up the gun and fired every round that I had. I moved over to the next place and fired an RPG in a building that no one had left. I figured it stored more ammunition. Well, instead of a big bang, there was this huge white cloud that came boiling out of it." The Colonel nodded at the confirmation of the intelligence reports that he had heard. Gesturing with his hand, he said, "Go on." "The men in the camp started dropping like flies. I saw that and ran. I ran to my Hummer and drove away like mad. I was scared to death that it was poison. That was basically it." The Colonel said, "You then went on to make several more attacks on camps." "Yes sir. The one this morning is the one that I had been heading for the entire time." The Colonel sat back and held up a hand. He considered the situation very carefully. He finally said, "The only raid that you performed that was in Afghanistan was the one this morning. It is only just inside Afghanistan. The rest of them took place inside northern Iran and Southern Pakistan." Oscar thought about it for a minute and then asked, "Am I in trouble?" "No, we denied all involvement. We will continue to deny that by stating that some unknown party has declared a private war on the terrorists and that the US Government had no role in the actions." Oscar smiled and said, "Might as well give that same unknown party credit for the camp this morning." The Colonel laughed and said, "Of course we will. In the mean time, you are to be sent to Germany for debriefing by army intelligence." "When do I leave?" asked Oscar wondering if he would get a chance to sleep. It had been a long day and it was only mid- morning. The Colonel stood and handed the map back to Oscar. He said, "you leave now. Your tapes and computers are on a helicopter that's waiting for you. Take this map with you." ------- Chapter 4 It was a standard military conference room that could have been on any army base anywhere in the world. A small room for ten people or less, but very simple. The walls were a dull off-white that looked dirty even though they weren't. The conference table had seen years of use and reflected it. The chairs were utilitarian, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. The carpet on the floor, worn from years of use, needed to be replaced. The building surrounding the room had been constructed in the late fifties as a response to the cold war. The materials used were durable but showed their age. Oscar paced the room wondering how long he was supposed to wait. He had been met at the transport plane by four MPs. Three of them carried off the laptops and video camera while the last one had led him directly to this room. They hadn't even given him a chance to piss. Now more than three hours had passed and his bladder was definitely the most important thing on his mind. He still hadn't had a chance to shave or brush his teeth. His hair definitely violated military standards. Finally, he could see no reason to wait until led to a bathroom. He went to the door and opened it. The MP was still there and stared at Oscar as though hoping he would try something. Oscar looked at the man and asked, "May I use a bathroom?" The MP looked at him as though he was a criminal. His appearance suggested that he was a deserter that had just been caught. The cloak he wore was strange and bulged out suspiciously, but he had not been given any instructions to search the guy. He answered, "Sure. It is right across there. I'll have to watch though." Oscar muttered, "For all I care, you can hold it. If I don't go soon, there's going to be a wet spot in the corner." The MP laughed and went into the bathroom with Oscar watching as he stood at the urinal. Oscar let loose a long sigh of relief as the pressure in his bladder lessened. After what seemed like ages, he shook his cock and tucked it back into his pants turning as he pulled up the zipper. The MP stood nearby shaking his head at the production Oscar had made out of pissing. Oscar went to the sink and washed his hands. He looked in the mirror over the sink hardly recognizing the bearded man that was reflected back at him. He washed his face and then, cupping his hands to catch the water, took a sip of the water. He swished it around in his mouth and spat it out. Using a finger, he did his best to clean his mouth. Turning the handle on the paper towel dispenser, he cranked out a fairly large amount of the paper to dry his face and hands. When he was done, water was still beaded in his beard. He turned to the MP and asked, "Am I a prisoner or am I under your protection?" The MP answered, "I was ordered to watch you and make sure that you didn't wander off on your own. That's what I'm doing." Oscar nodded at the man's answer. It didn't tell him much, but it did suggest that he wasn't to be treated as a criminal. He said, "Well, I guess I ought to go back to the conference room now." Returning to the conference room, Oscar sat in one of the chairs. He considered his circumstances and made a mental inventory of his possessions. That had become a habit of his when he had been wandering through the desert. He was still fully armed with lots of ammunition in the pockets of his cloak. He still had a Russian ration in a pocket. He had been there another hour when a very tall woman wearing a red robe entered the room. With an imperial stride that demanded attention, she entered the room carrying a package under one arm. The MP backed away from her, not knowing whether to stand at attention or challenge her. She shot a look at him that made him decide that putting a closed door between them was the best policy. Oscar watched the interplay with amusement, remembering when he would have tripped over himself trying to get out of her way. The woman turned to him and examined him with an intensity that would have wilted most recipients. Rather than being intimidated, he examined her with equal intensity. She was very tall and attractive with long blond hair that contrasted sharply with her red robe. Satisfied with what she saw, she ordered, "Show me your medallion." Oscar, surprised at the difficulty of satisfying her request, slowly reached under his uniform and pulled out the medallion. She barely glanced at it, feeling its power rather than seeing it, and said, "Okay. Allow me to perform the introductions. I'm Jennifer Wilson. You are Oscar Meyers. Now that the formal business of introductions is done, I want you to get undressed." He looked at her in shock at the directness of her request. Dismayed, he asked, "With you here?" She looked at him with a funny expression as she asked, "Why not?" The idea of undressing in front of a woman reminded his sexual organ of its' role in propagating the species. His cock immediately swelled. He looked down hoping that it wasn't obvious and said, "You're a woman." "So?" He answered, "Well, I'm not used to getting undressed in front of women." She stared at him for a moment not understanding his problem. He was a Druid and this shouldn't be a big deal. Rather than waste more time, she said, "Just do it." He blushed and replied, "Could you leave the room?" "Just do it. We don't have all day." His resistance was very uncharacteristic of any other Druid that she had met. He removed his cloak and set it on the chair. She glanced at the cloak noticing the care he took with it. With nervous fingers, he reached up and started undoing the buttons on his shirt. She watched with impatience and then stepped over to him. With one deft move, she ripped the shirt open causing buttons to fly all over the room. She pulled the shirt from him and then said, "Now, get undressed." Afraid that she was going to do the same with his pants, he quickly went to work removing his shoes. He turned to face away from her when he pulled down his pants. He stepped out of them and turned to face her. He held up his pants so that it covered his underwear. This was all that he could think of that would prevent her from seeing his swollen member tenting his briefs. He was erect and the size of it made it rather difficult to hide. She looked at him wondering if she should have examined the medallion closer. All of the evidence suggested he was Druid in the service of the God, but he didn't behave like it. She commented, "Get hold of yourself. You're acting like a virgin." He blushed at the word virgin and stuttered, "Uh..." She stared at him incredulous as the truth of the situation dawned on her. There was nothing more contradictory in her mind than a virgin Druid. She asked, "Are you?" He turned a bright red and nodded while he fidgeted as his erection pulsed. This was the most embarrassing moment of his life. He couldn't imagine what could be worse than standing in front of a woman clad only in his underwear. She smiled at the opportunity that this presented her, a reaction that made him even more nervous as there was a slightly feral feel to her grin. She handed him the package she was holding and said, "Put this on. We'll take care of your condition later." He looked up at her in confusion wondering what she meant by that. He wondered if she meant that she would take care of his erection or his virginity. Then it dawned on him that taking care of one would take care of the other. He blushed and sought to change the topic. He chose the first one that came to mind and asked, "How tall are you?" Her laughter rang out at his nervous change of topic. She answered, "I'm 5 foot 11 and 3/4 of an inch. For a long time I took a small degree of pleasure out of that missing quarter inch." He shook his head and said, "I'm a foot smaller than you and always lied about that missing quarter inch." She smiled down at him and tenderly rubbed a hand across his face. He might be small, but he was cute. She teased, "you had better get dressed before I lose control of myself." Embarrassed, he turned away from her and opened the package. His eyes grew large at the red robe inside, not fully understanding the meaning of the robe. He slipped it on and turned to face her. She came over to him and adjusted the belt for a tighter fit. Since the robe was a little long, she pushed some of it under the belt so that the hem rose off the floor. She stood back and looked at him. He looked sharp in the red robe. He reached for his cloak and, as he put it on, asked, "What now?" She got very serious and answered, "As of this minute you are no longer in the Army. You are now a recognized Druid that serves as a desert warfare consultant. You will train people in how to go after the terrorists where they live." He was no longer in the Army? As he wondered how could that be, he asked, "A consultant?" She sat down in one of the chairs and answered, "Yes, a consultant." "I don't know anything." "You claim to know nothing," she echoed. Shaking her head, she added, "You drove me crazy for a month trying to figure out who was doing all of that damage on the terrorists. Your actions were so surprising that I spent days searching for you through satellite data. I couldn't find a trace of you anywhere. When I discovered that you were a Druid, it all made sense." "Pardon?" Jennifer laughed and leaned back in the chair. She answered, "You turned their own tactics against them. Surprise bombings, random targets, and total unpredictability. They were re-enforcing one location and you hit them at another." Defending his choice of tactics, he replied, "Hey, I didn't want them to figure out where I was going. I did everything I could to deceive them." "Well, you did an excellent job. You will be training the Special Forces on how to achieve the same effect." "So I won't be going back out there to fight?" Her tone was very serious as she answered, "No. You were able to do what you did because you were alone and behind enemy lines. Now you are not. You will train others to do as you did. That is the role of the Druid. We are advisors and only act out of self defense or the defense of the weak." He nodded as he thought about what she had said. A dozen other soldiers with his abilities roaming around the desert could unleash significant damage on the terrorists. They would be unable to train the next generation. He answered, "I suppose you're right." She stood and said, "Get your stuff together. We have to meet General Taggert in a while and I imagine you are hungry." He collected the items out of his pockets and put them into the pockets of his robe. He picked up his uniform wondering what to do with it. He said, "Yes, I'm very hungry." "Leave your uniform here. You are no longer army." She opened the door and walked out of it. He followed her, leaving the uniform behind. At the door, he glanced back at it amazed at how much it meant to him and how hard it was to leave behind. He stepped out into the hall as the MP looked at him with shock, not realizing that he had been guarding one of the Druids. They had emerged almost overnight in positions of great influence and commanded great respect from the higher ranks. The unofficial word was that an enlisted man should not interfere with a Druid. They were to be treated with all of the respect of a Colonel. Looking at the woman, he asked, "What makes this guy so great?" Jennifer glanced at the guard and said, "He's the Renegade Warrior that the press has been talking about." The MP looked at Oscar in awe and swallowed. The exploits of the Renegade Warrior had been covered with great detail in the press. Many detractors of the American Military had claimed that it was the work of Special Forces operatives acting under direct orders of the President. The whole time he had been guarding him, the guard had believed that he could take care of the little guy without difficulty. Now he realized that he had made a major mistake. He asked, "So, you could have left anytime you wanted?" "I guess so. I was fully armed," Oscar replied. He looked at Jennifer and asked, "Renegade Warrior?" Jennifer smiled and answered, "Yes, we had to come up with a name for you. The press wanted to know who was taking out so many of the terrorists. Since we weren't operating in Iran, we told them that it must be someone inside the terrorist organization. We had no idea who was doing this, so we chose Renegade Warrior for your name." Oscar knew the name should have been Foo Fighter, but shrugged as he replied, "It doesn't matter to me. I was happy to be of service to the God." "Spoken like a true Druid." Jennifer smiled at him as she grabbed his hand and pulled him down the corridor. As they moved through the maze of corridors, she asked, "Where would you like to eat? You have your choice of the Officer's club, the mess hall, or a civilian restaurant." Oscar wasn't really listening to a single word she was saying. The only thing that he noticed was that she was holding his hand. When she stopped to get his attention, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. The action took her by surprise. There had been an innocent touch in his action as if he were a shy teenager summoning up his courage on his first date. She smiled down at him and changed her mind about eating. The feral grin returned as she took off in a different direction. He followed along caught up in the thrill of actually having worked up enough nerve to have kissed a woman. It didn't matter that all he had done was kiss her hand, it was the first time that his lips had touched a woman. The thrill was almost more than he could stand. She led him out of the building and over to a row of houses. He was barely aware of his surroundings. Jennifer led him into one of the houses and stopped once the door had closed behind them. She turned to face him. He looked up at her smiling face, amazed at the beauty of it. In an awed voice, he said, "You are so beautiful." As she released his hand, his face fell in disappointment. She reached up and removed her robe. His eyes grew at the sight of her nearly naked body. She was wearing only a pair of French-cut panties. It was the most amazing sight of his life. In his eyes, she more beautiful than any nude that he had seen presented in a magazine. He drank in the sight of her with desire. When she reached over and removed his robe, he stood there almost paralyzed. She knelt in front of him and freed his cock by lowering his briefs. Leaning forward, she took his cock in her mouth. In a voice that trembled as he exhaled, he moaned, "Oh, my." She started to work over his cock with a little more energy. He didn't last very long before he was spraying his come into her mouth. She had been expecting him to come, so his lack of warning didn't bother her. She could hardly believe how passive he was. He had not grabbed her hair or thrust into her. It was like he had been paralyzed by the entire situation. When he had finished ejaculating into her mouth, she cleaned his cock with her mouth very gently. A little more than a month ago he had faced certain death. At this moment he had tasted one of life's best experience. The difference touched his soul and nearly brought tears to his eyes. He looked down and declared, "I never imagined anything that wonderful ever happening to me." Touched by the raw emotion in his voice, Jennifer stood up and took his hand leading him to her bedroom. She said, "Now that we've taken the edge off you, it is time for you to learn how to please a woman in bed." He replied, "Gladly." Jennifer lay down and then said, "First things first. You need to help a woman get into the proper state of mind to accept pleasure. You can start by kissing her lips." Oscar leaned down and kissed her lips. He wasn't sure how hard or gently to kiss her. She pushed him back a little and said, "Start gentle and work up in pressure as I get more excited. Don't ram your tongue into my mouth until I open it and invite your exploration. Take it slow. Slow is sensual." Oscar followed her instructions, kissing her lips gently. Her lips parted slightly and he ran his tongue across the gap. She opened her lips more and he tenderly explored her mouth. His hands, on his own initiative, slowly moved across her body. Caressing her with a gentle touch. She shivered at the intensity of his concentration on her. She pushed him back a little and said, "When you see that I'm responding, explore my erogenous zones with your kisses. Kiss my neck, around my ears, my shoulders, on the inside of my elbow, my wrists, and my breasts. Take your time and go slow." He returned to kissing her lips. He slowly moved to her neck, kissing his way there. As her excitement grew, her hands started roaming over his body. When he worked his way to the crook of her elbow, she really started responding. She was tempted to grab his head and pull him to her breasts, but she resisted. This was his first time and he should learn to do it right. Oscar was lost in the sensations of exploring the body of this glorious woman. He soon forgot which parts she had told him to kiss, so he kissed every inch of her. Her arms, her shoulders, her neck, her breasts, and that valley between the breasts. He even sucked upon her fingers and kissed the palms of her hands introducing her to places of pleasure that she had not even known about. He suckled on her nipples, enjoying the sensation as they stiffened under his tongue. He kissed her belly, lost in the wonder of the expanse of skin that shivered under his touch. He worked his way down her legs. He spent time kissing her thighs. His hands roamed over her body, enjoying the little goose bumps that rose under his touch. He kissed his way up her legs to the mysterious folds of skin. He looked up at her, unsure what to do. She said, "Go ahead and kiss it. Be gentle because it is very sensitive." He started kissing the lips, surprised to see that they swelled and parted. He ran his tongue into the opening. She had to take a deep breath as his tender touch fired her excitement. Her pussy released its sweet juices and he licked them up as fast as he could. She ran a hand to his head and stroked his hair. Her legs started to tremble as the beginnings of an orgasm started to build. He noticed the clit and gently licked it. She moaned loudly and he knew that he had done something correctly. He continued to kiss and lick her clit. Her motions became more forceful and less controlled. He couldn't believe the effect that he was having upon her. He licked her clit faster, stopping occasionally or changing to circle it with his tongue. The teasing had the desired affect on her as she crashed over the threshold and came with shocking suddenness. She arched her back and screamed her pleasure. Oscar, afraid that he had hurt her, climbed up from his position and held her gently. He watched her face as the orgasmic grimace eased to a happy contented smile. He asked, "Did I hurt you?" She smiled and ran her hands along his arms. She answered, "No, you didn't hurt me. You made me feel so good." He grinned, happy to know that he had given her pleasure. Lying next to her naked body and watching the orgasmic glow was enough to give him an extremely hard erection. His cock leaked pre-come. Seeing his excitement, she said, "Now that I've come, you can enter me. My body is fully open for you." He positioned himself between her legs. She guided his cock into her and he slowly started thrusting. Now that she had come, she wanted it harder and faster. As his pleasure grew, he started thrusting faster. This was the part of lovemaking that nature ruled. Nature commanded their bodies, in this, the most basic of couplings. His body thrust trying to implant his seed deep into her. Her hips rose to meet his thrusts so that his semen would have a home deep within her. Her body trembled as waves of orgasm swept through her body. His muscles clenched as his body prepared for its release. He came. He came hard. Without realizing it, he screamed out his pleasurable submission to nature that only a woman can provide. His total involvement in the act induced another orgasm to wash through Jennifer. The spasms in her pussy intensified the pleasure for both of them. Incredulous at the feelings that his coupling had induced in him, he put his arms around her and wept. To think that he might have gone his entire life without experiencing that moment of total bliss and connection with another human being was too much for him. Jennifer, amazed at his total surrender to her and his willingness to share his feelings, hugged him close to her. Every instinct in her body screamed out to her to hold him and take care of him. Shocked at his own tears, Oscar looked up at her. Gazing into her eyes, he said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this afternoon. I can die happily now knowing that I have experienced the best that life has to offer." She smiled down at him, touched by his heart felt emotion. She answered, "This was delightful and very enjoyable. It will be better for you when you know the woman and love her. I must say that I envy her, who ever she may be." He started to answer, but she put a finger on his lips. He kissed the finger while she said, "Don't say that you love me. You know nothing about me. I get the great pleasure of knowing that I was your first. I know that I will always hold a special place in your heart." Oscar thought about what she had said and knew that she spoke the truth. He didn't love her and she didn't love him. He had special feelings for her that would never die, but they weren't love. He nodded as he said, "I understand." She caressed his face with her hand and said, "I know that you do. You are a very special man. You will bring pleasure to many women in the near future." He smiled and said, "I know that there are some things that a man isn't supposed to ask, but was I okay?" "You were outstanding. You are a natural lover. You take such pleasure in a woman's body, that it gives a woman everything she could possibly want in a lover. Orgasm is not the goal for a woman. It is the sense of being fully appreciated as a woman and the knowledge that a man truly enjoys being with her." Oscar listened carefully as she told him about how women felt when making love. He realized that she was telling him more about the nature of female sex than any other woman would probably share. He wondered if he would be so kind as to provide the insights into male sexuality that she was giving him if their positions were reversed. He had been thrice blessed. She had made given him his first experience with a woman. She had made it pleasurable for him, not the fumbling confused experience that he thought would be his. She had given him key insights into making love to a woman to provide her with as much pleasure as he received. When she had finished, she moved out from under him. He looked at her lovely body closely now that his urges had been relieved. She was a beautiful woman with natural curves and full ripe breasts. She stood and walked to the bathroom. Her hips swayed in a very feminine fashion. He was captivated by the graceful confident movements of her body. The sound of the shower filtered into the room as she washed the residue of their coupling from her body. He lay there waiting his turn in the shower knowing that if she had wanted him to join her, she would have invited him. She needed the time alone, for what reasons he didn't know, but it would be selfish of him to deny her these few minutes. She came out of the bathroom with damp skin that quickly dried in the open air. She smiled at him and said, "It is your turn." He went into the bathroom and turned on the water. He stepped under the shower taking pleasure in the warm water running over his body. He didn't spend much time, just long enough to wash away the remains of their coupling, but not the tension in his body. He exited the shower and dried off. His skin still damp, he came out of the bathroom expecting to see her already dressed. She was not in the bedroom. She called him to come into the kitchen. Still naked, he wondered what he was supposed to do until he remembered that his robe was in the living room and went out to get it. When he reached his robe, he looked in the kitchen discovering that she was naked. Taken aback by her continued nudity, he stared at the robe in his hand wondering if he was supposed to put it on. She saw him by the robes and called out, "Stay that way. I enjoy looking at you." Oscar looked puzzled at the thought that a woman would want to look at him naked, but he did as she asked. As she made a can of soup and a quick sandwich, he watched her work pondering why she would like to look at him. She poured the soup into two bowls and put the sandwiches on two plates. Handing him the two plates, she carried the two bowls to a table. She sat down and gestured to the seat across from her. He joined her at the table and set one of the plates in front of her. As they started eating, he watched her, amazed at how easy she took to being naked around him. Reminded of his hunger, he took a bite of his sandwich and slowly chewed. He remembered back to the conference room when she had asked him to undress and how he had been shy and unwilling. His attitude and modesty had surprised her. This made him wonder if most Druids were nudists. He swallowed a spoonful of the soup and asked, "You don't seem to be very concerned about nudity." She smiled and looked across the table enjoying looking at his body. She teased, "Are you enjoying the view?" He stuttered, "Uh, yes, no, I don't know. I just meant that you seemed very relaxed about being naked. I'm still somewhat embarrassed by it." "If it harms none than do it," she replied. At the look of his confusion she explained, "Look, nudity harms no one by its presence. There are some that would harm you for being nude, but there are just as many out there that will harm you even if you're dressed. Nudity is natural and to be embarrassed by showing your body just means that you are not comfortable with your body." He nodded and said, "Well, I've always been short for a guy." She laughed and replied, "I've always been tall for a woman. I'm not sure which is odder to most folks, a tall woman or a short man. All I know is that I've come to appreciate my body." Oscar sat there thinking about her statement. He wondered if he was really ashamed of his body or if he had been ashamed by his physical reactions to others around him. He commented, "Well, men tend to stick out a bit when they get excited." She smiled and licked her lips with that same feral look in her eye. He noticed and blushed. Seeing his reaction, she said, "I don't see a problem with that. I feel flattered when I know that someone finds me sexy. I particularly appreciate it when they are kind enough not to try to force anything on me." "I hope that I didn't force anything on you." "Darling, I pulled you here, I stripped and stripped you. I was the one that went down on my knees and hoovered you. I pulled you in the bedroom and you did everything that I told you to do and more. No, you didn't force anything on me, don't worry about that." Her words caused Oscar to blush a bright red. She smiled across the table at his reaction to her description of the events. She added, "Next time you can be a little more assertive, though." "Next time?" She smiled like a fox in the chicken coupe, as she said, "Well, you are going to be around for at least a month as you figure out how to train your soldiers. You can stay here if you would like. I've got to warn you, I do tend to sleep better after sex." Oscar laughed and said, "Okay. I'll be your sleeping pill." They finished the meal in quiet. Oscar occasionally looked across the table at Jennifer, appreciating her beauty. The breasts that he had spent so much time kissing continued to attract his attention. They were magnificent, beautiful up close and beautiful from a distance. She didn't purposefully pose for him, but she did make sure that he got to see interesting views of her upper body. Finished with his soup and sandwich, Oscar pushed his empty dishes away from him. He looked over at her as he said, "This was the best meal that I've ever had. You were a most beautiful dining companion. Men throughout history would fight to have a meal like I have just had." Jennifer laughed at his obvious flattery and said, "With words like that you'll sweep any woman off her feet. However, we have a General that is waiting to talk with us." Dressed in his red robe, Oscar followed Jennifer as she walked past the General's aide and into his office. He looked at the aide and could tell the young man was quite upset at being ignored. The General didn't complain about the unannounced intrusion. She sat down in a chair, so Oscar did likewise. She said, "General Taggert, I'd like you to meet the Renegade Warrior, Oscar Meyers." The General looked over at Oscar and commented, "I just finished reading your file and the report from your former commanding officer. You went from Fuck Up to Druid in one month." Jennifer, glared at the General, and said, "Men may have viewed him as a Fuck Up, but the God selected him and not them." The General frowned at the rebuke as he replied, "So you say." Pleased at her defense of him, Oscar looked at the General and replied, "Yes. That is what we say." Irritated, the General looked at Oscar for a minute. Not intimidated, Oscar gazed back, his eyes not blinking. He was willing to wait for the General all day if necessary. He had learned many lessons in the desert and patience was the one that had been burned into his psyche. The General finally asked, "So what will you be doing for the Army?" Jennifer answered, "He's going to train your Special Forces on how to hunt and kill terrorists. Between the two of us, you can bet that things are going to change in that area of the world." "How can you say that?" Jennifer took Oscar's hand in hers. She answered, "Because Oscar here single-handedly took out between a quarter to a third of a very large terrorist organization in thirty days. Your troops were mucking around in the mountains trying to find them." The General frowned at the comparison and looked over at Oscar. He said, "Well, put together your training plan and present it to me." Oscar nodded as he realized that the interview was over. Jennifer stood as said, "See you later, General Taggert." Oscar stood as he said, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, General Taggert." Jennifer turned and left the room. Oscar stood there for a moment and then turned to the General. In a very serious tone of voice, he said, "You may not believe this, sir, but I enjoyed my time in the Army tremendously. I think it is the finest organization in the world." Oscar didn't wait for a response, leaving the room to follow Jennifer. The General sat there surprised as his aide came in the room. The General turned to him and said, "About the time that I get pissed enough at those Druids to toss them off the base, they turn around and shock the hell out of me. That little runt killed over three hundred hardcore terrorists on their own ground. I've seen the pictures of the camps that he took apart. I expect that we'll have major changes around here." The aid asked, "What about her?" "She's a real puzzle. A month ago she walks into the map room points to a location on the map and tells me that the terrorists are there. Our troops get attacked twenty different ways going after them. They kill thirty six of the terrorists and she says that our tactics are all wrong. She gets on the phone with the commander in the field and the next day we get fifty in two hours with no causalities or wounded." The General sat back and considered the Oscar Meyer. The service record of the man didn't suggest anything like the guy that had walked in his office. Perhaps there was something to their claim that they served Gods and Goddesses. ------- Chapter 5 Oscar woke beside the beautiful woman feeling exceptionally rested. The morning air was cool and he enjoyed lying under the covers heated by the warmth of her body. He watched her sleep, the features of her face were soft and vulnerable. He enjoyed her company in and out of the bed. She was a beauty and a brain, a delightful conversationalist that was able to talk about any topic. She possessed a deep insight into her work that made her invaluable in the war against terrorism. He slipped out of the bed, moving from the room with a soft step so as not to wake her. He entered the second bathroom raising the seat on the toilet and relieved his bladder without closing the door behind him. Looking in the mirror as he pissed, he realized that he had a nice body with a cock that was disproportionately large. As he shook his cock to get rid of that last drop, he realized that he had become much more comfortable with his nudity over the past week. After washing his hands, he cupped them and drank the water that filled his palms. He rinsed his mouth and then spat out the water knowing that after breakfast he would brush his teeth and shave. The face looking back at him was his, now that he had gotten rid of the beard. He went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, smiling at her use of the old fashioned percolator. He hadn't seen one of them in ages. Nothing could load the air with the smell of coffee faster than a real percolator. The perking sound was like music to his ears; it sounded so much better than the rumble of the drip coffee makers. He heard a noise at the front door and figured it was the paper boy. The front door opened and someone entered the house. He spun to see who it was, not expecting a visitor this early in the morning. He moved quietly out of the kitchen, picking up a knife as he went, ready to act. He came face to face with a woman that looked like a smaller version of Jennifer. She had little spots of red, yellow, and blue paint on her face and hands. She giggled at the sight of the man standing naked before her. Her eyes flicked down to take in his manhood and then went back to his face. Not quite believing what she had seen, her eyes were drawn to his member once again. She laughed and said, "Just like sis. She always gets the good ones. Where is she?" Setting the knife on the counter, he answered, "She's in bed." She wondered what he was doing out here if she was in bed. She looked down at his member and asked, "What's your name?" "I'm Oscar Meyers." She giggled and said, "Nice to meet you Oscar Meyers with the foot long wiener." For the first time in his life, he laughed at a joke about his name. It was about that time that he realized that he was naked. He said, "Excuse me while I get dressed." She answered, "No need. Living with sis, a girl tends to get used to seeing men in your condition. I have to use the bathroom." He remembered an important item just before she closed the door and called out to her, "I forgot to lower the seat!" As she closed the door, he heard her grump, "Men!" He laughed and returned to the kitchen. He poured two cups of coffee and set them on the table. Sitting on one of the chairs, he waited to see who would come out first, Jennifer or her sister. He sipped his coffee, remembering that only ten days ago he had been wandering in the desert lost. That was a time when he would have killed for a cup of coffee that tasted this good. The sister came out and sat at the table with him. He knew nothing about this woman and didn't really know what to talk to her about. He decided that her absence was as good of a topic as any. He asked, "By the way, sister of Jennifer, what have you been up to?" She didn't notice how he addressed her, more interested in the question. She answered, "I've been out paint balling. Our team won the tournament." At his confused expression, she explained, "It's like fighting, but instead of using bullets we use paint balls." He stared at her as an idea formed in his mind. He said, "Tell me more about this paint balling." She enthusiastically told him about the sport. He listened to her stories with fascination and finally asked if he could see her equipment. She went out to her car and returned with a duffel bag. She pulled out the paint ball gun and handed it to him as she explained its operation. He held it almost reverently and smiled up at her as he said, "Thank you very much." "What for?" He held the gun examining it. The design was rather interesting, but he could see how it could be used. He looked at her with a wry smile as he answered, "You have given me a solution to a problem that I've been worrying about for a week." A very naked Jennifer came out of the bedroom, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She saw her sister and Oscar sitting around the table talking with each other. She also noticed that Oscar was naked. Teasing, she asked, "So, you've dropped me for my little sister already?" Oscar, taking her comment seriously, answered, "No. I would never do that to you. I care too much for you to ever hurt you that way. Believe me." She laughed as she said, "Hey, relax. I was just teasing you." Oscar, embarrassed by his over reaction, wanted to set things straight. He struggled to find an appropriate word describing their relationship. They were sleeping together without a commitment. The whole situation basically confused him. He said, "Oh, I didn't realize. I'm just not used to this whole relationship thing." Both women looked at him like he had pointed to a ball and said that it was a box. Jennifer said, "I don't think we have a relationship thing." "We don't?" Expecting to have a very bad confrontation, Jennifer looked at her sister and asked, "Would you mind stepping out a moment?" Wondering what he had said wrong, Oscar watched as the sister left the room. Once she was gone, he asked, "Why would you ask her to leave?" "We have to talk about you and me." Puzzled, he asked, "Are you taking this more seriously than you told me earlier?" "No, are you?" "Not really. I mean you are the first and only woman I've ever been to bed with, but you made your position quite clear." The discussion wasn't clear and Jennifer wondered if it was because she was still sleepy. She went into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Pouring a little milk into it, she returned to the kitchen table. She sat down and asked, "So why did you call it a relationship thing?" "I don't know what else to call it. What would you call it?" She laughed so hard that she had to set her coffee down to keep from spilling it. She couldn't believe that she had been afraid that he had fallen in love with her. At least now she didn't have to tell him that she didn't share the same feelings towards him. She finally answered, "I guess relationship thing is about as good of a description of it as any." He shrugged his shoulders and turned to the paint ball gun. He said, "The sister of Jennifer showed me this paint gun. I think this is the solution I've been looking for." Jennifer looked at him with a wry expression and asked, "The sister of Jennifer?" He looked up with a grin and answered, "She never told me her name, just that she was your sister. So, I will call her sister of Jennifer until I have a better name." Jennifer laughed and shook her head. There were times when Oscar really amazed her and this was one of them. She decided to have a little fun with him. She said, "My sister's name is George." He turned his attention back to the paint ball gun. He asked, "Can we get these built to current military armament design?" "You can ask a maker." Noticing his confused expression, she added, "A Druid that makes the supplies for other Druids. They are very excellent craftsman." "I wonder if they make hand grenades and land mines." He looked up and then shouted, "Hey, George. Can you come back here?" Jennifer's sister returned to the room with a very wry expression on her face. She looked at her sister with a crooked smile as she asked, "Did Jed tell you my name was George?" He glanced at Jennifer and then smiled. He said, "Let me guess. You have nicknames for each other and use them to make fun of each other." "You got it." "Sibling rivalry. So what is your real name?" She laughed and said, "Georgia." Oscar nodded and, in a very serious tone of voice, said, "I like George better." Jennifer giggled as her sister rolled her eyes. Georgia asked, "Why is it that every Druid I've ever met likes George better?" Oscar looked at her for a minute as though looking deep inside her. He then answered, "You have the spirit of a George. Georgia sounds like some Southern Belle. You aren't a Southern Belle. You are definitely a George." Georgia shook her head and gave up. She also realized that she liked the reason why he preferred George. She wasn't a Southern Belle, enjoying the rough and tumble life much more than tea parties and shopping. Smiling at Oscar, she said, "You can call me George." Jennifer looked at her sister in shock. This was the first time that she ever allowed anyone other than her to call her George. She looked at Oscar and realized that he had no idea of how unusual her compliance was. Then she realized that he was the first to explain why he liked George better. "Thank you," he answered. His mind returned to the reason why he had called for her to return and asked, "Are there paint ball grenades?" "Sure, they have several different kinds of grenades," she replied. She thought about it for a moment and recalled something that she had heard over the weekend. She added, "They even have land mines in prototype development." His eyes lit up with glee at the news. This was getting better and better. He could possibly have American and Russian military weapons built that would fire paintballs. He also wanted to make sure that he could get the paintball versions to make the same sounds as their real counterparts. Excited by the information, he asked, "Can you show me how to use this stuff?" Georgia answered, "Sure. I'll take you to one of the ranges and you can try it there. I'll even set up a little competition." Oscar asked, "Can we go now?" She laughed at his enthusiasm. She answered, "Not today, I have more important things to do. I just drove all night after a major competition yesterday. I need to get some sleep." He barely heard her answer and replied, "Well, if you need any help getting to sleep just let me know. I'm really anxious to get out there." Jennifer and Georgia both laughed at his statement. He looked up at them and realized what he had said. He apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it that way." Georgia teased, "Here I was hoping that you would help me get to sleep." He blushed and looked at the paint ball gun as a way to avoid looking at them. Jennifer laughed at his embarrassment. There were times that he was just so cute. He felt her gaze and looked to her seeking help, but it only caused her to laugh harder. Georgia stood up and while winking at Oscar said, "I'm off to bed now." He looked up with a twinkle in his eye, deciding that he could tease just as well. He said, "If you have trouble falling asleep just call." At the look from Jennifer, he added, "I'll bring you a sleeping pill." Georgia laughed all of the way to her bedroom. Jennifer watched her go, surprised to see the flirtatious manner in which she moved her hips. She had never seen her sister flirt with a man before. She turned to Oscar and said, "I think my little sister likes you." Oscar nodded absently as he stared off into space thinking about his training program. He answered, "I like her too." She shook her head and repeated her statement with greater emphasis on likes. "She likes you." He looked up confused by the repetition of the conversation and said, "That's nice. I like her too. She seems like a great person." Jennifer moved around the table to sit beside him. She put her hand on his arm and said, "Listen carefully. She likes you." He looked at her with the same intensity that he had been looking at the paint ball gun. Suddenly nervous, he licked his lips and asked, "Are you saying that she likes me in the way that a woman likes a man?" "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," replied Jennifer. She looked at him for a moment trying to decipher his thoughts. She could see that he was thinking furiously. With a frown, he replied, "Oh. I don't know what to think of that." "What do you mean?" "Before I met you, I had never held a girl's hand," he answered despite how uncomfortable it made him feel. There was a slight trace of emotion that bordered on sadness, perhaps regret, in his voice. Uncertain on how to act, he asked, "What would you suggest, considering the situation?" His uncertainty tugged at her heart. She cared about him a lot, but she wasn't in love with him. She looked towards her sister's bedroom and realized that her sister could very well fall in love with him. She looked back at him and said, "Let her make the first move. Don't turn down anything she offers." He started to say, "You mean even if..." She interrupted him and said, "I am telling you not to turn down anything she offers." Oscar, lying in a small depression in the ground, waited under a small camouflage blanket. He had prepared two of them before coming to the paint ball range. He had tied green grass to the small loops sewn into the blanket. There was enough grass to look like a patch of wild grass. He had taken one and given the other to George. She was lying on the ground about thirty yards from his position facing him. He knew where she was and still had difficulty seeing her. The enemy team moved with caution into the clearing approaching their flag. Oscar had watched them for twenty minutes. Eighteen of the twenty people on the enemy team watched the clearing trying to decide if he or George was there. He and George comprised one full team. A member of the enemy team entered the clearing, moving towards the flag. He stopped and turned to look back at his team mates. Oscar fired a single shot and the man was splashed with paint. His team mates in the woods looked for the source of the shot, but couldn't tell where it had come from. Their attention had been on the target, drawn to him when he had turned to look back at them. Oscar waited for the other team to make its move. He could see the team captain gesturing to five others. The five team members, crawled on their belly toward the flag. They did their best to use the cover available. Three shots from one side and two from the other rang out. All five were out of the game. They went over to the flag to watch the rest of the fight. The commander and three other men pulled back from the tree line into deep cover. They were gone for ten minutes. Oscar smiled as he knew they were planing something big now that they thought they knew where he and she were located. Ten men, in two groups of five, charged towards groups of fallen branches that were near the Oscar and George. They fired into the branches as they ran. Ten shots rang out and all ten were down with paint splotches on their backs. When the ten had made their move, the remaining two ran towards the flag. They had almost reached it when two shots brought them down. They joined the others at the flag. They waited under their cover for fifteen more minutes, watching the tree line for movement. One of the enemy team members had a reputation for being a sniper and they believed that he was waiting for them to move before firing. The fact that he hadn't fired before now meant that he hadn't identified their position yet. Oscar was surprised when George let loose several shots. The sniper must have been behind him. He waited five more minutes for any trace of movement or sign that anyone was watching them. It was his turn to be the tiger bait. He slowly crawled to the edge of the woods. No shots rang out and he finally saw the sniper sitting next to a tree with a look of disgust on his face. The sniper stood up and stomped over to the flag with the rest of the team. Oscar covered the tree line while George slowly inched her way to the tree line. They did a rock, scissors, and paper across the meadow from each other. Oscar lost, so it was his turn to guard the flag. He watched as she moved into the trees and quickly disappeared. The enemy camp was about a ten minute walk from their location, but it could take her thirty minutes to cover that distance. He settled in to watch his surroundings. There was always a chance that the other side wouldn't leave anyone to guard their flag, but have a man waiting off to the side to take advantage of the fact that their team only had two members. He watched and listened to his surroundings. He wasn't used to fighting in a forest, but the basic principles were the same as fighting in the desert. He heard a several birds take flight from a hundred yards behind his position. He turned and faced that direction. Five minutes later, a woman stepped into a very small opening between some trees. He fired several shots in her direction and she was quickly covered in red paint. If they had told him accurate numbers for the enemy team, George and he had won by default. They had taken out the entire opposite team. He continued to wait. The engagement wasn't over until the referee blew the whistle. His eyes continued to search the tree line for any sign of movement. He watched the squirrels and the birds. The birds flitted normally from tree to tree. The squirrels did squirrel things without much care. Still, he did not move. Finally, after about forty minutes a whistle blew. He stood up and went to the flag where the other team was still sitting around. It was beginning to get dark. The team captain headed over to him with an outstretched hand. Oscar accepted the hand in a friendly handshake. The guy said in German, "Damn, I couldn't believe it. Even after you wiped out our whole group, I still had no idea where you were." Oscar laughed and replied in German, "We worked hard on our camouflage before we got here." "I've never seen anything like it. You and her fought all day, won every fight regardless of whose team you were one and never got hit." The group headed to the staging area talking as they went. Even though Oscar had never spoken a word of German before today, he understood everything and responded with a native accent. The group was surprised to find out that he wasn't a German based on his abilities with the language. The thing that had given him away was some of the cultural references. Oscar said, "She's good, isn't she?" The guy laughed aloud as he said, "Good? Did you know that half of this team was Special Forces trained? She is very good." Oscar shook his head as they walked. He thought about Georgia and her performance in the game. She had really been outstanding. In the morning, she had spent almost two hours in a tree and took out three people. They had just spent two hours laying on the ground absolutely still. She didn't have much of the tactics down, but she went where she was told and did what was required to achieve her goal. They met up at the staging area and settled around the picnic tables there. Over beer and sausages, everyone talked about the days events. Oscar and Georgia did not have to pay since they were the grand winners of the day. They laughed when the last team described their charge against the fallen branches, sure that they must be hidden in them somewhere because that was the only cover available. One member of the team had almost stepped on Oscar in the charge, confident in his footing. Oscar had not been able to see that since it had happened behind him. After everyone had eaten, Oscar and Georgia left the group and headed to her car. As they put their stuff in the trunk, Georgia said, "Did you know that the captain of that team is the German champion paint baller?" Oscar was shocked at that piece of information. He had assumed that this was some local club. He said, "I'm really surprised, I thought his tactics were rather coarse and too direct. In terms of skill, he was okay." She looked at him and shook her head at his attitude. She replied, "You don't even know what we accomplished here. We made paint ball history, this afternoon." He asked, "In what way?" "A two person team took on twenty of the best in the country and won," she answered as she looked at him with pride. She added, "you brought an entire new dimension to the game." Oscar couldn't figure out what he had done that was so novel. The last time, there were so many of the enemy that any chance of getting seen would have lost the game. There was only one choice, hide very well and wait for the enemy to come to them. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "You were outstanding. Not many people can stand in a tree for two hours without moving. Any little movement in a tree announces itself a long distance. It's tough enough to lay on the ground like that and stay still. I would be honored if you had me as a teammate again in the future." She looked over at him with delight. His comments meant a lot since praise in this game was very infrequent. Most people talked about the things they did in the game, not the things their team mates did, except when someone did something very stupid. It was common for people to talk about how they should have done this or how great that particular action of theirs worked out. She said, "You really mean that, don't you." He looked at her with a smile and replied, "Of course. You were phenomenal. I bet you are a most valued player." She frowned a little and said, "Usually I end up guarding the flag. The men go out to do the major fighting while I'm left defending." He shook his head and said, "Then they are fools. You are much better than any of the guys that were on the other team." She glowed in his praise. To be compared to a national champion by him was great. To be considered better than a national champion was unbelievable. She moved to the drivers side door and opened it. Oscar closed the trunk, and then went to the other side of the car opening his door. They paused for a moment looking at each other over the roof of the car. Oscar got in and buckled his seatbelt. She sat in the driver's seat waiting before turning on the power to the motor. He glanced at her and saw that she was deep in thought about something. She turned to him suddenly and asked, "What do you think of me? He answered, "I think you are smart, capable, witty, funny, and a very good athlete. I think you are a good person with a caring nature. You are also deep, prone to thinking things through before you act. I like that. I truly enjoy being with you." She looked at him for a moment in surprise. He hadn't commented on her appearance at all. Either he didn't think she was attractive, which she didn't think was the case, or he valued the inner her much more. She felt a tingle in her pussy as she thought about that. She was going to have to talk to her sister about this guy. Oscar sat in the passenger seat thinking about the paint ball game they had just played. He was convinced that was the way to do the training. Nothing can demonstrate a kill better than a big splash of red paint on the clothes. The training would have to be more realistic with patrols, enemy camps, and a wider variety of weapons. The targets would have to think and act like terrorists. In fact, the soldiers would have to think like terrorists. Mentally, he worked out the details of his training program during the drive from the range to the base. Georgia was thinking completely different thoughts as she drove along. She was trying to decide what to do about Oscar. She hadn't ever dated much, disappointed at most men's testosterone driven behavior and nearly total focus on sex. Few men had ever listened to her or placed much value on her opinions or abilities. To most men, she was a blond with big tits and an ass to kill for. When Oscar talked to her, he looked at her eyes and not her chest. He listened and didn't lecture her on how things were in the world of Oscar. She occasionally glanced over at him as she drove. He was busy thinking about something important to him, but he wasn't pushing his ideas on her. Some men, when they were trying to think something through, would want to tell you their idea as they developed it. He would solve his problem and then tell you if it might be of interest to you. Both of them were surprised when they reached the house. She parked the car in the driveway and got out to wait for him. He got out of the car and walked to the back to carry the gear into the house. She opened the trunk and he started pulling their gear out. He handed her the gear that belonged to her and took his own gear out of the trunk. She realized after he handed her stuff to her that she had been about to yell at him. She had thought that he was going to act testosterone driven and try to carry everything. In a way, he was acknowledging her strength and accepting it without making a big deal out of it. As they approached the door, Oscar stopped. Looking uneasy at what he was about say, he shifted his weight from leg to leg. Finally, he said, "Before we go in, I just wanted to thank you for taking me there. I really had a great time and you were wonderful company." She turned to him posed to accept a kiss, but he opened the door to the house. It was difficult, but she didn't let her disappointment show. She entered the house and looked around finding Jennifer, interrupted while reading some reports, looking up at them when they entered. She asked, "So, how did it go?" Georgia looked over at Oscar expecting him to monopolize the discussion. He took her hesitation as an invitation to speak. He answered, "I had a great time. George should tell you how we did because she knows more about this than me." He turned to look at her waiting for her answer. She turned to tell her sister all about the days events. He watched and listened to her assessment of the day. Her assessment was full of praise for him and how they did as a team. She practically glowed as she told the events. The glow on her face didn't go unnoticed by Jennifer. After hearing about the whole day, Jennifer asked, "How come you don't have paint on your clothes?" Georgia smiled and answered, "We never got hit." "Really, you usually come home covered with the stuff." Georgia looked at Oscar out of the corner of her eye and answered, "I got to be offense this time. I really like going after the enemy." Oscar added, "She's very good at this stuff. You should have seen her. She was magnificent." Jennifer watched her sister light up like a hundred watt light bulb. She stared at her sister, seeing a woman rather than a tomboy for the first time in her life. A simple glance at Oscar show him standing there totally oblivious to his effect on her sister. She suggested, "Oscar, why don't you take a shower and I'll fix a little snack for us to eat. I bet after all that exercise, you two are pretty hungry." Oscar nodded and headed into the bedroom to use the shower there. Georgia stayed with her sister for a minute. When she heard the water come on in the shower, she requested, "Tell me what to do." Jennifer pretended to be a little slow on the uptake. She asked, "About what?" "I like him." She remembered how Oscar had handled that statement and said, "I like him too. He's a nice guy." Georgia, exasperated, said, "I mean, I really like him. You know, I like him that way." Jennifer smiled and patted the couch next to her. She said, "Come here and tell your big sister all about it." "He makes me feel all giddy inside. I want to grab him and never let go," asserted Georgia. She added, "He's so cute and cuddly. I'm feeling things inside that I've never felt for a man before. I thought he was going to kiss me outside and I practically wanted to cry when he didn't." Jennifer put her hand on her sister's arm. She said, "You've got it bad, don't you?" "Yeah. He makes my knees wet." "Your knees wet?" ask Jennifer with a laugh. Georgia blushed and said, "I meant, he makes my knees weak." "And what does he make wet?" Georgia, embarrassed, stood up and said, "I better take my shower now." Jennifer laughed as her sister practically ran from the room. Shaking her head, she knew that the sleeping arrangements around the house were going to change. She wondered how Oscar was going to take it, hoping that he would miss being with her. He was cute and good in bed; she was going to miss that. ------- Chapter 6 A naked Oscar stepped out of the bedroom and stopped as he stretched feeling the muscles tighten and then relax. He was feeling exceptionally good that morning. Last night Jennifer had been a wild woman, claiming that it was a goodbye fling. She had worn him out with her sexual energy and he had slept very well. Georgia, seated on the couch, watched him with a feral intensity as he stepped into the living room. Her eyes drank in his body and her body tingled in its desire for him. He sat down on a chair across from her. His eyes flicked across her naked body, appreciating the view. She was a smaller version of her sister. Her breasts looked bigger, even though they were smaller than her sister's breasts. The smaller frame of her body gave that impression. Her nipples were erect, despite the fact that it didn't seem that cold in the room to him. He wondered if she was sexually excited. His cock started to respond, but he pushed away the thought. He said, "I would like it if you could join me at the training facility." Thoughts that she had not entertained for a long time went through her head. She had noticed the beginning of his erection. Her eyes flew from his cock to his face in surprise at his suggestion. She asked, "What do you mean?" His eyes rested on her face and answered, "You fight like I do and you know as much about the training program as I do. You helped create it and I need you to help me. I hope you can join me." She looked at the floor for several minutes before softly answering, "I would like that, but..." He waited for her to continue as she stared off into space for a moment. It had been a slim hope that she would join him, but her hesitancy suggested that she wouldn't. Disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm, he said, "I understand. You have other responsibilities." She looked up at him, her lower lip quivering, as she said, "I want more from you than that." She looked upset. Wanting to comfort her, he gracefully rose from his chair and moved to the couch settling down beside her. Putting an arm around her, he pulled her close to him. It was incredible how good it felt to hold her like that. Tenderly, he looked into her eyes and said, "Tell me what you want and it is yours." Her eyes searched his, seeking any guile or deception. She felt that if he truly liked her then his body would be responding to her presence. Yet, he sat there flaccid and apparently physically uninterested in her. She wondered if he couldn't see her need. She feared that if he was to see it, that he would take advantage of her. Years of pursuit by mindless males had built huge walls of distrust of masculine sexual drives. She hesitantly said, "I don't know if I can tell you." He was about to respond when Jennifer came out of the bedroom. She smiled as she saw the couple sitting together on the couch with his arm around her sister in a clearly protective gesture while her sister was looking at him with desire. She didn't realize that she was interrupting a private moment that had only begun to blossom. Looking at them with a smile, she said, "It's about time you two lovebirds connected. I've been waiting all week for this to happen." Oscar looked at her with surprise written on his face. He felt a significant emotional attachment to Georgia, but hadn't realized that it was obvious to anyone. He didn't know if it was love, but he did know that he enjoyed being around her tremendously and the house seemed empty when she was not there. They had spent almost every free minute together. She had helped him flesh out his training program. Georgia looked at him out of the corner of her eye, afraid of what she might see. She feared that he didn't really care about her. She finally blurted out, "He's asked me to go with him to Afghanistan." Jennifer, still not picking up on the underlying tension, assumed that they had already been to bed together. She replied, "I was getting worried that he was going to leave without you making a move on him. So now that you know how he is in bed, you can go with him. Clearly he isn't a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy." Blushing brightly, Oscar said, "I'm afraid that we haven't been to bed. I'm waiting for her to be ready for it. I asked her to come with me because..." Jennifer covered her mouth with her hand in dismay. For the past week, she had watched them work, play, and talk with each other. They complemented each other. If she was asked, she would have to say that she was jealous of her sister. Not because of Oscar, but because her sister had found such pleasure with him. She said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize." Georgia could hardly believe her ears. He wanted her and was waiting for her to act. No one had ever displayed such self control on her behalf. She couldn't believe it and asked for confirmation, "You've been waiting for me to ask you?" Oscar looked into her eyes and said, "Of course, I want to you be ready and willing to accept me into your life." "You want me in your life?" She looked into his eyes, hoping against hope that he meant what he had just said. He wanted her in his life; his words echoed in her mind. Oscar took her hand and raised it to his lips. He kissed it gently and then answered, "Very much." She looked at her sister and realized that she suddenly wanted to be alone with Oscar more than anything. She stood, holding his hand, and said, "Come with me." Oscar followed her to her bedroom. Jennifer watched them leave the room. Oscar's cock reacted to the promise that the moment held, swelling with each step. Aloud, to no one in particular, she said, "Thank the Gods and Goddesses. It's taken them long enough." Georgia settled onto the bed and lay back pulling Oscar down to her. He moved beside her and started kissing her. He could tell that she had different needs than her sister. She needed to submit, but only to a certain point at which she would then need to take charge. He kissed her, trailing kisses along her neck, behind her ears, and moving slowly to her breasts. Taking his time, he enjoyed the flavor of this woman. Her skin, speckled here and there with freckles and imperfections that all bodies have, was unexplored territory. He enjoyed his explorations as much as she enjoyed the sensations it provided her. As her excitement grew, so did her aggression. She would move under him trying to get him to pay attention to one place more than another. Excited, she forced his head between her legs, spreading them to make access to her womanhood easier. The rich aroma of her juices excited him. The smell differed significantly from her sister's. He licked her juices amazed at the quantity that she produced. He knew that she was ready to take charge when she started directing his head from place to place by pulling on his hair. He moved up her body so that he was laying on her. Grabbing her, he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. She was now above him and in control. She didn't waste a minute before she had mounted his cock. She worked herself up and down his cock, hoping that it would drive her to a release. History argued against it since she had never had release from sex with a partner, usually having to settle for her own hand to bring her off. She changed her movements to small circular rolls of her hips. That hit the right spot and her climax rushed over her, surprising them both. For her, she had been frustrated as she tried to push herself over the edge. Then, in space of two seconds, it seemed that all frustration evaporated and her mind and body exploded with pleasure. For him, she was just moving fluidly and then her entire body went rigid. The blush that spread across her entire body was enough to send him over the edge. She fell across his body, hugging him and weeping gently. He didn't understand the tears, but understood her need to be held. He put his arms around her and held her closer while she remained impaled on his cock. The lack of movement didn't create the kind of pain that he was used to experiencing after orgasm. The warm envelopment of her cunt around his cock, kept him erect. His need for her grew as they held each other. For the first time, the act of coupling stopped being sex and became loving. The transition was subtle, but both felt it. His hips rose off the bed in little movements that excited them both. Her clit was pressed against him and each little motion seemed to cause a jolt of electricity to flow from her clit to her breasts and finally to her brain. The tightness of her cunt rubbed the ridge of the head of his cock. The sensation was extremely satisfying. He flexed his cock inside her and they both jumped at the sensation. Her breath became ragged. She was building to another orgasm as was he. She pushed against his hips as they rose off the bed. They lay like that, slowly working up to a release. The first five minutes were pleasant. The second five minutes was phenomenal. At thirty minutes, the feelings they shared were so intense that neither of them would ever be able to describe it. The orgasm, when it finally came, was shattering. A spiritual bond was forged between them. They both wept like babies as they recovered from the effects of the orgasm. Oscar stood at the door looking at Georgia. It was clear to anyone that saw him that he didn't want to leave. She would be joining him in a month, but even stepping out of the house seemed impossible. Jennifer watched the lovers as they looked into each other's eyes and she shook her head at the sight. Oscar looked like a lovesick puppy and she didn't even want to think what her sister looked like. Finally, she had enough and said, "It is time for you to get to the plane. They aren't going to hold it for you." Oscar, wearing his red robe, followed her to the car. People stopped to look at the pair as they walked with cat-like grace to the car. They got into the car and left for the airport, unconcerned about the effect they had on the people around them. It was only a twenty-minute drive across the base to the airfield and they made good time in getting there. The security gate at the airfield took less than two minutes to get through. The guard had snapped to attention when they had pulled up in her car. Jennifer laughed as she said, "It never ceases to amaze me at how quickly they can snap to attention when they see the red robes." Although Druids had been in the public eye for almost a decade, their influence on public policy was only now becoming clear. Oscar asked, "Why do they do that?" She answered, "The word has gotten out on this base that we are to be treated like Colonels or better. Many of the upper ranking officers think that we are super soldiers. Can't tell them otherwise, so we have to put up with it. Personally, I can't wait for one of them to drop the bullshit and treat me like a normal person." They had just gotten out of her car when a soldier came up to them and asked, "Oscar Meyers?" Oscar turned and nodded in acknowledgement. He replied, "Yes?" "Your plane is ready. I'll take you to it," he said. The soldier looked very uncomfortable at dealing with the Druid. After looking back in the direction of the house, Oscar turned to Jennifer and said, "I love your sister very much. I hope that isn't a problem for you." Jennifer laughed and answered, "The only problem it presents is that I'm going to have a very lovelorn sister moping around the house for the next month." Oscar looked very serious and said, "I'm sorry." Jennifer laughed as she replied, "Don't be sorry. I've been hoping she'll find someone for years. Now get on your plane." Oscar hugged Jennifer and then turned to the soldier. With far more sharpness in his voice than he had intended, he commanded, "Lead the way." He followed the soldier to a large transport plane and entered through the loading ramp. He stopped to look at all of the crates on the plane, surprised by the tremendous amount of material loaded within it. All of it was to be used in the construction of the training facility. He looked around and asked, "Is this it?" The soldier shook his head and answered, "There's another plane that has material and the engineers are on it." Oscar looked around and asked, "Why aren't there any men on this plane?" "We thought you would be more comfortable alone." Oscar looked at the soldier for a moment and then asked, "Are you going on the other plane?" "Yes, sir." He smiled and said, "Good. Let's get over there and I'll fly with you guys." The soldier looked uncomfortable for a second. There was a long pause before he replied, "Yes, sir." The two men left the transport and went to another plane. As they walked, Oscar asked, "So what do you like to be called, Private Whitman?" Recognizing that Oscar was trying to make him feel a little more comfortable in his presence, the man answered, "Most of the guys call me Whitey." Oscar knew from first hand experience about how some folks were given nicknames that they didn't necessarily like, but answered to anyway. As if it was a fact, he said, "You don't like that." "Not really," replied the private surprised that Oscar had picked up on that. "So what do you like to be called?" Private Whitman answered, "Jim." Oscar looked at the private and stated, "Okay Jim. Call me Oscar." "Yes sir." Tired of being addressed so formally by everyone, Oscar looked at the private and replied, "Oscar!" "Yes, Oscar," replied Jim as he started to relax in light of the informal manner of the man. Oscar walked along for a moment towards another airplane. He said, "Well, let's see how many Oscar Meyer jokes you guys have come up with." The private nearly stumbled. He had laughed as hard as the rest of the men about the hot dog they were taking over to Afghanistan. He looked over at Oscar and noticed the smile plastered on his face. He asked, "You don't mind?" It wasn't that he didn't mind, but he understood why they did it. It allowed them a chance to feel superior to someone, hiding their own insecurity. Oscar said, "They don't know me enough to respect me yet. That will come with time. Until then, they'll make their jokes." Jim glanced at Oscar out of the corner of his eyes as he considered what the Druid had said. To hear someone talk about earning respect was something that was relatively new to him. Respect was given to rank with the understanding that it had been earned. They entered the other transport plane to see more crates and boxes on board. There were a number of bored soldiers seated on the hard chairs along each side of the transport. Oscar went to one of the seats and sat down as the men in the plane stared at him. He smiled back and said, "Now that the big wiener is here, let's get this show in the air." A ripple of laughter ran through the plane as the loading ramp lifted, closing the rear of the plane. Oscar watched the rest of the world disappear and turned to look at the traveling companions. They would be with him until the camp was established and then half would leave. He waited until the plane had taken off before standing up. This was his chance to meet the men and women that would be working with him. He went from individual to individual, asking their names and their interests. He spent almost half the trip in this fashion, spending at least ten minutes with each person. The last soldier, Brett Nolan, he met had watched Oscar go from person to person. He felt that Oscar was attempting to suck up to the men and his respect for the man had dropped through the whole flight. When he was given a chance to talk to Oscar, he asked, "You are a Druid, aren't you?" Oscar looked over at the man and answered, "Yes, I am. I serve the Gods and Goddesses, although my service supports primarily the God." Another soldier asked, "So what does that mean?" Oscar looked off into the distance and answered, "It means I live my life according to certain rules. I strive to protect the weak from the strong. I work to defeat evil in the world. I advise others on how to serve the greater interests of mankind. It is an awesome responsibility and one that I take very seriously. Lives hang in the balance based on decisions that I make. The God has blessed me with special abilities to aide me, but I am still a man and prone to err." Brett was skeptical of the claim and unwilling to risk his life around a religious fanatic. It was easy for them to say they had met their Gods and Goddesses, but he was a realist. Things like that didn't happen. He looked over at Oscar and asked, "So what special abilities did your God give to you? Walking through walls, the ability to fly, invisibility, or x-ray vision?" Recognizing sarcastic disbelief when he heard it, Oscar looked at him in the eye with an unflinching gaze. With steel in his voice, he answered, "He gifted me with the knowledge and ability to fight terrorists." "Yeah, right." "You are talking to a superior, Private. Show him respect," commented the Sergeant assigned to the unit. The tension in the plane returned with a vengeance. He looked up at Oscar with curiosity, wondering about the man's experience in fighting terrorists. So far, much of their activities had been in the form of intense firefights with small pockets of terrorists holed up inside caves. He asked, "So have you seen action?" Oscar answered in a flat tone of voice, "Yes." The Sergeant believed him based solely on the tone of voice in which he had answered. He had been in several campaigns himself and understood that tone. It was the tone that a man uses when he has seen too much death and destruction. There was that lack of boasting that marked an experienced soldier. He asked, "What was it like?" With a long sigh, Oscar answered, "It was the longest and loneliest month of my life." The Sergeant realized with whom he was talking. He had heard a story about a guy that had been lost in the desert and taken out a number of terrorist camps single-handedly. The news for a month had covered nothing other than how many terrorists were reportedly being killed by the Renegade Warrior. Like many other soldiers, he had watched the news reports every chance that he had. He asked, "You were known as Foo, weren't you?" Knowing that the Sergeant would put the pieces to together, Oscar nodded at the reminder of his past. Impressed, the Sergeant replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." One of the soldiers asked, "What's this about Foo?" Oscar turned to him and smiled as he answered, "It was short for Fuck Up." Brett was about to make a big deal out of it, but he glanced in the direction of his Sergeant and saw awe on the face of the man. That stopped all comment faster than when the Sergeant simply said, "Drop it, soldier. You have no need to know. Let me say that he's a far better fighter than any man in the army." A silence descended upon the plane as Oscar returned to his seat. They were about half way to the landing field in Afghanistan. After the result of the exchange with the Sergeant, the men looked at him like he was some sort of freak of nature. He leaned back and rested, thinking about Georgia. It was less than half a day and he already missed her. He didn't even have a picture of her, yet that didn't matter. He could close his eyes and see her in his mind. The image of her beautiful face, flushed with the effects of her orgasm, looking at him with her love was burned into his memory. He dropped off to sleep dreaming of her, waking when the plane began its descent and his ears popped with the change in pressure. He looked around and noticed other soldiers waking from their naps. The Sergeant walked around the plane, waking those that were still asleep. He told them to get their gear together as they would be landing soon. Oscar watched the man work; impressed with the straight, no nonsense attitude the man displayed. Oscar remembered his Sergeant and realized that he had that same directness. He had been terrified of the guy until after he had met the God. Now he recognized and appreciated the expertise the Sergeants brought to the army. After the plane had landed and come to a complete stop, he waited until the loading ramp was lowered to stand. He walked out into the desert heat, reminded of the blast of hot air experienced when opening an oven. It was odd, but he appreciated the return to the hot climate as he looked around at the area. The Sergeant lined the men up and led them away to their temporary quarters. Oscar watched a group of men come over and start to unload the plane. Using forklifts, they removed the cargo from the plane and loaded them onto trucks. Once a truck was loaded, they threw a canvas tarp over the load and tied it down. Even as the men worked on the plane, the other transport landed and taxied over to a spot next to it. He stayed there watching as the gear was loaded onto trucks. The material filled seven trucks. He did some mental math and added ten Hummers for the troops. He didn't like the numbers. It would make a great target for terrorists and an easy one at that. The base commander, having been told to expect a Druid, strode over to Oscar and looked at the small red robed man. The gray cloak obscured much of the robe. He asked, "You are the Druid Oscar Meyers?" Oscar, without facing the base commander, answered, "I am and you are..." Taken aback by the fact that Oscar hadn't looked at him yet, the man answered, "I'm Colonel Peterson. We've made arrangements for a hundred square miles. Ten miles by ten miles as you've requested." "Nice to meet you, Colonel," replied Oscar as he turned to look at the base commander. In a voice that conveyed real concern, He said, "This is not good." The Colonel asked, "What's the problem?" "Too big of a convoy. We'll get attacked as sure as I'm standing here." The Colonel replied, "This area has been pretty quiet lately. We'll send out patrols before you leave. I wouldn't worry about it." Oscar stood there for a moment as his eyes scanned the horizon. He reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out a very small pair of binoculars. He scanned the horizon with them and then said, "I'll make a bet with you. If I can take out the guy that is watching this base from here, then you'll listen to my advice." Colonel Peterson looked at Oscar, not quite believing that anyone was watching the base, and replied, "Be my guest." Oscar walked over to one of the boxes that had been unloaded. He opened the box and removed a very long rifle with the largest scope that the Colonel had ever seen. After moving a couple of boxes, he pulled out a box of ammunition. Oscar walked over to a stack of boxes and rested the gun on the box. He set up the front support on the gun and opened the chamber. With deliberate movements, he put in a single bullet and closed the chamber. The Colonel watched him at work rather surprised at the seriousness with which the man went about his business. This long distance assassination violated the rules of engagement. Concerned, he said, "You can't just shoot a man like this. You have to make sure that they are the enemy." "He's the enemy. I'm sure of that," replied Oscar as he looked through the sight and adjusted the gun. At this range, the barest fraction of a degree off would mean a total miss. He lined the target up in the scope and took several deep breaths. He released half of his last breath and held the rest. He squeezed the trigger with a smooth gentle motion. A moment later the target fell to the ground. Oscar looked up and said, "Let's go get him." The Colonel, afraid that he was going to be stuck explaining why someone killed a civilian, said, "I didn't see anything." Irritated at the Colonel's stubborn refusal to do what had to be done, Oscar retorted, "Come with me. It was a good shot, more than a mile." "Oh, come on now." The Colonel knew that it was virtually impossible to hit a target over a mile away. This guy was getting on his nerves. Oscar walked over to one of the trucks carrying the rifle and got in the drivers seat. The key was in the ignition. The Colonel, realizing that Oscar would leave him behind, ran over to get in the passenger side. Oscar drove the truck straight to the spot where his target had been hiding. As the truck chewed up the distance to the target, the Colonel sat beside him staring in disbelief with how far Oscar drove. His eyes grew big when he spotted the body lying on the ground. Oscar stopped the truck and walked over to the body as a pistol appeared in his hand as he moved. The Colonel had no idea where the pistol had come from and stared in shock as Oscar fired a shot into the body as he approached. The Colonel looked back at the base, surprised that anyone had been that close without getting spotted by the helicopter patrols. Oscar flipped the body over uncovering a radio and said, "He's got a radio that he's been using to report on troop movements. Let's find his camp and see how long he's been out here." As Oscar stood up, he picked up the rifle dropped by the terrorist. He checked it out and then put the pistol in his pocket. He headed into the rocks. About a hundred meters in, he found a small area covered by camouflage netting. There were supplies for about a month stay. He turned to the Colonel and commented, "He's living off the food we dropped when we entered Afghanistan." The Colonel explained, "There's still a lot of it around. They confiscated it from the civilians when it was dropped." Oscar looked up at the Colonel and said, "They are pretty well stocked. Many of the caches that I found had Russian Rations. They tasted like shit." The Colonel asserted, "We're lucky you found this guy." Oscar laughed as he answered, "Lucky nothing, there are at least ten of them around here. I just had to find the closest one. They are probably spaced out a half mile apart all around the base." The Colonel stared at Oscar as he asked, "How do you know that?" Oscar looked up from the stack of supplies. He took a grenade and rigged it to explode as soon as one of the ammo boxes was moved. He joined the Colonel as the man looked at his surroundings. Oscar answered, "That's what I would do if I were one of them." "What else would you do?" Oscar looked around and pointed along the two roads leaving the base. He said, "About five miles down each of those roads, I'd have a small camp of five to ten people. As soon as one of these guys says that a convoy is moving out, I'd have them set up bobby traps along the expected route. Then I'd disband the camp after the attack." Surprised by the accuracy, with which Oscar had described the activities around the base, the Colonel said, "That's exactly the kind of ambushes we've been faced with in the past." Oscar nodded at the news. He replied, "Now they've quit attacking those convoys. However, they still get one occasionally and usually the most significant one. Am I right?" The Colonel swore, "Hell yes. How did you know?" Oscar said, "You are fighting the masters of distributed warfare." "What in the hell is that?" "Loose groups that function on their own. Each group co-operates with a few others. Imagine an army made of small groups of ten to twenty men all under the command of a Sergeant. A thousand men can create anywhere from fifty to one hundred such groups. No middle ranks until you reach the top and the top only gives general guidelines. It is a very powerful concept and one that is very tough to fight. You have to hunt them down, one at a time. By the time you take out one, they produce another unit to take their place." Oscar stopped and looked around as a bird flew over head. He said, "We had better get out of here." He went to the truck and drove it back to where he had gotten it from. He parked the truck and went to watch the location where they had been. The Colonel joined him and asked, "So how do you win?" Oscar smiled and said, "Watch over there. It should happen any time now." The Colonel looked over at the area where they had been. He was quiet for a couple of minutes and then asked, "What am I supposed to see?" Oscar didn't answer. A minute later there was a very large explosion. Oscar smiled and said, "That." "Oh." Oscar continued, "You have to hunt them with an even smaller force. As soon as you gather a large group together to go after them, they scatter. One or two men can move within striking range and take out a whole group. Take a hundred or so men working alone and you can do tremendous damage to them that a thousand men in a unit can't." The Colonel said, "So what is your advice that you want me to take?" Oscar answered, "Don't move the material out until I tell you that it's okay. Hide the trucks deep within the camp, where no one can get to them. Guard them well and don't allow any locals near them. Divide the material amongst all of the trucks. A few guns on each, a few walls on each, and so forth. No truck should contain all that we have of something." The Colonel replied, "That's not very efficient. Makes it tougher to load and unload." "We won't end up at our destination short of some critical item this way. I'd rather spend the time loading and unloading than waiting for it to be replaced." They walked to the Colonel's office. Along the way, they encountered several locals that worked around the base. All of them took one look at Oscar and spat on the ground, turning their backs on him. Oscar noticed the action and thought about it a moment. He realized that they recognized that he was a servant of the Gods and Goddesses. The words of Omar, the man who had given him his cloak, returned to him. The people would kill him on sight of the medallion. He told the Colonel, "Everyone of the locals will kill me the first chance that they get." The Colonel had noticed the looks that had been sent in his direction. He looked around, very nervous at the sudden tension in the air. He had never seen the locals act in this fashion. He answered, "I think you're right. I've never seen anything like this." Calmly, Oscar looked around and said, "Don't worry. Why don't you go ahead, I'll be right with you in a minute." The Colonel was about to respond and then realized that he was alone. He went on to his office. Reaching it, he stepped over to one of the windows and looked outside at the locals. They were looking around as though seeking something. Stepping over to his desk, he picked up the phone and called the MPs to come over and break up the activity in front of his office. He went back to the window and watched for another five minutes. The MPs had shown up and there was a major discussion. He shook his head as he muttered, "All I need is for the Druid to get killed his first day here." From behind him, Oscar cheerfully said, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Colonel." The Colonel spun around, surprised to hear the man behind him. He stared as he asked, "How in the hell did you get in here?" "I used my cloak to hide myself and then followed you in." Oscar took off his cloak and then his robe. He stood there in desert fatigues. He put his cloak back on, taking a moment to adjust it correctly. He carefully rolled up the robe and placed it in a pocket of the cloak. He said, "I don't want to walk around with a target painted on me. Muslims will shoot me on sight. I'm viewed as an enemy of Islam by them." "Why?" "Because I'm a Druid." The Colonel looked at Oscar, surprised by the stated reason. He asked, "Doesn't it bother you?" Oscar thought about it for a minute and then answered, "Not really. They serve their God and it is his law that they follow. Perhaps one day that will change." The Colonel decided that this guy was just beyond his ability to fathom. He asked, "What now?" Oscar gave the Colonel a chilling smile. He answered, "I go out there and take care of my problems. I'll call in on the radio in two days and let you know what time to send out the trucks." ------- Chapter 7 The month dragged by so slow that Oscar thought he was going to go crazy. Two buildings had been erected in the middle of nowhere. One building contained the office and Oscar's sleeping quarters. The other building contained the communications gear. The troops were left sleeping in tents when they were fortunate enough be in camp. Oscar looked over the site, quite pleased with the progress. The men from the regular army he had been training were on their first real mission. They were to clear the road from the main base to the training camp. He wanted to make sure that the road was clear for the special passenger that would be on it. Georgia was coming today; he could hardly wait to see her and hold her in his arms. The truck finally pulled up in front of the command center. He watched as six Special Forces troops exited the rear with a grace and confidence that they were better than anyone else around them was. He waited for Georgia, but she didn't come out of the truck. His concern grew that she hadn't come this time and that his efforts had been a waste. When he left the command center, the passenger door of the truck opened and she stepped out. She looked around for a second before spotting him. Excited, she ran to him and threw herself into his arms. Hugging her tightly, he lifted her in the air. They finally broke apart and looked at each other. Oscar leaned over and whispered, "I have to act like a big shot now." She giggled and replied, "They've been talking about you all the way here. They are ready to show you how a real soldier fights." He nodded and turned to see the six men standing at ease watching him with wry expressions. There was no doubt that they were looking for a chance to show him what they could do. He pointed to three of the men as he said, "You three, come over here." The three men grinned at each other and took their time getting over to him. The swagger of their walk proclaimed their disdain for the short man. The three finally arrived and posed as though they expected to get challenged. Georgia smiled as she tried to figure out what Oscar was going to do. She had seen that same look on his face when they were playing paint ball and he went up against four people. Oscar smiled at them, posturing like he was going to give them some sort of speech, and then dove between their legs. He tucked into a ball and launched himself at the three that were standing in the back. They were taken completely by surprise, expecting him to make an example out of the front three. Two of them went down immediately from punches to the solar plexus and the third followed shortly after that from a foot in the chin. The first three turned around in time for Oscar to hit two of them in the solar plexus. The third stood there in shock as it was almost too much for him to fathom. He followed a half second later with a punch to his solar plexus. It was over. Five of them lay flat on their backs trying to catch their breaths. The sixth was out cold. He returned to Georgia and said, "We'll have about ten minutes alone. Come into the office and we can talk." Georgia raised an eyebrow as she looked at the six guys on the ground before asking, "What about them?" "Hold on," he replied. He knelt down next to one of the gasping men and said, "When all six of you are on your feet, come into the office." The pair of them went into the office to be alone for a few minutes. Georgia said, "That was pretty nasty." "That's the whole point. They expect to play by the rules. My job is to teach them that the enemy doesn't respect rules. However, we don't tell them that. They have to figure it out for themselves. The day they understand that fact, they'll know how to fight the enemy." Georgia laughed and replied, "So how are you going to stay alive until then?" "Oh, they'll get over it eventually," replied Oscar. He added, "Until they get in here, come sit on my lap. We've got some time to catch up on." She seated herself on his lap with a giggle and said, "I've been dreaming about this for a whole month." He kissed her neck and held her close. He whispered in her ear, "I love you so much. This month seemed like forever." She looked at him and said, "I love you too. I think my poor sister went crazy this past month." He laughed and said, "She told me that she expected you to drive her crazy." She kissed him and put her arm around his neck. The door to the office opened and a dirt covered Sergeant stepped into the room. Oscar looked up and asked, "So, how did it go?" "Found two groups just about where you said we would. They're dead now." Oscar nodded and said, "Good. Any casualties or wounded?" The Sergeant wryly smiled, "Only on their side. I think Brett is finally realizing what you've been teaching us." "Good." The Sergeant asked, "What about those six out there?" Oscar smiled and answered, "My girl and I get to play with them for the next month. They will get to hunt you guys next month. This month, you get to play terrorists for the next crew that's coming here to train." The Sergeant laughed aloud as he said, "That's good. I'm looking forward to it." "Get your men settled. They have the rest of the day off." "Okay." The Sergeant looked at Georgia and said, "I take it this is the amazing George we've heard so much about." Georgia smiled and answered, "The amazing George?" "Hey, if I said sexy George, they would have thought I was funny." The Sergeant laughed and said, "We were all convinced of that anyway. Nobody gets that misty eyed over amazing." Georgia kissed his cheek and said, "You really did miss me." "Yeah." The Sergeant took his leave to attend to his men. He had hardly left before the six Special Forces men entered the room. They weren't quite so cocky now. He looked over at them and asked, "You have something to say?" They looked at each other and then shook their heads no. Oscar said, "Good. On the wall behind you are your new weapons. Set all of your weapons over in that corner for now. You'll get them back soon enough." The men turned around and looked at the wall. There were racks of guns of various models. Some looked like standard issue while others looked like Soviet weapons. The men looked at them and then back at Oscar in confusion. One of them said, "They are the same as ours. Why should we put our guns over there?" Oscar put a pistol in Georgia's hand and whispered in her ear, "Your turn. Shoot them all with the paint gun." Georgia lifted the pistol and fired off six shots very quickly. Six splashes of paint appeared on their chests. None of them had a chance to get to their weapons before she was done. With a little prompting from Oscar, she said, "Now boys. You should learn very quickly not to question him. He always has a reason for what he says." Oscar explained, "They all shoot paint balls. For now, I want you to get the equivalents for the weapons you already carry. Your training begins tomorrow." The men immediately piled their weapons in the corner that he had told them to put their weapons. Oscar said, "Your knives also." The men added their knives to the pile. They went to the wall and picked up their new weapons. They had the same feel as their real weapons except the stocks were plastic and camouflaged. The men examined them and looked up at Oscar. One of them said, "Not bad. These shoot paint?" Oscar answered, "Yes, they do. Tomorrow morning your training begins. For the next month, you are going to live out in the desert for three days at a time. This very beautiful lady and I will hunt you. When you are shot, you will return back here. Then we begin the next hunt. While you are here, each of you will think about what you did wrong and what you did right. You are not to talk amongst yourselves." The men looked at each other. The spokesman asked, "We aren't supposed to talk to each other about what we did?" "That's right. You have to learn some lessons for yourselves." Oscar looked at each man and then said, "The next month you will spend your time hunting terrorists. The month after that, you will get to be the terrorists." "Then what?" "Well, if you successfully complete all three phases you will graduate. Otherwise, you will repeat the course." "How do we pass?" "You win three engagements in a row in each phase. In the first phase, you have to shoot whoever is hunting you or survive all three days without getting shot. Tomorrow morning at sunrise the hunt begins. You need to survive for three days while I hunt you." All of them were convinced that they could last three days in a desert hunt and didn't understand the whole purpose of the exercise. Oscar filled them in on the details about their sleeping arrangements. They were each to have an individual tent. He suggested that they visit the supply tent and told them that they could sign out anything they needed. Before they left, he told them that if they needed help with something to come by his office. The men left the office more confused than when they had entered. Oscar watched them leave and laughed once the door closed behind them. Georgia asked, "What's so funny?" Oscar replied, "They think it is going to be easy. Are they ever going to be surprised when they don't last twenty minutes tomorrow." Oscar and Georgia went into his living quarters. He had a nice late lunch prepared for her. They ate and discussed her training responsibilities. Throughout the discussion, the room vibrated from the sexually charged atmosphere. Neither one was willing to take the first move. Oscar didn't want her to think that he was only interested in her sexually while she didn't want him to think she wasn't a lady. After the lunch was over, Oscar showed her around the command post. It was set up in two sections, the main room which was basically public and a bedroom. There was a queen-size bed in the room. She looked at it and asked, "Queen-size bed? I didn't know that was standard field issue." Oscar blushed as he answered, "Well, I brought it here hoping that I wouldn't have to sleep alone." She laughed as she teased, "You had better sleep alone when I'm not here." "How about when you are here?" "You better not sleep alone!" Oscar smiled at her and said, "I like the way you think. I think it's time for us to see if the bed is strong enough to hold two." The next morning, the six men gathered outside of their tent and looked around. The sun had been up for thirty minutes and they were wondering what they were supposed to do. Their discussion was cut short by six shots that splashed their chests with red paint. One of the men swore, "God damn it! We were waiting for orders." Oscar stepped away from the wall against which he had been hiding. They had not seen him there. He stood up and said, "You were told that you were to go into the desert and live for three days while I hunted you. It was to start this morning. Morning started a half an hour ago." The man shouted, "What about provisions?" Oscar nodded in agreement. He said, "Yes, you got off to a very bad start. You didn't even get provisions. Do any of you have maps for the area?" The man looked around at his fellows and shook his head. He replied, "We are supposed to be trained." Georgia stepped out from one of the tents and pushed her way through them. The man that occupied that tent stared at her wondering when and how she had gotten in there. They didn't know it, but she had been hiding in there since two hours before sunrise. She said, "You are getting trained." She went to Oscar and winked at him. Oscar said, "You guys have all of today and three more days to think about it. Remember, no talking to each other about what you've learned today. I'll be hunting you three sunrises from now." One of the men, a Captain, stepped forward and said, "Excuse me, but I didn't learn shit today. You are supposed to tell us what we are supposed to learn and we learn it. That's called training." Oscar turned to the man. He stepped right up to his face as his eyes narrowed and lips pulled tight. In a very cold voice, he addressed the man. "You're a fool. You're here to learn how to fight terrorists. What I did this morning was exactly the kind of thing that terrorists do. Now go to your tent and think about it mister or you'll be here a year from now until you get it right. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, sir," snapped the man in reply. He was tempted to include a salute, but refrained himself at the last moment. He went to his tent and sat down on his cot. He was angrier than anything else, but realized that Oscar had stated the truth. That was exactly the kind of thing that terrorists did. A couple of the other men went to their tents to think about the morning's events. They were all trained specialists, used to working as an integrated team to overcome the enemy. When they weren't working as a team together, they were building teams of local men. They were used to being given a mission objective and then getting put into the proper location to go after it. This guy had already beaten them in a fight. He had shot them all thirty minutes after they had left their tents. Hell, even the woman had shot them all yesterday before they had a chance to react. One of the men went to the supply tent to see if he could get a map of the area. He looked down at his uniform and realized that he was going to need another one. He was disgusted with himself. He had been the last one out of the fight yesterday and he had stood there like a fool during the entire thing. He realized that he had underestimated the man. There was one last man standing there. He looked over at Oscar and asked, "We are a team. How can we act as a team without discussing what we learned?" Oscar looked at him for a moment and answered, "The answer is in your question." The man stood there staring at the couple as they walked back to the command tent. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the answer. He watched the pair as they entered the command tent. He followed them to the door and knocked on it. He stood there a minute until he heard a rather disappointed, "Come in." He entered the room and faced Oscar. He said, "I would like some information sir." "Ask away." He looked at Oscar and asked, "What are the rules of engagement?" "That's a very good question, Major," replied Oscar. He turned and looked at the man for a minute and then asked, "What do you think they are?" "Shoot first and ask questions later." The Major answered not meaning it to be taken seriously. Oscar nodded as he replied. "Sounds good to me." The Major looked at Oscar. He was disgusted by the man's answer. He asked, "Are you training us to be killers?" Oscar answered, "No, I'm training you how to fight terrorists." The man stormed out of the office. He couldn't understand how the brass had let this man loose to train them. He was a psychopath that shot them without warning. Ambushing them from the back. He didn't care for the rules of war and by his answers suggested a willingness to violate them. The bitch with him was just as bad. Georgia watched the man leave with concern. She could tell that he was very angry by the answer he had gotten. She suggested, "I don't think he likes you." Oscar smiled at her and answered, "Of course not. He's never talked to a terrorist. He's convinced that I'm a psychotic killer." She asked, "You aren't?" Oscar said, "No. I just learned something very important when I was out in the desert. The enemy we are fighting doesn't care about any rules of war. They will kill a hundred civilians in the off chance of getting their target. They think we are weak because we fight according to rules that value life over winning. They believe in winning at any cost. They will blow themselves up, if they can take more of the enemy with them." She said, "You are really serious." He told her about what he had overheard at the well when he was first wandering the desert. She couldn't believe that the men had talked about the American forces in the manner that they had. Despite how many times it had been shown on the news, it was still difficult to believe that someone would actually volunteer for a suicide mission. It was incredible that they had talked like that among themselves. "You are right," said Georgia after she thought about it only now realizing that there was actually a method to his madness. Ten minutes before the third sunrise after the last debacle, the men quietly slipped out of town. They had their guns ready and were looking for any kind of movement. The terrain here was flat and they could see a long distance. Nothing could sneak up on them without them seeing it first. They had met the day before to come up with a plan that was likely to work. Their plan was to get out of town before sunrise and then head straight for the hills. Once in the hills they could get lost and not be found for three days. They went a hundred more yards before they stopped to watch the sunrise. The men all crouched down to keep a low profile. The sun rose over the horizon. Tentacles of light reached out touching the hill tops in the distance. It was a truly spectacular sunrise that took their breath away. The dry air gave sharp demarcations between light and dark. The softness of colors typical of more humid climates was not present. The men looked at each other, smiling as they imagined Oscar and that woman waiting for them outside their tent. Several of them looked back at camp with smiles on their faces. They stepped forward and moved ten more yards. They all stopped when they heard and felt the splatters of paintballs on their backs. As one, they turned and looked behind them. Georgia stood up and smiled at them from a location that was about three yards from where they had stopped to watch the sunrise. She had been in a depression in the ground covered by a robe matched the ground exactly. The six men looked at each other in disgust. One of them grunted, "You got us." She put a whistle in her mouth and blew on it, creating a high pitched noise that carried for miles in the silence of the morning. She took the whistle out of her mouth and said, "Back to the tents boys." She turned and headed back into camp. The men followed her without saying a word, each of them disgusted in having underestimated the two of them again. The Major was fuming. She had shot him in the back without even making an attempt to capture him. This was wrong and he planned to protest. They reached the command tent. The men stood around sullenly, expecting to get yelled at. Oscar stood there shaking his head. In a very conversational tone of voice, he said, "Every four days we start a three day hunt. That means you get seven chances. Today was your second chance and you didn't last 5 minutes after dawn. You need to do better." The Major, still angry from the cowardly attack, spat out, "She didn't try to take us prisoners. She ambushed us from the back." Oscar stepped up to the Major until there was less than six inches between them. He said, "In the entire time that we've been fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan, not one American Soldier has been taken prisoner. We have had soldiers wounded. We have had soldiers killed. But, we have not had a single soldier taken prisoner. Think about that." The other men listened to the discussion and realized that Oscar had stated the truth. Oscar stepped away from the stunned Major and faced the whole group. He said, "I'm going to tell you one thing now and you need to remember this. They do not play by the Marquis of Queensberry rules." Georgia smiled and waved as she said, "Bye boys, see you in three sunrises from now." Oscar and Georgia headed into the command center. Once inside, she giggled and said, "I think they are beginning to get the idea now." Oscar smiled and answered, "Yes, they are." Georgia frowned and said, "You know what that means, don't you?" "Yes," replied Oscar. "We actually have to start working." Georgia stripped off her cloak and desert gear. She tried to do it suggestively, but there wasn't much that could be done with combat boots, a belt full of weapons, and fatigues. She finally got undressed and posed like a Rambo, flexing her muscles and holding her paintball gun. She asked, "Are you up to the challenge, little man?" He slowly got out of his clothes, suffering from the same problems that she had while undressing. Once naked, he faced her and replied, "Let the hunt begin!" They chased each other around the command center a few times, ending in the bedroom. They wrestled on the bed, each trying to pin the other. It was fun and they laughed as they grappled on the bed. She won the moment she grabbed his cock. He cried, "No fair!" She laughed and said, "We aren't playing by the Dofus of Doonesbury rules!" He laughed and replied, "I surrender!" She climbed up and positioned her pussy over his face. She giggled as she said, "You have to sign the surrender treaty with your tongue." Georgia rode his face as he worked on her pussy with his tongue. The more they had sex together, the easier she found it to come. She knew that she was going to come from this alone. Oscar explored every square centimeter of her lovely pussy, enjoying the earthy flavor that her active morning had produced. She moaned at his attention to details, particularly when he started thrumming his tongue on her clit. The repetitive movements of his tongue on her clit produced the desired effect and she came flooding his mouth with her juices. His cock was hard and erect. The size of his erection put the head of his cock well above his belly button. Georgia moved down, grasped his cock in her hands and guided it into her ready cunt. The thought crossed her mind that it had stopped being a vagina (which sounded too clinical) or a pussy (which sounded too tame), and had become a cunt (which sounded sufficiently demanding and reflected how she felt). She mounted him and started moving around on his cock. Her movements, changed from up and down, to forward and backward, and then to circular. She moved randomly until she found the motion that drove her wild. She let the needs of her body dictate what she did. She wasn't worried about Oscar or his needs. She was taking from this experience rather than giving. Some deep seated need drove her to this level of selfishness. She came with an explosive force. After coming, the violence of her actions only increased leading her to another orgasm and then another. Oscar, laying on the bed, was amazed at the total concentration on her pleasure that Georgia exhibited. He loved this. Normally she allowed him to set the pace, which was typically gentle and caring. Then she would transform into this tiger that rode him like a woman possessed. He loved the change in roles, but always before she had cared a little for his pleasure. The violence of her actions and sudden changes in technique allowed him to last much longer with the result that his orgasms were typically much longer in duration. This time was different. This time she was totally indifferent to him. She must have had a dozen or more orgasms before he came. The violence of his orgasm lifted his hips off the bed as his body arced. He lifted his hips a foot in the air taking her with him as he ejected his seed into her. The strain on his back was tremendous and he quickly collapsed back onto the bed. She came with him, achieving another orgasm. They lay there recovering. She rubbed a hand over his chest as guilt at her selfishness in bed flooded over her. She said, "I'm sorry." Oscar asked, "For what?" "I didn't even think about you at all while we were in bed," she replied. In the past, similar actions in bed had chased away the few boyfriends she had. Today was the first time that she had allowed herself to completely loose control like that. Oscar laughed and replied, "And you are apologizing for that amazing experience? By the Gods and Goddesses woman, that was amazing." She looked at him in surprise and asked, "You aren't upset that I wasn't exactly feminine in bed?" He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, "You let loose the George inside you. How could I be upset about that? George is as much a part of you as Georgia." She leaned back in surprise, staring in his eyes nervously, as she asked, "You really mean that?" "I love you. That means I love Georgia and I love George. Don't ever fear about letting me see or experience the real you." She grabbed him in a spine breaking hug as she wept. She had found Mr. Right and he accepted her. Her relief, her pent-up feelings, her worries, and her fears all came to the surface at once. Oscar held onto her and let her cry. He wasn't uncomfortable by this display of emotion as many other men might have been. He understood that when walls come down between a couple that it can lead to a flood of emotion. The acceptance of those emotions was part of loving another. She finally calmed down. As her tears slowly dried, he reached to the bed-stand and retrieved a tissue. She accepted the tissue and blew her nose. He stared up at her, taking in her red puffy eyes and red nose. He really loved her. He said, "There may be times when I'm just as selfish in bed, when I'm very passive, and when I need George. I hope that you can understand that." She laughed and said, "I'm supposed to complain about you acting like a man. No problem." Oscar and Georgia watched as the men left the camp the day before the hunt was to begin. They kept notes on the route that they took and referred to the map to identify likely camp sites. Looking over the map, the site the six men were headed towards was pretty clear. Oscar asked, "Do you want to go tonight?" "Of course, I want to go." "Okay, just checking," replied Oscar. He watched as the men entered the hills and laughed, "I wonder why they didn't take a Hummer." She looked at him and asked, "They could have taken a Hummer?" "Sure. We are. I'm not walking all that distance before I start looking for them." She laughed and said, "They are still playing by the rules." Oscar grinned and answered, "No rules. I bet they would be surprised to learn that if they were to go out there and then head over to the main base for three days, they would win." "That's mean." Oscar nodded and replied, "You can tell someone to think out of the box, but that doesn't work. You have to force them to think out of the box." The next morning, the sun rose over the horizon. The men in the camp were getting ready to break camp and move to a more secure location. They were happy to have a head start on Oscar. They had gathered ready to leave when a stomach tightening thud sounded on the ground at their feet. The paint grenade sprayed paint in every direction. The men didn't even have a chance to react. Oscar stood up and looked over the men. He blew his whistle. Shaking his head, he said, "Come with me. We'll take you back to camp." The men followed him to the Hummer, a hike of about an hour. They stood around it for several minutes looking at each other. The fact that it was an hour away from their camp and they had not heard it arrive was rather disturbing. The fact that they didn't think of taking a Hummer was even worse. Georgia appeared from the rocks a little distance away and walked over to the Hummer. She was smiling as she walked. She came up to Oscar and said, "That was a glorious sunrise. Thanks for letting me come with you." The men just looked disgusted as they watched the couple interact. This was supposed to be serious business. Oscar turned to the men and said, "Get in. We'll drive you back to camp." The men climbed into the back of the Hummer while Georgia got into the passenger side so that Oscar could drive. She turned to Oscar and said, "You know, there are six of them and two of us. It makes you wonder how we could get all six of them at the same time." Oscar smiled at her and replied, "Oh, that's going to happen when ever they bunch up in a group like that." She tittered, "True." The Major stared at Georgia as the comment registered. One of the four captains looked out the window at the terrain. He had come to the decision that he was coming out here alone next time. The Colonel decided that he was going to leave for the hills the following day and take enough supplies with him to last for the week. They reached the camp in an hour and Oscar parked the car in front of a sign. The name of each of the men was written on a row. Columns were numbered sequentially. The first two columns were marked with K's. The first column also had an O separated from the K by a slash. The second column had a G separated from the K by a similar slash. Oscar got out of the truck and walked over to the board. The men left the truck, turning to watch as Oscar wrote K's in the third column with O's separated from the K's by a slash. He stepped back and admired the board. He turned to Georgia and said, "Looks like I'm ahead of you by six kills." She laughed and said, "Okay, you were right. They chose your site for a camp. Next time, I'll do better." Oscar turned to the six men and said, "You've got three days to prepare, men. I'd do a little better next time. Your chances of graduating are looking pretty hopeless about now." ------- Chapter 8 The Colonel, the Major, and two of the Captains stood in a relaxed manner in the command center looking at Oscar. Georgia wasn't present for a change and they actually missed her. Oscar smiled at the four and said, "Congratulations, you've passed." The Colonel laughed and said, "Best training program I've ever experienced. You drove me fucking crazy." Oscar nodded and asked, "Well, do you guys want to discuss what you learned here?" The Major answered, "They don't fight by the rules." One of the captains answered, "You have to engage them by stealth." The other captain added, "You aren't going to have a classical engagement." The Colonel said, "It is a solitary activity that is achieved opportunistically." The Major added, "You can't advertise what you are doing in any fashion. If you want to go west, head south first." The second captain said, "You won't spot them directly. You have to watch the environment around them to locate them." The other captain said, "You have to take advantage of everything around you." Oscar nodded and answered, "You have learned your lessons well." Oscar knocked on the wall behind him. Georgia came out with a tray of glasses, a bottle of whiskey, and a glass bucket of ice. She was wearing a dress for the first time since arriving at camp. She smiled at the men and said, "We thought you might enjoy a celebratory drink before getting shipped out." She set the tray on the desk and stepped back. The men gathered and prepared a small whiskey each. Oscar prepared two, one for Georgia and one for him. He raised his glass and said, "Here's to the first graduating class of desert warfare specialists." The men drank their drinks and chatted amiably. The Colonel said, "I must say that you look quite fetching in a dress. If I had seen you in that the first day, I'd still be underestimating you today." Georgia laughed and glanced at Oscar. With a grin, he said, "We'll keep that in mind for the next group." The Major laughed. He said, "I watched the new guys this morning getting ready for their first hunt. They made all the same mistakes that we made." Oscar smiled and answered, "Yes they did." "Were we that transparent?" Georgia answered, "Yes." The four men shook their heads. They had learned an entirely new way of fighting. It was one in which two men together quadrupled their chances of getting killed. A single moment of impatience was enough to get you killed. They understood their enemy now and that understanding disgusted their moral sense. The normal discipline of military life had been altered in very subtle ways. Oscar watched them leave with a very real sense of loss. He was going to miss them. They had become much more self-reliant over the past three months. He looked out the window of his office and sighed. Georgia said, "You miss them already." He looked back at her and laughed. He said, "You know me too well." She looked out the window and said, "She'll be here soon. Are you still going to go through with it?" Oscar nodded and replied, "Yes, I am. She thinks she's coming here to take over the camp. She doesn't know that she's about to be put in charge of the men we are training once they graduate." She frowned and looked at him. She said, "You're really going to do it." "Yes, I am. You're not jealous are you?" "A little." She didn't want to admit that the idea of another woman seeing him naked was a problem for her. "Don't worry. She's not going to enjoy a moment of it," replied Oscar. He smiled and added, "Of course, George might." She laughed and carried the tray with the dirty glasses back into their room. Oscar followed her in and stripped out of his clothes. She looked at him and, with a twinkle in her eye, said, "Maybe I should give you a blowjob so that you don't get excited when she gets here." He laughed and replied, "Just think of the fun we'll have afterwards." She sighed and went into the office to wait for Colonel Lettieri to arrive. She started reading one of the books he had lying around the office. She didn't bother to look up when the door opened until she had finished the page. In the meantime, there was the sound of a duffel bag hitting the floor. She looked up at the woman standing in front of her. The woman was dressed in her formal uniform just as Oscar had predicted. Georgia suggested, "Get undressed and put those fatigues on before he comes in." The woman stood up straight and examined the woman at the desk. She was wearing civilian clothing. She asked, "Who are you? I don't take orders from civilians." Georgia looked up at the woman through her eyelashes. There was a slight smile on her face as she answered, "I'm your best friend on this base. It wasn't an order, just a suggestion. He's not going to like seeing you dressed in formal gear." Colonel Lettieri frowned and said, "When I need a friend I'll find one. Now get him out here so that I can take over command." Georgia smiled as she reached back and knocked on the wall. Oscar, completely naked, stepped out of the bedroom and walked straight to Colonel Lettieri. She stared at him open mouthed, completely taken by surprise by his lack of clothes. Oscar stopped a foot away from her and stared her in the eye. He shouted like a drill Sergeant right in her face, "You are not properly attired for a war zone. Strip and get into your fatigues, right now!" She shouted back, "You are out of line. Get dressed and come back when you are decent. I'm taking over this command right now." He shouted back at her, "You get command when I say you get command. Until then, you serve under me. Now strip!" She shouted back, "Not according to my orders." He smiled at her with a very wicked look in his eyes and said, "Read those orders again, Colonel." She pulled her orders out and started reading. He interrupted, "Third page, fourth paragraph." She turned to the page and read the paragraph. The color drained out of her face as she realized that she was commander only in name. He retained all basic powers over training and personnel on base. Her job was to see that his orders were obeyed. Her voice faltered as she said, "Yes sir." He stated, "Strip and put on those fatigues. Then I'll get dressed." He stepped back and watched her. Georgia stepped from the room and returned with his red robe. Colonel Lettieri argued, "I do not have to get undressed in front of you." He walked over to the door and leaned against it. Her eyes flicked down to his cock, but she retained control and didn't stare. However, it did take a moment for her emotions to recover. He said, "If I were military, that would be true. However, I'm civilian and I, pretty much do what I want. You're stripping and changing clothes right now. We are not leaving until you are properly dressed." She removed her dress shirt and put on the fatigue shirt. She turned so that her back was turned to him. Oscar winked at Georgia. Stepping out of her dress shoes, she then undid her dress skirt and pulled on the pants over the hose she wore. She put on the socks and boots. Her underwear had been hidden by the tails of her shirt. She had done the change without exposing herself to his view. Georgia was impressed, but knew that in about thirty minutes the woman would be burning up in the heat wearing both fatigues and hose. The Colonel turned and stood there staring at him. Her eyes never left his face in a direct challenge to his authority. He walked over to Georgia and put his robe on. It wasn't until she had seen the robe, that she understood she was dealing with a Druid. She had been told there was a civilian in charge here and that she would be relieving him in due course. She cried out, "You are a Druid!" He laughed and answered, "So it appears." She turned to Georgia and asked, "Are you one too?" Georgia laughed and answered, "No, but my sister is. I'm here to torture the trainee's. Nothing is worse than getting shot by woman civilian." Oscar went over to the wall and pulled down two rifles and a two pistols. He handed them over to her and said, "Here are your weapons. I'll let Major Adams teach you how to use them. Pick out the holsters and straps that you want over at the supply tent." She looked at the weapons with a raised eyebrow and put them down next to her gear. Oscar returned to the door and opened it. He said, "The training necessary for you to get your command starts in three sunrises from now. Follow me and I'll take you to your quarters." Colonel Lettieri sheepishly followed him outside. She was trying to carry a duffel bag and juggle four weapons at the same time. He didn't bother to help her, she was responsible for her own gear. He wouldn't have helped a man and didn't want to offend her by treating her special. He opened the flap on the tent and said, "Here you go. Put your gear in here and I'll introduce you to the others that have been training." She looked inside and wisely decided not to argue. She dropped her stuff at the base of the cot and came out of the tent. He looked at her and said, "Pick up a weapon. You don't go around here unarmed." She looked at him and asked, "Why?" He pulled a pistol from his robe pocket and shot her with a paintball. He answered, "That's why." She looked down at the red splotch on her fatigues and then glared at him. She asked, "Why did you do that?" He smiled, "Because you were unarmed and I could." She went back and got a rifle. She looked at him and asked, "Satisfied now?" "Yes." He stepped to the next tent over and called in, "Major, I need your assistance for a moment." The Major came out and stood sullenly in front of the tent, still smarting from the events of his morning training. Colonel Lettieri looked at the man and said, "I am a superior officer. You are supposed to salute me." The Major's eyes flicked over at Oscar. Oscar smiled and nodded back at him. The man executed a crisp salute to the Colonel. Oscar shot the Colonel with another paintball. The Colonel turned on him furious and asked, "What are you doing?" Oscar smiled and replied, "I'm taking out a high ranking officer. His salute identified your rank to me and I shot you." She glared at Oscar, infuriated by the man. She shouted, "We are in camp." He laughed at how meaningless that statement was and said, "Major, get her caught up on your training. Review the events of this morning with her. Keep it factual, though. Show her how to use the guns over at the target range. Remember, no one is to talk about the lessons learned with anyone." He turned and left. The two stood watching him leave, glaring at his back. He was not a particularly popular man with either of them at the moment. As the Colonel raised her gun to shoot him in the back, he called over his shoulder, "Now, now. You're already dead so it won't count." The two captains that were repeating the course, came out of their tents and walked over to the other two. One of the captains said, "Don't worry. He's crazy. We've been through the training program once and didn't learn anything." The Colonel turned to them and replied, "Four of your group passed." "Yeah, but they started acting just as crazy as him," replied the second. He added, "They dumped us and we had to act on our own." Inside the command center, Georgia was watching the activities outdoors. When Oscar returned to the room she burst out laughing. She had seen the Colonel aim at his back and the look of shock on her face when he had called back to her. He looked at her and tried to keep a serious face, but it was too difficult. He laughed and said, "That went well." She said, "I better go out there and calm her down." Oscar countered, "She said she'll pick her own friends. Let her realize that she needs one that's going to be around here for a long time. She's got the Special Forces training to get through and then the regular army training. She's got no idea what's going to happen to her over the next few months." She looked outside at the group that was still standing around talking. She shook her head and frowned as a strange thought crossed her mind. She looked over at Oscar and said, "She wasn't that impressed by your cock. She hardly looked at it." "Are you upset?" Surprised at herself, she realized that she was very upset. She frowned and answered, "Yes, I am. She should have seen your monster cock and wanted it for herself." Oscar laughed and replied, "You're not jealous. You're pissed that she's not jealous of you." She grinned over at him and said, "Yes I am. I'm the proud user of the best cock in this country. She should be jealous if she's any kind of woman at all." He looked over at her with a grin on his face. He said, "Why don't we go in the bedroom and you can show me what she should want to do with my cock?" Georgia giggled and walked into the bedroom shedding her clothes. He followed behind her shedding his robe. His cock was already getting erect. She had a wonderful time showing him what the Colonel should have wanted to do with his cock. Needless to say, he enjoyed the demonstration as well. The group of six made their way out of camp half an hour before sunrise. The two captains that were repeating the course realized that this wasn't going to work. It hadn't worked the first time they had tried it and it wouldn't work this time. They started arguing with the Colonel telling her that they had to do something different. The Colonel, finally tired of the argument, ordered them to come along. They got four hundred yards out of the camp and stopped to watch the sunrise. The arguments had put them well behind schedule. The sun had barely cleared the horizon when all six felt the sting of the paint balls hitting their backs. They turned around and found Oscar standing behind them with his paintball gun. He blew a whistle and then walked over to them. He said, "You really don't have a clue about this. Lasted a whole ten minutes this time." The Colonel glared at him and headed back to camp. Oscar walked up to the two captains that were repeating the training exercise. He asked, "Are the two of you stupid or something? You've already been killed this way once. Did you think if you did it again that you wouldn't be killed?" Both men shook their heads no. One of them answered, "We were following orders, sir. The Colonel ordered us to do this." Oscar replied, "You fail this time and you are out of the military. Don't you understand that?" "If we disobey an order from a superior office, we are out of the army, sir." Oscar shook his head and said, "I'm the only superior you have to worry about. If you haven't figured that out by now then you are both truly idiots." He walked back to camp shaking his head. He quickly met up with the others as they walked back to their tents. He walked along and said, "My it's a beautiful day, isn't it? My hunt lasted a whole ten minutes and I have three days off." The Colonel glared at him and asked, "When do we get our assessments?" Oscar laughed and looked at her like she was crazy. He stated, "Well, judging by the splats of red paint on your backs, I'd say you've already gotten your assessment. You're dead and I'm not. Do you need any more than that?" She turned and poked him in the chest with her finger as she said, "You had better believe that the General is going to hear about this. This is not how things are done in the army." Oscar smiled and replied, "The General gets reports on every training exercise. If you would like, I'll let you read the report on you before I submit it. You can even add any comments that you want." She snorted and said, "You wouldn't like the comments that I would add." Oscar shrugged and went on to the command center. Georgia was waiting for him there. She had watched the exchange between the Colonel and Oscar with an amused smile. He already had the letter written except for the times and places. She followed him into the command center and laughed as she said, "You are really getting to her." He sat down at the computer and added the date and location. He printed it up and handed it to Georgia. She read the report and nodded. It was a fair assessment of their training. She looked up at him and asked, "Should I go get the Colonel now?' "Sure." She smiled and asked, "Before I go, would you do something for me?" He answered, "Ask away my lovely." A very sly grin crossed her face as she said, "Get undressed and wait for me on the bed." He asked, "What kind of naughty ideas do you have?" She smiled as she answered, "I want to know that you are there waiting for me to finish with the Colonel." "Your wish is my command." Georgia, carrying a rifle in an easy grip, went outside to the Colonel's tent. She stood outside and called in, "Colonel, I need you to come over to the command center with me." The Colonel exited the tent wearing a new shirt. She was carrying her rifle with her and looked around suspiciously. She asked, "Is this a trick?" Georgia laughed as she said, "If it was, I wouldn't tell you. Now come with me." The two women went over to the command center. Georgia opened the door and went in first. Colonel Lettieri followed her in. Georgia pointed to a chair beside the desk and said, "Have a seat. I'll be right back." While Colonel Lettieri seated herself in the chair, Georgia went into the bedroom. She came out a minute later with a pen. She had left the door open about a quarter of the way. She sat behind the desk and handed the Colonel the report that was going to the General and a pen. The Colonel read the report with a frown. She looked up in puzzlement at the comments, but they flew from her mind when she saw through the partially open door. She couldn't make out all of Oscar, but she could see the important part. She forgot her question and then looked down at the report again, but had a difficult time concentrating on it. She took several deep breaths and looked up at Georgia. She asked, "Are all of his reports this plain?" "Yes. He states what happened and the progress demonstrated. He even noted the disagreement that you and the others have with his teaching methods." The Colonel said, "He assesses us as having sufficient skill to last two hours in the field when surrounded by terrorists." Georgia nodded and said, "Yes, I did think that he was being rather generous." "He says that if the two captains don't start learning, that he's going to request that they get dismissed from the service. Can he do that?" The Colonel made sure that she was looking at the report and not at Georgia. If she looked up at Georgia, her eyes would wander to Oscar's naked form on the bed and that would be the end of her concentration. With a very serious expression on her face, Georgia replied, "Yes, he can. They were killed the last time in exactly the same way. They should have learned something by now." The Colonel looked up at Georgia and said, "They were following my orders." Georgia replied, "Your orders don't mean shit here while you are getting trained. If you continue to give orders and expect the others to follow them, then you'll fail and they'll fail." The Colonel looked through the door at Oscar. Georgia noticed and leaned forward cutting off her view. The Colonel looked at her while Georgia said in a very soft voice, "He has no idea that you can see him. Go ahead and look all you want. Look until your cunt is dripping. When you leave, I'm going to be riding that monster cock for an hour. I offered you my friendship the first day you arrived. You acted like a bitch. Now, I offer it to you again. Come talk to me when you have a problem, I can help you." Stunned, the Colonel sat back and looked at Georgia unable to believe what the woman had said to her. She asked, "Why are you so insistent?" Georgia bit her lip and glanced back at Oscar. She said, "You are going to be here a long time. You and I are the only women within thirty miles. You don't think I get lonely here?" Colonel Lettieri looked over at Oscar and then asked, "So what was the point of showing me that?" Georgia leaned forward and said, "You've been competing with men for so long that you've forgotten you are a woman. You needed to be reminded of that fact. What better reminder than that glorious cock?" The Colonel shook her head and stood up. She laughed and handed the report back to Georgia. She said, "After you're done riding that monster, come by my tent. We'll hit the mess hall and have some coffee." Georgia answered with a smile, "I'll be by to get you." It was almost two hours before Georgia stopped by the Colonel's tent. She called in to the tent and the Colonel came out. She apologized, "I'm sorry for being so late. When I told him what I did to you... Well, lets just say that I got a little longer ride than I had anticipated." The Colonel laughed as she asked, "And you can still walk?" Giggling, Georgia replied, "You get used to it." The women went to the mess hall. Over coffee they chatted about life in the military and life around the military. Georgia had been a secretary on the base in Germany and was very familiar with how women were treated by the men. The Colonel had different experiences, but the general treatment of female soldiers was similar. Colonel Lettieri was particularly curious about the Druids. Georgia told about her sister and how she served as an advisor in Germany. She didn't know the full details of her sister's work, but she did know that she helped identify where the hot spots were. She had nearly gone crazy when the Renegade Warrior had ravaged the terrorists within Iran and Pakistan. During the discussion, the Colonel recalled a story that another Colonel had told her. She looked at Georgia with wide eyes. She said, "Let me tell you a little story about a private that was nicknamed Foo. Does that name mean anything to you?" Georgia shook her head while she answered, "No, it doesn't mean anything to me." "Foo was a nickname given to him because it was a shortened version of Fuck Up. Private Foo was just that, a walking disaster waiting to happen. The first time he met the commanding office of the base, he dropped his tray all over the front of my friend, the Colonel." Georgia giggled and said, "Oh, I bet that made a great beginning." The Colonel laughed and said, "You don't know the half of it. Everything they had Private Foo do, he screwed up. They asked him to carry a box of papers and he dropped it. The wind blew the papers all over the place. They put him in the supply tent and he knocked everything over. It took them two days to get everything back in order. He was so bad that the only thing they could do with him was to keep him in his tent." "Oh, that's ridiculous." "The richest one was that the day they were to change locations, he took two doses of laxatives thinking that he was taking something to calm his stomach." Georgia laughed at the mental image her words invoked and tittered, "Oh my, that's horrible." "Anyway, Private Foo gets separated from the others in his unit because he's having to stop every twenty minutes to go to the bathroom. His unit is attacked and Private Foo disappears from the face of the earth. They search for him for almost a week and then declare him MIA and probably killed. A month later he shows up at the site of a terrorist camp that had just been destroyed and claims that he did it." Georgia looked at the Colonel and said, "That sounds very unlikely." "He actually was the one that did it. He had proof of a bunch of other camps that he had destroyed. You see, Private Foo was the Renegade Warrior. When he got back into camp he got into a fight with two Special Forces men. He took them out all by himself. The Colonel told me it was the most impressive fight that he had ever seen." Georgia said, "Wow, what a change." The Colonel smiled and said, "Here's the best part. Do you know the real name of Private Foo?" "No." "It was Oscar Meyers." Georgia sat back and stared open eyed at the Colonel. Then she burst out laughing. She laughed so long and hard that tears came to her eyes. The Colonel stared at her in shock, wondering if she was having a nervous breakdown. Georgia finally got control of herself and explain, "He's always telling me that he was the biggest klutz in the world and was such a geek that even the other geeks wouldn't deal with him. I've never believed him until now." The Colonel asked, "So what was so funny?" Georgia answered, "Oh, those stories you told about him are nothing compared to the stories he told me about himself. He had worked on his school paper and was supposed to edit an article. He only made a change on one line, but didn't quite do it correctly. The title of the article was supposed to be 'Principal Trucks Cheerleaders To Game'. It was the title of an article about the school bus breaking down and the Principal had to take the cheerleaders to the game by taking them in the back of his pickup truck. They had a typo in the title, they had used principle rather than principal. He made the change and submitted it to the printer. The next day, the school paper had the headline, 'Principle Fucks Cheerleaders To Game.' I never believed that story until now." Colonel Lettieri laughed. She said, "Poor guy. I'm sure no one believed that he did it by accident." "No. He got suspended from school for a week." The two of them talked for a while and then split up. Colonel Lettieri wanted to plan her actions for the next engagement. Georgia was ready to go play with Private Foo. They parted agreeing to meet for lunch the next day. Both women were happy to have found someone they could talk to without rank standing between them. Georgia entered the command center and looked around. She spotted Oscar in the bedroom reading a book. She called out, "Hey, Private Foo. Come and get me!" He groaned and said, "She figured it out and told you the whole story." She came running into the bedroom and jumped on the bed. She cuddled up to him and said, "You poor guy. No wonder I love you so much." Surprised he looked at her and said, "I don't follow." "You've never hid the fact that you were once a klutz from me, even though I never believed a word you said. Such honesty is so impressive." He sat there shaking his head trying to figure out women. She tore off his pants as George emerged again. That he could understand and went with the flow. ------- Chapter 9 Oscar noticed a plume of dust on the horizon well outside of the training area. He watched it move and then stop. The medallion flared hot against his skin. His stomach clenched as the hairs on the back of his neck rose. As the dust started settling, he shouted, "Georgia, break radio silence. Get everyone back to camp right now." Without asking any questions, Georgia got on the radio and started broadcasting the message. Once she had told everyone his orders, she called back asking, "Why?" "Tell them it's an order from me." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flare gun. He shot it into the sky to get everyone's attention. He went back to the Hummer where Georgia was repeating the message to another group. He got into the drivers seat to check that it was fully operational and said, "We'll wait here for an hour before heading back to camp. Anyone that gets here in time will have a ride." He opened the back of the Hummer. Under the normal bed of the Hummer was a hidden storage well. From that, he removed a number of rifles and clips of ammunition. After putting a clip into a rifle, he handed it to Georgia and said, "Get rid of the toys. We're going live now." She stared at him in shock as she asked, "What do you mean?" He answered, "We have the real thing six miles away from us. I want you to take a couple of these guns with you and hide up the side of the hill a little ways. When any of our guys show up, I want you to call them up to you and give them a gun. I'm going in the direction the terrorists are coming from. I'll hold them off until it is time for us to leave." She looked at him and frowned, "What about you?" "I'll be fine. Don't worry. You're talking to Private Foo." She laughed softly as she turned to follow his directions. She knew that when it came time to do battle there were very few groups that could stand against him. That knowledge made it easy not to argue. Oscar went off in the direction of the dust plumes. He hadn't even gone twenty meters away when he disappeared into the surrounding landscape. Even though she understood how he did it, she watched amazed at how quickly he could hide himself. With her extraordinary skill in hiding, she found a small depression and sat in it with her cloak around her. She blended into the rocks and sat still watching the horizon for signs of movement. One of their people slowly worked their way to the Hummer. She whistled softly and he turned in her direction. He climbed up the hill, correcting his course by ear until he was beside her. She spoke softly, "There are terrorists in the area. Use this gun, it shoots real ammo. Hide yourself and watch for the enemy. Don't shoot our guys by mistake. Oscar is out there searching for the terrorists and will be coming from that direction." The man answered in a whisper, "Will do." He moved thirty meters away to a rocky area and settled himself for the wait. Georgia studied his position and decided that he was hidden enough not to attract immediate attention. She moved her eyes to study the area around the Hummer, noticing the dust plume on the horizon. Concerned, she watched to see if it was coming closer. It wasn't moving closer and it wasn't moving further away. It looked like it was circling their position. Another member of their party crept into the area. She smiled when she saw that it was Colonel Lettieri. She whistled softly and watched as the Colonel came straight to her position. She stopped about ten yards away and sat down hiding herself. Georgia called over to her in a soft voice, "We have real terrorists in the area. I've got a gun here with real ammo for you. Get it and then hide somewhere to cover a good area. Did you notice the Captain?" The other woman called back just as softly, "Yes, I did. I didn't see him until I was about on top of him." "Good. Oscar is on the other side of the Hummer looking for the terrorists." The Colonel climbed up the hill, pausing slightly to get a gun and continued up. An observer would have thought she just stopped to catch her breath. Her pass by Georgia was intended to keep her position carefully hidden. Georgia smiled at the knowledge that her friend had learned some lessons better than any of the others. She noticed two dust plumes of trucks heading towards the camp from where the Hummers of the other groups had been parked. She nodded as she realized what that meant. As she processed the information around her, she realized how much she had learned from Oscar over the past five months. She sat there watching the environment, knowing well before anyone even showed themselves that they were coming. More of their people arrived at the Hummer. She did a count and confirmed that all six trainees had gathered there. Oscar came around the hill and blew his whistle. Everyone stood and went to the Hummer. Oscar joined them there and opened the door. They all climbed into the Hummer. As soon as the doors were closed and a headcount performed, Oscar floored it and headed straight to the camp. When he got to camp all of the other trainees were waiting for him outside the command center. Oscar stopped the Hummer outside the center and got out of it followed by the others. One of the men waiting called out, "What's going on?" Oscar stopped and turned to face everyone. He answered, "We have real terrorists coming into the training area. I'm going to hand out real guns with live ammo. We have five teams in training. Three regular army and two special forces teams. The least experienced team is regular army. You guys are going to guard the camp today and tomorrow. The second least experienced regular army team will also stay here to guard through the nights. Each of you will change guard positions every hour." Oscar turned to the others and said, "You will join me in the field. We'll leave tonight. The moon is new, so we can use a Hummer to get to the hills. Once there, you will each take a region of the training area and watch it. I'll move across the whole area. When you encounter the terrorists, take your time. If you don't get a chance for a good clean kill of all of them, then don't attack." Georgia sat there listening to the instructions. She finally asked, "What about me?" Oscar answered, "You are in charge here. Make sure that everyone is alert. Provide coffee and enforce the rules." One of the new men objected, "She's a civilian sir." The Colonel turned to the man and said, "She's also the best fighter here, with the exception of Oscar. Obey her and you'll be safe." Oscar smiled and opened the door to the command center. He commanded, "Folks, get in line to get your guns and ammo." Georgia went in with him and helped hand out the rifles and ammo. It was a slow process but everyone was appropriately armed by the time they were done. Once the newest team had been armed, Georgia took them out to the perimeter. She put five people to watch, keeping the sixth in reserve. He was to replace the person in the first position in an hour. The person in the first position was to relieve the person in the second position. The person in the fifth position would get an hour break and return to replace the person in the first position. Oscar was busy at the map with the other teams laying out a grid identifying the area that each person would be responsible for scouting. Oscar pointed out weapons caches that he had established throughout the area in case terrorists entered the training area. There were three weapons caches in each area. A general plan for dispersing the people along their entry points was developed. Oscar would drive each team along the hills slowing down long enough to let individuals out of the Hummer at different points. Each individual was to move inward until they reached their area to watch. He told the assembled group, "Everyone get some rest, because for the next few days you wouldn't get any." One of them asked, "How will we know that it is all over?" Oscar answered, "I will fire three flares separated by ten minutes at sunset. Use the darkness to return to the points where you were dropped off. Be careful in how you move, because there may still be lots of bad guys in the area." The meeting broke up. Oscar went outside and joined Georgia as she watched the horizon. Several more dust plumes were appearing far to the east. She turned to him and said, "There's a large amount of movement out there. What do you think it is?" Oscar turned to her and answered, "I think that our first few graduates have really upset the terrorist organizations. They have come here to shut us down." She looked at him with a question in her eyes. He clarified, "They've been very busy taking out camps all along the border. They've accomplished more in the past few weeks, then the army has done the entire time that its been here in a peace keeping role." She said, "So they are doing well. That is good to know." Oscar laughed and pointed to the horizon where another dust plume had appeared. He said, "There's another group. They must be doing very well. Of course, that makes us a logical target." He turned to Georgia and said, "After this is over, I might need to let loose some emotions." She smiled at him and replied, "You mean my warrior is liable to come home ready to ravage me?" "Exactly." She cooed, "I'll be waiting all ready to be ravaged." He laughed and said, "For now, we have to rest. It is going to be a long time before we can rest properly." The two of them returned to the command center and took a nap. For a change, it was a rather tame time spent in bed and the hours passed all too quickly. The sun set and the soldiers met in front of the command center. Oscar came out of the center and went to the Hummer. He commanded, "First group, get in." The men climbed into the Hummer. When they had all entered, he pulled out of the camp. He drove without headlights and took a twisting path to the foothills. He occasionally stopped and then continued. When he reached the foothills, he paused about every half mile, not quite coming to a complete stop. At a few of those times, a man would exit the Hummer while it was still moving. Once the Hummer had been unloaded, Oscar turned around and headed back to camp. He arrived at camp and stopped outside the command center. With an hour to kill, he went to the mess hall and got a cup of coffee. Georgia was there with the guard that was on relief. He sat down as he said, "The first group are off. I need to give them another hour to move into the next position." The soldier said, "I watched you out there using the night vision binoculars. I could see you slow down, but I couldn't see anyone get out." "Did you see anything else?" "There are very minor glows on four of the hills. They went out a little while ago." Oscar nodded and then said, "Four separate camps. There are probably more of them out there with better discipline." They sat there for a while enjoying the coffee. The soldier looked at his watch and stood up as he said, "My turn back on watch." Georgia replied, "Keep your eyes open." Oscar watched him go. He turned to Georgia and said, "I think you should consider joining the Druids. You are good at this." She laughed and answered, "I'll become as randy as my sister. You wouldn't like that, I'm sure." He smiled and remembered her sister with fondness. Every time that Georgia mentioned her sisters sexuality, Oscar thought back to his first time with Jennifer. He said, "There are worse things that can happen to you." "That's true. Of course, you might like me to be a little more randy." She smiled and hugged him. She knew that he was nervous about the students performing alright. The two captains had not made much progress in their training and still complained each time they were shot in the back. He looked at his watch and said, "I have to go now. I've got another run to make." She kissed him before he left the kitchen. The latest relieved soldier came into the mess hall to get some coffee and stretch his legs. They passed at the mess hall door. The man coming in asked, "Is the situation that bad?" Oscar was about to make light of it and then realized that wouldn't be a good idea. He stopped and told the man, "We have a lot of bad guys out there that will kill us the first chance they get. Just remember, you have to pull the trigger first." Oscar went out into the night to ferry more people to the hills. He made four trips total before parking the Hummer and entering the hills himself. While the students were covering the training area, he was to explore the region surrounding the training area. It was only an hour before sunrise and it was necessary for him to get some distance away from the Hummer and find a spot to spend the day. The sun rose as Oscar watched his surroundings. He was in a good location to see any traffic moving into the training area. He started when he heard explosions behind him. The explosions were followed by gunfire and then quiet returned. After fifteen minutes, one more shot rang out. From the pace of firing, he knew that one of his people had already found a camp and taken it out. He looked in the direction of the camp. After half an hour, there was no flare. The instructions were that if a person was wounded, they would call into the camp and a flare would be fired. That would let him know that he was to move in and rescue the person. He relaxed and watched his environment. A few birds that he recognized as rock doves flew away from an area not too far from him. He took note of the location and watched it. The lack of further movement suggested that it was a natural event. There was an off chance that a guard had moved into position and was now waiting and watching. He would know if there was a guard change by further disturbances in the area. Hours passed and he took a short nap. He was startled awake by a series of explosions. They were followed by short bursts of gunfire. The exchange seemed to last a long time and he frowned. It suggested that the initial attack had not been very successful. He listened and waited. Movement caught his eyes as a person came over the hill in front of him to look around. There was a final huge explosion and Oscar smiled. They had hit the ammo. He watched the person on the hill turn and leave. He knew that he wasn't far from a camp. He heard the sound of an engine starting up and smiled to himself. They still hadn't gotten fusion powered trucks. The engine sound traveled for miles in the quiet desert. The truck came into view and headed in the direction of the last explosion. He watched it go, not wanting to attack it and give away his own position so close to the camp. Thirty minutes later, he heard a single explosion. He smiled to himself. His people were halting all movement of trucks through the area. Throughout the day, there were random explosions throughout the training area. He listened to each one, pleased at the lack of return fire. He knew that meant that most of his trainees had learned their lessons, but he still worried about the two captains. Sunset seemed to take a long time to arrive. After sunset, he took a half an hour to eat. He was eating two meals a day now and conserving his water. He watched and listened before moving from his location. He took his time and moved slowly. It took him four hours to cover eight hundred meters. As he moved closer to the terrorist camp, the wider his eyes became. It was huge with over two hundred men there and very disciplined. There were no lights of any kind, but men watched the surroundings carefully. He definitely wasn't going to be able to sneak into this camp and scout around. He moved away to go to one of his weapons caches, realizing that he was going to need a lot more firepower than he was carrying with him. He went to the weapons cache and retrieved a number of explosives and grenade launchers. He made several trips setting out explosives with trip wires along routes that the terrorists would take to get out of the camp. He set out stores of grenades and launchers at four different sites. He made one last trip to the weapons cache and retrieved four mortars and eight shells. He worked until well after sunrise setting up the mortars, taking great care to set up the mortars outside of the sight of the lookouts. After his preparations were completed, he stopped and assessed his situation. It was not good. He was definitely outnumbered by the terrorists and he wondered if he should get a couple of more people to help him. He swallowed as butterflies took flight in his stomach, but the medallion around his neck gave forth a reassuring sense of warmth. He dropped the mortars into the launchers, one at a time. It took two minutes for him to fire all eight rounds. The sound of explosions hurt his ears. He stood up and ran around the hill to the first site where he had set out the grenade launchers. Men set off the tripwires as they left camp to search him out. He fired the grenade launchers into the camp as best he could. Once that was finished, he moved further around the camp to the next site where he had set up a store of grenades. He fired all of the ones at that site, listening as gunfire went off in every direction. He left that area and moved to the far side of the camp. There were continued explosions around the camp as more men tripped the booby traps. He settled down behind the camp and watched the activities within it. There was a lot of activity around one of the tents. Several men came out of the tent and got into a truck. They looked like they were very important judging by the number of people that surrounded them. Several other trucks were loaded up and the whole group pulled out of the camp in his direction. He picked up the grenade launcher and took out the first truck and the one containing the important people. Shots were returned in his direction and he scrambled over the hill to blend into the background. He moved as fast as was reasonable to about a kilometer away and stopped. He watched the environment around him for movement. Satisfied that he was out of sight, he took a very short nap. He woke after an hour to the sounds of explosions far away. He smiled and considered the amount of damage that had been done today to the terrorists. He waited another two hours and then started making his way back to the camp. Well before reaching the camp, he stopped and watched the activity. There was significant excitement as men scoured the area looking for him like ants swarming around a hotdog dropped on the ground. There were at least seventy-five terrorists combing the area. He was still a good distance away from where they were looking. He waited until sunset before returning to the weapons cache. He pulled out two canteens of water and attached them to his belt. He loaded up on eight more mortar rounds. With care he carried them to a location far from where he had fired the mortars that morning. He set up two mortar launchers and then waited. He had one more hidden pile of grenades and one more location from which to fire upon the base. He paused thinking about Georgia back at the camp waiting for him, wanting to be there with her than here. His thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of distant gunfire. There were no explosions. He immediately thought of the captains and their continued insistence on trying to take prisoners. He took a couple of sips from his canteen trying to assess how much water he had left. He started firing the mortars. Two launchers and eight rounds meant that it took him close to four minutes to fire all of the rounds. The bases were extremely hot to the touch. He slipped away and moved to the grenades. He fired them into the camp aiming at every location where there were three or more men in a group. He fired into a tent that seemed alone. That was followed by a huge explosion as he hit a munitions store. A second tent exploded as well, apparently set off by the first explosion. Running out of grenades he dropped the launcher and moved to his final firing site. It took him five minutes to get there. The camp had organized itself to respond to his attack. He estimated that they had about fifty men that were capable of responding. He took aim and started firing. Three shots at each moving target. When there were only two shots and a click, he would put in a new magazine. He went through several magazines shooting at everything that moved. He was down to his last magazine and pulled back. The darkness covered his retreat back to the weapons cache. He loaded up with magazines and took stock of what remained. He had used all of his mortar launchers, perhaps foolishly. He was out of grenades and had several hundred rounds of ammunition left. He covered the hole with the rock and left the area. He returned to one of the sites that he had used the night before. He moved carefully checking to make sure that it was not booby trapped. He reached the spot and looked into the camp. It was a disaster with only two tents remaining intact. There were pits where the mortars had exploded. The mortars hadn't hit any critical spot, but if men were running through the only open areas in the camp, then they would have been hit by exploding shell fragments. Several of the trucks had been hit and the good trucks were locked behind damaged ones. Ten men moved around, pulling the bodies into neat rows along one edge of the camp. Another twenty wounded men lay off to the side moaning constantly. One of the terrorists stood in the middle of the camp, frustrated and angry. He shouted to the sky in a furious tone of voice, "Come out you Dog! Allah's curse upon you! Face us like a man!" Oscar watched, interested at how angry they were when their own tactics were used upon them. He had clearly taken out the key leadership of this group. The men looked lost and unsure of themselves. They slowly gathered around the one that had been screaming to the sky. Another five men emerged from the darkness around the camp and walked past the bodies of their fallen comrades. He counted eighteen of the walking terrorists. Even the wounded still held their guns, but most were praying to Allah for relief from their pain. He waited and watched the actions in the camp. They slowly organized themselves and started pushing the damaged trucks out of the way. He ate an MRE while they worked. Even as he chewed, he realized that they were going to be very hungry soon. He took a sip out of his canteen. As dawn approached, more sounds of explosions arose from the far end of the training area. He listened carefully and decided that the sounds came from outside the training area. He wondered which of the trainees had expanded their area of coverage. He tried to untangle the sound of the distant battle. It was hard to say what was the outcome. Still, there had been no flare from the base camp to let him know that anyone was injured. The camp below him increased in activity as the men took up defensive positions. He watched as they reacted nervously to every noise around them. They were going to be very jumpy for a long time. He considered his options as he settled in to watch the camp until light. Morning arrived after a long night and more men entered the camp from the surrounding area. He now counted at least twenty eight men moving around. More injured were brought in from around the camp. More bodies were added to the rows of dead. The terrorists were exhausted. While he had taken several naps, they had been working nonstop. They were making stupid mistakes and arguing among themselves. About half of the men entered the two remaining tents to get some rest. He waited twenty minutes and then opened fire on the men that were moving around the camp. He only fired for about two minutes. He didn't bother to count bodies or wounded. He fired with the intent to kill and changed targets to someone else that was moving. The camp was again stirred up. He changed his location, taking an hour to move to the place he had fired from last night. Again he had a good view into the camp. The men had spread out to search for him. One man had even walked within twenty yards of him. After searching for an hour, the men began returning to the camp. The number of terrorists had been significantly reduced. The ones remaining stormed around the camp furious. He hid himself within his cloak and took another twenty-minute nap. He woke and took another sip of his water. The men below looked in pretty sad shape. They still hadn't gotten the trucks freed and were without food and water. The number of casualties had shrunk as several of them had died while he napped. He opened fire on the ones that were moving around the camp. The men in the tents came out fighting off their need for sleep. He continued to fire, only now firing once at each target rather than three times. He was running low on ammunition and needed to conserve it. It didn't take him long, but he ran out of targets. After that round of fighting, he moved closer to the camp. His movements were careful, as he did not want to expose himself to view. He waited for movement in the camp below, but nothing moved. Counting bodies, he came up short two men and settled in for a long wait for them to show up. Hours passed as the temperature rose. Sweat trickled down his face, collecting around his collar and soaking the back of his shirt. He took sips of water. He opened another MRE and ate slowly savoring the flavor. He smiled to himself as he remembered the Russian Rations and how foul they had tasted. By this point in time, he had spent almost two days without moving much. The few treks that he had taken were short and required him to move slow. His muscles ached as they wanted a chance to freely move. He decided that he would call in the troops at dusk. It was an hour after he had made that decision before he spotted movement by the trucks. He took careful aim and took out the two men by the trucks. He moved to the where he had parked the Hummer being careful that he wasn't spotted. He got on his radio and called into the camp. Georgia answered immediately. He said, "Send up the flares tonight to call back the troops. They need to rest and eat well for a day or two." At dawn, he hauled the last group of trainees back to camp. All of them were tired and hungry. Only one person was missing, one of the two Captains repeating the course. He knew the two Captains had been working together and was going to get a full debriefing after everyone had a chance to eat. He pulled the Hummer up to the command center and parked it. He wasn't going to leave for at least another day. He entered the mess hall and got at the back of the line. He stared at the bacon and eggs with a desire out of proportion with the simplicity of the meal. Finally, it was his turn and he loaded up his plate. He sat down at the table across from Georgia and smiled at her. She looked at his tired face and her heart went out to him. He said, "Rather busy couple of days. I bet everyone is ready for some sleep." She smiled, "The ones that stayed here are in much better shape than you guys. I'll keep up the guards until you tell me otherwise." He nodded and answered, "Good idea. I think we got about half of them." She blanched at the assessment and looked at him with wide eyes. She said, "We heard all of the fighting thinking that you had gotten them all." He shook his head and replied, "I took on a camp of about two hundred men. If there are any more camps of that size, then we are going to need some assistance. This is not a small operation." He ate his bacon and eggs savoring the flavor of each bite. The coffee, hot and strong, tasted like heaven after the past couple of days of tepid water. Georgia sat across from him, watching him eat. He looked more tired than she had ever seen him. He noticed her study his face and joked, "If you think I look bad, then you should see the other guys." She laughed and said, "Do you want me to set up the command center for the debriefing?" He nodded as he looked around at the others in the mess hall. Some of the people that he had dropped off earlier were probably taking naps. He stood up and faced everyone. Once he was sure that he had their attention, he said, "Those of you that have engaged the enemy should join me in the debriefing room. The rest of you can take a nap and I'll talk to you later." He left as the others filed out of the mess hall. He went to the row of tents and shouted, "Will those who engaged the enemy please meet me in the briefing room? The rest of you can continue to rest." He repeated the message a second time before hearing people stir within the tents. He went over to the command center and got out a marker. He carefully marked the location of the camp he had attacked. He put estimated casualties and manpower next to the site. As others came in the room, he handed them markers to do the same. He sat back and watched as a picture of a major enemy offensive was presented. He went over to the communications building and got on the radio to call the main base. He requested troops sufficient for covering a hundred square miles of terrain. They would arrive in about two hours, although helicopters would by flying overhead in twenty minutes. He smiled as he wondered what would be the results of the flybys. One of the two slow captains was sitting in his chair in a state of shock. Oscar looked around the room and then said, "I want to hear your reports one at a time. I'm going to start with those that look the worse for wear. When you are done giving your report, you may leave or stay." The people gathered there nodded their heads. He called on the Captain. The Captain looked up and said, "Ernie and I found a camp of about ten men. Ernie stood up and told them to give up before I was in position to back him up. Next thing I know, he's carried into camp and they started to torture him. It took me some time to get into a position where I could see what they doing. They were actually skinning him alive." The Captain looked up with tears in his eyes. He said, "Those bastards were actually skinning him alive. Have you ever heard of anything so barbaric? I started shooting and they started shooting back. Ernie was screaming for me to kill him. I couldn't take his screams anymore. You don't know what he looked like with half of his body missing its skin. I couldn't take it anymore. I shot Ernie and then ran like hell. They've been chasing me ever since." "You guys tried to take them prisoner?" The Captain numbly shook his head. He answered, "Yes, that was the plan." Oscar glanced at Georgia who had been staring at the Captain. He finally said, "Thank you for your report. I suggest you go to your tent and try to rest." The Captain left the room amidst total quiet. The looks of pity were tinged with disgust at the man's continued exhibition of stupidity. Every time they had tried to get a group to surrender in training they had been shot with paintballs. It was inconceivable that they would try to do it for real. When the door had shut, Oscar turned to Georgia and said, "Get a helicopter here to take him to the main base and back to the states. He's going to need significant help to get over this. See if we can't get him a position in Kansas or someplace quiet where he won't have many responsibilities." Georgia nodded and left for the communications building. Oscar turned back and listened to the others give their reports. The terrorist camps had ranged from ten to thirty people. He had tackled the biggest camp. The debriefing had barely ended when two helicopters landed beside the camp. One of them carried away the Captain. The other had brought an intelligence officer to get the information about the enemy. His eyes had grown to the size of saucers when he had spotted the map with the terrorist sites marked on it. Later another helicopter showed up with orders for Oscar to return to the main military base in this region of Afghanistan. Oscar flew on it watching out the open door as the terrain passed below him. They were flying low and fast and the flight only took twenty minutes. When it landed, the base commander met him at the landing pad. He looked over at Oscar taking note of the dirt and grime encrusted on his clothes. The two men went to the office where Oscar gave a report on what happened. As they talked, the regular army had arrived at the camps that he and his trainees had attacked. Reports started filtering back about what they had found. The base commander stared at Oscar when it was learned that a large camp had been taken out. Among the dead were three very high ranking terrorists. The base commander said, "This is the largest single engagement with the terrorists and it was accomplished by nineteen people. You should be proud of yourself." Oscar couldn't think of anything to say. Exhausted, he didn't even know how many days had passed since he had been in a bed and slept. Hungry and tired, Oscar left the base commanders office once the briefing had been completed. He went to the mess hall to get a bite to eat and some coffee. He sighed in desire at the thought of returning to Georgia and getting some sleep. Leaning over a bowl, he slowly spooned the soup into his mouth as his mind reviewed the events of the past few days. His thoughts were interrupted when a huge fat man sat down across from him. Oscar looked up and stared at the grotesque figure of a man. Finally, Oscar asked, "Hello, can I help you?" The fat man, in a very feminine sounding voice, replied, "You can if you are Oscar Meyers." Oscar slowly moved a hand down to the pistol in his cloak. The fat man laughed and said, "One of these days, I'll jump out at you and let you shoot me. I've always wondered what it would be like. Until then, we will talk." Oscar looked at the fat man with interest. His grotesque lips flapped as the man talked. Three chins wobbled and rolled with each movement of his body. Oscar asked, "What do you want?" "You did a good job the past few days. You shall finish training the current crop and then Colonel Lettieri will be ready to take over for you." Oscar replied, "I can't really comment on that." "Of course you can't. We are quite pleased with your service to us." Oscar looked at the fat man and asserted, "I serve the Gods and Goddesses." "And quite well, if I am any judge." "So what can I do for you?" The fat man reached across the table and pulled the medallion out from under Oscar's shirt. The chain broke as he brought it to where he could examine it. Looking over at Oscar, he said, "It is time for you to get educated. Go to the Druid College. When you have finished your education, come to the Carter Glade and we shall talk some more." Oscar stared at the broken chain dangling from the fat hand. The grotesque man dropped the medallion in Oscar's hand as though it was a dime store trinket. Oscar looked up from the medallion to find that the fat man was gone. He sipped his coffee and wondered what day it was. ------- Part 2: Academia ------- Chapter 1 Underpaid teachers cry themselves to sleep at night, wondering why they struggling to raise the performance of indifferent students. Worried about bills, they know they can make more money managing a boutique in a large shopping mall somewhere. Under appreciated, subjected to violence, and scrutinized by a suspicious populace, the teacher works harder to avoid lawsuit than provide excellence in education. It is widely accepted that the foundation of a strong democracy is to have an educated electorate. That belief is based on the idea that educated men and women can reason through the pros and cons of diverse alternatives to identify solutions to problems that are optimal. Individuals, accepting the responsibilities of their role in establishing rule through representation, will reason about which candidate can best represent their perspectives on the problem. Picking a representative becomes a matter of identifying the candidate who shares their particular perspective on a problem. This sounds like a simple act that only requires that a person with one set of views to select another person with the same set of views to represent them. Achieving a strong democracy would be so simple if two people existed that shared the same perspectives on all of the important problems. Still, an educated person could reason through the alternatives and select the candidate that best represents the majority of views or, at least, those views that are held most dear. Clearly, it is true that an educated person is more capable of reasoning through a problem than an uneducated person. The real question is whether an educated electorate is more likely to reason through the issues put forth than an ignorant electorate? That is an easy question. Ask any lover if reason is a stronger force in life than passion. Individuals of great education and reasoning ability can argue two points of view for years without resolution. As debates progress, it becomes easy for the participants to become wedded to a perspective with the consequence that counterpoints are ignored, discounted, or labeled as outright false. Reason retreats under the power and fury of emotion. If the education of the electorate is not the ultimate foundation for a strong democracy, then what is? Emotion clearly doesn't support democracy. Hero worship can lead directly to a dictatorship in which faults, flaws, and criminal acts are ignored by supporters because of the rose colored glasses they wear. Millions still worship the leadership provided by Stalin. Hitler still has his fans. The greatest foundation of a strong democracy is that representatives must defend their position periodically and do so in an open forum. The positions, interests, and character of the candidates are exposed to the electorate. Those who better represent their interests can replace candidates that stop promoting the interests of those they represent. Corruption, incompetence, arrogance, and deceit can be exposed and the individuals replaced. It is in this manner that true power resides in the electorate. If an educated electorate is not the foundation for a strong democracy, then what is value of education with respect to a democracy? Education does not serve democracy best by creating an educated electorate, but by providing a much larger pool of candidates to serve as representatives. Shrinking the pool of candidates leads to a restriction of choice and that reduces the power that resides in the electorate. Such actions can spiral out of control leading to the establishment of a monarchy. The establishment of a larger pool of candidate representatives is not the only value of education regarding democracy. Educated people put forth the solutions about which the representatives argue. Reducing the pool of educated people reduces the quality of the solutions that can be put forth. The ultimate result is a spiral towards mediocrity. The teacher, looking up in frustration while grading poorly written papers submitted by bored students, should remember their importance in the grand scheme of a strong democracy. Mark what is wrong, teach the correction, and expect improvement. In this way, the teacher carries the burden of the future on their shoulders. Unlike Ajax who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, few know the names of the greatest of these heroes and heroines. The aging thinker who sets pencil to paper to frame a new idea may wonder why they bother. Most likely, only a handful of like- minded people shall ever know of the work done that night. Set the pencil to paper, frame the idea, and send it forth for others to consider. One day, the ideas developed at night become the subject of debate during the day. The thinker shares the teacher's burden for the future on their shoulders. Only a handful of these heroes and heroines shall be remembered. Utopia may not exist, but it is a goal worth trying to achieve. Without the teacher or the thinker, Utopia can't even survive as a dream. The naked man sitting next to a fire cooking food for the first time could be our grandchild rather than our grandsire. Consider this, the teacher and the thinker have more power in a strong democracy by their actions than by their votes. Oscar and Georgia stepped into the administration office at the Druid College. He set down the duffel bag that contained their clothes. Most of the contents within it belonged to Georgia since he only had two red robes packed away. He wore his cloak and the pockets were full of his personal possessions, including a pistol. The woman at the desk looked up at him, recognizing that he was a Druid, and asked, "How may I help you?" Oscar said, "I'm here to go to school." "Okay," she replied with a significant pause between syllables. The woman studied the red robe and pursed her lips as she thought about what he had said. Finally, she said, "Let me get someone to take you to a room. You can wait anywhere here in the lobby." While she talked on the phone, Oscar and Georgia looked around the administration building. It was a spectacular building that provided a very relaxed atmosphere. Footsteps didn't echo like in normal large areas. There were no sounds that created a distraction. The colors were subdued, but totally natural. The walls were covered with paintings and photographs of natural scenes including jungles, deserts, waterfalls, plains, and woodland scenes. Animals of all shapes and sizes were captured in color prints. Near the entrance was a large photograph of John Carter. Oscar stepped over a few steps to study the photograph. Georgia went with him. He looked at the picture and said, "What a great man." "Did you ever meet him?" Oscar shook his head and replied, "No, I never did. I read a biography about him, though. He did so much for the world." "He paid a very high price for his service to the Gods and Goddesses." The voice from behind interrupted their discussion. Oscar turned and looked at the Brown Robed man standing there. He nodded and said, "I am Oscar Meyers and my wife to be is Georgia Wilson." The man nodded at both of them, but looked primarily at Oscar. He had expected a last minute student, but not that he would be a Druid. He said, "I am Oliver Brown." Oscar replied, "It is a pleasure to meet the Grand Druid." Oliver smiled as he examined Oscar. It always amazed him when he met a new Druid just how pure their heart was. Ever since beginning his service, he could not tolerate watching television or leaving the College for extended periods of time. There was just too much hate in this world. He said, "The pleasure is mine. You have a pure heart, despite the actions that you've been forced to take." Oscar shrugged and replied, "I never hated the terrorists, only what they did. The innocents require protection from the strong. The good require protection from those who would do evil. The terrorists have a misguided moral sense that enables them to kill the innocent ones." "Come with me and I'll get you established in a room. The rest of the students will arrive tomorrow." Oliver thought about this situation and how it needed to be handled. No one had anticipated that a Druid would actually be studying here. The expectations had been that the students would become Druids upon graduation. After thinking about it for a minute, he said, "I'll take you to your room now." After picking up the duffel bag, Oscar rejoined Georgia. They followed Oliver through a hallway and then into the building that housed the first year dorms. Oliver turned and said, "We don't have any furnished faculty apartments available at the moment. I'm afraid that you'll have to stay in the first year dorm. I hope that isn't a problem for you." "I expect we'll be living there from now on," replied Oscar with a good-natured wink in the direction of Georgia. "We?" asked Oliver. "Sure, Georgia and me," replied Oscar. Georgia, standing beside Oscar, realized that a problem was looming on the horizon. Oliver looked over at her and asked, "Have you a degree already?" "Yes," she replied. "I'm afraid that represents a problem for us," said Oliver as he resumed walked along. The rules were rather clear that new students should not have permanent commitments to others. The stress of living naked with others could seriously harm them. He had been willing to make an exception for a Druid since he had assumed they would have made sure that no harm could come from it. It made him wonder if Oscar understood all of the implications of becoming a student here. "Why?" asked Oscar puzzled by the fact that his fiancee might want to live with him in his dorm was a problem. He couldn't imagine other Druids having the kind of prudish morality that would frown on that. He said, "It won't harm anyone if we live together in a dorm room. I go to classes and she does what ever she chooses to do." Oliver frowned as he realized the other Druid had no idea of what to expect. "It's not that simple. There's a lot that you don't know. I suggest we get you settled into a room for now and then discuss it over some coffee." Oscar and Georgia stared in horror at Oliver as the Grand Druid explained the program at the College. He was shocked to learn that the whole first year class would be naked and living in mixed dorms. It wasn't that he didn't love Georgia enough to stay true to her, but he was a man with needs who would be surrounded by temptation all of the time. Shaking his head, Oscar said, "I don't understand how the Two- Sided One could insist that I come here." Thinking about the temptation that Oscar would be under, Georgia said, "Three days in that environment and I'd be begging guys to have their way with me. After a week, I'd be looking at the women if I hadn't had relief by then." Oscar muttered, "You would be tempted, but I can't even imagine how I'll react." Trying not to smile at her comment, Oliver said, "I don't know what to tell you." Having delivered the bad news, Oliver watched the couple look at each other. His heart went out to them as he wondered what Oscar would decide to do. He took a sip of coffee waiting for some kind of reaction. Looking at Georgia, it was easy to see that she had a heart nearly as pure as a Druid did. Even the bad news had not created any shadows over her heart. There was hope that a solution might occur to one of them. Georgia set down her cup a little harder than she intended with the consequence that a little coffee spilled onto the table. Ignoring the spill, she said, "Let me summarize one side of the situation knowing that you will be going to school here. First, you will be tempted while living here surrounded by young naked women. Second, I will not be living with you to provide relief when the temptations become too strong. Third, you will succumb to temptation regardless of how much you love me. Fourth, that will bother you because you love me more than life itself. Final point, you can't live without me in your life for six years." Oscar replied, "True on all counts." Taking a moment to wipe up the spill with a napkin, she considered what she was going to say next. Finally, she said, "Let me summarize from a different perspective. First, I know that you will be tempted while living here surrounded by young naked women. Second, I accept that I will not be able to live with you while you are a student. Third, I can accept that you will succumb to temptation because I know how much you love me. Fourth, I will not be jealous because I know that you love me more than life itself. Final point, I can't live without you in my life for six years." Thinking about what she said, he knew that to argue those points would be futile. She loved him and if he questioned her honesty about this, he would be questioning her love for him. He said, "I guess." Her eyes flicked over at him at the implied doubt. She said, "You know better than that." "Okay. You're right on all counts," replied Oscar although it hurt him to say it. Oliver listened to her summary impressed with her ability to get to the heart of the matter. He said, "I guess that is both sides of the story." "Not at all," replied Georgia as she looked over at the Grand Druid. She smiled at him and said, "There is still your perspective. First, you can't change the rules for the entire class. Second, you can't make an exception for Oscar or myself as that undermines the rest of the class. Third, you can't allow harm to come to Oscar or myself. Final point, you won't enjoy coming between the two of us." There was a flavor of a threat in the final point, but everything she had said was correct. He replied, "That is true." Oscar nodded and said, "There has to be a compromise in there somewhere." An idea started to come to Oliver, but it was too early to tell them about it. Standing up, he said, "Excuse me for a minute." Oscar and Georgia sat at the table drinking coffee and talking about the difficulties of the upcoming time. While Georgia was keeping her spirits, Oscar was getting depressed. He couldn't imagine being kept from Georgia for more than just a few days at a time. Oliver returned to the table with a very large grin on his face. Sitting down, he said, "Have I got a solution for you." Wondering what he could have come up with that quickly, Georgia said, "Please, tell us." Turning to Georgia, he said, "Ed Biggers has a place across the road from us, but he doesn't use it. I just got off the phone and he said that you could live there for the next six years. I can employ you in the administration building while you are here." She smiled at the idea of being able to stay nearby. Looking over at Oscar, she asked, "What about Oscar?" "He will be a student here, but I insist that he does not let any of the other students know that he is already a Druid until after the first year. We can let him leave the campus on occasion since he doesn't require the constant supervision of our regular students. During the first year, I'm sure that a weekly scheduled time could be arranged for the weekends. If he happens to go across the street to your place, I don't see where that would be a problem," replied Oliver with a large smile. Oscar wasn't smiling nearly as much as Georgia. Hiding the fact that he was Druid for a year seemed excessive, but that wasn't his real problem. He said, "That puts me here through most of the week with all those naked women." Pleased that things weren't nearly as bad as they could have been, Georgia said, "The up side is that you'll be able to enjoy a few of those naked women." "What about you?" asked Oscar afraid that he would be hurting her feelings by sleeping around. He wasn't interested in some of the wilder forms of sexual activity that so many Druids favored. He felt that he could only love one woman at a time. That didn't keep him from being a man whose cock would react when presented with an attractive woman. "Who knows, I might enjoy some of those naked young men on occasion," she replied in a teasing tone of voice. After a minute, the George, within her, emerged as she considered the possibilities of having a pool of naked male students in the vicinity. She said, "Who knows, I just might." Oscar, knowing the difference between George and Georgia, smiled at the suggestion. George would visit the students and have a lot of fun doing it. Shaking his head, he said, "Come along George. We've got some plans to make and I have to buy some clothes so that I can loose them on the first day of class." Oliver watched them walk off knowing that they were going to be okay. He said, "Oh, by the way. There is one more thing." "What?" asked Oscar thinking that everything had been settled. "Give me your gun," said Oliver holding out his hand. "Oh, yeah," replied Oscar as he fished out his pistol. He was hesitant about handing it over to the Grand Druid. It felt strange to give it up. Even clothed, he felt naked without it. Wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals, Oscar stood with the other students waiting to enter the college. Patient Oscar, used to sitting still for hours at time while waiting for his enemies to move, was nervous and could hardly stand in one spot. Other students milled around while looking at each other. All wondered who would become friends during the course of the next few years. Oliver entered the room and called everyone to order. After a short speech, he asked the Druids to come in the room to give the students a chance to meet them. As his fellow students rushed forth to learn from the Druids what being a Druid involved, Oscar hung back and examined his fellow Druids. To one side, stood a tall man with a weather beaten face. The fact that he was wearing a black robe immediately identified him to Oscar as Ed Biggers. Not wanting to look as if he were totally disinterested in the Druids, he felt that it was necessary to talk with one. He walked over to Ed and said, "Hello, Ed Biggers. I'm Oscar Meyers." Ed looked at the little man and relaxed as he realized that the little man wasn't a student. As a smile spread on his face, he said, "I'm pleased to meet you, Oscar. I hope that Georgia is comfortably settled in the house. It's good to know that it will get used." "I appreciate you letting her stay there," replied Oscar. "It was nothing. Since I left here, I know that a number of Druids on staff have used the house as a private little hide away at times," said Ed with a grin. He had actually considered giving the house and property to the College when he had left his regular teaching position. Instead, he had established the land as a private park. The house and stables had remained personal property. "Thank you anyway. Your place provided a solution to a major problem that I had," replied Oscar. The man spoke the truth. Ed clapped him on the shoulder and said, "I don't envy you. The next year is going to be rough." Oscar looked around the room at his fellow students. There were few women in the class that wouldn't have been the subject of his masturbation fantasies just a few years ago. He groaned as he said, "I'm a nerd or, at least, I was a nerd. What I am about to experience is far beyond anything that I ever thought would happen to me. I hope I can deal with it." Ed laughed and said, "Better start mixing or you'll look suspicious." "No words to cheer me up?" "None," answered Ed with a grin deciding that he liked Oscar. The guy had an easy honesty about himself that he liked. Maybe he was a Druid, but the nerd inside wasn't completely dead. Oscar shook his head and wandered off to wait for the time to pass. He stood to the side and watched as students went from Druid to Druid asking questions. The students all looked so young and inexperienced to him. He wasn't sure if the reason they looked inexperienced was because of his time spent in the army or his experience as a Druid. "Wow, those Druids are pretty amazing people," said a young man who had come to stand beside him. Oscar looked at the guy and realized that he was seeking out someone with whom to share his nervousness. He smiled as he answered, "I don't know. They seem pretty down to earth to me." "I guess. It's just that they talk about doing these amazing things like they were nothing. Hell, if I rescued a cat from a tree, I'd be boasting about it all week." Laughing at the unflattering characterization the student had made of himself, Oscar introduced himself, "I'm Oscar." "I'm Greg," answered the guy. He looked over Oscar and said, "You seem kind of old to be entering college." "I went in the Army to save money for school," replied Oscar. It was the truth, just not the whole truth. "Oh," replied Greg. He thought about it and then said, "I guess you are hoping to serve the God." Struggling to find a reply, Oscar noticed that Oliver was moving to the center of the room. He said, "It looks like the big guy is going to talk." "I saw you talking to the one in black. I tell you - those servants of the Two-Sided Ones are really spooky. What was he like?" Oscar was surprised by the statement and realized that this was a chance for him to see how others honestly viewed the Druids. Oscar smiled and answered, "I found him nice." "Nice? You don't use words like that to describe Druids. Powerful and intense, those are the right words," replied Greg. He looked over at the people in robes in awe. Oscar chuckled as Oliver brought order back to the students. By the time the students were lined up, the Druids had already left the room. After a few minutes, they followed Oliver to the hallway that connected the administration building to the first year dorms. While most of the other students had no clue what was about to happen, Oscar knew and his nervousness returned. As he held his box, he listened as people were asked to remove personal items. That was easy, he had none. Everything that was his was stored in a private office located on an unused floor of the administration building. No one was acting too nervous, although it did appear to him that a few of the students did have an idea of what was to happen next. Standing next to him, Greg said, "Why are they doing this?" Oscar smiled and shrugged, giving the impression that he didn't know the answer to the question. When everything except glasses had gone into the boxes, his stomach tightened as Oliver said, "Please put all of your personal items in your boxes. I see that you still have your clothes." "Shit!" exclaimed Greg as he dropped his box at the announcement. He looked around the room with the same expression as an animal after it discovers that it is trapped in a corner. He wasn't the only student that had that reaction. Oscar didn't immediately react, but he was still one of the first students to start removing their clothes. As he dropped his shirt into the box, he said, "Greg, I'm not going to be happy if I'm the only one that ends up naked." His sandals, shorts, and underwear soon joined the shirt in his box. Standing up as straight as he could, Oscar spread his legs shoulder wide and rested his hands on hips. Staring off into space, he stood there looking calm, collected, and strong. Inside, he was more nervous than when he had faced terrorists in Afghanistan. Being naked in a room full of people didn't bother him in terms of anyone paying any special attention to his body. After all, there were many examples of people with better and worse bodies than himself. His problem was his height. He kept thinking to himself that his height put him so that he was looking directly at the breasts of almost all the females in the room. "Man, you sure are taking this easily. Are you a nudist or something," asked Greg. He was amazed at how easily Oscar had stripped and how calm he was about standing there naked. "I'm too nervous to talk," muttered Oscar trying to keep from looking at any of the women in the immediate vicinity. As his eyes flicked over the breasts of a striking woman standing just a few feet away, he knew it was a losing cause. His cock reacted in the predicted fashion. Greg laughed and shook his head at the admission. The little guy next to him looked so calm and collected that it made everyone else around him a little more relaxed. He said, "You're something else." It took five more minutes before the slowest of the students finished stripping. A shocked silence settled across the room as people tried not to draw any attention in their direction. Some students tried to cover the fronts of their bodies with the boxes in which they had put their clothes. Oscar wasn't even aware that he was covering himself as he held his box to take it with him. The woman standing near to Oscar turned to see how others were handling. When she saw that Oscar only came to her breasts, she turned away blushing at the idea that talking to him would effectively have him staring at her breasts. Greg noticed and whispered, "You're a lucky fellow." Oscar glanced over at him, but chose not to respond. Oliver led the students to the room where they would be storing the boxes. Oscar followed along, convinced that this was the hardest thing that he had ever done. Two women were walking in front of him and he didn't know where to keep his eyes. They had nice well-shaped asses that swayed in a very feminine fashion. His cock got even harder. He kept control while putting up his box and getting his class schedule. Using it as a distraction, he examined the class schedule with a critical eye. It was a rough program with almost the entire day occupied by classes, studying, and counseling. Five days a week, he went to Pre-algebra, Grammar, Logic, Ethics, and Public Speaking. Two classes in the morning, two classes in the afternoon, and one in the evening. The courses didn't look that difficult, but appearances could be deceiving. A scheduled study meeting followed each class with each study group assigned. The weekends included counseling sessions. At the room, he waited to learn the identity of his roommates for the current school year. The news that each room was to be coed had really been a shock to the students. His room was in the middle of the hallway and he wondered why that was the case. Several glances in the direction of Oliver had showed the Grand Druid was watching him with a sly smile. It didn't bode well for his choice of roommates. "Sharon Steele, Mark Hammond, Lisa Gooding, and Oscar Meyers, you're in room 34," called out Oliver as he watched the reaction of Oscar. The tallest woman in the school stepped into the room, followed by a young man that shuffled into the room like a zombie, and then the fattest female student in the class rushed into the room. His room was filled with all of the physical misfits. A tall woman, a strange man, a fat woman, and a short guy all sharing one room. Oliver smiled and said in perfect Arabic, "Rank has its privileges and its responsibilities." In perfect Arabic, Oscar, with a wry smile, replied, "Payback is a bitch. Watch out." Oliver laughed and pointed at the door. Other students looked at Oliver and then at Oscar wondering what they had said to each other. To a person, all agreed that Oscar did not act intimidated by the Grand Druid. Oscar entered the room and closed the door behind him. The tall woman had thrown herself on one of the beds and was crying so hard that her entire body was shaking. The overweight woman had settled to the floor and was sobbing into her hands. The other male in the room was standing in spot, as his entire body shook with his hands covering his private parts staring into space. Oscar looked at the other man wondering what was his problem. The guy was handsome enough, but acting as if he was totally uncomfortable with his appearance. Lightly slapping the other guy on the arm, Oscar said, "Put your arms to your side." Mark turned to look at Oscar as though seeing him for the first time. He continued to hold his hands in front of his body covering his cock. There was no further reaction from the guy. Oscar shook his head wondering what the problem was. For several minutes, Oscar stood waiting for someone to stop crying or to say something. The women continued to cry and the guy remained fixed in place shaking. He mentally cursed Oliver for putting him in this position. There was nothing for him to do except take charge of the situation. Summoning up his best military stance, Oscar took a deep breath and, in a commanding tone of voice, shouted, "Stand up. Face Me. Arms to your sides." Shocked at the sudden appearance of a drill Sargent in the room, the roommates followed his orders without hesitation. A quick glance at Mark and Oscar knew the problem. The guy had a very small cock. He knew he'd have to address that problem at some point in time, but not now. Oscar stepped up to the tall woman and barked, "Stand up straight. What's your name?" The woman stood up straighter and in the process added almost two inches in height. She was so tall that she could have rested her breasts on his head if they had been a little fuller. She answered, "Sharon Steele." Oscar could tell that she was tempted to add sir to the end of her answer. He moved in front of the overweight woman and barked, "Pull those shoulders back. What is your name?" "Lisa Gooding, sir." She stood up straighter and pulled her shoulders back. Her breast stood out even more than when she was hunched over. Even as she did it, she wondered why she was doing what this little guy was telling her to do. Oscar moved to stand in front of Mark and shook his head. He said, "Suck in that stomach. What is your name?" "Mark Hammond," replied the guy as he sucked in his stomach. He had the mental image that he was in boot camp, not college. At the same time, he wondered how that little guy managed to put so much energy in his words and command such instantaneous respect. Oscar moved to where he stood in front of the other three. Talking in a clipped voice in which each word was delivered like a bullet, he said, "I am Oscar Meyers. I am the shortest man among all of the students here. I don't care that I'm the smallest man here. When I look at a women, my eyes are level with her breasts. I don't care." The other three had to smile at the image that his words suggested. Focusing on his problems made theirs a little easier. Oscar looked at Sharon and said, "You're tall. I like that. My first lover was six foot tall and an amazing woman." He stepped in front of Lisa. Making a point of looking at her large and full breasts, he said, "I love your breasts and hope that one day I will be able to enjoy them even more. Of course, that depends upon you allowing me to have that honor and privilege." Lisa watched, eyes the size of saucers, as Oscar turned to Mark. Frowning, he said, "When you talk to a woman, you can look her in the eyes. They will respect you far more than they will respect me. If I were less confident, I'd be green with envy." Mark looked down at his cock and up at Oscar as though the small man was insane. There was no way this little dynamo with the large cock could express ever be envious of him. Oscar ignored the look and said, "I came here to learn, not to walk around with an erection all day long. I suggest that we make a pact that we help each other on every opportunity to rid ourselves of any sexual tension so that we can focus on learning." He waited as his roommates looked at each other in confusion. No one had expected him to address his or her real concerns in such a straightforward manner. What could they say? No, I don't want to have you as a bed partner. I'd rather be miserable suffering from sexual frustration since I'm not attractive enough for someone to want to be a bed partner with me. ------- Chapter 2 The four roommates stepped out of their room still in the throes of sexual tension. By the time they had recovered from their initial shock at being naked, insufficient time remained to take care of their tensions. At least the tears had stopped and everyone was walking a little more naturally. Looking at the other groups of students emerging from their rooms, it was clear that their group was the most relaxed of them all. Three pairs of eyes looked over at Oscar in shared thanks. Smiling at his roommates, Oscar, in a conversational tone of voice, said, "Let's go check out the food, stock up on some supplies for our room, and get together to learn more about each other." Oscar was the second one in line at the buffet and filled his plate with all kinds of dishes. He took a variety of items without any embarrassment concerning the quantity of food that was piled on the plate. The Grand Druid watched him pile on the food and asked, "Got enough?" "I can always go back for seconds," Oscar replied. His answer prompted Lisa to laugh at the absolute lack of embarrassment. She would have died if someone had said that to her and knew that there was no way she could have come up with his answer. "I see you have rallied your roommates," observed Oliver speaking in Arabic. It was an incredible achievement as he had thought they would loose all three of them. He smiled at Oscar wondering how the little man would respond. "Yes. We found that we have one thing in common," replied Oscar speaking Arabic so that the others wouldn't understand. "What?" Speaking in very proper Arabic, Oscar answered, "We all dislike you tremendously." The grin on his face ran counter to his words. Oliver laughed and, in English, said, "You three had better watch out for this guy. He'll get you in trouble." When the Grand Druid walked off, Sharon asked, "What did you two talk about?" "We talked about how much fun it was walking around naked all of the time. He commented on how relaxed we were and I told him it was because we had found one thing in common," answered Oscar as he reached for a glass of Coke. Lisa, blushing, exclaimed, "You didn't tell him what we decided, did you?" Giving his roommates a smile and a wink, Oscar answered, "No. I told him that we discovered that we didn't like him." "You didn't," queried Mark amazed that anyone would say something like that to the Grand Druid. "Of course I did. Today is not the first day that I've met him," replied Oscar. Pointing to a corner table with his nose, he said, "There's a good table over there." He carried his plate and glass over to the table. It was large enough for twelve people, but he suspected that soon be filled. Taking a seat, he waited for his roommates to show up. As he had expected, Lisa had taken the smallest portions of the four of them. He took a sip of tea and looked around at the other students noticing that Greg was looking in his direction. Looking around nervously, Greg didn't know what to do or where to sit. Finally, he wandered over and asked, "Mind if I join you?" "I'd love for you to join us. You will you bring your roommates with you, won't you?" answered Oscar. His question was more of a command than a suggestion. Realizing that he had abandoned his roommates, Greg decided that it would be a good thing to do. He set his plate and drink on the table before answering, "Let me find them." "Good," replied Oscar. When Greg had left to find his roommates, Oscar said, "Let's show them what confident people we are. I'm sure they're more uncomfortable about this than we are. I bet that some of our confidence rubs off on them." Sharon shook her head and answered, "I don't see how. We've got every extreme covered in this group. Big, little, skinny, and fat. We have it all." Mark quipped, "We're the extreme team. Of course we have confidence." Sharon and Lisa giggled at his comment, realizing that Oscar's confidence wasn't the only thing that would carry them through this ordeal. Oscar raised his glass and said, "To the extreme team." The group was laughing and joking by the time Greg returned with three people in tow. All four of them looked very uncomfortable. Oscar waved and said, "Come on over and join us. Please have a seat and relax." The four joined them at the table. They sat nervously and looked around the table at the extreme team. As he pointed out each person, Oscar said, "My roommates are Sharon, Mark, and Lisa. I'm Oscar." Greg said, "I'm Greg." One of the women looked around before blurting, "I'm Gabby and this is Abby." The last guy sat there for a moment staring at his plate. He started to answer, but his voice broke like a teenage boy's. After taking a sip of his drink, he said, "I'm Cole." Oscar, pointing at each person, repeated, "Greg, Gabby, Abby, and Cole. It's a pleasure to meet you." Mark looked at the two women. They were attractive, but in different ways. Gabby was shorter with dark features and long dark hair. Her breasts were fuller with dark aureole topped by hard eraser-sized nipples. Abby was a little fuller and taller with open features and light brown hair. Her breasts were not as large and were with pinkish aureole topped by small hard nipples. He recalled Oscar's advice about being able to look women in the eyes and that they would think higher of him for that. He leaned across the table and looked at Gabby in the eye as he asked, "Is Gabby short for Gabriella?" This was a question that everyone asked. Making a face that suggested that Mark suffered from a horrible lack of imagination, she answered, "Of course it does." Her negative reaction startled Mark back in his seat. He was trying to make conversation in an attempt to allow the others to feel more comfortable. About to argue back, he was interrupted by Oscar who said, "That's a pity. Mark and I have been waiting our whole lives to find a Gabby named after Gabzilla. You know, Godzilla's talkative wife." The reply made everyone except Cole and Gabby laugh. Gabby asked, "Are you making fun of me?" Sharon stabbed a piece of pasta with her fork, as she replied, "No We are trying to make conversation to take our minds off the fact that we are sitting here buck naked in a strange place with people that we've never met before now. Personally, I think it is working." Greg nodded and said, "I have to agree. For a whole microsecond I actually forgot that I was naked. I assume that one day, I will go a whole second without thinking about the fact that I'm naked." Abby spoke up for the first time. "I know what you mean. This is horrible. I couldn't believe it when they told us to take of our clothes. All I could think of was that the world was coming to an end." Pushing food around on his plate, Cole muttered, "I feel like an idiot. I'm walking around with an erection all of the time. I look like a dork." Oscar grinned and replied, "Just think of it this way. When you tell a woman that you're happy to meet her, you've got proof standing forth proudly proclaiming your honesty." Lisa giggled at the idea of telling a guy that and decided that she was going to have to remember that line. She looked down at Oscar's lap and said, "I see you're happy to meet me." Laughing, Oscar spread his arms and said, "There you go. Exactly what I meant." The only one that wasn't laughing was Cole. He looked up and, with more than a little anger in his voice, said, "My cock is so hard that it hurts. All of the guys are walking around stiff. At least the women don't suffer from that problem." Mark pointed at Oscar with his thumb, as he replied, "Oscar's eye- level is the same height as most of the breasts in this room. I think if you ask him, he'll tell you that there are an awful lot of stiff nipples running around and it's not cold in this room. Think about it." Gabby looked over at Cole after glancing down at her rock hard nipples. She said, "Believe us, stiff nipples hurt." Abby added, "Stiff nipples are nothing. I'm getting excited down there. Pretty soon I'm going to be leaving puddles behind." Feeling much better about how her body was reacting to walking around naked, Lisa said, "Sharon and I would let you borrow our roommates to take care of your problem, but we're not letting them loose tonight." "Amen to that," added Sharon realizing that saying it aloud made her feel better. Her problems were solved for the night. She knew it and now others knew it. Cole stared at Lisa completely shocked by what she had said. In a much more animated voice, he asked, "Are you really going to sleep with your roommates?" "There's no way I would get any sleep tonight knowing that there is a naked man who is ready, willing, and able to take care of me in a bed five feet away from me." Oscar smiled at the idea that it was Lisa who was proclaiming her sexuality first despite her physical appearance. He was proud of her newfound confidence. He started to pay more attention to his food than he gave to the people around him. The meal passed easily with the group of eight eating, talking, and laughing. Their table was the loudest and most relaxed in the dining room. Druids were moving from table to table, trying to get people talking to each other. It was tiring and frustrating work. Most of the students were in shock at the events of the day. More than one Druid glanced over to the corner table with relief that at least one table was settling into the routine of things. Once everyone had eaten to their satisfaction, Oscar said, "I guess it is time to raid the supply room. If we get there early enough, we might be able to get enough chocolate bars to keep up our energy for tonight's activities." Sharon replied, "You're right." Oscar leaned over to Sharon and whispered in her ear for a second. She burst out laughing and nodded her head. Oscar turned to Mark and Lisa. In a soft voice, he said, "We'll meet you in the supply room." Lisa and Mark looked at each other puzzled by his behavior. They watched as their roommates picked up paper napkins and spread them open. Moving together, they stepped away from the table. Sharon held up the napkin so that it covered her mouth. Oscar followed her example. Lisa asked, "Mark, what are they doing?" "I have no clue," answered the young man. Together, Oscar and Sharon shouted as they started to run across the room while holding the napkins over half their faces. Oscar shouted, "Look everyone. We're doing the anti-streak streak!" Everyone in the room looked up just in time to watch the short man run past with the very tall woman beside him. His cock was waving from side to side as he ran. They looked positively ridiculous holding napkins over their faces. Their action was greeted with stunned silence. Even the Druids in the room watched them run past in total shock. Then the laughter started. A few laughs here and there around the room built in intensity until everyone was laughing. Lisa and Mark followed their roommates out of the room laughing. Neither one of them could believe that the other two had actually run out of the room like that. Lisa was laughing so hard that she could barely walk. Tears of laughter formed on her face and she had to hold Mark's arm to make it out of the room. They found the pair outside the supply room. Oscar and Sharon were on the floor laughing so hard that their sides were hurting. Sharon was rolling on the floor saying, "I can't believe I did that!" Sinking to his knees in laughter, Mark was barely able to say, "You guys are crazy!" Oscar woke to a mouth around his cock sucking it with great enthusiasm. Expecting it to be Lisa, he was surprised to find that Sharon had his cock between her lips. She was kneeling between his legs with her hand working her pussy with great energy. Her fingers were almost a blur. It was clear that she was on the verge of an orgasm, her entire body was flushed from the excitement. Before he knew what was happening, his balls boiled over and he came into her mouth. Sharon came shortly afterwards as his come spilled out of her mouth to coat his cock. He grinned and said, "Now that is a good morning. It's my turn to say good morning." As he and Sharon exchanged positions on the narrow bed, he glanced across the room. Lisa and Mark were engaged in sixty- nine on his bed. He wondered how he had ended up with Sharon waking him in that manner. Last night, he had wild sex with Lisa before everyone went to sleep for the night in his or her own bed. He had expected to have a little more fun with Lisa in the morning. Thinking about it, it made sense that the women had traded partners for the morning. As he went to work on the spread open pussy in front of him, he marveled at how easily his roommates had accepted the living arrangements. As his tongue explored the crevices of her womanhood, her reached up and stroked the nipples of her small breasts. The reaction of his touch was tremendous. She had clamped her legs around his head as her hips trembled. Her hands covered his, forcing them to squeeze her nipples far harder than he thought could be pleasant. Even though her legs covered his head, he could hear her screaming her pleasure. His tongue burrowed into her tunnel, its passage made much easier by the huge amount of fluids that she was producing. She relaxed her legs for a moment. From the other bed, he could hear Lisa exclaiming, "I love your cock. It's just the right size for sucking!" He pulled out his tongue and flicked it over Sharon's clit. Her legs immediately tightened around his head as another orgasm washed over her. Oscar was amazed at how easy it was to trigger an orgasm in this woman. There were no doubts that his roommates would be out exploring their options before long. Sharon spread her legs releasing his head. She sighed, "No more. I can't take it. Jeez, four times in ten minutes." Oscar raised up and looked at her. Her normally pale skin was bright red in an orgasmic blush. She was breathing heavily looking up at Oscar with a twisted grin. He smiled at her as she recovered. A groan and scream from the bed across the room attracted their attention. Lisa and Mark were in the throes of an orgasm. Sharon smiled at him and said, "I think she enjoys it." After the couple sat up, Lisa said, "Fuck. I love his cock. It just fits in my mouth perfect." Mark had never had a woman that had worked over his cock with such enthusiasm. She had gotten him to come twice, sucking his cock back to an erection after he came the first time. This was totally new to him. Before coming to the college, he had allowed one woman to see his erection. She had laughed at its small size and mocked him about it for years. Breathing hard, he said, "It's yours. Anytime, anywhere." Lisa shook her head as though to clear it. She paused for a moment to push an errant strand of come into her mouth before adding, "I don't know if I like your tongue more than your cock. Where did you learn how to move it that fast? I've had vibrators that were slower." Sharon laughed as she said, "I know what you mean. It's incredible." Oscar looked across the room at Mike expecting the young man to be sitting up straighter in pride, but the poor guy was still trying to catch his breath. He said, "Oscar, save me." Oscar laughed and said, "When word gets out, you're going to be one busy guy." "So are you," said Sharon recalling how long Oscar had lasted on top of Lisa the previous night. Lisa was nodding her head in agreement. The clock on the wall indicated that it was time for them to go for breakfast. Although it was a Saturday and they hadn't even had a class yet, the day was filled with activities. Each of them had a scheduled appointment with a counselor that morning and one in the afternoon. There were five meetings with their study partners. There was also a mandatory exercise session. Lisa looked up at the clock, sighed at the need to leave, and said, "I guess we ought to get cleaned up and get to breakfast." Stepping into the bathroom was a new experience for Oscar. Last night, he had been alone and hadn't thought about it. Now, half of the showers were being used and a number of the toilets were occupied. There was no privacy in that room. The stalls had half walls. His bowels rumbled letting him know that he needed to go soon. There was no way that he was going to outwait everyone. Selecting an empty stall, he sat down on the toilet. As soon as his ass hit the seat, his dire need to go turned into a bad case of constipation. He looked around and noticed that most of the people sitting on the toilets had the same look on their faces that he was sure was on his. One minute passed without a change in his situation. His wait turned to five minutes and still nothing happened. He started to stand and the need hit him hard. Sitting down again, his constipation returned. The room was quiet as people came in, pissed, showered, brushed teeth, and left. Oscar leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and held his head between his hands. He couldn't believe it. How difficult was it to take dump when you really had to go? He muttered, "This is ridiculous." He looked over at the other students perched on the toilets. One of the students stood up as though to leave. A stomach rumble that echoed across the room returned him to the porcelain throne. Once atop the throne, a look of frustration crossed his face as the embarrassment of shitting in front of others took control of his bowels. Oscar knew exactly how he felt. One of the female students was muttering continuously. Oscar couldn't quite make out what she was saying, but it sounded like, "Pretty girls don't shit in front of an audience." The irony of his situation struck Oscar. He had been led to the service of the God because of a dire need to go to the bathroom, not once but repeatedly. Life was strange. There wasn't even graffiti written on the wall for him to read and pass the time. Sitting there watching the time pass by, the thought about graffiti kept returning to him. He sat up and held out a finger as if he were reading something off the wall. Aloud he said, "Pussy for sale. Call 555-1234. Five dollars or best offer for house-trained gray tabby. Answers to fluffy." One of the guys sitting on the toilet laughed. His laugh was followed by the sounds of a bowel movement. His laughter was joined by the laughter of others. The sudden dispersal of tension allowed his temporary constipation to come to an end. Oscar sagged down on the toilet in relief. Oscar sat in the chair and looked at the Druid behind the desk. She was wearing a green robe with her medallion showing. He didn't recognize this particular person, but that was to be expected. He had been told that the Druid's name was Gail Rosh. The Druid recognized Oscar and said, "I saw your antics in the dining room last night. You are either completely crazy or totally sane." Oscar smiled and said, "I take it that the jury is still out on that one." "Well, your antics turned out to be the topic of conversation for an hour after you left the room," replied the Druid. "I think every student in the room participated in trying to decide your mental state." Eyes narrowing, Oscar realized that Gail didn't know that he was a Druid. The Two-Sided One had removed his medallion and without him wearing it, it was likely that she wouldn't recognize him as a Druid. Sitting back, he decided to have a little fun with the interview. He said, "Well, they were such a sour dour group that someone had to do something. You'd think that some Druid, maybe a head shrink like yourself, would know how to get them to lighten up." Gail frowned at his total lack of intimidation at her being a Druid. Raising an eyebrow, she took in his height and his over confidence before deciding that he suffered from a Napoleonic complex. She picked up the folder with his name on it with the intention of seeing what had motivated them to pick him. Double-checking the name of the folder, she asked, "You are Oscar Meyers?" "Yes, I am." He was half tempted to make a joke of his name, but didn't. She opened the folder finding a single piece of paper within it. There was supposed to be the reports of all the entrance tests and interviews. She frowned and looked at the paper wondering what was going on. After a second, she closed the folder since the paper explained everything that she needed to know. Looking over at Oscar, she said, "You're totally crackers." "Why do you say that?" asked Oscar wondering if the game was up. "You're one of us. Get out of here," said Gail shaking her head at the idea of trying to check the mental health of a fellow Druid. His actions last night were brilliant. She smiled at him and then added, "By the way, that was a great job of breaking the tension last night." Although Oscar had performed a great service to the students the previous night, his fellow students appeared not to respect him very much. None of them realized that he had helped them. They had gone from sitting alone and scared to having a unifying topic of conversation in the matter of one minute. His sprint through the dining room had allowed people to make friends, however fragile those friendships might be, rather than remain isolated. Comments to the effect that he was the class clown followed Oscar. It wasn't said in meanness, only as a judgement about the character of the man. Others might have been hurt by such comments, but Oscar didn't pay attention to what his fellow students said. He didn't see his value in terms of how they saw him. His roommates were actively supporting him, recalling how he had pulled them together as a group. They viewed themselves as the extreme team, even though it was suggested in humor. There were no doubts in their minds that he had helped them and their fellow students. Sharon was having the hardest time, having been his partner in crime, but everyone knew that she hadn't looked nearly as ridiculous as Oscar had. His cock waving around like a compass gone wild had been very funny. His study groups were worried that having him at their table would hold them back. As he approached the first study group that he was to meet, he noticed they were staring at him. One of the women stood and blocked his way to the table. She wanted to have a word with him about what kind of behavior she expected from her study mates. The last thing she wanted was a clown that would disrupt their studies. She said, "I won't tolerate any joking during this study group." Her position put her breasts at eye level and less than a foot away from Oscar. He was left staring at her breasts and there wasn't much he could do about it. The woman seeing where his eyes were locked started to react with anger. Oscar, in what looked like a comic parody of watching a tennis game, turned his head from side to side staring at one breast for a half-second before turning to stare at the other. Irritated, she asked, "What are you doing?" "I'm imitating a metronome. Which reminds me that time is passing and we are not accomplishing anything standing here," answered Oscar as he stepped around her and took his seat. Before she had a chance to seat herself, Oscar said, "I'm Oscar Meyers. Who is everyone else?" Everyone introduced himself or herself by just stating their name. Once that task was over, Oscar said, "Our study group meets immediately after class. I assume that most of us think that is so that we can review the material just covered in class." "Sure, it makes sense," said one of the other members at the table. Shaking his head, Oscar replied, "I don't believe that would be our best strategy for using this time." Susan, the woman that had blocked Oscar, was surprised by his total focus on the task at hand. As she straightened up in her seat, she asked, "Why? "That puts us behind. Anything that we as a group don't understand, we have to wait a day to resolve. Instead, we should be attending the class understanding the material. In class, we can ask questions to refine our understanding," answered Oscar. He knew that it was better to go into a situation ahead of everyone else around him. "So what would we discuss in our study group?" "Good question. We discuss the material for the next class. That way, when we arrive at class, we've already identified the areas that we don't understand and can ask our questions should the lecture not clarify the material for us," replied Oscar. He sat back and examined at his fellow study group members as they considered what he had suggested. "Okay, sounds good to me." The students were nodding in agreement. Oscar, seeing that they had consensus, said, "Our books are available in the supply room. I suggest that we get them today, read them tonight, and then meet to discuss the first chapter tomorrow at the next study group meeting." Susan asked, "Our books are available in the supply room?" "Yes, they are. I suggest that we break now and get the books. We'll meet tomorrow at the scheduled time. Be prepared to discuss the material," answered Oscar. Satisfied that everyone understood what they were to do, he stood and left the table. His eye to breast exchange with his study group member had given him a raging hard-on. He wanted to find one of his roommates to take care of the problem. After Oscar left the table, one of his study mates asked, "Who put him in charge?" Susan said, "I don't know, but he's right." "Yeah and to think I thought he was a clown." The guy looked around the table and then said, "He doesn't even act like his erection bothers him." The exercise room was large, but barely large enough for everyone that was in attendance. Oscar did his best to blend into the crowd. There were three people at the front of the room waiting for everyone to settle down. A tall man, an oriental woman, and a young girl, all of whom were wearing Kung Fu uniforms with black sashes. The man had the insignia of Master Shi Fu, the woman had the insignia of Grandmaster, and the young girl had the insignia of Golden Dragon. He frowned, thinking that it was impossible for them to have achieved those ranks. It was hard to believe that three people from such elite ranks within Kung Fu were gathered in one place. It was impossible for a young girl to have achieved the rank of Golden Dragon. The man shouted, "I am Master David Mark. For the next year, I shall be teaching you the martial arts. Today, we are fortunate to have two guests, Grandmaster Ling Carter and Miss Betsy Carter." The students politely clapped. Oscar shook his head thinking that only a handful of students recognized the talent standing at the front of the room. He watched the young girl and observed how gracefully she moved. Her eyes were moving around the room, flicking from person to person with a barely restrained energy that was unmistakable. She noticed that he was watching her every move and moved over to the other woman. Master David Mark said, "I want everyone that has any martial arts skill of any kind to move up to the front of the room and put on a Gi." Oscar debated about moving forward. It could very easily give away the fact that he was a servant of the God. The decision was made for him. There was no way he could hide his skill from three such talented people. The chance to put clothes on was just as hard to resist. Only six people came to the front of the room. The small number made Oscar more than a little nervous. As they dressed, Master David Mark asked, "What is your training?" Each of the students identified the dojo in which they had trained and the level they had achieved. None of the other students had anything better than a yellow belt. When the man asked Oliver, Oliver had replied that he would only tell Grandmaster Ling Carter believing that she would understand the need for discretion. He walked over to where she stood, but hadn't even reached her when Ling said, "My daughter noticed that you were staring at her. We don't like men staring at young girls. She asked me if she could put you in your place and I have given her permission to do so." Rather than respond immediately, Oscar bowed to Ling. Speaking Mandarin, he said, "Grandmaster Carter. I read the insignia on your daughter's belt. At first, I thought there was no way that a person her age could be a Golden Dragon Learning Elder Sister. I saw by her movement that is she probably higher. Am I wrong?" Raising her eyebrows, Ling looked at the man carefully. She saw the signs that he was highly skilled, but it was hard to say exactly how skilled he was. It was interesting that he chose to speak to her in Mandarin. She noticed that another student had listened to their conversation and appeared to understand what he had said. In Cantonese, she asked, "What is your level of training?" The switch to a different language surprised Oscar, but he answered in Cantonese, "I don't know. Some people earn skill through vigorous training. Others have that skill bestowed upon them. I am in the later category." Betsy, in Cantonese, asked, "Are you claiming service without the medallion around your neck?" Smiling at Betsy, Oscar replied, "Yes. You might ask your father about it later. He knows the truth." Ling turned to David Mark and said, "He has challenged me to a fight and I have accepted. Make the arrangements." Master David Mark stared at Ling and Oscar in surprise. He replied, "I will serve as referee. Betsy can serve as one judge. We are short a judge." This was not the result that Oscar had sought. The goal had been to allow him to keep a low profile. Oscar was amazed when Betsy tore out of the room so fast that it looked as if she disappeared. While she was gone, David announced, "We have a special treat today. Oscar Meyers has challenged Grandmaster Ling and she has accepted his challenge." Oscar tuned out Master Mark out as he went about preparing for the fight. He closed his eyes as the sound of a drumbeat filled his ears, although no one else would hear it. He started moving in time with the drums, his body loosening with each minute that passed. His motions started slow but increased in speed as time went by. Simple steps forward and backwards changed into more complicated spins, rolls, and acrobatics as his body warmed up. Betsy came over and, with a broad grin, said, "Mom is ready for you now. I give you a thirty seconds, no more." With a wink, Oscar said, "I think she can probably last longer than that." Betsy walked away laughing at his joke. She was the only person that ever lasted longer than thirty seconds in a match against her mother. Oscar followed her to the area that had been cleared for the fight. Ed Biggers and Betsy were in the positions of judges. After performing all of the pre-match rituals, the match began. Oscar turned into a whirlwind with punches, kicks, and blocks appearing from nowhere. Ling was a whirling dervish, bone- breaking blows appearing and disappearing at speeds faster than the eye could follow. Master David Mark and Ed Biggers watched the action open-mouthed. There was no way for them to judge what was happening. The action was too fast. Betsy was watching the action with wide eyes and a huge grin on her face. She was seeing all of the action. Each blow and block was obvious to her. This was the best match that she had ever had the opportunity to observe. When the timekeeper stopped the round, she almost cried at the cessation of action. She shouted, "Wow!" Ling and Oscar looked at each other with sweat dripping from their bodies and breathing hard. They had a minute break before the next three minute round. Oscar walked over to one corner of the mat and worked to catch his breath. Betsy was there and said, "That was cool." Master Mark announced, "Students, you have just been privileged to watch the most amazing demonstration of Dragon Style Kung Fu against Brazilian Capoeira. In all of my years of participating and watching fights, I have never seen such an example of skill by a pair of competitors." Oscar decided that the styles they were using required too much energy. He was going to have to try a lower energy style. When the minute rest period was over, he stepped onto the mat and raised his hands to step into the starting position of a style known as Savate, French Boxing. Ling had moved into a position that was clearly from Thai Kick Boxing. Both stared for a half-second at each other before the timekeeper yelled, "Go." The action started slow, but sped up as they tested each other. The fighting styles were interesting counterpoints. The style of one exposed and attacked the weak points of the other. It forced each of them to fight ten times harder than would have been expected. For the observers, the three minutes of the round was exciting, bur Ling and Oscar found it totally exhausting. They were happy to stagger apart when the timekeeper called an end to the round. Breathing far heavier than he thought possible, Oscar spent the minute break trying to catch his breath. The young girl came over practically vibrating with energy. The sight of Betsy was almost enough to depress Oscar. She asked, "Would you like this round to include weapons?" He looked over at Ling and, taking a breath between each word, answered, "Sure. Why not?" She vanished and then returned ten seconds later. In a way, he was glad to be fighting Ling. There was no way that he could have kept up with that kind of energy. She asked, "What weapon would you like to use?" "What does she want to use?" asked Oscar. "Not gonna work that way. She's telling Daddy Ed what she wants use. You tell me what you want to use. We'll bring your weapons at the beginning of the round." Oscar glanced over at Ling and decided that she was the type to request a sword. He'd use a pole since he could use it to force her to keep her distance. He said, "Pole." Betsy burst out in a smile and said, "Great choice. Oh, this is going to be so good." ------- Chapter 3 The blood was pounding in his ears as he struggled to regain consciousness. He could hear Betsy say, "I think they're coming around." He tried to remember what had happened. Ling had picked a pole as her weapon and they were evenly matched. Once the round had begun, the poles had moved fast as lightening, reaching out to invade the space of the opponent. For three minutes, it was swing, thrust, counter-thrust, sweep, block, and parry. The sharp clicks as stick met stick sounded like a Geiger counter in the middle of a nuclear reactor. He had thrust the pole forward and that was the last thing he remembered. She was good, because he never saw her blow coming. He asked, "How did she hit me?" From a few feet away, he heard Ling ask, "How did he hit me?" He opened his eyes and saw Betsy bouncing around in front of him. She was smiling, her eyes flicking from him to Ling lying in a bed next to his. She said, "That was so cool. Wow. Your poles broke and the end of your own pole hit you in the head!" Ed said, "The match was declared a draw. I don't suggest a rematch." Betsy bounced around to the other side of the bed. Once there, she said, "I'm glad you're not a pervert. Momma Ling said that I could hurt you, but I think that would have been pretty tough." He couldn't believe how easily the young girl talked about hurting someone. There was no doubt in his mind that she was telling the truth. Her mother had told her that she could hurt him if he was a pervert. Despite the constant movement of her body, it didn't look like it was tiring her in any fashion. She'd have worn him down and taken him when he didn't have the energy to respond. He replied, "I'm glad I'm not a pervert, too. I think you could have seriously hurt me." Shaking his head, Ed looked over at his daughter and asked, "What did I say about hurting people?" "Well, if he was a pervert it would have been okay to hurt him. Aren't we supposed to protect the weak from the strong?" "Your mother, you, and I need to have a long talk," answered Ed. There were times when he wondered if Ling had too much influence over Betsy. It was tiring Oscar to watch as she bounced around. He looked over the edge of the bed and saw that she had some sort of ring around her ankle with a ball attached to it by a short rope. The ball was swinging around in a wide circle and she was jumping over the rope that ran between the ring and ball with her other foot. At least that explained her bouncing. Frowning, he asked, "Where do you get all of that energy?" "Momma Ling said that I saved it all up while she was pregnant with me and have been letting it loose ever since then," answered Betsy with a smile. Her jumping seemed to double in speed. Oscar glanced down and noticed that she had now had another ring around her other ankle so that she was jumping two balls. Frowning, he said, "I didn't think that was possible." Shaking his head, Ed said, "We consider this standing still for her." "Oh," replied Oscar. The Grand Druid entered the room and said, "I wouldn't call that demonstration back there keeping a low profile. The semester is less than a day old and half of the students are wondering if you are a Druid." "Sorry. I didn't realize that she was going to declare that I had challenged her. I'll admit that the idea of not fighting her never entered my mind," replied Oscar. The truth of his words was obvious. Ling had created the situation and Oscar had gone along with it quite willingly. Ed said, "The damage has been done." The Grand Druid asked, "Ed, would you mind leaving the room? We have to practice lying now and I'd hate to hurt your ears." As Ed left the room, he called back, "Oh the tragedy of modern times. Imagine that, the head of a religion plotting about how to lie. This ought to be rich." The Grand Druid laughed as Ed left the room. Oscar sat up and looked around for a second before he said, "I suggest that we tell everyone that Ling and I are from competing dojos. It is close enough to the truth." Betsy said, "Does that mean I can train with you some time?" After studying her daughter for a minute, Ling said, "He said competing dojos. That's not allowed." "Why?" asked Betsy stamping her foot in frustration. "Because I'm a lousy teacher," answered Oscar. "I've never trained and wouldn't know where to begin training someone else. We each earn our skill in different ways. Ling has earned hers the hard way, through hard work. I earned mine the difficult way, through service to the God. You have to earn yours in the same way as Ling." The answer satisfied Betsy, as she understood about service to the Gods and Goddesses. It pleased Ling since she didn't have to argue with her daughter. Sometimes her daughter was just as stubborn as she was. Oliver actually thought the story of competing dojos was convenient. As far as he was concerned, Oscar could talk about his military service without exposing the fact that he was a Druid. Clapping his hands, he said, "I'm glad that is settled. I assume that everyone has places to go." Oscar stood and looked in a mirror. There was a large round red spot in the middle of his forehead. Ling had a matching spot on her forehead. He turned to her, pointed to his forehead, and said, "First time anyone hit me in a fight. You're good." "I can now say that I've fought my equal," answered Ling with a smile as she pointed to her spot. She added, "Took a God to create it though." Oscar laughed as he started to leave the infirmary. He hadn't taken three steps before Oliver asked, "Aren't you forgetting something?" "What?" "Your clothes. You're not supposed to be wearing any," reminded the Grand Druid. After shedding his Gi, Oscar left the infirmary to head to the next meeting on his itinerary. Checking the time, he groaned as he realized that he had missed one of his study group meetings. It was already lunchtime and he was supposed to meet his roommates for a quick meal before they retired to their room for a little relaxation. Entering the dining room, Oscar was met with applause from his fellow classmates. Looking around, he asked, "What?" People shook their heads at his answer and returned to their meals. Oscar spotted his group in the corner table with relief. It was the same group of people as had been at dinner. He walked over to the table and took his seat. Smiling, he said, "Sorry about being late. My alarm clock didn't manage to penetrate my unconscious state." Lisa said, "That was amazing. I couldn't even see what you were doing, it was so fast." Sharon, looking over at Mark with a large grin, said, "Yeah. You moved almost as fast as Mark's tongue." Laughing at the strange nature of the compliment, Oscar said, "I'm proud to be compared to something that my roommates find so satisfying." Mark blushed at the comments about his abilities at oral sex. He said, "No wonder you are so confident. Anyone that can fight that well never has to worry about what people think of them." The comment struck Oscar as wrong somehow. As he puzzled over it, Abby was trying to learn more about Mark's oral gifts. Lisa was a little more direct in signaling her desire to experience his tongue as her hand moved under the table seeking out his source of pleasure. Mark found the attention flattering, particularly when Lisa claimed ownership of his cock. Oscar interrupted the discussion when he said, "I've been thinking about what you said about not having to worry about what people think of me. That's wrong. Such an attitude would give me permission to do great harm." Greg, sitting across the table from Oscar, said, "You're a lot deeper than you appear." Cole commented, "I think it would make it more difficult to laugh at yourself." Smiling as he thought about his past. Oscar had hated laughing at himself before his service to the God. He was a nerd and a klutz, a combination that made him a walking disaster area. Going through life being called hot dog or bologna had hurt. Oscar replied, "I don't know. My ability to laugh at myself arose about the same time that my skill in the martial arts grew. There is a lot to be said about knowing that you can do something that others can't." The waitress came over to the table and asked, "What do you want to eat?" "The usual," answered Oscar flippantly, realizing that he hadn't even looked at the menu. The waitress looked at Oscar without a clue as to what his usual lunch might be. She asked, "What's that?" "I don't know, but I bet we'll both know it by the end of the year." The waitress laughed at his joke and asked, "Seriously, what do you want?" While reaching for the menu to see what they had, he quipped, "I'd really like a T-bone steak cooked medium rare with a baked potato on the side." "Okay," answered the waitress as she wrote down the order. She asked, "What do you want to drink?" Surprised that she didn't think he was joking, he answered, "Iced tea." The waitress asked, "Anything else?" "Ah, no," answered Oscar as he opened the menu and started examining it. The waitress left to put in his order while he was still flipping though the pages of the menu looking at all of the meals that he could order. He was surprised to see that his order was on the menu. Looking up at his companions, he said, "I didn't even know that was on the menu." Mark burst out laughing. He said, "It took me ten minutes to order my meal. I hadn't even gotten past the third page when I decided that I had better say something." Sharon said, "I can't get used to looking at a menu that doesn't have any prices. I've always used the price to pick what I was going to eat." Wondering if Sharon was a gold digger, Lisa asked, "The highest price?" "I wish," answered Sharon realizing that without clothes to proclaim wealth or poverty, it was hard to tell the economic background of a person. She sighed as she said, "My family is dirt poor. There was no way that my parents could pay for college. They hoped I could get a basketball scholarship, but I just wasn't good enough. Being tall isn't enough to be a competitive athlete." As they chatted, an argument broke out at a nearby table. Oscar looked up to see what was the problem, but a Druid was already at the table. He listened as the Druid explained why both parties were in the wrong. As peace settled in the room, Abby said, "They are pretty serious about those rules. I was getting upset earlier and one of the Druids came over to me. She explained that while I might do things differently than the other person, I had no right to try to force them into doing it my way. So long as it was harming no one, the other person was free to do what ever they wanted." Gabby shook her head and said, "I just don't buy that. There are right ways to do things and wrong ways to do them." Even though he knew the answer to his question, Oscar asked, "What makes a way to do something the wrong way?" "If the way is inefficient, I suppose," answered Gabby suddenly unsure of her conviction about right ways and wrong ways. "Whose problem is it if it is inefficient?" asked Oscar with a wry smile. Gabby frowned at the question and didn't know how to answer. Finally, she said, "You sound just like one of those Druids." "I think I have been insulted," replied Oscar with a laugh. His steak arrived and he looked it over. It was a magnificent cut of meat and cooked to perfection. He dug into his meal thinking that it was only lunchtime and he was already tired. Grinning, he looked up and said, "This steak is good. Definitely not grilled bologna." Listening to the conversation around the table, Oscar ate his lunch. The red spot in the center of his forehead continued to hurt. He knew that he would have a bruise later that day and it would be an ugly one. Hopefully it would be cleared up before he met Georgia the next weekend. Finishing his steak, he pushed his plate away and sat back in his chair. He looked across the dining room seeing that it was littered with little points of tension as students reacted to the pressures of being in an unusual environment under surreal circumstances. Looking down at his cock, he knew that the sexual tension in the room contributed significantly to the edginess of his fellow students. In fact, he realized that every thing about the environment was intended to produce conflict. A group of students approached the table and stopped. One of the guys said, "Oscar Meyers?" Oscar looked at the group wondering what they wanted with him. He replied, "Yes, I'm Oscar." "We are your eleven o'clock study group," replied one of the women. Oscar apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to miss the meeting." "Don't worry. We saw you get knocked out," replied the guy with a shake of his head. He had watched the fight amazed at how fast the action had been. The study group meeting earlier had been spent talking about the fight rather than the fact that it was supposed to be a study group. He added, "That was some fight." "In fact, all we could talk about was the fight. That was pretty amazing," remarked the woman. Oscar looked at her for a second and his cock reacted by immediately filling with blood. She had long flaming red hair, pale skin with light freckles, and a feminine body that had curves in all the right places. At least he was sitting and she couldn't see that his erection was a result of seeing her. Looking at his roommates, Oscar said, "If you will excuse me, I should meet with my study group." Oscar left with his study group and sat at another one of the tables. They talked about how they should arrange their study activities. They listened to his suggestions on how to use the study time together with far more respect than his first study group. It appeared that his bout with Ling had changed public opinion. He was no longer viewed as being the class clown. It didn't take long for them to see the wisdom of Oscar's strategy for the study group to cover new material rather than review the material. Throughout the discussion, Oscar's cock just kept getting harder and harder each time he looked at the redhead. At least she didn't notice the effect she was having on him. For the moment, there was nothing odd about a male student walking around with an erection. When the group left, Oscar went over to the table and whispered to Lisa, "Can we slip out to the dorm room?" Lisa looked down at his erection and smiled. In a voice that carried across the whole table, she said, "We can't get back into the room now." "Pardon?" Cole said, "We found out after the fight that the dorms are locked during the day except for fifteen minutes before class. Apparently they want us walking around erect all day." Rather than reply with the first thought that entered his mind, Oscar considered why the school was set up that way. He asked, "Do you think they want us to learn how to help each other with our sexual tensions?" Gabby asked, "What?" "Maybe it is a chance for us to see each other as beings with sexual needs. If you were to line up all of the men in this room, you'd find that most of us are pointing north like a store full of compasses. I have no idea how many of the women in this room are damp between the legs. I'm not even going to guess," answered Oscar as he looked around the room. There were a lot of stiff nipples in the room. Greg was silent as he thought about what Oscar had said. The little guy was standing next to Lisa with his cock pointing straight up in the air as if he didn't have a care in the world. He asked, "And your point is?" "That we are to learn that sex is purely natural and doesn't have to be hidden away. Perhaps we are supposed to recognize that others have the same desires and needs as we do. It might even be that they want us to learn how to help each other." Gabby said, "I still don't get it." Oscar looked at Gabby for a moment before asked, "Assume for the moment that you and I wanted to have sex with each other. Who would it harm if we were to have sex, right here and now?" Gabby started at Oscar in disbelief that he could even suggest having sex in public. Stuttering, she tried to come up with a coherent answer, but all she could do was come out with a number of one-word starts. In a teasing tone of voice, Sharon said, "I ran naked out of here last night. You're not going to rope me into being the first that performs in front of everyone else." Oscar laughed and returned to his seat. As he seated himself, a depressed Lisa said, "I couldn't do it. At least, I couldn't be the first. I know that everyone would think that the fat girl was so desperate that she would do it in front of everyone just to have a chance to do it." Gabby said, "There's no way I would have sex in public. I don't even like kissing in public." As all eyes turned to look at Abby, she looked down at the table knowing that they wanted to know what she thought. She had watched her two male roommates masturbate the previous night when they thought they wouldn't be observed. It had excited her, but she had been too inhibited to relieve herself. At the moment, she was so horny that she would have climbed on the table with Oscar with only the smallest fight, but there was no way she was going to admit it. Instead, she said, "I don't know. I can understand being so horny that you don't care if people see you. I'm not sure who would be harmed by it. I guess I would want to talk to one of the Druids about it before I did it." Gabby was shocked by the answer and stared at Abby. Indignant, she accused, "You mean you would consider it? Are you some kind of slut?" Even before he could think about it, Oscar had sat up and said, "Hold it. I won't tolerate that kind of accusation around me. She was discussing the same question as all of us. Her statement was a very well considered answer. If you happen to disagree with her, then I suggest that you address her answer, but don't attack her character." Abby appreciated the support from Oscar. The words of her roommate had stung far more than she let on. She smiled at Oscar to thank him for his defense of her and promised herself that she would thank him personally for standing up for her one day. She might not want to be the first to have public sex, but being third or fourth wouldn't be that big of a deal. Looking around the table, Lisa said, "I don't think anyone would be hurt by it. Abby is right. I just said that I wouldn't be the first to do it because I'd be hurt by comments like what Gabby just said." Having been teased about being tall ever since she had her early teenage growth spurt, Sharon replied, "The only harm I can predict that would result would be statements like what you just said. Calling people names is an easy way to hurt someone, particularly when they are feeling vulnerable." Cole remarked, "All I know is that I'm so horny that I'm about to take matters in my own hand." Gabby frowned and looked over at Cole as if he had just announced that he was going to go to the bathroom on the table. She said, "Oh gross. Not at the table, I'm trying to enjoy my coffee." A little irritated at Gabby's attitude, Greg said, "I've taken two showers today. Seems that my cock keeps getting very dirty and I have to thoroughly wash it. I'm ready for a third shower already." About to tell her two male roommates to keep it in their pants, Gabby realized the truth of the situation. They didn't have pants to keep it in and that looking at all of the naked women around them must have been torture. Boys didn't have the restrictions against being sexual that women had. In a rare moment of self-honesty, she accepted that she was horny as well. Shrugging off her own desires, she said, "Go and take your showers." Greg was half tempted to get up and head towards the showers, but his irritation with Gabby was growing. He leaned back and put his hand on his cock in a manner that suggested he was about to start jacking off. With a smile on his face, he asked, "What would you think if I told you that I fantasized about you on your knees giving me a blowjob when I took my first shower this morning?" Looking down at his cock, she swore he was going to start masturbating right at the table. She started to rise, but froze when Greg asked, "What would you think if I told you that I imagined making it with you doggy style when I relieved myself during my second shower?" A bright blush appeared on her face at the idea that Greg had been using her as fantasy material. She sat down in the chair with far less grace than she had intended. Her skin heated even more when she realized that everyone was looking at her. She glanced at his cock, seeing that he still had his hand wrapped around the shaft. Greg smiled and said, "What would you say if I told you that when I go take my next shower, I'm going to imagine that you are on the floor with your legs spread wide as you masturbate yourself? Yes, that would be a perfectly delectable image. I might even imagine you begging me to take you on the shower floor." "You didn't. You wouldn't." Gabby was shocked at what he was saying. She was a good girl and good girls weren't supposed to be the subject of sexual fantasy. Good girls weren't supposed to have sexual fantasies. The problem was that she had sexual fantasies and his words had ignited a fire between her legs. She kept thinking to herself, 'Good girls don't fantasize. Good girls don't want sex. I'm a good girl.' Greg wasn't the only one that had used the showers that morning to relieve his inner tensions. Half the guys in the dining room had done that and, if Cole wasn't mistaken, so had half the women. Cole said, "I had that fantasy this morning. When I came, I imagined that my come covered her body. It was quite exciting." 'Good girls don't fantasize. Good girls don't want sex. I'm a good girl, ' thought Gabby trying not to let their fantasies inflame any desire on her part. She asked, "Do you think I'm some kind of slut or something that you can fantasize about me?" Mark had been trying very hard to stay out of the conversation. He knew that the first time he said anything about sex, that Gabby would let loose with a cutting remark about the size of his cock. She was the type that would do that. Now he could hold back and said, "Gabby, you're an attractive woman. Men fantasize about attractive women." His cock had been hard for too long and it was beginning to get painful. All of the fantasy talk was about to drive Oscar crazy. He noticed a green robed Druid walking past and recognized her from the infirmary. She had been working in the background when Oliver and he had their discussion. He made a gesture to get her attention. She looked at him for a minute and then stepped over to the table. Curious as to why he had requested her, she asked, "Can I help you?" "I'm Oscar Meyers," said Oscar introducing himself. "I'm Laura Brockmire," replied the Druid with a smile. In a gesture that included everyone at the table, Oscar said, "We were discussing having sex here where everyone could see us. A couple of questions came up that I thought you might help us answer." Smiling at the topic, Laura asked, "What would like you to know?" "Would it harm anyone if we had sex right here, right now?" asked Oscar as everyone at the table leaned forward to hear the answer. "Are you talking about you and I having sex?" asked Laura with a smile. She liked the feisty Druid. "Sure, you're attractive and I'm irresistible. The question is would it harm anyone?" Oscar grinned at Laura and wriggled his eyebrows to let her know that he wasn't serious. "Nope. Wouldn't harm anyone. In fact, it might do a lot of folks some good," answered Laura. "So no one would complain?" asked Oliver looking at Gabby as he asked the question. "Oh, some of your fellow students would complain, but I'd just ignore them. If it harms none, then do it. It's not my problem if they have a problem with my actions. No one would be hurt," replied Laura with a smile. Gabby gasped, "You're kidding?" "Nope. So Oscar Meyers, are you ready to do it here and now?" asked Laura. Oscar stood up showing his readiness to do it right then and there. With a smile, he answered, "You bet I am." Reaching up, Laura removed her robe in one easy movement. Cole had the sense of mind to start clearing the table. Greg, on seeing Cole at work, immediately began to help him move dishes out of the way. With the table clear, Laura turned and sat on the edge spreading her legs as she got comfortable. Gabby covered her mouth with her hands; her wide eyes watching the Druid strip at the table. She said, "My God! They're going to do it right here!" Every eye in the room turned at the announcement in time to watch Oscar step between her legs and start to kiss Laura. He began at her neck and worked his way to her lips. She relaxed into his arms enjoying the pleasure that he was giving her. When he broke off, she said, "My breasts are aching to be kissed." Not being a fool, Oscar turned his attention to her breasts. The nipples were stiff with excitement and anticipation, walking around the nude students had affected her as much as the students. She leaned back as his kisses increased her desire for pleasure. When she was flat on her back, Oscar moved between her legs. He spread her nether lips and traced her passage with his tongue. She groaned in response and released her sweet fluids that Oscar eagerly lapped up. As Oscar worked over Laura's pussy with his tongue, the other students in the room were watching the action frozen in place. Greg's hand started stroking his cock with a mind of its own. Abby, Lisa, Sharon, Mark, and Cole soon followed his example. The men barely lasted fifteen seconds before they were shooting come all over their hands and stomachs. Gabby had a front row seat, finding herself in a position to watch everything. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight in front of her. Laura's cunt was less than two feet away and she could see Oscar's tongue flicking over the clitoris as the Druid screamed out her first orgasm. Gabby's hands tightened on the arms of the chair, but the rest of her was still frozen in place. Oscar stood and slipped his cock into the steamy cunt in front of him. He entered easily, since her juices had lubricated her passage in anticipation of his entry. His thrusts were insistent, as too much time had been spent erect for him to want anything other than release. With fast hard strokes he pounded into her. Gabby stared at the cock piston in and out of the cunt in front of her. This was her first her first up-close real-life experience with seeing the sexual act in all its glory. Having sex one time with the quarterback of the high school football team in the back of his car didn't constitute seeing the sexual act. The aroma of excitement nearly bowled her over. The sounds of coupling, in the form of grunts and groans, rang in her ears. The sight of the woman's pussy lips grasping after his cock when he pulled it back was etched into her brain. Gabby started shaking as her body took control. Her breasts ached and her cunt felt like it was on fire. She needed relief and her body would deliver it to her regardless of what her mind said. Her hands, moving of their own accord, rose to her breasts. She grabbed her nipples, squeezed them as hard as she could, and then screamed as an orgasm washed over her. Oscar came in Laura, his need finally getting the satisfaction it desired. He grunted as he spilled his seed in four jets, each at the end of a thrust. He stepped back trying to keep his balance as his legs threatened to collapse from beneath him. Breathing heavily, he extended a hand to Laura and said, "Thank you, very much." "Thank you," replied the Druid. The episode had taken the tension from her body as well. The entire dining room smelled of sex. The males were wiping their hands, stomachs, and chairs to remove their come. The females were busy wiping their fluids from between their legs. Orgasms, born of pent up frustration, had spread across the room like a tidal wave. Gabby watched as Oscar's cock pulled out of Laura's cunt. His sperm, mixed with her juices, ran out between her legs to puddle on the table underneath her body. Gabby watched transfixed by the sight. Taking a napkin, Oscar helped Laura clean up after their tryst. It was only after the mess had been cleaned that Gabby looked away from the scene. Smiling at Oscar, Laura said, "I don't know who needed that the most. You or I." Oscar laughed and replied, "I don't know who needed it the most. Us or everyone else." Devastated by what she had seen, Gabby stared at the table. Despite her orgasm, she was even hornier than before and she couldn't deny it. Near tears, she said, "I guess I'm not a good girl after all." Laura slipped on her robe and bent down next to Gabby. With the gentleness in her voice that one uses with the severely injured, she said, "Come with me. You need to talk to someone." ------- Chapter 4 Oscar had settled into the routine of the school before the end of the first week. His roommates had come to a very strange settlement concerning sexual relief. He couldn't complain since his need for release was satisfied as frequently as he wanted. The problem was that he missed Georgia and could hardly wait for the weekend to arrive. Looking down at her sleeping form, Oscar considered Sharon's sexuality. She enjoyed exchanging oral pleasures with Mark in the morning and enjoyed having intercourse with Oscar immediately afterwards. During the day, she made sure to experience a different man with each tryst. In the evening, she was usually too tired for sex. She was searching for something, but Oscar didn't know what it was she wanted. Across the room, Lisa was sleeping without her covers. She was basically exclusive with Mark. It seemed to Oscar that she lived to suck Mark's cock and to have him eat her out. She claimed to enjoy oral sex the most, but she came the loudest when Mark and her had intercourse. The most puzzling thing about Lisa was that she had a tremendous voyeuristic streak in her. If anyone was doing anything in public, Lisa was sure to be watching. Despite his small cock, the happiest of the four roommates was Mark. The word quickly spread among the female students that he had a very talented tongue. He was very popular among the ladies and was having a more active sex life than he could have ever imagined. Any woman that asked him was immediately serviced. It was getting to the point where his studies were suffering. Oscar slipped out of the room and wandered down the hall to the bathroom. He stopped in front of the mirror and examined his reflection. His skin was already losing the ruddy color that months in the desert have given it. He needed a haircut and realized that he hadn't asked about that aspect of life on campus. Looking at the reflection, he decided that it might be time to grow his hair out a little to look more like a scholar than a soldier might. He laughed and said, "Private Foo, time for you to disappear." He turned to find that Gabby was watching him. She asked, "Private Foo?" "That was my nickname in the army. I'm afraid that it was well deserved at the time," answered Oscar. "You make it seem so easy fitting in here. I'm not doing that well," said Gabby with a frown. She turned so that he couldn't see her face. That the woman was in pain was obvious. What wasn't obvious was the reason for her pain. Oscar felt the tug of the medallion even though it wasn't around his neck. Taking his time, he washed his face trying to figure out what to say. He dried his face before he asked, "Would you mind taking a little walk with me?" "Where to?" "How about the library? We can sit and talk there for a bit," answered Oscar. "What do you want to talk about?" "About fitting in," answered Oscar. He walked over to her and took her by the arm. With slow steps, he led her away towards the library. As they walked, Oscar talked. "I was a soldier stationed in Afghanistan back when the fighting was really heavy there. My unit was chasing the bad guys around in the mountain areas. At the time, I wasn't the best of soldiers. Most of the fellows in my unit didn't really want to be around me." Gabby said, "I find that hard to believe. You're so confident." "Believe it. Anyway, one day I found myself alone and facing a bunch of terrorists in the middle of nowhere. Bullets were flying everywhere and I was convinced that I was going to die. I have to admit that I was pretty scared. So scared that I ran away. It was the smartest thing I could have done. I got away." Oscar walked along continuing to guide her towards the library. She was listening to him and thinking about what he said. She couldn't imagine being in his place. After surviving that, life here must be pretty easy. She asked, "How did you get away?" "I ran as fast as I could," replied Oscar. He wasn't going to tell her that the God intervened on his behalf. Oliver had told him not to reveal that to the students and he wanted to honor that request. His days avoiding capture and then spent hunting down terrorists weren't important elements of the story. The key point that he wanted to make was about the loneliness. "Must have run pretty fast." "Yes," he said, "I did run pretty fast. The point is that during that time I came to know who and what I was. A few days alone and on your own in a hostile environment requires that you come to admit your limitations." Gabby walked beside Oscar and at a gesture from him, sat in a chair. She looked around and only then realized that they were in the library. She said, "I'm going to quit." "Quit? Why would you quit?" asked Oscar surprised at the news. With only a few exceptions, most of the students had gotten used to their nudity. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes as emotions started to take control. She said, "I want to be a good girl and I think this is a very tough place to be good." "Ah, you want to be a good girl," echoed Oscar. He sat back in his chair and contemplated what that might mean. For the first time, he actually thought about what people meant by good and bad when it came to judging a person's character. He had fought terrorists and clearly they were bad people. Most people that he encountered were good. There weren't many saints or demons among the general population. "Yes, I want to be a good girl," stated Gabby as if it was obvious what that meant. It was easy to see that she was upset and that being a good girl meant something specific to her. The problem was that Oscar had no clue what she meant by it. He asked, "What does it mean to be a good girl?" "A good girl does not walk around naked all day long. She does not think about sex all day long. She does not..." Oscar held up a hand interrupting her and said, "You are defining a good girl in terms of what she doesn't do. I see what you are getting at and I agree that according to such a view it is impossible to be a good girl here." "So you think I'm doing the right thing by leaving?" Oscar emitted a bark of laughter at the question. He shook his head in dismay at her need to get permission to do what she wanted. He wondered if somewhere in her set of rules there was one that said, 'Good girls don't make decisions for themselves.' He answered, "I don't know. I will tell you a few things that I do know." "What?" "There are two ways to live your life. One is to accept a lot of 'thou shalt nots' and live life trying to figure out if what you want to do violates one of them. The alternative is to accept a couple of 'thou shalts' and live your life trying to figure out if what you want to do is one of them. Even though the basic results are the same, I prefer the latter approach to life. That is probably why I find it so easy to get along here." His comment was met with silence while Gabby tried to understand the distinctions. She had wanted him to say go ahead and leave or stay. She asked, "Everyone does that to me. I ask a question and then nobody gives me an answer. Why don't you just tell me what I'm supposed to do?" Holding his hands, palm side up, Oscar stared at them as though in wonder. In a voice of awe, he said, "What power she gives me over her life. On one hand, I can intentionally give her bad advice and ruin her life forever. I can crush her future so that she ends up a hooker standing under a street lamp flagging down cars to earn a living by giving fifty-dollar blowjobs." Gabby stared open mouthed at Oscar as he continued, "On the other hand, I can give her what I think is good advice. Will that assure that she will end up being happy? No, it does not. She could end up deliriously happy with her life and that would be the best that could happen. She could end up dying in some gutter from a drug overdose." He paused to give his next statements a dramatic quality. "The responsibility that comes with that power is frightening, but the question is, 'Am I up to it?' I fear the answer is no, I am not." To hear him describe what she had requested in that fashion was shocking. She asserted, "I didn't give you that kind of power over me." "Alas, you did. You wanted me to tell you what to do. If that isn't giving me power over your life, I don't know what it is," countered Oscar. "So how am I to decide?" "May I ask you a few questions first?" Biting her lip, Gabby nodded. She feared what he would ask, believing that he would want to know too much about her. She just wished he would tell her to quit so that she could withdraw from the school with a clear conscience. "You said that a good girl does not walk around naked all day. Are there any exceptions to that rule?" Frowning at the idea that a good girl would ever walk around in public naked, she answered, "No. Of course not." "So if you have a horrible full body rash and the doctor requires that you allow it to breath, you would be a bad girl if you followed the doctors instructions?" Even as he asked, he knew it was a weak situation. It was the best that he could come up with at the moment. Snorting, Gabby replied, "Like that is ever going to happen." "How about in the girls changing room in the gym?" asked Oscar. "Well, that's okay. You just can't act too proud of your body or look at the others too intensely." "Why is that okay?" "Because there are no men there." Oscar nodded at the logic. Then he asked, "What about on your honeymoon? Can you walk around naked in front of your husband?" "Sure, I guess." Oscar said, "I think that we can come up with example after example where nudity to some degree is okay. My point is that the simple prohibitive rule has lots of exceptions." She nodded her agreement and said, "Sure, I'll buy that." "Are you sure that you know all of the exceptions?" asked Oscar holding a single finger in the air to let her know that he was making a serious point. The question came out of the blue. If there were exceptions to the rules, then what were they? She knew a few of them, but did she know all of them? To claim that she did would be a lie. After struggling for a minute, she finally said, "No, I'm not sure. There may be exceptions that I don't know about." "You mean, it might be an exception that if everyone else is naked then a good girl could be naked as well." "I guess." "See, there you go. You can walk around naked and still be a good girl," declared Oscar. After a moment, he said, "Of course, it is a lot easier to ask if anyone is actually harmed by it. Since no one is harmed by what I wear or don't wear, then I know the answer a lot quicker." Oscar sat back in his chair and watched as Gabby processed what he had said. The expressions flashing across her face ranged from despair to hope and back again. He knew that a colossal interior argument was waging beneath the surface of her fair face. It was all so confusing to her. How could one know how to act without someone else telling you all the rules? If she did what he was suggesting, that would make her responsible for determining what was right and wrong. The fact was that she had never had to shoulder real responsibility of that magnitude. Her whole life had been spent following the rules. If school started at eight, you showed up at eight. That was just what you did. There wasn't any need to think about right and wrong. She sighed and then said, "You are saying that I am responsible for deciding what is right and wrong." "Not really." "Huh?" asked Gabby surprised by his answer. "Right and wrong is pretty well decided for you. Two rules define right. If it harms none, then do it. Protect the weak from the strong. No, you are responsible for making sure that your actions are right. There's a big difference." The present would have been a good time to introduce a pregnant pause by taking a sip of coffee. Unfortunately, they were in the library and there wasn't any coffee around. Oscar would just have to wait for her to come to a conclusion. From the other seat, a timid voice asked, "What about the sex stuff?" It was very tempting to give a flippant answer, but that would be wrong. He asked, "What about it?" "I was always told that good girls don't think about sex." "What a horrible thing to tell someone," replied Oscar with real outrage in his voice. The idea that someone should impose a rule on another to try to limit his or her thoughts was disgusting. Such an act constituted the worst crime that one could commit. "Huh?" "Everyone thinks about sex. It is a biological function that is an integral part of being human. Being a good girl requires that you first be a good human. You can deny that you think about sex, that you have strong sexual urges, and that you give into those urges, but it doesn't change the fact that you are denying an essential part of being human. What a horrible thing to do to a person; telling them to live a lie. Talk about harming someone," answered Oscar shaking his head in disgust. "I don't get it. You're telling me that everything that I believe in is wrong," charged Gabby. "One way of controlling people around you is to place prohibitions on them. It gives you leverage over them when they violate one of those prohibitions. When you adopt the two rules, those prohibitions vanish. The good prohibitions are preserved only because they obey those two rules. People can't control you for their purposes," replied Oscar. The idea that people were telling her rules so that they could control her bothered Gabby. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She remembered when her mother caught her pleasuring herself as a young girl. Her mother had punished her, saying that she would turn into one of those bad girls. She had pleaded that she wanted to be a good girl. Gabby realized that it wasn't the act of pleasuring herself that was wrong. The projected consequences of the act are what had bothered her mother so much. If she enjoyed sex, then she would have sex with a boy. Having sex would result in her getting pregnant and that would ruin her life. A rule had been laid down without context or explanation. She had obeyed that rule for almost a decade without question. The realization made her question the other rules that she blindly followed. How many little rules were there in her life? Good girls didn't do this. Good girls didn't do that. Good girls don't eat much because boys don't like fat girls. How many times had she looked down at girls with weight problems because they couldn't possibly be good girls? Good girls don't eat much. She glanced down at Oscar's penis as she thought about the other rules that had dominated her life. Just looking at it reminded her of when he had been having sex with the Druid woman on the table in front of her. The sight had excited her more than she had been willing to admit. The penis withdrawing from the vagina with the vaginal lips stretching out as if they were pulling him back into her was etched in her memory. Mentally she chose different terms. He had a cock and Laura had a cunt. It was her pussy lips that grabbed the cock. Just thinking of it in those terms excited her. She could feel her body reacting to the memory. Rather than trying to shut it off, she accepted what her body was feeling. Her nipples grew rigid and the juices flowed. When guilt tried to raise its ugly head, she beat it down with a vengeance. She knew what she wanted to do next and it wasn't to leave the college. Oscar leaned forward and touched her on the arm. When she looked at him, he said, "Go to Cole. He wants you so much. I think if you think about it, you know that you want him too." Gabby stood and said, "Thanks, Oscar. You're a dear man and have been a lot of help." "You're welcome, Gabby. Enjoy yourself," replied Oscar. As he watched her walk away, his cock grew erect. For the first time since he had met her, she actually had a feminine sway to her hips. When she stopped at the exit of the library and looked back it him, it was an incredibly sexy smile that she sent his way. Once she was gone, he looked down at his cock and wished that he had a chance to get relief. He was surprised by the sound of clapping behind him. He turned and found Oliver standing a few feet away with a smile on his face. The Grand Druid in his brown robe looked very pleased with what he had seen. He had watched as a lot of black over the young woman's heart disappeared as a result of her conversation with Oscar. "You handled that very well," said Oliver, "I thought that we were going to lose her." That had been very possible and Oscar knew it. He wondered if there were any other students that could have given her the advice that he had. After a moment, he decided not. He replied, "If she had approached another student, you would have." "I imagine you're right," replied the Grand Druid. As the Grand Druid turned to leave, Oscar mentioned, "You might see if there is a female student that is into women. I have a feeling that Gabby feels a need to experiment." "I'll do that," replied Oliver as he left to return to his other duties. Oscar left the library. Checking his watch, he saw that he had less than forty minutes to eat and get ready for class. He wondered if he really needed to attend today since the material was very basic. The problem with even contemplating skipping class was that the Druid teaching the course managed to draw deep interpretations to simple concepts. The entire first day of class had been devoted to the number zero. Just the previous day, they had covered subtraction. In the course of a single hour, the teacher had managed to present subtraction in four different ways, each of which was based on fundamentally different concepts. It was fascinating to learn that things he considered simple were far more complex than had ever imagined. Following his erection, he headed to the dining room. Other students greeted him along the way and exchanged the normal morning pleasantries. More than one female had offered to take care of his erection, but Oscar had declined knowing that hunger would haunt him longer through class than his erection. At the dinner room, he spotted his roommates at the table eating their breakfasts. As he sat down to join them, he said, "Sorry about missing the morning activities. I was up early and went to the bathroom. Ran into someone and ended up talking for an hour." "No problem," replied Sharon, "Mark was more than happy to take care of both of us." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "Mark might want to take it easy. His extra-curricular activities are already affecting his grades." Mark didn't answer, but continued to eat his eggs. He knew that the comment by Oscar was correct, but how could someone who was a virgin a week earlier pass by the chance to have sex with as many women as possible. What was the harm in that if they were willing? He didn't bother to ask the question aloud since he knew the answer. He was harmed by it. Frowning, he knew that he'd follow the advice. Lisa said, "Gabby came here, grabbed Cole, and left without saying a word. Any idea what's up with her?" "I suppose she'll tell us when she's ready to tell us," answered Oscar looking around to get the attention of one the waitresses. Abby commented, "I hope she gets laid. Sometimes I feel that she looks down at me because I've been sleeping with Greg. I'm a woman. I have needs. That doesn't take me a bad person." "Look around the dining room for a minute. There are over a hundred people here, each with their own definition of right and wrong. The Druids are replacing them with a common unifying definition of right," commented Sharon. An argument broke out at another table. Oscar glanced over in the direction of the argument and shook his head. It was obvious that two people had placed unrealistic expectations on each other and now were hurt by it. He looked at the faces of his dining companions and saw that each emphasized with different parties in the argument. They would listen to the Druid resolve the problem and would learn a little something from it. Oscar finally caught the attention of a waitress and watched as she maneuvered around the argument to reach their table. She asked, "What will you have?" "Cereal, toast, and coffee," answered Oscar. It was the fastest breakfast possible and he would just have time to eat it before he had to leave for class. "Good choice. You don't have much time," replied the waitress as she left the table. Oscar glanced over at Lisa and noticed that she was watching someone with her complete attention. He followed her eyes and saw a couple having sex. She was watching the action, unable to take her eyes off of it. He shook his head wondering what motivated her fascination with watching others having sex. Sharon noticed Oscar observing Lisa and said, "She should just do it." "Do what?" asked Oscar confused by the statement. "Ask a woman to have sex with her," replied Sharon as though the answer was obvious. Greg, Oscar, and Mark all turned to look at Sharon. Each was wondering on what evidence she based her comment. Lisa didn't even turn to listen, she was too focused on the action across the room. "Why do you say that?" asked Oscar. "Gee, look at which one of the couple she's watching. It ain't the guy. I know, she's watched me often enough in the morning," replied Sharon without rancor. Sharon watched Lisa watching the couple. Not for the first time did she entertain the idea of having sex with Lisa. It wasn't that she was really all that attracted to women, it was just to see what it was like and discover if Lisa was actually a Lesbian. The problem was that she wasn't attracted to Lisa. If it had been Gabby or Abby, she would have experimented with either of them already. The waitress delivered breakfast to Oscar. He turned his attention to it after glancing at the clock. There wasn't much time before he had to swing by the room to get his books. He started eating and ignored the conversation around him. When the action across the dining room ended, Lisa turned to Sharon and said, "I've been losing weight here, but I haven't been dieting. What about you?" "I've been gaining weight," replied the tall woman, "but that is to be expected. I get a lot more variety of food here than at home. I've been eating a lot more." "Oh," replied Lisa as she looked down at her empty plate. Mark said, "You're losing weight because of the physical training every day." Shaking his head, Greg said, "No. The serving sizes are smaller here and you eat more frequently. The body gets used to a constant intake of food and operates more efficiently. Those that are overweight, start to loose it. Those that are underweight, start to gain weight." "Well, I wish that some of that weight would go to my boobs," commented Sharon while looking down at her chest. "Why? I like your breasts. They're so sensitive," commented Mark. "They're too flat," replied Sharon. Mark and Sharon had that argument almost every day. The more comfortable that Mark became with his body, the more Sharon complained about her body. The fact was that it wasn't her body that was bothering her. Sharon looked off into the distance thinking about her hunger for something that was driving her. She couldn't put her finger on what she hungered for, but she knew it was there. It was driving her to try two or three different men every day. That didn't satisfy her hunger. Oscar finished his breakfast and looked up at the clock. He had five minutes before he had to leave. He commented, "I'm ready for another day of school to begin." Lisa smiled as she teased, "You're just looking forward to seeing the redhead again." Unaware that his interest in Debbie, the redhead in one of his study groups, had been that obvious, he asked, "What do you mean?" "Your redhead in the second study group," commented Mark, as though it was common knowledge that Oscar had more than a little interest in the redheaded woman. "Huh?" "Your cock heads straight up when ever you see her," added Sharon. Lisa added, "You even get to the study group early so that she won't see your reaction to her presence. Everyone around here knows that you want to bed her." "Except for her," commented Greg shaking his head at her obliviousness to Oscar's attraction to her. He wondered how she could possibly miss it. Oscar was stunned that his interest was that obvious. It dawned on him that every time he had left the study group he had searched out Lisa or Sharon to relieve his need. It embarrassed him that they had noticed. The problem was that the one person that was always on his mind was Georgia. He missed her every minute of the day. He felt guilty because his body reacted to Debbie. Even worse, he knew that if Georgia were standing next to him, his cock would stand up and take notice if Debbie entered the room. Oscar said, "I don't know why, but my body reacts to her." "What do you mean? Don't you find her attractive?" Shrugging, Oscar said, "Sure. I find a lot of the women in here attractive, but one minute around her and the little fellow between my legs is standing up and saluting." "So ask her to sleep with you," suggested Sharon with the kind of off-handed manner that suggested that she was totally at ease in requesting sex from anyone that interested her. The fact of the matter was that she was that she was asking for sex from anyone that interested her. Oscar was terrified that sleeping with Debbie would lead to a disaster in which he might lose Georgia. He was already conflicted about the reaction of his body to Debbie due to his feelings towards Georgia. He loved Georgia with his whole heart, but his body lusted after Debbie. That was a recipe for trouble if he ever knew it. He shook his head. "There's someone else, isn't there?" asked Lisa. Sometimes Lisa was far more perceptive than others gave her credit. Oscar wondered if that was why she was pulling away from him, preferring to be with Mark during the morning activities. Rather than answer, Oscar said, "Better get ready for class." With far more speed than intended, Oscar rushed away from the table. He needed to stop by the dorm, pick up his books for the morning and then get to class. The day was not starting on a good note. At least he had been able to help Gabby with her problem. There wasn't anyone for him to turn to for his problem. After he left the table, Sharon commented, "He has it bad for someone and she isn't here." "You can say that again," commented Mark. "I wonder who she is," said Lisa. She hoped that the girl wasn't waiting for him to get out of college. Six years would be a long time to wait and she was sure the woman would leave before he graduated. Based on how he acted, he was totally in love with who ever the woman was. "We'll know soon enough. You can't keep a secret here for long. There just isn't enough privacy," said Greg. They were the last students in the dining room, but there were a couple of waitresses watching them. All of them stood and left the table to make it to their classes. The program here was relentless. An hour of classes followed by just enough social time to interact. Then they had a study group, which was followed by enough time to socialize. It was a pressure cooker of social interaction. There wasn't even the possibility of hiding in the dorm room. ------- Chapter 5 Georgia was trying to act calm and collected while waiting for Oscar to show up at the house. She was anything but calm; she was horny for the little guy. Over the past thirty minutes she had tried on three different outfits trying to determine which of them would turn him on the most. She had considered being naked, but after he had spent more than a week surrounded by naked women she figured that he would react more to a clothed woman. She settled on wearing an unbuttoned shirt and nothing else. It hid, it teased, and it promised that more pleasures were to be found under it. "Hello," Oscar called out upon entering the house. Despite her desire to run to him, she stayed on the couch and posed. Calling out, she said, "I'm in the living room." Oscar entered the room and spotted her posed on the couch. Her legs were tucked up under her. She had her elbow resting on the back of the couch and was supporting her head with her hand. Her other arm was draped down the front of her body so that her hand was resting in her lap. The shirt was open enough to glimpse the soft rise of her breasts. He licked his lips and said, "You are so sexy." "What are you doing standing over there?" asked Georgia enjoying his reaction to her appearance. As Oscar walked over to her, he removed his robe revealing his erection. A huge smile crossed his face when she opened her eyes wide and looked at his erection. He lifted his hands up as though he were Frankenstein's monster and approached with a stiff-legged walk. She took a good look at him, smiled, and jumped up from the couch with a squeal as she shouted, "Gotta catch me!" The chase didn't last long since it went from the living room straight to the bedroom. Somewhere along the way she lost her shirt, not that it mattered to her. It had served its purpose. She held out her arms as Oscar joined her on the bed. "I've missed you so much," exclaimed Oscar. "Be quiet and kiss me," replied Georgia. Being a good little Druid, Oscar immediately obeyed her command. It felt so perfect having her in his arms again. He started by kissing every inch of her body starting at the toes, working his way up and then working his way back down again. This was the body that he loved and desired. When he had started to cover her body a second time, Georgia said, "Oh my, you're going to explore every little bit of me." Oscar paused and replied, "I'm a scholar now. Don't you know that scholars pay attention to each and every detail." She giggled in response and enjoyed the sensations as he worked over her body with tender light kisses. She was ready to accept him in her body long before he got around to it. When he finally mounted her, she had already experienced two orgasms. After a few minutes of tender thrusting, she experienced her third orgasm. At that point, Oscar lost control over the dictates of his body for an orgasm and began to thrust into with abandon. It didn't take him long to go over the edge and spill his seed into her. Relaxing together after their coupling, Oscar said, "I love you, Georgia." "I love you, Oscar," she replied. It was wonderful lying together on the bed together. That was what Oscar missed most at the college. There was sex, but very seldom was there the intimacy that naturally followed. Even if one was able to use their dorm room when it wasn't locked, the narrow beds weren't made for cuddling after coupling. So far, he hadn't seen displays of intimacy in public. It was as though everyone understood that they was more vulnerable during intimacy than during sex. Georgia requested, "So tell me about Lisa." The request took Oscar by surprise. He hadn't been aware that Georgia even knew who his roommates were. He answered, "She's the heaviest female student in the school. The first day, she was pretty upset about having to walk around naked. However, she has fit into the program pretty well. She's enjoying sex with Mark a whole lot. She doesn't seem all that interested in me." "So you've been to bed with her?" "Yes," answered Oscar hoping that his answer wouldn't upset Georgia. "Oliver was worried about her. He felt that it would take a long time before anyone found enough empathy to sleep with her. He was actually worried about all of your room mates," said Georgia. Oscar laughed and said, "I guess I'm to blame for all of that. The first time we went in the room, Lisa was crying, Sharon was crying, and Mark was staring off into space. I'm afraid that I played army Sargent and laid down the rules." The idea that Oscar would play Army Sargent made Georgia giggle. It was easier to imagine him playing Army General dressing down the entire Army. She asked, "So what were the rules?" Raising a finger as though he was addressing a crowd, Oscar answered, "I came to this school to study, not to walk around horny. We will help each other relieve our sexual tensions." Laughing at how he had put it, she said, "You didn't say it that way." "More or less," answered Oscar. "So I guess you guys went at it right away," commented Georgia. "No. We went to dinner, got some stuff for our room, and then went at it," replied Oscar. He felt that put in this fashion, it sounded pretty cold hearted the way they had behaved that first night. "Is it true that Mark's erection is less than four inches long?" "Yes, it's true," answered Oscar wondering how she knew so many details about his roommates. "And Sharon is over six foot tall?" "Yes, she's over six foot tall," answered Oscar. "When Oliver said that your roommates were the first to adapt to the nudity, I couldn't believe it. Almost everyone was convinced that Mark wouldn't last the day and that Lisa would be gone by the end of the second day. I should have known that you would make it easier for them to fit in," said Georgia with respect in her voice. The story among the administrators was that Oliver had assigned Oscar to room with the three people most likely to drop from the program based on the psychological testing that had been performed. When she had heard about Sharon and Oscar running from the dining room covering their faces with napkins shouting something about streaking, she had been shocked. Drawing public attention was absolutely contrary to the profile that they had of Sharon. "I did what I could to make them comfortable," replied Oscar shrugging his shoulders as if to indicate that he had done nothing. "Protect the weak from the strong," quoted Georgia. "I guess." "You guess? You gave a whole new meaning to that rule. Make the weak strong enough that they don't need protecting. Your dorm room is months ahead in terms of fitting into the Druid program." Oscar shrugged and turned his attention to Georgia's body. He ran his hand over her body, enjoying the feel of her skin. He sighed and said, "You are so beautiful." "Why thank you, Oscar. You're pretty handsome too, in an ugly sort of way," replied Georgia with a grin. "Hey," said Oscar, "I think my feelings are supposed to be hurt." Georgia laughed knowing exactly how hurt his feelings were. She hugged him close to her, happy to be holding him again. She asked, "So what was that little public demonstration with Laura about?" "Oh," said Oscar, "I was a little horny and, ah, discovered that I couldn't sneak away to the dorm for a little relief. I asked her to help me out. I hope that you aren't upset." "I need details before I know whether I should get upset or not," Georgia teased. The story came out in a disorganized fashion, with little bits and pieces in no particular order. Oscar was burning a bright red at telling the story. She knew that he had to have been more than a little horny to put on that kind of demonstration. She wasn't upset about him having a little fun with Laura, but had been curious as to what motivated him. The two women had talked afterwards about the entire episode. Laura had just laughed as she described Oscar as a real Druid. Having lived with her sister's randy nature for years, Georgia understood exactly what Laura had meant. Seeing that Oscar was actually worried about how she was taking all of his talk about sleeping with other women, Georgia said, "I'm not upset. We had a nice talk about it afterwards. She said that you really helped her with the sexual tension that she had acquired from walking around the cafeteria with so many naked men and erect cocks." "Oh come on now. You have to be a little upset," remarked Oscar, not believing how easily she was accepting his actions. "Not really. I mean, I know that you are particularly fond of breasts. I also know that you are walking around at eye-level with fifty pairs of bare breasts. If George were in a wheelchair so that she were looking at fifty erect cocks at eye level all day, I'm sure that she would have grabbed one of them and had her way with it." "George, huh? What about Georgia?" asked Oscar. It was her turn to blush as she answered, "Well, Georgia found out about a student with a most talented tongue. Let's just say that she didn't need to ask if Mark had a four-inch cock. It is a perfect mouthful." Oscar laughed at her admission. Puzzled, he asked, "How did you manage to get to him?" "He had to come up to my office to fill out some papers. While he was there, I recalled some of the rumors that I heard," she answered, "and decided to determine if they were just rumors." Oscar kissed her, letting her know that he wasn't upset. She responded to his kiss with passion. The passion turned to aggression as George took control. Too many naked men had been paraded in front of her over the past week and she had controlled the more aggressive side of her character. Now that she was with her lover, the man that understood and loved all of her, she was going to allow her aggressive side free reign. The change in Georgia was immediately obvious to Oscar and he lay back allowing her to take control. He loved her when she was like this, as her satisfaction was assured. She kissed him with an energy that took his breath away. Moving down, she sucked on his nipples and nipped at them with her teeth causing him to cry out in surprise. Reaching down between his legs, she found that he was already hard and ready to go again. That was good, since she didn't want to wait. Holding his hands down above his head, she moved so that she was straddling his cock. It took several attempts to impale herself on it, but she managed to do it without having to release his hands. She rocked back and forth on his cock, rubbing her clitoris against him. The action caused waves of pleasure to wash through her body. Under Georgia, all Oscar could do was lie there and enjoy what she was doing. He loved it when she turned aggressive like this. Her face would adopt a strange expression of lust, focus, and pleasure that was truly remarkable. Underlying everything, there was the trust that he accepted her needs. The only thing that Oscar wanted was to last long enough for her to take her full measure of pleasure from him. Georgia started screaming as she approached an orgasm. Her movements became harder, more ragged, and more demanding. She was getting close, but Oscar was getting closer. There came the moment when she was on the verge of orgasm and the look on her face changed from one of demanding to anticipation. Oscar came as her cunt started vibrating around his cock. Shortly after, she came with a roar and then collapsed atop him. Once she had released his hands, Oscar embraced her. She stayed atop his body shaking from the pleasure that she had taken. At that moment, she loved him more than she could possibly imagine. It took her ten minutes to rise up and move off him. Lying beside him, Georgia said, "You accept me." "I love you. I love all of you," replied Oscar amazed that he had found such a woman. "I know you do," said Georgia. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and wondered how to bring up a topic that had her curious. Several of the Druids, including those that were watching over the first year students, had mentioned Oscar behaved a little odd around one of the students. "I wish that I could stay here with you every night," said Oscar with a sigh. "Could I ask you something?" "Sure." "Tell me about Debbie," she requested. The story that she heard was that Oscar's cock was completely uncontrollable about this woman. She wondered if there were more to it than what people were telling her. Stomach tightening, Oscar answered, "I don't know. It seems like my cock has a mind of its own when it comes to her. I don't understand it." "Really?" "Yes. I really don't understand what's going on. I mean, she's attractive, but there are many attractive women running around there. One look at her and my cock stands up," explained Oscar. "Hmm," said Georgia as he confirmed what she had heard from others. She asked, "Have you been to bed with her?" "Goodness, no," replied Oscar with far more energy than he intended. He wasn't going to go near that woman until he understood why he reacted to her in the manner that he did. The energy that he put into his answer surprised Georgia and made her wonder if he was hiding something from her. Further questioning led her to believe that Oscar had no clue why he reacted so strongly to the redheaded woman. She concluded that it was just a bad case of lust and decided that she had to meet her. Oscar ran his hand over her stomach and then up to her breasts. Three times in quick succession was just a little much for him, so he suggested, "Let's take a shower together." The pair of them left the bed and went to the bathroom. Inside was a huge shower with three showerheads on each of the three walls. She turned on the water. Smiling at him, Georgia said, "Ed Biggers set this house up as a pleasure palace. I bet he and his wives showered together in here fairly often." Oscar couldn't believe it when he stepped into the shower with Georgia. There was enough room for another couple in there. Georgia fiddled with a couple of knobs and water seemed to emerge from everywhere around them in a fine mist. It was as though they were standing in a fog. She adjusted the knob again and the fog was replaced by a gentle downfall that reminded Oscar of a spring rain. She turned to him and said, "This is my favorite setting. I wash in here imagining that I'm standing naked in a gentle rainstorm exposed in my full glory to nature." The warm drops falling on his body were sensual and after a few minutes he felt the desire to make love to Georgia rising again. He knelt down in front of her and placed a kiss on her bare belly. She got the hint and spread her legs. With a sigh of satisfaction, she said, "Oh, you have no idea of how often I've dreamed of this." Oscar went to work on her delicious cunt, enjoying the flavor of her feminine juices despite the fact that they were mixed with his come. He didn't know what she did, but the entire environment of the shower changed. The lights dimmed and easy listening music filled the air. It wasn't long before the music was drowned out with her shouts of pleasure. Hand in hand, Georgia and Oscar took a walk down the road that led to the stream that ran through the back of the property. The dirt road showed the ruts of the carriage wheels that had made hundreds of trips down the path over the previous years. The branches of the trees along one side of the road reached out to touch the branches of trees upon the other side giving them the feeling that they were walking through a natural tunnel. The mid-September air was warm without being hot, the birds were actively flitting from tree to tree, and the squirrels were busy chasing one another through the woods. The couple stopped to watch the animal life and laughed on occasion at the antics of the animals. Their surroundings were a major contrast to the Afghanistan desert they had been in only two weeks earlier. Oscar was enjoying the time spent with Georgia in the peaceful environment. He hadn't realized how much of their time together had been spent in a danger where each and every movement around them had to be analyzed as a potential threat. He sighed and said, "I hope that the whole world is this peaceful, one day." Leaning against him, Georgia said, "I hope so. "Have you settled in here okay?" asked Oscar wanting to know if she was happy with her living conditions. "I'm really enjoying civilization after living in the wilds of Afghanistan for so long," answered Georgia. Hot cooked meals that included pork, real hot showers with fluffy towels with which to dry and comfortable furniture were the first things that she had noticed. After that, she started listening to music, relaxing in a bubble bath, and taking long walks without carrying a gun. It had taken less than ten days to return to a normal life. She said, "It's so nice to relax." "I can imagine," replied Oscar. Thrown into an environment filled with naked people all of the time had made his return to the states tense. The college was structured to make life uncomfortable. The intention of the first year protocol was to force people out of their comfort zone so that they would question the arbitrary beliefs that had been beaten into them while growing up. He had been more comfortable alone in Afghanistan. "It must really be rough living in the college." "The hardest thing is that you aren't there with me." Giggling, Georgia said, "I imagine the hardest thing is ignoring your cock. I bet it's erect all of the time." "I can live with that. My years as a nerd meant that I walked around with an erection most of my life," commented Oscar. Georgia looked over at Oscar as she recalled some of the stories that he told about his life before meeting the God. There were times when she couldn't believe that he had been as bad as he said. She asked, "You were really a nerd?" "As much of a nerd as was possible. You might say that I was a super nerd and a clumsy one at that. You'd never find me without a pocket protector, calculator, or a half dozen pens. I was even thinking about going into computers or electronics as a career." Oscar was being honest about how he had been before joining the military. It would have been hard for Georgia to believe that being in the military had given him a better fashion sense, but it had. At least he had gotten rid of the pocket protector and pens that populated his shirt pockets. "So besides missing me, what else is hard about living on campus?" Oscar was quiet for a moment as he considered her question. There were a lot of little things that added up to create an atmosphere of tension, but one thing stood out the most. He answered, "Not being able to be myself. It's really hard not to let it slip that I'm a Druid." "I can understand that." They walked along the path without talking, preferring to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature around them. It wasn't long before they reached the end of the road and found they were at the campsite that Ed had established. Oscar pointed over to one of the sites that had been cleared for tents. He said, "Let's lay down here and relax." The grass was soft and the level ground was clear of rocks. Oscar sighed in contentment as he lay down on his back. He rested his head in the pillow formed by his laced fingers. He took a deep breath and relaxed as he exhaled. With a smile, Georgia watched her lover settle into place with a look of contentment on his face. She settled herself at right angles to him and rested her head on his stomach. He pulled his right hand out from under his head and ran it along her body, enjoying the feel of it. Her body thrilled to his touch, but it wasn't the kind of thrill that led to sex. It was the kind of thrill that accompanied knowing that you were loved and that your lover only wanted to keep that simple contact. Above them, the sun peeked through the leaves of the tree. Shadows danced over their bodies as the leaves moved in the slight breeze. The odor of rich soil and growing grass filled the air. The warm ground seemed to embrace them as the cool breeze kept it from being hot. The rustle of leaves in the wind sang one tune while the water spilling over the rocks in the stream beside them filled the air with the melody that only moving water generates. It was a rich duet of wind and water. The gentle movement of her body under his hand as she breathed soothed his soul. For the space of a heartbeat, the richness of the moment threatened to overwhelm him. As if reading his mind, Georgia said, "I've been down here a couple of times. It's so pretty here, but it is not the same without you beside me." "Nothing is ever as nice as when you are beside me," replied Oscar as his hand moved up to caress her breast through her clothes. Her nipple tented her shirt. Smiling, even though she knew that he couldn't see her expression, she asked, "Again?" "No. I just was touching you," replied Oscar. He wondered how it was that he was so lucky to have found such a beautiful woman with whom to share his life. He added, "There are times when all I want to do is to touch you just to make sure that you are real and really here with me." "That's sweet." "It's the truth," replied Oscar while his hand followed her arm. Reaching her hand, he took it in his and held it. Georgia didn't bother to answer; she didn't know how to answer. It amazed her how much he loved her. She often times wondered if other women were that lucky to have a man who cared that much for her. Just lying under the tree holding hands brought pleasure to the both of them. They sat quiet enjoying the atmosphere. The sun was suddenly blocked from his eyes and it took him a moment to realize the reason why. He opened his eyes to find Betsy, bent over at the waist, staring down at him with wonder. She said, "I don't see how you can lie there so still." Her voice startled Georgia. She looked up and saw the young girl. She spent a moment taking in her appearance. The mixture of Caucasian, Asian, and Black features gave her a very attractive appearance. Her long straight black hair, creamy skin, upturned nose, slightly slanted eyes, and full lips would drive the boys crazy in a year or two. There wasn't an ounce of fat on the young girl. Georgia said, "It's easy when you are with the one you love." "I'm not sure about that," replied Betsy with a frown. Oscar asked, "What are you doing here?" "My Daddy is on his way here to say goodbye," answered Betsy as she glanced behind her. She vibrated for a moment and then sped off shouting, "I'll let him know where you are." It was ten minutes later when she returned rushing down the path at a fast run pulling up to an easy stop a few feet from where they lay. She bent over, not even breathing hard, to look Oscar in the face as she said, "He's on his way." Once again the raw energy of the young girl overwhelmed Oscar. He didn't know how far she had run, but the speed with which she moved should have left her breathless. He answered, "We're not going anywhere." "Okay, I'll let him know that," replied Betsy as she took off. Georgia asked, "Is she always that energetic?" "Yeah, I've never seen her stand still." "Wow," replied Georgia impressed with what she had seen. "I guess I had better sit up and prepare to meet Ed." Oscar laughed and said, "I imagine that he's still up at the house. It'll be at least twenty minutes before he shows up." Oscar's words proved prophetic and it was almost thirty minutes before Ed arrived at the campsite. He strolled into the clearing in his normal long-legged commanding stride. Looking around at the view for a moment, he paused before turning to Oscar and saying, "My family had many hours of fun here. There are some inner tubes up at the house. You might bring them down here and float in the stream while the weather is still nice." Oscar replied, "Hello Ed. That's a nice suggestion. I don't think I've been tubing since I was younger than Betsy." Georgia said, "I've never done that." Ed settled on the ground next to them and watched as Betsy stripped before entering into the water. He relaxed at the idea that she would expend her energy against that of the stream for the next few minutes. Now that he was comfortable, he said, "I just wanted to let you both know that we are leaving early tomorrow morning." "I appreciate you telling us that," remarked Oscar wondering why Ed would make the trip out here to tell them. "Well, I just wanted to let Georgia know that if she had any problems in the house that she is to call the caretaker. He'll fix what he can or bring in someone that can fix the problem." Georgia replied, "Sure. I'll remember that. It is a great house." Ed smiled and said, "The wives did most of the decorating and influenced the design of the kitchen and bathrooms." "I could tell that a woman's touch had been in the design of the kitchen," remarked Georgia. The remark brought a smile to Ed's face. His three wives had spent days on laying out the kitchen and picking out the appliances. Since he was the recipient of great meals produced in the kitchen, he wasn't about to argue. He looked over at Oscar and said, "I wanted to ask you to watch over the students. The college was John's dream and I want to make sure that it is a success." "Sure," replied Oscar looking puzzled about the request. "You did a nice job getting your roommates to accept the situation. I've been watching Gabby and your discussion with her seems to have helped her a lot. I was pretty sure that all four of them would have left by now," commented Ed. It was his goal to have every student that enrolled in the college finish his or her program. Each time a student dropped out, it was as if a knife was inserted in his stomach. "I just did what I could," replied Oscar. Calling out to Betsy, Ed said, "Get ready to leave, Betsy." As the girl scrambled onto the bank and used her shirt to dry herself, Ed said, "That's all that we who are servants of the Gods and Goddesses can do." ------- Chapter 6 Oscar sat at the table waiting for the other members of his study group to arrive. This was the group that included Debbie and he had to arrive early so that his erection would not cause him embarrassment. After more than a month of walking around, all of the men had finally gotten a little more control over their erections. At least, they were at the point where they weren't erect all of the time. An erection was an obvious signal of interest and that was his problem. His cock stood up and signaled its interest in Debbie every time he encountered her. Opening his books, he watched as Debbie approached the study table. She smiled at him and, true to form, his cock sprang erect. He was tempted to ask the God why he was doing this to him, but he had to hide his service from the other students. Instead, he gestured to the chair where he wouldn't be next to her or directly looking at her. With a smile, he said, "Have a seat." "Thanks," replied the red head as she sat in the chair directly across from him. The other members of the study group arrived and examined the pair sitting at the table. Everyone wondered when Oscar would give voice to what his body was shouting to the room. The only one unaware of his erection was Debbie since the table blocked her view. After everyone settled around the table, they started discussing the material that would be covered the next day in class. A movement near the door of the library caught the eye of Oscar. Glancing over at the door, he was surprised to see Georgia looking around the room as though searching for someone. She was dressed in blue jeans and a simple white blouse. As far as he was concerned, she looked as sexy as if she were wearing the most expensive lingerie ever made. All concerns about the study group disappeared from his mind as he watched her. After a minute spent looking at the other side of the library, she turned to face his direction and smiled on seeing him. She walked over to their table, taking her time and watching Oscar the entire time. He didn't know how to respond to her sudden presence since Oliver had insisted that they keep their distance while on school grounds. All he knew was that he wanted her and wanted her with a desire that would not be denied. Georgia stopped by the side of the table and tore her eyes from Oscar to look over at Debbie. With a smile, she asked, "Debbie Bond?" The red head looked over at Georgia in surprise and answered, "Yes." Oscar hid his surprise that she had come to get Debbie rather than to talk to him. It took him a moment to realize that she wouldn't seek him out while on school grounds and that if she were here, then it meant she was on school business. "Could you come with me? We have some papers for you to fill out," said Georgia. Her eyes darted from Debbie to Oscar and back again. Her smile grew even larger as she took in his obvious discomfort at the idea of the two women being together. Debbie was totally oblivious to his tension and the exchanges of looks between Oscar and Georgia. Oscar squirmed in his seat as a sequence of images placing Georgia and Debbie together in bed flashed through his mind. They came unbidden, but the effect of the images on his body could not be denied. With an erection that was threatening to explode, he watched as the pair of women left the library. Their asses swayed in time giving twice the arousal of either one alone. Once they were gone, Oscar croaked, "Excuse me." As he bolted in the direction of the restroom, the others gathered at the table laughed to release some of the tension that had grown at the table. It was clear to everyone that there was something between Georgia and Oscar. One of the guys asked, "Do you think he'll make it there before he blows?" One of the women said, "We now know who the other woman is." "Yeah. I've never seen anything like that. He only had eyes for the brunette." "Do you think they know each other?" "Of course, she knows him. She was watching him the entire time at the table. Did you catch how she walked away? You don't swing your hips like that unless you know that the guy is going to be watching." "What about Debbie?" The first guy that spoke said, "I'm amazed that Debbie hasn't noticed how he reacts to her." "I bet you haven't noticed that Debbie feels exactly the same way about him. She comes back after the study group breaks up and wipes down her chair," commented one of the women. She glanced down at the empty seat with a grin. "Really? You mean she's just as hot and bothered by him?" "Sure." The remaining members of the study group discussed the dynamics of the trio while Oscar was in the bathroom jerking off at the sink. His cock was so hard and excited that it was painful. After just a few strokes of his hand, the mental image of the two women in bed returned to him. His come spilled out over the porcelain basin. As his body shook, he looked around at his surroundings. Finding that he was alone in the room, he looked up at the ceiling and asked, "Why are you doing this to me?" He didn't expect an answer, but he swore that he heard feminine laughter from an otherworldly source. Frowning, he started running the water to clean up after himself. After washing his cock, he dried it with a paper towel hoping that he wouldn't get a paper cut. It only took him a moment to wipe down the sink and remove all traces of his activities. The remainder of the time for the study group passed without any more excitement although others of the group exchanged significant glances without his noticing. By that afternoon, the rumor that he and Georgia were an item had spread throughout the first year class. Oliver had not said that he couldn't talk about his relationship with Georgia, only that she couldn't live on campus with him. He wasn't supposed to talk about the special accommodations that were made that allowed him to visit her on the weekends. He feared that if it became common knowledge then he would lose his visitation privileges with her. As he made his way to his next class, Cole approached him and asked, "What's up with you and the chick from administration?" "I'm not sure what you are talking about," replied Oscar attempting to deflect the conversation. "You know. The one that came and got Debbie during your study group," probed Cole wanting to learn more of the details. He had heard that Oscar had nearly exploded from sexual excitement at seeing both Georgia and Debbie at the same time. "I don't want to talk about it," replied Oscar stating his true feelings about the subject matter. Even more importantly, he didn't want to think about it. Cole was going to persist, but he decided that if Oscar had a reason for not talking about something then it was probably a pretty good one. Still, it hurt to think that Oscar didn't trust him enough to share the reasons with him. Shrugging his shoulders, he replied, "Okay, be that way about it." Essentially the same conversation was repeated four more times on the way to his class. By the time he reached class, Oscar had a pounding headache. It was frustrating having to lie about oneself to others. If it had been in the performance of a service to the Gods and Goddesses, then it would have been much easier. The problem was that it was his daily life that he had to hide and that he was going to have to hide it for six years. After class, he skipped his next study group and went to the gym to workout with the punching bags. It was his hope that the exercise would help him relax. Instead, he damaged one of the punching bags by tearing a hole in it. He had been warned not to strike the bag without gloves on, but he had wanted to feel the contact of his knuckles against the leather. After just a few blows, his fist had penetrated the leather of the punching bag. Going over to his books, he pulled out a paper and wrote a note explaining that he had damaged the bag and would pay for the replacement costs. Even as he wrote the note, he realized that he had no idea of his financial situation. He had been drawing a salary while consulting for the Army and that salary had been directly deposited into his bank account. Shaking his head as he put the note under the bag, he added asking Georgia to check into his finances over the next weekend to his mental checklist of things to do. Still suffering from his headache, unsatisfied from his aborted workout, and feeling guilty about his reactions to Debbie, Oscar went to the library and sat as far from everyone else as he possibly could. His body language warned the curious away and his short terse answers chased away those who were genuinely interested in helping him. For the rest of the day, he stayed alone except to attend class. Even in class, his mind was not on the material. It wasn't long before everyone in the first year knew that Oscar was not happy and that he didn't want company. His behavior had a definite effect on all of the other first years. Many of them had looked up to him as a force of nature that could hold his own against the Druid instructors. The realization that he was human was a shocking revelation. After the last study group of the day, his schedule was finally empty. He had an hour to spend in any fashion that he desired. After fielding a couple of more questions about his relationship with Georgia, he went to the room where his robes were stored for use on the weekends when he went to visit her. Alone at last, he sat down on the floor and considered his situation. Depressed, Oliver stood at the door watching Oscar. Like all Druids, there was almost no black over his heart. However, he didn't shine with an aura that suggested that he was enjoying life. It almost hurt to look at the young man sitting on the floor. He said, "The news got out already about you and Georgia." "Neither one of us said anything," replied Oscar. "I know. I watched when she went to get Debbie." "Why did she choose that time to get Debbie?" asked Oscar. "She came to me and told me that she wanted to meet Debbie. I was curious and suggested that she handle filling out the insurance forms. I also suggested that she get her during your study group. I wanted to see what would happen," answered Oliver with a frown. His gift showed him the negative results of pursuing his curiosity. "Thanks, I really needed that," remarked Oscar with enough sarcasm in his voice to choke a horse. He glared at the Grand Druid and said, "I've been besieged by questions about her." "So what have you been telling people?" "Nothing. I've told them nothing about Georgia. I've told them nothing about being a Druid. I've told them nothing about who and what I am," replied Oscar with anger in his voice. The tone of voice used by Oscar surprised the Grand Druid. He asked, "What's the matter?" "I am living a lie here," charged Oscar. He stood up and, holding his hands at his sides with his fists clenched, shouted, "I'm a Druid! I can go undercover to fight the strong that harm the weak, but I can't live my daily life as a lie! I love the most beautiful woman in the world, but I have to hide it." Oliver listened to the man vent his frustration. He could understand why Oscar was so upset, particularly when put into those terms. Oscar was trying to play by a set of rules that were stacked against him and it wasn't fair. Thinking about it, he said, "Let me see what I can do about changing things around here for you. We'll talk about it Monday." The answer didn't satisfy Oscar, but it had to do. He would be with Georgia in two days and being able to spend time with her alone would help relax him. He closed his eyes and remembered walking through the woods with her, at ease in the peace and quiet of the wild. He was going to be sure to do that this coming weekend. Oscar went to breakfast feeling tired after not sleeping well that night. Feeling that he needed to keep up his energy, he ordered the fruit plate and orange juice instead of his normal eggs, toast and coffee. He sat at one of the two person tables with his back to the rest of the room. The choice of seating intended to convey that he didn't want to talk to anyone. Since his attention was turned inwards, he didn't notice when Gabby sat down at the table across from him. She cleared her throat to get his attention and then said, "Oscar, talk to me." "I really don't feel like talking," replied Oscar. "You helped me when I was ready to quit and I'd like to return the favor," replied Gabby. She looked across the table at him with a concerned expression on her face. It was her fear that he was getting ready to leave the school. "I'm not quitting, if that is what you are worried about," he said with a sad smile. It would be much easier on him if he did that. That choice was taken from him by the fact that the Two-Sided One had sent him to the school. "Oh." The comment hung in the air. Oscar didn't know how to respond and Gabby didn't know what else to say. For a minute they sat looking at each other. Finally, Oscar said, "I really can't talk about it. Oliver has so ordered it." His comment took her by surprise and she sat back in her seat to consider what he said. She wondered why the Grand Druid would order him not to talk about something that was bothering him. Knowing the two rules, she wondered which one he would be breaking by talking particularly since the rumor was that he was upset about two women. Even she knew that having two members of the opposite sex in one's life didn't violate any rules so long as everyone knew about everyone else. He knew the thoughts that ran through her head by watching the changes in her facial expression. Finally, she asked, "What harm could it do by telling us what is bothering you?" Oscar sat back in his chair and considered her question. How could knowledge about his real nature lead to harm? In what way would it cause harm? The questions were interesting and he'd have to find the time to think about them. For the moment, he had to uphold his end of the conversation. Frowning, he answered, "If I answered your question, then you would know what I can't talk about." "I guess that makes sense." Gabby sat in her chair for a moment and then said, "I should get ready for class. I'll talk to you later." Oscar watched her leave and then returned to eating his meal. With his mind on his problems, he didn't taste his food or take pleasure from eating it. His body went through the motions of spearing a piece of fruit, bringing it to his mouth, chewing, and then swallowing. His eyes flicked to one of the numerous clocks on the wall, monitoring the time without interrupting his thoughts. When it was time for class, he stood and went to it. Watching Oscar from across the room, a small group comprised of Catherine, Oliver, and Laura were each considering his problems from their individual perspectives. Catherine, Oliver's wife, served the God and wondered how difficult it would be to deny that service for an extended period of time. Laura wondered if living in this fashion would have health consequences. Oliver watched the dull glow around the man knowing the damage that was being done to his spirit. Once the last student had cleared the room, Catherine said, "He loves her." "Yes," replied Oliver believing that she was stating the obvious. "This is hard on him. How would you like it if you had to hide the fact that you love me?" she asked looking at him. "I would hate it," replied Oliver looking over at his wife with fondness. "Don't continue to force that upon him." "Okay," replied Oliver wondering how he would deal with the consequences of making it known among the students that Oscar was leaving campus on the weekends to see his girlfriend. He hoped that other students wouldn't demand to have their girlfriends move into the area and be allowed to leave the campus for the weekends. He sighed and then said, "I'll have to find some way to handle the consequences." Laura commented, "Pull him out of classes today and send him over to Georgia." "I can't do that," replied Oliver. Oscar sat at the table waiting for the study group to arrive. The last to arrive was Debbie and his body reacted in its normal fashion by sporting an erection. On her arrival, Debbie apologized, "I'm sorry about getting called away yesterday. It appears that I didn't fill out all of the insurance forms that were required. I hope that I didn't miss much." One of the students glanced over at Oscar and then said, "You didn't miss much. We basically quit after you left." Oscar was tense. Each time he looked across the table at Debbie, the image of her in bed with Georgia flashed through his mind. He had no idea if Debbie and Georgia had talked about his physical reaction to the red head. Looking down at his paper, he tried to ignore the mental images that passed through his mind. The group discussed the material that was to be covered the following Monday. It was the normal Friday study period. The conversation was brisk and on topic as they struggled to comprehend the material. It wasn't just enough to learn the material in their classes; they had to understand the material with the kind of depth that represented true mastery. Even though it was difficult for Oscar to concentrate, he found himself drawn into the discussion. The students challenged each other with their understanding of the material, trying to predict the kinds of perspectives that the instructor would take on it during the next class. When the study session was over, Oscar waited for Debbie to leave and his erection to go down. His study group slowly disbanded with the exception of Debbie. She continued to sit across from him while looking at him. Neither of them said a word for the longest time until Debbie said, "I heard a rumor yesterday." Oscar stood up, turning as he rose so that his back was turned to her when he finally stood, and said, "Sorry, I can't comment on it." Debbie watched in shock as he sped off without saying another word. There was no reasonable explanation for his strange behavior. One of the rumors suggested that he loved the attractive woman from administration. Another rumor suggested that he had strong feelings for her. She sighed, wishing she knew which rumor was true. She recalled her meeting with Georgia, finding nothing in the meeting that would suggest that there was any relationship between her and Oscar. Oscar, wearing the blue robe of an initiate, crossed the road frowning. Someone had stolen his red robe. Rather than investigate before going to visit Georgia, he was planning on raising hell when he returned from his visit. On reaching the house, Oscar took a minute to calm down. There was no way that he wanted to hammer her with his bad week on entering the house. The door opened and, in a somewhat formal manner, Georgia said, "Come on in, Mr. Meyers." Surprised that she was at the door, he looked at her taking in her blue skirt and blouse. This was a departure from normal. Usually, she waited naked inside the house for him to arrive. He nodded at her and said, "Sure, Georgia." Stepping into the house, he looked around wondering if she had a visitor. As she closed the door, she said, "I heard that you got bombarded with questions after my little visit to your study group." "You can say that again. It seems that everyone picked up on the fact that there's some chemistry between us." "You think so?" asked Georgia with a smile that indicated that she knew the answer to her question. Everyone had commented on the fact that the bond between the two was so strong that it was almost visible. "I've been fielding questions about that ever since you stopped by the study group," replied Oscar. His anger was dissipating just by looking at her. Georgia smiled and said, "That was part of my plan." "Huh?" "We might not be able to talk about our relationship, but there's no way they can make us act contrary to our feelings for each other," replied Georgia. For a full minute, Oscar stared at her and then burst out laughing. He hadn't thought of it that way. Even now, the Grand Druid was struggling to come up with some solution to the problems generated by them seeing each other in the library. A couple more public meetings and everyone would know the truth without them saying a word. Feeling better, Oscar laughed and said, "Come by the dining room and we can put on a show that will make everyone blush." Georgia smiled and said, "Not this week. My period started yesterday." "Hey, all we need to do is cuddle and everyone will know how much I love you," commented Oscar as he gathered her into his arms and hugged her. It felt so right to hold her in his arms. The last of his tension drained from his body. His comment was echoed by a gasp from the other room. Confused by the noise, Oscar asked, "You've got visitors?" "A visitor," answered Georgia with a smile. She glanced over at the door wondering how Oscar was going to react when he saw who her visitor was. She directed him through the door and watched his face. Oscar stepped through the door and glanced around the room. Upon seeing Debbie sitting on the sofa, his body reacted in what had become its usual habit on seeing her. It didn't matter that she was wearing a blue robe identical to the one that he was wearing, his cock stood and saluted. His face turned red as the front of his robe tented, displaying to all exactly what was happening to him. Sitting in the chair, Debbie stared at Oscar. Georgia had invited her over to the house for tea and had made arrangements for her to leave the campus. The chance to dress and relax had been irresistible. Even harder to resist was the realization that this might be the opportunity to learn the truth behind the rumors about Oscar, Georgia, and herself. Her eyes drifted down to the tent in his robe and, after having been at the college for more than a month, knew exactly what his physical response meant. After a full ten seconds, she started to get angry now that a new interpretation of her invitation became apparent. Oscar noticed the change in Debbie's expression and asked, "What's the matter?" Glaring at the couple, she replied, "She brought me over here to get fucked by you, didn't she?" Ignoring Debbie, Georgia said, "Debbie and I are just having tea. Would you like to join us Oscar?" A frown slowly crept over Oscar's face as he turned to Georgia and said, "This isn't funny." Debbie stared at the couple, her anger didn't allow her to see his reaction. She considered what the other students would think about this situation and was sure that they would find it just as disgusting as she did. Her opinion of Oscar went from thinking he was sexy to thinking of him as scum. Unperturbed, Georgia glanced down at the tent in his robe and said, "I invited her over to tea. I wanted to meet the woman that seemed to have such an obvious effect on the man that I love." The answer stunned Debbie. Had the woman brought her over in some sort of jealous fit? She didn't quite believe that as Georgia had been friendly the entire visit. She asked, "What are you talking about?" Georgia turned to Debbie and replied, "You haven't noticed that he gets erect every time he sees you?" "Ah, no," answered the young woman confused by the charges. All she knew was that being around Oscar brought physical responses to her that she tried to hide. Wet seats left behind, damp thighs, and stiff nipples had accompanied every meeting. Oscar said, "I've tried to hide it." His statement, rendered in all seriousness, caused Georgia to burst out in laughter. Nearly doubled over while laughing, she countered, "Are you kidding? Everyone on campus is talking about the obvious sexual tension between the two of you." It was the truth and Oscar recognized it. He was surprised that Debbie wasn't aware of the effect she had on him, but he had taken a lot of effort to make sure that he wasn't waving his erection in front of her. Showing up early to the study meetings and being the last one to leave had apparently worked. He grumbled, "Okay." "What are you talking about?" asked Debbie as her anger abated. One of the rumors that she had hoped to discover the truth about concerned the sexual tension between the two of them. She knew that her half of the rumor was true. Georgia looked over at Debbie and asked, "Weren't you ever curious why he was always seated behind a desk when you and he were scheduled to meet? Didn't you ever notice that he always had an erection around you?" "No." Shaking her head, Georgia said, "Oscar, have a seat." Moving across the room, Oscar took a chair as far from Debbie as was possible. Once he was settled in the chair, Georgia handed him a cup of tea. His hand shook as he took a sip of it. Setting the cup on a small table next to the chair, he slumped in his chair and asked, "What now?" Georgia sniffed the air as she sat down on the sofa next to Georgia. She smiled and said, "Judging by the scent in the air, I can say that someone is excited." Oscar said, "Georgia, stop teasing her. It's not her fault that my body reacts to her every time that I see her." Silence descended upon the room. Georgia, fully aware of how uncomfortable the situation was for both of her guests, was examining her guest amazed at how attractive the young woman was. She wasn't sexually attracted to her, but there was something that just drew her emotionally to the other woman. It was as though it were their destiny to be together; not as lovers, but as sisters. The situation was just as confusing to her as it was to the others. Debbie stared down at her teacup. She didn't know what to think. When she had heard Oscar enter the room, she thought she was going to have an orgasm doing nothing except sitting there. Then she had come to the conclusion that Georgia had brought her over to serve her up to Oscar as some sort of virgin sacrifice. Learning that Oscar had been as attracted to her as she had been to him had been confusing. She wondered why she hadn't seen it. Uncomfortable with the silence, Oscar sipped his tea wondering what he was supposed to do as a result of Debbie's presence at the house. His cock throbbed causing the tent in his robe to shift, but he did his best to ignore it. Looking over at Debbie, he understood that he knew nothing about the woman. Where did she come from? Why did she choose the Druid College? What did she want to do with her life? The fact that he didn't even know the answers to basic questions removed the possibility that his interest in her was based on her as a person. Oscar said, "This sucks. I don't understand this situation at all." "What don't you understand?" asked Debbie. "He doesn't understand why his body wants you and his heart wants me," answered Georgia. "Oh." "Georgia, you got most of that right. My heart, body, and soul want you. It's been that way since the day we met." His lover glowed in response to his words. Smiling, she replied, "I know." Listening to the couple talk, Debbie realized that this was not a new relationship. Her face twisted in confusion, she asked, "How long have you known each other?" "Two years." Surprised by the length of time, she asked, "So how did you meet?" Oscar and Georgia looked at each other. This was the first time they had ever been asked that question and they didn't know how to answer it. With a gesture, he indicated that she should answer the question. She smiled and said, "My sister, Jennifer, is a Druid and serves the God. Oscar and her were sleeping together. When I came home from a paintball tournament..." Oscar smiled as he thought back to those days. He had lost his virginity to an amazing woman and then met the love of his life. By the time he met Georgia, he was skilled enough in the arts of love to demonstrate how much he cared for her. It would have been nice to loose his virginity to her, but in a way it had worked out better for them. He had been relaxed enough to learn to love her as a person rather than beginning by lusting after her for her body. His first lover had taken the edge off his horniness. If she hadn't, he would have acted around Georgia just like he was acting around Debbie now. A sudden thought came to him and he looked up at Georgia in surprise. Suddenly, he started laughing and said, "Oh my. I just realized that this is the work of the Gods and Goddesses." A pair of feminine voices responded, "Huh?" ------- Chapter 7 Sunday morning started slow. Oscar woke pressed against Georgia, enjoying the feel of his love in his arms. His erect cock was nestled between the cheeks of her ass. The silk of her pajamas felt smooth against his bare skin. He ran his right hand up the front of her body, pausing to caress her silk clad breasts. His erection throbbed, rubbing against the silk. He sighed in contentment. Georgia, waking from his touches, pressed back against him and said, "Good morning." "Good morning, my love," he replied. She wiggled her butt and asked, "Feeling a little horny?" "Yes and no. I'm always horny around you, but my erection is because I need to get to the bathroom," answered Oscar. He didn't make a move despite the pressure against his bladder. "Oh, a morning piss-on?" The phrase struck Oscar as odd. He understood what she meant, but he hadn't ever heard of it put in that manner before. He answered, "I guess so." "Why aren't you heading to the bathroom?" Oscar snuggled closer enjoying the feel of her silk pajamas against his skin. After kissing her on the back of her neck, he replied, "Too comfortable." "Hmm, that feels good." "I don't want to move." Georgia giggled and said, "So don't move." "I've got to," he said as the pressure in his bladder started to become painful. She didn't bother to answer. Instead, she just pressed her body against his a little harder. His cock throbbed between her buttocks. The pressure grew in his bladder. "Darn it," he cried as he pulled away and sat up. Getting out of the bed, he walked to the bathroom saying, "I'll be back." Georgia settled in the bed pulling the covers tighter, missing the warmth of his body. She wondered how her guest in the other bedroom was doing. It would make her a bad hostess if she didn't get up before Debbie and make some coffee. She yawned and decided to lay her head on the pillow for another minute. At the end of that minute, she was asleep. Oscar stepped out of the bathroom and saw that Georgia was asleep in bed. Not bothering to get dressed, he wandered out of the bedroom heading towards the kitchen. Oscar had never been particularly good in the kitchen, but he did have the theoretical knowledge about how to make coffee, eggs, bacon, and toast. Entering the kitchen, he looked around to see where everything was stored. Opening the coffee maker, he filled the basket with ground coffee. He decided that they needed a full pot, so he filled the basket to the top. He added the water, put the pot in the appropriate spot, and turned on the machine. For about thirty seconds, everything went smoothly. Suddenly, water started pouring out of the wrong place carrying with it the ground coffee. The mess spread over the counter and ran onto the floor as he hopped around trying to wipe it up with paper towels while avoiding getting the hot water on his unprotected body. He turned at the sound of giggling behind him. Debbie, dressed in her blue robe, was watching him with a hand held over her mouth to hold back her laughter. His cock reacted in the predictable fashion, coming erect despite the fact that he was still trying to deal with the coffee. Her eyes glanced down, watching the immediate reaction to her presence. It shocked her in terms of how fast it rose in her presence. She pushed him out of the way as she said, "Get out of here. You need to unplug it. Even as she spoke, she went to work in the kitchen. Quick as a flash, she had unplugged the coffee point. The water still spilled forth for five more seconds, but the flow was soon stopped. As she swept the water on the counter into the sink with a sponge, she asked, "What did you do?" "Nothing. The machine is busted," answered Oscar defensively. He hadn't done anything strange. He had put the water in the area where the water was supposed to go and filled the area for coffee with ground coffee. She looked around at the brewer and replied, "You didn't put the lid on the coffee pot. That didn't allow the coffee to flow into the pot." After replacing the lid on the pot, she plugged in the machine and turned it on. Water started pouring out onto the counter almost immediately. Oscar grinned, feeling as though his error was excused by the fact that the brewer wasn't working correctly. She unplugged the machine and waited for the water to stop running. A few swipes with a sponge cleared the water and coffee grounds off the counter. Puzzled, she said, "I don't understand." Looking over at Oscar, she noticed that his cock was still erect. Shaking her head, she returned to figuring out what was the matter. Removing the brewing basket, she saw that he had filled it to the top with coffee grounds. In an exasperated tone of voice, she asked, "Did you ever make coffee before?" "Not in one of those machines," answered Oscar. He realized that while he might be graceful when moving around, he was still a klutz in the kitchen. "You overfilled the brewing basket and left out the paper filter. That kept the water from running through and it spilled out," she said as she started disassembling the coffee maker. Melissa went to work in the kitchen cleaning the coffee maker and then making coffee. She hummed while working, looking completely at ease in the kitchen. Oscar stood off to the side watching, not knowing what to do to help. He asked, "Is there anything that I can do to help?" "No, that's okay. I've got a feeling that you don't know your way around a kitchen." "Not really. Last time I tried to cook something the kitchen caught fire," he admitted. She laughed and asked, "Really?" "Yes really. I admit that I'm a bit of a klutz." His statement surprised her. It was inconsistent with the incredible physical feats that she had seen him perform. She turned to look at him and found her eyes drawn to his erection. Pointing at his cock, she asked, "Do you want me to take care of that thing?" That was the last thing that he wanted her to do. Oscar frowned and answered, "No. I'll do it." "Thank you," she replied. Her feelings were hurt at his refusal of her offer. Oscar went into the bathroom; not interested in enjoying his erection. All he wanted was to get rid of it. A little hand cream, a bit of rubbing, and he achieved an orgasm. His cock returned to a flaccid state. It didn't take too long to clean up the mess that he made at the sink. He stopped in the bedroom to put on the blue robe. In all it was five minutes total from leaving the kitchen to returning. Debbie watched as he returned. As soon as he saw her, his erection returned to create a tent in the front of his robe. Shaking her head, she started to believe that there was nothing natural about his reaction to her. She said, "I thought you were going to take care of that." "I did." She commented, "It seems that you are right about your erection being caused by the Gods and Goddesses. I don't know why they would pay attention to initiates like you and me." It took all of his control not to blurt out that she was the only initiate present in the room, but he held his tongue. Instead, he replied, "It's hard to say." "Well, it's hard and it's hard to ignore," replied Debbie with a grin. His persistent erection in her presence had two effects on her. On one hand, it was kind of creepy thinking that his cock had a mind of its own and was fixated on her. On the other hand, she was rather pleased by the attention. She wouldn't have been able to explain it to anyone since she didn't understand it herself. Oscar had groaned at the bad play on words. He didn't even know how to respond, but was saved when Georgia asked, "It's hard still?" Oscar turned and looked at his girlfriend standing at the doorway of the kitchen. Her hair was wild and tangled, giving her the appearance that she had just had sex. For him, she was the sexiest sight he had ever seen. With awe, he said, "You are so sexy." Georgia smiled and asked, "Why don't you let her take care of that?" Considering that he had turned her down when she had offered, Debbie wasn't sure that she really wanted to help him out. Rather than allow Oscar or Georgia to make the decision for her, Debbie interrupted, "I don't think I'd like to do that." Georgia raised an eyebrow at the refusal. The first thought that came to her mind was that Debbie had to be crazy not to want Oscar. Then she realized that maybe Debbie didn't want to do it with her around. It was only after considering it for a third time that she realized that Oscar, with his earlier refusals to touch the young woman, had hurt her feelings. Understanding that he had upset Debbie, Oscar chose not to press the issue. Sitting down at the kitchen table, Oscar said, "I'll try to behave myself." An uneasy silence descended upon the trio as they waited for the coffee to finish brewing. The weekend with Georgia wasn't going as he had planned. He was still unhappy about his situation at the school and now he had hurt Debbie's feelings. When the coffee finally finished, Oscar grabbed a cup and said, "I'm going out for a walk." Debbie was about to tell him that he could stay there and she would leave when Georgia said, "That's a good idea. Come back in about three hours." "Three hours?" Smiling at Debbie, Georgia said, "Yes, in about three hours. I think it is about time for Debbie and I to engage in some girl talk." After looking from one woman to the other, Oscar gave up trying to understand what Georgia wanted to do. He nodded and then left the house. Outside, he looked around and headed back towards the school without thinking about where he was going. After pouring two cups of coffee, Georgia sat down across from Debbie at the kitchen table. She pushed one cup across the table to the younger woman. After taking a sip of her coffee, she said, "Oscar is scared to death of touching you." The announcement startled Debbie. She looked at the other woman trying to figure out what had motivated her to say that and asked, "Why?" "Because he's afraid that if the Gods and Goddesses are pushing the two of you together, that they are pushing us apart," answered Georgia with a thoughtful look on her face. The younger woman was quiet as she considered what Georgia had said. Putting his feelings in that perspective, his continued resistance to her was understandable. She could see that he loved Georgia and the idea of losing her must be tearing him apart. She frowned and said, "I don't think the Gods and Goddesses would do that." "It doesn't matter what you think. It's what Oscar thinks that will determine what he does or does not do with you," replied Georgia. She fell silent as she thought about what would happen to her if she lost Oscar. That would kill her and she knew it. Despite how much she loved him and that she believed he loved her just as much, she was afraid that Oscar was right. "What do you think?" Fighting back a sob, Georgia said, "I think he's right." Oscar looked around realizing for the first time where he had wandered. The meteors that marked the four directions were clearly visible from the center of the glade. Surprised to find where he was, he blurted out, "How did I get here?" "Grow up, Oscar." The voice surprised him and he spun around finding that he was no longer in the Carter Glade, but in a meadow somewhere else. The colors were overly bright, the sounds loud, and the smells strong. A fat man, sitting on the ground a short distance away, was watching Oscar with undisguised interest. The man was grotesquely fat with a small cock peering out from under a roll of fat. "Pardon?" asked Oscar even as his cock became painfully erect. Looking down at his cock, he became aware of the fact that he was naked. "I said that you should grow up," replied the fat man. "You're trying to destroy my relationship with Georgia," argued Oscar. Even as he argued, he wondered why he was getting so sexually aroused by the fat man. The fat man slowly morphed into a fat woman. The change was only explicit in the region of its groin, although the shape of the body did change a little and the breasts grew much larger. She said, "Ah, you worry about the woman with the spirit of a man inside. She has a little of the two sides in one. The idea that such a one exists sounds familiar to me." Oscar stared at the fat woman as a smile spread across her face. It dawned on him what the Two-Sided One was suggesting and he laughed, "Okay, so I can see where there are some similarities." "I think the God favors her. She has a warrior spirit," commented the fat woman. "So what about Debbie?" The fat woman changed back into a man, the clitoris growing into a rather large cock. Rubbing his cock, the fat man said, "I think the Goddess favors her. She's a little more nurturing that the other." "Am I supposed to choose between the two?" asked Oscar putting into words his greatest fear. "I would have given you a hermaphrodite, but you don't have enough of a feminine side to make it work," said the Two-Sided One. He rubbed his cock a few more strokes and added, "You'd never fully appreciate such a present. It's a pity." "Huh?" "You'll be called to service soon and that will end your problems. Until then, enjoy yourself," answered the fat man. His cock erupted as the meadow faded from around him. Oscar found that he was standing in the middle of the Carter Glade dressed in a blue robe that was wet with his semen. He felt very small and vulnerable. The Two-Sided One was a mysterious power that left him feeling very insignificant. He puzzled over the parting words of the Two-Sided One. A sinking feeling came over him as he realized there was only one interpretation that made sense. The message had been that he going to die on the next mission and that he was to enjoy both women while he could. It was with a heavy heart that he turned towards the house and left the glade. The idea that he was to die soon had put all of his problems into a new perspective. He paused to watch a small wren perched on a branch. The small bird appeared to study him for a moment and then flew away. Shaking his head, he returned to walking. "What are you doing here?" The voice startled Oscar and he spun around to identify the source. He was relieved to see Oliver. He replied, "Sorry, I thought you were someone else for a moment." "Who?" asked Oliver expecting to learn that the Druid was waiting for Georgia. "The God," replied Oscar. Surprised by the answer, Oliver asked, "Why?" "I'd rather not say," answered Oscar. He didn't want to say that he was hoping that the God had put in an appearance to let him know that he wasn't going to die. Oliver examined Oscar for a moment wondering why the man had deflected his question. After a minute, he decided that the Druid had come out to the glade to argue his case with the Gods and Goddesses. He asked, "Where's Debbie and Georgia?" "They are at the house engaging in girl talk." Oliver joked, "Uh oh, that's always a bad sign." "Of what?" asked Oscar taking the joke seriously. It suddenly struck him that Georgia was going to leave him so that he could settle for Debbie. "The usual kind of thing. The women are right and the man is wrong," replied Oliver still joking. "I didn't do anything." Oliver laughed at the comment and was about to make another joke when he realized that Oscar was taking his comments seriously. He explained, "I'm just kidding you." "Oh," replied Oscar. "You've got to lighten up a little and enjoy yourself," remarked Oliver. The words reminded Oscar of what the Two-Sided One had said. He was supposed to enjoy himself. As a weak smile came to his face, he said, "I guess I have been taking things a little too seriously lately." Oliver examined Oscar, calling upon his gift as he looked at the man. There were two golden threads leading away from him towards the Biggers' house. It was immediately obvious what that meant. As understanding crashed upon him, he exclaimed, "You love them both!" "Pardon?" "You love them both." "I still don't understand what you're talking about." Oliver came over to Oscar and put an arm around his shoulder. Turning, he led Oscar down the path towards Ed's house. He explained, "There are two threads of love leading away from you towards the house over there. You are in love with Georgia and Debbie." Even though it was in bad taste to question the gifts of another Druid, Oscar blurted out, "No way." "I suspected as much, but until now it wasn't clear. There are two threads leading away from you. They lead to different women," replied Oliver. Just to make sure that Oscar understood what he was saying, he added, "Two threads means two people." Oscar walked along without saying a word as he tried to put everything together. He didn't know how he felt about Debbie. It was clear that there was an attraction, but so far that had been purely physical. Without realizing that he was talking aloud, he said, "He suggested that Georgia was favored by the God and that Debbie was favored by the Goddess." "Who is it that said that?" "The Two-Sided One," answered Oscar as he thought back to the conversation that he had with the fat man. "When did that happen?" Oscar realized what he had said and answered, "I'd rather not talk about it." Understanding the reluctance of talking about encounters with the Gods and Goddesses, Oliver chose not to pursue the topic. He changed the topic with an abruptness that was almost shocking. "I think that it would be okay if you and Georgia interact a little more at the school. You know, eat lunches together and visit each other." "Thanks, but I fear that I'm going to have to choose between her and Debbie." "Why?" "I can't string them both along," replied Oscar surprised at the Grand Druid. "Who said anything about stringing them both along? It's clear that you love them both, so just love them both. John Carter had three wives and two husbands." That option had never occurred to Oscar and the idea of having both women didn't seem too outrageous. The problem was that he didn't really know that much about Debbie to know if his feelings for her were honest. Was it really love or lust? Oliver had told him that it was love, but he wasn't sure. How could he be sure of anything when all of his interactions with her included a raging erection? He couldn't and that was what prevented him from touching Debbie. "I shall have to think about it." "Other than how Debbie and Georgia will react to the suggestion, what else is there to think about?" asked Oliver. "I didn't even think of that," answered Oscar. It dawned on him that he wasn't alone in this dilemma. Oliver stopped and looked at Oscar for a minute. He said, "You aren't feeling much like a Druid at the moment, are you?" "Not really," answered Oscar. He felt that, as a Druid, he should know how to react in situations such as this. He never felt this uncertain in a battlefield. "You think that you are supposed to be perfect." "Yes, I guess I do," replied Oscar. "Are you a God?" "No way!" "Give yourself a break. You're a human being that serves the Gods and Goddesses. That doesn't make you perfect," replied Oliver. With a wink and nod, he added, "That makes you a Druid. Nothing more than that." Oscar laughed when he realized that the Grand Druid had been completely correct. He had felt very human after his discussion with the Two-Sided One. He found his sense of humor returning to him. Shaking his head, he said, "I better head back to the house. I'm sure that the women have constructed their plans and the plot is ready to be hatched." "It's never good to keep a lady waiting," agreed Oliver as he turned towards the college. He paused and looked back with wry expression. He added, "I've learned that's true in more ways than one." "Thanks," replied Oscar as he turned to head towards the house. He walked along the path whistling a tune without realizing it. Looking at the pair of women sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, Oscar knew that they had come to a decision. He sat down without saying a word and looked at Georgia. She smiled at him, but it was a weak and uncertain smile. He looked over at Debbie. She frowned, but it was a weak and uncertain frown. He thought about how two different expressions could both convey the same sentiment. Breaking the silence, Georgia said, "We need to know." Oscar looked down at his crotch expecting, but not finding, an erection. Its absence was as remarkable as its presence had been. He commented, "I don't have an erection." The comment struck both women out of the blue. Georgia was the first to reaction and asked, "What do you mean, you don't have an erection?" Oscar stood and pointed to the front of his robe. His robe wasn't tented, but there was a large stain on it. It took Georgia a minute to realize that the stain was the consequence of an orgasm. She asked, "Did you run into anyone while you were out walking around?" "Oliver," answered Oscar. Debbie smiled at the answer and asked, "Is he responsible for the stain?" Oscar looked down and noticed the stain. Blushing, he answered, "Oh. That was from meeting the Two-Sided One." "Really?" "Really?" Oscar noticed how the two women said that same thing, but expressed completely different meanings. Georgia sounded awed while Debbie sounded skeptical. They looked at each other. Georgia knew that Debbie didn't understand how he could say that while Debbie was sure that he was trying to put something over on them. Wanting to confront him, Debbie asked, "How do you know that it was the Two-Sided One?" Oscar looked at the center of the table and mumbled, "I met him before." When Debbie was about to question him further, Georgia cut in, "Don't ask." Debbie looked over at Georgia and said, "He's putting us on." Oscar shook his head unhappy about her reaction. It would all be so easy to explain if he was allowed to say that he was already a Druid. For now, he couldn't use the truth as a means to eliminate the tension. Instead, he said, "If Oliver is willing and you ask him, he can explain it all to you. I can't talk about it." Georgia nodded and said, "It's true, Debbie. It's rather hard to put one over on me when it comes to this subject. My sister is a Druid. When he says that he's seen the Two-Sided One, I believe him." "Oh." The three of them were quiet. Oscar realized that he was standing with his arms spread and, feeling awkward, returned to his seat. Debbie decided that she would believe him at least until she knew better. She asked, "So what did he say?" Oscar didn't know how to answer that question. He didn't want to discuss the belief that he was going to die soon. Instead, he answered, "He told me to grow up and to enjoy myself." The answer brought a smile to Georgia's face and an expression of total confusion to Debbie's face. As Georgia laughed, Debbie asked, "Grow up and enjoy yourself? Why would a God say that?" "The Two-Sided One is both a God and a Goddess," answered Oscar trying to clarify the nature of that particular deity. He smiled at her reaction to his words and then added, "I guess that I've been treating my problems as though they were the most important things in this world. Children do that and he was reminding me to grow up. In the grand scheme of things, my problems really don't amount to much. In light of that, I should allow myself to enjoy what pleasures I can." Georgia picked up on what Oscar had answered. She commented, "I take it that we are the pleasures that he was suggesting that you enjoy." "Well, he did say that you were favored by the God and she was favored by the Goddess," replied Oscar with a grin. Debbie asked, "So who does the Two-Sided One favor?" "A hermaphrodite, although he did say that he appreciated George." Georgia blushed at the comment understanding exactly what Oscar meant by it. Her blush went unnoticed by Debbie since she was trying to make sense of the mention of the hermaphrodite. After a minute, she shook her head and asked, "So which one are you supposed to pick?" "I'll tell you what Oliver suggested," he answered while watching her face. Her eyebrows rose at the idea that the Grand Druid was taking such an interest in two first year students. Seeing that he had her attention, he said, "If I love you both, then I should just love you both." To say that both women were stunned would be an understatement. Georgia kept opening and closing her mouth as if she were a goldfish. Debbie sat with her mouth and eyes wide open as she stared at him. He grinned at the image of the two of them in bed with him. When neither one of them snapped out of their trance, he said, "It is an interesting suggestion." "I'm not into women," replied Georgia with a frosty edge to her voice when she noticed the grin on his face. "Same here," replied Debbie. She looked over at Georgia apologetically. She knew that a lot of the female students experimented with having sex with other women, but the thought of doing that bothered her tremendously. Oscar shrugged off their comments and replied, "He didn't say that you had to have sex with each other." Debbie, crossing her arms and glaring at him, gave voice to what both women were thinking when she said, "But you were thinking about it." ------- Chapter 8 The first year dining room was crowded, but exceptionally quiet for lunchtime. Finals for the second quarter were approaching and everyone was thinking about the upcoming tests. The waitress had just delivered lunch to Oscar and his roommates. Lisa asked, "So where are Debbie and Georgia?" "Not sure," answered Oscar as he eyed his tuna fish salad sandwich. He lifted a slice of bread and saw the pile of onions laid across the tuna salad. He nodded in pleasure when he saw that they had added the onions as he had requested. The cook thought it was a major crime to put onions on a tuna fish salad sandwich. Mike frowned at Oscar and asked, "So what is happening with you guys?" "Nothing," answered Oscar in a curt tone of voice. He didn't like to think about the strained relationship that had emerged among the three of them. Somehow, he had become the third wheel in the relationship. "I'm serious." "So am I. Nothing is happening," replied Oscar. It wasn't clear to him if they were upset that he wouldn't choose between them or that they believed he wanted them to turn into lesbians. It didn't really matter anymore why they were upset. He hadn't been to bed with Georgia since the weekend when Debbie had come to the house to visit. Debbie had never touched him in a sexual manner. If it hadn't been for the willingness of others to relieve the sexual tensions that he developed, he would have gone crazy by this time. Sharon swallowed the bite of her sandwich that she had been chewing and looked across the table at him. In a harsher tone of voice than she had intended to use, she said, "Well, I wish you would stop doing nothing. I'm getting tired of fucking you while you're dreaming about them." Partially agreeing with her complaint, Lisa nodded her head in support. Mike had heard that complaint too many times to let it pass without remark. He countered, "You know better than that, Sharon. He's not thinking about others when he's in bed with you." Wanting time to consider a response, Oscar took a bite of his sandwich. As he chewed, he considered Sharon's complaint in an attempt to decide if it accurately represented how she felt about their sessions the past few months. After swallowing, he grunted, "It doesn't matter what I'm thinking when I'm in bed with her. It's what she's thinking that's important. I apologize if I gave you cause to think that." Uncomfortable, Sharon shifted in her seat and replied, "I know that it's not true. You just long for them so much that I can't help feeling like you'd rather be with either of them than with me." Greg had sat down at the table in time to hear the last exchange. Unaware of the earlier thread of the discussion, he said, "Everyone can see that he loves those two, but they don't seem to return his feelings to the same degree. Sometimes I wonder if they don't love each other more than him." Tired of being the center of conversation, Oscar picked up a potato chip and examined it. He wondered how the chip manufacturers managed to peel all of the potatoes that passed through their plants. He knew it had to be a machine of some kind, but he couldn't imagine what it would look like. Even as he thought about it, he knew that he was just trying to find something other than Georgia and Debbie to think about. He sighed. Knowing that he wouldn't get an answer from Oscar, Mike turned to his two other roommates and asked, "Are they lovers?" Gabby and Abby sat down at the table in time to hear Mike's question. Abby asked, "Who are you talking about?" "Georgia and Debbie," answered Sharon wondering how Oscar's love life, or more accurately his lack of a love life, had become so important to the group. She decided that it was because Oscar was always helping them through their problems, but that none of them seemed to be able to help him with his. With a knowing wink, Gabby asserted, "They aren't. If they were into women, I'd know." Her comment was greeted with chuckles around the table. Over the past few months, Gabby had spread her sexual wings and flown far and wide. In the process, she had sampled the pleasures of just about every woman that enjoyed same sex loving. Mike turned to Oscar and asked, "So what is the deal between them?" Ignoring the question, Oscar held up another potato chip and said, "I'm going to try and get a tour of a potato chip factory." "Why on earth would you want to visit a place where they make potato chips?" asked Mike jarred by the unexpected change in topic. Shrugging, Oscar said, "I want to see how they peel all of those potatoes." Recognizing that Oscar was changing the subject on purpose, Mike said, "Hey, don't change the subject. What is the deal between Debbie and Georgia?" "Why don't you ask them?" answered Oscar. The discussion had nearly destroyed his appetite. Mike looked down at the remains of his lunch and, with a suddenness that startled everyone at the table, stood up. Now that he had permission from Oscar to talk to the two women on his roommate's behalf, he decided to take advantage of it. As he started to walk off, he said, "I will." Everyone except Oscar, who appeared to be more interested in his sandwich, watched Mike walk off. Sharon commented, "Has anyone else noticed that he's gotten a lot more aggressive lately?" Picking at her salad, Lisa looked over at her roommate and answered, "Yes, I've noticed a lot of changes in the people around here. Mike's gotten a lot more assertive. You've gotten a lot softer in your build. I've lost a lot of weight. Abby has become more nurturing. Gabby has become a lot more sexually liberated. The only one that hasn't seemed to change is Oscar." Mike, for most of his life, never asserted himself because of his low self-esteem over the small size of his cock. His self-esteem problems disappeared after having been to bed, and satisfying, more than twenty women. His studies had suffered for a while, but now his grades were higher than ever before. He had become more engaged with the people around him. The ten pounds gained by Sharon had all settled in the right spots. The outline of her body had softened and become more feminine. The tall lanky basketball player physique that she had developed by working her body beyond her fat reserves was gone. Standing straight had thrust her breasts out making her look even more voluptuous. Greg thought she was the most attractive woman walking the earth. Losing close to forty pounds had changed Lisa's beach ball figure into something more like an hourglass figure. She still had a ways to go before anyone would beg her to be a fashion model, but it was the best she had looked since she was eight. Males had even started looking at her with expressions that weren't full of disgust. She had become aware of the fact that she was interested in men and women. Until coming to the school, Abby had never been very nurturing. It wasn't that she was cold, it was that she was reserved. She was raised in a household that didn't demonstrate affection easily. She had never been the kind of woman that hugged others. Before coming to the college, people often noted that her hugs were stiff awkward acts that left everyone feeling uncomfortable. In the short time at the college, that had changed. Now, she was quick to hug and she was a great hugger. On the few occasions when others ended up in the infirmary, she was always there comforting them and cheering them up. After her conversation with Oscar, Gabby had dropped her rules about 'good girls' and embraced sex with a passion. After she had slept with a half dozen of the men, she had gone on to experiment with women. She had enjoyed her times with women far more than she had thought possible. It was with some delight that she now accepted invitations from both sexes. Surprised by Lisa's comment that he was unchanged since entering school, Oscar looked over at Lisa. Living there, while hiding the fact that he was a Druid, had left him much more reticent than ever in his life. Even as a geek, he had been honest and open about his feelings. He said, "I've changed." "Not really. Sure your love life sucks, but you're always there to help anyone with a problem. You're quick with a joke to ease a situation. When something needs to be done, you get very serious and business like," replied Lisa. Sharon nodded her agreement and added, "You're still a man of mystery, too. It's like we can all feel this deep dark secret is lurking beneath the surface." "You can say that again," remarked Gabby. "The Druids know the secret," commented Greg. He had seen too many cases where Oscar talked with the Druids like an equal. The refrain that Oliver prevented him from talking about things had been repeated many times. It only made him even more mysterious. Oscar wasn't paying attention to the discussion. Instead, he was staring at the door to the dining room as though expecting something to happen there. His hand went to his chest as if he could still feel the weight of the medallion there. The others at the table noticed his stare and turned to see what was happening. Suddenly, a force of nature entered the room. Ed Biggers stepped through the doorway and the sheer power of his angry presence immediately captured the attention of everyone in the room. It became so quiet that it was possible to hear a pin drop. Seven red robes clustered behind him as he stopped to look around the room. Oscar gasped when he recognized Jennifer Wilson, Georgia's sister, standing behind Ed. "It's a black robe and he looks pissed," observed Greg as he looked at Ed Biggers. He could feel his heart beating in his chest and chills ran down his spine. It wasn't fear that he felt, but the concentrated energy that seemed to gather around the angry Druid. As if Greg's comment had attracted Ed's attention, the black robed Druid marched directly for their table. Before Ed reached the table, he shouted, "Those bastards took Fusion Foundation rescue workers hostage. I want them back." Looking up at Ed, Oscar nodded his agreement knowing that he was being called upon to help. He was wondering how Oliver would react when Georgia, followed by Debbie, slipped out from behind the wall of red robes. Oscar stared at the load Georgia was carrying in her hands. She held his red robes, his cloak, and the box containing his medallion. From across the room, he could feel the medallion calling out to him. When Georgia reached Ed, he picked up the robe and threw it to Oscar and said, "Put this on. You've been called back to service." Recalling the words given him by the Two-Sided One, Oscar was convinced that this was his final service. Getting up from the table, he moved to stand in front of Georgia. He slipped on his robe feeling that by doing so that he was accepting his death. Despite the morbid thoughts, it felt good to be wearing his robe. Georgia opened the box containing the medallion and held the box out to him. Before he had a chance to reach out for it, the medallion flew from the box and settled around his neck. The chain had miraculously been repaired. Everyone in the dining room gasped at the sight. Having seen the medallion fly to Oscar, Ed commented, "Only a God or a Goddess can put on a medallion or remove it." For Georgia, the sight of Oscar in his robe and wearing the medallion brought back memories of paintball. As memories of other good times came over her, tears welled up in her eyes. The situation with Debbie suddenly seemed petty. It would be better to share him than lose him. It would even be better to have sex with Debbie than to lose him. She said, "It's good to see you dressed like your true self." "Thanks," replied Oscar as he reached out and took his cloak from Georgia. He wanted to say more, but knew that it would be unfair to her for him to tell her that he was about to die. He slipped the cloak over his shoulders, feeling its comforting embrace. He reached out and stroked her cheek. In a very soft voice he said, "I love you so much." Knowing that she was speaking for both of the women, Georgia replied, "We love you too." Glancing over at Debbie, he added, "I love you too." Debbie had been puzzled when Georgia had collected the robe, cloak, and box. Until Ed had given the robe to Oscar, she hadn't understood what they signified. She was stunned at having learned the truth about Oscar. This put everything she had believed into a new light and one that she would have to discuss with Georgia. After sharing a quick glance with the other woman, she said, "We'll be waiting for you to return." The comment tore at Oscar. He didn't want them waiting for him only to get news that he had been killed. Unable to hold it back, he said, "The Two-Sided One told me that with this mission all of my current problems would be solved. I can only assume that I won't be coming back." Ed barked a laugh and said, "You tell what you believe in voice laden with truth, but what you believe is false." "Huh?" "He didn't say you were going to die, only that your current problems would end," answered Ed as he looked around the room impatiently. He was waiting for someone else to show up before leaving, but the desire to move was strong. Although he had very strong personal reasons for wanting to rescue the Fusion Foundation workers, he was being motivated to act by the Gods and Goddesses. The Two-sided One had dictated bringing Oscar, thereby undermining Oliver's restrictions on Oscar. Georgia held her hand over her mouth as she thought about what Oscar had said. Debbie was in a state of shock at the idea that he could know his death was coming, but would say nothing about it. His words left them feeling guilty. They had punished him out of anger at him for not choosing between them, not knowing that he didn't expect to live. Oscar didn't notice as he was still processing the information that Ed had given him. A few minutes later, Oliver strode over to Oscar. Holding out the pistol that Oscar had brought with him, the Grand Druid said, "Here's your gun. Give it back to me when you return." Seeing the gun snapped Oscar out of his thoughts. As soon as he took the gun, Ed said, "The helicopter is waiting." Giving into the forces motivating him to act, Ed turned and left the room while Oscar added the pistol to a pocket of his robe. The weight felt comforting. Patting the other pockets, he decided that he would pick up a couple of MREs at the earliest possible moment. Once he had those, he'd be ready for anything. As the other red robes followed Ed out of the room, Oscar paused to look at his classmates that were scattered around the room. Every eye in the place was on him. For the only time since the beginning of his stay at college, Oscar felt like himself. Taking a deep breath, a very relaxed and happy Oscar said, "I must go." The noise level in the room was almost loud enough to deafen a person by the time that Oscar left. Oliver was left in the room trying to restore order. Even after ten minutes, the room had not returned to a semblance of normalcy. He knew that the students would have to work through this on their own. Giving up, he left the room wondering what would be the long-term consequence of Oscar's very public call to duty by Ed Biggers. Even before Ed had shown up at the college, he had known that Oscar was going. He shook his head at the idea that a dozen Druids had shown up to support Ed. Only Operation Druid's Revenge had involved more Druids than that. At the table, Lisa looked at the others gathered around the table. In a weak voice, she said, "I guess we discovered his deep dark secret." "It explains a lot of things about him," commented Abby thinking back to the amazing fight between Oscar and Ling. Oscar was closer to the Druids on campus than any other student. They didn't intimidate him like the other students. "A red robe. He serves the God," commented Greg still trying to come to grips with the events that he had witnessed. Irritated, Gabby looked up at Debbie and Georgia. She charged, "You knew." Georgia nodded her head and said, "Yes. I've known him for a long time. I met him shortly after he returned from Afghanistan when he was known as the Renegade Warrior." That revelation shocked Debbie as she stared at the woman that had become her closest friend. Neither Georgia nor Oscar had even hinted that he was a Druid. Their explanation about his discussion with the Two-Sided One made sense in light of that revelation. Of course Georgia would believe that he had talked with that specific deity. Who would doubt a Druid when he talked about the Gods and Goddesses? In a tone of voice that conveyed her hurt, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me?" "The Grand Druid ordered that we could not tell anyone," answered Georgia. Gabby glared at Georgia and said, "We wouldn't have said anything." Looking over at Gabby, Cole commented, "But you get mad at her for doing exactly what you would have promised. Interesting." The comment struck Gabby like a slap to the face. Realizing that she was right, she apologized, "I'm sorry, Georgia." "No need. It seems that a lot of people have been keeping secrets," replied Georgia. She was hurt that Oscar had not mentioned what he had understood from his discussion with the Two-Sided One. She looked over at Debbie understanding how the young woman felt about the information that they had kept from her. After taking Debbie's arm, she said, "You and I need to talk." Oscar sat on one of the bench seats of the transport plane staring at the floor thinking about Georgia and Debbie. The vibrations of the plane taking off bounced him around in his seat. The jolts and bumps kept breaking his train of thought. After one spectacular bump, he looked down at his wrist and realized that he was still wearing the bracelet with his room key on it. The reminder made him wonder what would happen when he returned to the college. It would be horrible if his fellow students changed the way they treated him. When the plane reached cruising altitude, Jennifer sat down next to him and nudged him in the side with her elbow to get his attention. Looking over at her, Oscar said, "Hello, Jennifer." "Hi Oscar," replied Jennifer, "it seems that my sister was a little irritated with you." "A little?" he asked in a tone of voice that emphasized that his question was an understatement of what Georgia actually felt. "We didn't have much of a chance to talk, but she did tell me that you have been lusting after another woman," commented Jennifer. Defensive, Oscar retorted, "I didn't have any choice in how my body reacted to Debbie." "Hey, I'm not upset with you. You haven't done anything to harm anyone. It is their jealousy that's the problem," replied Jennifer. She had been afraid that her sister would react that way the first time he found a woman to whom he was attracted. Druids tended to be very secure and that security often attracted others, some of whom were very attractive. Oscar was human and that meant he would be attracted to some of the finer specimens. It wasn't a male thing that he would be attracted to women and weak in resisting the temptations presented by those interested in him. She attracted men and was frequently tempted by them. She didn't have a significant other in her life so she was free to give into her temptations. It was a sign of her honesty that she knew that when a man did enter her life for good that she would still be tempted and would likely succumb to them. "I love Georgia so much," said Oscar. Tired of thinking about the subject, he looked around the plane at the other Druids relaxing on the bench seats. Most of the red robes were men, although there were three women. He wondered what his role would be in the upcoming operation. In fact, he wondered what the operation was going to be. Oscar didn't have long to wonder as Ed stood and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Once he was sure that everyone was looking at him, Ed announced, "A little less than twenty-four hours ago, terrorists kidnapped ten of the employees of the Fusion Foundation. These ten people were in Turkey helping to dig out survivors of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake." Everyone on the plane gave Ed his or her full attention. Oscar could feel the desire to hunt terrorists rising and couldn't contain a growl that escaped his lips. In concert with the growls that had arisen from everyone in the plane, Ed continued, "Twelve hours ago, the kidnappers released a tape in which they were threatening to behead all ten of the hostages unless the Fusion Foundation gave them twenty million dollars. They are scheduled to be executed in two days." That anyone would behead a human being was barbaric. The idea that they would do that to someone who was helping others was abhorrent. Oscar found himself touching the pocket that held his gun. Others had similar reactions and touched the weapons they carried. After looking around with a feral grin on his face, Ed said, "We know exactly where the hostages are being kept. Three of them are in Turkey, three are in Iraq, and four are in Iran. The appropriate governments will do nothing about the situation for reasons that are their own. I believe that they fear destabilizing their political hold on the people. By the time we are done, that is going to change." Oscar wondered what Ed could have planned that would change the minds of three governments that feared taking on terrorists. He glanced over at Jennifer and noticed that she was wearing a smile that would have chilled even the most hardened terrorist. Whatever she had planned, it was going to be spectacular. "Jennifer is our strategist and she's worked out a plan on how to meet with certain leaders of those three countries. When all is said and done, you will be leading their troops on raids against terrorist strongholds and the hostages will be released. The particular organization responsible for this heinous act will no longer exist," continued Ed. He paused and looked around at the Druids seated there. "How do we know where they are being kept?" asked Penny Vinter. Oscar leaned over to Jennifer and asked, "Who's she?" "She's a weapons specialist. She occasionally does black ops for the CIA. You can't have anyone better on your side in a firefight," answered Jennifer. She wondered how Oscar would get along with Penny, but kept the question to herself. "Annette Baker is watching over them," answered Ed. Oscar was about to ask about Annette Baker, but Jennifer anticipated his question and said, "She's a servant of the Two-Sided One. She has the gift of far-sight. She's sitting back in the states watching over the hostages right now." Oscar nodded although he wasn't sure what far-sight was. The information made him realize that there were more Druids involved than were sitting in the plane. That alone was sufficient to send a shiver down his spine. This was big and seemed to be getting bigger the more he learned about it. Ed paced up and down the center of the plane for a second before he said, "There will be three teams." Looking over at Oscar, he said, "Oscar, Penny, and myself shall be the government contact team. We'll be sneaking into some of the most secure places in the world - the homes of some of the most paranoid power hungry men that live. Annette Baker will give us real-time Intel as we make our way in." Oscar looked over at Penny and exchanged a nod with her. His style of warfare was patient, waiting for the opportunity to strike and then going in to strike hard. He wondered what style of warfare was her specialty. Black Ops usually meant getting into position, moving in, taking out the objective, and getting out with lots of planning and practice beforehand. Ed said, "The second team shall consist of Jennifer, Annette, and Caesar. They will provide strategy, intelligence, and logistics. Listen to them, they are very good at what they do. Jennifer shall give you directions on what you are to do. Annette will let you know about any surprises that might be planned. Caesar will make sure that the material you need to do the job will be where you need it." Watching Jennifer and a Hispanic man seated across from her exchanged nods, Oscar realized he knew very few of his fellow Druids. This was a chance for him to rectify that situation. Ed turned to the remaining red robes and said, "The rest of you constitute the third team. While most of you aren't associated with the military, you have military backgrounds. You'll be directing soldiers, probably very poorly trained soldiers who are unwilling to follow orders. Your task is to motivate them." Ed stopped pacing and asked, "Are there any questions?" After a minute of silence, Ed said, "Teams two and three should move to the front of the plane and talk. The first team will meet at the back of the plane." Once it was clear that Ed had finished his public announcement, Oscar and Penny moved to the back of the plane and sat together. While Ed continued to talk to the other teams, Oscar said, "Jennifer told me you were Black Ops." "She told me you trained our anti-terrorism forces in Afghanistan," replied Penny with a smile as she examined the small man. Jennifer had also told her that he was the Renegade Warrior. She remembered when he had totally ravaged the terror network in Iran. As a result of his actions, she had spent a month on a runway waiting for the call to pull him out of Iran. Since they never had a clue as to his identity, where he was, and where he'd be next, the call never came until he had returned to his unit. By then, the need for the mission was over. Looking at Oscar, she could hardly believe that this little guy was the Renegade Warrior. He grinned at the look she was giving him and said, "I know. I'm small." "So is a stick of C-4," she replied with a laugh. "I fear that our styles are too different to work together well," observed Oscar. "We're both hunters. I don't think that'll be a problem," she countered. "I've never taken the action into a city," said Oscar. "Don't worry about that. We're going to be working with Annette. She's absolutely amazing. She'll be watching the whole area from Virginia and talking to us over the satellite phone. You might not believe this, but she will tell us where everyone is and we'll walk unseen right up to our destination," explained Penny. Oscar raised an eyebrow in disbelief. He asked, "We'll walk in?" Penny smirked as she pointed over at Ed and then said, "He's coming with us. I don't think he even knows the word stealth. We'll walk in or we'll never get in." Looking over at Ed, Oscar realized that Penny was right. Ed noticed the attention and left the front of the plane to join them at the back. Sitting down next to Penny, Ed asked, "You two getting to know each other?" Smiling at him, Penny answered, "If you mean that in a Biblical sense, then I have to tell you that we haven't gotten that far yet. If you mean in the common sense of the word, then we have." Ed laughed at her answer. Since he had finished putting together this team, he could relax and let the team members do their jobs. He answered, "I've got a few things to discuss and then I'll let you get onto the Biblical knowing stuff." "Okay," answered Oscar looking thoughtful. In as solemn of a voice as he could muster, he said, "I'll see to it that we do a little of the Biblical knowing stuff." The delayed grin on his face let Penny know that he was joking. Ed laughed and said, "We're going to meet with some of these so-called leaders. A few of them are supporting this terrorist organization. Once we get in, I'll question the leaders and find out their true loyalties. When I point at one as if I'm shooting him, you take him out with the stun gun. If anyone draws a weapon, kill them." Penny nodded while Oscar stared at him in shock at becoming an executioner. Noticing the look Oscar was giving Ed, Penny said, "We aren't talking about taking out a couple of pussy cats. These guys have dirty hands. Some of them have killed their own kids when they decided the kids were trying to grab too much power. If they pull a weapon, they're going to use it." Thinking about it, he realized that she was correct. These were dangerous men who ruled through fear, intimidation, and torture. He didn't want to think of himself as an assassin, but he had already come to grips with taking lethal action against strong men who harmed the weak. He grunted, "Okay." "Once we have the leaders sorted out, then I'll get to work on convincing them to assign their forces to us." Oscar asked, "Will you need a translator?" Ed looked away for a second and then answered, "No." Sure that there was a story behind the odd reaction, Oscar chose not to pursue it. He did notice that Penny looked confused by Ed's reaction to the question. She started to ask a question about it, but backed off. "What... will we be doing while you are convincing them to support us?" "You'll make sure that I'm not disturbed," answered Ed with a wink. Suddenly serious, he said, "We have to make sure that people who help people don't become victims of evil. I've seen evil before and, despite years of experience with evil people, their absolute callousness and disregard for human beings always surprises me. Imagine kidnapping people that are helping to dig out victims of an earthquake." Oscar looked away and thought about the captain who had been skinned alive. The man had never understood the total disregard for human life and dignity that was characteristic of the terrorists. He commented, "Beheadings, torture, random bombings, and rape. Evil men see them as legitimate tools by which to promote their grab for power." "It makes you wonder why they do it," said Penny. She'd had several experiences with terrorists, including rescuing civilians held by terrorists, destroying laboratories intent on producing weapons of mass destruction, and performing other acts to keep the world safe. "It's a perverted sexual desire," answered Ed with a sigh. "Huh?" asked Oscar surprised by the description. "Every time I've dealt with an evil person, they describe the pleasure they got out of it in sexual terms. Serial killers, serial rapists, terrorists, and petty dictators all talk about the nearly orgasmic rush they got out of their actions. I've come to the conclusion that they can't experience sexual pleasure the way that other people can. Their sexual release comes from the destruction of another human being," explained Ed as he stared at the floor of the plane. "That's sick," said Penny. "No, that's evil," replied Ed. He sighed as he added, "And it is contagious. One evil person can produce hundreds of evil people." ------- Chapter 9 While many of the people in Turkey are Muslim, the democratic government of Turkey was secular. This meant that politicians had to run for election periodically and worked hard to preserve their reputations. On the world stage, and inside Turkey because of the current activities associated with the earthquake, few organizations had the news capital of the Fusion Foundation. As head of the Fusion Foundation, the doors of the Turkish government opened for Ed Biggers. Followed by members of the press, Ed walked through the halls of the Turkish Government with little resistance. Using his truth sense, Ed was able to move through the bureaucracy with ease through the expedient method of exposing criminal acts of bribery, extortion, and embezzlement. As a result of his passage through various departments of state, the government of Turkey was suddenly much more honest. By the time he reached the upper level of government, individuals were very willing to help him with military support in tackling the terrorist organizations. Oscar and Penny had followed behind Ed and only had to take care of one problem, a minor bureaucrat who decided that going to jail for murder was no worse than going to jail for extortion. Penny had put him down with a single blow to the throat when he had charged into the room waving a gun at Ed. The act had pointed out that the Druids were not defenseless. It did not point out that Penny knew that the man was coming because of a warning by Annette. It was a very subdued President, Prime Minister, Chief of General Staff, Minister of Defense and Commanders of the Army, Navy, and Airforce who met Ed at the Çankaya Presidential Compound. All of the men in that room had spent the previous hour getting briefed about him and the Druid organization. The information they had received about what the Druids were capable of doing was very frightening. After the appropriate introductions were made, Ed sat in a chair in front of the President while Oscar and Jennifer took positions next to the security guards along the wall. The two Druids had paused to examine the guards and then dismissed them out of hand. Ed took the opportunity to study the men in the room. The President glanced over at the two red robed Druids leaning against the wall, recognizing them from his briefing. It was rumored that the small man was responsible for the deaths of over a thousand terrorists. If the small man wanted, he could probably defeat half the men they chose to put in a battlefield. He was frightening enough, but the woman was the one who terrified him. It was rumored she could walk through walls. She had penetrated some of the most secure installations in the middle east with devastating effect. The Iranians were still wondering how she managed to take out their Nuclear Program in a single night. He shuddered at the thought of having her so close to him. Turning to look at Ed Biggers, the President found himself staring at the medallion nestled on the man's chest. The gold medallion appeared to glow against the black robe. The briefing had described the Druids as a modern version of the Magi of ancient times. After meeting the Druid, he could believe it. In English, he asked, "Dr. Biggers, what is it that you want the government of Turkey to do?" "I would like the military to take out the terrorist organization responsible for kidnapping the employees of the Fusion Foundation," answered Ed speaking Turkish and looking the President in the eye. Oscar raised an eyebrow when he heard Ed speaking Turkish. As the men in the room shifted uncomfortably, the President replied in Turkish, "It's not that simple." "It is that simple," countered Ed again in Turkish. "We are still investigating the abduction," interjected the Prime Minister. "We know all that is necessary to take care of the problem. We know who did it, where they are, and how well armed they are. All we need is your army to go where we tell them and to do as we tell them," countered Ed. "You can't know all that," declared the Prime Minister with a sinking feeling that Ed did know. Staring at the floor, Ed was silent for a moment and then smiled. Looking over at the Prime Minister, he said, "At this moment, three men are headed to this room. They will reach us in about a minute. One is a security guard with a semi-automatic holstered under his coat. One is a pushing a cart loaded with snacks. There are ten small chocolate finger cakes, eighteen stuffed dates, a bowl of dried figs, and other treats whose names I don't know. The other man is pushing a cart with coffee and tea. The cups are very elaborately decorated in blue and gold." Fifteen seconds after Ed had finished talking, there was a knock on the door and, after a security man opened the door, three men entered the room. It was exactly as Ed had stated. The Prime Minister couldn't help but count the number of cakes and stuffed dates on the one cart. White faced when the counts agreed with the prediction, he asked, "How did you know?" "I am a Druid," answered Ed as though that was a sufficient answer. It appeared that it was sufficient for the men in the room. Looking the President, he asked, "So do I have your army?" Impressed by the demonstration, the President sat back in his chair and considered the Druid sitting in front of him. His intelligence agents had known that Ed was a human lie detector, but he had not been told the man could speak Turkish or that he could see through walls. He answered, "Yes, but the army must remain under the command of our officers." Ed stood and handed a slip of paper to the President. Without resuming his seat, he said, "Good. Have the person you place in charge of this action call the number on that paper. Jennifer will coordinate everything." The man looked at the slip of paper and then up at Ed who was moving towards the door. Surprised at the name on the paper, he asked, "Jennifer Wilson will coordinate the movements of our army?" "Yes," said Ed with a smile as he paused on his way to the door. He reached over to one of the carts and picked up a finger cake and popped it into his mouth. He was half tempted to ask for the recipe. Visibly shaken, the Army General in the room asked, "The Jennifer Wilson? The Druid who consults with the American Army? The woman who coordinated eighteen simultaneous attacks against the terrorist camps inside the West Bank for Israel?" "The same," replied Ed with a nod of his head. Not sure that he wanted to hear the answer, the Prime Minister asked, "How many Druids are involved in this?" "Fourteen," answered Ed with a smile. After making a gesture towards the door, he added, "I have to leave now. I have two more countries to visit today." 'Fourteen?' echoed in the mind of the Prime Minister. He couldn't believe his ears. Swallowing heavily, he thought back to his briefing about the Druids. They were a powerful organization that wasn't one to anger. When a Druid turned his or her attention to a problem, it stopped being a problem. Who knew what would happen when fourteen of them turned their attention to a problem? Looking over at the President, the Prime Minister asked, "If we had not agreed to support you with our armies, what would have happened?" "Oh, I imagine your government would have fallen in a week or two," answered Ed as he left the room followed by Oscar and Penny. Ed didn't like making threats, but knew that there were times when it was necessary for others to know the consequences of their actions. His parting shot had been intended to make sure that the support they received would be the best that was possible. As they left the complex, Ed said, "That went well. Now we go to Iraq. Hopefully, we'll be done with our meetings there before sunset." "You scared the hell out of them," commented Oscar glancing back the way they came. He looked at Penny and said, "I thought the President was going to die when he was looking over at you." Shrugging, Penny answered, "I have a reputation in this part of the world because of a surveillance camera I didn't notice. It's real strange, one little incident with a Nuclear Weapons program that failed to get off the ground and people start looking at you funny." "Imagine that," commented Oscar wryly with the result of provoking a laugh from Penny. Their plane landed at the Freedom International Airport outside Baghdad late in the afternoon. The jolt of the tires hitting the runway woke Oscar from his short nap. Looking around, he yawned and then asked, "Where are we?" "Baghdad," answered Penny as she stood and stretched. Ed opened the door and stepped back as a wave of hot air rushed into the plane. He said, "It feels like it is about a hundred and ten outside. That wouldn't be so bad, but it's humid." "It's the rivers," commented Penny as she stepped out of the plane. She paused to look around for anything that might be a threat despite reassurances from Annette that all was well. A Hummer was parked near the plane and was there to take them to a meeting room. "So this is the cradle of civilization," said Oscar looking out the door. "Mesopotamia," said Ed as he stepped out to stand behind Penny. Oscar brought up the rear and followed the other two over to the Hummer. Penny said, "It's nice to be back here. Things are looking a lot better now than the last time I was here." The three of them entered the Hummer with Penny getting behind the wheel. She had pulled the soldier out of the vehicle to take his place. Oscar found his hand caressing the pistol in his pocket as if seeking reassurance that all was well. Settling in his seat, Ed said, "I thought it would be harder to arrange a meeting with the government leaders here." "Jennifer?" asked Oscar wondering if she had something to do with their reception. "Yes. It appears that she provided some help in squashing a situation that could have escalated into civil war," answered Ed. After the Americans had turned over the majority of security over to the Iraq military, former members of the Sadam regime had made a bid for power. Swarming into Iraq from Syria, they were well armed and organized. Jennifer had laid out a battle plan that caught the terrorist without cover from the resurrected Iraqi Air Force. It appeared that her contributions were not forgotten. Penny drove the Hummer over to a building that had once been a barracks, but had been turned into a command center. The number of guards around the building said more about what was inside of it than the plain appearance of the building suggested. She commented, "Looks like the big boys are here judging by all the soldiers around here." "That's what we want," said Ed with a smile. Things were going much better than he had thought possible. He had expected to have to drag the leaders out of their homes, not for them to come to him. Oscar stared at all of the soldiers and mapped out in his mind how he would attack. Looking over at a nearby building that provided perfect cover, he said, "This isn't a very secure location. Could you have Annette look around?" Ed spoke into his microphone for a second and then said, "You're right. There's someone on the other side of that building with a car. She says it is loaded with explosives." Without saying a word, Oscar opened the door and dropped out of the still moving Hummer. Penny was smart enough not to react and drove on towards her destination. She looked back in the mirror, but it seemed as though he had disappeared. Oscar crawled to the building while glancing over at the Hummer as it went to the building in which the meeting was being held. There wasn't a place where he could hunker down behind some cover and wait for the car. Instead, he moved to a point closer to the path that he expected the car to take on the way to delivering its payload. Once in place, he knew that all he had to do was wait. Wishing that he had a rifle, Oscar lay on the ground with his pistol in hand. Behind him, Ed and Penny exited the Hummer and went into the building. The guards around the building seemed to relax. Oscar could feel his alertness growing. A minute passed by with nothing happening, then five, and finally ten. The heat burned its way into his body as if the environment was purposely trying to sap his strength. It was a relief when he heard the sound of a car being started. Oscar was beginning to wonder if he had made a mistake when the car didn't come around the corner of the building immediately. Rather than move, he continued to wait. Annette's voice in his earphone announced, "He's praying. Give him a minute." Oscar didn't respond, but kept his eyes on the corner of the building where he expected the car to emerge. Annette said, "You're amazing. I can't locate you and I know where you dropped out of the car." Her words brought a smile to his eyes, but he kept his face fixed. With a sense of excitement, she said, "He's moving." Although her commentary was intended to help, it threw his attention off and seemed to undermine the tension that he counted upon to react quickly. The distraction was only momentary. Recovering, he waited with his body tensed and posed to move at the first sign of the car. The car came around the corner and raced towards him. He jumped and ran towards the car before the driver had even became aware that he was there. At nearly point blank range, Oscar fired three shots into the driver and then dropped to the ground. The car slowed as the driver lost consciousness and then began to move around in a large circle as the driver's body kept the steering wheel in a slight right turn. Oscar stood to the side and watched the car move an erratic path across the tarmac. He then turned to watch the bedlam that exploded around the guarded building as guards came running out to take control of the situation. Walking over to one of the guards still at his post by the building, Oscar looked at the pistol in his holster. Pointing to the ammo pouch on the man's belt, he said, "Give me a clip." Shocked, the guard reached in and removed a clip from his ammo pouch. Handing it to Oscar, he asked, "Where did you come from?" "School," answered Oscar cryptically as he replaced the partially used clip in his pistol with the borrowed clip. He ejected the live round in the chamber with a practiced smoothness. The guard noticed that the gun had never been completely unloaded through the process. No one stopped him as he made his way into the building. Inside, he stopped to look around and was about to ask for directions from a guard when Annette said, "They are down the hall in the third room on the right." He followed her directions and entered the room to find Ed and Penny standing near the door. Penny commented, "I heard that the problem was solved." "No problem, just a minor irritation," remarked Oscar with a wink. "Let's go. Our business here is finished," said Ed with a grin. The little episode outside had worked to their advantage. It was a minor demonstration of power that spoke volumes about the capabilities of the Druids. Oscar followed Ed out of the building, allowing Penny to lead the way. They walked past shocked guards to the Hummer. The one that Oscar had asked for a clip saluted when they walked past. Oscar nodded in the man's direction. Inside the Hummer, Penny remarked, "I'm impressed. I never saw you once you dropped out of the car. Annette provided a nice running commentary on what you were doing." "Thanks," replied Oscar as he turned to watch the guards chasing the still out of control car. It reminded him of a keystone cops movie. "Looks to me like they have their hands full over there," said Ed with a laugh. They drove past the plane that had brought them. Oscar noticed and asked, "Where are we going?" "We've got alternative transportation to our next destination," answered Ed as he pointed to a hanger. Concrete barriers surrounded the hanger with American troops stationed behind fixed emplacements. There were two large gaps, one for planes to enter and exit the area and the other for vehicles. The complex presented a sense of far more security than that surrounding the other building. A soldier stepped in front of the Hummer with an arm raised when they were more than a hundred yards away from the truck entrance. Penny stopped the Hummer and said, "We get out here, otherwise they'll shoot us." The three Druids exited the Hummer and faced the soldier. Seeing that he was facing Druids he waved them past with a respectful gesture. The reputation of the Druids had spread and no one within the military would dare inconvenience one. Across the distance, he shouted, "You can continue." Leaving the Hummer parked where it was, Penny called back, "The keys are in it." The soldier was puzzled by her reply, as he had expected them to drive the Hummer up to the gate. The trio made their way to the hanger. Oscar scanning his surroundings for possible areas of threat, Penny moving lightly with her weapon in hand, and Ed walking as though he were strolling through a park. A soldier opened the door to the hanger as if he were a doorman rather than a guard. Seeing the bored expression on the man's face, Ed paused and asked, "Hard duty?" "Not really, sir. Despite that little bit of excitement on the tarmac a few minutes ago, things have quieted down here over the past year," replied the soldier with a shrug. The American presence in Iraq was slowly diminishing and the locals were now the subjects of most attacks. Noticing a small area of debris a short distance from the compound, Oscar said, "You should probably have that trash over there moved. It provides excellent cover for a sniper." The soldier smiled and said, "Last guy that tried that found himself flying in the air and in ten pieces." Penny laughed and said, "That was my idea. Last time I was here, someone took a shot at me. They had dug a shallow ditch out in that field and waited there for a chance to take a shot at someone important. I figured it was better to provide them with a tempting spot to wait." Wryly, the soldier said, "It worked." "Remind me not to get in a fight with you," replied Oscar. Thinking about it, he realized he would have made the same recommendation. It was better to control your environment than allow the environment to control you. They entered the hanger. Three oddly shaped helicopters were parked in the center of the large building. Oscar looked at them, puzzled by their construction. They were basically frames, without sides, tops, or bottoms. There were two cloth buckets that passed for seats, one for a pilot and one for a passenger. He asked, "Is this what we are taking?" "Yes," answered Ed looking over the craft. They were modified versions of the one that he had used in Antarctica. "I guess they are still putting them together," commented Oscar. There wasn't any protection for the crew. He leaned over and looked at the carbon-carbon composite strut that connected the tail rotor assembly to the body of the plane. Laughing, Penny had watched Oscar walk around one of the helicopters. She said, "They are nearly perfect stealth copters. The lack of metal means that it has almost no radar signature." "You expect me to go up in one of these?" asked Oscar shocked at the idea. He looked at the bizarrely shaped propeller atop the helicopter. Rather than straight and flat, it was curved with three bends along its length. "You bet," answered Ed with a grin. He was actually looking forward to piloting one of them. "We are using them for Black Ops almost exclusively," said Penny. Looking at the helicopter, skeptical that it would actually carry them, Oscar asked, "So what do we do now?" "Sleep. We have four hours until dark. We leave at dark thirty," answered Ed. Oscar turned from the helicopter and noticed a dozen people watching them from the side of the hanger. While Ed walked over to talk to the men, Penny asked, "How's it feel to be back in service?" "Good," answered Oscar. It actually felt good to be wearing the red robe and working. The few minutes on the tarmac had reminded him of the time spent in the desert. It was a relief to be moving and doing things rather than spending his time in school. The months of living a lie had taken a toll on his spirit. "I noticed that there was a little more bounce in your step," remarked Penny. Her first opinion of the man sitting in the dining room had not been all that good. It seemed to her that he looked dull and barely there. Now he was active, his eyes flashed with life, and he smiled with ease. "Yeah, school has been a little rough on me," said Oscar. His hand moved over the medallion and he added, "It's felt like there's a huge hole in my life without the medallion." She flinched at the thought of losing the medallion. It was almost beyond her ability to imagine life without it. As a shudder ran through her body, she said, "I didn't think about that." They moved over to the room reserved for them. Entering, Oscar took in the three cots and smiled. The sleeping arrangements here were just as minimal as at the school. Stripping off his cloak and robe, Oscar laid down on one of the cots setting his pistol in easy reach. He watched as Penny disrobed and saw her artificial leg. Surprised, he said, "I didn't realize that you had lost a leg." "No big deal," said Penny as she settled onto one of the other cots. Pulling the cover over her body, she said, "In case you're curious. I lost it before my service to the God began." "In battle?" asked Oscar wondering if she had a battlefield experience with the God in the same way that he had. "No. In a car with high school friends after a party," answered Penny with a sigh. She was the only one to survive the crash. She had been the only one wearing her seatbelt and credited it with saving her life. That had been three years before she had encountered the God while hiking in Colorado. "Sorry," replied Oscar. "It was our stupidity. High school kids out for a ride after drinking at a party. We thought we were invincible." Oscar didn't know about that. His high school years were not filled with parties or joy rides in cars. He had been a klutz. Everyone in school kept his or her distance from him. Being accident-prone ruled out feeling invincible. Even the bullies found that his accidents could cause as much damage to them as their treatment caused him. High school was not a time of friends. This train of thought led him to consider his time at the college. A surprising number of students enjoyed his company. Thinking about it, he realized that he had more friends than he ever thought possible. His roommates supported him when he was down. Gabby, Abby, and Greg were always hanging around at meals, laughing and making jokes. Even, moody and quiet Cole challenged him. Would he have had those people as friends if they had known he was a Druid? He wasn't sure of that. As thoughts about his friends back at school rattled through his brain, Oscar fell asleep. The sound of Ed getting out of his cot woke Oscar. Looking around, he noticed Penny waking. As she sat up, he couldn't help notice her body. She had the kind of body that a lot of women would kill to have and men would die for the chance to make love to it. He didn't doubt that her leg would throw off most men, but the rest of her was perfect. Shaking his head, he climbed out of the bed. It only took him a minute to slip into his robe and cloak. He slid his pistol into his pocket with practiced ease. Fully dressed, he waited for Ed and Penny to finish. Ed grumbled, "I could use some coffee." The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a knock upon the door. Moving to the door, Oscar opened it making sure that his hand was on his pistol. Despite the fact that they were surrounded by American troops, he didn't trust their safety to anyone else. The soldier held up a thermos and several foam cups. He said, "We thought you might want some coffee." Oscar accepted the thermos and cups with a grin. He said, "Thanks." The three of them poured themselves a cup of coffee and sat around not talking. Ed was not talkative when first waking, Penny was busy adjusting her artificial leg, and Oscar was wishing that Georgia and Debbie were with him. It wasn't quite the quiet before a storm, but there was a tension in the air. Once the coffee managed to wake Ed, he said, "We had better get ready." Oscar stood and announced, "I'm ready for battle." Smiling at the little man, Penny said, "We need to pick out our supplies." "Oh," replied Oscar. The trio left their room and walked over to the far wall of the hanger. Three tables were set up with weapons and ammunition. Seeing the Russian-made AK-47, both Penny and Oscar picked one up and grabbed a dozen ammunition clips. Noticing their choice, Ed asked, "Why that one?" "It's the same as the enemy uses," answered Oscar as Penny nodded. Oscar put the clips in a pocket of his robe. "So?" "It makes the same noise as their guns. It makes it harder for them to identify where you are based on your shots during a firefight," answered Penny. She noticed Oscar nodding his head in agreement. "If you fire a different gun, everyone within a half mile knows exactly where you are," added Oscar as he picked up the grenade launcher. There was an ammo pouch for carrying grenades. He grabbed one of them and filled it with grenades. Penny noticed his choice and asked, "Grenade launcher?" "Sure. I like to create as much confusion as possible," said Oscar. He added, "I would have liked to have a couple of RPG launchers, but that isn't really an option here." Penny nodded as she picked up two pair of night-vision goggles. She handed one of them to Ed and said, "You'll need these." Accepting the goggles without comment, Ed stored them in a pocket of his robe. Oscar looked over the rest of the table and picked up a pair of night-vision goggles and a knife. Shaking his head, he didn't see any other weapons that would be useful. When he reached the pile of MREs, he stopped and put a few of them into his pocket. Looking around, he realized that he was missing a canteen for water. There was a pile of clear plastic water bottles, but he didn't want that. He commented, "No canteens." "You're right," said Penny. She looked around the hanger and noticed two soldiers watching them from a distance. She called over to them. "We need three canteens." Ed asked, "What's wrong with bottles?" "I don't like them. They're fine for back at camp, but I prefer a canteen in the field," answered Oscar. The clear shiny plastic tended to reflect light in an unpredictable fashion. The dull canteens didn't reflect light and that made them safer. "Same here," commented Penny surprised at how Oscar agreed with her view of fighting. Oscar looked at the camouflage paint and shook his head. Picking up a container he opened it and smelled it. Shaking his head, he set it back on the table. Penny had already put one into a pocket of her robe. Surprised, she asked, "Why did you put it back?" "It smells," answered Oscar with a shrug. He added, "I don't bathe often when I'm in the field and if I do, then I never use soap. I eat the same foods as the enemy so I smell like the enemy. Usually that means I end up eating spoiled Russian rations." "Why smell like the enemy?" asked Ed. "You don't smell yourself, but do you smell things that are different from you. I smell like the enemy so that they won't smell me," answered Oscar. Penny had groaned at the mention of Russian rations and said, "You spent a lot of time in the field, don't you?" "Yes," answered Oscar without further explanation. He reached a pile of radio activated claymore mines. Going back, he picked up a backpack and started filling it with mines and the radio controls. "You've got seventy-five pounds of mines in that bag. Isn't that enough?" asked Penny surprised at the quantity of mines that he was packing away in the backpack. "Nope. That's your bag. I'm going to fill another one for me," answered Oscar matching his actions to his words. He didn't want there to be a safe place to stand within four hundred yards of where ever he might hole up. After the canteens had been provided and filled with water, the trio went over to the helicopters. The pilots were already standing beside their machines. None of the men wore military gear. Instead, they were wearing tight fitting coveralls. Oscar went over to one of them and asked, "Is this safe?" "About as safe as they come," replied the pilot. "I'm Oscar Meyers." "I'm Paul Decker," replied the man. "Army?" "CIA," replied Paul, "not Army. Can't have a military incursion into a foreign country." "Oh," answered Oscar. He tended to avoid the politics of his work. The man took his grenade launcher and stored it in a plastic net attached to the side of the helicopter. He grinned when Oscar offered him the rifle for storage and said, "You'll want to carry that in case someone starts shooting at us." "Oh," replied Oscar. He didn't like the idea of being that exposed. Paul pushed the helicopter out of the hanger and then checked it over one last time. Seeing the nervous expression on Oscar's face, he said, "Don't worry. This is the Skeeter V3. It's the fastest, quietest, and meanest little helicopter in our fleet." "Fast?" "We've got over six hundred miles to go and we'll make it in less than seven hours," answered Paul. He handed a helmet to Oscar and added, "Put this on. We could make it in four hours, but the wind would beat you up." "Oh," replied Oscar as he shoved the helmet over his head. "Hop on," said Paul as he climbed into the front seat of the helicopter. The voice came from speakers within the helmet. In a calming voice, the pilot said, "This is no worse than riding a motorcycle at hundred miles an hour. Tie yourself in and then cover yourself with the net. It'll keep your clothes from making noise." Oscar struggled to get into the chair. After tying the seat belt, he looked over the side at the ground below. His ass was just a few inches off the ground. He found the net and covered himself with it. It stretched and held him tight while leaving his arms free. He had hardly gotten settled when he noticed that his ass was ten feet off the ground. He'd never heard the rotor start spinning. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Oscar said, "Oh my goodness." ------- Chapter 10 Oscar settled into position on top of a building situated halfway down the street from the house occupied by the Chief of State. He waited for another fifteen minutes before he saw Ed and Penny take advantage of a sudden lull in foot traffic to enter the home. They didn't knock. Filled with tension, he expected to hear gunshots, but their entrance was greeted with silence. Almost at once, the street filled with men walking along the length of it. They weren't pedestrians, but guards and clerics protecting the Ayatollah. Over his earphones, Annette said, "They're in. No problems so far." It was dawn and the town of Tehran was waking. The odors of people cooking their breakfasts tickled his nose, the noises of people preparing for the day rang in his ears, and the sun rising over the city assaulted his eyes. He could feel the desert air and it felt good despite the fact that he was in a very crowded city. Oscar could hardly believe that they had traveled so far through hostile territory without encountering resistance. Annette was absolutely amazing. Under her guidance they had landed in a downtown soccer field, driven through town in a stolen truck, and walked through one of the most heavily guarded neighborhoods without getting stopped a single time. She would tell them to stop; they would wait while someone would walk past; and then tell them to go. For all intents and purposes, they had glided through Tehran invisible. "Beautiful morning isn't it?" asked Annette over his earphone. The suddenness of her comment and the apparent nearness of her voice startled Oscar. He should have been used to it since she had been making comments to him ever since they had reached Tehran. She had a pile of satellite telephones that allowed her to talk to everyone in the field. He wondered why she chose to talk to him so much, particularly since he couldn't answer her questions. Oscar didn't move or answer, but kept his eyes on the street below. Ed was visiting the Ayatollah who held the post of Chief of State. He was the single most powerful man in all of Iran. He didn't need to be in the room to know what was happening. Ed was convincing him to bring the President, the twelve members of the Council of Guardians, and the more influential members of the Supreme National Security Council over to the house. "Could you move a little so that I can locate you?" asked Annette. Her voice had a pleading tone to it. Oliver rolled his eyes wondering when she was going to stop asking him to do that. A car pulled up to the house where Ed and Penny were located. A well-dressed man got out after the driver had opened his door. As he approached the house, the front door opened to let him in. Oscar caught a glimpse of a red robe through the open door. He wondered how it was that Penny managed to pull him in the house without drawing attention. He didn't want to guess how many more people would be showing up over the next half an hour. Each time that door opened, it was another chance for someone to realize that something was wrong. Once things when wrong, then it would be up to Oscar to save them. "Come on, Oscar. Please let me know where you are. How can I look out for you if I don't know where you are?" asked the voice in his ear. She was definitely begging and it was beginning to get irritating. Extending his left hand away from his body while keeping it under his cloak, Oscar wrote his name in the dust. He moved his hand back pulling the cloak with it. It seemed as though the name appeared from nowhere. A screech of excitement blasted his ears as Annette said, "There you are. Wow, you really are good at blending into your surroundings." Oscar had kept his attention of the house. Three more people had arrived and entered as a group. He didn't know if it was common for those people to be summoned to the Ayatollah's residence at that particular time of day, but no one acted as if it were something out of the ordinary. Oscar hoped they would be able to get all of the guests over to the house before something went wrong. For the next thirty minutes, men arrived at the house and entered to be disarmed by Penny. Oscar watched from above hoping that he wouldn't have to act. His hopes fell when he watched a very large man march down the street to the house. There was something different about the way the man moved. His body language screamed that he was suspicious of the early morning call. The large man paused and talked to one of the guards in the street. The man resumed his trip down the street, but the guard went in the opposite direction. Annette said, "Oscar, I don't like the looks of that big guy." Despite his hopes otherwise, Oscar agreed with her assessment and picked up the control that would activate the claymore mines. More men entered the street and moved towards the house. Tension radiated from the street below. The big man walked up to the house with the last few steps being taken at a run. He crashed into the door with his pistol drawn followed by the guards. From within the house a shot was fired and a few seconds later the big man staggered out the door. At the same time the man hit the ground, Annette said, "It's hit the fans. Ed says it is time to start shooting." The guards, weapons ready to use, had crowded together to rush the door. They were huddled against the outside wall of the house where they wouldn't be targets from the people inside. Oscar waited for a few stragglers to reach the site. Annette repeated, "Ed says to start firing." Ignoring Annette, Oscar waited another few seconds before he flipped a switch on the radio controlling the claymore mines that he had placed in the gutters of the buildings under which the men were huddled. The result of the downward directed blast was devastating for the men gathered there. The explosion was deafening. The sound of gunfire and then the explosion caused additional guards to come running up the street. Oscar fired a grenade into the middle of the crowd. The thump of the launcher drew every eye on the street in his direction, but they didn't remain looking at him for long. The explosion when the grenade reached its target turned the street into chaos. Oscar didn't know if it was intentional, but there was no cover for the men in the street to hide behind. Men with guns poured out of houses, thereby increasing the disarray. Oscar set off another half dozen claymore mines. The explosions drove the survivors into the buildings where they thought they would be safe. Oscar smiled as he prepared to change locations, knowing that the buildings only gave the impression of safety. Amidst the confusion, Oscar moved to another rooftop location. From the street, a handful of wounded guards were firing randomly towards the top of the building from which he had fired the grenade launcher. Men streamed onto the rooftops in search of him, searching the site he had been. Oscar fired, taking the ones furthest from him out first. Once the others noticed, they turned thinking that the shots were coming from behind. He took his time and eliminated the remaining men. More men entered the street below. Now that his position was safe from attack from the roof, he turned his attention to the street. He launched another grenade into a cluster of men that were searching for cover. During the explosion, he moved to the other end of the roof. He was about to set off another set of claymore mines when Ed's voice sounded in his ear. "Stop firing, Oscar." Although unwilling to do as asked, Oscar stopped firing. He remained ready to resume if anyone made a threatening move. A few seconds later, calls echoed through the street below for the guards to stop firing. From his location Oscar couldn't see the Ayatollah, but he listened as the man called out, "Stop firing. I have sworn an oath that none of them are to be hurt. Stop firing. I have sworn that they are to leave here unharmed!" Over the earphone, Ed explained, "He's agreed to help us. You can come out of hiding now. The Ayatollah has told them not to fire upon you." "I don't trust him," said Oscar pushing the button on the microphone to the radio. "He swore on the Koran," replied Ed. He had heard the lie in the man's voice when he first agreed to a cease-fire and had forced the man to swear upon the Koran. The holy book had glowed as the Ayatollah swore. Ed knew that the man would not break his oath. Everyone in the room knew that it had been given in the presence of Allah. Accepting Ed's assurances, Oscar stood and walked to the edge of the roof. Holding the grenade launcher in his left hand and his rifle in his right, he presented himself as a man who was well-armed and ready to use his weapons. Looking down at the scene below, he could see that there were at least two dozen lifeless bodies and three times that many injured men scattered around the street. On the roof were another half dozen dead. The guards below were looking in the wrong direction for him. When Ed pointed, they turned and looked up at Oscar. From his position above the guards, Oscar could hear whispers of 'desert ghost' being passed from man to man. The term confused him until he heard Annette's explanation over the headset. "They call you the desert ghost because of your attacks on the terrorists in the desert." Oscar had not been aware of this nickname and shrugged his shoulders. He touched the switch and said, "I didn't know that." "Come down here," shouted Ed. He turned his attention to the Ayatollah who was talking to one of the guards in the street. He listened as the holy man gave very direct orders that the Druids were not to be harmed in any fashion. After the Ayatollah finished his conversation he turned to the street and shouted, "Hear me. I have sworn a most sacred oath that no harm will come to these Magi. Any man who harms one of them shall suffer the full wrath of Allah." Standing in the middle of the street, the Ayatollah looked around to see if anyone even considered harming them. The threat of suffering the full wrath of Allah would be realized only after suffering the full wrath of the Ayatollah. Every man on the street knew that. After a full minute, he appeared satisfied and turned to face the house. He grasped Ed's arm and led him into the house. It took Oscar several minutes to join Penny in front of the house. Although she looked relaxed, it was easy to see that she was guarding the door with her weapon ready to use. Oscar stood beside her and watched the crowd of people staring at them. Neither one relaxed their grip on their guns despite the fact that the crowd acted as though they were the ones outnumbered. Watching the tops of the buildings, Oscar said, "Tell me about Annette." "She was blind until she met the Two-Sided One years ago. He gave her the gift of far-sight and now she can see anything that is far away. It doesn't matter if something is half way around the world and hidden inside of a building, she can see it. The strange thing is that she's still blind when it comes to things that are nearby," replied Penny. "What's she like," asked Oscar. He had tried to imagine what the woman looked like based on her voice, but had been able to construct a mental image. "She's probably the sloppiest looking person I've ever met. Doesn't worry about combing her hair, she doesn't wear makeup, and her robe is always rumpled. She's always rocking from side to side. Apparently, that allows her to judge distances somehow. She tried to explain it to me once, but I didn't understand it." "Sloppy?" asked Oscar thinking that it was very unusual for a Druid to be sloppy. "Yes, sloppy. I thought she wasn't aware that she looks like hell, but she knows and doesn't care," answered Penny shrugging her shoulders. Puzzled, Oscar said, "I've met one blind woman and she was very particular about her appearance. She took extra care when eating so that she wouldn't mess up her clothes. All of her clothes had special labels that would allow her to color co-ordinate her outfit. There was nothing messy about her." "Annette used to be very careful about her appearance, but that was before she became a Druid. Claims she's a worse than a television junky and doesn't want to interrupt watching the world to take care of that kind of trivial stuff. She's become a couch potato and won't move out of her house." Almost as if on cue, Annette's voice rang in Oscar's ear as she said, "Oh, I wish you could see what I see. There is such beauty in this world that it takes my breath away." Oscar looked down from the buildings and turned on his microphone. He asked, "What are you looking at? Why aren't you watching what's going on here?" "Don't get your panties in a bind. I'm watching what's going on there. I'm also watching the sun set over the Rocky Mountains," answered Annette. She sighed and said, "So much beauty in this world." "Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd pay a bit more attention here. If you hadn't noticed, we're surrounded by a bunch of people who have a good reason to be hostile," said Oscar returning his gaze to the rooftops. His eyes never stopped moving as he sought out any sign of aggression. After letting loose a snort, Annette said, "There's a couple about to have sex in the sixth building over to your right. That's the most interesting thing happening where you are right now and that isn't all that interesting. Oh jeez, he's already done. What a dick head. He's already heading to the shower to wash himself." Curious by her sudden digression, he asked, "Do you watch people having sex all that often?" "There are over six and a half billion people on this planet. At any given minute, a million of them are having sex. It's almost impossible to see anything in this world without having someone in the area fucking," answered Annette. "I never thought about it like that," answered Oscar. "Ah, something is happening with one of the hostages. Talk to you later." Oscar reached up and flicked his microphone off. He said, "She seems to be able to watch a lot of places at the same time." Laughing at the raised eyebrow he had given her when making his comment, Penny said, "Yeah, it's kind of scary when you think about it." Ed stepped out of the building and looked around. Speaking to the two Druids, he said, "Come inside. We're going to stay here until everything is under control." Oscar and Penny entered the building. Oscar paused to look around. Considering the importance of the man who lived within, it was a rather unpretentious dwelling. There were carpets on the floor, pillows upon which they could sit, and mosaics on the wall. Half the houses in Tehran could boast the same furnishings. Ed went to the front of the room to sit beside the Ayatollah. Seeing where Ed sat, Oscar and Penny decided to sit at the other end of the room along opposite walls facing each other. That gave them the best position to watch the other men gathered in the room. Oscar noticed a bloodstain on one of the carpets and asked, "What happened there?" The Ayatollah answered, "A dog tried to violate my oath." "Ah," remarked Oscar as he leaned back against the wall. He watched as Ed carefully adjusted his robe so that the soles of his feet were not visible. A small adjustment to his robe assured that Oscar wouldn't offend either. Ed and the Ayatollah began to debate the religious righteousness of the terrorists. The Ayatollah maintained an absolute belief in the righteousness of Jihad. Oscar listened to the discussion with interest since he had been involved on the side attempting to end the terrorist Jihad. It was clear that on the topic of Jihad that there was a marked difference of opinion between the Druids and Muslims. The key point of contention was the terrorists' agenda. Ed maintained that the leadership of the terrorists didn't actually believe in their cause, but used it as a means to recruit others to their army for the purpose of increasing their power. The Ayatollah maintained that Muslims would not do such a thing. It was four hours later that the discussion was interrupted when Ed received an announcement from Annette. After listening to the details, he said, "I just got news about the situation in Turkey. Three of the hostages have been rescued and they are unharmed. The headquarters, two training camps, and five arms caches have been destroyed. Operations are underway in Iraq and should conclude within twenty minutes." "You are just as ruthless as they are," declared the Ayatollah. "We limit our actions to those who are actively harming the weak. We do not attack innocent civilians, particularly those who are trying to help others in the middle of a disaster," countered Ed with more than a little anger in his voice. The Ayatollah glared at Ed as if he had missed the whole point of Jihad. Ed looked back at him as he recalled something that William had said several months earlier. He pushed down his anger a little. In a conversational tone, he said, "My son says that everything is going to change in a few years. He says that there will never be another Jihad." The Ayatollah barked a laugh and said, "You westerners know nothing. You think that all men are created equal when we know that a man's status in life is Allah's will. You don't know how to treat your women and the whole culture of the west is degenerate." Ed smiled at the criticisms wondering how the Ayatollah would react to his group marriage. He replied, "I do know one thing that's important to this discussion." "What's that?" "My son is never wrong," answered Ed with a grin. Oscar looked over at Penny and watched as she performed a personal inventory. She hadn't fired much during the firefight, but she did take stock of what resources she had used. One of the men from the security council watched her work for several minutes. Gesturing at her, he said, "You're the Devil Woman, aren't you? You're the one that walks through walls." Looking over at him with a smile at the use of her nickname in the region, Penny replied, "That's what people say." "How did you destroy my research facility?" "It was easy. I walked in and blew it up," she answered knowing exactly which research facility was being discussed. She made a little gesture with her hands suggestive of an explosion. The look on the man's face almost made her burst out laughing. The man had been in charge of security at the facility. He'd been livid when he learned that it had been destroyed. His first thought had been that the Israeli Air Force had bombed it with some sort of secret bunker buster bomb. When he had learned that a woman had been filmed walking through the facility, he'd been astonished. Indignant at being told that it was easy, he said, "No one could just walk in." "It was easier to get in there than it was to get in here," commented Penny as she gestured to the room in which they were sitting. Her statement reminded everyone in the room that they had walked through a heavily guarded street and entered the house without challenge. The reminder was met with silence. Penny went back to her work. One of the other men pointed at Oscar and asked, "Who are you?" "Oscar." "I know about her, but not about you. What do you do?" he asked deciding that if they were going to be stuck there, that he might as well get more information about these Druids. "I go to school," answered Oscar giving the literal answer while watching the growing frustration on the man's face. He knew what the man wanted to find out and was going to make him come out and say it. "Are you famous in any way?" A twinkle came to Ed's gray eyes as he chuckled. Penny laughed at the question knowing that there were a hundred different ways to answer it that would frustrate the inquisitor. Oscar answered, "Famous? I'm not a movie star or anything like that." The man snorted realizing that Oscar was just pretending to be dense. He hated these Druids. Taking a more direct approach, he said, "You are a red robe. That makes you a warrior. So where have you fought?" "Afghanistan and here," answered Oscar with a grin. Deciding to put the man out of his misery, he leaned forward and said, "I started a little training camp in Afghanistan." The expressions on the faces of all the men there reflected the fact that they knew exactly who he was. The Ayatollah said, "So, you are the desert ghost." "I guess so," replied Oscar. "You've killed a lot of good Muslims serving Jihad." "Good? No. I didn't kill a single good man. I killed animals that murdered, tortured, and raped under a false claim of serving Islam. They were serving their own sick agenda," replied Oscar staring at the Ayatollah. "It must bother you that they died as Martyrs and have been richly rewarded in heaven," said the Ayatollah. "I know better than that," replied Oscar. He pointed to the Koran that the Ayatollah held in his hand and added, "Allah is sickened by their actions. You should be ashamed rather than proud of them. Their existence sullies the name of your God." "It is Jihad." "It is garbage," replied Oscar. The Ayatollah raised his voice as he said, "You don't serve Allah. I serve Allah and understand his will far better than you." Ed interrupted the discussion when he announced, "They've rescued the three hostages in Iraq. Eighteen terrorist cells have been destroyed. We should be hearing something about the activities here in Iran soon." Almost as soon as he had finished speaking, a telephone rang. The Ayatollah answered it and listened for a minute. With a long face, he hung up the phone and turned to face everyone in the room. Sadly, he announced, "It is over. The four hostages have been released and are on the way to the airport under guard." Ed looked at the Ayatollah for a minute before he said, "Tell them the rest of it." "Over three thousand Martyrs," said the Ayatollah glaring at Ed. "Tell them the rest," said Ed. "The Israelis bombed the headquarters in Syria and destroyed a training facility in Lebanon. A thousand Martyrs were at that training facility." Shaking his head, Ed said, "The training facility was taken out by one of our people. It is safe to say that the terrorist organization responsible for kidnapping the Fusion Foundation workers no longer exists." The men in the room groaned at the news. It hurt to think that they had contributed to the deaths of so many men who they considered to be acting in good faith. One of the men asked, "Do you really think that you can get out of here alive?" Ed was about to mention the oath, but Oscar interrupted, "Yes. Quite easily." "What?" "It might require that I create another three thousand Martyrs, but that won't be a real problem. It would slow us down by about ten minutes," answered Oscar as he stroked the barrel of his AK-47. Penny looked over at him and grinned until she realized that he was serious. It took her a full minute to recall the claymores. He had brought two backpacks filled with mines along with him and had used less than ten of them. She had no idea how many were still out there. Glancing over at the men, she said, "You've got the whole area mined." "You bet," answered Oscar. "I also liberated some RPGs and set up a couple of caches where they would be handy." "When did you do all that?" "I had four hours," answered Oscar with a shrug. After the significance of what Oscar had said finally sank in, the Ayatollah said, "I gave an oath that you would leave unharmed." Nodding, Ed said, "Oscar. Penny. Why don't you wait outside?" Both Oscar and Penny went from sitting to standing almost faster than the eye could follow. Pointing to the door, Oscar said, "Allow me to go first and draw their fire if they are so inclined." "Be my guest," replied Penny wondering if that would really be a good idea. She'd rather follow him out of Iran than lead them because he was injured. The pair went out side and took positions on each side of the door into the building. Once there, Oscar said, "The troops look a little frightened." "They should be considering everything you've done," commented Penny. After a moment of thought, she realized that he had never taken an inventory of his ammunition. She asked, "How much ammo have you got left?" "More than I came with. I liberated some from the dead fellows on the roof when I made my way down here," answered Oscar. Noticing the look on her face, he said, "That's how I fight. I collect and use the enemies' resources against them." Penny didn't say word. She leaned against the wall waiting for something to happen. It didn't matter to her what might happen, she felt that she was ready for anything. After glancing at Oscar, she mentally corrected herself -- he was ready for anything. Fifteen minutes later, a tired Ed stepped out of the door and looked around. In a soft voice, he said, "It's time for us to go." "Success?" asked Penny glancing through the door before it closed behind Ed. "Yes," answered Ed. He had taken the opportunity to have the Ayatollah touch his medallion. The atmosphere inside the house had changed significantly after that. He reached down to the switch on his microphone and said, "Annette, we're ready to go." "Not yet," Annette replied, "Caesar arranged for a car to take you back to the copters. He says that it will be there in five minutes, but it looks to me like it will take ten minutes based on the traffic." Not realizing that he hadn't turned off the microphone, he turned to Penny and said, "Let's walk down to the end of the street." Annette said, "Stay were you are. You get out of that area before the car comes, you'll have to make your own way back." "I feel stupid standing here for ten minutes doing nothing," said Ed looking around at the men in the street. He felt doubly stupid once he realized that microphone was still on. He reached down and thumbed it off. Oscar smiled as he said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of that." "How?" Rather than answer, Oscar gestured to one of the men who appeared to be in charge of the forces watching them. The man slowly came over to where they stood. When he was within five feet, Oscar gestured for him to stop. In perfect Farsi, Oscar said, "We thought it would be a good idea for you to return some of the explosives that I've placed around this street before we left." That man glanced around the street looking for signs of explosives. Deciding that it would be good to get some American explosives, he said, "I don't see them." Oscar laughed and replied, "They wouldn't have done me any good if you could have seen them." At least the man had the grace to look embarrassed. Oscar, pointing as he spoke, said, "The gutters on those four buildings have mines in them spaced about five meters apart. There are mines under the doorsteps of all eight of those buildings." The man stared at one of the buildings at which Oscar had pointed. He had taken refuge inside that building and realized that if he had tried to attack from the door, then he would have been dead. He swallowed before he asked, "Anything else?" "I placed mines over the doors giving access to the roof on those two buildings over there," answered Oscar. With a wry grin, he said, "Task a couple of men to gather the mines and bring them over here. There are eighteen of them. I hate leaving unexploded ordnance behind." The man walked off and talked to a couple of guards. Judging by their reactions, they were just as surprised by the quantity of mines as their commander had been. Oscar pulled out the two empty backpacks and set them on the ground at his feet. Seeing that they were empty, Penny said, "I didn't think you would use them all." Oscar smiled as he considered that he had used more than he had brought. He said, "We'll stop and pick up the rest on our way out." Watching the guards as they removed the claymore mines from under the doorsteps, Penny couldn't believe that he had managed to move up and down the street planting mines without being noticed. She asked, "So when did you place all of those mines?" "While you and Ed were waiting at the end of the street," answered Oscar with a grin. The trio waited without talking while the guards gathered together the mines. It took the guards more than ten minutes to collect them. When the man brought them over to Oscar, Oscar counted them aloud and found that two were missing. Frowning, he said, "You're missing two." "That's all there were," answered the man. Noticing the grimace on Ed's face, Oscar knew the man was lying. Shrugging, he said, "In that case, I guess I'll have to explode the rest of them where they are." "The rest?" asked the man. "Yeah. I had a bunch. Close to thirty of them hidden here and there. I won't tell you where the rest are until the missing two mines show up here." "Hold on. My men may have missed them," said the man as he raced off. Oscar watched the man scurry over to a couple of guards. Turning to Ed, he said, "I was so hoping to blow up that weapons depot they have the next block over. Annette was so kind to tell me where it was." Penny frowned at the comment and then said, "You're kind of scary. You know that, right?" ------- Chapter 11 Oscar stood outside the college for ten minutes, his hand stroking the gold medallion on his chest. He decided that he couldn't put off entering any longer. Fear warred with his curiosity about how people would react to him after the revelation he was a Druid. He was afraid it would distance him from his classmates, something he didn't want to have happen. Upon entering the building, his medallion dropped to the floor with a dull clang. Oscar froze and stared at it for almost a full minute before bending down to pick it up. It had been a comforting presence and its sudden absence was like a cold shower. In his hand, it felt cold and lifeless. He stared at the medallion. "I was afraid of that," commented Oliver startling Oscar from his trance. The Grand Druid took a couple of steps towards the red robed Druid. He looked down at the medallion in the younger man's hand and shook his head in sympathy. "I guess I knew that would happen," said Oscar feeling empty. He looked up at the Grand Druid with a sad expression on his face. He knew the Grand Druid understood the feeling since he'd lost his medallion twice. Oliver held out the wooden box in which Oscar had stored the medallion. Oscar accepted the box and laid the medallion into it with care. It was almost physically painful to shut the lid. With a sigh, he handed the box back to Oliver. Softly, he said, "Take care of it." "I'll take your gun, too," said Oliver nodding his agreement. Fishing the gun out of his pocket, Oscar unloaded it and handed it over. With deft and competent motions, Oliver checked to make sure that the chamber was empty and then put the gun into his pocket. Seeing that Oscar was about to remove his robe, Oliver held up a hand to stop him and, once he had Oscar's attention, said, "You'll want to keep that for the moment. I suggest you go over to the house and get some rest before coming back to school." "Thanks," replied Oscar. He was tired despite having napped on the flight back. A transport plane was not a particularly good place for sleeping. He had not slept for a significant amount of time since leaving the college four days earlier. The field was not the place to take naps. "They are waiting for you," said Oliver with a smile. "Who?" "You've got to be kidding me. Georgia and Debbie, of course," retorted Oliver in surprise. "Oh, yeah." Oscar wondered what kind of reception he would receive from the two women. The relationship had been strained for a long time before he left on the mission. He hoped he wouldn't have to choose between them since there wasn't any way for him to do that. In a way, he wished Georgia waited for him without Debbie. He knew the two of them had a lot of things they had to discuss, one of which was Debbie. Raising an eyebrow at the lack of enthusiasm, Oliver said, "Come back tomorrow for classes. You didn't miss much. School wasn't exactly suspended while you were gone, but most of the students and faculty were glued to the television watching what you were doing." "We made the news?" asked Oscar. For a half a moment he wondered if they had broadcast anything that included him. He almost hit his forehead with the palm of his hand when he recalled the trip through the bureaucracy of the Turkish government had included an entourage of reporters. Of course they had made the news. "Made the news? You guys were the news for three days," replied Oliver. The fourteen Druids, with the support of five governments, had removed over eighteen thousand terrorists in a single day of fighting. The third largest terrorist organization in the world had suddenly blinked out of existence. Syria who had been a major financial supporter of the organization was reeling from its destruction. Iran had been very subdued in its reaction, unwilling to admit that it had played a role in supporting it or in destroying it. Iran was not the only country that denied involvement. The United States denied it had a role in the action despite the fact that it had supplied materials and transportation. Oliver, as a result of a request by Ed Biggers, had given a press release identifying it as a Druid Operation undertaken in support of the Fusion Foundation, an international humanitarian aid organization. Middle Eastern countries did not accept that the Druids had acted on their own accord. It was almost universally believed that they had been used as pawns of the American government and the Israelis. The idea that the Fusion Foundation workers had never been taken hostage was mentioned quite frequently among a number of news agencies. European news agencies claimed it was a move to solidify American claims on oil in the Middle East. Oscar felt his role in the entire operation was marginal. As far as he was concerned, he'd been a bodyguard for Ed. He didn't mind that role, but he didn't think it was significant enough to mention. He said, "Well, the others were much more involved than I." "Are you kidding? Both Turkey and Iraq mentioned it was the intimidating presence of the 'devil woman' and the 'desert ghost' that convinced them to support the operation. When Penny dispatched the man attempting to kill Ed, she sent a message across the whole middle east. Druids are to be respected. "When you rose out of the tarmac to kill a suicide bomber, you reinforced that message. They recognize and respect strength. Both of you demonstrated exactly the kind of strength they admire the most. Don't discount that contribution," said Oliver. He was aware that Oscar had just cemented a reputation of strength throughout the Middle East and earned the respect of every warrior in that part of the world. Oscar was surprised by the vehemence with which Oliver had delivered his explanation. Used to being a hands-on kind of operator, he was uncomfortable with the more subdued role in which he had been cast. He felt that his real contribution had been keeping Ed and Penny alive. Doubtfully, he said, "If you say so." "The rumors say you scared the Iranians into supporting the operation," commented Oliver with a smile. Seeing the uncomfortable expression on Oscar's face, he said, "Now go get some rest." "Thank you, I am a little tired," said Oscar as he turned and left the building. It wasn't a long walk to the Bigger House, but it took enough time to allow him to sort out some of his feelings about the mission. He hadn't felt comfortable with fighting inside a city and his mind was working out ways in which he could have handled it better. It didn't take enough time for him to figure out what he was going to say to Georgia and Debbie. Oscar knocked on the door rather than walk into the house. Since the fight with Georgia and Debbie, he hadn't felt comfortable intruding without an invitation. He didn't have to wait long before Debbie, wearing a blue robe, opened the door. His cock reacted immediately upon seeing her. It surprised him since he hadn't had that reaction since the morning in the glade with the Two-Sided One. He groaned at the thought it was going to happen to him from then on. "You're that upset at seeing me," asked Debbie surprised by his groan. Looking down at his cock, Oscar said, "Nope. Just had an involuntary physical reaction to seeing you, I'm afraid." She glanced down and blushed when she realized what he meant. His interest in her was announcing itself in a most obscene manner. At least the time in the college enabled her to understand it for what it was -- an involuntary action of the body. Stepping back, she said, "Come in. We've been expecting you." "That's good, I guess," replied Oscar wondering if it was really such a good thing. He stepped into the house and looked around trying to get a feel for the reception he would get. "She's in the living room," said Debbie thinking that he was searching for Georgia. She didn't want to say that she was more than a little disappointed to learn that his thoughts went to Georgia first. She closed the door and took his hand in hers. Searching for a neutral topic, she said, "You look tired." "I am. There weren't many chances to sleep," said Oscar. "I've missed you." Debbie leaned over and kissed him. The kiss quickly escalated into a very passionate exchange. It took his breath away and left her flushed. He walked numbly as she led him to the living room. This was not the reception that he had been expecting and he wondered what was happening. Georgia had risen from the couch and was waiting for him in the living room. She looked over at him seeing her warrior returning from battle. It reminded her of the man with whom she had fallen in love. She said, "Welcome home, my warrior." Seeing Georgia reminded Oscar how much he loved her. She was so beautiful in both body and spirit. There was an inner fierceness that resonated with his soul. He had to hold himself back from rushing to her. He smiled and said, "It is good to be home." "He's tired and hungry," said Debbie still holding onto his hand. She released his hand and took a step away so that he could greet Georgia in a proper fashion. Georgia noticed the erection and smiled at seeing it. She stepped over to Oscar and kissed him. Her kiss was hard and demanding, fully consistent with her fundamental character. Still holding his hand, she turned to Debbie and suggested, "Why don't you take him to get cleaned up while I make a soup and sandwich?" "Good idea," answered Debbie with a smile. She tugged on his arm to lead him away. Oscar watched as the two women exchanged a glance that was filled with a meaning he couldn't decipher. Still looking at Georgia, he allowed himself to be led away. With his body half turned to Georgia, he saw her wink at him and smile. Confused by her actions, he turned to Debbie in time to catch a very satisfied expression on her face. Upon reaching the bathroom, Debbie removed his robe with quick easy movements. He couldn't believe his eyes when she stripped as well. Her naked body was splendid and the sight of it made his cock throb. With Georgia nearby, he was worried about acting upon his desires. Moving to the controls of the shower, she turned on the water and adjusted the temperature. Shocking Oscar, she gently pushed him into the shower. Pressing her body against his back, she proceeded to wash him. Her stiff nipples pressed into his back sending shivers of excitement through his body. Her soapy hands washed his chest before moving down to his erect cock. It wasn't long before she was giving him the best handjob that he had ever received. He groaned as he asked, "What about Georgia?" "It's her turn after I'm done," answered Debbie as she sped up her strokes on his cock. She enjoyed the reaction of his body to her touch. "Her turn?" gasped Oscar as he processed her statement. Within seconds, his body shuddered and ropes of come shot onto the floor of the shower. His legs threatened to give out on him. Once Oscar had come, Debbie turned her attention back to cleaning his body. Stunned by the turn of events, Oscar stood in place and allowed her to wash him. When she finished, she moved to stand in front of him. She posed with her legs spread and her hands cupping her breasts. In as seductive of a voice as she could manage, she said, "My turn." Hands trembling, Oscar started to wash her. She turned so that he could start by washing her back. His cock, soft for almost all of five minutes, returned to its erect state. The gentle caress of his hands on her legs threatened to take her to an orgasm. She wondered if the ease with which she achieved pleasure from his touch was a gift or a punishment from the Gods and Goddesses. No woman should find herself so weak at the hands of a man despite the overwhelming pleasure that it brought. Oscar washed Debbie's hair. She found the experience erotic and thrilling. It was a surprise to her when she actually moaned as his hands caressed her scalp. She wondered when the scalp had become an erogenous zone. She caught herself before her hand had made its way to between her legs. A small shudder shot through her body as if she were having a mini-orgasm. Based on the tingling in her body, she decided that he could wash her hair anytime. Oscar rinsed her hair and said, "We had best get out of the shower before we turn into prunes." Kneeling down, she lifted his balls in her hands and replied, "Too late. You're all wrinkled down here." Her hand gently lifting his balls felt good. Despite having just come, Oscar had already achieved another erection while washing her. Now it had swelled even larger and was becoming painful. He smiled and ran a hand across her breasts as he said, "Oh my, we better hurry up and get out. I'd hate for these precious treasures to get all wrinkled too." Debbie laughed and stepped up to him. Placing a passionate kiss on his lips, she savored the moment before stepping back. She couldn't believe how aggressive she had been. With a sigh, she said, "You need to eat and get your strength back. I have a feeling you aren't going to get much rest today. You have two women to satisfy and I'm feeling pretty insatiable." The comment nearly caused Oscar to drop a towel when he realized what she meant about satisfying two women. The pair dried each other off with large fluffy blue towels. The soft texture of the towels tickled and left them feeling excited. Holding hands, they left the bathroom without dressing and headed towards the bed. Debbie laid down on the bed and held out her arms for Oscar to join her. Looking at the sight of Debbie open and waiting for him, was almost too much for Oscar. He paused and asked, "What about Georgia?" From the door, Georgia answered, "I'll be watching to make sure that you do it right. Once I'm convinced that you did it correctly, then it is my turn." Oscar spun and looked at Georgia. She was leaning against the doorframe enjoying the surprised look on his face. Unable to believe what he was hearing, he asked, "What are you telling me?" "I'm telling you to get in bed and make love to Debbie," answered Georgia watching him with a twinkle in her eyes. The two women had come to an agreement while Oscar was out of town. The idea that he had fully expected to die on that mission had made each re- evaluate their relationship with him. Debbie reached up and took his hand. He turned to look at her and their eyes locked. He lowered himself to the bed without breaking eye contact. They proceeded to make love. The touches were soft and gentle. They took their time exploring each other's bodies. Gentle caresses, teasing kisses, and long hugs created an aura of intimacy. Debbie, true to her nature, was soft and giving -- yielding to his desires. Her tenderness drove Oscar to a gentleness he had never experienced with Georgia. He entered her slowly. They moved together as one. Her body enveloped his. Her hips, welcoming his every thrust, rose in time with his thrusts. Oscar reveled in the feelings produced by her gentleness. Watching from the door, Georgia could not believe her eyes. She had never seen anything like it. The gentleness of their sharing took her breath away. As she watched, she wondered how Oscar could ever want to sleep with her again. She knew, watching them together, that Debbie was everything that she wasn't. Her breath caught in her throat at the thought that she may have just lost Oscar to Debbie. Debbie came with a soft shudder that ran through her body. It was almost dainty the way that she shuddered. She emitted a long low moan of pleasure. Oscar, unable to hold back any longer, released his control and came deep within her. His body shook as he held her body close to his. "Wow," exclaimed Georgia unable to tear her eyes away from the pair. She backed out to finish making lunch and allow the couple a little privacy. Oscar moved so that he was no longer covering Debbie. She curled up beside him a satisfied smile on her face. It had been everything she had fantasized and more. He reached out and held her as he recovered from his orgasm. He'd never experienced anything comparable. Debbie recovered and stretched. She had never experienced such a level of intimacy and she reveled in the feeling. It was hard to believe that she had denied herself of such pleasure for so long. She said, "That was heavenly." "Yes, it was," agreed Oscar hoping this wasn't going to be the only time they made love. Rising from the bed, Debbie looked back at Oscar unable to believe what she had just experienced. Oscar watched her leave the bed, puzzled that she would want to leave after what they had just done. Beckoning him with a finger, Debbie said, "It is time for lunch." He walked with Debbie into the dining room where Georgia had set out a large lunch. Debbie's nipples had become hard and erect in response to the simple act of holding hands. Her body was telling of the pleasures that she had denied herself over the past few months. Georgia was seated at the table and looked at the couple as they entered the room. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that tensions between the couple had been removed and replaced with love. She smiled at Debbie and asked, "Feeling better now?" "Yes, very much better," replied the young woman looking over at Georgia's naked body. She was once again reminded of the contrast between the two women. Georgia had a body that looked strong and soft at the same time. Her own body was soft and delicate looking. Georgia was tanned while her skin was white. Debbie ran the fingers of her left hand through her brown hair feeling that it was still slightly damp from the shower. They sat at the plain table settings Georgia had placed for them. A large tureen of tomato soup was directly in front of Oscar's seat. He knew her well enough to know that it was canned soup. In the center of the table, a plate was piled high with grilled cheese sandwiches. Looking around, Oscar spotted a small plate with some saltine crackers. He grinned and said, "Oh, my favorite lunch - complete with crackers." "Of course. How could I forget?" asked Georgia. It seemed to her that every time he came over to the house that he wanted grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch. She understood putting saltines in the tomato soup, but she'd never heard of putting slices of tomatoes within a grilled cheese sandwich. After hearing him talk about how his mother used to make them, she had tried it and found she didn't care for it. She had understood how he would prefer American cheese to her Velveeta, since that was a common preference. She leaned over and ladled some soup into his bowl. Smiling, Oscar grabbed some crackers and crumbled them into the soup. He glanced over and noticed that Debbie was shaking her head while Georgia filled her bowl. Curious, he asked, "What's wrong?" "You both put crackers in your soup. How can you stand it?" asked Debbie with a shudder. The soggy mass that floated atop the soup looked disgusting. "Love it," answered Oscar with a grin. He reached out and grabbed a sandwich noticing that she had made them with slices of tomatoes. Pleased, he commented, "Tomatoes in the sandwiches." "Oh, I forgot. The sandwiches on the left side of the plate have tomatoes. Those on the right are without," replied Georgia. "The ones in the middle have Velveeta cheese." Debbie took a plain sandwich. She looked across the table and noticed that Georgia's sandwich was made with Velveeta cheese rather than American cheese. It struck her that despite the fact these were common dishes, there were a large number of variations. She was surprised Georgia had taken the time to make so many different sandwiches. That was more like something she'd do than Georgia would. She commented, "You really put a lot of effort into this lunch." Oscar had just taken a sip of his soup when Georgia replied, "I guess I wanted to do something a little special for our first day as a Triad." Choking when the soup went down the wrong pipe, Oscar covered his mouth coughing so hard that tears appeared in his eyes. Concerned, Debbie patted him on the back. It took several minutes for him to catch his breath. Throat sore, he croaked, "Our first day as a Triad?" "Isn't that what a relationship involving three people is called?" asked Georgia. Debbie nodded her agreement and said, "Yes, it is." Oscar took a deep breath still trying to recover from inhaling his soup. Georgia could see he hadn't recovered yet and fetched a glass of water. After she handed it to him, he took a large sip and then sighed giving voice to his relief. Not quite sure what the two women meant by a Triad, he asked, "What does that mean? We are a Triad?" Georgia looked over at Debbie with a smile before she answered, "Well, I guess that it means you have two girlfriends." "Okay," replied Oscar wondering what kind of relationship had developed between Georgia and Debbie while he had been gone. Were they lovers now? A lot could happen in four days. He didn't know and couldn't figure out a proper way to ask without angering them. The young redhead winked at the blond and said, "At least you'll have two girlfriends until you get married. Then I guess you'll have two wives." "Aren't I supposed to be the one doing the proposing?" asked Oscar surprised by the marriage discussion. Any concerns about the relationship between the two women evaporated. "Is that a proposal? Pretty lame if it was," commented Georgia. Oscar dropped his soupspoon and scrambled to pick it up. "Not very romantic," agreed Debbie enjoying Oscar's reaction, "and I'm not sure that we should accept until he puts a little more heart into it." "Definitely," said Georgia nodding vigorously. Realizing that the two women were teasing him, Oscar replied, "I better head back to Iran. It's a lot safer there. At least the people are only trying to kill me and not lock me up forever." "Oh, that's cold," declared Georgia. She exchanged a glance with the other woman. In that glance an entire conversation took place. When everyone had finished eating, Debbie stood up and walked over to Oscar's chair. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she said, "Come with me." Confused, Oscar followed Debbie back to the bedroom. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that Georgia was following them. Debbie led him to the bed and said, "Lay down." Oscar lay down on the bed expecting Debbie to join him. She backed away after giving him a wink and turned to Georgia when she entered the room. With a few quick steps, Georgia made her way to the bed. She jumped into the bed and grabbed Oscar. He grabbed her and they wrestled for half a minute before ending up in a hard passionate kiss. George, Georgia's aggressive sexual personality, emerged with a vengeance. Georgia pushed Oscar onto his back and reached down to his cock. He had become erect under the onslaught of her passion. Satisfied, she lowered herself onto his cock without need for foreplay. With a growl, she started to rock on his cock. Her movements were hard and demanding. She took her pleasure from him and he provided it. Their coupling was frantic. Shocked by the fierce nature of their coupling, Debbie watched with wide-eyes. She'd never seen anything like it. Their actions reminded her of battle rather than love. The feral glow in Oscar's eyes conveyed that he was enjoying this as much as Georgia. She wondered how he could have been satisfied by her gentle lovemaking. Oscar wrestled Georgia and ended atop her. With hard savage thrusts, he pounded into her. Georgia scratched his back and yelled like a fury -- expressing her passion with a loud voice. She wrapped her legs around his buttocks and pulled him into her. It had been too long since they had done this. With an animalistic growl, Oscar came. As his come pumped into her, Georgia came. Her legs locked around him and she screamed out her pleasure. It was intense. They stayed frozen in place and then collapse to bed. Each was hot and sweaty; breathing hard from their energetic coupling. Georgia moved her head back and said, "I've missed that so much." "That was intense," said Oscar in agreement. He reached over and put a hand on her hard stomach. The couple relaxed for a moment. Oscar's breathing slowed and then he fell asleep. Georgia smiled and then rolled out of bed. She whispered, "We wore him out." "You wore him out," replied Debbie staring at Georgia. After such a workout, she figured that Georgia should be wiped out and not standing by the bed looking fresh and alert. The two women, still naked, went into the kitchen. Debbie immediately started to clear the table wondering if Oscar would ever be interested in her again. She'd been totally amazed at the furious lovemaking she had witnessed. While carrying the bowls over to the sink, she said, "I guess better get back to the school now." "Why do you say that?" "I saw you two together. By the Gods and Goddesses, that was incredible. He'll never be interested in me." She gently placed the bowls into the sink and stood there staring at them. "How can you say that?" asked Georgia puzzled by the statement. She'd been thinking that her time in bed had been her grand farewell. She stepped over to the table to pick up the plates and said, "I saw you two together. I've never seen anything so tender. That was probably my last time with him." "Huh?" Facing the table, Georgia wanted to cry as she thought back to what she had seen when Debbie was in bed with Oscar. She loved Oscar too much to be jealous that he'd found a woman who was so tender. Emotions choked her voice as she said, "I've never been that feminine in bed. He's got to miss that." Debbie stared at Georgia's back unable to believe what she had heard. She'd seen the desire and passion on Oscar's face. Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, "He loves you and the way that you make love to him. I could see the way that he reacted to you." Georgia turned and looked back at Debbie expecting to see a smirk. Instead, she found vulnerability. "You're serious." "Yes, I am. I'll head back to the college now," said Debbie. "Don't go. He loves you." "He loves you." The two women stared at each other, each wondering if the other was telling the truth. It was an unusual situation. Georgia broke the silence when she said, "He said you are favored by the Goddess." "And you are favored by the God." Debbie smiled and said, "Each time you find something in my favor, I find something in yours." Georgia laughed and said, "I guess it is a tie." "Let's finish cleaning up," said Debbie falling into a domestic role that she had missed since entering the college. The two women worked side by side in the kitchen without touching. Despite the closeness each felt for the other, their nudity and gender constituted a barrier that neither one was willing to cross. As they rinsed dishes and put them in the dishwasher, each woman thought about her time with Oscar. When they finished with the dishes, Debbie said, "Too bad he's asleep. I'm already horny for the little guy again." "Same here," commented Georgia with a giggle. She asked, "Do you think we should wake him up?" "He's never going to get a minute of peace when we're around." "You can say that again," said Georgia. "I guess we should let him sleep. He was pretty tired," said Debbie with a sigh. "So what do we do now?" "I don't know. I don't feel like taking a nap." The time spent in bed with Oscar had energized her and she felt like doing something, but she didn't know what. "I know what you mean," said Debbie. A very pleasant thought crossed her mind. "I'd like to cook dinner. I never get to cook over at the college." More than happy to give up a domestic chore, Georgia said, "No problem. I hate to cook. Maybe I'll watch a little television while you're putting dinner together." Debbie opened the freezer and checked out what it contained. Straightening up, she looked over at Georgia and asked, "Television dinners?" "Hey, I don't like to cook," answered the blond. ------- Chapter 12 "It's simple. He wasn't allowed to talk about it," said Cole in a quiet authoritative voice. The volume of his voice was just loud enough to overcome the background noise of people eating, but not loud enough to carry beyond the table. "He still should have told us," argued Lisa. She looked over at Sharon hoping that her roommate would support her. The tall thin woman looked as if she had something else on her mind. "Did it hurt anyone for them to hide that from us?" asked Gabby. "I'm hurt," answered Lisa. She'd felt betrayed upon learning that Oscar was a Druid. "No. You're insulted that you weren't included in the secret," said Cole. Looking over at Lisa, he asked, "Do you think you would ever have gotten to be friends with him if you had known he was a Druid?" "Probably not," answered Lisa. Considering his actions the first day of classes, she would have probably resented him. She'd seen him as a poor slob in the same position as herself rather than someone slumming. Mark said, "We're better off that we got a chance to know him before we discovered that he was a Druid. Let's face it, I would have probably dropped out by the end of the first day. I'm sure the same is true for you and Sharon." "You're right," answered Lisa. She looked around the table at the normal crowd. The only one missing was Oscar. Picking up a slice of her toast, she asked, "So how do we treat him when he gets back?" Sharon looked at the door and saw a naked Oscar enter the first year dining room. He looked happy for a change and moved with a lot more energy than usual. Gesturing in his direction with her head, she said, "Speak of the devil." Everyone at the table turned to look at him. Others in the room watched him walk to his dining companions. The volume in the room rose as some of the people whispered about the fact that he was a Druid and others discussed his activities in the Middle East. Walking over to the table, Oscar could see the uneasy shifting in their seats by his friends and understood they didn't know how to deal with him as a result of their new knowledge about him. Sitting down, he said, "I never did make it by a potato chip factory to find out how they peel all those potatoes." The comment was so unexpected that everyone stared at him wondering why he would bring up the potato chip factory. Looking around the table, Oscar asked, "Isn't that what we were talking about when our conversation was interrupted?" Cole was silent for a moment and then answered, "I thought we were talking about Debbie and Georgia." "Oh, yeah. You were talking about Debbie and Georgia. I was talking about potato chips," replied Oscar. He picked up the menu and flipped it open to the breakfast section. He still had forty-five minutes before class and that was enough time to get a real meal. He decided on waffles knowing they could have them on the table in fifteen minutes. Everyone was silently watching him while he examined the menu. It was obvious to everyone that something had happened concerning his love life since he didn't have his normal sad look. Unable to contain her curiosity, Sharon asked, "So what's up with Debbie and Georgia?" "I never thought you'd ask. We're now a triad," answered Oscar with a grin glancing up from the menu. "A triad? What's that?" asked Gabby looking around to see if anyone else knew what he was talking about. "Congratulations," said Sharon, Abby, and Lisa together. Cole nodded his approval while Mark wiggled his eyebrows. Greg looked thoughtful as he considered the news. He wasn't sure what to make of it. "We are a threesome," answered Oscar looking over at Gabby. "Oh." She thought about his while wondering if such an arrangement would work for her. It was an intriguing concept. A smile came to her face as she pondered the existence of a rule that good girls did not have a boyfriend and a girlfriend. It was Greg who asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "If you're a Druid, why are you here as a student?" "I don't know. You'll have to ask the Two-Sided One since I'm here on his command," answered Oscar happy he could talk about it at last. His days of hiding who and what he was were over. He glanced over at the far end of the dining room and saw Oliver watching him with a small grin on his face. The news stunned everyone at the table since they all understood that it was highly likely that upon graduation he would be serving the God and the Two-Side One. Serving two of the Gods and Goddesses would put him in the highest levels of the Druid Organization. Their friend was close to becoming one of the most powerful people in the country. Although he didn't doubt that Oscar was telling the truth, the answer didn't satisfy his curiosity. Trying to make a point, Greg said, "I'm not quite sure how to go about doing that." Oscar laughed and replied, "Neither am I." The waitress came over to the table and said, "Sorry, I didn't notice you arrive. What'll you have for breakfast?" "Waffles and coffee," answered Oscar ignoring the looks from the others around the table. He knew they needed a moment to digest the bombshell that he had just dropped. "I'll be right back with your waffles." Feeling guilty about not having seen him earlier, the waitress walked away from the table to deliver the order and wait for it to be prepared. She'd ask the cook to rush the order to give him enough time to finish them. "So what are you supposed to study?" asked Cole trying to figure out what Oscar would be doing in the future. "I have no idea," answered Oscar with a shrug. He'd asked himself that question a hundred times and figured he'd know when the time was right. Until then, he'd take the courses he was offered and do his best on them. "You can't be serious," said Cole. He didn't understand the Gods and Goddesses at all. It bothered him that he didn't know what they wanted from the people who believed in them. He didn't believe that it was enough to follow the two rules. "So you are a servant of the God," said Lisa steering the subject of conversation to something that was a little more concrete. At least everyone knew he was a servant of the God. That was a topic that was worth a day's worth of discussion. "Yes." Sensing an opportunity to get a few of his questions answered, Cole asked, "So what do the Gods and Goddesses want us to do?" "Follow the two rules," answered Oscar looking at Cole. The disappointment on the young man's face showed his dissatisfaction with the answer. "Oh come on. There's got to be more to it than that." Oscar leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. In a very serious voice, he said, "You think that is such a little thing." "Yes, I do." "Let me ask you to imagine what the world would be like if more people followed those two rules. Poverty, war, and hunger would disappear. We'd have utopia if everyone only did things that hurt no one. The weak would only exist because of natural disasters and the whole world would help them recover. It is not such a little thing that they ask us to do." Staring open mouthed at Oscar, Cole had an epiphany. For the first time since arriving at the college, he understood the full implications of the two rules. They weren't just rules for individuals; they could also apply to whole nations. What came to mind was a fantastic vision of what could be. The waitress returned with a waffle and set the plate down in front of Oscar. Sharon, realizing that he didn't have syrup, fetched one of the syrup containers from one of the stations. She set it down in front of Oscar. "By the Gods and Goddesses, why hasn't anyone said that to us before now?" asked Cole. Cutting a square out his waffle, Oscar stabbed it with his fork. Just before putting it into his mouth, he answered, "Every Druid here has been telling you that since the first day of college." Stunned, Cole stood up and left the table to be alone with his thoughts. Of all the people at the table, he was the most introspective. He needed to internalize what he had just learned and that required being alone. He headed towards the administration building to take a walk outside knowing that he'd miss a class, but he had other things in his mind. Oscar took his time eating his waffle. The discussion raged around the table as the others discussed what Oscar had said. It was clear that none of them understood what he had said with the depth and clarity of Cole. They each took a part of what he said for examination and thought. Before Oscar finished his meal, Debbie came over to the table and sat down with a bowl of cereal and a pitcher of milk. Smiling across the table at Oscar, she said, "Good morning Oscar. Sleep well?" "Very well. I was nestled between the two most beautiful women in the world," answered Oscar. His comment turned everyone's attention to Debbie. She was besieged by questions about the relationship. Gabby was wondering if Debbie had suddenly become bisexual. Abby was curious about what it was like sharing Oscar. In answering their questions, Debbie barely had enough time to eat her bowl of cereal before it was necessary to head to class. After walking with Debbie to her class, Oscar made his way to his classroom. Arriving just in time, he entered and took his seat. He had just sat down when the instructor, Dr. Ron Marcus, came over to his desk and dropped a book on it. Looking up, Oscar asked, "What's this?" "The book you are to read. You weren't here when I handed out the books to the other students," answered the professor. Oscar looked down at the book and then looked up again sharply. Surprised by the book on his desk, he asked, "The Bible?" "Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" asked Dr. Ron Marcus. Although he was about to argue that he was a Druid and didn't believe in the Bible, Oscar thought about it for a minute. He looked at the green-robed Druid who had given him the book to read and knew that any argument he could generate wouldn't last a second. This was a literature class and the book had been assigned as literature. Accepting the assignment, he answered, "No. I was just rather surprised." "Good. You have a little less than four weeks before your paper is due on it," answered the professor as he returned to the head of the class. He knew it was a little unfair to hold Oscar to the same deadline as the other students since he had been called away in service to the God. However, it would have been unfair to the other students for him to do otherwise. Oscar flipped through the pages and realized that he was going to have read it every chance he had. For the next fifty minutes, the professor lectured on the use of symbols in literature and the importance of understanding the symbols in order to interpret the material properly. Oscar listened to the lecture carefully. It was obvious from the lecture that the Bible was the source of many of the symbols used in literature. He knew he would have his work cut out for him in order to make a passing grade in this class. When the lecture was over, Oscar went to the front of the room. After the other students had left, he said, "Excuse me, but I have a couple of questions." "Only a couple?" asked the other Druid with a wry grin. "Yes. The first question I have is -- the Bible is really two books, am I supposed to do one or both of them?" "It is actually a lot of little books organized in two parts, but you're to do all of them." "Well, the assignment is to analyze the book in terms of the symbols it contains. There are two kinds of symbols contained in this book." "And they are?" Oscar answered, "There are the symbols that resulted from this book and there are the symbols that were used in the book." Pleased that Oscar had grasped the critical distinction, the Druid answered, "The latter, of course. If you want to truly understand the book, you have to understand the symbols used within it that were current when the book was written. Those are the symbols used to convey the meaning intended by the authors." Oscar hung his head at the impossibility of the assignment and said, "Okay." Leaving the classroom, Oscar found Debbie waiting for him at the door. She took one look at him and asked, "Let me guess, you're behind on your assignments." "Worse, I've been given an impossible assignment," said Oscar with a groan. He understood the assignment would require him to go through the Bible line by line looking for symbols contemporaneous with its origin. For all he knew, it was likely that most of those symbols had not propagated into current times. "You'll do alright. I know you," said Debbie. She kissed him on his cheek and then said, "We better head to our study groups." They walked to the library and left each other at the last minute. As Oscar took a seat, one of the members of the study group commented, "I see that you are walking around holding hands with Debbie. Did something happen finally?" "Yes. We're part of a triad," answered Oscar wondering how long it would take the news to spread around the campus. Bad news usually took about three hours. He figured that good news would take longer to spread. "About time." Oscar put the Bible on the table and asked, "So what did I miss?" "A bunch of Druids kicked ass on some terrorists while you were gone," answered George with a grin. He was tall with blond hair and an athletic build. He'd attempted to join the Army, but had failed the physical because he had flat feet. George entered the college in the hopes he could fight terrorists by serving the God. His motives were purely personal since he'd had a family member die as a result of terrorist activities. Frowning, Oscar didn't like how George reveled in the deaths of terrorists. There was a touch of the fanatic about him that reminded him of the terrorists. He said, "I meant with respect to class." It was four in the morning and Oscar wasn't done with his assignment. Frustrated beyond belief, he looked at what he had accomplished over the past four weeks. He had been assigned the whole Bible and had only managed to get through the first book of it. Genesis had been loaded with symbols. Most of the symbols had origins in the Egyptian civilization from which Moses had fled, but there were elements from earlier civilizations such as Mesopotamian. His paper was due in five hours and he was exhausted. Shaking his head at the knowledge that he wouldn't be able to finish it, he chose to end it. He cut off the part that started to deal with the second book of the Bible and added a conclusion for the part that he had done. Disgusted at his failure to complete the assignment, he clicked on the print icon and sat back to watch the printer spit out pages. It would time some time to print since it was over a hundred pages long with quotes in Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. He thought that, at the least, the gift of languages had come in very useful. He stood and went to the supply room to get a binder. There were several different styles, but he chose the simple black three-ring binder. He picked up a hole-punch before returning to the library. Putting everything down on his table, he took a moment to rest his head. "Wake up, Oscar. It's eight and you need to get something to eat before class starts," Lisa said as she shook him awake. When she had gotten up that morning, she had seen that he'd never returned to his room. It wasn't the first time that had happened over the past month. Oscar had spent a lot of late nights working on the assignment from his literature class. His head flew off the table and he looked around horrified at seeing how late it was. Irritated at himself for his weakness, he said, "I'm never going to get that paper done in time." Smiling, Lisa held out the binder for him. To his surprise, someone had inserted the pages and put a title page on the front of the binder. He looked over the cover and said, "Thank you. It looks great." "Sharon took care of the title page. I put the pages in the binder," Lisa said. She had looked over the paper while punching holes in the pages. It was an incredible piece of work despite the fact that she didn't understand the foreign language quotes. The last ten pages had listed the works of Biblical Scholars who had been cited in his paper. "I thank you both. I just wish that I had completed the assignment," Oscar said with a heavy heart. Lifting the binder, he added, "I can't believe that I put so much effort into this. I'll probably get an F on it." "An F?" asked Lisa in surprise. There was no way that what she had read deserved an F, particularly when she compared his work to hers. Her paper seemed to be a superficial treatment of the subject. "I was supposed to do the whole book and only managed to get through Genesis." He had known it was an impossible task when it had been assigned. His research had identified scholars who had spent their entire lives trying to understand the Bible. The book of Genesis was a monument to the power of word magic and naming. Looking at the binder, Lisa didn't think it was humanly possible to fulfill the assignment to the level that Oscar attempted. Resting a hand on his back, she said, "I'm sure your instructor will understand." "He's a Druid." She laughed and retorted, "So are you." "We'll see. I guess I should go get something to eat," said Oscar as he stood. He stretched trying to get the stiffness out of his joints. Looking down at the table, he said, "I guess I should straighten this mess out first." "Go ahead and eat. I'll straighten it out for you." "Thanks." "Get something good to eat. You need to keep your strength up," said Lisa. After Oscar nodded his agreement, Lisa watched her roommate head towards the dining room. She shut down the computer and straightened up his work area. Sharon who had just finished eating a bowl of cereal joined her. Together, it didn't take them long to organize his loose notes and stack the books he had used. Oscar turned in his assignment and then skipped classes for the rest of the day. He knew he was too exhausted to pay attention to his classes. Still tired, he managed to make it to the dining room in time for dinner. Yawning, he dropped into a seat at one of the large tables. He hadn't been there for more than four minutes when Georgia and Debbie arrived and bracketed him between them. Georgia said, "I heard you were a lazy lay-about today." "I heard the same thing," Debbie said. They had both been worried with how much time Oscar had spent on his paper. He had worked on it like a man possessed. In the process, he had not been nearly as attentive to them as they would have liked. "I didn't sleep last night in a last ditch effort to finish my paper," Oscar said. He grabbed some menus and passed one to each of his two girlfriends. Opening a third, he scanned down the list of items. "I never thought of you as the kind that would put something off until the last minute," said Georgia. "I didn't." Debbie, having done her own version of the assignment, said, "Everyone else managed to finish their papers with lots of time to spare." Oscar shrugged and said, "I was the only one who had to do the Bible." "That's an odd choice of literature to give to a Druid. What did you think of it?" Debbie asked. Oscar looked up from his menu and stared across the room for a minute while he marshaled his thoughts on the subject. Finally, he said, "Actually, I dreaded the assignment. Then I read the Bible and thought it was a pretty powerful document. After studying it, I've come to the conclusion that most of the people who claim to be Christians don't really understand their religion. The experience tempts me to examine the Koran with the same kind of attention to symbolism." The assessment surprised Georgia. She had assumed that he would have torn apart the Bible in some sort of religious competition. Curious, she asked, "So are you thinking of becoming a Christian?" "Not at all. I serve the Gods and Goddesses." "Then why the exploration of other religions?" Debbie asked. Perusing the menu, she decided upon a salad with grilled chicken for dinner. Having decided take the seafood sampler, Oscar was free to ponder the question with far more consideration than his dining companions expected. He was about to answer when his roommates arrived and settled around the table. Mark said, "Hey sleepy head. It's good to see you are awake." Lisa said, "I hope you can sleep tonight." Putting his arms around Georgia and Debbie, he said, "I'm sure these two lovely ladies will help tire me out if I have any difficulties." Nodding her head, Georgia said, "Yeah. I've got more than enough work around the house to keep you busy all week. You can paint the bedroom for starters." "Don't forget my garden," added Debbie struggling to identify some task for Oscar to perform. The fact that it was the middle of winter didn't dawn on her until after she had made the suggestion. As everyone around the table laughed at the expression on Oscar's face, the rest of the normal meal group arrived at the table. Gabby took one look at Oscar and said, "Looks like Oscar has woman trouble." "You can say that again," Oscar said. The women gave him affectionate kisses on the cheeks. Oscar trudged into the classroom with a heavy heart knowing that he was to learn of his grade that day. So far, he'd had straight A's, but now he expected that record to be ended. He sat down at his desk and didn't look around at the others. He was embarrassed to look any of his classmates in the eye. The instructor went around the room handing out the papers. Most of the papers ranged in length from ten to twenty papers. He stopped when there was one binder left in his hand and went to the front of the room. Oscar watched him with narrowed eyes wondering why the instructor would use his failure to complete the assignment as a lesson to the class. He frowned and stared at the top of his desk. "Occasionally, a student takes an assignment to an extreme that is unimaginable by the instructor. Thankfully, it doesn't occur often." Holding up Oscar's binder, the instructor continued, "I assigned a very difficult book to Oscar Meyers. I expected that he would find a dozen symbols from the time when the book was written. You can imagine my surprise when he found that many symbols in the first two pages. Rather than the typical description of the symbols, he provided original source materials that explained the genesis of those symbols and their significance in the context of the society of the time. "He peeled back layers of symbolism within the text. He exposed the symbols that arose from translating the text a thousand years after it was authored. He traced back the text to the Latin version and identified the subtle changes in symbols incorporated within it. He then turned his attention to a still earlier version written in Greek and identified how symbols incorporated within it had even more different meanings. He did the same with the Hebrew version. "He captured the original meanings of the symbols by identifying earlier texts that told stories of a similar nature. He cast the symbols in terms of the culture of the time. The society that he described is based on historical evidence that has emerged through generations of research efforts. It is a first-class piece of work." The instructor stepped up to Oscar's desk and handed him the binder. He said, "I've submitted this for publication by an organization known for its Biblical Treatises on your behalf. I hope that is not a problem." Stunned, Oscar replied, "No problem." "I apologize for the misunderstanding. I can tell that you put in far more work into the your analysis of Genesis than I had expected for the entire Bible." Oscar looked up from the binder and said, "No problem." Laughing at the stunned expression on Oscar's face, the instructor stepped back to the front of the class. Finished with handing out the papers and his apology, he started his planned lecture. Oscar's attention wasn't on the lecture. When the class had finished, everyone stood to leave. Oscar took the opportunity to open the binder to see if there were any comments written in the margins. The sound of Dr. Ron Marcus clearing his throat attracted his attention and he looked up. "Oscar, have you given any thought concerning your major?" "Not yet," answered Oscar. "May I suggest that you consider Religious Studies?" asked the instructor. "Religious Studies?" asked Oscar wondering why a Druid would major in Religious Studies. For that matter, he wondered if there was even a program in Religious Studies in the Druid College. "Yes." "Why would I do that?" asked Oscar. There was no way the Two- Sided One would have sent him to the Druid College to study Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. There had to be another subject for him to study. "Three religions, all of which originated from the same part of the world, are at war with each other. You know this is a fact. You have participated in that war." "So what has that got to do with me?" "There are leaders of each of those religions who have predicted that a major event to end that war is about to occur. Even one of our own has predicted this shall occur." Confused by the assertions of prophecy, Oscar asked, "What Druid predicted that?" "He's not a Druid, yet." "Who?" Dr. Ron Marcus smiled and answered, "William Redman Carter." Oscar was smart enough to connect the individual named to John Carter, but beyond that connection he was lost. Confused, he said, "I'm sorry. I just don't see what that has to do with me." "You don't?" "Nope." The instructor took a seat at the desk next to Oscar and considered his answer. He knew the reasoning was very weak, but it felt right to him. He said, "If anyone is going to make peace in that region of the world, then it has to be someone who understands all three religions to a depth in which they can argue with the religious leaders. You are unique in that you can become that person. You understand the languages of those religions. You have demonstrated the ability to delve beyond the surface of their most holy writings." "So you are saying that I'm supposed to go in and negotiate peace in the Middle East?" "I guess that is what I'm saying." Oscar laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of the assertion. He said, "I serve the Gods and Goddesses. I'll do whatever they ask of me. Just remember, I'm human and it's not humanly possible to bring peace to the Middle East." "Please consider majoring in Religious Studies." Incredulous, Oscar looked at the instructor and said, "You are really serious." ------- Chapter 13 "Come in." Oscar stepped into the office and looked around at the plain furnishings. For the most part, it looked like an office that hadn't been assigned to anyone. There was a desk and two chairs on opposite sides of the desk. The desktop was bare of anything other than a telephone. The plain white walls were bare as well. The high-backed chair behind the desk was turned so that all he could see was the back of it. He didn't see anyone in the office. He frowned and wondered where the person who had called out was. He was about to leave when the chair behind the desk swiveled around with a slight squeak. Much to his surprise, Oscar found that he was staring at a kid who couldn't have been more than fifteen years old. The blue robe with white arms identified him as a graduate of the Druid College. Oscar studied the kid with a little more attention to detail. The boy was clearly of Native American heritage and wore his long black hair back in a braid. There was a strength about him that suggested he was a warrior. His dark eyes seemed to see beyond the here and now. Voice cracking as a result of his age, the boy said, "My little sister sends her regards." "Who is your little sister?" asked Oscar taken aback by the greeting. He didn't recall ever meeting a young Native American girl and wondered if the kid thought he was talking to someone else. "Betsy." "Oh," said Oscar putting two and two together and getting four. There was no way to forget the hyperactive young girl who had been on campus the first week of school. He asked, "So which of the Carter kids are you?" "I am William Redman Carter. My birth-father was John Carter and my birth-mother is Linda Carter." Stepping over to the other chair, Oscar sat down and made himself comfortable. Expecting to find his advisor here, the presence of William made him decide that he was there for some other reason. He had no idea what that reason might be, only that he had been sent to this room. Relaxing, he asked, "What can I do for you?" William laughed at the suggestion that Oscar was there to help him. Leaning forward, he said, "You can declare your major." "Huh?" "I asked Oliver to be your academic advisor on this single occasion. It is time for you to declare a major," answered William. He sat back and watched the expressions flash across Oscar's face. They changed too fast to categorize them. Somewhat irritated at having a kid for his academic advisor, Oscar asked, "So what do you suggest?" "How about pottery?" asked William, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you kidding?" "Why are you asking me what I think your major should be? You have already been told what some of your instructors believe it should be. You know what it has to be," answered William. He studied the young man seated across from him. Oscar was definitely the man in his vision. "You're talking about Religious Studies, aren't you?" asked Oscar. He recalled the conversation with his literature instructor two months earlier. He hadn't thought about it, but ever since that day he kept getting assignments with major religious elements to it. Only three days earlier, he had been assigned the Crusades as a special study topic in his history of war class. "Of course," answered William. "What makes you think the Two-Sided One wants me to major in that?" It was a question that William didn't know how to answer. Looking at Oscar, he said, "I don't know if the Two-Sided One wants you to major in it. All that I do know is that you will major in it and you will bring peace to the Middle East." "I will?" asked Oscar with a grin at the suggestion that he would bring peace to the Middle East. Realizing William was serious, a look of concern came over his face. He said, "I don't know anything about you, but you may consider talking to someone about your mental health." "A lot of people would agree with you on that," answered William with a sigh. He was saddened at the fact that Oscar did not believe him. It had been his hope that the Druid would accept what he said without requiring proof. He stared into space for a minute and then said, "After leaving here, you are going to go across the street to Daddy Ed's house. That is the only thing that will go according to plan tonight." Friday nights were used to relax and unwind after a week of school and work. The plans for the evening were very simple. It was their usual routine to go for quiet walk through the woods that were behind the house. A simple dinner prepared by Debbie would follow the walk. The rest of the evening would be spent cuddling with his two girlfriends and talking about the events of the week. Oscar knew there wasn't much that could disrupt their plans. Convinced that William was wrong, Oscar said, "So my evening is going to be ruined." "Yes." "And then?" "Tomorrow morning, you will come here and fill out the papers declaring your major," William said. Oscar stared at William wondering if the boy was for real. Standing up with the intention of finding Oliver, Oscar said, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow." "No. I'll be at the glade. Tomorrow is mid-summers day." "You've been called?" asked Oscar. "No, but I shall go there anyway," answered William wanting to end the conversation. He kicked the desk such that his chair swiveled around and his back was to Oscar. "Oh." Oscar stared at the back of the chair for a moment wondering if there was more to the story than William had told him. He turned and then left the office. Before he passed through the door, he said, "I wish you luck." William didn't answer. His mind was on the visions of the future involving Oscar. The Druid didn't know that it was going to be very necessary for him to understand and respect other religions before long. His thoughts then went to the glade and what wouldn't happen there. He closed his eyes and the image of a fat man came to him. The fat man said, "Not yet, little one." After searching unsuccessfully for Oliver, Oscar walked down the driveway connecting the campus with the road. It was a beautiful day and he considered the sky in light of what William had said. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the temperature was perfect, and the wind was gentle. It was clear to Oscar that weather wouldn't be a factor in ruining their plans. The boy had spooked him and he kept looking over his shoulder for some sign of a disaster. The walk to the house was about a mile and normally was the beginning of his weekend relaxation. This particular afternoon the walk was not serving that purpose. He had to pause at the road when a black limousine left the campus. For a second he wondered if William was in the back of it, but dismissed it based on the boy's assertion that he was going to the glade. It was with an uneasy feeling that he walked up the driveway to the house. Georgia's car was not parked in its normal spot. She very seldom used the car since she typically walked across the road to go to work. Shrugging his shoulders, he hoped that it wouldn't delay their walk too much. He entered the house and found Debbie seated on the couch in the living room. She looked over at him and, based on the expression on his face, said, "Georgia went grocery shopping." "Okay. Any idea when she'll be home?" asked Oscar. He went into the kitchen to get something to drink. Opening the refrigerator, he saw that there was absolutely nothing to drink or eat. He thought to himself, 'Scratch that plan.' "She should have been back by now. I'm sure she'll be here anytime now," answered Debbie as she ran her fingers through her long red hair. "She has her cell phone with her, doesn't she?" Oscar asked feeling uneasy. He wondered if Georgia was going to be in an accident. He knew that would definitely ruin any plans they had for the evening. The conversation with William had him spooked. "Sure." Going to the couch, Oscar sat down next to Debbie and took a moment to look at her. As always, he was amazed at her beauty. Her milky white skin was so soft to the touch that there were times when he worried about hugging her too tightly in fear that she would bruise. Her red hair curled and cascaded down to the middle of her back. She had eyes that were such a startling shade of green that he felt he could get lost in them. In contrast to the fiery temper associated with others of her appearance, her demeanor was kind and gentle. With the recent conversation with William still on his mind, he asked, "Did you meet with your academic advisor today?" "Yeah. It was a rather trivial exercise. I went in and said that I wanted to major in Chemistry. Oliver said okay and that was it." The fact that her meeting didn't last long wasn't a surprise to either one of them. Debbie had discovered how much she enjoyed Chemistry and had decided, before the course was even half over, that she would major in it. Oscar's meeting had been short, but of a different flavor. He asked, "Have you ever heard of William Redman Carter?" "Isn't he one of the Carter Kids?" "Yeah. What else do you know about him" "That's all I know about him. He's one of the Carter Kids," answered Debbie with a shrug of her shoulders. She didn't follow the lives of the rich and famous. Curious why he would be asking about him, she asked, "What about him?" "Oliver assigned him to be my academic advisor," answered Oscar. He wondered why Oliver had done such a thing. "So what was he like?" "He looks like he's fifteen years old. Even though he's a graduate of the Druid College, I'm halfway convinced he uses drugs," said Oscar knowing even as he said it that he was not being fair. That suggestion surprised Debbie since she couldn't imagine any of her classmates getting involved in drugs. She asked, "Why do you say that?" "He was telling me that I'm supposed to bring peace to the Middle East." "What are you going to do? Kill everyone there?" asked Debbie figuring that was the only way that area would ever achieve peace. It only took two people to create a war in that part of the world. "No, I just thought I'd make them coffee," said Oscar with a wink. "Now that is a catastrophe of Biblical Proportions," said Debbie. She burst out laughing at the idea of Oscar let loose in a kitchen somewhere in the Middle East. Her laugh was contagious and it wasn't long before Oscar was rolling on the floor. Once they had recovered somewhat, Oscar asked, "Who knew that Armageddon was Aramaic for I'll take mine with cream and sugar?" The comment caused them to burst out laughing once again. It took a while before they calmed down. Still chuckling, Debbie said, "I know what it means - oh, no Oscar's in the kitchen!" Carrying two bags of groceries, Georgia entered the room just in time to overhear Debbie's comment. She didn't see Oscar on the floor at Debbie's feet. In a very concerned voice, she asked, "Oscar's in the kitchen?" Seeing the look of horror on Georgia's face, Debbie started laughing even harder. Oscar recovered long enough to sit up and say, "We were just giving possible translations for the word, Armageddon." "You in the kitchen wins my vote," said Georgia relieved to learn that Oscar had not been in the kitchen. He'd been responsible for more than one disaster in the kitchen and it had become a firm rule of the house that he was not allowed in it. Her comment just made Debbie laugh even harder. Realizing that Oscar and Debbie were laughing too hard to help her with the groceries, Georgia carried the bags to the kitchen. When Georgia was about to empty the bags, the telephone rang. Overhearing Oscar give another translation of Armageddon, she knew that Debbie and Oscar hadn't noticed it. She picked up the phone and talked to the party on the other end. The conversation lasted less than a minute. "Debbie," said Georgia on entering the room. The laughter died after Debbie looked at Georgia. The expression on her face suggested that something horrible had just happened. Suddenly serious, Debbie asked, "What's the matter?" "Oliver just called over here." Oscar sat up and looked over at Georgia. He didn't like the solemn tone of voice she used. Concerned, he asked, "What's the matter?" "Debbie, your father was taken to the hospital a half hour ago." "Daddy? Daddy is in the hospital," repeated Georgia sounding like a little girl. Visions of her father lying in a hospital bed hooked up to equipment and with tubes keeping alive flashed through her mind. Those visions were replaced by visions of her father dying. "Oliver is coming over here to take you to the airport so that you can see your father," said Georgia. Debbie heard the news with a sickening feeling. She didn't know what was the matter with her father or how serious his condition was, but the fact that Oliver had released her to travel to visit him seemed significant. Terrified that she was going to cause his death by even asking the question, she asked, "Is he dying?" "I don't know," answered Georgia truthfully. Oliver had not given her any details. "Don't read anything into Oliver taking you to the airport to be with your father. He'll do that for any student when there is a family crisis," Oscar said trying to reassure Debbie. He didn't know if it was true or not, but it wouldn't surprise him. The college was very tough to get into, but the faculty and staff worked hard to retain students. As visions of losing her father rose in her mind's eye, Debbie's hands started to tremble. Oscar moved back to the couch beside her and put his arms around her. He gently hugged her. She turned to him and wept on his shoulder. Not quite twenty years old, she was still young enough to react to catastrophic news like a kid. She whimpered, "I love my daddy. I don't want my daddy to die. He can't die." There was a knock on the door and Georgia went to answer it. Oliver stood at the door with a serious expression on his face. He asked, "Is she ready to go?" "She doesn't have anything to wear," said Georgia amazed that Oliver had managed to arrive so quickly. She hadn't had a chance to pack her clothes. "I've packed a couple of spare robes for her," answered Oliver pointing in the direction of a black sedan. The name of the college was written in white letters across the door. Seeing that his girlfriend needed support during this time of trial, Oscar looked over at Oliver and said, "I want to go with her. She needs me." "You have to stay here. I already told Georgia that she can go," said Oliver. He didn't want to establish a precedent for several students leaving the school when one student had a problem. It didn't matter that Oscar was a Druid. He understood what Oliver meant about him having to stay there. At least Georgia could go with Debbie to provide the necessary emotional support. Although they shared a boyfriend, they were not lovers. The women were close like sisters. "I'm going," said Georgia, "just give me a minute to throw some clothes in a bag." "Go," said Oliver with a shooing motion of his hands. He gestured towards the door with his head when he caught Oscar's eye. Understanding that he was being asked to get Debbie to the car, Oscar said, "Let's get you to the car, Debbie. Georgia is going with you. I'll ride to the airport and we'll get more details during the drive." "Just hold me for a minute," begged Debbie. She didn't think she could stand. "The sooner we get you to the car, the sooner we can head to the airport," said Oscar. "Okay," she said, but made no attempt to stand. She wrapped her arms around his neck even tighter. Realizing that she wasn't able to stand, Oscar put his arms around her back and legs. With a groan, he stood up with her in his arms. After adjusting her in his arms, he carried her out of the house and to the car. It looked so easy in the movies, but the reality of lifting and carrying someone was quite different. Of course, in the movies the hero was six feet tall and the damsel was small. Oscar wasn't five foot tall and Debbie was six inches taller than he was. Oliver raced ahead to open the car door. He beat Oscar to the car by a few steps. With a great deal of care, Oscar set Debbie in the car. When she didn't release him, he slid into the seat next to her. It was awkward. Once he was sure that the small man was safely in the car, Oliver closed the car door. He went around to the other side of the car to get the door for Georgia. He didn't know when the flight left, but didn't want to miss it because they were slow in reacting. After a few minutes, Georgia came out of the house carrying an overnight bag. She'd thrown a couple of outfits in it without worrying too much about what they were. If she needed more clothes, she'd buy them where they were going. It wasn't until she arrived at the car that she realized she didn't even know where they were going. Oscar had expected Oliver to head directly to the airport and was surprised when he pulled onto the road to the college. As the car made its way down the tree-lined driveway, he asked, "Where are we going?" "We're stopping here to pick up Bonnie Mann," said Oliver. He pulled up in front of the administration building. Georgia looked up in surprise at the name. She knew Bonnie and liked her a lot. She couldn't think of a better person to have with them. Bonnie was always calm and collected. "Who's Bonnie Mann?" asked Oscar. It was understandable that he didn't know her. He hadn't had a chance to meet the most of the college staff. Only twenty percent of the staff ever came in contact with first year students. "She's one of our counselors. We usually send a counselor with a student when they have a family crisis," Oliver said as Bonnie stepped out of the building. She was a slightly overweight woman with a matronly appearance. For a fraction of a second, Debbie was gripped with the fear that she had just been assigned some sort of chaperon who would censor her conversations with her family. Unable to believe that the Druids would violate family relations in such a manner, she asked, "Why?" "She'll facilitate things for you. She made the flight reservations for you. She can interface with hospital officials if you need help cutting through red tape. As a trained counselor, she'll be there for you and your family if you need to talk things out," answered Oliver. Breathless from rushing down the sidewalk, Bonnie got into the car after stashing her carry-on luggage in the trunk of the car. After taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly, she said, "We've got a direct flight to Cincinnati. It leaves in an hour and a half, so we should just make it." Oliver pulled out and headed towards the airport. Bonnie turned to look at Debbie and said, "Debbie, I just got off the phone with your mother five minutes ago. Your father had a minor heart attack and is currently resting comfortably in the hospital. They are monitoring his condition and will run some tests in the morning." The impact of the news on Debbie was immediately obvious. She relaxed against Oscar with a smile. She felt a great deal of relief at learning her father wasn't dying. The mental fog slowly lifted and she said, "He's okay." "That's what your mother said," replied Bonnie trying to remain factual. The worst thing she could do would be to lie about his condition. Promises that things would be all right often came back to haunt the one that made the promises. Trying to turn her head enough to face Debbie was beginning to hurt her neck. Bonnie shifted around in her seat to face the young woman. Once she was more comfortable, she said, "Your home is pretty far from the city, so I reserved three rooms at a hotel down the street from the hospital. You'll share a room with your mother. I'll share a room with Georgia. The third room will be for your brothers. If that isn't acceptable, I can change it." "We can't pay for that," exclaimed Debbie. With her father in the hospital, money was going to be very tight. Her father had been willing to send her to the local college, but she had chosen to go to the Druid College to save the family some money. She felt her two brothers deserved a chance at an education even if neither one of them had been as a good of a student as she had been. Smiling at the concern about her parent's money, Bonnie said, "John Carter set up a fund for just this purpose. He wanted to make sure our students didn't have to worry about their families during a crisis. Life takes precedence over school, but that doesn't mean that life should destroy the chance to finish school. If you need to leave school for a couple of months, we can help you through those months and bring you back into the program." Even Oscar was impressed on hearing that. Looking over at Bonnie, he knew Debbie was in good hands. Debbie said, "I'm overwhelmed." The remainder of the drive was made in silence. Once at the airport, there was a flurry of activity as the three women were ushered through the large building. The presence of the Grand Druid seemed to expedite check-in procedures. The gray robe, Oscar's red robe, and Debbie's blue robe attracted attention from other passengers. Crowds parted as they walked down the terminal. When they reached the gate, Bonnie and Oliver gave the trio a little privacy. Debbie had recovered and was now nervous about flying. Georgia was treating it like a grand adventure. Oscar felt bad about being left behind. It was an emotional parting with Georgia and Debbie giving Oscar farewell kisses that could have melted the north pole. Once the three women had boarded the plane, Oscar and Oliver went over to the window to watch the plane pull away from the gate. Oscar watched the plane take-off knowing that he was going to miss both of them over the next couple of days. He wondered how long they would be gone. "I guess they're gone," said Oscar once the plane was in the air. "They'll be alright. Bonnie will take care of them," Oliver said. "Is it true that you provide someone for any student who has a family crisis?" asked Oscar. Despite the fact that he trusted Oliver to be honest, he couldn't help wonder if extra effort had been taken because he was a Druid. "It's true. Just because you're a student at the Druid College doesn't mean that your family is immune to illness and death. Considering that our program requires six years for a student to complete, about ten percent of the students have a major family crisis during that time. John Carter recognized that and took steps to assure that our students returned." "I'm impressed," said Oscar. His stomach rumbled and he added, "I'm also hungry." Oliver laughed and said, "Well, we'll stop somewhere on the way back to the college. I consider airport food to be somewhere between airline food and hospital food in quality." "That's like saying that zero is between nil and none." It was late before Oscar returned to the house. The trunk of Georgia's car was open with several bags of groceries visible. He picked up a couple of bags and carried them to the kitchen. Two bags of groceries had been left on the counter. In one of them, a container of ice cream had melted and ruined the other groceries. It took him some time to clean up the mess. The milk had sat outside in the warm weather for more than six hours. The idea of drinking the milk reminded him of the Russian rations he had forced himself to eat. Looking at the carton, he knew what he had to do. He threw out a lot of perishable goods feeling guilty with each item tossed in the trashcan. Having restored order to the house, he sat down on the couch and thought about Debbie's reaction to the news about her father. Her reaction suggested that she had a very good relationship with him. It reminded him that he hadn't talked to his own parents in ages, not since the call after his last service to the God. After glancing at the clock and seeing the time, he picked up the telephone and dialed the number to his parent's house. He spent an hour talking to his mother catching up on family news. The conversation with his father was a lot shorter, but more rewarding since the man had said how proud he was of Oscar. Having nothing better to do, Oscar went out to the back porch and sat on a chair. The air was filled with the sounds of life calling out in the dark. Insects, amphibians, and other animals of the night made their presence known. It was the calling card of the Goddess. Looking out into the dark, Oscar felt alone and realized that it had been the first time in ages that he had been away from people. The last time he had spent any time alone was when he had been lost in the deserts of Iran and Afghanistan. The life here contrasted with the isolation he had experienced there. The events of the evening had been tiring. Reflecting on them, he said, "That sure wasn't what I expected to happen tonight." He recalled the warning that William had given him. "After leaving here, you are going to go across the street to Daddy Ed's house. That is the only thing that will go according to plan tonight." ------- Chapter 14 The first year dining was a large hall with tables well spaced apart. The spacing of the tables allowed students to talk or study without interfering with individuals at adjacent tables. There were a few tables capable of seating twelve, more tables capable of seating eight, but the most common tables were capable of seating four. The tables for four were often paired up to create seating for six. Given that the same people visited the same dining room three times a day, Oscar found it surprising that it was not the case that the same people sat at the same table every meal. It was true that roommates usually ate together for breakfast and spent most of the time talking about what was going on among the students. However, lunch and dinner dining companions were usually based on study groups of eight and project groups of four or six. Meal times were spent discussing course material or projects. After spending the weekend alone at the house, Oscar returned to the school early Monday morning and headed directly to the dining hall for breakfast. The people seated around the table were quiet. Oscar sat down and looked around at the unhappy faces. After a quick glance at him, they each turned to look at the table. Wondering what was the matter, he asked, "What's up?" "Cole is missing," answered Gabby with a mixture of anger and concern in her voice. She had spent the weekend looking for Cole on campus wishing that Oscar would show up to help her in her search, but he had been nowhere to be seen. "Missing?" asked Oscar with a frown. He hadn't heard anything about that and he was sure that Oliver would have asked him to help search for him. "He disappeared Saturday," said Mark realizing that Oscar had not known. "At least Saturday was the last time anyone reported seeing Cole." "What did Oliver say?" asked Oscar curious about the official response. As far as he knew, no student had ever left the campus without formally withdrawing. "At first he was real concerned, but then last night he said was that Cole would show up in a day or two," answered Gabby. She was very worried about Cole and didn't know what to do. She'd been harassing Oliver to do something, but he'd given up on Sunday. She was on the verge of giving him a taste of her mind and she knew it would leave him with indigestion. "Saturday was mid-summer's day," said Oscar thoughtfully. With all of the excitement Friday night, he wouldn't have remembered that fact except for the conversation with William. He wondered if there was something significant in that. The waitress showed up and asked, "Can I take anyone's order?" "I'll have two eggs scrambled, bacon, and white toast," answered Oscar absently. His mind was still considering the Cole situation. After thinking about it, he came to the conclusion that Cole had gone to the glade. After taking breakfast orders from Mark, Lisa, Sharon, and Abby, the waitress left. Sounding very worried, Gabby said, "We have to find him. Doesn't the second rule say that we have to search for him?" "It won't do any good," answered Oscar. Angered at the idea that Oscar would abandon Cole, Gabby shouted, "What? He's your friend. Aren't you worried about him?" "I'm not worried. He's not in this world at the moment," answered Oscar. Confusion and fear quickly replaced her anger. Afraid that he meant Cole was dead, she bit her lower lip. She couldn't accept that. Staring at Oscar, she asked, "What do you mean?" "I mean, he went to the glade. He's with the Gods and Goddesses at the moment," answered Oscar. A smile came to him as he thought about how Oliver, ever since Saturday, must have been going crazy over this. He'd never heard of a first year getting called to service. All eyes were on Oscar as they thought about what he had said. Objections of all kinds came to mind. Finally, it was Sharon who said, "He can't become a Druid." "Why not?" asked Oscar very surprised by the assertion. "He's a first year student. It's not supposed to happen until the sixth year," she answered. "Tell that to the Gods and Goddesses," said Oscar in a serious voice. The Gods and Goddesses weren't bound by the rules of the college and could do as they pleased. At the shocked looked on their faces, he said, "We serve them, not vice versa." His words were greeted with silence as everyone considered the implications. Gabby looked at Oscar trying to decide if he was right. She didn't know if she wanted him to be right. The waitress arrived with their food. As she set plates in front of people, Oscar looked up at the middle-aged woman. She was naked except for her apron and tennis shoes. Noticing the attention that Oscar was giving her, she smiled and, in a teasing voice, asked, "So where are your girlfriends?" "Debbie's father had a heart attack and they went to see him," answered Oscar. The fact that Debbie had left the campus sounded ominous. It also explained why Oscar might not have known about Cole. Concerned, Lisa said, "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he's going to be okay." "They are going to put in some device that will open up his artery today," said Oscar, "but the prognosis is pretty good." "I'm glad to hear that he'll be alright," said the waitress. She looked around the table and noticed that one of the people at the table didn't have any food. Concerned, she asked, "Gabby, aren't you going to eat something?" "I'm not feeling hungry," said Gabby coming to accept what Oscar had said. With acceptance had come a feeling like something had been stolen from her. She didn't know what it was, but there was a definite sense of loss deep in her heart. "You've got to eat, dear. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," said the waitress. She could see that Gabby was upset and wanted to help her. "I just need to be alone," said Gabby while pushing her chair away from the table. She stood and walked away without giving anyone a chance to say something to her. Although Cole wasn't a boyfriend or anything like that, she had decided that that he was going to be leaving the college now that he was a Druid. The idea bothered her much more than she would have thought possible. Abby stood up to follow her friend in the desire to comfort her. Oscar grabbed her arm and said, "Sit down Abby. She needs some time alone." "It's about time she figures it out," said Sharon cutting up her over- easy egg into thin strips with a knife and fork. Confused, Abby looked from Gabby's retreating figure to Oscar and then to Sharon. Gabby was her roommate and in pain. There had to be something she could do for her. "Figured what out?" "That she loves Cole," answered Sharon as if it was a widely recognized fact. She piled some of the egg on a piece of toast and took a bite. "Cole?" asked Abby in surprise. She'd watched Gabby experiment with men and women for months. As far she knew, Gabby had never treated Cole special. Considering his role in past events, Oscar asked, "Who was her first man?" "Cole," answered Abby. In light of that, it made sense Cole would be special to Gabby. A woman always remembered her first man with strong emotions. If it had been pleasant, then those emotions were positive. However, that didn't mean that Gabby was in love with Cole. Mike said, "I thought she had some football player back in high school." "That was heavy petting," said Abby. Gabby had considered it having sex because she had an orgasm. There had been no naked bodies moving against each other. "Who does she go to when she has a problem?" asked Oscar. "You," answered Abby to the agreement of everyone around the table. Everyone went to Oscar when they had a problem. "I meant besides me," said Oscar waving off her answer with a negligent hand. His roommates shared a look and exchanged winks knowing that he had not even considered himself as an answer to that question. "Cole," answered Abby deciding that he was everyone's second choice. After considering her behavior over the past few months, Mark was confused by the discussion. He said, "I don't understand. I know for a fact that she's tried to fix him up with other women." Hitting his forehead, things fell into place for Greg. Excited by his revelation, he said, "She only started doing that after Oscar announced he was in a triad. She's been looking to create a triad with Cole!" Interrupting Greg with a dismissive wave of her hand, Sharon said, "She might have been doing that, but I can assure you that she didn't know what she was doing. If you were to ask her, she'd say that she was just trying to help him find a girlfriend." The group argued about the relationship through the entire breakfast. Oscar watched the group thinking how much they loved to gossip. It dawned on him that it wasn't harmful gossip, but friends wanting to find ways to help those around them. Nothing was asked or spoken of in a harmful manner. Later Oscar sought out Gabby, locating her in the library where she was crying. He sat down beside her and said, "It is okay to love a Druid." Face puffy and eye red from crying, Gabby looked up at Oscar and said, "He's going to leave now that he's a Druid." "I seriously doubt it," replied Oscar staring off across the library. "Why?" asked Gabby. "Druids tend to place a high value on love. He's crazy about you and will find some way to stay," answered Oscar. Letting her fears overrule her common sense, she said, "Oliver will force him to leave." Oscar laughed at that. He thought about how Georgia and he had negotiated with Oliver for them to be able to stay together somehow. He replied, "You'll find that Druids are not quite so slavish to the whims and desires of Oliver as you might think." "What? You kept your secret about being a Druid," charged Gabby. "There was a bigger picture there. I was following the two rules more than Oliver," said Oscar. "How did you know that I love Cole? I didn't even know it." "Easy. I listened to Sharon and she's seldom wrong when it comes to observations about people." It wasn't until Tuesday when Cole finally stepped out of the glade onto the path to the college. He was naked except for a gold medallion around his neck. His features looked gentler. The rough angular lines of his face had softened. His sharp nose had lost some of its edges. Gabby was the first person to see Cole. Oscar had to hold onto her in order to prevent her from rushing over to the young man. He knew there were things that had to be accomplished before Cole could talk to her. He nodded in the direction of Catherine and Oliver even while restraining the struggling Gabby. Catherine, carrying a number of robes in her arms, walked over to Cole. The delivery of robes and what ever tools were necessary for the newly created Druid was her service to the God. It was one that she enjoyed. In a commanding voice, she said, "Let me see your medallion." After hesitating for a split second, Cole held out the medallion. Catherine examined it and said, "I see that you serve the Goddess." In a soft voice, Cole replied, "Yes, I serve the Goddess." Catherine handed him a green robe and a large quartz crystal on a chain. Gesturing in the direction of her husband, she said, "Talk to Oliver." Cole looked at Oliver and then over at Gabby. A smile came to his lips at the sight of her struggling against Oscar in her desire to come to him. With a gesture in her direction, he said, "I'll talk to him in a minute. I need to talk to Gabby first." "Of course, I'm sure the Grand Druid will understand," said Catherine with a slight grin. Cole had only stepped out of the glade a minute ago and already he was demonstrating the same independence shown by all Druids. Watching as Cole strode off to greet Gabby, Catherine looked at the other robes she had with her. Atop the pile of robes was a small wooden box for use by one of the new Druids. It contained items normally used in Druid rituals. Two more students were still in the Glade. She would remain waiting by the path from the Glade for another hour. If the students didn't come out by then, they'd return to the Glade the next day before noon. She returned to where Oliver stood. He was watching Cole. A self- satisfied grin was plastered on his face as if he understood some cosmic joke. Shaking her head, she asked, "What's the point of being the Grand Druid if the other Druids ignore you?" "I've gotten used to it," answered Oliver looking at something that always made him feel good. He could see a golden thread connecting Cole and Gabby. It was clear to him that there was love between the two. Looking at Gabby, he could tell that she didn't feel complete with just that one love. "You're the Grand Druid," said Catherine sounding frustrated. She loved her husband and loved his easygoing manner, but felt he deserved more respect from her fellow Druids. She added, "They should respond to your orders." He thought about the responsibility that would come from having to direct all of the Druids. With a shudder, he said, "In a way, I'm glad they are so independent." "Why?" "Two hundred of the most dangerous people in the world are Druids. Can you imagine the responsibility of directing each and every one of their actions? I'd be so paralyzed with fear of ordering them to do the wrong thing, that they'd do nothing. I'm glad they are independent even if it means they ignore me at times," he answered. He imagined setting Oscar, Penny, Jimmy Lee, and a dozen of the other servants of the God loose on the world with orders to create peace. The death and destruction that could result would be a disaster. She couldn't believe that he would be happy to be ignored. In an apparent change of topic, she asked, "Speaking of which, do you want me to do anything special this evening?" Looking at her with lecherous expression on his face, he said, "I can come up with an idea or two." With a very serious look on her face, she said, "Well, I'm busy tonight so hold that thought." She burst out laughing at the frustrated expression on his face. Realizing she had been teasing him, Oliver said, "I just got another idea, naughty girl. You are going to pay for that. I'm going to put you over my knee and demonstrate on your pretty bottom that you are to respect the Grand Druid." "In your dreams," Catherine said with a smile. Seeing Cole heading towards Gabby, Oscar released her arm. She took off like a shot and nearly bowled Cole over in her enthusiasm. It was nice to watch Gabby give her heart to Cole, but Oscar didn't feel comfortable in the role of voyeur. Not wanting to impose any further than he had, he returned to the college. Oscar was working on a paper in the library when Cole sat down at the table across from him. Looking up, Oscar examined Cole noticing that he was naked rather than wearing the green robe. The medallion was clearly visible on his chest. He said, "Hello Cole." "Hello Oscar. I just wanted to thank you." "Thank me? For what?" asked Oscar. He was confused by the thanks being given to him by his fellow Druid. "Your words enabled me to truly understand the two rules. I'm convinced that let me become a Druid. I don't know if I would have been called without the understanding that you gave me," said Cole. That morning had been enlightening. After years of trying to live by those rules, he had decided that they were rules for the masses while something else applied to Druids. Oscar's words had put everything in perspective and given the rules new life for him. "It would have happened sooner or later," Oscar said not wanting to argue the point. "I also want to thank you for the help you've given Gabby." "I knew that you needed to talk with Catherine before going to her. I just held her back a little bit," Oscar said referring to his actions when Cole had come out of the glade. Cole laughed at the suggestion that was what Oscar had done. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm talking about the morning when she was going to quit the Druid College. You accomplished a lot that morning and I've been a direct beneficiary. I'm talking about Monday afternoon when you talked to her about my visit to the glade. She needed to know that she could still love me and there was hope the love would be returned." "Oh, that," Oscar said. "Yes, that," Cole said appreciating the slightly embarrassed expression on Oscar's face. He added, "There's one more thing that I wanted you to know." "What?" "I don't think I would have ever sought out service to the Gods and Goddesses if I hadn't seen you that day when you left for your trip to the Middle East with Ed Biggers." "Why?" Oscar asked confused by the revelation. "I know you talk about your height as being five foot less a quarter inch. The fact is that you project an image that is six foot tall. You look confident, strong, and capable. Don't deny it, my little friend. It is true and everyone here will tell you the same thing. "However, that morning when the Medallion flew to your neck, it was different. You looked complete and powerful. You looked like you were ten foot tall and nothing on this planet could stop you. I knew that I wanted to feel like you looked at the moment that Medallion settled around your neck," Cole said. He didn't want to say that before that moment he had his doubts about serving the Gods and Goddesses. "Thank you," Oscar said. There was no way he could deny how he felt when the Medallion had settled on his chest. Words couldn't express how he felt when it had dropped off on his return. Wanting to change the topic, he asked, "So what you are going to do now?" "I'll continue through school, leaving on those occasions when I'm called to service." "I'm glad to hear that. I bet Gabby was glad to hear that." "She was ecstatic." Eleven days after flying to see her father, Debbie returned to the Druid College with Georgia. Oscar stood outside the house waiting for the car to pull up with them in it. The afternoon had been spent getting ready for their return. He had gone shopping and refilled the pantry. There had been an incident in which he had dropped a pie, but that had cleaned up pretty well. At least he thought so. Debbie stepped out of the car and raced over to Oscar. Throwing her arms around him, she said, "It's so good to see you again. I've missed you so much." Georgia came out of the car and slipped behind Oscar. Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered in his ear, "That's her way of saying she's horny." "I heard that!" said Debbie in mock outrage. Whispering in her other ear, she said, "She's only saying that because she's horny and wants you first." With a woman in front of him and one behind, Oscar said, "I feel like an Oscar Meyers sandwich." To punish him for the bad joke, Georgia grabbed his arms and held them behind his back even as she started laughing. Debbie reacted by ticking his ribs. Unable to defend himself, Oscar said, "I give up. Do with me as you will." The pair of women dragged Oscar into the house. His protests were loud, but not heartfelt. Several hours later, Oscar was sandwiched between two naked women relaxing after a hard work out on his part. There were times when he regretted that the two women wouldn't have sex together. Even making love to one while the other was riding his mouth was out of the question. They wouldn't share him at the same time. It was tough having to focus on one woman and then the other in turn. It hurt to have to choose which one he would make love to first. Recovered from their activities, Debbie asked, "What happened while we were gone?" "Cole became a Druid. He serves the Goddess as a healer. I'm not sure of all the details, but you might say he's a psychologist," answered Oscar. He had heard Oliver refer to a Druid by the name of Lily Green as a role model for Cole's gift. The Grand Druid had expressed relief that her service had been passed on to someone else after her death a few years earlier. "What's going to happen to him?" asked Georgia. She imagined that a first year becoming a Druid had caused all kinds of problems for Oliver. "He's still in classes. Apparently, he wants to get the appropriate credentials so that he can run a private practice sometime in the future." "That makes sense," Debbie said. The idea that she could be called at anytime made her a very uneasy. She wondered what effect becoming a Druid would have on her relationship with Oscar and if it would freeze Georgia out of the relationship. She didn't want to hurt the relationship between Georgia and Oscar. She understood that it complemented her relationship with him. "I'm glad that we had this time together," Oscar said, "since I don't expect to see much of you for the next week or two." "Why not?" "Don't you have classes to catch up on?" "Not really. Bonny had tapes of the lectures delivered. I watched them while waiting around the hospital," answered Debbie. So much of the time had been spent waiting. Watching the lectures had provided a great distraction to worrying about her father. Her brothers had watched the tapes, but she suspected that it was because of the occasional shots of naked students rather than the material. "I didn't realize that," Oscar said. He knew that all classes were taped so those students who were ill could watch them while recovering. "Yeah, my mom and dad watched a couple of the tapes. I think they were impressed by the quality of instruction," Debbie said. Her father had been particularly interested in the history of warfare. The instructor had taken a historical war and presented it without giving names or nations. As events unfolded, it was without the clarity of twenty-twenty hindsight. He had presented it in terms of what people understood was happening and it was easy to see how misunderstandings and distrust had led inevitably to war. She grinned and said, "Dad decided that he wanted tapes of our lectures to replace the History Channel." "He sounds like a neat guy," Oscar said noticing that she referred to her father as Dad now. When she thought she was going to lose him, she had called him Daddy. "He is," said Debbie. She ran a hand over his stomach as she said, "You're going to love meeting him when he comes to visit." Winking at Debbie, Georgia said, "Yeah. He said something about grievous injury to the man would couldn't commit to his little girl." Oscar sat up with a concerned look on his face and asked, "Really?" The two women giggled at his reaction. Georgia said, "Actually, he said that Debbie was a harlot for trying to break us up." "He didn't?" asked Oscar unable to believe that a father would dare say something like that to a daughter. The idea angered him. Debbie laughed and said, "No, he didn't. He was surprisingly understanding and wants to meet you. He's heard about your career in Afghanistan and is really impressed by what you accomplished there. You should have heard him talking with Georgia." "He grilled me about the details of our work there," Georgia said. She had expected a man who lived in a small town to be less informed about international affairs than someone who lived in a big city. She had come to the realization that it was a consequence of cable television. "You've never told me what your parents do for a living," said Oscar. Surprised they had never discussed the topic, Debbie said, "My dad owns a store that does photocopies. My mom is a secretary at the local elementary school. They don't make much, but they always provided for us." "They sound like good people." "They are. What do your parents do?" "My dad is an electrical engineer. He does power systems. You know -- transformers and power supplies. My mom is a stay at home housewife," Oscar said. He knew he didn't think often enough about his parents. A stray thought went through his mind and he blurted out, "At the end of this session, we have a week off. How about we go visit our parents?" Georgia stared at Oscar and asked, "What? Spend one or two days with each of our parents?" "Every session, we have a week free. How about we take turns visiting our parents?" Sitting up, Georgia said, "My parents really celebrate Christmas. I've always enjoyed that holiday. I know you're a Druid, but do you think we could go there at the end of the fall quarter?" "The fall quarter ends at the end of November," said Debbie. "Oh, I forgot. I keep thinking of my university where winter break was during Christmas," said Georgia. Debbie and Georgia shared a look. Nodding, Debbie turned to Oscar and said, "We'd like to meet your parents. How about we go there at the end of this session?" ------- Chapter 15 Oscar looked at his bank statement while Georgia smiled at the expression on his face. She said, "You have a year of military pay and two years of consulting fees in there. My sister negotiated a six-figure salary for you. I think you are still on the payroll. Didn't you fill out your income taxes?" "Yeah, but..." "You didn't think about the fact that you haven't spent a dime of your own money in over three years," Georgia said. "There's over two hundred thousand dollars in here," said Oscar waving the statement around as if it was in error. "So I take it that you're going to buy us nice birthday presents this year," suggested Debbie with a wink at Georgia. "Of course," Oscar said absently. He thought about it for a minute and then asked, "When are your birthdays?" Debbie stared at Georgia in shock. She asked, "Do you mean to tell me that you two have been going together for more than two years and he doesn't know your birthday?" "Uh, yeah," Georgia answered. She hadn't given it much thought. Her first birthday had passed while they were in Afghanistan. They were busy and she hadn't even known the day of the week, much less the date, most of the time she spent there. The last birthday they were still getting settled into the college. She shrugged and said, "I don't know when his birthday is either." Looking from Georgia to Oscar, Debbie shook her head. In a tone of voice that would not allow argument, she said, "My birthday is October 3. You will remember it and you will buy me presents. I also insist on cake. I will remind you daily starting two weeks prior to that date. Do I make myself clear?" Smiling, Oscar turned to Georgia and asked, "Did she say it was the Fourth of July?" "I thought she said Labor Day." "Oh! You two are impossible!" screamed Debbie. She couldn't believe that the two of them had been together for two years and hadn't celebrated their birthdays. "What day did you two become a couple?" "Huh?" asked Oscar. He tried to put a date to it and failed. "It was summer," said Georgia looking to Oscar for confirmation. To save her life, she couldn't put a beginning date to their relationship. "Definitely. I'd almost say it was near the end of summer. August, maybe," said Oscar. "Sounds about right," said Georgia. She looked over at Debbie and saw the expression on her face. She burst out laughing and asked, "So what date did our relationship start?" "Well, it kind of got off to a rocky start and we've never really had an official date, so you can't use that as the beginning of our relationship. I suppose if you consider the day he returned from..." Debbie's voice trailed off as she tried to select a date. Trying to be helpful, Oscar asked, "So why don't we just select the first of September as our official start of relationship date?" Georgia looked over at Debbie and said, "I'd rather the use the first of February. That's about the time when Oscar returned from the Middle East the last time. You might say that was the real beginning for the three of us." Debbie nodded and said, "Yes. That sounds good to me." "Fine," said Oscar wondering to what he had just agreed. Looking at Georgia, he asked, "What's the importance of having a start of relationship date?" Georgia shrugged and looked over at Debbie for an answer. The young woman tossed her red hair in exasperation and said, "You two have to be the most unromantic people on this planet. You have an anniversary date to celebrate when you met." "I celebrate having met you every day," answered Oscar honestly puzzled. He looked at Debbie and asked, "Don't you?" "Well, yeah... but... , I don't know," she declared feeling confused by the question. She decided that it was time to change the topic and asked, "So when are your birthdays?" "January forth," Georgia answered. "May first," Oscar answered, "but I don't really like to celebrate it." "January fourth and May first," repeated Debbie committing the dates to memory. "So I guess we have more than enough money to fly all of us out to my parents," said Oscar looking down at the bank statement in his hand. He read the balance one more time and shook his head. He decided they could fly first class. "Where are we going?" asked Georgia. Feeling uneasy about Oscar paying for her ticket, Debbie said, "I'll pay my own way." "Kansas City, Missouri," answered Oscar, "and I'll pay for the tickets. I don't have any other use for the money." "What about a house?" "If I remember correctly, my contract is for three more years. By then, you'll be working as a Chemist and earning more than Georgia and I combined," answered Oscar with a wink at Georgia. "True," Debbie said with a grin. She knew better than to argue about that. She'd heard the kinds of salaries earned by previous graduates of the Druid College and Oscar would definitely have to get a considerable raise to meet her expected salary. "I'm just a boy toy for a red hair woman!" A week after that conversation, the trio strode down the concourse at the Kansas City International Airport. They had flown first class. It was the first time for each of them to sit at the front of the plane. The reintroduction of first class by a number of airlines had not constituted an improvement in service or comfort. They made quite an impact walking through the airport. Oscar's red robe attracted immediate attention from other passengers, but the attention quickly shifted to Debbie in her blue robe with a single white stripe on the sleeve. Georgia, walking next to Oscar, received her fair share of attention because of her beauty. Although Oscar had only been through the airport once, he directed them towards the luggage claim area where his parents were supposed to be waiting. When they stepped out, he relaxed when he saw his dad. Upon spotting his son, the elder Meyers waved his arms while jumping up and down. In a voice that carried across the entire area, he shouted, "Hey, Oscar! Over here!" The man was an older version of Oscar, but just a little taller and with a little more weight around the middle. His hair was trimmed in a buzz cut. The Druid smiled and said, "That's my dad." Georgia giggled realizing where Oscar had inherited his looks and grabbed his arm. She liked his father even though she hadn't even met him yet. In a voice that was just loud enough for the three of them to hear, she said, "He looks just like you." "Only better," teased Debbie. Her comment was followed by a laugh provoked by the look on Oscar's face. His father rushed up and took a look at the three of them. Excited by the red robe, he said, "I'm so glad you could come here for a visit. Is that all your luggage?" Oscar held up his small carry-on bag while he answered, "I've got two robes and some underwear in here. Most of this is Georgia's." Looking demure with wide-eyed innocence, Debbie said, "You brought underwear? I wish I had thought of that." A red blush spread over his Dad's face as Oscar laughed. He knew Debbie was joking, but her comment had definitely embarrassed his father. Oscar leaned over and whispered, "Do you want me to climb under your robe and check it out?" Debbie laughed and said, "Not until we get someplace more private." "Allow me to introduce you to Jacob Meyers, my father. Dad, this lovely red head who just turned your face the same color as her hair is Debbie Bond. The lovely lady on my other arm is Georgia," said Oscar proudly. Looking from one attractive woman to the other, Jacob said, "It's a pleasure to meet you both. If I understand it correctly, both of you are his girlfriends?" "You understood correctly," answered Georgia still hanging onto Oscar's arm. "Damn boy. I don't know how you do it. I've got one woman in my life and can't handle it. I've even got twenty three years of experience trying," said Jacob with a wink. Glancing to his left and right, Oscar replied, "Who said I was handling it?" "Just remember that buddy. We control your life," growled Georgia realizing that she was slipping into her George persona as a result of her nervousness at meeting his family. "Let me get you to the house. You're mother is cooking up a storm. She figures that you've been eating nothing but horrible college food," Jacob said pointing towards the airport exit. As the three fell in beside the elder Meyers, Oscar said, "Actually, our food is pretty good at the college. Last night, I had a T-bone steak that was cooked to perfection." "T-Bone Steak? At College?" asked Jacob nearly tripping as he turned to look at Oscar while walking. He'd gone to the University of Missouri and couldn't recall ever having steak on campus. He recalled the food as being mainly hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, and several varieties of mystery meat. "Yeah. They actually have very good food. I had grilled swordfish last night," said Debbie. "Really? College must have changed a lot from when I went there." "The Druid College is rather different than most colleges," said Georgia. She felt a lot of pride at being affiliated with the school, even if all she did was work there. "You aren't a student there, are you?" "No. I work in administration. I already have a college degree and couldn't attend with Oscar when we returned from Afghanistan. Rather than separate for six years, I took a job there." "That's right. You served with him in the Army," recalled Jacob. Oscar had never told him much about what he did in Afghanistan. As far as he knew, he'd been part of some top-secret anti-terrorist company. Where Georgia had fit into the whole picture was rather confusing. "We weren't in the Army. We were consultants for the Army," Georgia said. They reached Jacob's car, a simple sedan, after a short walk through the parking lot. After a lot of discussion, Oscar ended up in the front seat with his father while the two women sat in the back. As Jacob pulled out of the parking lot, he said, "We're in Missouri just northwest of downtown Kansas City. Across the river is Kansas, but we won't be crossing the river today. We'll be driving on the 495 and get off on 35 to Liberty. That's where we live, Liberty." It only took half an hour to reach the Meyers' home. The house was a typical three-bedroom ranch located in a nice middle class neighborhood. It looked like every other house on the street. When they pulled into the driveway, Debbie said, "What a lovely neighborhood." "Thanks, we like it," Jacob said. Oscar grabbed all three of their bags and followed behind his girlfriends. They entered the house behind Jacob who bellowed out their arrival. A second later there was a loud screech from the kitchen and Oscar's mother, June, came running out. She stopped upon seeing the two women and wiped her hands on her apron. Having watched Oscar grow up without having a girlfriend, she was stunned at the appearance of the two women. She said, "You are so beautiful. My Oscar is such a lucky boy." Oscar blushed and, pointing to the individuals as he identified them, said, "Mom, I'd like you to meet Georgia and Debbie. Ladies, this wonderful woman is my mother, June." "It's a pleasure to meet you," said Georgia. Taking June's hand in hers, Debbie said, "It is such a pleasure to finally meet Oscar's mother. I have to admit that Georgia and I are very curious about what Oscar was like as a child. He must have been a really cute little boy." "I'd love to show you Oscar's baby pictures after dinner," June said still unable to believe that Oscar had two such beautiful women in his life. Jacob burst out laughing at the expression of dread that settled on Oscar's face and slapped his son on the back. He said, "You're gonna have so much fun this visit." The table was set for five with a place at the head of the table for Jacob. After a significant amount of discussion, it was decided that Oscar would sit next to his mother while the women sat across from them. When Georgia had looked at the one remaining chair, Jacob said, "What ever you do, don't sit in the chair on the end. Oscar broke it." "He did?" June leaned forward and said, "I'm sure that you've noticed that Oscar is a little clumsy at times." "A little clumsy? Oscar's a walking disaster area," corrected Jacob. He pointed to the lamp and said, "That's about the only thing he hasn't broken in this house. I'm still fixing things in this house that he broke and he's been gone for more than three years." Shrugging, Oscar said, "I don't know if you've noticed that I haven't broken anything, yet." "You haven't been in the kitchen yet," Georgia said. Debbie leaned forward as if telling a great secret and said, "He's not clumsy anymore except when he's in the kitchen. We don't let him in the kitchen." "Smart," June said. "That room was out of bounds for Oscar since he was three. I've still got the burn marks from when he knocked over a pot of soup." "We've decided that the real translation of Armageddon is - Oscar is in the kitchen," said Debbie with a giggle. The fact that the kitchen had been out of bounds for Oscar explained why he was so unfamiliar with the items in the kitchen. June and Jacob burst out laughing at the joke. They'd spent years fixing the havoc left behind by Oscar. After Jacob calmed down a little, he said, "I'm sorry to laugh at you Oscar, it's just that's too funny." "Don't worry about it. We've had a lot of fun coming up with definitions for Armageddon and I've laughed at most of them." "So you aren't clumsy anymore?" asked June wondering if he'd finally learned grace. "I haven't tripped or stumbled since I began my service to the God," answered Oscar. He glanced at Debbie and corrected himself. "Well, at least when I'm out of the kitchen." "I thought you'd learn a little grace in the Army," Jacob said. "Oh, I was a disaster in the Army. My nickname was Private Fu." "Private Fu?" asked Jacob. "Yeah. It was short for Private Fuck Up," answered Oscar eyeing the food on the table with hunger. Noticing the look, Jacob said, "Let's eat and over dinner you can tell us all about your adventures in Afghanistan and Iran." Dinner was pot roast with potatoes and carrots complete with glasses of milk. It wasn't gourmet food, but simple food that tasted good. As they ate, Georgia told Oscar's parents about their time in Afghanistan. His parents listened in shock, amazed at the description of the last battle in Afghanistan. It was the first time they'd heard the story. The only thing they knew about his service to the God was his action with Ed Biggers and that was because it was on the news. Unable to believe what he had been hearing, Jacob asked, "So how many of those terrorists did you kill?" Looking down at his empty plate, Oscar answered, "I really don't know. Military Intelligence has estimated it as being somewhere between a thousand and two thousand." "It drove my sister crazy when he was lost in Iran," Georgia said. "Your sister?" asked June wondering what Georgia's sister had to do with anything. She was still reeling from the news that her little boy had killed so many terrorists. "Yes. She's a Druid and spent almost a month trying to find the Renegade Warrior," answered Georgia. "You're the Renegade Warrior?" Jacob asked in shock. They had been so worried when Oscar had been reported missing in action. Oscar had never told them what had happened during that time period and the military wouldn't say anything about it. He had assumed that Oscar had been taken captive and rescued somehow as a result of some Top Secret mission. Oscar's answer of killing over a thousand terrorists suddenly started making sense. "I guess. I have a lot of names from that time period. Here in the states they called me the Renegade Warrior, although I was actually lost and not a renegade. In the Middle East, they called me the Desert Ghost." Confused, June asked, "So how did you meet Georgia?" "I met her in Germany. I was staying with her sister after my time in Iran. Georgia helped me set up the training camp for the anti- terrorist squads," answered Oscar. He was going to joke that it was love at first paintball, but knew that his parents wouldn't get it. Debbie said, "Oscar says that she's a natural warrior. Even though she was a civilian, she took control of the camp when the terrorists attacked." "There's no one I'd rather have beside me in a firefight," said Oscar. Smiling at Oscar, Georgia said, "That's so sweet." Shaking her head at the exchange, June asked, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but why do the two of you share Oscar? I mean you are both beautiful women and could have your choice of guys. Why would you share?" "We love him," answered Debbie. The look she gave Oscar was more powerful than her words. "We compliment each other," said Georgia looking over at Debbie. Seeing the confused expression on Jacob's face, she explained, "We are each perfect for him in different ways. Debbie is gentle, caring, and domestic. I'm strong, aggressive, and a fighter." June made a face at that answer and asked, "So are you two lesbian lovers or something?" "No way," answered Georgia with a shudder. "Not at all," confirmed Debbie. Happy to learn that Oscar was with normal women, June said, "I'm so relieved." "There is nothing wrong with being Lesbian or gay," Oscar said, his voice had taken a very serious tone. "It's just not natural." "Does it harm anyone if a person engages in a same-sex relationship?" asked Oscar while watching his mother. "Yes." "Who?" "Children. Lesbians and gays abuse children," answered June. "Pedophiles abuse children," countered Oscar as his hands curled into a fist at the idea of a child being molested. A very hard look came over his face and, in a voice that chilled everyone at the table, he said, "Anyone who abuses children... Let's just say that they wouldn't ever want to meet me." Jacob stared at his son amazed at the transformation that had come over him. A tiger had replaced the bumbling little boy who couldn't walk more than ten feet without tripping. He noticed the excited look in Georgia's eyes. It was clear to him that the iron being demonstrated by Oscar was turning her on. In a soft voice, he said, "No need to get so involved. We're just having a friendly conversation here." Oscar leaned back in his chair and said, "As a Druid, there are two rules that I must follow. If it harms none, then do it. Protect the weak from the strong. When I hear statements about gays and lesbians that aren't true... Well, I must act to protect them. Accepting, believing, and spreading untruths about a group of people is very harmful. It is one way to victimize the weak." "You really believe that gays and lesbians don't molest children?" asked his mother. She'd just read an article in the paper about a homosexual molesting and killing a young boy. "There are some who molest children, just as there are heterosexuals who molest children. The majority of heterosexuals and homosexuals do not molest children. We don't need to label a good person as evil because the adult they love is the same gender," answered Oscar. "A man molested and killed a boy the other day." Oscar looked into space and said, "There are evil people in this world. The person who killed that child is evil. The fact that he was a homosexual only selected the gender of his victim. I have no doubt that if he had been a heterosexual, his victim would have been a little girl." "You really believe that?" "Yes, I do. I know plenty of people who've had sex with someone of their own gender and none of them would ever harm a child," answered Oscar. He wasn't going to say that his first sexual encounter was with the God. Debbie and Georgia exchanged looks. Debbie asked, "June, could we help you clear the table? When we're done with the dishes, could you show us some of Oscar's baby pictures?" Glad to change the subject, June said, "Sure." Oscar asked, "Can I help? As one, three feminine voices said, "No way." The women bustled around the table clearing dishes while Oscar laughed at their behavior. Jacob watched Oscar for a minute and then said, "Come on into the den." Oscar followed his father into his den. The man sat down in a comfortable chair while pointing to a chair for Oscar. Once Oscar was seated, Jacob asked, "So how are things going for you, son?" "Fine, Dad. How about yourself? How are you doing?" Picking up a small cube, Jacob held it up for Oscar to see. In a proud voice, he said, "This is my newest power supply. I used a variant of the Fusion Battery to create a power cell that lasts four times longer." "Impressive." The man looked at it and said, "If you know anyone majoring in electrical engineering at the Druid College who wants to go into analog circuit design, will you put in a good for us? We can use a talented young engineer and we're desperate." "Desperate?" "Yes, we're desperate," answered Jacob. "Why?" Oscar asked. He never thought of desperate as the kind of word that one would use in electrical engineering. "Did you know that I'm the youngest engineer in the company? Folks are retiring and we can't fill any of the positions. In six years, I'm liable to be the only engineer in the company." Surprised by the statement that his father would be the only engineer, Oscar said, "I'll let the Grand Druid know." "Kids don't want to go into engineering any more. They all want to be businessmen." Oscar nodded and said, "That's where the money and respect is." "So what are you studying at that college of yours?" Confident his answer would surprise his father, Oscar said, "Religious studies." "I guess that makes sense if you are a priest in that Druid religion." "As far as I know, I'm the only Druid to study religion." "But you guys are priests. How can you be priests if you don't study religion?" "Actually, Druids are not priests. You might say that it is a designation of our social position. We are servants of the Gods and Goddesses. We don't preach or try to convert people to a worship of the Gods and Goddesses." Although Jacob didn't know much about religion or Druids, he was proud that Oscar had become a Druid. He felt that you didn't need to understand an accomplishment of your child to be proud of them. Still a little uncertain about the distinctions that Oscar was making, he said, "Well, I'm proud that you're a Druid." ------- Chapter 16 "You're kidding?" "No, I'm sorry. That's how the assignments worked out," answered Oliver. He had said that phrase a dozen times to a dozen other students. He expected to give the same answer a dozen more times before the day was over. "This is ridiculous," declared Oscar frustrated beyond belief. They had just returned from the visit with his parents and had learned of their room assignments. "You can't have Debbie as a roommate. She is rooming with another Chemistry major," explained Oliver. He hadn't expected to have this conversation with Oscar believing that he would have understood the reasons behind assigning roommates based on major. "I'm the only one majoring in Religious Studies, so how did I end up with Sandy?" asked Oscar. "She's a philosophy major," answered Oliver. It made sense to put a philosophy major with him. Not exactly happy with the resolution of his problem, Oscar said, "I'll explain it to Debbie." Stepping out of the office, Oscar considered the situation. It was the beginning of the second year and he was rooming with a woman he didn't know well. Debbie was rooming with another man. The fact that they had opposite gender roommates didn't bother him since jealousy didn't have a place on campus, much less in his life. It was just that he wanted to have Debbie for a roommate. Oscar shook his head wondering if he'd ever get a chance to live with the women he loved. He consoled himself that at least he had weekends with Debbie and Georgia. The chance to relax on the weekends would be welcomed. His course load for the quarter was grueling and he doubted it would be better over the rest of the year. Three of his five classes were on Judaism. They were all with the same professor and he was the only student in the class. One of his classes was the mandatory introduction to law. His last class of the day was philosophy. There was not much of a chance that he could show up unprepared for any of them and get away with it. When Oscar stepped into the hallway, Debbie took one look at his face and knew what Oliver had said. There was nothing they could do about it; she was rooming with Robert and Oscar was rooming with Sandy. Putting her hand on his arm, she said, "I'm disappointed too. I was looking forward to waking up with you every morning." "Same here, but I understand why they do it," said Oscar. It gave another resource to a student to use while achieving mastery of their area of study. He sighed and said, "I understand that we'll change roommates in year. Maybe then we'll be able to room together." "Do you really think so?" Debbie asked. She didn't think there was a chance of that until the final year. "Not really," said Oscar. Putting an arm around her, he said, "Let's go to the dining room and get a cup of coffee. We've got a little time before we meet with our study groups." "Do you have study groups for all of your classes?" "Nope, I only have two of them. One for law and one for philosophy," answered Oscar. "That's rough. You've got to manage three classes without support from your fellow students," Debbie said feeling sorry for him. The study groups provided far more than just clarification of material - they helped develop the ability to discuss and argue fine points about the material. Passing fellow classmates in the hall, Oscar made his way to the second year dining hall. Like other second year students, he was dressed, but while they wore blue robes he was wearing his red robe. It felt strange to be around his classmates while wearing his robe as it set him apart. Likewise, it was strange encountering his classmates while they were wearing robes. One of the more surprising consequences of everyone wearing robes was that it introduced a minor delay in recognizing them. It was as if everyone was suddenly wearing a veil that hid the distinguishing characteristics by which he recognized them. Other students had made the same observation. On reaching the dining hall, Oscar stopped to consider his surroundings. The second year dining hall was laid out in a very different fashion from the first year dining hall. All of the tables seated four, they were close together, and the room was more open. It was as if the room itself told people they had to talk soft so as to prevent imposing on others around them. Standing next to Oscar, Debbie looked around the room and said, "It's like they are splitting up our groups." "Last year we learned to respect and rely upon each other. Maybe this year we are being forced to be a little more self-reliant," said Oscar recognizing what would happen as a result of the layout of the room. Gone were the morning meals with nine or ten people working together to make the lives of their roommates easier. The couple sat down at a table and looked at the menu. It was the same menu as in the first year dining room. Smiling, Debbie said, "At least they didn't take away our favorite foods." "That's next year," said Oscar winking at her. Debbie laughed at the obvious joke. She asked, "What happens the year after that, sex change operations?" The couple laughed as they exchanged yearly programs of increasing torture. Gabby entered the dining room and immediately headed towards them. She didn't look happy, but at least she wasn't angry. Sitting down at their table, she asked, "What are you laughing about?" "Just discussing what next year will be like," answered Debbie. "I'm not too happy about the sleeping arrangements. Cole and I aren't sharing a room. What about you guys?" Oscar understood and shared her frustration about the room arrangements. He said, "We're sharing our rooms, just not with each other." "They sure are making it tough to be a couple," said Gabby. "I heard one of the Druids tell a student that the college wasn't a dating service, but a center of learning," commented Debbie. She examined her hands for a second and then added, "I think there is more truth in that statement than most students realize." "Yeah, I know what you mean. Cole wasn't surprised by the room arrangements. He mentioned that Druids love more people and the people they love are loved more deeply. I'm pretty sure that the sleeping arrangements are intended to teach us how to value the time we spend with those we love and to love those with whom we spend time," said Gabby. "But you're not happy about that," said Oscar. "I'm not selfish about our love. I'm just upset I don't get to spend more time with him," said Gabby. She was still looking for a woman to join them to form a triad. Looking at Oscar, she added, "So is Cole." The waitress came over to the table and introduced herself, "Hello. I'm Yolanda." Oscar, pointing out the people as he named them, said, "The gorgeous red head is Debbie and that's Gabby. I'm Oscar." Yolanda said, "Nice to meet you all." "Thanks," said Oscar as Gabby elbowed him. Turning to the two women, Yolanda could see that they were both a little upset. It was to be expected. She said, "Now, don't be so glum. You'll settle into the new routine in no time." "We're just upset that we're not rooming with our boyfriends," said Gabby. "Oh, that. Don't worry. Your relationships with your boyfriends will deepen and you'll find that your relationships with your other friends will deepen as well," said Yolanda with a smile. Every year since she had started working in the second year dining room, she had watched the same dramas unfold. Having seen it often enough, she knew how the various dramas usually ended. "We were just talking about that," said Debbie. Glancing at Oscar, Yolanda said, "Well, you were smart to find a Druid to talk with." Oscar laughed at her comment and said, "I'm a student here, too." "I doubt that changes the fact that you're a Druid," said Yolanda with a wry grin. After learning that all they wanted were coffees, she fetched three cups and a decanter of fresh brewed coffee. Oscar acted as host as Debbie and Gabby discussed their expectations for the coming school year. When Gabby spotted Cole, she said her farewells and left to be with him. Oscar looked at Debbie and said, "We need to talk about our roommates." "You're right." After a long discussion with Debbie over several cups of coffee, Oscar made his way towards his new room while stopping at one of the bathrooms on the way. He smiled when he looked around the bathroom. The first thing he noticed there was a lot more privacy with the stalls actually having walls. He used the urinal and then washed his hands. He passed a fellow student entering the bathroom as he headed out the door. Oscar stepped aside and allowed the one with the more urgent need to pass. Entering his new dorm room, Oscar found Sandy seated at her desk looking over a small stack of papers. He took note of her long hair in which the top half was a solid black and the bottom half was blond. It was a consequence of not having hair dye and was actually a pretty common sight on campus. She wasn't the only woman with a two-tone coiffure running around the place. In a friendly voice, he said, "Hello, Sandy." "Hi, Oscar," said Sandy as she spun around in her chair to look at her new roommate. She was looking forward to living with Oscar. It didn't bother her that he'd rather have Debbie as a roommate. She knew and accepted the relationship. Reaching back, she put down the papers and looked at him. "I hope you don't mind that I took the left side of the room." "I don't mind," said Oscar. The two sides of the room were identical and there was no reason to prefer one to the other. When he had dropped his stuff off earlier, he'd set them beside the door in the hope that it was a transitory situation. "I bet you're upset that you're not rooming with Debbie. Maybe we can occasionally swap roommates," said Sandy. "Thanks. Should you have a need, I'll be glad to return the favor," said Oscar appreciating her thoughtfulness. Sandy laughed and, making reference to the fact that he stayed off campus on weekends, said, "Don't worry about me. I'll have the weekends to entertain visitors." "True," said Oscar as he looked around the room. Looking at all of his robes and his books on the floor, he knew that he was here to stay and would have to unpack them. He knelt down and picked up his stack of robes. Sandy was quiet for a minute before she asked, "Do you mind if I ask you an awkward question?" "Ask away," answered Oscar as he put his robes in a small cabinet that was there for that purpose. "What kind of roommate relationship do you want?" she asked. A year ago, asking a question like that on first meeting her roommate would have been totally beyond her. "It's not so much what I want, it is what would allow us to be comfortable," said Oscar turning to face Sandy. Trying to gauge her reaction to his words, he said, "I'm willing to make what ever kind of accommodation you would like." Smiling at his answer, Sandy said, "I like a little sex before going to bed at night. I find that it helps me sleep better." "Sounds reasonable to me," said Oscar. He actually preferred evening sex to morning sex since there wasn't morning breath and a full bladder to get in the way. "Will that upset Debbie?" Smiling in appreciation at her consideration for Debbie, Oscar answered, "We talked about it over coffee. Last year we had sex with our roommates and handled it. We figured that it was basically a given that we'd have sex with our roommates this year. It is not a problem." "I'm glad," answered Sandy. Now it was time to ask the question she had been dying to ask since she learned that Oscar would be her room mate. Biting her lower lip, she said, "I know that you have two girlfriends, Debbie and Georgia. Is Debbie bi?" "Not at all," answered Oscar. He knew that Debbie wouldn't mind him answering the question. In this particular circumstance, it was no more personal than asking if she was a redhead. Her face fell as a fantasy of sleeping with Debbie and Oscar collapsed. Puzzled at his answer, she asked, "How can that be?" "She isn't interested in having sex with a woman," answered Oscar. "But, they are both your girlfriends. Something has to happen when you're in bed together," said Sandy. "Not at all. They don't touch each other in any way," answered Oscar. He understood their feelings on the matter and respected them. It complicated his life, but it didn't make his life uncomfortable. "They don't like each other?" asked Sandy incredulous at what she was learning. "They love each other like sisters. That doesn't mean that they have to make love to each other," said Oscar as he moved over to his desk. He hadn't even unpacked his books yet and there was already a stack of papers on the desk. Curious, he picked up the stack of papers. "I guess," said Sandy although she didn't quite believe it. Seeing what he was doing, she said, "You better look through the papers. Apparently, we have a few more freedoms now that we've survived a year of school." Oscar sat down at the desk and examined the first page. He noticed that there was now a provision for all second year students to leave campus on the weekends. He was pleased to see that there was a free bus service to and from town. Surprised by what he was reading, he said, "We have a monthly allowance of ten dollars." "Yeah. I guess they want us to be able to eat while we're in town. I know it won't go far, but I'm happy with it." "We now have some personal possessions. Let's see, we can now carry identification, debit cards, and a wallet." "No purse, though," said Sandy. Even as she said it, she realized that she had never seen a Druid carry a purse or a briefcase. She wondered if there was a reason for that. "We have to wear our robes when we're off campus," said Oscar reading the next item. "Yes. We aren't allowed to have sex with the locals." "Makes sense. There's no way over a short period of time to understand all of the implications of a relationship in town. It wouldn't take much to create a lot of harm," said Oscar wondering how Oliver was going to enforce that rule. She listed off a couple of the easy cases where they could do harm. "It's too easy to destroy a marriage because a married person lies to us. We can incite jealousy in one of the locals when they learn that we're sleeping with others." "Our fellow students becoming targets of rape on the belief that we're easy," added Oscar. Frowning at the idea of rape, Sandy said, "I didn't even think of that one." "I know," said Oscar. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "We're most often blind to the motives of others who might want to harm us." The next day was the first day of classes. Having finished his Introduction to Law class, Oscar went to his class on the Torah. The class was being held in one of the private offices one the second floor of the administration building. It took him so time to locate the classroom and he arrived a few minutes late. Oscar took a seat in one of the two chairs around the table and examined the man seated across from him. The man appeared to be in his late sixties or early seventies, although he was actually in his eighties. He wore a bekishe (a long black coat), a fedora, and a gartel (a prayer belt). The curly sideburns known as payot, the long gray beard that bordered on being white, and his clothes identified him as a Hasidic Jew. Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum looked down at the table and studied the piece of paper in front of him. He couldn't believe that the college was paying him to teach one student for the full year. He looked up at Oscar and studied the young man. In a very strong accent, he asked, "How'd a nice Jewish boy like you get hooked up with pagans?" Sitting back in his chair, Oscar smiled at the question. A lot of people made the assumption that he was Jewish based on his name. He answered, "I've never been Jewish." "What? With a name like Meyers? Are you kidding?" "Not at all. If there was a Jew in my family, it was a long time ago." "So you are one of these Druids," said Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum in a manner that bordered on a question. He could see by the red robe that Oscar was a Druid, but he was not expecting to have a Druid for a student. "I am one of those Druids," answered Oscar with a grin. Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum shook his head. He couldn't help wonder if he was going to be arguing religion with Oscar for the whole year. He had signed up to teach the Torah, Jewish Mysticism, and the history of his people, not to argue with a Druid. Frowning, he said, "I must talk to your Grand Druid about this. I thought he was an honorable man." "What's the problem?" asked Oscar wondering why someone would question the honor of the Grand Druid. "He told me that I was to teach, not debate religion," answered the man indignant at the perceived trick that had been played upon him. This went far to explain why he wasn't teaching Hebrew to the young man. "I'm here to learn, not to debate," said Oscar leaning forward to emphasize his point. Although he didn't have a burning desire to be a religious scholar, he was going to do his best at becoming one. "Then you need to learn Hebrew." "I know Hebrew. I know Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. I also know a dozen other languages that were contemporary with the events in the Torah," answered Oscar. Looking down at his hands, he said, "It was a gift from the God." "A dozen other languages?" asked the Rabbi. It was clear from his tone of voice that he didn't believe Oscar. "I also speak Yiddish." "I'll take your word for it," answered the old man. He didn't like the reference to the God in Oscar's earlier answer. Deciding that it was time to present the best evidence that he had concerning his mastery of ancient languages, Oscar placed a binder on the table. It contained the paper he had written for his literature class. In a slow and leisurely manner, he pushed it across to the Rabbi. In a soft voice, he said, "This was a paper I wrote last year. It should demonstrate my ability with language." Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum opened the binder and looked at the title page. He had read the manuscript as part of the pre-publication activities in his role as an internationally recognized scholar on the Torah. He had thought the paper was one of the best examinations of Genesis he had ever encountered. Shocked, he looked up at Oscar unable to believe he was looking at the author of such a magnificent piece of work. He had believed that Oscar Meyers was a Rabbi who was at least sixty years old and presenting his life's work. Stunned, he asked, "You wrote this?" "Yes, I did," answered Oscar. He proceeded to explain the circumstances under which he had worked. When he mentioned that he had taken less than a month to do the research for the paper, the Rabbi got excited. "We have three classes every day. It is my understanding that you would normally have a study group that meets after class. Since you are alone, we shall use that time together," said Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum getting over his reluctance concerning working with a Druid. If the young man had actually written that paper in a month, then Oscar was the best prospective student he had ever encountered. The announcement didn't exactly thrill Oscar. Rather than answer, he said, "Okay, we'll give it a try." "Don't look so unhappy. I will teach you to be a real scholar," said the Rabbi. Even as he said it, he knew that it wouldn't be a difficult leap for Oscar. The problem was that he only had a year in which to teach Oscar. Men spent a lifetime studying the Torah. What was a year compared to a lifetime? Nothing and it would require a fulltime effort to make up the deficit if the young man was as brilliant as his paper suggested. "Thank you." Switching to Hebrew, he said, "Go and wash your hands. When you return, I will allow you to read a copy of the Torah. However, I must warn you that it must remain here." At Oscar's raised eyebrows, the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum added, "I don't care if you are a Druid, you shall display proper respect for the Torah." "I was not expressing surprise at having to wash my hands. I was expecting you to tell me that I would have to follow all of the rituals associated with studying the Torah. If I understand correctly, we are supposed to say prayers even as we prepare to read the Torah." Rubbing a small gold Star of David tied to his gartel, Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum reveled in the warm assurance it emitted. His God had given it to him many years earlier. It told him that he could not insist on the rituals. In a fatherly voice, he said, "Go wash your hands and we shall talk about the matter." Oscar entered the dining room exhausted from have spent nearly four uninterrupted hours with the Rabbi. He still had an hour of philosophy and an hour of study group after dinner. The schedule had sounded rough, but he was still taken by surprise. He looked around and noticed that Debbie was seated with a couple of other chemistry majors. Disappointed, he could see that she was busy discussing her class material and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interrupt their conversation. He took a seat at one of the tables and ordered a meal from the waitress. Looking around the room, he saw that he was the only one eating alone. Of course, he was the only one majoring in Religious Studies. The majority of students were majoring in the hard sciences, engineering, and medical fields. His thoughts were disturbed by the sudden appearance of Sandy and her greeting. "Hello, Roomy." "Hi, Sandy." "I guess we're dinner partners, too," she commented looking around the room at all of the other students clustered together in groups of twos, threes, and fours. "Yeah, I guess so," answered Oscar. He could hear the students at the table next to his discussing some physics problem they had been assigned for homework. He turned to Sandy and asked, "So why Philosophy?" "I want to understand the world around me," answered Sandy. She shrugged her shoulders and added, "Physics is concerned with the physical world, biology with the living world, geology with the earth, astronomy with the universe, sociology with the people, and religion with the powers that be. Somehow, I just figured that since Philosophy was concerned with the world of ideas, that it would give me insights across a greater range of topics than any of the other subjects." "Sounds reasonable to me," said Oscar. He hadn't really thought about the matter and wasn't going to argue. "Philosophy is the mother of all sciences." "It seems that I heard something to that effect in my Philosophy class this morning," Oscar said with a smile. "You'll probably be taking a class or two with me over the course of this year," said Sandy speculating on the courses they would be taking. "Maybe," said Oscar. He noticed Rabbi Teitelbaum headed towards his table and released a slight groan. When Sandy raised an eyebrow in question, he said, "My instructor for three classes appears to be headed this way." The Rabbi sat down and said, "Amazing. They actually turned a section of the kitchen Kosher so they could prepare my meals for me." "Of course, we'd never undermine the service of a man to his God," replied Oscar without surprise by the announcement. The Rabbi looked at Oscar and shook his head. Tolerance among religions was rare and the history of his people was filled with examples of intolerance. Frowning, he considered the idea that it was a two way street. There was a lot of Jewish hostility towards Islam. He said, "I find that to be a rather amazing concept to be expressed in the center of a religious stronghold like this." "Why? We know the Gods and Goddesses exist. We understand that each of the powers-that-be expect certain things from those who follow them. Those expectations establish and distinguish each group of followers from each other. It separates, but does not elevate one group over another," said Oscar. "You sound so sure that the Gods and Goddesses exist," said the Rabbi. Pointing to the Star of David, Oscar said, "I recognize the power of that. You are as sure of your God as I am of mine and for the same reason. We both have met our Gods." ------- Chapter 17 The Rabbi glanced at the clock and said, "It is almost dinner time. Go while I think about your questions." Oscar rose and left the Rabbi Teitelbaum to his thoughts. The elderly man considered Oscar while stroking his Star of David. He knew that Oscar wasn't trying to convince himself to believe in God and he wasn't trying to disprove the existence of God. Not once had Oscar even suggested that the Jewish God didn't exist. It went further than that. Oscar wasn't willing to accept the proposition that the ancient Egyptian Gods didn't exist. It made sense that he interpreted the text assuming that they did. Oscar beat the other students to the dining room and took a table in the corner. He considered the material that he had read that day. Moses was a servant of his God and, as far as he could tell, Moses had served well. "How's it going?" Looking up at the interruption to his thoughts, Oscar said, "Oh, it's you. I'm doing as well as can be expected." "You don't look that happy to see me," said the Grand Druid. Oscar sighed before answering, "It's tough reading about others who served their Gods. It is worse knowing that I am without my medallion at the moment." "I know what you mean. Each time I lost my medallion, it was like a part of me had died. The longest I went without it was three months. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to have gone for so long without yours." Flippantly, Oscar said, "You could loan me yours and I'll get it back to you in a year or so." Oliver laughed and replied, "I'm half tempted to do just that. I could use a vacation away from fellows like yourself." "Me? What did I ever do to you?" "There are times when this job is worse than herding cats." Oscar laughed and commented, "I like that - Oliver Brown, cat herder. It has a ring to it." Glaring at the Red Robed Druid, Oliver said, "Definitely worse than herding cats." "Thanks for cheering me up." "Thanks for dragging me down." Grinning, Oscar said, "Glad to be of service." Oliver threw his hands up in the air and left the table. Although he might have sounded as though he was upset, there was a grin on his face. Still laughing as the Grand Druid worked his way around the room, Oscar waited for Sandy to arrive. They'd have dinner together, just like every night. It was a few minutes before Sandy arrived at the table. She sat down while shaking her head. In a low growl of frustration, she said, "I was looking at some of the work on semiotics and I thought my brain was going to fry." "You're studying semiotics already?" She sighed before she answered, "No, but I will. It will be a couple of years before I have to deal with that material." "How are your other classes going?" "Finally got past Socrates, so I've only got another two thousand four hundred years of philosophy to cover," she answered with a laugh. "I fear that what I'm learning predates Socrates. At the time of Moses, asking questions wasn't questioning the world. It was questioning the Gods and that wasn't viewed as a healthy activity." Sandy was silent for a moment and said, "For a lot of people, that hasn't changed." "Right. There are a lot of people who believe that asking certain questions about our existence on this planet verges on questioning God. If evolution is correct then does that mean God doesn't exist? If we accept that God still exists and evolution is correct then does that mean he isn't all-powerful? So many people want to avoid the questions that call their God into question that they want to create laws that make asking the question illegal. If they can't make the questions illegal, then they want to enforce their answers through law." "You serve the God. What do you think about questions of our origins?" Oscar sat back and thought about it for a minute. When Sandy was about to give up on getting an answer, he said, "I can't think of a better way to serve the Gods and Goddesses then by trying to understand them. How else are we to understand them if we don't try to understand their past works? I'd say that our service demands that we ask such questions and work hard to answer them." "What if the answers we come up with erode our belief in the Gods and Goddesses?" Oscar laughed and said, "I've met the God. It is rather hard for any answer a man can generate to undermine that experience. From what I've observed, people would rather limit the powers-that-be rather than accept that they can't understand their actions. "Trying to put the Gods and Goddesses into a cute little box that can be easily packaged and sold to a populace is like trying to control an earthquake. You can't control an earthquake. The Gods and Goddesses are just too powerful for us to really understand. I think people fear the idea of all powerful Gods more than the idea of not having Gods." Sandy was quiet for a minute as she thought about it. Finally, she asked, "What do you think of the proposition that attempting to expand our knowledge is really an attempt to steal the power of Gods?" "You're making reference to Frankenstein's monster as the result of man treading in the footsteps of God?" "Exactly." "It's a question, but perhaps not the right question." Sandy looked at Oscar for a moment while considering his non-answer. She changed tack and asked, "What restrictions are there on how we go about answering questions?" "We have the two rules to guide us," answered Oscar. Looking at Sandy, Oscar said, "I think that it is important to understand the full consequences of how we go about answering questions and validating our answers to them. The moral way to answer a question is to assure that we will not harm others during the pursuit of the answer. Once we get the answers, it is up to us to assure that they are not used to against the weak." "And you know this to be true?" "No I don't know it is true, but that is my opinion. I'm just one little Druid who serves his God and may one day serve the Two-sided One," answered Oscar with a shrug of his shoulders. He wondered if it was ever possible to convey just how small and insignificant an individual was in the grand scheme of the universe. There were times when he wondered why the Gods and Goddesses even worried about the world of man. As far as he was concerned, that was the real mystery. Changing the subject, Sandy asked, "What are you studying this evening?" "Golems," answered Oscar amused at the irony. His evening class was on the legends of the Hebrews. The topic of Golems suggested that there was a time when the servants of the Hebrew God were given special powers in the same manner as the Druids. He was curious how the Rabbi would react to his thoughts on the matter. She smiled and said, "We return to the topic of Frankenstein's monster." "Constructs of mud created to serve men," Oscar said, "although creating a Golem didn't usually work out the way it was intended by their creator." "Sounds like an ancient version of robots," said Sandy. "Golems and robots are ancient and modern versions of the same story," said Oscar thinking about it. Nodding his head, he said, "It is a story that resonates with people." "Why do we like those stories so much?" asked Sandy. In a soft voice, he said, "Golems and robots are attempts to create slaves in a manner that does not involve the strong taking advantage of the weak. I think that there is some desire in people to be served without guilt. Robots are not alive; hence there is no guilt in making them work for us." "So you think we enjoy those stories because we want slaves?" Nodding, Oscar said, "Exactly. We can imagine much more than we can do as an individual. It takes a lot of time and effort to create something great." "I know that we have industrial robots. Why do you think that a Druid hasn't created a humanoid robot yet?" Oscar laughed and said, "We're not ready for a humanoid robot. The first thing we'd do is try to have sex with it." "Speaking of trying to have sex, here comes Debbie," Sandy said with a twinkle in her eye. She hoped that Debbie wanted to swap rooms for the night. Debbie sat down on Oscar's lap and wiggled. Trying to sound very prim and proper, she said, "Hello, Oscar." "Hello Debbie," said Oscar even as his hand slipped between her legs to let her know how much he missed her. She wiggled against his hardening cock and turned to Sandy. Smiling at his roommate, she asked, "Would you mind swapping rooms tonight?" "No problem. I was hoping you were going to ask that," answered Sandy. The fact was that she enjoyed sleeping with Robert, Debbie's roommate. The two of them were in the midst of developing a very nice relationship. "Don't I have any say in the matter?" asked Oscar pretending to be hurt. His cock throbbing against her bottom told a very different story than his mouth. "No," answered Debbie with a grin. She wiggled on his cock and, winking at Sharon, added, "Little Oscar has already spoken and he is asking why we should wait until later." Sharon laughed and said, "I'll have to go and ask Little Robert if I can spend the night, too." "No need. Big Robert sent me over here to ask if we could swap rooms. It seems that there is a little romantic interest developing between you and him. Am I right?" Debbie asked. "Maybe," Sharon answered drawing the word out and speaking in a little girl voice. She placed her hands between her legs and twisted from side to side as if she was trying to hide something. There was definitely a cat ate the canary smile on her face. "Maybe there's a lot of romantic interest developing between you and him." "Maybe..." Laughing at the innocent little girl pose Sharon had taken, Oscar said, "So I guess it is safe to say there might be something there." "Maybe..." Debbie leaned over and kissed Oscar. It wasn't a little peck on the cheek or a killer tongue down the throat type of kiss. It was just passionate enough to let him know that she couldn't wait to visit with him later that evening. Straightening, she said, "I've got to get back to the group before they get suspicious that there is something between you and me." "Ah, we wouldn't want them to get suspicious," agreed Oscar with a grin. There wasn't a person anywhere on campus who didn't know about their relationship. After Debbie left, Sandy sighed and asked, "Are you sure that she's not bi?" "Positive," Oscar answered. "God, I just love that long red hair, pale skin, and killer body." Grinning, Oscar said, "That's odd. I could say the same thing." "Oh, you're horrible. Here I am pining away for the sexiest woman on campus and you're sleeping with her," Sandy said watching Debbie walk across the room. The red head had turned and blown a kiss to Oscar even as Sandy had mentioned that he was sleeping with her. She sighed and stared wistfully at Debbie. Returning to his room after classes, Oscar was met by Debbie outside his door. She greeted him with a kiss and then said, "I think your roommate has a crush on me." "Why do you say that?" "I've caught her looking at me a couple of times," Debbie answered. "Well, there are times when I wonder if she'd rather sleep with you than with me." "Ugh," replied Debbie with a shiver. The whole idea of having sex with a woman disgusted her. Smiling at her reaction to the other woman's attention to her, Oscar said, "Come on in my room and let's have a little heterosexual joining to chase away your disgust." "Don't be disgusting," teased Debbie. She wrapped an arm around his and pushed him with her hip. Oscar opened the door and he followed her into the room. She looked around and saw the small pile of books on his desk. It was practically nothing compared to the stack on her desk. She lifted her robe over her head. With that action, she was naked. The sight of her naked body had its usual effect on Oscar. Oscar pulled off his robe and approached her with his erection leading the way. Smiling at the effect she had on him, Debbie said, "I see you're happy to see me." Without responding, Oscar took her into his arms and kissed her. It was a long gentle kiss filled with passion and backed by a total focus on her. She melted into his arms and settled into the kiss with a sigh. Leading her to the bed, they laid down on the narrow surface. As always with Debbie, it was a soft and gentle session of lovemaking. Debbie was warm, giving, and gentle. Even her body was soft and yielding to his touch. She enveloped him with her pussy, arms and legs as he penetrated her. Even her orgasms were soft; announced with little squeaks of pleasure rather than loud screams. His thrusts were slow and gentle. He lasted a long time at the reduced pace, backing off when he came close to coming. When he would stop, Debbie would gently rub her hands up and down his back while staring deeply into his eyes. It was a totally different kind of experience being with her than with Georgia and Oscar enjoyed his times alone with her. Their lovemaking session lasted almost two hours. Afterwards, Oscar stretched out on the bed beside her. The bed was still too narrow for it to be comfortable. He stroked her body with a teasing hand. As her body reacted to his touch, he smiled and said, "I love you, Debbie." "I love you," she replied languishing on the bed feeling fully sated and enjoying the sensations his hands were causing. Giving him a soft smile, she said, "I love the way you make love to me." "I feel like I could last forever when I'm with you," replied Oscar. He leaned over and kissed her nipple. When he pulled back, the erect nipple stood as though begging for more attention. Debbie was silent for a moment and then asked, "Do you think it is wrong that I don't want to have sex with Georgia?" "Wrong? No. It's not your thing," Oscar answered wondering what prompted her question. Deciding that the nipple's stiff begging for attention should be rewarded, he adjusted his position so that he could nibble on her nipple with greater ease. The narrow bed was very frustrating. "I do love Georgia," she said running her hand through his hair. "I know you do." "I really do love Georgia," Debbie said while looking down at the top of his head. Although he had agreed with her, she still felt defensive. He lifted his lips from her breasts and looked up at her with a frown. He could see that there was something bothering her, but he didn't know what it was. Concerned, he asked, "What's the matter?" "I don't know. It's just something is bothering me and..." "What?" Oscar asked turning to look at her. "I don't know," she answered. "Do you feel guilty that you and I are sleeping together a lot more often than Georgia and I?" Sitting up and displacing him from her breast, Debbie looked down at him with a funny expression on her face. She attempted to deny that she felt guilty, but no words would come. She tried to come up with some witty retort, but she couldn't find one. Seeing that she was lost for words, he asked, "Are you wondering if you should do something with her so that she won't be jealous?" Debbie wondered if he could read her mind. She nodded her head as if to answer yes, but moderated her answer by saying, "Maybe." "So do what women all over the world do to bond." "What?" "I don't know. Go shopping? Take in a ballet?" Oscar asked. He turned his attention back to her nipple despite the fact that it was rather awkward now that she was sitting up. "Oscar, I'm serious," Debbie said. Giving up on post-play, Oscar sat up tailor fashion so that he was facing Debbie. Looking at her in the eye, he said, "You have my complete attention. What's the matter?" "Do you think she's jealous of all the time we spend together? Do you think that she'd prefer if I didn't come over on the weekends?" Shocked at the suggestion that she stay on the campus over the weekend, Oscar asked, "Why wouldn't you come over on the weekends?" "So that she would get a chance to play with you without me being there," Debbie answered. Oscar stared at Debbie for a long minute as he considered what she had said. He wasn't the one that had to resolve the problem since taking one side over the other would only increase the tension. He said, "I'm serious about you and her doing something together. Go shopping or go to a restaurant together. You need to spend some quality time with each other so that you can talk about this with her." Debbie thought about it and realized that in the entire time since she had come to the school she had not gone shopping. There were a lot of things that she hadn't done since entering school. While she hadn't missed doing them, the idea of a day out shopping with Georgia was actually attractive. She smiled and said, "You know, that might not be a bad idea." "Good," Oscar said as he moved to suck on her breast. "Don't forget. My birthday is this weekend." "Really?" Oscar asked. She had only been reminding him of that nearly every time that she saw him. He had already bought a car for her as a birthday present. Saturday morning, Oscar woke early. He slipped out of bed and looked down at Georgia and Debbie sleeping. They moved closer to each other now that he wasn't between them. Even asleep they managed to keep some space between them. Admittedly it wasn't much space, but it was there none the less. He snuck into the kitchen. Looking around at the room, he turned on the coffee pot knowing that it was ready to brew a pot. Georgia left the coffee pot ready to start so that Oscar wouldn't have to load it with coffee or water in the morning. He smiled to himself and went to look for frying pans in which to make breakfast. He decided to go with a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast since he didn't want to screw up his surprise for Debbie. He pulled out the package of bacon and opened it. Grabbing the whole slab, he dumped it in the frying pan and turned the burner to high. While the pan was heating, he got out some butter and eggs. After putting a whole stick of butter in the other frying pan, he cracked a dozen eggs into the pan. Not knowing what to do with them, he dropped the shells on the counter. He turned on the heat under the frying pan. Looking down at the pieces of eggshell floating in the egg whites, he said, "They won't notice. When I stir the eggs, the shells will come apart." The pan under the bacon heated up very quickly. He flipped over the slab of bacon so that it could cook on the other side. He stirred the egg mixture around so that it could cook as well. The mixture kept spilling out of the frying pan and onto the stove below. The stick of butter floated in the egg mixture. Looking at it, he said, "I better get started on the toast." He slipped four slices of bread into the large toaster and pushed the lever down. Returning to the bacon, he saw that it was cooking really fast. He flipped the slab over so that it wouldn't burn. The eggs were starting to cook, but they were sticking to the bottom of the frying pan. He knew he was forgetting something and looked around the kitchen for a hint. Spotting the salt container he said, "Oh, that's what I'm missing." He opened the spout on the salt container and poured some salt into the eggs. He left a nice thick trail of salt over the surface of the eggs. He said, "That's a lot of eggs. Maybe I should put a little more salt on them." After he added some more salt to the eggs, he salted the bacon. He paused and added some more salt to the bacon since it was always a little salty. He got out the pepper and shook some over the eggs. Pleased with the little pile of pepper in the middle of the eggs, he said, "Don't want to put too much pepper on them." The bacon was really frying under the high heat. He turned off the burner to it so that it wouldn't burn and cause the smoke alarm to go off. The last thing he wanted to do was wake them because the smoke alarm went off. Rubbing his hands together, he said, "I'm not exactly a disaster in the kitchen." The eggs were cooking and he stirred the mixture. There was a thin film of egg stuck to the bottom of the frying pan that was turning a dark brown. The stick of butter hadn't quite melted yet. He fished it out and dropped it on the counter. Flustered when it skittered across the counter and fell to the floor, he turned his attention back to the eggs and stirred them around. The toast popped up and he pulled the slices out of the toaster. They were hot and he juggled them a little before dropping them onto the counter. He went over to the cabinet and removed three plates. Smiling to himself, he said, "Debbie is going to be so surprised that I cooked breakfast for her. I can't wait to see the expression on her face when I serve breakfast in bed to the birthday girl." He looked at the slab of bacon in the middle of the frying pan. Using a fork, he separated it into slices destroying most of them in the process. He piled the best three slices on the plate for Debbie. They were raw in the center and burnt along the edges. He wondered how most people were able to cook them all of the way through. He dumped a third of the eggs on the plate. It was a very large pile of scrambled eggs. Looking down at the pile, he said, "Maybe I shouldn't have used all of the eggs." He fixed the other two plates with food. Putting the food on the tray, he looked at the result with a frown and said, "Something is missing." It took him several seconds to realize that there wasn't any coffee. He poured a cup and set it on the tray. Looking down at the plate with pride, he said, "She's going to love this." He picked up the tray and started to leave the kitchen. He stopped and went back to the counter. He had forgotten to get forks. He put a fork on each tray and headed towards the bedroom. Entering, he said, "Rise and shine, birthday girl. Breakfast in bed!" Georgia and Debbie would have just continued to sleep except for the comment about breakfast in bed. The thought that he had been in the kitchen filled them both with dread and woke them with the same jarring suddenness as if someone had shouted fire. Both of the women turned and looked over at Oscar with expressions of horror on their faces. Smiling at the looks on their faces, Oscar handed the tray to Debbie and said, "Here you go. I'll be right back with a tray for Georgia." He turned and ran out of the room. Debbie stared at the mess on the tray. The bacon was raw in the center and burned along the edges. The eggs were runny and the toast was dry. The idea of actually eating the mess scared her. Looking over at Georgia, she asked, "What am I supposed to do?" With an expression of horror on her face, Georgia answered, "Uh, eat it?" Oscar came into the room and handed a tray to Georgia. Standing at the foot of the bed, he said, "Breakfast in bed for the two most beautiful women in the world!" Stealing herself, Debbie picked up the fork and scooped up some of the egg. With an expression of dread on her face, she put the egg in her mouth. The heavy dose of salt nearly brought tears to her eyes. Her entire body shook in disgust as she chewed. With extraordinary will, she managed to swallow without spitting the eggs onto her plate. She drank half the cup of hot coffee trying to get the taste out of her mouth. "So how is it?" At a loss for words, she answered, "Interesting. Why don't you get your breakfast?" A very happy Oscar headed out of the room. Turning to Georgia, Debbie said, "Oh... My... God..." "Bad?" "It's horrible. Take a bite," Debbie answered. Swallowing heavily, Georgia took a little of the egg. She was fortunate in that her bite didn't have any eggshells. That was the only luck that she had. Without Oscar in the room, she had no problems with spitting out the horrible tasting food. She drank half of her coffee. Oscar returned to the bedroom and settled down between the two women. Smiling, he took a big forkful of eggs. Looking over at Debbie, he said, "I bet I surprised you with this." "Surprised is barely the word I would use for it," Debbie said plastering a smile on her face. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. The idea that he would soon taste the eggs brought a real smile to her face. Before he had a chance to put the eggs in his mouth, Georgia asked, "So how much salt did you use?" "Not much," answered Oscar. He slipped the fork into his mouth and started to chew. Tears came to his eyes. His entire body shook. Unable to hold back his reaction, he spit out the eggs and shouted, "That's horrible!" His exclamation broke the control the two women had imposed on their reaction to his masterpiece. Debbie and Georgia started to laugh. Barely able to speak, Debbie said, "Armageddon." "Definitely," Georgia agreed. She looked at the bacon and said, "I wouldn't try the bacon. It's basically raw." "I'm sorry. I just wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed on your birthday," Oscar said disappointed in the results of his cooking. Kissing him on the cheek, Debbie said, "It's the thought that counts." Disappointed that his great surprise had turned into a disaster, Oscar got up and carried his tray to the kitchen. The entire mess was inedible and he knew it. As he left the room, he muttered, "I should have gotten a couple of MREs." Looking down at the tray on her lap, Georgia said, "I thought it was impossible to ruin scrambled eggs." "I know what you mean," Debbie said as she looked at the tray on her lap. She wondered how many eggs he had cooked. She smiled and then added, "At least the coffee was good." Oscar made two more trips to remove the trays. The woman kept breaking out in laughter each time he left the room. Hugging Debbie, Georgia said, "Stay here. I'll make us some breakfast and you can eat it in bed." A horrible thought occurred to Debbie and she said, "I wonder what the kitchen looks like." Both women raced out of the bedroom. ------- Chapter 18 Oscar woke up in his dorm room and stretched. It was his birthday and he wondered what the women were going to do to celebrate it. He didn't really enjoy his birthday and just hoped that he'd get through it. He glanced over at Sandy. She was awake and watching him. Holding up an MRE, Sandy asked, "Not going to wait around for breakfast in bed?" Oscar groaned at the sight of the MRE. Nearly every woman in the school had heard about his attempt to serve Debbie breakfast in bed for her birthday. Of course, that was nothing to his surprise breakfast in bed for Georgia on her birthday. He had given her an MRE that had been complete with toilet paper. Shaking his head at the obvious teasing, Oscar replied, "I'm never going to be able to have a birthday again without someone mentioning Debbie's breakfast in bed." "I heard that Georgia insisted that it be disposed of as if it was toxic waste," Sandy said. She smiled as she thought about the stories that Debbie and Georgia had told about his attempt to make breakfast in bed for Debbie. Personally, she felt that it had been a very nice gesture on his part and his failure just made him seem a little more human. Oscar slipped on his robe. He said, "In case you're wondering, I'm ordering cold cereal for breakfast this morning." Oscar watched Sandy climb out of her bed. Her laughter filled the room with joy. She was a very attractive woman. The majority of her hair was now black with just a small stripe of blond at the ends. She went over to her shelf and pulled down her blue robe. Noticing that he was watching her, she winked and asked, "Would you like a birthday blowjob?" Tempted despite the fullness in his bladder, he answered, "Sounds good." Knowing what was in store for Oscar, she said, "Tonight, if you're up for it." "Huh?" Oscar asked wondering why he wouldn't be up to it that evening. Having lived with Oscar for nine months, she knew how he was in the morning. She could practically see him dancing with his need to get to the bathroom. Smiling at him, she said, "Run along and potty." "Okay," he replied as he headed towards the door. Sandy watched him leave with a smile on her face. She shook his head knowing that everyone he met on the way would ask why he wasn't in bed waiting for breakfast. She rushed to get to the dining room before Oscar reached it. Oscar walked into the dining room and looked around. The normal crowd of students was present and busy eating. No one looked in his direction, but he had a feeling something was odd. He made his way to his normal table to wait for Debbie. As he passed one of the tables he stared at the people seated there. Everyone at the table had an MRE and was eating it. From their seats at the table, Debbie watched Oscar's reaction with a grin. Georgia had handed out MREs to all of the students the previous evening declaring they were the new birthday breakfast meal. She had told him that she was going to do it, but he had not believed her. He'd take her threats a little more seriously from now on. Not believing his eyes, Oscar turned around and saw that everyone was eating MREs. Dismayed, he said, "I don't believe it." Debbie rapped on the table three times and everyone shouted, "Happy Birthday Oscar!" Laughing, he said, "I don't believe it! Thanks everyone." He made his way over to where Debbie and Georgia were waiting for him. The smile on his face went from ear to ear. He couldn't believe they had gone to so much trouble for his birthday. Sitting down he said, "You got me. I really can't believe you did that." Handing him an MRE, Georgia smiled and said, "Bon Appetite." Examining the MRE, he groaned when he read the title on it. It was scrambled eggs. Opening the package, he followed the directions for heating the breakfast. The small plastic fusion well heater quickly warmed the eggs and toast before it melted. The water in the container was poured into the cup containing instant coffee. Using the little plastic spork that came with the meal, he dug into the eggs. He sprinkled a little of the hot sauce onto the eggs. Looking up, he said, "This is good." "Don't forget the little can of fruit and the instant juice," Debbie said watching him. He ate his meal with enthusiasm. "They've really improved the MREs," Oscar commented. Winking at Georgia, he added, "They almost taste like my eggs." Debbie broke out in laughter and said, "They're better than that." "They're the private sector version rather than the military version. No toilet paper," Georgia said. She took a bite out of the pancake that was in her MRE. Debbie was surprised to find that her French toast MRe was actually rather tasty. After swallowing, she said, "This is pretty good." "Yes, it is," agreed Oscar. He made short work of his meal. When he sat back in his chair, Debbie handed him a small package wrapped in plain paper. At the surprised look on his face, she said, "It's all I could afford." Oscar reached out and accepted the present. He looked at the little box with a sad expression on his face. In a soft voice, he said, "This is the first birthday present that I've ever gotten from someone other than my parents." Saddened by the admission, Debbie rubbed her eyes to keep from crying. Glancing over at Georgia for support, she said, "Open it." Oscar unwrapped the present and examined the Swiss Army knife within the box. It wasn't the high-end version, but the Classic Red Knife with the white cross that had been around forever. It had the basic blade, scissors, file, toothpick, and tweezers. He had never had one and had always wanted one. Looking up at Debbie with a huge grin, he said, "This is wonderful. I love it." "I'm so glad. We have to keep it at the house until the sixth year," Debbie said. She could tell that he loved the knife and approached the gift with the same emotions that she had approached the car he had given her for her birthday. She watched as he examined each feature of the knife with childlike interest. Georgia watched Oscar as he caressed the shiny metal of the knife. She could see that he was really touched by the gift. It was with a shaking hand that he handed her the knife and said, "Take it to the house." She accepted the knife and handed him her gift. Surprised, he said, "That wasn't from both of you?" The comment surprised Debbie and she said, "No. We each got you something." "Wow," Oscar said as he accepted the second gift. He unwrapped the gift. Looking inside the box, he examined the compact Bushnell binoculars. Reverently, he held them up and looked across the room to see how well they worked. Georgia had been worried that he wouldn't like his present. She realized that she shouldn't have been concerned about his reaction. She said, "I can tell you like it." "This is a great birthday present," Oscar said. He put the binoculars back in the box and closed it. He handed the box back to Georgia and said, "Take it to the house." "Of course." Relaxing now that his birthday was over, he took a sip of his coffee and added, "That's the best birthday I've ever had. It's almost a shame to get on with the rest of the day." "Do you think we're done celebrating your birthday?" Debbie asked staring at Oscar in shock. "Sure. What else is there to do?" Oscar asked surprised. "Uh, we've made arrangements to leave campus for a couple of hours," Georgia said glancing over at Debbie. "Do you mean there is more?" "Uh, don't you remember all of the things you did for us on our birthdays?" Debbie asked. Grinning, he answered, "Well, no one is going to let me forget the breakfasts in bed." "Don't forget the car, the day at the spa, and then dinner out." "Don't forget the hang glider, the day at the paintball range, and then dinner out." Oscar shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, I could afford it." Debbie and Georgia exchanged glances. Suddenly nervous, Debbie said, "Let's go over to the house." Not suspecting what they had planned for him, he followed them through the campus towards the exit. As he walked, his fellow students wished him a happy birthday. He thanked everyone for their good wishes, touched that they would take a minute out of their time for him. It was a simple thing, but it meant a lot to him. This was the first time in his entire life that his birthday had been more than a special breakfast cooked by his mother and a gift of cash from his father. It wasn't that they didn't want to buy him presents, but none of the presents lasted beyond unwrapping them. On more than one occasion, special birthday activities had ended up in catastrophe. He didn't think that Debbie or Georgia realized how much the presents meant to him. Years as a klutz had convinced him that he would never get a knife or a fragile item as a present. He tried to remember the last time he had been given a present that would break if dropped and couldn't. The women entered the house and turned to look at Oscar. He stopped and looked at them. They appeared to be nervous. Each woman shifted her weight from foot to foot and rubbed her hands together. Curious about the sudden change in behavior, he asked, "What's up?" Debbie licked her lips and looked at Georgia as butterflies flitted around in her stomach. The red head looked down at the ground and mumbled, "Okay." Oscar watched the pair of women confused by their behavior. He didn't understand why they would be so nervous around him all of a sudden. Debbie's hands actually shook as she reached up to remove her robe. Georgia hastily removed her clothes as if she was afraid that she'd back down. Puzzled, Oscar wanted to ask what was happening, but could see that if he said a word they'd lose their nerve. Once both women were naked, they looked at each other. Taking a deep breath, Georgia asked, "Are you ready?" Oscar didn't know if she was asking the question of him or Debbie. A shudder went through Debbie's body and she answered, "I guess." Georgia stepped closer to Debbie while Oscar watched in confusion. It dawned on him what they were going to do. Everything was fine until Georgia touched Debbie's breast. The red head jumped back and then ran from the living room while holding a hand over her mouth. She hit the door frame with her shoulder as she ran into the bedroom. Oscar, based on years of experience, said, "Oh, that's going to bruise." He missed seeing Georgia turn, but noticed when she ran out the back door. Left alone in the room, Oscar looked around wondering what he was supposed to do. He went to the back door and looked out at Georgia sitting on a chair. She was crying. That concerned him since he had never seen her cry before. Stepping out the door, he knelt beside her and put a hand on her back. In a soft voice, he asked, "What happened?" "We wanted to surprise you. I knew it wasn't going to work, but we really wanted to surprise you." Her answer didn't make sense to Oscar. He still wasn't confident that he truly understood what it was that they wanted to do. He had his suspicions. However, he knew that if he were wrong that saying it aloud would create more problems. Smiling, he said, "I've got to admit that I'm a little surprised. I never expected to chase off the two of you like that." Georgia stopped crying for a moment and looked up at him. Incredulous that he didn't realize what was going on, she said, "We were going to have sex for you." "Ah," Oscar said with a serious expression. Although the idea was very exciting to him, he knew that neither one of the women really wanted to do it. Concerned, he asked, "Why?" "What do you mean, why?" "Why would you think that I would enjoy the two of you doing something that you each find disgusting?" Oscar asked puzzled. "Because every other guy said that having two women at the same time is their greatest fantasy. You can't deny that the idea of it excites you," Georgia answered. "I won't deny that the idea of the two of you making love to me at the same time is exciting. Of course, the reality would be a tremendous turnoff." "Why?" Oscar shrugged and answered, "Because neither of you would enjoy it. I couldn't enjoy it unless you enjoyed it. I love you both. I don't want to see either one of you upset or hurt." "I could have done it." Laughing at the confident assertion, Oscar said, "You mean George could have done it. George would have gone through it using all of your masculine bravado. Georgia would have cried afterwards. You might even have gotten sick to your stomach." "True," Georgia answered. She looked back towards the door with a frown. She sighed and said, "Go talk to her. She needs you more than I do." Oscar returned to the house and made his way to the bedroom. Debbie wasn't inside the room, but he heard her sobbing in the bathroom. He knocked on the door and asked, "Are you alright Debbie?" He heard a subdued sniffle from the other side of the door. She answered, "I'm fine." "You're crying. Let me in." "I don't want you to see me like this." Oscar didn't know what to do. There hadn't been a chapter on dealing with upset women in any of his textbooks. He knocked on the door and pleaded, "Let me in, please." "No." "Do you want me to get Georgia?" Oscar asked thinking that a little woman to woman chat might be what was required. "No. I don't want to see her." Oscar shook his head totally clueless as to what he should do. He tried the doorknob and found that it was locked. He tried again to talk her into letting him into the room, but she refused. He returned to Georgia and said, "She's locked herself in the bathroom and won't come out and won't let me in. I don't know what to do." "I'll talk to her," Georgia said. She had no idea what she was going to say, but felt that she had to do something. "She said she doesn't want to see you." Georgia didn't seem to be upset by his statement. Instead, she smiled and said, "Why don't you take a walk around the place for thirty minutes? I'll have a nice little chat with Debbie." In typical male fashion, Oscar wasn't sure it that would be a good idea. He was about to argue, but one glance at the look on Georgia's face convinced him that he'd have better luck trying to surf a lava flow. Oscar walked for ten minutes into the woods and then sat down to consider what had happened. He had been afraid that the avoidance of intimacy between the two women would blow up into a major catastrophe one day. Now that day had come and he didn't have a clue as to what he could do about it. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't here the man approach him. Cole watched Oscar for a minute. He had rushed over as soon as he heard what Georgia and Debbie had planned for that morning. Both women were homophobic to a degree that screamed out that there were significant problems with their plans. It was too late for him to prevent them from trying to act on their plans, but hopefully not too late to mitigate the damage to the relationship. Oscar jumped when Cole said, "Oscar." It took almost fifteen seconds for Oscar to get his heart under control and even longer to reply. Amazed at his own lack of awareness concerning his surroundings, Oscar said, "You scared the shit of me." "Sorry. I didn't mean to do that." The presence of Cole in the middle of the school day suggested that he was here on Druid business. A small glimmer of hope rose with that thought. He asked, "Are you here to talk to them?" "Yes, I am. Why don't you stay here and I'll come get you when they are ready for you." Relieved that Cole was going to talk with the two women, Oscar said, "Thanks. I was afraid that I was going to lose them both." Shaking his head at the bleak assessment of the situation, Cole asked, "Are you prepared to lose one of them?" "No." "Okay," Cole said as he turned to head up towards the house. He had no idea what he was going to say to Debbie or Georgia, but for Oscar's sake he knew that it would have to be good. An hour passed and Oscar began to get very worried that Cole wouldn't be able to fix the situation. He looked at a tree and told it, "Crazy. This whole thing is crazy. I don't know why they are both so worried that I'll leave them if they don't sleep with each other. "I guess it was that first day when I voiced my desire for that to happen. Stupid, I tell you one thing, tree, never get too excited about a fantasy that you let your mouth say things that shouldn't be said. Of course, you're a tree and don't have a mouth." Oscar sighed and laid back to look up at the branches above him. The leaves had started to fill in the spaces between the branches. A soft breeze set the tips moving while the thicker parts of the branches managed to resist the forces put upon them. The insects had not emerged in full force, although he could hear the occasional flying insect pass nearby. The ground was soft with the grass having just returned from winter dormancy. Not too far from where he was lying, one of the rare orchids was breaking through the soil. It was protected by a little wire cage that would keep most large animals from disturbing it. Looking up at the sky, Oscar was unaware of its struggles to survive and propagate its species. His attention kept returning to his relationship with the two beauties and its struggle to survive. A shadow fell over his face and he opened his eyes. He asked, "Tell me how it went, Cole." "It is time for you to get back to the house. I think the women have decided that it is time to celebrate your birthday." "What does that mean?" Oscar asked while sitting up. Cole dropped down to the ground to sit beside Oscar. He looked at his fellow Druid and said, "Take your time and let them control the situation. Some things take longer to fix than others. They do love each other a lot. They even desire each other a little. The problem is that they can't express that desire." Nodding, Oscar said, "Georgia already feels guilty about George. I don't know what it is, but there's something in Debbie's past that is preventing her from being physical with Georgia." Surprised by Oscar's comment, Cole said, "You're pretty perceptive. How did you deduce that about Debbie?" "The way she shivers in disgust whenever sex between two women is mentioned. It's not normal. Sure a negative verbal reaction is common, but a physical reaction? Nope, it's not normal." He looked at the green robed Druid and said, "I'll admit that I'm a little curious about her past." "It's not my place to tell, so don't ask. I'm sure that one day she'll tell you herself." "Understood," Oscar said snapping off an informal salute. With a grin, he added, "I was expecting you to tell me that you could tell me, but then you'd have to kill me." Looking over at his friend with a smile, Cole retorted, "You'd have loved that. The world would be shorter one Druid after I finished telling you what you wanted to know. Of course, it wouldn't be a red robed Druid that went missing." "Drat, another dastardly plot foiled." The two men stood and headed towards the house. On reaching it, Cole said, "Take care. I'll see you about dinner time." Oscar entered the house without knowing exactly what he expected to find. Georgia came over and took one arm while Debbie took his other. The brunette smiled and said, "We're going to go about this a little differently." Debbie said, "Come to bed, Oscar." Oscar allowed himself to be led to the bedroom. The two women worked in concert to undress him and get him settled in the center of the bed. Each took one side of his body and started to rub him. Four hands moving across his body was a major turn on. His erection started to throb, although neither woman had touched it. With a suddenness that surprised him, Oscar found Debbie was lowering her cunt to his mouth while Georgia was lowering herself onto his erection. With his right hand, he reached up and fondled Debbie's breast. With his left, he reached back and rubbed Georgia right above her clitoris. With his tongue, he went to work on driving Debbie to the land of orgasms. Both women increased the pace and demands of their love making. From his position below Debbie, Oscar couldn't see what was happening between the two women. He had no doubts that the closest they came to touching each other was an inch of constant separation. He was right, but that didn't bother him. The fact was that he was pleased to be able to give attention to both women without having to slight one or the other. Debbie was the first to come. She ground her cunt into him and actually screamed her pleasure. Her actions were much more aggressive than ever. When Georgia came, it was much more subdued than usual. Oscar was too far gone to notice the differences. Once both of them had come, they switched places. They kept doing that for as long as Oscar was able to keep his erection. He wasn't sure, but he believed that he had come at least three times. It seemed that each time they changed places, his cock just got harder. It wasn't natural, but it sure was pleasurable. The last orgasm knocked him out. Oscar came to with Georgia on one side and Debbie on the other side. They were whispering to each other over his body. Debbie was telling Georgia, "That wasn't so bad." "Cole was right." "Yes, he was. We should have talked to him a long time ago." Oscar asked, "About what?" Instead of answering, Debbie bent over and ran her tongue around his nipple. Georgia ran a hand down to his cock and fondled it with a teasing touch. Oscar forgot his question and groaned. They were going to kill him with sex. Who could ask for a better birthday present than that? ------- Chapter 19 It was the last week of the second year when Oscar entered his classroom to discover that there was an unexpected visitor. Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum said, "Oscar, I'd like you to meet your instructor for next year. This is the Reverend Leroy Jones." Oscar's eyes flicked over the elderly black man's features before settling on the wooden cross that hung from a cord around his neck. He looked over at the Rabbi and the small Star of David that hung from his gartel. The absence of his medallion was painful. He sat down and said, "You serve your God, too." "And his son," corrected the Reverend. "I stand corrected," Oscar admitted. He had not given appropriate thought to the matter and had been rude. "I suppose that will be my job for the next year." Rabbi Teitelbaum said, "We thought it would be best if our discussions this week were attended by the Reverend. You must remember that the Old Testament and the Torah contain the same books." "I guess I knew that, but I hadn't really thought about it," Oscar said. He looked at the elderly black man believing that he would only be teaching the New Testament. He said, "I guess we'll only study the New Testament." "Not at all, young man. We'll read the Old Testament with an eye as to how the interpretation of it has changed after the time of Christ." Leaning forward, he said, "As you may have gathered from the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum, numerous variants of Judaism have emerged since the original founding of Israel." The Rabbi said, "Remember when we discussed what happened after the Temple fell as a result of Titus. That was forty years after the events that will be covered by my esteemed colleague, the Reverend Leroy Jones. The old rites of animal sacrifice disappeared at that time." Oscar smiled at the respectful manner with which each of his teachers addressed the other. He said, "Except in Ethiopia. They still practice animal sacrifice there." "Right." The Reverend looked at Oscar for a moment, appraising what he knew, and then said, "I suppose it is time for the Rabbi to begin the final exam." Oscar frowned and asked, "Final exam? I didn't know there was a final exam." "Oh yes. For the next five days, you get to tell the Reverend all that you have learned. I'll grade you on your performance," the Rabbi said with a smile. With a sigh, Oscar said, "In the beginning..." For the next several hours, Oscar discussed the Torah with the two religious men. They had started going through the significance of the bloodlines when Oliver entered the room. His entrance brought a halt to the discussion when he said, "There is something on the television that all three of you need to see." Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum said, "Television? I don't watch television." "A very important event has occurred and I think you will want to see it," Oliver said. His eyes flicked to the symbols of servitude on the two religious leaders. Neither of the religious men missed the glance. Curious they rose and followed Oliver from the room. Oscar followed the three of them grateful for the interruption to the discussion. It was getting late and they'd be going to dinner soon. They reached a public room in time to see the beginning of the news coverage. Surprised, Oscar said, "That's William Redman Carter." "I wonder what my grandson has gotten into this time," mused the Reverend. Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum asked, "White Buffalo? What's an overgrown cow got to do with anything?" There was a flare of pain from the Star of David and the Rabbi paid more attention to what was happening on the screen. A chill went down his back as he listened to the words being spoken by the young man standing in the corral. He nodded his head as he realized what was happening. In a soft voice, he said, "Ah, he's a servant to the Indian Gods." "The Great Spirit," corrected the Reverend. He watched his grandson deliver the message to those gathered around the corral and to the rest of the world via this news broadcast. He smiled at the thought of what his grandson had done. He added, "William has done the bidding for the Great Spirit, but he is not a servant in the same way as we." Oliver nodded his head and said, "He will serve the Two-Sided One, although none of us know when." Oscar had stared at Reverend Jones ever since he had mentioned that William Redman Carter was his grandson. He recalled the intense young man who had talked with him the previous year. There had been the calm confidence that he would serve the Two- Sided One. He recalled the prophecy given him by the young man. There were many things about this situation that didn't make sense to him. He found it strange that a single family should have servants of two different religions within it. He didn't know enough about the structure of the Carter family to make an informed judgment, but it seemed odd that so many powers should focus their efforts in such a small group of people. He turned his attention back to the screen and watched as the White Buffalo rolled in the dirt and changed colors. A reporter came on and explained the significance of the color change undergone by the buffalo calf. Oscar recognized the work of one of the powers-that-be in this action. He asked, "What is William's role in this? If he is to serve the Two-Sided One, then why is he acting as voice to the Great Spirit?" Oliver looked at Oscar and considered the question carefully. It was a few moments before he answered, "He has been chosen by the Gods and Goddesses to help the Native Americans return to their rightful place in this world." "But he hasn't begun his service to the Two-Sided One," Oscar countered. "Like you, he does not wear a Medallion. That doesn't mean that he hasn't begun his service." "You're right. I'm not wearing a medallion," Oscar said bitterly. He added, "My service has been put on hold." Oliver stared at Oscar for a moment. It was clear from the slight dulling of his aura that not having a medallion was bothering the young man much more than he was willing to admit. Oliver said, "Some things can not be accomplished with an explicit declaration of affiliation. I doubt many of the Native Americans would listen to William if he wore a Medallion. Your service has not been put on hold. You are here as a student in service to the Two-Sided One. I suggest that you couldn't have been a good student with the Medallion." "So why bother with the Medallions?" "Other tasks can only be accomplished with such a declaration," Reverend Leroy Jones answered as he fondled the cross hanging around his neck. The answer surprised Oscar and he turned to stare at the elderly black man. He wondered what tasks the old man had to perform that required the wooden cross around his neck. He was about to ask when the Rabbi asked, "So what do you think of what William is doing?" The Reverend turned to the Rabbi and said, "I feel sorry for my poor grandson. This will complicate his life tremendously and it is already more complicated than most young men his age should have to deal with." The Rabbi nodded and said, "One of the advantages of being young is that you have the energy to deal with many things that would tire an older man. From what you have told me about him in the past, I'm sure that he has the energy to do well." Seeing that Oscar was about to say something, the Rabbi turned to him. In a kindly voice, he said, "Oscar, you are young yet. You have the energy and time to deal with your problems. We are old and see things from a different perspective." Reverend Jones nodded his head in agreement and said, "Come, my friend. Let us have a sherry and discuss the advantages of old age. Let Oscar eat and visit with the young until the morning." Oscar watched the two men leave the room. Turning to face Oliver, he asked, "They have known each other for a long a long time?" "Yes. Both of them have been working for years to bring peace among the different religions. They are two of three men who have been working to bring that about. Maybe I should say that they are two of the last three survivors who have been working to bring that about. Your teacher next year will be the third of that trio." "William should have looked closer to home for the man who would bring peace to the Middle East," Oscar said with a smile. The whole idea that it would be him to do that was still humorous to him. A small frown crossed Oliver's face as he considered Oscar's continued dismissal of what William had told him. As he turned towards the door he said, "I think there is a fourth who will be joining them soon." "Who?" "You." Oscar frowned a moment as he considered and rejected the possibility. He laughed when another thought entered his mind. At Oliver's curious expression, he said, "So Armageddon does translate into Oscar is in the kitchen." Smiling at the joke, Oliver said, "That explains why Debbie and Georgia didn't get you cooking lessons for your birthday. They wanted to make sure that the weapon intended to end the world as we know it wasn't blunted." Oscar laughed while Oliver left the room chuckling to himself. He turned to watch the television for a few minutes. By the time the news program continued after the commercial break, he wasn't paying attention to it. His thoughts were on the events that were happening around him. The Great Spirit, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, and the Gods and Goddesses were all active at the same time. Each had their servants working to improve the world for the betterment of all. He was lost in thought when Cole cleared his throat. Turning he said, "Oh, hello Cole. What's up?" Cole held out a book and said, "The Grand Druid thought you might like to read this." Even as Oscar accepted the book, he asked, "What is it?" "It's a biography of John Carter that was written by two of his wives." "Ah, sounds like it would be a good read." Looking at the red robed Druid, Cole didn't know how to respond. He wasn't sure what the Grand Druid wanted Oscar to learn from the biography. He looked down at the floor for a second and then said, "He suggested that you read it very carefully." "No problem," Oscar said. "Did you know that my instructor for Christianity is William Redman Carter's grandfather?" "I didn't even know that you had met your next instructor," Cole answered raising an eyebrow as he considered the news. "Yes. You might want to talk to him. He's a servant of his God," Oscar said. Cole looked at Oscar for a moment and then asked, "Did you expect Oliver to get anyone with less impressive credentials than that to teach you?" The week ended without any further excitement for Oscar. He had covered the entire Torah over the course of the week giving details and historical background on all parts of it. It had been exhausting and the questions from his two instructors had probed his understanding of the material. The Rabbi was pleased with his performance, the Reverend was impressed, and Oscar was tired. It was the last hour of the last day of class and Oscar was talking with the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum and the Reverend Leroy Jones. The Reverend, looking over at the other elderly man, asked, "What are you going to do now?" With a tired shrug of his shoulders, the Rabbi answered, "I figure I have three years to try and make a difference. I'll make another visit with all of the other major Rabbis. If that doesn't work, then I'll try to make the rounds to the more influential Imams with Farzin bin Saud. Maybe we can come up with some way to establish peace." The Reverend shook his head and said, "That'll be a rough trip, but I hope you're successful. That's an awful lot of people that you have to convince to change their minds." "Too many," agreed the Rabbi with a sigh. He didn't think he had a chance of success. He sighed and said, "I'm an old man. I fear that I won't live to see my work come to fruition." "We are all old men. I fear that none of us have the decades left to our lives that this task seems to require," agreed the Reverend. His hand went up to caress the wooden cross that hung around his neck. It felt warm and reassuring. "The minds of modern men seem closed to peace. There are too many people who look back to a glorious past and wish to recreate it in the now. My people wish to recreate an Israel that ceased to exist a long time ago. There are too many Christians who want to return to the dark ages where religion controlled the daily lives of everyone. The Muslims wish to return to a world where they were the powers." "It is too easy to take a line or two from writings of the prophets and use it to justify what you want. That old eye for an eye thing keeps getting thrown back at me as justification for what men want to do. None of them really ask if that is what their God wants them to do. Jihad is the worst bit of it all." Oscar had listened to the discussion and said, "It's a shame that we can't change the religion. Sounds like that would be a lot easier." The Rabbi and the Reverend stared at Oscar in shock. They turned to look at each other. The Rabbi nodded his head and said, "You are so right, Oscar. Perhaps I need to rethink my plans." The next morning found Oscar waiting by the bus that would take them to the airport. He and Debbie were ready to leave, but they were waiting for Georgia to arrive. He was nervous about the trip and meeting Debbie's family for the first time. Although he knew a lot about the family, he wasn't convinced that they really accepted the triad. Georgia's parents had been very accepting of the unusual relationship, but they had a daughter who was a Druid and had come to expect anything when it came to love relationships. Debbie looked around and asked, "Where's Georgia?" "I don't know. It's not like her to be late," Oscar said looking down the road from which he expected her to arrive. "Looking for me?" Georgia asked from behind him with a giggle. She had arrived early and stopped by her office to make sure that she had cleared her desk before leaving for a week. "Yeah, I was afraid that you were going to leave me to face her father all alone," Oscar replied in a light-hearted joking manner. Curious, he asked, "What were you doing inside the school?" "Making sure that I didn't have any work left on my desk," she answered. With a slight grin, she added, "I was also talking to Debbie's father to let him know when to expect us. I just wanted to give him time to load his shotgun. I'm sure that he wants you to make an honest woman of his little girl." Oliver was looking over at Georgia in surprise when Debbie said, "Don't worry. Daddy won't hurt you much. He'll just wing you if you run." "Thanks," Oscar growled. The women looked at each other and burst out in laughter. Georgia teased, "You know, for one of the most dangerous men in the world you sure are worried about meeting her father." "Yeah. It's kind of like a tiger being afraid of meeting a pussy cat," Debbie said. She followed that up with a little feline sounding purr. "That's it, rub it in," Oscar said. He couldn't put into words what was making him so nervous about this trip. Pushing him towards the bus, Georgia said, "Let's get on the bus, you can't delay this any longer." "I'm going." The little town that Debbie's parents lived in was almost a two hour drive east from Cincinnati. Considering that the Cincinnati airport was across the river into Kentucky, it took them almost two and a half hours to reach her house. Because Debbie was much more familiar with the area, she drove the rental car with Georgia seated next to her to navigate. This left Oscar free to stare out the window at the various horse farms and dairy farms. For some reason, he'd always thought of Cincinnati as an old steel town so the modern appearance of the city was a surprise. Outside of Cincinnati, they drove past lot filled with huge tractors. Debbie pointed to it and said, "Those really big ones cost a million dollars each." Oscar counted three of them and many smaller tractors. He said, "So they've got over three million dollars worth of inventory?" Debbie glanced over and said, "Probably closer to ten million dollars in inventory. Farming is big business. Most people don't realize just how much it costs to run a farm." Oscar recalled something that his father once said and commented, "Most farmers are paper rich and dollar poor." "What does that mean?" Georgia asked. "From what my dad says, it is that on paper farmers are very rich. They may have land that is worth a million or more. On top of that, they have equipment that can cost that much again. Most of their assets are almost paid off, but farmers are always in debt. They have a hard time coming up with enough money even though the crops they raise are worth millions. If they were to liquidate their assets and pay off their debts, they'd be worth a lot of money particularly if they were to do it after bringing in their crops," Oscar answered. "So why are they almost always in debt?" Smiling over at Georgia, Debbie answered, "About the time they get the tractor paid off, they need a new one. About the time they get the milk machine paid off, they need a new one. Farm equipment is not cheap so they try to make is last as long as possible. Of course, an old tractor isn't as fast as a new one so in the long run you have to get the new one." Oscar shook his head and said, "Being a farmer is tough work. One bad year and you can get set back five years in terms of reducing your debt." Looking in the rearview mirror at Oscar, Debbie said, "I didn't realize you knew that much about farming." "The area we are headed is a lot like where I grew up. Lots of kids in my school lived on farms around our town. I don't think things would be too much different here," Oscar answered. "I thought you were just a big klutz growing up," Debbie said. "I don't think a farmer in the entire state would have let me onto their place out of fear that someone would die or I'd ruin their livelihood," Oscar answered. There was more truth in that statement than he really wanted to admit. The last thing one needed on a farm was a klutz. Falling off a tractor was a quick way to get killed. "I didn't think about it that way," Debbie said somberly. Georgia said, "Don't worry Oscar. Debbie's dad isn't a farmer." "That's right. He just sits on the front porch with a loaded shotgun waiting for a suitable guy for me to marry to wander by," Debbie teased. Grinning at Debbie, Oscar said, "No problem. I'll just go in the kitchen with him and fix him a cup of coffee while we talk it over." Georgia started laughing even as Debbie protested, "Don't threaten me with that! I'd hate to lose my daddy now!" It was a very plain neighborhood that Debbie entered. The simple wood houses were spaced far apart along the street. Although they looked small, most were two stories. Looking at them it appeared that most of them were three bedroom houses with the bedrooms upstairs. Kitchen, living room, and dining rooms filled the lower level. Most of the houses had simple porches with swinging chairs that hung from the roof that extended over the porch. This was the kind of neighborhood where one expected to find the 'girl-next-door' wandering around unaware of her beauty. He chuckled at the thought and looked over at Debbie. Noticing his chuckle, Georgia asked, "What's so funny?" "I was just wondering where the girl next door was. Then I realized that we brought her along with us." Debbie frowned and looked over at Georgia. She asked, "Was that a compliment?" Shrugging her shoulders, Georgia looked over at Oscar and asked, "Was it?" "Very much so," Oscar answered even as Debbie pulled into a driveway. He was relieved that her father wasn't on the front porch cleaning the shotgun. "We're here." The front door of the house opened and a woman who was the spitting image of Debbie came running out. She was followed by an average sized man and her two brothers. One of her brothers was well over six foot and was well built. Debbie squealed and said, "My goodness, Jimmy grew up since we were last here." "And how," Georgia commented watching the larger brother jump off the porch rather than take the steps. She guessed that he had added about five inches and fifty pounds. Feeling his five feet short a quarter inch in height, Oscar watched the men amble over to the car. Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car. The larger brother took one look at Oscar and said, "He is a Druid. I thought Debbie was kidding." Debbie's mother was busy hugging Debbie. The other brother had gone over to Georgia and was shyly welcoming her to the house. It was obvious that he had a crush on the blond. In the meantime, Debbie's father reached Oscar and grabbed his hand. Pumping it with energy, he said, "Welcome, Oscar. I've heard so much about you." Oscar's response was cut off by the loud roar of a motorcycle from the house next door. He looked over in time to see a very large woman riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Holding up two fingers spread in front of her lips, she slipped her tongue between them in a fast motion. She stopped and pointed at Debbie with a sneer. Debbie paled and turned to her mother seeking an explanation. Her mother said, "I'm sorry, honey. They came back earlier this morning." Oscar had reached into his pocket for the gun that wasn't there. Furious, he watched as the woman drove off. Debbie's father said, "Let's not ruin the moment, folks. How about we go in the house and have some lunch?" I'd like to thank Drahkan for his excellent work in editting this piece. ------- Chapter 20 After spending the day with Pat and Maggie, Oscar decided he really liked Debbie's parents. That night, he and Pat were seated on the porch drinking coffee and talking about the family. Pat said, "Jimmy's on the baseball team. He wanted to be on the football team, but his growth spurt came in a year too late. He grew up a lot the past six months, but he'll never make the team. They've been working together for two years and won't accept a walk-on at this point." "I can see where that would be a tragedy to someone his age. What about your youngest son? What's he interested in?" Oscar asked recalling that the youngest brother was Tommy. He was the one who had a major crush on Georgia and never left her side if he could help it. "Tommy is different. He's into his studies almost as much as Debbie was at that age," Pat answered. He said, "My wife, Maggie, thinks Debbie and Tommy take after her. Don't tell her, but I think she's right." The sound of a group of motorcycles revving their engines distracted Oscar. They could be heard despite the fact that they were more than a mile away. Pat said, "We've gotten so used to fusion powered cars that the internal combustion engine really sounds loud." "I've heard lots of motorcycles. That is intentionally loud," Oscar said. He watched the end of the street. After a minute, five motorcycles turned onto the street and headed their way. Oscar narrowed his eyes and watched as they drove into the driveway of the house next door. The five riders revved their engines taking pleasure in disturbing the peace. When they shut them off, Oscar asked, "What's the story with them?" "They are bad news," Pat answered. Since the moment Debbie had seen the woman on the motorcycle, she had pulled away from Georgia. It wasn't excessively obvious except to Georgia and Oscar. Oscar shook his head and said, "That's obvious. What's the story?" Shifting in his chair, Pat said, "The Adams family that lived over there wasn't ever all that stable. The boy, Bob, and the girl, Jean, were bad from the day they were born. The mother once complained that Bob sucked her tit so hard that he drew blood half the time. After their father committed suicide, their mother went a little crazy and was sent away to a hospital. She was never gone long enough for the Child Protective Services to put the kids in a foster home. "Without the mother around, the kids got wild. The boy was a horrible bully and our kids were scared to death of him. They wouldn't go outside to play. I can't really blame them. To tell the truth I was afraid of him. One day, I caught Bob lighting a dog on fire and he just grinned at me like I was next. The little bastard was about eight years old at the time. "It seemed like the cops were over at the house every day for some reason or another. They kept arresting him and the judge kept letting him go. The DA got smart and started charging him as an adult. That put the kid in front of a different judge. When he was seventeen, he nearly beat a man to death. Finally, he was sent off to jail. The entire neighborhood celebrated that day. "The girl is just as bad. In some ways, Jean is worse. While her brother liked to hurt people, she liked to make people bleed. She was arrested a dozen times for passing bad checks, shoplifting, assault, and breaking and entering. The same judge that was letting her brother get away with his crimes let her get off. Jean ran off with a biker chick when she was eighteen. "Last year, the mother died. Since then, the two of them would come back for a couple of days and then take off again. There has been a constant flow of bikers through that house even when they aren't around. It's gotten real bad. This morning, the two of them showed up again on their motorcycles." Oscar listened to the story. It still didn't explain everything. He asked, "What did she do to Debbie?" Staring at the ground, Pat said, "She's also a butch lesbian. She tried to rape Debbie, but Jimmy and Tommy got there in time. Debbie left for the Druid College about that time." Music loud enough to wake the dead blasted from the house next door. Oscar said, "Excuse me a minute, I'll be right back." Taking a leisurely stroll, Oscar walked to the house next door. He knocked on the door sufficiently hard enough to be heard over the music. A large man answered the door and looked down at Oscar. He was wearing blue jeans that were barely held up by a wide belt with a huge buckle. His chest was covered by a black leather vest and no shirt. He snarled and asked, "What the fuck do you want?" The smaller man looked at the biker. "Turn down the music, it's late." The big man laughed and said, "Fuck off." Oscar reached out and grabbed him by the ear. He twisted the ear nearly hard enough to pull it off. Pulling him down to his eye level, Oscar said, "Turn down the music." The man tried to grab Oscar's hand to release his ear. Grimacing, the big guy said, "I'm going to fuck you up little man." Leaning forward so that his eyes were only inches from the other man's eyes, Oscar said, "Haven't you ever heard the expression, don't fuck with a Druid?" Once Oscar released his ear, the big guy stood and stared at him. The man made a fist while he said, "You don't have a medallion." "Don't fuck with a Druid," Oscar said. The big man didn't pay attention and took a swing at him. Oscar threw him twenty feet into the front yard. He walked over to the man and said, "Turn down the music now." The big man got up, stepped past Oscar, and tried a sucker punch. He flew the twenty feet back to the front door. Rubbing his head where it was throbbing from having hit the door frame, he looked back in the house and shouted, "Turn off the music." Oscar walked back to the house and took a seat next to Pat. Making a gesture to next door, he said, "Now we can hear each other again." "I knew I was going to like you," Pat said. He was quiet for a moment and then said, "Of course, they're going to be worse once you're gone." "Druids never leave a situation worse than how they found it." Georgia came out of the house and, sounding very sad, said, "I think I'll sleep in the other bedroom tonight. You can sleep with Debbie." Raising an eyebrow at the announcement, Oscar considered what it meant. The shortage of beds in the house had meant that the brothers were going to share a bed, he was going to sleep in Tommy's bed, and the women were going to share Debbie's bed. He answered, "I'm going to sleep on the recliner lawn chair in the backyard tonight. It's a great night for sleeping outdoors." "Really, I don't mind if you sleep with Debbie," Georgia said. "We have Jimmy and Tommy to think about," Oscar replied. He cast a glance at Pat and thought to himself that he didn't think Pat would appreciate him sleeping with his daughter. The young woman didn't answer immediately. She stood there thinking about what she could say to change his mind. Giving up, she said, "I'm going to bed now." "I'll be up to kiss you and her goodnight in just a few minutes." "Thank you, Oscar," Georgia said. The fact that she wasn't going to be the only one sleeping alone that night comforted her more than she felt proper. She went back into the house feeling better than when she had come out. After Georgia was gone, Pat said, "You can sleep with Debbie. I'm not foolish enough to think it would be the first time." "It was an excuse and not a reason," Oscar said. Seeing the startled look on Pat's face, he said, "Excuses and reasons are two different things altogether. Tonight, I use the excuse and, tomorrow, I will try to remove the reason." It was the middle of the next morning when a loud scream from the backyard caused the entire household to come running out of the house. Oscar was the last out the door and he paused to take in the scene that was presented to him. Debbie, her robe ripped to her waist, was being held by a biker in front of the woman from next door. Oscar assumed that the man was Bob. Three other bikers were standing around watching and joking about what they were seeing. One of them was holding a revolver and pointing it at the family. Jean was holding Debbie's hair using it as a lever to yank her head around. She leaned forward and said, "I'm going to make you lick my cunt until I come every morning for the rest of your life. You're now my pussy slave!" Ignoring the woman and the man with the gun, Oscar stepped up and punched the man holding Debbie. His fist hit the man's left kidney. The man crumpled without a sound. Fast as lightning, Oscar grabbed the revolver. He fired into the gas tank of one of the motorcycles parked next door. The man was swearing, "What the fuck!" Casually, Oscar threw the gun back to the man he had taken it from. The man caught the gun and stared at Oscar for half a second unable to believe that he had handed back a loaded gun. He pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. Oscar ignored the click. Three clicks later, the man asked, "What the fuck?" One of the other bikers said, "Man, that little shit shot my bike!" Tommy stared at the bike and said, "He put six bullet holes in it! I only heard one shot." Turning his back to the bikers, Oscar said, "Debbie, listen to me. It's time for you to take out the trash." Every morning for the past three years, Debbie had studied martial arts with the other students at the Druid College. Oscar's words released her from her paralysis. Not caring what happened to her opponent, her fist shot out and hit the woman holding her hair in the solar plexus. Once the woman had released her grip on Debbie's hair, Debbie was free to act. She took the woman across the jaw with a spinning sidekick that was strong enough to break a dozen boards. It was more than enough to break the jaw. Debbie didn't stop at that point. Subsequent blows broke an arm, ribs, and a collarbone. Pat and Maggie had watched their daughter completely destroy the woman in less than five seconds. Stunned by what they were seeing, they couldn't even voice a reaction much less act to stop her. The brothers, open mouthed, stared at their sister. Oscar stepped forward and grabbed Debbie before she killed the woman. Debbie glared at him for a fraction of a second before recovering her balance. He winked and said, "Tell her what you think of her." Kneeling down, Debbie grabbed the woman by the hair. For some reason that she wasn't able to explain, she wanted to grab Jean's face and force her to lick her cunt. It dawned on her that rape wasn't anything sexual on Jean's part, but an expression of dominance. She really wanted to dominate Jean at that moment. Leaving it to others, she said, "You are going to be the pussy slave for a dozen women in prison." The three bikers decided that they had enough and started to leave. They froze when Oscar appeared in front of them with a smile. He asked, "Do you honestly think I'm going to let you leave?" The guy he had thrown around the previous night backed up and said, "Whatever you say, man. I don't want any trouble." "That's funny. You were over here doing your best to create trouble," Oscar said with narrowed eyes that froze the man in place. One of the other men said, "Out of our way, shrimp. I'll fuck you up so bad you'll never walk again." The one reaction that no one, with the possible exception of Oscar, expected was to hear was Georgia giggling at the threat. She nudged Pat and said, "Imagine that idiot threatening a guy who killed two hundred terrorists in one afternoon." Tommy, never far from Georgia, turned to look at her with wide eyes. Ignoring the action, he asked, "How many terrorists has he killed?" "A couple thousand," Georgia answered. There was a wild gleam in her eye as she looked over at Oscar. "Really?" Tommy asked staring at Oscar. This was the first he'd heard of anything that Oscar had done. All he knew about Oscar was that he was his sister's boyfriend. "Yes. He went up against several hundred in a single camp when we were training the Special Forces teams in Afghanistan. None of the terrorists survived," Georgia said. She shivered and said, "Oscar, I need you right now." Seeing that Georgia's nipples were tenting her shirt, Oscar said, "Violence always makes Georgia horny." Feeling much more confident, Debbie stood up and turned her back on the woman lying on the ground. She looked over at Georgia seeing the obvious signs of her arousal and said, "Oscar, I can take care of those three. Why don't you take care of Georgia?" Glad to see that his confident Debbie had returned to take control over her life, Oscar said, "We have to call the police first, Debbie. I think that the two who assaulted you are in dire need of medical care." Seeing that her daughter's breasts were exposed to the world, Maggie said, "You might want to hold your robe closed." Debbie looked down and shrugged. A year of being naked had removed the embarrassment about having her body exposed. Rather than react with the kind of frantic motion most would expect, she calmly gathered the two sides of her robe and held them together. Looking over at her mother, she said, "I need a safety pin or something to hold it together." "I'll get you one," Maggie said turning to the house. "Call the police while you're in the house," Debbie said. She stared down at the woman on the ground amazed that her fear of the woman was gone. She didn't feel anything but contempt for her. While Maggie called the police, Pat walked around wondering what he should be doing. The man Oscar had hit hadn't moved or made a sound since collapsing on the ground. He went over and looked down at the man. He asked, "Is he dead?" Oscar looked over at the man and said, "No. I burst his kidney. He'll die if he doesn't get medical help soon." The calm manner in which Oscar made his assessment was almost as shocking as the violence had been. Jimmy turned to his sister and said, "Wow, you were amazing sis. Where did you learn how to fight like that?" "The Druid College," Debbie answered. She thought about it for a minute realizing for the first time that the College had prepared her to take care of herself and others around her. She had the skills to take down bad people. She wasn't so embarrassed about being naked that she was unable to deal with the situation. Grinning, she said, "They train us so that we can take out the trash if necessary." The neighbors swarmed over to the house before the police and ambulance arrived. Oscar went over to deal with the officials while the family dealt with the neighbors. Georgia couldn't believe that she actually had to keep people from spitting on the pair lying on the ground. Looking over at Debbie, she said, "These two aren't exactly popular." Debbie started laughing and had a hard time getting herself under control. Her hands started shaking as she crashed from the adrenaline high she had been on. Years of fearing Jean and Bob disappeared. It took ages for the police to clear up the matter. Jimmy showed the police where Oscar had shot the gas tank of the motorcycle six times. There was a nice round pattern of bullets in the side. As Oscar had expected, the three bikers were hauled off for outstanding warrants and the siblings were taken off to the hospital. Once things had calmed down, the family gathered around the dining room table for lunch. It was a quiet group that sat down to eat. After a few minutes, Jimmy asked, "If you could kick ass like that, why did you let them grab you?" "I was so terrified that I couldn't move," Debbie answered. Sighing, she said, "I've spent my whole life scared of Jean. I can't tell you how many nightmares I had where she was raping me." Looking across the table at Debbie, Georgia wondered what this meant in terms of their relationship. She could see now why Debbie reacted so strongly on Oscar's birthday. She said, "I wish Cole was here." Maggie asked, "Who is Cole?" "He's a classmate of ours. He serves the Goddess and helps heal emotional problems," Oscar answered. Smiling over at Georgia, Debbie said, "I don't think that we need to talk to Cole." Pat looked over at his daughter and thought about what she had said. He felt guilty that he hadn't been able to protect the kids from Bob and Jean. A father should be able to protect his family, but he'd felt helpless. Calling the police had not had any effect. If he had hurt or killed the kids next door, he'd have ended up in jail and his children would have been in a worse situation. Watching Pat, Oscar said, "Society doesn't believe in evil anymore. I've seen a lot of evil in the Middle East. I watch the news as reporters try to explain evil actions away. They don't understand that you can't reason with evil. They don't understand that you don't have to do anything to provoke evil." "Those kids are evil. The whole town has known that, but we couldn't do anything about it," Maggie said. "It is a shame that society won't protect the person who has to protect himself from evil," Oscar said. Frowning, he said, "I've never really had to deal with that aspect of serving the Gods and Goddesses. In the battlefield environment, deadly force is accepted." Tommy asked, "You've really killed thousands of people?" "I don't know how many people I've killed. Fog of war and all that," Oscar said. He sighed and said, "Killing another human isn't something to be proud of. It is the last measure and means that you've failed all other options. Sometimes, evil just doesn't allow you those other options." "When I watched those documentaries on the war, I thought you were some larger than life character," Pat said. He hadn't expected the small young man who had gotten out of the car the previous day. "Oh, I'm larger than life, just a little short in some ways," Oscar replied with a grin. "Not in the ways that matter," Georgia said with a sexy little wink in his direction. Debbie took Oscar's hand and said, "Thank you." "For what?" "For letting me take care of Jean. I needed to do that." After kissing the back of her hand, Oscar said, "You could thank me by letting me help your mother with the dishes." "No!" echoed from his two girlfriends. The shocked reaction of Georgia and Debbie surprised the family. It was evening and Oscar was seated on the porch reading a book using the light that came through the front window. Pat took a seat next to him and asked, "What are you reading?" "I'm reading a biography of John Carter. The Grand Druid wants me to read it." "Oh," Pat said. It seemed strange to be talking about people like the Grand Druid with someone who actually knew him. Shrugging his shoulder, he asked, "Anything special that he wants you to read in it?" "He marked the pages just before John Carter went to the glade," Oscar answered with a frown. It was about how various members of the family learned about his pending sacrifice. Shaking his head, he said, "It's rather depressing stuff." "I can imagine. I'm sure that John Carter must have been very depressed knowing that he was going to die." "Actually, he seemed indifferent to that. He was more concerned about his family and they were worried for him," Oscar replied. Shaking his head, he said, "I think it was harder for his family to live with the idea than for him. I couldn't imagine telling someone that I knew I was going to die in a few days." "How long before he died did John Carter know he was going to die?" Oscar considered the material he had just finished reading. He shook his head and said, "I think it was one of those creeping realizations." Debbie and Georgia stepped out of the house and sat down on chairs across from Oscar. Debbie asked, "What was a creeping realization?" "We were talking about John Carter's last days and when he realized that he was going to die." Debbie smiled and said, "We don't have to worry about that with Oscar. He's going to bring peace to the Middle East." "That's right. He's going to wander into a kitchen somewhere and the Middle East is going to disappear. The only who will be left is Oscar asking 'Is jello supposed to go bang?'" Georgia said with a laugh. Shaking his head, Oscar said, "I thought I'd try spaghetti. It sounds simpler." "What's simpler than boiling water and adding dust to it?" Debbie asked. "Boiling water and adding sticks to it." Looking at him, Georgia asked, "So how long are you going to boil it?" "Until it is done. I figure an hour or so ought to be enough," Oscar answered. The women broke out in laughter at his answer. About the time they would get themselves under control, one of them would look at the other and start laughing again. Pat watched a little confused although he had gotten the impression that Oscar wasn't a good cook. Oscar reached into his pocket and pulled out the ever present MRE. Waving it in the air, he said, "I brought birthday food, just in case." Debbie stood up and said, "Come upstairs with us for a minute." Upstairs, Debbie and Georgia removed their clothes as if in a race. Seeing Oscar just standing there, Georgia said, "Get naked. You never did take care of our state after the fight this morning." Getting the hint, Oscar pulled his robe off. When the robe cleared his head, he was shocked to see Georgia and Debbie hugging. It was the innocent hug of two friends despite the fact that they were both naked. Little Oscar rose at the sight. His cock didn't care about innocence, only the visual impact of two women embracing. Shocked, he asked, "What's going on?" Pulling back from Georgia, Debbie held out a hand for him to take. She answered, "I'm not letting Jean ruin my life anymore!" Taking her hand, he was led to the bed. It was a regular bed and rather than using it length-wise, they lay across the bed with legs hanging off the edge. For the next hour there was lots of touching, kissing, hugging, and making love. At one point, Georgia was riding his face while Debbie was riding his cock. Oscar nearly lost control when he noticed that Debbie was supporting herself by holding onto Georgia's hips. He did lose control when he noticed Debbie leaning against Georgia while recovering from an orgasm. He didn't remember much after that. Centered between his red haired and his blond haired beauties, Oscar felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. Georgia said, "That was very nice." "Definitely," Oscar agreed. "I don't mean that," Georgia said. She looked over at Debbie and said, "I liked the little kiss on my back when you climbed off Oscar." Blushing, Debbie said, "Thank you." I'd like to thank Drahkan for his fine work editing this chapter ------- Chapter 21 "I don't get it," Oscar said in frustration. "What don't you get?" the Reverend asked with patience. "I keep hearing about the teachings of Jesus, but I've read the parts where he's alive and I don't see any teachings. Sure, there are a couple of stories and the sermon on the mount, but nothing that says these are my teachings." "It is the story as a whole that constitutes his teachings," the Reverend replied. "Most of it is about what his followers thought he meant. You can't trust that. They argued and squabbled all of the time," Oscar said. He flipped through the pages and pointed out example after example of where the apostles argued about what Jesus meant when he told them something. He frowned and said, "I don't mean any disrespect, but if I were Jesus I would have gathered a slightly smarter crew to follow me." The Reverend sat back and thought about his student's observation. It was not a very flattering observation about the New Testament. Finally, he said, "What were the teachings of John Carter?" "There weren't any really. We have the two rules. If it harms none, then do it. Protect the weak from the strong," answered Oscar. "So if some people were to write about what John Carter said sixty years from now, what would they say about him?" "I have no idea," Oscar admitted. "There are a lot of people who interacted with John Carter on a regular basis. Some of them have even written books about their experiences. Am I right?" "Yes, you are." "If we were to package all of those books, or at least the better ones of them, together in a single volume, what would you have?" "Lots of second hand stories about what John did and some of the things he said to them." The Reverend sat back and pointed to Oscar. He said, "You'd have a book that was a lot like the New Testament." "I suppose so," Oscar said. "The truth of John Carter would be sprinkled through it with little insights into what made him great. I knew John Carter and I can tell you that the stories would barely touch the surface of the man and what made him great. I view the New Testament the same way in how it presents Jesus," the Reverend said. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "It becomes a very interesting book if you view it in that light." "I'll buy that," Oscar said. Looking over at the Reverend, he asked, "So what are the teachings of Jesus?" Settling into his chair, the Reverend answered, "Let's examine some of the episodes of his life in terms of what it says about the man rather than the son of God. Let's explore the kind of character that he demonstrated in his actions. Does that sound like a reasonable approach to getting a handle on his teachings?" Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Sure. I assume that we'll begin at the beginning, which in this case is his birth." "Wrong. We begin with the bloodlines," the Reverend countered. Holding up the Bible, he said, "Let's begin with the book of Matthew." Oscar commented, "Interesting that they trace the bloodline through the fathers until Jesus. He gets his legitimacy through Joseph even though it is said that he was conceived before Joseph had a chance to lie with Mary." "That's our second point of discussion," the Reverend said with a grin. He said, "We have a couple of bloodlines to cover. Don't forget about John the Baptist." Head hurting from the discussion with the Reverend, Oscar sat down in the third year dining room and examined the menu. After two months back on campus, he had gotten used to the new living arrangements. Kirk came over to the table and sat down while saying, "Hello, roomy. You look tired. How's it going?" This year, his roommate was majoring in physics. It was strange to have a roommate with whom he wasn't having sex. Oscar answered, "I had four hours of nonstop dissection of the New Testament. I've read that book six times now." "Sounds rough." "How was your day?" "We had one of those really horrible lectures in thermodynamics. There are times when I think my head is going to explode," Kirk said. He was taking mechanics, thermodynamics, and electricity and magnetism that quarter. They were all three semester courses. All of the engineering students were in his classes as well. He knew that after this year, his classes would be down to a handful of students. "Still enjoying mechanics?" "Love it. Sometimes I wonder if I wasn't meant to be a structural engineer," Kirk answered. He looked around the dining room and asked, "Where's Debbie?" "She's having dinner with Georgia tonight," Oscar answered. Cole wandered over to the table and sat down. He had arrived just in time to hear Oscar's answer. He said, "They seem to be getting along together now." Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Ever since Debbie took care of Jean, she seems to be less hesitant about touching another woman." "And Georgia? How is she dealing with the changed Debbie?" Oscar was silent as he considered Georgia. He answered, "She doesn't say anything about the increased intimacy other than to say that she appreciates the attention." "Does she ever initiate a hug or a kiss?" "That's not her style," Oscar replied. He saw the expression on Cole's face and said, "Really, that's not her style." Rather than answer, Cole looked across the table at Oscar. He was willing to sit there all night if necessary. Kirk asked, "A woman who doesn't hug and kiss? That doesn't sound right." "She hugs and kisses me. She just isn't into that with women," Oscar said. "All women hug and kiss each other," Kirk said. He pointed across the room at two women who hugged on meeting at a table. "I hadn't really thought about it," Oscar answered. He noticed that Cole was still watching him. Concerned, he asked, "What?" Shaking his head, Cole asked, "So what is Georgia's style? I'm talking in terms of intimacy." "She's pretty gentle when she's Georgia and she's a tiger when she's George," Oscar answered. "I don't think she has a split personality," Cole said. He continued to gaze at Oscar. Shifting uncomfortably, Oscar didn't know what to make of the comment. He hadn't meant to suggest that Georgia did have two personalities. Cole continued to stare at him. Oscar finally asked, "What?" "I'm just thinking about George and Georgia," Cole answered. Frowning, Kirk said, "Can't you Druids ever come out and say what you mean? This is frustrating." Cole and Oscar both looked at Kirk with identical smiles on their faces. Cole asked, "What would be the fun in that?" "How can we remain mysterious and aloof if we say things outright?" Oscar asked with a grin. Kirk got up and said, "I give up. I get enough of that in class." Oscar watched Kirk walk off. Turning to Cole, he said, "I've heard other students saying the same kind of things about us lately. It's like they are all frustrated. What do you think?" "You're right. I wouldn't worry about it though," Cole replied. "Why?" "They are in the midst of learning to think for themselves. For the first time in their lives, people are not giving them answers when they are having difficulty coming to a conclusion. It's frustrating when someone steals your crutch." Oscar realized he had been doing the same thing with his peers without thinking about it. He wondered when he had stopped giving explanations and started asking leading questions. After a minute of thought, he realized that it had begun in the middle of last year. Now he was even avoiding the leading questions. Shaking his head, he said, "We've both been doing it. Were you aware of that?" "Not really. It was only when Oliver pointed it out to me that I realized what I had been doing. Recently, I noticed that you were doing it, too." Oscar nodded and said, "I find that interesting." "And I find it interesting how easily you changed the topic of conversation. Getting back to George and Georgia," Cole said wiggling his eyebrows at his fellow student. "You think it is easy to change the topic of conversation like that?" Oscar asked innocently. Knowing that Oscar was going to avoid the subject with all his power, Cole stood and said, "You must have other things to worry about. Don't bother thinking about it." "I'll think about it," Oscar said flippantly. "Take my advice and try not to think about it," Cole said. He emphasized the word think. After five minutes of trying not to think about it, Oscar slumped forward with his head in his hands. Every attempt not to think about it reminded him of Georgia. The waitress came over with a glass of iced tea knowing that he usually ordered it with his dinner. She asked, "What do you want to eat?" Oscar looked over at her and said, "Sometimes I'm too smart for my own good." "It sounds to me like you should be ordering crow. Closest we have is chicken. Would you like that broiled, fried, or with dumplings?" Chuckling at her deadpan delivery, Oscar said, "Dumplings, please." She winked at him and said, "Good choice." Oscar watched her walk off thinking about how special the staff of the school was. Of course, that thought led him back to thinking about his girlfriend. He wondered what Cole was suggesting when he kept talking about George and Georgia. He hadn't made much progress on the issue when the waitress stopped by with his Chicken and Dumplings. Seeing that he was still wrestling with whatever was bothering him, she asked, "What's the matter, Oscar? You look like you have something on your mind." "Cole was asking me about my girlfriend." "Which one, Georgia or Debbie?" "Georgia." The waitress looked at Oscar for a minute. She knew how they joked about George and Georgia. She said, "You know, my name is Roberta. It would really make me feel odd if my husband called me Robert." "George is an alter ego for Georgia," Oscar said. "Still, it makes her sound awful masculine. A woman can be aggressive without being masculine," she commented. It was the clue that Oscar needed. He nodded his head and said, "Thanks, Bobbie." "You're welcome," she said and then headed off to wait on another table. The Chicken and Dumplings tasted very good that evening. Dinner didn't last long enough. He returned to his class room to learn another Christian myth. The Reverend was covering Lazarus, the Wandering Jew. It was a warm sunny Saturday before Oscar had a chance to be alone with Georgia. After being in the school all week, Oscar wanted to walk through the woods behind her house. She didn't seem to have any preference about what she wanted to do. After a quiet walk through the woods, they ended up at the clearing by the stream. Once there, Oscar said, "Would you like to catch a few rays?" She shrugged and answered, "Sure." Oscar removed his robe and turned to watch Georgia undress. She was listlessly removing her clothes. He waited a moment and then said, "I'd like to talk to George." For the first time that afternoon, she showed the emotions of which she was capable. Her eyes flashed with fire and she demanded, "Why?" "To tell George that it is time to become one with Georgia and to disappear," Oscar said. He had thought long and hard about the hints that Cole had given him. She faltered at his reply. It was not what she had been expecting. Rather than answer, she continued to get undressed. Once she was naked, she sat down on the robe Oscar had spread out on the ground. Her posture indicated that she didn't want him close to her. Her knees were tucked under her chin and her arms wrapped around her shins. Oscar sat down beside her. He said, "Georgia, you are an amazing woman. You are beautiful, sexy, smart, witty, and strong. You see the last bit as being wrong." "I do not," she replied. "You only allow yourself to demonstrate your strength and aggressiveness when you are acting like George. You allow George to come out so that the femininity of Georgia remains unquestioned," Oscar said. He sighed and said, "You are never your whole self at any time." Looking over at him, she said, "Well, you seem to like George well enough." "I love Georgia." Georgia didn't know what to say. She started crying. Oscar moved closer and put an arm around her. She cried harder and said, "George has chased you away. I knew he would." "George hasn't chased me away. I'm still here," Oscar said, "I love Georgia. That includes her aggressive, strong, and demanding nature as much as her sweet, caring, and gentle nature." "You don't want him," Georgia cried. "When did George become a he?" Oscar asked noticing for the second time her use of the masculine pronoun. The question shocked Georgia. She stopped crying as if someone had flipped a switch. Looking at Oscar, she asked, "What do you mean?" "You've referred to George as he several times. I love a woman, not a man," Oscar said. His observation was correct. Frowning, Georgia wondered when she had started thinking of George as a male. She wondered if it was on his birthday when she had retreated into the masculine nature of George to shore up her attempt to have sex with Debbie. She changed her posture so that she was sitting tailor style. The change in position gave Oscar a much better view of her female bits. His eyes slid along her body taking in her smooth skin, her luscious breasts, and, that most marvelous of parts, her vulva. She was not a soft woman in the same way as Debbie. There were obvious muscles beneath the skin. "I'm so confused," Georgia admitted. "It was fun to refer to George in the beginning. For you, it was like I was accepting your sexual aggressiveness. For me, I enjoyed how you tapped into a part of yourself that you tried to hide from everyone. It made me feel doubly blessed to have you in my life," Oscar said. "Okay. So how has that changed?" "I've accepted and enjoyed your sexual aggressiveness. I really enjoy your sexual aggressiveness. I no longer enjoy how you try to hide that part of Georgia from the rest of the world. It has begun to hurt you and our relationship." Georgia was silent while she thought about it. She asked, "How about when I don't want to be sexually aggressive?" "Then I will wine and dine you. I will read love poems until you are so turned on that you'll grace me with a long leisurely session of making love on a bed of roses," Oscar answered. Georgia laughed at the image and said, "I'll never be that much of a softy." "You never know," Oscar said. He leaned back and said, "Roses are red..." Georgia growled and said, "One more line and you're dead, mister." "Yes, ma'am." Georgia stood and walked a few steps away. She leaned her head back feeling the rays of the hot sun over her entire body. A soft breeze tickled her skin. The sound of the water in the stream created a background symphony against which birds added their voices. The scent of fall tickled her nose. Turning to him, she said, "I'll try to control George." "I'm not asking you to control George. I'm asking that you accept George as part of being Georgia. I'm asking that you become a strong, aggressive, driven, beautiful, gentle, loving, and intelligent woman. I want it all in one package who I can call Georgia." "You don't want much, do you?" "I want it all, but more than that I want you to be happy with you," Oscar said. For Georgia, this was the second most important moment in her life with Oscar. The first had been the time he had accepted George when she had fully unleashed it in Afghanistan. She realized that today he had accepted her as being more than just Georgia and George, but as an integrated being. Oscar came to her and took her in his arms. He led her back to the robe and laid her on it. Getting down on the ground with her, he began to kiss her. Their love making was gentle and tender. For the first time in a long time, her normal sexual aggressiveness did not burst forth. When he kissed her breasts, she gently held his head. She arched her back when he slid between her legs to kiss her lower lips. The session was slow and passionate. Oscar made sure that every inch of her body was treated to special attention. Georgia accepted his attentions and gave them back with tender kisses of her own. It was the first sharing between the two since Debbie had joined them. Relaxing afterwards, she laid her head on his chest. He held her in one arm while looking up at the sky. It was comfortable and loving. Georgia kissed his nipple and said, "Thank you." "Thank you," Oscar replied. "Are you going to miss me being aggressive all the time?" "I'm going to enjoy you every time. There is nothing for me to miss except a chance to be with you." Georgia was silent for a minute and then said, "It's going to be hard for me to integrate the two sides of my personality." Looking down at her, he knew that she needed a role model to demonstrate how a strong woman could act. He smiled and asked, "Would you like me to ask the Reverend Leroy Jones to find someone for you to talk with?" "Why him?" "What family has a huge number of very strong women in it?" "I guess that would have to be the Carter family. That Ling is one strong woman," Georgia answered. She had met Ling once when Oscar had the great fight and remembered her very clearly. "The Reverend Leroy Jones is a father in law to the Carter Clan," Oscar said. He hoped that the elderly man could introduce Ling and Georgia. Georgia could learn a lot from Ling. Georgia traced a line down the center of his chest. When she reached his stomach, he reacted with a slight twitch at the ticklish sensation. She paused and said, "That might be a good idea." "I'll talk to him about it," Oscar said. She settled her head back to his chest and laid there thinking. After a minute, she asked, "Do you really think that you are going to bring peace to the Middle East?" "That's what William Redman Carter says," Oscar answered. He didn't really believe it, but all of the key Druids believed it. The entire idea of a fighter bringing peace to the Middle East seemed wrong to him. He knew that it would have to be a religious figure that would do it. "What do you think?" "I don't know. It seems pretty unlikely to me. I mean, until I began my service to the God I was just a klutz. I was destined to be the man who burned down a city. I'd go down in history like Thomas Farynor." "Who's that?" "The guy who accidentally caused the great London fire. At best, I thought I would end up as a minor footnote to some great tragedy," Oscar said. Running a strand of her hair through his fingers, he said, "The idea of me going down in History as the man who brought peace to the Middle East is just too far fetched for me to believe." Georgia was quiet for a moment and then said, "You're already in the history books as the Renegade Warrior. You will live forever in the stories in the Middle East as the Desert Ghost." "That's true. I still don't believe that," he replied with a chuckle. His motion shook Georgia. She rolled over so that she was supporting herself with her elbows. Looking at him, she said, "Let's say that you do bring peace to the Middle East. John Carter used to say that great magic requires a great price. What price do you think you'll have to pay?" "I don't think there's a personal price that I wouldn't be willing to pay if I knew that it would bring about long lasting peace," Oscar answered. I'd like to thank Drahkan for his fine work editing this chapter. ------- Chapter 22 "You seem nervous," Georgia commented. "I'm meeting William again," Oscar replied pulling at the sleeve of his robe. There was something about the young man that bothered him. It wasn't a negative kind of feeling, just that odd sense that something had been forgotten. She took his hand to keep him from fidgeting so much and walked with him to the front door. It was a much simpler house than what she expected. True, it was large, but it wasn't ostentatious. The walkway was neatly edged and the flowerbeds were filled with flowers that were drying in preparation of winter. There was a large RV parked next to the house. She noticed several cameras tucked away in locations that weren't immediately obvious. There was also a small sticker in the window that announced that the house was protected by a security company. The door opened before they reached the front door. From just inside the house, Ken said, "Come in. He's expecting you." Oscar hesitated at the thought of entering the house. Georgia stepped through the door and found herself facing a very attractive black woman. The woman smiled while studying Georgia. After a second, she said, "You must be Georgia." "Yes. You are Claire?" Georgia asked. The very feminine looking woman did not fit the mental image she had constructed of Claire. She had imagined Claire would be some tough as nails hard driving woman. Instead, she looked like a moderately wealthy woman about to go out shopping. She was wearing a nice dress and high heels. "Yes, I am," Claire answered. She watched Oscar slowly move into the house with interest. He had the same degree of hesitancy about this meeting that William had been demonstrating. She thought it was interesting. Turning to Rock, she said, "Take Oscar into the backyard where William is waiting. Watch over them." Rock examined Oscar. The fact that Oscar was wearing a red robe didn't intimidate him. He was used to dealing with Ling and that little lady had taken intimidation to a high art form. He didn't like the nervous way the young man was looking around. He grunted, "Come with me." Georgia watched Oscar walk beside the large bodyguard through the house. The bodyguard wasn't going to let Oscar get behind him. He ushered Oscar through the backdoor before following him out. Once Oscar had stepped out the backdoor, she turned to Claire and asked, "What do we do now?" Claire picked up a pistol case and tossed it to Georgia. The young woman caught it with ease. She said, "We go to the range and shoot a couple hundred rounds at paper targets." Holding the pistol case, Georgia grinned at the opportunity to go shooting. She said, "Sounds good to me. Paper everywhere will quake in fear when it sees us." Oscar stepped out the door in front of Rock. After a few steps, he could see William seated in a chair next to a patio table. The two young men studied each other; their eyes seeking out the strengths and weaknesses of the other. After a minute, William said, "Rock, you can go back in the house." "I don't think that would be wise. You two are looking at each other like prize fighters in the center of a ring," Rock answered shifting nervously. "Don't worry. We won't fight," Oscar said. He had been very aware of the bodyguard's unease. "I doubt you would be able to stop him even if he was to attack me. He's the only person who has fought Ling to a tie," William said pointing at Oscar. That was a piece of news that visibly shook Rock. He stared at Oscar and took a step back. Clearing his throat, he said, "I had not heard that." Oscar said, "It was a most interesting experience." "For both of you," William said with a smile. Looking over at Rock, he said, "Go ahead and get in the house. We'll be fine out here." At a simple gesture from William, Oscar took a seat across the patio table from his host. He looked at the ashtray and noticed the pair of cigarette butts in it. His eyes traveled to William's hand where he was holding a smoking cigarette. He said, "I didn't know you smoked." "I only do it when I want to get closer to the Great Spirit," William answered looking at the cigarette in his hand. He also did it when he was very nervous. He seldom smoked more than five cigarettes in a week. To be working on his third in one morning suggested a degree of nervousness about this meeting that he'd never admit to anyone else. "Why is it that I have been dreading meeting you again?" "Probably for the same reason that I have been dreading this meeting," William answered. He licked his lips and said, "There are three things that I have known with great confidence. The first is that I would meet my one true love. The second was that I am to serve the Two-Sided One. The third was that there would be peace in the Middle East. Once I met you, I knew that you were the agent who would bring that peace." "That doesn't explain why I feel so uncomfortable meeting you," Oscar said. His mind went back to the first meeting when William had predicted the horrible evening when Debbie's father had his heart attack. William didn't answer immediately. He was struggling to understand his own unease. After a moment, he said, "My future is entwined with yours. I don't know the how or the why of it, but I know it." "We are both to serve the Two-Sided One," Oscar said wondering if that was the connection. "You are in your third year of school. You'll finish your fourth year studying Islam. Then you'll have a year of studying Buddhism, Hinduism, and Shamanism. After you finish your fifth year, you'll visit the glade and become the servant of the Two- Sided One," William said. "You are probably right," Oscar said. William's thoughts on the matter matched his quite closely. He asked, "When will your service begin?" "I don't know," William answered looking across the yard with a hint of anger in his expression. He said, "That is probably a reason for my tension. Your future seems clear while mine is murky." "Oh," Oscar said. There wasn't much to say in response. "My grandfather will be joining you in your travels. I fear that he won't survive them," William said trying to restart the conversation. "Why do you say that he won't survive?" "Great magic requires a great price," William answered. "I've heard that before." It was a phrase that he'd been hearing all too often. It was beginning to make him nervous. "Yes, I'm sure that you have," William said wondering if Oscar really understood what it meant. His father had paid that price to create the Carter Glade at the Druid College. That was just a glade. He couldn't help wonder what world peace would cost. The conversation was awkward with many little starts and stops to it. Both William and Oscar seemed uncomfortable. Both found themselves staring at the yard. Oscar said, "Maybe I ought to check up on Georgia." "She's gone to the pistol range with Momma Claire." Settling into his chair, Oscar said, "She'll enjoy that." The conversation died. Both of them stared at the lawn with occasional glances at the other. They would have stayed that way all day except Lucy came out into the backyard. Pointing into the house, she asked, "What's wrong with Rock?" "No idea," William said with a laugh. He imagined that Rock was trying to figure out how Oscar could have fought Ling to a tie. She took a look at the two men sitting around the table and said, "William! You're a rotten host. Did you even offer him something to drink?" "Uh, no," William answered shifting in his seat. He had forgotten all about that in his nervousness about meeting with Oscar. He shrugged feeling slightly embarrassed and said, "We were, um, talking." "Would you care for something to drink? We've got iced tea, lemonade, and a variety of soft drinks," Lucy offered looking at Oscar with a smile. "Lemonade would be fine," Oscar answered. Going about the business of being a hostess, Lucy poured Oscar a glass of lemonade from a pitcher that was stored in the mini-fridge of the patio bar. She also got out the large can of pretzels and threw a couple handfuls into a bowl. When she brought the stuff to the table, she said, "Here you go, a little lemonade and some pretzels." "Thanks," Oscar replied. He took a sip of the lemonade and found that whoever had made it had achieved the proper balance between sour and sweet. Nodding, he said, "This is very good." "Thank you." Lucy sat down and watched the pair of men staring at the grass. William lit up another cigarette while Oscar ate a couple pretzels. After about ten minutes, she said, "This is horrible. You too look about as relaxed as a gazelle in the middle of a pride of lions. What's the matter?" Oscar shrugged; a gesture that was repeated by William. Frustrated, Lucy asked, "Can't either of you talk?" "Did you have a chance to meet Georgia?" Oscar asked Lucy. "No. Claire left with her before I got back from school," she answered. William said, "It's a shame, really." "What's a shame?" Lucy asked. "We could have been friends, I think." Lucy looked at William and then realized that he was talking to Oscar. She turned to look at Oscar. He was nodding his head in agreement. Curious, she asked, "Why can't you be friends?" Oscar answered, "Not enough time." "Right," William said. He took another drag off his cigarette and exhaled to the sky. Lucy waited for more of an explanation, but none was forthcoming. Frustrated, she stood up and went back into the house. At the door, she said, "Come in when you feel like talking." Each of the men felt a burning curiosity about the other. Neither one was willing to give voice to it. Oscar asked, "Is this typical weather for this time of year?" "Yes," William said. It was the last thing either of them said until dinner time. Massaging her wrist, Georgia looked at the woman seated across the table from her. Claire pushed a cup of coffee across the table and said, "It'll be better in a little while. I guess you don't have much of a chance to shoot at the school." "Actually, I don't get an opportunity to shoot a real weapon all that often. Usually I'm shooting a paintball gun, but even that has become a rare event," Georgia said. The last time had been on her birthday. "I'm sorry. I had assumed that you were a frequent visitor to the gun range. You did help Oscar train Special Forces in Afghanistan, didn't you?" "Yes, but we used paintball guns. They were mocked up to fire just like the real thing though." "You're a good shot. You averaged over ninety for each ten round target. That's not bad. With some practice you could be competitive," Claire said. She hadn't been surprised on the range, but the news that Georgia didn't practice all that often made her score even more impressive. "I don't understand. You seem so feminine," Georgia said finally giving voice to the thought that had been bothering her ever since meeting Claire. The comment struck Claire as humorous. She had to put her coffee down so that she wouldn't spill while laughing. When she recovered, she asked, "What did you mean by that?" "Well, you have a reputation as being a pretty strong and aggressive woman, but you don't seem to act that way," Georgia said. "You've seen me when I'm relaxed. I can get pretty aggressive when the situation calls for it. Right now, the situation doesn't call for it. We're having coffee in a nice little coffee house. What's there to be aggressive about?" "I don't know. I just don't understand how to balance being strong and being soft," Georgia answered. She picked up her coffee and took a sip of it trying to hide her discomfort. Claire studied the young woman for a minute and then asked, "Suppose you are going to feed a nut to a squirrel. Are you going to get all aggressive and try to force that nut down the squirrel's throat?" "No," Georgia answered while giggling at the idea of intimidating a squirrel into eating a nut. "If you were trying to get your dog to the vet, would you be a little more forceful?" "Yes." "So you know the difference between situations in which you need to be soft and those in which you need to be strong. What's the problem?" Claire asked with a twinkle in her eye. She knew that she had barely scratched the surface of Georgia's issues. "How about in bed?" Georgia asked, blurting out the question. She held her breath wondering how Claire would respond. Surprised at how quickly the conversation had gotten around to intimate matters, Claire asked, "In bed with whom? Each of my husbands and wives are different in bed. I'm different in bed with each of them. It really gets interesting when there are more than two of us in bed." "Well, I tend to be very aggressive in bed," Georgia admitted. Leaning forward, Claire took Georgia's hand in hers. She said, "When I'm in bed with Leroy, you'd swear that two cats are fighting. Each one of us is trying to be on top. I'm not so aggressive with Dan. He's shy and too much aggression will chase him off. I'm very passive with Ed. That man is such a rock that it makes my knees weak. Ling and I are passive with each other. We go at it nice and easy; usually for hours at a time. I'm a different woman with each of my lovers." "Oh," Georgia said. She thought about Debbie and their lack of a sexual relationship. She said, "I don't know if you know this, but Oscar has two girlfriends. Debbie is his other girlfriend. We don't do anything with each other, but we'll both be with Oscar at the same time." Claire sat back and removed her hand from Georgia's. She picked up her coffee and took a sip of it while studying the young woman over the rim of the cup. It seemed to her that keeping a sexual distance between the two women would ultimately lead to trouble. She suspected that it was already creating problems. Shaking her head, she said, "I don't think that is going to work out. I'm sorry, but you don't get in a loving relationship with others without expressing it physically at some time." Georgia leaned forward and said, "I'm afraid that because I'm so aggressive in bed that I might be a Lesbian. If I do anything with Debbie, I'm liable to drop Oscar. I love the little guy too much to hurt him like that." Laughing, Claire rocked back in her seat with her left hand over her heart and made a shooing motion with her right hand. When she finally calmed down, she said, "You are too much. Strength, aggression, passiveness, and softness are all attitudes in how you approach doing things. They aren't the emotions that you have towards other people. Being strong and aggressive doesn't have anything to do with loving. Being strong and aggressive doesn't make you a Lesbian." Despite her initial hurt at Claire's laughter, Georgia did pay attention to what the other woman said. It made sense in a way, but she wasn't sure. Expressing her doubts, she said, "If you say so." "Do you enjoy sex with Oscar? Do you come? Do you look forward to the next time?" "Yes, very much." Claire smiled and said, "That's great. No matter what happens as a result of being with a woman, those feelings aren't going to change. If you're really lucky, you'll have those same feelings for the woman too." "If you say so," Georgia said without much confidence. "I not only say so, I know so," Claire said. "You can love gourmet food and junk food. Loving one doesn't keep you from loving the other." "I guess so," Georgia said. She was going to have to think about it for a while. She still hadn't seen any evidence that Claire was the kind of strong driven woman that she had expected to meet. She drained her coffee and wondered if the Reverend Leroy Jones had selected the right Carter wife for her to meet. Claire smiled and said, "Let's go shopping." The shopping excursion was fun, but they didn't buy anything. Most of the time was spent window shopping. It wasn't until they were leaving the mall that things got interesting. Four black kids were hanging around the exit making extremely rude comments to all of the women going in and out of the mall. When one of the boys saw Claire and Georgia together, he grabbed his crotch and said, "Oh, yeah. I'd love to have a little salt and pepper in my bed tonight. You two up with that?" Georgia saw the look that Claire gave the young man. It was cold enough to freeze water and hard enough to chip ice. The man said, "Hey momma, don't go looking at me like that." A very strong looking Claire stepped up to the young man and, in a voice that suggested great control, said, "I'm not your mother. If I was, I'd slap you up side the head so hard your teeth would rattle. Didn't your mother teach you that you are supposed to treat women with respect?" The young man took a step back and said, "Hey, don't be so bitchy." Taking a step forward, Claire remained in his face. She growled, "Do you want to see bitchy? I'll be more than happy to show you bitchy." "Fuck off, woman," the kid said with an expression on his face like he was dealing with a crazy woman. Hand moving faster than a snake strike, Claire grabbed him by an ear and twisted. The kid bent over to relieve the pressure on his ear. She pulled him down the mall with him protesting the entire trip. Georgia watched as the other three blacks followed along, noting that they kept their distance from Claire. She followed them to see what was going to happen next and to step in if necessary. Claire pulled the kid into a bath and body shop. The shelves were filled with soaps, shampoos, and body washes of all kinds. She marched up to the counter where there were some unwrapped soaps and grabbed one with her free hand. Turning to the boy, she said, "Open your mouth." When he didn't, she twisted his ear. His yell was cut off by the insertion of a bar of soap in his mouth. She released his ear and, shaking her finger in his face, said, "Leave that in there until I tell you to take it out." He started to reach for the bar of soap. The finger she was shaking changed into a fist. She said, "Don't make me tell you twice. Next time, it goes in a different hole!" The kid's eyes opened wide as he considered what she meant. He dropped his hands and stared at her deciding that she was crazy enough to follow through on her threat. Convinced that she had his attention, she said, "When you talk to a lady, you say 'yes ma'am' and 'no ma'am'. Don't forget to use those other words, 'please' and 'thank you.' Ladies appreciate being treated with respect. Nod your head if you understand what I'm saying." Mall security arrived in time to hear Claire read the riot act to the young man. They were wise enough not to interfere. Georgia looked over at them and noticed they were grinning at the spectacle. It was hard not to laugh. The poor kid was standing there, wide eyed, with a bar of soap in his mouth afraid to move. The young man nodded his head. She continued, "You are never to say dirty words to a lady. You don't call them bitches, whores, ho's, cunts, or any other derogatory names. Ladies do not appreciate having to listen to that kind of language. Nod your head if you understand me." After he nodded his head, she said, "You can take the soap out of your mouth." The young man removed the bar of soap from his mouth. For a full ten seconds he worked his tongue trying to get the foul taste out of his mouth. Georgia had to struggle to keep from laughing at the poor kid. Claire said, "I think you are forgetting your manners. You should thank me for the lesson in etiquette." "Thank you, ma'am," he said backing off out of fear of having the bar of soap shoved back in his mouth. "You're welcome, young man," Claire said. She turned to the other three kids and asked, "Would any of you like etiquette lessons?" "No ma'am," they said as one while backing out of the store. The young man backed out just as fast. Within seconds they disappeared into the mall trying to put as much distance between them and Claire. One of the security guards watched the kids take off and knew that there would be no more trouble from them for the rest of the day. Amused by what he had seen, he said, "We had a report of a disturbance." Turning on a brilliant smile, Claire held up her thumb and forefinger with just a little space between them. She said, "It was just a little one; too small to notice, really." "I tend to agree with you, ma'am," the guard said. He nudged his partner and gestured to the door with his head. They both left the two women in the store with the shop keeper. The elderly woman behind the counter was chuckling. She had memories of her brothers standing in front of her mother with bars of soap in their mouths when they talked back. When Claire turned to her, she said, "I really enjoyed that. It's nice to watch young people learn manners." In total agreement, Claire replied, "I dislike how some young people treat women. I doubt he'll be doing that again any time soon." Georgia said, "Wow. That was something else." "There are times to be strong and times to be soft," Claire said with a wink. In normal circumstances she would have just let the insult given to her by the young man pass, but she had an audience of five. "I see what you mean," Georgia answered. Claire asked, "How much for the soap?" "Don't worry about it. You gave me a story to tell around the entire mall. I'll be getting free coffees out of that for a week," the woman answered. "Let's get back to the house. Lucy should be home by now," Claire said. Looking over at Georgia, she said, "We are going to have so much fun this week. You remind me of me when I was younger, except you aren't nearly as angry as I was." "Really," Georgia said wondering what such a confident woman had to be angry about. She said, "I hope we'll be back before Oscar leaves, although I really doubt it. He wasn't looking forward to seeing William again." "Interesting," Claire said, "William was not looking forward to seeing Oscar. It's odd, though." "Why?" "William asks about Oscar every chance he has," Claire said looking over at Georgia with a curious expression. "Oscar does the same," Georgia said looking at Claire with the same expression of curiosity. When they reached the house, they were met by a very puzzled and frustrated Lucy. Shaking her head, she said, "I don't get it. They are just staring at the grass." I'd like to thank Drahkan for editing this story ------- Chapter 23 "It's hard to believe that she's been gone for only a week," Oscar said pushing some kernels of corn around on his plate with his fork. "I know. I really miss her," Debbie said watching Oscar. Convinced that Oscar wasn't telling her the entire story about his visit to William, she asked, "So tell me about William Redman Carter." "He seems nice enough." Frustrated by the lack of information, Debbie said, "You spent six hours alone with him. What did you talk about for that entire time?" "We talked the first ten or fifteen minutes I was there and then we just sort of ignored each other for the rest of the time," Oscar answered without looking at his girlfriend. It sounded stupid when he described the day like that. To keep himself distracted, he lined up a dozen kernels of corn into a row on his plate. "I don't believe it. You've got to be kidding." "Nope," Oscar answered. "You're so curious about him that you ask anyone who talks to him all kinds of questions, but the moment you're alone with him you ignore him," Debbie said incredulous. She couldn't count how many times she had listened to Oscar grill the Reverend Leroy Jones about William. "You sound just like his girlfriend, Lucy," Oscar commented. "What was the conversation like over dinner?" "No one said much of anything," Oscar answered. It seemed like every attempt to start a conversation around the dinner table failed miserably. Frowning as he tried to create a second row of corn, he said, "It was pretty horrible." "Stop playing with your corn! You only play with your food when you're trying to avoid a topic of conversation," Debbie said. "I'm not trying to avoid the topic; the conversation has run its course. There's nothing more I can add to it," Oscar said. He swept the kernels of corn across the plate. He sighed and said, "Georgia will be here in half an hour. You can grill her for a change. She'll tell you the same thing." Georgia arrived right on schedule. She sat down next to Debbie and gave her a big hug while ignoring Oscar. The two women talked for the next five minutes about the great meeting between William and Oscar. He watched them exchange half sentences thinking that if some network specialist ever found how to encrypt so much information into half message packets that all future bandwidth problems would be solved. After she had gotten the full story, Debbie turned to Oscar and asked, "Did you really stare at the grass for five and a half hours without saying a word to him?" "That's what I've been telling you," Oscar growled in frustration. Gesturing towards Oscar with both hands, Georgia said, "That's right, they stared at the grass for five and a half hours without saying a word to each other." Turning to Georgia, Oscar asked, "So what is he like?" Ignoring Oscar's question, Georgia turned to Debbie and asked, "Do you know what the first thing William asked me after Oscar left?" Debbie looked over at Oscar and grinned as he focused on Georgia to hear the answer. Confident that she knew the answer, she said, "So what is he like?" "Exactly! Can you imagine that? I thought Lucy was going to strangle him," Georgia said throwing her hands up in the air. Frowning, Oscar asked, "So what is he like?" Giving him a look that was meant to get him to shut up, Debbie said, "You know that's the only question he's going to be asking you for a week." "I know. William was the same," Georgia said. Shaking her head in obvious confusion by the men's behavior, she said, "The entire week he was asking me about Oscar." "I could have told you that he would do that," Oscar said with a shrug. It seemed to him that each had seen the essence of the other, but didn't trust what they saw. They each wanted to hear the opinions of others to validate what they had seen. Georgia rose and hugged Oscar. She said, "It's good to see you again. I missed you." "I missed you too," Oscar said before turning the hug into a passionate kiss. He was hoping to turn the kiss into a visit to his room. Breathless, Georgia said, "That's enough for now. I need to talk with Debbie alone for a while." Her comment reminded him of the reason why Georgia had gone to visit at William's house. He hoped that she had resolved some of her issues and said, "Go ahead. I'll just sit here and wonder about William." "Do that," Georgia said shaking her head. Oscar watched the pair of them leave. They could have talked in front of him and he wouldn't have understood half of what they said to each other. Looking at the clock, he realized it was too early to head to class and there wasn't enough time to do much of anything else. He looked around trying to decide what to do with a spare half hour. Oliver sat down and looked at Oscar long enough that the younger man became uncomfortable. Finally, Oliver asked, "What is it with you and William?" The source of the question made Oscar reconsider giving the trite answer. Instead, he asked, "Why?" "For some reason, I see a black thread connecting the two of you," he answered giving voice to an observation based upon his gift. He shrugged, "When I see lovers, I see a golden thread running between them. When I see good friends, the thread is silver. Sometimes, I see people who absolutely hate each other and there is a red thread that connects them. This is the first time I've ever seen a black thread." "I don't know how to interpret your threads," Oscar answered feeling just as baffled by the idea of a black thread as it appeared Oliver was. "I'd like to understand your relationship with him." "Same here," Oscar replied very serious. He bit his lower lip and wrinkled his brow in concentration. Finally, he said, "In a very strange way, William and I are competitors. There's only one spot in the universe and we are each competing for it." "What spot is that?" "I don't know. You say that he's a prophet of sorts and he says that I'm to bring peace to the Middle East. You'd think that we each have our place, but somehow we interfere with each other," Oscar said. It was the closest he could put into words what he meant. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "You tell me. In what way does the fate of a fortune teller interfere with the fate of a guy who is going to blow up the Middle East?" "Who said that you are going to blow up the Middle East?" Snorting, Oscar asked, "How else will there ever be peace there?" "Did you read the biography of John Carter?" Oliver asked. "Yes, it was very interesting. It gave me a lot of insights into the Carter Clan," Oscar answered. "What did you think about the sections that I marked?" Shrugging, Oscar said, "It makes me wonder what it would be like to know when you're going to die." Shaking his head, Oliver asked, "What would you do if the Gods and Goddesses were to ask you to die on their behalf?" "I'd do it without hesitation." "Why?" Getting serious, Oscar said, "When I was under attack in Afghanistan, there was no way I could have survived without the intervention of the God. My life since then has been a gift and what a gift it has been. I don't break things anymore. You have no idea how much that means to me. "I've gotten to love two women who are drop dead gorgeous. There isn't a man alive who wouldn't love to have two women who look like them in their life. I can't even begin to tell you how great they make me feel. "I've been allowed to see things that I didn't think possible for me to see. I've seen exotic locations, sunrises and sunsets over the desert, and good people learning how to be better people. I actually got to spend a year looking at fifty naked women almost every day. That is a nerd's ultimate fantasy and, before I began my service, I was the ultimate nerd. "I am well satisfied by what they've done for me. I'll gladly give up my life if they ask it of me. What kind of person would I be if I were to turn my back on them after all they've done?" "Interesting," Oliver said. Sighing, Oscar said, "It will be good to return to my service as a warrior. As much as I enjoy studying religion, I don't think that my studies can lead anywhere. I mean, can you imagine what would happen if I tried to convert the Middle East to Druidism?" "You'd last about fifteen seconds," Oliver replied with a laugh. He knew that would be true. Oscar glanced at the clock and said, "I better get to class. I and all zero of my classmates are studying the Holy Grail." "Ah, King Arthur." "Not entirely. It seems that rumors persist that the Knights Templar had something to do with the Holy Grail," Oscar said with a shrug. Keeping all these different legends distinct seemed to be an impossible task. Frowning, he said, "Everyone who was anyone in Europe over the past two thousand years claimed their power was based on some sort of religious artifact from the times of Christ. At least people won't be digging up the bodies of Druids in the future to steal some body part so that they can claim they own a great relic." "Cremation does tend to make that a little difficult," Oliver said disgusted at the idea of someone praying to his thighbone. Oscar drifted off to class leaving Oliver at the table thinking morbid thoughts. This year was particularly difficult for Oscar. The first year, he had been surrounded by people. The second year, he had Sandy as a roommate and spent a lot of time with her. This year, he was basically alone. Sandy's program had heated up and she was occasionally traveling to attend lectures by modern philosophers. His roommate was majoring in physics and was always off with his classmates working in the lab or studying. He still had two classes with other students, a home economics class and a health class. Neither was the kind of class that their name suggested. Oscar had initially protested taking the classes, but after a week into them he was glad to be taking them. He particularly enjoyed the study groups since it gave him a chance to interact with people again. The health class was not the typical health class. Although first aid was taught, so was the ability to recognize many common ailments. They wouldn't be doctors, but they could diagnose, based on physical symptoms, hundreds of common health problems they would encounter in their lives outside of the campus. The course didn't stop there; it also went on to cover the health care system in horrible detail. The home economics class wasn't about cooking and sewing. It was about the economics of running a household. It wasn't a business class, but covered all of the practical things about businesses that a person living in the United States needed to know. This covered everything from how to arrange bail from a bail bonds business to how to invest money via a brokerage firm. It wasn't a government class, but covered all of the government agencies and their responsibilities. His favorite study group, of all that he had ever been in, was the home economics study group. Every Monday they were given a different case study to work out how to improve the situation of a family or business. They would spend the entire week working out a solution. There was always lively debate about various approaches to the problem. Sitting down, he asked, "What are we working on this week?" "Well, our family is in pretty bad shape financially. We have a husband, a wife, and a kid who is eight years old and in public school. The husband earns twenty six thousand a year as a janitor in a public school and the wife earns an additional eight thousand in a day care center. They are renting an apartment, have a five thousand dollar credit card debt at twenty-four percent interest, and the wife's father just had a stroke," answered Mark handing over a sheet with additional facts about the household. Looking over the sheet, Oscar said, "No savings, lots of bills, and no retirement fund. This is rough." Abby frowned when she looked at the picture of the apartment complex in which the family lived. She glanced over at the fact sheet and said, "It gets worse. They live in a pit in the middle of a high cost of living area. No chance of ever purchasing a house on that kind of income." "They are not going to move because of the wife's father," Mark said. "She's not going to be able to change jobs without having to get child care for after school with the kid," Abby said. "He's not going to be able to make much more than that with his education and job skills. He does have health insurance though," Oscar commented. He was trying to build up a mental image of the family of three struggling to make ends meet under the conditions presented. Odds were good that they didn't manage to live from paycheck to paycheck. There were probably three or four days of the month when they had no money. He watched Mark dig through the box of material that had been given their study group. "Here's a copy of the local paper for each of us. I guess we'll have to look at what opportunities there are to move to a lower cost apartment, improve their income, and perhaps trade-off an asset or two," Mark said as he handed out a section of a newspaper to each person. Oscar read the name of the city off the top of the newspaper. He groaned and said, "San Diego?" "Yes. He's lucky to have the job," Mark said. He knew that the area limited the chances of the husband picking up temporary work that would bring in some extra cash. There were enough undocumented workers competing for the quick cash jobs. Sam, short for Samantha, asked, "Is this one of those exercises in which we can't succeed?" Looking over at the black haired beauty, Mark answered, "We can't fail. According to what the instructor said, these cases are drawn from real people's lives. We have to help them in some way." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "There has to be some way to help them, but I fear that it would require changing the neighborhood they live in, the places that employ them, and the government services available to them." "There aren't any government services available to them. They make too much money," Sam said. "The first thing we have to do is get their credit card debt refinanced. That will free up about sixty dollars a month," Mark said. He knew it wasn't much, but it was the difference between having spaghetti every night and occasionally having a meal with real meat in it. "His car is eighteen years old. Even with fusion power, there are a lot of parts that can break. I bet he's spending another hundred or two a month just keeping it running," Sam said. "Maybe he should give up the car and use public transportation?" "Why have him give up the car?" "It's not just the cost of repairs, but also auto insurance. He could easily free up four hundred a month by giving up the car," Mark said. "I don't know about that. A car in southern California is pretty much a necessity," Sam countered. Oscar thought about the difference between need and want. The car made life a lot simpler, but it wasn't really a necessity. There were options that could help the situation. He said, "Have them give up the car and buy scooters. They would both be able to get to their jobs without much difficulty. It would still allow them to carry things with them so they could still do grocery shopping and other errands. They could use public transportation to go visit the father." Sam leaned forward and said, "They could get rid of that debt with the increased savings. It would take them about eighteen months." "Earlier, don't forget that they'd get something for selling the car. They'd be able to eat better," Oscar said. "If I were them, I wouldn't do it," declared Abby. "Why?" "A car symbolizes a lot of things. Selling the car and buying a scooter is just as good as surrendering," Abby said. Shaking her head, she said, "You are asking them to give up the one thing that probably makes their life easier. They live in a crummy neighborhood paying too much in rent, they work in dead-end jobs, and now you want them to give up the one thing they own? It is not going to happen." "But the money..." "It's not money, it's the lifestyle. If you can fix that, then you can fix the rest," Abby declared interrupting Sam. "What do you mean?" "Look, they can trim back in a dozen little areas. They can eat the cheap noodles twice a week and save seven dollars a week on groceries. They can drop their cable television and save forty dollars a month. They can sit at home on the weekends and do nothing. That could save them another ten bucks a week. We can cut back their costs so that they can save seven hundred dollars a month. "Each of those actions only impoverishes them more in their eyes. That's the real problem. You have to make them feel like they are improving their life today, not eighteen months in the future. For all they know, eighteen months in the future they'll be in debt trying to pay off a funeral for her father. They see themselves living in poverty today and for the rest of their lives," Abby explained. She sat back with her arms folded challenging them to disagree with her. "If they don't get more money soon, they'll be forced to move into a worse neighborhood. That won't be good." Shrugging his shoulders, Oscar said, "The father and son could go fishing on weekends. It doesn't cost that much. They come home with a fish or two and they have saved a bit on the food bill. The wife has a chance to fix things up around the house so their living conditions improve a little." "They could create a babysitting pool with their neighbors so that they can get one or two nights a month away from the house without the kid. It would give them a chance to go for walks along the beach, catch a movie, or even just eat ice cream at a local ice cream shop," Sam added. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Refinancing the credit card debt will give them more than enough money to pay for those things." Listening to the conversation, Mark said, "It seems to me like we have two completely different solutions. One is to fix their underlying problems while making them miserable and the other is to make them feel better about their problems without eliminating the source. There has to be a middle ground." Grinning, Abby said, "You have to let them keep the car." "Okay," Mark said, "Abby, you look at ways to improve their lifestyle. Sam, you look for ways to increase their spending power. Oscar, why don't you check out the government services that are available in the area." Abby asked, "What are you going to do?" "Supervise?" Mark answered. After everyone finished laughing, he answered, "I'm going to check out the business opportunities that are in the area." "Sounds good to me," Oscar said. He would look through the web to identify the city, county, state, and federal programs that might apply to this family. He asked, "Do you want me to check out the non-profits?" "Sure, that would be good." The group broke up to pursue their own individual tasks for the project. Oscar headed off to find Georgia. She'd been back three days and he hadn't been able to talk with her except for a few minutes at a time. He headed towards her office. Halfway down the hall, a figure came out of one of the offices. Frowning, Oscar asked, "William?" The young man turned and looked at Oscar. He smiled at the look of shock and said, "Oscar." "What are you going here?" "I'm here to see you," William answered. Lucy had let him know that if she heard one more question about Oscar that she'd scream. "Why?" "My girlfriend suggested it," William said with a shrug. Glancing down the hall, Oscar said, "I understand." "I thought you would. Oliver just told me that Georgia was begging him to order you to come visit me." Smiling, Oscar shrugged his shoulders and said, "I guess I have been bugging her a bit." "Where would you like to talk?" "I don't care," Oscar said. "How about the first year dining room?" William asked. He figured that there would be lots of quiet times, but they would have something better to look at than the grass in the yard. Oscar followed William to the first year dining room. Their entrance created quite a stir among the students. Ignoring their reactions, William went over to one of the tables and took a seat where he could watch the people in the room. Looking around the room, William said, "When I was a student here, I was a lot younger. The sight of so many naked bodies did nothing for me. The effect is much different today." Oscar sat beside him and looked at the naked students. Settling into his chair, Oscar said, "I imagine that the experience would be much different if you were to be introduced to the first year protocol today." "There's no question about that," William replied. He adjusted his pants so that he was more comfortable. He wondered how Lucy would react in that situation. After a minute of silence, Oscar said, "Oliver told me that you and I are connected by a black thread. He doesn't have any idea what it means." "Interesting," William commented. He looked over at Oscar and thought about the possible connections between them. After a minute, he said, "It seems to me like we are both trying to hold the same spot in the universe when only one of us can hold it." Oscar nodded and said, "I told him we were competitors for the same place in the universe. Of course, I asked him what a fortune teller and the man who is going to blow up the Middle East have in common." The comment made William laugh. He'd never heard himself referred to as a fortune teller. Looking at Oscar, he said, "First a soldier, then a scholar. I wonder what is next for you." "Don't you know?" Oscar asked. "I know that you are going to bring peace to the Middle East. I have no idea how you are going to do it," William said shaking his head. He wished he knew what bound their fates together. Licking his lips nervously, Oscar said, "I hate to say this, but I'm beginning to believe you." "Are you taking home economics now?" "Yes." "That's such a great course," William said. Feeling much more at ease around Oscar than ever before, he asked, "What are you working on?" Oscar, feeling a lot more relaxed, said, "We have a family of three in a horrible economic situation as our case study this week." ------- Chapter 24 Turning at the end of the private road leading from the Druid College, Oscar jogged down the county road trying to burn off some excess energy. While robes were a unique fashion statement that set the Druids apart from everyone else, they were not designed to facilitate jogging while wearing them. He had his robes held up by a belt so that the hem was only to his knees. It looked ridiculous and he knew it, but he didn't really care. A car pulled up beside him honking the horn. He looked over at the driver in time to hear the guy say, "Damn, it's a guy in a dress." Oscar was tempted to counter that it was possible he was the ugliest woman in the world, but the driver punched the accelerator and drove off. The red face on the driver told Oscar how embarrassed he was at the mistake. Looking down at his hairy legs poking out below his raised hem, he wondered what the driver was thinking. He continued jogging until he reached a mile marker. He passed by it knowing that it was half a mile from the entrance to the Druid College. He got into a distance eating pace and turned his thoughts to his life. It had been nearly six months since Georgia had returned from her visit with Claire. Relations between his girlfriends were stronger than ever. They actually touched each other with equal ease during sex, but their touches never turned sexual. That didn't bother him. In fact, he enjoyed that each of them looked to him for their pleasure. The problem was that it was beginning to bother them. He could see that the sexual tension between the two was building. Debbie was getting increasingly more aggressive towards Georgia; while Georgia was becoming increasingly more passive towards Debbie. While the dynamics didn't make sense to him, he knew that one day the tension would become too much and the passion would burst forth. He didn't know if he wanted to be there when it did. He decided that it was time to ask Cole for a favor. His thoughts returned to his past discussions with Oliver and William about bringing peace to the Middle East. He was beginning to believe that William was right, but the how of the matter escaped him. He studied the Christian Religion with renewed intensity, but didn't find anything there that gave him any hints. A horn honking brought him out of his thoughts. Expecting to find another man honking at him, he nearly tripped when he saw that it was Georgia. She leaned out the window and shouted, "Do you want a ride?" "I'll go just a little further and go back to the house," he answered. It was hard to yell and run at the same time. Georgia waved and drove off. He watched her pull off the road a little further down the road and turn around. When she drove past, he waved to her and sped up a little. He returned to his thoughts about bringing peace to the Middle East. When he reached the mile marker (it was the third one he had jogged past), he turned and headed back towards the house. William was getting married to Lucy that week and he was curious how it was going. He had been given an invitation, but William had suggested that things might be better if he stayed home with Debbie and Georgia. The suggestion had come with a wink and nudge. As a nerd, he knew what a wink and nudge meant. He hadn't watched Monty Python without learning something. He didn't know what to make of the suggestion, but he had followed the advice. The relationship between him and William had gotten off to a rocky start, but it was improving. After the one conversation, they never discussed the subjects of world peace, serving the Two- Sided One, and their competition that neither understood. Instead, they discussed politics, war, economics, and religion. Oscar bowed to William's superior knowledge of economics, while William accepted Oscar's superior knowledge of religious matters. On just about every other topic, they argued with great passion and usually for the same side. The women in their lives just stood to the side and watched with amusement. Oscar finally reached the driveway to the Biggers' house and slowed down to a walk. He slowly cooled down; allowing his muscles to recover from their workout. Once he was satisfied that he wouldn't cramp, he entered the house without knocking. To his surprise, Debbie was already there having coffee with Georgia. He said, "Hello, ladies." "It's about time you got here," Georgia said. "We were about to start without you," Debbie added glancing over at Georgia to see how she reacted. Georgia didn't appear to react in any fashion. He took a minute to examine them. Debbie was wearing her blue robe while Georgia was wearing a nice blue dress that came to her knees. They both looked stunning and once again, Oscar couldn't believe how lucky he was to have them both in his life. In a weird mental twist, he was reminded of an earlier incident. He said, "You won't believe what happened to me while I was jogging." "What?" "Some guy honked his horn and pulled up beside me with the intention of picking me up. When he realized I was a guy, he drove off red faced." The two women laughed. Georgia said, "Next time we need a man, we'll just send Oscar out to pick up one." Oscar laughed while pulling off his robe. He wanted to take a shower and get rid of the sweat he had worked up while jogging. He said, "I need to take a shower. I probably smell bad enough to render you both unconscious. I'd much rather achieve the same result in a different way." "Promises, promises." On that note, Oscar headed off to the shower. On the way, he tossed his robe into the laundry room. While washing his hair, he realized that it had been a while since he had a hair cut. The length of it came to below his collar. It was a far change from the military haircut he had when he had first arrived at the Druid College. He wondered if he should get it cut short again, but decided to keep it long. Getting out of the shower, he paused to look in the mirror and examine himself. What he saw surprised him. He was still extremely fit, but it seemed as if the time in comfort had softened his features a little. The tautness of skin that came from living in a dry hot climate was gone. He wondered how he would adjust if he were to return to Afghanistan. He stepped out of the bathroom and entered the bedroom. The two women were waiting for him in bed. Strong Georgia looked at him with desire while gentle Debbie looked at him with longing. It was a subtle difference between the two looks, but Oscar had come to recognize the difference. He said, "You two are so beautiful." The women looked at each other. To his surprise, it was Georgia who looked at Debbie with longing and Debbie who looked at Georgia with desire. The change in roles was almost instantaneous and he had nearly missed it. When they looked back at him, it was with the same expressions as earlier. Not knowing what to make of it, he slid into bed between the two of them. Georgia pounced on him with a feline growl while he reached over and stroked Debbie; evoking a soft purr of pleasure from her. Their session began as many others with Georgia mounting his face while Debbie mounted his cock. He looked up and could see that Debbie was supporting herself by holding onto Georgia's hips. It didn't take long for both women to climax. Oscar came as well. When Georgia climbed off Oscar, Debbie looked at the other woman and said, "I can't take it any more." Oscar stared at her uncomprehending. Georgia just looked up at Debbie from the bed. When Oscar glanced at Georgia, he wanted to jump on her because she looked so inviting. Debbie beat him to it. With far more force than he had ever seen the red head use during sex, she climbed over to the other woman and kissed her on the lips. Georgia opened up and accepted the woman into her arms. Oscar watched as Debbie took an aggressive role with Georgia. She attacked the other woman's mouth, breasts, and cunt with single-minded desire. Months of frustration boiled forth and Debbie took her pleasure from the other woman. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Even more surprising than Debbie's behavior was Georgia's. She was accepting everything the other woman was doing with a passivity that he'd never seen in her before. Her hands lightly stroked the other woman urging her on without demand. Her legs parted to provide access to her lower treasure. She whimpered as she came. To say that the action was exciting would be an understatement. Oscar was so hard that his erection hurt. When Debbie finally came from riding Georgia's face, Oscar couldn't hold back any more. He climbed on Georgia only to find himself on his back with Georgia mounting him with twice the energy normal for her. Mounted on his cock, she rode him while twisting her nipples in a manner that looked painful. Georgia rode him hard. She bit his nipples. She shoved her tongue in his mouth. If this had been the first time with her, he would have been terrified. Her aggression bordered on rape, but it's impossible to rape the willing. When she came, her entire body locked up and a strained cry came from her lips. Debbie had watched the action wondering how it was that she had been so aggressive with Georgia. She couldn't believe her own behavior and recognized that same greedy nature in Georgia's treatment of Oscar. Watching the couple turned her on more than she could put in words. Exhausted, Georgia climbed off a shell-shocked Oscar. The little guy was red faced, covered in sweat, and breathing hard. Debbie moved in and gently kissed him. Her soft giving hands roamed his body healing the places where Georgia's aggressiveness had rubbed him raw. She cleaned his cock with her mouth, enjoying the mixture of flavors. He never knew how it happened, but Oscar became aware that he was atop Debbie making long slow passionate love to her. He had no idea how long they spent, but by the time he came he was exhausted. He climbed off and fell asleep unaware that an emotional tornado had been unleashed in the room. Recovering, Debbie looked at Georgia and burst into tears. Between sobs, she managed to say, "I'm so sorry." Georgia, still recovering from fingering herself to a dozen orgasms while watching Debbie and Oscar, didn't respond. Little shudders were coursing their way across her body capturing her entire attention. Debbie took the silence as a rebuff and broke down crying even harder. By the time Georgia finally became aware of her surroundings, she noticed the emotional distress of the other woman. Moving around the bed so that she was seated next to Debbie, she put her hands on Debbie's shoulders and asked, "What's the matter?" "I'm so sorry. You must be furious with me," Debbie sobbed. She was embarrassed and angry at her behavior. Even worse, she was terrified that her actions had destroyed their future together. Georgia had never hinted that she would accept her attentions, but she had gone ahead and done what she had wanted with the other woman. "I needed it more than you," Georgia admitted. Over the months her desire for the red head had grown into a real need. She ran her hands over the other woman's back. She couldn't understand the emotions she was feeling. She wrapped her hands and rocked the woman in an attempt to calm her. She whispered in her ear, "Hush. Don't cry." "I didn't ask," Debbie sobbed. "I wanted you to do it," Georgia replied; her soft voice coming from near Debbie's ear. Her breasts were pressed against the other woman's back. Surprised, Debbie said, "You never told me." "I couldn't tell you. Every time the subject came up, I got all mushy inside. I feel so, 'girly.' Strange, isn't it?" In a deep blissful sleep, Oscar was unaware of another round of love making taking place beside him. By the time he woke, the two women were sound asleep. He climbed out of the bed and wandered off to take care of other biological needs. Pausing at the kitchen door, Oscar looked in to see if Georgia had left the coffee pot ready for him. It wasn't. He went to the refrigerator and dug out a diet soft drink. He wondered why she would drink a diet drink considering the energy she expended exercising and decided he would never understand the female mind. He glanced at the clock and realized that he had class in an hour. If he was going to make it to the evening class, he was going to have to get ready. He made his way back to the bedroom and looked at the pair of women on the bed. Debbie was curled around Georgia; her hand slowly moving over the breast of the woman she was cuddling. The sight was the most touching thing he had ever seen. He decided that he would miss the evening class. Anyone who didn't understand wouldn't be worth knowing. Walking out to the living room, he turned on the television and changed to the news channel. There was a story about William's wedding. The story reminded him of what William had said. Thinking back to the sight in the bedroom, he realized that William did understand and that made him worth knowing. Smiling, he raised his can to the television set in a private toast to William's future happiness. The rest of the news was depressing. Most suicide bombers had taken the lives of thirty people in Israel and a hundred more in Iraq. Tensions were mounting. He was surprised to see the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum being interviewed about events. The reporter asked, "You are always talking of peace, but the actions of the past few weeks suggest that peace is more of a dream than ever before. What do you think?" The elderly man looked directly at the camera and said, "Peace is coming. A man shall walk the desert and his word shall change the world." The reporter stared at the holy man in shock. This was the first time that he had ever said anything of that nature. He asked, "Are you saying the Jewish Messiah is coming?" "No. Only that a man shall come and the world will change," the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum answered cryptically. Oscar stared at the television wondering what the Rabbi was doing. The reporter tried to get additional information from the Rabbi, but the man turned his back and left. It took the news channels twenty minutes to pick up the story and it was soon being broadcast on all of the channels. Within an hour, a reporter had tracked down the Reverend Leroy Jones. Sticking a microphone in his face, the reporter asked, "The Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum has predicted that a man will walk the desert and his word will change the world." The elderly black man smiled and looked at the reporter. In a soft voice, he said, "The Rabbi spoke the truth. A man will walk the desert and his word will change the world. Peace will come to places that have not seen peace." "Could you give me more details?" "No." An interview with Farzin bin Saud immediately followed that one. Oscar watched, seeing his next instructor for the first time. This interview was translated, but followed the same pattern as the previous two interviews. There was a minor variation with this interview. When the reporter challenged the Muslim Holy Man, he responded by saying, "Peace will come. If necessary it will be preceded by death on a scale that men shall never forget. It is my hope that such is not Allah's will." The announcements had stunned Oscar. He couldn't believe that the Rabbi Isreal Teitelbaum and the Reverend Leroy Jones had made such a prediction in a public forum. He knew that once made, it could never be unmade. Both men believed that he was the one who would bring peace to the Middle East. He wondered how long it would be before the press tracked him down. Since it was a slow news day, the three interviews appeared repeatedly on all of the news channels. There was a stifled giggle from behind him and Georgia said, "By the Gods and Goddesses, Armageddon does mean Oscar is in the kitchen." Dryly, Oscar said, "I came to that conclusion an hour ago when I went in the kitchen to make some coffee." There was a squeak and two women flew to the kitchen to see the damages for themselves. Oscar chuckled as they ran knowing they would find nothing wrong. A few minutes later Debbie came back and stood in front of Oscar with her arms crossed. Frowning, she said, "That wasn't funny." Oscar was about to answer that he thought it was very funny when Georgia dumped a pot of cold water over his head. The two women twittered. Georgia said, "Now that's funny." Laughing, Oscar said, "I give up." Once again, the news channel carried the interviews with the three religious leaders. Debbie and Georgia sat down to watch the program. They were fascinated by the cryptic comments the men made and the obvious frustration on the part of the reporters to get more information. When a commercial came on, Debbie asked, "They are talking about you, aren't they?" Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Yes, I do believe they are." "What's going to happen now?" Not understanding the question, Oscar asked, "What do you mean?" Georgia answered, "The press is going to be following them around until they learn the identity of the mystery person. I'd be surprised if they can come here to teach you." Frowning, Oscar considered what Georgia suggested. He had considered them tracking him down at some point in time, but he hadn't considered that they would follow the Reverend Leroy Jones back to the school. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "You might be right. I don't know what is going to happen now." Later that evening, the three of them were watching television when a very unusual series of speculations were aired on the news. Oscar watched and burst out laughing when he heard the announcer speculate that the mystery person was William Redman Carter. Looking over at Georgia, he said, "They think it is William Redman Carter. I wonder what he's thinking right now." "I'm sure that he's thinking that he can't wait to get on his honeymoon," she answered. Debbie asked, "Where are they going for their honeymoon?" "Oklahoma." Both women looked shocked at his answer. Finally, Georgia blurted out, "Who goes to Oklahoma for their honeymoon?" "What's wrong with Oklahoma? They even made a musical about it." "You're putting us on," Debbie said. "Not at all. They really did make a musical about Oklahoma." "That's not what I meant and you know it. What are they going to do in Oklahoma?" "They are going camping," Oscar answered. Seeing that they weren't buying that as a reasonable explanation, he asked, "Where would you go if you wanted a little privacy? Paris? London? Bahamas?" "I don't get it. Who's going to recognize them?" Georgia asked. "After this speculation? Every reporter worth his paycheck is going to be looking for them," Oscar answered. "Yeah, but that would require him to know that this news was going to be aired at this particular time," Debbie countered. "We are talking about William Redman Carter. He is a fortune teller," Oscar commented. This event, more than any other, convinced him that William could see the future. Curious, Debbie asked, "So where will we go on our honeymoon?" Smiling at her, he answered, "I was thinking we'd go to Iowa. I hear that there are all kinds of things to see and do there." "Iowa? Do you want to die?" Debbie screamed. She had visions of spending her honeymoon in the middle of a corn field. Oscar burst out laughing and answered, "I take it you have a better suggestion." "How about Hawaii, New York, California, or Niagara Falls? Anywhere would be better than Iowa," Debbie said. Nodding as if in agreement, Oscar said, "Okay, it's settled then. We'll go to Omaha." "That's Nebraska," Georgia corrected absently. She wondered how they had ended up talking about marriage. Oscar was taking the subject matter much better than she had expected. The next morning, Oscar stepped into the administration building to head towards his first class of the day. Dr. Ron Marcus, the green robed druid who had taught his literature class during his first year, intercepted him. Ron was running the Druid College while the Grand Druid was participating in William's wedding. This was one of the few visits off campus that the Grand Druid had taken since Oscar had begun his studies. Ron said, "I need to talk to you for a little bit. Would you come to Oliver's office?" "Sure," Oscar said. He followed the Druid to the office of the Grand Druid. Despite the time spent on campus, this was his first time in the office. He stepped in and took a few moments to examine his surroundings. The wood furniture immediately grabbed his attention. It was very high quality furniture and looked like it would last for hundreds of years. He ran a finger over the conference table and said, "This is beautiful." "It is, isn't it?" Ron said. His eyes took in the rich tones of the wood and the simple lines of the furniture. Taking a seat without being invited to do so, Oscar asked, "So you wanted to talk to me?" "Yes. I'm sure that you are aware of what was on the news last night." "I heard that William Redman Carter is going to bring peace to the Middle East," Oscar replied with a grin. "It's not funny. Your education is taking a major change because of this story. Reverend Leroy Jones has forwarded your lessons to you since he can't come back here to teach you without some excuse. Your lessons should be in your e-mail already. You're to work on them alone. He'll swing by in a month to talk to you on the pretext that he's coming to visit Beth Carter." "That's not good. How am I supposed to teach myself that material?" "Oh, it gets worse." Oscar couldn't imagine how it could get any worse. Afraid to learn the answer, he asked, "What else?" "You'll meet Farzin bin Saud in a hotel in Cleveland where he is giving a speech to a Muslim group there. You and he are going to be meeting monthly according to his speaking schedule. You're to keep your identity a secret," Ron said. Looking over at Oscar, he said, "That means no red robe. You're to wear blue jeans or other age appropriate garb whenever you travel away from here. You're going to have to grow a beard." "You're kidding." "Not at all. If a connection is discovered between you and Farzin bin Saud, then the odds are good that he will be killed," Ron said in a very serious voice. It was the truth and Oscar knew it. Religion was a very serious matter and many took it to a point where beliefs were a matter of life and death. He looked down at the floor and asked, "Why did they announce it now?" "You're studying the Bible. Why was it necessary for John the Baptist to announce that Jesus was coming?" "To prepare the people for his message," Oscar answered knowing that it was a good analogy, but not a proper one. He wasn't Jesus; he was Oscar Meyers. He wasn't the son of God, but the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Meyers. ------- Chapter 25 Beth Carter, carrying a stack of papers, walked through the halls of the college in which she had spent a considerable percentage of her childhood. Every hall, every room, and every piece of decor brought back memories. The majority of memories were good, but there were also memories associated with the loss of her father. She was headed towards the first year dining room smiling at the thought of her destination. Her grandfather, the Reverend Leroy Jones, always insisted on meeting people in the first year dining room. She didn't quite buy his assertion that the atmosphere was about as close to the Garden of Eden as existed on earth. It was true that the sense of sin associated with nudity was eliminated very quickly among the students. It was also true that he enjoyed looking at the young women. She entered the dining room and immediately spotted a lone red robed Druid seated at one of the corner tables. She walked over to his table and took a seat next to him while placing the stack of papers on the chair next to her. Once she was settled, she took a moment to examine him. He had a short beard that was in serious need of a trim. Without turning to face her, he watched her out of the corner of his eye without saying a word. Finally, she said, "So you are the person that my little brother is talking about all the time." "You must not be talking about me," Oscar said with a wry grin. He was quiet for a moment as a puzzled look crossed her face and then said, "If I recall correctly, he doesn't talk about me so much as he asks about me." "True," Beth admitted with a laugh. Everyone in the family was fully aware of William's fascination with Oscar Meyers. She was sure that part of it was due to the future he saw for Oscar, but that wasn't the entire story. "So tell me about him." Beth laughed and said, "I was warned you were going to do that." "Oh? Who warned you?" "Lucy, grandpa, Ling, Kelly, Ed, Eddie, William..." Oscar laughed and turned to address her directly. He said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Beth Carter." "It's nice to finally meet you, Oscar Meyers. It is very seldom that I get to meet people who are destined to bring peace to the Middle East," Beth said with a smile. She wondered what made her brother think this little man could do what no one else had been able to accomplish. She added, "In fact, I would have to say this is a first for me." A very serious expression crossed Oscar's face. He looked at Beth for a moment and then said, "Don't discount your grandfather's efforts." "I'm sorry. You're right. In my defense, I tend to think of him as grandpa and not as the Reverend Leroy Jones," Beth said. She recalled that William said that her grandfather wouldn't survive the ordeal ahead. The thought saddened her and she hoped in this one case that William was wrong. "That's all right. I tend to think of him in a grandfatherly way. He's a nice man," Oscar said. He picked up his cup of coffee and swirled the cup around while watching the liquid inside. The sloshing surface reflected the lights from above in fascinating patterns. Looking up, he said, "Most of the really good people I've met are family, classmates, or Druids. I didn't know many people until I began my service. Since then, I've seen a lot of very bad people. I've met some very good people. Your grandfather is one of the very best of the men who I've had the privilege of meeting." "I have to agree with you," Beth said. "From the way he talks about John Carter, I would have loved to have met your father. You and your whole family paid a horrible price for his greatness," Oscar said. "It was a high price," Beth said wondering what he was trying to tell her. Looking over at her, he said, "I imagine if I'm successful in bringing peace to the Middle East, a lot of people will be comparing me to him. I'd appreciate it if you would let your family know that I do not believe that anything I have done is comparable to what he did. He was a good man before he ever began his service. I wasn't." "You weren't?" Beth asked looking at him in surprise. "I was a klutz." "That doesn't mean that you weren't a good man before you began your service." "I never had a chance to be a good person. I was too busy breaking things to ever solve anyone else's problems," Oscar answered with a laugh. His voice took on a much more serious tone when he said, "I actually hurt a lot of people by accident. It wasn't that my intentions were bad. Intentions had nothing to do with it." Beth studied Oscar for a minute trying to figure out where he was headed with the conversation. She said, "So you are telling me that you are not John Carter." "Right. If William is correct..." "He's always right," Beth interrupted with a knowing nod. "I will bring peace to the Middle East. Once I do, people will compare me to John Carter. I just want you to know that I know I am not John Carter," Oscar said. Confused by his insistence that he wasn't John Carter, Beth asked, "Why are you telling me this?" "Great magic requires a great price," Oscar said. A light went off in her head and she asked, "And you expect to have to pay that price?" "I will pay the price," Oscar answered. The conversation quickly came to an end when the Reverend Leroy Jones walked over to the table. His pace was slow and he relied on the cane more than usual. With a groan, he sat down at the table. Hugging Beth to his side, he said, "Hello, my little Beth. How's my favorite architect doing?" "I'm the only architect you know," Beth said with a grin. Batting her eyelashes at him, she said, "Now if you were to call me your favorite granddaughter, that would be something." The old man laughed and winked at Oscar. He said, "Oscar, I've got two granddaughters and they've been trying to get me to tell them which one of them is my favorite ever since they could talk. Let me tell you a little secret. Beth is my favorite oldest granddaughter and Betsy is my favorite youngest granddaughter. Don't tell them that, though. I'd hate for them to think I had favorites." Laughing at the open secret, Beth said, "You're my favorite grandfather." "You are good for an old man's heart," he said. Glancing over at Oscar, he asked, "Tell me, did he ask you about William?" "It was basically the first thing out of his mouth," she answered discounting the brief introduction. "I tell you, that Hermaphrodite God and Goddess of yours is a funny little thing with a strange sense of humor. I know the only reason that William and Oscar are going to serve it is to give everyone splitting headaches with their questions about each other," the elderly man said with a wink at Beth while shaking a finger at Oscar. Nodding his head, he said, "We're all going to end up with two brains. That's what a splitting headache does to you." Putting both hands over his mouth as though he had accidentally spilled a secret, Oscar said, "Our plot has been exposed. So tell me about William." The Reverend Leroy Jones laughed. He rested his hands on the head of his cane and said, "I've never seen two people so curious about each other." Wanting to change the subject, Beth said, "So what kept you? I expected you a half an hour ago." "The vultures kept me. I'm not even dead yet and they're picking at my bones," answered the man with more than a little irritation in his voice. The horde of reporters had followed him from the airport to the Druid College. They had tried to keep him from entering with their questions. He leaned over and said, "I really appreciate you coming here like this, Beth. We have to keep Oscar a secret." "I'll take every chance I can get to see you, Grandpa." "You're a dear girl." "Thanks, Grandpa." Looking over at Oscar, he said, "I hate to say this, but that is one ugly beard you've been growing. That's going to take some time to get used to." "It finally quit itching," Oscar said rubbing his cheek with two fingers. He asked, "So why did you three announce to the world that someone was going to bring peace to the Middle East?" "We're unstirring the pot." "What does that mean?" Oscar asked, "Unstirring isn't even a word." "The bad guys are trying to stir up trouble. We're trying to undo what they are doing." "How does the announcement fit into that plan?" "We are trying to separate the bad guys from the good guys. It is our hope that the good guys will look forward to peace and try to help it come about. Maybe, just maybe, they'll help us get rid of the ones who don't want peace," the elderly man said. "Is it working?" "A little. We have a few more religious leaders talking to us. It is clear that the world is becoming increasingly more polarized over the chance of peace," he said. It wasn't the number of people who wanted peace that was the problem. The problem was that the minority of people who were against it were violently against it. A handful of them were able to intimidate thousands of people. Shaking his head, he added, "It's hard to believe that there are people who prefer war to peace." Looking back on her history of war class, Beth said, "It's not surprising to me. For a lot of people, war is a way of life. Without war, their lives have no meaning." Looking over at Oscar, the Reverend Leroy Jones said, "Perhaps the warrior might want to comment on what makes a man hate other men enough to live in a perpetual state of war?" Surprised by the suggestion, Oscar was silent while he considered his thoughts on the matter. He said, "I never hated my enemy. I was disgusted by their warped world view, but I never hated them. I never planned an operation in which I knew non-combatants would be involved. I can not say that about those I faced in battle." "Are they motivated by hatred or reason?" "Many are, but some aren't." "So is it a lifestyle?" "For some, it is a lifestyle. I'm sure they would fight without regard to what reason was being given," Oscar finally said. "How about you?" the Reverend asked. "I didn't particularly enjoy fighting. I've been happy not having to fight, but I miss serving the Gods and Goddesses in an active manner," Oscar answered. Looking at the religious leader, he added, "I never found my life defined by battle. My life has been defined by my service." "And how do you think the apostles defined their lives?" Beth winked at Oscar and, rising from her seat, said, "I believe that class has begun. I'll talk to you later." "Don't forget that we have to give a show for the press," the elderly man said. When he was ready to leave, Beth would escort him out for a very public farewell. That should help convince the press that she was the reason he had stopped by the Druid College. He was sure that he would have to make a public statement of some sort, but he would worry about that later. "I haven't forgotten. I have nefarious plans to use it as an opportunity to get you to say who your favorite granddaughter is," Beth said in a teasing voice. "Get along, you little scamp." Four hours later, Oscar had covered the lives of the apostles in terms of what the New Testament said about them and what legend said happened after the events of the Bible. The legends, coupled with the historical record, said a lot about the apostles. He was about to comment that his impression of them had not changed when he was handed a stack of loose papers. It took him a moment to realize that Beth must have brought them to the table since he had not seen the pile of papers until that moment. Looking at the stack, he asked, "What's this?" "That, young man, is the Apocrypha. These are the early writing of the Christians that did not make it into the Bible. There were thirteen apostles and the Bible contains only the records of four of them. The Apocrypha are attributed to the rest of the apostles and other close followers of Jesus." Oscar stared at the stack of papers. The title, Gospel of Mary, on the topmost papers suggested that he was in for some interesting reading. Recalling an earlier analogy of collecting biographies of John Carter in a single book, he said, "Let me guess; the followers of those four apostles were the ones who selected what was included in the New Testament." "There are some who would accept that as an explanation for the way the books of the Bible were chosen," he answered. He added, "I must warn you that some of them are incomplete. There were concerted attempts to destroy all copies of these Gospels. In some cases, all that remain are fragments of very old copies." "I wonder what Ed Biggers would make of the attempt to bury opinions that run counter to popular opinion," Oscar said. "He would say that the truth is a harsh mistress. I think he understands better than most why a man would destroy that which runs counter to his world view." Smiling at the elderly man, Oscar said, "I made a little observation that I thought I would pass by you." "What?" "In the Old Testament, all of those who spoke for God had their authority established by describing their bloodline. The bloodlines of John the Baptist and Jesus are established in the New Testament, but not the bloodlines of the Apostles." The Reverend Leroy Jones slowly rose from his chair. Once he had stood, he touched the wooden cross that hung from his neck. Seeing that he had Oscar's attention, he said, "That's an interesting observation and one that goes far to support your idea that they were a bunch of squabbling fools. I could suggest that it says something significant about the differences between those who serve the Father and those who serve the Father through the Son." "I apologize," Oscar said realizing the elderly man would not have been able to trace his bloodline back to ancient times. "No need, my young friend. It is an observation that I have never made. None the less, I do find comfort in it," the Reverend Leroy Jones said. Jesus, through the Apostles, had opened the door of service to those who didn't have the proper bloodlines. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "I will read this with an open mind." "You will be meeting Farzin bin Saud in two weeks. Give him my regards. I will see you when I see you." "Okay," Oscar said. He watched the elderly man hobble out of the dining room wondering how much longer he would live. He looked down at the stack of papers thinking about what they represented. Were they the stories of cranks and crackpots? Were they stories of the quiet followers? There was a huge mountain of research ahead of him. Oliver sat down across from Oscar. In a quiet voice, he said, "He's getting old." "Yes, he is." "He's in pretty good shape for a man approaching ninety." "Imagine the changes he's seen in his life," Oscar said thinking about all of the events of the past ninety years. "Ever talk to him about that?" "No. He's pretty single-minded when it comes to teaching me," Oscar said. Oliver smiled and said, "You can be pretty singled-minded yourself. Perhaps if you quit bugging him about William, you would have a chance to talk about other matters." "Point taken," Oscar said. "Farzin bin Saud will be waiting for you in two weeks," Oliver said. "It is hard to believe that another year has almost passed," Oscar said. He touched his chest where the Medallion should have been hanging and sighed. Three years without the Medallion. He hadn't even worn the Medallion for that long and he missed it. "You miss it," Oliver said upon noticing the gesture. "Yes, I miss it." Oscar ran a hand through his beard. Amused, Oliver watched Oscar play with his beard and said, "That sure is one ugly beard you've grown." "Remind me some time to comment upon one of your particularly unpleasant features," Oscar said with a grin. He gestured for Dana, one of the waitresses who had worked the first year dining room since the day the college had opened its doors. She stopped at the table and smiled at him. Like most of the people who worked in the first year dining room, she was wearing nothing more than an apron. In a cheerful voice, she asked, "What can I get you, Oscar?" "A chocolate milkshake, Dana." "I'll be right back with it," Dana said before turning away to prepare his milkshake. Oscar turned to Oliver and said, "Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that the people who work with the first years have chosen to work nude?" "Not since I first came here," Oliver said. That kind of dedication by the staff had puzzled him initially. "Consider that most of them are in their forties and fifties, yet they are willing to walk around without clothes when surrounded by naked people in their early twenties. It is an amazing testament to their self confidence," Oscar said. Raising an eyebrow, Oliver said, "Did you know that the staff fight for positions in the first year dining room?' "I was not aware of that," Oscar answered. He wondered why that was the case. When the waitress returned with the chocolate shake, Oscar asked, "Do you like working here?" "Yes, it is a very good job. The pay is good, the hours are good, and the students are friendly," she answered. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable working with the sixth year students?" Looking down at her body, she smiled at the sight. Her breasts hung down and she had stretch marks. It was not the body of a twenty year old woman, but she had come to accept it. She said, "I'd have to give up walking around half naked all day. What would be the fun in that?" "None, I guess," Oscar answered. Oliver said, "Oscar is puzzled why people want to work in the first year dining room." "Ah. There are lots of reasons. Oliver brings all of the nice visitors in here and you never know who you're going to meet. I've met some very interesting people working here. That's one reason, but another one is that we get to know the students while they are experiencing a lot of growth. Some of you guys are going to be famous. When I see you on the television, I'll be able to think back to when you were walking around with everything hanging out. It's a nice reminder that even the famous are people too," Dana said. "Really?" "Yes. It's funny because while only a few of the students become Druids, almost all of them become important. Working here, you get to a point where you can spot the difference between graduates from here and other places. There is always a thoughtful introspective tone of our people even when they are announcing something significant. You don't hear them boasting or acting overly important," she said. Oscar thought it was interesting that she thought of them as 'our people' and not as the students. It suggested a sense of belonging that was unusual. Instead of commenting on his observation, he said, "I never noticed that." "Sometimes when I'm watching television and there's some smarmy guy talking like he's the most important person in the world, I just wonder how he would act in here with his private parts hanging out there for everyone to see. I'm sure that they'd be a lot less boastful. At least, that's what I think," she said. "You take a lot of pride in our people," Oliver said. She smiled and said, "I like to think that I'm part of the reason why these kids are modest even when they become famous in the future. That's why I like working the first year dining room." "We are lucky to have you." Dana frowned for a moment and then looked at Oscar. She said, "I like to think that even though this old body isn't fresh and young like theirs, the fact that I'm naked comforts them a little. Did it help you at all?" "It helped tremendously," Oscar answered looking her in the eye. With a smile, he said, "I remember the first few days here. All of us were very embarrassed and uncomfortable. I'd have to say that having you and others of the staff walking around as if nothing was unusual allowed many of us to accept the situation." She laughed and said, "I remember when you came here. You ran out of here with a napkin over your face screaming. You were the first one to have sex in here. I don't think you needed much help coming to grips with the situation." "It was all an act. I was so nervous," Oscar said shrugging his shoulders. He remembered walking around with an erection most of the day. Laughing at him, she said, "You're a good actor. Did you ever consider a career in movies?" ------- Chapter 26 Carrying a rather large piece of luggage, Oscar strolled down the hallway as if he owned the hotel. The hallway was basically bare; painted in a dull white. Every thirty feet, the walls were broken by pairs of doors that faced an identical pair of doors on the other side of the hallway. The floor was covered with a commercial carpet intended to be unnoticed while hiding stains and dampening noise. After walking more than half the length of the hallway, Oscar arrived at his room. He checked the number against that written in the paper folder that held the plastic key. He set down his luggage and removed the plastic key from the paper folder. Bending over to examine the mechanism, he slipped the plastic card into the slot across the top of the lock. The red light changed green and he opened the door. Holding the door open with one foot, he picked up his luggage. The door of the room across the hallway rattled, but he ignored it. He suspected that it was security for the man in the room next to his. He entered the room and let the door slam closed behind him. He dropped the luggage in front of the door. He went over to the door to the connecting room and opened it. He was surprised to find that the door on the other side was already open. He called out, "Hello the room." "Come in Oscar." "Reverend Jones! What are you doing here?" "This is my room," the elderly man answered with a smile. "I thought I was supposed to meet with Mullah Farzin bin Saud," Oscar said confused by the man's answer. "He'll be along any time now. People are used to Farzin, Israel, and me visiting each other at these religious conferences. Israel will be along a little later." "So I get to talk to all three of you at once," Oscar said. He had been expecting cloak and dagger, but this was rather surprising. "That's right," the elderly man said. He laughed at the expression on Oscar's face. The young man looked like he had just bitten into a lemon. He picked up a packet and said, "Here are your credentials for the conference." Oscar took the packet and opened it. After reading the affiliation on his name badge, he asked, "First Temple of John?" "Hey, it was the only thing I could think of. It's a name that suggests lots of things, but says nothing." "Oh," Oscar said. He went through the packet and noticed that there was a registration for the First Temple of John with him listed as Voice of John. Waving the paper, he asked, "What's this?" "I had to register you as a religious leader of a church in case you were ever caught talking to one of us. If anyone even suspects who you are, I guarantee you that you will be killed," the Reverend said. Oscar studied the Reverend Jones with the eyes of a warrior. He could see that the elderly man had the same acceptance of the dangers associated with his calling as any warrior. This was a life or death game they were playing. The seriousness of the situation reminded him of the rattle he had heard across the hall when entering his room. He asked, "Who's across the hall?" "They're my bodyguards. I have three of them in the three rooms across the hall. They were not happy about the fact that my room had a door they couldn't guard." "I can imagine." "Speaking of imagination, what did you think of the Apocrypha?" "Well, the short answer is that I found them interesting. I fear that the long answer will take more time than we have," Oscar answered. He had read them keeping in mind the analogy of different people's stories of John Carter. Shaking his head, he said, "I can see why some would not want to include those books in the Bible." "Why?" "There are different reasons for each book," Oscar answered. The Gospel of Mary would naturally be suppressed by individuals afraid of giving power to women. He added, "Of course, the Gnostic books really undermine the idea of a centralized authority." The two men talked about the various books left out of the Bible for a half an hour. They went over each of the books and tried to identify why it would be left out of the Bible. The Gospel of Judas raised interesting questions about which one of the Apostles was the true traitor. If Judas was fulfilling a mission given him by Jesus, then one of the other Apostles betrayed Jesus in some other fashion. In that case, the New Testament didn't identify the form of betrayal. Their discussion ended when there was a knock on the door. In order to keep the relationship between the men a secret, Oscar went into his room and the Reverend closed the door connecting the rooms. It was two minutes before the door opened and Oscar found himself facing Mullah Farzin bin Saud. The two men examined each other for a minute. Farzin took in the suit, the beard, and the long hair of Oscar. It was a very different presentation of the man he had seen on television more than a year ago. If he hadn't known who he was meeting, he would not have recognized him. Farzin said, "So you are the Desert Ghost." "I am," Oscar replied. He examined the Mullah taking in the black robe, the black turban, and the white beard. He was dressed in a subdued manner that clearly identified him as a conservative Mullah. "I had expected someone a little taller," the older man said with a hint of amusement in his voice. He had heard the stories from Iran and Afghanistan about the Desert Ghost. The stories told of a man who could appear from nowhere and fight like a hundred men before vanishing without a trace. They talked about him as though he were the perfect warrior. At the same time, he was described as a Magi. The Desert Ghost was feared and respected across the whole Islamic world. Oscar laughed at the reference to his diminutive stature and said, "I hear that quite often." Nodding his head, the Mullah handed Oscar a small Koran. Oscar looked at it and saw that it was in Arabic. Noticing the raised eyebrow, Farzin said, "I understand that you can read Arabic." "Yes," Oscar said wondering what his previous instructors had told the man. "That is good. I know that I don't have to tell you to treat the book with respect," Farzin said. "Of course, I'll treat it with respect. It contains the words of one of the Powers that Be," Oscar said. He ran a hand over the cover enjoying the sensation of the rough texture beneath his fingertips. Satisfied with the answer, Farzin turned away and walked over to a chair. Sitting down, he gestured to another chair and said, "Have a seat. I had always expected that when I reached my current age that I would live in a nice home surrounded by my children and grandchildren. I would eat dates and sweet meats. I would drink coffee. I would study the Koran all day. Instead, I travel all over the world arguing for peace. I am too old to pass up a chance to have a seat." Smiling at the reference to age, Oscar went over to the offered chair. He commented, "When we are young, we look forward to chances to stand and move. When we are old, we look forward to sitting and resting. I guess that middle age is when we want to sit down when we are standing and want to stand when we are sitting." Reverend Leroy Jones said, "Or that we are satisfied when standing or sitting." "Or when we are not satisfied with either," Farzin commented with a wink. While sitting down, Oscar noticed a small stone on a gold chain that hung around the old man's neck. He could feel the power coming from the stone. Curious of its origins, he asked, "Is that from the rock?" "Yes. It is a symbol of my service to Allah," the old man answered even as his hand went up to rest on it. In his travels, it was the only thing that gave him the strength to continue. The old man shifted and said, "These hotels do not understand the meaning of the word comfort." "You always say that," the Reverend Leroy Jones replied with a smile. Farzin preferred to sit upon pillows placed on the floor feeling that sitting in a chair was much too formal. He gestured to a carafe of hot tea and asked, "May I interest you in some tea?" "Yes," answered Farzin. He sighed and said, "The West doesn't understand a good cup of coffee." At the look of inquiry from the older man, Oscar said, "Tea would be fine." After serving tea, the Reverend asked, "So how are the talks going?" "My words are falling on deaf ears. Too many Holy Men believe that the United States is the Great Satan under the control of Israel. They see this as a land of sin where women are not protected and God has no influence. Even to suggest that the Americans follow a different God with different rules is blasphemy since there is only one true God, Allah. They truly believe that America must be converted to Islam. It doesn't matter to them if infidels die in the process. That is Allah's will and not theirs." "Then they are not holy men," Oscar said. Farzin smiled at the answer and said, "They have the right bloodlines and have studied the Koran for their entire lives. They are highly educated men and their words reflect the teachings of Muhammad, the last true prophet of Allah. To suggest that they aren't holy would get you killed in less polite company." "Point taken," Oscar said. The reference to bloodlines made him glance in the direction of the Reverend. He wondered what bloodline had to do with anything. He looked at the Koran in his hand and said, "I have much to learn about Islam." "Yes, you do," the older man agreed. He felt that the West dismissed the teachings of the Koran as immaterial to life. He sighed and said, "There are conferences like this one, four times a year. We will meet at them and discuss what you have learned. A student of mine will go visit your Druid College to help you in your studies. Listen to what he says, but do not challenge him. He is young and there is much that he has not learned." "Okay," Oscar replied doubtfully. He glanced over the Reverend Leroy Jones to see what his reaction to the suggested course of instruction was. "Do not look so disappointed. That is the way our students are taught. I teach the advanced students and they, in turn, teach the less advanced students. Less advanced students who are particularly good will meet with me on occasion." Oscar frowned and thought about the Druid College. The attitude there was to have the best teachers early in the process. That allowed the students to get a firm foundation upon which they could build. He said, "It seems to me that you would want the best person possible to teach first principles since everything you learn follows from them." "One starts with broad generalities and then you refine the ideas. The broad generalities can be taught by any reasonably advanced student. It is when you start refining the ideas that great skill is required to guide the inquiring mind," the Mullah answered. "Two such different world views on how to teach the young," Reverend Leroy Jones remarked. He gestured to Oscar and said, "I think you'll find Oscar to be a very adept student. I'm sure that he'll outpace your young man fairly quickly." "I don't think so." The idea that a beginning student would be able to challenge an advanced student ran counter to his experience. "Don't forget that Oscar is learning this as part of his service to the Gods and Goddesses of the Druids." The comment did cause the Mullah to think about it. He smiled and said, "Read the Koran for the rest of this afternoon. We shall discuss what you've read when I have finished this afternoon's sessions." Oscar spent the afternoon reading the Koran. It was a book of 114 chapters that was normally divided into thirty parts. He was able to get through the first fifty chapters in the course of his single reading. Admittedly, it was a superficial reading. He knew that he would end up reading the document many times before he would truly understand it sufficiently to argue the essence of the book. The first thing that he noticed on reading it was that the Koran was organized in a very different manner than the Torah and the New Testament. There was no attempt to present information in a chronological order. The goal was to present as much of the message up front as possible. Chapters were organized primarily on length. The second thing that he noticed was an emphasis on duality, usually presented as a conflict between two opposing principles. There was a real attempt to segregate those who followed the words of the prophets without argument from those who challenged the words. Those in the second group were presented as the enemy of those in the first group. Things were cast into allowed and forbidden. Intolerance of the forbidden was central throughout the Koran since acceptance of the forbidden undermined true belief. Oscar thought about it while waiting for the Mullah Farzin bin Saud. He wondered if the intolerance of those who failed to accept Islam or the words of the Prophet would interfere with his education. He smiled at the thought of how the stone carried by the older man would react. Mullah Farzin bin Saud entered the room to find Oscar seated by his little hotel table reading the Koran. He asked, "So how much of it have you read?" "The first fifty chapters," Oscar answered. Rather than attempt to finish it, he had been reading the first part over again. He had decided that it was better to have a deeper understanding of a little bit of the Koran rather than a shallow overview of the entire book. "So what is your impression of Islam?" "I don't have one," Oscar replied looking up at the gentleman. He replied, "I wasn't studying Islam, I was studying the Koran." "It is the same thing," Farzin said studying Oscar with a wrinkled brow. "It is not," Oscar said. Holding up the Koran, he said, "This is the basis for Islam, but Islam is more than what is contained in this one book. Islam is a world view that is shaped by what is written here." Surprised, Farzin realized that this student was making distinctions that none of his previous students had considered after their first reading of the Koran. Sitting down, he asked, "What is your first impression of the Koran?" "The first thing I noticed was the arrangement of the books within it. From what I've read, the arrangement presented here focuses on the message of Mohammad rather than the mission of Mohammad. I think it would be a very different book if read in the chronological order in which the chapters were generated," Oscar answered. He gestured to the place where he was reading it for the second time and added, "Of course, I'll know that better once I've finished reading it all of the way through." "You got all of that out of reading the first fifty chapters?" "Yes." "Do you have any other observations?" "Time is treated in a very different manner than how I am used to dealing with it in other texts. Events that were well in the past were presented with the same immediacy as events that were current when the book was written. From how earlier events are presented, it is at times hard to say that they were earlier events." "You got that from the first fifty chapters?" "Yes," Oscar answered. "So outside of the order of the chapters and the treatment of time, did you have any other observations?" "Duality seems to be a common theme throughout the book," Oscar answered. He flipped through the pages and said, "Night versus day, good versus evil, obedient versus rebellious, and believer versus non-believer are all examples of duality that I noticed in the second chapter. There is an attempt to define each side of the duality so that a person knows if they are compliant with the good." "You got all of that out of your reading this afternoon?" "Yes," Oscar answered. Shaking his head, he said, "It would not translate well into English." "Yes, that is a problem," Farzin agreed. "It is the nature of some men to give greater weight to some parts of a message over others," Oscar said. "That may be true, but all parts of the message have the same value. That is why we must study the Koran to be good Muslims." "Yet I can not help but feel that the majority of those who profess to be Muslims do not understand the underlying message of the Koran. They follow the proscriptions blindly rather than the reasoning behind them," Oscar said drawing upon his experiences with the terrorists. "You criticize the Koran?" "No. I criticize some of those who claim to follow the Koran. You forget that I have experience with some of the more radical members of Islam," Oscar answered. "I had not forgotten that," the old man countered sharply. He studied Oscar and realized that his protégé was going to have a very difficult time working with Oscar. The Reverend had been quite correct that Oscar would be a challenging student. For the next two hours, Mullah Farzin bin Saud and Oscar discussed the second chapter of the Koran. They didn't cover much of the chapter. For both men, it was a very different kind of learning experience. For Farzin, it was a great departure from how he usually taught the Koran to new students. Students didn't normally approach the book considering the political, historical, linguistic, philosophical, and social perspectives simultaneously. Farzin found he faced a tremendous intellectual challenge from the very first sentence of the second chapter of the Koran. It started with the words, "This is the Book which contains no doubts." Oscar had observed that there could be no scholarly debate over any element of the Koran since there was no room for ambiguity. A very surprised Farzin found that he was defending his role within the Islamic world. After their discussion, Mullah Farzin bin Saud, Reverend Leroy Jones, and Rabbi Israel Teitelbaum sat around the room talking. Oscar listened to the men discuss the trials and tribulations of attempting to bring peace to a world that didn't want it. After listening to the hardships of living out of a suitcase, Oscar asked, "What bothers you the most?" "The lack of understanding that men have towards men who are different," the Reverend Leroy Jones answered. It was not just a lack of understanding of the religious differences, but included racial, national, and societal differences. "The inability of men to forgive," Rabbi Israel Teitelbaum answered as the other two men nodded their heads in agreement. The eye for an eye mentality was destroying all chance for peace. "Men deciding what is Allah's will based on their own agenda," Mullah Farzin bin Saud answered while shaking his head with sadness. The other two men nodded their heads in agreement. "It sounds to me that you are bothered by the world view that is centered on the self that most individuals have," Oscar commented. "I didn't say anything about selfishness," Rabbi Israel Teitelbaum said. "Sure. The inability of men to forgive is that they fail to take into account the motivations of others. Without understanding what motivated someone to trespass, it is difficult to forgive them. The problem is that you can't understand the motivations of another without putting yourself in their place," Oscar said. "You're a fine one to talk about forgiveness," Mullah Farzin bin Saud said. He looked over at Oscar and said, "You pressed the terrorists pretty hard and without much mercy." "My actions weren't performed out of malice," Oscar said. "What do you mean? You were killing men left and right." "I was protecting others from their violence," Oscar answered wondering if the Mullah would understand the difference. "Those you killed would say that they were protecting others from the aggression of the Americans." Oscar sat back in his chair and was quiet for a minute as he considered his answer. Finally, he said, "There was a rather large fellow in my high school. Lots of smaller people used to think he was big, slow, and stupid. They used to tease him, bait him, and attack him physically. The name calling was particularly bad. A lot of my classmates thought it was fun to mock him. It was very ugly. "The guy would slowly get mad until one day he would lose his temper and hit back. Now, he was very big and when he hit back, the person he hit was totaled. It was never a real contest. As soon as he did react, my classmates would point at him and call him a bully. They would be outraged that he would dare hit someone else even though they might have hit him. Big, slow, and stupid men are supposed to accept the abuse that is sent in their direction. "He was basically a nice guy. He'd try to break up fights. Of course, when he did that both sides usually ended up blaming him for any injuries they suffered. He was almost always the one who walked away with the black eye. When he didn't break up fights, everyone criticized him for doing nothing. "He also tried to help people who were engaging in self-destructive activities. He was always the one who took away the car keys when someone had too much to drink at a party. He would use his size to intimidate them into handing the keys over to him. One day, one of my classmates nearly killed himself in an accident and tried to blame the big fellow. He had taken away the car keys to keep the guy from driving, but the guy had a spare key hidden in the car. Everyone said that he should have known about the spare key. I always wondered how it could have been his fault that he didn't know about the spare key." "So what did you do about it?" "I was never really involved in the situations involving this fellow. I was too much of a klutz to call anyone names. However, I did watch as things evolved. The person that he hit usually didn't deserve the full violence of his reaction, but they did deserve getting put in their place. Others were just as deserving of getting put in their place. As far as I could tell, the poor guy couldn't do anything right." "Your point?" Waving a hand in the air, Oscar answered, "Well, I think that the United States is viewed a lot like the fellow with whom I went to school. The rest of the world views it as big, slow, and stupid. Everyone feels free to attack the country. Then they are surprised and outraged when it reacts to some provocation. In a way, there is nothing that the United States can do that the world will accept." "There are many who would say that the United States deserves all the criticism it receives. Some of the most vocal are Americans." "That's what a lot of the people at my school thought about the big fellow. I think the big fellow blamed himself for the malicious behavior of others, too," Oscar said. The last time he had seen the guy he was busy beating up himself for the last confrontation in which he'd been involved. It had been rather painful to see the big guy reduced to tears because he'd broken the nose of a guy who had kicked him in the ass for no real reason other than the idea that it would be fun. "So what happened to him?" "I don't know." ------- Chapter 27 Fareed Khomeni's face turned red and he glared at Oscar angrily. Fareed was a student of Mullah Farzin bin Saud and had been assigned to teach the basics of Islam to Oscar. Oscar had expected someone his own age, but Fareed was nearly sixty years of age. It turned out that Fareed was being groomed to take over the position held by Mullah Farzin bin Saud. "You are impossible," Fareed declared. He glared at Oscar and added, "You have no respect for the word of God!" Oscar watched Fareed Khomeni storm out of the room in anger and shook his head in dismay. He had not expected the man to react so strongly to his question. He had pointed out what appeared to be a contradiction in the Koran and asked for an explanation. Each time Oscar asked for clarification about some concept that he didn't understand, Fareed seemed to get a little angrier. Alone in the room, Oscar wondered what he was supposed to be doing. It was late in the morning and he still had more than half a day of class time remaining. He yawned and settled back in his chair choosing to wait for Fareed to return. It would only anger the man more if he had to search out Oscar to resume the class once he had calmed down. After Oscar had waited for thirty minutes, Oliver entered the room and took a seat across from the red robed Druid. He sighed and said, "Congratulations." "For what?" Oscar asked puzzled by the Oliver's comment. "Fareed Khomeni left." "What do you mean, he left?" Oscar asked. He knew that Fareed had been upset, but not upset enough to quit. "Apparently, your questions have touched upon issues of great debate among Islamic scholars. Students are not supposed to ask such questions and demand answers from their instructors until much later in their studies." "How much later?" "More than two weeks after beginning their studies," Oliver answered with a smile. "Oh, I didn't realize that my questions were that contentious." "You are supposed to be a new student. He isn't convinced that you understand the broad elements of the Koran. Your questions verge on being disrespectful," Oliver said with a twinkle in his eye. "I don't think that was why he was so upset, though." "No?" Oscar asked. "Imagine giving a first grader a Dick and Jane story to read and then coming to class the next day to find the student wanting to discuss the sonnets of Shakespeare. You wouldn't be prepared to say much about the material. I'm sure that you would feel a little embarrassed by detailed questions about individual sonnets," Oliver said. "I guess," Oscar said shrugging his shoulders. He hadn't thought his questions were that probing. "There is nothing like being caught flat-footed by an over-talented student who is nearly your equal in a subject," Oliver said. "Ah, I hadn't considered that possibility," Oscar said frowning. "There was a reason why I asked Mullah Farzin bin Saud to provide the training. The Mullah is active in debating exactly the issues associated with your questions," Oliver said. He sighed and said, "I was rather surprised when Fareed showed up. I could understand the rationale concerning the difficulties involved with Mullah Farzin bin Saud staying here while keeping your identity secret, but I felt there would be problems." "I guess there were problems," Oscar commented in a deadpan voice. Oliver laughed and shook his head. He rose from his chair and said, "I better get to my office. I'm sure that Mullah Farzin bin Saud will be calling soon." Holding up a hand to request that Oliver stay a moment, Oscar said, "I've got a feeling that this year is not going to be a very good year for my education." "Actually, I think you are going to learn a lot more this year than in the past." "What do you mean?" "You are going to be learning the politics of religion. I can't think of a religion more suited for teaching politics than Islam," Oliver answered. Nodding his head, Oscar had to agree. There were restrictions on following the orders of non-Muslims and a general attitude that was required of believers towards non-believers. There was a general acceptance that whatever happened was Allah's will; even if it was directed by a human agency. There was a significant intolerance of criticism by non-believers while criticism of non- believers was practically required. Oscar said, "You are correct about it being the perfect religion for teaching politics, but I'm not sure that will help me become an Islamic Scholar." "Are you sure that the goal of your education is to become a religious scholar?" Oliver asked with a grin. Surprised at the suggestion, Oscar asked, "Isn't it?" "Perhaps it is to understand the various motives that direct the actions of those who cling most violently to their religion," Oliver answered. He leaned against the frame of the door and watched Oscar's reaction. Oscar ran a finger along the top of the table while thinking about what Oliver had said. It was a revelation and he wondered why he hadn't thought of it previously. Looking back up at Oliver he said, "I guess that makes sense if I'm to bring peace to the Middle East." "I better get back to my office." "What should I do?" "Why don't you take the afternoon off?" The town center was quiet. A few cars were parked in front of the small shops that lined the center square. It was the middle of the day in the middle of the week. Many of the locals commuted to the larger nearby town to work. Those who stayed in town were busy doing their daily activities. For the most part, those activities occurred indoors. Kids were in school, housewives were working around the house, and businessmen were hard at work in their places of business. The only people out and about were the elderly who gathered in public places to visit during the quiet afternoon hours. There was a park in the center square. Trees gave shade to benches along paths that crisscrossed the park. Groups of elderly men and women were seated on the benches in pockets defined by friendships that had lasted a lifetime. Conversations ranged the full spectrum of topics. The topics included family, health, deaths, births, religion, and politics that spanned local, state, national, and international levels. Oscar took a seat on a bench across from three older men. One of the men remarked, "You're one of the funny fellows from that college." With a wry grin, Oscar said, "I guess you could say that. There are some who would suggest that, despite my best efforts, I'm not very funny." One of the men chuckled and said, "You're right. You're not very funny." "There sure are a lot of you fellers around now-a-days," said one of the men. He shook his head and said, "I'm not sure that I like you running this country." "We don't run this country," Oscar said looking puzzled. "Every time I see some new government program started up there's one of you fellows standing there next to the politician," the man replied. He scratched the side of his nose and said, "Not sure I like that at all." The other two men seated on the bench all nodded their heads in agreement. One of them said, "You're right Edgar. I know lots of folks that feel the same way as you." "Does your doctor run your life?" Oscar asked after thinking about the comment for a minute. "Sure seems like it. He's got me on pills, a special diet, and wants me to exercise," the old man answered. Of course, the exercise program recommended by the doctor didn't seem like the kind of exercise he knew when he was a kid. Jumping up and down in the swimming pool was far different then the pushups and Jumping Jacks of his youth. "Do you follow his advice?" "Yes, I do. All of us go down to the YMCA and take part in the senior exercise program they have going down there." "Why do you do what he suggests?" "I feel better. Hell, if it weren't for the operation on my hip, I wouldn't be able to walk around at all," Edgar answered. "So you use his services because you like the results," Oscar said. "Right." "That's what we do. We provide a similar service to people. We try to improve the quality of life for humanity," Oscar said. One of the other men looked at Oscar as if he were speaking Greek. Shaking his head, he said, "You're from the enforcement branch of the Druids. You kill people who don't do what you say." Oscar had never heard the red robed Druids called the enforcement arm of the organization. With a puzzled expression on his face, he looked at the man wondering where he could have gotten that idea. After an uneasy silence, Oscar asked, "Enforcement arm?" "Yes," the old man answered getting worried that he had said something that would get him killed. "Now you did it George," Edgar said elbowing his buddy in the ribs. Oscar realized that having so many red robed Druids involved in law enforcement that it was a reasonable characterization of their role by people who didn't know better. The idea of letting Oliver know that some people had taken to calling the servants of the God the Enforcement Arm of the Druids came to mind. Filing the thought away, Oscar said, "I never thought of myself in that fashion." "What?" "I've always seen myself as a defender of the weak. We aren't enforcers for the strong," Oscar answered. "There's a difference?" "Sure. Suppose there was a gang of drug dealers moving into your neighborhood. It would be my duty to stop them from dealing drugs to the kids in the neighborhood," Oscar said. "You'd be enforcing the law," George said. "No, I'd be protecting all those kids who would become victims of the drugs," Oscar said. "Same thing, as far as I can tell. That's why they have the laws." "I don't enforce laws. I act even if there isn't a law in place to protect victims. I don't enforce laws if all that would do is victimize someone," Oscar answered. "You don't enforce some laws?" "Well, we go after drug dealers, criminal organizations, white slavers, and other groups that are out to harm others. We don't go after drug users, prostitutes, homeless, or others who are victims of their circumstances. We try to help them by providing treatments, safe houses, shelters, and assistance," Oscar answered. "You don't go after whores?" "No." "Why not?" "That's rather difficult to explain, but I'll try. We operate under two rules. If it harms none, then do it. Protect the weak from the strong." "I've heard that before," Edgar interrupted. He felt that was a way to justify what ever the Druids wanted to do. He grumped, "That's just a way to explain doing whatever you want while sounding all noble." Ignoring the comment, Oscar said, "Most prostitutes who enter the business do so willingly and fully aware of what they are doing. Sure, maybe there's a pimp who talks them into doing it at first, but all they are doing is talking. Often the women do it as a way to make a living because they do not see any other choice. "For a lot of prostitutes, it is a job that brings in money that is no different than being a secretary. As far as we are concerned, they are not harming anyone. They accept the consequences of their actions and the clients accept the consequences of their actions. No force is being used by anyone, no harm is being done, and no weak person is being used by a stronger person. It is a financial transaction in which services are exchanged for money. "Most of the women entering the business do so to escape situations that are much worse than being a prostitute. Those who enter in violation to their own moral beliefs are harming themselves. Rather than punish them, we try to help them get out of the business and the situation that forced them into the business. There is no enforcement or force used. We set up programs that provide safe houses, counseling, and training for other jobs. "Occasionally, there is a person who forces others into prostitution. We step in to prevent those kinds of situations from continuing. We are protecting the weak from the strong. Enforcement suggests that one is trying to maintain the status quo of the strong against the weak. We try to protect both prostitute and client. We try to prevent people from taking advantage of others," Oscar answered. "You wear a red robe. What have you done to protect the weak from the strong?" "I've fought terrorists who would blow up innocents as a means of furthering their political agenda," Oscar answered. "You kill any of them?" "Yes, I've killed many of them," Oscar answered although he didn't like to think of how many men died at his hands. Edgar frowned and said, "That doesn't work. You can't defeat terrorism by killing terrorists. All that does is to create more terrorists." Oscar looked at Edgar for a minute as he considered that assertion. Finally he answered, "That's true. You don't stop terrorism by killing terrorists. Ending terrorism requires a lot of different activities to operate at the same time. You have to change the political environment which spawned the terrorists. You have to change the economics of terrorism to make less violent mechanisms of protest viable. Even while doing those other things, you have to prevent terrorist acts to enable the political changes to occur. That will often include killing terrorists. "Of course, there are many who fight against changing the system. Some of them become terrorists and the pace of terrorist activities increases. That gives the appearance that your attempts to solve the problem are not working. That is a short-term perspective. They are reacting because your actions are being successful." Incredulous, George said, "You're trying to convince me that working to decrease terrorism actually increases it. There has to be a better approach." "If there is one, then no one has found it. You have to understand how and why terrorism arises." "How does it arise?" "Terrorism arises in areas where there is political repression by a powerful government. It is an inexpensive and easy to use political weapon that a weak political entity can use against a stronger one. Terrorists do not want to eliminate corruption or political repression but to replace the individuals in charge to impose their own version of corruption or ideology. When they are successful, their assumption of power does not eliminate terrorism but spawns new groups of terrorists," Oscar said. "You could try talking to the terrorists and finding out what they want." "Who could talk to them?" "The government," answered George. "Ah, the government," Oscar said nodding his head. "I assume you mean our government. The problem is that governments deal with other governments and not individuals. There is not a mechanism in place for Joe Public to go to the government of another country to try and effect changes within his own country." "So why are these terrorists attacking the United States?" Oscar sighed as he thought of the complexities of international politics. Many parts of the world did not distinguish between big business and government. When an American oil company purchased oil and the government that controlled the production and sale of that oil used the money to repress its citizens, people assumed that it was the US government at fault. In most parts of the world, government and international business are one and the same. When the government put trade sanctions on repressive regimes, then they blamed the US government for the resulting worsened economic conditions. Everyone thought the government was attempting to manipulate oil for the sake of American Big Business, but didn't realize that allowing or preventing the sale of oil was the only economic lever it had for use in trying to moderate repressive regimes. If all that the government wanted was oil, it wouldn't put economic sanctions on countries selling oil. It would invade and take over the oil fields. The problem was that the country needed oil so the government couldn't put sanctions on every oil producing country that repressed its citizens. This made the policy look arbitrary. Oscar answered, "The terrorists believe that the United States is supporting the governments that are repressing them. They blame the United States for their problems." "Aren't we?" Edgar asked as if it was a given that it was what the country was doing. "It has happened that we've helped one group replace another group for reasons of our own national security. That was particularly true during the Cold War. Unfortunately, we usually discovered that the new group was just as repressive as the old one was. Even when we take the people's position and help overthrow a repressive government, the result is not what anyone has wanted. The problem is that as a country, we are supposed to deal with the governments of other countries and not individuals within those countries," Oscar answered. Shaking his head, Oscar said, "The government has tried economic support of good regimes. The government has tried economic sanctions to undermine bad regimes. None of those approaches work." "So what is the answer?" "Druids." "Druids?" "We are individuals who can deal with individuals. We are strong and can resist the efforts of the strong to repress us. We offer the knowledge to create change without violence, but we are willing to use the force necessary to protect the weak from the strong. We have the knowledge and power to convince governments to create international policies that serve to protect the weak. We do not care about the form of government, but only that the government serves to protect its people rather than exploit them." "So you meddle in the affairs of countries," George said. "We let certain people who can use what we know act to effect changes for the better. Sometimes governments fall, sometimes they change, and sometimes nothing happens so that we have to try again," Oscar said. "So you are just a bunch of meddlers," George said. Shrugging his shoulders, Oscar decided that was just as good of a way to describe what they did as any. He said, "I guess so." Edgar asked, "Are you working for the Government?" Nodding his head, Oscar answered, "I'm employed by the government, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I put the government's interests first. I serve the Gods and Goddesses. In doing so, I serve humanity. When the choice is between serving the government or humanity, I will always choose humanity." Edgar bristled at the idea of going against the government and asked, "Well, are you an American?" "I am." "If you were, you'd support the government." Oscar was silent for a moment and then asked, "Are you an American?" "Damn straight. I even served this country by joining the Army when I was younger." "Are you a Christian?" "I go to church every Sunday," Edgar answered. For some folks going to church didn't mean much. He had faced death and felt the hand of God protect him. His visits to church meant a lot to him. "If the government asked you to burn down your church, would you burn it down?" Oscar asked. "No!" "So you would stop being an American?" "No," Edgar answered. His certainty had been undermined a little by the question. He frowned and said, "I don't know." "You would remain an American and protest any request that violates your covenant with your God," Oscar said. "Right." "Same here." ------- Chapter 28 Feeling like the whole world was his oyster, Oscar walked across the road towards the school. He felt great. After spending a nice quiet night with Georgia, he had a very pleasurable morning romp with her. It was a rare occasion when he had a chance to spend the night with Georgia alone. He spent many more nights alone with Debbie than with Georgia. He didn't begrudge a single night alone with Debbie, but it was great to spend the night with Georgia. It was a glorious day and that just added to his pleasure. The sky was brilliant blue and the grass was green giving a feast to his eyes. The wind blowing through the trees was music to his ears. His instructor had run away and he didn't have any classes. He didn't think it could get any better. Taking his time, he sauntered beside the road. Occasionally, he would stop to pick up a pebble and toss it down the road trying to skip it on the hard surface. He found one small flat stone that bounced a dozen times before skittering along the asphalt. Raising a first to the sky, he laughed and shouted, "He scores a dozen hops!" Cupping his hands over his mouth, he made a slight roaring sound as if a crowd was applauding his effort. Removing his hands, he said, "The crowd goes wild." Laughing at his behavior, he resumed walking along the road. He might have felt embarrassed if anyone had been around to observe his behavior, but he doubted it. Sometimes it was just right to act like a kid again. After all, he was only twenty-four. Too many of the past years had been spent acting much older than his age. Upon reaching the road to the college, his vision blurred. He blinked his eyes wondering what the matter with them was. Suddenly, he was seeing double. He froze as a wave of dizziness washed over him and bent over so that his hands were resting on his knees. He took a deep breath in the hope that his vision would clear up, but it only got worse. It seemed to him as if he were seeing two images of the world. Stomach feeling queasy, he took another deep breath to calm his stomach. His balance started to leave him and he knelt on the ground to keep from falling on his face. After thirty seconds on his knees he had to lean forward to support himself with his hands. It didn't help. His stomach reacted to the twinned vision. Queasiness transitioned to a full boil. He lost his breakfast barely able to keep from drowning in his own vomit. Every movement seemed to aggravate his condition. Confused, he closed his eyes hoping that it would block out the twinned vision. The sounds of birds chirping echoed in his ears. He opened his eyes to find that he was still seeing double. Curling into a fetal position, he closed his eyes. A whimper escaped from his lips. Time passed, but he was unable to judge the passage of time. A large black bear nudged Oscar and then roared. Sid, hearing the roar, came rushing out of the woods and raced over to where his bear, Fluffy the third, was standing over the body roaring. Kneeling beside Oscar, Sid said, "I'm going to have to get him to the school. Go to the front door and get some attention." Picking up Oscar, Sid cradled him in his arms rather than adopt a fireman carry. At least the young man was small; much larger and Sid knew that he would have a difficult time carrying him to the front door of the school. He followed behind the figure of the bear running to the door of the school. Reaching the front door, Fluffy turned sidewise and threw himself into the door. The glass shattered and fell to the ground. The bear walked through the door and roared. The sound of glass breaking and the roar attracted plenty of attention. Unable to help himself, Sid smiled and, between deep breaths, said, "There's nothing subtle about that bear." A crowd of people rushed to find out what happened. The handful of students who had been in the administration building froze on seeing the bear standing among the shattered glass while roaring. The Druids, familiar with Fluffy, rushed past him fearing that something was the matter with Sid. The sight of Sid staggering up to the building carrying Oscar was a relief tinged with fear. Most of them immediately assumed that Oscar had been hit by a car while crossing the road. Bill Turner, a very large man, was among the first to reach Sid. He took control of Oscar; lifting him with great ease out of the smaller man's arms. Carrying him like a baby, he rushed towards the college. Word had reached Laura in the infirmary that a student had been injured and she was rushing around to prepare for a patient. Bill Turner arrived at the infirmary and, breathing normally, asked, "Where should I put him?" "On the examination table," Laura answered patting the table beside her. It was only after Bill had put Oscar on the table that she could see who it was. Concerned, she asked, "What happened?" Breathless, Sid arrived in time to hear the question and answered, "I don't know. I found him by the road curled into a fetal position. It was obvious he had thrown up." It was easy to see that he was breathing normally. The red robe made it difficult, but she could see that he wasn't bleeding. His skin was pale and he was sweating. She lifted his lids and checked his eyes. They were dilated, but turned to pinpoints almost before she shined a light at them. She removed the light and his eyes were dilated again. The reaction time seemed very fast, but both eyes seemed to be tracking together and reacting properly to the light. She eliminated a head injury after feeling around the back of his head. Whipping out a pair of scissors, Laura cut off his robe so that she could examine his body for broken bones and bruising. Running her hands over his body, he groaned and opened his eyes. Twin visions of Laura moving started to make him to his stomach. Feeling as if he were about to throw up again, he said, "I feel sick." "Were you hit by a car?" "No. I feel sick," Oscar answered with another groan. He closed his eyes to block out the double vision. Her voice grated with an unnatural echo. It was very difficult to understand a single word that she said. All that he could really make out clearly were the words, 'were' and 'car.' He put his hands over his stomach and curled into a tight ball. Watching the unusual reaction, Laura said, "Tell me what happened." "Just started seeing double," Oscar answered. His voice was slurred and he had started to answer even before she finished talking. Confused by the symptoms, she went to check his eyes again wondering if she had missed anything. After a shudder went through his body, he suddenly shook his head and then cautiously opened his eyes. His vision was normal once again. He swallowed heavily and then took a deep breath. Uncurling, he sighed in relief. His skin returned to its normal healthy hue. Looking over at Laura, he said, "It just cleared up." "What happened?" Oscar described what had happened to him while walking by the road. Laura listened carefully, but couldn't identify what could have caused his symptoms. It sounded like a stroke, but that wouldn't have cleared up almost instantaneously. Just in case, she would send him to the hospital for a cat scan. If there was something unusual they would be able to spot it there. She frowned when another possibility came to mind. Shaking her head, she went over to the cabinet. Once there, she pulled out a vial to take a blood sample. Returning to him, she said, "I want to take some blood." "Why?" "It's possible that you were drugged." "Drugged?" Oscar asked while she prepared his arm to take a blood sample. "Yes," she answered. It was possible that he was attacked and was unaware of it. This wouldn't be the first time that someone employed a contact drug to get a Druid into a position where they would be an easy target. "No. I don't use drugs," Oscar said. "Of course, you know that." She inserted the needle and glanced up at his face. He had his eyes squeezed shut and was facing away. Looking back down at the vial, she asked, "What's the matter? You don't like having blood drawn?" "I hate getting shots," he answered. "The tough guy is really a baby. I've even heard that you are the most dangerous man in the world," Laura said in a teasing voice. "Really? I didn't know that," Oscar said wondering who was saying that he was the most dangerous man in the world. "I'm going to send you to the hospital for a CAT scan," she said while removing the needle from his arm. There was a remote possibility that he had a tumor although an ear infection would have been a more likely option. Of course, the fact that he was a Druid made both possibilities equally remote. "I thought you said that I was drugged," Oscar said. "I'm not sure what it was. I don't want to take any chances," Laura replied. All further discussion was cut off with the arrival of Georgia and Debbie. Georgia had heard a rumor that he had been struck by a car while crossing the road. She felt guilty for having him spend the night and, by extension, putting him in the position where he would have to cross the road. It didn't matter that she had to do that every morning. Rushing over to him, Georgia asked, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, now." The red head was particularly upset and nearly pulled Oscar off the table in an attempt to hug him. Laura had to hold the red head back before she hurt Oscar by dragging him off the table. Laura said, "Calm down. He appears to be okay." Debbie slipped out of Laura's hands and hugged Oscar. Tears running down her cheeks, she said, "Don't you dare scare us like that again." "I wasn't planning on it," Oscar said with a puzzled grin while hugging her back. He was wondering if they thought he had done that on purpose. Georgia asked, "What kind of car hit you?" "I wasn't hit by a car," Oscar said. "What happened?" Debbie asked finally releasing her hug. Oscar didn't have much of a chance to catch his breath since Georgia stepped in to hug him. "I felt sick and collapsed," he answered. Stepping away, Laura prepared the blood sample to take with her to a lab. She didn't have the equipment to test the blood for the presence of drugs and would request that the lab at the hospital run the tests. While working, she listened to Oscar explain what happened to his girlfriends. His story didn't change from what he had told her. Concerned, she looked over at him thinking, 'Druids don't get sick." It was twenty minutes before Oscar was wheeled out on a gurney for a ride to the hospital for a cat scan. Laura went with him knowing that she would be present to read the scans. That was one of the nice things about wearing the Green Robe; other professionals tended to step out of the way or extend professional courtesies that went beyond the normal. Sitting beside Oscar in the back of the ambulance, Laura asked, "Tell me more about how the world appeared double to you. Was it only visual?" "I heard echoes, too," Oscar answered after thinking about it. He'd felt so sick to his stomach by the double vision that he hadn't been able to do much more than be sick. "Echoes?" "Yes. There was a fraction of a second delay between hearing something the first time and the second. It made it very difficult to understand what you were saying to me." Laura shook her head knowing that a brain tumor could cause that kind of symptom. It was also possibly the effects of some psychotropic drug. She wondered if the fast recovery was the result of an intervention by the Two-Sided One. She said, "Did you know that you are the first Druid that I've ever treated for anything other than an injury or pregnancy?" "We're tough old buzzards," Oscar said with wink. He said, "We aren't going to let some little bacteria or virus slow us down." "Have you had a cold, flu, or allergy since you began your service?" she asked taking note of his flippant response to her observation. "Um, no. I don't think so," he answered. He hadn't really thought about his health. "Have you thrown up or had diarrhea?" "No. I was constipated once," Oscar answered. "Really?" "Well, that was because it was the first time that I had to go in front of women. That was when I first started at the college. I think it was mostly psychological." Laura laughed at his description of the situation in which he had suffered from constipation. She understood exactly what he was saying. She said, "I hear that a lot during the first week of school." "I'm not surprised," Oscar said recalling that morning he had spent sitting on the toilet unable to go to the bathroom. His little joke had relieved the constipation of several students. Two hours later, Oscar stepped out of the room where they had performed the CAT scan. There were two little areas, a waiting area and a small room with the computer where Laura was studying the images on a computer. A technician and another doctor were in the room with her going over the images. Oscar looked through the door hoping to see what was on the console. When the other doctor noticed him looking through the door, he scowled and pushed the door shut with a little more force than was necessary. Irritated, Oscar waved his fist in the direction of the doctor and said, "It's my brain. I ought to be able to see it." It was five minutes later when the other doctor opened the door and walked past Oscar without even a glance in his direction. Although Oscar wouldn't ever know it, the doctor had been prepared to see something remarkable since a Druid Healer was involved. The very normal looking CAT scan had been very disappointing. Of course, that wasn't why the doctor didn't look at Oscar. He wasn't particularly interested in looking at a naked man. Oscar was not smiling when Laura joined him in the room. On seeing her, he said, "That was a boring waste of eight hours." "It was only an hour," Laura said smiling at Oscar. He was standing completely naked in the middle of the waiting room with his hands on his hips looking irritated. "The clock may have said an hour, but I know it was really eight hours," Oscar said while stretching his muscles. To lie still for an hour had been pure torture. In the hall outside the waiting room, an elderly woman in an electric wheel chair rolled past the open door and caught a glance of Oscar. A few seconds later, she rolled past the door moving backwards while staring at Oscar with wide eyes. She came to a stop and leaned forward in an attempt to check out his package. When Oscar glanced in her direction, she hit the control on her wheelchair and moved on down the hall blushing like a schoolgirl. Ignoring the action in the hallway, he asked, "So what did you find?" "Nothing." "Debbie keeps telling me that I don't have a brain in my head. She'll be glad to have medical evidence that supports her opinion" Oscar said with a laugh. Laura laughed at the intentional misunderstanding of her answer. She said, "I'll be sure to let her know that she was right." "Don't tell Georgia. I've still got her fooled," Oscar said with a wink. "That's what you think," Laura said with a laugh. Turning serious, Oscar asked, "What happened to me?" "I don't know. I had them test your blood for every substance that could produce hallucinations. Your blood is clean," Laura answered. Nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and hearing problems could have been a tumor, stroke, inner ear problems, or drugs. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It could have been something in your inner ear, but that didn't show up in the CAT scan either." "So what are you saying?" "I don't think you were sick," she answered. "What? I threw up all over myself," Oscar said. "I'm sure that you felt sick, but I don't think you were sick," she said. Shaking her head, she said, "Druids live a long time. We have very healthy lives. We die from violence or a sudden heart attack. We don't have tooth decay, our eyesight never changes, none of us loses our hearing, no cases of arthritis, no osteoporosis, and genetic diseases do not manifest themselves despite almost certain odds that they will. The men even keep their hair." "Oh," Oscar said surprised by the information. He hadn't realized that she was serious when she said that she had never treated a Druid for something other than injury or pregnancy. "So if you want my opinion, you may have felt sick but you weren't sick," Laura said. She shrugged her shoulders and added, "Just let me know if it happens again." "Will do," Oscar said. He asked, "Are we ready to go?" "Well, you might want to get dressed." "You stole my clothes back at the College," Oscar said. "Oh, yeah," Laura said. Not expecting to find anything, she looked around the room for something he could wear. When her expectations were confirmed, she decided that she would have to get some surgical garb from the hospital. Starting to move towards the door, she said, "I'll go get something for you to wear." "Thanks, although I imagine that you'll disappoint the little old lady that has rolled past the door a dozen times," Oscar said watching from the corner of his eye as the elderly woman rolled past the door once again. Oscar was sandwiched between Debbie and Georgia on a bed that was way too small to hold all three of them. He had his arms around them and they were lying partially on him. The result was that his arms were falling asleep. He wasn't going to complain about his arms. Still upset that Laura hadn't determined why Oscar had been ill, Georgia said, "That woman should know the reason why you were sick." "Don't talk about her like that," Oscar said. This was not the first time that evening she had referred to Laura as 'that woman.' Seeing the frustration on her face, he said, "She might be right. I may not have been sick." "Did you feel sick?" Debbie asked knowing the answer to her question. She wasn't buying the suggestion that he hadn't been sick. If he threw up by the side of the road for no reason, then he must have been sick. "Yes, I felt sick," Oscar said rolling his eyes. Each time he was asked that question, it almost felt like an accusation that he wasn't telling the truth about what had happened to him. "Then she should have found out why you were sick," Georgia said. "She said that I may have felt sick, but that I wasn't actually sick." "What does that mean?" Debbie asked. She shifted so that she could look down at him. Some of the blood rushed back into his arm giving rise to unpleasant tingles. Oscar would have shrugged his shoulders had he been able to move. Instead, he stared up at the ceiling and answered, "I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the Gods and Goddesses." "What? They thought it would be fun to watch you throw up?" "I don't know," Oscar answered feel exasperated with the inquisition. It wasn't the kind of thing that the Powers That Be would do, but it sure did seem that way to Oscar. He wasn't going to complain. If it were a result of an action by the Gods and Goddesses, then he knew that one day he would learn the reason. "I was so scared when I heard that you had been hit by a car," Georgia said rubbing her check against his chest. "I wasn't hit by a car." "I know, but I didn't know that earlier," she said. She stuck out her tongue and licked his nipple. Debbie sighed and said, "I don't know what I'd do without you in my life. I want to grow old with you." Touched, Oscar considered how unlikely it was that they would grow old together. As if she could read his mind, Georgia said, "We've decided that you are going to live forever." "Why do you say that?" "Because the alternative is just too horrible to consider," Debbie said. ------- Chapter 29 Sandwiched between Georgia and Debbie in bed, Oscar was in heaven. Debbie was running her tongue around his nipple with great effect. No one had ever told him that his nipple was an erogenous zone. The sensations her tongue produced propagated directly to his cock. Even if they hadn't, Georgia's hand around his erection would have been sufficient to drive him out of his mind. He raised his hand and held Debbie to his nipple. Georgia noticed his action and slipped down to tease his other nipple with her tongue. She kept up the light strokes of her hand on his cock. Oscar moaned while his eyes rolled back in his head. Debbie slipped a hand down to tickle his balls with feather-light touches. Oscar pumped his hips and managed to say, "Too much. I'm going to come." Neither woman slowed down or stopped her actions. The whole idea was to make Oscar come. Less than ten seconds later, Oscar came. His entire body shook as jet after jet of come spewed out of his cock. Georgia stopped her strokes on his cock once it became clear that it was becoming painful. She leaned back and looked at the mess he had made on his stomach. When Oscar released her head, Debbie sat back and smiled at Georgia. Looking down at his stomach, she said, "It looks like Oscar enjoyed it." "I agree." "He made a little bit of a mess." "It looks that way to me," Georgia agreed. She rubbed his come into his stomach with the hand that had brought him off. Looking across his body at Georgia, Debbie asked, "Do you think he can do it again?" "It looks to me like he is done for now," Georgia said moving his cock around with a finger. It was definitely limp. Oscar looked from one woman to the other and asked, "What did you do to me?" "You weren't supposed to come, yet," Debbie said. She traced his nipple with a finger and said, "We were just beginning the foreplay." "That's right. We were going to do that for hours and hours," Georgia said winking at the red head. "You did do that to me for hours and hours," Oscar said. "It was more like minutes and minutes," Georgia corrected with a grin. The fact was that she had lost track of all time. "Well, it was more like two minutes," Debbie teased. She ran her hand back down to his balls and gently caressed them. She said, "I guess we might have killed you if we had gotten to the good stuff." Oscar found it hard to believe that he had come so hard from a hand job. It made him think of a teenage boy making out in the backseat of a car and experiencing the touch of a woman for the first time. He sure didn't feel like a teenage boy. He said, "I can't believe that I came from a hand job." "Why not?" Georgia asked, puzzled by the statement. Even Debbie looked surprised. "It just seems like something that happens to a teenage boy," Oscar answered. He slipped a hand between Debbie's legs bringing a tingling sensation to her. "You bring us both off with your hand all of the time," Debbie said while lifting her butt off the bed so that his contact with her nether region was harder. "That's right. Why should you be any different?" Georgia asked. "I don't know," Oscar answered. He was quiet for a minute and then said, "I don't know what I would do without the two of you helping me through some of the hard days." Georgia understood what he meant. There were days when he really missed the medallion and the closeness to the Two-Sided One that it represented. She said, "I know you miss wearing the medallion, but it won't be much longer before you'll be wearing a new medallion." "Two years," Oscar said. Looking forward, it seemed like forever. "It's been three years. You're more than halfway there," Georgia countered. Debbie was silent. Her thoughts were on what they would do without Oscar. One day he would put on the medallion and leave the College while she was left behind. Georgia would probably go with him and she would be alone. She didn't want to be alone. "I love you both so much," Oscar said. Thinking about Oscar leaving for good reminded Debbie that Oscar was leaving the next day. He was supposed to meet Mullah Farzin bin Saud in Las Vegas. She rose up on an elbow and said, "We love you too. I believe that it is now Georgia's turn to be the Queen Bee." Georgia wiggled in excitement and said, "Oh, goody." Two days later, Oscar was in Las Vegas. Returning from a late lunch, Oscar, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, walked through the Casino. Slot machines were ringing while people fed bills into them and pushed buttons. The place was busy, but not all that crowded. He approached the gambling tables and watched a couple of people play blackjack. He thought about trying it, but upon seeing everyone lose when the dealer turned over a black jack, he decided against it. He had just turned towards the craps table when it seemed as if he was seeing double. His stomach lurched and he staggered. Pausing, he took a deep breath and took a few steps forward. After a few steps, he stopped to watch the roulette wheel. He could see the dealer holding the ball and the ball riding in the winning slot. Oscar realized that he could see the result before the dealer rolled the ball. He was seeing two worlds laid one atop the other. One world was the now and one was the future. It was difficult moving since he wasn't sure if he was moving in reaction to the now or the future. The world slowed down and it was as if he were seeing it with a clarity that he had never experienced. The dealer spun the ball. The ball went around the wheel slowly dropping into one of the numbered slots after jumping around a bit. The prescient vision playing in his mind had come true. He watched the dealer payout the bets. After a minute, the other gamblers started placing their bets. Still seeing the future, Oscar knew what number would win. Unable to resist the temptation, Oscar pulled out a hundred dollar bill and put it on the number. The dealer looked at money and then at Oscar. He asked, "Do you want ones?" "I'm betting on that number," Oscar said licking his lips. His stomach was protesting what his eyes were seeing. The dealer asked, "All of that on 26?" "Yes," Oscar answered. He didn't really understand the rules, but had observed how much a chip paid. He also didn't realize that the chips on the table were worth a dollar. "Changing a hundred," called the dealer. He didn't care if the man lost a hundred dollars on a single spin. It wasn't his money. The roulette dealer exchanged a black chip for the hundred dollar bill. Watching the dealer replace his hundred dollar bill with a single black chip, Oscar asked, "What did you do?" "I put a hundred dollar chip on your number, sir," the dealer answered. "Oh," Oscar said. He watched the dealer toss the little ball into the wheel. It went around and around ten times before it fell onto the wheel. It bounced around for a second and then settled into the slot numbered 26. Raising an eyebrow, the dealer looked at the black chip on the table. He placed a transparent plastic marker on the chip and started to clear the losing bets. Oscar watched with a frown and relaxed only when the man pushed out a small stack of chips. There were three orange chips and a single purple chip. The dealer turned towards the pit boss and said, "Thirty-five hundred payout." After the dealer removed the plastic marker, Oscar picked up his chips and examined them. The orange chips were a thousand and the purple chip was worth five hundred. Two visions of the world continued to move through his head. He saw the results of the next spin and pushed the stack of chips to the new number. The dealer said, "Maximum bet on this table is a thousand dollars." Oscar removed some of the chips leaving a single orange chip on the table. The dealer shouted, "Thousand dollar bet." The pit boss came over to the table and stood behind the dealer. Looking over at Oscar, he asked, "Do you have a card?" "I need a card to play?" Oscar asked. He had begun his reply about the time the pit boss had said the word Do. Oscar was having difficult dealing with two visions of the world. "No, but if you have a card, then we can comp your room for you," the man answered examining Oscar for a second. He'd seen plenty of people stoned out of their mind drop a bundle at the table. If he kept Oscar at the table, he knew that they would win every dollar they had just paid out back and perhaps a few dollars more. Not understanding what the man was talking about, Oscar said, "I'd just like to play a couple of times." "We reward high rollers with free rooms, meals, and tickets to events. To qualify, you'll need to have a card so that we can track how much you're gambling," the man said. "Okay," Oscar said. "If you have some identification, I'll get you a card. After you are done playing, we'll comp your room and dinner," the man said. Without thinking about the consequences of his actions, Oscar handed over his driver's license and watched the man hand it off to another man. Looking around the room, he was trying to distinguish the now from the future. His attention was brought back to the table when the woman next to him screamed. He looked down at the table and saw that the plastic marker was on his orange chip. The pit boss looked at the table and made a gesture to another man behind the tables. He said, "I need a rack of the thousand dollar chips." It took a minute to pay Oscar his thirty-five thousand dollars in winnings. Despite the amount of money that he had won, he had a small stack of chips compared to everyone else at the table. He had a stack of thirty-seven orange chips, a purple chip, and a black chip. Others around the table had huge piles of chips, although each person only had a single color of chip in front of them. The future continued to unroll in his mind and he pushed the purple chip over to the next winning number. The dealer turned to the pit boss and said, "Thousand dollar bet." "Spin it," the pit boss said watching the table carefully. Cameras above the table were focused on the wheel and three other pairs of eyes were carefully watching the dealer. Two security types were watching Oscar like a hawk. Oscar noticed that he was surrounded by a crowd of people. Huge piles of chips where added atop his single chip. Other gamblers wanted to ride on his luck. They also covered the rest of the table with bets thinking that it may have just been a fluke. Hands trembling, the dealer spun the wheel and then spun the ball. Right after the dealer spun the ball; a woman bumped into Oscar and then stepped away. She hadn't taken more than three steps before security grabbed her and wrestled the orange chip out of her hand. Oscar had known that she was going to bump into him, that she would steal one of his orange chips, and that she would be caught. He would have tried to prevent it, but it was difficult for him to function while seeing two visions of the world. This kind of seeing things before they happened reminded him of William Redman Carter and his description of his visions. By the time the woman had been restrained and the chip retrieved, the ball had finished moving and Oscar was a winner again. Oscar's stolen chip was returned to him. On the table, a stack of thirty-five one thousand dollar chips were placed in front of him. The pit boss said, "Would you like to go to a higher stakes table?" Nodding, Oscar picked up his chips and followed the man to a quieter area of the casino. Unlike his normal graceful self, he tripped several times on the way there. Any onlooker would have sworn that he was drugged by the way that he kept bumping into things, staggering, and falling. Several times, he had to stop to get control over his balance and his stomach. A woman who worked for the Casino went over to Oscar and helped guide him to the high stakes area by holding onto his elbow. Oscar closed his eyes and allowed himself to be led. For the next half an hour, Oscar played roulette in the high stakes area with bets of one thousand dollars. Each bet won with a payoff of thirty-five thousand dollars. As suddenly as his vision had come upon him, it left. He stepped back from the table and blinked his eyes before staring at the stacks of chips in front of him. He had won over three quarters of a million dollars. Licking his lips, he said, "I'm done." "We'll cash you out and then take you to your new room," a young woman standing next to Oscar said. It took him a second to recognize the woman. She was the woman who had helped guide him to the high stakes area. He turned to look at her while he processed her words. She was extremely attractive and knew it. As much as he would have enjoyed a bigger room, he was there to meet with Mullah Farzin bin Saud. For that to happen, he needed to stay in the room that had been arranged for him. He said, "I want to keep my room." "We have a wonderful luxury suite for you," the woman replied surprised by his refusal. Most big spenders jumped at the chance to get one of the luxury suites. She smiled and ran a hand along his arm. She said, "It's free." "No. I want the room that I had," Oscar said. The firmness of his voice suggested that he would not change his mind. The woman looked over to her supervisor. The man frowned and nodded his approval. She said, "Okay." "Would you like us to cash in your chips for you?" "Sure," Oscar replied. His mind was beginning to engage more fully now that the two visions of the world had collapsed into one. His stomach was very queasy and he had to keep swallowing to keep from throwing up. He took one of the thousand dollar chips and handed it to the dealer. With a smile that was closer to a grimace, he said, "Thank you." It took a few minutes for them to rack and count the chips. Once that was done, Oscar walked off with the woman to get his check and some vouchers for some free meals at their restaurant. As soon as Oscar was gone, the Casino Manager turned to the pit boss and said, "I want that wheel taken apart and every part tested. I want every second of film studied to see how he did that. Not even Jesus Christ can pick twenty winners in a row." "Yes, sir," the pit boss said. They had tried every trick in the book to vary each spin, but it had no effect on Oscar's ability to pick a winner. "I want to know who he is," the manager said frowning while he stared at the table. He growled and said, "The bastard looked like he was drugged." Shaking his head, the chief of security walked over and said, "I need to talk to you in private." Knowing how his Chief of Security operated, the Casino Manager followed him to quiet corner of the high stakes area. Once there, he asked, "What's up?" "Leave that guy alone." "Why?" the manager asked looking at the Chief of Security. There were no doubts in his mind that Oscar had cheated and normally the Chief of Security would go to any length to prove it. "He's a Druid." "Oh fuck," the manager said. Shaking his head, he asked, "Which of those Gods and Goddesses of theirs does he serve?" "The God," the Chief of Security answered. Leaning over, he whispered, "His stay here was arranged by the Grand Druid. No one is to know about it." "Isn't the God the one with all of the law enforcement types?" "You've got it. That fellow is downright dangerous. From what I was able to find out, he's killed over three hundred men in combat. Some folks say it is closer to a thousand. You don't fuck with him and live," the Chief of Security answered. He looked over at the table and said, "I wonder why his God gave him our money." "You don't think?" the manager asked with a concerned expression on his face. Echoing words spoken earlier, the Chief of Security answered, "At one time I would have said that only Jesus Christ could pick twenty numbers in a row. If he can do it, then one of those Druid Gods can do it too." After a few detours to pick up his check, Oscar finally made it back to his room. Once he closed the door behind him, he immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up. Seeing two versions of the world at the same time had made him sick to his stomach. It was worse than getting spun around until he got sick. This wasn't the first time that the visions had come upon him, but this was the first time that he had realized what was happening to him. Once his stomach was empty, Oscar staggered over to the sink and washed out his mouth. After washing his face, he lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down feeling exhausted. Staring at the floor, he asked, "What was that?" A masculine sounding female voice answered, "Training." Shaking his head and regretting it almost as soon as he had done it, Oscar asked, "Training?" There was no answer. Oscar sat without moving while his mind cleared. He pulled the check out of his pocket. The check was for just a little over six hundred thousand dollars. The casino had deducted twenty-eight percent from his winnings for taxes. Oscar had never seen so much money in his entire life. Finally, he asked, "What about the money?" Again there was no answer. Oscar hadn't really expected one. He rose and went into the room proper. The king sized bed occupied most of the room. There was a small table with two chairs, a desk with another chair, and a pair of nightstands that bracketed the bed. It was a standard hotel room. He wondered what the luxury suite would have looked like, but dismissed it from his mind upon recalling his reason for being there. He opened the door to the connecting room and found that the door on the other side was still closed. Taking a seat in the chair by the desk, he waited for Mullah Farzin bin Saud to open his door. While he waited, he read a little of the Koran to pass the time. An hour passed before Mullah Farzin bin Saud opened the door. Looking up, Oscar said, "Hello." "Fareed Khomeni said that you won a lot of money gambling," the Mullah said staring at Oscar. Fareed had not explained how it was that he had been in a position to see Oscar win. He added, "I thought you knew that you were to keep a low profile." Oscar shrugged his shoulders and said, "The Two-Sided One said it was training." "What does that mean?" "I don't know," Oscar answered. He stood up to join the Mullah in his room. As he walked towards the door, he asked, "Why are we meeting in a casino in Las Vegas?" "The Baptists put this conference together," the Mullah answered waving his hand in the air. He added, "They always pick places like this. Half of them will lose their shirts before the conference is over." Oscar laughed and said, "And I guess that the ones who win can claim moral superiority." "I would say that those of us who don't play are the ones who can claim moral superiority," the Mullah answered. "I guess you told me," Oscar said shaking his head. "Let's get to work." Oscar entered the room and spotted Fareed Khomeni seated at the table. Oscar hadn't seen the man since he had stormed out of the Druid College. Raising a hand in greeting, Oscar said, "Hello Fareed. I didn't think I'd see you here." The other man looked at Oscar and said, "It was his idea." "Don't be that way, Fareed. It will do you good to argue some of the points with Oscar," the old man said with a grin. He felt that if Fareed was to take his place, then he should be able to hold his own against any other scholar, including Oscar. Oscar took a seat at the table across from Fareed and opened his Koran. Mullah Farzin bin Saud took a seat and, with a twinkle in his eye, asked, "Now what was the question that you asked that seemed to irritate Fareed so much the last time you two met?" ------- Chapter 30 William Redman Carter looked at the check and then across the patio table at Oscar. He was impressed by the size of the check. Raising an eyebrow, William asked, "How did you manage to win so much in Las Vegas?" "I was seeing the future," Oscar said gesturing to the sky with an open hand hoping that William wouldn't think he was insane. "You were seeing the future?" William asked leaning forward in his seat. His curiosity had gone into overdrive on hearing that Oscar was seeing the future. "It was real strange. It was like I was seeing the now and the future at the same time." "Why do you think it happened?" Oscar frowned and looked at William with an expression the other man couldn't read. He answered, "The Two-Sided One said that it was training." "Training," William repeated staring at Oscar in shock. That was the same thing that the Two-Sided One had said when his gift had left him. A sinking feeling came into his stomach. He asked, "Has it happened before?" "Yes. It's been happening off and on for a couple of months. I don't understand what's going on," Oscar admitted. Feeling uncomfortable discussing the matter, he took a sip of lemonade and looked around the garden behind William's house. A couple of rabbits were eating some grass. A few squirrels were chasing each other around a tree. One of the trees was loaded with birds. It was odd seeing so many animals concentrated in one yard. William sat back in his chair and thought about what Oscar had said. After a minute of silence, he said, "You say this happened Monday afternoon around two o'clock Vegas time." "Right," Oscar said. That was the same time that his gift had left him. William didn't bother to mention that little detail. Seeing that Oscar seemed uncomfortable discussing that matter, William decided to change the subject. Holding up the check, he asked, "So why did you give this to me?" "I was hoping that you could invest it for me," Oscar answered. From their discussions he knew that William was pretty good when it came to investing money. On the other hand, the only thing he knew to do was deposit it in a savings account. William sat up realizing that this was the first time that anyone had ever asked him for investment advice. Surprised at the request, he asked, "Why?" "Look, I don't think I'm going to... I want to leave a little something to support Georgia and Debbie once I've left for the Middle East," Oscar answered glancing away feeling uncomfortable about the subject. Knowing what Oscar meant and wasn't saying, William raised a hand to stop Oscar. Aloud, he said, "Say no more. I understand completely. I'll do my best for you." "Thanks," Oscar said feeling relieved. He knew that he could trust William to get the most out of the money. "It'll take the rest of the day to set up an investment account for you," William said while pulling out his cell phone to make arrangements for Oscar to meet with Sandra. Oscar nodded his agreement and pulled out his cell phone to tell Oliver that he would be delayed by a day in returning to the College. When William hung up the phone, Oscar said, "Thanks. I really appreciate this. I love them both so much. I just can't leave them without making sure that they are taken care of." The next evening, Oscar stepped through security at the airport and spotted Oliver waiting for him. He had expected to find one of the regular drivers waiting for him. Walking over to the Grand Druid, Oscar asked, "You came here just to pick me up?" Oliver peeked over his silvered sunglasses at Oscar and shook his head. He answered, "I came here to yell at you." "Why?" Looking at Oscar in dismay, Oliver answered, "You hit over twenty consecutive numbers in roulette and you dare ask me that question?" "How did you know about that?" Oscar asked wondering if Mullah Farzin bin Saud had told Oliver that he had been spotted gambling. His actions were having significant repercussions concerning his education. "The casino manager called me. He wanted to know why one of our Druids would go in and rob them of three quarters of a million dollars," Oliver answered. The casino manager didn't have any proof, but he was convinced that Oscar had cheated. Although he knew that Oscar hadn't cheated, he still wondered how Oscar could have possibly picked that many numbers in a row. "Oh, I thought maybe Mullah Farzin bin Saud told you." The old man had been very upset, particularly when he heard from several sources about how much money Oscar had won. Oscar hadn't been aware that he had attracted that many observers. "Oh, he told me, but he was relatively calm about the matter. The owner of the casino was a bit more perturbed," Oliver said. He still couldn't figure out how Oscar had managed to hit so many winners in a row. Oliver asked, "I just have to know, how did you manage it?" "It was the Two-Sided One," Oscar said feeling uneasy about mentioning it. "Really?" "Yes, really. He was showing me the future," Oscar answered feeling uneasy about making that claim. He looked down the length of the airport. The airport was busy, but the two men were standing in an island of isolation. Travelers moved around them giving them plenty of space. Oliver was surprised by Oscar's answer. It did explain how he was able to pick that many winners in a row. Of course, the question of how Oscar was seeing the future remained unanswered. Frowning, he said, "Oh." Looking over at Oliver, he asked, "Does Georgia or Debbie know about the money?" "No," the Grand Druid answered wondering what Oscar meant by his question. "Good, I'd like to leave it that way," Oscar said. He hadn't told them about the money despite the fact that he intended to give it to them. Unable to see any malice in Oscar's answer, Oliver said, "Okay. I won't say a word." "You might let the owner of the casino know that the attendees of the conference lost more than I won," Oscar said. There was one very famous televangelist with a less than stellar reputation who lost a fortune at in the casino. Shaking his head, he said, "If I understand correctly, a certain television preacher lost exactly twice what I won." Oliver found the idea of using the casino as a way to transfer money among individuals of a religious calling humorous. He chuckled and said, "The Powers That Be work in mysterious ways." "Yes, they do," Oscar agreed with a nod. He grinned and said, "The casino even got a fifty percent usury fee." "So what are you doing with the money?" Oliver asked assuming that Oscar would turn it over to him to be used for some great purpose. "I gave it to William Redman Carter to invest for me," Oscar answered after a slight pause. He felt a little guilty about keeping the money, but it wasn't really for his use. "Oh," Oliver said. The idea that Oscar would keep the money had never occurred to him. For a moment he didn't have anything to say. Finally, he said, "Tell me about seeing the future." "When I was walking through the casino, I realized that I was seeing the present and the future overlaid one atop the other," Oscar said. "Ah, that's interesting," Oliver said studying Oscar carefully. At some point in time he would have to learn more about that gift. He asked, "Did the Two-Sided One let you know that was he was going to do that?" "No." "Have you visited the Carter Glade recently?" "No." Oliver shook his head and headed towards the exit of the airport without saying a word to Oscar. Everything about this situation sounded odd to him. On reaching the parking lot, Oliver took a deep breath and asked, "Did you ever have that happen before?" "That afternoon when I got sick by the road was the first time. At least, I think that was why I was sick," Oscar answered. "And you haven't been out to the glade?" "Not at all," Oscar answered. Shaking his head, Oliver said, "I've never heard of a Druid getting a gift from the Gods and Goddesses without a visitation. Of course, I've never heard of a gift that comes and goes, so I don't know what to make of it." Rather than answer, Oscar walked beside the Grand Druid to the car. He didn't really want to talk about the matter. There were other issues that required discussion. He asked, "So what did you think of the Mullah's suggestion?" "I wasn't happy about it, but we're going to do it," Oliver answered. When Mullah Farzin bin Saud had said that Oscar had been too visible at the casino, Oliver hadn't understood what he had meant. Of course, once he had learned the rest of the story from the casino manager, he understood exactly why Farzin had changed plans. The stunt in the casino required that they avoid further contact so that there would be time for the connection between the two of them to be forgotten by anyone who may have noticed Oscar. "So what am I supposed to study for the next three months?" "Buddhism," Oliver answered. He knew that Oscar wasn't going to like the rest of the plan. "So when is the Buddhist... whatever he's called... going to show up?" Oscar asked wondering what kinds of ranks there were in the Buddhist religion. "No one is showing up here," Oliver answered. He paused to look over at Oscar and said, "You're going there." "Wow, so I'm going to India to study with the Dali Lama?" Oscar asked assuming that the Grand Druid would have arranged for him to study under the Dali Lama. It dawned on him that Dali Lama might be a title rather than a name. "Not quite. You're going to Thailand," Oliver said. Going to Thailand meant he was going to spend three months away from the school. Although the country of Thailand had a reputation for sex, he knew that his girlfriends would be more upset about the separation than the possibility of any visits to dens of iniquity. He said, "I don't think that Debbie and Georgia are going to like that one little bit." "You won't be in Bangkok if that is what you are thinking. You'll be far from the famous brothels of Bangkok. You're going to study in a forest retreat," Oliver said. "They wouldn't worry about that. They'll be upset about being separated from me. At least I'll be able to call them every night. Although, if I'm in a forest retreat then I suppose that I won't be able to call them every night. I'll probably have to wait until the weekends to call them," Oscar said. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about how often you'll be able to call them if I were you," Oliver said. Hopeful, Oscar said, "Great. They'll be going with me?" "No. You're going to be isolated from the whole world for the entire time you're there. They won't be going there and you won't be talking to them on the telephone," Oliver said with a smile. Oscar shook his head and asked, "Why?" "You are supposed to learn inner peace. How are you going to learn that if you're getting excited from talking dirty to your girlfriends on the telephone every night?" "I won't be talking dirty to them!" Oscar said. Looking at Oscar as if he were a child who just announced that they'd never get married, Oliver said, "Don't be silly. First you'll start of talking about how much you've missed them and then one thing will lead to another. Before you know it, you'll be sharing orgasms over the telephone." Oscar would have objected, but he could see that happening. He frowned and asked, "So how am I supposed to learn inner peace if I'm horny?" Oliver laughed at the question and shook his head. He would have asked that same question if he had been in Oscar's place. He answered, "Hey, we're talking Buddhists and not Druids. I've got no idea how they manage that little trick." Georgia was not pleased to hear that Oscar was going to be gone for three months. In a very loud voice that carried across the dining hall, she said, "You're not going away for three months. I won't allow it." Despite being a redhead, Debbie was much more level headed in her reaction. In a very quiet voice, she said, "You'll call us every night, right?" That was the question that Oscar had been dreading. Licking his lips nervously, he answered, "No. I'm going to be isolated in a forest retreat the entire time." "Really?" she asked in a very reasonable tone of voice. Georgia flinched and stepped away expecting the redhead to explode any moment. She knew Debbie well enough to know that when she started using that particular voice she was getting very angry. The explosion would occur soon if she didn't hear something that she liked. "Yes," Oscar said with a wince. This was not going so well. "Bullshit," Debbie said in the same controlled quiet voice. "Uh, I'm supposed to learn inner peace and they don't want me talking to anyone who is liable to get me excited," Oscar said hoping that she would understand. "Excited? I'll show them excited," Debbie said starting to rise out of her chair. "It's only for three months," Oscar said. Debbie stared at Oscar for a full fifteen seconds. It was the longest fifteen seconds that Oscar could remember experiencing. She exploded, "You are not leaving us for three months. I won't allow it. We don't have enough time together as it is!" Watching the pressure build, Georgia had been wondering about the sudden change in plans. She put a hand on Debbie's arm and asked, "What happened in Las Vegas?" Debbie paused to hear the answer. Oscar looked around wondering how he could avoid telling them about the money. Giving a weak smile, he said, "I found out what was happening during those times when I was seeing double." Concern over his health overruled their displeasure over his pending absence. Debbie asked, "What was happening?" "I was seeing the future and the present at the same time." "What?" both women asked together. "The double vision was because I was seeing the future at the same time that I was seeing the present," Oscar said. "You can see the future?" "Only sometimes," he answered. Georgia looked at Oscar as if she couldn't quite believe him. She asked, "So what happened?" "I drew a lot of attention," Oscar said. Shrugging his shoulders, he added, "The Mullah Farzin bin Saud felt that I drew a little bit too much attention to myself. He fears that he or I will be killed if we continue to meet as we have been meeting." "Oh," Debbie said not fully understanding the seriousness with which some people took religion. "Let me get this straight. You can occasionally see the future, you were in Vegas, and you drew a bit too much attention to yourself. Did you win a couple grand at blackjack or something?" Georgia asked. "You might say that," Oscar answered hoping to avoid further discussion about the topic. "I want to know more about seeing the future," Debbie said. "Well, it's kind of weird. In a way, it is a lot like being motion sick. You know, that queasy horrible feeling you get when you get off an amusement park ride. I felt like throwing up the entire time and even for a while afterwards. I think that getting sent to the Buddhist Monastery is probably a good thing. It may give me a chance to learn how to control it," Oscar said. For the next thirty minutes, Oscar described what happened when he was seeing the future. He avoided mentioning how much money he won at the Roulette table. Georgia and Debbie both asked lots of questions. Most of the questions dealt with the far future rather than the events in Las Vegas. Glancing at the clock, Debbie realized that she was going to be late for her class. Rising from her seat, she smiled sweetly at Oscar. There was a hint that she was planning something in her smile. Looking over at Georgia, Debbie said, "I've got to get to class. You and I need to talk later." After dinner, Debbie and Georgia went off to talk together. Rather than stay around the dining room, Debbie led Georgia out to the garden. It was dark and no one was around. Convinced that no one would over hear her, Debbie said, "I've always wanted to see Thailand. I guess it is time for you and me to have a little chat with Oliver. We are going there with Oscar." "Uh, I don't think Oliver's going to accept that," Georgia said. With a real flash of anger, Debbie said, "I'm tired of these Druids fucking around with our private lives. We've accepted that we can't room together, but sending Oscar away for three months is bullshit." Stepping out of the shadows, Oliver asked, "What is bullshit?" Spinning around at the sudden interruption, Debbie nearly tripped over her feet. Georgia had jumped a foot in the air. The shock caused her to come down with a bad case of hiccups. Debbie said, "Don't sneak up on us like that!" "Sorry," Oliver said looking at her over his silvered glasses. He asked, "What is bullshit?" Georgia hiccupped and looked at the others with embarrassment. After another hiccup, she said, "Let me get a drink of water... hic... and get rid of these... hic... hiccups." Five minutes later Georgia returned. Debbie had used the time to put together what she thought would be a very compelling argument as to why she and Georgia should be allowed to go to Thailand with Oscar. In a very calm and collected voice, she said, "Georgia and I don't have much time to spend with Oscar. You and I both know that he's going to die when he goes over to the Middle East. At best, I figure that we have only got two years to be with him. Sending him off to Thailand is taking away too much time from us." Oliver stared at Debbie thinking that she was the first student to really challenge him since he had taken over as President of the Druid College. Slipping off his glasses, he examined Debbie using his gift. Her spirit was pure in terms of wanting to love Oscar. She didn't want to hurt anyone despite the fact that she was angry. There weren't any black spots on her aura. Her aura was bright and clear. The problem wasn't within her, but arose as a result of the situation. Counseling her would not help. He glanced over at Georgia and wondered when she was going to let loose with her shots. He sighed and said, "I don't know what is going to happen in the future. I don't know how much time you will have with Oscar. If I was convinced that he only had two years to live, I would probably tell you to go with him." "You know he only has two years left," Debbie shouted losing her cool. "No, I don't know that. He has two years of courses before his internship begins. I'm sure that he will enter the glade to begin his service to the Two-Sided One during his final year. I don't know if his visit will occur Midsummer's day before his final year, Midwinter's day of his final year, or Midsummer's day at the end of his final year. I suspect it will be Midwinter's Day of his final year. "I'm pretty sure that he will travel to the Middle East once he has returned to service. I don't know what will happen when he reaches the Middle East. It could take two days or twenty years to complete his mission in the Middle East. I don't know," Oliver said. He wondered when it had become accepted that Oscar was going to die. Debbie sat back in her chair and studied the Grand Druid. He had made some very good points, but it didn't make her feel any better. Maybe they had more than two years, but she didn't really believe it. She sighed and said, "I love him so much. It hurts to know that I'm going to lose him soon." "I understand," Oliver said. "So we can go?" Georgia asked hopefully. "No." ------- Chapter 31 Following a yellow robed young man with a shaved head, Oscar entered the temple and looked around. The highly polished wood gave the room a rich luxurious feel. The scent of incense filled the air. The low chanting of Monks in another meditation area carried into the room. The effect was to create an ambiance of peace and contemplation. The young man pointed to an elderly man seated in the lotus position. The elderly man, despite being shaved bald, had gray bushy eyebrows. He was wearing the yellow robe of a Buddhist monk. It was obvious the man was meditating. The young monk said, "He will be with you in a minute." "Thanks," Oscar said before discovering that the young man had already walked out of the room. He shrugged his shoulders before turning to examine the elderly man. Bending down, Oscar tried to look under the man. He frowned and shook his head. The elderly man opened his eyes and watched Oscar for a minute. Curious, he asked, "What are you doing?" "I heard that you guys could float in the air when you did that," Oscar answered. Although most people would have discounted such stories, Druids did many things that were just as unbelievable. Raising an eyebrow, the elderly man smiled at Oscar. He had more than one American ask him if that was true. He said, "I do not float in the air when I meditate." "Pity," Oscar said with a shrug of his shoulders. He added, "I was hoping that you would teach me how to do that." "I'll be more than happy to teach you all about it, though." "Great." "You are Oscar Meyers," the elderly man said. His tone conveyed equal parts of statement and question. "Yes. I take it you are Prajak," Oscar replied looking at the piece of paper on which he had written the name of the man under whom he was to study. "It is customary to address a monk who has been ordained for more than ten years with the title, Ajaan," said Ajaan Prajak wondering what he had gotten into by agreeing to teach this young man Buddhism. The title meant teacher. "I didn't know that. Druids don't usually go much for titles. I suppose we could insist that folks address with a title. I'd probably laugh the first time someone called me Druid Meyers though," Oscar said with a friendly grin. He sat down on the floor and looked around the room. In a soft voice, he said, "Nice place. It's really tranquil in here." "It was," Ajaan Prajak said. It had been a long time since anyone had treated him with such disregard to the respectful customs normally afforded the Abbot of a Forest Tradition Monastery. "So when do we begin?" Oscar asked. "First you must learn patience." "I'm ready when you are," Oscar said with a smile. "I shall have to see how much patience you have." "I've got to warn you that I'm a very patient man," Oscar said getting comfortable. He was more than willing to wait for as long as it took. Satisfied with his position, he looked up at the elderly man with a small smile. "We shall see," Ajaan Prajak said. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing to return to his meditation. An hour later, Ajaan Prajak opened his eyes prepared to discuss the achievement of the kind of inner calm that was a necessary precursor to meditation. To his surprise, Oscar had not moved a muscle and was watching him with that same small smile on his face. He studied the young man recognizing that there was nothing indicating discomfort or impatience. The hours passed as the old man watched the young man while receiving the same examination in turn. In a way, it was a very remarkable demonstration of patience. After eight hours, he asked, "How long are you willing to wait?" Shrugging his shoulders, Oscar answered, "I'm supposed to leave in three months." "What about food?" Oscar was dressed to travel. The only thing missing in his robe was his pistol. Oscar reached into the pockets of his red robe and pulled out two MREs and a bottle of water. Holding them up, he said, "I can last a week at least." "Stay here and I will return in a week," Ajann Prajak said. He rose and left the room. At the door, he looked back at Oscar and shook his head. He had heard of Druids, but his ignorance of them appeared to be as great as Oscar's ignorance of Buddhist Monks. His first impression of Oscar had been that the young man lacked discipline. His second impression was that the young man had great discipline. He wondered what his third impression of Oscar would be. Three days later, Oscar was in the room practicing his martial arts. It wasn't that he found it necessary to practice, but that it helped pass the time. He had already examined every little part of the room. Despite its splendor, sitting around doing nothing was boring. It also gave him too much time to think about his future. Ajann Prajak, from behind a semi-transparent screen, watched Oscar as he moved in slow motion around the room. A Buddhist Monk in Thailand was a very different Monk than those found practicing Shaolin Buddhism. There was absolutely no martial arts tradition in the Buddhism practiced in Thailand. When Oscar finished practicing, he looked over at the screen and asked, "Did you enjoy watching me?" "Yes, it is a lot like a dance," Ajann Prajak answered surprised that Oscar had known he was watching. "It is a very dangerous and deadly dance when practiced for real," Oscar said. "Have you danced the dance for real?" Ajann Prajak asked. One of the 227 rules governing being a Buddhist Monk was a prohibition against taking life. Life of all kinds was revered. From the larva of a mosquito to the life of a man, they were not to take life. "Yes," Oscar answered with a nod of his head. He opened his bottle of water and took a single small sip. Ever after three days, the bottle of water was more than half full. "You have killed?" the elderly man asked having expected the answer to be no. "Many times," Oscar answered. He screwed the top onto his water bottle and checked the level of water. Satisfied, he slipped the bottle back into the pocket of his robe. Concerned by what Oscar was admitting, Ajann Prajak asked, "How many times?" "Do you want to know how many men I've killed?" Oscar asked cutting to the chase. "Yes," Ajann Prajak asked with a lump in his throat. "Over a thousand," Oscar answered looking in the direction of the screen behind which Ajann Prajak sat. Disturbed by what he had learned, the elderly man said, "I must think on this." "What is the matter?" Oscar asked. He had assumed that Ajann Prajak knew about his past. "What you have done is a great crime. Murder is one of the Great Defeaters," Ajann Prajak answered. "What is a Great Defeater?" Oscar asked ignoring for the moment that the older man had called his actions murder. "A Great Defeater is an act that throws a man from the path of enlightenment. There are four Great Defeaters — sexual intercourse, murder, major theft, and falsely claiming supernormal abilities," Ajann Prajak answered. "Well, I wouldn't say that I've done the any of them except sexual intercourse. It's not murder to kill someone in battle or in defense of others. I've never stolen anything unless you count taking weapons from the enemy that I was fighting. Any supernormal abilities that I've claimed are real," Oscar said. "Murder is taking a life intentionally. If you are fighting with intent to kill, then you've committed murder. There is no excuse that prevents taking a human life with intent from being a Great Defeater. Sexual intercourse is a Great Defeater. If those weapons were worth more than a twenty-fourth of an ounce of gold, then it is major theft. You claim supernormal abilities and that is a Great Defeater." "So I guess you are saying that according to Buddhism, I've broken all four of the big rules. I suppose you are going to tell me that I'm a bad guy," Oscar said looking over at the screen. He scratched his cheek and asked, "What does that mean in terms of learning about Buddhism?" "It is wrong to teach the Dhamma to a man who is not Bhikkhu, but your actions are not those of a Bhikkhu," Ajann Prajak said. He studied Oscar for a moment and asked, "Are you willing to give an oath that you will put that kind of behavior behind you?" "It is not my place to give oaths of that nature," Oscar answered. He would act as the Gods and Goddesses demanded. He could not swear to any constraint that would require him to violate the two rules. "It would seem that I can not instruct you." "Oliver is not going to be happy about this," Oscar said thinking that he was going to get sent home without learning about Buddhism. "This Grand Druid of yours, he said that you are a holy man," Ajann Prajak said. He was having difficulty with understanding what Oliver had told him about Oscar in light of what Oscar said about himself. "I suppose you could say that I'm a holy man. We don't really say that we're holy. Druids serve the Gods and Goddesses. They choose us for service. I serve the God and will soon serve the Two- Sided One," Oscar said. There was a slight noise as Ajann Prajak stood. Turning to the screen, he said, "I must think about this." The world went double on Oscar. Swaying, he listened to a conversation that would happen in the future. In a quiet voice, he said, "Ajann Prajak. Watch out for the Black-and-yellow Broadbill." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the world returned to normal. Oscar sat down on the floor and closed his eyes hoping that he wouldn't get sick. A minute later, Ajann Prajak entered the room and stared at Oscar. He asked, "How did you know about the bird?" "What kind of bird was it?" Oscar asked following the conversation that he had heard previously. "It was a Black-and-yellow Broadbill just as you had said." "Just before you left, I saw you and me having this conversation about the bird. What happened?" Oscar said holding his head and rubbing his temples. He was beginning to get a headache. The little short episode of experiencing the future left him feeling worse than the longer sessions. "I stepped outside and heard a bird make a noise above me. I looked up and saw a bird falling from the sky. I was able to step out of the way before it landed upon me," Ajann Prajak answered staring at Oscar. The young man looked very ill. In a quiet voice, he asked, "Did you cause that to happen?" "No. I had a small glimpse of the future. I saw you asking me a question and then answering mine," Oscar said. "You claim supernormal gifts?" Lying down on the floor, Oscar tried to relax. When a minor wave of nausea passed, he answered, "The Two-Sided One has been giving me little glimpses of the future. I'm experiencing two versions of the world, one atop the other. One world is the present and the other is the future. It is not like I'm seeing double because the images aren't the same. Imagine seeing me sitting here and seeing me standing here at the same time. It is a rather disconcerting experience. "I know that it is hard to believe what I'm saying. I wouldn't believe anyone who claimed to see the future either, but the fact of the matter is that I'm experiencing the future. It makes me sick to my stomach. I can't control it. I don't have any choice about when it comes over me." Ajann Prajak believed that Oscar was telling the truth. In a soft voice, he said, "Stay here. I will return in a while and we shall talk more of this matter." On his fourth day of his visit, Oscar was lying on the floor while studying the statue of Buddha at the head of the room. The Buddha was seated cross-legged with one hand held up with two fingers extended. It was a very stylized statue and Oscar wondered if there was something significant about pose. He asked, "Is there some meaning to that pose?" Surprised that Oscar knew he had just stepped behind the screen, Ajann Prajak answered, "Buddha is teaching." "Ah," Oscar said. "There are two major traditions by which people are taught the path to enlightenment. One is through study while the other is through meditation. You have come here with the stated purpose of learning about Buddhism and that would suggest that you should have gone to an urban monastery where they follow the scholarly tradition. Instead, you came to a Forest Monastery where we concentrate on meditation," Ajann Prajak said. "So you are telling me that Oliver made a mistake sending me here," Oscar said. "Maybe, but maybe not. I find it interesting that you may need the inner peace that comes from meditation more than intellectual knowledge of Buddhism," Ajann Prajak said. While meditating on the problem that Oscar represented, he had come to the conclusion that his role was not to teach Buddhism but to provide Oscar with the tools necessary to achieve an inner calm. "Oliver had hinted at that," Oscar said thinking about what Oliver had told him before leaving. It made him realize that he was about to experience another kind of educational philosophy. In the Druid College courses, the best taught the basic material to the students to establish a firm foundation. In studying Islam, he had found that the intermediate taught the inexperienced. It seemed to him that now he was to learn in a process of guided self-discovery. It was time to allow Oscar to enter the monastery as a real visitor. Ajann Prajak stepped out from behind the screen and said, "Come with me." For the next two months Oscar spent most of the day meditating. In the morning sessions, he concentrated on his breathing. Every afternoon, the double view of the world descended upon him and he focused on controlling it. The waves of nausea passed and he learned how to select how far into the future he could see. He reached the point where he could experience the world in the now and dive into a future view for a second or two with just a minor sense of dislocation. One of the younger students was in the hall where they practiced meditation. The student asked, "Ajann Prajak. Why is it that he still has his hair, yet I was required to shave mine before entering the monastery as a student?" At a gesture from the elderly man, Oscar answered, "There are reasons why I can not shave my head or my beard." Frowning, the young man asked, "What possible reason can there be that requires you to keep your hair?" "There are expectations that a person looks a certain way in order to have credibility among specific groups of people. I have to meet those expectations in two years," Oscar answered. "That's stupid," the student said. Ajann Prajak watched the interaction ready to step in to provide a lesson. He was about to call the student to order when Oscar asked, "Would you accept teachings from a monk with long hair and a beard?" "No," the student answered. "Why?" "Because he wouldn't be a real monk." The statement brought a grin to Ajann Prajak. He made a mental note to ask the student about Hermits who lived without concern for hair, beard, or clothes. Oscar said, "So even if there was a reason for a monk to have long hair and a beard, you would not really trust his teachings. Am I right?" "Yes." "So if I were to have to deal with people who expected me to have long hair and a beard, it would follow that they would not trust what I say if I show up shaved and bald?" "I suppose," the student answered feeling a little uncomfortable by the conclusion. "There are often many reasons for any given rule," Oscar said. He looked over at Ajann Prajak who smiled and nodded. Continuing, he said, "The Buddhists do not believe in taking any life, even the life of an insect. Soldiers know that shaving your head allows you to live without head lice and other vermin that live in your hair when you are in places where hygiene is poor. A Buddhist monk who does not shave his head will one day be placed in a position in which he exposes himself to disease or must take a life of some vermin. That is a reason why you shave your head." "We shave our heads to strip away our ego," the student replied. "That's also a good reason," Oscar said with a smile. Winking at Ajann Prajak, he said, "Of course, some people might use shaving their heads as a way to reinforce their ego." "What?" Returning to the pose for meditation, Oscar asked, "Don't you feel superior to me because you are shaved and I am not?" Ajann Prajak chuckled while watching Oscar return to his mediation. He turned to the student. Once he was sure that he had the student's attention, he said, "He isn't a Buddhist, but he understands." Chastised, the student returned to his meditation. Ajann Prajak turned to consider Oscar. Over the past two months, the two men had many discussions and his opinion of Oscar had changed with each discussion. The differences between the two philosophies were both great and small. The Druids believed that if it harmed none, then do it. To a large extend, the Buddhists believed the same thing. The difference was in terms of the scope of the rule. The Buddhists extended it to include all living things. The Druids applied it only to humans and were willing to make an exception for their second great rule that required them to protect the weak from the strong. The Buddhists did not have that rule in the same form and were not willing to make exceptions to first rule. They believed that pain and suffering was an integral part of life. If all people lived according to the Buddhist ideals, then there would be no need for the second rule. An individual undertook a personal journey towards enlightenment. While walking the path towards enlightenment, a person's attention was turned from the physical world to the world of the spirit. It seemed to Ajann Prajak, that the Druids had done exactly the opposite. They turned their attention to the physical world to promote the development of an environment that supported spiritual improvement for all. It made him wonder if the Druids were one of the forces turning the wheel of Karma. The Buddhists believed that all life was sacred. Although more than ninety percent of the population of the country was Buddhist, many species of birds had become extinct in Thailand over the past century. It was hard to accept the extinction of an entire species while holding life sacred. Ajann Prajak had learned that it was a Druid who was protecting a number of species that were on the verge of extinction. In the process, several poachers had been killed by that same Druid. How could the Druids hold life sacred when they were willing to take life? Did it matter that he did it to prevent a species from becoming extinct? The Buddhist would say no while the Druids said yes. It was a question that went to the heart of the difference between the Buddhists and the Druids. Ajann Prajak smiled when he recalled his first interview with Oscar. He looked over at Oscar and chuckled. Standing up, he said, "It is time for you to learn about levitating while meditating." "Excellent," Oscar said raising a fist in the air. Grinning, he said, "I've been waiting for this since the first day I came here." Oscar followed the elderly man to a garden of the monastery. There was a blanket placed on the ground in a very pretty part of the garden. To one side was a small pond. To the other side was a statue of a standing Buddha. The entire area was surrounded by flowers. The scent of plants in bloom hung heavy in the air. With a gesture from Ajann Prajak, four monks walked over to the blanket. Each monk took a position at one corner of the blanket. They stood like an honor guard. Pointing to the blanket, Ajann Prajak said, "Have a seat and enter a light state of meditation. In a minute, you'll experience the only way I know to levitate while meditating." Seated on the blanket, Oscar closed his eyes and entered a light meditative state. The four monks watched Ajann Prajak with grins on their faces. The Abbot of the monastery smiled as Oscar slowly relaxed. He made a gesture and each of the men knelt down and grabbed a corner of the blanket. Oscar's eyes flew open when he realized what was about to happen. It was too late. The four young men had yanked up the corners of the blanket and launched him in the air. Flailing his arms, Oscar hit the water with a splash. It took him a moment to get his legs under him. The monks were laughing at the look on his face when he stood up in the shallow water. Oscar couldn't believe what had happened to him. Sputtering, he asked, "What was that?" "That is the only way I know to levitate while meditating," Ajann Prajak answered with a grin. Soaking wet, Oscar stood in the water. His robe clung to his body making him look like a wet poodle. Shaking his head, he said, "I thought you were a holy man." "Who said that holy men can't have a sense of humor?" Ajann Prajak asked with a laugh. ------- Chapter 32 Oscar walked up to the door of the house and entered confident that Debbie and Georgia waited inside for him. The separation of three months had been very hard on him. Despite meditating most of the time he had been there, his thoughts had remained with the two women in his life. They were more important to him than returning to the school and, as a result, he had to stop by the house to be with them. Stepping inside the house, Oscar was greeted with silence. Frowning, he had expected that Georgia and Debbie would have been waiting for him by the door. He had hoped that he would be greeted with hugs and kisses. Instead, the lights were low and no one was to be seen. He made his way to the living room hoping to find them there. Again he was disappointed. He began to doubt they were waiting for him. Shrugging his shoulders, he made his way to the bedroom. Opening the door, he smiled at the sight presented by the pair of women posed suggestively on the bed. Both were waiting for him wearing nothing except for smiles. Looking from one to the other, Oscar smiled and said, "I missed you." "We missed you," Georgia said inviting him to join them by wiggling in a finger in a come hither gesture. Over the next six hours, the welcome home exceeded all expectations and Oscar was a very happy man. Georgia and Debbie were both impressed by his stamina. His desire convinced them both that he had missed them as much as they had missed him. Sated and relaxing in bed, Georgia said, "You aren't going anywhere without us from now on." "I think Oliver might want to have a say in that," Oscar said thinking about his education program. "He has agreed that wherever you go, we go too," Debbie said with a smile. The past three months had been spent badgering Oliver about Oscar's absence. They had been relentless in their efforts to assure that Oliver would not be sent off somewhere without them. "I find that rather surprising," Oscar said wondering what had been going on while he was in Thailand. "She's an animal when it comes to going after something she wants," Georgia said with a smile. Running a hand over Debbie's body, Oscar said, "I know. So are you." Moving so that she would stay in contact with his hand, Debbie giggled and said, "There are two weeks left to this quarter and then we'll have a week off between quarters. After out vacation, we head to the Native American College for three months." "Really?" Oscar asked. He hadn't realized that he had missed the last break. He was also unaware that he was headed to the Native American College. He had figured that the trip to Thailand was just one course taken out of sequence. The idea that his fifth year had actually started six months early was disconcerting. "You bet. I'm looking forward to it," Georgia said. The time spent at the Druid College had been pleasant, but working there had become boring. She had been used to changing environments every three or four years before coming to the college. She was looking forward to a chance to see new sights and have some new experiences. "What about your classes?" Oscar asked looking at Debbie with concern. He wasn't comfortable with her putting her education on hold, even if was just for three months. If what he expected to happen when he went to the Middle East came true, then Debbie would need her education. "Oliver is arranging for the material to be videotaped and sent to me. I'll have access to a lab at the Native American College," Debbie answered fully confident that she would be able to keep up with her studies. Of course, it required a lot more self-discipline on her part than if she were surrounded by her classmates. "Nice," Oscar said relieved to hear that she wasn't dropping out of school. "Speaking of nice, it's my turn to be the center of attention," Georgia said caressing Oscar's member with one hand and bringing it, with one stroke, to a full erection. Seeing that he was responding to her touch, she moved to lie between Oscar and Debbie. Giving the brunette a pout, Debbie said, "Again?" More than willing to satisfy both Georgia and Debbie, Oscar said, "And then it will be your turn, Debbie." "Goody," the red head cooed. Much to Oliver's displeasure, it was three days before any of them returned to school. Several hours after Georgia had returned to work and Debbie had gone to her first class, Oscar walked through the front door of the school. He hadn't taken more than two steps before Oliver intercepted him. Oliver looked at Oscar and asked, "How was Thailand?" "Ah, most of it was pretty boring until Ajaan Prajak taught me how to levitate while meditating," Oscar answered in an offhand casual manner. Surprised, Oliver asked, "He did what?" "He taught me how to levitate while meditating. I'll be happy to teach you how to do that," Oscar said with a serious expression on his face. He was hoping that Oliver would go for it. He kept picturing Oliver flying through the air and landing in a pond. "You're joking," Oliver said. "Not at all. It was probably the most important lesson he taught me," Oscar said watching the Grand Druid study him. In a deadpan voice, he added, "I could teach you how to do that." There was a twinkle in Oscar's eyes that Oliver didn't trust. Shaking his head, he said, "Maybe some other time." "Just let me know," Oscar said with a grin. Oliver decided that he would request some more information from Thailand before giving into his curiosity. He said, "I suppose your girlfriends told you about going to the Native American College after the break." "Yes. I'm rather surprised by the news. I had expected to return to my previous course of study," Oscar said. "Not until things calm down a little more," Oliver said. He wasn't going to mention that there had been three assassination attempts on Mullah Farzin bin Saud during the time when Oscar had been in Thailand. Even more telling that problems were brewing, there had been an attempt on the life of Reverend Leroy Jones as well. With the recent death of Happy Harry, it was as if the entire world was going crazy. "Georgia said they were coming with me," Oscar said while nodding his head in confirmation. Seeing the look on Oliver's face, he asked, "You wouldn't be trying to get a little peace and quiet?" "You might say that. I don't think I could take another three months of listening to them moan about how I was keeping you away from them," Oliver said. It seemed for the entire time Oscar had been gone that either Georgia or Debbie was on his case about sending their boyfriend away. Almost every time he had eaten in a student dining hall, one of them would arrange to be there to complain about his interference in their relationship with Oscar. "They did mention something about attempting to derail your vile plan to keep us apart," Oscar said with a grin. "My vile plan?" Oliver asked raising an eyebrow before he realized that Oscar was teasing him. Posturing in front of Oscar, he said, "I'll have you know that I'm the Grand Druid and there is nothing vile about my plans." "I heard something about you being a grand something or another, but Druid wasn't in the comment anywhere," Oscar said with a wink. Laughing, Oliver knew when he was defeated. Shaking his head, he asked, "What are you doing over the break between semesters?" "I think we are going to visit my parents," Oscar said. He looked down at the floor as memories of his visions returned and then back at Oliver. In a quiet voice, he said, "I think this will be the last time I get to visit with them." "You still have your fifth and sixth year to go," Oliver said hopefully. "We both know that I won't be here for the sixth year. I'll be in the Middle East," Oscar said. "You're so confident that will be the case?" Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Next Midwinter or the Midsummer after that I will be going to the glade. After that, I resume my service." "Do Georgia and Debbie know that?" "No, but they suspect it," Oscar said. Leaning closer to Oliver, he said, "I wish my service would start already. I'm tired of waiting." Oliver decided that it was time to change the topic of discussion. Grinning, he said, "Since you have nothing better to do, your friend William has arranged a little diversion for you while everyone else is studying." "What kind of diversion?" Oscar asked wondering what William could possibly have planned for him. "There are two artists waiting for you. I set up a studio for them in the office where you used to keep your robe during your first year here," Oliver answered. "Artists? What would artists want with me?" Oscar asked staring at the Grand Druid. "I heard that they had asked William for a real artistic challenge. They wanted to draw the ugliest person he knew. It seems that your name was the only one he could come up with," Oliver answered with a grin. Seeing the shocked look on Oscar's face, he burst out laughing. Shaking his head, Oscar said, "He just got our names confused, that's all. Oscar does sound a lot like Oliver." "I am the Grand Druid. You really shouldn't be making fun of me like that." "How should I be making fun of you?" Oscar asked trying to look as innocent as possible. "Get up there and let them try their talent against your ugly mug," Oliver said while chuckling. Laughing, Oscar went to the third floor of the Administration Building in search of the artists. Entering the appropriate room, he found that there was no one there. He did notice a sketch pad open to a page with Oliver's face drawn on it. It was a good likeness and seemed to catch that slightly tired and tense expression that came with great responsibility. A noise behind him caused him to turn around. He looked at the young man and middle aged woman at the door. They looked at him with critical eyes that saw more than most. He asked, "Are you the artists?" "I'm Karla Anderson." "I'm Dante." Oscar looked at the pair without recognizing the names. He said, "I'm Oscar Meyers." Karla went over to the sketch pad and picked it up. She turned to examine Oscar's face. The Druid was much younger and shorter than she had expected based on William's insistence that he was going to be as important to the world as John Carter. With pencil in hand, she flipped through the pages of the sketch pad until she found a clean sheet. "Don't move," she said. Without saying another word, she tried to capture her initial impression of him. While Karla was sketching Oscar, Dante circled around him. There was something missing. It was as if Oscar was supposed to have a prop of some sort, but he couldn't imagine what it was. Although he was tempted to keep facing Dante while the artist was circling him, Oscar watched Karla work on the sketch. He asked, "What are you doing?" "I've been commissioned to paint you," Karla answered. "I've been commissioned to sculpt you," Dante answered. There was the same sense of power about Oscar as there had been around Happy Harry. The problem was that the face looked too young and innocent despite the fact that his eyes gave the impression of having seen too much pain and misery. This statue was going to be a challenge. "He's got great eyes," Karla commented. "Yes, they are his best feature," Dante said. Great eyes alone didn't make a great statue; he was going to have to capture the man's entire spirit. Raising an eyebrow, Oscar said, "I think my girlfriends might disagree with you about that." Knowing that she'd probably regret it, Karla asked, "Oh? And what do you think they would say?" "Clearly it is my tall stature," Oscar answered with a grin. Figuring that Oscar was just about five feet in height, Dante chuckled and said, "You're a Druid all right." Looking down at his red robe, Oscar asked, "What gave it away?" "Your attitude," Karla answered with a grin. "Oh, yeah. I guess that is a little more obvious than the red robe." The exchange triggered a stray thought and Dante stopped his examination of Oscar. Considering the subject that William had commissioned in the past, he was convinced that Oscar had done or was about to do something very significant. He asked, "Why does William think you are so important that he commissioned the two of us?" Karla said, "William said that you were going to do something of international significance. I looked you up on the web and it seems that you've already done some pretty important things. Of course, it would take more than what I read to convince me that you are going to be as important as John." "John who?" Oscar asked hoping that it wasn't John Carter. "John Carter," Karla answered. "I was afraid that you were going to say that," Oscar said. The news that Oscar was going to be as important as John Carter came as a complete surprise to Dante. The expression on Oscar's face was what captured his attention. It was as if Oscar had suddenly aged ten years. There was the look of a tired man who was calling upon a reserve of strength and courage that would have deserted others. Curious, he asked, "What is it that William thinks you are going to do?" There was a small chair to one side of the room. Oscar went over to it and sat down. Looking at Karla and then over at Dante, he sighed and said, "I really can't say." "I knew John Carter ever since he started his service to the Goddess. You don't strike me as having that same presence of John." "I am not John Carter. You do a disservice to him and his family when you compare me to him," Oscar said. The last thing that he ever wanted was to be compared to John Carter, but he knew that one day that is what people would do. John Carter brought forth the Druids and Oscar Meyers brought peace to the Middle East. "That's odd. William Redman Carter is the one who suggested that you would be just as famous as John Carter," Dante said. "William said the same thing to me. I should almost mention that John's daughter, Beth, suggested that you would be as famous as her father," Karla said. "I told her not to make that comparison," Oscar said shaking his head. Looking up at the ceiling, he said, "This waiting is driving me crazy!" "Well, while you're waiting, we would like to get some preliminary sketches," Dante said. Hours later, the sound of pencils scratching on sketch pads was the only sound in the room. Ill at ease with being watched by the two artists, Oscar asked, "How much longer do I have to sit here?" A duet shouted, "Don't move." "I've been sitting here for hours," Oscar said. He looked up at the ceiling wondering if this was another trial by the powers that be. "You've got all of the patience of a gnat," Dante said. He had never seen anyone fidget so much during a sitting. "I could meditate," Oscar said knowing that his suggestion wouldn't be accepted. It was not the first time he had made it. Irritated at his continued movement, Karla looked up from her sketch pad and tore off another half completed drawing. She said, "It changes your whole face." "It's still my face. I don't steal anyone's face when I'm meditating," Oscar said. "You face loses all it's character," Dante said. He held up a drawing made while Oscar had been mediating. Even Oscar had to admit that it was a pretty bland face that had been captured. "You were in Afghanistan, weren't you?" Karla asked recalling a story about getting photographs of the Carter family. "Yes, I was," Oscar answered. "I'd like you to sit there and just remember one of those days when you were out there alone," Karla said picking up her pencil. Oscar's eyes narrowed and he stared straight ahead as if watching a scene play out in front of him. He was remembering one of the long days when he was lost in the middle of nowhere. A small group of men were traveling across the desert in front of him. It was hard to tell what side these men were on. They weren't driving one of the standard white trucks used by the terrorists. Instead, they were in a white Mercedes sedan. The sedan parked at a point not too far from where Oscar was hiding. Hours passed with the men in the sedan doing nothing. Finally, a dust plume appeared on the horizon. Oscar watched as the other vehicle approached. It took almost an hour for the vehicle to reach the other car. Looking down, Oscar expected to see several men get out of the new car. Instead, it was a man and a woman. From the first car, a young man got out and went over to the older man. They hugged. From his position, Oscar was able to make out the conversation. The older man was returning his daughter to his son-in-law now that things had quieted down a little in the area where the young man was living. The pair exchanged stories of the fighting around various locations. Oscar had considered joining them because they didn't seem to be terrorists and they might be able to return him to where his unit was stationed, but he didn't quite trust the young man. Just as they were getting ready to leave, the old man brought over a couple of guns and put them in the trunk of the car. Oscar heard the young man say that he was helping to kill the Americans, but he didn't want a return of the Taliban. It wasn't fanaticism at work. The young man just wanted all of the foreigners to leave his country. It didn't matter to him if they were Americans, Russians, or Arabs. He just wanted all of the foreigners to go home and leave them in peace. After promising to take care of his wife, the young man held the door open for her. Once she was in the car, he told his father-in- law that if anything happened to him that his brother would take in the woman and treat her in a proper Muslim fashion. Oscar took his finger off the trigger of his gun. Oscar watched the two cars go in their separate directions. He didn't stop them. They weren't the strong who were taking advantage of the weak. They were the weak who were just trying to get by in a land torn apart by years of foreign occupation. He hoped that they would find an oasis of peace and settle down. Looking around, Oscar saw that both artists had stopped drawing and were staring at the sketch pads in their laps. Curious, he asked, "What?" Without answering, Dante went over to where Karla was seated. He looked down at her sketch pad and examined her drawing. After a minute, he showed the drawing in his sketch pad to her. In a soft voice, he said, "You saw it too." The sketch in Dante's pad was from a different angle, but the two drawings could have been done by the same hand. She couldn't believe what the pencil had captured. She couldn't even imagine the kind of scene that Oscar must have been remembering. Karla said, "Hold up that picture of when he was mediating." Dante flipped though the sketch pad until he reached the requested drawing. Karla held up her drawing next to the other. Dante said, "You'd swear they were of two different people." Curious, Oscar asked, "What?" Karla held up her drawing for Oscar to see. The expression on his face was indescribable. There was a trace of anger, a hint of sorrow, a dash of compassion, and a large measure of control etched into his features. Although the control was in place to keep the anger at bay, it was also keeping the tears in check as well. It suggested to Oscar that the pair of artists mush have caught the flavor of the entire conflict in Afghanistan in their drawings. He compared that to the picture Dante held up and said, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but I prefer the one of me when I was meditating. I look at peace in it." Dante looked over at Oscar for a long minute and then asked, "Are you at peace?" Touching the spot where his medallion had once hung, Oscar answered, "I don't know. I don't think it really matters." ------- Chapter 33 Kotyit, with a young man standing beside him, watched the young man approach followed by his two girlfriends. Looking at the trio, there was no way to mistake them for anything other than whites. He hoped the other students wouldn't be too hard on them, but knew that hope was slim. This was the Native American College, not Paleface College, and the students would be reluctant to embrace whites living on their campus. At least he was wearing blue jeans rather than the red robe. That one bright spot was undermined since the red head was wearing a blue robe. Approaching the main building of the Native American College, Oscar paused and looked around. The architecture of the buildings seemed to be an ad hoc mixture of different styles. There were buildings that looked like they were made of adobe that served as dorms. There were several buildings with what appeared to be long houses attached that served as entrances. These were the buildings in which classes were held. A single modern style building served as administration. Turning to Debbie, he said, "We're not in Kansas anymore." Kotyit stepped forward and said, "Welcome to the Native American College." "Thank you," Oscar said. Debbie looked around and said, "It is pretty here." "This is David Bear Claw. He'll be your guide until you get settled in," Kotyit said. "Nice to meet you," Oscar replied looking over at the young man. He guessed the man was a second year student at the college. David Bear Claw just stared at the three whites and shook his head. He was not happy about having them on campus. It was even worse that they were Druids. Like many others, he grouped the Druids with the New Age conmen who were ripping off the Native American culture. He folded his arms and glared at Oscar. "Friendly," Oscar commented to Debbie. Georgia was angry and the look she gave David Bear Claw was almost enough to flay him alive. "We do not normally have coed dorms, but Oliver said that the three of you would have to room together. If you'll come with me, I'll show you to your room," Kotyit said ignoring the tension. He gestured to the adobe style building. The trio followed Kotyit to the dorm and dropped their stuff inside their room. Although the outside appeared to be an adobe complex, the rooms inside were just standard dorm rooms. They followed Kotyit to the cafeteria where he handed them three meal cards. "Since we won't be issuing you regular student IDs, this card will allow you to buy your meals." "Oh, so I guess I better carry it with me all of the time," Oscar said. Debbie asked, "How do we use it?" "Just give it to the cashier and they'll charge your meal against your balance," Kotyit answered. David Bear Claw, the young man who had been accompanying them, asked, "How do they do it at the Druid College?" "Our meals are free," Debbie answered looking at the card. She was thinking that it would make a nice memento of her visit to the college. David Bear Claw grunted and said, "Figures. White man school." Kotyit stopped and looked at the young man with him. In a soft voice, he said, "The Druid College is a sister college with ours. Oscar and Debbie are not the first students from there that we've hosted." "Who was the first?" David Bear Claw asked. "William Redman Carter." Oscar nodded and said, "William told me about his time here. He really enjoyed it. He mentioned something about putting a rattlesnake in a bed." Kotyit laughed and said, "Yes. Talks With Animals did put a snake in my bed. Of course, the snake had promised him that he wouldn't hurt me." David Bear Claw stared at Oscar and asked, "How do you know Talks With Animals?" "He's a friend of mine," Oscar answered. He wandered off to see what the food looked like in the cafeteria. It wasn't quite the quality of the food at the Druid College, but it was better than the food in the Army. Debbie looked over at David Bear Claw and said, "They are very good friends." Kotyit looked at Debbie and said, "I'll take you over to your laboratory. The Druid College was kind enough to donate all of the equipment that you'll need." Looking at Kotyit, Georgia said, "I thought that John Carter funded this school." "He did, but we can always use more equipment as the school grows," Kotyit answered. The next morning, Oscar was led out to a wooded area along with the rest of the first year students. It was the first day of school and they were to participate in what had become a school tradition. They were told to make their way to a teepee on the far end of the woods. On the way, seniors, who were using standard whiteboard markers as if they were knives, would try to mark them. Even if marked, the students were to continue onto the teepee. The goal was to reach the teepee without getting marked. In practice, the goal was to reach the teepee with as few marks as possible. Four hours later, Oscar strolled into the teepee without a single mark on him. The rest of the students were waiting for him. Without exception, each looked miserable. The students were covered with a patchwork of red, black, blue, orange, green, and yellow. Squatting just inside the door, he asked, "What happened to you?" "We got caught," one of the young men answered. Flipping one of the markers, Oscar said, "Looks like twenty of them found you." "It was a bunch," the young man said shaking his head. He had been walking through the woods and one of the seniors had grabbed him. Before he had known what was happening, they had drawn all kinds of things on him. "Hey, where did you get that marker?" Looking at the marker in his hand, Oscar grinned and said, "It's a long story. You guys aren't the only ones who look like they were in a paint factory explosion." At lunch, thirty very unhappy seniors were all seated around the cafeteria. Each of them was marked with a red line across their throats. The other seniors were teasing them about letting the white man sneak up on them. Although none of them was willing to admit it, they were actually pretty impressed that Oscar had managed to make it through the course unmarked. Carrying his tray, Oscar sat down next to Georgia and said, "You would have had fun out there." "Kotyit said that women weren't allowed," Georgia said with a snarl. Smiling, Oscar said, "That doesn't mean that we can't repeat the experience this weekend." Grinning, Georgia asked, "Should I go over to where all those unhappy people are seated and see if I can't make arrangements for me to try the course?" "With or without me?" Oscar asked. "I'd like to try it alone," Georgia answered looking at him as if daring him to say that she couldn't succeed. "Have at it," Oscar said with a smile. Watching Georgia walk over to the seniors, Debbie leaned over to Oscar and asked, "What are her chances of doing as well as you did?" "Pretty good," Oscar said. He knew just how good Georgia was in that kind of situation. She'd give the seniors a run for their money. Georgia returned to the table a few minutes later and said, "It's all set up. They weren't exactly willing at first, but changed their minds when I said that I was normally your partner in war games like that." "That's it. Ride on the coattails of the master," Oscar said polishing his finger nails on his shirt. Georgia playfully hit him on the shoulder and said, "I'd rather ride on the face of the pussy slave." Sticking out his tongue, Oscar said, "That can be arranged." The next day was spent in his four classes. The first class of the day was representative of his entire day. An instructor sat at the front of the classroom telling stories from different tribes about the creation of the universe. With each story, the instructor would introduce the tribe from which the story originated. The students were seated on the floor around the storyteller listening intently. Confused, Oscar listened to the stories wondering when the lesson was going to start. He had understood that the class was about Native American culture. At the end of an hour and a half, the instructor dismissed the class. Once the other students cleared the room, Oscar asked, "When does the regular class start?" The instructor, a middle aged man by the name of Pale Elk, turned to look at Oscar with an amused expression on his face. The confusion on Oscar's face reminded him of another student who had been in his class years earlier. He answered, "It started today." "You just told stories," Oscar said. "That's true. It was my first lecture of the class." "Isn't this class on Native American culture?" Oscar asked. "Yes, it is," Pale Elk answered enjoying the obvious confusion on Oscar's face. "I don't understand," Oscar said. "How else is a student to understand our cultures if it isn't through the stories that tie the people of a tribe together?" "Stories?" Oscar asked. He had expected a lecture to covering where each tribe lived, what they ate, and how their tribe was structured. Instead he had gotten stories about animals that weren't quite animals. "Yes, stories are what make a culture. How many children are raised listening to stories of Cinderella, Robin Hood, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves? These are what give people a common vocabulary and starting point for their interactions with others. The stories told by white men are all around us, but what you heard today are our stories," the man answered. "What was I supposed to get out of the stories you told today?" "I told the stories of many tribes today. Maybe you should have recognized that I not only told you the story of those tribes, but I also told you how those tribes differ," Pale Elk answered. "Okay," Oscar said feeling very uncertain about his course of study. He asked, "Is there a book with all of those stories?" "No." "How am I supposed to study them?" Grinning, Pale Elk answered, "You are supposed to remember them." Disgusted, Georgia sat down in the cafeteria next to Oscar. There were three marks from the markers on her face and arms. Oscar looked at her and asked, "What happened?" "Two of them ambushed me," Georgia said. It was very obvious that she wasn't happy with the outcome. "There are three marks on you," Oscar said. "I marked myself accidentally," she answered in disgust at her performance. She had made a stupid blunder that she would never have made in Afghanistan and it had cost her. While Georgia may have been disgusted by her performance, the forty seniors who had participated in the war game were impressed. The two that had marked her had waited by the teepee to catch her just before she entered. She had been casually flipping her marker while walking through what appeared to be a safe area when they had risen from pits in the ground right at her feet. She had been totally surprised. Oscar asked, "How many of them did you get?" "All but the two who marked me," Georgia answered. This had been much more difficult than paint ball since it required her to get up close to the enemy. She had to use every skill that she had learned in Afghanistan. "You did better than me," Oscar said. He had gone against a hundred of them, but he had nine teammates. Of course, his teammates had ditched him at the first possible opportunity thinking that he would only get them caught. Pointing to the red line on her right arm, she said, "I did this to myself." Grinning at her, Oscar bent over and kissed it. Straightening up, he said, "There. I kissed it all better." David Bear Claw sat down at the table and looked at Georgia. Surprised to see that she had come through the war game in such good shape, he said, "It looks like you did well. I noticed a few of the seniors were marked." "Thanks. I was stupid right at the end," Georgia said. She frowned for a minute and then asked, "I was told that there was actually a course on fighting like that. Why do you have the war games?" David Bear Claw was slowly coming to respect the trio of whites. He leaned forward and said, "Our instructors say that many of life's hardest lessons are easiest learned on the battle field. Patience, attention to detail, and a full awareness of your surroundings are important things to know. It is also important to understand that in any endeavor that some will be casualties. It may be your friend or it may be you." Georgia glanced at Oscar and said, "That is true. It is just that we didn't expect that lesson to be taught in college." David Bear Claw looked down at the table and said, "At one time in our past, that was a fact of life that was learned early in life. Our men trained their entire lives to be braves. Boys sat beside their fathers and learned how to make their first bows and arrows. They hunted rabbits, squirrels, and birds before moving up to bigger game. They sat around campfires at night while listening to stories about feats of bravery in battle. "It is different in modern times. We sit in front of televisions and watch cartoon superheroes as boys. Those superheroes are not real men. Real men can't fly through the sky or deflect bullets with metal bracelets. "Our hunting is limited to a few days a year. The rest of the time we rummage through a refrigerator. Many of us come here thinking that meat comes wrapped in plastic. Today, our first real chance to learn those lessons is here at the college." Oscar nodded his head in understanding. In a soft voice, he said, "What you say is true for all modern people. There was a time when boys would work beside their fathers and learn the skills that would hopefully enable them to make their way through life. Men would tell stories that would let the younger generation know how to act. Today, those stories have been replaced by television. The stories aren't real and don't teach the right lessons. We are all losing touch with what made us what we are." David Bear Claw said, "But the stories on the television are those created by and for white men." "It doesn't have to be that way," Oscar said. "If we put our stories on the television, they get stolen and changed by the whites," David Bear Claw said with more than a little anger in his voice. "You can't have it both ways. You can't share your culture and keep it private at the same time," Oscar said. "That doesn't stop us from wanting to have it both ways. That is why so many are hostile towards you." Oscar laughed and said, "You may not know that I've fought in real battles. I recognize hostility when I see it. What I've seen here is just minor irritation." Georgia nodded her head in agreement. She looked around the room and said, "There isn't hate towards whites in here. There's anger, but not hate." David Bear Claw had not known that Oscar had fought in a real battle. The offhand comment about hostility roused his curiosity. He decided that he would see what more he could find out about Oscar. He turned his attention to his food and ate wondering when his own anger at having a white man on campus had turned to irritation. Debbie entered the cafeteria and went over to where Georgia and Oscar were seated. Throwing herself into a chair, she said, "I think I hate synthesizing organic dyes." "What's the matter?" Holding up her blue colored hands, she said, "I spilled some of the dye I was making. I smurfed myself." "I hope it isn't toxic," Georgia said looking at Debbie's hands. They were rather gross looking. "It is the same chemical that makes blueberries blue," Debbie answered. Shaking her head, she stared at her blue hands in disgust. Clearly irritated by her accident, she said, "I have to do it all over again. It took me three days to create that batch and now there isn't a large enough sample to turn in for a grade." Holding up her arm and pointing to the red streak down its length, Georgia said, "Welcome to the first meeting of the colored people." Winking at David Bear Claw, Oscar said, "We might want to get out of here before they consider making us members by beating us black and blue." Oscar was returning from his class thinking about the material and the way in which it was being taught. Kotyit noticed him walking along and went to join him. The young man looked far too serious to be enjoying himself. On reaching Oscar, Kotyit asked, "What do you think of your classes so far?" "They are okay." Kotyit had expected something that was a little more positive than that. Curious, he asked, "Okay? Is there something wrong with your classes?" "Not really," Oscar answered. "It sounds to me like you haven't really connected with the material." "It is a different style of instruction," Oscar said. "Different?" "So far, I keep encountering different teaching styles. At the Druid College, the instructors for the introductory courses are the best in their field. They work to establish a very solid foundation in the basics. The Jewish scholar taught the material through a very formal process in which every line of the Torah was examined for all potential meanings. The Reverend Leroy Jones approached the material in the same manner, but it was much less formal. The Islamic approach had less experienced people teaching the basics while reserving the best people for later in the education process. In Thailand, things were taught through a process of guided self discovery. Now, I'm listening to stories and trying to extract some sort of order out of them all," Oscar answered. "What have you found to be the best method of instruction?" "I don't know. I felt more comfortable with how the Druids approached it," Oscar answered with a shrug. "Yet you learned the material regardless of how it was taught," Kotyit said. "I guess," Oscar answered. After a moment of thought, he said, "I forgot to mention the army way of teaching." "What's that?" "You do what you are told over and over until it becomes second nature," Oscar answered. He laughed and said, "In a way, that's the easiest way to learn." Kotyit and Oscar walked along side by side for a while. Before they reached the dorm, Kotyit took Oscar's arm and stopped beside a small flower garden. Turning to Oscar, he asked, "When it comes time for you to teach others, how will you go about it?" "I guess I hadn't thought about it," Oscar answered. He wondered if his service would involve teaching. He sighed and said, "I haven't really had much time to consider things like that." "Tell me about time." Oscar looked over at Kotyit wondering what the old man was trying to tell him. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "We use time to order our lives." "Ah," Kotyit said. Curious, he asked, "How do your fellow students treat time?" "I've wondered why they seem to show up in class early or late with equal ease," Oscar answered. That had actually been one of the most puzzling things about the classes. It seemed that they didn't always start on time. A student who showed up late to a Druid class could expect to be asked to leave. Here, it was almost expected that half of the class would show up late. "You are right about using time to order our lives, but don't confuse that with allowing time to control your life." Kotyit knelt down beside the garden and smelled one of the flowers. Looking up at Oscar, he said, "When it comes time for you to pass on what you know to others, don't forget the first way you were taught." "What's that?" Oscar asked trying to follow the discussion. "By example," Kotyit answered. He stood up feeling his age. Once standing he looked down at the flowers planted around the outside of the building. "By example?" Oscar asked. Smiling, Kotyit gestured to the flowers and said, "Sometimes you just might want to stop and smell the flowers. There should always be time for that." ------- Chapter 34 The horse shook its head and danced sideways as a result of the horsefly. Oscar leaned over and patted the horse on the neck. The horse calmed down. Looking over at Debbie and Georgia on their horses, he said, "Tell me again how it is that you know how to ride." Debbie rolled her eyes and said, "I'm a girl, girls love horses, and I grew up in the country. Add all of that together and you get the fact that it was absolutely necessary for me to learn how to ride. That was when I was a little girl." "I took riding lessons because riding a horse made me feel real good," Georgia answered with a grin. She winked at Debbie knowing that she would understand exactly what she meant by feeling real good. Wanapitz, an elderly man who appeared to be in his early eighties, looked over at the trio and said, "It is time we hit the trail." "Okay," Oscar said staring at his horse with an edge of distrust. Wanapitz nudged his horse forward expecting the others to follow behind him. Debbie and Georgia followed behind the elderly man. Oscar looked down at his horse and said, "Go." When nothing happened, he tried to nudge the horse with his heels. It moved forward three steps and stopped. Oscar leaned over and said, "You and I are about to have some problems." The horse ignored Oscar in the manner of all horses that are unimpressed with their rider. Oscar kicked the horse a little harder and it moved forward a couple of more steps. When it went to stop, Oscar used his heels just a little harder. Deciding that it had enough of that, the horse bucked. Georgia happened to look back at Oscar in time to see the horse attempt to get rid of its rider. It was an unsuccessful attempt as were the several attempts that followed. Oscar relaxed and rode the bucking horse. When it finally calmed down, he nudged it with his heels. The horse turned its head and looked back at him. Grinning at his troubles, Georgia called back, "Quit playing with the horse." Oscar glared in her direction and said, "I'm not playing. This horse is broken. It doesn't go where I tell it." Debbie and Georgia turned their horses to watch Oscar try to get his horse moving. They laughed so hard that they were practically falling out of their saddles. Frustrated, Oscar climbed out of the saddle and walked in front of the horse. Pulling the reins, he led the horse over to where the two girls were waiting for him. Wanapitz turned and looked back at the trio. Riding over to them, he asked, "What's the matter? Did it throw you off?" "It's broke," Oscar said. Concerned, Wanapitz climbed off his horse and went over to Oscar's horse. He examined the animal with great care and said, "I don't find anything wrong with it. What's the matter?" "It's broke. It doesn't go where I tell it to go." Wanapitz looked at Oscar as if he were an alien from outer space. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "You don't know how to ride, do you?" "Well, not exactly," Oscar answered feeling a little embarrassed. He had assumed that the Gods and Goddesses would have given him the skill to ride a horse. "Get on the horse," Wanapitz said sounding a little frustrated. They should have left an hour earlier, but the trio seemed to have frittered away their time getting ready. Once Oscar was on the horse, Wanapitz grabbed the reins and led the horse over to his horse. He climbed up and nudged his horse forward. Oscar's horse followed along without complaint. He muttered, "I'm getting too old for this." Georgia and Debbie rode beside Oscar. Georgia said, "Little Oscar can't ride." "Poor little Oscar," Debbie said with a little pout on her face. Smiling at him, she added, "The horsy doesn't want to play nice." Oscar grumbled while holding onto the saddle horn. He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation when the pair of women started laughing. Turning to them, he said, "It wouldn't start for me." The two girls burst out laughing again. Even Wanapitz turned and looked at Oscar like he was crazy. Unable to believe that he would ever have this conversation, Wanapitz said, "It is not a car, it is an animal. You don't start an animal." "So how do you make it go?" Oscar asked. It took the rest of the day, but Oscar finally learned enough about controlling the horse to ride it without being led. Debbie and Georgia had enjoyed the entire afternoon. It was more than just the entertainment value provided by Oscar. The rubbing of the saddles had a pleasurable effect on the women. Of course, the saddle had just the opposite effect on Oscar. When he got off of the horse when they stopped for the night, he walked like a horse was still between his legs. Looking around the campsite, Oscar said, "We are definitely in Kansas." "It's so flat," Debbie said. She turned around looking at the horizon. There was a farmhouse and a telephone pole visible in the distance. She said, "There's nothing out here." "What are we doing here?" Oscar asked. All he knew was that Wanapitz had said that he would be shown one of the great spiritual sights of the plains Indians. "You will see tomorrow," Wanapitz answered. "You said that we would see it today," Oscar said. Wanapitz replied, "That was before we found out that you didn't know how to ride a horse. We would have been there two hours ago." "Sorry. How was I supposed to know that there was more to riding a horse than staying on it?" Oscar asked. The four of them went through the process of setting up a camp and preparing dinner. They finished eating just before sunset. While the sky was getting darker, Oscar said, "I didn't realize you enjoyed camping, Debbie." "It is okay. I much prefer roughing it in a four star hotel," she replied with a smile. She had gone camping several times as a girl scout, although it wasn't under conditions this rough. There were pleasant memories of eating S'mores around the campfire with the other girl scouts. Leaning back onto his sleeping bag, Oscar pointed up in the sky and said, "The stars are starting to come out." "There will be a lot of stars this far from civilization," Georgia said. It reminded her of the night sky in Afghanistan. It had been isolated there and the stars had covered the sky. When the moon was full, it was bright enough to read a newspaper. "It reminds me of Afghanistan," Oscar said. "I was just thinking that," Georgia said with a laugh. Listening to the two of them compare their impressions of that far away land, Debbie wished that she had a chance to share that time with them. Georgia always had a very special tone in her voice that spoke of longing when she mentioned Afghanistan. She sighed and said, "It must have been wonderful there." Georgia laughed and said, "It was anything but wonderful. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. I'll never forget the dust. The dust was year round." "Still, you speak of it with such fondness," Debbie said. The truth was that Georgia had enjoyed being a warrior. For the first time in her life she had felt complete and able to explore aspects of herself that civilization had denied her. There had been very little about her at the time that was lady-like. She dressed in fatigues, wore combat boots, and, at times, carried a gun. Georgia answered, "You wouldn't have recognized me back then." "What was it like?" Looking over at Oscar, Georgia said, "We were alone there. With just the two of us, we tended to seek comfort with each other at every opportunity." Debbie was quiet for a moment and then asked, "Are you unhappy that I..." Shaking her head, Georgia interrupted, "Not for one minute. When I said that we were alone there, I meant that we were alone there. Even though we were training people, most of the time we were the only ones in camp. We were both lonely for much of the time." "You had him to yourself," Debbie said pointing to Oscar. She noticed that he had fallen asleep. "Now we not only have each other, but we also have you. I think that is an improvement," Georgia answered. She turned to get confirmation from Oscar and saw that he was sound asleep. Chuckling, she said, "It's at times like now that having you around is a real advantage." They left early the next morning. After riding for two hours, Oscar felt that they had officially reached the middle of nowhere. There wasn't a human structure to be seen anywhere. Wanapitz said, "We've finally made it." Turning to the old man, Oscar asked, "You say we're there?" "Yes," the old man answered. He climbed off his horse and stretched. There were times when he truly felt his eighty years. Walking over to a bare patch of ground, he squatted and grabbed a short stick that was lying on the ground. Holding up the stick, he said, "This is the place. Come here." Dismounting, Oscar walked over to where Wanapitz was squatting. Even after just two hours of riding, he was walking bowlegged and wondered if he would ever walk right again. Looking at the stick, he said, "You say that we came all the way here to look at that stick." Chuckling at the comment, Wanapitz rose with a general creaking of bones and handed the stick to Oscar. He said, "Hold this down so that it touches the ground." Oscar followed the instructions looking over at Georgia and Debbie feeling like a fool. The old man shook his head and said, "Hold it out as far from you as you can while still touching the end of it to the ground." Oscar adjusted his position and asked, "Like this?" "Yes, now rotate around dragging the stick through the dirt," Wanapitz said. Oscar did as he was told. When he had returned to his initial position, he asked, "Now what?" "What did you draw in the dirt?" Oscar looked around and then answered, "A circle." "What is at the center of the circle?" "I am," Oscar answered wondering what the point of the entire exercise was. It seemed to him that they had come a long way just to draw circles in the dirt. He could have done that back at the Native American College. "Now hold out the stick so that it points to the horizon and then rotate while watching the end of the stick," Wanapitz said with a smile. Oscar did as he was instructed. Throughout his turn, the stick had remained pointed at the horizon. Anticipating the next question, he said, "It stayed pointing at the horizon." "What shape did it trace out?" "A circle," Oscar said. He thought about it for a second and then realized the significance of his answer. He repeated, "It traced out a circle." "That's right. What is at the center of the circle?" "I am," Oscar answered. Thinking it was a phenomenon that was isolated to this one location, Georgia said, "Cool. That really is a magical spot." Amused at her comment, Wanapitz pointed to Oscar and said, "Move over there a ways and do it again." Oscar repeated his action and found the same result. After he reported his findings, Georgia said, "He's still close to this spot. I doubt he'd be able to tell the difference." Smiling at Georgia's innocent comment, Wanapitz said, "Ride fifteen minutes in any direction and try it again." Looking at Debbie and Georgia, Oscar got on his horse and rode north for fifteen minutes. He stopped and looked around. He repeated the experiment expecting to get the same result. He rode back to the other three at a slower pace while thinking about what he had learned. When he arrived, he said, "I got the same result." "No matter where you go in the plain, the horizon forms a circle with you at the center," Wanapitz said. He stretched and twisted with a groan. There was a loud pop from one of his knees. He pointed to the horizon. After turning in place, he said, "The horizon forms a circle with me at the center. Such is the way of the plains. The horizon forms a great circle centered on each person." Not believing Wanapitz, Georgia dismounted from her horse. Holding out her arm, she swept out the horizon while turning in place. She saw that it did form a circle with her at the center. Eyes wide, she said, "It's true." "We each walk in the center of our own world. Remember that. When you lose yourself, you can always go to a flat place to find yourself. You will be the one standing at the center of a great circle," Wanapitz said while watching Oscar's expression. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Thank you for showing this to me." Wanapitz said, "We normally leave a student out here for three days to fully grasp the experience. Each student comes out here alone." Debbie had been silent throughout the entire explanation thinking about the consequences. Even after Wanapitz and Oscar had mounted their horses, she sat there deep in thought. Looking over at Wanapitz, she said, "This is so sad." Raising both eyebrows, Wanapitz asked, "Why?" "We are each the center of a great circle, but no two people share the same circle." "That is another great truth that comes from this experience. We each live in our own world defined by the great circle. No two of us share an identical world," Wanapitz said. "It makes me feel lonely," Debbie said. Georgia said, "I know what you mean. I look around and it is like the world and the sky goes on forever. It forces me to realize just how small I am." "That is another great truth that comes from this experience. That lesson is really brought home at night," Wanapitz said nodding at Georgia. "It's a strange mixture of truths. We feel important because we are the center of our world. We feel alone because none can share our world with us. We feel small because the world is so big that we are nothing in comparison," Oscar said. "You have spoken a great truth. In one hour, you have seen the great secret of the plains." "It is not a secret of the plains. It is only here that it is easy to discover that secret." Wanapitz nodded; pleased to see that the three had picked up the lesson so quickly. He said, "Let's ride out. We need to get back to the house so that you can leave in the morning." As they rode, Georgia asked, "Why did you require us to ride so far?" "Look around you. There isn't a man made structure in sight. There are no telephone poles, houses, windmills, or even fences. This is one of the few places left where you can stand and see nothing made by man," Wanapitz said. Grinning, he added, "It is also flat as Kansas." "We are in Kansas," Debbie said automatically. Lost in his thoughts, Oscar missed the exchange about Kansas. His thoughts were on the comment that this was one of the few places where one could stand and see nothing made by man. As far as Oscar was concerned it was a sad commentary on the expansionist nature of man. He rode in silence for a minute and then said, "There are the national parks." "Even the large national parks are cut through with roads and dotted with fences and other structures. They aren't as untouched as here," Wanapitz said with a sad expression. It seemed to him that the natural world was disappearing. Even here, the land was covered with wheat rather than Buffalo Grass. In a few weeks, great combines would come through and harvest the wheat. The combines would be followed by trucks. Once the wheat was gone, the combines would leave, but the plain would remain. Georgia listened to the exchange and said, "At least the electric lines are gone and the telephone poles are only isolated microwave towers. The fusion battery of John Carter eliminated a lot of eyesores." "It also made it possible for people to live in remote locations," Wanapitz said. With cheap power, there were people who lived in the most inhospitable places in the world. He had heard about a man who lived near the artic circle in a house that was heated and powered by a fusion battery. The man grew all of his own food using grow lights and hydroponics. He sighed and said, "As a result, there are very few remote locations any more." The ride back to the house where they had started was taken in silence. As they rode, Oscar occasionally looked up at the sky watching the sun make its way across the heavens. He didn't need to wonder what it would have been like to be left alone out here. He had experienced the same isolation in the past. Even then, there had been people in the most unlikely of places. Before reaching the farmhouse, Oscar asked, "Why were you the one to take me out there?" "Why do you ask?" Wanapitz asked. "You don't seem to be of an age to do this every three days," Oscar answered. Laughing, Wanapitz said, "We can't put anything over on you." "So answer the question." "Kotyit told me that you were special. He hinted that if I went out there with you that I might learn why you are special." Oscar studied the elderly man and then looked around. Leaning over to Wanapitz, he asked in a low voice, "What do you know about William Redman Carter?" "I'm not sure what you are asking about." "His special abilities," Oscar hinted. "Do you mean his ability to talk to animals or his ability to see the future?" "The later," Oscar answered. Wanapitz was quiet for a minute and then said, "When I was teaching at the College, William was one of my students. He had this uncanny ability to know what was going to happen before it happened. I asked him about it one day and he told me that he could see the future. I believed him." "William said that I am to bring peace to the Middle East," Oscar said. The old man nodded his head and thought about the number of men who had died while lifting the ancient curse that had been put upon the Native Americans. He said, "Great magic carries a great price." "Yes, it does." Looking over at Oscar with a sad expression on his face, he asked, "Do your lady friends know this?" "Yes," Oscar answered with a curt nod of his head. "I imagine they are not too happy about that." "You can say that again." It went far to explain why they were unwilling to allow Oscar to make this trip alone. He thought about the price that Oscar would have to pay. The idea that someone so young would have to pay such a high price saddened him. Shaking his head, he said, "I hope that I'm dead before you do that." "Why?" Oscar asked. He thought that most people would like to know that there would be peace before they died. "I would not like to watch what happens to you. I like you. I think you are a very funny man," Wanapitz said as Georgia and Debbie rode up to join them. Having only caught the last bit of what the old man was saying, Debbie asked, "Who is funny?" "Oscar." Georgia asked, "Why do you say that he's funny?" "My horse is broke because it doesn't go where I tell it to go. You have to admit, that is funny." ------- Chapter 35 Returning to their dorm room, Debbie noticed that Oscar's name had been removed from the name plaque beside the door and had been replaced by We Gahe Sukawaka. She thought about mentioning it to Oscar, but unpacking from their trip to the great plain drove the thought form her mind. Of course, Oscar didn't help by making jokes about how much gear she had taken on the trip. After unpacking, the trio went to find some food. On the way, one of the students nodded at the three of them. It took them by surprise since most of the students were still distant around Oscar. When the student was about to pass Oscar, he grinned and said, "We Gahe Sukawaka." Turning to look at the student, Oscar asked Georgia, "Did he say we go suck water?" "I don't think so," Georgia answered although it did sound a little similar to that. Debbie shrugged her shoulders and said, "Let's eat. I'm starved." "Sure thing," Oscar said. He put an arm around Debbie and then around Georgia. The trio had just about reached the cafeteria when another student, while passing them, grinned and said, "We Gahe Sukawaka." Georgia said, "I don't know what he said, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't we go suck water. It sounded more like, We going suck a egg." "That wasn't it," Oscar said staring at the back of the student walking away from them. The three of them turned in time to see another student who was passing by chuckle and say, "We Gahe Sukawaka." Confused they went into the cafeteria and picked out a meal. When they went to pay for it, the cashier looked at Oscar and said, "We Gahe Sukawaka." It didn't seem like a malicious statement, but it seemed to him as if some joke was being played upon him. Oscar asked, "What did you just say to me?" "We Gahe Sukawaka." "What does that mean?" Oscar asked. "It's your new name," the cashier answered with a grin. Not having a good feeling about what he would learn, Oscar requested, "Would you translate that for me into English?" The cashier looked around the room and said, "Go ask David Bear Claw." Frowning Oscar picked up his tray and headed over to the table where David Bear Claw was seated. The young man laughed when Oscar put his tray on table and asked, "How are you doing, Oscar Meyers?" Frowning, Oscar asked "What are people calling me?" "We Gahe Sukawaka." David Bear Claw answered just as Debbie and Georgia arrived at the table with their trays. "What does it mean?" Oscar asked taking his seat. "It means Broken Horse." David Bear Claw answered. He chuckled at the expression of dismay that flickered across Oscar's face. Georgia and Debbie burst out laughing. Georgia was the first of the three to recover and said, "Just think about it, Oscar. You can be the main character in the movie, A Man Called Broken Horse." The entire table broke out laughing while Oscar laid his head on the table and covered it with his hands. One of the other students said, "I'm not sure there is a Hollywood actor short enough to play that role." "Just kill me and be done with it," Oscar said with a groan. He knew he was never going to live down his first horse ride. He sat back in his chair and eyed his food. He said, "I think I just lost my appetite." "Eat well, We Gahe Sukawaka. Tomorrow you begin your fast," David Bear Claw said. "I forgot about that," Oscar said looking down at his food. It would be three days before he had a chance to eat again. Oscar stumbled away from the sweat lodge and followed the path to a private place. He had no idea what to expect. Kotyit had suggested that he would encounter an animal spirit and it would lead him to a vision. This was to be a private journey that Oscar would share with the wise men when he returned. The small meadow seemed to be the perfect place to stop and Oscar collapsed onto the ground. Lying on his back, he stared up at the blue sky above wondering what animal would come to him. The ground was soft underneath his body, giving him the feeling that it was embracing him. He looked to his left and saw the fat man sitting next to him. "You were expecting an animal?" the fat man asked. The feminine timber to his voice was always a wonder to Oscar. "Sure," Oscar answered not wanting to rise from his position. His clothes were gone and his cock painfully erect. "How about a duck? Maybe a chicken? I know, how about a rabbit?" the Two-Sided One asked. Oscar sat up and gazed upon the Two-Sided One. Once again he wondered how it was that he had been chosen to serve a power of such mystery. The idea that he could be so blessed took his breath away. One could claim that by human standards that the figure before him was grotesque. That would be true for a person who saw only through human eyes. The Two-Sided One was the embodiment of all mysteries. The body was constantly shifting from male to female. The Two-Sided One understood both the male and female spirit. The Two-Sided One embodied all of the secrets of the human mind. Not knowing where the words came from, Oscar said, "At least you didn't offer a horse." The Two-Sided One chuckled and said, "That's what I like about you. You have a wonderful sense of humor." The transformation from male to female completed. The Two- Sided One was rubbing herself between the legs, a finger dipping into the slit that hid under rolls of fat. Oscar's erection became painful. He glanced over to the side and saw a pair of copulating rabbits. Looking back at the Two-Sided One, Oscar asked, "Am I to begin my service now?" The Two-Sided One lifted a monstrous breast and toyed with her nipple. After a long minute, she said, "When you started, I sent you to the Druid College without telling you of the service that I was requesting." "And I accepted it without knowing what you asked of me," Oscar said nodding his head. "Over time it became clear to you that you were to bring peace to the Middle East," the Two-Sided One said. "Yes," Oscar said thinking about how his service had been presented to him; unfolding over time with hints of it here and there. The Two Sided One studied Oscar and then said, "You do not have to accept this service." "I have accepted it," Oscar said confident that he was accepting his death by his answer. "You must understand the full consequences of your decision to accept this service before I will accept you," the Two-Sided One said. The feminine figure was changing to the masculine. The breasts were shrinking with the belly growing. Her clitoris was elongating into a penis. Oscar looked at the Two-Sided One and said, "I will die because of this service. I know that." "You fully accept that as a consequence of your service?" the Two-Sided One asked. His hand snaked down to his cock and started playing with it. "Yes, I do," Oscar said. "So you accept this service fully aware that it will lead to your death?" the Two-Sided One asked. "Yes," Oscar answered knowing that by his answer, he was accepting his death. "Why?" Oscar was silent while trying to formulate an answer. After five minutes, he looked up at the Two-Sided One with tears in his eyes. He answered, "When I began my service to the God, I was about to be killed. The years since then have been the happiest of my life. They were years that I would not have had without the intervention of the Gods and Goddesses. How can I refuse your request?" "By saying, I won't do it," the Two-Sided One answered. "I can't," Oscar replied. His erection throbbed as the figure started to blur in front of him. The Two-Sided One appeared to become two people, a man and a woman joined by holding hands. Both were amazingly beautiful. The woman leaned over and kissed Oscar on the forehead. In a soft voice, she said, "You can, but you won't." "I won't," Oscar said feeling that he had stepped across a very important line. His cock was so hard that it had become painful. He believed that his service would begin at that moment. The male reached out and touched Oscar's shoulder. In a deep, very masculine voice, he said, "We will ask you again when you are to begin your service." "It is not to begin now?" Oscar asked feeling tears welling up in his eyes. "Not yet," the woman said. "What have I failed to do?" Oscar asked wanting nothing more than to begin his service. The male half of the Two-Sided One said, "Things must develop according to their own time. The ways of men are slow and attitudes take time to develop. The conditions must be right or all is lost." "Do I have the wrong attitude?" Oscar asked looking from man to woman and back again. "The fault is not within you, but in others," the female half added in a voice that was so sexy that hearing it was almost sufficient to trigger an orgasm. "Enjoy the time between now and when I call you to service, Oscar Meyers," said the male half. A shudder went through Oscar's body as he ejaculated all over himself and the Two-Sided One disappeared. Oscar woke lying on his back. He stared up and found that his view of the sky was blocked by leaves. He wondered what he was supposed to do. He looked at the path that he had walked down to reach this place and decided it was time to return to the sweat lodge. If a visit with the Two-Sided One didn't count as a vision, then nothing did. Standing, he looked around and realized that he was not in a meadow. He had been on the path in a spot between two trees. He walked down the path towards the sweat lodge realizing that he had no idea how far he had traveled. The elderly men, shaking their heads, looked from one to another. Oscar had finished telling them what had happened after going on his vision question. Finally, Kotyit said, "Your vision troubles us." "Why?" Oscar asked surprised by the negative reaction to his story. "The Great Spirit did not come," another of the men answered. "I serve the Gods and Goddesses," Oscar said in explanation. "It is wrong that our ways be mocked like this by you and your Gods and Goddesses," said one of the younger men there. His comment was acknowledged by several of the men. Oscar said, "I am not a member of any of the tribes. I serve the Gods and Goddesses. I think it would have been wrong for there to be any other result of my vision quest. My quest is not to become one with the Great Spirit, but to further my service to the Gods and Goddesses. My time here has allowed me to understand your ways better. It was never intended that I would adopt them." After listening to the two sides argue, Kotyit knew it was time to end the argument. He was the only one there who knew anything about Oscar's future service to the Gods and Goddesses. The Middle East was a long way from South Dakota, but the turmoil there affected lives everywhere. He said, "Oscar is right. He is not a member of any of the tribes. His journey through the world takes him on a different path than ours." "He's one of those conmen trying to steal our ways," the younger of the men answered. "If that was true, then I would be claiming success," Oscar said. Several of the men nodded at his logic. The youngest man there asked, "How would you like it if I went to your sacred glade and stomped through it?" He turned to look at the man and said, "You could enter the Glad that has been consecrated to the Gods and Goddesses. I imagine that you would leave it either a servant to one of them or unchanged." "You would allow me to do that?" "All are free to enter the glade. It is up to the Gods and Goddesses to accept them in or to reject them," Oscar answered. The elderly men looked from one to another communicating with their eyes rather than their mouths. After thirty seconds, the youngest of them said, "I will go there and meet these Gods and Goddesses." Nodding his head, Kotyit said, "Ohola U Tiwahe shall go to the Carter Glade." Oscar stepped out of the sweat lodge. David Bear Claw was waiting for him with a bottle of Gatoraide. He had served as Dog Soldier and finished his duties by handing him the bottle. He said, "Drink this. It will replenish the salts and minerals you have lost." Taking a small sip of it, Oscar said, "Thank you." "So what animal came to you?" "None," Oscar answered. Looking at Oscar in surprise, David Bear Claw asked, "What do you mean, no animal came to you?" "I met with the Two-Sided One," Oscar answered. He wasn't going to mention the two rabbits he had seen in the meadow. David Bear Claw stared at Oscar trying to decide what he thought of the matter. For a long time he had been convinced that Oscar was one of those new age conmen who wanted to claim that he had been taught the secrets of the Great Spirit. With time, he had decided that wasn't the case. Hearing Oscar say that he had not seen an animal spirit on his vision quest brought his doubts back in force. Gruff, he said, "You should go wash in the stream." David Bear Claw watched Oscar go. When Kotyit came out of the sweat lodge, he turned to the older man and asked, "What do you think?" Kotyit examined the young man for a moment and then answered, "Talks with Animals said that Oscar would respect our traditions. I have great trust in what Talks with Animals tells me." "Yes, sir," David Bear Claw replied. He hoped that Talks with Animals was right this time. He watched Oscar rinse the sweat from his body in the stream. He asked, "What now?" "Ohola U Tiwahe will go to the Druid Glade when Oscar returns to the Druid College," Kotyit answered. "I would like to go with him," David Bear Claw answered. He had to know the truth about the Druids. Kotyit knew that David Bear Claw, like many of the younger true people, did not trust the Druids. Taking a deep breath, he said, "It was the Grand Druid who made it possible for our college to exist." "I don't trust them." "Never forget that it was a Druid who discovered the curse upon our people. They protected that secret from others until Talks with Animals was of age to remove it. They kept the government from interfering," Kotyit said. "What price do they ask for their help?" David Bear Claw. "They have asked no price." "What about asking us to allow Oscar to study our traditions?" David Bear Claw asked. It was the belief of many that Oscar was here to steal their heritage. "He is here for a purpose that is far greater than what you can possibly imagine," Kotyit said. "How do you know that?" Kotyit answered, "He has not only studied our ways. He has studied Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. There is a reason for that and it doesn't have anything to do with our beliefs alone." "Do you think it is the beginning of their war against all other beliefs?" David Bear Claw asked. "I think your question shows that despite the time you've spent with Oscar that you don't know much about Druids," Kotyit said. He watched Oscar get dressed by the stream. Turning back to the young man, he said, "It is a good idea if you go with Ohola U Tiwahe. I think that you will have much to learn there." "Thank you, Kotyit." David Bear Claw was just beginning his second year. Oscar had come to take a portion of the first year curriculum. It might be wise to allow David Bear Claw an opportunity to experience a little of the Druid College. Nodding his head at the rightness of the idea, Kotyit said, "Yes. The Druid College is our sister school. We have not yet sent any of our students there to learn about what goes on within that school. I will call the Grand Druid and ask him to accept you there for a year." Staring at the head of the College, David Bear Claw asked, "What will I study there?" "You wish to be a veterinarian, correct?" "Yes." "They have a biology program there," Kotyit said. Debbie and Georgia were happy to see Oscar. Three days of separation were almost too much. Debbie had caught up on her lab work and Georgia had played war games with the seniors. When Oscar walked into the cafeteria they gave him a warm welcome. It was a much more intimate display than the Native Americans students were comfortable with observing. David Bear Claw stood behind the trio wanting to enter the cafeteria. The problem was that the threesome was blocking the entrance. After a minute, he cleared his throat and said, "Excuse me. Would you mind taking that to your room?" Realizing that they were attracting too much attention, Debbie stepped back and said, "Sorry." "I'm very hungry," Oscar said. "Sorry about that. It's just that we missed you so much," Georgia said. The pair of men went through the cafeteria picking out their meals while the women returned to their table. Oscar had to fight the urge to load his plate with more food than would be good for him to eat after a fast. He made his way to the table where Georgia and Debbie were seated with empty plates. He sat down across the table from them. Much to Oscar's surprise, David Bear Claw joined them. The young man had been very quiet since Oscar had come out of the sweat lodge. Looking over his meal, David said, "I'll be going back to the Druid College with you." Shocked, Debbie asked, "Why?" "Kotyit says that I'm to spend a year there as a student and get to know more about the Druids," David Bear Claw answered. Oscar moaned and cradled his head in his hands. Worried, Debbie asked, "What's the matter, Oscar?" "Everyone there is going to start calling me Broken Horse," Oscar said shaking his head. ------- Chapter 36 Riding in the limousine from the airport was a first for David Bear Claw. He couldn't believe the luxury afforded students of the Druid College. Even Ohola U Tiwahe was quiet during the drive. Oscar, Georgia, and Debbie were watching the reactions of the guests. Oscar and Debbie found their reactions understandable while Georgia was amused. Finally, Oscar said, "They sent the limousine because Ohola U Tiwahe is an honored guest." David asked, "Do you mean that they don't normally have a limousine pick up students?" "It depends on what cars are available. Sometimes they send out a van, a sedan, or a limousine," Georgia answered. "Oh," David said. He looked out the window at the passing scenery. The trees were the same kind as back home, but they were different as well. For some reason, the bark was just a lighter color, the leaves a little smaller, and the shape different. They passed a field with cows. He smiled and said, "Cows are the same everywhere you go." Surprised, Georgia asked, "Did you say cars or cows?" "Cows. I was just thinking that although we were driving past oaks, they were different from the oaks back home. When I saw the cows, I couldn't help commenting that cows look the same everywhere," David Bear Claw answered. Ten minutes later the limousine pulled into the drive in front of the college. Once it stopped, Oscar got out and held the door for everyone else making an exaggerated bow. Debbie looked around and said, "It is good be to home." "Will you be spending the night here or at my place?" Georgia asked. Looking at the two women, Oscar wiggled his eyebrows in the manner of Groucho Marx. Moving his fingers as if he were flicking the ashes off a cigar, he said, "I'd like to spend it with you." "That was a horrible imitation of Groucho Marx," Debbie said. "That wasn't Groucho Marx. It was his evil twin brother, Grouchy Marx," Oscar said receiving groans from his two girlfriends. Even David Bear Claw looked at him in dismay. Oliver came out of the administration building and greeted the guests. "Hello Ohola U Tiwahe. It is an honor to have one of the members of the board for the Native American College come to visit us. I see you brought a student of yours with you." "Yes. This is David Bear Claw," Ohola U Tiwahe said. "Nice to meet you David Bear Claw. I see that you brought two of your classmates with you. He must be the famous Broken Horse and, of course, the young lady with him is the ever lovely Debbie," Oliver said. David Bear Claw laughed on hearing Oliver make reference to Oscar's nickname. He said, "And don't forget the warrior woman, Georgia." "The warrior woman. I like the sound of that," Georgia said with a wink at Oscar. He made a little gesture as though he were firing a three inch long bow. Debbie laughed and said, "Warrior woman rides a broken horse; it kind of sounds like the title of a song." Georgia sang, "I'm a Warrior, on a broken horse I ride. I'm ready nude and spread wide. Ready nude and spread wide." "That was awful," Oscar said with a groan despite the fact that having her ready, nude, and spread wide sounded very good. "Wait until I'm riding you tonight, Broken Horse," Georgia quipped while giving him a threatening leer. Debbie laughed at the twinkle in Georgia's eye and said, "I might join you in song tonight. Maybe we should consider going cowgirl style tonight." Turning to Oliver, Oscar asked, "Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to be ridden hard and put up wet?" "Let's get our guests settled," Oliver said shaking his head. Somehow it seemed to him that Oscar, despite his protests, was much more relaxed than usual. Several days later, Oscar was in the first year dining room watching a very embarrassed David Bear Claw walk to a table holding his books in front of his crotch and his notepad behind his ass. He waited for the red-faced man to take his seat before he said, "Hello, David Bear Claw. Your blush gives a whole new meaning to red man." "Shut up," the young man griped. He couldn't believe that he was walking around naked like that. Oscar laughed and asked, "What's the matter?" "I'm walking around here with everything hanging out for anyone to see. This is wrong," David Bear Claw growled. Although many people might not believe it, Native Americans, as a group, were much more reserved about showing emotions than others. Hugging, kissing, and other forms of affection were seldom demonstrated publicly. Walking around naked was too far from acceptable behavior for David to accept without feeling ashamed. "It is not that bad. At least you aren't the only one naked," Oscar said waving a hand to include the other students walking around in the same condition. "You're one to talk. You're still wearing your clothes," David said pointing at the red robe. Oscar stood up and pulled the robe over his head. He dropped it on the chair beside him and sat down. Grinning at David, he asked, "Satisfied now?" "Not really. I'm still naked," David said. He was impressed with how easily Oscar had stripped. "How are your classes?" "Much harder than I thought they would be. It seems that I don't have much time to do anything except study," David answered. He had been shocked when asked to leave his class when he had arrived late. "Yes, it is rather intense here," Oscar said. He looked around the first year dining room remembering his first year. David was at a disadvantage having arrived in the middle of the school year. The rest of the students had already accommodated to being naked all of the time. They were also much further along in coming to understand the two rules. He said, "Lots of changes." David Bear Claw was silent for a minute and then said, "Yes. There have been lots of changes and not all of them have to do with being here." "What do you mean?" Oscar asked. "You've heard that Talks with Animals removed the curse that hung over our people. I imagine that it doesn't mean much to you," David Bear Claw said in answer to the question. "I haven't thought about it much. I know that it is an important event for you and your people," Oscar said. During his entire time at the Native American College, people made reference to William's actions. He didn't understand why it was such a big deal, but it was obvious by the way the others spoke that it was important. David Bear Claw looked at the table while trying to frame his next few words. He wasn't a storyteller and didn't know how to convey the importance of what he wanted to tell Oscar. For some reason though, he felt that Oscar needed to know the full story. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Before the curse was lifted, my people were miserable. We didn't seem to have the strength or will to change our situation. Poverty, particularly on the reservations, was the norm. We had the highest rate of alcoholism of any minority in America. Many of our people were abusive to each other. We lived in a spiritual swamp. We were basically beggars, asking for every government handout that was possible. "When William lifted the curse, things changed almost overnight. Our thoughts cleared up. We regained the strength and will to improve ourselves without asking for handouts. Alcohol no longer had the ability to enslave us. Men and women began treating each other without abuse. Suddenly, we found that we had goals in life and the energy to pursue those goals. "It was like we had been living in a wheelchair and woke up one day to discover that we could walk. Not only could we walk, we could run and keep up with the best of the White Men. You hear us talk about that day, but I know that you can't imagine how it affected us." Oscar listened to what David Bear Claw said. When describing life after the curse, David's voice had cracked with emotion. Looking across the room, but seeing nothing, David continued, "I remember that day. I was outside playing. Suddenly, it seemed as if a veil lifted from my eyes. The world was sharp and vibrant. It was the difference between watching an old black and white television and watching a high definition color television. For five minutes, I just stood there looking around at the world amazed by what I was seeing. "All of sudden, I felt a huge wave of energy descend upon me. I started running. I must have run ten miles. I wasn't the only who had so much energy to burn. Other kids were running beside me. We were yelling and screaming with joy. "I came home to find that my mother had cleaned up the entire house. There wasn't a thing out of place. The floors sparkled. I found my mother scrubbing the bathroom with tears in her eyes. At first, I thought she was sad, but then realized they were tears of joy. She hugged me and told me that all would be better. "My father had come home from the bar where he spent most of his days and started fixing up things that had been broken around the house. When I looked at my father, I could see that he was standing straight and carried with him a sense of pride that I had never seen before. "My father and I went to the hardware store and found that the shelves were almost empty. Others had beaten us there and had nearly cleaned the store out. My father spent almost all of our savings at that store. Returning home, I could see men out painting their houses, mowing their lawns, and fixing their cars. I had never seen so many men working with such energy and diligence. I felt driven to help my father and mowed the lawn when we returned home. "For the first time in years, we ate dinner together around the table and talked about what had happened in Arizona. That was when I first learned of the curse and what William had done. I was happy, but worried. I feared that life would return to normal the next morning when I woke. Having tasted of what life could be like; the thought of the veil returning was horrible. I think I would have killed myself if it had returned. "We have been running unfettered for years now. Coming here to this college, I realize that it is time for our people to learn a little discipline. We have three hundred years of failure to overcome. When I return to the Native American College... Well, that is the message I will bring with me." Oscar had listened to the emotional rendering of what had been the most important day in the David's life. He understood what David was saying. His experience in the Dust Devil had been just as life changing. Looking over at the young man, Oscar said, "You are right. Many will never understand the significance of that day. I do, but then I have experienced something much like that." "What did you experience?" "I met my God," Oscar answered. Looking over at Oscar, David nodded and said, "Yes. I think you do understand." "I'm honored you chose to tell me your experience," Oscar said. He considered what would be the long-term consequences of his future service. He wondered if people would describe what life was like before and after Oscar. It was a scary thought. David Bear Claw had actually surprised himself in telling his story to Oscar. He said, "I read a little bit about your past on the web." This was the first time that David Bear Claw had actually expressed an interest in Oscar's past. Surprised, Oscar asked, "What did you learn?" "I discovered that you are a great warrior. When you talked about having seen action in war, I thought you were just a regular soldier. You are more than that," David Bear Claw said. "I am proud of my fellow soldiers, so many young men and women with their entire life before them. Each of them puts their life at risk to stand between evil and the innocent. They do so for family and country. It chokes me up when I think about others being willing to take such a risk on our behalf," Oscar said. "I guess I never thought about it like that. You must have been a role model for them," David said. Oscar burst out laughing. Shaking his head, he said, "I was not much of a soldier before I met my God. I was so bad that my fellow soldiers had nicknamed me Foo which was short for Fuck Up. There were times when they were more afraid of me than my enemy." "I can't believe that," David said. "Believe it. I was not always this fine figure of a man that you see before you. I used to be a klutz," Oscar said. He told about his childhood and his time in the army. He didn't tell about his experience in meeting the God, but he did talk about what happened after that meeting. It was the first time that he had shared so much of his life with another person. The conversation lasted for several hours. The waitress came to the table providing beverages and snacks while they talked. Although David Bear Claw was missing classes, he was not concerned and Oscar wasn't about to make an issue of it. When his study groups came to find David, Oliver intercepted them and sent them away so that they wouldn't interrupt the discussion. While munching on a slice of apple, David Bear Claw asked, "What happened when you met your God?" Oscar was reaching for a cheese cube and stopped his action. Frowning, he said, "I can't really talk about that." "Why not?" David asked innocently. "It would be a lot like describing the first time you are intimate with your lover. You can share the experience with your lover, but not with other others. It just isn't right talking about it," Oscar answered. David Bear Claw thought about it and decided that Oscar was right. The interaction between a man and his God should be private. It reminded him of something that he had been told about Oscar. He said, "Ohola U Tiwahe told me that you were going to do something as significant for the world as what Talks with Animals did for us." "I have a service to perform. I will do what I can, but success is never assured," Oscar said thinking about the enormity of what the Two-Sided One had told him. "When do you start?" David asked. "Not for some time yet," Oscar answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "What will you do until then?" Sitting back, Oscar answered, "I will live my life and enjoy the time that I have. I will visit friends. I will travel occasionally like a tourist. I will spend time with my wives and take comfort in their warm embraces. We will make love and experience all that life has to offer people who love each other. "I will continue my studies. Oliver has asked me to write some papers comparing the different religions. Rather than focusing on the differences, I thought I would write about the commonalities. Too many have tried to be divisive. I think that people have confused the ambitions of men throughout history with living the life requested in the messages given us by the powers that be." David nodded his head and said, "That sounds nice." "Yes, it does, doesn't it?" ------- This is the end of Oscar Meyers: Academia. ------- Part 3: Prophet ------- Chapter 1 The image that we have of a hero is of a muscle-bound man who can carry three victims in one arm while firing a machine gun with the other. The word hero makes us think of a man with a strong chin, chiseled features, and steely eyes. Sure, some heroes are the big strong manly types such as described in stories and portrayed in movies. Of course, we also think that heroines are attractive hard-body types who have studied martial arts their whole lives. From the media presentation of heroic figures, one would think that it would be easy to spot heroes and heroines walking down the street. The reality is that heroes and heroines come in all shapes and sizes. There are heroes who are short and wiry, others who are big and tall, and still some who are of average build. Some heroes are bald. There are heroines who are plain looking and even a few who are just plain ugly. Believe it or not, some heroes and heroines have pot-bellies. Heroism isn't a physical characteristic. Despite our expectations to the contrary, heroes and heroines do not always act like heroic figures. The man who staggers out of a bar drunk as a skunk may be a hero. The unmarried woman yelling at the two kids hanging off the shopping cart in the middle of the discount store may be a heroine. That doesn't mean that they haven't done something heroic in the past or that it prevents them from doing something in the future. Heroes and heroines are people first and foremost. They face the same problems of life as everyone else. They aren't exempt from adversity. They have bad moods, bad habits, and bad days. There is not a special power that makes a hero or heroine different from everyone else. They are not comic book characters with costumes and super powers. A hero does the right thing at the right time. A hero acts when it really counts. He walks into the middle of chaos and emerges having saved others. They might be terrified during the entire ordeal, but they still do the right thing. That is the true nature of heroism. The heroic act is not flashy. There are no great scenes before the act in which the hero gives a speech about doing the right thing. There isn't a sound track that plays in the background. When things go crazy, the hero walks into the middle of that chaos and, using knowledge that is available to everyone, saves someone else. Some may consider this to be a disappointing vision of heroism. The idea of plain people doing one thing right just doesn't seem to have the glamour of the Hollywood image. Rather than view this image with dismay, one should see it as a hopeful vision. It means that each of us could one day be the hero of our imagination. Take a moment to look in a mirror. The face reflected back could be the face of a hero or heroine. It is much easier to prepare to be a hero than one might think. Learn CPR, first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, or how to jump start a car. That little piece of knowledge could be the difference between being a hero and being a bystander. It is not that difficult; with just a little effort everyone can have the potential to be a hero. Oscar strode towards the Carter Glade at a few minutes before noon on Midsummer's day. Birds flitted from branch to branch. Butterflies filled the air with bright splashes of color that contrasted with the deep greens of leaves, the dull grayish bark of the oaks, and the blue sky above. As he stepped into the glade, the air around him shimmered and he was transported to a path that passed through the woods. There were flowers blooming, birds singing, and young animals learning the rules of life from their parents. The contrast was a matter of degree than difference. A naked fat man, leaning against a tree, was waiting for him. He stepped away from the tree to look at Oscar with approval in his eyes. His rolls of fat shook with each move and breath. Looking over at Oscar, he said, "You have come. That is good." The fat man waved a hand, his fat fingers shaped like sausages, in a follow me gesture. He turned and strode down the path. His ass jiggled in an obscene manner as he walked. Oscar followed, afraid of what would happen to him when they reached their destination. They came to a meadow and the fat man turned to face Oscar. He asked, "Will you serve us by doing a service to the other Gods?" Oscar answered, "I shall serve you in what ever manner you ask." The man's features turned feminine. Oscar looked down and noticed that the cock had disappeared and had been replaced by a very oversized vagina. He could have put a fist in it with room to spare. The woman asked, "What if it means your death?" "If it serves you, then my life is yours to do with as you need." The woman stepped forward and hugged him to her. The pendulous breasts, fat and huge beyond beauty, nearly suffocated him. He hugged back, not knowing anything better to do. There was a touch of sadness in her embrace. The fat woman said, "You have done well." Oscar stood there facing her, not understanding what was happening. She kissed him. His body reacted and he kissed her back. Her mouth opened and her tongue forced its way into his mouth. Her arms encircled him as her tongue probed deeper and deeper. He felt like gagging when her tongue entered his throat -- blocking his windpipe and making it impossible for him to breathe. Her tongue probed deeper, entering his lungs. The urge to cough ripped through his upper body, but his chest didn't work right. He started to struggle, but her grasp was too tight. The world around him started to dim, his knees weakened, and his fingers went numb. Struggling to remain conscious, he tried to bite or do anything that would cause her to stop this kiss. The world slowly faded to black as he thought that this must be what it was like to die. In his oxygen deprived mind, the idea of being killed by a kiss seemed humorous. It was too bad that he couldn't laugh. Oscar awoke lying on the ground. The world was fuzzy and he had a headache that slowly cleared. His lungs burned and his throat was raw. He sat up and took a deep breath. The world slowly spun, but the spinning stopped after a moment. The fat man slowly came into focus. He stared up at him. The fat man looked down at Oscar and asked, "Will you accept William's ability to see the future?" "I will not take anything that is not offered willingly," Oscar answered believing that the loss of William's talent would destroy his friend. "He knows that you need it and he offers it willingly," the fat man said. "He will need it for his service," Oscar said. "You need it for your service, Oscar. His service will not begin until yours ends," the fat man answered. "I will accept it," Oscar said. The words were barely out of his mouth before the Two-Sided One had spun him around. He felt a hard point pressing against his rectum for just a second before the Two-Sided One thrust into him. He screamed as his rectum stretched. It felt as if his head was about to burst. He lost consciousness. When Oscar opened his eyes, the fat man was holding a gold medallion. The light from the sun reflected off it as it spun in the breeze. It was the prettiest thing Oscar had ever seen and he longed for it around his neck. As if reading his mind, the Two-Sided One placed it around Oscar's neck. The weight of the medallion was heavy and pressed against his chest. His hand went to it and fondled it. The fat man stepped away by taking three steps backwards. The God appeared by stepping out from behind the fat man. A woman's figure shimmered in the air and solidified on the other side of the fat man. It was the Goddess. Oscar's eyes got wide at seeing the three of them together. The Two-Sided one shifted into male and female joined by their hands. Arrayed before him were the Gods and Goddesses. The sight took his breath away. The God said, "Oscar, you have done well in the war against terrorists." The Two-Sided One said, "However, the war as it is being fought does not solve the underlying problem." The Goddess said, "If the underlying problem is not solved, then all life on this planet shall disappear." The God said, "The worshippers of three other Gods have forgotten their Gods and now make war on each other in the name of their Gods." The Goddess said, "Their worshippers have fragmented into cults and the Gods can not favor one cult over another because none of them are completely correct." The Two-Sided One said, "The other Gods are angry. They need an outsider to set things right." The God said, "The extremists know you and respect your strength as a warrior." The Two-sided One said, "You have all the tools needed to succeed." The Goddess said, "We have chosen you to be the outsider that sets things right." The Two-Sided One said, "This is dangerous. People are more protective of their religion than their lives." The God said, "You shall have to go unarmed except for a knife." Oscar asked, "Unarmed?" The Two-Side One said, "You can still choose not to do this." Oscar answered, "My life is yours. I shall serve you as you ask." The Two-Sided One said, "Go forth and seek the houses of Yahweh, Jehovah, and Allah in the lands of their birth. Knock upon the doors that glow and ask for entrance. They who dwell within shall talk to you." The God commanded, "Now rest, you have much to do." The Goddess hugged him. His body was suffused with loving warmth. As he fell asleep, he heard her say something but lost track of what she was saying. "Do not worry, there shall be no..." Oscar woke in the middle of the Carter's Glade taking comfort from the weight of the medallion around his neck. He sat up and looked at the medallion. There were two circular plates fused along a single side. There were pictures of the male and female organs on the two full medallions respectively. There was a third of a circular plate below the two discs fused to them along its edge. The third piece was blank of picture. There was no writing on either side of the medallion. He stood and walked to the Druid College knowing what was going to happen. William's foresight guided his steps. Catherine was standing outside waiting for him. She approached as he made his way to the door. He stopped and nodded to her. In a worried voice, she said, "You were gone a week." In a deep rolling voice that sent chills down her spine, he replied, "It did not feel that long, Catherine." Catherine starred at him for a moment realizing that his medallion had three parts rather than the two she had expected. Wide-eyed, she handed him the staff that she had fashioned. She said, "This is yours. I have gray robes for you, but I shall get the brown robes." Oscar examined the staff. It was styled in the fashion of a shepherd's staff with a hook on the end. It was the same height as him. The weight and heft of the staff felt right in his hand. Little designs were carved along its length. He turned to her and said, "Thank you, but the gray robes are the correct robes. This is perfect. You have served the God well." Catherine found herself getting sexually excited just listening to him talk. She said, "Wow. You have a voice. Better put a damper on it or I'll be all over you." They went into the Druid College together. When they reached the building, Georgia came running to him. He saw her and, spreading his arms wide, said, "My love. I hope you weren't worried." Georgia couldn't believe her ears. His voice had tickled every nerve in her body. She felt like she could come just by listening to him. She threw herself into his arms, gently crying in relief that he had returned. She had understood that he might be gone for as many as three or four days, but an entire week was beyond anyone's expectations. Once she recovered her composure, she said, "Oh, I like your voice." He held her gently and whispered in her ear, "As soon as Debbie gets here, let's go to the bedroom of your house." Having heard the news that Oscar had walked out of the glade, Debbie came running down the hall with tears in her eyes. Oscar called out, "Over here, Debbie." The deep resonate voice shocked her. She tripped over her robe and landed at his feet. Looking up at him from her prostrate position on the floor, she said, "Wow. I think I came." "No need to grovel at my feet," Oscar said chuckling at her awkward position. He knelt down and helped her to her feet with a grin. Rather than be embarrassed by the comment, Debbie giggled. She said, "I think that voice of yours will permanently make me weak in the knees." "Really?" Oscar asked not hearing any difference in his voice. She shivered as she answered, "I could come just from you reading poetry to me now." "You can say that again," Georgia said with a giggle. She imagined the three of them lying in bed with him reading poetry while they writhed in orgasm. A similar vision filled Oscar's imagination. He chuckled at the image and led them away. Oliver watched the three of them walk away. He shook his head at the idea that Oscar had totally ignored him. Being the Grand Druid didn't seem to command the kind of respect given the Pope. Chuckling, he said, "This job is a lot like herding cats." When Oscar and his girlfriends reached the bedroom in the Biggers House, Georgia seductively stripped out of her dress. He was not surprised by the fact that she didn't have anything under it despite the fact that it was very unlike her normal mode of dress. He pulled his robe off and then held her tightly to him. Debbie slipped out of her robe and hugged Oscar from behind. They moved back to the bed until Georgia's knees hit the edge. She sat down and then lay down on the bed. He climbed onto her as his need for release swept through his system. He kissed her, but his passion rose extremely fast. She could feel it growing within him and the strength of it scared and excited her. His swollen cock leaked pre-come. His kisses became hungry and demanding. His hands, as they touched her, were strong and forceful. Her legs parted in eager anticipation of being taken fully by her warrior. His penetration was forceful, but she was ready for him. He began to thrust into her, driving his hips with masculine force. He took her as a master takes possession of his property. He was driven by his need. He spoke his need in grunts. Underneath him, subject to his desires, she responded in accordance to an age old pattern of a woman willing to be taken by her man. This was about him taking his pleasure from her and her giving it to him willingly. Her arms locked around his back. Her legs locked around his ass. He thrust into her with total concentration on his need. He drove relentlessly towards his orgasm, knowing that he would last long enough for her to come. His need urged him on. She beat him, coming first and loudly. He had answered a deep-seated need within her. She couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth as she reached her orgasm. She screamed, "Fuck Me O' Man Of Mine!" "Will you be mine forever?" he shouted. Debbie's eyes went wide at the question. "Yes, I'm yours forever!" Georgia cried out. Deep in the throes of orgasm, she would not remember his question or her answer. As he came, he grasped her tightly to him, so tightly that she couldn't move and could hardly breathe. He screamed his orgasm out in just as surprising a form, "You are mine, woman!" When the last spurt of come was ejected into her, he rolled off and lay beside her. With Debbie clinging tightly to his other side, the bed seemed as if it barely had room for the three of them. His eyes were glazed and stared into the distance as he slowly returned to himself. He slowly recovered his breath. As a final shiver went through his body, he turned his head to look at Debbie. Like a bolt of lightening, his passion returned just as strong as before. Debbie's eyes grew wide as he climbed over her. She moaned when he began to kiss her. Normally gentle with Debbie, Oscar was rougher than usual. Debbie enjoyed his treatment of her. She had seen him claim Georgia and knew that he was going to claim her. He mounted her forcefully and she responded. Her body accepted his; knowing at the physical level that any resistance would be overcome. There was no resistance and no desire to resist. She accepted him as women throughout time have claimed their men. He increased his pace; slamming into her like a jackhammer. She met his rhythm readily. With a cry, her entire body tensed and she came. She yelled, "I'm coming!" "Will you be mine forever?" he shouted as his excitement rose towards orgasm. Georgia's eyes went wide at hearing the question. She was not in a mental state to remember that he had asked her the same thing less than ten minutes earlier. "Yes, I am yours forever!" Donna cried out. Like Georgia, she would not remember the question or her answer. On hearing her expression of love, he came. Even as his come entered her, he shouted, "You are mine, woman!" Oscar, covered in sweat, rolled off of her and collapsed on the bed between the two women. Breathing heavily, he put an arm around each woman and held them close to him. He moaned and said, "I love you both." Georgia shifted her position so that her head was resting on his chest. His arm held her to his body. Debbie was staring up at the ceiling recovering from his passion. It took her a minute to recover, but she was soon positioned with her head on his chest. The two women looked at each other and shared smiles of satisfaction. Debbie said, "We were so worried by how long you stayed in the Glade." "I'm sorry to have worried you," Oscar said knowing that the time spent in the glade was outside of his control. "I love your voice," Georgia said unable to believe the deep resonant voice produced by that small body. "I don't hear anything different," he said and then fell silent. He was dreading the discussion that was about to follow. The three lay in bed recovering from their exertions. Almost half an hour passed before the silence was broken by Debbie. She sighed and said, "I'm going to miss you both." "It is not going to be that bad," Oscar said although their separations would be more than he would like. He could feel the wet of tears falling on his chest. Georgia was crying. He said, "We will not be separated as much as you think." "I understand why you think I should stay here," Debbie said. Her education was about to come to an end. It was her sixth year and she had an internship to serve. That could have been postponed, but that wasn't the reason she was staying behind. Georgia and Oscar were going to be living a very rough life once he left the school. Looking at Debbie, Georgia said, "I'm going to miss you." "I'll visit as often as possible," Debbie said. Oscar said, "You won't be too far from us starting in September. Oliver is going to tell you that your internship will be in Israel." Debbie rose onto her elbows and looked him in the eyes. Surprised by his announcement, she asked, "When did he tell you that?" "He hasn't told me, yet," Oscar answered with a smile. William's gift allowed him to know that they would soon be entertaining a visitor. "What do you mean?" Debbie asked wondering if he was playing with her. "We are about to have a visitor," Oscar said. Suspecting that she knew the answer, Georgia asked, "Who?" "Oliver," Oscar answered. Knowing that his warning would be ignored, he said, "We better get dressed. He'll be here in a minute or two." Debbie settled her head back onto his chest and said, "I don't want to move." Georgia ran a hand over his stomach and said, "Same here." "Ladies, we are going to have company in a minute," Oscar said giving them one last chance to get dressed and knowing they wouldn't take advantage of it. The doorbell rang and Georgia shouted, "Go away." Raising an eyebrow, Oscar said, "He is the Grand Druid. Don't you think that he just might have a reason to be here?" Debbie groaned, but climbed out of bed. Without dressing, she said, "I'll get the door." Georgia shifted and sat up. Watching Debbie leave the room to get the door, she grumbled, "He just couldn't wait another hour or three. I was looking forward to round two." Laughing at the obvious unhappiness of his girlfriends, Oscar sat up and said, "You'll want to hear what Oliver has to say." "You sound rather sure of yourself," Georgia said. She thought about his announcement that Oliver was coming and realized that there was no way he should have been able to know that. Eyes wide, she said, "You can see the future, just like William." "I was given William's gift," Oscar answered feeling guilty about it. He knew that William must be miserable at the moment. "Poor William," Georgia said. Not wanting to talk about it, Oscar said, "Let's go see what Oliver has to say." Stepping out into the living room, Oscar looked over at the Grand Druid. The leader of the Druids looked over at Georgia realizing that it was the first time that he had seen her nude. Georgia held onto Oscar's arm and said, "Hello, Oliver." "Hello, Georgia. I won't keep you from celebrating Oscar's return for too long. I just have three simple announcements and then I'll go back across the road," Oliver replied. He looked over at Oscar and noticed the unusual configuration of the medallion. Although Catherine had warned him, he was still surprised by the sight. He asked, "You serve all three?" "All three were there, but my service is to the Two-Sided One. It is a little complicated," Oscar answered. Oliver looked puzzled and then realized that Oscar wasn't going to tell him any more about what had happened in the glade. Accepting that the topic was over, he turned to Debbie and said, "My first bit of news is that I've arranged for an internship in Israel. It was the only way I could find to get you close to Oscar during the upcoming year." Debbie said, "I know. Oscar told me." "He didn't know," Oliver said looking over at Oscar. After a second of thought he said, "Maybe he did." "So what is the second bit of news?" Georgia asked. "The artists are here to see Oscar," Oliver said watching as Oscar grimaced at the thought of posing again. The first time hadn't been much fun. "Okay," Oscar said. He looked over at Georgia and Debbie with a smile suggesting that he knew something that they didn't know. Both looked at him with doubtful expressions. He said, "Tell them the third bit of news." "The wedding will take place at the end of the semester. The guests have all said they would be there," Oliver said. "Who's getting married?" Georgia asked looking over at Debbie confused. Oliver stared at them and answered, "You are." Debbie hugged Georgia and said, "Congratulations, Georgia. Why didn't you tell me?" "I didn't know," she answered. Oliver was laughing and said, "I meant to say both of you are getting married." "That's news to me," Georgia said turning to glare at Oscar. Debbie's expression wasn't much happier. She said, "You could have proposed to us!" "I did," Oscar said. "When?" Debbie asked. "About an hour ago, I proposed to Georgia. Then a few minutes later I proposed to you. You both said that you'd be mine forever," Oscar said with a smile. The expressions on their faces were priceless. He was hit from both sides as the women shouted, "That's not fair! We're supposed to be able to remember it!" ------- Chapter 2 Dante and Karla examined Oscar with the eyes of artists. They observed more than was there to be physically seen. Noticing the disturbed expression on Karla's face, Dante said, "You see it too." "Yes," Karla answered. A shiver went through her body. She had seen that same look in John Carter's eyes just before he had consecrated the Carter Glade. It had been there when she had painted the last portrait of him. "I've seen that look before," Dante said; his voice dropping in volume to a near whisper on the last word. There had been times when Happy Harry had that same look. Head swiveling from one to the other, Oscar watched the two artists discuss him as if he were not present. Clearing his throat, he asked, "What is it that you see?" "We see the look of a man who knows his fate," Karla answered feeling sick to her stomach. Feeling sad by what he saw, Dante turned away and said, "You do not need to sit for me. I've seen all that I need to create a statue of you." "Same here," Karla said while closing up her sketch book. Physically, Oscar had not changed even though his voice had become much deeper. It was his aura that had changed and, despite the fact that the aura wasn't visible, she would be able to capture that aspect of him in her portrait of him. The face wasn't a monochrome of the old crayon flesh color, but a mixture of many colors. The application of those colors could be manipulated to convey far more information that possible within a simple photograph. It would be subtle, but it would be there in her work giving it the indefinable something that would make it a great painting. Pleased that he wouldn't have to sit for them, Oscar watched the pair of artists pack up their supplies. Within five minutes, both had left the room after giving him curt farewells. The brusque, almost angry, nature of their exit bothered Oscar. He ran out of the room and caught up to Karla. Talking to her back, he asked, "Did I upset you?" Karla slowly turned to face Oscar. With incredible sadness in her voice, she answered, "Yes and no. John Carter was my hero. The last time I saw him, he had the same look in his eyes that you have. I don't know how to describe it. There's a mixture of a hundred different feelings in it. There is strength, weakness, pride, humility, bravery, fear, happiness, sadness, and... well... there are more contradictory emotions than I can even name. Under all those contradictions, two things shine forth more than anything else: wisdom and determination. "People talk about destiny or fate, but I don't think most people really and truly understand that concept. They may see the glory, but never the cost. I could see in John's eyes that he knew exactly what was going to happen to him. He knew the cost. I see that in your eyes," Karla said. By the time she had finished answering his question, tears were running down her face. "I'm sorry that I upset you," Oscar said looking down at his feet. "You didn't upset me. It is just that I saw John Carter there for a minute. I miss him," Karla said. She flashed on the memories of a little girl in a burn ward meeting a man who was magic. He saw her and not the burns that had scarred her. "Where?" "I saw him in you. I don't see how anyone can face the future knowing what it holds for them. You manage it. Somehow, you are still able to smile and keep your sense of humor. I can see why everyone has compared you to John Carter," Karla said. She bit her lower lip and looked at Oscar trying to avoid his eyes. She added, "I loved John Carter. He was special." "I'm not John Carter," Oscar said. "I know. You are Oscar Meyers. You are special, too," Karla replied brushing a hand against his cheek in a sign of affection. She turned and walked away before she said more than would be proper. Oscar watched her leave and then walked down the hall in a slow thoughtful pace. His thoughts were racing a thousand miles per hour while he considered what she had said to him. He wondered if his feelings were that obvious to everyone. One thing was certain; it was impossible for him to hide his feelings from his girlfriends. Leaning against the wall of the hallway, Oliver watched Oscar as he wandered lost in thought. When Oscar was about to pass by, he called out to him, "Oscar." "Oh, it's you," Oscar said coming out of his thoughts. "You seem rather reflective today. What's the matter?" Oliver asked. "The artists took one look at me and then ran off," Oscar said. He gave a weak grin and added, "You would have I was ugly or something." Oliver made the obligatory short laugh, but turned to the real matter at hand and asked, "So what is bothering you?" "They said I've changed and the changes make them uncomfortable," Oscar answered. "Oh, is that all. Well, you have been a little more serious since returning from the glade," Oliver said in a serious tone of voice. For the past year, Oscar had approached life in a carefree manner. Since coming out of the glade, he was more measured in his conversations. It was as if he was afraid of allowing others to get too close to him emotionally. There was a sense of distance between him and everyone else. In a way, it reminded him of talking with William Redman Carter. "I guess," Oscar said. It was hard to ignore what the Gods and Goddesses had said to him in the glade. If that wasn't enough, it was going to take him a while to get used to having William's gift full-time. "Do you want to talk about it?" "Not really. I do have one complaint though," Oscar said. "What?" A small smile came over Oscar's face as he answered, "I'm still a quarter inch short of five feet. You'd think that they'd have given me that extra quarter inch." Oliver laughed at the often voiced complaint and said, "They gave you a voice that makes you sound ten feet tall." Shaking his head at the mention of his voice, Oscar forced a laugh. He was tired of hearing about his voice. Every female he encountered commented on it. There was something that Oliver was attempting to hide from him. Knowing the answer, he also knew that he was going to have to go through the conversation. He asked, "What were you doing waiting here?" "I was waiting for you," Oliver answered with a sigh. The news he had to deliver was not good. "I know. Mullah Farzin bin Saud and Fareed Khomeni have been killed," Oscar said deciding that it didn't matter how the conversation was approached. As he said the words a great sense of sadness settled over him. "Yes," Oliver said in confirmation. "How?" "They were specifically targeted by a roadside bomb," Oliver answered. Hundreds of cars had passed the point where the explosion had taken place, but the bomb had detonated only when the car containing the two men had driven past. "They were in Germany," Oscar said wondering how he knew that little fact. "Yes," Oliver said surprised by Oscar's comment. There were times when Oscar's new ability to see the future took him by surprise. He wondered how much of the young Druid's seriousness was a result of that new ability. For the second time in the course of this conversation he thought about William Redman Carter. "I'm very sorry to hear that," Oscar said shaking his head. "I know that the past two years have been rather difficult. You and Fareed Khomeni didn't exactly get along that well," Oliver said. "We got along well enough. I rather liked the guy although he found my questions irritating. I understood that my approach to learning material didn't match his expectations," Oscar said. "Does this change things?" Oliver asked. "I don't know. It is up to Allah," Oscar said not realizing how true his words were. "Ah," Oliver said feeling as if his question had been deflected. Curious, he asked, "So how are you going to bring peace to the Middle East?" "I am to become a prophet," Oscar said. "That's all they need in that part of the world, another religious nut," Oliver commented and earning a dirty look from Oscar. He said, "I assume that you are going to go around trying to convert people to a message of peace and love." "No," Oscar said. He sighed and said, "This news about Mullah Farzin bin Saud and Fareed Khomeni is very bad. It is never good when a servant of a God or Goddess is killed. There will be consequences." ------- The week long break at the end of the summer quarter had finally arrived. On the third day of the break, Oscar married Debbie and Georgia in a wedding ceremony held at the campsite beside the river behind the Biggers' house. It was officiated according to Druid tradition. Georgia wore a white robe. Debbie wore a blue robe with five stripes on the sleeves. After much debate about the color of robe Oscar was to wear, it was decided that he would be accorded a gray robe symbolic of his service. The official guest list was small in comparison to William's wedding, but attendance was more than large enough for Oscar and his wives. The majority of people were students and, while pleased to celebrate Oscar's marriage, most were just happy to have a distraction from their studies. His mother and father were there along with Debbie's and Georgia's families. Not everyone who had been invited had been able to attend. The ones who failed to attend were obvious by their absence. William Redman Carter had chosen not to travel, although Ed Biggers had come. Mullah Farzin bin Saud and Fareed Khomeni had been assassinated only a week after the invitation had reached them. The Reverend Leroy Jones was in Italy with his bodyguard, George. Rabbi Teitelbaum was in Israel where another minor war was being fought. The absences wouldn't have been noticed by most of the people who attended. Their attention was on the party after the ceremony. Picnic tables loaded with food had been set up in front of the Biggers' house. Under the canopy of green trees, the people in the crowd were busy filling plates while listening to music played by the first Druidic Bard. The atmosphere was light and carefree as befitted a wedding. While others were partying, Oscar, Georgia, and Debbie were in the house talking with the parents. Irving Meyers raised a glass of wine in the air and said, "Here's to your marriage. May it be long and happy." The toast did not have the intended cheerful reaction. It was a painful reminder that Oscar was going to have to pay a high price in the execution of his service. Georgia and Debbie both sighed. Seeing their reaction, Oscar put an arm around each of them. The parents did not understand the reason for the muted reaction and looked at the trio with concern. Halfway convinced that her daughter had gotten into a strange relationship that she didn't really want, Georgia's mother, Gloria, moved over to her daughter. With a worried expression on her face, she asked, "What's the matter? You act like you don't expect this marriage to last." Georgia looked at her mother and said, "Don't worry, Mom. This marriage will last until we are parted by death." "So why the strange reaction to the toast?" Gloria asked. "It is a long story," Georgia answered trying to paste a smile on her face. She thought about the last time she had been in bed with Oscar and the false smile turned true. She said, "I really love Oscar and Debbie." "Are you sure, dear? Marrying another woman along with a man is a little unusual," Gloria said looking over at Debbie. The red head was attractive and didn't look like a lesbian, but sometimes those things were difficult to tell. She tried to understand the unusual relationship, but couldn't come to grips with it. Her other daughter, Jennifer, assured her that there was nothing sick about the relationship. "I'm positive, Mom," Georgia answered with an understanding smile. Unlike her father who was a confirmed pagan, her mother had been raised a Baptist. This was one of those situations when her early religious beliefs tended to emerge. Debbie's father, Pat, walked over to Oscar and slapped him on the back in a friendly manner. He smiled and said, "So you've turned my daughter into an honest woman. I'm happy to have you in the family." "Thank you," Oscar said not really knowing how to react to that greeting. He wondered for a minute if he was supposed to say that he was going to keep her a dishonest woman. Then he considered what he would have to do to make that happen and smiled at the images that thought conjured. He could see how an attempt on his part to put her out on the street dressed up like a hooker would end up with him walking the street in a garter belt and stockings. If Debbie didn't hurt him, then Georgia would. "She was telling me that she's headed off to the Holy Land for her internship," Pat said with more than a little pride. His little girl was going to see the world that he only knew of through television and had always desired to see. A lesser man might have been envious, but Pat wanted the world for his daughter and was glad to see that she was getting to experience some of it. "Yes. Oliver thought it would be a good way to keep the family together," Oscar said. "So you are headed off to the Middle East to do your thing there," Pat said. He wasn't sure what Oscar was going to be doing there, but he knew it would be important. "You might put it that way," Oscar replied. He looked at the man knowing that tomorrow morning was going to be the last time he would ever see him. His father, Jacob, made his way over to where the two men were standing. Oscar watched him approach. "I really like the two women you married," Jacob said. "Thanks, Dad. I'm rather fond of them myself," Oscar said. "You're going to have your work cut out for you. Debbie is smarter than you and Georgia is stronger," Jacob said giving a wink to Debbie's father. Pat grinned and said, "I agree with you, Jacob. Oscar does have his work cut out for him. Two wives? I can't handle the one I have." "I told him the same thing when I first met Debbie and Georgia," Jacob said. He looked down at Oscar and couldn't believe the changes in his son. The transformation from a klutz to a graceful man had been accompanied by a deeper change that he didn't understand. There was a depth to Oscar that had never been there before. Mark, Georgia's father, came over to where Oscar was standing. Looking over at Oscar, he said, "I can't believe that Georgia actually married a Druid." Smiling at the comment, Oscar said, "Georgia was telling me that you were having a hard time believing that one of your daughters was getting married." "You can say that again," Mark said with a shake of his head. "Why would you think that?" Pat asked. Mark answered, "I have two daughters, Georgia and Jennifer. Jennifer is a Druid and travels all over the world. I don't think that she's ever going to get married. It seems to me that she is too busy to settle down with a man. "Georgia has always been a tomboy. I wasn't exactly surprised when I learned that she was in Afghanistan teaching soldiers how to fight terrorists. To tell the truth, I was kind of surprised when I discovered that she actually liked boys." "Why?" Oscar asked. "Well, she was always more interested in competing with men than in dating them," Mark answered. He had actually believed that his daughter was a lesbian and dated men to hide her sexual preference from her parents. He wanted to be supportive, but had been waiting for her to tell him that she preferred women. "Ah," Pat said. He looked over at his daughter and said, "I never doubted that Debbie would get married. I was surprised though that she chose to include another woman in her marriage." Jacob patted Oscar on the back and said, "Well, I think my son is lucky that they have chosen to be with him. His mother and I were concerned that he would never find someone who could live with him." Oscar rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not that difficult to live with." "That's what you think. Your mother and I still have the scars," Jacob said with a laugh. He turned Oscar so that he was facing Debbie and Georgia. With a slight shove, he said, "Go run over to your wives and leave us fathers alone to talk." "Right," Oscar said. He headed over to his wives thinking it was time to go outside where the other guests were gathered. Although this was supposed to be a romantic day, he was feeling a little hungry. Debbie turned just in time to see Oscar walk over to them. Putting her arms around him, she said, "This whole day has been perfect." "I'm glad you've liked it," Oscar said. "We loved it," Georgia said putting her arms around her spouses. It felt good to hold Oscar and Debbie in her arms. Breaking the romance of the moment, Oscar's stomach growled. Debbie laughed and said, "We're married for less than an hour and he growls at us." Shaking her head, Georgia broke the hug and said, "Next thing you know he'll be asking us to pull his finger." "Hey, I'm hungry" Oscar said. He looked at his finger and then held it out to Georgia. "Let's get him fed," Debbie said grabbing Oscar and Debbie by the arms. She led them out of the house to where they had set up the picnic tables. Their exit from house was noticed by the students and a cheer rose from the guests. Debbie held up both arms while still holding hands with her spouses and shouted, "I got me a husband and a wife!" Those gathered around the tables laughed at the announcement. There were a few calls of encouragement, and condolences, to Oscar. The trio slowly made their way to the tables where the food was arranged. On reaching the tables, both Debbie and Georgia admitted their hunger. There wasn't much talking after that. Several hours later, Oscar stepped away from the front of the house to get a little peace and quiet. He was still trying to get used to having foresight and crowds tended to exaggerate the effects. It was rough being around hundreds of people while seeing two time slices of the world simultaneously. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe to ease the uneasiness of his stomach. He opened his eyes and said, "Hello, Ed." "Hello, Oscar." "You have something for me from William?" Oscar asked holding out his hand. Ed held out an envelope and said, "He gave me this for you. He was sorry that he couldn't make it here. He's having a hard time getting used to life as a mere mortal and I think the crowd of people would have been too much for him." "I can understand that. The crowds are difficult for me, too," Oscar replied while accepting the envelope. Ignoring Ed for the moment, Oscar read the letter which he had removed from the envelope. Smiling, he read the part about how the money he had given to William had increased in value to a little over forty million dollars. Pleased, he said, "At least my wives will be cared for." "He wants you to know that he will take care of your wives in the event that anything happens to you. They are welcome in his home anytime," Ed said. "That's nice of him. That's very nice of him. He's already done a lot for me. I gave William some money to invest for me. He got a very good return on the investment," Oscar said feeling a little tightness in his throat. "He is good with money," Ed said. This was the first that he had heard of William handling any investments for Oscar. He looked at Oscar and asked, "How are you holding up?" "Me? I'm fine. I am worried about William, though," Oscar said. He had been disappointed that William hadn't attended the wedding despite understanding the reason behind it. It would have been nice to say goodbye to him. "He's still getting used to his changed circumstances," Ed said. "I didn't ask for him to give up his foresight to me," Oscar said feeling a little defensive about it. "I know. So does William. He doesn't blame you. He wants you to know that." "That's good," Oscar said. He wouldn't blame William if he had been angry about having lost his gift. He looked over at Ed and said, "You know that I consider him my best friend." "I know. He feels the same way about you," Ed said thinking that it had to be the strangest friendship in the history of mankind. "Let him know that I appreciate all that he's done for us and say goodbye to him for me," Oscar said. He turned away so that he wouldn't have to look at Ed. Ed put a hand on Oscar's back. He said, "I will. Take care of yourself." "Thanks," Oscar said. He knew that Ed was leaving for Arizona and William would have his message before night had fallen. Ed was gone before he turned around. With a tear in his eye, he said, "Take care of William." Oscar looked over the crowd thinking that today would be the last time that he would see many of them. He folded the letter from William and put it into the pocket of his robe. He'd read it over when he had more time. ------- Chapter 3 Across the flat featureless ground, baked hard under the direct glare of the sun, Oscar walked with a strong step as though the heat had no effect upon him. The hot ground produced convection currents that caused the air to shimmer in waves, distorting things in the distance. The effect made him appear as a squiggle suspended slightly above the ground, a comma dancing on the horizon. On the outskirts of a small village in Iraq, a group of children played soccer on a small patch of land by the side of the road. The boys were running and laughing like children found everywhere in the world. While much of the town was dilapidated, the soccer ball was new. In a way, the ball tied the boys to kids everywhere. It was a universal language, made of kicks, head butts, sweeps, and gestures calling for the ball. The game stopped when one of the boys spotted a figure walking down the road. The boys fled the field taking their ball with them. Strangers in the small town represented a danger. One of the boys, as he ran through town, screamed, "A stranger is coming. A stranger is coming." Women ran into houses taking the younger children with them. The men came out of their houses carrying rifles. They gathered together and watched the progress of the stranger as he neared. The men were tense, not sure what to make of the lone figure. Their village was poor, but that didn't stop people from trying to take advantage of them. If it wasn't the Americans trying to change a lifestyle of a thousand years, then it was foreign terrorists trying to recruit them as human bombs. The figure was soon close enough for them to make out details. He wore a gray robe with an earth colored cloak over it. The hood of the cloak was raised over his head, keeping the sun off his head and hiding his visage. In his hand, he held a shepherd's staff that swung forward and backward in time with his step. The sandals on his feet flashed into periodic view as he strode confidently into the town. A gold medallion hung around his neck. He walked past the gathered men without pausing or looking, heading straight for the Mosque. They followed behind him, curious about the man that didn't greet them, watching his every action. He stepped up to the door of the Mosque. He raised the staff and slammed it, butt end first, into the door frame. The resounding bang was much louder than commonsense would have predicted. He repeated the action again and then a third time. The Cleric Fayez Majid came to the door and stared at the man standing before him. He asked, "Who are you that knocks upon the door?" "I am the Druid Oscar Meyers. I seek entry to this house of Allah," answered Oscar in a voice that thundered over the area. The men behind him raised their guns to shoot him where he stood as soon as they heard the word Druid. The Cleric stepped back in shock and surprise. From deep within the Mosque a loud booming voice echoed, "Let the Druid enter." Shocked expressions ran through the crowd since all knew the only one inside the Mosque was the Cleric. The Cleric turned and looked into the building with fear. His heart fluttered within his chest, unable to believe what his ears had heard. He stood to block Oscar's entry. The deep voice echoed through the building, "Do not make the Druid wait." Oscar stood in front of the man, watching with a steady stare as the Cleric debated what to do. The crowd had stepped back several steps eyeing the stranger with fear in their hearts. The voice coming from the Mosque terrified the men, none more so than the Cleric. The Cleric stepped back and gestured for him to enter. Oscar nodded and said, "Thank you." Slipping off his sandals, he strode through the door, entering the Mosque proper with confident steps. Unable to resist, the Cleric followed him and stared in shock at the room as it glowed with a soft golden light. The Cleric fell to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground. Oscar continued to stand as the deep booming voice reverberated through the room, "You are the Druid Oscar Meyers." Oscar, his voice deep and resonant, replied, "I am he, sent here by my Gods and Goddesses." The men entered the Mosque, wondering what was happening inside. Seeing the Cleric on his knees, they joined him on the floor. As the voice originated from the center of the room, the men shook in fear. "What is your mission?" "To bring peace to this ravaged land." The voice echoed through the room again. "Are you willing to die for peace?" Oscar answered, "There is no higher cause." The voice, strong enough to carry through the whole town, stated, "You shall do." As the golden glow faded, Oscar turned to leave the room. The Cleric rose and faced him. He felt that he was in the presence of a particularly religious man that had been blessed by Allah. He asked, "What am I to do?" Oscar smiled and, in the commanding voice that had been his gift from the Two-Sided One, said, "Spread the word of what occurred here. Pray for peace among all that serve the good, including those that serve other Gods." As the men in the Mosque rose from the floor, Oscar left the Mosque; pausing at the door to slip his sandals back onto his feet. Without a backward glance, he stepped away from the Mosque. As one, the men followed him out the door and down the street, their guns forgotten at the entrance of the Mosque. Oscar did not stop, but continued to walk; leaving the small town within a few minutes. The crowd stopped and watched as he slowly changed from man- shaped to a dancing squiggle and finally disappeared in the far distance. The Cleric, standing to the side, said, "Come, let us go to the Mosque. It is time for prayers." Oscar reached the crossroads four miles from town and stopped to wait for the white Mercedes to arrive. He had to wait thirty minutes, but it finally pulled up beside him. He opened the passenger door and seated himself. Once his seat belt had been buckled, he looked at the driver. With a large grin on his face, he teased, "You look sexy dressed like that." Surprised by his comment, Georgia laughed hysterically. She asked, "You find the burka sexy?" He smiled and answered, "It shows off your lovely eyes in a most beguiling fashion." Shaking her head at the compliment, she knew that she could be fully covered except for a small circle on her bottom and he'd tell her that she had a lovely little hole. She asked, "Where to now?" Pointing down one of the roads, he answered, "We go to Baghdad. I'll have to drive when we get close to any town." The second-class treatment of women in this part of the world really bothered her, but she was glad that he had brought her with him. She had watched the reaction of the people in town and realized that he had made a significant impact on those that saw and heard. Watching the passing scenery as she drove, she commented, "This is the cradle of civilization." Knowing that she was not very comfortable with being here, he asked, "And?" "It's a shame that the cradle never evolved," she answered. It seemed to her that the birthplace of civilization should have remained civilized. Instead, it had stagnated and decayed into a land where power counted more than morals. Lost in thought, he watched the countryside as they drove towards Baghdad. There was a lot of life in this part of the country. They were following the Tigris River to Baghdad and this route was lush with green plant life. He knew that most people considered Iraq to be nothing more than a desert area, but that was much further south and to the east. As they approached a small town, Oscar said, "Pull over here. We'll change so that I'm driving. I'd hate it if you were hurt because you were seen doing something that wasn't allowed." Stopping the car in the middle of the road, she parked the car and got out. As she walked around the car, he got out of the passenger seat and held the door open for her. She climbed in and settled into her seat, her irritation rising at the stupidity that wouldn't allow a woman to drive. Both of them knew that women could drive here, but that it wasn't entirely socially acceptable. Oscar closed the door and went around to the driver's side of the car. Despite the fact that this was a major road, there wasn't a single other car on it. He got in and started driving towards the town ahead. As they approached the town, a number of cars were pulled over on the side of the road. He looked down the road and saw the roadblock staffed by American Soldiers. Parking the car, he stepped out and approached the soldiers. They spotted him immediately and recognized him as a Druid, but didn't know how to react to his presence. In the meantime, his fore-sight started screaming at Oscar to get away from the taxi. Oscar paused for a second and started backing away. He shouted, "Get away from the taxi! It's a bomb!" He turned to put as much distance as he could between him and the taxi. Seeing his actions, the Iraqis scattered. The soldiers may not have known how to react to his presence, but they definitely knew how to react to his announcement of a car bomb. They immediately opened fire on the driver of the car. Seconds later, there was a loud explosion as the bomb went off. The force of the explosion threw people to the ground as metal cut through the air over their heads. Unhurt, Oscar picked himself off the ground and walked back towards the soldiers. The Iraqis that had been stopped at the roadblock returned to stare at the mangled wreckage that remained of the taxi. The soldiers were getting very nervous wondering if this was going to spark an incident. In a voice that sent shivers down the spines of all those that heard it, Oscar shouted, "Thank the Gods and Goddesses for sparing the lives of innocents." The Muslims gathered around the wreck of the tax heard, "Praise be to Allah for sparing the lives of his followers." The Christians present heard, "Praise be to God for saving us from evil." Oscar turned to the soldiers and asked, "Must I wait for my car to be inspected?" The man in charge looked at Oscar, taking in the robe and medallion around his neck. He knew this man was to be treated as though he was a Colonel or above. In a voice of respect, he said, "It is dangerous here for you." With a wry smile, Oscar glanced over at the remains of the taxi and said, "It is dangerous here for everyone." Catching the not quite subtle hint, the soldier said, "Go on." As Oscar returned to his car, the Muslims stared at him wondering what they were to do. According to what most of them believed, he was a pagan and was to be killed on sight. For a few others, he was a Magi and was to be respected. That mixture of respect, fear, and hate was typical of the reaction in that world to a Druid. Oscar drove past the crowd and through the checkpoint. The man in charge nodded as he drove past. The crowd just watched with a pensiveness that would last for days. The one thing that bound local and American was the general uncertainty about dealing with the Druid. All seemed happy to see him leave. Inside the car, Georgia said, "That was interesting. They didn't know whether to thank you or kill you." "It's going to get worse with time. Wait until people start waiting for me to show up," replied Oscar with a grin. She shook her head at the idea. That was going to be when it really got dangerous for him. He guided the car into the town. Slowing down, he started looking around at the buildings until he noticed one that had a glowing door. After driving past it, he stopped the car and got out. From the car, she watched him stride down the street with a purpose that intimidated all those that saw him. Oscar strode up to the door of the church and halted. Lifting his staff, he struck the door creating a noise that carried through the whole neighborhood. People came out of their houses, wondering what had created the noise and then stayed to watch what followed. The priest opened the door of the church, fear obvious on his face. The recent upsurge in fundamentalism within the country had made being a Christian much more dangerous than ever before. Oscar looked the priest in the eye and, voice reverberating, said, "I am the Druid Oscar Meyers. May I enter this house of Jehovah?" The priest stared at Oscar unsure how to answer that question. From within the church, a thunderous voice echoed, "Bid the Druid to enter." With stomach knotting at the unexpected voice behind him, the priest meekly gestured for Oscar to enter. Striding into the church, Oscar paused as he took in the simple altar at the front of the room. It was not as ornate as he expected, but perhaps reflected the second class positions held by non-Muslims in this part of the world. The air suddenly took the scent of roses, almost overpowering in its intensity. Amid a bright light hovering above the altar, a voice loud enough to carry outside the church rang forth, "You are the Druid Oscar Meyers." "I am he, sent here by my Gods and Goddesses," was the reply in a voice nearly as loud. "What is your mission?" "I am here to bring peace to this land," Oscar replied. The light brightened and a ray of light came out to play over Oscar as he stood there. The voice asked, "Are you willing to die for this mission?" "There is no greater calling than to die for peace." "You shall do. Go to the house of Yahweh and present yourself." As the scent in the room faded, Oscar turned to find the priest on his knees with hands held in prayer. The dark haired man that had greeted him at the door was gone forever, replaced by a white haired man who had been touched by his God. Oscar reached down and pulled the man up from his knees. Looking at the man, Oscar said, "Let all who wish to know be told of what you saw and heard." When Oscar left the church, worshippers were outside kneeling in prayer, certain that something significant was occurring within the church, but unaware of all that went on within the building. They gasped when the priest came to the door and beckoned them into the church. The sudden change in the priest's appearance spoke volumes about what had gone on inside. Oscar returned to the car and drove past the church as more people gathered around the building. The news that their God had appeared in this simple house of worship had spread through the neighborhood like wild fire. Even Muslims in the area heard the news and wondered what it signified. Already, rumors had circulated that a man had entered a Mosque in a town north of there and Allah had spoken to him directly. In the Bataween section of Baghdad, a crumbling buff-colored building was tucked away in an alleyway hidden from sight. The last Rabbi had disappeared long ago, but this was the last synagogue in Iraq. Several hundred thousand worshippers prior to 1948 had dwindled down to less than a hundred. That it remained amongst such hostility was a miracle of sorts. Oscar strode to the door with a purpose. Of the remaining Jews in Iraq, only three saw him approach the building. Fearing for the worst, they followed him believing that they were about to witness the final chapter to the last remaining symbol of a community that stretched back two thousand eight hundred years. Oscar hit the door with his staff, creating a booming noise that echoed through the alley. The door slowly swung open, unattended by human hand. The three witnesses stared in disbelief as a voice echoed from within the empty building, "Enter Druid Oscar Meyers, I have been expecting you." Oscar entered the dark building and, looking around with a critical eye, saw the years of neglect reflected within building. A dancing fire appeared in midair. His voice, deep and rumbling with enough volume to carry into the street, Oscar said, "One day this building shall live again." "You are willing to die in order to see that happen?" echoed the voice carrying into the street. "I am willing to die in service to my Gods and Goddesses," answered Oscar. "I accept you." The voice echoed throughout the room and through the open door. The three Jews and a crowd of Muslims gathered outside wondered what that meant. Oscar replied, "Thank you." "Go forth, visit Mosque, Church, and Synagogue. We shall greet you at each so that you can spread the news that there is to be peace among our religions. When the time is right, our emissaries shall meet with you." Oscar bowed his head and replied, "Thank you Yahweh. I shall do as you have requested." The interview was over and Oscar left the building. A huge crowd had gathered outside, staring at him with awe, fear, reverence, and loathing when he exited. The mixture of emotions was not unexpected as word of the events within a Jewish house of worship spread like wildfire throughout the Muslim neighborhood. Returning to the car, Oscar entered feeling extremely exhausted. All three of the Gods had accepted him as spokesman. It was up to him to spread the word of peace in a land that had only known war and strife. Georgia looked at the faces of the people gathered around the Synagogue. Most of the faces reflected awe at what they had seen and those didn't bother her. It was the few that looked in their direction with loathing that sent chills up and down her spine. She said, "I'm scared." "We will spend the night at the American Base," Oscar said in an attempt to diffuse the tension in the car. The trip to the American Base did not take long, but it was very quiet in the car as each of them considered the situation. Pulling up to the American Base at the airport, Oscar got out of the car and asked to be taken to the base commander. An hour later, he and Georgia were led to a private room where they could spend the night in relative safety. The room had simple twin beds, but it was private. Georgia entered, looked around, and stripped out of her clothes. Turning to Oscar, she commanded, "Come here and fuck me. I want it as rough as you can give it to me." The request was unusual by its very nature. For the past few years, George had not emerged. Now that aspect of her character returned with a vengeance. George liked to take control, but now she wanted him to be rough with her. Oscar pulled off his robe and went to kiss her. She grabbed him and threw him against the wall as she shouted, "I said I wanted it rough!" He grabbed her and pulled her to him. She fought back with savage fury, snarling when he backed off. Off balance, they fell and wrestled on the floor. Half of the time she was pushing him away and half of the time she was pulling him closer. Oscar was not finding this a pleasant coupling and had a difficult time achieving an erection. After she scratched him, anger rose within him and with that anger his cock erected. Frustrated, he rolled her on her back and held her down even as she fought back with a fury. Georgia, although giving into the George side of her nature, wanted him to overcome the aggressive side and vanquish it forever. When he finally got a hold on her that she couldn't escape, he slipped his cock into her cunt. She continued to fight him, but with her arms twisted under her body, all she could do was thrash about. Fighting him, she wrapped her legs around his hips and squeezed with all of her considerable strength. With legs squeezing him around his hips, Oscar was held tight. He twisted her arm until her legs relaxed and then thrust into her with savage strokes. All consideration for her pleasure fled as he focused on achieving his pleasure. Biting his shoulder, she tried to distract him. When he went to bite her breast, her arm got loose. Within seconds she was beating him with her fist. With nothing to lose, he grabbed her shoulders and started to fuck her savagely. She pushed and shoved him away. Unable to control her, he flipped her onto her back and slipped his cock between her legs. Rather than entering her cunt, his cock slipped into her asshole. With that, she let loose a primal scream and started slapping the floor with her hand. Lost in the moment, Oscar ravaged her asshole not caring which hole his cock was exploring. The savage fucking of her ass began to eat away from the anger that had driven her to this act. Oscar could feel the come boiling in his balls as his orgasm began to build. As he thrust into her with a final angry push, the come exploded from him, filling her ass with his fluids. As he came, it was as though all of the energy and anger within her evaporated. Coming down, he rolled off her and lay on the floor breathing heavily. His face was scratched, there was blood flowing from his shoulder, and his back was on fire from the shredding given him in her struggles. His jaw hurt, but he didn't remember her hitting him there. Rolling over to look at her, he was about to apologize when she said, "Thank you. I needed it like that." The admission made his apology seem out of place and he looked at her. There were carpet burns on her back, knees, stomach, and breasts. She didn't appear to have any bruises although the same could not be said of him. Confused, he said, "You're welcome. I hope I didn't hurt you." As the come dripped out of her ass, she said, "I've never had anal sex before. You took me by surprise." "I took you in the ass?" She laughed at the shocked expression on his face and replied, "Yes, you did. I guess you didn't realize it." The news surprised him, but he didn't react. The fact was that he hadn't understood what had happened. She moved over and nuzzled him with her cheek. She smiled at him and said, "Let's get cleaned up and eat something." The next morning, Oscar woke to the feel of her mouth around his cock. This was his favorite way to wake. He looked down to see her looking up at him with a smile in her eyes. Seeing that he was now awake, Georgia stopped sucking his cock and moved to lower her cunt onto it. Breakfast in the mess hall was a quiet affair as both of them were lost in the thoughts of the task facing Oscar. He watched as Georgia ate her cereal, trying to memorize every detail of her face. It was with a sigh that he finished his toast, washing it down with the last of his coffee. Georgia, much of her anger gone, was finally accepting the situation in a calm manner. A number of military personnel had heard stories of the sounds that had come out of their room the previous night, but it was clear from their behavior this morning that nothing brutal had occurred. There wasn't the kind of flinching that followed a beating of one by another. After the food had been consumed, they both refilled their coffee cups to relax before heading out on the next leg of the trip. Oscar, leaning across the table, said, "I love you very much." With a sigh, Georgia answered, "I know you do. I love you too. It is just so hard to allow you to walk around like this so unprotected." "My Gods and Goddesses shall watch over me." Sitting back in her chair, she frowned as she said, "They will watch you die." Oscar shrugged and looked at Georgia knowing that there wasn't any way to reply to that comment. Taking a deep breath, he said, "They only asked if I was willing to die for peace, not that I had to die." "It's the same thing." A Colonel stopped by the table and asked, "Are you the Druid Oscar Meyers?" "Yes, I am." "There's another Druid here to see you. She'll be here in a few minutes," replied the man. "Another Druid? I wonder who it could be," replied Oscar not expecting any other Druid to show up. His foresight gave him the answer and he smiled at Georgia. "The Intel is going crazy. It appears that you've really stirred up a hornet's nest with your stunts in the Mosque, Temple, and Church. Groups all over the Middle East are preparing for war of the worst kind. We are talking Apocalypse, here." Oscar looked at the Colonel for a minute. It was clear that the man was very concerned about what was going to happen in the next few days, weeks, and months. Taking a sip of his coffee, he wondered how he could reassure the man that things would work out for the best. He replied, "I know it looks bad, but it isn't. The result of my actions will be peace." The dream of every military man was peace, but in his position he knew how elusive that could be. Scoffing at the suggestion, the Colonel said, "Lots of people have made that claim. What makes you different?" "I have my Gods and Goddesses supporting me. I also have the support of Allah, Jehovah, and Yahweh." The man shook his head and left the table convinced that the Druid had lost his mind. Oscar watched him leave the mess hall and was still watching the door when Jennifer passed through it on her way to him. Leaning back in his chair, he didn't say a word to Georgia that her sister was there. Jennifer came up behind her sister and covered her eyes with her hands, startling her younger sister. Before she had a chance to react physically, Oscar said, "Guess who." Georgia sat there puzzled and said, "I have no idea." As Jennifer giggled, her sister realized who was covering her eyes. She shouted, "Jed, stop that!" Oscar laughed as the sisters were reunited after a year's separation. Jennifer sat down at the table next to her sister and said, "It's good to see you. Sorry I missed the wedding, but things have been a little crazy lately." ------- Chapter 4 In the middle of the night, Oscar drove the car across the Iran-Iraq border. They passed the border checkpoint without stopping. It was as if the border guards could not see the white Mercedes. After they had driven a mile past the border, Georgia let out the breath she had been holding and then said, "That was strange. Why didn't they stop us?" "The Powers That Be do not recognize the borders imposed by men," Oscar answered. National boundaries were a construct of men, not Gods. "You're saying that the Gods and Goddesses intervened," Georgia said turning to look back down the road towards the border. "Perhaps it was Allah. I'm here to visit Mosques," Oscar said gesturing to the rode ahead of them. "Haven't you already delivered your message?" Georgia asked. "No, I was just accepted by the Powers That Be," Oscar said. The next phase of visits was going to be even more dangerous. "What do we do now?" Georgia asked. They weren't going to be able to check into a hotel. "We'll find a reasonable place to pull over and then get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day," Oscar said. "So where are we going?" Georgia asked frustrated by the fact that Oscar had been so closed mouthed about his plans. "Everywhere," Oscar answered earning a small punch on the shoulder from Georgia. "I'm serious. If you don't start telling me what is going on, I'm going to Israel to stay with Debbie," Georgia threatened. "We are going to travel across Iran to Pakistan. From there, we'll swing through Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and then Syria. We'll take a short vacation with Debbie before beginning the next round of visits," Oscar said. "That's going to take forever," Georgia said missing Debbie. "We could ask Debbie to fly into Afghanistan. She's always been a little jealous of the time that we spent together there. I think she would appreciate being there with us on this pass through the area," Oscar said. "You're so sweet," Debbie said. Peering through the dark, Oscar spotted a nice flat area beside the road. Pulling the car over, he said, "This looks like a good place for us to stop for the night." "Tent?" "The weather is nice. We'll just spread our sleeping bags on the ground and enjoy the night sky," Oscar said. "You really know how to show a girl a good time," Georgia said with a smile. She knew that most women would have run off at the idea of sleeping under the stars. She wasn't like most women. "I do my best," Oscar said turning off the motor. She looked over at the road for a second and then asked, "Am I going to have to sleep in the burka?" "Yes, although having you in a burka defeats the purpose for women wearing them. You are just too sexy in it," Oscar said trying to take some of the sting out of his words. "I'm serious. I'd hate to get killed by someone passing by because I'm not wearing a burka," Georgia said. Being in a Muslim country was a whole lot easier when she was wearing Army fatigues and carrying a rifle. "Don't worry about it," Oscar said getting out of the car. Georgia climbed out her side and went around to the back of the car. Oscar opened the trunk and pulled out their sleeping bags. He put them down on the ground so that the car was between them and the road. He said, "We'll be up at dawn." "So what are we going to do about food?" Georgia asked. The trunk of the car was loaded with MREs and she knew it. Oscar paused to look at her and then asked, "What's the matter, Georgia?" "I'm afraid," Georgia answered looking away from Oscar. There were so many responses to that statement, but Oscar knew what was bothering her. He said, "You're afraid that George is returning now that you are back in this part of the world." Barely able to answer, Georgia said, "Yes. No. I don't know. Last night really scared me." "Don't be afraid of that. What we are doing here is very dangerous. You are reacting to that danger by being tough. Last night, you wanted to know that I was as tough as you," Oscar said. "I don't think so," Georgia said thoughtfully. She recalled her demands for violence without understanding what was driving her to it. She had bullied him into performing rough and brutal sex. Such brutality wasn't really in his nature. Thinking about it, she realized that she had forced him into taking her with that level of violence. After a minute she said, "Maybe I wanted to know that I could survive being raped." "What?" Oscar was shocked by her statement. "If you get killed, then I'll be left alone in the middle of nowhere. Whoever kills you will probably rape me before killing me. I think that maybe last night I wanted it as rough as you could make it so that I would know that I'd be able to take being raped," Georgia answered. "Can you?" "I don't know," Georgia answered with tears welling up in her eyes. It hadn't been a fair test. She loved Oscar too much. Oscar moved over to Georgia and put his arms around her. It would have been nice if she'd been able to rest her head on his shoulder, but he was too short for that to work. He rubbed her back and said, "I can see the future and I will use that to keep you safe." "I'll try to be strong," Georgia said. While helping her settle on the sleeping bags, Oscar said, "Don't worry. You'll see that things will be okay." "My sister said that things were nearing an explosive point. She's put the troops on high alert all over the world," Georgia said. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "I know. She's right in her assessment, but things will improve soon." "I don't see how," she said. "Tomorrow. You'll see tomorrow," Oscar said thinking about what was going to happen. Georgia sat in the car watching Oscar walk to the door of the Mosque. He rapped on the side of the door with his staff. The result was a boom that echoed over the whole area. The men who had been following him stared at him with violence in their eyes. Oscar turned and looked over the men. From within the Mosque, a loud voice called out, "I bid you enter, Druid Oscar Meyers." Removing his shoes, Oscar stepped into the Mosque. Those outside followed him into the large room that was lit by a golden glow. They found the Imam in charge of the Mosque on the floor trembling in fear. Taking in the scene around him, Oscar said, "I have come to learn of your message of peace." "The senseless killing must stop. I will not tolerate any man declaring Jihad by the Sword in my name," echoed the voice. The men in the room reacted in shock at the message. Outside in the street a riot nearly broke out. "I shall spread that message," Oscar said. His voice carried through the door to all of those gathered outside. He repeated the message, "The senseless killing must stop. Allah will not tolerate any man declaring Jihad by the Sword in his name." "Go in peace, Oscar Meyers." Oscar stepped out of the Mosque and paused to replace his sandals. A man stepped up with a gun and aimed it at him. At that moment a lightning bolt arced from the dome of the Mosque and killed the man. His voice echoing across the town, Oscar said, "The senseless killing must stop. Allah will not tolerate any man declaring Jihad by the Sword in his name." Georgia had watched the episode at the door terrified that she was going to be lost and alone in Iran. The bolt of lightning had cut off the scream that was beginning to boil out from her. She stared in shock at the dead body lying at Oscar's feet. After slipping on his sandals, Oscar stepped around the dead man lying on the ground. He made his way to the car at a normal walk. It seemed much further away than he remembered. Men, who had gathered around the Mosque to stop him, stepped out of the way. They looked at him with a mixture of fear and hate. Fear was the most dominate emotion. They had heard the voice echoing from within the Mosque, but many of them had doubted it was really Allah. The bolt of lightning had chased away their doubts, but not their hate for the messenger. Oscar entered the car and drove off without saying a word. He didn't trust himself to speak. Only when they had reached the town limits did he speak. "That was rather surprising." "Did you know that was going to happen?" Georgia asked looking at Oscar in wonder. "No," Oscar answered. He hadn't known what Allah was going to say to him although he had a pretty good idea. He hadn't known that the assassin would be killed. "No more Jihad," she said shaking her head. It was an incredible idea. "Allah did not end Jihad. He ended Jihad by the Sword," Oscar said while steering the car around a rough patch in the road. He had expected the infrastructure to be in a little better shape. "What does that mean?" "It means that they can not make war against men or nations as a means of spreading Islam," Oscar answered. "That's big," Georgia said. "Yes, it is," Oscar said. Seeing a little of the future, he pulled off the road and parked the car. Taking advantage of the short break, he turned to face Georgia. "We both know that the terrorist leadership is doing this for personal gain. How will ending Jihad by the Sword bring peace?" Georgia asked. He answered, "That means the justification that the terrorists have been using to attack the West has been negated by the God they claim to serve. It will make it difficult to acquire new followers. It will turn the Muslim Press against them." "I don't know what to say," Georgia said. She was silent for a minute and then asked, "So is your mission over?" "No. I will go to many Mosques where the message shall be repeated. In today's age of technology, people will not believe the message until enough people have heard it for themselves," Oscar answered. He shrugged his shoulders and added, "I'm sure that they will tear that Mosque apart searching for speakers. I'm sure that a rumor is spreading that speakers were placed there by the CIA." "So we're going to spend all of our time going from Mosque to Mosque." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "I still have Churches and Synagogues to visit yet." "What message will they give you?" "I don't know," Oscar answered. "I feel a lot safer now," Georgia said thinking about the assassin who had been killed in front of the Mosque. "Why?" "The Gods are protecting you," Georgia answered. Oscar looked off to the side seeking the future. He sat back in his seat to calm down and wait. He said, "The man who was killed was a member of the secret police. His death is going to stir up a hornet's nest of activity. We had best get away from here." "I agree," Georgia said wondering why they were not driving off. "It is not yet safe for us to go," Oscar said anticipating the question that was on the tip of her tongue. After a few minutes, Georgia asked, "Why did we stop?" "So that a military convey could pass by without observing us," Oscar answered. "A military convey? Where?" Georgia asked looking around and seeing nothing but empty land. "Down the road. We'll be able to see the end of it when we get to the crossroads up ahead of us," Oscar answered. Sitting back in her seat, Georgia was quiet while thinking about what had happened at the Mosque. After several minutes, she said, "It is hard to believe that I've heard the voice of Allah." "Did you understand what was being said?" Oscar asked. He was used to his gift of languages and hadn't thought about it. He turned on the car and headed down the road. "Yes. Allah spoke to you in English," Georgia answered. A puzzled look crossed her face even as she spoke. She wondered why Allah would speak in English. It dawned on her that all of the people there understood the exchange, so it couldn't have been English. "I spoke in Farsi," Oscar said. The road seemed to be in much better shape where they were and he sped up a little. "That's right. We're in Persia now," Georgia said. She thought about it for a second and then said, "Wait! I understood you too." Oscar glanced over at Georgia and, in a very serious voice, said, "Don't forget that Allah is a God. Never forget that." "What does that mean?" "It means that you must never underestimate what Allah is capable of doing. People put the Powers That Be in little boxes thinking it gives them some control over them. They think that if they pray and do this or that, then the God or Goddess will do as they expect. It doesn't work that way. "The Powers That Be are so powerful that they defy simple classification. They aren't forces of nature; they are the forces of nature. Their power can be as subtle as a gentle breeze on a beautiful day or as destructive as a category five hurricane. They deal with the entirety of the universe more than with the individual. There are no secrets that can be kept from them. "We are so fragile in comparison. The merest whisper of their force directed towards us can pulverize our body. It doesn't even take a force like a hurricane to kill us. A lowly bacteria or virus can do it. Beside power such as that, we are nothing," Oscar answered. "You make them sound terrifying," Georgia said looking at Oscar wide-eyed. She had never thought of the Gods and Goddess in that manner. "They can be terrifying," Oscar said in reply. "So why do you serve them?" Oscar was silent for a minute while he thought about his answer. In a soft voice, he said, "Because they love us. Can you imagine that? We are so insignificant in comparison to them, but they love us just the same. They watch over us. They exert their powers to make our lives better despite how we treat them. As their servant, I am a part of that wondrous love that they extend to us pitiful little human beings." His explanation left as many questions as it answered. She asked, "You suggested that we treat the Powers That Be worse than they treat us. What do you mean?" Oscar answered, "How many times have you heard someone make a deal with God and break it? You know what I mean. God if you help me with this then I'll be a good little follower. Then they fail to keep their bargain. It is a daily occurrence. We are takers. We ask, beg, and demand that the Powers That Be act for us, while giving nothing in return. "All they ask is that we follow a few rules that are for the betterment for everyone. We ignore those rules. We ignore the rules when they are in direct opposition to what we want. We try to cheat when it is too much effort to follow them. We are spoiled little children who defy their parents at every turn. "Even worse, we insult them. We act in their names in manners that are against their wishes. We kill each other in the names of the Powers That Be. We stand by and watch horrible acts take place without stepping in to interfere. We curse them for the fact that they allow it even while we propagate it. "If a person were to act in that fashion to us, we would consider them monsters and despise them. We would never tolerate a person who breaks promises, uses us with callous regard, and insults us at every turn. I can't imagine how most people would react to having their existence questioned." The charges made by Oscar were accurate. Georgia thought about it for several minutes as they moved through the Iranian landscape. She finally asked, "So why do they love us?" "That's a good question," Oscar answered. He pointed out the window and said, "We are entering the Lorestan region of Iran. There won't be much to see until we hit Dezful. There are a dozen or so little towns of less than five thousand people along the road. It's about 200 miles, but it will take us most of the day to get there." "How do you know that we are in the Lorenstan region?" Georgia asked amazed at his familiarity with Iran. "I read the sign," Oscar answered wondering why she hadn't noticed it. He had pointed it out to her when they had passed it. Turning her attention out of the window, she noticed they were passing fields of some crop. She asked, "What are they growing here?" "Wheat," Oscar answered thinking that Debbie would have recognized the plants right away. The contrast between the two women in his life was interesting. Georgia was raised in the city, but able to take the rough and tumble of life of living wild in the country. Debbie was raised in the country, but she was only comfortable living with all of the advantages of civilization. "I don't think of Iran as producing much food," Georgia said looking across the fields of wheat. "There's plenty of desert, too. We won't see much of it since we'll be driving along the coast." "Will we get a chance to go swimming?" Georgia asked. "We'll go skinny dipping a time or two. We'll have to be careful though since that is a crime," Oscar answered. Shaking her head, Georgia said, "This area of the world sure is hard on women." "Yes, but I doubt that will change as a result of our efforts. We are disturbing the status quo enough as it is," Oscar said. "I wonder if you could ask when you are in the next mosque," Georgia said thinking that a few words from Allah could improve the lives of millions of women. "I'm not going to ask that," Oscar said. Seeing the expression on her face, he turned to look at her and asked, "Suppose I did ask. What would happen if Allah reinforced the traditional treatment of women?" "That would be horrible," Georgia said with a shiver. That would result in women in the more progressive Islamic parts of the world being repressed. Perhaps Oscar was right in his hesitancy to ask. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "I think things will improve with time." "Why?" "Maybe by reducing the siege-like view of the world that Islam has engendered, they might relax enough to treat their women better. They cling to very extreme interpretations of the religion because they believe that the Jews and Christians are out to eliminate them. Islam doesn't require women to wear burkas. That is a cultural element associated with protecting their women from the lusts and desires of men," Oscar answered. ------- Chapter 5 "One of the good things about the fusion battery is that we don't have to stop for gas," Oscar said driving the white Mercedes over the rough terrain. While the Mercedes was a well engineered car, it wasn't designed for roads that were so rough and it was definitely taking a beating. "Yes, but if you're not careful we'll have to have this car repaired somewhere," Georgia replied grabbing at the dashboard when the car lurched for what seemed like the millionth time. Pointing to another Mercedes parked by a house in the distance, Oscar said, "We're not the only ones with a car out here." "I can see that. The real question is if they actually drive it anywhere," Georgia said as the car slipped off a rock and skewed sideways. She hit her shoulder on the door and glared over at Oscar as if blaming him for her discomfort. "Sorry. Western Pakistan isn't known for having well kept roads," Oscar said. A huge hole opened in front of them and he swerved to miss it. He swore, "Gee whiz that was close." "Gee Whiz?" she asked with a snort at the juvenile expression. It sounded like something from the old Batman series on television. "What do you want me to say? Snarkle?" Oscar asked with a grin. "I'd much prefer Ni," Georgia answered making reference to the knights of an old comedy movie. "Ni it is," Oscar said. "We are not going to be able to drive all the way to Afghanistan in this car," Georgia said. She felt like someone had been hitting her kidneys. "I plan on trading the car for camels in the town up ahead," Oscar said hitting a bump that nearly twisted the steering wheel out of his hands. "Camels?" Georgia asked. She wasn't sure how she felt about riding a camel for a couple hundred miles. A horse was one thing, but a camel was a totally different kind of beast. She wondered if Oscar knew how many camels a Mercedes was worth. That thought was followed by a number of less pleasant thoughts. She frowned and then said, "I thought this area was filled with terrorists. Will we be safe traveling by camel?" "Yes," Oscar said. "What about the terrorists?" Oscar was silent for a moment and then pointed up the road at a grizzly sight. A dozen bodies were lying on the ground; their weapons lying on the ground beside them. He said, "There has been a little fighting up here." "Why?" Georgia asked staring at the bodies. She glanced over at Oscar wondering if he knew what was happening. She still wasn't used to his ability to know things without learning them. "Well, word of Allah's message has reached here. The locals have decided to believe that Allah no longer wants Jihad by the Sword. They've stopped providing the kind of support to the terrorists that was common in the past. It is one thing to support a group that is doing the work of God and quite another to support a group that is defying God. The foreign terrorists take issue with that and have been trying to force the locals to their world view. The terrorists are losing," Oscar said driving around the bodies. He wasn't sure which side of the conflict the bodies belonged to. If they were locals, then the terrorists would have left them there as a message to the locals. If they were terrorists, then the locals would have left them there because of their opposition to the will of Allah. "How bad is it?" Georgia asked. "Pretty bad. Entire villages have been destroyed," Oscar answered concentrating on the road. He knew that the road was going to get even worse before they hit town. For the past month and a half, they had been stopping at an average of two Mosques a day. The message was always the same. Allah wanted Jihad by the Sword to end. The reactions to the delivery of the message became ever more polarized. In some cases there would be great rejoicing, while in others there was a growing current of anger. Georgia said, "I'm not sure what I think of that. I would have assumed that they would be happy that their God is sending them a message." "That's the politics of religion," he said. Even simple messages became convoluted when men with ambition decided to interpret them. "Ugly." "When we stop, would you mind getting on the Satellite Phone and calling your sister?" "My sister? Why?" Georgia asked turning immediately to find the phone in the backseat. "I'd like it if she could arrange for a Russian Truck to be waiting for us when we get to our old training grounds," Oscar answered. While digging around in the backseat for the satellite phone, the car hit another bump and Georgia hit her butt on the ceiling. It earned her a snort of laughter from Oscar. His snort earned him a slight whack to the back of his head. She growled and said, "I'll make sure to request that it has a good suspension. I'll also ask her to load it with real food. I'm sick of MREs." "Sounds good to me," Oscar said rubbing the back of his neck. He knew that he shouldn't have laughed at her, but it had been funny. "When are we going to stop?" Oscar didn't answer while maneuvering around a large rock. Once past the obstacle, he answered, "When the tire goes out." "When will that be?" Georgia asked looking over at him. A thumping noise arose from the rear of the car at the same time Oscar answered, "Now." "Oh great." "Put on your burka. We're going to have company while I change the tire," Oscar said opening the door. "Do you even know how to change a tire?" Georgia asked while looking around to see if she could spot anyone. There wasn't anything to see. "I'm not sure, but I know you'll tell me exactly what to do," Oscar answered giving her a great big grin and a wink. "That's right buster," Georgia said putting on her burka. Once it was on, she added, "I know some creative things you can do to yourself with the tire iron." "Grumpy." "You wear this garbage bag and try not to be grumpy," Georgia said struggling to open the door of the car. "Have I told you that you have gorgeous eyes?" Oscar asked. "You say that every time that I put on the burka." "Repetition does not make it any less true," Oscar said. He stepped out of the car and said, "By the Gods and Goddesses, this is pretty country." Georgia finally got the door open and exited the car. Standing there for a moment to appreciate the view, she noticed some birds taking off from a nearby rock formation. She said, "It looks like your visitor will be here soon." "Don't worry about him," Oscar said going to the back of the car. He opened the trunk and looked at the mess in the back. The rough road had shaken things up in the back of the car. Shaking his head, he said, "It's going to take forever to get the jack out of the back. The spare is under all of the MREs." Georgia moved to where she could watch Oscar and see the approach to the car from the distant rocks. Sitting down, she said, "That'll just provide me with more entertainment." "Thanks," Oscar said pulling out three bottles of water. He tossed one to Georgia when he got her attention. He put one in the crook of his arm and opened the other. He took a long drink from it, finishing nearly a third of it. Georgia followed suit, but watched the approach of a young man over the water bottle. She guessed his age at around fourteen or fifteen. He carried the AK-47 with practiced ease. His age and ease with the weapon disturbed her; no one his age should be that familiar with a gun. Without turning around, Oscar said, "Hello, young man. Pull up a rock and rest for a spell. Would you care for some water?" The young man shrugged his shoulders in answer to the question and asked, "Are you him?" Turning slowly, Oscar held out the unopened bottle of water for the young man to take. In a soft voice, he answered, "It depends on who you mean." "The Prophet who has come to deliver the word of Allah to us," the young man answered while accepting the bottle of water. He was curious what American bottled water tasted like and would have tried it even if he hadn't been thirsty. "In that case, I guess the answer is yes," Oscar said. The young man nodded his head and unscrewed the plastic top from the bottle. He took a small sip and said, "Plastic." "What?" Oscar asked. "The water tastes like plastic. I guess that is appropriate for American Water. They say that the streets used to be paved with gold, but now they are made of plastic," the young man answered. "Sorry to disappoint you, but the roads are paved with asphalt," Oscar answered. He reached in the trunk and pulled out a box of MREs. He put the box a couple of feet behind the rear of the car leaving room to work in the trunk. He turned around and bent over the open trunk. "What is asphalt?" "It is a by-product of oil distillation," Oscar answered grabbing a couple of the loose MREs and putting them into an open box. "That makes sense. Oil used to be gold," the young man answered looking at the car. Tilting his head as if puzzled, he asked, "Did you drive this all the way from America?" "No. There's an ocean in the way," Oscar answered setting the box next to the one he had put on the ground previously. "Oh," the young man said. He didn't know much about oceans other than they were large bodies of water. He watched Oscar pull the tire out of the trunk of the car. He had never seen anyone change the tire on a car. While Oscar used the jack to raise the wheel off the ground, Georgia asked, "What is your name?" The young man looked at her without understanding her question. After Oscar translated, he answered, "Mohammed." Nodding her head, she said, "That is a good name." "Every family has to have someone named after the prophet. I'm the oldest son, so I get the name," he said after Oscar translated her reply. He looked back down the road and said, "Lots of families are talking about naming all of their sons Mohammed. The way people are dying, it seems to be the only way to keep the name alive." "There's been a lot of fighting?" Oscar asked struggling to get the old tire off the car. The rocky ground didn't ease changing the tire. "Yes. We live in dangerous times. At least that is what my father tells me," Mohammed said with a shrug of his shoulders. He didn't really know if that was true. From his experience this was just how life was. "What are you doing out here alone?" "I'm watching our sheep. We raise them for the wool and the lambs," Mohammed answered. "Isn't it dangerous for you to be out here alone?" Georgia asked after the conversation between Mohammed and Oscar came to a halt. Oscar translated her question for the young man. "Sure. That's why I carry this," he answered holding up his rifle. Georgia asked, "The bodies back that way... Who are they?" "They are bad Muslims. They are going against the word of Allah. Allah has told us that we are not to carry out Jihad by the Sword. Those men want to force us to support their fight," Mohammed said with anger in his voice. He looked over at Oscar and then said, "I guess you know that." Oscar finally got the spare tire into place and started to put the nuts on. Looking over at Mohammed, he said, "Yes, I know that." Mohammed studied Oscar while he translated the conversation for Georgia's sake. He watched the small man put the tire on the car. It seemed strange to him that a holy man would be spending his time working like that. He asked, "What is it like?" "What is what like?" "Talking to Allah," Mohammed asked feeling a tightening in his stomach. "What is the experience like when you watch a sunset?" Oscar asked returning to his work. "Nice, I guess," he answered wondering what that had to do with talking with Allah. "That's a lot like talking to Allah. You experience it, but you are unable to put how it feels into words," Oscar said. "Oh." Oscar tightened the nuts on the tire and looked over at Georgia with a smile. He asked, "Did I do that right?" "You did fine, Oscar," Georgia answered with a laugh. "I just want to make sure that the supervisor was happy with my work," Oscar said with a wink in the direction of Mohammed. He moved around to the jack and started to lower the car. "Where are you going?" Mohammed asked. "I'm going to the next town to trade this for some camels," Oscar said. "You'll need more than the car if you are to get some camels," Mohammed said with a frown. A car wasn't worth much in this terrain. "I know." Oscar loaded the jack into the trunk, putting it back into place where it had been. He paused and looked at his hands. They were filthy. Shrugging his shoulders, he picked up the old tire and put it into the trunk. He straightened up and stretched. Looking over at Mohammed, he asked, "What kind of reception will I get in town?" Mohammed thought about the question for a few seconds and then answered, "You speak for Allah. Most will respect you. Some will fear you." "Would you like to come with me to the Mosque?" Oscar asked looking over at Mohammed. He recognized that he was being invited to hear the voice of Allah. Hardly able to breath, Mohammed answered, "Yes." Bending down to pick up one of the boxes of MREs, Oscar said, "Good. Perhaps you will have a chance to discover for yourself what it is like to talk to Allah. The Powers that Be seem to favor shepherds." The reminder of his sheep caused Mohammed to reconsider his answer. If he went into town with Oscar, his sheep would be unwatched for two days. The loss would devastate his family. Shaking his head, he said, "I can't leave the sheep." "Yes, you can," Oscar said. He gestured to Georgia and said, "She will watch them for you." "What?" Georgia asked picking up the gesture in her direction. "I said that you'd watch his sheep." "Her?" Mohammed asked incredulously. He found it incredible that Oscar was suggesting that he leave his sheep in the care of a woman. "Me?" Georgia asked. She knew nothing about watching sheep and, if she was being truthful, she didn't want to know anything about it. "Yes," Oscar answered with a smile. "A woman can't watch my sheep!" Mohammed exclaimed indignant at the idea of a woman doing his job. "I don't know anything about watching sheep!" Georgia said. After Oscar translated Mohammed's comment, the frustration of wearing a burka for so long bubbled forth. With irritation obvious in her voice, she asked, "Why can't I watch your sheep?" Grinning, Oscar translated the question. Mohammed was about to answer when he caught sight of the fire in her eyes. Having seen the same look in his mother's eyes, he knew better than to antagonize her. Rather than shout, he said, "Women can't take care of themselves. They need a man to protect them." "Bullshit," Georgia said after Oscar translated. A knife appeared in her hand as if by magic. She growled, "I can take care of myself." Her answer didn't require translation. Mohammed lifted his gun and looked over at her knife with disdain. His expression changed to irritation when she took the gun from him and to surprise when she shot a branch off one of the trees. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Trees don't fire back." "I wouldn't worry about that Mohammed," Oscar said putting the last of the material back into the trunk. He slammed the trunk shut and walked around to Georgia. Putting a hand on her shoulder, he said, "She's trained with some of the best in the world. She can do what is necessary." After he repeated his statement in English, Georgia understood that he was referring to all of the paintball exercises she had done with the Special Forces they had trained. She said, "I can watch your sheep." Taking a little liberty with her answer, Oscar said, "She says that she'll watch your sheep." "Okay," Mohammed said thinking that he would like to be there when Oscar went to the Mosque. He also wasn't about to disagree with the man who was speaking the words of Allah in the Mosque. Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "If you say that she can watch my sheep, who am I to disagree?" "So take us to your sheep," Oscar said with a smile. He held out a hand to help Georgia to her feet. "They are back that way," Mohammed said turning in the direction in which he had come from. "While you are at it, you might want to introduce us to Amid," Oscar said. The young man jumped in surprise at Oscar's knowledge of Amid. Turning to look at Oscar, he asked, "How did you know about Amid?" "He's watching the sheep at the opposite end of the valley from you," Oscar answered gesturing to the east. Mohammed stared at Oscar for a full fifteen seconds. He had watched the Mercedes approach and knew that they had not had a chance to look around. There was no way that he should have known about Amid or where Amid was watching his sheep. Rather than comment, he turned to lead the way. Walking over the rough terrain in the burka was not easy. The long robe caught on rocks and threatened to trip her. The cloth covering her mouth and nose made it difficult to breath. The black color drew heat from the rays of the sun. When the robe caught on the rocks, she gave up and lifted it to her knees. She growled, "This stupid outfit is going to kill me." Not understanding what she was saying, Mohammed looked over at her and shook his head. It was obvious that she was not a Muslim woman. He said, "You know that in Pakistan you don't need to wear the cover over your face. In fact, you can show your whole face." "What did he say?" Georgia asked convinced that he was saying something insulting. After Oscar translated the young man's comments, Georgia asked, "Really?" "Sure. This isn't Afghanistan under the Taliban. You don't have to wear the niqab. In fact, you could probably get away with wearing a hijab," Mohammed answered with a laugh. He shook his head and scrambled over the rough terrain. There was a painfully long delay while Oscar once again translated. She asked, "What is a Hijab?" "It is a headscarf. When you are around strangers, you would cover your mouth with one end of the scarf," Oscar answered. Growling, Georgia looked over at Oscar and asked, "Did you know about that?" Oscar climbed over a rock and turned back to look at her with a smile on his face. Looking up at the sky, he answered, "Well, maybe I did." "You're sick. You know that don't you," Georgia growled. "Hey, I like looking at your eyes. They are really quite striking like that," Oscar said with a grin. Seeing the fire from her eyes, he added, "Of course, we are traveling through all kinds of areas with a wide variety of customs. The most conservative form of dress protects you the most." Georgia glared at him and said, "I'm not sure that I believe you." ------- Chapter 6 Mohammed directed Oscar through the small town, pointing to the coffee house as the most likely place to find someone who would be interested in purchasing the Mercedes. It wasn't as though there was a car dealership in the area. Oscar stopped the car in front of the small building and looked around the area. The place was clearly not a chain coffee house based in Seattle. The front of the building was open to the street. Chairs lined one wall with small tables set in front of them. The occupants of the building stared at the car. All conversation came to a halt. Even though it was the middle of the day, a half dozen men were seated in small chairs drinking small cups of tea. Each man had a gun within easy reach and, without exception, each man reached over to touch their gun when Oscar stepped out of the car and looked around. All of them focused their attention on Oscar. A small wave of apprehension traveled through the group as each wondered if this was the man who talked with Allah. The descriptions of Oscar that had circulated had spanned heights of four foot nothing to a veritable giant. All descriptions agreed on the robe, cloak, staff, and medallion. When Oscar pulled his staff from the car and turned to face them, a collective gasp traveled through the gathered men. Mohammed got out of the passenger side and winced when he spotted his father among the men drinking coffee. He knew that his father was going to hit him up side the head for leaving the sheep unguarded. He muttered, "Maybe this was a bad idea after all." Oscar stepped into the coffee house and took a seat. Looking over at the proprietor, he said, "I'll have a coffee. I'm not quite sure what the young man will have." Mohammed stepped into the coffee house and approached his father. In a soft voice, he said, "Don't worry about the sheep. Someone is watching them for me." "Who?" his father asked turning his head away from Oscar to look at his son. It wasn't until his son had spoken that he even realized that he was there. He wasn't sure if he could have resisted traveling with a prophet had such an invitation been given to him. Given that, he wasn't all that angry with the young man. Of course, he wasn't sure if traveling with a prophet was all that healthy, either. "The one traveling with him," Mohammed answered. "The woman?" his father asked knowing enough that Oscar's companion was a woman. The fact that the Desert Ghost had trained the American fighters with the help of a woman was widely known. She was not a woman to be taken lightly. "Yes," Mohammed answered expecting his father to get angry with him for leaving the sheep in the care of a woman. His father was silent for a long minute and then said, "Times are changing. The voice of Allah travels with a woman for protection rather than a man. There is a message there for us if we are wise enough to listen." "What message?" "I'm not wise enough to know that," his father answered looking over at Oscar. Women were to be protected, not to provide the protection. The world had been turned upside down. The fact that his father said he was not wise enough to know something surprised Mohammed. As far as he knew, his father was one of the wisest men in the area. It was his father who had been most vocal in supporting the ban against Jihad by the Sword. He didn't know what to say. His father sighed and asked, "What is he doing here?" "He has come to trade his car for camels," Mohammed answered. Watching Oscar sip his coffee, he said, "When he finishes his coffee I'll take him to Hussein. Hussein is vain enough to want a western car even out here." ------- As soon as Oscar had left with Mohammed, Georgia had removed the Burka leaving her wearing her desert fatigues. Reaching into the pocket of her shirt, she removed the three small containers of camouflage paint and went to work fixing her face so that she could blend into the background. It struck her as ironic that most women applied a very different kind of makeup to avoid blending into the background. Once her camouflage was complete, she moved around to find a nice place from which to watch the sheep. Her criteria in selecting a spot were simple, she should be able to watch the flock and be hidden from view. When she did find a spot that met her criteria she was pleased to learn that it was also relatively comfortable. Most people would have been fidgeting after an hour, but Georgia was used to staying in one place and one position for hours at a time. Sitting out there in the rugged terrain reminded her of her time in Afghanistan with Oscar. Falling back into old habits, her eyes watched the horizon while her mind worked over the state of her life. Georgia had enjoyed her time in Afghanistan. She was enjoying this trip, but it wasn't quite the same. The fact was that she missed Debbie. It felt to her like a part of herself was missing and the realization that Debbie had become so important to her was surprising. She wondered how it had come about that another woman was as important to her as Oscar. There was also a small sense of finality to this trip that had never been present in her relationship with Oscar while in Afghanistan. She knew that he was going to have to pay a high price for bringing peace to this part of the world. That thought reminded her of the high price that she would pay as well. It was almost definite that she would lose Oscar and possibly Debbie once Oscar was gone. The idea depressed her. Hours passed while she considered the nature of her unusual marriage. She had to get up once to move the sheep back into a more compact group. After that little exercise, she found another place from which to watch the sheep. In this place, she could also observe the young man at the other end of the valley watching over his sheep. He was not making much of an effort to blend into his surroundings. Amid was passing the time as young men had passed time ever since the first shepherd watched over his sheep. He was playing with a sling. Georgia watched as he reached down and picked up a small stone and then started swinging the sling. With a quick flick of his hand, he launched the rock at a small pile of stones. Even from the distance, it was obvious that he had hit his target when the topmost stone fell to the ground. It was the kind of scene that echoed across the centuries. In the past, a shepherd's skill with a sling had protected sheep from wolves and other predators. Today, the shepherd was more likely to use a gun to protect the sheep. In these uncertain times, the predator was just as likely to be human as animal. The thought forced a sigh from her. The idyllic scene was suddenly shattered when a dozen men appeared behind Amid. Georgia knew that it wasn't a friendly visit since they were pointing their guns at the young man. The young man slowly turned and looked at the men. His gun was laying against a boulder several paces away, but it might as well have been a mile for all of the good it was doing him. Even at the distance between them, Georgia could see Amid pale as his mind made the calculation concerning his chances of survival. They were bad and getting worse by the minute. He kept glancing at the rifle wondering if he could reach it before getting killed and the answer he kept coming up with was no. She took the time to count the men and marveled at the fact that it was an even dozen. It made her wonder why there weren't eleven or fourteen of them. There were times when she felt that two, three, and twelve were magic numbers. It seemed like things always came in pairs, triples, or dozens. However, the situation was serious enough that she couldn't afford worrying about little things like that. Adjusting the rifle, Georgia took aim at the leader of the men. She had never shot a man and didn't think she could do it. When the man raised his rifle to shoot Amid, her finger curled around the trigger. The big man fell a second after her rifle spit forth a bullet. The other men, surprised by the sudden death of their leader, turned to locate their attacker. Amid, a decently intelligent young man, ran for cover. Georgia fired off two more shots before the group managed to return fire. Although this was the first time she had ever engaged an enemy for real, Georgia discovered that she was truly in her element. She ducked down and crawled away to change her location. Fifty meters from where she had initially fired upon the terrorists, Georgia looked out over the valley. The sheep had scattered as a result of the five men charging towards her original position. Shaking her head, she adjusted her position to take care of them. Three shots later and the number of terrorists had been reduced by three. The battle lasted most of the afternoon. It had turned into a sniper's war; long distance shots at targets that were doing their best not to be seen. Headshots were the order of the day. It was difficult because not one rifle had a scope. Georgia was at a huge disadvantage in terms of numbers, but she was much more patient then those she faced and she was better prepared to hide herself. Georgia had lost track of the location of Amid during the course of the fight, but she wasn't all that worried about him. The attention of the terrorists was on her and he had plenty of time to make good his escape. The rifle that he had left behind had disappeared when she changed positions for the last time. Three terrorists remained and she didn't think any of them had been by the rifle. The disappearance of the rifle bothered her. A shot rang out and, from the sound of it, Georgia knew that it wasn't aimed at her. Two men suddenly moved around the rocks they had been hiding behind. She took aim at the furthest man and squeezed the trigger. The man collapsed on the ground. The other man turned to face her. She squeezed off another shot and that man fell to the ground. She was now facing a dilemma. She was confident that eleven of the original twelve men were out of action. The twelfth man's condition was in doubt. Had Amid shot the twelfth man or had he missed. Her dilemma was solved when she noticed movement heading in the direction from which Amid's shot had originated. What followed was a ballet in slow motion. The terrorist was slowly moving in the direction of Amid. The young man was moving in an effort to keep safe. Georgia was moving slowly to reach a position that would allow her a good shot at the last terrorist. The end came quickly when Georgia put a bullet in the heart of the terrorist. After moving to a new position with the same kind of care taken earlier, Georgia paused to recount the shots fired and the men killed. Three times she worked through the chain of events and kept coming to the same answer. Twelve terrorists were dead. That didn't mean she was safe. There could have been others present in the area that she hadn't seen. Deciding that it was better to be safe than sorry, she settled in to watch the area for any sign that others were moving around. ------- Oscar stepped into the Mosque and faced the golden glow that filled the center of the room. A voice echoed through the room, "Welcome once again to my house, Oscar Meyers." "Thank you," Oscar said. He looked around at the crowd of men who were kneeling on the floor around him. He said, "The majority of your followers here have already accepted the ban against Jihad by the Sword, but there some who do not accept it yet." "As you know, your woman is taking care of that problem even as we speak. Amid owes his life to her. She is a great warrior," the voice replied. The announcement sent shock waves through the men gathered in the room and listening outside. The idea that Allah would praise a woman as being a great warrior was a shock; it ran counter to a core belief that women should be hidden away and protected from the harsh realities of life. It wasn't that women weren't respected in Islam. Women were important in a private way. They were to be protected. They were the source of fine sons who would carry the father's line. The men wondered if Allah was going to change the relationship between man and woman. Not everyone reacted to the announcement in shock. One of the men pushed his way out of the Mosque with tears in his eyes in reaction to hearing his son's name spoken by Allah. The honor it represented was overwhelmed by the suggestion of danger that had threatened his son. He had to see if his son was unharmed. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Yes she is." Allah's voice echoed through the room, "When you leave take all with you except the young man who came with you." Mohammed, kneeling on the floor, looked up at the golden glow with wide eyes and open mouth. His father, kneeling beside him, had an identical reaction. Oscar looked down at Mohammed and then studied his staff. Nodding his head, he said, "The Powers that Be have always favored shepherds." "Some prefer awkward young men who can't walk without stumbling," Allah said. ------- Georgia watched over the valley. The sheep had scattered in every direction and it would take her hours to collect them. There had been nothing else moving except in the area where Amid had hidden himself. Convinced that it was finally safe enough to move again, she headed over to where her supplies had been stashed. Once she reached her supplies, she grabbed a bottle of water and quickly drank it down. It had been a hot afternoon and she was seriously dehydrated. The water threatened to return on her and she said, "I know better than that." She settled back and allowed her eyes to scan the horizon. Alert to any movement, she spotted Amid the moment he came out of hiding. His movements reminded her of a deer moving out of the woods at the height of hunting season. Each step was followed by a long pause to detect any threat. When no threat appeared, he would take another step. Rather than leave her position, she watched him finally relax and get back to the business of being a shepherd. After he had collected most of his sheep, she remembered that her job out there was to watch over Mohammed's sheep. Weary, she climbed down from her hiding spot and headed towards four sheep that had wandered furthest from the rest of the flock. The rocky terrain made walking difficult, but Georgia was wearing a good pair of combat boots. While moving the recalcitrant sheep to the rest of the herd, Georgia passed by the body of one of the men she had killed. The enormity of what she had done came crashing down upon her. Feeling weak, she fell to her knees and then threw up. When she reached the point where there was nothing left in her stomach, she continued with dry heaves. Suddenly, Georgia felt a huge electrical shock as if she had been hit by a bolt of lightening. Georgia slowly became aware that she had lost consciousness. She tried to sit up, but found that the best she could do was regain a kneeling position. Shaking her head, she tried to figure out what had happened to her. For a second, she thought she had been struck by a bullet. A quick check of her body put that concern to rest. A small male voice came from behind her, "Thank you for saving my life." Wiping her mouth in an attempt to clear it of the last acrid taste of vomit, Georgia turned to look at Amid. Smiling weakly, she said, "You're most welcome." "You're a woman," Amid said surprised by her gender. "Yes, I am," Georgia said. Amid looked around the field for a minute and said, "I've never shot at a person before. It was far harder to do than I thought it would be." "It was easier than I thought it would be," Georgia replied glancing over at the body laying twenty feet from where she knelt. Shaking her head, she said, "It is worse afterwards than I could have ever imagined." "I can understand that," Amid said. He was feeling a little ill himself, but his reasons were a little more physical than emotional. The stale odor of human excrement lingered in the air, along with smell from the recent contents of Georgia's stomach. Rising unsteadily to her feet, Georgia said, "I should gather up the sheep." "I'll help you," Amid said. He turned and headed off to a small cluster of sheep that had run off from the rest of the flock. To be honest, he was feeling a little ill at how close he had come to being killed. The bravado that he and Mohammed normally exchanged out here was coming back to haunt him. He wasn't nearly as brave as he had boasted. At the moment he felt like the thirteen year old boy that he was. Georgia herded the sheep together and paused to count them. With the sheep Amid was leading in her direction she counted eleven less sheep in the flock than were there originally. Sighing, she looked around trying to locate the missing animals. She spotted three groups of animals in very different directions. Sighing, she headed for the furthest group. Amid had gathered the other two by the time Georgia had brought her group to the flock. She counted them and then said, "There's one missing." "It was killed when they opened fire at you. It is over there," Amid said while pointing to a large boulder. "I suppose we ought to butcher it," Georgia said thinking that it would be a waste of meat to leave it there. It seemed to her that life out here was tough and leaving food to rot in the sun would be a crime. Amid shook his head and said, "The meat is spoiled by now. It was shot in the stomach and it has been out in the sun for hours." "Oh," Georgia said. The pair looked at each other for a minute. Georgia didn't know what to talk about with a shepherd. Amid didn't feel comfortable talking with a woman, particularly an unescorted woman. The stalemate was ended when a man came running in their direction. Georgia reacted by swinging her gun in the man's direction and taking aim. She was about to fire when Amid shouted, "That is my father!" The man paused at the far end of the valley and shouted, "Amid! Where are you?" Amid answered, "I'm here, father!" The man turned and headed in their direction. Despite his desire to see his son, he was careful not to scatter the sheep. Having grown up herding sheep, he knew not to run through the flock. When he reached Amid, he grabbed the young man and hugged him. With relief evident in his voice, he said, "Praise Allah for sparing your life." Surprised at his father's behavior, Amid asked, "How did you know that I was attacked?" "I was at the Mosque when the man who talks with Allah came there. Allah mentioned you by name and said that the woman had saved your life," the man answered. He looked over at Georgia for the first time. Her attire made her look more like a man than a woman. Turning his head away from her and lowering his gaze to the ground in an effort to assure that he would not be accused of making unwanted advances, he said, "Thank you for saving my son." "You're welcome," Georgia replied. She was surprised that Allah had mentioned her and wondered what it meant. "My name is Jumah bin Sadaqat. What ever debt we owe you for his life, I will gladly pay it." He meant every word that he had said. In the past three years he had lost all of his other sons, his daughters, and his wife. He felt that he would be a broken man if his son, Amid, were to die. In a way, her actions in saving his son were also saving him from an old age of bitter regrets. "You owe me no debt," Georgia said. "You are wrong. He owes you a debt for saving his life. I owe you a debt because you have saved the life of my only son. We owe you a great debt," Jumah said feeling uneasy about the fact that she was a woman. With a man he would have known how to argue his position. Understanding that her gender was an issue, she said, "You will need to talk to my husband." Pleased that the conversation was taking a much more comfortable direction, Jumah nodded his head and said, "Of course. I understand. We shall go to the other side of the valley until the Desert Ghost returns. It would be unpleasant if my intentions were misunderstood." Georgia watched as the two men turned without saying another word and walked across the valley. Now that she was alone and the sheep were together, she went back to where her supplies were stashed. Sitting down, she grabbed an MRE and ate her dinner. It was getting close to dark and she wondered when Oscar would return. While waiting for Oscar she thought about her conversation with Jumah and Amid. It wasn't until she moved the Burka that she realized she had dealt with them wearing her combat fatigues. She looked down the length of the valley hoping that it wouldn't create a problem for Oscar. She looked at the hated outfit and said, "Sorry Oscar, I'm not wearing that tent out here." She wadded it into a ball to use as a pillow and laid back to look up at the sky. The sun was still up but there were a few stars visible. It took her a minute to realize that one of them wasn't a star, but a satellite. It moved too fast to be a star. Thinking about the satellite reminded her of her sister. Grinning slightly, she said, "I hope you're watching over me, Jennifer." Looking up at the satellite, her mind wandered back to the conversation with the two men on the other end of the valley. There was something bothering her about it, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She tried to recall if there was anything about what Jumah said that was a veiled threat. As much as she searched her memory, she couldn't come up with anything. After replaying the conversation in her mind for one last time, she sat up and said, "I understood every word they said. I don't even speak their language!" From high in the sky above her, Georgia heard a chuckle. She looked up at the sky and frowned as soon as she realized the source of her sudden gift with languages. She wondered which of the Powers that Be was responsible for her new ability. Shrugging her shoulders, she looked up in the sky and said, "Thank you." ------- Chapter 7 "My hair is white!" Georgia said glaring at Oscar in response to his comment about how nice she looked that day. They were riding camels side by side about thirty yards behind Jumah. "I like it," Oscar said with a smile. Her hair had turned to a white color that was almost shocking in its purity. "It's not blond," she said holding a strand of her hair in front of her eyes. She wished that it had turned blond rather than white. Her original color had been a hue of light brown that bordered on being blond or perhaps blond that bordered on being light brown. "Well, I like it," Oscar said for the hundredth time. "You're a pervert. You do know that," she said shaking her head. "Why?" "You like granny hair," Georgia said turning to glare at him. She thought the color was a lot like that of an old woman who colored her hair with bluing. It made her feel old. "You could put on the burka," Oscar replied without reacting to the angry expression on her face. He knew that suggestion was going to get a rise out of her. She was still wearing her fatigues and had sworn that she wasn't going to put on the burka ever again. For some reason she really hated that outfit. "Let me be more precise. You are a pervert because you like granny hair and for me to wear a sack that covers me from head to toe," Georgia said looking up at the sky as if seeking protection from Oscar by a higher power. "Okay," Oscar said smiling at the back of her head. His camel was dropping back to follow hers. Jumah was smart enough not to get in the middle of this discussion. The first time he had done that, both of them had told him to mind his own business. The fact was that learning that one of the Powers that Be was responsible for her hair color reminded him of the story of Moses. In his mind that made her a holy figure and favored of Allah. The fact that she was a woman confused him, but he wasn't an overly religious man and did not know how to interpret it. "You're not going to deny it," Georgia asked looking over her shoulder at Oscar. She was rather surprised by his agreement. "Nope. If loving you and appreciating your beauty in all of its forms is perversion, then consider me a pervert," Oscar said. He looked at her and winked. Georgia tapped her whip on the camel to speed it up in an attempt to catch up with Jumah. She was getting used to swaying motion as the camel moved along the dry creek bed that cut between the two mountains. She sighed and asked, "So why do you have such an interest in seeing me in the burka?" "I like looking at your eyes," Oscar answered. He tapped his camel on the side with his whip to get it to move up beside Georgia's camel. Instead of speeding up, his camel stopped and threatened to drop to its knees. He tapped it again a little harder and it started to move again, but stopped after three steps. "You can look at my eyes when I'm not wearing the burka," Georgia said and then realized that Oscar was somewhere behind her. She glanced back and watched him struggling to get his camel moving once again. Watching the conflict of wills between human and camel, she asked, "Are you ever going to get control over that camel?" "I don't think so," Oscar answered. He and the camel were not getting along too well. The first two times that he had gotten on the camel had ended up with him on the ground. He swore that the camel had snickered at him. The first time the camel had risen on its rear legs, Oscar had not realized how far forward the camel's body would be positioned and he had flown over the camel's head. The next time he had mounted the camel, he had been surprised by how quickly the camel had risen on its front legs and had been thrown off the back. That had been the high point of their relationship. "I don't think it likes you," Georgia said watching the camel shake its head. "Really? I guess that would explain why it spits at me every time I come near it," Oscar said. He hit the camel harder with the stick and it jumped forward. The distant conversation let Jumah realize that he had left Georgia and Oscar behind. He stopped his camel to wait for them to catch up for what felt like the hundredth time over the past three days. It amazed him that someone who was favored by Allah would have such a difficult time controlling a camel. When Georgia caught up with him, he said, "You would think Allah would give him a little help with the camel." Georgia laughed and said, "There are times when I'm firmly convinced that the Gods and Goddesses have a very unusual sense of humor. I think Oscar is one of their favorite sources of entertainment." "Allah is a very serious matter. You don't joke about Allah," Jumah said in a tone of voice that was warning her that he wouldn't tolerate that kind of talk. He might accept them talking about their Gods and Goddesses in a light hearted manner, but not Allah. "I'm sure he's a very serious God," Georgia said. "I don't really like the idea of a God that is too serious," Oscar said as his camel came to a stop behind Georgia's camel. "Why?" "I like to think that someone finds my actions funny when I screw up," William answered. He grinned and added, "I know that the Two-Sided One has had more than one belly laugh on my account." Jumah shook his head disturbed by the conversation. Rather than respond to them, he muttered, "Allah forgive them." ------- The sudden appearance of the American soldier in front of Jumah startled the man. He stopped his camel and stared at the soldier with a sinking feeling in his stomach. This was not the kind of thing that ended well. Either the soldier would think he was a terrorist or someone would become convinced that he was collaborating with the Americans. Neither possibility was good. Holding his hands in clear sight, he waited for the soldier to make the first move. Looking past Jumah, the soldier said, "Hello. Where's Oscar?" Jumah understood two of the words and guessed the third word correctly. Moving slowly so that his movements wouldn't be misinterpreted, he turned around and looked behind him. Georgia was leading the third camel and Oscar was nowhere to be seen. Turning back to face the soldier, Jumah held his hands up in the universal gesture that conveyed his total lack of knowledge about the matter. The soldier caught Jumah's expression and chuckled. From personal experience, he knew that such a bewildered and confused expression was common when dealing with Oscar. He jumped when Oscar said, "I'm here, Colonel." "Jesus, Oscar. You could give a guy a heart attack doing that," the soldier said spinning around to stare at Oscar. It was hard to believe that Oscar had been able to sneak up on him. Jumah stared at Oscar unable to believe that he had appeared from nowhere. He had been looking right at the spot. It seemed to him that a rock shimmered and then turned into Oscar. Convinced it was magic, he said, "Allah protect me." "You've been promoted twice since I've seen you," Oscar commented looking at the man's uniform. "Yes, I was promoted after finishing training with you and then again two years ago," Colonel Wagner said with a negligent shrug of his shoulders. He wasn't going to mention that the second promotion was earned many times over. "You've been out here all that time?" Oscar asked thinking that six years was a long time to serve in the same area. Georgia finally reached Jumah and stopped her camel beside his. She was about to greet the Colonel when Oscar's camel nudged hers from behind. She gave it a dirty look and the camel backed off. "No. I've been back to the states twice," the Colonel answered. The identity of the woman with them finally dawned on him. He said, "Hello, Georgia. I like the white hair." "Men! I swear they're all perverts," Georgia said with more than a little irritation in her voice. She couldn't understand their fascination with her hair. The Colonel whispered to Oscar, "Is there some story about the white hair that I should know?" Oscar laughed and shook his head in the negative. He answered, "She's just a little sensitive about it. What ever you do, don't ask her to wear a burka." Concerned that they were in trouble, Jumah turned to Georgia and asked, "What are they talking about?" "They are just catching up on old times," Georgia answered. The Colonel asked, "When did you learn to speak the local lingo?" Georgia answered, "At the same time my hair turned white." "Oh." "How have things been along the border?" Oscar asked. The Colonel answered, "Things were a little out of control there for a while, but traffic has stopped for the past two weeks. There's been a bit of fighting amongst the various factions here." "Yes, we ran into a bit of that in Pakistan. We came across the bodies of some terrorists who had been killed by locals. We heard rumors of major battles occurring when terrorists tried to force the locals into supporting Jihad. In fact, Georgia had to kill a dozen of them," Oscar said. "A dozen?" the Colonel asked. He turned to Georgia and asked, "What happened?" "There were about to execute a shepherd boy in cold blood. He was only thirteen years old. I couldn't stand by and watch them do it, so I had to intervene," Georgia said. The idea that she had killed a dozen men still bothered her. She had to tell herself over and over that there had been no choice. "Good job," the Colonel said with a nod of approval. He had come to respect Georgia's abilities while undergoing training, but he had doubts about her willingness to use them when it came down to the real thing. That she had the skills to be a very deadly fighter had never been in doubt. ------- Several dozen fire pits were scattered around the wash where they planned to spend the night. This particular spot had served as a stop for caravans traveling from Pakistan into Afghanistan for centuries. Each major storm would wash away the debris left behind, but it had been six weeks since a good rain had fallen. The most recent fire pit had been used two weeks before. Oscar went from the remains of one campfire to another examining them. It looked as though traffic had peaked four weeks previously. Turning to look at the Colonel, he said, "I imagine that the traffic through here dropped because there just aren't that many terrorists left." "That wouldn't affect the number of smugglers," Colonel Wagner said giving voice to the one thing that worried him the most. "No, it wouldn't," Oscar said wondering what would cause that. He turned to look at Jumah and, using a local euphemism for the smugglers, asked, "Why aren't the traders moving merchandise through here?" Jumah dropped his load of firewood and looked at Oscar trying to make up his mind as to how to answer the question. Would answering it represent collaborating with the soldier? American soldiers were famous for taking a fact here and a fact there to come up with a more complete story than they had been told. Giving into the inevitable, he answered, "We live in dangerous times. They are at home protecting their families. There is too much fighting for them to leave their family unprotected." Looking over at the Colonel, Oscar said, "He says that there is too much fighting so the smugglers are staying home to protect their families." "That makes sense," the Colonel said looking around. It was doubtful that the situation would last. The smugglers would return and drugs would begin moving out of Afghanistan again. He sighed at the thought that it was just a temporary interruption of the drug trade. It would have been nice if it was ended for good, but the poppy plant was the easiest crop to grow. He sighed and said, "Family is important everywhere." Jumah looked over at the Colonel wondering what he said. Turning to Oscar, he asked, "What does the soldier say?" "He says that family is important," Oscar answered. "It is the only thing that is important," Jumah said with a curt nod of his head. Georgia asked, "What's happening elsewhere?" "There is a civil war going on in Saudi Arabia. Another is about to break out in Iran. It seems that the prohibition against Jihad is creating a lot of civil unrest," Colonel Wagner said. "Just wait until we make it to Saudi Arabia," Oscar said in a voice that suggested there would be lots of excitement in the future. Paling slightly, Georgia asked, "Are you planning on going to Mecca?" "No, I'm not planning on going there. There's no way that Allah would allow that," Oscar said with a smile. "What? He'd be opposed to a Druid going to Mecca?" Georgia asked. "Not that. Even Muslims who are willing to accept the ban on Jihad by the Sword will not tolerate a pagan entering Mecca. If I were to go there, then Allah would have to kill those who are willing to abide by his word in order to protect me," Oscar answered. For him to emerge unscathed from Mecca would require thousands of faithful to die. Jumah listened to the discussion without understanding much of it. There was one word that he did understand. Concerned, he asked, "Were you talking about going to Mecca?" "Yes," Georgia answered. "That would not be good." "We agree. That is why Oscar is not going there," Georgia answered. "That is good," Jumah said feeling relieved. He bent over to light the campfire using a Bic Lighter. The first time he had pulled it out, Georgia had nearly fallen over laughing. It was hard to believe that such a basic American product had made it to the western end of Pakistan. Oscar turned to study the rock wall for a minute. After looking it over, he said, "There's some graffiti here that is scratched into the wall in Chinese. It looks like it is a dialect that was used in the fourteenth century." "What's it say?" Georgia asked beating the Colonel to the question by a fraction of a second. "I was here," Oscar answered. He stared at it for a few more seconds and then said, "Amazing isn't it? Some guy traveling through here from China to Afghanistan took a minute of his time to declare his existence to the world. Now, seven hundred years later we are discussing him." ------- With the arrival of dark, the temperature dropped to the point where breaths were visible as small clouds of vapor. The light from the fire lit the wash; painting the walls with flickering yellow light that created shadows that danced. The acrid odor of burning wood hung in the air. A narrow arc of starlit sky was visible above. Georgia huddled closer to the fire to bask in its warmth. The layers of clothes that she wore made her appear ten pounds heavier. Looking across at Oscar's fire lit face, she said, "It's getting colder at night." "Soon it will be cold during the day," Oscar said holding his hands out towards the fire. The Colonel nodded his head and, giving into a soldier's right to complain, said, "Winter is coming. I hate spending winter out here. It can get very cold up here in the mountains." "It'll be warm compared to where we are going," Oscar said. "Where is that?" "Russia," Oscar answered. Smiling across the fire at Georgia, he said, "We'll be there in December." "Would you mind telling me which tourist agency you are using? I want to avoid them at all costs," the Colonel said with a smile. Georgia grinned at the Colonel and asked, "Which one are you using? It seems to me that we are both out here at the same time." "The US Army," the Colonel answered with a grin. Shaking his head, he said, "I signed up for the Danger Tour." Georgia gave the Colonel a wry smile and said, "The Army has some of the best destinations in the world. It's hard to beat Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, or Somalia." The Colonel laughed and said, "When I got out of high school I figured that I would join the army and see exotic locations. Of course, I was thinking of places like Germany, Philippines, Japan, and Brazil. Hell, I'd never heard of Afghanistan." "Do you regret your decision?" The Colonel shook his head and said, "No, but ask me again when the temperatures drop into the twenties." There was a slight lull in the conversation while everyone watched the flames leap over the fire and thought about their situation. The Colonel broke the silence when he said, "The thing that keeps me going out here is the idea that I'm protecting folks back home. I know a lot of them don't see it that way, but I've seen people here that want to destroy the American way of life." Jumah watched the discussion around the fire without understanding what was being discussed. It was frustrating not being able to understand what they were talking about. Looking over at the Colonel, he resented the presence of the US Army there. Without realizing the irony of the timing of his question, he asked, "Why do the Americans want to destroy our way of life?" "We're not trying to destroy your way of life," Oscar answered looking at the man across the fire. Jumah looked perfectly comfortable sitting around the fire. "Yes, you are. The Americans send movies here that undermine the morals of our children. They show women acting in ways that women should not act. They show children talking back to their parents. The kids can't resist the music players, but they cost too much. Our families suffer because the kids watch movies and listen to music.' Shaking his head, Oscar said, "It is all about trade. We send the movies here because you buy them. You buy them because you like them." Jumah snorted and said, "You send products here that destroy families. Men who used to make pots can't sell them in the market place anymore. Their pots can't compete against those factory produced pots that appear in the markets. A family that has produced pots for generations can't earn a living. What is the man supposed to do? "My father's father raised sheep and sold the wool. He was a rich man and built a nice house. People made clothes from the wool he produced. The clothes were all made in the same style and with the same dyes. As a people, we dressed alike and that gave us an identity. You could tell where a person was from by the clothes they wore. "My father raised sheep and he wasn't as rich as his father. It wasn't because he was a worse shepherd than his father. The price of wool had dropped. People started buying clothes made by foreigners. It was slow at first, but every year it got worse. "Today, we raise sheep and can hardly sell our wool. The stores are filled with clothes made of strange materials. People don't need our wool because they don't have to make their own clothes. My son will not be able to raise a family by being a shepherd. "Now our clothes look like the clothes Americans wear. They aren't as good as the homespun clothes. They wear out very quickly and don't keep you as warm. We have stopped looking like ourselves and have started looking like Americans. How can you say that you are not trying to destroy us?" "We are trying to improve your standard of living," Georgia answered. "What is wrong with the way I live?" "You have to work hard to feed and clothe your family. It is physical work that is hard on the body. Disease, accidents, and a hard life make you die young. Let's face facts, you live in mud huts. What is wrong with refrigerators, ovens, central heaters, and larger houses?" Georgia asked. She wasn't even going to mention how tough life was for the women. Shaking his head, Jumah said, "You look down on my house. I don't understand that. It is warm enough in the winter and cool enough in the summer. It will stand until the day I die. It is the kind of house in which I was raised. It has all of the room in it that I require. So why do you look down on my house?" "You could have so much more than what you have now," Georgia answered feeling frustrated at his desire to live in the past. Jumah replied, "Only if I stop being what I am." ------- Chapter 8 Standing beside a Russian truck, a very anxious Debbie waited for her husband and wife to arrive. The barren lifeless environment only fed her anxiety. It was hard to believe how desolate the area looked. Draught had cracked the hard ground into little bricks with inch wide cracks. Despite the sun in the sky, the air was chill. She turned to the Major who was seated on the hood of the truck and asked, "Are you sure this is the right place?" "Very sure," the Major answered with a yawn. He stretched and leaned back against the windshield pulling his coat close around him. Bored, he said, "You might as well get in the back of the truck and take a nap. There's no telling how long we'll have to wait for them." "When did they say they would be here?" Debbie asked. She pulled at the sleeves of the shirt she was wearing. She couldn't stop wondering how Georgia had managed to live in fatigues for so many years. They weren't very complimentary to her figure. It was her personal opinion that she'd look better in green fatigues rather than the brownish desert fatigues she was wearing. At least the green would compliment her red hair. "A half an hour from now," the Major answered before covering his mouth and yawning. He found this kind of assignment rather boring. He expected to spend the next couple of hours out in the open doing nothing except watching the surroundings. Despite his boredom, his eyes were constantly searching the horizon. "Why did we get here so early?" Debbie asked. Waiting around for a half an hour was going to drive her crazy. It seemed to her that her life was spent waiting for time to pass. Although the days spent in Israel had passed quickly, the nights had dragged on forever. She had missed Oscar and Georgia more than she could believe was possible. "Because out here, a half an hour isn't a long time," the Major answered. "Oh," Debbie said. She walked over to the cab of the truck and opened the door. Just before getting into it, she asked, "Do we have any water? I'm thirsty." "You might not want to drink too much water out here," the Major said looking over at her. He wondered why he had been told to bring her out here just to pick up a couple of agents crossing out of Pakistan. She was definitely out of place in this wasteland. He figured that she would probably be more comfortable in a shopping mall. "Why?" He swept an arm in a gesture to take in all of their surroundings and asked, "Do you see any bathrooms?" "Oh," Debbie said looking around. There wasn't even a bush to hide behind. She climbed into the seat and looked out the windshield hoping to see Oscar and Georgia appear by magic in front of her. A half an hour seemed like an eternity. She had barely gotten settled in when the Major leapt off the hood of the truck. He went around to the driver's side door and opened it. Climbing into the truck, he said, "They're early." Looking out the front of the truck, she couldn't see anything except dirt. Looking over at the Major, she asked, "Where are they?" "About an hour's drive over that way," the Major answered pointing off to the side. He had spotted the bright flash of sunlight off a mirror in the mountain pass. It was the signal to let him know where to pick up the visitors. Debbie frowned and asked, "Why were we waiting here for them? Why weren't we facing that way?" "We don't want anyone to know where we are going. This is war and we have to be careful," the Major said. He glanced over at her and saw that she was still confused. His orders were to protect her at all costs. He said, "We parked far enough away from cover so that no one could fire at us without us seeing them coming first. By facing the wrong way, we didn't let anyone know where we expected them to exit the mountains." ------- Raising a cloud of dust, the Major brought the truck to a stop. He stared at the pair who had come out of the pass. He recognized Oscar and, with a moment of reflection, realized that it was Georgia with him. No one had bothered to tell him who was coming. Debbie took one look at the pair and leapt out of the truck. She rushed towards Oscar with her arms outstretched. It was like a scene in a movie until she glanced at Georgia. Coming to a complete halt, she turned to Georgia and, mouth open in surprise, said, "Oh my goodness, Georgia! What happened to your hair?" Despite that he had seen the happen when he had glanced in the future, Oscar stood waiting for Debbie with open arms. He still couldn't believe it when she stopped and raced to Georgia. Feeling rather foolish, he stood there with his arms out and watched the women greet each other. He looked over at the Major and threw his hands up in the air. Hugging Debbie, Georgia answered, "I know, Debbie. It looks horrible, doesn't it?" "It's white," Debbie said after stepping back a half pace. She didn't want to say that it made her look twenty years older. She reached out and touched a lock of her wife's white hair. It was so white that it almost hurt to look at it. "I like it," Oscar said knowing that he'd get a reaction from her. "It is granny hair," Georgia said in a curt voice while winking at Debbie to let her know that she wasn't that upset. Interpreting the wink correctly, Debbie turned to face him with her hands on her hips. In a tone of voice that suggested he needed intense psychological counseling, she said, "My grandmother has hair exactly that color." Thinking he would help out of a mess, the Major said, "Hey, I think it looks nice." Both women turned on the Major and, in one voice, said, "That's sick." The Major threw up his hands and walked away. There were some fights that couldn't be won and under those circumstances discretion was often the better part of valor. The Major understood that. Glancing over at Oscar, he said, "They are all yours." Smiling at the strategic retreat, Oscar said, "Yes, they are." Winking at Georgia where Oscar couldn't see, Debbie asked, "Did he at least offer to get you some hair dye?" "No. The brute never offered to get me some hair dye," Georgia answered with a pout. "There was no place to buy hair dye," Oscar said. Georgia held a lock of her hair in front of her eyes. With a sad expression on her face, she said, "It was one of the Powers That Be who did this to me. I'm not sure of the wisdom of coloring it." "You poor thing," Debbie said understanding why Georgia would question the wisdom of dying her hair to a more natural color. The news concerning the origin of the white hair was rather surprising. For a second she thought Georgia had become a Druid, but the lack of a medallion around her neck dispelled that possibility. "Oscar has been truly horrible about the whole thing. Not one little hint of sympathy about my situation. He keeps saying that he likes it. Can you imagine that?" Georgia said shaking her head and rolling her eyes. "I can't believe it," Debbie said even though she could believe that about Oscar. No matter what happened to their appearance, Oscar would still see them as being beautiful. It was one of the things about him that she loved. "That wasn't the worst of it. He also kept trying to get me to wear a burka. He kept saying it was sexy," Georgia said looking over at Oscar. "I wish I had known that he was that sick before I married him," Debbie said surprised to hear that. She looked over at Oscar questioning his sanity for the first time in the conversation. No one in their right mind would see a burka as being sexy. "You should see her in it," Oscar said looking from one to the other. "Sick." "Definitely sick." "Yes, but he's ours," Georgia said with a smile. The pair of women grabbed Oscar and a three way hug ensued. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Debbie said, "I missed you both so much." "We missed you, too," Georgia said running her hand through Debbie's red hair. She had missed her wife far more than she had expected. "We've really missed you," Oscar said before kissing her. It felt so good to be holding her in his arms. It felt right holding both of them. He didn't want to let go. ------- After spending three hours in bed celebrating their reunion with passionate abandon, Debbie rose from her position between Oscar and Debbie. While slipping on a bathrobe, she said, "I need to run a quick errand." "Stay here," Oscar said wishing that she'd remove the bathrobe and return to bed. He didn't want the reunion to end. "I'll be right back," Debbie said with a smile. Oscar and Georgia watched her leave the room with puzzled expressions. Georgia asked, "What's so important that she has to go?" "I don't know," Oscar answered. He was tempted to see if an explanation existed in the future, but resisted the temptation. "She's so beautiful," Georgia said. Seeing her lover naked after the separation had driven home what she had missed. It was as if she was seeing the lush red hair, the pale white skin, the green eyes, and the perfect body for the first time. "Yes. I'm so lucky to have married two such beautiful women," Oscar said. He leaned over and teased Georgia's nipple with light kisses. "I'll give you forever to stop that," Georgia moaned. The time spent traveling with Jumah had been frustrating in the lack of privacy that their camp afforded them. She had missed sex with Oscar. The anticipation of a week spent with Debbie had exaggerated her desire. Oscar was quite willing to continue forever, but the sound of the door to the room closing interrupted him. Looking up, he spotted Debbie. He patted the bed beside him and said, "Come back to bed." "We don't have time for that. We've got to get up and get over to dinner. They've got steaks for us," Debbie said. After living in their clothes for the past few weeks, Georgia and Oscar didn't feel like getting dressed. After being separated from Debbie for so long, they didn't feel like missing a single minute expressing their love for her. Oscar reached out for Debbie and said, "Come back to bed with us." "You've got to get up. Georgia's sister went to a lot of trouble to ship steaks all of the way out here for you two," Debbie said wanting to join them, but resisting her desires. While the offer of steak was tempting, the chance of making love with Debbie was even more tempting. They exchanged a look and then Oscar said, "We'd rather spend more time here with you than eating steak." "That's sweet, but you've got to go eat," Debbie said wondering what it was going to take to get them out of the room. Smiling at her wife, Georgia said, "I'll even settle for MREs tonight if you come back to bed." "You'd give up a steak dinner and settle for an MRE just to spend a little more time with me in bed?" "That's right," Georgia said. "Wow," Debbie said impressed. The entire drive to the base Georgia had done nothing except talk about how much she wanted a real meal. Steeling her resolve, she said, "We have to go. Come on, get up and get dressed." Oscar stared off into space for a second and then smiled. Looking over at Georgia, he said, "She's right. We've got to go eat." "Okay," Georgia said feeling like Oscar had let her down. She rose from the bed and grabbed a clean pair of underwear. Looking down at her pubic hair, she frowned and said, "That's white too." Debbie smiled and winked at Oscar. In a soft voice, she said, "I kind of like it." "I look like I was scared by something," Georgia said. "If anyone gives you a problem, just tell them to look at Oscar and they'll understand what scared you," Debbie said. She burst out laughing at the expression on Oscar's face. ------- Rather than leading them to the dining room, Debbie led them to a conference room. Although Oscar knew what to expect, he stepped into the room and, in a voice conveying surprise, said, "Mom! Dad! What are you doing here?" With damp eyes, Oscar's mother went over to him and hugged him. It was as if she never wanted to let him go. She answered, "We just wanted to see you again." "Thank you for coming," Oscar said feeling a lump in his throat. His mother looked as if she had aged ten years in the few months that had passed since the wedding. Georgia watched the scene shocked that his parents had traveled all of the way to Afghanistan. Then it dawned on her that his parents had realized what this trip actually meant. They had come to have a chance to say goodbye. Eyes tearing, she leaned over to Debbie and whispered, "They know." Debbie whispered back, "Yes, they know." Oscar's dad went over and hugged Oscar. In a voice that was a little over loud, he said, "They're cooking some steaks for us, son. Let's eat 'em before they get cold." "Sure, dad," Oscar said recognizing that his father was trying to deal with his emotions. Jacob Meyers was man and was not used to dealing with strong feelings. The group gathered around the table in the conference room. Oscar was sandwiched between his parents. Georgia and Debbie sat across from them. It seemed strange to Oscar to find himself surrounded by family in Afghanistan of all places on Earth. Georgia said, "I can't wait to eat some real food for a change." Every one expected the waiter to haul out the steaks right away, but the cook came in and asked how they wanted their steaks prepared. Curious about the unusual behavior of an Army cook, Oscar asked, "What kind of steaks are they?" "These are the finest steaks I've ever seen. They are Angus Porterhouse steaks from Omaha, an inch and a half thick and perfectly marbled. They're too good to overcook, so tell me how you want them," the cook said. There were a dozen self-professed barbecue experts, some of whom were members of Special Forces teams, standing outside ready to make sure that every steak was cooked to perfection. He suspected outside forces were at work, but chose not to ask any questions. The cook wondered if he was going to survive the experience. Debbie smiled at the description of the steaks. Even those Israel was not so isolated, it wasn't easy getting steaks of that quality there. Turning to Georgia, she said, "Your sister went all out for this little banquet." "Did she know his parents were coming?" Georgia asked. "Of course, she did. The travel arrangements were all her doing," Debbie said with a smile. She had not known about it until she had left to pick up Oscar and Georgia earlier that day. It had been the hardest secret to keep of her entire life. Feeling pleased with all that her sister had done for them, Georgia said, "I'm going to give her a call after dinner and thank her for all she's done for us." While the wives talked with each other, Oscar talked with his parents. The discussion ranged over topics that had little to do with his journey. Mostly it was about what was going on in other parts of the world. The normalcy of the discussion was actually what Oscar needed. ------- Almost at the last minute, Oscar pulled the truck off the road and came to a stop in front of the mosque. The door of the mosque was glowing. That was the sign used by Allah to tell Oscar that he was to visit there. Grabbing his staff, he turned to his wives and parents and said, "Wait here." As was done in the past, Oscar rapped the door with his staff. As always, the result was an overly loud echo that carried for miles. The Mullah, surprised by the noise, came to the door and stared at Oscar. His eyes rested on the medallion hanging around Oscar's neck. Oscar was about to announce himself when, from inside the building, a deep voice called out, "I bid you enter Druid Oscar Meyers." Oscar removed his shoes and entered the Mosque. To his surprise it was empty except for the mullah who had followed him into the room. There didn't seem rhyme or reason concerning which mosques or churches he was to visit. As always, a golden glow spread through the room. Oscar lowered his head and said, "I am here." "The killing in my name must stop. Jihad by the Sword must end," the deep voice echoed through the room. In an indefinable way, the voice sounded even more majestic than usual. "I shall continue to spread your message," Oscar said looking around at the empty room. The mullah was on the floor prostrate. Without an audience to whom he was to repeat the words, he wondered what had been the entire point of this exchange. "You have served well," the voice said echoing through the room. The tone of the voice seemed to be amused. "Thank you," Oscar said thinking this had been a very unusual meeting. In a much lower volume, the voice said, "Go. Your family awaits you." Understanding burst upon Oscar. In a soft voice, he said, "Thank you." The mullah followed Oscar to the door. Once there, he grabbed Oscar's arm to keep him from leaving. In an emotion packed voice, he said, "Thank you." "Your thanks should go to Allah," Oscar replied looking upon the man. Tears of happiness were flowing down his cheeks. Allah had done two favors that day. The mullah had served Allah based on nothing more substantial than faith. That day his faith had just been proven to be justified. "I thank him with each breath I take," the mullah answered releasing Oscar's arm. With a smile, he said, "Go. Your family is waiting." Oscar nodded his head and put on his shoes. The mullah watched Oscar walk to his car and, speaking to himself, he said, "Allah be praised. To imagine that I would see such a demonstration that family is important." Climbing into the truck, he said, "Let's go." His mother and father were looking at him with awe. His father said, "We heard the voice of Allah from here." "He was actually speaking to you," his mother said as if she couldn't believe what she had heard with her own ears. She looked over at the building with wonder in her eye. Debbie leaned over to Georgia and asked, "Is it always like that?" "Yes." "I'm glad I got to experience it with you," Debbie said hugging her wife. A small seed of jealousy had been removed from her heart. Hearing the voice of God had been one of those experiences Georgia had shared with Oscar while Debbie had been left behind. She had felt jealous at being left out of something that was so significant. With this visit, that was no longer the case. Jacob looked at his son with pride. He didn't know if Oscar's mission to bring peace to the Middle East would be a success. It didn't matter. He said, "When you were young I used to worry about what would happen to you. It seemed to me that with your clumsiness that it was unlikely that anything good would result. I was always afraid that you'd end up dead or paralyzed as a result of one of your accidents. You have no idea how pleased I am to see what you have become. "I'm proud of you, son. When someone says to me that they don't believe in God, I'll be able to answer that my son is Oscar Meyers and I heard him talk with Allah. I know that there are fools who won't believe me, but I'll know that I speak the truth. I know there are Gods and Goddesses." "Thank you, Dad," Oscar said. Tears forming at the corners of her eyes, his mother knew what price Oscar was likely to pay for his service. In a soft voice, she said, "I know that it's important work that you do. The whole world knows that. I just hope that the Gods and Goddesses haven't asked you to do more than you can bear." "I can bear it," Oscar said with certainty. His mother didn't answer. She turned and looked out the window of the truck with a frown. Under her breath, she said, "I just hope that I can bear it." Oscar could have pretended not to hear her, but he didn't. In a soft voice, he said, "You can and you will. You are one of the strongest women I know." Touched that his son thought enough about his wife's feelings, Jacob said, "We'll do what ever we can to support you." Oscar looked at his family and said, "Old Jumah was right. There is nothing more important than family." "Who is Jumah?" his father asked. "He is the man who was our guide through the mountains from Pakistan," Georgia answered. Although she and Oscar were continual sources of consternation for the man, he had been of great help during the trip. He had taken care of the camels, tended the camp, and led them safely through a maze of canyons to reach Afghanistan in good time. "Where is he? Why didn't you bring him to the base?" his mother asked. She would have liked to thank the man personally for taking care of her son. Oscar answered, "When he learned that we were being met by another soldier, he decided to return home. He didn't really like having to deal with soldiers and would never have come to the base. It was all for the best. He felt satisfied that he had discharged his debt to Georgia for saving the life of his son." Georgia said, "Oscar gave him the camels as payment for his time and effort." "You can call it payment, but I call it punishment," Oscar said more than pleased to be rid of the foul nasty beast. He added, "At least Jumah was happy with them." Debbie looked at Oscar while trying to imagine him on a camel. In a voice of mock horror, she asked, "Camels? You can here on a camel?" "Yes," Oscar answered rolling his eyes. Looking over at Georgia, Debbie asked, "How did Oscar and the camel get along?" "In this part of the world, Broken Horse is known as Broken Camel," Georgia answered with a grin. ------- Chapter 9 It was the middle of October and the air was definitely cool. Turkmenistan in the middle of October was supposed to have high temperatures in the low seventies, but that day had only seen temperatures in the low fifties. The dry barren landscape didn't have grasses of any kind. Afghanistan in comparison looked like an oasis. It was hard to imagine how such a land could support life, but there were people here. The transition from desert to town had been rather sudden. One minute they had been surrounded by desert and the next by low standing buildings made of cement. The building material and strict utilitarian design of the buildings was a reminder of the days of Soviet occupation. Georgia stepped out of the truck and stretched. Looking around, she was surprised to see people in western style clothes. After months of seeing women in Burkas, the sight of a woman wearing a dress was almost shocking to her. Looking down at her American fatigues, she felt very poorly dressed for a change. She looked around for a second before spotting a store with a handful of dresses hanging in the window. "Where's the Mosque?" Georgia asked. "I'm not visiting a Mosque. That building over there is a Russian Orthodox Church," Oscar answered pointing to a small building beside the shopping center she had been looking at. "Church? What are you doing visiting a church?" Georgia asked. They hadn't stopped by a church since leaving Iraq. "I'm helping to bring an end to war in the Middle East," Oscar answered looking over at church. It was another reminder of the Soviet occupation. The church was built after a large number of Russians were exported into the outlying regions of the Soviet empire in a process called Russification. Whether the process had been successful or not, the result was that enclaves of Russians, Russian architecture, and Russian culture remained after the downfall of the Soviet Union. As was often the case when strangers came to a small town that was well off the beaten path, their presence was noted by everyone. Without even attempting to be discreet, people stepped out of stores to openly stare at them. The features of the people were a strange mixture of European and Asian. Regardless of the shape of the eye, all eyes were on Oscar and Georgia. Used to such attention, Oscar ignored it. Glancing over at his wife, he said, "I'll be back in a few minutes." Georgia watched him cross the street towards the church. She turned and saw a small bakery. Little pastries and cakes were in the window. They looked delicious and she was tempted to enter it to buy some. Instead, she turned back to watch the church. What was going to happen in the church was going to be more interesting. Oscar stopped in front of the doors of the church. Confident that he had the attention of all those who were watching from across the street, he struck the door with the staff. The noise produced was supernaturally loud. A half a minute passed before the door was opened by an old man with a graying beard wearing the black robes of an Orthodox priest. The man looked at Oscar and, in Russian, asked, "What do you want?" "I am the Druid Oscar Meyers and I seek entrance," Oscar answered. "This is a church, not a mosque," the Priest said glowering at Oscar. Even in this out of the way place, they had heard of the Druid who was going from Mosque to Mosque speaking out against Jihad. He wondered how a Druid could mistake a church for a mosque. From inside the church, a deep voice echoed, "Bid the Druid Oscar Meyers to enter." On hearing the voice, chills ran down the spine of the Priest. Stepping back from the door, he said, "Come in." The Priest followed Oscar into the Narthex of the church. This area represented the part of the church where those who were prevented from entering the church proper could still listen to the service. Passing through the Narthex, Oscar entered the Nave where worshippers normally gathered. He stopped below the dome of the ceiling and looked up at the representation of Christ the World Ruler. The heavy scent of incense was driven out of the room and replaced with the scent of roses. The Priest moved to stand between Oscar and the Iconostasis. Oscar said, "I have come to hear your message of peace." "Tell them to embrace what people have in common and to ignore the differences," the voice said echoing through the room and carrying to the crowd outside. It was such a simple statement, but Oscar knew it could have far reaching consequences. Bowing his head, he said, "I shall tell them to embrace what people have in common and to ignore the differences." "Go forth and spread the word, Druid Oscar Meyers," the voice said. "Thank you," Oscar said. He turned and left the church. Oscar was followed out the door by the Priest. The Priest grabbed his arm and asked, "What do you think he meant?" Turning to look at the Priest, Oscar smiled and answered, "It is not my place to interpret the words of the God you serve. If someone asks me what Jehovah said to me, then I will answer that they are to embrace what people have in common and to ignore the differences. What do you think?" "I think that you were well chosen to serve as the messenger for the Gods," the Priest said looking at Oscar with a smile. Touching Oscar on the shoulder, he said, "Go in peace." "Thank you," Oscar said. He looked across the road and saw Georgia waiting for him. She was not the only one watching him. Behind her was a huge crowd of people; all of whom were watching him and most of whom were making the sign of the cross. Rather than walk directly to Georgia, Oscar detoured to the pastry shop. One of the women who had been on the street followed him into the store keeping as much distance as possible. There was a disfiguring scar on her face that rendered ugly what would have been a pretty woman. She moved behind the counter never taking her eyes off of him. Oscar stepped up to the counter and put a small piece of gold on it. In Turkmen spoken with the local accent, he said, "I will trade this piece of gold for two pastries." The woman looked at the gold, then at Oscar, and then at the church across the street. In a soft voice, she said, "Keep the gold. I will give you the pastries. Which ones do you want?" Oscar pointed out two simple cakes and said, "Those will do." Taking a small box, the woman carefully packed the two cakes. She closed the box with exaggerated care and then tied a small ribbon around it. Holding it in both hands, she held it out for Oscar. Smiling, Oscar took the box from her and started to leave. Glancing at the counter, the woman said, "You forgot the gold." Turning to look at the woman, Oscar said, "Take it to your husband so that he can give it to the Imam of the mosque on your behalf." "Thank you," she said staring at the small piece of gold. When he started to turn, she said, "Excuse me, but may I ask you a question?" "Yes." "I heard the God of the Christians say to you that they are to embrace what people have in common and to ignore the differences. What does Allah say to you?" "The senseless killing must stop. Allah will not tolerate any man declaring Jihad by the Sword in his name," Oscar answered. Having heard the words from the man to whom Allah talked was the thrill of her life. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Thank you." "You're welcome," Oscar said. He left the store and walked over to Georgia. Holding up the box of from the pastry shop, he said, "I bought a little treat for us to eat on the road. Are you ready to go?" "I watched you from the door. You made that woman's day," Georgia said with a smile. She figured that the woman would return home and tell her husband that she had talked to the man to whom Allah spoke. She also believed that the small piece of gold would become a major source of pride for the small town. "She was nice," Oscar said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Right," Georgia said opening the door of the truck. She climbed in and waited for Oscar. The crowd of people moved closer to get a better look at them. ------- Georgia looked out the window and asked, "How much longer?" "Just a little further," Oscar answered. He slowed down the truck and looked around for a moment. He turned down a little road and said, "We are almost there." After traveling down the road for a ways, Georgia noticed little details about the terrain. In front of them was a grassy plain with camels grazing amidst lumps rising from the ground. Further examination revealed that the lumps were the ruins of ancient buildings. Some were in better shape than others. A few had been restored. "You brought me to see ruins?" Georgia said looking around at the remains of ancient buildings. Unlike the most of the area that they had been traveling through, this spot was full of plant life. Outside of that, it was pretty disappointing. "Not just any ruins," Oscar said. "Where are we?" "We are at the ancient city of Merv. There are almost fifteen square miles of ruins here," Oscar answered. Georgia frowned and said, "I've never heard of Merv." "This site has been settled for five thousand years and was, during the twelfth century, the largest city in the world. It sat on the Silk Road; the route by which silk traveled from the Far East to the West. It was said that Alexander the Great visited it, but that is just a legend. The city was called Alexandria for a while," Oscar said. For a moment he wished that the gift of foresight worked in reverse. It would have been nice to look back in the past and see this place when it was teaming with people. "We are in the middle of nowhere. It is hard to believe that at one time it was one of the most important places in the world," Georgia said. "This whole area has been forgotten by the modern world. Most people have never even heard of Turkmenistan. Even fewer have heard of Merv," Oscar said parking the car. "What are you doing?" "It is close to lunch time and I thought it would be nice to have a little picnic here," Oscar said. He got out of the truck carrying a sleeping bag and two MREs. The weather was warm and the sky was clear. Looking at the ancient buildings, Georgia had to agree that it would be nice to rest there for a while. She climbed out of the truck and joined Oscar on a small patch of grass on which he had laid the sleeping bag. Sitting down, she asked, "Why the sudden interest in history?" Oscar handed her a MRE and said, "I don't know. Maybe it is because I'm involved in what could be considered historic events that I've become interested in history. I look at this site and think about how it was once so important. Now it is nothing but ruins that only a handful of people even care about." "So you think that while you might be famous for a while, that you will vanish into obscurity like Merv?" Georgia asked thinking that it was a shame that a once vital place had turned to dust. "I hope so," Oscar said opening the MRE. Surprised by his answer, Georgia asked, "You hope so?" "Yes. The happiest times of my life have been spent in the arms of my wives. You and Debbie complete me, but history will not record that. No, history will only make note of a few hours of my life spent here and there. From those few hours, some picture of me that has nothing to do with reality will be generated and revered. In the stories, I will stride across war torn countries like a giant. The problem is that I'm a man, not some sort of immortal heroic figure," Oscar said looking at the remains of a nearby building. "Oh." "The way I want to be remembered is how you and Debbie will remember me," Oscar said. He pulled out the contents of his MRE and spread them on the sleeping bag in front of him. Georgia turned the MRE over and over in her hands thinking about what Oscar had said. She wanted to remember the words he had just spoken for the rest of her life. Smiling, she asked, "Are you sure of that? Our memories include you announcing that your horse was broken." Oscar laughed and said, "That's exactly what I want remembered about me." Georgia opened her MRE and dumped the contents out on the sleeping bag. Curious, she asked, "What moment of time would you like people to know about?" Oscar opened the can of fruit cocktail and looked inside. There was a cherry right on the top. Looking over at Georgia, he said, "This moment would be good. You and I sitting here, eating a meal, while sharing our love for each other. I can't think of a better moment of time." ------- It was late morning when they pulled into the city of Turkmenabat. Looking at the sights of civilization, Georgia said, "I want to sleep in a hotel room tonight." With most of their time spent sleeping outdoors, it was understandable that she would want to experience a little comfort from time to time. Oscar had no idea where there was a decent hotel and looked around at the city. It was a fairly decent sized city for this part of the world. Noticing some railroad tracks, he said, "We'll go by the train station and see if we can find out about hotels there." "Good idea," Georgia said. It took an hour, but they found the railway station and from there found a hotel. The hotel was far nicer than they expected to find there. It had been built for visiting members of the Communist Party back in the early eighties. Although it had not been all that well maintained, it was in reasonable condition. At the check in desk, the man behind the counter looked at Oscar for a full minute and then over at Georgia. Speaking in Russian, he said, "You're him." "Who?" "You are the man who talks with the Christian God and Muslim God." Nodding his head, Oscar replied, "Yes, I am." "She is the woman who was touched by a God," the man said pointing to Georgia's white hair. Although the stories were about Oscar, they never failed to mention the white haired woman who accompanied him. Rumor was that Allah had appointed her to serve as his protector and had turned her hair white as a sign of his favor. "Yes, she is," Oscar said. Georgia stared blankly wondering when she had become a significant person in the events. The man looked at the register and then over at the pair. The check in procedure required that he take their passports and record the information for the local police. He suspected that they didn't have valid visas. He said, "I'll need your passports." "That could be a problem," Oscar said. The man took a sheet of paper and wrote on it that room 212 was under repair. Turning back to where the keys hung above mailboxes, he took the key for room 212 and hung the paper on the key hook. Handing the key over to Oscar, he said, "It turns out that room 212 is being repaired and we can't rent it out. I hope you enjoy your stay in it." "Thank you," Oscar said. "Thank you," Georgia said noticing for the first time the gold cross that hung from a chain around his neck. As Oscar turned to head up the stairs, the man asked, "Is it true that God said we are to embrace what people have in common and to ignore the differences?" "Yes," Oscar answered. "I heard that on the radio going home from work last night. I drove for a bit and then it dawned on me what it meant. For the first time in my life I really thought about how the other guy felt. I thought about how they have the same worries and concerns as I have. I thought of the differences and realized how minor they were in comparison. I had to park by the side of the road for twenty minutes," the man said. Looking at Oscar, he said, "It was an epiphany." Georgia looked at the man and said, "It sounds like you had a life changing event." "I did." ------- When they reached the room, the first thing that Georgia did was take a nice long hot shower. The chance to luxuriate under the stream of water was so great that she even chased Oscar out of the room. He went over to the television and turned it on wondering what kind of entertainment was popular in Turkmenabat. He settled on the bed and watched the one channel that was available. The show was the Turkmenistan version of a talk show complete with a small audience seated in rows of chairs. A man was interviewing the audience about their reactions to Oscar's visits to churches and mosques across the country. It took him a few minutes to realize that the show was being broadcast out of the capital. When Georgia, wrapped in a towel, came out of the bathroom, she said, "It is your turn." "Thanks. The receptionist will come up here while I'm taking a shower. He is going to suggest that we allow his wife to deliver some lunch and dinner to us. Accept his offer. He's also going to ask if we would be willing to be interviewed by a friend of his who is a television reporter. Let him know that we'll be happy to do it tomorrow morning, but that he is to let no one know that we are here before then," Oscar said. "Okay," Georgia said. She looked down at the towel wrapped around her body and at her clothes in her duffle bag. The idea of getting dressed just wasn't all that appealing. It didn't take any special powers to know what Georgia was thinking. Oscar headed into the bathroom. Just before closing the door, he said, "Go ahead and make his day." "I think I will," Georgia said sitting down on the edge of the bed to watch the television. The chance to lounge around comfortably undressed was just too tempting to ignore. A few minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. Georgia rose to answer it; taking a moment to adjust the towel around her body. Opening the door, she said, "Hello." The man, surprised by the vision standing in front of him, averted his eyes. He stuttered, "Sorry to disturb you." "Actually, I was expecting you. We accept your kind invitation concerning meals," Georgia said watching the expression on the man's face change from embarrassment to one of stunned surprise. "How did you..." Georgia shook her head to avoid answering the question. She said, "Your friend, the one who is a reporter, can interview us tomorrow morning right before we are to leave. We ask that our presence here be kept a secret until then, though." "Thank you," the man answered. He looked at her and then realized where he was looking. Moving his eyes back to the floor, he said, "I won't disturb you any more." "Thank you," Georgia said with a smile. ------- The reporter fidgeted nervously in the lobby having just discovered the identity of the individual his friend had arranged for him to interview. The previous evening, his friend had called and said that he had arranged for a special guest to be interviewed. He had assumed that it was another of the frequent low level government officials who came through the area, so he had not taken the invitation as anything special despite his friend's insistence that it was a once of lifetime interview. That morning he had dressed in his typical work suit. It wasn't his best one and now he felt embarrassed about it. It still had a small stain from where some food had dropped on it, although the stain wasn't really visible on the camera. He wished that he had enough time to return home and change clothes. The cameraman, carrying a Russian made video camera, paced around the lobby wondering where would be the best place to perform the interview. It was important to choose a place where the lighting and sound quality would be the best. He wished that he had brought the better camera, but it was heavier than the one he had brought and he only used it for special interviews. There had been no warning that this was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Having enjoyed a lazy afternoon filled with sex, Georgia stepped down the stairs in front of Oscar. She made sure to swing her hips in an exaggerated fashion; giving him a view that he often commented upon as being very pleasing. Georgia stepped into the lobby carrying her duffle bag and then stepped out of the way for Oscar to enter the room. She did not realize that her actions reinforced the rumor that she was his protector. The cameraman had turned on the camera just in time to capture her arrival. Oscar walked over to the reporter and said, "Hello. I'm the Druid Oscar Meyers. I take it that you are Ivan Gorsky." "Yes," said the reporter, his mouth suddenly going dry. A thousand questions came to mind and he struggled to select one to ask. Looking down at Oscar, one question fought to the forefront of the queue and begged to be asked. Fortunately for Ivan's career, Oscar said, "I am four foot, eleven and a half inches tall. Despite my small stature, the Gods and Goddesses selected me to serve as a conduit between the Powers That Be and humanity. I serve my Gods and Goddesses in that capacity." Ivan raised his eyes to heaven and made the sign of the cross. He thought, 'I can't believe that I was going to ask him how tall he was. Thank God he saved me from making a complete ass of myself.' ------- Chapter 10 Bored with the landscape, Georgia slumped in her seat and rested a foot on the dashboard. Suppressing a yawn, she said, "I'd like to see a forest. I'm tired of desert." "You don't like the mountains?" Oscar asked pointing to the peaks that surrounded them. "We've been driving over mountains or between mountains for a month now. You'd think there would have been a forest at some point, but no," Georgia said. They had been driving from one small out of the way place to another for so long that it was all beginning to blur in her mind. Occasionally they would visit a larger town, but their stays would be short. "It could be worse," Oscar said knowing that a crisis was brewing on the horizon. "How?" "It could be snowing." Georgia shuddered at the thought of being stuck out there in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm. She said, "Don't even think it." Oscar laughed in the hope to lighten the mood and said, "We might have some pull with the Gods and Goddesses. Are you sure that you wouldn't like to go skiing?" "No thank you," Georgia said. Knowing that he hadn't been successful in lifting her mood, Oscar said, "I'm sorry." She looked out the window at the vast empty panorama surrounding them. It needed to be filled with something. Swallowing heavily, she admitted that she was feeling as empty as the landscape. In a soft voice, she said, "I miss Debbie." "So do I," Oscar said. "I may be bored, but she must be miserable," Georgia said. She could picture Debbie walking to and from work alone; returning to an empty apartment every evening only to spend the night crying. "We'll be in Kazakhstan soon. Maybe she can fly there and join us for a while," Oscar said knowing that the offer would be rejected. "Oh that's a perfect idea. We'll invite her to come to Kazakhstan. She'll get to see boring steppes, decaying factories, and eat horse sausages," Georgia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. With tears starting to form in her eyes, she said, "Debbie is too soft for this kind of life. She'd be miserable with us." "She's stronger than you think," Oscar said. Georgia broke down and cried. Oscar stopped the truck and gathered her in his arms. Rubbing her back, he said, "Now, now. Things will be okay." "I miss her so much," Georgia sobbed while hating the fact that she was crying on his shoulder. She had always thought of herself as a strong woman not given to tears. "When we get to Astana I want you to get on a plane and fly to Israel. Let her know how much we love her. Let her know how much I miss her," Oscar said. ------- Georgia navigated through the airport procedures for leaving the country without any problems. Oscar watched as passport control looked at her passport and discussed the appropriate visas and entry dates on it, despite the fact that there were no such visas. One man had even commented on how unusual it was for an American to enter the country through some specific border crossing. Airport security even allowed Oscar to accompany Georgia all of the way to the gate. Once they reached the gate, they sat in chairs that had never been in style waiting for the announcement to board. Oscar said, "We'll meet in Perm, Russia on the second Saturday of December." "You're sure that I'll be able to get into Israel?" Georgia asked feeling a little uncertain about crossing borders without him being with her. So far they had never been stopped when going from one country to another. This trip would have her showing up in Israel without a visa from a country in which she didn't have a visa. She could imagine spending the rest of her life in an Israeli prison. "The Powers That Be don't respect borders," Oscar said. He rested his left ankle on his right knee and shook his foot with nervous energy. "I'm not a Goddess," Georgia said nervously. "That's because you don't see yourself the way that I see you," Oscar said with a smile. "You know what I mean," Georgia said rolling her eyes. Oscar never missed a chance to compliment her. Normally she appreciated it, but at the moment she was worried and his comments were not helping. Reaching over to touch her white hair, he said, "They're watching over you." "They are watching over you," Georgia said feeling as if she was the one abandoning him. The little kernel of guilt threatened to explode. With a gentle touch, Oscar ran a hand over her face. She leaned into his palm. In a firm voice, he said, "They are watching over you. One of them gave you the gift of languages and left a mark on you for all to see. You don't think the white hair was just to make you look sexier, do you?" Georgia laughed and said, "Sexier? No, I don't think my hair was turned white so that I would look sexier." It was good to see her laughing again. The past few days she had been pensive and anxious. It hurt to watch her, but Oscar knew that she had to make this trip. The loud speaker announced that her flight was ready to board. Together they walked over to the gate. Once there, Oscar took her into his arms and kissed her. Breaking the kiss, he said, "You'll be okay." "Thank you, Oscar," Georgia said. It was hard for Oscar to watch Georgia get on board the Russian plane for the trip. Georgia would fly into Greece and then on into Israel. She would meet Debbie at the airport and spend the next three weeks with her. ------- The snow was as deep as Oscar had ever seen and was continuing to come down heavily. The flakes were the size of quarters and so thick that visibility was only a few feet beyond the front of the truck. Using the gift of foresight, Oscar continued to drive without concern. He only had two kilometers to go before he reached his destination for the night. It was only a little more than a mile, but it would take ten minutes to reach it. The guard in the small shack was freezing cold and wondered why he was there. No one in their right mind would be out on an evening like this one. The snow was so thick that he could barely see the barrier that blocked access to the base. His situation wasn't all that bad; he got off in an hour and wouldn't have to stand guard through the night. That was when it would really get cold. The sudden appearance of lights headed towards the shack startled the guard. His first thought was that it was a UFO because only a space alien would be out in a storm like this one. When it resolved itself as a truck and stopped two feet from the barrier, he wondered what he was supposed to do. Adjusting his coat, he opened the door and started to approach the truck. He stopped and went back for his gun. Oscar rolled down the window and waited for the guard to approach. When the guard was a meter from the door, Oscar said, "Hello. I hope you are enjoying this lovely Russian weather as much as I am." The unexpected comment derailed the guard's thoughts. Usually people showed up at the gate ready to argue why they should be admitted. He figured it was just his luck to have a crazy man show up when he was on guard duty. Recovering slightly, he asked, "Who are you and why are you here?" "I'm Oscar Meyers and I'm here to say hello to my friend, the base commander." "You know the base commander?" the soldier asked getting a bad feeling about this. "No," Oscar answered with a smile. "Oh," the guard said. He stared at Oscar for a full thirty seconds trying to decide what to do. If it hadn't been so cold, he would have stared a full minute. He kept thinking that this had to be a joke. Someone on the base had driven the truck off the base through a different gate and returned to this one just to make him feel stupid. He asked, "What did you say your name was?" "Oscar Meyers." "Let me call my superiors," the guard said deciding that was the best action he could perform. No one was going to believe him when he reported that someone had driven up to the gate in the middle of the worst snowstorm in living memory. "Okay," Oscar said. He rolled up the window to wait for the chain of command to engage this little surprise. Thirty minutes later, a dozen privates with rifles arrived at the truck marching behind an officer. The officer stared at the truck for a moment and then approached the door. Oscar rolled down the window and said, "Hello. I hope I didn't interrupt your evening meal." "Who are you and why are you here?" the officer asked. "I'm Oscar Meyers and I'm here to see my friend, the base commander," Oscar answered with a smile. He seemed to recall having said exactly the same thing a half hour earlier. "Do you know the base commander?" the officer asked wondering what he was doing out in the middle of a storm like this. He decided that he wasn't going to be out there much longer. "No," Oscar answered wondering how much longer he was going to have to sit in the truck. He would have arrested himself long before now. The officer turned to the soldiers with him and said, "Throw him in the brig and move this damned truck out of the way." "You have real leadership potential," Oscar said with approval. The officer glared at Oscar and turned to the guard who had detained him. In a low growl, he asked, "Why didn't you just arrest him?" "He said that he was here to see the base commander," the guard answered. For all he knew, the base commander could be Vodka buddies with the guy. The last thing he wanted to do was get the base commander mad at him. If this post was in the middle of nowhere, it was still better than Siberia. "Idiot. He said he didn't know the base commander," the officer said shaking his head. He'd deal with the guard later. For now he was cold. The guard was left standing in the cold as the officer walked off to the warmth of the brig where he would interview the prisoner. The soldiers led Oscar off to the brig. They weren't too happy about being out in the cold. Despite that, they weren't rough in their treatment of him. As they walked along, Oscar turned to one of the soldiers and asked, "How long would it take to change out the wheels on the truck over to snow tracks?" The soldier knew the answer, but he didn't say a word. He didn't like the fact that he was going to have to tell the officer that this person knew about the conversion package for changing the rear tires into tracks and the front tires into skis. The package for that model truck was still a secret. Glancing over at the soldier with a wry smile, Oscar said, "I know it is supposed to take about three hours, but you're going to have to use a blowtorch to get the nuts off the wheels since they are covered in ice. I'm pretty sure that'll add about two hours." The soldier looked over at Oscar unable to believe that he would know those details. With his attention diverted, he walked into the soldier in front of him. They had stopped to open the door to the building in which the jail cells were located. Rather than continue with the rest of the soldiers in taking Oscar to a cell, he went in search of the officer in charge. Oscar was drinking a bottle of water from the pocket of his robe when the officer came to the cell. The man didn't look very happy at what he had heard, much less what he was seeing. Now that they were out of the storm, he recognized Oscar. Opening the cell door, the officer entered the cell and sat down on the bed next to his prisoner. Eyeing the bottle with more than passing interest, he said, "I hope that is Vodka." "Sorry, it's water. I'm sure if you call the base commander that he'll bring over a bottle of Vodka," Oscar said with a grin. "You're that Druid who is going around talking to God," the officer said feeling rather uneasy. There had been a time when admitting to being a religious man would have been a problem for him. Under the current government that wasn't an issue. Of course, like all things in Russia, that could change. Shaking his head, he said, "I should have remembered your name. Oscar Meyers isn't very Russian." "And who are you?" "I am Colonel Gudzenko." He had come into the room intending to interrogate Oscar concerning his knowledge about the conversion package. They were the only base with the package for the model truck Oscar had been driving. If God was involved, there was no chance of hiding a minor Russian secret. The only question that remained was what he was to do now. "It is nice to meet you Colonel. Of course, you know why I'm here." "You are here to outfit your truck to travel in this storm," the Colonel said. "Yes, I am. I have a wife to pick up in ten days and I want to be there despite the lovely Russian weather," Oscar said. "If that is the only reason you want the conversion package, we can arrange a jet to fly you there," the Colonel said. He'd heard that the white haired woman had gone to Israel. Even here in the sticks of Russia people were following what was happening with regard to the Druid. "Well, I do have a few mosques and churches to visit on the way there," Oscar said holding his palms up to the sky as if he had no choice. "I thought as much," Colonel Gudzenko said coming to a decision. He sighed and stood up from the bed. Oscar looked around the room. It was very similar to the holding areas used by the American Army. Nodding his head, he said, "Nice jail. I was actually expecting much worse than this." "The ones you are thinking of are up north in Siberia," the Colonel said with a short laugh. If he was wrong about his decision, he could end up as a guard at one of those facilities. Looking down at Oscar, he said, "I'll take you to General Patokin, now." Oscar rose and put an arm around the Colonel's shoulder. In a friendly voice, he said, "Did you know that he and I have something in common?" "Yes, you are both going to be instrumental in making my life miserable," the Colonel said. Oscar laughed and said, "No. We both fought in Afghanistan. It was at different times, but we were both in the same area of the country." Colonel Gudzenko could think of worse ways of spending an evening than listening to tales about Afghanistan but it wouldn't be easy. A few candidates came to mind. Having a root canal without anesthetic would just edge it out. On second thought, he decided that he'd rather visit the dentist. He said, "Oh joy." "Don't worry. There will be lots of Vodka," Oscar said with a grin. ------- General Patokin was a perfect example of a modern Russian General. He was clean shaven and physically fit, rather than the mustached rotund figure of a man that was characteristic of World War II generals. There was a very real sense of strength about the man. Unlike American Generals, he smoked cigarettes. He did so in the Russian style, palm up, with the cigarette held between his thumb and fingers with the butt towards his palm. Opening the window of his room, he threw a cigarette out into the snow. He leaned out the window and pulled another bottle of vodka out of the snow. He held it up for Oscar to see. He closed the window and turned to face Oscar. Gesturing to the bottle with his free hand, he said, "One more my friend and then we must call it a night." Looking over at the still form of Colonel Gudzenko, Oscar held out his glass and said, "Fill her up, General." "I am pleased to see that you appreciate good vodka. I had heard that Americans don't really like vodka served the proper way. They ruin it by mixing it with orange juice. What a waste," the General said while pouring vodka into Oscar's glass. It was a regular water glass, not a little shot glass. He only filled it half full. He glanced over at the Colonel and said, "The poor man can't hold his vodka. That's why he's not a general yet." Oscar laughed along with the General. He pointed to the man sprawled on his chair and said, "Well, he did start out a little faster than us. I think he drank most of that first bottle and half of the second." "You'd think he didn't want to hear our stories about Afghanistan," the General said with a laugh. He had enjoyed listening to how Oscar had approached fighting the terrorists. His time spent there as a Captain had been horrible. "I got that definite impression," Oscar said. Getting serious, the General sat down in his chair. He said, "This thing you are doing. Do you really think it will change the world?" "Yes," Oscar answered in a voice equally as serious. "Peace in that part of the world will be good. You probably don't know this, but my Great-Grandmother was Jewish. That isn't a good thing in this part of the world. It always bothered me how we've supported the Arabs. I felt like I was being dishonest to my blood. I thought our war in Afghanistan would change that, but it didn't. "The Middle East was a very unstable chessboard on which we played our Cold War games. We supported Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Libya. The Americans supported Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The Cold War is over but the pieces of our old chessboard do not know it. Now that the Americans have Iraq, we continue to support Iran and Syria. The main reason is that they are against the Americans. The Cold War may be over, but the feelings are still a little tender. "It has become a great waste of our money. The only thing they have is oil and that is worthless with the widespread adoption of fusion technology," the General said. It reminded him that it was another Druid who had invented the Fusion Cell. He said, "I will be glad when we don't have to take sides there." "Same here," Oscar said. "For most of my career I wasn't a religious man. I know that it seems strange for a man who has fought in a war to say that he wasn't religious. I believed in God and, just before the bullets flew, I prayed to God to save me. All soldiers do that before and after the battle, but not during. There isn't enough time during battle to pray. Still, I never really considered myself religious." Oscar smiled and said, "I understand exactly what you are saying. I was a soldier in a war zone before I became a Druid." "Now that I'm coming to the end of my career as an officer, I think about God a little more often. I was so surprised by the message in the church. I think it is a very good one," the General said. "Why?" After taking a drink of his vodka, the General said, "I read the Bible and it tells me what I'm supposed to do. You know what I mean. We are supposed to turn the other cheek, love our neighbor, and let the meek inherit the earth. The problem is that the Bible never told us what we needed to know in order to do that. The message that God gave you tells us how." "Interesting," Oscar said trying to be non-committal. His role was to deliver the message; not to interpret it. "That's why I'm convinced that your trip to all of these churches and mosques will bring an end to the senseless killing," General Patokin said. He thought that peace wouldn't come quickly, but that it stood a chance now. It was hard to hate a person when you saw a lot of yourself in them. The words that had been given to Oscar were a lesson in empathy. "I'm glad," Oscar said. He took a sip of the vodka. "That's why I'll arrange for your truck to be outfitted with the treads. You'll be able to travel through the thickest snow. Of course, I have no idea how you'll see to drive, but I leave that problem to you." Oscar said, "Thank you." "If there is any way you can arrange it, I'd appreciate it if you could change the Made In Russia markings on it to Made in Japan. I'll probably get into a lot less trouble when my superiors learn about what I did," the General said with a wink. Oscar raised his glass and said, "Here's to them never finding out." "Here's to you," the General said raising his glass in a toast. He lifted his glass and drank it dry. He watched Oscar do the same and then gave him a hearty nod. He said, "Not only do you speak Russian like a Russian, you drink Vodka like a Russian." "Thank you," Oscar said feeling a little dizzy. He was pretty sure that another glass of vodka would put him in the same state as the Colonel. The General looked over at the Colonel and, winking at Oscar, said, "I guess I'll just have to tell him all about my adventures in Afghanistan tomorrow when he wakes. I'm sure that will help his headache." Oscar burst out laughing at the comment. He could just imagine the Colonel trying to stop the pounding in his head while the General described the explosions of bombs going off around him in some battle. Grinning, he said, "General Patokin, you have a wicked sense of humor." The General carried the bottle of vodka to the window. He opened the window and set the bottle into the snow where it would stay cold until he had his next evening of drinks. Closing the window, he said, "Help me take Colonel Kudzenko to his quarters and then I'll show you where you can sleep tonight. In the morning, they'll fix your truck and you can go on your way." ------- Chapter 11 Oscar sat on the top of the truck drinking a hot cup of cocoa and looking around at his surroundings. He was in an isolated area surrounded by blinding white snow that hurt his eyes. The snow softened the landscape; turning hard edges into flowing curves. Behind the truck, tracks led back to the small village Oscar had left a half an hour earlier. He thought back to his visit there earlier. The village had less then three hundred people living in it. Most were old; the majority of the young had left for better lives in the towns and cities. With the absence of young energetic bodies, the town was well into decline. The wooden buildings needed painting, the fences mending, and roofs repaired. The toothless old women who had been in the church were hunched over with backs bent under years of burden. All wore layers of old clothes with scarves to cover their heads. They had watched Oscar; making signs of the cross and mumbling little prayers to their God. Oscar had talked with the God under their watchful eyes. When he left, they had followed him out of the church. The men of the village had come out of the bar across the snow covered lane from the church. They were without their coats; warmed only by the alcohol in their blood. Driving away from town, Oscar had wondered why Jehovah had indicated that he was to visit that church. The people of the town were not in a position to influence events on an international level. He doubted they could even influence events on a local level. He believed that the church would be a ruin in twenty years once the population died off from old age. Now, seated on top of the truck, Oscar was alone. There wasn't another person within ten miles. Even the animals seemed to have disappeared; hiding from the cold harsh Russian winter. Oscar sighed and took a sip of his hot cocoa thankful for the fusion powered cooking gear in the back of the truck. The silence and solitude forced him to consider his situation. He missed Georgia and Debbie. He felt guilty about dragging Georgia along with him. When a man promises a woman that he'll show her the world, it is assumed that it means exotic locations more exciting than Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and rural Russia. He was amazed that she left because she missed Debbie rather than out of disgust and boredom. The trip hadn't been easy on Georgia and he knew it. She didn't have anything to do other than take turns driving. While he went into the churches and mosques, she waited outside watching. He had given her hardship and isolation. She had given her love and support. Shaking his head, he said, "There's got to be something I can do to make it up to her." There was no reply. He took a sip of his drink and found that it had gotten cold. He tossed the remainder of the cocoa with a flick of his wrist; sending the contents onto the snow beside the truck. The result was a brown patch that looked like a crooked smile. He stared at it for a minute and then said, "Maybe I should have told her to stay in Israel with Debbie." The silence forced him to examine other aspects of his journey. Hanging over his head was the journey's end. He knew there was only one way it could end, but he had no idea how it would end. The gift of foresight, loaned to him by William Redman Carter, would not reach to that event. Considering the event, he was glad not to know. Although it was his mortality that occupied his thoughts, his concern for his wives future weighed heaviest on his mind. He wondered what they would do once he was gone. They would have money, so he wasn't concerned about that. They wouldn't end up in a trailer park living on welfare. He knew they loved him and that his passing would hurt. He just hoped they weren't there to watch it. It was growing cold on the roof of the truck and he shifted position a little. Georgia hadn't been gone that long and he was already lonely. There wasn't anyone with whom he could talk. In the villages, towns, and cities he visited, he was greeted with awe, fear, and respect. No one asked him if he was having a good day or to join them for a cup of coffee to discuss the weather. There was a gulf between him and the rest of humanity put there by his service. The only ones who bridged the gulf were Georgia and Debbie. They saw him as a human being with all of the faults and flaws that was part and parcel of being human. He didn't regret the service, but he resented the gulf it imposed. He felt guilty for dragging Georgia across such empty lands and hardship. Sitting there in the cold white lifeless landscape, he knew that he wouldn't be able to complete his service without her by his side. The loneliness would drive him crazy. Perhaps it was selfishness on his part, but a thirsty man couldn't help but want water. ------- Feeling a little battered by the trip, Georgia got off the plane not expecting to find Oscar waiting for her. She still had customs and passport control to get through before she would reach the waiting area. Much to her surprise, Oscar was at the gate with a bouquet of flowers. He gave her a crooked grin and said, "I'm really glad to see you." Rather than wonder how he managed to get through security, she raced over to him and gave him a big hug. After kissing him, she said, "That one was from me. This one is from Debbie." The second kiss was just as passionate as the first kiss. It seemed to last even longer. When she finally broke it off, he said, "I brought you some flowers." "Those are lovely," Georgia said accepting the bouquet of flowers from him. She held them to her nose and smelled the sweet aroma they gave off. It was a sweet gesture and she loved it. Pleased to see that she liked the flowers, he asked, "Did you have a good visit with Debbie?" "Yes. It was wonderful," Georgia answered. They had laughed and cried together for almost the entire visit. They had eaten in nice restaurants and talked through the nights. She had taken hot showers and eaten home cooked meals. "I'm glad. Did you tell her how much I miss her?" "She knows," Georgia answered running a hand through his beard. She had told Debbie how much they had missed her and wished that she could be with them. Debbie's visit to Afghanistan had underscored how difficult going with Oscar would have been on her. "How is she?" "She wishes she was with us, but she's working on her internship. It keeps her busy and fills her time," Georgia answered. Debbie lived in a very nice apartment in Jerusalem that was a short distance away from where she worked. The neighbors were nice enough and treated her with respect, but they weren't exactly friendly. Oscar searched her eyes and read the message that Debbie did know how much he missed her. Pulling her closer to him, he said, "I missed you." "I know," Georgia said with a twinkle in her eye. "Let's get out of here. I've got a hotel right down the street from here," Oscar said. He had decided that they would try to stay in more hotels during the rest of the trip. The problem was finding hotels in places like Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Syria. ------- Georgia stepped out of the shower feeling a lot more human. The flight had not been particularly rough, but it had been long and the seats were uncomfortable. Looking over at Oscar lying on the bed wearing nothing except a smile, she said, "You look comfortable." "Believe me, I am," Oscar said. The cold outside and the rough living had given him few opportunities to just lounge around. Settling on the bed, Georgia said, "The news services are covering your journey with a great deal of interest. Every night on the news, they show interviews from towns you visited. Debbie has a map on the wall of her apartment with each town you've visited marked by a pin." "Oh," Oscar said. Although he hadn't thought about it, he knew that his journey was historically significant and would be covered by the news. He wondered why he hadn't seen a caravan of reporters following him around. "She wanted to know what it was like in all of those places that we visited," Georgia said. The little map was Debbie's way of making the journey with them. Each night, she would update the map with pins of reported locations and then spend hours on the internet reading about the places. Frowning at the kind of discussion that would produce, Oscar said, "I imagine that she got tired of hearing you describe each place as desolate." Surprised by his negative characterization of the locations they had visited, Georgia said, "Oh no. I told her all about the things we saw. I described everything about the towns we visited, the people we met, and the food we ate. We went through the pictures that I took of our travels. There was barely enough time to cover it all." "Really?" Oscar asked surprised. "Sure. I think she was a little jealous, but she knows that she really isn't cut out for the kind of life we are living," Georgia said. Debbie had been hungry for every little detail about their trip. She had shuddered in horror in hearing about the rough roads and how the truck threw them around. She had laughed when she listened to how awed of Oscar the woman in the pastry shop had been. "Jealous? This trip must be horribly boring for you. Why would she be jealous?" Oscar asked. "Bored? I haven't been bored on this trip. I mean, there are lots of times when the landscape is a little bland, but we've seen so many neat places. Remember when we stopped and visited Merv? That was a great day. Debbie really enjoyed my letter about the visit to Merv," Georgia said. Oscar was stunned by her announcement. He had thought that she was miserable. He asked, "You haven't been miserable on this trip?" "No. I'll admit that there have been times when I was ready to kill for a chance to have a hot shower, but traveling around like this is not misery," Georgia said. The dominate negative about the trip had been the fear. She had never gotten over the feeling that if something bad were to happen to Oscar that she'd be left alone in a strange place with men who would hurt her. She looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Why would you think that?" "Well, we haven't really gone to nice places," Oscar said. "My life is a National Geographic adventure. I've see places that haven't ever appeared in magazines. I've met people who follow customs that date back thousands of years. I've watched shepherds who while away the time playing with a sling just like they did in Biblical stories. Sure, they may have been wearing a tee shirt instead of local clothes, but I'm seeing living history that others can't even imagine," Georgia said with a smile. "I suppose," Oscar said. "I brought a hundred memory cards for my camera," Georgia said. She had brought a camera along with her, but had run out of memory to store pictures. There for the last few weeks, she had taken very few pictures because she was had to delete pictures to make room for the new pictures. That was no longer going to be a problem. Oscar had stopped noticing the ever present camera. He hadn't given any thought to how many pictures she was taking while traveling. Grinning, he asked, "Do you think a hundred will be enough?" "At least until we reach civilization again," Georgia answered with a seriousness that caused Oscar to burst out in laughter. She looked at him and said, "Hey, I like taking pictures of the places we've visited." "Okay," Oscar said. ------- The synagogue was a minor building on a small street near the edge of town. The architecture was complex enough that it defied simple description. Oscar pulled the truck over and watched the snow swirling through the air. It was a cold blustery winter day. He turned to Georgia and said, "Today I visit Yahweh." Looking out into the horrid weather, Georgia didn't really want to leave the warmth of the truck. To be able to observe this event, she would have hazarded even worse weather. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, "Let's go." Oscar stepped out of the truck and headed towards the synagogue. Georgia followed behind him. She stopped a dozen steps from the door and watched him approach. Despite the cold, she could barely contain her excitement. Considering the weather, she doubted that anyone else would hear the exchange between Oscar and Yahweh. Oscar turned to her and asked, "Aren't you coming in?" "Is that allowed?" she asked looking at him blankly. "I think it will be okay this time," Oscar answered with a smile. "I'm not Jewish." Laughing, Oscar said, "I don't think it will matter this time. You won't be the only one in there who isn't Jewish." Taking his staff, Oscar hit the door with the end. The echo reverberated overly loud. After a minute, the door opened and a man looked out at Oscar. He said, "Come in. The ceremony is about to start." Behind the man, a deep voice reverberated through the room, "Bid the Druid Oscar Meyers to enter." The man stared blankly at Oscar for a full fifteen seconds before moving out of the way. The voice was clearly not human. He recognized the name and knew that something significant was about to happen. Oscar entered the Synagogue followed by a puzzled Georgia. It took her a minute to realize that she had just stepped into the beginnings of a wedding party. At the head of the room where the arc stood holding the torah was a flame that burned in mid air. Oscar walked into the room as people turned to stare at the fire. All thoughts of why they were gathered at the Synagogue were forgotten. Upon reaching the center of the room, Oscar said, "I have come to hear your message of peace." "Remember the Covenant," the voice said in a volume loud enough to shake the walls. The flames grew larger and brighter to the point where it was nearly blinding. There was an angry tone to it and those in the room shook in fear. The voice said, "Those who gave the Land to my people did not own it. It was not theirs to give. Make it right!" Georgia wanted to look at the flames, but it was too bright. This was the God of the Old Testament; angry and commanding. This was the God who wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah. This was the God who turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt. Standing in that room, Georgia knew fear. Lowering his head in respect, Oscar said, "I shall repeat that message to all who ask. Remember the Covenant. Those who gave the land to your people did not own it. It was not theirs to give. Make it right." The flames diminished, but did not go out. In a softer voice, Yahweh said, "Go forth and deliver my message, Oscar Meyers." "I will," Oscar said. He glanced in the direction of the stunned Bride and Groom. This was to be a great day and it had turned out to be very different from what they expected. They stood there uncertain how to react. With a smile, he asked, "May I stay for the wedding?" "You may stay. This joining is important for a child of theirs shall lead my people," the voice said. "Thank you," Oscar said. The flames disappeared and the room returned to normal. The people gathered for the wedding stood around uncertain as to what they should be doing. All were stunned by what they heard. Faces slowly turned to watch the young couple who were staring into each other's eyes. No one dared speak as if afraid to ruin the moment. The silence was finally broken when Georgia said, "Wow." Smiling at what he thought was a most appropriate comment on the events that had occurred, Oscar said, "Let the ceremony begin." The Rabbi led the ceremony. If the God hadn't told him of its significance, he would have canceled it. It was far more solemn than the typical wedding service. The pronouncement by their God had elevated it from a personal joining to something of much greater significance. Only Oscar could see the small flame flickering around the couple. Georgia caught hints of it out of the corner of her eye. When the Groom smashed the glass at the end of the ceremony, there was a cheer. Oscar suspected that it would normally have been louder and more exuberant. He glanced at the Bride and Groom feeling a little sorry for them. Their wedding had been overshadowed by greater events. Oscar and Georgia were given places of honor at the table with the Bride and Groom. The youngest brother of the Bride had been displaced to make room for them despite Oscar's protests that it wasn't necessary. Although this was a celebration of a marriage, the atmosphere in the room was subdued. There was a distance between the other guests and Georgia and Oscar. The wedding guests ate and talked, but would occasionally pause to look over at them. Enjoying the feast, Georgia turned to Oscar and said, "This is great." "Yes, it is," Oscar said. He rose and looked around the room. With a smile, he raised his glass of wine and said, "I'd like to propose a toast to the Bride and Groom." All eyes in the room turned to Oscar. Hands reached for glasses of wine. Assured that he had everyone's attention, Oscar said, "I know that we all ask ourselves what can a mortal man say when a God has blessed a union between Man and Woman? Our words seem trivial in comparison. Let me remind you that this is a joyous occasion and one to be celebrated with food, wine, laughter, song, and dance. "We are here to wish this couple well and to celebrate with them. I raise my glass and say what men and women have been saying to newlyweds since time immemorial. May they find love, comfort, and happiness in each other's arms. May their children grow up to be strong and healthy. I wish them a long and happy marriage!" Oscar raised his glass and then drank down the wine. The rest of the room followed suit. The toast served its purpose and the atmosphere returned to what was more appropriate for a wedding. Little islands of laughter broke out here and there. People started telling stories and enjoying the company of others. Other toasts to the young couple were raised in time honored tradition. When the food had been eaten, people began to dance. It was a variety of music ranging from classical Jewish music to modern rock. Oscar danced one of the slow dances with Georgia. The difference in their heights left his head resting against her breast. Neither one of them complained about it. The Groom, a man who was actually older than Oscar, came to him and said, "Thank you for such a nice toast." "Thank you for including us in your party," Oscar said. He reached into the pocket of his cloak and pulled out a small gold coin. Handing it to the groom, he said, "Here's a little wedding present from Georgia and me." The Groom looked at the coin uncertain about taking it. He said, "Your presence is gift enough." "Nonsense. You've just gotten married. A young couple starting out can use all of the help they can get," Oscar said slipping the coin into the young man's hand. He winked and said, "You can probably sell it on eBay for a fortune." "I'm sure of that," the Groom said looking at the coin. He slipped it into his pocket and said, "Thank you." "You're welcome," Oscar said putting an arm around Georgia. She said, "I've never seen a Jewish wedding before. It really was a very nice ceremony." The Groom smiled and said, "I'm glad that you enjoyed it." After the Groom left, Georgia leaned over to Oscar and said, "They do make a cute couple." "I think you're right," Oscar said with a chuckle. Brides always looked lovely and Grooms looked handsome. Oscar always figured that was a law of nature that even a bad case of ugly couldn't overrule. He looked around the room and said, "They certainly have a lot of friends and family." Later the Rabbi approached Oscar and asked, "What do you think he meant?" "It is not my job to interpret the message," Oscar said. It wasn't a surprise to him that former Prophets may have diluted by the messages they delivered by commenting upon them. The temptation to explain was almost overwhelming. The problem was that his speculations would be given greater weight than those of others. "I think that Israel is about to have a major crisis," the Rabbi said with a sigh. He could only imagine the consequences that would follow when news of the message reached Israel. He hoped that life in Russia wasn't going to get harder as a result. ------- Chapter 12 The news services were going crazy trying to film Oscar. Hordes of reporters staked out churches, mosques, and synagogues in the hope of catching him entering one. No matter how many places they watched, Oscar turned up at the one they had missed. They lined the roads in hope of finding him, but he drove past unnoticed. The best anyone had managed was to film him after leaving a holy site. Of course, as soon as Oscar was gone, the reporters descended upon the last place he visited like vultures. Everyone was interviewed even if they hadn't been present. The buildings were examined from rooftop to basement for anything that could explain what was happening. No natural explanation was forthcoming. The news services were not satisfied by the supernatural explanations. Oscar and Georgia managed to stay at hotels without interference from the press. The innkeepers tended to be individuals who had rediscovered their faith. They protected Oscar and Georgia by neglecting to mention to reporters that they were staying in the hotel. Once the couple was gone, reporters learned of their stay and descended upon the hotels. Again, everyone was interviewed. Oscar and Georgia drove around untouched by the chaos they were leaving behind. They entered and left countries without concern of border guards, passports, or other matters that usually governed international travel. Traveling in a southern direction and with the changing of the seasons, the temperature became warmer. They started sleeping outdoors on occasion. They entered Turkey one fine afternoon. The sun was bright, the air was warm, and an early spring was in the air. Oscar stopped the truck and turned to Georgia. Gesturing to the countryside, he said, "We've made it to Turkey." "I wondered if we'd ever get here," Georgia said. She got out the satellite phone and started to set it up. Watching her, Oscar said, "That's a good idea." "I haven't told it to you yet," Georgia said glancing over at him. She didn't doubt that he knew what she was planning. "I know, but it is still a good idea," Oscar said with a grin. He glanced out the window and said, "While you are inviting Debbie to meet us in Istanbul, I'm going to go over to that little house over there and try to arrange an invitation to dinner." Georgia looked at the little house feeling that it was generous calling it a house; it was more of a shack than a house. Frowning, she said, "Asking them to feed us might ruin their budget." "Don't worry about that. Leave everything to me," Oscar said with a wink. He climbed out of the truck leaving Georgia to make her call to Debbie. He paused and turned back to face her. He said, "Don't forget to call your sister. I'm sure that she'd like to hear from you." "Okay," Georgia replied. Oscar reached the door of the house and found an elderly couple watching him from the window. Raising a hand, he said, "Hello." The old man, using a cane, stepped out of the house and looked at Oscar with suspicion. The small stature of Oscar reduced the man's fear of strangers sufficiently that he went outside rather than talk to him through the window. In a voice hoarse with age, he asked, "Who are you?" "I'm Oscar Meyers." The man looked at the truck by the road and asked, "Did it break down?" "No," Oscar answered with a smile. "So what are you doing here?" the old man asked looking back at Oscar. Reaching into his pocket of his cloak, Oscar withdrew a small gold coin. The flash of light from the coin immediately drew the man's attention. It was worth more than he could expect to see for the rest of his life. Holding it out, Oscar said, "I have heard that your wife was once considered the best cook in the whole area." "She is a good wife," the man said eyeing Oscar with suspicion. He thought it odd that the man spoke Turkish with the local accent. He asked, "Where did you hear that about her cooking?" Oscar pointed upwards and smiled. The old man looked up at the sky and then back down at Oscar before he snorted in disbelief. Amused by the suggestion, he said, "So you came here to eat?" "Yes. My wife will take your wife and grandson to the market to buy a lamb and the makings for a feast," Oscar said. The old man looked at the truck for a second and then asked, "The white haired woman is your wife?" "Yes," Oscar answered. "You must be older than you look," he commented. "Her hair is white because she was touched by the Gods," Oscar said knowing that if Georgia ever heard the old man's comment that he'd never have another minute of peace. She still talked about having granny hair. "Touched by the Gods?" the old man asked suspiciously. He was a good Muslim and didn't like what he was hearing. From inside the house, the woman screamed. She stuck her head through the window and exclaimed, "It is him! He's the one everyone is talking about!" The old man was split between his desire to tell his wife to stop acting like a child and wanting to act like a child himself. Finally, he said, "You're that Magus." "I'm a Druid," Oscar said knowing that they were called Magi by the people in this part of the world. "Yes, that's what you call yourselves," the old man said nodding his head. He held out his hand for the coin and said, "I'll send the wife and grandson to the market with your wife. She'll fix a feast for you." "Thank you," Oscar said. "My name is Mustafa and my wife is Belma. My grandson is Gani." Only after giving the name of his grandson did he realize that Oscar had known that his grandson was living with them. ------- While Mustafa played host, Gani set up a small table in the garden behind the house. The young man carried chairs out of the house and set them around the table. Belma prepared a feast that was fit for a king. It was nearly sun set when they gathered around the table to eat a roast leg of lamb with rice and vegetables. It was a basic meal that was very tasty. After dinner, the women went into the house while Oscar and Mustafa stayed outside. Mustafa said, "We talk in the town about you." "What do they say?" Oscar asked wanting to get the opinions of masses. "They say that the messages delivered in the mosques, churches, and synagogues apply to all of us regardless of our religion," Mustafa said. "Really?" Oscar asked. He had been unaware of that. "We are bound by the same Covenant as the Jews. We are bound by the same message of love as the Christians. It was delivered by Jesus, an early prophet of Allah. We are bound by the message of Mohammed. It only makes sense that we are bound by the messages of Oscar Meyers," Mustafa said. The old man held up a packet of cigarettes. Oscar shook his head to decline them. He said, "It sounds strange to hear that." "What is strange?" Mustafa said lighting up a cigarette. It was the first he had smoked since his son had died and left him in charge of his grandson. "The messages of Oscar Meyers," he answered. He laughed and said, "It makes me sound like I'm somebody." "You are somebody," Mustafa said looking at Oscar. "There are some who would argue with you about that. I am one of them," Oscar said smiling at the old man. "There is one true God and Mohammed was his last prophet," Mustafa said taking pleasure in the sounds of the words as they rolled off his lips. Shaking his head, he said, "I've heard that phrase my entire life. I felt that it made me better than others who ignored Jesus and those who ignored Mohammed. I could look down on the Jews and Christians because they didn't listen to Mohammed. Everyone has heard you and I'm no longer special. There is one true God and Mohammed was his last prophet is no longer a true statement." "I'm sure that 'there is one true God and Oscar Meyers was his last prophet' just doesn't have the same impact," Oscar said with a chuckle. Mustafa shrugged his shoulders and said, "I hate to say that it doesn't. Something important to me has been lost. I can no longer feel special." "We are all special in how we serve the Powers that Be," Oscar said. "Islam has been changed as a result of your conversations with Allah." It was obvious to Oscar that Mustafa was basically a very conservative man who resisted change. The house was empty of modern goods and his manners harkened back to older times. Curious, he asked, "What do you think of that?" The old man was quiet for a long time while considering the question. Finally, he said, "I think the world will be a better place." ------- Debbie peaked over the window sill at the riot outside her apartment. From her second floor window, she was able to see the riot in all its glory. She grimaced when one group started throwing bottles at the other group. The bottles originated from the side that was trying to enforce the existing status quo between Israel and the Palestinians. The ones she felt sorry for were the poor riot control squad that was stuck in the middle trying to keep the two groups separated. Young men and women serving their mandatory time in the military suddenly found themselves facing people who might be their family, friends, or neighbors. It was ugly. Debbie hated the protests. It wasn't that she feared getting hurt as a result of a riot breaking out near her. It wasn't that they were targeting her specifically. No one had associated her with Oscar and for that she was somewhat grateful. Riots had been breaking out all over Jerusalem as a result of the words delivered to Oscar by Yahweh. What bothered her was the fanaticism of the participants. The most vocal and violent group of protesters was a strange collection of people. It was a collection that was splintered amongst several major philosophical issues. The fundamentalist radical Jews were the largest segment. In the past, they had taken up arms against the Palestinians and opposed all attempts to make peace. Many of them felt their God had sold them out by denying that Israel had a right to exist. The radical Jews were joined in the protests by young upwardly mobile Jews who were normally very law-abiding. These young professionals had discovered that they might lose their property or have to purchase it a second time. The chief complaint was that they had purchased property in good faith only to find that the government was taking action to take it away from them. Based on records from the late forties, the government had declared a large number of places as confiscated property that had to be returned to the original owners or their heirs. The majority of people supported the government's actions. They felt that if restitution was made for the property taken by the British prior to establishing Israel, then Israel would have a new found legitimacy. If they were able to make it right, other nations would have to acknowledge Israel without reservation. They felt they had God's command that Israel had to make it right. It was their part of the Covenant that had to be satisfied before Israel would legitimately exist in God's eyes. Debbie ducked down when another convey of military vehicles pulled up outside her apartment building. Not knowing why they were there, she figured that they had learned that the riot was going to turn even more violent. From her position under the window sill, she looked up at the map and said, "Oscar, I don't know if I'm going to be able to get out of here to visit you." The map didn't reply, but the door did with a loud clang from the knocker. The timing caused her to jump. She crawled away from the window until it was safe to stand. When she reached the door, she looked through the peep hole to find three uniformed men standing outside. Cautious, she opened the door a crack without removing the chain and, in English, asked, "What do you want?" "Are you Debbie Meyers?" the Captain asked looking through the crack at the red head. "Yes, I am," Debbie answered. The Captain said, "I'm under orders to take you to the Prime Minister. I'm to tell you that you should pack a luggage with several days' worth of clothes." "May I ask what this is about?" Debbie asked. "You may, but I don't know enough to answer. All I know is what my orders say," the Captain answered. This was the strangest duty that he had ever been assigned. The fact that his orders came directly from the Prime Minister was just icing on the cake. "Am I under arrest?" Debbie asked. "No. I am to escort you to the Prime Minister. As far as I know, he wants to talk to you." Debbie bit her lower lip while thinking about it. She closed the door and then opened it again. Looking at the Captain, she said, "You may come in." The Captain turned to the two privates with him and said, "Guard the door." After he entered the room, he turned to Debbie and said, "You might want to pack your luggage." Not knowing where she was being taken, Debbie went to her closet and pulled out a couple of utility outfits; clothes that were comfortable enough to live in for several days if necessary. While she was packing, the telephone rang. It was Jennifer, Georgia's sister, calling to tell her that transportation had been arranged to take her to Turkey. A private jet was waiting at the airport to whisk her away. As a result of the call, Debbie started pulling clothes out of the suitcase to replace them with items more suitable for a vacation. The Captain, left to his own devices in the living room, wandered around trying to learn more about the woman he was to escort. He stopped in front of a picture of three people and stared at it. He turned to stare at the map on the wall. He'd seen maps like that, but not any that were decorated with pictures of the some of the locations visited by the Druid. He turned back to the picture and stared at it. With a sick feeling in his stomach, he walked over to the window and looked down at the riot that was still boiling in the street below. He reached for his radio and called, "I want four more people up here right now." Debbie came out of the bedroom with her suitcase in time to overhear him call in the order for more people. She waited until the exchange between the Captain and the person with whom he was talking came to an end. The Captain put away his radio and looked at Debbie. Shaking his head, he said, "You're one of his wives, aren't you?" "Yes," Debbie answered. "What are you doing living in Israel?" the Captain asked. He figured the last place she would want to live would be here. If the crowd outside were to learn that she was there, they'd tear her apart. "I'm finishing my College practicum at a research laboratory down the street," Debbie answered. "What College?" the Captain asked hoping that his guess was wrong. "The Druid College," Debbie answered. The plan had been to pick her up and take her to the Prime Minister in the car. Having learned who she was, he started changing the plan on the spot. He'd have her ride to the Prime Minister's house in the armored personnel carrier. That would provide greater protection for her. He only hoped it was enough. There was only a minor problem on leaving the apartment. Two of the neighbor women came out of their apartments and questioned Debbie to make sure that she was going with the soldiers of her own free will. Despite the Captain's best efforts, the two women wouldn't get out of the way until Debbie had told them it was okay. Leading Debbie down the stairs, he muttered, "Damned busy bodies." ------- The Prime Minister had aged fifty years since the words that Yahweh spoke to Oscar had echoed around the world. After taking a taste of his cognac, he turned to see Debbie enter the room. Three months ago he might have found her attractive, but that was half a lifetime ago and today he felt too old and tired. With a sigh, he said, "Four hours ago I got a call from a woman by the name of Jennifer asking that I provide an escort to the airport for you. I told her that you should make your own arrangements and hung up the telephone. Much to my surprise, one of my generals went ballistic when I told him about the call. "Ten minutes later, another woman calls and tells me that I should make arrangements to escort you to the airport. I ask her why I should do that. She says that she is the Devil Woman and that Israel owes her a favor. I suggest that you can make your own arrangements to get to the airport. My head of security goes crazy when I tell him about the call. "Now, this is beginning to bother me. I'm sitting at my desk wondering how two crazy women have my telephone number and call me with the sole purpose of asking me to have you escorted to the airport. I'm wondering why one of my generals is calling me an ass and my head of security is telling me that I better arrange an escort to take you to the airport or he is going to resign. It doesn't help when they tell me that both of the women who called me are Druids. One of those damned Druids is making my life miserable. I don't like Druids. "Ten minutes hadn't even passed after the last call and I'm getting a call from the President of the United States. He doesn't ask me to arrange an escort to the airport for you; he demands that I arrange an escort for you. By this time, I'm getting irritated. I hang up on him. "I've got riots breaking out all over the country. Six people were killed in a riot at the Wall. We had a suicide bomber blow himself up in a shopping center. It was a Jew! This country is falling apart and I've got idiots calling me to arrange for a woman to get to the airport." Debbie stood at the door listening to the monolog wondering when he is going to get to the point. She was impressed at the efforts that were being expended so that she could spend a week with Oscar. The smile that broke out on her face did not improve the disposition of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister glowered at her and said, "When the President of Russia called, I asked my head of security to tell me about you. He had nothing in his files other than the fact that you entered the country back in September. Now tell me why so many people are so interested in you getting to the airport." "You know the Druid who is making your life miserable..." "Yes," the Prime Minister said. "He's my husband," Debbie said with a smile. The snifter hit the floor at the Prime Minister's feet and shattered; sending golden liquor and glass across the floor. Open mouthed, he stared at her and shook his head. Turning to a non-descript man standing in the corner of the room, he asked, "Why in hell didn't you know that?" "Meyers is a common name. We didn't have anything to tie her to him," the man answered staring at Debbie. He couldn't believe that the wife of Oscar Meyers was living in Jerusalem and they hadn't known it. Heads were going to roll over that intelligence failure. Looking at the man in the corner, Debbie said, "The Gods and Goddesses are protecting us. Oscar's service is too important to be allowed to fail. You can't beat them." "I want you out of my country and I never want you to come back here again," the Prime Minister said. Turning to look at the Prime Minister, Debbie said, "I'm going to visit Oscar in Turkey for a week. When I'm done with my visit, I'm going to return here and finish my practicum. I will visit Oscar whenever he calls and, after each visit, I will return here. He is coming here and I will be here to greet him." "I can arrange that you'll never get back in this country." With fire in her eyes, Debbie said, "You can try, but you will not succeed. I assure you that you will be forced out of Israel before you can prevent me from coming here." "Now listen to me..." "No. You listen to me," Debbie interrupted and jabbed a finger in the direction of the Prime Minister. Unable to control what was coming out of her mouth, she said, "You are fighting the combined wills of Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, and the Druid Gods and Goddesses. If you think that your will is greater than theirs, I assure you that you will be proven wrong. The next time you go to the synagogue, I want you to think about who is asking who for help and guidance." Stunned at the outburst, the Prime Minister took two steps backwards. Her voice had changed while delivering that little speech. He would later swear that it took an inhuman tone. It took him some time to recover. Deciding that nothing would be served by standing in her way, he said, "You said that Oscar is coming here." "Yes." "God help us," the Prime Minister said imagining the chaos such a visit would produce. Debbie smiled and said, "Believe it or not, he is helping you." ------- Chapter 13 Turkey straddles the East and the West giving it a culture that is a curious blend of the two worlds. No city reflects that dichotomy more than Istanbul. It is a city in which the majority of the population follows Islam, yet it is home to the Patriarch of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is a city filled with synagogues, churches, and mosques, often with unlikely pairings standing side by side. Istanbul is a modern city with roots deep in the past. The Hippodrome, a horse racing track, dates back to Roman times. Occupying a position inside the Hippodrome stands the Obelisk of Thutmosis III, an obelisk carved of pink marble in 1490 BC for the Temple of Karnack and brought to Turkey in 390 AD. Surrounding the Hippodrome are buildings, many of which were constructed under the Ottoman Empire. In a modern parallel to the obelisk, skyscrapers reach to the sky. The majority of structures date from modern times, but the architectural landscape is not homogenous. An ancient building will stand with a stone's throw of a modern building. The antiquity of the Hippodrome drew Oscar like a moth to flame. Debbie walked around the Obelisk of Thutmosis III wishing that she could read the inscriptions upon it. She knew that Oscar and Debbie could read them, but that wasn't the same as reading it herself. Turning to Oscar, she said, "So you are telling me that they stole this from the Temple of Karnack in Egypt and brought it here to decorate their race track way back when the Romans were here." "That's right," Oscar said. Georgia said, "That is one large hunk of solid stone. It must weigh fifty tons. How on earth did they ever get it here?" "Good question," Debbie said staring at the subject of discussion. "This is only the top third of it. The full obelisk was brought here in three pieces. The bottom two pieces were lost," Oscar said repeating what he had read in the tourist guide that was in their hotel room. "That's one big piece of stone," Debbie said unable to get over the size of the obelisk. A man bumped into Oscar and mumbled an apology. Oscar, wearing blue jeans and a shirt, rather than his robe and cloak had just been the target of a pick pocketing attempt. Before the man had managed to take two steps, Oscar grabbed him by the wrist. The simple grasp turned into an arm lock within a fraction of a second. In a low growl, Oscar said, "You just made a major mistake. I'd like my wallet back." The man was about to protest his innocence when he noticed that the woman wearing the strange hat was holding his partner in a similar hold. He couldn't believe that the short guy and the woman had managed to capture them both. He said, "I don't have your wallet. You can search me if you want." Using her free hand, Georgia thumped the head of the man she held with a finger and said, "He gave your wallet to this fellow." "Would you mind retrieving it for me?" Oscar asked with a smile. He flicked a finger against the head of the man he held. It made a satisfying noise that sounded a lot like the sound made when testing a melon. Debbie glanced over at Oscar and rolled her eyes. She said, "Would you just threaten them already and let them go? Looking at the obelisk is giving me ideas." Flicking a finger against the man's head, Oscar answered, "The threats start after I get my wallet back. Until then, we just torture them." The man Georgia was holding held up Oscar's wallet for her to take. Ignoring it, Georgia thumped his head and said, "Let me get this straight. The proper order is to torture them, get your wallet back, threaten them, release them, and then really hurt them if you see them ever again." The man said, "Here's the stupid wallet!" Oscar thumped his captive once on the head and said, "That sounds about right to me." "Ouch," the man complained trying to duck his head. In the posture of impatience that women learn while waiting for their husbands in the tool department of a hardware store or at the fishing department of the sporting goods store, Debbie crossed her arms and tapped her foot. She said, "Would you get it over with already? Looking at this obelisk has given me ideas and I'm beginning to get impatient." Georgia grabbed Oscar's wallet out of her captive's hand. Waving it around, she said, "You're so lucky that she's getting impatient. We'd have stayed here all day discussing what to do with you." Winking at Georgia, Oscar said, "My ineffective little thief, consider yourself thoroughly threatened. You know what I mean; bodily harm complete with insertion of body parts in orifices that were never intended to hold body parts. You know... that kind of stuff." Georgia lifted the wrist of her captive provoking a groan. She said, "The same thing he said applies to you, but I'll include removal of sexual body parts. I know it sounds sexist, but I enjoy collecting them." Debbie shook her head at the threat made by her wife. They were having too much fun with this and would play with the pair for quite a while longer. She might as well join in. Giving in to temptation, she said, "Come on you two. Break one of their ribs and let them go. That should be enough fun for now." While the little taps on the head and teasing banter was upsetting, the offhand way in which Debbie had mentioned breaking ribs was extremely effective in instilling fear in the two captives. In fact, they found her blasé attitude to their predicament frightening. It suggested that this wasn't the first time they had people in that position. Oscar and Georgia released the wrists of the men they held. As the men took advantage of their freedom and fled down the path at a fast run, Oscar asked, "Were we supposed to break the rib first and then release them?" "You know, I think you're right. The moment they ran off I realized that I might have gotten it backwards," Georgia said with a laugh. She tossed Oscar's wallet back to him. Oscar grabbed the wallet and put it into his back pocket. After putting an arm around Debbie and hugging her to his side, Oscar said, "You mentioned that you had an idea while looking at the obelisk." "It looks a lot like a pointy-ended penis," Debbie said in baby girl voice that sounded innocent, but was anything except innocent. She slipped an arm around Oscar's back and nudged him with her hip. "Oh, that does give me an idea," Georgia said suggestively. Putting his other arm around Georgia, Oscar said, "I suppose we'll have to go back to the hotel and explore this idea a little more fully." As they walked back towards the hotel with Oscar sandwiched between the two women, Debbie said, "You were definitely having too much fun with those guys back there." "Too much fun? I don't think so," Oscar said with a grin. The only thing that he had hurt was their pride. "Aren't you supposed to be some sort of holy man or something? I recall reading something like that in a newspaper," Debbie said. She poked Oscar in the ribs when he bumped hips with her. "Really? I didn't know that. I have a hard time imagining me being a holy man," Oscar said with a grin. When Debbie laughed, he asked, "Did I ever tell you the story about how I learned to fly while meditating?" "Yes," Debbie said giggling. She had heard it a dozen times and the image of Oscar flying through the air and landing in the pond still caused her to laugh hard enough to almost wet her pants. It didn't matter that he told that story every time she said that he was a holy man. "I'll tell it to you again," Oscar threatened. His grin let her know that his threat wasn't serious. He looked over at her with a lecherous grin and added, "Prepare yourself for the story!" "No, not the story!" "The story!" "Anything but the story," Debbie said pretending to fear hearing the story once again. "Anything?" "Uh, tell me the story," Debbie said. Oscar tilted his head back and laughed at the exchange. Pretending like he had forgotten what story he was going to tell, he said, "Hmm, which story should I tell?" Debbie laughed and started to sing, "On a broken horse he rides..." Georgia joined in the song substituting the word camel for horse. Oscar said, "Okay, I give up. I won't tell the story." "Good," Debbie said with a grin. Realizing that the building they were approaching was the hotel, she adopted the baby girl voice and said, "That obelisk really looked like a erection. It made me feel all tingling inside." ------- As if trying to make up for lost time, Debbie was practically insatiable in bed. Oscar would wake in the morning with her mounting his morning erection. After that, she would turn to Georgia for more. Finally, she would beg both to make love to her together. Of course, they couldn't resist her pleas. By lunch time, she was ready for another round of loving. There were quickies before dinner and then long slow sessions in which both Oscar and Georgia made love to her before falling asleep exhausted. Oscar was not about to complain although he did wonder how Debbie was still able to walk. After one particularly energetic session in bed, he said. "I've missed you so much." "Same here," Debbie said snuggling in closer to her husband. She missed nothing more than having her mates hold her in their arms. This visit was coming to an end and she dreaded the arrival of the time when she had to step onto the plane to return to Israel. "I've decided to change my itinerary," Oscar said. Sitting up, Georgia looked at Oscar in surprise. Curious, she asked, "What are your plans?" "I was going to head onto Syria from here, but I've decided that it should include the lower half of Europe as well. We'll head out to Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, France, and then Spain," Oscar answered. Debbie sat up and looked at Oscar. Biting her lower lip, she considered her workload. Deciding that it wasn't that heavy, she said, "I might be able to go on a portion of that trip with you. Maybe I can do the Italy, France, and Spain segments." "We'd love for you to come with us," Oscar said getting excited. He looked across the bed at Georgia and saw that she was nodding her head in approval. Debbie considered her research and said, "I could probably work weekends and late every evening for the next month. I'm sure they would let me do that to get three weeks or so of vacation." "Don't kill your self by overworking," Oscar said running a hand over her breast. He loved the softness of her pale white skin and how her nipple became hard under the stroking of his hand. His touch invoked a purr of satisfaction from Debbie. She said, "I won't." Georgia watched Debbie and Oscar. In a way, she felt guilty that Debbie wasn't getting any real time alone with Oscar. For months she had all of Oscar's attention while Debbie was left alone in her apartment. She said, "I was thinking of going out for a while and letting the two of you have some private time." Thinking that Debbie might enjoy that, Oscar said, "You might consider going shopping for things to use on the trip." Debbie reached out and grabbed Georgia's hand. She begged, "Don't go. I can't stand the idea of being away from either one of you any more than is necessary during this visit." "Wouldn't you like some time alone with Oscar?" Georgia asked feeling very touched by Debbie's request for her to stay. She still wanted to give her wife some private time with Oscar. "I'm married to both of you. I've missed both of you so much. Stay with me," Debbie said not wanting to miss a single minute with either of them. She leaned over and kissed Georgia's hand while looking up into her wife's eyes with a hurt puppy dog expression on her face. Throat tight with emotion, Georgia said, "I'll stay." "Now lay down here and let me wrap my arms around you," Debbie said in a low sultry voice. She settled back into the warm embrace of Oscar's arms. Fighting back tears, Georgia said, "I think you have more in mind than a hug." "Later. For now, I just want to bask in your love," Debbie said enjoying the feeling of being sandwiched between her two lovers. "I love you," Oscar whispered into her ear. "I love you," Debbie said without distinguishing to whom she was speaking. Oscar and Georgia knew that she was speaking to both of them. Within five minutes, Debbie was asleep. ------- The telephone ringing woke Georgia from a deep sleep. Still feeling groggy, she reached over and picked up the phone. She mumbled, "Hello." "Hello George, it's me," Jennifer said brightly. Blinking her eyes, Georgia stared at the clock and asked, "Jed, do you know that it's three o'clock in the morning?" "It is three o'clock in the afternoon, little sister," Jennifer answered with a laugh. She could imagine how the three of them had been spending their time together. When she turned to look out the window, the bright light was almost enough to hurt her eyes. She grunted and said, "Oh, you're right. What's got you calling at this ungodly hour?" Chuckling, Jennifer answered, "I just had your new wheels delivered to the hotel. The receptionist has your keys. You're traveling in style." "What kind of car is it?" "A Mercedes," Jennifer answered. "Nice," Georgia mumbled. A stray thought crossed her mind and she sat up. Curious, she asked, "Who is paying for all of this?" "What do you mean?" "I mean, you are delivering cars to us. We've been staying in hotels. Oscar is spending gold coins left and right. You arranged for a private jet to bring Debbie here. Where is all of that money coming from?" Georgia asked. "William Redman Carter is underwriting your trip. We haven't even made a dent in the budget he set aside for Oscar," Jennifer answered surprised that Georgia didn't know that fact already. "Oh," Georgia said wondering why William would choose to spend the kind of money required for Oscar's mission. She thought it would have been collected from all of the other Druids. For that matter, William wasn't even a Druid. "I'll talk to you later, George," Jennifer said with a smile in her voice. "Not if I know it is you on the phone, Jed," Georgia replied. After hanging up the phone, Georgia sat on the edge of the bed. Oscar and Debbie were still asleep despite the noise she had made. Curious about William's role in this, she recalled the letter William had sent to Oscar on their wedding day. She had watched Oscar read it several times during the trip, but he had never shared it with her. Looking over at Oscar, she said, "Temptation, your name is Eve." Unable to resist lure of forbidden fruit, she went over to Oscar's bag and pulled out the letter. Feeling guilty she went into the bathroom closing the door behind her. She closed the lid of the toilet and sat down to read the letter. My dear friend Oscar, I do not know how it is that you can shoulder the burden that your service requires. Even Atlas would run from such a load you will carry. There is no doubt in my mind that you are a much stronger man than I. I think I would collapse under weight of such a responsibility. I find such strength and dedication to the Gods and Goddesses remarkable. To tell the truth, I am in awe of you. I have given much thought to your service. There is no reason for you to suffer any more than absolutely necessary. With my resources, I can provide you with any and all comforts that you may desire. Towards that end, I have established an account of ten million dollars for you to draw upon. Georgia's sister has agreed to be your guardian angle. Should you need or desire anything, let Jennifer know and she will arrange for you to have it. In the event that you require more, I will gladly add more money to that account. There is no reason to avoid being selfish. If you wish to stay in a five star hotel, then stay in a five star hotel. Take what comforts you can; where and when you can. If you wish to have Debbie visit you, then let Jennifer know and she will arrange all of the details. Spend the money. Enjoy yourself as much as you can. You, of all people, deserve it most. I have also sent two hundred thousand dollars in gold coins for you to use. Rather than change money to buy things in rural market places, spend the gold. It is the universal medium of exchange. Don't worry about waste. Anything you spend can be replaced; the time spent miserable or hungry can not be recovered. You have far greater things on your mind than worrying about currency. The money that you gave me to invest on your behalf has grown to over thirty million. As a result of the recent loss of my gift, I have taken steps to protect your investment. It has been shifted into a conservative fund. It should grow at a rate that is better than five percent per year. I shall give that money to Debbie and Georgia in the event of your death or to you upon demand. I know that you worry about what will happen to Debbie and Georgia at the completion of your service. Rest assured that I shall watch over them for the rest of my life and do all in my power to assure that they need nothing. Towards that end, I have deposited another thirty million in a trust account for them. I know that may sound like a lot of money, but it is nothing compared to what you are sacrificing through your service. I have learned that Debbie shall spend her practicum in Israel. It is a given that you will worry about her while you are on your journey. I have taken steps to protect her to the best of my ability. Eight bodyguards have been assigned to watch her from a discreet distance. If all goes well, she will never know that they are there. When your service ends, mine will begin. It saddens me that I can not be there to help you since I shall be with the Gods and Goddesses. With a little warning, I will arrange to have extra guards present to protect Georgia and Debbie. A jet plane will be waiting to whisk them off to the destination of their choice where they can recover in private. I have also asked Oliver to make sure that a Druid counselor is waiting to help them through their grief. I am sure that Georgia and Debbie will be at a loss concerning what they will do when your service ends. My house in Pennsylvania is awaiting them. Although it is unoccupied, it is fully furnished. It is currently being watched over by Jan, the second true Druidic Bard. She lives in an RV parked beside the house. The neighbors are nice and will not disturb them. There is a pond in the back that is a great place to swim and relax. The location is quiet and will give them a place in which they can relax while deciding what they want to do next. There is little else that I can do to help you through your service. I wish I could do more. If you can think of anything that I may have missed, let me know and I shall move heaven and earth to make it happen. You have my word on that. The whole world will owe you a debt that can never be repaid. What I have done doesn't even cover the interest on that debt. I have a few words of advice given me by my father, John Carter, that I would like to pass along to you. Take care of yourself. Enjoy what moments you can. Take the time to smell the roses and watch the sunrise. Your friend, William Redman Carter Georgia stared at the letter with tears in her eyes. It was the most powerful words set to paper that she had ever read. She barely knew William and couldn't believe what he had done for Oscar. The idea that he would step forward to take care of her and Debbie like he had described in the letter was astounding. Folding the letter, she put it back in the envelope. Sniffling, she realized that she had never thought about what would happen to her and Debbie once Oscar finished his service. Always her thoughts had been about how his service would end. Never had she thought about what she would do next. At the thought of what she was going to lose, she burst into tears. Sobbing, she lost all control of her emotions. Nothing had ever touched her as deeply as that letter. Her nose ran and she wiped it with the back of her hand. She tried to control it, but the dam had burst. After five minutes of crying, Georgia finally managed to regain control over her emotions. There were little stains on the envelope from her tears. She wiped it, but the stains remained. She rose and went to the sink. She blew her nose and washed her face. The primary signs that she had been crying were eliminated. Close examination would have shown the slight puffiness that remained. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she said, "Friendship; that's such a small word for what William must feel for Oscar to have done all of that for him." ------- Chapter 14 Walking through the ruins of Troy, Oscar couldn't help but be touched by the beauty of the place. This was the ancient city of Troy! Just the thought of it brought memories of Homer's Iliad back to him. Looking over a feature of the ancient city, he said, "I wish Debbie was here to see this." "You know why she didn't want to come here," Georgia said defending her wife against criticism even if none was intended. Sighing, Oscar said, "I know. A war was fought here because of the beauty of a single woman. I could have come here with two women whose beauty outmatched Helen's." "I'm sure the city is disappointed," Georgia replied with a smile. She had to admit that it was a nice compliment. "She came all of the way to Turkey and didn't see anything." "She didn't come to Turkey to see the sights, she came here to see you and me," Georgia said. The three of them had spent almost the entire week of Debbie's visit in the hotel room. As soon as Debbie had left, Oscar had visited a synagogue, a church, and a mosque in Istanbul before leaving the city behind. "I would have liked to share this with her," Oscar said gesturing to his surroundings. "We shared something with her that was much more important to her than this," Georgia said looking over at her husband. "What?" "Us," she answered. "You're right, I guess," Oscar said. Seeing the expression on Debbie's face, he added, "Sometimes I wonder how I'm worthy of being in your lives." Georgia stared at Oscar and said, "Never doubt your worth when it comes to us." "I stand here where we believe one of the most famous battles of ancient history took place and I feel humble. Long after the city was buried and forgotten, the names of the men who fought here managed to survive," Oscar said. He had a feeling that his name would last as long. It was an unsettling thought. "You're in a melancholy mood," Georgia said. "She's been gone two days and I miss her. I know you miss her too," Oscar said. Striding across the grass, Oscar walked up to a ruined wall. He turned his back to the wall such that he faced the plain. He posed as if giving a speech and, using the full power of his voice, said, "Always be the best, my boy, the bravest, and hold your head up high above the others. Never disgrace the generations of your fathers." Confident that his voice had carried for two miles across the plain, Georgia said, "That's nice. What is it from?" "It is from the Iliad," Oscar answered with a smile. "Why did you recite it here?" "It reminds me of William." He looked over at her and saw that she didn't understand. He explained, "When we were studying history I came across that in one of my textbooks. It was advice from a father to a son on how to behave. When I first read it, I thought the father was telling the son to be a braggart. "After thinking about it, I decided that the father was telling the son never to perform an act which would bring shame upon him. Performing a shameful act would lower his head and disgrace his ancestors. I think that John Carter must have said something like that to William Redman Carter." "I read his letter to you," Georgia said feeling guilty about having done that. "I know," Oscar said, "I saw your tears on the envelope. They landed beside mine." "I shouldn't have read it," Georgia said. "Why? It would have ended in your hands at some point in time," Oscar replied looking at her puzzled. "I was overwhelmed by it. I find it hard to understand such generosity," Georgia said. Oscar sighed and said, "Homer wrote about the seer Calchas son of Thestor, 'He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.' It was as though Homer was writing about William. "Do you want to know what real generosity is? William gave that 'knowing' to me. He did that accepting that he would become weak and vulnerable. It was like giving away his ability to see to a blind man. That's real generosity." "I didn't even think of that while reading his letter," Georgia said. She had only considered the effort William had made to relieve Oscar of some of the worries that would plague him on this trip. "My friends, be men, and fear dishonor; quit yourselves in battle so as to win respect from one another. Men who respect each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those who do not, but in flight there is neither gain nor glory," Oscar said quoting Homer again. Looking over at Georgia he said, "William and I are fellow soldiers in a war against the baser nature of man. I am to bring peace and he is to make sure that it lasts. I respect his opinion as I'm sure he respects mine." "Why do you keep quoting Homer?" Oscar laughed and said, "Hey, we're in Troy. Where else should one quote Homer?" ------- As they were about to leave Turkey and enter Bulgaria, Georgia asked, "Why didn't you go to the Patriarch of Constantinople at the Church of Saint George?" "I don't know," Oscar answered. "What do you mean you don't know?" "We didn't go there and we're not going to visit the Pope at the Vatican or the Queen of England in her castle. I don't know why I've been directed to one place and not another. Every place that I've visited has been small and unimportant. All that I know is that I haven't been told to go to a major religious site," Oscar answered. "The Queen of England? What's she got to do with anything?" Georgia asked thinking that they were on a tour of religious sites, not royal families. "She's the head of the Church of England," Oscar answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "I didn't know that," Georgia said. She smirked and said, "It must be nice to be a queen." Oscar laughed and drove through the border crossing without being stopped. Shaking his head, he said, "It's amazing to me how they don't seem to see us when we cross the border." Ignoring Oscar's comment, Georgia was still wondering about the churches, synagogues, and mosques they were visiting and those they were avoiding. She asked, "So why do you think that you aren't going to visit the heads of churches?" "I think that perhaps the Powers that Be don't want to play favorites by having me visit the heads of some sects. I've been visiting hundred of churches, synagogues, and mosques. If I had to visit one of every sect then I would be doing this for the rest of time," Oscar answered. "That makes sense." Oscar slowed the car and pointed to a sign. Coming to a stop, he looked over at Georgia and asked, "Does that say what I think it says?" Georgia laughed as she read the sign aloud. "Welcome to Bulgaria Oscar Meyers. Come visit our churches, synagogues, and mosques." "I think that someone in Bulgaria has too much time and money on their hands for their own good," Oscar said staring at the sign. He had to assume that signs like that must have been placed near every border crossing into the country. It seemed rather unlikely to him that someone had just happened to place the sign here on this minor road in the middle of nowhere. Laughing at the comment, Georgia said, "You've got to admit that it is the friendliest greeting you've gotten on this trip." "That's true. Funny, I've never heard anyone remark on Bulgarian hospitality before," Oscar said staring at the sign. "I want to take a picture of you standing in front of the sign," Georgia said. She had taken lots of pictures on the trip, but few of them included Oscar as the main feature. Ten minutes later, Georgia snapped a picture of Oscar standing in front of the sign. He was wearing his robe and cloak while holding his shepherd's staff. Winking at the camera with one eye, he held out a hand with a thumb up in the well know gesture of approval. Georgia knew as soon as she pressed the button that it was a great picture. ------- The news services had gone into a frenzy trying to figure out when and where Oscar would appear next. As soon as there was a report that Oscar had appeared somewhere, thousands of reporters would flood the general area taking up positions outside of religious sites. Surveillance cameras had been mounted inside and outside of churches, synagogues, and mosques in the hope of catching him in the act of talking with God. With supernatural accuracy, Oscar threaded his way through the masses of reporters to visit those few places which were not watched. He drove past reporters while they had their backs turned to road, while they were answering calls of nature, or when an irresistible urge to nap descended upon them. For a profession that was dominated by a huge number of atheist and secular liberals, his ability to avoid them was particularly frustrating. World wide, the nightly news had become almost uniform in terms of how they began their broadcasts. First they showed where Oscar had visited some church, synagogue, or mosque. A reporter would stand in front of the building and explain that Oscar had been there. Then they showed interviews with people who had observed the visit. The comments were always the same; they felt blessed to have heard the voice of their God. The broadcasts always ended with a film of some riot that broke out in some part of the world as a result of Oscar's service. Oscar stepped out of the church and looked around. The nature of the crowds that greeted him had changed. For a long time, he would leave a church to find the elderly watching him and making religious gestures. With time, the ages of the observers had changed to reflect the general distribution of the population. From very young wearing tee shirts and Nike shoes to the very old wearing clothes of an older style, people stood and watched with tears in their eyes. Approaching a man who looked out of place in the crowd, Oscar, speaking English, said, "You are a reporter." "Yes, I am," the man acknowledged surprised that Oscar spoke to him English and knew his occupation. He had come to this place without a recording device of any kind thinking that it might improve his chances of seeing something. It had. He had followed Oscar into the church and had seen it all. What he had seen and heard had shaken him to the very core of his beliefs. Oscar gestured to Georgia and then over at a bar. She nodded her head and walked over to the bar. Turning to reporter, he said, "Let us go over to the bar and have a drink while you interview me." The reporter glanced at his watch surprised that a religious figure would suggest going to a bar for a drink at ten in the morning. That surprise was totally overshadowed at the news that he was going to get to interview Oscar. Wondering how he had managed to get so lucky, he said, "Okay." They reached the bar to find Georgia seated at a table by the window with three glasses of wine and an open bottle on the table. She gestured to the empty chairs and said, "Have a seat." Oscar sat down next to Georgia and waited for the reporter to take a seat across from him. Once the reporter had taken a seat, Oscar picked up his glass. Raising it, he said, "Here's to the Gods and Goddesses." Georgia raised her glass in honor of the toast. She echoed, "Here's to the Gods and Goddesses." It took the surprised reporter a second to follow suit. Thirty minutes earlier, he would have laughed at them and called them fools for believing in Gods and Goddesses. He couldn't say that now. He had heard the voice of God. He raised his glass and said, "Here's to the Gods and Goddesses." Oscar took a sip of his wine. He placed a tape recorder on the table and turned it on. Looking up at the surprised face of the reporter, he said, "I'm sure that you have many questions." "Why are you doing this?" the reporter asked wondering why Oscar had granted him this interview. Choosing to misinterpret the question, Oscar answered, "It is my service to the Gods and Goddesses." "Why would they want you to do that?" Smiling, Oscar said, "I will not answer for the Powers that Be. They have each asked me to deliver a specific message. I deliver their messages and nothing more. It is not my place to say anything which they have not explicitly asked me to say." "So why do you do it?" "I do it to bring peace to parts of the world that have known only war for too long. I do it to keep thousands of women from becoming widows and thousands of children from becoming orphans. I want peace." Shaking his head, the reporter asked, "How can you say that you do this to bring peace? Your visits have produced riots all over the world." Georgia leaned over and looked out the window at the people gathered around the church. In a soft voice, she said, "I don't see a riot. I see people rediscovering their God and remembering that there are some things in this world that are greater than they are." "There are riots," the reporter said. Oscar smiled at the comment. It wasn't a happy smile, but a weak rather sad smile. He said, "I find that comment amazing. Why does the Press have to blame me for the riots? I don't think a day passes without a dozen riots occurring somewhere in the world. I think the press finds it only too easy to place blame on others. It is never the fault of the rioters. "I marvel that the press is so willing to place blame on anyone and everyone for the ills of the world. The press never asks what its role is in creating the conditions for conflict and war. The press has a huge role in creating civil unrest and increasing international tensions. It forgets that it was the press that started the Spanish American War as a means of selling more newspapers. "Millions of people are touched by what is happening in churches, synagogues, and mosques. They are trying to abide by what the Gods have told them to do. I have seen a Jewish man and his Muslim neighbor help each other plant fruit trees rather than build fences. This was after hating each other for years. Does the news cover that? No. People being nice to people does not sell newspapers or attract viewers. "Instead the news focuses on a few angry people who have discovered that God doesn't think the world revolves around them. You are reporting the temper tantrums of children. These are people who have been chastised by an authority they claimed supported them in acting like spoiled little brats. They are a minority, but you say that their behavior makes them representative of everyone. "Mom and Pop sitting at home watching the news believes what you say and, as a result, they think the world is in chaos. Like good caring people around the world, they want injustices addressed. The problem is that the injustices are fictions, the events are exaggerated, and the numbers are inflated. When the situation escalates, the press can point at well meaning people and lay the blame at their feet." Oscar looked at the reporter and the expression on his face. The man's face had turned pale listening to what Oscar had to say. He knew that the charges Oscar was making were basically true. The reporter thought back to the number of times he had driven through miles of city streets filled with people going about their daily lives to film a conflict that involved a few dozen individuals. Cameras were placed to make the event look bigger than it was. Leaning forward across the table, Oscar said, "The reason why a story about a neighbor helping a neighbor isn't great news is because it is so common. It is an everyday event. Can you imagine running a news story in which a neighbor helps another neighbor cut up a tree that fell in their backyard? A story like that will never air. But have one idiot out of three hundred million who cuts down the neighbor's tree in a fit of rage and it makes headlines. "It is the violence and hatred that is rare and that is why it is news. However, the way the news is reported doesn't admit that possibility. It glorifies it and builds it into a movement that is greater than what it is. Even worse, the press tries to tear down the good by saying that one bad act negates a thousand good deeds. I think that is a shame. "It was the news that declared God is dead. I have news for you. The Powers that Be are very much alive. It is time that that fact was reported accurately," Oscar said. He took a sip of his wine and looked at the reporter with a twinkle in his eyes. The reporter took a sip of his wine and thought about what Oscar had said. Deciding that it was time to change the subject, he asked, "What will you do when your service is finished? Oscar rubbed his chin trying to think of a good answer to that question. He answered, "I shall serve the Gods and Goddesses for the rest of my life." "What do you mean by that?" "This is not a contract job where you sign on the dotted line to work for six months. There is no retirement plan. I have dedicated my life to serving the Gods and Goddesses." The reporter was silent for a moment while considering the answer. It wasn't the answer to the question he really wanted to ask. He said, "I take it by your answer that you will be going from church to church for the next ninety years." "I shall continue doing what I am doing until my service is ended," Oscar answered trying not to look at Georgia. The reporter glanced at Georgia and said, "You look upset." "Of course I'm upset. You are talking about his service ending. He has told you that it will end when he dies. Now you want to set limits on how long he will serve. It sounds to me like you want his service to end any day now," Georgia said. "I apologize if that is the impression I gave," the reporter said. "I accept your apology," Georgia said. Glancing over at Oscar, she said, "You should probably restrict your questioning to him." "People are interested in you, too." Georgia laughed and said, "I'm just along for the ride." The reporter studied Georgia for a minute and then said, "It is said that you were touched by a God and that it left your hair white. Is that true?" "Yes," Georgia answered. She took a sip of her wine and smiled at the reporter knowing that he probably wanted more of an answer. "How do you know that you were touched by a God? What proof can you offer besides having white hair?" Giving him an enigmatic smile, Georgia didn't answer. She took another sip of wine and turned to Oscar. She asked, "Is it time for us to go?" "Yes," Oscar said. He picked up his glass and finished the wine. The reporter frowned at the sudden termination of the interview. Returning to his first question, he asked, "Why did you pick me to interview you?" "Where did you get that scar on your forehead?" Oscar asked. His face turned pink on hearing the question. He ran a finger over the scar on his forehead. Embarrassed, he answered, "I was a little clumsy when I was a kid. I tripped and hit my head." Oscar smiled and said, "Not everyone can be born of stature, grace, and greatness." "Huh?" While Georgia giggled, Oscar answered, "Let's just say that I chose you because I empathize with people who are a little clumsy." Georgia reached into her purse and pulled out a picture. Setting it on the table, she said, "You might want a picture to go with the article." The reporter picked up the photograph and examined it carefully. It wasn't exactly the kind of picture that he would have chosen. He wondered why Oscar was posed in front of a sign. Of course, he didn't understand Bulgarian so it was possible that there was a hidden meaning in the picture. He looked up from the picture just in time to see Oscar and Georgia leave the bar. He called out, "Thank you." ------- Chapter 15 Debbie walked down the stairs from her apartment to the street. Her apartment was located on the second floor just above a travel agency. She waved to the very muscular woman, Uriel, who ran the agency before heading down the street. Based on her build, Debbie figured the woman competed in the shot put. She was definitely muscular enough to throw the shot put far enough to win a gold medal at the Olympics. She didn't have to be at work for another forty-five minutes. That was long enough to get something to eat and walk to the building. She stepped into the bagel shop and went up to the counter. She waited while the woman behind the counter prepared a bagel for another customer. The blond haired woman was tall and well developed with Nordic features giving the impression that she was a Valkyrie. When the woman came to the counter, Debbie said, "Hello, Raquel. I'll have a coffee, a bagel with creamed cheese for here and a bagel with butter to go." "You're always feeding that musician. He's a bum sitting out there playing his trumpet all day for coins. Toot, toot, toot, all day long. It gives me a headache. If you didn't feed him, maybe he'd go away," the woman said while fixing the order. "I like Gabriel," Debbie said shrugging her shoulders. She heard the same speech from the woman every morning. Like many of the people in the neighborhood, Debbie thought that Raquel was a strange woman. The only time she seemed to work was in the morning. The rest of the time, she spent staring out the front window of the shop. "I know," Raquel said. She set a plate with a bagel on the counter and a second bagel wrapped in paper next to the plate. Pointing to the wrapped bagel, she said, "That's a raison bagel. He likes raison bagels." "Thanks," Debbie said cheerfully. Raquel might complain about Gabriel and his music, but she always made sure that he got the kind of bagel he liked. She carried the bagels over to a small table and returned in time to get her coffee. Handing over the money for her food, she returned to her table. After finishing her breakfast, Debbie left the bagel shop and headed down the street. When she reached the corner, she stopped and said, "Hello, Gabriel. I brought you a little breakfast." "Thank you," Gabriel said taking the bagel wrapped in paper from her. He looked at her and said, "You're looking cheerful this morning. I hope that you slept well." "I slept well enough," Debbie answered with a smile. Gabriel always asked about her health. "I hope that you are taking care of yourself; getting plenty of exercise, eating well, and taking your vitamins. Hate to hear that you've gotten sick or something," Gabriel said. Debbie laughed and said, "I'm healthier than you are, Gabriel." "Well, you might want to join the gym across the street. I bet Raphael would give you a discount on the membership," Gabriel said gesturing across the road with one hand. "Maybe one of these days," Debbie said. "You better get to work. It wouldn't be right for you to be late because you were talking to the likes of me," Gabriel said. "You're always looking out for me, aren't you?" Debbie asked with an appreciative smile. "That's right." ------- At the knock on her open office door, Debbie looked up from her desk and looked at her supervisor. There was a strange expression on the woman's face. Curious, Debbie asked, "What is it?" "You have a visitor," the woman answered. She shifted nervously and bit her lower lip. "Oh. Who is it?" The supervisor leaned into the office and whispered, "It is Rabbi Teitelbaum." Debbie's excited smile grew as she got out of her chair. She said, "Rabbi Teitelbaum is here? That's great. I didn't even know that he was in Israel. Where is he?" "I put him in the conference room where he wouldn't be disturbed." Startling her supervisor, Debbie ran out of the office to the conference room. Rabbi Teitelbaum was waiting for her at the door. Throwing her arms around him, she gave him a friendly hug and said, "It is so good to see you." Coworkers who had never really talked to Debbie about anything other than work stared at the friendly greeting she gave the Rabbi Teitelbaum. All office conversation came to an abrupt end when he said, "I was so sorry that I couldn't attend your wedding." "I understood," Debbie said. She kissed him on the cheek and added, "I know that you had important work to accomplish. What are you doing coming here to visit me?" "I was in the area and needed to see a friendly face. So, of course, the first person who I thought I would visit was you," he said. He glanced at the faces of the people watching them. The awe with which they gazed upon him was disheartening. Debbie's honest smile was like a breath of fresh air. All work had come to a complete stop. Coworkers gathered around to see the great Rabbi Teitelbaum. Everyone knew that he had proclaimed the coming of the Druid Oscar Meyers. Even though many had not liked the message that Oscar had delivered, the fact that he had said that Oscar was coming was reminiscent of the ancient prophets. That alone had made him a household name. It was his second contribution to Israel that had raised him to the status of living legend. He had worked tirelessly to engineer how Israel could make things right and give the country a new legitimacy. His solution was that all of the Children of Israel should contribute to make reparations for the properties that had been confiscated. The original plan in which the owners of those properties were responsible for the debt had fallen by the wayside. Jews around the world were raising money to purchase properties. "I'm glad you came," Debbie said. The hardest part of being here was not being able to talk to anyone about Oscar. The only one who knew that she was from the Druid College was the owner of the company. Rabbi Teitelbaum looked at Debbie and, in a kind voice, said, "It is a lonely path we've chosen to walk. Don't despair; there will be an end to the loneliness for you." "I know," Debbie said looking at one of the few people who understood her situation. Looking at the elderly man, she said, "For you?" "I am old and the end of my path is quickly approaching," he answered. Those close enough to hear the conversation looked from Debbie to the Rabbi wondering what their cryptic comments meant. Had the Rabbi just predicted his own death? Most stared at the Rabbi recognizing his importance. A few stared at Debbie wondering about her importance. Seeing the attention they had, Debbie said, "Let's go in the conference room where we can talk." "Wise idea, my friend," he answered. There were things that he had to tell her that were best kept private between them. ------- The immediate excitement about the mysterious visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum had died down and Debbie was able to return to her work. The curiosity of her coworkers was almost a physical thing. People who had never talked to her approached her and tried to strike up conversations. Others who had normally engaged in small talk now kept their distance wondering what it was that she had never said to them. It was normal that a guest scientist without a doctorate would meet with mixed reactions from collogues in a research facility. People differed in their opinions of her. Some felt that she was brilliant and that the doctorate was a mere formality. Others felt that she was pretentious and must have used some sort of political connection to get the job. A few thought that she had slept with the owner of the company to get her position. No one suspected the truth although with the visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum rumors were flying fast and furious. Ruth Silverstein sat in her office wondering about Debbie Meyers. The young woman had been assigned to her. She had not been given a real resume. She had been told to watch over her, but not to interfere in the young woman's work. There was no doubt in her mind that the young woman was brilliant. She had managed to synthesize a new compound that had potential to be a significant product for the company. In looking over her work, it was obvious that she had nearly worked out all of the details about how to produce the compound with minimal environmental impact. Still, it irritated her to have a subordinate about whom she knew nothing. The visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum was the last straw in Ruth's patience. She was going to get to the bottom of the matter regardless if the cost was her career. Rising from her desk, she headed towards Debbie's office. Ruth's progress was halted when she recognized two more visitors making their way to Debbie's office escorted by the owner of the company. She froze and stared at the elderly silver haired black man walking slowly down the hall supporting himself with a cane. The large black man who walked behind him was the scariest figure she had ever seen. His face bore scars she knew had been received as a result of shrapnel from a hand grenade that had been intended for the elderly man. Samuel Cohen spotted Ruth Silverstein and nodded to her. In a tone of voice that would allow no argument, he said, "Debbie Meyers has another distinguished guest. Please make sure their visit is not disturbed." "Isn't that Reverend Leroy Jones?" Ruth asked. "Yes," answered Samuel with a smile. He hadn't realized when he had accepted taking in Debbie Meyers that he would be given a chance to meet three of the most important religious figures of his time. First it had been Rabbi Teitelbaum who had stopped by his office. Then the Reverend Leroy Jones had shown up. While talking with the Reverend, he had received a call from Imam Abdel-Malik requesting the chance to visit with Debbie Meyers later that afternoon. The Reverend Leroy Jones went into Debbie's office. His entrance was accompanied by a scream of joy from Debbie. Hearing it, Ruth said, "It sounds like they are friends." "Yes, they are friends," Samuel said. Turning to her, he said, "Tell your people to expect another guest this afternoon and that anyone who might have a problem with a Muslim visitor should go home. I don't want any problems to come up. I'm still making the security arrangements." "Who is it?" Ruth asked. She couldn't imagine who the last visitor would be if he required special security arrangements and the Rabbi Teitelbaum and Reverend Jones hadn't. Looking around to make sure that he wouldn't be overheard, Samuel answered, "Imam Abdel-Malik. Don't tell anyone. I'd hate for there to be a problem." Covering her mouth with a hand, she stared at her boss with wide eyes. Shaking her head numbly, she asked, "Who is she?" "You haven't figured it out yet?" Samuel asked amused by the revelation. "No." "It is probably for the best, then," he said. He sighed and said, "She told me that she would be finished with her project this week. I imagine that we'll be losing her by the end of the month. Her work will bring millions of dollars into the company for the next twenty years. It's a shame that she has to leave." Ruth was left standing in the hallway staring at the retreating back of the owner of the company. She took the few steps to Debbie's door intending to find out more. The large black man stepped in her way and, in a soft voice, said, "They do not want to be disturbed." "I am her boss." "And I'm his bodyguard. They don't want to be disturbed, so they won't be disturbed," George said in a harder flatter voice while staring into the eyes of the woman. There was a hard edge to his eyes that suggested he would be more than willing to snap her in half and use her bones as toothpicks. When she was younger, Ruth had done her mandatory military service. She remembered basic training and the intimidating Sergeant who had put her through hell. The Sergeant could have learned a thing or two about intimidation from this huge man standing in front of her. She stepped back and said, "Okay." ------- Debbie had given up all hopes of getting any work done that day. She was so close to finishing her practicum that the delay was frustrating. She opened her e-mail to find one from technical support saying that e-mail services were being shutdown for the afternoon as a result of a need for unscheduled maintenance. She didn't believe that excuse for a minute. Rising from her desk, she headed over to the company cafeteria for lunch. People moved out of her way; giving her a wide berth. Whether it was out of respect or fear, she couldn't tell. Men wearing black uniforms and carrying Uzi submachine guns had appeared in the hallways. Looking at them was a reminder that she was going to be receiving another visitor sometime after lunch. At least there was one friendly face in the place. The janitor, a rather rough looking individual, always had a kind word for her. He smiled at her as she passed and said, "Good afternoon, Debbie." "Good afternoon, Remie. How are you doing today?" "I'm fine. No matter what else happens, there are always floors that need cleaning," he said in a cheerful voice. He swept a little scrap of paper out of her way. Gesturing to it, he said, "Hard to believe that little pieces of paper like that represent job security for old Remiel. She laughed at his comment feeling a little better. In a teasing voice, she said, "Remind me to buy another bag of confetti." Remie laughed and went back to sweeping the floor. Debbie continued on her way to the cafeteria feeling a little better. Her good feelings didn't last long. Ruth Silverstein joined her without saying a word, but the expression on her face reminded Debbie of someone who had bitten into an unripe persimmon. Ruth said, "You seem to have friends in high and low places." Puzzled, Debbie asked, "What do you mean?" "You seem rather friendly with the janitor," Ruth said. "Oh, we just started work here the same day," Debbie answered. She had met Remiel while filling out all of the paperwork associated with starting work. He had entertained her while waiting with tales of working the seven seas as a sailor. "He's a janitor." "So?" Debbie asked. Remiel always had a nice word for her; something that couldn't be said for the majority of people there who often acted like she didn't exist. "It is just that he is of a little different social class than your visitors this morning," Ruth said. Debbie laughed at the comment. Having been around many people who were important and many more that would become important, she knew otherwise. She said, "I think that the Reverend and the Rabbi would probably disagree with you on that score. Like all men, they appreciate a kind word from someone who wants nothing from them." ------- The figure in the wheel chair wasn't physically imposing. In fact, he was ugly with his bent body, absent left arm, and missing leg. The snow white beard tried unsuccessfully to cover scars on his face. Despite his physical appearance, he managed to project an aura of power. The Israeli rocket that had destroyed his body years earlier had done nothing to diminish his spirit. Using the little lever that controlled the wheelchair, Imam Abdel- Malik rolled up to a few paces away from Debbie. Looking up at her, he asked, "You are Debbie Meyers?" "I am. You are Imam Abdel-Malik," she answered looking at the man. "Yes, I am. It is a pleasure to meet you," he said. "The pleasure is all mine," she said. With a sad frown, she said, "I was sorry to learn of the death of our mutual friend." Imam Abdel-Malik sighed and said, "The world lost a great man the day that Mullah Farzin bin Saud died at the hands of those cowards." From where she was watching, Ruth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wondered how anyone could know so many spiritual leaders of such great stature. Shaking her head, she was about to comment that the next visitor Debbie would entertain was going to be Oscar Meyers. The thought struck her like a baseball bat to the middle of her forehead. She stared at Debbie realizing the identity of her subordinate. "You are right," Debbie said. Looking around at the crowd his presence had drawn, he said, "Let us go someplace private where we can talk." Behind the closed door of the conference room, the pair discussed the future. This was a courtesy call with just a little business thrown into the mix. It was his chance to learn a little of the personal history of Oscar. The death of Mullah Farzin bin Saud had come at a very awkward time. He didn't want to die with a man without first knowing a little about him. This visit was also her chance to get to know him. He knew that they would only have a single chance to get to know each other before the last great meeting. He didn't want to waste the time at that final meeting getting to know her only to never see her again. ------- Walking home from work that evening, Debbie stopped to talk with Gabriel. The man was blowing his trumpet; playing a blues tune that was hauntingly familiar although she couldn't place it. She stopped and placed a bill in the trumpet case. It fluttered down to land beside another dozen bills and a handful of change. When he finished the piece, she said, "That was nice." "Thank you," he said with a smile. "It looks like you had a slow day," Debbie said gesturing to the trumpet case. "It wasn't too bad. There were times when it was real busy and there were some slow times," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. Grinning at her, he said, "I hope you had a good day." "I did. A few friends dropped by at work. It was nice to see them," Debbie said deciding that all in all it had been a good day. She had enjoyed meeting Imam Abdel-Malik. The man had a wonderful sense of humor and had enjoyed the stories about Oscar tremendously. It had been great to talk about her husband and wife. "A visit from friends is always great," Gabriel said. "It's been nice talking with you. I've got to get some marketing done and fix dinner," Debbie said. "Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables. A young woman like you needs all of the vegetables she can get," Gabriel said going into lecture mode and shaking a finger at her. "Sometimes you sound just like my mother," Debbie said with a laugh. She waved and headed into the little grocery store. From halfway down the block, Ruth Silverstein had watched Debbie talk to the vagrant musician. She found it incomprehensible that a woman who knew so many important people bothered to waste time talking to janitors and vagrants. She headed towards the store Debbie had entered. It was time to find out if her suspicions about Debbie were correct. As she approached the corner, the street musician blew a horrible sounding note that was almost shocking in contrast to the music he had been making. She paused and stared at him. When he set down his trumpet, she resumed her journey. She suddenly found her way blocked by the biggest strongest looking woman she had ever seen. She moved to go around her and found that her way was blocked by a bodybuilder wearing a tee shirt with the logo of the gym across the street. The street musician had appeared at her side. Feeling nervous, she started to turn around only to discover that the janitor from work was standing behind her. It took a second for her to realize that he was carrying a broom handle. Smiling, the janitor said, "Dr. Silverstein. Please leave Debbie Meyers alone." Frowning, she asked, "Who are you?" "I'm Remiel," he answered gesturing to the name patch on his shirt. Ruth glanced at the name patch suspecting that he was more than just a janitor. She looked at the others who were surrounding her. They looked a lot more relaxed than before. Tired of not knowing what was going on, she asked, "Who are you to stop me from talking to her?" "That doesn't matter. We're asking you politely to leave her alone," Remiel answered. Ruth looked around and spotted a policeman moving in her direction. He had seen her and was coming over to investigate. Remiel glanced in the direction she was looking and smiled when a large blond woman stopped the policeman. Ruth's hope at a timely intervention fled when the policeman turned and walked away. Giving into the inevitable, she said, "You win. I'll leave." The four watched Ruth walk down the street talking to herself and waving her arms around as if furious. She definitely looked like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Remiel chuckled and said, "She sure does look angry. I bet I get called into my supervisor's office when I get to work in the morning." Chuckling at the comment, Raphael said, "I'll see you later. I better get back to the gym before someone drops a weight on their foot." "I'll call it in," Uriel said rolling her eyes. She pulled a cell phone out of her purse and stepped away to make a call. After dialing the number, she started walking towards the Travel Agency. She still had to finish booking the vacation for one of her more troublesome customers. She was half tempted to arrange for a one way ticket to Outer Mongolia with lodging at Rent A Yurt. While picking up his trumpet, Gabriel said, "Ten months here and all I get to do is chase off one skinny little woman." Remiel asked, "Who would have thought that being a Guardian Angel would be so damned boring?" ------- Chapter 16 "Local law says that no church or synagogue can be taller than the shortest mosque in the area." "So some joker built a mosque that is five feet tall just to make the Christians and Jews unhappy?" "It looks that way," Oscar answered with a grin. Georgia looked down at the roof of the decrepit building. The roof was about four feet about the ground. It was hard to believe that Oscar was taller than the building. She said, "I know you are short, but how can you possibly stand up in that building?" He held a hand up to his neck. His hand was about the same height off of the ground as the roof. He squatted so that his head was below his hand. Oscar laughed at the expression on Georgia's face. Standing, he said, "The churches and synagogues in the area are built into the ground rather than above it. There's plenty of room to stand up inside the building." Shaking her head, Georgia said, "I guess people can find ways around even the most arbitrary law." She followed him around to the front of the building. From there, it was easy to see that the majority of the building was underground. She stopped at the top of the steps leading down to the door and turned back to watch the people coming to worship. Expecting to see people with Semitic features, she was rather surprised to see that the people coming were black. They were not chocolate skinned black, but ebony black. Shaking her head, she said, "They're black." "That's right." Wondering if she suffered from some hidden prejudice that she hadn't know about, she asked, "How come I never heard of Jews that are black?" "Ignorance," Oscar answered shrugging his shoulders. Taking a modicum of offense at his answer, Georgia said, "I hate to think of myself as ignorant." "Contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not a character flaw. The universe is a big place and there's a lot to know. We're all ignorant; it is just a question of degree. How can you be expected to know about a small group of people in a small country that's halfway around the world from where you grew up?" Oscar said watching the people enter the synagogue. "Where did they come from?" "According to legend, they are the descendants of Solomon and Sheba," Oscar said. Although they were speaking English, the last man to enter the synagogue looked at Oscar when he heard the last of his sentence. Switching to Amharic out of consideration for those who might be listening, he said, "We are currently in the part of Ethiopia that is often called Beta Israel." "Beta Israel? Sounds like it means second Israel," Georgia said. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "Legend says that they brought the Arc of the Covenant here after the fall of the Second Temple." "Maybe we could look for Arc of the Covenant while we're here," Georgia said with a grin. She laughed and said, "Too bad your last name isn't Jones. I'd be Georgia Jones and could claim Indiana as a distant cousin." Oscar looked away for a moment and then said, "I better go in now." Georgia waited outside hearing the voice of Yahweh repeat the message that Oscar was to deliver to all who were willing to listen. She had heard that message hundreds of times, but each time it left her holding her breath. Not for the first time she wondered why the Gods had Oscar repeat the same message so many times. When Oscar came out, she walked beside him to the Land Roamer. He was particularly quiet. After they had gotten into the Land Roamer, Oscar looked back at the synagogue and said, "You should have seen the looks on their faces." "Why?" Georgia asked. He very seldom remarked on the reaction of the people to his message. Oscar drove away while answering her question. "Israel recognized them as Jews in 1975, but still has expressed doubts that they are one of the lost tribes. As a result, they have to undergo a formal conversion to immigrate into Israel as Jews. Israel requires that whenever there is doubt about the Jewishness of the immigrant. "The fact that Yahweh spoke in their synagogue eliminates all doubt that they are Jews. You might say that my presence and the message gave them a legitimacy that they never had in the eyes of the world." Georgia was silent while she thought about his answer. In a soft voice, she said, "It seems to me that a lot more is being accomplished by your service than bringing peace to the Middle East. This is just one example where an entire group of people have been given a special gift." Oscar smiled and said, "Yes. Our little friend, Mohammed, in Pakistan was selected to serve Allah for some great purpose. The young couple, whose wedding we attended, was told that their child was going to become a great leader. There have been lots of side effects to my service. The most obvious is that many of the young are returning to the religions of their parents." "That's nice," Georgia said. "The Powers That Be are subtle in their actions. I have no idea why things are done in the way they are, but I know there is a reason for it," Oscar said. Georgia was quiet for several minutes and then asked, "Is Jewishness a word?" "I don't know. If it isn't, then it should be," Oscar answered with a grin. ------- Looking at the cross on the building, Georgia said, "Ah, a church this time. I was wrong again." "Yes, you were," Oscar answered. Georgia had started predicting the order of the religions he would visit and would write her guesses down on a piece of paper. She claimed that the number she got right during the day was the minimal number of orgasms he had to give her that night. "You're doing that on purpose," she accused. She looked down at her sheet of paper at her prediction. She had predicted church, synagogue, mosque, and then church. So far that day, they had visited a synagogue, mosque, and now a church. "No, I'm not," Oscar said. Pouting she said, "At this rate, you won't have to give me an orgasm tonight." Grinning at her, he asked, "Does that mean I'll get some sleep tonight?" She stuck her tongue out at him and said, "Not if I'm right on the next guess." "We'll see," Oscar said getting out of the Land Roamer. The big vehicle wasn't the only one suited for the terrain over which they were traveling, but it was their first choice for their trip. A Hugger could have served, but the back end of the Land Roamer provided a nice place to sleep. Georgia waited inside the Land Roamer enjoying the air conditioner and absence of flies. Even inside the vehicle she could hear Jehovah giving Oscar his message. She watched the local people make their way to the church. It was a sight that she had seen hundreds of times. The expressions on their faces were indescribable. It was more than awe. There was a touch of fear to the expression, but just a touch. There was also a tinge of bliss. She wondered what expression a person should have on their face when they heard their God speak. She pulled out her camera and took a picture of the crowd. With a smile that was a little larger than normal, Oscar returned to the vehicle and said, "Onwards to the next one." "Which direction are we heading?" Georgia asked wondering why he was smiling like that. He looked like he was hiding something from her. "Northeast to the Hadar region and then onto Axum," Oscar answered with a grin. Steering the Land Roamer down the dusty trail that constituted a road in the region, he left the small town behind them. At the face she made at the idea of visiting another area that was filled with lots of nothing, he said, "We'll have a slight detour through Addis Abeba." "What is in Addis Abeba?" Georgia asked thinking that two and two was suddenly adding up to three. They normally stayed out of the larger cities. "Debbie," Oscar answered. "What?" Georgia screamed sitting up and turning to face Oscar. "Well, she will be if you get on the telephone with Jennifer and arrange for her to meet us there. She finished her practicum project yesterday. She can meet us there tomorrow," Oscar said. Getting excited at the prospect of seeing their wife again, Georgia said, "Why didn't you tell me before? Stop this crate so that I can get out the satellite phone and make the call." "I wanted to get out of town so that you could line up the satellite dish without attracting a crowd," Oscar answered before pulling off the road. ------- Debbie looked out the window of the Land Roamer and then over at Georgia seated beside her. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Why is he stopping here? There isn't a building within thirty miles of here." Oscar turned around so that he was facing the two women in the back seats. He said, "It is almost lunch time. Let's have a little picnic here and then we'll turn around to get to Axum." They had just driven hours out of their way just to turn around? It didn't make sense to Georgia. She asked, "Why here?" "I'll explain while we're eating," Oscar answered. He turned and exited the Land Roamer. While he headed around to the rear of the vehicle to get a blanket and some food, Debbie asked, "Does he do things like this very often?" "From time to time," Georgia answered looking out the window for something that would suggest the reason for stopping. She could see nothing except for rough terrain with scattered brush. Shaking her head, she said, "Oscar occasionally gets very philosophical. I think he's in one of those moods." "Is that bad?" Debbie asked. "Actually, I enjoy them," Georgia answered. She realized that Debbie had never been with Oscar on one of these little journeys. The two women joined Oscar on the blanket he had laid down on the ground. After handing each a bottle of water, Oscar pointed to their surroundings and said, "This is where it began." "Where what began?" Debbie asked. "Our journey," Oscar answered. He handed out an MRE each to his wives. Seeing that they were staring at him blankly, he explained, "This is where it all began. This is where the first human lived." Surprised, Debbie asked, "Is this where they found Lucy?" "We are close to the spot where they found Lucy," Oscar answered. He sighed and said, "Scientists think that they can find when human beings began by examining skeletons. Lucy is the oldest fossil they've found that fits the profile of upright primate. They are wrong if they think that is when we became human. They can track our species through skeletal remains, but skeletal remains describe the structural history. It doesn't tell them when we became human." "So when did we become human?" Georgia asked. Oscar answered, "The moment when we discovered the Powers That Be. Until that time, we were animals. Life consisted of eating, sleeping, and breeding. We huddled together to keep away the cold at night. We shivered in fear at the roar of the lion. Life was sensation and reaction to sensation. It was simple existence and survival. "Then one day, we discovered the Powers That Be. Life still consisted of eating, sleeping, and breeding, but there was a little something else. There was knowledge that we were not alone in the cold of night. We moved from a physical existence to having a metaphysical existence. That's when we became different than the animals. That was the day when we became human. "It wasn't that the Powers That Be discovered us; they knew all about us since it was they who created us. We discovered them and that is an amazing thing. I don't know if they built the ability to discover them into us. When it comes to explaining them, I have to raise my hands in defeat and say that the Powers That Be defy my understanding. "Still, our discovery of the Powers That Be is amazing. As far as I know, no other animal has accomplished that. No cow, monkey, parrot, or trout has ever erected a statue seeking the approval of a God." Georgia laughed and said, "I can see a trout trying to raise a statue to God." Oscar shrugged his shoulders and said, "Perhaps one day a trout will discover God. That will be the day that trout stop being animals and become Trout, with a capital T. I think it is arrogance on our part to think that can never happen." Debbie nodded her head and said, "I have heard Yahweh, Jehovah, and Allah speak to you. I believe in the Gods and Goddesses. I know they exist, but my training as a scientist says that is not enough. Until it is recorded, analyzed, and understood, my experience is suspect. Actually, to be more precise — my explanation of my experience is suspect. Until I can create the conditions in which they can repeat my experience, then my experience is discounted." Oscar said, "I remember a quote of Galileo - I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." "I think that all scientists who believe in God agree with that statement. Scientists, who do not believe in God, believe only in sense, reason, and intellect. To them, all mysteries of life can be explained using sense, reason, and intellect. If God exists, then his existence can be proved," Debbie said. "Since they can not prove his existence then God must not exist," Oscar said. "Exactly," Debbie said. "Science only accepts half of the endowments that the Powers That Be have given us. That is a weakness of science. I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with desires, feelings, and emotion has intended us to forgo their use," Oscar said. "Your statement presupposes the existence of God," Georgia said looking down at the MRE and realizing that none of them had started eating. Oscar was silent for a minute while he considered her comment. Gesturing to the MREs, he said, "Start eating. I'll be right back." "Okay," Georgia said. She looked over at Debbie when he had stepped away and asked, "Having fun?" "Yes, actually I am," Debbie answered. She looked down at the package and tore it open. She dumped the contents out on the blanket while Georgia did the same thing. Looking at the food in her pile and in Georgia's pile, she said, "I'll trade you my peaches for your fruit cocktail." Handing the can over, Georgia said, "You know. Oscar and I have been eating these things for a year. We've never swapped food." "You're kidding?" Debbie asked handing over her can of peaches. She picked up the container of spaghetti and glanced down at the heating instructions. "Nope, I never even thought of it," Georgia answered looking at her Chicken Teriyaki. The two women were waiting for the food to finish warming up when Oscar returned with a pad and paper. Ignoring their interest in what he was doing, he stared off into space for a minute before writing something down on the pad of paper. Once he had finished writing, he looked up at Debbie and asked, "Do you think that one in two to the tenth power is small enough odds that an event like that demands scientific explanation?" "Sure," Debbie answered. Handing the pad of paper to Georgia and a coin to Debbie, he said, "Flip the coin ten times and call out if it is heads or tails each time. Georgia will compare the results against my predictions." They performed the experiment. Oscar's predications were completely correct. Of course, both of them knew that he had gained William's ability to see the future and had expected that result. Oscar asked "How would a scientist go about analyzing and understanding what just happened if we had documented it using film?" Debbie looked over at Oscar for a second and said, "What you just did is basically impossible. They'd search for evidence that you cheated." "But I didn't cheat so there would be no evidence that I had," Oscar said. "They'd have to assume that they missed it," Debbie said. "How about if I were to volunteer to repeat the experiment?" Debbie shrugged her shoulders and said, "They'd want to do it under controlled conditions." "And if I was successful?" Oscar asked. "They'd examine the experiment to identify the flaws," Debbie answered. "When would they become convinced that I could see the future?" Debbie thought about it for a minute and then answered, "They'd be convinced fairly easily, but they'd never claim that you had proved that you could see the future." "That's my point. On one hand, scientists pretty much demand a deterministic world in which experiments are repeatable regardless of who performs them. If one person can predict the future, then any person can predict the future. On the other hand, they demand a world in which things are indeterminate until observed. The future doesn't exist until it occurs. "If they observe something that is too counter to previous observations, then the new observations are wrong. They exist in the arena of pseudo-science. We all know that people can't predict the future, so any experiment that demonstrates it must have been improperly set up or executed," Oscar said. Georgia looked up at Oscar as things suddenly fell into place. She said, "That's how you got into trouble in Las Vegas!" "Guilty as charged," Oscar said. Debbie asked, "Guilty of what?" "Let's eat," Oscar answered changing the subject. He grabbed his MRE and opened it. It was with great effort that Oscar managed to avoid telling about his adventure in Las Vegas. Georgia thought about the money that had been mentioned in the letter from William and suspected that she knew what happened. If that story came out, tears would follow. Rather than spoil the moment, she helped direct Debbie's attention away from the subject. After Oscar ate his canned pears using the spork that came in the MRE, he said, "I would have liked to have been here when we became Humans." "Why?" "I just have so much trouble imagining it. I mean, what happened? Was some Joe just walking along with his troop of fellow whatevers and discover suddenly that he was face to face with a God or a Goddess?" Oscar asked. "It was probably a hermit," Georgia said looking over at Oscar. If she recalled correctly, most holy men of ancient times were hermits until they met their God or Goddess. "You might be right. Joe is sitting around all by himself. One day, he discovers that he isn't alone. The real question is - how does he convince others," Debbie said trying to imagine the scene. She could imagine a cave man trying to convey the concept of a God or Goddess through grunts and pantomime. Georgia said, "Maybe he was given a gift that convinced them." "What gift?" Debbie asked. Oscar thought for a minute trying to identify a gift that could truly convince people of the existence of the Powers That Be. When the answer came to him, Oscar burst out laughing. At the blank stares of his wives, he asked, "How about the ability to see the future?" "Of course," Debbie said bursting into laughter. The irony of using prophecy to demonstrate a weakness of science and to prove the existence of God to primitive men was just too much for her. Georgia wasn't laughing. Looking over at Oscar, she said, "Prophecy is the one gift of the Gods and Goddesses that is written about the most in all religions." ------- Chapter 17 Debbie looked at the hole in the ground. This was not just a little hole in the ground. There was building carved out of rock right in the middle of the hole. The building was two stories tall and carved into the shape of a cross. Awed by the amount of work that it must have taken to carve the building out of the surrounding rock, she said, "This church is carved from the rock." "That's right. This is the famous Bet Giorgis church of Lalibela. It was carved about nine hundred years ago during the reign of King Lalibela," Oscar said while walking around the rim of the excavation. It was a huge hole. "Why did he do that?" Georgia asked. Oscar said, "It is said that Saint George, mounted on his horse and wearing his armor, appeared to King Lalibela and asked why a church had not been constructed for him. King Lalibela promised that he would build a church of great beauty. This is the church he built." "It is definitely impressive," Debbie said. Looking down at the building, Oscar said, "I think it is amazing what people can accomplish when motivated by a greater power. When we get to Egypt, we'll go to some of the minor pyramids." "They were built by slaves," Georgia said. "No, they weren't. They were built by skilled craftsmen who worked in the employ of the Pharaohs," Debbie said. She had watched a special on the pyramids while in Israel and had found the topic fascinating. Oscar looked down at the church and said, "I'll climb down. Do you want to go with me?" Debbie looked at the climb down. She wanted to see the inside of the church more than she dreaded the trip down and back. Nodding her head, she said, "I'll go." Georgia frowned at the thought of the climb down and back. She looked over at Debbie wondering why she was willing to exert the effort. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, "Okay." The trio went down into the excavation and over to the church. Georgia hung back thinking she would spend the time waiting outside like usual. Debbie stood behind Oscar trying to see inside the church. Oscar hit the butt end of his staff on the door. The echo was strangely muted as if it recognized that volume wasn't necessary. Surprised by the knock, a monk came to the door and looked at Oscar. He asked, "What do you want?" "I am the Druid Oscar Meyers and I seek entry into this church." "Sure, come in," the monk said puzzled by the request. They had many tourists, some of whom weren't of the faith. He wondered why the man went through the formality of asking for entry. From behind him, a deep voice said, "Enter Druid Oscar Meyers and bring your wives with you." The monk stepped back and walked off with a puzzled expression on his face. He went over to where candles were burning and straightened up the area. It looked to Oscar as if the man didn't even see them anymore. The smell of roses filled the air. Oscar entered the building and paused to look at the frescos on the walls. The colors were as bright as the day they had been painted. He walked to the center of the building and said, "I have come to hear your message." The voice replied, "You have a different need." Debbie stood behind Oscar turning slowly to look at every detail. The hard rock, softened by the diffuse light, was covered with frescos and icons. The altar at the head of the room was covered with items of gold. In a soft voice, she said, "This is beautiful." "Yes, it is," the voice from the altar said a moment before Debbie fell to the ground. She started to have a seizure, her body thrashing around on the floor as if she were being electrocuted. The expression on her face suggested that she was being tortured. Terrified by what was happening to her wife, Georgia ran to Debbie. A softly glowing shield prevented her from reaching her wife. She knelt down as if to crawl under the shield. Oscar turned and looked down at Debbie with a pleased smile on his face. He said, "Georgia, leave her alone. This is a private matter." Georgia looked up at Oscar with tears in her eyes. It seemed to her that the seizure was lasting forever. Hardly able to breath, she said, "She's being hurt." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "No, she's not." Once it dawned on her that this was the same as when she had been given the gift of languages, a single thought came to her. 'Please let her keep the red hair.' An amused chuckle filled the air. The voice said, "She shall keep her red hair and green eyes." Oscar lowered his head and said, "Thank you." Georgia looked around the room at the priests and monks. They were walking around as if nothing was happening. She waved at one of them, but he looked past her. An elderly priest kneeled off to the side of the altar; his lips moving in prayer. It seemed to her that he was the only one in the room who realized that something was happening. Her eyes caught a glimpse of a small wooden cross around the man's neck. The deep voice said, "You have done well in your service, Oscar Meyers. It will last only a little longer." "Thank you," Oscar said. "Take her to the sun where she will recover," the voice said slowly descending in volume until the last word was the barest whisper. The scent of roses slowly disappeared. Noticing them for the first since they had entered, the youngest priest approached them. He knelt down beside Debbie. With concern in his voice, he asked, "Is she all right?" Georgia and Oscar knelt down to help Debbie to her feet. She looked from one to the other with eyes that wouldn't focus. Oscar said, "She'll be all right once we get her outside." "I can get her some water," the priest said. "No thank you. We just need to get her in the sun," Oscar said giving the priest a short nod of his head. He appreciated the offer, but felt it was more important to get her outside. Between the two of them, Oscar and Georgia managed to carry Debbie out of the church. Putting her where she was in the sun, Georgia held her wife in her arms. With a worried expression, she said, "Oh honey, I was so worried about you." Debbie brushed a hand across her face as if trying to move a hair from in front of her eyes. She missed and repeated the gesture a second time before giving up. Speaking in Twi! Debbie answered, "I'm fine." Georgia chuckled and said, "Sure you are, my little African bushman." Even Oscar had to laugh at that. Shaking his head, he knelt beside Debbie and said, "Just relax; everything is going to be all right." "I must have stepped on a wire or something," Debbie said in Japanese. She shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs out of it. "It was the 'or something' that you experienced," Georgia said lifting a hand to her white hair. She remembered the disorientation she had experienced after being struck by lightening in the middle of the field in Pakistan. "What do you mean?" This time her question was in German. "You were given the gift of languages," Georgia said. Debbie slowly turned to look at Georgia. After a few seconds, she grabbed a lock of her hair and looked at it. Relieved, she said, "It's still red." "Yeah. You get to keep your pretty red locks and I'm stuck with granny hair," Georgia said shaking her head. She added, "It's not fair." "Hey, I like your hair," Oscar said. "Pervert." "Pervert." Oscar caught a glance of something odd when he looked down at Debbie when she echoed Georgia's declaration of him as a pervert. Her shirt had come unbuttoned as a result of their carrying her outdoors; exposing a little of her chest. He reached over and unbuttoned another button. Georgia said, "What are you doing?" Looking at the area right over Debbie's heart, he said, "I like the tattoo." "What tattoo?" Debbie asked. Georgia looked around and down at Debbie's chest. Putting a hand over her mouth, she said, "It looks like a knight on horseback killing a dragon with a lance." "Saint George," Oscar said. He smiled at the expression on Debbie's face and said, "Don't look so worried. I think it looks kind of sexy." "Pervert." "Pervert." ------- Debbie stared up at the monster obelisk with a grin. Georgia took one look at her wife and said, "She's getting ideas." "Why do you think I wanted to come here?" Oscar asked. Georgia said, "Pervert." "Big pointy topped erections," Debbie said pointing to the obelisk. She repeated it in German and French, but decided that she liked how it sounded in English the best. Gesturing to the field of obelisks, she added, "Lots of them." Looking over at Oscar, Georgia said, "I guess you aren't the only pervert around here." Oscar laughed and said, "There are some trees over there. I'm sure that we won't be disturbed." The guard on duty at the largest obelisk watched the three of them walk off to the trees. It was an odd group of people. The red head was wearing blue jeans, a long sleeved shirt, and tennis shoes. The white haired woman was wearing combat boots and army fatigues. The man was wearing a robe and a cloak. The guard would have gone to see what they were doing, but the thought slipped out of his mind as fast as it had come to him. Shifting, he adjusted the rifle so that it was more comfortable and settled down to watch his surroundings. Once they had reached a small cluster of trees, Oscar laid down his cloak and robe to serve as a blanket. Debbie stood in the center and removed her shirt. She shook her head so that her long red hair swung and tickled her back. Oscar stared up at her thinking that he had never seen such a beautiful sight. Then Georgia stripped off her shirt. Looking at the pair of women standing side by side took his breath away. In a soft voice, he said, "I'm the luckiest man in the world." Debbie knelt down next to Oscar and rubbed a hand over his face. The beard tickled the palm of her hand. Staring into his eyes, she said, "I'm not leaving your side ever again. I missed too much. I missed you. I missed sharing your adventures with you." "We missed you so much," Oscar replied. He ran a hand through her hair, brushing it away from her face. Her pale skin had not darkened despite the days spent in the sun. Georgia finished undressing. She knelt down behind her wife and put her arms around her. She ran her fingers over the redhead's breast taking pleasure in how the nipples quickly rose to attention. When Debbie turned her head to look at her, she kissed Debbie on the cheek. In a soft voice, she said, "Finish undressing so that we can make love to you properly." Together, Oscar and Georgia undressed Debbie and made long leisurely love to her. It was the kind of tender love that occurs after lovers have finished the mad passionate coupling that follows a long separation. There, in the outdoors, the three touched the souls of each other. Crying tears of joy, Debbie said, "I love you both so much." "We love you," Oscar and Georgia said together. ------- It was dark when Oscar, Debbie, and Georgia slipped out of the small stand of trees. Oscar led them to the Land Roamer through a circuitous route. Debbie asked, "Why are we weaving all over the field?" "Snakes," Oscar answered. "There are snakes out here?" Georgia asked. She started lifting her feet higher off the ground with each step as if that would keep her from getting bit. She hated snakes. "What's the matter?" Debbie asked. "I hate snakes," Georgia answered with a shudder of revulsion. Debbie couldn't believe that the warrior woman, Georgia, was afraid of snakes. This was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. She grinned and let loose a long loud hiss. "Stop that," Georgia said slapping her wife lightly on the shoulder. When Oscar hissed, she swung a little harder. When they reached the Land Roamer, Oscar said, "I've got a special detour to make. I hope you don't mind." "I don't mind," Georgia said wondering what he had in mind. "It's fine with me," Debbie said. "It'll be late before we get there. You might want to sleep in the back while I'm driving," Oscar said. Both women exchanged glances trying to figure out what he was planning now. Georgia said, "That's fine." When she was climbing into the back of the Land Roamer over the front seatback, Oscar looked at her butt wiggling in the air. There were just some temptations that he couldn't resist. Giving into it, he hissed and goosed her. She jumped. He drove off nursing a bloody nose. ------- The old man stood at the gate and looked at Oscar. Heavy metal bars separated the two men. The gate was held closed by a thick chain padlocked with a massive lock that appeared to be fifty years old. It was late at night, but the full moon bathed the area in a gentle light. In a soft voice, the old man said, "You serve." "Yes, I do," Oscar said looking at the man with sad eyes. The man was bent with age, but his eyes still had the sparkle of youth. The joints of the fingers wrapped around the iron bars were swollen with arthritis. The man was old, but he had many more years of service ahead of him. He sighed and said, "I do not envy your service." "The women with you have been touched by the hand of God," the old man said looking over at Georgia and Debbie. The hair of one glowed and there was a glow over the heart of the other. They were standing by the Land Roamer distant enough to give the two men privacy. It was a shame that he couldn't talk to them, but that was forbidden to him. "They've been given the gift of languages," Oscar said with a nod of his head. Tears rolled down the cheeks of the old man at the idea of being the gift of languages. It was a gift that allowed people to talk to each other. He had joined the monastery for a life of quiet and contemplation. He had received that as well as a life of isolation. There were times when it was hard. He said, "It has been twenty years since I've talked to anyone. You are the only one who serves that has come by in all that time." "Your's is a lonely service," Oscar said feeling the man's pain. As guardian of the greatest treasure known to man, the old man was to remain separate from all others. His food was left just inside the gate by a monk who would leave before the old man came out to collect it. "The treasure I guard must never fall into the wrong hands," the old man said looking back at the building behind him. He was the only person who was allowed in that building. When he died, another would be appointed to replace him. The man's first job would be to visit the treasure. If he survived that visit, his second job would be to bury him. "One day, you or one of your successors will bring that treasure out into the light," Oscar said. "It won't be me," the old man said with relief evident in his voice. "I'm glad," Oscar said. "You are the one who will pay the highest price for my prayer," the old man said. "You know that?" "I know about your service. The one that I serve has told me about it," the old man said. He didn't know if it was worse to have a long lonely service or a short one that ended brutally. He wondered if he would have the nerve to do as Oscar. He said, "The end of your service is coming soon." "I know," Oscar said dropping his voice so that it wouldn't carry over to Debbie or Georgia. He said, "I will be going to Israel in three months and that will be the end of my service." "I'm sorry," the old man said. He turned away from Oscar and stared at the building. Shaking his head, he said, "I would invite you in to see it, but..." "I do not serve him," Oscar said relieving the old man the burden of explaining it to him. "I'm glad you understand," the old man said fondling the wooden cross that hung around his neck. Many men had been killed by getting too close to the treasure he guarded. Men who thought they were great and could rule the world had fallen to ash in front of the treasure. Oscar said, "I would have accepted, but it would kill me as it has killed others in the past." "There are some mysteries that the eyes of men are not intended to see. It is only his will that protects me," the old man said. "And the purity of your heart," Oscar said. "I am not the only one who is pure of heart. There is another who serves him. I shall take him to see the treasure," the old man said listening to a voice from another world. "That would be Reverend Leroy Jones. He has served long and well. I know that he would like that a lot," Oscar said. "He is fated to die with you." The old man stepped away from the gate. In a gentle voice, he said, "Go in peace, son. Although it doesn't mean much compared to those who have already blessed you, you have my blessing." "Thank you, sir." Oscar watched the old man make his way to the building. Swallowing heavily, he said, "You have my blessing as well." Georgia walked over to Oscar and asked, "Who is he?" "He's the guardian of the greatest treasure known to man." "What kind of treasure?" Georgia asked thinking of diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. "The Arc of the Covenant," Oscar answered. "I thought it was somewhere else," Georgia said looking at the distant building with wide eyes. She had read several stories about locations where the Arc was hidden and this place wasn't in any of them. "So does everyone else," Oscar said with a sigh. The old man was destined to a life of lonely service and no one would ever recognize it except for a handful of monks in the monastery off to the side. One day he would die and a monk would be chosen to replace him. "He looked so lonely," Georgia said watching the door close behind the old man. Turning to her, Oscar said, "Let us leave here." Glancing at the building, Georgia wished she could see the Arc of the Covenant. She asked, "How come he didn't show it to you?" Not wanting to explain, Oscar answered, "That's a long story. I suggest that you read the Old Testament if you want the whole story." ------- Chapter 18 Saudi Arabia is officially listed as the fourteenth largest country geographically. It controls an incredible amount of oil, but after the invention of the Fusion Cell by John Carter that meant little in terms of the international market. Prior to the invention of the Fusion Cell, oil accounted for nearly sixty percent of its gross national product. Afterwards, oil accounted for only ten percent of the gross national product. It was not that other sectors stepped up to the economic plate, but that the gross national product took a fifty six percent dive nearly destroying the economy of Saudi Arabia. The economic crash was blamed on the west. There was no one else to blame that would allow the government to survive the crash. For over fifty years, billions of dollars of oil money had flowed into the Middle East. Unfortunately, very little of it had been re-invested into economic development. When the flow of oil money stopped, the royal government nearly fell. The west was blamed for consuming the oil and, when it stopped buying oil, it was blamed for not consuming oil. Before the economic crash, Saudi Arabia was a very conservative country with strong isolationist tendencies. There is only a single religion practiced there — Islam — and the laws are based on the strict interpretation of Islamic law known as Salafi. Christians and Hindus were allowed in the country as temporary workers, but they are not allowed to practice their faith. After the economic crash, it became even more conservative. Only Hindu workers were allowed to enter the country with the worker usually becoming little more than slave labor. With the changed economic situation, the country used religion as a means to control the population. It was a very conservative brand of Islam; pursued in a manner reminiscent of the social practices of the Taliban. Religious rhetoric grew and the country became the largest source of religiously motivated terrorists. While countries like Iran, Iraq, and Somalia might be dangerous for visitors, at least visitors were allowed. Uninvited visitors to Saudi Arabia could expect to be treated very harshly. Oscar stepped out of the Land Roamer and looked around at the decaying petroleum infrastructure that surrounded him. Chemical factories with huge pipes that slowly rusted in the dry climate were surrounded by apartments that had not been maintained. The entire area was another sign of the general economic decay of a country rotting from the inside. Shading their eyes from the bright sunlight, Georgia and Debbie stepped out of the Land Roamer. Moving around the vehicle, they went to where they stood beside Oscar. Taking in the ugly scenery, Georgia said, "What an ugly country." "You should not be out here without your Burka," Oscar said looking over at the two women. The appearance of two women wearing western style clothes had captured the attention of a large number of people. It was not the kind of attention that most women would embrace. "We'll be safe," Georgia said giving him a dark look. She had sworn that she wasn't going to wear the Burka ever again. She glared at the gathering crowd as if daring them to make a big deal out of her clothes. Oscar stared off into the distance and then nodded his head. Rather than fight with them over the matter, he said, "I guess it will work out all right in the end. Debbie, do not be surprised by what happens." Debbie stared at Oscar blankly and asked, "Surprised by what?" Frowning at what his vision had shown him, Oscar answered, "Don't worry about it. Everything will work out for the best." Puzzled by the mixed messages he had given them, Debbie and Georgia watched Oscar head over to the Mosque. Only after Oscar had entered the Mosque did Debbie look around at the people staring at her. Seeing the expressions on the faces of the people in the crowd around them, Debbie nudged Georgia and said, "Uh, this doesn't look good." "Fuck them. I'm not wearing a sack over my face ever again," Georgia said turning to look at the crowd. Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wondered if it was too late to get the Burkas that were in the car. The crowd looked very hostile. Ignoring the activities at the Mosque, an old man approached Debbie and Georgia with anger on his face. The idea that two women would violate the law in such a flagrant manner was an insult to everything in which the man believed. Two women walking around in public without a male escort was wrong. Wearing western style clothes in public like that was wrong. Either offense was punishable by death. Pointing a finger at them, he shouted, "You defy the law!" "I do not defy law. I am not chattel to be controlled by the likes of you," Georgia said at the limits of her self control. Debbie, beginning to fear what was going to happen, said, "Get away from us." The man reached out and grabbed Debbie's blouse. With a yank, he pulled the cloth. Her blouse tore open; baring her breasts to view. Before either woman had a chance to react, the tattoo on Debbie's chest shimmered for a second before the ghostly figure of a knight on horseback appeared between her and the old man. The knight pointed his lance at the old man and frowned. The horse upon which he was mounted danced in place, but the lance point remained steady; aimed at the old man's chest. The old man stepped back and stared at the mounted knight. In a strangled voice, he shouted, "Mar Girgis!" The knight nodded his head in acknowledgement of his name. The crowd stepped back staring at the figure. Saint George, called Mar Girgis or Jirjis, was well known in Islamic tradition. Saint al- Khidar, a companion of the Prophet Muwsa Moses, was associated with Saint George. Mar Girgis was a protector in times of trouble. Everyone in the street fell quiet and stared at the scene in front of them. The voice from the Mosque echoed through the quiet crowd, "The senseless killing must stop. Allah will not tolerate any man declaring Jihad by the Sword in his name." The knight smiled at hearing the words despite the fact that his attention had never wavered from being focused on the old man. Debbie was tempted to cover her chest, but she was afraid that if she did so that the knight would disappear. Another man in the crowd shouted, "Allah has spoken!" The old man who had attacked Debbie asked, "What manner of evil is this when Saints protect a woman who flaunts our laws?" Another man, staring at the Mosque, answered, "Allah has spoken. The senseless killing must stop. Abide the words of Allah." "The woman must die for violating the law," the old man shouted with righteous anger. Spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted. He had ripped her blouse and bared her breasts. If she had any decency she would have covered herself. Her lack of action made her a harlot and a woman to be despised. If no one else would act, the old man decided that it was up to him to make sure that the law was upheld. He knelt down and picked up a rock about the size of a small tangerine. The law allowed harlots to be stoned to death. Holding up the rock, he shouted, "The harlot must die!" An elderly man with a long gray beard stepped forward and said, "Stop. If you do this, you will set events in motion that will forever change Islam!" The old man ignored the other and threw the rock. The ghostly figure was surprisingly solid. The rock bounced off of the shield of Saint George and fell to the ground. The knight's lance reached out and passed through the body of the old man. The man fell to the ground; his lifeless body making a dull thump. Everyone stood staring at the scene in stunned silence. Georgia stared down at the body of the dead man in shock. There wasn't a drop of blood, but the man was obviously dead. In an angry voice, she said, "The Burka is custom, not law!" The elderly man with the beard stared down at the body. A saint had interfered with the enforcement of the laws concerning the proper deportment of a woman in public. It could only mean that the laws were flawed. In a flat voice that did not give any clue to the trepidation that he felt, he made a cutting motion with his hand as he said, "Islam is forever changed." Upon hearing that pronouncement, the knight flickered and then disappeared. The tattoo returned to Debbie's chest. She covered her breasts with the torn pieces of her blouse. The crowd stared at her trying to make sense of what happened. No one moved to raise a hand against the two women. Word of events there would spread across the Islamic world. The interpretation of what had just occurred would be debated by Imams for years. It would be argued that the laws had been overturned by the actions of Saint George. It was unclear if the changes applied to clothes, the need for an escort, or with both clothes and escorts. Oscar stepped over to Georgia and looked down at the body of the old man. The crowd stared at Oscar and then at the Mosque before turning their attention back to Oscar. Many found it difficult to believe that while Allah had spoken, their attention had been on the women. Shaking his head, Oscar asked, "Why is it that change must always come at such a great cost?" ------- The oasis, not marked on any map, was a small body of water surrounded by date palms. It was less than two hundred miles from the oasis to Mecca, the spiritual center of Islam. Avoiding the sandy desert, roads had bypassed the oasis. The result was that the oasis was unoccupied for most of the year. Only the handful of individuals who traveled the old trade route on camel came there. Oscar stopped the Land Roamer and turned to the pair of women in the backseat. He said, "We'll spend two days here." "Why two days?" "Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I thought it would be nice if we spent the day giving thanks for all we have," Oscar said. "Really? I guess I lost track of the dates," Georgia said with a sigh. It seemed to her that time was flying past. She looked at Oscar and asked, "Have we been doing this for more than a year?" "Yes. We've been on the road for fourteen months; almost fifteen months now," Oscar answered. They'd been to twenty eight countries in that time. They had another three to go before the end of their journey. He climbed out of the Land Roamer and looked around. Georgia and Debbie stepped into the hot air and looked around at the sand, palms, and pond. While the city they had visited had looked decrepit and old; the oasis looked timeless. It was an amazing contrast. Debbie said, "This is like some place out of the Arabian Nights." "Yes, it is," Oscar agreed. Images of an old silent film showing a Sheik of Arabia camped out at an oasis came to mind. All that was missing was the silk tent. "I almost expect some Arabian Prince to come rushing along on a horse to carry me away," Georgia said with a grin. "You two already had your run in with an Arabian Prince." "Who?" Debbie asked. "The man who died was Prince Omar. He was a lesser prince of the Saudi royal family," Oscar answered. He didn't bother to wonder how he knew the man's name. That was just another mystery that would drive him crazy if he let it. "Oh." The pair of women exchanged looks. The old man had not fit their image of an Arabian Prince. An Arabian Prince was supposed to be young, handsome, and daring; not old and frothing at the mouth upon seeing a pair of women in western clothes. Debbie said, "I'm not sure that I understand what happened there." Oscar sighed while trying to decide how to explain it to the women. Finally, he said, "The two of you created a dilemma. Your attire and behavior broke Islamic Law as practiced here. Your crimes demanded your death. The problem is that you are protected by the Powers That Be. When Prince Omar went to kill you it became a matter of choosing between your life and the law as currently practiced. The Powers That Be choose to sacrifice the law as currently practiced." "And that means?" Debbie asked feeling the beginnings of a headache. She wondered how she had become embroiled in the highly charged politics of religion. It also dawned on her that the man would have killed her in the street. "It means that the Burka has become relegated to custom rather than law," Oscar said. In a way, he felt responsible for how the matter had been decided. He was positive that Allah would have let Prince Omar carry out the death sentence except it would have meant losing Oscar. He looked over at Georgia and added, "You were hoping to change life for women in Islam. The two of you successfully did that." "That's a good thing, right?" Debbie said with more than a trace of doubt in her voice. She kept flashing on the idea that she could have been stoned to death in the middle of crowd for wearing pants and a blouse. "You bet your ass," Georgia said with a sharp nod of her head. "I don't know," Oscar answered with a shrug of his shoulders. He suspected that it would mean changes, but what the changes would mean in the long term was a mystery to him. He looked at the pair and said, "Change in this part of the world is often a violent thing. I imagine that thousands of women will die as a result of what you did. Of course, it may also save the lives of thousands of women. My ability to see into the future does not extend that far." "I'm sure that the women will appreciate not having to wear sacks," Georgia said in a tone of voice that would not admit argument. She hated the Burka with a passion. "Most of them will appreciate it. There will be some who view it as a negative thing. The idea that women are to be covered completely runs deep in this culture," Oscar said. Tradition was not something to be removed from a culture lightly. "What do you mean?" Oscar said, "You have to understand that women are viewed as temptresses. The Burka is part of the practice of protecting women from the desires of men. Remove the Burka and the desires of men are unleashed. That makes the world a much more dangerous place for women." "That's crazy," Debbie said. "It's the culture," Oscar replied with a shrug of his shoulders. He said, "Georgia already produced a minor change in how Islam views women when Allah praised her skill as a warrior. Today, Debbie has introduced another change." "I feel a little guilty." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "Don't. The Powers That Be work in mysterious ways. Perhaps your actions this afternoon were part of something greater. I don't know and won't even pretend to know." ------- With the coming of night, the black sky overhead showed the stars with a clarity that only existed within desert environments. Looking up at the Milky Way, Debbie said, "It's very pretty here." "It may look romantic, but it has historically been a place of great misery. This oasis has been a major stop on the slave route for thousands of years. Hundreds of thousands of young men, women, and children have been brought through here wearing chains. The sand out there probably hides the bones of thousands who didn't make it," Oscar said with a gesture in the direction of the desert. "That's horrible," Georgia said. "Thank goodness that slavery has ended," Debbie said. "It hasn't," Oscar said. He settled a little more comfortably in front of the fire. "What do you mean it hasn't? This is the twenty first century. There's no need to own slaves," Debbie said. Taking a deep breath, he said, "We are dealing with a culture that is so foreign to us that we have difficulties comprehending it. In some ways it is a very harsh culture, but that reflects the situation of its founding." "What do you mean?" Debbie asked. Pointing in the general direction of the desert, Oscar answered, "The conditions a hundred yards from where we are sitting are very dangerous. One day without water in that desert will kill you. It is easy to get lost out there. If you are in the desert on your own, then one mistake can kill you. It is a very hostile territory. "At the time of Mohammed, the world was a very different place. We are talking about a society that was basically formed of little nomadic groups that traveled across great distances every year to prevent over taxing the resources of the land. These groups were little more than a family unit. At times, these family groups included a couple of brothers, their wives, and their children. Sure, there were cities, but the people within the cities were still tied to their tribal nomadic roots. "There is a Bedouin saying — I against my brothers, I and my brothers against my cousins, I and my brothers and my cousins against the world. It tells of the hierarchy of loyalty that they have for each other. The leader of the family was the Sheik. "In such a hostile environment, it was very easy to lose a significant fraction of your family. Starvation, thirst, illness, heat stroke, and bad luck could kill off most of a family. Women were the most easy to lose. Many died from childbirth. You didn't want to invite even greater disaster by having the women stolen from your family, so you protected them and hid them away from outsiders." Oscar looked at the pair of women seated beside him and said, "When Mohammed laid down the laws, a major element of it was to protect women from individuals outside the family group. Don't forget that at that time when one group defeated another group in battle that the captives became slaves. If you have to sacrifice some member of your group when times got hard, then it was easiest to sacrifice the slaves over the family. You could sell a slave and get some wealth in the process. You couldn't do that with family. "Warfare was an easy way to gain wealth, labor, and women. Living in a harsh environment made the easy way to gain wealth very attractive. There was a down side to that. Advertising that you had attractive women within your group was tantamount to an invitation to attack. "The harsh environment also meant that you couldn't tolerate someone who put the family at risk. A woman who slept around created the conditions where strife could tear apart a family. From the male perspective, what man can resist an attractive woman who wants to seduce him? The answer is no man can, but giving into a seductress can cause brother to kill brother. One such killing can escalate to a bloodbath and leave a family defenseless. "Small groups of people living in a hostile environment have to punish violations of law harshly. The crime is not against the individual, but the family as a whole. For this reason, most punishments are brutal by our modern standards. The thief loses his hand. The adulteress and adulterer lose their lives. To punish crimes with less is to invite disaster. This fundamental view of crime being against the family has been brought into Islam making it a crime against God, as well." Georgia said, "We don't live in the dark ages. There are cities and police to keep order." "Remember the Bedouin saying. The first in importance is 'I'. The community is a far distance down from that. If the community is not important to you, then why should you be important to the community? You won't be important, so you can't trust it to watch out for your interests," Oscar replied. "Oh," Debbie said. This world view was so far from what she was used to thinking about that it was almost impossible to grasp. Nodding his head, Oscar said, "So how do you deal with a society full of individuals that hold themselves as the center of the universe?" "I don't know," Georgia asked. Smiling, Oscar said, "Since they can not be expected to swear allegiance to another man beyond self-interest, you demand that they be subservient to God. All men who are good must be subservient to God and follow his laws. The man who will not be subservient to God must not be tolerated, obeyed, or respected by those who are faithful. That is why men of other religions are not tolerated in Islam." Georgia had been traveling with Oscar for the majority of his service. She had seen thousands of people touched by what Oscar had done inside Mosques, Churches, and Synagogues. The full implications of his words struck her and she said, "The message that you are spreading is to rid them of their intolerance of others." Shaking his head, Oscar said, "No. The message limits their intolerance and prevents it from being violent. Don't get me wrong; that is a significant change. Remember, crimes in Islam are punished harshly because crimes against family are also crimes against God. Allah has said that a lack of belief in him by infidels may be a crime, but it is not a crime of the same seriousness as other crimes. "It is a lessening of the knot that has held this culture together for more than a thousand years. I can't predict what the long term consequences of this will be for the culture of Islam, but they will be far more significant than anyone realizes." ------- Thanksgiving was spent in a leisurely manner. For most of the day, the three made love. For lunch they ate Turkey MREs. There was a sense of sadness about the meal. Oscar was thankful for the chance to spend time with his wives. His wives were thankful for the time they could spend with Oscar. The mood was restrained by the sense that their time together was limited. ------- Chapter 19 The Reverend Leroy Jones sat on a heavy duty camp chair drinking a cup of Arabian coffee. The thick sweet liquid was strong, but the cup was tiny. The bottom of the cup was filled with finely ground particles of coffee bean. In all, there were about four sips of coffee in the cup. Shaking his head, he wished that he had a cup of American coffee. Sighing, he said, "I don't think I'll ever get used to this coffee." "I have never gotten used to the weak swill that you Americans call coffee," Imam Abdel-Malik said from his seat on the wheelchair. He held up his cup and took a little sip from it. "I still prefer tea," Rabbi Teitelbaum said. He looked at the little cup and took a small sip. Chuckling, the Reverend said, "Look at the three of us. We are supposed to bring peace among three religions, but we can't even agree on a beverage." Laughing, the Rabbi said, "There's always Coke." "I like Coke," said the Imam gesturing with his one good arm. "Same here," the Reverend admitted. The Rabbi grimaced. Noticing the pained expression on his face, Imam Abdel-Malik asked, "How's the stomach?" "It is good enough to get through the next two days," the Rabbi answered. He had cancer and it was progressing slowly. Despite the fact that it wasn't growing rapidly, it was still painful. His stomach wanted to reject the food that he ate. Shaking his head, he said, "I was never meant to live this long. I'm an old man." "My son is an old man," Reverend Leroy Jones said looking down at his twisted hands. His arthritis made getting through the day a painful ordeal. The hands were bad enough, but his back made walking around very difficult. He sighed and said, "I'm nearing ninety years old. I'm ready for the end." "This broken body of mine is barely holding together," the Imam said. "We don't sound much like holy men, do we?" the Reverend asked with a snort of laughter. "I thought I knew what a holy man was like when I was young. I thought that I understood many things when I was young. In hind sight, I didn't understand much of anything. I don't feel much like a holy man and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act," the Imam answered. There were times when he wanted to slap around some of the young hot heads who wanted to control the world through false religious words and real bullets. What made it worse was that he had been one of those hot heads at one time. "Do you regret being called to serve?" the Reverend asked. "Not at all. The Koran tells us that we are to serve Allah. That I have been able to do so for so long has been a real honor," the Imam answered. He sighed and said, "To tell the truth, I'm surprised that I was called. I wasn't a very good man when I was younger." "I was a preacher who tended to mix politics, civil rights, and religion when I was younger. I was very judgmental about people, often blaming honest mistakes on far darker motives. I fear that I was a bit of an ass at times and my actions may have hurt the lives of more than one man," said the Reverend. The Rabbi shrugged his shoulders and said, "I thought that God wanted us to have Israel so much that any action we took was justified. I know now that many of the actions that I took were not justified." "My body paid the price for my sins. After the rocket hit me, I spent months in the hospital recovering from the wounds. I could just feel the hate fester in me. After being released, I spent months planning my revenge. I went to the Mosque and climbed out of my wheelchair. With bandages still covering the stumps, I prostrated myself on the floor asking Allah to support me. For the first time in my life, I opened my heart to Allah and surrendered totally. Of course, I was hoping that he'd support me in the decisions I had made, but the support he gave me was of a very different kind," the Imam said remembering back to that day. "My wife and son had been killed in one of those rocket attacks that were common at the time. I went to the synagogue filled with righteous anger. I stood there and questioned God. I asked him why he would allow my wife and child to die like that. I was a respected Rabbi doing his work. I demanded that he explain it to me. He did," the Rabbi said. "My son married into a group marriage. I thought it was wrong on so many levels. One of the men who would become a husband to my son sent me to a church. He said that my God wanted to talk with me," the Reverend said. "Group marriage?" "Your son's husband?" "Yes. My son's husband was John Carter." "Oh. That's a group I don't even pretend to understand," Imam Abdel-Malik said with a shake of his head. He still didn't understand why a Druid, with the blessings of his Gods and Goddesses, would act to create peace among three religions that had done everything in their power to destroy them over the past centuries. "I stayed at their College for a year and I don't understand them. I like them and I think highly of them, but I can't say that I truly understand them. On one hand they appear not to take anything very seriously. They laugh and joke. They play childish games. They walk around naked and have sex right in front of you. "It is almost impossible not to be convinced that these people do not respect any of your values. All of that stops when they see someone harming another person. All of a sudden, they are the most serious and intense people you can ever encounter," Rabbi Teitelbaum said with a shake of his head. Nodding his head in agreement, Reverend Leroy Jones said, "They take their two rules very seriously. If it harms no one, then do it. Protect the weak from the strong. Some of their activities may offend, but they do no harm. It is a very different kind of world they are creating," Reverend Leroy Jones said. To say that discussions of nudity, public sex, and men married to men didn't bother Imam Abdel-Malik would have been a lie. Islamic law was very clear on where it stood with respect to those issues. On the other hand, events in Saudi Arabia suggested that even the conservative laws of Islam were changing. Maybe it was for the best. He knew that more than one young male slave was used for sexual purposes than for labor and that often there was real love involved. Shaking his head, he said, "I don't know what to make of the sex stuff. Even Allah has allowed the laws about clothes to be relaxed. The women who travel with the Druid were attacked because of their attire and public behavior. A Saint protected them. The world is changing. In a way, I'm glad I won't be here to see the results of our work." "You can say that again," Rabbi Teitelbaum said. The Reverend said, "We are old men. We have lived long lives. It is up to younger men to carry on the good fight." ------- Oscar drove the Land Roamer through the hard shadows cast upon the hard floor of the twisted canyon. The rose red walls of the canyon towered high above them. It was overwhelming. A building became visible in the narrow slit at the end of the road called the al-Siq. Oscar smiled and said, "There is the bank." "That's a bank?" Georgia asked. She looked at the building and said, "This is where they filmed that movie about the quest for the Holy Grail." "That's right," Oscar said with a smile. As he stopped the car in front of the building carved into the canyon walls, he added, "Welcome to the city of Petra." Debbie looked around at the sights that surrounded her. Awed, she said, "This is magnificent." "Yes, it is," Oscar said. The energy that it had taken to construct this city was almost impossible to imagine. "It reminds me of the Church of Saint George in Ethiopia," Debbie said. The color of the stone was different; but that feeling of something splendid having been released from stone was there. "Yes, it does," Georgia said. She turned to Oscar waiting for him to start waxing philosophical about the march of time. Instead, he was preparing to drive on. Curious, she asked, "Where are we going?" "We're going to meet some of our friends," Oscar said pointing down the way a little. The route was called the Street of Facades. It was a fitting name. The buildings carved out of the rock were impressive from the outside, but rather small and rough on the inside. They drove past a closed restaurant. Stalls from which trinkets were sold to tourists were empty, the sellers off somewhere else and their wares locked up. The entire area was locked up. The signs that this was normally a very busy area surrounded them, but there wasn't a person to be seen. Frowning, Debbie asked, "Where is everyone?" "It looks like no one decided to come out here today," Oscar answered. Georgia looked over at Oscar skeptically. She knew that this was a major tourist site. Almost a thousand people a day usually came to see it. That all of a sudden no one, not even the people who worked there, would show up was inexplicable. She asked, "Don't you think that is a little strange?" "Not at all," he replied with a half smile. He winked at Debbie and said, "The Powers That Be work in mysterious ways." "You can say that again," Georgia said with a roll of her eyes. Hundreds of little decisions made by thousands of people had to have been influenced to bring about this situation. "Ah, there they are," Oscar said pointing to six Land Roamers parked in front of the amphitheatre. There were a dozen tents erected in front of the Land Roamers. "Six Roamers?" Georgia asked wondering who had come out here to see them. "The Amphitheatre?" Debbie asked thinking that it would be nicer to sleep inside one of the other buildings. "The other buildings are tombs." Oscar answered the question that she would have asked next. He asked, "Would you rather sleep in a tomb or center stage?" "Center stage is fine," Debbie answered with a shiver. Parking the Land Roamer next to the other six, Oscar said, "We're here." Oscar stepped out and walked over to the three old men seated in a circle. They watched him with heavy eyes. The Reverend said, "Hello Oscar." "Hello, Oscar," Rabbi Teitelbaum said. He turned to look at the Imam knowing that the two men had never met. "Hello, Reverend Leroy Jones and Rabbi Teitelbaum," Oscar said. He turned to the figure in the wheelchair and said, "You must be Imam Abdel-Malik. Debbie told me about you." "It is a pleasure to meet you Druid Oscar Meyers," Imam Abdel- Malik said. Debbie greeted the three men with hugs and kisses. Georgia did the same for the Reverend and the Rabbi. Georgia didn't hug or kiss Imam Abdel-Malik, but was introduced to him by Debbie. Both women agreed that it was nice to meet up with some friendly faces after the isolation of their travels. The bodyguards for the three religious leaders had gathered a small distance away when the Land Roamer had pulled up. They went back to the small area they had staked out for themselves when they had realized the identity of the visitors. The open area made them nervous, but the lack of people made it easier to spot a threat. None of the men relaxed for even a moment. Along with the bodyguards was a small group of young people who were preparing the evening meal. They were preparing a nice steak dinner with food delivered by Georgia's sister for that occasion. It took Debbie a few minutes to realize that the people doing the cooking were college students. She dragged Georgia over to chat with them while Oscar remained with the three old men. Taking a seat in the one remaining chair, Oscar said, "It is good to see you." "You are looking well," the Reverend said with a satisfied nod of his head. "I'm tired. It has been a long journey," Oscar said with a sigh. "We have plans to make," the Rabbi said. "I know," Oscar said looking over in the direction of his wives. They were happy talking to the students and helping out with the cooking. Imam Abdel-Malik noticed the direction in which Oscar was looking. Shaking his head, he said, "I met Debbie in Israel. She's a very nice woman." "I love her," Oscar said. "I've heard stories about Georgia. Allah praised her as a warrior," the Imam Abdel-Malik said. The white haired companion of the Druid was well known although it seemed to him that she had done little except for one small fight. "I love her, too," Oscar said. "In my culture, a brother or uncle is responsible for a man's wives if he dies. Have you any brothers or uncles who will care for them?" the old man asked. Oscar glanced at the Reverend Leroy Jones and answered, "William Redman Carter will take care of them." "Who is that?" "He is my grandson," the Reverend answered with pride. Of all the grandchildren, he felt that William was the most special. He knew what William had done for Oscar. "I guess that makes him family," Imam Abdel-Malik said with a short nod of his head. ------- Oscar, Debbie, and Georgia spent the night making slow passionate love. The one word to describe it was tender. Their touches were soft, their kisses tender, and their emotions intense. There were no great screams of orgasms to rend the quiet of the night. Instead, it was held breaths, soft whimpers, and low groans. There were tears of happiness as emotions felt deeply sought quiet expression. In short, it was one of those nights that only come along once or twice in a lifetime. ------- Debbie woke and found that she was spooned against Georgia. Her hand was resting on Georgia's stomach. Looking around, she didn't spot Oscar and assumed that he had stepped out to relieve his bladder. Too comfortable to get up, she laid there enjoying the warmth of Georgia's body. Georgia stirred, but not enough to change the contact with Debbie. She sighed and asked, "Where's Oscar?" "I guess he's out relieving himself," Debbie answered. As Georgia rested a hand on Debbie's hand, she said, "Last night was amazing." "It was," Debbie said. She rubbed her chin against Georgia's shoulder in a gesture of affection. She added, "I think it was the best time we've ever had together." "I agree," Georgia said. She didn't want to get up. "I don't want to get up." "Neither do I." "We probably should." "You're right." "You first," Debbie said. It took the two women another fifteen minutes to work up the energy to get up and start getting dressed. Dressing took only five minutes despite frequent breaks in which they expressed their affection for each other. They were used to camping and knew how to dress within a tent. Georgia stepped out of the tent and came to a complete stop. Debbie had to squeeze around Georgia to get out of the tent. She stopped and looked at the group of people gathered around Oscar. Surprised to find that she recognized everyone from her old neighborhood in Jerusalem, she asked, "Remie, what are you doing here?" "They are here to take care of you," Oscar said looking at his wives with an expression of concern. "Why? Remie is a janitor at the company where I worked. Gabriel is a street musician. Why would you ask them to take care of us?" Debbie asked. Raquel said, "We were your bodyguards. We've been watching over you for more than a year." Stunned, Debbie looked from one person to the next unable to believe that she had not known. It felt like they had lied to her since the very first day she had met them. Frowning, Remiel said, "I'm sorry if it looks like we lied to you. William felt that it was better and safer for you to be able to go about your business without us drawing attention to you." "William?" Debbie asked. Putting a hand on Debbie's arm, Georgia answered, "William Redman Carter. He's been taking care of us ever since we left the college. All of the air flights, hotels, restaurants, and everything else that cost money was covered by him." "Why would he do that?" Debbie asked looking over at Oscar with a puzzled expression on her face. She had thought that the Druids were paying for everything. Looking at Oscar, Georgia asked, "Can I show her the letter?" Oscar nodded. Georgia took Debbie by the arm and led her back into the tent. Oscar watched them go; knowing that the rest of the morning was going to involve dealing with very emotional women. He turned to Remiel and said, "I need to leave at noon. I want you to take them to Jerusalem after I'm gone. Debbie's apartment is still leased to her. They can spend the night there, but get them to the airport before noon. There is a jet waiting there along with two Druid grief counselors. It will take all of you to Bermuda. Stay there until William Redman Carter calls you." Acting as one, all of the bodyguards folded their arms across their chests and stared at Oscar. They knew all about who Oscar was and that he was expected to visit Jerusalem the next day. Uriel asked, "Druid grief counselors? Why would Druid grief counselors be waiting at the plane?" Oscar looked at each of the bodyguards and said, "In case something bad happens to me tomorrow." "Perhaps we would be of better use guarding you rather than them," Remiel said. "No. Some things have to happen or all is lost," Oscar said. "Do they know that you are leaving without them?" Gabriel asked with a frown. Oscar looked away and stared off into the distance. Nodding his head, he said, "I can tell them, but it will make your job harder tomorrow." "We'll do our job," Uriel said. "So be it," Oscar said with a curt nod of his head. He knew that Debbie and Georgia weren't going to stay at Debbie's old apartment. The argument that would ensue between the women and the bodyguards about the matter would ultimately assure the safety of the women. One of the Land Roamers pulled up to a stop beside Oscar. When the rear window was lowered, Imam Abdel-Malik leaned his head out. The Reverend Leroy Jones and Rabbi Teitelbaum had left earlier. The Imam said, "I'm leaving now. I want to get to the Mosque before sunset. It will take some time for me to get inside the city. I'm not exactly a popular man there." Oscar nodded his head and said, "That's a good plan, but not necessary. You won't have any problems getting in the city. You go with Allah's blessing." Imam Abdel-Malik nodded his head accepting that Oscar was correct. He looked at the tent and asked, "Are they reading the letter like you said they would?" "Yes," Oscar said. "You are a lucky man to have found such strong women. They will survive this time of unpleasantness," Imam Abdel-Malik said. "I think you are right," Oscar said. "Don't you know?" Shaking his head, Oscar said, "My ability to see the future ends with tomorrow at noon." ------- Georgia held Debbie in her arms trying to console the distraught young woman. The letter from William had overwhelmed her. Georgia wanted to be mad at Oscar, but Debbie's need sapped all of her strength. She understood exactly how Debbie was feeling at the moment. William's letter affected her the same way every time she read it. Oscar stood by the door of the Land Roamer looking at his wives. He stepped forward and accepted Debbie into his arms when Georgia guided her to him. He hugged her and kissed her. He whispered in her ear, "I love you." Trying to control her tears, Debbie said, "I love you." Turning to Georgia, Oscar held out his arms for her. She stepped into them and gave him a hug. After a long kiss, he whispered in her ear, "I love you." "I love you," Georgia said barely able to get the words out of a throat swollen with emotion. Tears ran down her cheeks. He pulled both women into a tight hug. With tears running down his cheeks, he said, "I love you both. The two of you brought me greater happiness than any man deserves to experience in his life. Remember the joy we shared." "We will," Debbie said turning to cling to Georgia. Georgia nodded her head. Not wanting to ever lose Oscar, she said, "You don't have to go." Shaking her head in disagreement, Debbie knew that Oscar had to go. With her lower lip quivering, she said, "He has to go." "I know," Georgia said although the acknowledgement of that fact hurt more than she imagined possible. Oscar released them from his embrace. He backed to the car and, as he opened the door, he said, "I love you." ------- Chapter 20 The Church of St John the Baptist is one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem. It was the site of the founding of the Knights of the Hospital of St. John. The order of knights, better known by the name of Hospitallers, was established to provide health care for poor and sick pilgrims to the Holy Land in 1080 AD. It was here that the Reverend Leroy Jones spent the night in prayer. Founded in 1200, the Ramban Synagogue was the first Jewish presence in Jerusalem's Old City after the exile of 135AD. It was destroyed after the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 and reopened after the Six-Day War when the Jews regained their right to the property. It was here that Rabbi Teitelbaum spent the night reading the Torah. The Al-Aqsa Mosque was built in 692AD on the site where it is believed that Muhammad ascended to heaven to receive from Allah the sacred prayers that all Muslims were to repeat every day. Located next to the Dome of the Rock, it is the third most revered Mosque in Islam. It was here that Imam Abdel-Malik spent the night prostrate on the floor in total submission to Allah. Jewish tradition says that the Messiah will enter Jerusalem through the Golden Gate. To prevent that from ever happening, it was sealed by Sultan Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire. In addition, a Muslim cemetery was built just outside the gate in the belief that the precursor prophet to the Messiah would not be able to pass through it. It was here, tucked under the arch of the gate, that Oscar Meyers spent the night watching the stars. There is a building with rooms for rent that stands across the street from the Western Wall of the Temple of Solomon. One can stand at the window and see the area in front of the Wailing Wall. It was here that Georgia and Debbie spent the night looking through the window. With their thoughts on Oscar, they found little rest or comfort there. ------- "You're here," Oscar said when a shadow fell on him as the body of a grotesquely fat man blocked the light of the rising sun. "Did you think I would not come?" asked the Two-Sided One. "I knew you would come," Oscar said with a sad smile. "Do you know why I'm here?" Nodding his head, Oscar answered, "Yes. You are here to offer me a chance to change my mind." Slowly morphing into a woman, the Two-Sided One said, "Before I ask, I want you to use your gift to look into the future and see what your life would be like if you choose to walk away." Raising an eyebrow, Oscar looked up at the Two-Sided One. He licked his lips and said, "I don't want to do that." "Your decision must be informed," the Two-Sided One said. ------- His resolution sapped by the future that he had seen, Oscar stood up and looked back at the city of Jerusalem. He felt a little guilty about his decision, but headed towards where he had parked the Land Roamer the previous evening. It was with a heavy heart that he walked to the car. He climbed in and drove towards the airport where the jet that would take him and his wives to Bermuda was waiting. On the way, he pulled out the cell phone and dialed the number for Debbie. When she answered, he said, "Hello, Debbie. I'll meet you and Georgia at the airport." There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Debbie said, "You decided not to do it?" "Yes," Oscar answered feeling a tight sensation in his stomach. It hurt to admit it aloud. There was just too much to live for and he wasn't ready to throw it all away. "We'll meet you there," Debbie said. "Great," Oscar said. They exchanged goodbyes before he hung up the phone. The traffic to the airport wasn't bad that morning. When he got aboard the plane, he removed the robe and put on a pair of blue jeans and a shirt. He never put the robe on again. ------- Oscar, Debbie, and Georgia looked around the house that was likely to become their temporary home in the Ozarks. Using the money that William had made from Oscar's initial investment, they were looking to purchase a place to live in while their dream house was being built. They had already identified the property on which the house was to be built. The real estate agent, sensing a big sale that would only be lost by using high pressure tactics, stood back and let them walk around the house. This house was available for a quick sale and could be closed on within forty-eight hours. She stayed close in case they had any questions. So far, they hadn't asked her anything about the house. Georgia and Debbie held hands as they watched Oscar looking out the window of the living room at the view outside. He'd been quiet since leaving the Middle East. They hoped that the news they had would cheer him up a little. Smiling, Georgia said, "We have some news for you." "What?" Oscar asked knowing what they were about to tell him, but not wanting to spoil their surprise. He still had the ability to see the future. "We're both pregnant," Debbie said feeling Georgia squeeze her hand. They had bought a pregnancy test from the pharmacy. The results were positive, but hadn't been verified by a doctor yet. "That's great," Oscar said. He moved over to the two women and pulled them into a nice three-way hug. It felt good to hold them like that. He sighed at the thought that if he had gone through with the original plan that he'd have never had a chance to hold them like that again. When the hug broke up, Debbie said, "It looks like we got pregnant at Petra." Oscar nodded his head and said, "That was a wonderful night." "Yes, it was," Georgia said. She was pleased to know that Oscar would be there to help her raise her baby. Faltering for a second, Debbie said, "I'm so glad that you're here to see our children grow up." "So am I," Oscar said. There was a small twinge of guilt that nagged at him for having walked away from his destiny. Still, he was going to get to watch his children grow up. The real estate agent listened to the conversation without comment. She didn't particularly approve of the fact that he was going to be the father of children by two different women, but she wasn't going to say anything that would jeopardize the sale. She would make sure that once the sale was completed that the fine religious folks of the area wouldn't have anything to do with them. ------- Not having any possessions other than the clothes on their backs, Debbie and Georgia went on a shopping spree in the nearest large town. With the purchase of a new house, there was a lot that had to be purchased. The most obvious need was for furniture and there were three rooms that had to be furnished. This included the bedroom, the living room, and the dining room. Since Oscar had declared that money was no object, they bought the items they wanted at the highest quality they found. It was the kitchen that required the most amount of time and money to stock. Pots, pans, baking ware, dishes, silverware, spatulas, oven mitts, detergent, and labor saving gadgets of all kinds were required. Debbie and Georgia got all of the essentials necessary for a functional kitchen. In an attempt to get Oscar out of the way, they sent him off to get the electric appliances. He spent three hours picking up blenders, coffee pots, bread makers, mixers, ice cream makers, electric can openers, waffle makers, microwave ovens, mini-refrigerators, and every other device in the store. Since there were three of them, he bought three of each type of item. He did vary the brands, though. Georgia and Debbie found it difficult to keep a straight face when they saw the truckload of gear Oscar had purchased. Rather than return it, they decided to store the extras in case anything broke down. It was years before they needed to use one of the extras. They did buy a top of the line home entertainment center with a large flat screen television. After watching the news several times, Oscar took out the television and placed it by the curb. One of the neighbors down the street saw the television and picked it up before Debbie or Georgia had even known it was gone. It was never replaced. ------- Oscar was seated in the waiting room of the OBGYN while Georgia and Debbie took turns with the doctor. He looked up when they both came out together and looked at him. Both women looked a little stunned. He asked, "What's the matter? Is everything okay?" With a hand pressed against her belly, Debbie answered, "I'm going to have twins." "I'm going to have twins, too," Georgia said. Happy about the news, Oscar got up and walked over to the pair. He hugged them and said, "That's wonderful." "Twins," Georgia echoed unable to get over the shock of the news. "Yeah, twins," Debbie said looking over at Georgia thinking that it wasn't random chance for both of them to be expecting twins. ------- Six months passed before the dream house was finished. Discovering that both of the women were expecting twins had required some minor changes in the original plans for the house. That had set back the construction schedule. Debbie and Georgia had overseen the construction making sure that each and every detail was perfect. That had set back the construction schedule even more. Located on ten wooded acres, it was pretty isolated from other houses in the area. The house was set far enough back from the road that it was only visible to passersby in the middle of winter when all of the trees lost their leaves. It was a magnificent house, but without being ostentatious. It made use of the landscape to enhance the quality of life. From the living room, they could see the river that ran along the back of their property. There was a perfect spot for a dock just a short walk from the patio. The river was deep enough that they could go swimming and wouldn't need to build a swimming pool. There was a large backyard. It would require a lot of work before it would be beautiful, but it had lots of potential. It was moving day and their furniture was being brought in by the movers that Oscar had hired. They had brought in the furniture first and the movers positioned everything under the watchful eyes of the wives. It still wasn't perfect though and the two women had Oscar moving things a few inches this way and that. Wrestling the couch into position, Oscar looked over at his two wives. Their bellies were definitely advertising the fact that they were expecting twins. He smiled while adjusting the position of the couch by a few inches to give them a view of their backyard. He said, "They finished the house just in time." "I was afraid that we'd be giving birth before moving in here," Debbie said. She waddled around the couch and slowly lowered herself into it. She was joined by Georgia who plopped onto the couch a little harder than intended. It was hard to be graceful with a swollen stomach. "I know what you mean," Oscar said. He turned in time to watch a moving man carry a box labeled kitchen through the room. He said, "One of you might want to go in the kitchen and supervise the unpacking." "That's it. You get us pregnant and then send us to the kitchen," Debbie said with a little laugh. "I'll be glad to go in the kitchen," Oscar said with a smile. Recalling how disasters always occurred when Oscar entered the kitchen, Georgia was about to comment on the meaning of Apocalypse being Oscar in the kitchen. Instead, she said, "No, I'll go. I'm not taking off my shoes, though." Debbie laughed at the joke. She turned to Oscar and asked, "Do you want to supervise the unpacking of the bedroom or the living room?" "I think the living room would be best," Oscar said. He knew that the women had very definite ideas on how they wanted to decorate the bedroom. ------- Both women gave birth to a boy and girl within minutes of each other. Oscar stared down at the four babies amazed at the miracle they represented. They had perfect little fingers and toes. Oscar had checked out the genital area just to make sure that they were anatomically correct. The wives had a slight, but justifiable, fear that they'd be giving birth to Hermaphrodites. The trio had discussed names for months without coming to a decision. Now that the babies were born, it was time to give them names. The nurse stood waiting impatiently with the form in hand. After weeks of arguments, the wives had left the choice of names to him. Selecting names that they had never discussed, he turned to the nurse and said, "Georgia's babies will be named Gloria Deborah Meyers and Mark Oscar Meyers. Debbie's babies will be named Marjorie Georgia Meyers and Patrick Oscar Meyers." When he broke the news to the wives, Debbie was ecstatic. She said, "I never thought of naming them after my parents." "My mom and dad are going to be so happy," Georgia said with a smile. Her parents had been afraid that neither of their daughters would ever get married and now they had grandchildren named after them. "I'm glad that you like the names," Oscar said please with his choice of names. He looked at the babies thinking that if he had faced the mob, that he would never have had a chance to see them. ------- Life at the Meyers' household was simple. Although Debbie had wanted to work, there wasn't a place nearby that required her expertise. Georgia had never really planned for a career beyond working in an office. Not really wanting to return to office work, Georgia was just as happy staying at home. Oscar had no interest in working. With the money from his original investment, there was no need for them to work. Oscar spent most of his time watching and playing with the kids. When he wasn't busy with them, he worked around the house. He built a very sturdy dock on the river with room for two boats. The family spent many hours every day of the summer swimming in the river. When the kids got old enough, they would spend entire days paddling canoes up and down the river. A very significant amount of Oscar's time was spent working in the garden. He laid gravel paths that allowed pleasant walks through the garden and the woods behind the house. He raised plants in a green house for planting in the garden. From early spring to late fall, the house was surrounded by flowers. There were little statues, ponds, and fountains scattered around the place. When the weather was nice, the family spent time on the patio enjoying the garden. Surrounded by flowers like they were, butterflies and hummingbirds were a common sight. Rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks visited the garden. Oscar particularly enjoyed watching the little chipmunks. It was a little slice of Eden hidden away from a very troubled and dangerous world. Occasionally at night, Oscar, Debbie, and Georgia would take a walk along one of the paths that Oscar had cut through the woods. They would stop in a clearing by the path and make love under the stars. The relationship among the three had remained very loving. ------- The children grew up so fast that it amazed Oscar. It seemed to him like they had been born and then the next day they were dating. The boys had grown to be taller than him by a good eight inches. The girls took after their mothers and turned into beautiful young women. Oscar was glad than none of them had inherited what he called his clumsy gene. They raised the children in a manner consistent with the Druid rules, but Oscar never discussed his Druid past with the children. His wives respected his decision and didn't discuss it with them. That meant that they didn't talk much about their pasts, as well. The kids knew very little about their parents, but loved them. The official story was that Oscar had won some money and had invested it wisely. The only time the kids suspected that there was something significant about Oscar's past was whenever he discussed the Druid rules. They noticed that his voice always broke when he talked about protecting the weak from the strong. It was only a suspicion though and it disappeared over time. Standing at the door, he watched the four children head out on a quadruple date. It was strange, he knew, but the four of them did everything together. Looking over at Georgia, he said, "They grew up so fast." "I know," she answered. Debbie said, "They'll be going off to college soon." Oscar nodded his head and said, "State has a nice program. Do you think they should apply there?" Debbie frowned at the idea. Rather than suggest an alternative, she said, "State would be good. We could rent a house just off campus for them to live in while they are there." "Why don't we buy a house? When they graduate, we'll give it to them as a graduation present and they can rent it out to other students," Oscar said. "That's a nice idea," Georgia said quietly. She looked over at Debbie knowing that she had wanted them to go to the Druid College. ------- After graduating college, the kids met the loves of their lives and got married in a simple ceremony. Like most young married folks, they moved away from home returning to visit on holidays. The house seemed empty without them. Oscar spent most of his time in the garden. It had become one of the most spectacular gardens in the country, but no one really knew it existed. Oscar and his wives kept to themselves and didn't entertain. Sitting at the patio table one summer morning, Georgia asked, "Do you miss traveling around?" "Not really," Oscar answered. He'd seen a lot of the world and didn't feel the need to see more of it. The fact was that he enjoyed the simple life of leisure they lived. Disappointed, Debbie didn't say a word. Georgia looked over at her and shrugged her shoulders. Debbie said, "I guess you're afraid that someone will recognize you." "Yes, I guess I am," Oscar said with a shrug of his shoulders. He added, "I'd rather not risk it." ------- Time passed without much of anything substantial or significant happening. The trio slowly aged and watched as the seasons passed in the Ozarks. Their hair turned gray and their skin sagged. The land around their property was turned into vacation homes. None of the transient neighbors gave much thought to the threesome. One day while Oscar was out in the garden tending the plants, the wives were having a quiet tea. Breaking the silence, Georgia said, "Merv." "What?" Debbie asked looking at her wife. Georgia said, "I was just thinking. Oscar is a lot like Merv. For a time he was the most important person in the world, but he passed into obscurity just like the ancient city of Merv. No one will remember him except for us." "I don't blame him for walking away from Jerusalem," Debbie said automatically defending his decision. "I don't either," Georgia said. She looked down at her teacup for a few seconds before she added, "I can't imagine what life would have been without him in our lives." One morning Oscar didn't wake up. He had passed away in his sleep. After a simple burial ceremony attended only by the closest family, the wives sold the house and moved to New York City. ------- Oscar looked up at the Two-Sided One with tears in his eyes. The obscenely fat man asked, "Will you go sacrifice yourself or will you leave here to live a long life with your family?" "Why did you show me that?" Oscar asked. He had no doubts that he had seen the future he would live if he chose to walk away. "You need to know what it is that you'll be giving up if you walk into Jerusalem," the Two-Sided One said. "It was the devil that tempted Christ," Oscar said with a short bark of a laugh. Raising an eyebrow, the Two-Sided One asked, "Are you sure of that?" "Not really," Oscar admitted. He didn't think a God would trick someone into giving up everything. "So what is your decision?" Oscar was silent for a long time. He looked at the Two-Sided One and then back at Jerusalem. Death was waiting for him in that direction. He looked towards where his Land Roamer was parked. A long tranquil life was waiting for him in that direction. Finally, he said, "I will walk into Jerusalem and face the mob." ------- Chapter 21 An old man picking up trash and putting it into a bag noticed Oscar standing in front of the Golden Gate. Wearing the cloak and robe while carrying a staff, Oscar looked like a character straight out of the Torah. He stared at Oscar wondering what he was doing at the Golden Gate. Considering the current religious climate, the old man was halfway convinced that Oscar was going to march into Jerusalem after breaking down the wall that had been built to render the gate useless. He held his breath. Oscar looked at the old man and smiled. In Hebrew, he said, "I am not the one who will enter this gate." The old man let out his breath with a sigh of relief. He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture and said, "Don't scare an old man like that. Times are too dangerous to play around. Someone could think the wrong thing and kill you." Nodding his head, Oscar said, "I'm pretty sure that anyone who kills me will be thinking the wrong thing." "That's always the case," the old man said. Feigning disinterest, he turned his back on Oscar and went back to picking up trash. Oscar walked away from the Golden Gate and entered the old city of Jerusalem through the Dung Gate. Legend says that it is named that because the priests of the old temple used that gate when they carried off the dung scraped from the floor of the temple after the sacrifices were held. The offal was burned in the Valley of Hinnom. Whether that story is true or not, the name has remained. While the history of the gate is ancient, the gate itself it not quite the same as it was in ancient times. It was widened to allow cars to pass through it. Oscar put a hand on the wall of the gate and tried to imagine what it had once looked like. He didn't tarry long at the gate despite the fact that he wasn't in any particular hurry. The route to the Western Wall of the Temple of Solomon took him through the Jewish Quarter. He paused to watch some kids playing with a soccer ball. There weren't enough kids or space to hold a game, but they ran along the street passing the ball back and forth with passes of varying degrees of skill. There were shouts of joy when the ball passed from one kid to the next in what was deemed good form. It seemed to Oscar that no matter where he went, kids were kicking around a soccer ball. With so much in common, he wondered how it was that kids forgot how to play and chose to fight. The kids passed from view and Oscar returned to his travels. He hadn't gone far when an old grandmother came out of one of the houses carrying an infant in her arms. The old woman was smiling down at the child and then up at her neighbors. Oscar paused to watch the old women gather around the grandmother and infant. The looks exchanged among the women were as ancient as the city. Oscar didn't need to know the language to understand the conversation. The grandmother was praising her grandchild's intelligence and beauty. The other women were acknowledging the wonderful attributes of the infant while managing to boast a little about their grandchildren. Oscar grinned as he thought of his mother seeing the two pairs of twins for the first time. He knew that the vision he had been given was accurate on that count. His wives were pregnant with twins although they wouldn't know that for a while. He went over to the old woman and asked, "Is that your grandchild?" "Yes, he is," the woman answered examining Oscar with a critical eye. It took a full five seconds for her to realize his identity. "He is lucky to be born in these times," Oscar said looking at the child with a grin. "The times are not good. I worry about the future. I'm not sure that the kids have one," one of the neighbor women said. Looking over at her, Oscar said, "Today is the day that the world changes." "I've heard that a thousand times. When Hitler was defeated, I heard that evil had been vanquished. Evil still walks the land," the old woman said. She gestured to the child and said, "One day that evil will knock on the doors of our grandchildren and we won't be here to protect them." The grandmother looked at her neighbor for a second and then said, "I believe him. I believe that the world is going to change today." "Thank you," Oscar said. It was getting late and the crowds would be growing at his destination. He turned and walked away leaving the old women discussing the state of the world. Before reaching the Western Wall, Oscar spotted a news van. The camera crew was pulling equipment out of the van. One of the men grumbled, "It's just a rumor that this Druid Prophet is going to be here. We've been chasing rumors for six months now and none of them have panned out. What's so special about this one?" "It's not a rumor. He's going to be here today," said another man. Another man said, "It's the winter solstice today. That's some sort of special holiday for pagans." Chuckling at the comments, Oscar made his way to the Western Wall tunnel. His destination was the Struthion pool. This was a pool that had been incorporated into an ancient moat constructed under the orders of King Herod. No one noticed him enter the tunnel. He stopped at the pool and sat down looking at the reflections in the still water. It was quiet there and Oscar knew he would not be disturbed. ------- Shortly before noon, Reverend Leroy Jones stepped out of the Church of St John the Baptist. He paused and looked up at the clear blue sky above. It was a glorious day. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was time to go. Using his cane, he headed down the street towards the Western Wall. It wasn't that long of a walk to his destination, but at his age it was a difficult walk. He was wearing his finest suit. The streets were more crowded than usual. It seemed that people were just milling around waiting for something to happen. He moved through the crowd without drawing any attention. It was as if he were invisible. He was about halfway to his destination when he overhead a man say, "Ignore the differences? What the hell does that mean? There's no way that I'm going to bend over so that some faggot can slip his dick in my ass. That's what happens when you ignore differences. How are you supposed to ignore that? It's an abomination, that's what it is." Looking sad, Leroy continued down the street for a few steps and then stopped. Echoing words that had been spoken over two thousand years earlier, he looked up at the sky and said, "Forgive them; for they know not what they do." When there was no answer, Leroy resumed walking towards his destination with a sad heart. He had a feeling that today there would be no forgiveness. He wondered how in a world filled with such hate and intolerance there could ever be peace. He reached the Western Wall and walked to it. There were surprisingly few people there, but those few looked tense. More people were arriving by the minute. He looked around the square and spotted several dozen television crews set up to film whatever was about to happen. Shaking his head, he whispered, "Don't you know that miracles can't be filmed?" ------- Rabbi Teitelbaum, feeling better than he had in days, stepped out of the Ramban Synagogue. He stretched and patted his stomach happy to be free of the pain even if it was for just a few hours. Looking up at the sky he was pleased to see that there wasn't a cloud in it. He turned his gaze earthward and watched the people around him. There was a tension in how they acted. Reinforcing the tension was an undercurrent of anger. He stepped into the street and headed towards the Western Wall. As he walked, he thought about the times when he had written his prayers on small pieces of paper and then slipped them between the bricks. He tried to remember if he had ever asked for peace. He remembered praying for Israel to be victorious over its enemies. He couldn't remember how many times he had prayed for vengeance after his wife had died, but it was a lot. Thinking back, he realized that peace was one thing for which he had never prayed at the Wall. Upon reaching the Western Wall, he spotted Reverend Leroy Jones standing near the far end of the square. He nodded to him. The elderly black man nodded back, but they didn't speak. Distance would have required them to shout and nerves made their voices shaky and uncertain. Both men turned to look in the direction from which they expected Imam Abdel-Malik to arrive. ------- Seated upon his wheelchair, Imam Abdel-Malik rolled out of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He looked up at the sky and said, "It is a beautiful day." "Yes, it is." Although the Imam's wheelchair was powered, his bodyguard grabbed the handles to push it. The bodyguard asked, "Where to?" "The Western Wall," Imam Abdel-Malik answered. He thought about the route he would have to take to reach the wall. It was going to be a long trip that required the bodyguard to keep the wheelchair from getting out of control. The bodyguard had known the destination, but didn't like it. It was his hope that Imam Abdel-Malik would change his mind. Trying one last time, he said, "You can't go there. I can't protect you there." "You aren't going there. I need you to get me to street level and I will go there alone," Imam Abdel-Malik said. "They'll kill you," the bodyguard said with tears in his eyes. "I am a servant of Allah. I live by his will alone," Imam Abdel- Malik said patting the man who had been with him for years on the arm. The bodyguard didn't know what to answer. In Islam, everything happens according to Allah's will. Nodding his head, he said, "I'll take you there." "Thank you," Imam Abdel-Malik said. The trip was not easy for a man trapped in a wheelchair, but they reached the street to the Western Wall. Imam Abdel-Malik looked at the man who had watched over him for a dozen years and said, "Farewell, my friend. May Allah bless you." "Allah's will be done," the bodyguard said. Stepping back, he watched the elderly man operate that controls that allowed him to roll down the street. The temptation to follow was too strong and he walked two dozen steps behind the old man. Imam Abdel-Malik rolled into the area in front of the Western Wall. The first faces he saw were those of Reverend Leroy Jones and Rabbi Teitelbaum. The men exchanged nods and turned to face the Western Wall of the Temple of Solomon. A huge crowd appeared as if by magic. The majority of men gathered were not happy to see the three religious leaders gathered together in that place. With murmurs of discontent beating upon their backs, the three men watched the wall. Oscar stepped from the Western Wall tunnel. With his staff clicking on the stones below with each step, he made his way to face the three elderly men. The murmurs of discontent silenced for a second and then rose to angry shouts. Everyone there knew that something significant was about to happen. ------- Having spent the night watching the Wailing Wall, Georgia and Debbie came to attention the moment Reverend Leroy Jones arrived. They stood at the window watching the scene unfold below. It was not a peaceful scene. Afraid of what they were going to see, they held each other with grips that would leave bruises. Georgia pointed to a man in the crowd and asked, "Isn't that Reverend Leroy Jones's bodyguard over there?" "Yes," Debbie answered. She glanced back at Oscar and then said, "Oscar's about to speak." Oscar stood there for a full minute facing the angry crowd. He struck the ground three times with the end of his staff. The noises, as loud as cannons firing, echoed off the walls bringing quiet to those watching. In a voice that reverberated across the entire Old City of Jerusalem, Oscar said, "I am the Druid Oscar Meyers. I have been commanded by the Powers that Be to deliver messages to their followers." Pausing for a second, Oscar waited for the tension to build. Once he decided that it was sufficient, he said, "Yahweh has commanded me to say unto his followers, 'Those who gave the Land to my people did not own it. It was not theirs to give. Make it right!'" Rabbi Teitelbaum, in a voice just as loud as Oscar's voice, said, "I am the Rabbi Teitelbaum. On behalf of all followers of Yahweh, I accept his command and commit Jews everywhere to obey it." An angry voice from the crowd shouted, "No! You do not speak for all Jews!" Debbie whispered, "The crowd looks angry." Georgia nodded her head and watched as Oscar said, "Jehovah has commanded me to say unto his followers, 'Embrace what people have in common and ignore the differences.'" Reverend Leroy Jones said, "I am the Reverend Leroy Jones. On behalf of the followers of Jehovah, I accept his command and commit Christians everywhere to obey it." The crowd surged forward three steps. Another voice rang out from the crowd, "You'll burn in hell for those words. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah!" Looking at the raw anger on the faces of the crowd, Debbie turned from the window and said, "I can't look. They are going to tear them to pieces." Oscar said, "Allah has commanded me to say unto his followers, 'The killing in my name must stop. Jihad by the Sword must end.'" Imam Abdel-Malik reached up with his one good hand and stroked his beard. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I am the Imam Abdel- Malik. On behalf of the followers of Allah, I accept his command and commit Muslims everywhere to obey it." A harsh angry voice shouted, "No! The infidels must die!" Shouts of protest echoed across the square as the crowd surged forward another few steps. Georgia could see guns being drawn by men within the mob. She wanted to scream, but nothing would come out of her mouth. Facing the mob, Oscar said, "The Powers That Be have heard your acceptance and commitment to obey their command. Thus it has been said, so shall it be!" Rocks and bottles flew in the direction of the four religious men. A rock struck Oscar and he reached up to touch where it had struck him. There was a look of surprise on his face. The rock had hit him, but he hadn't felt a thing. He looked in the direction from which the rock had been thrown. He suddenly remembered the words the Goddess had spoken as he had fallen asleep upon accepting this service, "Do not worry, there shall be no pain." Gunshots rang out and Oscar fell to the ground. Almost simultaneously, Reverend Leroy Jones, Rabbi Teitelbaum, and Imam Abdel-Malik went down under a hail of bullets. The crowd surged forward with the intent to tear them apart. It wasn't enough for them to kill the four, they had to destroy them and wipe their existence off the face of the Earth. Seeing the crowd surge forward, Georgia screamed out in anguish. Unable to ignore the events happening right outside the window, Debbie looked out and saw Oscar lying on the ground. He looked up at the window and mouthed the words, "I love you both." Within seconds of Oscar's death, the blue sky turned dark as black clouds boiled up from nowhere. From the clouds, bolts of lightning struck the mob. Fingers of white hot plasma danced around the crowd incinerating everyone they touched. Angry shouts quickly turned to screams of terror. Men tried to run, but to no avail. Georgia watched with wide eyes at the destruction. Debbie pointed in the direction of Oscar's body. Georgia turned to see what she was trying to convey with her gestures. Oscar's body had floated off the ground and was surrounded by a soft glow. After a second, his body disappeared. With their attention on Oscar, they did not see that the same thing had happened with the bodies of the other three men. Throughout, the lightning bolts had continued to dance through the crowd. As fast as the divine retribution started, it ended. Silence descended upon the entire city; deafening in contrast to the roar of the thunder that had accompanied the lightning. The black clouds disappeared and the sun shone upon the square. A handful of people, those few who had come to hear and obey the words of their God, were left in the square. The cameras which had been covering the event had failed to capture the lightning. For four seconds, they had broadcast nothing except static. When the lightning stopped, the cameras resumed broadcasting the scene as if nothing had been the matter. Cameramen stared at their cameras in shock. Almost to a man, they were angered at having failed to capture the most significant event of modern times. Not one was brave enough to curse. One of the people remaining in the square was the bodyguard of Imam Abdel-Malik. Stunned by what he had observed, he stumbled over to the empty wheelchair. There was no sign of the four men who had sacrificed themselves in that place. He fell to his knees with tears in his eyes. Staring at the Western Wall, he shouted, "You are correctly named the Wailing Wall, for nothing on Earth could watch this without crying tears for the four good men who died here." Several of the cameramen were quick enough to have captured the bodyguard's actions. It took several minutes for the reporters to recover enough to step in front of their cameras and start describing what they had witnessed. Even though they had been there, it was impossible to believe what had happened. They had seen the hands of Gods come down and punish those who had killed their messengers. Another man, a big black man with a horrible gash across his face, was wandering around the square looking confused. George, the bodyguard for Reverend Leroy Jones, had tried to fight his way to the front of the mob to protect the Reverend. Even as he fought, he knew that he was too late. Now, he was looking for body of the man whom he had served since the day he had touched the wooden cross hanging around the Reverend's neck. Devastated, he could find no sign of the Reverend's body. Appearing from a nearby building, four Druids made their way into the square. They broke into two pairs; with each pair containing a heavily armed red robed Druid and a green robed Druid. The two pairs split to attend to a bodyguard each. They had expected to have to fight their way to the bodyguards, but events had turned out quite differently. Oscar had not warned them of that possibility. Upon reaching George, the green robed Druid said, "Come with us. Oscar has made arrangements for you to return home." George looked at the pair of men and, with tears streaming down his cheeks, asked, "How can I return home? My place was beside the Reverend. Now I have nothing." "Oscar said that even though he has joined his God, Reverend Leroy Jones has need of you still. He needs you to tell his story to all that will listen. He needs you to defend him from those who will claim that he was a charlatan." Lower lip quivering, tears rolling from his eyes, and knees about to give out from under him, George asked, "Oscar said all that?" "Yes sir. Now come with us," the man said offering a hand to steady the big man. A similar conversation was coming to the same conclusion a few feet over with the bodyguard of Imam Abdel- Malik. As the pair of men left the square, the bodyguard of Imam Abdel- Malik said, "Even facing death, Oscar thought of us." "There were so many more important things for him to worry about," George said. ------- Debbie and Georgia had collapsed immediately after Oscar had disappeared. Gabriel and Remiel carried the two unconscious women onto the jet. Once they had deposited them in their seats, Raphiel went to the pilot and said, "Get us out of here, now." "Yes, sir," the pilot said grabbing the radio microphone to get clearance to take off. The flight plan had been filed since the day they had landed and had been updated every morning. Jennifer sat down beside her sister and fastened the seatbelt around her. Looking over at the bodyguards, she said, "They are in shock. When we get off the ground, we need to take care of that." "We should take care of that now," Remiel said. "No, we get out of here and then take care of them. The whole city is in shock. Once it recovers, they might keep us here while they are trying to figure out what happened," Jennifer said. "Yes, ma'am," Remiel said looking over at Debbie with concern. She didn't look too good. Although the bodyguards had worked for William, they had taken their orders from Jennifer. He would do as she ordered. The bodyguards, as a group, had talked to Oscar exactly once the entire time they had been working for William. Each of them was stunned by what they had witnessed. Looking around the plane, they were amazed at the planning that had gone into taking care of the two women. They had known that Oscar believed that he was going to die, but their knowledge was a kind of abstract unreal thing. What they had seen made it all too real. Uriel looked over at the two green robed Druids seated in the plane. She asked, "Who are you?" "I'm Nancy and she's Kim. We are the grief counselors that you were told would be aboard the plane," one of them answered. She looked over at the women and knew that it would be a long time before they were ready to talk. Until that time, she would wait and watch. Debbie and Georgia didn't regain consciousness until long after the plane left the ground. They looked at each other and then burst into tears at their shared loss. They cried for most of the flight to Bermuda. Neither of them would ever remember how they reached the hotel room where they would stay for the next few days. ------- A well dressed reporter sat in a small bar in a small town in the middle of Bulgaria holding a glass of wine in one hand. He had watched the events in Jerusalem unfold on live television. Tears had streamed down his face when he saw the rocks being thrown at Oscar. Everyone in the bar had stared in disbelief at the sudden outbreak of violence, the interrupted transmission, and then the scene of quiet that had followed. The reporter looked down at the table and picked up the picture he had placed there earlier. The picture was of Oscar Meyers standing in front of a sign. He was wearing his robe and cloak while holding his shepherd's staff. Winking at the camera with one eye, Oscar held out a hand with a thumb up in the well known gesture of approval. The picture and the interview that had accompanied it had made the reporter a very well known individual. The reporter reverently placed the picture on the table. He traced the scar on his forehead with a finger. He fingered the small gold cross that hung from a gold chain around his neck. Lifting his wine glass in the air, the reporter said, "Not everyone can be born of stature, grace, and greatness. Some must grow into it. Here's to you, Oscar Meyers!" ------- The End ------- Posted: 2004-08-25 Last Modified: 2007-04-30 / 12:02:39 am ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------