Storiesonline.net
-------

                               Depression
                                by cmsix

Copyright© 2007 by cmsix


-------
Description: What would you do if you went to sleep in East Texas in 2006 and woke up in 1620?

Codes: MF Mf Mult ScFi TimeTr slow harem humor
-------



-------

Chapter 1


People who think something bad has to happen to you for you to get depressed don't know shit about it. Sometimes it just happens. The world can go to shit around you and you can be doing just fine anyway. Or things can be going great for you and you can get depressed, or start suffering from depression or whatever you want to call it. You're just depressed. For me, I didn't feel bad; I just didn't give a shit, about anything.

I couldn't go out and do something that would make me feel better, because I didn't want to do a fucking thing. I didn't even want to feed my dogs; I had food at the house and just couldn't go give it to them. I had to make myself.

I didn't want to bathe, didn't want to take out the trash, and didn't wash the dishes. It got so bad I didn't even make a good try to get things into the trash. I'd eat something and throw the wrapper at the trashcan, if it landed on the floor instead, fine.

I knew something was wrong and I was sure it was probably depression and I knew I should see a doctor, a shrink. Every time I thought about making an appointment I got mad. Here's a guy making two bucks a minute for listening to you piss and moan, and you have to keep going and going - just like the energizer doctor-payer - for what? Will it ever end? Not if you keep having the two bucks a minute. Where's his motivation? Because he's a doctor and wants to help you? Give me a fucking break.

After a couple of months it didn't matter anymore anyway, because I lost my job and my health insurance, and then I'd spent up all my money and I didn't even have the two bucks a minute to pay the fucker.

Before I lost my big house, my three bedroom two bath brick, I sold it and cleared enough to buy a shack, free and clear. No, it wasn't a major financial coup. I took a fucking like often happens when you have to sell something or lose it completely and the one doing the buying knows it.

Even though I didn't want to do shit, the house wasn't mine anymore and I knew I had to move. Since my pickup was already paid off, I hadn't lost it. The move was trip after trip after trip though, and there sure as hell wasn't enough room in my new home to put all my furniture. So it was yard sale time for Johnny.

I was surprised by how well it went. At first I was intending to hold onto my own bedroom suite, but I had it out in the yard anyway. A guy and his wife thought it was great and though I asked twice what I figured it would bring, they couldn't get their money out fast enough.

The living room and dining room furniture were on the block all along but I'd jacked up the asking price thinking I'd have to come down to move it. Apparently I didn't have a clue about what furniture was worth. Another couple bought it with no arguments and then asked about the price of the china and silverware that was in it.

I might be depressed but I wasn't stupid, or not completely anyway. The china and glassware had been my mother's and she'd been gone for years. In fact I don't ever remember us using it in my life. Truthfully, I'd intended to just let it go with the big cabinet thing it was in, but after the lady asked, I at least had sense enough to tell her to make me an offer. I didn't have a clue about what it was worth.

When she asked about the silverware and glassware I just said, "Make me an offer on all of it. It was my mother's and as far as I know it's never been out of that cabinet during my life."

Apparently my mother had collected one hell of a set of dishes, because the woman offered me three times as much for them as they'd paid for the furniture. It was hard as hell for me to act like I was considering it without jumping up and down screaming, "Sold, sold, sold."

Even though I was surprised to get so much for it, I think they were even more surprised to get it so cheap. They must have known more about what it was really worth than I did, because the woman stayed with it while the man went off and rented a U-Haul and came back with dozens of boxes, a mountain of tissue paper and big rolls of bubble wrap. They spent all afternoon carefully wrapping each piece individually.

Still, I was happy with what I got for it, and they seemed happy with their purchase, and long before they had it packed up, I'd sold every bit of furniture I had except my big gun case. I hadn't moved it outside with everything else because it was full of rifles and pistols.

Yes, like any self-respecting (or is that self-important?) Texan - depressed or not - I had guns out the ass. In fact, guns and shooting had been the biggest part of my life. Since my depression came on, I've read dozens of self-help books, and almost all of them say you should get rid of firearms if you are depressed. Maybe that's good advice for most people, but if I didn't have any guns I'd just slit my throat, so what's the point?

I did intend to sell most of them but I figured it would take months. I suppose I was just stalling if the truth were known. I hadn't sold any guns today because no one knew I had any for sale.

Since everything else was gone; the bedroom suite I'd intended to keep and the bed I'd intended to continue sleeping in and with another day of my two day yard sale to go, I supposed I was going to have to put the gun case outside tomorrow and sell my children too, most of them anyway. There were a few I wouldn't sell for any price.

I slept on the floor that night. I had at least hung onto a couple of pillows. My carpet also had great padding under it, since a guy in the business told me long ago that cheap padding would make carpet wear out faster than anything. Hell of a lot of good spending money on great carpet pad did me. It just made the carpet look good for the asshole that had skinned me on the house deal.

So, as I was saying, I slept on the floor and with the success of my yard sale I didn't even have a fucking radio to listen to. What the hell, I'd never paid much attention to TV. The set I'd sold today was probably ten years old and getting a little dim, but some asshole - excuse me, some nice young gentleman - bought it, and I'm sure he could have got one nearly as big for the same money at Wal-Mart.

It was a surprise to me that I dropped off to sleep so fast, because ever since the depression crept up on me I'd had hell going to sleep, and even more trouble keeping asleep. Some of the articles I read even said the irregular sleep patterns caused the depression. That's a real relief, when you're trying to get to sleep and can't, and you realize that it could be making your depression worse.

An even bigger surprise was that I didn't wake up until I'd slept almost exactly eight hours. I hadn't been able to sleep all through the night for months and months. To top it all off, it seemed I felt great this morning.

I hadn't sold the washer and dryer because they went with the house and damned if I didn't start washing clothes after I'd finished breakfast and had a load of dishes in the dishwasher.

Of course I'd already had to force myself to wash most of the dishes because I sold them too, most of them anyway, and most of the pots and pans. In fact I only had one cast iron skillet left and one three-quart saucepan.

With a load in the washer and one in the dryer, I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart to grab one of those airbed mattresses and a foot operated pump so I'd have something to sleep on besides the floor.

Next was the gun cabinet. I had to get it outside under the carport, so people could see it. I had to take out the shotgun, all twenty of the rifles and the fifteen pistols before I moved it. Then I put eighteen of the rifles and twelve of the pistols back

I only kept my custom made 8mm x 57 bolt action rifle, my Browning Buckmark 22LR, my sawed off LC Smith 12 gauge double barrel, my Glock 34, my Colt Python 357 magnum, and my Colt Diamondback 38 Special.

I guess that might sound like a lot of firearms for some people but for me it was only the bare necessities, except for the LC Smith. It probably wouldn't bring much anyway, since some dumbass sawed the barrel off the priceless antique, so I kept it just for the hell of it.

I hid all of the keepers back in my smallest bedroom with my reloading equipment and supplies. I'd separated that out two days ago. I was also selling the dies and supplies for the calibers I wouldn't have any longer, but I sure wasn't getting out of the reloading business for anything I kept.

I was sitting out under my carport in the one lawn chair I'd refused to sell yesterday at eleven AM when the first car drove by. They kept driving and I guessed they didn't see anything that interested them. I got my hopes up for a second that no one would be out on Sunday wanting to by a gun cabinet or a bunch of guns.

Wrong. Ten minutes later a big camo painted pickup came by and he stopped at once when he saw that there were guns for sale here, just like the classified add had said.

He was only a looker though. No doubt he thought that I'd sold all the good stuff yesterday and he'd find a bargain today. He had another thought coming. I didn't know shit about what china was worth, but I knew the value of every weapon in that case down to the penny. He was on his way in only a few minutes.

I was surprised when he came back twenty minutes later with a friend in tow. The friend nearly shot off in his pants when he saw the M1 I'd sporterized with a synthetic stock, a new barrel, and a 4 to 12 low light scope. The guy couldn't wait to count out thirty-nine hundreds and take it home.

I figured they knew just as well as me that there was no paperwork for the government for a firearm sale between private individuals, especially when it was strictly cash. At least there wasn't if even one of the individuals had a lick of sense.

Just as they left, one of those small foreign four-wheel drive pickups pulled up and two guys piled out of it. They looked things over and from the way they talked I realized that the first guy had told them about my sale.

They were tickled shitless to have a chance at a custom rifle that was ready to go without having to wait months to have it made. The driver bought both the rifles I had with thumbhole stocks, and the other one just had to have the 45/70 with a stainless barrel and camo synthetic stock.

Since they'd been talking about white tail hunting, I idly wondered what a poor white tail was going to look like after the guy smacked him with a 300 grain bullet out of that 45/70 cannon. You notice I didn't call him a dumbass? That's because he had nice crisp hundreds.

Things slacked off for a minute and then a guy came up in a new Caddy and got out wearing a dark suit. I knew at once that he understood completely about the lack of paperwork involved. He strolled over, bought my 220 Swift, my 22-250, and every pistol I had except the Thompson Center Contender and the Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull, he never even asked about a package deal, which surprised me.

I started gathering up the reloading dies and other reloading supplies that went with them and he told me I could keep all that crap. He did seem pleased when I dragged out the hard cases, but he insisted in cramming two or three guns in each one and left me all the others.

As he was leaving I had a feeling he was a shooter all right, or at least he supplied shooters. No doubt my babies would be fired one or two more times each and end up disassembled and at the bottom of large bodies of water. Oh well, you can't tell a man how hard to ride the horse after he's paid for it.

Damned if the first guy with the camo truck didn't show back up with another buddy. While his buddy was drooling, the first guy happened to notice the Thompson Center, for the first time I guess.

"Man, I didn't see that before," he said.

"Well there were a lot more pistols, but a guy just bought them all except for that one and the Super Redhawk in 454 Casull," I said.

His buddy for this trip perked right up and wanted to see the Ruger. He never let it go until he put it in the hard case. I don't think he wanted to then, but he had to let go to count out the money. Wait until he tried to hold that anchor up and fire it. With his skinny wrist he'd probably need a cast after the first time he touched it off.

The first guy couldn't stand it any longer; he was slobbering for the Thompson Center, and when I told him I had a couple of rifle length barrels and a buttstock for it, that finished him off.

It was the oddest thing that fascinated him. When I'd first bought it, Thompson Center wouldn't make rifle barrels for it; in fact, they were hard to come by. This meant if you put a buttstock on it you weren't legal anymore, and that mattered to me then.

So, I had my favorite gunsmith graft a couple of inches of a fucked up 20 gauge shotgun barrel onto a 7mmTCU pistol length bull barrel. He did a hell of a job and it looked really good, until you looked directly at the business end and all you could see was that giant 20-gauge hole.

I'll swear that barrel and the one in 357 maximum, done the same way, sold the whole thing. Or course he got dies and other crap, and all nine of the other barrels, but it was those two weird ones he was in love with. I warned him that it was going to be really loud out in front of it when he fired, but he didn't seem to care.

Within another hour I'd sold out and the guy that bought the Thompson center bought the giant gun case too. That left me with nothing but the hardcases, dies, and supplies for the guns my main pistol buyer didn't want. Since the first guy had been so helpful toward my efforts, I just gave it all to him. He couldn't believe it at first.

He knew I'd been hardassed about coming down on any of the prices, since he'd been there when two or three people had left because I wouldn't give a nickel. I guess it might have seemed a little funny that I'd just give him about fifteen hundred bucks worth of stuff.

What the hell, he'd helped me out by telling others about my sale and I was tired of fucking with the stuff, besides, nobody is going to come looking at a yard sale with nothing but odds and ends reloading equipment and a few hard cases for sale. At least I hung on to my lawnchair.

I went on back in the house and warmed up a can of Wolf Brand Chili with some Ranch Style Beans added to the mix, opened a bag of Fritos, popped the top on a Lone Star Long Neck, and pigged out. After that, I pumped up my airbed and went right off to sleep.

I woke up a little after four AM but I'd gone down at eight PM the night before so I'd slept the night through again. Wasn't this the drizzlin' shits. Now that I barely owned a damned thing, I was fine all of a sudden. Hell, it wouldn't last. While it did though, I got on with moving. I loaded up my 1976 four wheel drive, short wheelbase pickup and headed for my new shack.

It wasn't really a shack, it wasn't a hovel either, and it was in a wonderful neighborhood, since there were no neighbors. The house was small, about sixteen by thirty, but well built.

It was a weird old house, made almost entirely of local stone, and I don't mean stone veneer with stud wall construction behind it. The walls were made of stone, and nearly two feet thick. Windows and doors were in short supply too. With only the front door as a way in or out and one two by two window at each end.

The floor was made of the same stone, but some care had been taken so that it was mostly flat and level, and over the years it had become fairly smooth.

There'd been no interior walls in the original construction but at least an indoor bathroom had been added at some time in the past. From the looks of the fixtures, it had probably been added in the fifties.

Access to the attic was a permanent narrow staircase which happened to be the most prominent feature of the south wall, since its opening into the ceiling was on the centerline. The stairs were steep too, they had to rise eight feet with a run of only seven feet, and the rest of the south wall behind and below the stairs was taken up with shelves, all the way over to the back wall, with only the two by two window for decoration.

The other end wall was nominally the kitchen. A cabinet section, probably twelve feet, had been put in around the same time as the bathroom. The sink was in the center and surprisingly it was equipped with a disposal, but that wasn't any stranger than the dishwasher that had been added more recently

The roof was also a point of interest. It was framed construction but the lumber used in it was obviously cut on a rudimentary old sawmill. None of it had ever heard of a planer and it was overkill squared.

The rafters were four by twelves on sixteen inch centers and the roof decking was nearly three inches thick. The attic was also completely floored with the same type boards as the roof. The roof covering was those Spanish type, half-curved tiles.

An even stranger thing was the absence of a chimney. It wasn't that it had fallen down or been torn down, there had just never been one, nor a fireplace. I don't know how earlier occupants had warmed the place, but a freestanding wood heater had been added within the last three or four years.

The stove wasn't far from the door and it had an eight inch steel stovepipe. Extra super heavy duty stove pipe at that, since it was plainly stolen from a drilling site somewhere, it was heavy wall well casing.

All in all, my little getaway cottage in the woods was built like an anvil. Even here in East Texas I wouldn't be worried about tornadoes in this house. Hell, a tornado would probably be afraid of tangling with it.

I don't know when the place had been wired for electricity but it had lights and power now. Making up circuits inside the exterior walls had been impossible, so the lines were run in surface mount conduit. That wasn't necessary in the bathroom or kitchen cabinet of course, since they were added later.

Outside there was nothing but pasture. For some unknown reason, the old man, George, that owned the five thousand acre ranch the little house was sitting on had been willing to sell it to me. All he knew about it was that it was already here when he bought the land.

He was the one who had added the bathroom and kitchen cabinet and he told me that the current kitchen was the second one he'd put in. Previously he'd only rented the house and I didn't dare ask why he was willing to sell it now.

It had a deep well with an almost new submersible pump, and its small wellhouse was the only other structure visible. There weren't even any poles for the electric lines. When rural electricity had become available for the house, he'd made the REA provide underground service. Don't ask me how he worked that miracle.

There wasn't really a road to it either. It was half a mile from the nearest county road and there was a general path to the house. The old man gave me an easement for access in the deed. A route wasn't specified; it just said I could take a path of my convenience. In other words, all I owned was the acre the house was on, but I was free to get to it, over his land at least, via any route I chose.

The lawyer I'd used to look over the deed had been surprised at the old man's generosity with the terms of the easement, and frankly I was too. I didn't know the man from Adam's off ox, and though he seemed friendly enough, I couldn't figure out why he was doing it for the fairly low price he'd asked. He let me have the place for ten thousand bucks, and that was a pittance for a livable home, plus, it was so solid I wouldn't even have to bother with insurance.

As I brought my few remaining possessions out and unloaded them I just placed them inside in areas. My guns and reloading stuff were in one corner, and my airbed on the floor near the stove. There wasn't a closet but I found two eyebolts and strung a rope between them to hang my clothes on. I'd keptd a chest of drawers to hold socks, underwear, and such. I was done with my move, had everything in place, and was living in the house two days later.

George dropped by the day after I finished moving in. He was towing a small flatbed trailer with an older model lawn tractor on it. I met him outside as he came to a stop.

"Howdy, John, I see ya got moved in. Everything ok?"

"Better than I deserve, George. How're you doing today?" I asked.

"For an old man, I'm getting around pretty good. You got a lawnmower?" he asked.

"Not yet. I sold the one I had in town. It was only a three and a half horse push mower and it wouldn't do anything out here, but I cleared a lot more money off my yard sale than I thought I would. I'll probably go get one in a day or two," I said.

"Ain't no need in that. I figured you wouldn't have nothin', so I loaded up this old Kubota. I brought the eighty-inch yard deck that you can mow with and I threw on a four-foot disc, a cultivator and a garden plow in case ya want to start a garden next spring. I've even got a four foot bush hog for it, but I couldn't get it all on the trailer at once," he said.

I felt just a little suspicious twinge, wondering how much this was going to cost me and cursing myself for mentioning that I'd done better with my yard sale than I'd expected. I was about to ask him how much he wanted for the deal when he started up again.

"I hear you're a damned good shot and have been known to do a little huntin' - in fact I've heared that you're a damned good hunter - any truth to it?" he asked, changing the subject completely.

"I don't mind saying that I'm a fine shot with a rifle or a pistol and I do like to hunt. I'm not any good at bird hunting, cause I just don't like it and I couldn't catch a fish to save my soul."

"I never did care for fishin' myself, but the thing of it is, I'm startin' to have trouble with a few wolves, but mostly coyotes. I don't know why those smart little bastards came around here, we never used to have any, but they have and they pulled down a colt last week. One that I paid a thousand-dollar stud fee to get started.

"If you could find time to see about trying to thin them out some, I'd call us even on the tractor deal, if you're interested," George said.

"You don't have to do that, George. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I like to hunt coyotes. You don't have to give me that tractor to get me to do it. All you have to do is give me permission," I said.

"I knew it. I told Ethel that sellin' you this little place would be the best thing we could do, and she thought you'd be no better than the renters we let stay here sometimes.

"Let's unload this stuff and I can go back and get you the bush hog. You know the IRS keeps a close eye on any rancher that actually makes a profit, and this stuff has depreciated plum off. I wrote the last of it off two years ago.

"You just see if you can pop a coyote or two and we'll call it even," George said.

I wasn't going to argue any more. If he wanted to give me the little tractor and stuff I would take it. Of course, I didn't have a shed to store it, and George knew that too. We got it unloaded in no time and then George spoke up again.

"Ya know, John, we tore down a big old hay barn last year, we use round bales now and a barn like we had wasn't worth a shit for 'em. If you'll pick out a place, I'll let my son Bob, and a couple of the boys come down here and throw you up a shed out of the material we tore down. We try not to waste stuff and it's all just in the way up there right now," George said.

Hell, I'd be glad to have a shed, even if it was built out of scraps. It would be a lot better on the Kubota to get it out of the weather, and so I asked George where he thought a good place would be.

"If you don't care, why don't we just let Bob put it where he thinks it ought to be."

We settled on that and George headed for his pickup.

"Didn't I hear that you used to have a horse or two yourself?" he asked, just before he got in his truck.

"Years ago I had a couple, before I moved to town," I said.

"Well if you need one to ride while you're huntin' coyote, or anytime, just come up to the house. We got plenty. We raise 'em, along with the beef, and we always got more horses than we've got time to ride. We got plenty of saddles and tack too," he said, and then left.

I couldn't help thinking that the old man had something in mind for me, but I didn't really care. If it got to be a pain in the ass I could deal with it later. For now, the promise of shooting a few coyotes had gained me a damned nice little tractor and some good garden equipment.

I played with the tractor for a while, I tried to keep my hands off of it, but you know how it is with a new toy. I got the mower hooked up and set off for one of the corners that the surveyors had set marking the acre I'd bought.

The tractor's engine surprised me. In the lowest gear it was able to mow the standing grass that didn't look to have been cut all last year. Of course, it was mostly dead this late in the fall, but there was still a lot of it and an eighty-inch mower needed horsepower to cut right.

I'd just finished my fifth circuit when George showed back up. He not only had the bush hog on the trailer, but it was half loaded with split firewood.

"I brung ya a little firewood while I's at it. The boys cut ours when they ain't got nothin' else to do and we've got a hydraulic splitter now too. You're probably gonna start needin' some fore too long," he said.

I just thanked him and we didn't talk much while we were unloading. We stacked the firewood against the house near the only door.

"Bob says they ain't got much to do, so he thinks he might as well get started on your shed tomorrow 'bout noon or a little after," George told me, after we'd finished.

"You're gonna think I'm lazy already, George. I've got a little trip planned and I'll be gone for nearly a week. I'm supposed to leave in the morning. I won't be able to help a bit until I get back," I said.

"I won't think you're lazy. The shed thing just come up on ya and you didn't have no warnin' at all. Bob and the boys are used to working together anyway and it ain't like they'll miss ya. Go ahead and take care of your business and don't worry 'bout it."

He took off again and I went inside to cook my supper. The kitchen range and oven were electric and it was a lot nicer than I'd thought at first. It even had a microwave that was built in over the cook top, kind of an all in one deal.

After I'd eaten and cleaned up my mess I went to bed, or to airbed anyway. The temperature was nice outside and I didn't bother trying out the wood heater.

It seemed like I slept even better that night, and I woke up just before five AM. After I got some coffee made I took a mug outside and brought my remaining lawn chair with me. I'd decided to cancel my trip to Shreveport.

I was feeling guilty because I'd let George think I had business to take care of. I hadn't said that, but I knew he'd taken it that way. I was just going down to the casinos there. Harrah's was having a Texas Hold 'em tournament starting this afternoon and I wanted to try my hand at it.

I'd played some in local games, while the sheriff wasn't watching, and I enjoyed it. I didn't think I'd really do any good but I had been looking forward to playing, never the less, I couldn't feel right about it while someone else was building me a shed with their men and their materials, even if the materials were used. I might feel better about it if I'd been here long enough to do any good with the wolves or coyotes, but I hadn't.

I'd almost finished my first mug of coffee when the rain started. I thought it was time for sunrise by now and it must have been the clouds that kept things so dark. By the time me and the lawn chair were back inside it was pouring down.

The rain made things easier on me. They wouldn't be doing any building today in this weather. George drove up about an hour later and confirmed it. Especially since the rain was still pouring.

I'd seen his lights as he drove up so I had the door open where he could come right on in.

"I guess you know that this rain has torpedoed the shed for today," George said.

"I haven't lived in town long enough to forget that, George," I said, laughing and he laughed with me.

"How bout a mug of coffee?" I asked.

"That'd be nice," he said, and I poured him one.

I motioned him into the lawn chair and pulled up a box from my reloading area to sit on. We discussed the weather, and then cussed the weather. George told me the weatherman said the rain might be around for three or four days.

"I guess I'll go on to Shreveport then, I'd decided to call it off and stay to help with the shed," I said.

"Well, ain't no need of that, and with this rain there shore ain't," he said.

"I can tell, I guess I'll go ahead and go. I am gonna let you in on a secret though. I don't really have any business to tend to down there. I'm going to play in that poker tournament," I said, admitting it.

"Don't make no mistake, John, playing poker for money is business just like any other," he said.

"I guess I know that, but I'm not planning on going down there to win big," I said.

"Then you ought not to go. It's fine to understand that you might not win and it's even better not to count on the money you might win, but you'll be ahead if you go down there plannin' to win but with the understanding that you might not. If you'll do that and make sure you don't bet more than you can afford to lose, you'll be way ahead before you leave," George said.

He drank up the rest of his coffee and then said his goodbyes. I took a shower, dressed, and left for Shreveport. It was a little strange that the rain died out before I got to the state line, about fifteen miles away.

There was no way to miss the way to the tournament when I walked into Harrah's. People were lined up to enter, and I had to stand in line about an hour. It was a two thousand dollar buy in and I'd lost half my chips in the first hour.

I caught on though, and by midnight, when we took a break until the next morning, I had forty-five hundred in chips.

The turnout had been a lot larger than they'd expected and the thing lasted two days more than planned. I didn't win but I did make it to the money, and after I went all in the last time and then was all out, I decided to hang around for the finish.

After I cashed out, I went back in to watch the final table. A man who'd gone out just before me approached and asked if I wanted to play in a cash game, elsewhere in the casino. What the hell, I had some cash now. I'd brought five thousand with me and I'd won another fifteen thousand.

I stayed in Shreveport for three more days, playing poker. There were plenty of people that hadn't got their fill during the tournament and I found cash games any time I wasn't sleeping or eating. I even ended up with one of the waitresses spending the night in my room with me the last night I was there.

I'd been tipping all of them twenty bucks every time they brought me a free drink, and even though they were nearly naked in their waitress suits I'd made sure not to talk to their titties. Karen wasn't the only one that was really friendly after the first day.

When I asked her if she wanted to go get something to eat after her shift, on what I'd decided would be my last night in town, she seemed glad to. After a late dinner we just ended up in my room, naked and fucking.

She was much too genuinely enthusiastic to be a hooker, and she was surprised and delighted when I put a lip lock on her pussy after we got our wind back from the first fuck. We were old friends by the time room service brought us a big breakfast the next morning. After breakfast we had a nice ass fuck in the shower and parted company as good friends and fuck buddies, and then I headed back to my rock house.

I took time to look up a place where I could buy some gold before I got out of Shreveport. Hundred dollar bills are nice, but a hundred-and-fifty-six-thousand dollars worth occupy a lot of space. The five-ounce ingots I tracked down were a lot more convenient.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 2


When I pulled off the county road toward my little rock house, I thought I'd made a wrong turn somehow, but I hadn't, because I could see the house. I just didn't know where the iron ore gravel road had come from.

I was surprised again when I saw the shed that Bob had found the time and weather to throw together. I looked it over after I parked my truck in the obvious carport section on the side. I knew it was for my truck because the gravel road ended there.

The barn was forty by sixty and had six stalls in the rear, and a twelve-foot wide central hall. There was a big tack near the front; on the other side of the hall there was an office, and a feed room.

The corrugated iron sheeting on the roof looked suspiciously new, and all the exterior walls were covered with board and batten, which at least looked used. I couldn't resist climbing up to check out the hayloft. It was completely floored with more used lumber and it was full of Coastal Bermuda hay.

The stalls were for horses, or mules, and they had wooden feed troughs with hayracks welded up out of five eights rebar. I could tell the stalls were meant for mules too, because there was a big Missouri mule in one.

In the tack room, I found a set of harness for the mule and a packsaddle rig. The mule was not dismayed to see me come into his new home unannounced, he just kept idly pulling hay from the rack and munching quietly.

The mule wasn't the biggest surprise in the new barn. That award went to the sixteen cubic foot chest type freezer that occupied a large part of the office area. Looking inside, I found it half full of wrapped and labeled beef and pork, along with six different pans containing frozen dishes that had computer printed labels along with instructions taped to the aluminum foil that sealed their tops.

I'd seen about all of it when I heard a vehicle approaching, so I went back outside and was standing under my new carport when George drove up.

"Bob got a little carried away with this project," George said, as soon as he got out.

"It is a lot more than I'd expected and it's certainly well built. I don't know how to thank you, but with the way my luck ran down in Shreveport, I can sure afford to pay for it now," I said.

"You won't believe it, but me an Ethel saw you on TV. Channel Six did a piece about the tournament on the ten o'clock news one night, and there you were, sittin' at the final table," he said.

"I think I remember someone with a TV shoulder cam now that you mention it. I did good enough in the tournament, but I found a new calling after I busted out," I said, grinning.

"How's that?" he asked.

"Where do you think all those guys go after they get knocked out?" I asked.

"Home, I guess."

"Some of them do, but a lot of 'em ain't lost enough money yet, so they hang around a few days and play in private cash games. Lucky for me there were some still there," I told him.

"I never even thought of that."

"Me neither, but I'd barely cashed out before somebody asked me into one. I don't want to brag, but I cleared over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars while I was gone," I said.

"Oh," he said, and he looked slightly upset for some reason I didn't understand.

"I guess you'll be moving down there now," he said.

"What? Not a chance. I'm glad to know I can probably make some money somewhere if I need it, but the way I figure, I won't need any more for the next three or four years. I don't have much to spend it on," I said.

George couldn't help smiling his widest at that, but he didn't say anything more about it.

"I guess you found the freezer and food Ethel sent down here," he said.

"I did, and it was a big surprise too."

"She decided she had to have stand up freezers now, it's gettin' so it's hard for her to bend over and fool around in a chest type anymore. We didn't have a place for that one after the two new ones got delivered from town, so we hoped you wouldn't mind if we gave it to ya.

"I hope you'll try to take it like a man, but I'm afraid that Ethel has decided she needs to make sure you got plenty to eat down here. That ain't all either; she's making noises about you needin' to come up for Sunday dinner. I'll try to settle her down about it if you can't," he said.

"Just tell me what time to show up. I haven't been to a real Sunday dinner in years but I'm pretty sure it won't hurt me a bit," I said, and strangely, I knew I meant it.

"I guess you found Jasper too?" he asked.

"Is that the mule's name?"

"Yep. Bob thought you might want him to tote stuff for ya if you ended up having to stay out overnight foolin' with the coyotes," he said.

"I wouldn't have thought of it on my own, but that is a great idea. It's always easier to get 'em early in the morning or right around sunset."

"That's what Bob thought too. We didn't bring a horse down here cause we figured you'd want to pick out your own. Have you got any tack?" he asked.

"Nope, not a bit."

"That's ok, we got plenty, if you find a saddle you like in it. If ya don't, a guy comes 'round with a tack trailer 'bout ever month or two. He hit's us on his way between horse auctions," George said.

"And if ya need a place to shoot in any of your guns, or just want to bust a few caps, we got a little range cobbled up not far from the house, you can use it anytime ya want, we had old Skeeter, the guy that put the gravel on your road, push us up a big backstop with his dozer."

"That sounds like a hell of a deal, I'm sure I'll be making noise out there sooner or later."

"Good. Nobody uses it much anymore 'cept Bob's boys, Dave and Chuck. They like to burn a bunch of powder when they get in the mood," he said, laughing about it.

"We'll probably get along fine then."

"So I can tell Ethel that you'll be by Sunday, at one?" he asked.

"I'll be there, and maybe Bob and you can show me where to start lookin' for those coyotes."

"We can for a fact. I'll see ya Sunday.

"Uh oh, there's one thing I forgot to tell ya," he said, looking a little sheepish. "I was poking around in my desk, up to the house, and I came across another key to your front door. I made the mistake of mentioning it to Ethel, and she made me bring her down here so she could snoop around. I hope you won't call the law on her, but I can probably bail her out if ya do."

"Don't be silly. I hope she wasn't too upset about my housekeeping."

"I ain't gonna say nothing else. I'll just give you this key so she won't be tempted again, and I think I should move along before you see what she made us do," he said, grinning when he handed me the key and then taking off.

I couldn't think of a thing she could have done that would make me upset after all the food she'd sent me. I could probably get by for six months on the frozen pork and beef, not to mention the lasagna, meatloaf, and other country style meals ready to warm take a ride in the microwave.

I wasn't upset at all when I walked in, but Ethel had surely been busy while I was fucking around down in Shreveport. My airbed was gone and there was what looked like an antique four-poster bed with a canopy that had - whatever you call the crap that looks like curtains to me - hanging down. I don't know what size you would call it, but it was bigger than a king size. I wondered how many women old Ethel thought I'd have moving in down here.

That wasn't even nearly all of it though. I had a new chest of drawers, and this one had two, six-high stacks of drawers. My rope for hanging clothes was replaced by two giant armoires, and I had a large vanity with a tall mirror and matching chair. Sadly, she didn't leave me any makeup. All of the bedroom items obviously matched each other.

There was a dining table and four chairs and it also seemed to go with the bedroom things. Thankfully she'd only scattered two armchairs and one sofa around. Of course, there wasn't that much extra room now.

It was all nice though, and it made the little shack seem almost like a real home. The new side-by-side refrigerator freezer caught my eye next and when I opened it I saw someone had filled both the refrigerator and the freezer with food.

My modest cabinet space was now overflowing with home canned foods, in jars with computer printed labels on each, and dishes. One of my drawers was now officially for cutlery and I had matching knives, forks, and spoons.

Ethel had been busy while I was down in Shreveport sinning. The bathroom was well stocked with towels and washrags, and the commode even had one of those toilet covers, and a matching toilet rug, not to mention the bath mat outside the shower's door.

I fixed myself a big supper and after eating I poked around in my new things, trying to get in my mind where everything was and what was a new arrival. I told myself that I needed to get that spare key back to Ethel as soon as possible. I couldn't think of any place where she had space for additions, but I wasn't taking any chances. I finally crawled into my new bed around nine PM.

I woke at five AM, right on the money. I had coffee made and was out in my lawn chair with my first mug when George came down my new driveway. I went inside, poured him a mug of coffee, and handed it to him as he got out of his truck.

"Thanks, don't tell Ethel, but you make better coffee than she does," he said, taking a sip and then removing a lawn chair of his own from the back of his pickup.

"You can bet that I'm never going to say a thing to Ethel that might make her mad. I couldn't believe how much nicer my house was when I went inside yesterday."

"She tolt me you wouldn't mind, but I was worried anyway," he said.

"Don't be," I said, reaching into my pocket for the spare key and handing it to him. "You need to give her this key back as soon as you get home, and you can tell her that anything she gets in the mood to do to my house is fine with me."

"Got anything on the program for today?" he asked, after a few minutes.

"Not really. I see I don't have to worry about finishing my mowing."

"Yeh, Dave and Chuck figured out that mowing was more fun than working on the barn and they nearly fought over turns on that Kubota. Funny, I don't ever member 'em liking it that well when I had it at my house," he said.

"I guess I'd better thank them too, when I meet them."

"I 'spect you'll meet most everyone tomorrow at dinner. And that brings up why I come down here so early this mornin'," he said.

"You don't need a reason to come down anytime."

"Well, I had one today anyhow. If ya got time, I think you should come on up to the house and see 'bout pickin' out a horse and some tack. I know damned well Ethel ain't gonna let you get away for it tomorrow. She don't pay no attention to going to church or the like, but if somthin' seems like work to her, she won't put up with doin' it on Sunday.

"I thought I could go ahead and show you where we've had coyote problems too, while you 'as up to the house," he said.

"Sounds like a deal to me. Think I've got time to fix a couple of eggs and some toast before we go?" I asked.

"Ya better not, Ethel's expectin' ya for breakfast."

George was right as rain about that. Breakfast was being put on the table by the time we got inside. I barely had time to meet Ethel before she showed me to a chair and brought me a plate, and Ethel had big plates.

I had five fried eggs, what looked like a pound of bacon and that much sausage too, hash browns and fresh baked biscuits, with plenty of coffee that I thought was a lot better than mine, no matter what George said. I had my work cut out for me for a while.

I also met Bob, Bob's wife Wanda, Chuck, Dave, and the ten men and two women that worked on the ranch, since all of them ate breakfast at the same time. I learned later that they all ate together for most meals.

After we'd finished, Bob and George took me into a big room that was obviously their office and showed me some aerial maps and topographical maps of their property. I was impressed, especially with the aerial photos.

They had two places marked where they'd lost stock and three more where they'd seen sign. After I got the lay of it, Bob led me to his desk and called up Google Earth on his big flat panel to give me another view of the area we'd been looking at. I was impressed. Of course I'd heard of the Internet but I didn't have any idea it had such things on it.

"Don't you have a computer?" Bob asked, after I mentioned it.

"No, I wouldn't know how to use one if I did," I said.

"Hah, that's just what I told him. I can tell ya right now that fightin' it ain't gonna do ya no good," George said.

"What?" I asked.

"Bob takes after his mama. You can expect to find one sittin' on your desk in a few days, specially since you gave me that key back for Ethel," George said, laughing at me now.

"But, I don't even have a desk," I said.

"You mean, you don't even have a desk, yet," George said, laughing at me some more.

"If you think I need a computer, I can go out to Wal-Mart and pick one up. I've seen them out there," I said.

Bob snorted and then told me not to waste my money on that junk.

"I'll get Whooper to build you one this week," he said.

"Who is Whooper," I asked.

"Down to the feed store in town. His daddy and momma own the place and he has his computer workshop in a corner not far from the front desk. He works on 'em between time when he ain't loadin' feed," George said.

It sounded like a joke to me at first, but when they kept on I figured out that they meant it. It had been a long time since I was in the feed store and it just didn't sound right. I shut up about it though and decided to drop in down there and see if they were pulling my leg.

We sat around drinking coffee and looking at maps for another half-hour or so, and then George led me out toward a big barn for a look at the horses. He has some nice ones.

I'd about decided that my best choice would be a big gray gelding that they called Simon. He was built well and moved nicely and like all of their horses, he was fat and slick. He must have been gelded early because his long nice neck hadn't developed the normal thickening that a stallion's usually does.

Of course, they led the best horse out last, a stallion. He had wider and more muscular forequarters than Simon, with bulging forearms, and his buttocks, thighs, and gaskins were simply outstanding. Even though he had a slightly thicker neck than Simon, his throatlatch was clean, and his all legs were straight, and looked almost perfect.

I could see his main detraction right away, but I certainly didn't mention it. He had a slight bulge on the bridge of his head, just below his eyes. It was the horse equivalent of a "Roman Nose" and that's what it's normally called.

He didn't really have much of one, but he didn't have the more desirable Arabian-type face. Still, his head was short and small, and his muzzle was trim. I actually thought that the near perfection of the rest of him made the slight show defect on his head stand out.

His coat and color were probably the best I'd ever seen. He was a dark, rich, sorrel and he practically shined. The star, strip, and snip enhanced the intelligent look in his eyes somehow, and the white socks on both rear legs and boots on the front ones just put chrome on his classy paint job.

He was spectacular, but I hadn't ridden in a long while, and I could still remember my old horsemanship mentor telling me, "It takes a professional to handle a stud horse."

"God, he's a beauty, but I think I'd better take Simon. I might live longer," I said.

"You're welcome to him if that's what you want, but I have to ask why you think he's better than Joe Bob, the stallion."

"He isn't better, in my opinion he isn't even close, even though Simon is an extra good horse himself. Simon hasn't got anything hanging that might steal his attention while I've got my mind on something else," I said.

"That's true, but Joe Bob is one of the easiest to handle stallions we've ever raised. He's a stud horse all right, and if he smells a mare in heat he will want some pussy, but he's never done anything stupid under a saddle because of it," George said.

"You make him sound tempting," I said.

"He ought to be. For my money he's the best horse on the place, and as far as a using horse, he can't be beat.

"We quit standing him to outside mares, except for people that already know about him and want him specifically. It wasn't because he ever threw a bad foal, it's just that he's as likely as not to gift 'em with that little bulge just below their eyes, and that kind of thing ain't in fashion now-a-days," he said.

"I might just take you up on him then, I almost never ride on the head anyway," I said, and I was glad I did.

It made George smile wide, and I could tell he had a little defensive streak about Joe Bob. He was right too; I'd probably be better off with the sorrel if I could handle him. Bob joined us then and he actually smiled himself when he learned I wanted Joe Bob.

"Ain't a doubt in my mind he's the best horse on this place, but rich dudes don't know much and they can't get by his head when they want their high priced mares poled.

"I'll tell ya somethin' else about him. We've never had another one as good at reinin', cuttin', and ropin' rolled up into one horse. Joe Bob's a using horse that just happens to look nearly perfect," he said.

"Guess we'd better send old Jeffry down there with him, it'd be better all 'round," George said.

"Who's Jeffry?" I asked.

"T'other mule, the one in the stall right by Joe Bob's," Bob said.

"Joe Bob is used to havin' Jasper on one side of him and Jeffry on t'other. They kinda keep him calmed down. He ain't raised a ruckus over Jasper being gone, but I kin tell he ain't liked it. We'll just send 'em both so the three of 'em can keep each other company," George said.

"Yeh, it won't hurt nothin' and it ain't near as bad as with Show Boy, he'll get in a snit in a heartbeat if he loses track of Blackie, his favorite goat," Bob said.

I didn't need another mule, hell, I probably didn't need the one I had, but it wouldn't be a problem. I knew exactly what they were talking about. It wasn't a bit strange for a horse, and especially a horse that stayed in a stall, to adopt what was more or less a pet. Years ago I'd owned a nice gelding that took up cribbing after his favorite barn cat got killed.

"I'll just go hook a trailer and we can load 'em up," George said.

"Don't bother, I said, I'll just ride Joe Bob and lead Jeffry. I might as well start gettin' to know 'em," I said.

George took me to the tack room then and showed me the saddles that no one was using. I spied the one I wanted right away. It was mostly a roper style, and the horn was even wrapped already to keep dallies from leaving wear marks. It looked every bit the working saddle, and it was the only one I'd ever seen made with rough out leather. There was a matching bridle laying over it.

When I told George I wanted to try it, he went to a different bridle that was hanging on the wall and removed the bit, brought it over and putts it on the bridle that went with my saddle.

"That's Joe Bob's favorite bit. I don't see what he likes about it myself. It's just a fairly plain stainless, low port, grazing bit, but he likes it. I'll tell ya somthin' else, he don't want no copper or sweet iron in his mouth if he can get out of it," George said.

"Hell, it's his mouth and if that's what he likes, I think he ought to have it," I said.

We took the tack out and saddled Joe Bob. While I was at it, George brought out a packsaddle, halter, and lead rope for Jeffry, and put it all on him. He took Jeffry out and tied him to a rail fence while I led Joe Bob out of the barn and climbed aboard.

It was a non-event for Joe Bob, as if he'd been expecting it. I nudged him with my heels and he walked off with a smooth step. I got a surprise when I urged him a little faster. He had a smother type of fast walk that would rival any Walking horse, but I could tell it wouldn't look the same. Hell, it didn't feel the same, but it covered more ground and it didn't shake me like a trot would have.

I urged him into a trot after a minute and even it was better than you'd expect out of a Quarter Horse, in fact it was nearly pleasant. I headed back toward the end of the barn, but George yelled at me.

"Take him out toward that open space over there and make him slow lope. I know he ain't supposed to have one, but he does and you won't believe how smooth it is."

I did it, and George was right. It was like a rocking chair. George let me get down when I came back this time.

"I told you he was the best horse on the place. How did you like that little fast walk he's got?" he asked.

"He's full of surprises. I've never ridden a horse that could do exactly that, and that slow lope was great too," I said.

"I can just tell that you and Joe Bob will get along fine. He likes you too, I can feel it," he said.

"Well that won't hurt nothin'."

"I knew you'd probably need a saddle scabbard, so I found this one and damned if I don't think it came with that saddle. It and the bags both if I remember right," he said, holding up the scabbard in one hand and wagging a set of saddlebags in the other.

I felt a little funny for a minute because, the scabbard was for a scoped rifle and for one with a damned big scope too. Unless I was wrong it would fit my Mauser perfectly, and it plainly matched the saddle and so did the bags. It was just funny that everything seemed to be working out so perfectly.

I tied the bags and the saddle scabbard on and then George returned with a long Mexican style riata, coiled up and ready to go. I tied it on too, and I was beginning to fear that I'd end up with so much stuff that poor Joe Bob couldn't carry it all.

When I finally got away, Joe Bob and Jeffry seemed to be glad to go somewhere. As soon as we got close to my house, they both smelled Jasper, and he smelled them when we were about halfway down my new road. Of course they all gave a loud hello, with both Jasper and Jeffry reminding me that when all was said and done, they were still jackasses at heart.

I'd started to notice, about the time I got home, that no matter what George said, something about the bit bothered Joe Bob. It wasn't a big thing, but he kept fiddling with it in his mouth and with his tongue every now and then. I let it go though, and put he and Jeffry away, with a scoop of whole oats each for Joe Bob and both mules, kind of a welcome home celebration.

When I went in the house I took the saddle scabbard with me and tried it out on my Mauser. I'd installed the ATN 4-12x80 D/NS scope that I'd bought in Shreveport with part of my winnings, though I hadn't sighted it in yet. No matter, it didn't need to be sighted in to make sure it would fit in the scabbard. It did, perfectly, almost as if it had been made for it, and since it was lined with sheepskin I didn't even have to worry about wear on my custom bluing job.

It was hard to shrug off the perfect fit to coincidence but what else could it be. Nothing, it couldn't possibly be anything else.

I didn't really have anything much to do this afternoon and so I drove back up to George's house to follow him around a little. He was glad to see me back and I figured he didn't have any more on his plate than I did.

We watched one of his trainers working with a young horse for a while, and it reminded me about Joe Bob's fiddling with the bit.

"George, are you sure you gave me the right bit for Joe Bob? You said it was the one he liked, but he fiddled with it a good bit."

"That one's his favorite ok. If you look around on the inside of the shanks you'll see we put his name on one of 'em," he said.

"Well, have you ever used him with a bosal?"

"Sure, he likes that a lot better, but I didn't mention it because I wasn't sure you'd like it. We always start them all with a bosal, of course, but Joe Bob just never really liked it when we put a bit in his mouth. He will work fine with one though, he just don't like it," he said.

"Well, I ain't got to wear it. Does he have a favorite bosal too?" I asked.

"Not exactly, but when we've used one, it's always been about a half inch plaited leather. He don't really care for rawhide, and he'll ignore rope if you let him. Course, a lotta the time he knows where he needs to be going better than the rider does, present company excepted, of course," George said.

"Might as well see if I can find one and try it on him," I said.

"Come on in the tack room and let's look around."

"We did, and we found a half-inch, sixteen-strand leather bosal within ten minutes, and George came up with a fiador that I'll swear matched the headstall and saddle I was using in five more. The bosal looked like it would fit Joe Bob perfectly.

They had a big roll of five-eights inch braded nylon rope and George said for me to take what I needed when I asked.

"I bought that whole thousand foot roll for ten bucks at the junk auction right before the horses started sellin' two weeks ago. We took a twenty-four foot gooseneck, thinkin' we'd find a few mares, but that damned roll of rope is the only thing we saw worth the money," George said, and then laughed.

"I've been to a lot of auctions like that. Remember when old Bobby used to have those auctions, for registered stock only, up there?"

"Remember 'em well, but that was two fires ago. You'd think they'd grease it where the insurance policy keeps rubbin' up against the buildin'. It'd cut down on the friction that keeps startin' them fires." George said, but even he couldn't laugh at that old joke, and he was the one that told it.

"Got a piece of one by twelve around here, and four small nails?" I asked.

"I know we got some two by stuff and a world of nails. What you need?" he asked.

"Any wide board would do for that matter, and I just need it for a few minutes, to tie the reins and lead rope knot for the bosal," I said, as I melted both ends on the twenty-five feet of nylon rope I'd cut off.

"I ain't trying to be nosey, John, but why do you need a board and nails to tie a few knots?" he asked.

"Cause I'm not good enough to tie it freehand, and it's only one knot," I said.

"You mean to tell me you can tie the real Spanish knot to make the reins and lead rope for that bosal?" George asked.

"I was able to last time I tried, and it was such a bitch to learn to tie in the first place that I don't think I've forgotten," I said, grinning.

"If you can tie it, or even try to, I'll find a whole sheet of plywood if it'll help, as long as you let me watch," he said.

We went looking for a board and it was the damnedest thing. We found a two foot one by twelve almost as soon as we went looking, and it was sittin' on a keg of number six finish nails. George found a claw hammer on a nearby shelf and in five minutes we were in business.

"Wouldn't you know it, I sold the book I found the instructions for this knot in at my yard sale. I'm sure I'll remember it though," I said.

"Ain't that the shits? I've only seen the real thing twice and never knew there was a book that told how to tie it. I wish I'd a come by your sale," George said.

"I'm pretty sure you can find the book in the library now. A woman that bought some of my furniture liked the bookcase, and she paid forty bucks extra for the books. She said she was gonna donate the books to the library and then write it all off on her taxes, even had me give her a receipt claiming the whole amount was for books.

"Damned if I'd told that around, even if I'd a done the same thing, but I did write it out for an extra hundred. If she was going to fuck the IRS, then I just had to do whatever I could to help," I said.

"Do ya member the name of the book?" he asked.

"I think it was, 'Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding" by Bruce Grant, but I'm not sure. I had several books about such, three or four of them were by a guy who raises and trains Paso Fina horses down in Florida, and his name might have been Dave Jones, but that's the best I can do at this late date. I only remember the name of the other one because it always struck me funny for a book about plaitin' and tyin' knots," I said.

"Ethel gives the library donations and books all the time, I'll bet she can find out for me. I'd like for Chuck and Dave to learn that," he said.

"I don't mind tryin' to show 'em how, but they'd probably do better if they looked in the book, if you can find it. It shows how to tie it freehand too, but I just couldn't figure it out, I don't think I've got enough fingers."

It took me thirty minutes to get it tied, but I was guessing at the length of the rein. I'd try it on Joe Bob and change it if it didn't suit me.

"I think you did it, it looks a lot better than most do. Looks like you did it on purpose, and most of 'em don't," he said.

I thanked him and went back to the house to try it. He let me have the board when I asked. I might need it again if the reins weren't right.

When I had the bosal on the headstall I gave Joe Bob a fitting and everything was perfect after I finished adjusting the Fiador. That wouldn't happen twice in ten years. Things seemed to be going fine today, so I saddled Joe Bob up again and took another test ride. It didn't take five minutes to know he liked the bosal a lot better than the bit, and I decided to keep using it on him unless he acted up.

I showed up at five until one the next day and they didn't waste any time putting food on the table, so I didn't waste any getting rid of what they put in front of me. It was probably a good thing, because Ethel didn't go for any funny business with Sunday dinner.

Chuck and Dave tried to start something between them once, but Ethel brought it to a screeching halt with barely more than a hard look. George told me later that the last time they played up at Sunday dinner, Ethel had made them eat their supper out in the barn, from horse trough. He laughed like hell about it, and then I did too.

It was mostly just sitting around and talking after lunch. The hands had all eaten with us, just like at the breakfast I'd been to, and when they took off after about an hour, I did too. I intended to go out and fart around with Joe Bob and the mules, but I'd eaten so much I was sleepy by the time I got home, so I took a nap.

My nap lasted about three hours, and after it was done it was suppertime, so I fixed a little something and ate it. It was too late to go out and mess with Joe Bob, so after feeding him and the mules their supper I went back in the house and back to bed.

The next morning I was up at three AM, fixed my breakfast and some coffee and after that was done, it was time to go show Joe Bob there was more to ranchin' than fucking, and knocking down fences. I poured a couple of scoops of whole oats into his trough, and then did the same for both mules. By the time I'd filled up their hay mangers, Joe Bob had polished off his oats, so it was on with the headstall and bosal, and out into the hall he came.

After saddling him, thirty minutes of riding out behind the barn had the sleep out of his eyes, so I tied him to the hitching rail Bob had provided and went into the house for the 8mm in its saddle scabbard and slung the web belt and Glock around my waist. I got a hundred rounds of 8mm cartridges and a few sighting targets too, plus my spotting scope.

Joe Bob and I just rode around killing time until the sun was up and then I rode to George and Ethel's house to let them know I was going to be sighting in the rifle. If it just so happened that Ethel invited me in for breakfast, well I wasn't in such a hurry that I didn't have time to be sociable. Like I said, it was depression that had troubled me, not stupidity.

After breakfast I wasn't sure that Joe Bob could still carry me, he did though and I made it to the backstop George had let Skeeter push up for practicing against.

There was a backstop all right, and they had metal target frames, distance markers, and a shooting bench with a roof over it, of course.

I had used an attachment for bore sighting to give me a rough center when I mounted the scope, so it wasn't too far off to begin with. It was hitting on the paper from the first shot and I kept on until I had it hitting on target, four and a half inches above the mark at a hundred yards. I moved back to the bench and fired from two hundred and it was right on the money.

The former Mauser would do MOA anytime and the damned scope was so clear that I could read the fine print on the targets from two hundred yards. I was impressed. I decided to ask George if it would wake them up from here if I tried out the night vision eyepiece before sunup in the morning.

After fifty rounds I figured it was as good as it was going to get. I love the rifle and the cartridge, but under that scope it was a little like a five thousand dollar saddle on Jasper's back.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 3


Sometimes it's funny, the things you'll do just for the hell of it, especially after you've just come into more money than you really need. There was nothing inherently wrong with the 8mm Mauser, but there were no solid advantages for me either, except for the excellent action. After I'd paid good money for the custom barrel about three years ago, it was the equal of a 30-06, accuracy wise, for my skills anyway. What it wasn't, was a rifle you'd normally put such an expensive scope on.

Given equal bullet weights, I could load rounds to match 30-06 ballistics, there just weren't that many bullet weights to choose from for the Mauser, it wasn't as versatile. No matter though, I almost never had a shot over two hundred yards, because if I did, I'd try to get closer.

What the hell, the new scope could fit any rifle I wanted to buy, and if the Mauser became a problem, I could always put a Redfield 4x12 on it and hang it on the wall. Without a doubt, it looked impressive.

After I was satisfied, I rode Joe Bob back to the house. Tying him to the hitch rail, I loosened the saddle girth and escorted Jasper out into the hall to put the packsaddle rig on him. Jeffry looked like I'd slapped his jaws so I got him out and rigged him up too.

A little looking around let me find some heavy-duty plastic trash bags. I think they were leftover leaf bags that Chuck and Dave might have used to haul off the clippings after the mowing, since I'd noticed that the yard looked like it had been raked after it was mowed. Who ever heard of raking up the clippings when you mowed an acre of what was essentially a pasture?

Anyway, I took the bags and loaded up about twenty pounds of whole oats in each of the eight that were left, using them as filler for Jasper's and Jeffry's packsaddles. Hooking Jeffry's lead rope to Jasper's harness gave me a mule train of two, and after retightening Joe Bob's girth, I mounted and took off for another trial run.

A ride down to George's house let me check out my camping rig and all parties involved were on good behavior. George came out of the big barn as I rode up and looked over my two-mule train.

"Hell, you look like you know what you're doing," he said.

"At least I've still got enough on the ball to fool you."

"We'll see, are you headed out to give the coyotes a look?"

"Not yet. I wanted to make sure they'd all work together, more or less in line. Right now I'm headed back to the range to find out how Joe Bob likes being a gun platform, in case I end up having to shoot from the saddle," I said.

"Have ya et yet?" he asked.

"Not since breakfast, but I seem to remember someone making sure I did my share then," I said, smiling.

"We just finished lunch not long ago, but if you'll promise to ride back by here, I'll bet I can arrange for a couple of sandwiches to be waiting for you," he said.

"I'm not asking for a free meal, you understand, but I will come back by and if there's food around that no one else has spoken for, I will eat it just to help you and Ethel out."

Since I wasn't smart enough to think ahead this morning, I had to dismount and put up new targets and then ride back out a little. When Joe Bob felt me pull the Mauser out of the saddle scabbard he seemed to get really still.

I'd seen horses do this before and they were usually getting set to tense up and jump at the loud noise they already knew was coming. It often happened with a horse that had been fired from before and didn't like it worth a shit. I made the best preparations I could for a wild ride and then fired in the general direction of the backstop.

I had underestimated Joe Bob. He hadn't started trembling and twitching his skin like I'd expected. Thinking it over, it was almost as if he were being still so I'd have a good shot. That couldn't be it though, horses just aren't that smart.

I went ahead and took a couple of real shots then, and there weren't any problems, except for the scope waving all over the place because I just couldn't hold it steady enough without a rest.

I rode down to the targets and saw that I'd at least got every one of the shot on the paper somewhere. On my next try, I dialed the scope back down to its lowest setting - four power - and rode out to try again.

My shooting was vastly improved and there even seemed to be groups on the targets now instead of just flyers everywhere.

For my last try I rode off about a quarter of a mile and trotted back toward the targets, pulling the rifle without reining in and then stopping Joe Bob and his mule train at my best guess of a hundred yards from the targets. He firmed up and got still at once and the shooting was as good as it had been from an intentional stop.

That was as good as I could expect but the Mauser just wasn't a saddle gun. I didn't plan to be shooting from Joe Bob's back anyway, but if it came up, the scoped Mauser would be a poor second to a saddle gun with iron sights.

When you're aiming through a scope, you can't help but try to correct when you get off target. The higher you have the magnification dialed up, the worse off you are, especially when you don't have a steady position.

Even with Joe Bob trying to stand still, and me trying to hold a steady aim, the scope was doing more to hurt than to help in this situation. It would have been better if I could dial it back to no magnification, but it wasn't intended for this type of shooting. The best I could do from the saddle was plainly a work-around.

I cleaned up my mess, collecting all the used targets and putting them in Joe Bob's saddlebags. Then I rode back to George's house to see if a late lunch had appeared as advertised.

I tied my little train out by the barn and loosened Joe Bob's girth again. George came out to ask me how things had gone.

"Joe Bob must have been fired off of more than I'd thought," I said.

"Not really, we give every horse we ride an introduction but as far as I know, that's all he's had," he said.

"Funny, he did so well the first time that I thought it was a lie and got ready for a good ride. It wasn't though. He seemed like he knew what I was doing and was trying to help," I said.

"That's funny. I know he's smart, but he ain't that smart," George said, leading me toward the house all the while.

Ethel had two big roast beef sandwiches waiting for me, and she seemed genuinely happy to see me. She poured me a big glass of milk when I sat down and she sat with George and I while I ate.

"I'm happy to see someone who knows what he's doing going after those damned coyotes. We've had two different men come out to hunt them and I knew from the start neither one would do anything useful.

"It was bad enough when they were bothering the stock, but for about the last week they've been getting close enough so their yipping at night is waking me up," she said.

"Well John can't do miracles, Ethel," George said.

"I know that, and you needn't look so smug just because you can sleep through a tornado. Even if he just rides out close to 'em they'll back off for a few days," she said.

"I hadn't thought about that," George said.

"Of course you hadn't, I would never have married you if you weren't a man, and momma told me that not thinking about it was what men were best at," she said, and then softened the blow by laughing at George.

I couldn't help it, I had to laugh too, and then George couldn't stop himself.

"Well, if your momma said it, I believe it. If it weren't for her, God rest her soul, and you - I'd be a hand on somebody else's ranch instead of the boss, kinda, of my own," George said.

"And you can quit trying to sweet talk me at the table. You're not gettin' another thing to eat until suppertime. John missed his lunch workin' and that's why he's eatin' now. If I remember right, you didn't miss out on a bite.

"I guess I could make some coffee though," she said, getting out of her chair to do it.

"Well, it wasn't exactly real work?" I said.

"Yes it was. You were making sure the rifle would hit what you aimed at weren't you?"

"That's exactly what I was doing, that and making sure Joe Bob would stand still for it," I said.

"Ain't no different from a man sharpening his axe before he has to cut firewood. You was making sure your tools were ready," she said, brooking no more argument.

She poured us all a cup of coffee and we talked more while we drank it. I mentioned that I'd decided my Mauser wasn't much as a saddle gun and Ethel spoke up.

"George, have you ever even shot that gun Chuck and Dave gave you for Christmas two years ago?" she asked.

"No, and it's a fine saddle gun, a Marlin 30-30. John, why don't you give it a whirl if you've got time? I think I've got a saddle scabbard for it too," he said.

"It's what I'd have gone to town looking for this afternoon. I don't care much for lever guns, but Marlin does the best job with them in my opinion.

"Do you think Chuck and Dave will mind? You said it was a gift to you."

"They won't mind a bit, especially if you get some coyotes. The foal they killed was for the boys and they don't think coyotes are one bit of fun now," George said.

I agreed to see if I could try it out, and the coffee klatch broke up when he came back with the brand new Marlin 336c. George and I went off to the tack room and he found a saddle scabbard for it almost right away. It was a little odd to me that it matched the rough out leather of my saddle, the same as the scabbard for the Mauser had.

I didn't usually give much thought to happy coincidences, but it was just odd that there were two saddle scabbards that matched my saddle so perfectly, especially since it was the only saddle I'd seen around here that was rough out. In fact, it was the only rough out saddle I'd ever seen, except in a catalog or something.

I moved the Mauser's scabbard over to the right side and put the Marlin's on the left, since it would be the one I'd want to get out fast. After retightening Joe Bob's girth, I led him to the house while George went back inside to find the cartridges he'd said he had.

He came back with ten boxes of Hornady one-seventy grain flat nose. I loaded the Marlin and put the rest in Joe Bob's bags.

We made another trip to the range and I started out twenty-five yards from the new targets I put up, and worked my way back adjusting as I went.

I had the Marlin sighted for dead on at a hundred yards in about an hour and then Joe Bob, me, and the mules made a couple of strafing passes. The lever gun worked a lot better for this. I could get on target a lot faster with the iron sights and even got better groups from the saddle than I had with the Mauser.

I went back to George's house again and this time I arrived at mealtime. They were about to sit down to supper and I didn't mind joining them at all. After we were done I told them I'd be taking off around midnight probably. One of the hands, Carl, said he'd seen some new sign today and when I asked, he told me where. George, Bob, Carl, and I slipped off to the office and Carl showed me where he'd seen it on the map.

I rode home after that, tended to my stock, and then went in for a little sleep. I woke at midnight, fixed a quick breakfast, and then headed to the barn. I gave Joe Bob, Jeffry, and Jasper a scoop of oats and then went to the house to get the saddlebags and the two rifles. I'd packed the saddlebags with enough food for at least a night and a day, even though I didn't plan on staying out tonight.

There was a full moon when I left the house and within an hour and a half I had Joe Bob hobbled with the mules still in line and tied off to the saddle horn. I'd already decided they were well trained enough to keep from making a fuckup out of things while I was occupied.

In the dark, moving the last four hundred yards to the place I wanted to watch from was a bitch, even with a full moon. If I ended up doing much of this I intended getting a pair of night vision goggles. I didn't fall down during my trip but I did stumble more than once.

I found a good place to crawl under a bush and thought I had a good field of fire. It was more of a pain in the ass using the Mauser's scope for spotting than I'd expected, and the night vision goggles were looking, or sounding, better all the time.

Of course, I was in place too early, and I lay out on the ground for two hours. Too early was better than too late though, and I was excited and happy when I saw three coyotes coming near at about four thirty AM.

When they were within a hundred and fifty yards I couldn't stand it anymore. I took a shot, worked the bolt, and when I looked again there were still two of 'em standing. I guessed they had been so surprised that they hadn't figured out where I was yet. I was able to get another one and counted myself lucky as hell when only the third ran off.

Damn, I was nearly as happy as when I shot my first buck at age fourteen. I also knew I'd been damned lucky and I figured that the coyotes had given up on paying attention since no one had been really bothering them. I went back to Joe Bob and the mules, and after taking the hobbles off him, I mounted up and rode over to find the dead meat.

They'd both dropped right where I shot them so it wasn't a job. I had some nylon sash cord in one of Joe Bob's bags so I cut off a few feet and tied the coyotes together by the neck, slinging them over and onto Jasper's packsaddle, and then tying them down. He didn't like it but he didn't raise a ruckus. We headed for George's house.

Ethel was out the back door like a shot when she saw me ride up. She hugged my neck and kissed me on the cheek when she noticed what Jasper was carrying.

"I knew damned well you were going to get rid of those things for me. You have got a lot of breakfast coming as soon as it's ready," she said, heading back into the house.

George had been in the barn when I came up and when he'd seen Jasper's freight he called back into it for Jake, one of their hands.

"Mind if I let Jake skin 'em out?" George asked, when he reached me.

"Not a bit, they're all yours as far as I'm concerned. I plan on bringing ya some more later on," I said.

"Well, that will shore help Ethel's feelings. She woke up when you fired the first shot and nearly hollered that you'd got one and when you shot again she got out of bed and got dressed, she was so happy she didn't even try to go back to sleep. I guess they've been bothering her more than I knew," George said.

"I was lucky as hell this morning and I'm not sure I will be every time," I said.

"Nobody's lucky every time. Hell, life wouldn't be no fun if you were. Did you get 'em with the Mauser or the Marlin," he asked.

"The Mauser. I couldn't even have seen 'em without that night vision scope, and that's another thing, can you really buy things off the Internet?" I asked.

"We do it all the time, but ya just have to be sure about who you're sending your credit card number to. We usually only buy from pretty well known places with a card. If we're not sure about 'em, we send a money order. Were ya needin' to order somethin'?"

"I wanted to check out some night vision goggles. The scope worked out ok, but it's not much good for scanning around in the dark," I said.

"If you know who makes 'em they won't be hard to find."

Ethel stuck her head out the door and called George and me inside. Nobody else was at the table yet, but she was pouring three cups of coffee, and it was clear she wanted to sit down, and I figured she wanted the whole story. I was right.

"George, right after breakfast I want you and Bob to find him the best night vision truck you can, and see if they can deliver them yesterday; tell Jake to get those hides in shape to be stuffed. I think I'll have a few of the little darlin's right here in the house. Do you remember the name of that boy that's tryin' to learn to taxidermy?" she asked.

"Naw, I can't call it, but I know right where to find him. He works at the wood yard in Jefferson, the one right by the Burford railroad switch," he said.

"Good, I want you to go down there and see about him mountin' 'em for me. He did a good job on a Bobcat for the Lummus boy, made it look like the cat was hunting. I want 'em done like that," she said.

I could tell they would be done exactly like that, whichever way it was. When she said frog, George jumped. I'm sure it was because she had control over most of his food, and all of his pussy.

People started drifting in for breakfast about then. Ethel got up to help the other three women get it ready and we men got to drink coffee and shoot the shit for about ten minutes before it started showing up.

Chuck and Dave wanted to gobble their food and rush out to see the coyotes but Wanda told them they weren't moving from the table until everyone else was done, and that wasn't all.

"Have you two checked on John's lawn? I don't intend for you to let it go a month and get knee high," Ethel said.

"No ma'am, we haven't checked it since we mowed it last week," Dave told her.

"Well it's your job now and I want it looking good. You'll never make a lawn out of a pasture if you don't mow it plenty. Be sure to rake it good the next four of five times too," she said.

"But it's real big now, gramma," Chuck said, and I saw that Dave wished he hadn't.

"And just how did it get so big? I know it was marked off to just one acre by the surveyor."

"Well, me and Dave got done before we were tired of mowing, so we went around on the outside a few extra times and that made it bigger," Chuck said, explaining.

"See there, now you have it just the size you wanted it. I think it looks nice that way. I'm proud of you two and your artistic lawn mowing touch.

"Be sure you don't forget to rake your creation really good. If you need more plastic bag to gather up the clippings, just tell your grandpa, he'll be glad to get you more."

"Can we go see the coyotes now?" Dave asked.

"I guess so. Look 'em over good and let me know if you want one of the stuffed ones for your rooms. If you take good care of John's lawn he'll probably shoot a couple just for you," she said.

They didn't respond to that, they just took off to find the coyotes that were already here. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing before they were out the door. Everybody else must have had to do the same, because when the door shut behind them, everybody broke out.

After I'd tanked up on coffee, for no good reason, George and I went into the office and began our hunt for night vision goggles. They weren't what I'd expected at all.

Apparently there was a good bit of stuff they had to have to make them work. The smallest ones I found were, N-Vision Optics - Sierra 1, and they looked more like really small binoculars to me, with a pad that went against your forehead and something curved that fit around the back of your head, I assumed it was a part of the business because it connected to the front part with a wire.

They were the only goggles I saw that I might want, but I decided against them because we couldn't find a picture of the strap that held them on. I'd already seen what all the other models needed to keep them in place, and they reminded me of a football helmet without the outer shell, with chin straps, and straps over and behind your head. Most of them were pictured with a soldier's helmet ghosted in to show where they fit.

It made me wonder just who bought night vision goggles. If a soldier needed some he wouldn't have to buy them, they'd be issued, and who besides a soldier would be wearing a damned helmet? I sure as hell wasn't expecting the coyotes to be shooting back at me.

In the end I decided on binoculars, even though I thought the Sierra 1s might have done the job fine. After finding a picture of almost everything else they had, the lack of one for the soft strap as they called it, made me suspicious, and I wasn't about to spend six hundred bucks for something that might suit me, even if it was George's money.

We went to ATN's website. I looked over the binoculars and decided on a pair of first generation Night Shadows. George wanted me to pick something more ornate, as in expensive.

"Ethel will have my hide stuffed too if she thinks I tried to cut corners on this," he said.

"I feel for ya, George, but those others all look too heavy to hold up one handed while I'm ridin'. Pick out any other set that you think you have to, but don't forget these. They look just right for what I want. I'll be glad to pay for 'em myself," I said.

"Don't dare say that around Ethel, she'll think I put you up to it. Besides, the government will be paying part of it. Deductions don't ya know," he said.

"How in hell do you think you're going to get night vision equipment to fly as a deduction for a farm and ranch?" I asked.

"We have a predator problem. We've already hired men to take care of it and they couldn't. We've lost stock because of the predators and we have to get them taken care of before we lose more.

"Now they might gripe, and they might try to disallow it, but we've got a damned good accounting company that takes care of our dealings with the cut throat bastards and we've been to the mat with them before, more than once. We've never lost out in the end, and they're coming close to the point we can claim they're harassing us, besides, they've pissed me off," George said.

I gave up, went outside, and rode Joe Bob home, leading my mule train behind me. I put everything away, fed the stock, went inside, and found my bed. I was going to have a snooze and then be out again, just before sunset.

I left the mules in the barn for our sunset cruise but we did well without them. I was barely a mile from the house when a big wolf showed himself to me, down in a little draw. I guess he was accustomed to seeing men on horseback and not being bothered by them. He never would better the error of his ways.

I yanked out the Marlin and popped one through his right shoulder without him even trying to run; the arrogant bastard was a dead wolf after that.

I rode Joe Bob off about five hundred yards, hobbled him and as the sun was setting I slipped back toward the wolf. Sure enough there were two coyotes sniffing around his dead body and I lay down with the Mauser and crawled as close as I dared. I got both of them.

I realized I'd fucked up by leaving the mules at the house, so I waited for about another hour to make sure nothing came up to the carcasses. When nothing showed, I got Joe Bob and went back for Jasper.

It was nearly ten o'clock by the time I got to George's house but he came right out the door as we came up.

"Ethel said you'd bring some more kills by. Jake is a waitin' for 'em and Carl too, I think. Let's take 'em 'round behind the barn," he said.

We did.

"Hey, you got a big wolf too this time," Jake said, when he met us.

"He got himself killed. He let me see him down in a draw and I know he knew I was there. I got him with George's Marlin, right from the saddle. The damnedest thing was, when I rode off a bit, hobbled Joe Bob and slipped back up on the spot afoot, the coyotes were sniffing around his dead body, so I shot them too," I said.

"They've had it too easy for so long that they aren't as smart as they ought to be. It was like that when we first started having trouble with 'em. We got a few with traps at first, then they wised up," Carl said.

I left them to it and went back to my house. It was nearly midnight by the time I found my bed. I'd already told George I wouldn't be going out at sunrise this morning.

After I woke up around eight AM, I fixed my own breakfast for a change. I'd just walked out the door to go feed my stock when George came driving up.

"Mornin' George," I said, as he got out of his truck.

"To you too. Let me tell you, your stock has gone way up in Ethel's estimation," he said.

"It has?" I asked.

"Shore has. She sent me down here to take you to the hardware store as soon as you feel up to it," he said.

"The hardware store?"

"Yep. They got a Radio Shack in it now, and they got cell phones. I have to take you down there and get you a cell phone on our plan. She don't want you out ridin' around at night without one.

"She got worried about it last night after she found out you'd got a wolf. Besides, she wants me to ask you if you'll call when you get something, if you have time.

"She's got that taxidermy man on her mind now and I'm 'fraid she's gonna work him to death. All five of the skins are already over to his place, she made Jake leave with the three from last night before breakfast, and after Jake told her his number, she called him and hired him away from the wood yard," George told me.

"What?"

"Yep. She was asking him how long it was gonna take, and he told her that he could only do it when he had time away from work. Then he let slip he was hoping that he could quit work at the wood yard and start doing that all the time, if he ever got enough business.

"Ethel told him he had enough business right now and that she'd make sure he kept enough as long as he kept doing good work. Before it was over, he'd called in his notice and he'll be out here tomorrow to explain to Bob what kind of things he'll need put in the shop they're going to build him out by the big barn," George said.

"I hope I haven't caused a bunch of trouble, George. Bob won't be upset about it, will he?" I asked.

"He's worse than Ethel. He's happier than a pig in shit. He always wanted to be a carpenter anyway; he just didn't think he could make enough money at it. He can hardly wait to get started on the shop and I know it's already gonna be twice as big as the taxidermy boy wants. You saw how your shed got away from him," George said.

"Yeh, and I'm not sorry about it, even if I guess I should be," I said.

"I don't know of anyone that is, 'cept maybe Chuck and Dave over their new lawn mowin' job. That's their own fault and they know it," George said, and then laughed.

"Well, if I gotta have a cell phone, I gotta have one. It probably is a good idea for someone that's ridin' around a horseback at night. Let me feed, then we'll get a mug of coffee to go and take off."

I hadn't realized how far things had gone with cell phones because I'd never paid them any attention. Hell, I practically hated the telephone and even when I'd lived in town I never answered it. I'd had an answering machine and if someone called that I wanted to talk to I called them back. There were damned few of those though.

Cell phones were small now too. The last ones I'd paid any attention to at all were just getting small enough to carry in a bag. The one I got at the Radio Shack fit in my shirt pocket and I still had room in there for a pack of Winstons. For a minute I thought about taking up the habit again.

The part that really got me was the camera. I wasn't going to get that one because it cost more than the one I thought would do fine. George talked me into it.

"If it's light enough out you might have time enough to get a picture of something before you cash it in. It would tickle hell out of Ethel, and Bob has a printer that can make photo quality prints," he said.

"I never even thought of that. Some of those night vision binoculars, the more expensive ones, said something about attaching to a camera," I said.

"Yep, I ordered one of those when you suggested how to jack up the bill for Ethel's sake. When I told her about it, she called 'em on the phone and made them tell her about the best camera for using with 'em.

"They don't sell the cameras, but they gave her the phone number of a place they dealt with and before it was all over they changed the order on the binoculars I'd bought and Ethel had ordered a Nikon camera to fit on those.

"It don't even use film, just saves the pictures and you print 'em out on printers like Bob has," George said.

"Well it sounds like fun anyway. I always wanted to learn to use a camera. I hope Ethel likes the pictures I take," I said.

"I'm sure she will. The camera man that sold her the Nikon said it would even take a picture of what you saw through the night vision part. He's got her really anxious to see some of those. When it all gets here, try to get some night time shots, even if it's just the trees or bushes," George said.

It was nearly time for lunch when we got back to George's house. My first surprise was that FedEx had already brought my binoculars, George's pair, and the camera that went with those.

The next surprise was that the taxidermist was there too. He and Bob had been working in the office with a house-planning program on the computer. They were going over where things would be in the new shop.

Chris, the taxidermist, was excited about the camera too and asked me if there'd be any hope of getting a picture of a wolf or coyote before I killed them.

"I'm not sure, but I probably could have done it with the first five, especially if the ones through the new binoculars look good enough. I know I'd have had plenty of time to do it, for everything except the wolf and maybe for it. I guess it's mainly if I can learn to take the pictures with all that stuff," I said.

"Well, don't let a good chance to kill something slip away, but I'd like a picture first too if you can work it out," Ethel said.

"Since you've been working out most of my meals, I'll put the pictures right up at the top of my list," I said.

We laughed at that and then got down to the serious business, lunch. After that, and more coffee than was good for me, I bundled all the new stuff up and went to my house to study. Ethel had made George spend a good bit for this camera deal and I intended to make it work out.

I took a few shot with the phone first and then called Bob like he'd asked me too. He hadn't said why he wanted me to call, but when I did he explained how to send the pictures to him over the phone connection. I was amazed with that.

After I was sure I had the phone camera deal worked out, I started reading directions for the big binoculars and the camera that went with them. I was still hard at it when my new telephone rang.

When I answered, it was George, saying Ethel made him call to remind me it was nearly time for supper. I hopped in my truck and headed that way. This coyote hunting job sure came with good food.

After supper, Bob showed me the pictures I'd taken with the phone and then sent to him. I was amazed again. They were just shots of the barn he'd built me and a few of Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry but I couldn't believe how good they looked after he'd printed them.

I begged off shortly after that and went back to the house for more of my camera studying. I hate to read the directions that come with something, but I'd found out a long time ago that whatever it was usually worked better if you did read the directions, every word of them and most of them twice.

When it was good and dark I went outside and tried a couple of pictures with the phone. It didn't work and I hadn't expected it too. I turned on the tiny flash thing and it did work. I was batting a thousand so far.

Going outside with the binoculars I'd ordered next was a real revelation. Hell, I could see fine. It wasn't like daylight or anything but I didn't have a bit of trouble seeing what I was looking at, of course the moon was bright and the instructions had said those were the best conditions for this type of night vision truck. It was called generation 1 or some such.

The high priced spread George had ordered came next and it was even better, or course it should be. They were also harder to handle with one hand, but I found that they weren't too bad if I let the rubber eyepieces rest on my cheekbones and kinda braced the back of the thing up with them.

After going into the house and hooking up the camera, I went back outside to give it a try. I didn't even try to look through the camera's eyepiece, I just looked through the binoculars, pointed and pressed the button on the cable release that had come with the camera. I took four or five pictures but I wasn't really expecting much in the dark, with no flash.

When I got back in the house I had to unhook the camera from the binoculars and then try to look at the pictures with the little screen on the back of the camera.

They were a hundred percent better than I'd thought they would be. That wasn't too hard because I'd expected them to all be just black, like the ones I took with my phone before turning on the flash.

They weren't as good as the ones the phone and flash had made. Still, I was impressed, a lot. I was also tired so I put my new toys away and crawled into bed.

I figured the few new pictures I had with the big binoculars and the new camera qualified as early morning news. Since I woke up in plenty of time to make myself a pest before breakfast, and thus, in time for breakfast, I made my way down to George's place in time to tell Ethel I had a few test shots for her to see. If that was in time to eat too, well I couldn't help it.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 4


We put off messing with the camera until breakfast was over and most of the coffee was gone. I noticed that Chris, the taxidermist, hadn't caught on to the proper feeding times yet; that was his loss. Then again, he had a wife and maybe he liked her cooking, or something.

Bob, George, and I went into the office and Bob showed me how to hook the camera to his computer to get the pictures off. There was a special connection for it and as soon as he plugged it in, something popped up on the screen and then smaller versions of the pictures started showing up. Bob called them thumbnails.

When he clicked on one, it blew up to take in the whole screen and it was easy to tell that these shots showed up better than a picture taken in the dark had any right to. He did something else with his mouse and the color laser printer started making noise.

When the pictures came out, they weren't nearly as good as the others he'd printed. I wasn't going to say anything about it, but he started explaining that the color laser printer wasn't the photo quality one he'd used before. Maybe I'd learn something after all if I kept hanging around long enough.

We went right out and showed them to Ethel and she was probably more surprised than I'd been.

"You took these last night in the moonlight?" she asked.

"Sure did."

"You could probably make a good livin' up at the Wooden Indian about closing time every night. Take pictures of who's leaving with who and there's no tellin' how much you could make on blackmail," she said, laughing just a little.

"I believe I'll just stick to poker if I need money. The other guys at the table hardly ever shoot you, even when you win," I said.

"Just the same, don't lose that thing. I might need you to keep up with where George sneaks around to at night," she said, and laughed louder this time.

"What are you talkin' 'bout Ethel. I'll bet I haven't been out of your sight after dark for fifteen minutes total in the last thirty years," George said, laughing himself now, along with everybody else.

"Maybe, but momma told me not to let you roam far after sunset," she said.

"She told me she told you that, and it's why I always make sure you know where I am at nighttime," George said.

"And all these years I thought you were just scared of the dark," Ethel said, and everyone howled.

"Where's Chris, your new man?" I asked.

"He still has to help out at the woodyard, until he gets the new fellow trained for everything. That could take a while too, since they hired a Log Truck Driver to take his place," Ethel said.

"Now Ethel, that ain't nice. Some of those drivers are ok," George said.

"They get some pretty good ones during the high part of the cycle, but they've swung low right now," Ethel said.

"What cycle?" I asked.

"The boom or bust cycle. The paper mill keeps it stirred up, mostly by outsmarting themselves. They try to regulate things with the price they pay for pulpwood, but they can't get it right.

"They were buying hell out of pulpwood for the last three years and acted like they couldn't get enough. Last year they finally got their big woodyard, across the road from the mill, filled up, and quit buying.

"All the loggers that had been going good got their quotas cut to nothing. Probably more than half of the woods crews and truck drivers damn near starved to death last summer. The slow down cut their throats right when they needed to be puttin' money back to keep up their truck and equipment payments during the rainy months. The Western Star and Mack dealers in Texarkana will have their lots full of repoed trucks before Christmas.

"Just wait, by February the Domino mill will be paying them to haul timber down from Pine Bluff again, like they had to six years ago. The freight will cost nearly as much as the timber. They'll have a new manager at the paper mill before long, and the poor bastard who thought he knew how to run the place will be out looking for a job," George said.

"You talk like it's about to make you cry over the poor men out of work. You know you've been hoping Calderson would go broke so you could pick up the four thousand acres of timberland he bought right next to us. There ain't a chance in hell he can stay current now, and he hasn't cut the first damned log off it," Bob said.

"It is sad, and there's more. He won't get a chance to cut any. The repo man came after his sawhead and delimber last week," George said, looking hang dog for a couple of seconds and then laughing out loud.

"I still don't know what you wanted with four thousand more acres, and almost all of it in timber," Ethel said.

"Why it's for Chuck and Dave."

"Chuck and Dave don't want any timber," Ethel said.

"Not now they don't, but we can sell the timber about the time they finish college. That'll be enough money so each of 'em can afford a big tittied wife, like their grampa and daddy both got," George said, and the noise started.

Wanda squealed and then started giggling, and a blush crept up from the big titties George mentioned, climbing her throat and onto her cheeks.

Bob just about lost his breath laughing, and Ethel started slapping George on the closest shoulder, doing her best not to laugh but losing the battle. Finally, I was the only one that managed not to laugh out loud but even I was grinning like a fool.

"Bob, you and John take this old fool outside and let him clean out a few stalls or something else that might be useful. Wanda and I need to start thinking about dinner," Ethel said, but she wasn't through.

"And you, George, you'd better watch your mouth or you'll end up with your ass in a crack," she said.

"That's what I was hoping for all along," he said, and nearly ran for the door.

When we were outside, and after we got our breath back from more laughter over George's last joke to Ethel, Bob asked George if he'd been serious about what he was planning on for the timber land we'd been talking about.

"Sure, the bank got stuck with it and they're not about to sell it to anyone without a hell of a lot more security this time, and you know they can't just keep it.

"I guess they could cut the timber, but after the proceeds paid off the note they'd have to give anything left over to the Davis boy, so they can't gain a damned thing by doing that.

"In fact, I happen to know they always try to get out of loaning money into the timber business but just couldn't keep from letting him have the money for that tract.

"Everything else is going great for the bank now, and if they lose a hundred thousand or so on the land it won't even hurt 'em. They're just happy they got out of the truck and logging equipment financing business after the last bust.

"Hell, they've been coining money since the savings and loans all went tits up. They're practically slobbering to sell me the land because they know I can back up the loan with cash in CDs. Don't tell your momma yet, but it's already a done deal.

"I didn't buy his loan, I made them cut me a new deal and I secured it with the CDs. It'll only cost me half a percent over what the CDs pay. Calderson is out the hundred thousand that he had to pay down and all the payments he made for two years.

"I made 'em work to get me to buy it too. They refigured the original loan and gave me credit against the principal for every cent Calderson paid, instead of the interest eating up damn near all he gave 'em."

"How in the hell did you do that?" Bob asked.

"There are laws about how long they can keep collateral from a non-performing loan before they have to turn it into cash and admit the loss on anything the sale doesn't take care of.

"With the condition of the timber market now, the bank would have been fucked up the ass selling that tract at auction. Who 'round here has four million in cash to pay for it?

"He only paid a few thousand more than I'd offered for it in the first place. Now, two years later, I'm getting it for two hundred thousand less than he paid and at a percent and a half less interest than he was paying.

"By the time the note's paid I'll be nearly six hundred thousand ahead, counting the saved interest, and that don't count what I save on taxes or the interest my money earns while it's locked into "jumbo" CDs," George said, finishing his lesson in redneck finance one oh one.

"Why you thieving old scoundrel. We were gonna buy it in the first place just for the tax money it'd save us," Bob said.

"See thar, there's still something yo po old daddy can teach you 'bout suckin' eggs," George said, laughing again.

I was amazed myself, and I couldn't keep from asking George what in the hell he was doing with four million cash in CDs in a bank.

"What else was I gonna do with it? My daddy told me, when I earned my first quarter, "Son," he said, "Don't never bet your money on another man's trick."

"I know the big shots play the stock market and make big investments, but I don't know shit about that. I know how to make money raising and selling horses and cattle; that's what I do, and mostly all I do.

"I ain't about to fool around buying stocks and crap like that. I could have made the ranch bigger and probably made more money, but I'm already workin' as hard as I want to at this late date.

"Bob's taking care of most everything now, and I don't know of a thing he's thought of to buy that we haven't.

"Lots of people think we're just hicks that lucked into our money and are too stupid to invest it, but I think we do all right. I've read some books about business and one of them really sounded a nice clean note for me.

"The Peter Principle," he said, "Some of it wasn't much to write home about, but I took part of it to heart. I can't quote it exactly, but I got the message. When you get to where you've got control over all you can handle, don't go no higher. It might not work in every business, but it's worked for me.

"This one ranch is about all I can handle, and it makes money every year. To me it ain't right when people say if you ain't growing, you're shrinking. We make money every year, and after a while, it just adds up," George said.

"Not to mention that profit on the house you sold me," I said, thinking I was making a joke.

"Hell, that probably counts as one of the best deals I ever made. I got the house free; it was on a couple of hundred acres I'd made my mind up to buy anyhow. I had Ethel look it up and we've had the house twenty-two years and spent a total of seven hundred dollars on it over those years, all of it depreciated off years ago.

"When I sold you that place it was almost like I found ten thousand dollars on the ground. Worth more than money is how happy it made Ethel when she found out you could get rid a some of the critters that's been botherin' us. Hell, I could go on and on about how well I come out on you," George said.

"Say what you want to, but I still think I got the best end of the deal," I said.

"That's what's so hard for you young'uns to learn, how to make the other guy think he got the best of the deal, when it was really you that did," George said, laughing again, and Bob and I joined in after a second.

"That is a good deal then, me and you are both happy about it, and I don't see how it could get any better," I said.

We broke up then, Bob and George to go off and act like they were busy, and me to go home where I didn't even have to do that. I wanted to take a late night ride tonight and see how I could deal with my new gear from horseback.

It all worked great one at a time on the ground, but I had to figure out a way to have both the smaller binoculars, and the big ones with the camera ready at the same time and ride Joe Bob in the process. I'd need the small ones to see where the hell I was going and the large ones to take pictures, and both needed to be handy pretty much all the time.

I knew I'd never be able to use the big ones for finding my way because they were too heavy to hold up with one arm for long, and I needed a hand to use on the reins every now and then.

I saddled Joe Bob for a short ride. He was so damned smart I figured maybe I could guide him with my legs and feet and by changing my seat around.

After a few minutes of just riding around to get him warmed up, I gave it a try. Hell, he did almost exactly what I wanted him to from the start, even after I let go of the reins. It dawned on me then that George had told me Joe Bob was trained for reining competition.

I know it sounds contrary, but a reining horse is trained to mostly take cues from anything the rider does and the reins are the least of them. Joe Bob's cues weren't as complex as some I'd heard of, but he would turn left from inward pressure of my right leg, and vice versa.

I could control his speed with subsequent nudges of my heels, almost like a car's automatic transmission. One nudge was to walk, the next one moved him to a trot, and the next was for a gallop. He even had sense enough, or was well trained enough, not to use his fancy little fast walk or the smooth, almost rolling slow lope from these signals.

Neither of those gaits would sit well with a Quarter Horse show judge, so I guessed that the trainer had made sure he wouldn't cycle through them. He did do a perfect sliding stop from his gallop when I pressed both feet straight down on the stirrups.

That cured most of my problems, and I found that I could keep up with both sets of binoculars by the lanyards that let me hang them around my neck, I just had to keep the big ones around on my back until I needed them. I could pull them around to take a picture and then let them slide around to rest on my back.

All this good news didn't mean it wasn't going to be complicated, especially while I was riding at night and might need either the Marlin or the Mauser at any time. It put most of the burden on me though, and a little practice should let me work out a system; it wasn't life or death anyway. If I fumbled the ball, I'd just miss a shot, and I'd probably at least have a picture of the one that got away.

It's a good thing horses can't talk, cause I know Joe Bob would have been asking me what I was up to. We mostly rode around behind my house, off one way and then the next, into the pasture. We started, stopped, turned, walked, trotted, galloped, and then some. He could tell every time I fumbled with the binoculars, or pulled out a rifle and I'm sure he figured the roping would come next, though I never tried that.

We farted around for nearly four hours while I tried to get my system down. Finally, I thought I had a handle on it and we went to the barn. Jasper and Jeffry both made small snorts when we got back inside.

No doubt it was a mule laugh at Joe Bob for the things I'd been making him do. All of them still had plenty of hay and I put a big scoop of whole oats in their feed troughs and another one of wheat bran for good measure; then it was off to the house for me for some food of my own.

I hadn't had a good excuse to go back to George's house for more of Ethel's cooking and it was too late for that anyway. I cooked up a big steak, warmed a can of Ranch Style Beans in a pan with a can of Wolf Brand Chili and then poured it on top of the steak and had a good lunch.

I intended to go and give my night vision stuff a try after it was good and dark, so I toed off my boots and lay down for a nap.

I slept longer than I'd intended and didn't wake up until one AM. There was still time to prowl around a little though, so I took the gear back out to the barn and saddled Joe Bob. I'd learned my lesson last time, so Jasper and Jeffry got some attention of their own. They didn't have anything to tote on the way out, but I hoped I'd need them to carry some dead critters back.

When we left, I put the binoculars up to my eyes. For the first time in my life, while riding at night, I felt that I could see better than the horse. There wasn't much of a moon by now but I didn't have a bit of trouble seeing. I even fished the camera rig around from my back and took a few shots of nothing really. I was just trying it out.

I was going to put the camera thing down after a last shot when I caught a tiny gleam out under some bushes. I pressed down on Joe Bob's stirrups and he stopped at once with Jasper and Jeffry stopping a step later.

I concentrated on the bush I'd seen the gleam from under and couldn't see anything but bush. I remembered that the binocular part had variable power so I moved it to its highest. I could barely make out a small bobcat hiding under the bush, and I was tickled. I took a quick picture and then let the camera back down to reach for the Mauser.

It was a good plan, and it should have worked, but those little cats aren't dumb. I'm sure it figured I was up to something it wouldn't like because it skedaddled.

It was a pisser because I'd nearly had the Mauser up for a shot. If I'd had another arm, I could have pinned it there for a few seconds by shinning a flashlight in its eyes. Ain't no law against night huntin' varmints that way, and besides, who was going to catch me at it. The Game Warden doesn't spend much time poking around in cow pastures unless the owner invites him.

At least I knew now that I could handle everything well enough, and if I'd been paying attention to what I was supposed to be out here for instead of taking pictures and riding around like a big assed bird, I might have had a better chance. Then again, Ethel wanted the pictures and she was the cook.

I don't care who's telling the lie; wolves are not as smart as coyotes. With the binoculars I saw three wolves creeping along in a different draw, about a mile and a half from where I'd killed the other one. They were right at two hundred yards off when I spotted them and they didn't even notice me, Joe Bob, or the mules before I was nearly sixty yards closer.

I got all three of them with the Mauser, but I had to work the bolt like a madman to get the last two shots. I hated to admit it but I'd have been a lot better off with a semi-automatic. A 270 would have probably been perfect, because if I'd had one, I could have taken the shots from where I first saw them.

Jeffry was not amused when I tied three dead wolves onto his packsaddle. He took it like a man, but he let me know it was only because he liked me, so far.

I kept at it, riding toward the furthest spot that Bob and George had pointed out on the map. I was nearly three miles from their house and one of their hands had seen sign near the crossing of a pretty big creek. I hobbled Joe Bob a quarter of a mile before I got there and went the rest of the way on foot, leaving the binoculars strung around his saddle's horn.

The camera rig was more awkward for this but it wasn't too bad after I turned the magnification back down. Even though the moon was gone by now, it was a clear night and I could have walked pretty well without anything.

I found a nice clump of high grass to settle into about a hundred and fifty yards from the crossing. At least I thought this was the crossing where they'd seen the sign.

It was false dawn already when I saw four coyotes about to jump the creek and come on toward me. They weren't in any hurry and I had time to get the camera ready. I got them all in the picture and one of them was in the air, right above the creek. I hoped like hell that shot came out good.

They were sniffing around at some smell or the other just after they jumped so I put the camera down, picked the Mauser up, and started blasting. I only nailed two this time; the other two were back across the creek and gone while I was yanking on the bolt for the third shot.

Bolt actions are wonderful if you're hunting something that you'll probably down with one shot. They're fast enough to finish it off if the first shot doesn't knock it down, but I had to face it, the Mauser wasn't the best weapon for trying to take out multiple small fast varmints.

Even with the hesitation of the live ones while they try to figure out where that loud bang is coming from, you don't have enough time to get more than two, if you're lucky. If you can get three out of three like I did once, you can be sure that one or two of them were just unusually dumb coyotes.

I was pretty sure that the noise of working the bolt was tipping off my location. With a semi-auto the noise takes place in the same instant the loud report occurs.

With a bola action it happens after the shooter has dealt with the recoil and had time to get his hand up to work the bolt. Sure it's less than a second later, but it is two distinct sounds. And wild animals live or die by sounds a lot of the time. Plus, it's hard as hell not to lose your sight picture while you've got one of the hands that's supposed to be holding the rifle still, yanking on the bolt to get another shot ready.

Still, the sun was nearly up and I had done pretty damned good tonight. I'd probably have nailed at least one more with a semi-automatic but I'd made enough of a showing for a good breakfast at least. I knew in my heart that Ethel would be proud of me when I wandered up.

She was too. She was out the door and bragging on me when I rode up into their back yard.

"I was sure I heard you shoot right before sunrise, so we waited breakfast on ya," she said, smiling wide.

"You didn't have to do that, but I won't lie and say I'm not glad about it."

"Well, to be honest, we's about to give up on ya. Must have been pretty far off to take that long to get back after those shots," she said.

"I'd say it was three miles or a little better. I was waiting by that far creek crossing that someone had seen sign around," I said, explaining.

"Well come on in the house and ya can tell us all about it. Jake already said he'd take care of Joe Bob and the mules for ya and then come back to eat before him and Carl start skinnin' 'em out," she said.

I know most people claim that they always take care of their horse before they eat, hell, I've told that lie myself. Probably ninety nine percent of the ones that say it are born liars and the others don't have anyone handy that'll do it for them. I say, if you ride around in the dark hunting critters while everybody else is snug in their bed, you've got a little consideration coming when you get back.

In any case, Jake was back with a cup of coffee in his hand before the first biscuit hit the table. Thankfully it wasn't long though and after the meal I told them the whole story. Chuck and Dave sat there with their mouths hanging open most of the time.

Bob had taken the camera and hooked it to his computer before we started eating, and he took his coffee cup with him when he went to check on things after he finished eating. We'd all just got a refill when he came out with the pictures.

The shots of the wolves were nice but the bobcat under the bush was a crowd pleaser, even after I told them about not getting a shot off, and then the coyotes jumping the creek stole the show.

"Bob, these pictures don't look as good as some I've seen you print, is there something wrong with that camera we got for John?" Ethel asked.

"Not a thing, I just printed these on the color laser printer in draft mode. The photo quality printer is working on that bobcat right now and it already looks better than it has any right to. I can't wait to see what the coyotes look like," he said.

"Well, blow us up some of the good ones, as big as you can make 'em," she said.

"I'm gonna, and if he keeps gettin' shots like these I might buy that big printer I've been tryin' to think up an excuse for," Bob said.

"You mean there's one that can do better?" Ethel asked.

"Ain't there always somethin' that cost more and does better?" Bob asked.

"Well your daddy seems to think we've got plenty of money, so go back in that office and get us one. And tell 'em to put it on FedEx for early mornin' delivery, like that last stuff," Ethel said, and she sounded like she meant business to me.

"Maybe I should tell you what it cost first, momma," Bob said.

"Not unless it's more than the four million dollars your daddy just spent so he'd have that good joke to pull on me and Wanda after breakfast yesterday mornin' - if it's a penny less than four million I want it here tomorrow," she said, and I was positive she meant business this time.

"I'll go order it then, but I know it can't get here that quick. It's too big for FedEx and probably for UPS either, and besides, they send out a man to put it all together and teach you how to use it.

"The one I'm talking about is a bigger model than the photographer in town has for printing the pictures he takes," Bob said, clearly knowing that he'd gotten into the turbulence between Ethel and George and also clearly wanting out of it in the worst way.

"You mean to tell me that Lonny, running around with his camera taking pictures all over, has a better printer than we do? I thought he was still developing pictures the old fashioned way," she said.

"Naw, he quit that when he started taking the school's pictures. Even I knew that," George said, and when Ethel gave him a look, I could tell he wished he hadn't.

"I'm not even gonna say nothin' 'bout that, but I better not catch you two holdin' out on me again when I want somethin' - cause I don't ask for much. I don't even have a car of my own, but that don't mean I can't go down and get me a few if I need to."

"I'm sorry if we've upset you honey. Bob and I will go in the office right now and the picture printer will be here as soon as money can bring it. A good horse can be rode to death, but I'm pretty sure nobody can even get my checkbook in a lather over this. I can see that you don't think it's funny and so I don't neither now," George said, getting out of his chair and grabbing Bob by the arm, pulling him toward the office.

When they were out of the kitchen, Ethel looked right at me with a frighteningly serious look on her face, and then it split into a big old grin.

"I guess I've go those two steppin' and fetchin' now," she said, and Wanda and I both had to cover our mouths to keep from laughing.

Most of the others had left when things just began to get a little testy, but I'd felt like it was partly my fault, so I'd stayed.

"I can't tell you how much I like those pictures, John, and you already know I like you gettin' rid of those coyotes and wolves. Got any room for some coffee cake?" she asked.

"I think I can," I said.

Ethel wasn't talking about a Sara Lee either, even though I like that well enough. She cut me off a big piece of one she'd just made and it was still hot from the oven. I don't think I've ever put anything in my mouth that tasted better.

Chris knocked on the door then and Wanda let him in. He wasn't as comfortable around here yet as I was and he looked almost afraid to ask Ethel where Bob and George were.

"Relax, I ain't gonna bite you, but Bob and George have been sent to the office, to take care of something for me, and they know better'n to start anything else until that's taken care of. Sit down with John there and let him show you the pictures he got last night while I cut you a piece of coffee cake and pour you a cup of coffee," Ethel said.

Chris seemed more than relieved to do just that, and I showed him the pictures while he worked on his cake and coffee. He seemed impressed.

I managed to get out and headed home before Bob and George had atoned for their sins by getting the printer on the way. I knew I'd get the details later, one way or the other, so I didn't mind. I put the stock away when I was back home.

I don't know whether Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry were happier to be back in their stalls eating than I was to be through with them for a while. I guess they might get the nod since I'd already had more to eat than I really needed. Either way I was glad to get in my house, shuck my boots and clothes and get in bed. I know it wasn't even midmorning yet, but I was tired and sleepy from prowling around in the dark.

My cell phone woke me, and a quick glance at my watch let me know it was five PM. It had to be George or someone up there because they were the only ones that had my number.

"Hello, it's George. Did I wake ya up?" he asked.

"Yeh, but it was time to get up anyway," I said.

"Well the weather's gonna be bad tonight so you probably won't be goin' out anyway. Ethel had me call because she's got some things she wants me to bring for your freezer. She says she's got more than we can eat up here now, and she told me to ask if you knew how to make biscuits from scratch."

"I've got a general idea but I'm not sure I can really do it," I said.

"Would we be botherin' ya if we came down for a while?" he asked, and he sounded a little odd to me.

"Not at all, you'll be my first guest, come on down," I said.

"Be there in a minute then," he said.

They must have been nearly in the truck already when he called, and after I saw what they'd brought I knew it had to have been loaded in advance. They weren't in George's old fifty-six Chevy step side that he usually liked best; they came in a one-ton Silverado with an extended crew cab. Ethel, Wanda, Bob, and George were all in it. I met them in the driveway.

We said hello and then Ethel took over. There were two big plastic cans and lids that we carried in first. They were as big as outdoor trashcans but were gray and looked like commercial food containers. One was labeled as a hundred and twenty-five pounds of self-rising flour and the other was the same weight of cornmeal, and I tried not to ask any questions.

Ethel and Wanda had brought in a few things too, but I hadn't noticed what they were. We left them in the kitchen while George, Bob, and I headed to the barn and ended up filling the freezer to the brim and having to take a few things back to the house to try and find room in the refrigerator's freezer for them.

Back at the house, Ethel and Wanda put away our overflow and then Ethel told Bob and George to amuse themselves while she and Wanda showed me how to make biscuits and cornbread. I wasn't sure why I needed to know how, but I wasn't going to say a cross word. I just paid attention to make sure I got it all. Ethel finished up about an hour later.

"We brought ya some shortenin' but remember to save your bacon grease in the big can we brought and ya can use it 'stead of shortenin' if ya run out," she said, and I promised her I'd remember.

The mood lightened as soon as my lesson was over and we drank the last of the coffee Wanda had made; the first pot from the twenty-five pound can they'd brought. I really didn't understand why they'd done that or any of it really but I held my piece and enjoyed the rest of the visit.

"I guess we'd better go on home now. Supposed ta be a storm tonight," George said, about nine-thirty PM.

I walked out to the truck with them and then they were gone. I tried but I couldn't keep from scratching my head while I wondered what it had all been about. Surprisingly, I felt sleepy and after taking a quick look at Joe Bob and the mules I went into the house and back to bed. If there was a storm that night, it didn't wake me up.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 5


I wished it had of, though I'm not sure what I could have done about anything.

I woke just at sunrise and a look at my watch let me know it was a little after five AM. After a quick piss I went to the kitchen, fried some bacon, some eggs, and warmed up four of the biscuits I had left from my practice session last night. Coffee was ready when the food was and I sat at my table and took care of business. After I'd eaten, I dutifully poured the grease into the can Ethel had brought for it.

I dressed to got out to the barn and walked out the front door, and what a fucking surprise.

Everything was normal, out to where Chuck and Dave had mowed. It looked just like it had the day before, but it now appeared to be the edge of a clearing in a deep forest, and the trees in this forest were massive.

They were yellow pines, which were native to East Texas, but they were bigger than any I'd ever seen, one of them looked like it was over five feet in diameter, and I can't even guess how tall it was because I couldn't crane my neck back far enough to see the top.

I couldn't believe it but I knew what I saw, and I walked around the house then to the barn. I didn't stop, just kept walking all the way around the barn and house. It was the same all the way around.

My house was now sitting in a clearing in a pine forest that had bigger trees than I'd ever heard of, bigger pine trees anyway. Maybe there'd been some this big in the "Big Thicket" a few hundred years ago, but I had no way of knowing and it didn't really matter anyway. I was so shocked that I couldn't even concentrate on what I was thinking from one minute to the next.

I went back to the barn to feed and tend to Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry, hoping things would get better, or at least that I could get a grip.

The stock seemed happy to see me, and they were even happier when I coughed up their oats. Then, being in the barn made me remember the strange little late night delivery last night and the impromptu seeming biscuit cooking lesson, and suddenly I got suspicious, but that couldn't mean anything.

I went back into the house to do my wondering sitting down. It was clear to me that something had happened that couldn't possibly have happened. I needed to decide what I thought it was as a first step.

I pulled out the cell phone to call George and though everything seemed fine, it wouldn't work. All it said was "no signal" and that couldn't be right either. One of those towers wasn't more than half a mile from me; maybe all the new trees were blocking it somehow or had knocked it down.

That made me wonder about my electricity. It was still working fine and the underground line now had at least dozens of trees poking their roots down where George had said it ran. The lights were still on though. There couldn't be much wrong with the phone.

There was nothing else for it, I'd have to saddle up Joe Bob and try to find my way to George's house through all these trees. I wondered what the hell he'd think about all this. You can't raise cows in the woods. Maybe the trees didn't spring up everywhere.

Jasper and Jeffry weren't happy when they realized that Joe Bob was going somewhere and they weren't. I gave them each another couple of handfuls of oats to keep them from pouting and finished saddling Joe Bob. I nearly rode off without retrieving my rifles, but then thought better of it. Hell, the wolves and coyotes might be confused too and I might get a shot at one or maybe more.

That thought changed my plans. I tied the saddle scabbards on and then put the camera/binocular setup in one saddle bag and went back to the barn for Jasper and Jeffry, putting on their packsaddles and harness and mounting Joe Bob to lead my mule team to George's house.

I fished the camera rig out of the saddlebag and took a few pictures of my new forest before we started. After two hours of riding and looking and snapping pictures, I decided that Geroge's house wasn't there anymore. It couldn't be because there wasn't enough room between the damned trees.

My ride had let me know that yellow pines weren't all that were giant now. They were in the majority, for sure, but I'd come across small groups of hardwoods too. I say small, but that was only relatively speaking. The first small group of them I rode through was probably occupying a hundred acres, and there were all kinds of trees. I even saw twelve to fifteen native pecan trees, and that was odd.

Another thing that bothered me was the wildlife. There'd been dozens of squirrels in the hardwoods, working away at gathering acorns, hickory nuts, and pecans - and they were just the start. I saw ten or more javelina pigging out among the squirrels and more birds than I could count, and they weren't bothered by my presence in the least.

Once I even thought I saw some passenger pigeons but that couldn't be right. They'd been extinct for nearly a hundred years. I think I remembered that the last known passenger pigeon died in a zoo in 1914 so the ones I saw this morning must have been some other type of pigeon. Still it was funny.

So were the deer. Of course I knew there were plenty of white tail deer in East Texas, but I must have seen a hundred today and they barely took notice when I knew they could see me. It was true that none of them got within a couple of hundred yards, but they didn't seem to care if I didn't head right toward them. So what in the fuck was going on?

"Sixteen twenty."

What was that? It seemed almost like a voice in my head had said sixteen twenty. The rest of this morning was bad enough but now I was imagining that I heard things. I found my way back to my little rock-house and tried not to think about anything.

When I was back to the barn I unloaded the stock and put them back in their stalls, with some oats to settle their nerves, as if they were nervous. I was the one who was hearing voices and seeing trees, birds, and animals that couldn't possibly be there.

With my two rifles and the saddlebags back in the house, and all the little chores I could think of tended to, I sat at my kitchen table. I couldn't decide if I should shit, or go blind. Nothing outside the boundaries of my lawn made one fucking bit of sense. I decided to try to forget it and just make some cornbread.

I did one hell of a job if you ask me. The cornbread wasn't the best I'd ever tasted but it was good, and when I thought about it, it was cheap. I liked biscuits and cornbread a lot better than the light bread you buy at a store and I knew that the time spent baking the biscuits and cornbread was a hell of a lot cheaper than what bread cost now. Besides, I didn't have but half a loaf and I had one hell of a lot of cornmeal and flour.

After my cornbread and Ranch Style Beans lunch, I decided that I should get some more pictures of my new timberland. Actually, I guess it was really George's new timberland, because not one fucking tree had made a showing in the lawn Chuck and Dave had mowed for me.

I hadn't used the Nikon's regular lens yet so I poked around in the package and found two. One was what I'd call a normal lens and there was a longer one, what I'd call a zoom lens, in there too. I put it on and looked around and by twisting the adjustment it would go back to not much stronger than the normal lens. I read the little sheet of instructions that came with it and it told me it was a one hundred twenty millimeter telephoto lens. Like I said the first time, a zoom lens.

I took it out the front and only door and started looking around for something that would make a good picture. Let me tell you, those giant yellow pines didn't take much zooming. I was twisting on the adjustment ring and pointing around at everything, and then. Wait a minute!

That's a god damned Indian, right inside the tree line. A loincloth wearing, spear carrying Indian. He didn't have a feather in his headband, in fact he didn't even have a headband, but there was no doubt he was an Indian.

Looking closer at the Indian that was looking right back at me, I saw that he didn't look so good, it seemed like he was having trouble standing up, and then there was a smaller one, a female I think, helping steady him.

What could I do? I let the Nikon hang from its strap and started walking toward them slowly. I held my hand out, palm forward, and said, "How," just like in the movies.

The female - were they really called squaws? - started talking to me, but I didn't understand one fucking thing she said. The male, a brave I guess, said a few things too, but that didn't help either. I decided to keep walking with my palm up until he waved the spear at me.

He never did, and when I got closer, I saw he was wounded. His right arm was swollen and slightly discolored around the bicep. We all talked words that none of us understood, except maybe they understood what they were saying. I made motions toward his arm and finally they decided that I could have a closer look after all.

It looked like a bullet entry wound at the back of his upper arm but there was no exit wound and the hole was damned near three quarters of an inch in diameter. Pus was dripping out of it, but I could tell that it had been cleaned off, externally at least. The weird part was a pretty big bulge under the skin on the front side of his arm, right where I'd have expected the exit wound. Something was still in there.

By now we all knew that we couldn't understand anything the other said. I managed to get them to follow me into my house and finally he was sitting at my kitchen table.

They both drank the coffee I offered, even though I could tell it was their first taste of anything that nasty and they probably thought it was medicine or something.

As soon as he'd finished his coffee I knew I'd fucked up. I could already tell he had some fever but now it would be ten or fifteen minutes before I could get a good reading with a thermometer because of the hot coffee. It didn't really make a shit, I knew he had fever and knowing how much wouldn't actually do me any good.

I felt around on his arm a little more and he did his best not to wince much. Finally I pointed to the bulge, which I'd decided couldn't be anything but a musket ball under his skin, and said that it had to come out. Of course he didn't understand the words, but when I took a small sharp knife from the drawer and pantomimed cutting on his arm he got the general idea.

The squaw wasn't for it at all, I didn't know what she was saying, but I knew she wasn't happy about finding a rock house in the woods and having the occupant offer to start cutting parts off her companion.

Apparently the damned thing hurt him more than he was letting on, because he didn't seem one bit disturbed about the prospect of getting it out. He finally made a move I understood; he nodded his head.

Now I'm no doctor, and I've never even played one on TV, in fact my only doctoring experience on people was playing doctor with Mary Jane Willis when we were both six years old. On the other hand, anyone that's owned horses long knows the best way to have a small fortune is to have a large one first and then call the vet every time your horse gets a scratch.

I knew that George, Bob, and I had similar respect for veterinarians. You called them if you had to, but you took care of what you could on your own. The basics on a human were the same as with a cut up horse. Make sure everything is as clean as you can get it, keep the patient calm if you can, and then slather on all the antiseptic cream and inject all the antibiotics they can stand and you can afford.

I warmed them up some cornbread, buttered it, and motioned for them to eat while I went to the barn. George had brought a big patch up kit down here for me when I first started riding Joe Bob. I hadn't even looked inside yet but I knew there must be something I could use.

I opened it up on the cabinet once I had it in the house and I'd hit the jackpot, or Tonto had anyway. Everything I would need for this was in there and plenty more besides. I found several scalpels, curved needles, and sutures in the first minute, and things got better from there.

There were plenty of disposable syringes and five one hundred milliliter bottles of Combiotic, a Penicillin and streptomycin combination that cures anything. It's well known among horsemen and cattlemen that have balls enough to use horse or cattle medicine on themselves that it will even cure the common cold.

George also had assorted painkillers in there. I recognized the Talwin, a common last-ditch painkiller to give horses with a bad case of colic; it was as strong as morphine and not nearly as addictive. There was also a spray on local anesthetic which would work to keep a horse from noticing that you were poking a little needle with a string tied on it through its skin. He also had several kinds of spray on antiseptic and four different types of anthelmintics, but of course the Indian didn't wander by to be wormed.

I decided that a Valium from my own medicine chest would be a good first step and he took the ten-milligram blue one like he thought he ought to. I fucked around for an hour to let it do its thing; meanwhile, I cleaned on his wound with alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.

I even took him outside and we jockeyed around until I could pour the tunnel the musket ball had made full of peroxide. I know it had to hurt while I pressed and squeezed to get it to open up enough for the peroxide to flow down in it, but Tonto didn't complain even though it put a hell of a grimace on his face more than once.

Even the squaw was impressed as it came boiling back out. It also made the brave seem much more confident in my abilities. Of course he was feeling no pain now, figuratively speaking. The Valium had him as loopy as a crocheted tea cozy.

The squaw helped me get him back to the kitchen table and we had him lay on it. With the scalpel boiled and the topical local sprayed around I had the musket ball, and that's just what it was, out in seconds. I closed with four stitches and we managed to get him turned over so I could deal with the entrance wound.

I had to debride it a little since it looked like it was three or four days old, but I had it mostly closed in a few minutes. I gave him five ccs of the Combiotic, enough and a little more, for a twelve hundred pound horse. I figured I could get him over diarrhea easier than I could amputate a gangrenous arm.

Even though I was dealing with an Indian and we all know how they were supposed to go wild over firewater, I had him down three ounces of Jack Daniels green label. The whiskey on top of the Valium had him sawing logs in ten minutes.

I dug out some extra blankets so he and the squaw could sleep on the rocky floor. She seemed to think they were the grandest things she'd ever seen and was happy to build a little nest for the two of them to sleep in. I made some more cornbread and cooked the squaw and I a steak each.

The brave was still dead to the world when the sun went down. I didn't even bother to turn on the lights so the squaw and I went to sleep when the sun went down.

I'd forgotten about the other effect of alcohol the day before, and of course the unconscious brave had pissed all over everything in his sleep. The squaw was already up and dismayed by his accident when I got out of bed, but I showed her the wonders of a shower.

She was scared shitless of it and so I did my duty and got in with her. It didn't take her long to catch onto you wash my back, I'll wash yours, and she even gave my dick a thorough sudsing for me. Gratitude for the medical services no doubt.

When the brave finally came to himself he was naked on a different blanket and his loincloth was drying near what I'm sure the squaw thought of as her dress. She was sitting around flashing me Indian beaver shots from under the hem of one of my T-shirts and I thought she looked particularly fetching in it myself.

I let her deal with rinsing the dried piss off the brave while I fixed him some oatmeal. Then I shot him up with more Combiotic before I let him eat it, but I only gave him enough for about five hundred pounds this time.

By late afternoon his arm already looked a lot better and it was obvious that whatever had been infecting his arm had no idea that it would be hit with such a strong dose of antibiotic. I could tell that he and the young squaw were impressed with my work.

It was near sunset after I got in from feeding Joe Bob and the boys, and after a hand to his forehead, I realized that the brave was well on his way to cured. I let him have a steak this time, like the squaw and I, and then I went to bed while they took to the pallet again.

The next morning, after eating, they wanted to leave. I looked solemn and shook my head at him, but indicated that the squaw could go by looking at her and nodding. She was off in minutes. I gave him another injection and looked over my work on his arm. It all seemed to be a healthy pink by now and it wasn't even draining anymore from the spot I'd left partly open on the entrance wound.

I figured with a shot tonight and another in the morning he'd probably get over it, but it might be better to hold him two more nights. I'd make up my mind tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I'd been taking plenty of pictures and the camera finally indicated that its memory was nearly full. I poked around in the packaging it had come in and found another memory card, switching them out.

I knew I already had enough shots to make Ethel ecstatic, and I wondered if I'd ever be able to show her. I couldn't think of how I could, but then again, I had no idea how I'd come to be here, wherever here was, in the first place.

The brave and I had thick ham steaks, fried eggs, and hot biscuits for breakfast the next morning. He looked cured to me and if things went well I'd probably let him go by noon. I got another thought when I walked out the front door to go tend to Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry.

There were six people sleeping in the front yard. The squaw was back with reinforcements. I just ignored them to go feed. They were all up and had a small fire going when I got back. Surprisingly they seemed to have plenty of food.

The original brave was out among them now and when he got my attention, he led me to three children that needed attention. The youngest was in the worst shape. She was probably around six years old and she obviously had a broken arm.

There were two boys too, one about ten and the other maybe as old as thirteen. They both had long, infected slashes. The youngest had one across his belly and the oldest had one on his side. An older woman with them had a nasty cut across her upper arm.

The last customer was a white man of sorts, and what was left of his clothes looked like they had been finely made. The sixteen twenty that had come into my head on the first day started to make sense now, because finely made or not, his clothes were ancient, from my point of view anyway.

His hands were bound behind him with rawhide thongs and it looked like he also had a broken arm. Perhaps he was a conquering hero fallen on hard times. From looking at him I guessed that he might be French and when he opened his mouth to speak he proved it.

"Shut up Frenchman, or I'll cut your throat before I tend to the others," I said, since I had guessed he was probably at least indirectly responsible for the other wounds on my lawn.

At least it stopped the flow of French from him. Remarkably he switched to English, though it was not very much more understandable.

"Surely you won't take the side of these savages," is what I think he said.

"If you say another word, there will only be one side represented by anyone that is alive," I said.

Once I had things slightly organized I gave the three children a two-milligram Valium each and had them sit down. Next, I cleaned the older woman's wound and since it wasn't very deep, I didn't think it needed stitches. I slathered on antibiotic cream, wrapped it with gauze and tape, and then covered that with a type of elastic wrap that is commonly used on horses. It's tough and it will stick to itself for several days of use. It isn't Elastikon by any stretch, but it would have to do.

Around in the barn I found some left over lumber, cutting a one by four to the approximate length to splint the Frenchman's arm and sanding it smooth, kinda.

I wasn't going to waste a Valium on him or painkillers either. If he didn't want pain he should have stayed in France. The first two Indians, the wounded brave and the squaw that had been with him, helped me hold the Frenchman still, with his cooperation, and I pulled his arm generally back into place and splinted it. Maybe it would grow back fairly straight.

He was moaning and crying a good bit but I could see that he knew I'd helped things, a little at least.

The young girl was feeling very little pain by now, if any at all. I knew I'd have to cause her some in a few minutes but it had to happen. The brave, the squaw, the older woman, and I took her into the house and I had her lay on the table too.

She barely winced when I gave her half a cc of the Talwin and she was delighted when I let her sit up and gave her a canned coke to drink. She adored it. Alas, when it was gone it was time for the bad medicine.

She lay back down and the brave held her arm still at the elbow while I pulled against her wrist. I was certain that it was her ulna that was broken and all I could do now was hope it was a clean break.

The Valium had done a number on her and the Talwin had her feeling no pain. Her muscles were also very relaxed from the drugs. The bone seemed to almost snap into place with only a little tugging. I was relieved to say the least.

I'd found some thinner pieces of lath to use as splints for her and it was simple to wrap her arm with gauze first, put on the lath, and then wrap more tightly with more horse wrap. She was asleep by now and the brave helped me lay her on my bed.

Treatment for the boys was simple for me by now. They were basically in that state of do what you wanna do to me; I don't care that Valium can put you in. I cleaned their cuts, stitched them up, slathered on the cream, and gave them Combiotic. We put them on the pallet on the floor and let them sleep it off.

I guess I was still mad at the Frenchman and I knew what kind of world of shit would be coming for these Indians. I'd already decided that they were Caddos and that the voice in my head had been telling the truth about the date, no matter how impossible it all was.

I asked the brave to help me and we brought the Frenchman inside and had him lay on the table. He tried to give us trouble but the brave produced a flint knife and only a threatened application to the man's throat made him surprisingly accommodating.

I'd already made him strip to the waist and after he was in position on the table I tied his legs and his unbroken arm to the corresponding table legs. He was very nervous.

I washed his bare chest with alcohol and then boiled the scalpel again while I looked for a big black magic marker that I knew I had somewhere in my reloading supplies. The water was boiling by the time I found it so I set to work.

It was some of my best cutting if I do say so myself. Without going very deep, I cut big letters in his chest and then covered the letters with the magic marker, making sure to get the ink into the cuts. I hoped it would be a nice looking tattoo but I'm not really that artistic, and Tonto was no critic.

The French words I had remembered from two years of high school French, and they were a significant percentage of the ones I did remember. But there would be no difficulty reading them for any Frenchman who saw him bare-chested, and it's hard to mistake what ne revenez pas means.

It probably wouldn't do any good, but it's the thought that counts anyway, isn't it. No matter, even if no one else saw it, I was pretty sure this Frenchman wouldn't be back to East Texas if he managed to get out alive. I even had a little demonstration planned for him in the morning.

The brave was obviously exercised over something that afternoon. He kept fooling around outside and I saw him try to cast his spear with his injured arm but he wasn't up to it yet. He then tried to get it going with his left arm and the results were even more pitiful. Finally it came to me.

He was worried about feeding this bunch. I had the cure for that in spades, thanks to Ethel. I managed to get him to follow me out to the barn and Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry were only a minor distraction for a minute or two. When I had him in the office with the deep freeze we were all set.

He was amazed when I opened it and he felt the cold. I dug out three big frozen hams and a brisket that was probably twenty pounds and had him help me carry it into the house. It would have to thaw overnight, of course, but I had enough food that wasn't frozen to feed everyone tonight.

I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking a big stew that was heavy on the Ranch Style Beans, and all the cornbread I could run through the oven. The squaw and the older woman, who I assumed was also someone's squaw, were frankly amazed by my antics and even more amazed that the food I cooked was good.

It was eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits for breakfast for everyone the next morning and I made sure the French explorer, if I may use that term loosely, got plenty. After we were done I even found him a good butcher knife with a blade about ten inches long. The brave eyed my but didn't comment.

Then I led the Frenchman outside with me and used three thumbtacks to put a man sized silhouette target up against a really big pine tree. The heart area of the silhouette was the obvious target. He might not have ever seen anything like it before, but I knew he got the general idea.

I walked us back probably forty yards from the tree, turned, pulled my Glock, and put all seventeen bullets in or very near the target's heart, as fast as I possibly could. The Frenchman was as stupefied as anyone from this time would have been. With current firearms they couldn't hope to put one bullet out of seventeen into the heart at this distance, and it would probably take over an hour to finish trying.

"Leave here, go back to France and never come back. If we catch you again we'll spend three weeks killing you slowly. Tell everyone that will listen," I said.

Then I shoved him in the general direction of a New Orleans, that wasn't even there yet. Not to mention it being three hundred and twenty-five miles from here, as the crow flies, but no crows seemed to be landing to pick him up as he left.

I knew it wouldn't do much good, if any, but after my short pistolero demonstration I didn't think he would be back.

All the Indians that had watched were shocked by my demonstration too, but they felt better when I turned to face them and smiled my widest. I gave all my patients a good looking over and they were doing well, if I do say so myself. After that I put food in the oven and began mixing up cornbread.

I grew quite fond of the six year old during the next four days. The fact that she was always smiling at me and treating me like some mythical god might have had a little to do with it. She slept beside me on my bed every night and the others all seemed to think my floor was the grandest place they'd ever rested.

The brave was now convinced that they were meant to stay here until I bid them go. He'd look off into the woods every morning as if asking if they could leave yet, but after I'd shake my head he didn't protest.

I was mostly worried about the girl. Even in a young child, it takes a long time for bones to knit and there was no way I could explain to her, or any of them, what kind of care she needed.

It was simple really; just leave the arm alone and try not to move it any more than absolutely necessary. Try telling that to someone who hasn't a clue about it and who doesn't understand a word you say.

Finally, on the forth morning after Frenchy beat feet; I was convinced they were all going to heal up just fine. The girl was the only one that worried me, and I hoped she had figured out from the way I'd watched over her that I didn't want her to try using her arm. When the brave gave me that questioning look that morning I nodded my head.

The word spread fast and after one last big breakfast they were all making ready to go. I noticed that the girl didn't seem to be doing anything, but then she didn't bring anything with her and she couldn't very well help carry much, There wasn't much for them to take away anyhow.

I dug around in the knife drawer and found a suitable knife for each of them, one that seemed to go with their individual size. They all seemed thrilled with it, except the girl, but even she smiled up at me when I handed her hers.

I understood better when all of them left except her. I'd heard before that Indians didn't make a production of parting, and it must be true, at least for these. They just walked off without saying anything. I couldn't have understood them if they had.

They were obviously leaving the girl with me on purpose though. Maybe her parents had been killed by the explorers. If she was going to stay I guessed that I'd learn enough of her language to ask her someday.

I knew my next move anyway. I took her inside to the table, sat her down, and popped the top on a Coke for her. I'll probably remember that smile all my life.

There was plenty of food left over for lunch and for supper too. Things seemed fairly dull around here now with just the two of us. I began to wonder how I was going to keep her entertained. She couldn't even play any type of game with her arm still out of commission and I dare not take her for a ride, no matter how well behaved Joe Bob was.

I guess I am a little slow sometimes but I finally realized that I didn't even know her name and she didn't know mine. I thought we could probably get past this part anyway. We were sitting at the table, so I made a big production of pointing to myself and said, "John."

She pantomimed the same way and said, "Meka."

At least that's what it sounded like to me and when I mocked it she smiled. We spent the rest of the afternoon with this game and I'm sad to admit that she did much better than I did.

We had a big meal right after sunset. Meka and been looking at me funny as the sun went down and the food was ready and we still weren't eating. I finally pulled the rabbit out of my hat, went over to the door, and flicked the light switch. She was amazed.

I called her over to me, mostly by waving my hand around and when she came I showed her how to operate the light, even though I couldn't understand how it could still be working myself.

Meka must have considered it magic and she didn't question it, she merely flipped it on and off a few dozen times. When she was satisfied with it, we went to the table and made a dent in the still prodigious leftovers.

She helped me clean up afterwards, as best she could, and then it was off to bed for us. I could hear it thunder a little just as we lay down, and in minutes rain was pouring.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 6

The sun was just sending a little light through the window that faced my bed when I woke. The sound of George's pickup coming down my gravel road was the first thing I heard. There was no mistaking it. I knew it was George, but I'd have been happy to hear any truck or even anything I thought was modern.

I dragged yesterday's Levis up to my waist, strapped on my web belt, and headed for the door. I was almost beside myself waiting for him to get stopped and into the house, and I'd completely forgotten about Meka for a minute.

George had the funniest look on his face as he came toward the door; it was almost like he was afraid of what I might say to him. I, on the other hand, was shickled titless to see my new old friend.

"Come in this house and let me get some coffee on," I said, as he reached the door.

I turned toward the kitchen and the first thing I noticed was Meka, sitting up in bed in the smallest T-shirt I'd been able to find. It was hideously large on her but eminently more suitable for nightwear than her buckskin dress. Her expression was priceless though, because she could not believe it when George walked in.

It surprised George so much that he actually took off his felt cowboy hat like Ethel always made him do in his own house. I could see that Meka was trying to hold back a smile and I turned around to look at George.

He was even more surprised than Meka had been, and I finally heard her lose it and giggle. George did look funny with his hat in his hand and his mouth hanging open.

Meka hopped out of bed and scampered toward the bathroom. It was always her first move after she woke. I hadn't figured out yet whether she really needed to pee first thing in the morning, or if she just did it because it was her first chance to play with the toilet for the day.

George had reeled his hanging jaw back into place by now, so I hoped he could pay attention.

"Tell me George, why does it seem like you may know more about what just happened to me than I do?" I asked.

"Because I do know a little bit about it, but before you tear a strip off me, I couldn't tell you about it even though I wanted to," he said.

"You might have been able to. Now that I know some of it at least, I'm not sure I didn't like it. I don't think you had to trick me into it," I said.

"It isn't like that, John. I'd never have tricked you into anything if I could have helped it. It's kind of a long story but though the details are always different every time it's basically the same.

"For some reason, none of us can say a peep about it before the new one's first trip. We simply can't get anything out of our mouths about it," he said.

"Wow, that is big. Do you mean you can't even speak if you try?" I asked.

"Not exactly. It's like we can't even think up anything to say about it," he said.

"Then why did you looked so surprised when you saw Meka was here with me now. If you know something about where I've been," I said.

"The most I know, or think I know, is that you've been back in time from now. I don't know where, I don't know when, I don't know why, and I don't know how. If Meka is the little girl's name, I'm surprised because - from the first - no one extra has ever come back.

"There have been a couple of times that no one at all came back, but there's never been anyone to come back that didn't leave," George said.

I could tell that he was trying to answer my questions now without bothering me with any of his own yet. I guess that was polite, but though there was a lot I wanted to know, I was too happy about being back where I belonged to think about questions just now.

Meka came out of the bathroom then, with her buckskin dress on, still smiling. I'm not sure whether she was still delighted to see George or was just happy that she'd been able to flush the toilet six times without me protesting.

"Meka, this is George," I said, pointing to him.

"George," she said, getting it right on the first try.

"George, this is Meka," I said, finishing the introduction.

"I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am," George said.

Meka must have thought George had misheard me, because she repeated, "Meka."

George looked slightly puzzled and then looked at me.

"Say her name, George. She thinks you can't pronounce it right. She doesn't know who ma'am is and she doesn't speak English, yet?" I said.

"Meka," he said, smiling at her.

"Why can't she speak English?" George asked, before thinking it through, I'm sure.

"I'm pretty sure Meka is a Caddo Indian, and none of them could speak any English. Not while I was with them at least," I said, teasing him just a little.

"Well, if you'd put your time travelin' shirt on, me and Meka might let you go to breakfast up at the house with us," George said, getting his own shot in.

I did as he asked, and was happy to, then the three of us headed outside. George came with us to feed Joe Bob and the boys and then we went to his pickup.

It was new and wonderful for Meka, since I'd never even shown her my pickup. It just hadn't come up during the afternoon we spent after all the others left. She was thrilled with George's fifty-six Chevy though, and thunderstruck when we pulled up behind his house.

Meka didn't know which way to look first. I'm sure all the buildings were exciting for her, but when we headed into the house she got a little timid, probably from hearing the strange voices inside.

I can tell you now that Sprint doesn't know shit about a pin dropping. Meka brought utter silence to the room and the whole crowd was there for breakfast, except Chris. He still hadn't made it to a breakfast yet. He'd probably been a slow learner in school too.

"Don't let nothin' burn while you're a gawkin', Ethel," George said, after a few seconds.

She gave him a dirty look and then checked the stove in spite of herself. When she turned back to face us, I started the introductions.

"Ethel," I said, pointing to her, "This is Meka."

I always knew women were smarter than men. Ethel repeated Meka's name without prompting.

And so it went. I hoped it wasn't too many names for Meka to remember but I was sure it probably was.

"What's the matter with her arm? Is she hurt?" Ethel asked, when we were done introducing.

"Her arm was broken by some French explorers, I think, and several others were hurt too. I set Meka's arm but that lath and the horse wrap were all I had to immobilize it. I don't know how to make a cast and didn't have anything to make it with anyway," I said, explaining.

"Are you sure you set it right?" Wanda asked.

"No, I'm not sure. I did the best I could at the time. Now that she's here, we should probably take her to the hospital, but I'm sure it will be frightening for her."

"I'll bet it won't. I'll call Doctor James and give him a piece of my mind from the first, and then have him come out. He can mind his manners if you make him," Ethel said.

For once, I couldn't believe something Ethel said, but he probably was the best of bad choices. He also knew how to keep a secret if he needed to.

We finally got calmed down enough to eat breakfast, and Meka was the star of the show whether she wanted to be or not. Ethel became her next best friend, after me, when she put down Meka's plate of pancakes.

Ethel slathered them in butter and then did her best to drown them in Maple syrup. She had to show Meka how to use a fork but the girl was a fast learner and she gave the pancakes hell after she got started. When Ethel produced a big glass of milk for her, I'm afraid my stock might have slipped a bit. I wasn't worried though, I knew Coca-Cola would make everything right again.

Of course everyone tried to talk to Meka, and she was very polite about it. Whatever they asked or said, she listened patiently and then repeated their name as a reply. I was surprised that she got them all correct.

"Did I mention that Meka doesn't speak or understand English?" I finally asked the table at large.

They were not deterred and neither was Meka. She even knew not to talk with her mouth full and it made her an even bigger hit with Wanda. Hell, Chuck and Dave weren't fully comfortable with that process yet.

After breakfast, Ethel was on the horn to Doctor James right away. I don't know what she told him, but when she hung up, she said he and his long time nurse would be coming out to look Meka over.

"Won't he need to X-ray her arm?" George asked.

"I asked him, but he said if it was just a simple break, whatever that means, that it would be hard to foul up setting it. And he said that if it isn't, it won't be hard to tell," she said.

"I don't mean to pry, but what did you tell him to get him out here instead of us having to take Meka to his clinic?" I asked.

"I told him she was a young Mexican orphan that we'd been able to adopt, kinda," she said, grinning.

"That'll work," George said, "He's always thought he 'as too good to learn Spanish. It's finally come in handy, besides, he's probably got over fifty Mexican citizens - still wearing wet clothes - working on his ranches. I'm sure more than a few of them don't have all their paperwork ducks in a row."

"He probably won't think to ask any questions anyway," Ethel said, and she seemed pretty sure of herself.

I was a little worried, but not too much, and it turned out that Ethel had hit it on the head. Neither Doctor James nor his old nurse asked any unusual questions. Everything seemed normal about them except their lack of curiosity, but that surely wasn't normal for the Doctor I knew.

I couldn't gripe. He was gentle with Meka and when she gave him a smile he returned an even bigger one, and gave her a short laugh that sounded like it had come from a big friendly bear, if there is such a thing.

He'd even brought all the fixings for a cast and didn't bully Ethel much when he made her let the nurse prepare things using the stove to boil the water. Before they were gone, Meka was proud of the bright white cast she was sporting, even if it did cover her elbow now too.

She adored the sling Ethel made for her from several bright red bandanas George was never going to get to use anymore. I don't think I've seen or even heard of a child so happy about a broken arm.

After the doctor left, Ethel and Wanda took Meka into the bathroom for a bath and a shampoo, wrapping a trash bag around her new cast first. Occasionally George and I could hear her squealing with delight. Everyone else - except Carolyn and Geneva who were working in the kitchen - was off taking care of business.

"Well George, did you and Bob get the new printer here and working?" I asked.

"Not yet, we barely got it ordered yesterday?" he said.

"Oh, you were working on that over a week ago. I'm not complaining or anything, it was Ethel that had to have it, but it seemed like it was closer to the front burner when I was here last," I said.

"That's another thing that'll be strange for ya," he said.

"What is?"

"For us, it was last night that we were down to your house and Ethel was teaching ya to make biscuits," he said.

I just stared at him.

"Believe me, that's how it always is. You didn't have no way of knowing, and we couldn't tell ya, but we waited around out at the county road 'til ya was gone. One minute the house was there and the next there was a big circle of giant yellow pines where you'd been. We knowed they'd be gone and you'd be back afore morning though," he said.

"That's as strange as everything else, stranger even. I was there for more than a week," I said.

"That's the way it's always been though, and I don't think the house will come back without you, if you're still alive. Unless you just don't intend to come back. They have ways of letting you know when it's time," he said.

"I'm just wondering who They is," I said.

"I did for a while, but I'm glad I don't know now. Ain't nothin' I can do about it anyway," he said.

"I guess you've talked to others that have been and come back then?" I asked.

"Yep. And most of 'em haven't been none the worse for wear. One guy was plumb loco when he got back after his first trip, and he never did get over it. We had to call the law, and they came and kept him from doing anything too stupid until an ambulance got out here to pick him up.

"The only other one that got fouled up was barely alive when he came back, he'd been tortured some and cut up more, but I was afraid something like that was going to happen to him.

"He was dead set against guns or any type of weapons. He liked to go on about always being able to talk things over and come to an understandin' - I think whoever he ran into understood without any talking.

"We just gave him a nice burial out in the woods and damned little was ever asked about him disappearing. The sheriff didn't ask as many questions as I'd a figured he would have.

"Two different men didn't come back at all. I don't know if they got killed, captured, or just didn't want to come back," George said.

"Was it during their first trip?" I asked.

"No, one had been off three times before, and he loved it. The other one had been once before and when he came back it seemed he was put out that he had, he didn't come back from his next trip," George said.

"I'm not mad or anything, but why did you pick me this time?" I asked.

"I didn't. You called me about the land remember. It was already priced and on the market. It's like I said, we can't even think about saying anything about t'other until after someone's been on one trip. Most of 'em can't ever figure that out, but the ones that hang around after the first time all seem to get it straight," he said.

"Well I'm going to stay put, if you'll let me," I said.

"If we'll let you? It's your land now and even if it wasn't we're happy as hell that you're here. That girl comin' back with ya shows that whoever's runnin' this thing must like ya.

"I know something else too, bout the girl that is, Ethel'd run me off before she'd let you get away now. She's always wanted a little girl and damned if you didn't bring one back, and on the first trip too. Your stock ain't only high with her now, I think it's split three for one," he said, laughing.

"Well I didn't really have much choice," I said.

"I know that probably better'n you, and don't think I'm not glad about the girl. I just hope you'll let Ethel spend some time with her," he said, sounding hopeful.

"Ethel can spend all the time with her that Meka will put up with. I don't know a thing about raising a child and especially a girl. I think the two of them, or from the look of it with Wanda, the three of them are gonna be thick as fleas on a stray dog in no time."

"You're probably right about that," George said.

"Hey, is Bob real busy this morning?" I asked.

"Not too bad I don't think. What'cha got in mind?" he asked.

"I've got a lot of pictures from my vacation, both of the memory cards are practically full, and I'd like to get a better look at 'em," I said.

"I forgot all about that. Let me go tell Ethel and then we'll find Bob after we fetch the camera," George said, excited now.

Ethel said for us to go ahead and get the camera, and that she'd take care of everything else. George and I took off, back to my house and while I was gathering up the camera and the spare memory card I came up with a couple of brain cells firing off of at the same time and grabbed the jar I'd put the musket ball in.

When we got back to the house, Meka came running over to me, showing off her blue jeans and a T-shirt that fit her a lot more closely than any of mine had.

"Those are some of Chuck's and Dave's old clothes they grew out of years ago," Ethel said.

Meka surprised us all by showing she knew how to unbutton and unzip her jeans and then pushing them down around her ankles to show off her cotton briefs. Of course they were boy's, but since she had nothing to compare them to, she was proud of them.

I gave her a big hug and then she pulled her pants back up, smiling as wide as I'd ever seen her, even if she did have to struggle getting them up with one arm in a cast.

"I hope it was all right, but I called a professor at Centenary College while you were gone. He claims to be an expert on Caddo Indians and their culture, and he says he can speak their language.

"I told him that if he'd come for a visit I'd show him some Caddo artifacts he wouldn't believe. He sounded like he already didn't believe me, but he's coming down tomorrow anyway," Ethel told me.

"I don't mind and I'm sure he'll be amazed. He might not be so happy when he finds out he probably can't tell anybody though. At least that's what I figure from what George's told me about all this," I said.

"He won't be able to say a word unless everything's changed, but it probably won't bother him too much," George said.

"That's fine for tomorrow, but I'm dying to see the pictures now, if we can," Bob said.

I gave him the camera and the extra memory card and then we all, Meka included, followed him into the office. The card in the camera now was the second one, and the first picture that came up was the one of the Frenchman and his jailhouse tattoo.

Meka was not pleased to see him again, even just the picture on the computer screen. She said something we were probably better off not understanding.

I had to explain the tattoo to the rest of them, and they sat still for the whole story, but finally George spoke up.

"But what does it say?" he asked.

"If I remembered my high school French right, that says  Do Not Return ."

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," George said, laughing, "You sent him off like a no-deposit Coke bottle."

It was funny, to me anyway, but Meka latched on tight to the only word George said that she understood. She looked right at me and smiled so politely.

"Ethel, I think George has said Meka's magic word," I said.

"He has? What is it?" she asked.

"Coke. If you'd like to have a friend for life, all it'll take is a Coke for Meka," I said.

Meka's Coke was back in a few seconds, but it confused her at first. Ethel had them in the plastic bottles instead of cans, and she had to show Meka how to get at it. Meka was fascinated with the screw cap too, and she barely had time for sips between screwing and unscrewing the top. She was supremely happy with the first taste though.

Meka glanced at the rest of the pictures some, and I think she was telling us the names of the people as they showed up, but they were long and we couldn't really understand them. We were glued to the images though, even me, and I took them.

After the show was over, Ethel wanted Bob and George to call the printer people again, but then she relented. Bob promised to make her the best prints he could with the printer he had and said he'd save the files to disc anyway, since he always did.

"Since I found and deleted Chuck's and Dave's stash of naked Pamela Anderson pictures we've got plenty of disc space again," he said.

We kept going over the images until it was time for lunch. Carolyn and Geneva had done fine without Ethel, and Meka got her first hamburger and fries. She seemed to think they were perfectly wonderful even though she'd looked askance at them at first, and of course, her Coca-Cola was the perfect wine selection.

After lunch, Ethel and Wanda wanted to take Meka shopping and it was more than fine with me. I was surprised that they were gone until right before supper, and I thought we'd never get all the packages in the house, even with all the hands pressed into service.

After supper it was time for a mini fashion show and Meka put on a brave face while showing off the normal girl clothes. She shined when it came time to show her own jeans that fit her right though, and her favorite shirts seemed to be the Wrangler blue cotton western styled ones that look just like the jeans. They aren't really denim, they're normal cotton cloth, but they're dyed to match.

But the cowboy boots and the straw cowboy hat were the coup de grâce, and it was obvious that she loved them. I noticed that the boots looked a lot like mine and the hat was probably as close as she could find to one like George's.

"I can see right now that we need to load up and go to Austin," George said.

"What on earth for?" Ethel said.

"We have to let Marty make her a hat or two for one thing, and we should probably order her a few pairs of boots," he said.

"Well, it is late in the year for her to be wearing a straw hat, but don't you think she'll outgrow the boots too fast?" Ethel asked.

"We can do 'em just like we did for Chuck and Dave, and still do for a matter of fact. We'll just get 'em to make her up a few sizes ahead - they can make a good guess about how her feet will grow - and if they get too small before she wears 'em out - we'll have more keepsakes from when she was little," George said, looking straight at Ethel.

They both nearly teared up for a second but the moment passed. It was only later that George told me they still had every pair of boots that Bob had worn when he was a child, and all of Chuck's and Dave's too.

I wondered if Ethel would want Meka to stay with them overnight, but Meka didn't let that discussion get started. When George got up to run me back to the house, she seemed to know exactly what was going on and she was up to follow him before I was.

When we went out to feed I decided that the world revolves around little girls. Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry were as bad, in their own way, as Ethel and Wanda had been. Even when I put oats in their trough they kept standing by the wall and leaning their heads over it so Meka could pet their muzzles any time she wanted to.

After we were done and in the house, I gave Meka another Coke and left her to her own devices while I took a quick shower. When I came out she was still sitting at the table, waiting for me, and I decided that I needed a TV or at least a radio for her.

I woke the next morning before sunrise and Meka woke when I rolled out. I had to be sure I beat her to the restroom this morning, not so much because I just had to go, but because I knew I'd have to cut her quality flushing time short after I heard the first one if I didn't. She didn't seem to mind and when I was done she reclaimed her domain.

I knew that some people would think it was wrong to let her play with the crapper. All I can say to that is, fuck off. If she likes to play with it, that's fine with me. If she wears it completely out, I can afford another one. If she fills up the septic tank, well backhoes don't really charge that much when you consider all they can do for you.

Seems like there's always somebody that wants to tell somebody else just where they're going wrong and what they should be doing. Birth control and abortions are just plain sinful. Fine, then you figure out where all those extra people are going to shit and get a drink of water. Meanwhile, Meka can flush the toilet until the cows come home, and I don't even have any cows.

She must be getting tired of it anyway, because she only flushed it four times this morning. The coffee was just about done when she came out, smiling at me as she watched like a hawk while I poured myself a mug.

It looked like she was getting set to try letting me know she wanted to try it too, so I found a small insulated plastic mug for her and fixed her up. I made sure to tell her it was hot about fourteen times, knowing she couldn't understand. Finally I held her good hand next to the pot until I knew she understood.

Her first sip was careful and I don't think she really got a taste of the flavor over being so careful not to burn her tongue. She did get enough the next time though, and she screwed up her face at it. Her tongue was bloody but unbowed, and she fought right on through to the end. I think it had grown on her by the last.

We heard George coming up the drive before we could drink another, but I poured our mugs full and found the snap-on tops. I went ahead and fixed George a mug too, just in case.

Meka rushed out the door to give George his coffee mug before he even got his door open. He traded her a big smile for it and took a sip while she watched, smacking his lips to let her know he thought it was perfect. I came on out with my mug and hers and locked the door behind me.

"That college man called and said he'd be here by ten AM," George said, as soon as I had my door closed.

"I hope he doesn't ask too many questions," I said.

"He might ask a lot of 'em, but don't worry about what you say to him. Probably nothin' that matters will even occur to ya, but it's even more likely that he won't be able to tell a soul. We've never worried too much about that. They seem to take care of that end completely," he said.

We had a big breakfast, as usual, and Meka got to try waffles this morning. She was pleased with the little squares and she made sure to get every one of them full of butter and then refilled with syrup after the butter melted. Then she made it all disappear.

She seemed at least mostly confident about sausage, but the bacon was obviously totally new to her. That didn't stop her from doing some real damage to it after she tried a slice.

Ethel told me I should be ashamed of myself for starting her on coffee.

"What do you think you'd have done if you were drinking a cup and she looked those big brown eyes at you?" I asked.

"I guess it won't hurt her," Ethel said, not wanting to admit she'd have done the exact same thing I did.

After breakfast was over and the hands had gone off about their business, Bob brought out the pictures he'd printed and we all ooed and awed over them again. Meka was much more interested in them this time and I figured it was because they were something she could hold in her hand.

We were still looking at them when Doctor Jorgenson, the Caddo Indian expert drove up. Ethel went outside to meet him while Bob hid all the pictures, for a while anyway.

I had brought Meka's Indian clothes down with us this morning and I sent her into the bathroom to flush a few times and change.

Ethel introduced us all to Doctor Jorge Jorgenson when they came in and we were done with  pleased to meet you  by the time Meka came back after changing.

At first I thought Jorge Jorgenson would faint dead away and I know he got weak in the knees and swayed around for a second. When Ethel introduced him to Meka, his mouth dropped even lower than George's had.

Meka repeated his name but the poor professor couldn't get a word out with his mouth hanging open like that.

"Meka is a Caddo Indian, Doctor, she's just come here from sixteen twenty. She can't speak any English," I told him.

He didn't seem any more shook up by that than he had from seeing her. It was obvious that he'd known she was a Caddo all along. He said something to Meka then, and it must have been in her language, or close anyway. She cocked her head looking at him at first, and then she replied, as if it had taken her a few seconds to figure out just what he said.

It must have been something special for him, and he sank to his knees almost like he was going to pray to her or something. At least he recovered enough to speak to her again now that he was eye level with her. Meka took it in stride and Jorge looked like he was coming to grips with the whole thing.

Ethel got him a cup of coffee and Meka a Coke and took them to another room where they could talk a little. They faded from our attention then because a truck pulled up, towing a forklift on a trailer behind it.

"It must be the new printer," Bob said, clearly excited.

It was.

Lunch was delayed until one PM today, mostly because of the printer and the technician that had come up in a rent-a-car, not twenty seconds behind the truck.

I think the delay was mostly for Bob's sake. The printer was up and working by then and Bob was dying to get his first print.

Meka came out of the room where she and the professor had been talking and hurried over to me.

"Daddy," she said, when she hopped into my lap while I sat on a couch. It nearly broke me up and I hugged her tight.

"My name is Meka," she said, smiling proudly.

"I know baby, and I'm so glad you're here," I said, eyes dripping by now.

"I'm very glad to meet you, Daddy," she said.



-------

Chapter 7


Doctor Jorge Jorgenson might be short, and bald, and have owlish eyes, but he was ok in my book. I could tell he was proud of himself when he came out a few seconds later. It didn't matter, because I was proud of him too.

He almost worshipped Ethel, for calling him I guess, but some of that rubbed off on me when he got a look at Bob's first print from the new printer. It was a kind of group shot I'd taken of all the Indians I'd met, after I'd finished the doctoring. They were standing in as close to a group as I could get them to, with the giant yellow pines in the background.

He was even more excited when I showed him the musket ball I'd taken out of the brave and then pointed out the brave in the picture.

"Why, this must be 75 caliber, at least," he said.

"That'd be my guess. The brave was lucky as hell it hit the fat part of his arm and didn't break the bone while it was at it," I said.

"It's amazing that infection didn't kill him," he said.

"I'm sure he would have died, or at least lost his arm, if I hadn't popped up with the Combiotic," I said.

"Combiotic?"

"It's a broad spectrum injectable antibiotic. Its use was intended for horses and cattle but it's no longer available in the United States. It was too good and too cheap to leave on the market, so the FDA made new regulations and it's illegal here now.

"No sense in having something the drug companies can't get bigger and fatter on, just because it works really well," I said.

"I'm sure the government had a sensible reason for outlawing the drug," he said.

"Of course they did, I just said that. They were protecting us from ourselves. It's certainly too dangerous to have people walking around without infections, not to mention if they still have money in their pockets.

"Why, we could spend hours and hours talking about our benevolent government, but I'd rather talk about honest poker players and virginal hookers if you don't mind," I said.

"We're delighted that you came, Doctor Jorgenson, and Meka seems to enjoy your company. While you're thinking about the government, maybe you should consider all they've done for Meka's people," George said.

I'll swear that Doctor Jorge Jorgenson had an epiphany in just that second, right before our eyes. I could almost hear the gears in his head mesh and start turning.

"The mother fucking bastards. I can't believe I've been so blind for almost all my life," he said, trembling with rage, his face getting redder and redder as he went.

I was afraid for him, and trying my best not to laugh at the same time. I think he'd actually never made the connection, or at least not so specifically. He might have known in the abstract sense all along and just not realized that it was still the same government with only the names of the thieves changed.

"Taxation without representation," he said, "The rallying cry to start our revolution. Look at us, we're so much better off now that our own representatives are taxing us."

"Well, maybe not," I said.

"Truth, Justice, and the American way," he said.

"And the American way is?" I asked.

"Tax the people until they can't breathe and they won't have the strength to scream about it," he said.

"Well, we can't fix it so let's eat," Ethel said.

Meka looked a little confused, and I didn't blame her. Caddo Indians knew a hell of a lot better than to let someone tax them. Better off dead, they'd probably thought.

When Ethel put a hamburger on Meka's plate, Meka looked up and said, "Thank you."

I thought Ethel was going to cry. She bent down, hugging Meka's neck and kissed her on the cheek. She was also prompt with another Coke, and that earned her a big smile.

The good Doctor ate quietly and he'd seemed to settle down, but I could tell he was still thinking hard and heavy about something.

After lunch was over we went into Bob's office while the company representative had Bob make a couple more prints. He ran off one of the coyotes jumping the creek and Meka just loved it. The one he printed of the bobcat under the bush was better off this printer, but it still wasn't as good as the coyote shots, since it had been getting light out when they were made.

The representative took off after that, and Bob started making prints of the Indians from my visit. The good Doctor was flabbergasted and I could tell he wouldn't leave them until he'd studied them all.

Meka made a motion that let me guess she wanted to go outside and we headed that way. I noticed she made a special effort to make her new boots sound out loudly with every step. She'd come nearly four hundred years practically overnight, but she was prancing and dancing now.

We climbed up on a fence and watched Carl working a colt in the round pen, on a Longe line. The colt seemed to be doing fine but it was something interesting to watch for a while. George snuck up behind us and we both turned to look when he called Meka's name.

"George, what have you got there?" I asked.

Meka just stared wide-eyed, she seemed transfixed.

He was leading a small horse. It wasn't a pony; he said it was a registered Quarter Horse, just a very small one.

"We don't know what happened to her or how come we got her. She seemed normal when she was born, and if she's ever missed a meal, I don't know about it, but she's short," he said.

I got off the fence and walked around her and George was right, mostly. She seemed like a good horse, she was just tiny, almost. She wasn't just short, she was like a scaled down model.

Even as small as she was, she was still a Quarter Horse with bulging muscles all over; at probably a little less than twelve hands, she still weighed seven or eight hundred pounds so you couldn't really call her tiny. Dainty maybe.

"I don't see a thing wrong with her, except her height, or lack of it. Did you have it in your mind for someone around here to be helping hold a saddle on her?" I asked.

"I was hoping that Meka could help us out there" he said, smiling.

Meka was a little shy now, but she had come down off the fence. George held the lead rope out to her and the shy look melted into her biggest smile yet.

I don't know how she knew to move slowly around the horse but she did. She took natural looking but small slow steps up to the mare and then reached out and stroked its neck.

"Is she even broke?" I asked.

"Sure, we don't keep no broncs 'round here. It was a job though," he said.

"Who did you have that she could even carry?"

"Carl knew some boys that he thought could do it, and him and Jake was with them every second, tellin' them what to do and 'specially what not to do. Of course the Carl and Jake already had her going good on the line and standing tied an all first," he said.

"Well I guess we'd better see if we can find a saddle that will work between the two of 'em," I said.

"That's about what I had in mind. I know we've got a pretty good one for the little mare. Even though we've kept her more or less as a pet, she's been rode a bunch. Chuck and Dave did a lot of that before they got too big and heavy, and she's always had good manners," he said.

"I'm surprised no one's bought her for their kids by now. She's at least four isn't she?"

"Yep, she'll turn five in January, just like any Quarter Horse, January first is her birthday. You know how folks are though; they think she should be cheap because she's small. We did ask less for her on that account, but I'd rather let her die out here of old age than give her away. She's worth more than that to me just as something to talk about," he said.

"Well, I can see somebody that's glad she's still here," I said, nodding my head toward Meka.

Meka wasn't paying George or me a bit of attention. She was petting on the mare and talking to her with Indian lingo. Hell, if the Doctor stayed around a while she'd probably be gabbing at her in English too before long.

We got Meka to lead her into the barn and we tied her to a hitch and then went looking for the saddle George said would fit. There were two stacked on top of it but we got it out and dusted it off, and then put it on the mare for a fitting.

It was old hat to the mare, but Meka was surprised when I picked her up and put her aboard. She stayed still while I adjusted the stirrups though, and seemed a little cranky about being lifted down.

I couldn't explain what was happening, but I kept telling her about it anyway. George had the bridle by now, and I squatted down so Meka and I would be on eye level.

I showed her the bridle, the bit, the curb chain, and the reins and then put it on the mare. Then I took it off and had Meka hold out her good arm. I put the bit on top with the curb chain hanging under it.

Meka was a smart little devil, and when I showed her what it felt like to pull on the reins, and how hard it could squeeze her arm, she got the message right away, or at least she got the first iteration.

People will tell you uncountable numbers of tricks and give you even more tips about riding and training horses. Most of the advice is worth what you pay for it; but there's one thing you can always count on.

It's easier to train a thousand horses than it is to put good soft hands on a rider, any rider. That goes double or triple for one that thinks he's going to make a horse do something. You don't make horses do things; you train them to do things.

I think of riders with that he man attitude as ye haws, because that's usually what anyone watching them for long ends up saying. It's almost always followed by the thud of the rider's body hitting the ground.

We put the bridle back on the mare then and I put Meka back in the saddle. The first lesson was me leading the mare around with Meka just along for the ride. She didn't seem disappointed and I hoped that held out for a while. I couldn't see myself turning her loose with her arm in a cast while I couldn't even make her understand what she should do next.

I did get a good hour of walking though, and teaching Meka how to Longe the little mare was high on my list of things to do, soon.

We were barely back in the house when Bob came out of the office with a big print of Meka on her horse. I hadn't even seen him out taking the pictures; then again, I was occupied. Thank God he'd left me out of it. Meka was really proud.

"You know, if it's even half as easy as it looks, I'm mad that I didn't get a camera like that years ago," I said.

"The more you do it the easier it gets, but just two years ago a camera not even half this good would have cost more than twice as much. With so many places makin' them now, Nikon's had to buckle down and get with the improvements, or else find a place to bury the company and let it start pushin' up daisies," Bob said.

"I guess it's put a hurtin' on Kodak then, hasn't it?"

"They know somebody's slapped 'em back from the money trough all right," Bob said.

George was right by me, and since he saw that Meka was caught up in the pictures that were still coming out, he led me back out toward the kitchen.

"Do you think it would be ok if we sent the little mare down to your barn for Meka?" he asked.

"I don't see nothin' wrong with that. Ridin' up here to see you and Ethel would probably be good practice for her," I said.

"Good, does it matter which stall we put it in?" he asked.

"Not really, but why don't you take me down to get Joe Bob and later I can ride him back and lead Meka and the mare. Joe Bob won't give us trouble with her will he?" I asked.

"I don't think he will, that mare's never come in that I know of. I wondered about it when I thought she was getting' old enough, but it never came up. I've never even asked a vet to check her out so I got no idea why she don't ever," he said.

"Well, it'll be a good thing I guess."

Doctor Jorgenson was ripping Meka untimely from the printer's output tray just then and so I asked him to tell her I'd be gone for a while. He did, and she came over and shook my hand, and George's too when she realized he must be going also. She was so cute about it.

George ran me down to the house and let me off and I saddled up Joe Bob and led him to the front door where I picked up the lever gun. I didn't feel like riding off into the sunset with nothing but my Glock, not after my last little exploit.

Joe Bob and I had a peaceful walk back to George's house. After that I fooled around outside in a round pen with the mare for a while. She did just fine and I had a lot more confidence in her after working her a little.

I'd put Joe Bob back in his former stall while working with the mare and after I was done with her, I put her in the stall beside him. They snorted at each other a time or two and then settled down to the serious business of turning Coastal Bermuda hay into horseshit.

When I left the barn I saw George over by their small smithy, he was holding a young colt while Frank, another of their hands, was trimming its feet. I walked over to help him watch.

"That's a pretty nice colt there," I said," Who's his folks?"

"He's outta that big black mare, and Show Boy's his daddy. He looks pretty all right and we're hoping the mare put some sense in his head. Show Boy is a damned good horse, but between you and me, he ain't the brightest bulb," George said.

"That just means the rider needs to take up the slack."

"Ain't that a god dammed fact? Too bad more people don't know about it," George said, laughing.

"Well, just think how smart people would be if they gelded about two thirds of the males born and made the choice over brains," I said.

"Man, that would have been hard on Bob," George said, trying not to grin.

"You mean you think he'd a been cut?" I asked.

"Naw, I'd a been, and he wouldn't even be here," George said, laughing out this time.

"You know, George, that horse medicine you had down in my barn really helped me out on my visit. I wonder if I shouldn't be trying to think up a few other things that might come in handy."

"I can't see where it would hurt you any, and if you do get a notion about something you might need don't keep it to yourself. Sometimes, a few days before a trip, we get hints we don't even realize we're gettin'," he said.

"Come to think of it, we might ought to see if we can't get some of that stuff Doctor James and the nurse used to make that cast. Meka's wasn't the only bone I set last time," I said.

"I hadn't even thought about that but you're right. I know that stuff is cheap too. We might as well take a hard look at what's in your medicine kit," he said.

"Some injectable local anesthetic might pay off too. It keeps 'em from flinching while I sew up cuts and such. The spay on helped but I know a little of the injectable would have been better."

Before long it was supper time, and Ethel told us that Doctor Jorge was going to be staying up there for a while. He'd called the college and taken an emergency sabbatical. It must be nice.

It couldn't be any nicer than the meal we had that night though. A big old roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, black-eyed peas, and then peach cobbler for desert.

Meka surprised everybody at the table when Ethel brought her a coke to drink. She didn't even open it, but looked at Ethel and asked, "May I have milk please."

Shit, she could have had anything she wanted, and that's a fact. We got it all stuffed in and then Meka and I had to go out to saddle our broncs and fork 'em. We said our goodbyes and went to the barn with George coming out to help.

"What's that mare's name anyway, George?" I asked.

"Her name is Little Missy," Meka said.

"You're gettin' slow on the uptake, John. Meka asked me while you were first fiddling with her saddle," he said, and then he and Meka both laughed at me.

When Little Missy was all dressed for her stroll, I put Meka on her and then asked if she knew what stop meant yet. She nodded her head so I pointed out of the barn and took the chance she'd know go too. She did, and I let Little Missy walk her about ten yards out of the barn before saying stop. They did fine.

"You gonna let her drive already?" George asked.

"I been thinkin' about it, and what's the little mare gonna wanna do when it's just two horses walking down the road?" I asked.

"She'll be right up beside you, and tangled in the lead rope if you don't watch it," he said, seeing where I was going with it.

"Might as well pitch her on in the creek and see if she can swim then. Especially since Ethel's got Doctor James broke to come when she calls."

Meka and I left then and we had a nice ride to the house. There was still plenty of light when we got to the barn and we even had nearly enough to find our way to the house after the stock was put up and fed.

I had to help Meka just a little with getting out of her shirt one armed, but she managed her boots, socks, and jeans by herself. She got one of her new T-shirts on by herself too, but I had to laugh at her new underwear. Apparently she liked the men's better because she was wearing a pair of boxer briefs she must have gotten at Wal-Mart yesterday.

We were in bed asleep by nine PM and the next thing I knew, Meka was slipping out of bed to beat me to the pisser. Oh well, I'd have to hang on. She surprised me by coming out after only one flush and I nearly sent her back in for more. She was growing up too quickly already.

We decided that we just had to have some coffee before we rode back up to George's house, but it was made and we left the house a horseback with our second mug before six AM.

It was really nice riding at sunrise but it was also nice to put Joe Bob and Little Missy in their stalls, put the oats to them, and walk into the kitchen.

I was surprised to see that even Doctor Jorge was bright eyed and bushy tailed, in fact he was in a good mood this morning. He wasn't the only one, even I felt great. I'm sure we all felt even better after the meal was over. I left Meka to entertain Doctor Jorge and went to fetch Joe Bob.

We rode out towards the first site I'd made a kill from and didn't find any new sign. I was just turning toward the next site when I felt a need to go back to see George. I was almost positive I'd be going some when else tonight.

By the time I had Joe Bob back in a stall and got to the kitchen I could see that everybody except Doctor Jorge knew something was up. I buttonholed George in the office and he confirmed it.

"It's stronger than it usually is and I'm sure it will be tonight. I've already called my vet and he sent an order to his medical supply place in Texarkana. Farley left to go pick it up not more than ten minutes ago. Can you think of anything else you need?" he asked.

"What did you order?" I asked.

"Twice as much of all the medical stuff that was already down there, except for the Combiotic. It has to come from Mexico now, so we'll get you two more bottles of our stock here. I ordered some Penicillin G Procaine and some Liquamycin La-zoo, too. That's what the vet said he uses now in place of Combiotic. He mixes it in equal proportions.

"I had him make the order for the cast stuff and he said that veterinary mix was more nearly waterproof. He doesn't know what's going on but I think he has suspicions that some of it may be used on humans.

Anyway, he was very helpful and suggested we get some saline solution and some D5W for intravenous drips. He even gave me a URL and a username and password for a medical site that will give you general directions for use," he said.

"What in the hell is a URL?" I asked.

"Sorry, it's the address for finding a place on the Internet. I'd better get Bob to print the information out for ya," he said.

"What about the needles and tubes and all that it will take to use it?" I asked.

"He ordered the whole works for us. Even two veterinary type stands to hold the bags on. He says they're better if you're on uneven ground.

"I didn't even have to tell him we needed human size needles, he guessed that on his own and said the ones for a large dog would work just fine," George said.

"Well, that's more than I thought of and I'm sure it'll do. I don't have time to go to medical school."

"Probably not before this trip anyway," he said, and then grinned.

Ethel took over then and had me sit at the table. She started putting food in front of me right away. I wasn't hungry but I don't turn food down if I can possibly eat it. I was gnawing away when Meka came out of the room she and Jorge were using. She came over to the table and I pulled her into my lap.

"I know you leave tonight. I stay with Ethel and George," she said, slowly but distinctly.

"I'm sure that they'll take care of you, and I'll be back in the morning," I said.

She smiled wide and hugged me too then, so I gave her a kiss on the cheek. She seemed resigned and not really unhappy and then she asked Ethel for a coke, which appeared as if by magic.

I did notice that it was a smaller plastic bottle this time though. Ethel had cut Meka down from the twenty-ounce bottles they usually kept to the small eight-ounce size.

"Gatorade! We should get some Gatorade George, it would be good and a hell of a lot easier than a drip if it will do," I said.

"And where did you do your surgery last time?" he asked.

"I didn't do any surgery, all I did was stitch a couple of cuts and one bullet hole," I said.

"You cut out the bullet, and I still want to know where you did it."

"Most of it was on the kitchen table, and I did the oldest boy out on the lawn," I said.

"We need to get a gurney then, one like they use in ambulances, but with fat blowup tires," he said.

I didn't even get a chance to give my opinion; George was dialing his cell phone before he quit talking. What the hell, it was only money and it was his at that, not that I couldn't donate if I needed to, a little at least.

I'd just polished off what Ethel called my mid-morning snack when the FedEx truck pulled up. Hell, this place was like Christmas all the time. I wondered what the deliveryman had in store for us, but I noticed right off that he didn't have a white beard or a red suit.

Ethel called Bob out to deal with the guy and I figured it was more parts for the new printer or something. It wasn't. It was another Nikon, just like the other one but with several more lenses and a tripod. There were also two dozen more memory cards for them.

"I figured I'd get you a separate camera so you wouldn't have to keep putting one on the binoculars and taking it back off, and you can just try the other lenses if you have time.

"We wouldn't have needed the memory cards but your computer isn't finished yet. If it was, you could just unload the ones you already have yourself, although the cards will be handier. Now that we've got some pictures, I wanted to make sure you didn't run out of room and miss some that you might have been able to get otherwise," he said.

"What will that help if I unload them in a computer in my house, you've got the printer up here?" I asked.

"That's no problem, you'll be able to send me a copy from your computer after you have it. He's putting in a wi-fi card and you'll be hooked to the Internet too, through our downlink," he said.

"I'll take your word for it."

Before I knew it, lunchtime was here and I had a struggle stuffing anything more in. I gave it my best shot, but decided that Joe Bob was going to have to work some of it off me this afternoon. As soon as the meal broke up I headed for the door.

I mostly just rode him out from the ranch house, looking around is all I could claim to be doing, but I did get a good bit of it done. I even found some coyote sign that we hadn't run across yet.

I rode back up to George and Ethel's back door a little after four PM and didn't even get to knock. Meka opened the door and welcomed me back with a big smile. She seemed completely over her earlier suspicions about me taking a trip tonight. She led me to the couch, had me sit down, and then claimed a spot on my lap. We just sat there hugging but not talking.

I felt a little odd, coming in and not speaking to anyone, but I couldn't help it. I just wanted to sit there and hug Meka. All right, I'll admit it, I was a little afraid that I'd never see her again.

I was afraid I might be sent somewhere and never come back, or worse. I was afraid, and I didn't want to think about it. So I sat there and hugged Meka to me, and after a while I started stroking her long black hair.

After a few minutes the feeling passed and that made me wonder if they had done it. I went back over it in my head and decided that if they had, I couldn't tell, and if that was the case it probably didn't matter.

"I hope you're not waiting supper because of me. I just feel a little weird right now, but I'll probably get over it," I said.

"Good, you two get up and come to the table, supper's ready," Ethel said.

Everybody went to the table and I felt good again as soon as I headed that way. I was getting a good send off anyway. We were having steaks and baked potatoes, and a bowl of Ranch Style Beans, of course.

After the supper dishes were taken away, Carolyn was up and filling coffee cups. For Meka and I, she filled our insulated mugs. I could almost feel Meka smiling about having a special cup for her coffee, as if even the normal cups weren't new enough to her.

I took a closer look at her mug then and remembered it was exactly like mine, just smaller. I recalled finding it in a Texaco convenience store, maybe three years ago, in Hope Arkansas, of all places.

It was almost exactly like the ones I liked best, except that it was an eight-ounce size while the ones I always bought for myself were twenty ounces. I think I remember buying it just because it looked the same, just smaller, and I don't think it had ever been used until Meka came.

She was proud of it though and that made me glad I'd had it. I knew we'd become closer in less time than seemed possible, but I was glad about that too. Meka was important to me, for a lot of reasons. I caught a glance of Jorge Jorgenson looking at her, almost as if she were something holy, and knew that she was very important to at least two of us.

After one mug of coffee I decided I'd better get on back to the house. George had already told me that they'd put everything they gathered up today in the house or the barn, and that my desk had all the instructions that came with the equipment and the information they'd printed from the Internet on top of it.

"My desk?" I asked.

"Yeh, it came in too, but it wasn't on the rush deal. Bob ordered it the same day he asked Whooper to build you a computer. It's just too bad the computer ain't ready," he said.

"No it isn't. I'd just be confused if I tried to use it where there was no one I could ask a thing," I said.

"Maybe so, anyway, if the new stuff will help then go ahead and use it, but if it won't, just leave it be. Just because we get a notion you might need somethin' don't mean you really will, or I don't think it does," he said.

At least I was glad Joe Bob wasn't as confused as I was. He stood still while I saddled him and almost seemed glad when I got up. He headed out of the barn and then back toward our home without me having to bother with any directions. He was a smart damned horse.

Jasper and Jeffry sounded a welcome when they smelled Joe Bob about halfway down the drive. I guess they were mad at me because they'd missed their noon meal.

Since they were mules I wasn't worried about them getting colic from over feeding and I put their lunch and supper in for them now. Unlike some horses, most mules will stop eating when they're full. Joe Bob hadn't missed any meals and all he got was his normal two scoops.

When I went in the house it was crowded. The new desk was big and so was the space age looking chair behind it, but Ethel had rearranged things and the desk and chair had plenty of room and damned if they didn't look like they were exactly where they belonged.

The two ambulance gurneys were nearly in the way and the pile of new medical stuff beside them wasn't helping. There was crap everywhere and I knew I'd be fucked if I needed even half of it. I wouldn't be able to take the time to read the instructions if someone needed an IV drip. All I could do was hope.

I did see one wonder drug that I recognized. Granulex was something I'd used often. It was great on wounds and especially good at helping them heal and close, promoting skin's growth better than anything else I knew of. I hoped I wouldn't need any but I was glad to have it, even thought I hadn't thought of it myself.

Another surprise was the four boxes labeled Coordinated Cutlery Suite. I was pretty sure from the box's labels that they were replacements and more for the kitchen knives I'd given away last time. Now I remembered that Ethel had asked me if I still had any knives after I'd told them about my parting gifts. I guess she was making sure that there were plenty on hand.

At least they'd stacked the twenty cases of thirty-two ounce Gatorade plastic bottles neatly against the side of the refrigerator. Right beside them was a new shelf unit, probably thirty inches wide, and it looked like it had at least three bottles of every type of vitamin pill or over the counter medication Wal-Mart sold.

I took my clothes off, had a shower, and climbed into bed. I heard thunder rumbling just as I lay down, and then rain started sprinkling.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 8


I was surprised to wake before sunrise, or at least I thought it was before sunrise. My watch said it was five and I figured it had to be AM. I got out of bed anyway, pissed, dressed, and started a pot of coffee. Then I went to the door with my day/night binoculars to take a look.

As best I could tell I was in the exact same spot as before and I thought I could see the bullet holes in the big tree I'd used to give my demonstration to Frenchy. It wasn't a surprise since it was what I expected. It gave me at least the impression of being somewhere familiar.

I scanned around the verge and thought I saw a group of Indians, apparently just waking up. After a few seconds I recognized the first brave I'd worked on.

As I walked toward them he saw me and started my way. My first thought was that I'd been stupid by not getting Doctor Jorgenson or even Meka to teach me a few words of the language. I could have at least learned enough to say hello.

I gave him the palm forward How that had worked last time and then we nodded at each other. He motioned toward someone that was lying on the ground; it was the youngest boy I'd treated the first time. I knelt beside him, and checked his forehead with the back of my hand.

He had fever. His makeshift bed had some type of animal fur covering him, I pulled it back, and the problem was easy to see. His wound was suppurated, and swelling slightly. It looked like it had begun healing over and then broken open again from the pressure to drain.

I pulled the bedding completely away from him and motioned for the brave to come with me, then stopped, pointing to my chest and saying my name. The brave looked at me and then repeated it, getting John in one.

He then pointed to his chest and said his name; Jahedo was as close as I could come and he smiled slightly when I said it, and then nodded. I led him into the house and we went over to the new gurneys.

I figured out the release, raised the bed, and then pushed it toward the door, indicating with gestures that he should take the end that required walking backward. I know it might have been mean of me, but dammit, I hated to have that end of anything.

We rolled it right up beside the boy, I lowered it, and with Jahedo's help the boy was loaded and up to waist high, ready to roll, in seconds. We pushed him back near the door but I didn't take him inside. I wanted the additional light from outside while I worked.

Digging around in the new medicine, I saw that Bob, or someone, had put extra labels on some of the new things in my stash. Such as, local anesthetic, on the bottle of Xylocaine. I fished it and a small disposable syringe out along with some alcohol and cotton swabs. I noticed a box of rubber gloves, they were new arrivals, and I decided that now would be a good time to try them.

I was looking around for a table or something else to put the things I needed on, so they'd be close to hand, and spied a tray that looked like nothing more than a stainless steel version of the old trays that car hops formerly used to bring your food out, at the drive-in. They'd hang the tray on your lowered window. You do remember carhops, don't you?

Armed with this, I put the supplies on it and took it out to the gurney. There was a special place to attach it, on either side, and in a minute I was in business.

I cleaned the area with alcohol and the swabs first, and then did it again. When I was satisfied, I used an aerosol antiseptic too. After giving that a couple of minutes to work, I injected the local several places around the wound. I could remember seeing a doctor do this very thing before he sewed up a nasty slice I'd installed on my own arm. In fact, it had been Doctor James.

Next, the old stitches came out and then I opened the healed over parts again with a scalpel, trying to go only deep enough to release the pus. The little guy was being brave about it, but I could tell he had some pain, local or no. He soldiered on though and after about ten minutes I figured I'd done all I could with this.

I used another needle to see if he was good and numb yet. He seemed to be, so I got the attachment for hanging an IV bag out of the house and put it on the gurney in it's holder. Next was actually putting a bag of saline solution up.

I'd found some small, soft nylon bristled sterile brushes - they looked exactly like a very small scrub brush - and I opened one and a bottle of Phisohex, cut the end off the saline solution's tube to use it as wash water and went to town.

This was more of the treatment I'd received for the, self-inflicted, slashed arm I mentioned. It made my stomach queasy then and it did now but I did it anyway. I used the Phisohex soap to scrub his wound. The parts that were open again bled a little, and as the blood mixed with the soap bubbles it gave me a nice red foam.

After rinsing and repeating I figured I'd done all I could on this end. I let it dry for a couple of minutes and then gave it a good spraying of Granulex. I finished with and injection of the mixed Penicillin G Procaine and Liquamycin La-zoo George had ordered.

Jahedo and I wheeled him inside after that and managed to raise the back of the gurney so he could recline a little instead of lying flat. I fetched him a big bottle of Gatorade and microwaved a couple of cornbread muffins for him.

He liked the Gatorade right off the bat and the cornbread disappeared promptly too. After ten minutes or so to let it settle, I gave him an aspirin and a two-milligram Valium.

Back outside, I realized that there were more Indians here this time than there had been before. I was looking them over when I saw the other boy I'd treated before and went over to examine him.

His wound looked fine, it was coming along nicely. Ditto for the older woman who came right up when she saw that I was checking on my patients. I gave Jahedo a look after that and he was also in good shape.

Deciding that I should look over all the rest, just in case, I made Jahedo understand what I wanted, and they were soon queued up. There were about thirty or so of them here now and Jahedo managed the line for me. The only other thing I ran across was a nasty scrape on a boy I thought to be around ten, and I had it cleaned up and bandaged in a few minutes.

Jahedo and another brave came with me when I motioned, but when Jahedo realized I was heading for the freezer again, he stopped and made me understand that he'd be providing the food today.

I don't guess it was Jahedo in person who did it, I don't think his arm was up to that yet, but a couple of hours later there was a good sized ring of stones in my yard and a fire going. I went back in the house to look at the boy, gave him another coat of Granulex, and then sat at my desk reading thorough my new medical info.

My neck was tired after an hour and a half or so, and I'd come to the conclusion that we needed a real Paramedic at the ranch if this kind of trip kept coming up. I was happy when Jahedo interrupted me by calling my name from just outside the door.

When I reached him and saw what he had in mind, I went back for the new camera and then headed outside to record this shindig for Ethel and the others. We were having the Indian equivalent of a cook out, but I guess they always cooked out.

I got good shots of the real meal deal though, and then took a break for some fresh, really fresh, venison. So fresh that I could still see a sixteen or so year old boy scraping the hide that had just come off the venison. With the first bite I thought of Meka and hoped she'd already learned this recipe.

There were a couple of other dishes too. The venison was just sort of handed out and you had to bite off part of your share, a mouthful at a time. They had two types of vegetables, some type of bean and roasted corn the beans were in a type of rudimentary ceramic bowl of obvious Caddo manufacture.

The surprise to me was the fry bread. Hell, I didn't know Indians had any kind of bread. I guess it wasn't a big surprise though. There was probably a hell of a lot I didn't know about them.

We'd rolled the boy out for his meal and he seemed to be doing better already. No doubt the aspirin had a lot to do with that, so I gave him another one after he finished eating and I left him outside for a while.

I was glad that we'd replenished my supply of cutlery, because I intended to pass out more knives this time. Right now, I went back in the house and brought out the sharpening steels I'd had George order, both the rough and fine models, so I could try to show them how to do it.

Jahedo surrendered his knife after a few seconds of gestures and I tested the edge with my thumb, making sure they were watching. After having him do the same thing, I gave it several swipes across the fine steel and it was back in shape. I knew he'd cut his thumb when he tested it this time and he didn't disappoint me, but it wasn't very deep. He smiled over it.

All of them wanted their knives sharpened after that, and Jahedo's woman was the first in line. I tested her blade and found it in even worse shape, so I showed her how to tell the difference between the coarse and fine steel and the let her do it, with all the assistance and advice I could give.

She got the hang of it faster than I'd thought she would, and after a few licks with the coarse steel, I tested the edge and switched her to the fine one after I let her test the edge. She was proficient with both the steels and the process after thirty minutes, and I had her do the knife for the next in line. She could teach the others later if I got her trained, after all, she could talk to them.

While they were at it I went back to the house to get more knives. These were still kitchen knives and I felt stupid for not thinking of some more traditional hunting types. I'd have some if I came back again, and I was sure I'd be back either here or somewhere else.

Ethel, or whoever, had bought the knives in complete sets and since I had four more sets this time, I now had five cleavers. They made me think of hatchets and hatchets made me remember axes and then shovels too, for some reason. I had a round point and a square point shovel in the barn, and a double bit axe. I went for them and then headed back to the crowd.

I gave a short demonstration of the new equipment and they were amazed most by the shovels, and even more surprised when they realized I was making them gifts. Soon they were producing anything they could think of to return the favor.

Of course I was glad to take anything they had made but I tried not to take anything they might not be able to replace easily. I declined anything that seemed it would be hard to make or had a ceremonial look. I tried to give the impression that the things I didn't take were too fine for what I was trading. I'm not sure if I got the notion over successfully.

I had to relax my rule after a while though. I wanted them to have all the knives and cleavers, plus the axe, and both shovels. They began balking after I'd refused too many of their trade items. Besides, they brought out some really nice ceramics and I knew both Doctor Jorge and Ethel would be thrilled with them.

As they were getting revved up for another meal, I got the feeling that I would be leaving tonight. The boy would probably be fine now, but I had no way to make sure. Finally I went inside and looked through the medicine. I thought I'd seen some penicillin tablets and I had.

I put twelve in one of my old medicine bottles and then took them out to try an explanation. It was a job, but Jahedo's woman seemed to catch on. I pointed to the sun first, and then pointed to where it rose and then showed her one tablet and pointed it at the boy.

I repeated the process for sundown, with one pill, and then pointed to the boy again. Then I took out two pills and shook my head, putting one back into the bottle and nodding. I think she understood.

I gave him one more coat of Granulex and then soaked a gauze bandage with it before putting it on him. Using cotton swabs, I cleaned the excess from around the wound and then covered it, with gauze and then real Elasticon this time.

With hand signals again, I hope I made Jahedo's woman understand that she was to take the bandage off, gently, after four days.

We helped the boy out of the gurney then and he seemed like he was ready to cut loose and make up for lost time. I was able to settle him down with the help of the woman by shaking my head at his antics.

I tried for the biggest leap yet by holding up five fingers, one at a time, and shaking my head then pantomiming the whole sweep of the sun. Hoping that they understood they were to keep him down to a dull roar for five days. It was the best I could do.

It was nearly sunset before they left, and I'll admit I worried about them wandering around in the dark. I know it was stupid, they'd been doing it for centuries, but there you go.

I went in the house to get ready for bed. I was just toeing my boots off when I heard some noise from outside. I opened the door to look out, thinking it was probably an Indian coming back for some reason. It wasn't, it was a black bear and the biggest damned one I'd ever seen. Of course I'd only seen them in zoos.

It must have seen the light from my open door, because it looked directly at me and then headed my way, slowly thank God. If I hadn't been so surprised, I might have just closed the door and let him do what he would, then again, he might have smelled the horses and been able to get into the barn, even though it was closed.

I didn't take the time to think it through though, the Marlin was right by the door, and there was plenty of moonlight for iron sights. I picked it up and walked out a step so he could see me. He went up onto his hind legs, standing almost like a man and I fired, aiming at where I hoped his heart was.

The shot staggered the bear but it was still standing. It tried to roar a complaint but more blood than sound came out of its mouth. I knew then that it must be a fatal wound, but I wanted it to die now, so I shot again, a couple of inches lower.

This one knocked it over. It tried to get up but couldn't manage; finally it slumped as if deflated. In a way, I guess it was.

I wasn't sure it was dead, yet, but I knew it wouldn't be getting any better. I went back into the house, put two more rounds into the Marlin and stood it up beside the doorframe again. After undressing the rest of the way I crawled into bed and dropped right off to sleep.

At sunrise I woke, and as I came out of the bathroom I could hear George's truck coming down the road. I just had time to dress and pull on my boots before he knocked.

"Come on in, it's unlocked," I said, heading toward the kitchen to start some coffee.

"Daddy!" Meka shouted as she came in.

I turned toward her and opened my arms; she hopped up into them and hugged my neck.

"I happy see you," she said, still speaking precisely.

"And I'm happy to see you too," I told her.

"Don't look like that bear was happy to see you," George said.

"Is he still there? I didn't know if he would make the trip or not. I shot him when he came up after sunset last night," I said.

"Well, if it ain't the one you shot, it's another un, and if this'n ain't been shot it shore is sleeping heavy."

"It's the biggest one I've ever seen," I said.

"It did look pretty big, and it probably looked even bigger when it was able to stand up. I'd better call Jake and see if he and Carl can come down and skin it out. A bear rug might be nice," George said.

"I've heard bear meat is good too. What do you think about eating bear, Meka?" I asked.

"Bear good. Much meat," she said.

"There ya go George, meat for the table," I said.

"Can't hurt nothin', but Ethel will want the pictures," he said.

"I didn't exactly have a lot of time after the bear introduced himself. Maybe I'll do better next time. I do have a lot more pictures of Meka's family," I said.

"We should go on up to tha house. Ethel is anxious to see ya," he said.

I bypassed the coffee making and grabbed the camera and the memory cards I'd used. George had called Jake but he was through talking by the time I was ready.

"Jake and Carl will come for the bear as soon as breakfast is over. Jake must have been talking loud enough for the others to hear, cause I heard Chuck and Dave start in beggin' to come down here with 'em," George said, chuckling.

Breakfast was ready to come to the table when we arrived and I got to eat before any story telling. I didn't mind giving everybody the rundown but first things first.

After we'd eaten, Carl and Jake headed for the bear. Chuck and Dave had made good on their pleading and were allowed to go. At the last they were torn between hearing the story and seeing the bear. The bear won out and I think they thought it had to be more exciting than even the tall tale they knew I'd spin.

I gave the rest of them, including Doctor Jorgenson, the details. I thought he was going to piss in his pants when I told him about the things they'd given me in trade for the knives. I had to promise him I'd bring it all up here as soon as possible.

He was even more impressed when I told him about giving them the shovels and an axe. He went on for several minutes about what an advance in their technology it was. For my part, I just couldn't quite think of a shovel or an axe as a technological breakthrough. I guess they were to the Indians.

The next thing they needed along those lines was a pair of boots with harder soles to use the shovels. I didn't even want to think about trying to use one with moccasins.

Bob had disappeared with the memory cards right after breakfast, but he barely got them transferred by the time he got a phone call. It was the feed store computer man and Bob said my computer was ready. He set the new printer up to start on the images I'd brought back and then took off like a shot for town.

Doctor Jorgenson was waiting for each picture when it came out and he was thrilled. I had a group shot with all of them and then individual shots for each. I also had several of the boy I'd worked on this last time.

The good doctor laughed like hell at the one of the boy, reclining on the gurney, and drinking a bottle of lime green Gatorade. I guess it was kinda funny if you knew the details, but no one else would think a thing about it.

"Hey, John, how did ya get that fire circle in the front yard," George asked, during a lull.

"The Indians did it. They cooked a couple of meals there, I think they were paying me back for feeding them the last time," I said.

That revelation tore the doctor's attention from the printer and he was almost beside himself to get down there and see it. So we loaded up into George's fifty-six - George, Jorge, Meka, and me - and headed to the house.

Jorge treated the place almost like holy ground. He asked me if I could take some pictures and so I fetched the other Nikon, took it off the big day/night binoculars, and fired away. When he found out I had other lenses he asked me to get shots with all of them, and I had to change memory cards four times. I must have taken two hundred pictures.

Bob came down before we were even near through with the photographic study of the campfire, and I told him I'd be tickled if he'd go ahead and connect the computer for me.

After we had Jorge satisfied with the pictures, I took a few minutes out so George, Meka, and I could go feed Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry. Doctor Jorge stayed by the fire circle, it almost seemed like he was meditating.

When we had the stock munching, we headed for the house. I think Meka had a Coke on her mind. I was the tail of the line in the door and was shocked when I saw what Bob was up to, or what he was up to it with. Bob did get carried away sometimes.

To me, it looked like he'd bought me three computers. That's because I considered the part you looked at to be the computer. I learned quickly that the part you looked at was the display. I guess I knew that all along but you know how it is.

My computer had three displays, all in one, kinda. Looking closer I could see that there was a big one - Bob said it was thirty inches wide by twenty-one inches tall - in the middle, and two - twenty-one by twenty-one - wings. One computer with three displays that looked like one big panoramic thingamabob.

He went on about the latest sixty-four-bit Athlon and twelve gigabytes of memory, as if any of the rest of us understood it, maybe George could follow him, but I couldn't.

What I did see was that it seemed a lot faster than the one he had down in his office. When he clicked on an icon, something happened right then, and not half a second or a second later. It seemed like all those icons were just waiting on go for him to click.

When he got started on the Raptor SATA drives I just tuned him right on out and didn't listen much until he started showing me how to put the camera's memory cards into a little attachment, I think he called it a peripheral. The pictures could be taken out of the memory cards directly instead of hooking the camera up with its own wire. Come to think of it, he mentioned peripherals two or three times and not all of them were for the camera.

He'd told me about the wi-fi a few days ago, but I hadn't been that impressed. When he called Wanda and told her to sit at his computer, I paid a little more attention. Then he opened what he called Trillian.

First thing I knew, he'd sent Wanda a message and then she sent him one right back. I was impressed, because I'd always thought they had to be connected to a phone line to send messages and stuff like that. Then he clicked on the browser and the Internet came up right away. I believed him about the wi-fi after that.

When he clicked something else and Jerry Jeff Walker started singing I had to make him do it again so I'd know how. He said that the songs were stored on his machine up at George's house and mine was playing them off his computer.

"Does that mean they won't be able to play if I'm off on a visit?" I asked.

"I hadn't even though about that, but you're exactly right. I'll set it to start copying them to your machine right now," he said

I asked him then if these were the illegal songs I'd heard about people getting with Napster. I didn't give a shit if they were legal or not, but I wanted to sound like I knew at least something about it.

"Nope, Napster is dead now, at least the one you're talking about. Almost all this music is ripped from CDs we had already. Of course there's a lot better way to share music now, but it is a little more complicated.

"With mIRC, and Autoget, you can just connect to the Undernet and get more songs than you can ever listen to. I have all the software already and I can set it up and show you how to use it in an hour or two. I don't fool with it much anymore.

"I did at first because it was something new for me, but a lot of the songs aren't ripped right, or are done for speed instead of quality and it's tedious to try and find the ones that are good," he said.

I didn't know half of what he was talking about so I just nodded my head as if that explained things perfectly. I was sure he wouldn't want a detailed rundown of how I halter broke a colt or filly either.

I could tell that the computer was going to come in handy after I learned how to do something with it, and he'd promised to show me, so I let it go at that. Meanwhile, I mentioned to George that we might want to get some real hunting knives to take back next time, if there was a next time.

"You're right, and I know just where to load up on 'em. The wholesale hardware place in Texarkana has plenty, and since we have a tax number we can buy from them directly. You got any idea what kind of discount you get off retail on knives?" he asked.

"Not a clue, is it much?" I asked.

"They're half of retail if you buy just one, and I think about fifteen percent off that if I get a drop shipment. I'll call them and get a catalog sent down here," he said.

"Can't you look 'em up on the Internet?" I asked.

"You're right, I'll bet they're even easy to find. We can look at the manufacturer's web site and find out what's available and let the hardware place worry about how much they cost. A general idea will be good enough for me, and we can figure that out for ourselves," he said.

Doctor Jorge had come into the house while George and I were getting into the spirit of a big knife order. The Doctor put it in perspective at once.

"If you want to give them something that will make a real difference in their lives, why not take them arrow shafts?" he asked.

"Don't they make their own? George asked, and he only got to because it took me three seconds longer to think of it.

"Of course they do, but don't you realize how much time is expended in the effort? Think about how difficult it must be with only flint knives to cut the shafts, and deer antler tools to straighten them. Not only that, do you realize how much labor they would save with the most rudimentary modern-day arrowheads?" he asked.

He had a definite point there and George and I both recognized it at once. I was thinking about razor edged broadheads and aluminum shafts, and there's no telling what George had in mind when Doctor Jorge spoke up again.

"Even arrow shafts and arrow heads would be small step for them compared to what they could do with modern day bowstrings.

"And an advanced compound bow from our time would be equal to a machine gun for them," Jorge said.

No it wouldn't, but I didn't argue aloud. A compound bow would be more accurate, more powerful, and much better for hunting; but it wouldn't increase the rate of fire very much. Jorge probably knew a lot about Caddo Indians but he must not know shit about firearms

He was right about most of the other things though. With even a relatively simple compound bow, and arrows that were basically identical, their accuracy would increase remarkably. I already knew they weren't having any trouble hunting with the bows and arrows they had now, but something more powerful and more accurate would be a nasty surprise for the next explorer that came around.

It was getting closer to lunchtime and George was making noises about not being late. I guess the feeling hit us all at the same time. It looked like even Doctor Jorge got a splash of it but it was plain he didn't understand completely.

We needed, I needed to get my stuff out of the house. I didn't know why, but I knew I did, and it wasn't just a few things either. I had a mini-checklist. I guess George got one just then too.

"I'll call the hands and tell them to bring the old flat bed and that tractor with a front end loader. We've got forks we can put on it and I know there are a few pallets around up there. In fact I think I'll go up there and see about it myself.

Meka and Doctor Jorge went with George. At first I thought I should make a list of everything that needed to be moved, but then it came to me that we needed to move everything, even from the barn.

I hadn't even bothered to ask George if he had any idea about what was happening, I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't have a clue. As far as I was concerned that meant no one had a clue, but it turned out I was wrong on that score.

My cell phone vibrated then and I answered, it was Ethel.

"What'dya stay down there for?" she asked.

"I need to get started on moving things out, I have to remove everything that I want. I don't know why I have to but I know I do," I said.

"Just saddle up Joe Bob and bring Jasper and Jeffry with you too. The hands will take care of everything else in the barn and George called the commercial movers in Texarkana. They'll have a crew down here in two hours," she said.

"Are you sure they can get it all done in time?"

"I don't think time's that critical, but they're bringing twenty men and two trucks, so they should be done long before dark. I promised the company a two thousand dollar bonus if they were. When the men get here I'll offer each one of them two hundred-dollar bills if they do it, but the bonuses will depend on no breakage," Ethel said.

"I don't guess it will take twenty of them long to clean the place out. Me and the stock will be up there shortly," I said, and then she hung up.

I strapped on the Glock, went out and saddled Joe Bob and then led him to my front door, tied on the Marlin and the Mauser, and led him back to the barn. I put Jasper's and Jeffry's harness and packsaddles on, tied Jeffry's lead to Jasper's harness and then took hold of Jasper's lead and mounted Joe Bob, and away we went.

After I had them all undressed and in a stall in George's barn, I went in the house and Ethel cut me off a big hunk of a brand new coffee cake and poured me a mug of coffee. Hell, moving could get to be fun if this kept up.

"I can tell by looking at you that you haven't guessed what's going to happen yet," Ethel said.

"I haven't tried to, but it doesn't really make sense to me," I said, admitting my shortcomings.

"First, the house is going to leave without you," Ethel said.

"Well, I did get a notion that would happen. It seems like such a waste to have to move everything out and then move it back in tomorrow," I said.

"Just exactly like a man, hell, you are one through and through. It's a shame too; Wanda and I had high hopes for you. At least you're useful in your natural state," Ethel said, and then she and Wanda both laughed at me.

"I never claimed to be anything but," I said, grinning myself and taking another bite of coffee cake.

"What's one of the first things you noticed about your trips?" she asked.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 9


"The very first thing I noticed was the giant yellow pines, they're hard to miss," I said.

"No, I meant after you were back," Ehtel said.

"The most surprising thing was that it was like nothing happened here. It was a normal night for y'all, except for the thunderstorm," I said.

"You're getting warmer," she said, teasing.

"That's it, I was gone more than a week but as far as y'all knew I was back the next morning, house and all," I said.

"I might take back some of what I said about ya," she said, grinning now.

They were taking the house back tonight and probably intended to do something to it. I couldn't figure out what use they could have for it without me, or someone, in it.

I didn't have to be able too though, when you got right down to it. If they wanted the house they could take it whether I wanted them too or not. What Ethel had mentioned put a different light on things. The house could be taken somewhere for years and still be back in the morning. Whatever happened to it would be over by the time we woke up.

"What have you got Chuck and Dave up to? I saw Bob taking them down to my house too."

"They're gonna mow the place before it leaves," she said.

"I guess it can't hurt, but they don't really need to mow it as far out as they have been," I said.

"And you were doing so well for a while there. They're going to more than double the part they mow, and if it isn't big enough to suit me when I look at it in a couple of hours, I'll get another big mower or two to work on it," she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I think that's the guide they use when they send it off and it will be better if you have more room," she said.

"I don't see why I need more room."

"Well, he's backslidin' Wanda. I may as well give up," she said.

"You knew good sense couldn't stay with him long," Wanda said, smiling herself now.

"But I had such high hopes," Ethel said.

"Well, I assume that if they mow more, more will come and go with me. I just don't see how that will help me out," I said.

"Much fun as it is for me and Wanda to pick on you, I'm not sure it will help either. And no, I don't have one of those feelin's about it like we get before a trip. It just seems to me if we've made the obvious move of including more area, they might do something with it," she said.

"Like what?" I asked.

"I don't know what, or even if they will. I do know that nothing they've ever done, so far, caused us any grief," she said.

"Come on," Wanda said, "Let me show you the guest room."

I followed her and she pointed out a room that was obviously already occupied by a female. I gave her a look and she explained.

"Meka still has a long way to go learning English, but she didn't have any trouble letting us know you'd be sleeping here in her room," Wanda said.

"I guess it serves me right. She has to sleep in my room down at the house."

"Your room, there's only one room in it," Wanda said.

"There ya go. Right in one," I said, and smiled.

Ethel had the movers going double time. They got here half an hour quicker than they'd said, and they were down at the house with hundreds of boxes and dozens of rolls of bubble wrap not five minutes later. In less than two hours there wasn't a thing left in that house that wasn't attached.

They even swarmed over the barn, but George's hands had already cleaned it out.

Ethel made good on her threat to show up and inspect the progress. She was mainly interested in Chuck and Dave and their mowing. They had been seriously getting with it too. They were chugging away with the Kubota George had brought me and with the new one from up at George's house.

I now had at least fifteen hundred feet of frontage on the county road and a three strip wide path all around my extended place, making a nearly perfect rectangle. George told me Ethel had made he and Bob set some corner stakes for the boys before they started mowing.

"That box she made us outline is fifteen-hundred feet on the short side and three-thousand on the long one. She's got something in mind but I'm not sure what. She made sure they understood to start with the outside and work their way in," he said.

"Well, do what ya want, it's your land after all, but that's stretchin' my place from one acre to over a hundred," I said.

"It don't bother me one way or the other. We don't even have this part fenced, it's where we usually cut hay," he said.

"I guess it'll look nice anyway," I said.

Jake came down the drive then, in the Silverado George and the others had used when they visited before my first trip. I'd thought he was still around at the barn. He got out and went toward the tailgate and I noticed that all the moving guys headed over to him. My jaw dropped when he started handing out yard brooms and boxes of plastic lawn and leaf bags.

"Amazin' ain't it. There's no way in hell even that many guys can rake up all this, even if Chuck, Dave, and Cuatro - who's headed this way with another big mower - do get it all cut. Ethel laid the law down though. You, me, and Bob are just lucky we don't have to do any rakin'," George said.

"I think it might be time for us to head back to your house. I'm pretty sure there's something we need to take care of up there," I said.

"Yep, I had a little hidin' in mind myself. Ethel looks like she has things under control down here, and Jake can drive her anywhere she needs to go. You and me can go back to the house and cheer Wanda on," George said.

"Wanda, what's Wanda doing?" I asked.

"Gettin' supper started," he said, and we found his fifty-six and hauled our asses.

Ethel had the movers drop the two trailers up near their big barn. She told them we'd need them to hold my things until my new house was ready. Of course we'd need to do all the unloading ourselves and that left me wondering where we'd get a truck to take them back down to the house in the morning. I didn't wonder after I mentioned it at the table.

"That won't no problem at all. The timber business giveth and the timber business taketh away. I just happen to know of a feller who thought he had a great idea for his log trucks," George said.

"What was that?" I asked, I couldn't help myself.

"He decided, since he always had his drivers haulin' overloaded anyway, that he may as well buy tractors with sleepers. That way he could get his drivers over-the-road-loads when they couldn't get into tha woods, and the extra weight from the sleeper wouldn't make any difference worth mentionin' to his overload tickets.

"Might have worked too, if he'd been careful to give the sleeper trucks to drivers who at least knew how to back by mirrors. That ain't somethin' that comes up much with a load of logs, don't cha know.

"Didn't matter at all though. Our other hometown bank happens to have possession of the two trucks he ordered that way. They are humdingers too. Bill Granderson bought top of the line Western Stars and brand new pole trailers. In fact, Jerry Charlton just finished the trailers, and he builds the best ones anywhere 'round here," George said.

"I guess the pulpwood downturn did a number on Bill Granderson too, whoever he is - I've never heard of him."

"He weren't from 'round here. That might have somethin' to do with why he wasn't goin' broke. None of that matters now though.

"I know you heard about him even if you didn't pay it no mind. Good old Bill was givin' his pretty young secretary the high hard one, back in his office after quittin' time one afternoon when his wife came by to see him after she got off from her job at the grade school.

"They say she wanted him to come on her exercise walk with her and she was already dressed for it. Old Bill had just bought her a 25 automatic to carry with her while she walked, and he'd even taught her how to shoot it, a little anyway.

"He did a better job than he thought too, cause she shot him right in the left eyeball. Seems he liked to do it dog style and he had the young gal bent over his desk, poundin' away when Marilyn walked in," George said, while everyone else at the table snickered, except Meka.

"I guess Marilyn is a guest of the county now?"

"Naw, she never was even booked, not even charged. She teaches Sunday School at the First Baptist Church. There's an election coming up next spring and the District Attorney has to run again, Police chief too, for that matter. They both knew better than to start anything. The Grand Jury would no-bill her in a heartbeat and the First Baptist Church has over two thousand registered voters among its members.

"Marilyn helped the girl get out from under Bill and then called the ambulance to come up and help the poor young rape victim. It's a damned wonder Marilyn didn't get a civic award. She even took the poor young girl in and is keepin' her on to help liquidate Bill's company," George said, having to try hard to keep from laughing.

"You mean they bought that rape thing?"

"Why shouldn't they? The girl says Bill was raping her and Marilyn says he was, and Bill was always a shitass anyway. The memory or a yankee jackass don't go far with a jury down here in Texas. If his own wife don't miss him, who's gonna?" he asked.

"Well if she's not broke, what's the bank doing with the new trucks?" I asked, I had to know the whole story now, and George was right, I had heard enough about it to recognize the tale.

"They're counting themselves lucky that she didn't keep them too. Bill and Carl Brody, the bank's chairman of the board, were asshole buddies from wherever they both came from. Bill had been forgin' Marilyn's signature on all the notes, and the notary, another pretty young thing that works for the bank, has already admitted the chairman made her lie when she notarized the paperwork.

"Meanwhile, Marilyn knew for a fact that every bit of Bill's life insurance coverage was right up to date, and her new lawyer is intent on giving the bank a bigger fuckin' than Bill was giving his secretary.

"The bank's former chairman of the board will probably end up gettin' his fuckin' in prison. I've heard that there's been a man from the FDIC down here since before Bill even got cold," he said.

"I guess I still don't understand why the bank has the trucks and trailers," I admitted to the room at large.

"Mainly because they paid for them, and Marilyn decided that she'd look like she was being reasonable if she let them have 'em back. She did too, as soon as they brought her a check for the twenty-thousand Bill had paid down on 'em," he said.

"I guess you think they'll sell you one of them at a bargain now," I said.

"I didn't even think about needin' a big truck before this came up today, but I don't guess it would hurt to have one or two around, just in case. I'm sure that whoever they've got ridin' herd down there would be shickled titless to get out from under 'em," he said, and I knew he was playing me along, making me dig the tale out of him.

"If they're brand new trucks they shouldn't be that hard to sell. With timber in the crapper I can see that it might be hard to move the pole trailers, but if the trucks were bought to go over the road I don't see why they would be hard to sell," I said.

"They're nice trucks ok, top of the line, like I said. Trouble is, they aren't really speced out for over the road work. They're really top of the line log trucks that can haul normal freight in a pinch."

"Would that make so much difference?" I asked.

"Sure, they've got four-ten axles which are good in the woods but drink diesel on the highway. They've both got 3408E Cat engines, V8s with twin turbos, another contribution to a big fuel bill.

"The fifteen speed overdrive transmissions aren't bad for hauling freight, but they've pretty much been shoved to the back burner for nine speeds now that everyone uses the fast torque rise engines. It takes a more experienced driver to handle a fifteen over.

"Bill's best driver told him what to buy, and listenin' to him was one of Bill's biggest mistakes. The driver used to be a Bull Hauler, and even though he gave up the road dope, he still thinks every eighteen wheeler should be able to do the dollar," George said.

"What the hell does that mean?" I asked.

"Doin' the dollar means it can run a hundred, loaded," George said.

"Oh, I can see where they wouldn't be the best trucks to haul freight," I said.

"They really ain't worth a shit for haulin' logs either, especially with those sixty inch sleepers. They're an X dope head Bull Hauler's wet dream is what they are. He even talked Bill into buyin' a set of new train horns for 'em. Those fuckin' horns, pardon my French, cost over two thousand bucks each. Truck drivers don't buy 'em, they steal 'em off parked trains," George said.

"I guess the bank might be persuaded to take a hit on the two of them then," I said.

"I already called the acting chairman when I saw the movers drop their trailers. I was really just looking for some cheap piece of shit someone had already lost, but he says the bank is in a bind and a half. I thought he was gonna piss his pants when he found out I was interested. I can buy both trucks and trailers for the price of one of 'em, if I pay cash and put three million in their bank in jumbos," George said.

"I don't guess you can go wrong for that price."

"Not a way in hell. He said I could come get the trucks anytime I wanted them and that he'd call Jerry Charlton to tell him I might be after the trailers," George said.

"But what will you do with the trucks after tomorrow?" I asked.

"I'll think of something. One thing I won't do is sell 'em for half of what I got in 'em," he said, and then laughed like hell, along with everyone else.

I had to admit that George could spin a yarn and also that a lot was going on around my little home town that didn't make the papers. Or at least I thought it didn't, I never read the paper, local or otherwise. I liked to get my gossip word of mouth. I'd hit the jackpot out at George's house.

After supper I realized that Ethel had stuffed us all as completely full as she could get us. The apple pies at the last had been some of the best I'd ever eaten. I know it was probably the only apple pie Meka had ever had and I'll swear she tried to finish off a whole one by herself, and that was after packing away a good sized New York strip, and a big baked potato.

She was nodding off as soon as we moved to the couch and didn't even take a single sip out of her coffee mug. I carried her to the bedroom and Wanda and Ethel nearly fought over who was going to help her dress for bed. Finally they both helped.

The storm started around nine PM and it came on fast. George, Ethel and I were going to go check out my house after midnight, but we all went to lay down for a couple of hours. Wanda and Bob said they'd seen the big pine trees before, and they weren't going.

Meka didn't wake up when I lay down or when I got up three hours later either. When I made it to the kitchen, Ethel had a pot of coffee and she filled up my mug and then one for George and one for herself.

The rain was over for the night I guess, but it was wet out on the ground. We decided to take my pickup since it had four wheel drive. We weren't planning on getting off the county road but we took it, just in case.

I was expecting to see giant pine trees when we got there and I know that George and Ethel were too. What we saw was even more surprising than pine trees. The whole place, everything inside the perimeter of what Chuck, Dave, and a cast of dozens had mowed and raked was smooth and black.

I don't mean it was smooth like a road, I mean it was smooth like glass. It didn't shine but when we touched it we could tell. It was slicker than the Formica cabinet top that had been in the house. The whole fifteen-hundred by three-thousand foot rectangle was smooth and featureless. The house was gone somewhere or somewhen but none of us had a hint where or when. Then that weird little tune came into my head, but with new words.

'Oh where, oh where has my little house gone, oh when, oh when can it be?'

I told you it was weird. It wouldn't go away though and I really did wonder where it could be. I didn't say I wondered where on earth it could be because I didn't think it was on earth, and it damned sure wasn't in Kansas, Toto.

We didn't spend much time down at my old home place. Nothing to see here folks, just move along. We moved along and went back to George and Ethel's house and went back to bed.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 10


When I opened my eyes the next morning, the first thing I saw was Meka's eyes; she'd been hovering over me, waiting for mine to open. She showed me that she was quite a little trickster next, by shooting out of bed and beating me to the bathroom. She was flushing up a storm in no time flat.

She was really proud of herself when she came out to give me a turn, and she was smiling so wide I had to smile too. I made it to the john without wetting myself, then washed my face and raked my hair into a semblance of order with my fingers.

For breakfast this morning, Ethel outdid herself. We had pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, biscuits, toast, and more. I could see who she was cooking for at once. She'd made some smaller pancakes for Meka and they left room for half a waffle on the plate beside them.

Since Meka had already showed us that she liked syrup on her sausage and bacon, Ethel had piled it all on the same plate so it could get a good coating. Wanda helped Meka with the syrup and butter for the pancakes and waffles, and when they were done, Ethel slid two sunny-side-up eggs right on top of the whole thing. Meka smiled her widest and even giggled a little and then tore into it.

Meka could put away the groceries. For a six year old she had an A1 appetite. It was a little funny to me, but when she ate a big breakfast or big dinner it didn't slow her down for a second, but if she packed it in at suppertime, she wanted to go to bed almost right away. I guess it was because she was used to that.

When breakfast was over, Meka didn't seem too interested in going down to see the house right away. She had at first, when she'd thought we'd be riding Joe Bob and Little Missy, but when she found out we had to go in the pickup and see about moving back in, she developed a need to let Doctor Jorge teach her a little more English.

Me and George went down there first, by ourselves in fact. I guess it didn't seem exciting to anyone else. It had been assholes and elbows yesterday to get everything moved out. It probably was a little hard to work up much enthusiasm to go undo everything everyone had just done yesterday. Since it was my house, I was more interested in it than the others.

As soon as we reached the driveway, George and I both knew the others would be sorry they'd passed up this trip. The new driveway was the first tip off. It wasn't iron ore gravel any more. It was a concrete driveway with curb, gutter, storm drains, and the whole works. It looked more like a very wide city street now, and it led around to the carport on the side of the barn.

Except the barn wasn't here now and neither was the carport. There was a barn here, but it wasn't the one that left last night. This one was stone construction, like the house, and it was over three times as large as it had been, not to mention that it was now fully two stories.

Oh, the carport was gone too, and had been replaced by an eight-car garage, with roll up doors no less. It wasn't an afterthought either, it joined the barn in a T, and its roof's peak was the same height as the barn's. It seemed too long, as if we were going to park cars nose to tail, one behind the other. I knew a normal garage was about twenty-five to thirty feet deep, and this one was easily a hundred, but we didn't even try to look inside, since the barn's big front double doors were open, beckoning.

The barn was now a good bit farther from the road, it had to be because the house had grown more than the barn had. It was huge. Though it seemed to have the same general proportions, the actual size was greatly increased. The roof had been changed too. The Spanish tiles were gone and it now had a slate roof, like the new barn and garage.

The barn's front doors were wide open, and the first thing I saw was a handprint on the inside wall by the big central hall's door. It looked like it was glowing and there was no doubt that it was doing so to attract attention.

When I placed my hand over it, the handprint disappeared and in a few seconds I heard what sounded a little like elevator doors opening. I was still facing toward the outer wall and looking out the big front door.

"I'll be dipped in shit," George said, from behind me.

I turned around and I'd have taken a dipping myself. That noise that sounded like elevator doors was made by elevator doors. They were large, like for a freight elevator, and they were open. All the space that had been the other barn's little office, and more, was now elevator.

What the hell, George and I got in. I didn't even have time to wonder about not seeing the doors when we came into the barn.

I didn't feel us moving and wondered if we needed to do something else. All we had to do was wait, and about twenty seconds later the doors opened again. We were on the new second floor. I guess you could call it a loft. It didn't have a ceiling; it was open to the rafters. There wasn't anything in it, just wide-open space.

"Damn, there's room for three or four thousand bales of hay up here, if we were still doing it the old fashioned way," George said.

"Don't say another word about that. I'll walk away from this whole deal if I have to stack hay bales even one day," I said.

"Ya don't care much for the old fashioned hay bailin' then?" George asked, grinning.

"I wouldn't haul hay if I could eat it."

We got back in the elevator and I looked around for some type of button to make it go. We didn't need one, and this time, after the doors shut, I thought I could feel the tiniest sensation of motion.

This trip took longer than the first one, and I wondered what was happening until the doors opened onto the basement. Who ever heard of a basement in a barn?

It was empty, completely empty, but it had probably a sixteen-foot ceiling and if I'd been guessing, I'd have said that it was exactly the size of the new barn and carport together, or maybe even larger. But it was all empty space; empty well lighted space no less. I couldn't see any fixtures; the light just seemed to be coming from the ceiling.

"Damn, this is strange," George said.

"I'll say."

"I wonder what in the hell it's for. I know one thing; you could pack a hell of a lot of something in it. In fact, you could put a hell of a lot of almost anything in it," he said.

We struck out one way and walked around the perimeter of my new giant hole in the ground. It wasn't like a hole though. It was completely finished inside and seemed like it was made of the same material that had covered the ground while the house was gone. The most amazing thing to me was it was clear span. There wasn't a support post down there anywhere. Another set of elevator doors were down at the far end, but they were much wider, probably forty feet or so.

It opened when we came near it and we walked in, to get another shock. The damned elevator was at least a hundred feet end to end, and forty feet from side to side.

"Why is it so big?" I asked, but didn't really expect an answer from George. Just as well because he didn't give me one.

Thirty seconds later the far end opened up and we could see that a driveway led away from it. We walked to the far door and looked outside. It wasn't really a driveway, at least not leading to the door. It was like a big parking lot. There was obviously room enough for a semi-truck and trailer, or three, to park, turn around, or whatever.

The edges of the concrete parking lot were finished with curb and gutter just like along my new road. It also had storm drains in several places. The only break in the curb led to more driveway, going back toward my new road.

"Well, we don't have to wonder what it's all for now. It's a perfect setup for a big truck to come around back, pull into the elevator, and then be lowered to unload," George said.

"That's what it looks like, but I can't figure out what we're supposed to put down in the barn's giant basement," I said.

"I'm sure we'll get the idea when the time comes," George said, and I didn't doubt it.

"George, would you mind riding back down so I can see what it looks like when it's lowered? All of the parking lot part seems to end right here at this door, the pasture is coming right up to the back of the curb out here," I said, pointing to it.

He agreed; we both walked out of the elevator and then he walked back in. It descended, and when it was gone I couldn't tell that it had ever been there. The space was covered in pasture, but I couldn't see even a hint of where the elevator had been, not even in the curb and I know a section of it had gone up when the elevator had.

I was looking right at it a few seconds later when it started back up. I still couldn't believe the curb had fit in so seamlessly, and I saw it separate when it began rising.

When the doors opened again, George stepped back out.

"What did it look like?" he asked.

"While it was in the ground, it looked like pasture on top, and I couldn't tell where any joints were, not even in the curb," I said.

"Let's take a look around on the outside and walk back to the front door," George said.

We did and there wasn't anything that looked out of place, except for the parking lot to nowhere. We'd already seen the outside of the new garage so we walked around the other side. It looked like your everyday, extra large, stonework barn. If there was such a thing.

"If they're planning on you storing something down there, they've made it simple to get truck loads of it here and then unloaded," George said.

"I think I'd better hold off on even thinking about that for now. Let's go see what they've done to the house," I said.

One thing I'd noticed right away was that the house had a back door now. When we were closer, another handprint started glowing. Since I knew the drill I put my hand on it and in seconds the door opened. But it didn't swing open.

It had looked just like the door that had been at the front of the house before it made its unescorted trip, but it wasn't like it at all. After I'd done the handprint deal it slid back into the wall, like a pocket door. When it was fully open you couldn't tell it had ever been there and everything looked like it was just a permanent opening in the stone wall.

I didn't have time to worry about that right now. We stepped into the kitchen and it was now the most modern one I'd ever seen. It wasn't that it was fancy or frilly, or even exceptionally attractive - it was that it had everything - two of everything in fact.

The floor was the most amazing part to me at first. It looked exactly like the other one had, except it was smooth, completely smooth. You could see where the stones had been put down, you could even see where they were joined, but the was no cement between them, and no type of grout. The rocks just fit together now, perfectly, and they were as smooth as everything else that had come around lately.

My little rock cabin was no more. The new living room was bigger than the entire cabin used to be. And there were three bedrooms on each side of a hall that led to an operating room, or at least that's what it looked like to me.

There was an examination/operating type room through a door at the end of the hall. It had what looked like and operating table to me - and medical style cabinets covered almost all the walls. The tip-off was one of those giant movable lights hanging right over the table.

On the other side of the operating room was another hall with two patient room doors on each side. A door in the other end of the hall led to a small office/waiting room, and there was a door in it leading outside. Hell, it was like I was going to open a small hospital.

Frankly I couldn't understand why all this had been added. I was no doctor, and even though I could do first aid, I didn't need a damned operating room for it. I guess it wouldn't hurt anything, and it would beat hell out of cutting out musket balls on the kitchen table.

We turned around and headed back into the house. Checking out the bedrooms this time, we saw they were all large and had individual baths. Two of them were larger than the others and they were directly across the hall from each other.

I supposed that one was mine and one was Meka's. The baths were well equipped, with the two for the larger rooms even more so. Meka and I had a shower, a normal bathtub, and a big four-seater hot tub each.

We knew which room was Meka's when we looked in her bathroom. There was a bidet in it and I couldn't even guess at all the fun she was going to have with that. At least I knew I wouldn't be the one to show her how to use it. In the first place, I wasn't sure about the details myself.

I had an office now, between the living room and my bedroom, and there was a door from the bedroom into the office with another one from the office into the hall. The place for my desk was apparent at once, since there was a floor mounted receptacle there.

Even though we were still talking about solid stone walls, the surface mount conduit was gone. There were switches and plugs where you'd normally expect them, but somehow they were wired inside the stone walls. That had to have been one hell of a trick.

Neither George nor I had said a word since we entered. We just walked around looking at everything, gaping open-mouthed.

"Ya know, John, I think we'd better let Ethel have a look around down here before we get started on anything. Just between you and me, I wouldn't have the first idea about what to do, and I'm bettin' you don't neither," George said.

"Even if I did, what's the point? We're bound to do something wrong; we'd probably end up doing it all wrong, and it would just have to be moved again. Easier to let her do it like she wants to in the first place," I said.

"Do you mind if I talk to her about it and you just kinda hang back, actin' like you feel bad about puttin' the work on her?" he asked.

"As long as you promise me you'll take all the blame if it blows up in our faces," I said, wondering what he had in mind.

We went back up to his house and Ethel was in a grand mood. Doctor George had done some more teaching on Meka and she'd come out and told Ethel how much fun she was having. Of course that made Ethel be having fun too.

George sidled up beside her when he got in the house, and told her that my house had a few changes in it and that we though she should take a look at it before we got started.

"What kind of changes?" Ethel asked.

"Oh, it's a little bigger now and we're not sure you'll want to put things back in the same places. They fixed up the bathroom too and it's got a back door now," he said, sounding oh so casual.

"I might have known you two couldn't do a thing without me. Come on Wanda, and you too Meka. We have to go bail these men out," she said.

Wanda started grinning and even though I'm sure Meka didn't understand what was going on, she grinned too when she saw Wanda and Ethel both do it.

"Well, lets go George, get the Silverado and take us down there," Ethel said, when he and I just stood there.

"I'd better go get Jake to drive ya down there. John and me need to go get one of the trucks so we can take the trailers down for unloadin'," he said, making it sound like nothing was out of the ordinary at all.

"I guess you're right, but I don't want you two foolin' around all day with it," she said.

"We won't Honey. I've already got the keys. They sent 'em out to me, hopin' I'd take the trucks off their hands," he said.

I don't know about George but I was glad to get away. I knew Ethel, Wanda, and even Meka were going to be stupefied when they saw the house and barn now, and I didn't want to be around when they decided that George and I had set them up for the shock.

George drove us to town and went to the bank he was dealing with for the trucks. He didn't bother going inside to tell anyone anything. We just drove to the far side of their parking lot, where the trucks were parked, and got out to look them over.

They both looked nearly normal, even though they were the reddest trucks I could ever remember seeing. Even from a distance you could tell that they were meant to look great. They had aluminum wheels all around and that wasn't common on log trucks. Those wheels cost about four hundred bucks extra, each, and there were ten of them on each tractor.

"I wonder if the damned pole trailers have aluminum wheels too," George said.

"That would just be silly," I said.

"Yeh, well there's nothin' sensible about the trucks, why should the trailers be any different?" he asked.

He handed me a set of keys and they fit the first one I walked up to. I got in the driver's seat and knew at once that the air pressure was down to nothing. The air ride bladder under the seat didn't have any pressure.

But the big Cat fired right up, and though I hadn't paid any attention to the stacks, I knew it had straight pipes as soon as I heard it growling. It did a fast idle for about two minutes and then dropped back to six hundred rpm. I waited for the air pressure to come up.

George parked his fifty-six and got in on the passenger side. He asked why the seat was so low as soon as he sat in it, and I told him.

"There better not be a leak somewhere," he said.

"They probably let one of their kids or one of someone's play around in it. The seats almost never lose air unless you let it out. These are even less likely to," I said.

"Why's that?" George asked.

"Hell, look at 'em. These are high-dollar seats, with high backs, adjustable armrest, and leather upholstery. They probably cost three times what the seats in a normal new log truck cost," I said.

"I hadn't though of that, but it does sit good, even down low like this. How do you raise it up anyway?"

I showed him, and we had enough air to at least adjust the seats by now. In three or four minutes we were up to full pressure. I put it in gear and idled off, changing to second before we'd gone twenty feet. The four ten axles didn't need low gear to get moving on smooth level ground.

That V8 Cat was something else. I rolled the stop sign into the main street, since there was nothing coming either way. When I straightened out after the turn, I nailed it. That's the way I normally drive a big truck, but it made a show for anyone that was watching. It spun the tires and that's not easy to do with a truck this size.

Of course it only spun one, or one position anyway, there were two tires on it though.

"Damn, I don't think I've ever seen a big truck do that," George said.

"I ain't either. I wonder if it'll spin two if I flick the power divider on?"

"Why don't you try it?" George asked.

"Won't mean much anyway, and there's things under us that could break. They probably have it set up so the driveline will twist in two before it breaks a rear end, the power divider, or the transmission, and I don't want to have to walk back to get the other one," I said, and George laughed at me over it.

We were still stalling to keep from getting back before Ethel had settled down a little, so we drove out by Jerry Charlton's welding shop to look at the pole trailers. We didn't need to see them but what the hell; we had time on our hands.

I'll be damned if they didn't have aluminum wheels on them too. They were pretty normal pole trailers besides that. But they did have special poles. They folded, like all log hauling pole trailers did, and of course the unit could slide back to the stop at the end of the pole for longer loads, but these poles telescoped too. The back part of the pole, behind the folding hinge, was cut in half and there was smaller tubing inside the rearmost section. It could be disconnected and stretched out to haul very long logs.

Jerry Charlton came out when he saw us driving up in the truck. We were looking at the trailers and he came over to brag on his work. He was proud of the telescoping rear section and I guess he had a right to be.

"I thought he was crazy when he asked if I could do it, but it turned out better than I expected. It's a hundred and five feet long when it's stretched all the way out," he said.

"Don't that put an awful strain on the pole to be stretched out that way?" George asked.

"Not really. The pole don't never carry no weight. When the logs are on it they're the main structural strength. The pole is just to keep the unit from gettin' cock-eyed and to load it before you dead-head back to the set," he said.

"Well hell, John. Me and you are gonna end up with a education over these trucks," George said.

"I don't guess it'll hurt us. Just don't depend on me hauling many logs for ya," I said.

"Have you come out to get the headache rack and the rear bumper with the wheel mounts put on?" Jerry asked.

"Naw, we're just killin' a little time before we have to go and move a couple of box vans. I didn't even know that there were headache racks and trailer mount bumpers built already," George said.

"Sure are, Bill planned to have 'em hauling logs a week ago, but sometimes a plan just don't come together. The bank told me to let you have it all. Course they haven't paid to have it put on yet," Jerry said.

"Don't worry about that, Jerry. Just call Ethel and tell her how much and she'll send you a check. I wouldn't cheat a workin' man out of a penny," George said.

"I never thought you would, George. Besides, everything that's been done has been paid for. The headache racks, bumper mounts, and all. The only thing that hasn't is mounting it, and it ain't done yet," Jerry said.

"Tell ya what, why don't you make a good guess about what it'll cost and tell Ethel so she can go ahead and pay you for it. Guess high too. If it ends up being more, don't be shy about tellin' me that either," George said.

"That don't seem fair to you, George," he said.

"Well, I think it is, and if we never get to it we can trade it for some other work can't we?" George asked.

"Sure, you know ya can. Got any idea what you might need done?" Jerry asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do. I think I'm gonna need a pipe fence before long. A heavy duty one. Do you still have you're pipeline weldin' truck?" he asked.

"Yep, but I don't do pipeline work no more. It would work out good on a fence though, and I haven't ever made a sure 'nough done right pipe fence. I might like tanglin' with something like that for a change," Jerry said.

"Well, give me a week or so to finish up some other things and then drive out by the house if you get a chance. I'll show ya what I'm thinkin' 'bout," George said.

We decided that we'd fucked around long enough after that and headed back into town to let George get his pickup. I let him lead the way back toward my house but I stayed right behind him. I didn't want to miss seeing what happened.

As we were coming to a red light, I happened to notice the extra trolly valve down by the air seat's control button. I pulled up right behind George and you should have seen him jump when I honked the train horn just as the light turned green. He turned around, laughing like hell, and shot me the finger.

Just out of town he pulled off on the shoulder and got out to talk to me when I parked behind him.

"Did that antique finally give up the ghost?" I asked, pointing to his pickup.

"Naw, don't even think that. I just wanted you to make sure you have enough air to honk that thing when we get to your house, 'specially if Ethel is inside," he said, grinning like a fool.

"I ain't got the nerve to do it before we find out what kind of mood she's in, George, and that's a fact. We'll have to save that little secret for another day," I said.

"Well, you're probably right. No sense gettin' her bloomers twisted up again this quick. She's probably just now gettin' 'em untangled from the shock of the house," he said.

After hooking one of the dry vans the moving company had left, we tried to slip back to the house without getting into any more trouble. We managed to get the trailer back onto the new parking lot and we dropped it without anyone coming outside.

Meka opened the front door when she heard us come back, and she was wide-eyed when she saw the truck. I barely managed to get to the ground before she came running up.

I held my arms open, and taking her cue, she jumped into them when she reached me.

"Daddy! What... 

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 11


Doctor Jorge didn't have Meka's English far enough along so she could say, what the hell is that, but I could see what she meant right away.

"It's a big truck to pull the trailers back down here," I said.

She still didn't understand anything about it, so I told her I'd show her later, and I think she understood later, at least. She wiggled to get back down and I set her on her feet. She grabbed my hand with her good one and started pulling me past Ethel, who'd come out right behind her.

Ethel was only giving George a mild dressing down and she was grinning the whole time, so he probably wasn't in much trouble. Meka didn't give a hoot one way or the other. She had something inside that she wanted to show me, and I was just hoping that it wasn't the bidet.

It wasn't. It was something that George and I had missed earlier. There was a glowing handprint, just like the others we'd seen, but it was at the head of the hall where there wasn't a door. Meka went straight toward it, but she didn't put her hand on it. She looked close and put her hand right below it, and just for a second I could see that there was a dim shadow of a hand her size just below the one that was obviously for me.

Right as she got her hand on it another set of elevator doors opened up. I was looking at the wall this time and I could see that the paneling seemed to sink in on itself, just enough for clearance, and then slide back into the rest of the wall, pocket door style again.

Paneling was a new departure for this version of the house. There'd been a little bit of it in the old house, but it only walled off the bathroom George and Ethel had added.

Of course the house had some real interior walls now and They had used real paneling. When the elevator doors did their little trick, I could see it. No thin sheets of plywood with a dress veneer for my new house; it was normal one-inch-thick boards, one inch being the nominal size of course. The pattern they'd picked was appropriate too; Knotty Pine Pickwick was an old standard in the south.

We entered when the doors were fully open, and for a second I wondered why all the elevators seemed to be freight size. They were nice enough inside but all of them so far had been large.

When the doors opened at the end of our short ride I saw that I had yet another basement, but this one wasn't empty. It looked as big as the house's new size but it had some separate rooms in it, storage rooms I guessed. It also had two big walk-in in coolers. When I went to them and opened the doors I found that they were freezers, not coolers. They didn't have anything in them though, except cold air.

My first thought was that it was going to be a pain in the ass to carry things down to load the freezers and then have to tote it back up when we needed it. Wrong.

Meka dragged me away from the freezers and across the big part of the open space and put her hand under another handprint that was my size. A door the size of the truck elevator's door opened and it led into a sort of rectangular shaped tunnel that ran for about two hundred feet to another big door. At least I figured it out before Meka opened the door on the other end. It opened into the barn's basement.

Damn, there'd been a lot of work and a lot of planning put into my new hacienda. It left me wondering how much of this time traveling I was going to have to do. That made me remember I needed to get Doctor Jorge to teach me a little of Meka's lingo.

We heard Ethel hollering for us from the house's basement then. I'm sure we could only hear it because we'd left the doors open. We closed the one into the barn's basement and walked back toward the house.

Ethel was laughing at me when we got back.

"Has the little stinker been showing you everything she's discovered?" Ethel asked.

"I've been on a tour all right. George and I found the basement under the barn this morning, but we didn't even have a sniff of this one," I said.

"Wanda and I wouldn't have either. In fact I'm not sure that we could have gotten in the house if Meka hadn't found her handprints. She spotted the one by the front door pretty fast though, and after that she's been running around pressing every one she finds," Ethel said.

"She's done a whale of a job I see."

"Yes she has. The only break she's taken from exploring was about twenty minutes to play with her bidet when we showed her how it worked," Ethel said, grinning.

"Did you give her a ride in the Jacuzzi yet?" I asked.

"No, but we filled it up and turned on the jets to let her see them work. I think she's saving that for when she runs out of places to check out," she said.

We were walking back to the elevator to go back into the house, but Ethel stopped and asked a question.

"Did you look in the room that didn't have her handprint by the door?" she asked.

"No, I didn't notice it," I said.

"It's right over there by the freezers," Ethel said, pointing the way.

When I looked I saw my handprint. I started to go right to it, but then decided that there must be some reason to keep Meka out if there wasn't a handprint opener for her. I'd decided that the handprints couldn't be anything but some type of open sesame trigger for the doors they were by.

"I think I'll take Meka back upstairs to see if I can get her in the hot tub. There's probably a reason she can't open that door," Ethel said, echoing my thoughts.

When they were gone I went to the door and it opened with no trouble. The room it let me into was much larger than I'd thought, and it was crammed with weapons.

Well, it was crammed full of articles of mayhem but not all of them were weapons. In fact most of the space taken up was for ammunition. Is ammunition a weapons? Anyway, I now knew that carbon fiber arrows were next on the agenda for my Indian friends.

Reading the label on one big box, I saw that it contained one hundred fletched shafts. A hundred arrows is a lot of arrows, but it was only the beginning. There were at least a thousand boxes like it, and probably more. I didn't take time to count them; I just made a rough estimate. Stacked near them were boxes of broadheads.

The odd thing about the boxes of shafts and broadheads was that though they had descriptions, instructions, and even pictures, they didn't have any brand names. Then it hit me, they weren't brand name. They were supplied by They, whoever or whatever They were. I guess that wasn't so surprising though, considering where they were.

Looking around a little more I found other common hardware for bow hunting. Then I found the bows. I couldn't know what the bows were made of. It seemed like it might be a metal of some kind, but it was lighter than any metal I'd ever encountered, even titanium.

They were compound bows but they seemed pretty simple, without all the crap hanging off them that modern hunting bows usually had, and they also seemed smaller than others I'd seen. They had a straightforward design without any bells and whistles, but the high quality was obvious.

I found dozens of stuffed targets and stands for them and also plenty of plain points to use during practice. There were simple, but nicely designed, quivers and a few other things to help with practice and later while using the bows. It seemed that Doctor Jorge's wish had come true.

The next thing that caught my interest was a rack of weapons that was no doubt meant for me, and there were enough for a few close friends too; so I assumed that sooner or later someone else would be coming with me on a trip.

They resembled normal weapons but there were differences. I found four shotguns that looked like they had three barrels at first. Closer inspection showed me that two of the three tubes were magazines. They were side by side and the barrel was on top of them, like a miniature pyramid. There was also a loading gate on each side of the receiver.

The shotguns weren't in boxes; they were propped on their recoil pads in a normal looking stand up gun rack. I picked one up and it didn't seem a bit heavier than a normal semi-automatic shotgun. It was marked as a twelve-gauge magnum and it said its capacity was eighteen rounds. That was a lot of lead to sling before reloading.

I saw two Colt Diamondbacks and smiled. Diamondbacks are by far my favorite revolver, but closer examination showed me they weren't marked as Colts. They weren't named at all in fact, but there was no mistaking what they were.

The odd thing was they were stamped as 357 Magnum. That was too much power for a Diamondback. Then again, it was already obvious that whoever made this stuff knew more about it than I did. If they said the small framed Diamondback could handle magnum pressures, who was I to argue.

It looked like my semi-auto rifle problem had been solved too, in spades. I spied several rifles that were clearly knockoffs of the M1 Garand, but not exactly. They had removable banana-clip magazines and were chambered for the 270 Winchester cartridge.

They also had synthetic, pistol-grip stocks that looked very easy to handle, and that was no production barrel on them either. It was stainless steel and fluted along its length. It also had a serious 'flash suppressor/muzzle brake' on the business end.

Closer inspection showed me that they weren't all 270s - three were - but there were three in 30-06 and even three in 35 Remington. The 35 Remingtons would probably be the most useful of all if I kept running into bears.

There were also several web belts with holsters and about a dozen Glock 34 look-alikes. I'd have to try them out to see if they worked as well as a real Glock, but I was pretty sure that I wouldn't run into any problems.

Farther back in the room I ran into some serious gear. Five M4 Carbines with grenade launchers attached, and three M224 60mm mortars. I suspected that they were copies, probably advanced copies, of the normal military weapons they resembled.

One thing was certain; I wouldn't be trying out any mortars or grenade launchers on George's ranch. It wouldn't be for lack of ammunition though; there were hundreds of cases of that.

Right on the back wall of the arms room there was another handprint and when I opened the door, I entered a shooting range. It was almost more than I could deal with.

It looked to be about a hundred meters wide and over three hundred long. I wouldn't have to be riding Joe Bob out behind George's house to sight anything else in anyway. It had normal shooting stations and a trolley system for the target racks.

Off to the left, the last thirty meters or so was obviously designed for archery practice. If I was shocked by all this, I could just imagine what it was going to do to Jahedo and his pals, even though it would make it easier for them to get familiar with the new bows.

My war room and its inventory had taken my attention away from the real question. Did They expect me to fight some sort of guerilla war? It was way down on my list of things to do. I might not mind having a go at a few explorers raising hell in North West Louisiana or North East Texas, but I didn't feel up to gathering a platoon and going at it seriously.

I wondered if I'd have any choice at all in the matter. We would see what we saw, but for now I made a graceful exit and headed back upstairs. I found Ethel, Wanda, and Meka in the kitchen. Meka was sipping on a Coke.

"Would you believe it? The only thing down here that's consumable is a six-pack of Cokes. I wonder who they could have been meant for," Ethel said, when I reappeared.

Meka was looking right at her and had the now standard, Cheshire Cat, grin on her face. She was playing with the screw-on cap between delightful sips. I could see that she was completely happy for the moment and it made me happy too.

"At least we have you back from the dungeon now. Let's go up to the house and see about some lunch," Ethel said.

When we got out to the new truck, I saw that every other vehicle had left already.

"Right again, cowboy. We sent the rest of them off so we could have a ride in this big thing. Show us how to get in, and get those eighteen wheels a rollin'," Ethel said.

"Ten. Ten wheels. The tractor only has ten wheels, it won't be eighteen wheels until we hook a dual axle trailer," I said, opening the door and helping them up.

"Our minds are made up, don't confuse us with facts. Let us in there and fire this mother up," Ethel said, and then grinned like a mean little kid.

I saw that Meka understood enough to know I'd been put in my place, and she grinned at me too, even if she didn't know what it was about. It hit me then that older women dressing down a young buck was probably older than time, and that Meka knew I'd been set back on the straight and narrow by the head woman in charge. I couldn't help it, I broke out laughing. It wasn't so bad though, at least I qualified as a young buck to someone.

Wanda and Ethel went into the sleeper and sat on the bunk. I noticed that I needed to find some bedclothes for it and probably a pillow or two. Meka looked like a princess in the passenger seat. She squealed with glee when I made it go up and down by working the air seat valve.

Meka squealed even louder when I lit off the big Cat diesel and then backed to turn us around. She was in ecstasy when we finally got headed down the road. I think it was partly because she had a higher point of view, since the air seat could be raised and lowered. For a second, I worried that she'd sprain her neck by whipping it around to look first one way and then the other.

I decided that when we got back to the house I'd play the trick George had been saving for Ethel on everyone at once, instead of just on Ethel and Wanda.

As I pulled to a stop I let them have a taste of the train horn. I barely heard it myself over Wanda's and Ethel's screams and Meka's surprised laughing. Bob and Doctor Jorge just about knocked each other over trying to get out the back door at the same time.

I had Meka slip over to me and we went down the step while I carried her. She took it as her due, and when I put her back on her feet, she scampered into the house smiling so hard I'll swear I could see it from behind. She'd had an exciting morning and I could tell that the Western Star had moved near the top of her list as favorite transportation. I didn't think it had replaced Little Missy yet, but it had to be pushing her hard.

The smell of hickory smoke hit me about half way to the door and my stomach made an uncouth noise, and then did it again. It was hoping for Bar-B-Que and damned if I wasn't too. Our dreams were realized when we got to the table.

I started with about six ribs and then dug into the brisket. Somebody around here knew how to smoke a brisket. I knew that the main thing was to wrap it in tin foil, slather on the sauce and seasoning, put it in the smoker, and leave it alone. My first bite let me know that someone here knew that drill too.

Another thing that I liked about Bar-B-Que at George and Ethel's was that they didn't serve baked beans, or pork and beans, or any of that crap. There were plenty of beans all right, but they consisted of home cooked pintos, or Ranch Style Beans for the purists like me.

I ate too much. I knew I was but couldn't help it. I was so full that I barely had room for two slices of the apple pie, and that was a shame. Not ten minutes later it was even more of a shame because Ethel had organized the move back into my house and my services were required to take the other trailer down there.

Meka wasn't about to let me out of her sight either. She followed me to the truck and I helped her into it for the backup under the trailer. She would not stay seated while I made the connections and cranked the dollies either. When we were ready to roll I helped her back into the cab and away we went.

I was planning to hop the curb and back the trailer up near the front door, like the movers had done while loading it. Ethel was already down there though and she wouldn't hear of it.

"How are you ever going to have a lawn if you keep running trucks over it. Use your new entrance, they must have put it there for a reason," she said.

It made sense but I still thought it would be more work for the ones doing the actual toting.

Meka and I drove around to the parking lot at the back of the barn and I lined the truck up with where I knew the elevator would rise. We both got out and it came to me that there was no place to put my hand to make it open. Meka spied it just then though.

There were two handprints glowing on top of the curb, one for me and one for her. She beat me to it and the grass started levitating. Well, not exactly, but you get the picture.

Back in the truck, we drove into our giant elevator when it was in position. When I stopped inside to get out and see about letting it down, I noticed that the door had closed behind us and I waited. Sure enough, the door in front of us opened about half a minute later.

I drove out and headed for the tunnel I knew was at the other end of the barn's big basement and the doors there started opening on their own too. The set at the other end of the tunnel did the same and they all closed shortly after we were through them.

I knew the basement was large, but I was surprised when I realized it was big enough for me to circle around and back the truck toward the elevator. I was about to when I saw part of the floor rising. It was a damned loading dock type of setup. When it stopped it was at the perfect height for the trailer's floor.

I got out to open the trailer's doors then got back in to bump the dock. I saw there was room for the other trailer too, so I dropped this one and put Meka back into the cab. We headed back up to the parking lot where I'd dropped the first trailer.

When we got back to the loading dock with it, I saw that Ethel had all their hands working on unloading. Meka and I got out and I was going to help, I swear I was. George came over from where he'd been leaning against the dock, holding it up no doubt.

"I hope you aren't tired of driving that thing around yet," he said.

"Doesn't matter if I am or I ain't. I can tell that Meka ain't tired of riding in it," I said, grinning like a fool I know.

"That's a damned good deal. I called around and found the best CB shop near here; it's across the road from the Flying J up north of Texarkana. A big truck needs a CB in it," George said.

"You know anything about the guy that owns that place?" I asked.

"No, I just found out where it was," George said.

"Well I'm no CB expert, but I've only found three guys I trust in the US. Beard has dropped off the radar, but I know that Clay is still in business.

"The other one is in North Carolina, just after you get most of the way through the gorge, but I ain't sure he's still there either. Probably be better all around to go out to Clay's, it's only a hundred and thirty-five miles on the other side of Ft Worth," I said.

"Ain't that a long way to go for a CB?" he asked.

"Maybe, but nothin' pisses me off worse than a radio that don't work," I said.

"What the hell, if you got the time, I got the money," George said.

"Now you're talkin'. I got his card in my billfold. I'll call him and see if we can get one installed tomorrow," I said.

Ethel came down about then and she walked over to us. I was afraid it was going to mean lifting that barge and toting that bale for me, but that wasn't it at all.

"George, what kind of trailers do you have for the new trucks?" she asked.

"Nothin' but pole trailers so far," he said.

"Well get on the phone and call somebody. I don't want the house to look like a damned wood yard with log trucks parked all around and pole trailers hangin' from every tree.

We have a ranch, George, not a pulpwood yard. Buy some bull-racks and see if you can get John to go fetch 'em. He looks nervous standing around down here with nothing to do. Besides, I don't think Meka is tired of ridin' yet," Ethel said.

She didn't give either one of us any time to argue, or even piss and moan, she left when she had spoken. George kept that resigned look on his face until she was back in the elevator.

"By God, I stole a march on her this time. I done talked to three people and found a place in Dallas that has two brand new trailers. Call that Clay and see about your radio and we can save one extra trip anyway," he said.

I fished out the number and called. Apparently the place was too big by now for Clay to answer the phone, but someone did. When I asked, he told me they had plenty of Ranger 2950s and that he'd tune one up and have it ready in the morning.

"I got two new trucks," I said, "Tune up two. I can bring cash or give you a credit card number over the phone. Whatever suits you tickles me pink."

"All right, we'll be there about nine in the morning," I said, and hung up.

"That didn't take long," George said.

"Naw, it's the drive that will take the time, and waiting around to get it put in, but there ain't no help for that," I said.

"When you plannin' to leave?"

"Might as well go on and go, I just want to see if Ethel can furnish a couple of pillows and sheets for the bunk and pack Meka a few clothes."

Talk about service. Ethel did better than that. She, Wanda, Carolyn, and Geneva were down in the basement ten minutes later with sheets, pillows, and the whole works. They even made up the bed for me.

After that they left for George's house to pack Meka a bag. All of them, except Ethel, who dug around through my things and packed a bag for me. An hour later, Meka and I were heading out Hwy 77, toward the junction with I-30. We had a a big ice chest full of Cokes and cold cuts, and two thermoses full of fresh brewed coffee. We even had our insulated mugs.

We only made it to Six Flags that day. I'm sure Meka didn't understand what it was when we saw it from the interstate, but I had noticed a sign and gone through town instead of around the loop. I called Clay's and told them to put us back one day.

We had time to do a few hours during the daylight and so we stopped for some fun. Meka could hardly believe the place but she loved the rides, well most of them anyway. I will say one thing for her, when a roller coaster made her puke; she wiped her mouth and kept on screaming.

After we closed the place down I drove back across to the TA in mesquite. No need for a hotel when we had our own room behind us.

The next morning we had breakfast in the coffee shop and then I paid the ten bucks for two showers. I hoped Meka could get it done by herself, and it turns out that she'd been paying closer attention to the way showers worked than I'd imagined. The only help I had to give her was wrapping her cast in a trash bag first.

I was done before she was, and waiting outside her shower's door when I heard her give the commode a last six flushes. That's my girl.

Since we were moving early in the morning, I drove on over to the dealership George had bought the trailers from. I didn't even have any paperwork to do; George had taken care of everything over the phone. We hooked the brand new bull-rack and headed for Clay's.

We pulled in about three hours later, around eleven AM, and darned if Clay wasn't behind the counter. He didn't know my name of course, but I could tell he at least remembered seeing me before.

I gave him a credit card for both radios, the coax, antennas, and antenna mounts - he was about to send a guy out to install one of them.

"You are going to tune it up aren't you?" I asked.

"Already taken care of. He'll have to set the SWR, but everything else is ready to go," he said.

"Just so we're on the same page, I need it tuned up to do about seven hundred and fifty watts," I said.

He looked at me a little funny, and then grinned.

"That particular tune-up cost a little extra," he said.

I was pretty sure he didn't want to sell the linears on a credit card, so I didn't even ask; I just reached in my pocket and laid a banded bundle of hundreds on the counter. It was ten thousand dollars and I knew it wouldn't be anywhere near that much, but I didn't want to haggle.

"Take it out of that and don't forget the other one will need the same treatment," I said.

He opened the bundle, took out sixteen bills, and handed me back the rest. I knew better than to wait for a receipt for the linears.

Clay took the radio back into the shop part of the building and fiddled with it for a few minutes. I assume he was turning down the radio's output so it would work better with the amplifier. He confirmed it when he came back and handed it to the installer.

"I set the radio back to a two watt carrier so it will sound better with the amp. It'll be kinda weak if you don't have the heater on," he said.

I told him this wasn't my first radio and he grinned at me. Meka was standing by the CB they had on behind the counter and I could tell she was listening. For once I was glad she couldn't speak or understand English yet. Two truckers were having a cuss fight with each other and they weren't being polite.

The install guy was better than the one I had last time I'd been here, a little over an hour better in fact. Meka and I were headed back to the truck less than two hours later.

"You headed off to pick up some cattle?" Clay asked, as we were leaving the shop. I guess he thought he should make a little more friendly conversation.

"Naw, I'm not a bull-hauler, I just found the trailer," I said, and we left while he was still laughing.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 12


No doubt about it, I was born too late and Meka was born too early. Even though I couldn't speak a word of the language, I loved my trips via the Way Back machine, or whatever did them. For her part, Meka loved riding in a big truck. When we got back to George and Ethel's house she seemed a little let down.

Ethel cured most of that by dragging out a meal for the two of us. It was about six PM and we'd missed supper, but Ethel and Wanda made it right. Since Meka knew it was nearly night out, she packed it in and then slipped into hibernation mode for the night.

"You two better stay up here tonight," Ethel said. "We've got most everything scattered around at least close to where it belongs, but we haven't even made up the beds yet. In fact, somebody has to go after some furniture. I didn't have anything that I wanted to put down there for Meka, so I called around and scared it up."

"That's fine with me. I don't think Meka is tired of ridin' yet. She loves ridin'," I said.

"Good, the furniture is out near Canton. A lot of antique shops have sprung up to stay out there since First Monday has got so big," she said.

"But isn't First Monday going on this weekend?" I asked.

"Yeh, but the places I bought the furniture and things from aren't on the site. You won't have to deal with too much traffic," Ethel said, but I could almost feel the sneaky tone in her voice.

"Don't matter, we won't have much trouble in the pickup."

"You shore won't, because you ain't going in the pickup. You'll need that new big truck and the new trailer George bought. There ain't near enough room in a pickup, or even in any trailer we got that can be towed by a pickup," she said.

"I've never thought of hauling furniture in a bull-rack, but I guess it will work fine. At least this one's never hauled any cattle and it don't smell like shit yet," I said.

"You men. I'll swear you think just alike and it's always the wrong thoughts. That damned George, and Bob too, said the same thing, as if we can't afford a real trailer for hauling furniture," she said.

"Oh, he bought another trailer?" I asked.

"Sure did, I didn't even have to asks but once. He got it from the same place you picked up the bull-rack. They said they'd have the Carrier unit on it and have it ready to go by tomorrow morning."

"A reefer, we don't need a reefer to haul furniture," I said, surprised.

"I know that, but the unit won't hurt anything and we damned sure don't need a furniture trailer, not 'less you want to lease onto United or Mayflower," she said.

"No, no, a thousands times no. I'll go get the reefer and then pick up the furniture, and be happy about it. Please don't buy a possum belly moving van. I promise to do better if you won't," I said.

"Now you're talking like you have good sense. You don't have time to be driving around the country moving people's household goods anyway. I could have got a box van but they just look so plain. You and Meka go on to bed. You've got a lot of drivin' to do tomorrow and Meka has a lot of ridin' to catch up on," Ethel said.

That was fine with me and when I got to the bedroom I saw that Wanda already had Meka in bed and she was sound asleep.

The next morning I made it to the pisser before Meka. I know she was awake before me, but maybe she was rewarding me for the trip to Six Flags. Whatever it was, all was still right with the world because when I came out to get dressed, she went right in and commenced flushing.

Ethel was happier than a pig in shit too this morning, and she used large quantities of food to make up for the talking to she gave me last night. I had a thick ham steak, along with bacon, sausage patties, and sausage links. Of course there were a few fried eggs and a bowl of homemade chili and Ethel just had to remind me that my biscuit skills were only rudimentary compared to hers. The ones she made put mine to shame.

Meka's meal was planned for her by Ethel. She didn't have all the ham, bacon, and sausage. She had two plates worth though. One held her waffles and the other had three scrambled eggs with a big bowl of chili poured over them. She amazed Ethel, Wanda, and me by asking for another helping of everything and then making it disappear.

Meka perked right back up when she saw Ethel packing our ice chest with Cokes and cold cuts again. She didn't even ask any questions, though her English was better now and I'm sure she could have made us understand. Hell, she knew good and well already that we were in for more trucking and it made her smile wide. She came over and crawled up into my lap.

"Daddy, we go in truck?" she asked.

"Yes baby, we go in truck. Do you like the truck?"

She didn't answer, just hugged my neck and kissed me on the cheek. She settled down in my lap to wait then, and I could almost feel happiness radiating off her.

We drank another mug of coffee at the table and then left with full cups. We had a big thermos too, and there were plenty of Cokes in the ice chest.

Ethel had bought a camper style potty for the sleeper. It had some type of chemical in it that was supposed to keep the smell down. Meka tried to act like it was wonderful, but I could tell her heart wasn't in it. She made sure she had a few flushes in her bathroom just before we left and she was good to go.

After we were about a mile down the road I had to see if I could find out what the problem with the porta-potty was. I should have known better myself.

"You don't like the potty Ethel got for you?" I asked, pointing to it and doubting she would understand anyway.

I don't know if she understood what I was asking or not. She looked at the potty too.

"No flush," she said, as if that explained everything.

In a way I guess it did. No doubt Meka was perfectly comfortable with taking care of business anywhere she thought no one would step in the results. If a crapper wouldn't flush, well where was the fun in that?

As soon as we hit I-30, heading back to Dallas, Meka made a startling discovery. I don't know why it hadn't come up before, but it hadn't. I pulled out into the left lane to pass a car and Meka happened to be looking out her window; for the first time she noticed that the cars had people in them too.

Not only that, but she could see into the cars from her perch. Apparently we had passed a car with other children in it and they must have been looking up and noticed Meka.

It didn't matter to Meka that they couldn't hear her, or that they wouldn't have been able to understand anything she said if they could have. She began talking in her language, and by now even I could recognize she was greeting them. They must have been greeting her too, because all at once she started waving to the car.

When we were past them, she looked at me with her eyes bright and shinny and a smile that must have been nearly painful. She'd been paying more attention to what I did than what was going on in other cars and trucks up until now, but she spied another slow car in front of us and waved her hand at me for more speed.

Hell, it was fine with me and I gassed on it. Well, I guess I dieseled on it, but you know what I meant. We were pulling around the next car a minute later and it had kids in it too. Meka could see them because she talked to them again, but they must not have been looking out their windows.

"No see Meka," she said, with a disappointed tone in her voice.

"Daddy fix," I said, letting the train horns do our introductions.

I'm sure the car's driver got a shock, but it worked, because all at once they were getting a Caddo Indian greeting again and the waving was back on. The driver must have recovered too, because the woman flashed me over when I was past. Of course a truck driver doesn't really need to be flashed if he isn't pulling a trailer, and Meka and I were bobtailing to get the reefer. I thanked the driver with my taillights anyway; it's the thought that counts.

When we passed a big truck later, he made Meka's day and then she made his. Truck drivers have a lot of time on their hands when they're driving, and they usually look at anything that passes them. When I got even with the Schneider driver's window, I slowed and let Meka have a good wave. She had a surprise for me after a second or two.

"Daddy," she said, pointing to the driver.

I glanced that way and saw the pumpkin roller waving his CB microphone at me. It's a common gesture between drivers that happen to be close enough to see each other. It means why don't you turn your damned radio on so we can talk? I turned up the volume on the Ranger and one of probably twelve thousand or more "Slowpokes" said howdy.

I had to flick the linear off, because as close as we were it would garble everything I tried to say, but I did it and howdied him back.

"That's a pretty passenger ya got there driver," he said.

"Ain't she just? I'll try to get her to talk to ya, but I doubt you'll understand her. Meka is a Caddo Indian and she doesn't know much English," I said.

I gave her the mike then and showed her how to push to talk. Meka gave the driver a greeting and I'm sure he didn't understand a bit of it, but at the last she said, "My name is Meka."

I was surprised and he was thrilled. He even woke up his partner in the sleeper and in about a minute the guy climbed out and took the mike, saying hello himself. Meka gave this one her greeting too and also told him her name was Meka. She was having a ball.

This isn't as unusual as it might seem. A large majority of truck drivers are suckers for a sob story. Meka's wasn't really a sob story, but the two pumpkin rollers couldn't know that. I'm sure they thought she'd been slighted by some government organization on her English lessons. After all, it had only been a few years ago that the government gave all truck drivers a brutal fucking up the ass. Considering the treatment all Native Americans had received at the hands or our benevolent government, I could understand his assumption.

I glanced in the mirror and saw that we had collected a tail, so I pulled ahead and got back over in the right lane.

"Bye bye," Meka said into the mike, unknowingly repeating the words every Schneider driver heard dozens of times each day.

It surprised me at first, but someone else hollered at Meka then. His handle was Calico, and my guess was that there weren't more than a couple of thousand Calicos, in Texas anyway. Meka was proud to talk to this Calico though, and she had a little more English for him.

"My name is Meka. I am six," she said.

Truckers can be the biggest assholes on earth, but sometimes they can be nice. The nice part usually only comes around during the daylight; probably because the drivers are tired at night, and a lot of them have been driving all day and will be driving all night too.

They seemed to be in good spirits this morning though, and I'll bet Meka introduced herself to and greeted probably seventy-five drivers before we got to Dallas. She was thrilled for the most part, but I could tell it was getting old by the time we pulled into the trailer place.

We were barely on the ground when I got a hint of what her discomfort was.

"Bathroom," she said, looking at me with a question on her expression.

We went inside and found one with no trouble and, the flushing started before she could have possibly gotten her pants down. She was probably just making sure that the crapper wasn't going to try cheating her like Ethel's porta-potty did.

We went to the desk after the flushing was over, and when I told the bosomy receptionist who we were, she called someone and then started to talk to Meka, hoping to keep her from fidgeting, no doubt.

She had to go through "My name is Meka" twice before I told her that Meka didn't speak or understand much English. Undaunted, the receptionist switched to what I thought was probably excellent Spanish.

"Excuse my poor manners, please Ma'am. I should have been more informative. Meka is a Caddo Indian, and that's the only language she's really fluent in. She can give and receive smiles in any lingo though," I said.

She showed me she was better than the average receptionist then, by giving Meka a big smile.

"Meka, my name is Janice," she said, proving she knew the limits now.

Meka returned her smile and waltzed around behind the desk. Soon she was in Janice's lap and somehow a cartoon was playing on the computer. Man, those damned things were getting too smart. I knew I was going to have to get Bob to show me how to do that excellent trick.

A suede shoe operator came out from the office door then and introduced himself. He was into full glad-handing mode and he didn't even let up when I told him I was just the driver here to pick up the trailer George had bought.

"You can't pull that on me. I spoke with Mrs Ethel, and she warned me not to get on your bad side if we expected to sell them any more trailers. Why don't we go look at what they selected and if it suits you, you can go on about your business. Mrs Ethel told me not to delay you since you had some antiques to pick up," James said.

"I ain't in that big a hurry, but I guess we might as well go take a look. In the mean time, I'd like it a lot if Janice could call Bob, Ethel's son, and tell him what she was showing Meka on her computer, and tell Bob how it's done if he don't know already," I said.

"I'll be glad to," Janice said.

Meka was torn between watching a rabbit beat hell out of a dog with a big club, or coming with me, but I won out in the end. She gave Janice another big smile and a thank you, and we were off to look at the trailer.

One thing I really liked about George was he didn't buy anything that was cheap; at least he didn't try to pull that when it was something Ethel wanted.

James wanted to go by our tractor first and I wondered why.

"Mr George warned me that Mrs Ethel would not be pleased if the trailer showed up at her house with a different type of wheel than the ones on the tractor. Apparently the ones on the bull-rack are not up to her specifications and they are being changed as we speak," James said, and I couldn't help laughing at him.

For a salesman, he had an astonishing grasp of what he was doing, because he pulled out a little spiral top notepad and wrote down the model of the aluminum wheels in it. We went toward the lot then and he walked right up to a Quality Ultra-Light fifty-three foot reefer trailer. It not only had the quilted stainless steel rear doors, it had the stainless sidewalls too.

Trailers like that are few and far between now-a-days. They are top quality, no doubt about it, but they are more expensive. Most trailers are owned by leasing companies now. Leasing companies don't waste money on the classic look, like stainless steel sidewalls for reefers, when aluminum, or even fiberglass will do just as well and are a hell of a lot cheaper. Of course, a trailer sales place like this didn't have a snowball's chance of selling to a leasing company anyhow.

"As you can see, the wheels don't match, but we've we'll get a crew on it right away. If you and Meka would like to get something to eat, I'll have a company driver take you wherever you'd like," he said.

"No need to bother with that. Meka loves the TA, of all places, and we can bobtail over there for lunch," I said.

It probably wasn't the best idea I ever had, though Meka might argue with me. We weren't in the TA ten minutes before one of the drivers she'd talked to on the way out here made the connection. We had company for lunch then.

In a feat of intelligence that I could hardly believe, Meka recognized the guy from the sound of his voice and called him, Rodeo - his handle - right away. Before we'd finished our burger and fries she had correctly named five other drivers that happened to drop over by our table. I had suspicions that one of the early ones had been using Meka's name in vain from the CB in his truck, out in the parking lot.

Calisto was a Mexican but he could speak English as good or better than I could. He didn't mistake Meka for Mexican like most people did, and he asked me if Meka was her real name or her handle.

"It's her real name, I'm not sure she can grasp the concept of a handle yet," I said.

"Well she'll be able to sooner or later and I think hers should be Little Queenie, I love Chuck Berry," he said.

"Well, explain it to her then," I said. Meanwhile, I was thinking... 

What followed was the dankest bunch of hand waving and motioning I'd ever seen. Calisto went so far as to go into the TA's little storefront and buy a cheap CB microphone.

Armed with that, and a hell of a lot more gesturing, he finally got Meka to agree that she would be Little Queenie on the radio. I consider it one of the best displays of perseverance I'd ever witnessed, by Calisto and Little Queenie/Meka both.

Of course there was a penalty for me in all this. Meka pointed to the microphone, pointed to herself, and said Little Queenie. I knew it was coming but couldn't figure out a way to stop it. I felt like the guy watching the mythical train wreck. She pointed to the mike again and then pointed to me.

There was nothing for it, I had to confess.

"Armadildo," I said, and I know I blushed.

Several people in the TA's restaurant happened to think that was very funny, and of course I blushed more when they expressed their feelings. Little Queenie didn't know what it was all about, but when she repeated Armadildo and smiled wide, the laughter got even louder. I just grinned at her and nodded my head.

Something even more amazing happened when we got to the check out. Our lunch had already been paid for, and then some. That's something you just don't expect to happen in a truck stop and I was at a loss for a second.

"You're way too slow on the draw today, Armadildo," the woman said, grinning savagely after saying my handle, "I could have collected for your lunch six times if I weren't so honest, and the waitress has sixteen dollars worth of tips coming, besides what I saw you leave on the table. Come on back to see us anytime you can, but don't forget to bring Little Queenie."

I whispered in Meka's ear then and she did the deed. She turned to the restaurant and said Thank You All in a nice firm voice, before we left. For a second I thought the room was going to give us a standing ovation, and Jerico - one of the ones Meka recognized from his voice - was smarter than your average truck driver, since he handed Meka a plastic bottle of Coke as we left. It earned him a kiss on the cheek.

When we got to the trailer place again, the trailer had new wheels and tires on, and there was a guy with a buffer polishing hell out of the reefer unit's fuel tank. Janice came walking out the door before I even popped the brakes. It looked like she had two CDs in her hand.

"Hi, I talked to, Bob, and he said he knew what to do with the movies, so I burned a few CDs worth for Meka," she said, as we got down.

Meka had curiosity written all over her face, and when Janice handed me the CDs I showed them to her.

"Cartoons. You can watch them at home," I said.

She pondered for a second and then her big smile split her face. I could tell she was really happy about it, and I guess it was inevitable.

"My handle is Little Queenie," she said, announcing it to Janice, and that wouldn't have been bad if she'd left off there.

"Daddy is Armadildo," she said, grinning as if she knew what she'd said.

I have to give Janice credit, she tried to maintain, but it got the best of her when the blood started rushing up my neck to shout that I was embarrassed. Janice just burst out laughing and kept it up until tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Of course Meka knew she was the cause of it all, even if she didn't understand why. She was laughing right along with Janice in seconds and then pointing right at my red face. She understood exactly what that meant.

I recovered in a few minutes and Janice had just about finished laughing at me. Thankfully, the polish man got through with the tank and we hooked the trailer and left. Of course I had to get Little Queenie's approval first.

I'll admit I've never understood exactly why Canton's giant flea market was called First Monday, since it started on Friday, officially. I'd heard several explanations but I wasn't biting.

When I wanted to know for sure, I asked someone who I knew would know. Now that I had easy access to Ethel, she took over the duty of informing me. She said it started this Friday, and that's why Meka and I were hunting a place to park near Canton, Thursday night.

It turned out to be easy as pie. We drove toward Canton and I pulled in to park when I saw a bunch of other trucks parked in a lot by a big station. I'm not sure it was a regular truck stop, though it looked like it might be. At any rate, no one knocked on the door asking for a parking fee while we were sleeping.

I found out the next morning that it was a truck stop, sort of. It did sell diesel but I doubted it sold much. The café was a winner though and the waitress just about fell all over herself making sure that Meka got just what she wanted. Luckily, Meka had no trouble with the words waffle, sausage, or sunny-side-up. She had coffee down pat too, and she made please sound so good when she held up her mug.

Meka and I boarded the red antique express after breakfast and headed for the place Ethel had to us about. She'd said she'd leave word there about the other pickup points. We pulled up in front of Old Towne Antiques and were inside five minutes later.

We just looked around a little at first and I noticed and old guy at the counter watching Meka carefully. I understood his caution but it still rankled a little. He visibly winced every time Meka picked something up, so I decided to make his day, and I walked to the counter.

"She is a curious little thing and she can't speak or understand English or Spanish. If you're worried about her breaking something, just follow her around and I'll pay for anything that gets a scratch. You might as well bring a basket with you, and if she wants it, let her put it in the basket and I'll pay up when she's done," I said.

"But what if she picks out something that's too expensive?" he asked.

"I guess that could happen, if it's more than ten thousand or so, better check with me first," I said.

I guess I was feeling my oats this morning and I got a little jolt of glee when he nearly swallowed his tongue over that one, I decided that I hadn't had enough fun yet though.

"By the way, Ethel told us to stop here first to pick up a few things she'd bought over the phone. Where should I put the trailer to get it loaded?" I asked.

"Oh, you're the man Mrs Ethel sent for the furniture she bought?" he asked.

"Yep, I'm the one."

"Now the light is shining for me. Mrs Ethel has beat you to the punch though, if that's Meka," he said.

"She has?"

"Yes, she's already told me to let her have anything she wanted and to call if it was going to take another truck to haul it home," he said, and I knew he was having fun himself now, watching me squirm a little.

"Did she leave me any instructions about other places I'd need to go for pickups," I asked, being more careful of my manners this time.

"I think we've got most of it here already. She arranged for a local guy to bring everything here, since we have a regular loading dock out back," he said.

"I guess I'd better put my truck driver hat back on and bump the dock then," I said.

Meka was still browsing and I tried to let her know she could keep it up while I moved the truck. That was not about to fly with her. If the truck was moving she wanted to be in on the deal. I drove around back, opened the trailer's doors, and backed up to the dock where the man was signaling. He'd come through the building to get it right.

We got down again and went back into the store. Meka was back to her examinations in seconds. The man didn't follow her but I noticed that he had a woman about twenty or so years old right with Meka, carrying a basket and occasionally getting something from a higher shelf if Meka showed interest. It's just amazing how accommodating antique shop people can be when they know you're going to be buying something.

Meka did a good job on her shopping, she filled up three baskets with stuff, most of it antique dolls and toys, and things like that. I knew that she didn't understand that we'd be taking it all with us, and the young gal was probably putting anything in the basket that Meka acted like she liked.

I didn't give a rat's ass. If Ethel didn't want to pay for it I'd be glad too, but I knew Ethel did want Meka to have anything she wanted. I could settle up with her later and I might be able to get her to let me pay for half of it if I tried hard enough.

One thing that Meka really loved was a whistle that had a plunger in the end. If you blew into it and then moved the plunger in or out it changed the tone of the whistle. She hadn't been able to make heads or tales of it until the young woman gave her a demo. It didn't leave Meka's hands after that and spent most of the time in her mouth, being put to its intended use.

I knew it was an antique, the old guy did, and so did the young woman, but to Meka it was a wonderful toy, and that settled that. Me or Ethel one was going to get the pleasure of paying for Meka's seventy-five dollar antique plastic whistle. I'm sure it cost at least fifty cents when it sold new.

After Meka was through shopping the old guy told me it would be three or four hours before they had everything loaded and secured.

"You can drop the trailer and drive to town if you'd like, or I can loan you my pickup if you'd rather," he said.

I knew which vehicle Meka would want to ride in, so I dropped the trailer. I even let Meka help this time. I'd been watching her the last few times I'd dropped or hooked and I knew she was anxious to get her hands on the dolly bar's hand-crank. I let her this time and it was big fun until the pads hit the ground. I took over for the hard part and then we were off.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 13


Canton Texas is mainly a giant flea market, masquerading as a Texas Town. For three weekends during the month it tries to seem townish. This wasn't one of its pretend to be normal weekends though. It was down to its real function. Anything and everything was for sale here, somewhere.

At the main flea market, which is Texas sized squared, we just wandered around. Meka looked at a few things but she didn't find much she liked for some reason. She was amazed at the number of people though, and she also wanted a taste of every food item that was for sale. She loved cotton candy and giggled the whole time she was getting most of it in her mouth but plenty of it on her.

The shit hit the fan when we went to look at the livestock. It wasn't really a problem, but Meka had never seen a lot of the animals there. Of course she now knew about horses but she was true to Little Missy and didn't pay the ones here much attention.

Ducks, and especially chickens, were a big hit with her. She wasn't in the market for a pet snake, but she did look the baby alligators over closely, and the big aquariums all took a few minutes of her time.

The dogs were the things that stole the show for Meka. I guess she was more accustomed to coyotes or wolves, but she was a goner when the first puppy licked her on the face. Without a doubt, I knew what was coming but I didn't even try to avoid it. I did try to make her understand that she could only have one.

I think she understood anyway. She looked at every mutt there, puppy or grown dog, and she didn't cull the registered dogs either. She even took a gander at the cats, but you know how cats are. She wasn't impressed by their standoffish attitude.

I felt a little twinge about selling Boris and Blue during my yard sale and then buying another dog. That was then though, this was now, and if Meka wanted a dog she was damned sure going to get one.

She settled on a Miniature Poodle. It was just one of the small ones to me, but the lady that was selling them was kind enough to tell me that a Miniature poodle was between fifteen inches to ten inches at the highest point of the shoulder.

Of course the one that was kissing Meka at the time wasn't that big yet, but the lady promised me it would grow into that range, or I could return it for a full refund. I almost laughed at her right off, and then I did. She took it well.

"I'll admit the chances of you returning the dog are going to be low," she said, grinning.

"I'll have to say that's the first time a salesman ever used the puppy close on me for a real puppy," I said.

I'm not sure whether Meka picked the puppy or the puppy picked Meka, but I knew they would not be separated without more trouble than I wanted to contemplate. I paid the five hundred bucks and was glad to. The woman gave me the papers and even told me what to do and how quick I needed to send them in.

"I'll probably let Ethel take care of that," I said.

"All you really have to do is name the dog and fill in the owner's information, everything else is ready to go," she said.

"Good, you don't happen to have a tiny collar and leash that will work do you?" I asked.

I got a hard look from her, and then a song and dance about the puppy being too small for that kind of thing yet. When I thought about it I knew the woman was right.

"I do have a small box with a towel that has his mother's scent on it though, and his favorite chew toy," she said, and then she produced them.

Good old me got to carry the box and Meka took charge of the poodle. I didn't even try to start in about the name. We could do that later, hopefully with the help of Doctor Jorge, so Meka would have an idea of what she was naming it.

For the next hour or so I wagged the box and Meka carried, talked to, and petted her dog; she also furnished a handy face for him to lick on. I noticed that she seemed to have a name for him now too. She called him ch'uht'uh dìitsi? more than once, and I wondered if I'd ever be able to say it.

We saw a few more things that looked interesting and finished it off by taking a tour of the used cars. Meka liked several, but I was just as glad she didn't seem to want one. Especially since the one she liked best was a 1956 Thunderbird.

It was a nice enough old T-bird, but even I could tell that whoever did the paint and bodywork was pretty good with paint, and amateurish, at best, with the body part.

The spray work was top notch, but the bodywork left a lot to be desired, at best. Looking down the sides reminded me of a flag waving. It looked like it could have used ten or fifteen more hours of block sanding before they started turning it black again. And that's another thing, no real bodyman would paint something black when he knew he didn't have the thing right.

After the T-bird show, I called the antique shop and they said we were all loaded. Meka and I saddled up and left the flea market. I thought she was too smart for words when she put the puppy on the ground and let it walk around until it watered and fertilized the parking lot before we got in.

I'd never really cared much for poodles, but I didn't have any real reason for the feeling. I'd always considered them strictly lap dogs and that was something I'd never wanted. Meka was more than pleased with her purchase though and that was all that mattered to me.

After we hooked the trailer, we both went inside to see if we were all set. Meka brought her new best friend in of course, and the old guy and the young woman just had to pet it a little. Finally Meka held him up to me and said bathroom. The woman caught on and led her to one while I held her dog.

"Daddy," Meka said, yelling for me not thirty seconds after she'd been led toward the facility.

I said I was coming and walked to her voice. The young woman was embarrassed but smiling and when I got to the door I saw why.

Meka was standing in the bathroom, staring at the toilet. She wasn't scared or shy or anything, she was amazed. It was one of those really old flush toilets that have the tank up near the ceiling and the flush handle hanging down from it on a chain. I smiled at Meka and told her to give it a try.

I know she couldn't understand what I said, but she got the idea, and taking hold of the handle at the end of the chain, she gave it a tug. It made such a loud noise that it surprised her and she squealed in delight. I knew we were in it for the long haul too. It didn't seem to bother the woman a bit and she let Meka flush to her heart's content.

Finally Meka seemed satisfied and she closed the door and did what people normally do in bathrooms, I guess. She only flushed twice more before she came out to give me a turn. Somehow she realized that when I heard the toilet flush, I usually needed to use it myself right afterward.

With the business over, I stopped by the front desk on our way out and asked the old man to find us one of those toilets.

"I don't think I can put one in my house, but I know Ethel is going to want one after this," I told him, and he promised to get a couple, just in case.

Meka, the little dog, and I mounted up and rode back to the almost truck stop where we'd spent the night before. I had the devil of a time making her understand that the dog would not be welcome in the café, but I think she finally understood that it wasn't my rule.

She did let it on the ground again so it could water the parking lot and then we got back in the cab so she could make him comfortable in his box, and make sure he knew where his chew toy was. They both seemed resigned to parting for a while and he gave her a last lick and then settled down in his box. That was amazing in itself.

After we'd eaten, Meka brought up the question of the dogs supper. She said dog, and then she said hamburger. Hell, I could take a hint. I ordered a carry out hamburger patty and at the last second Meka said sunny-side-up and we threw in two eggs too.

They brought it out in one of those Styrofoam clamshell plates. Meka took one look at the patty and tore it up into tiny pieces; she must have figured that doggy could deal with the eggs in their natural state.

If Meka hadn't been his number one girl before supper, she was after she laid that feast on doggy. He damn near wagged his little poodle tail off when she first opened the container and put it in his box. Then he vacuumed it clean, licking until he had that thing cleaner than when it was new.

Meka watched the whole thing, giggling all the while, and when he gave up on finding even one more taste on the Styrofoam she took it out of his box. I'll be damned if he didn't lie down on his stuffed little belly and conk right out.

Meka and I went to bed ourselves.

The little dog woke me, and Meka, about four hours later, whining. At first I was getting cranked up to be pissed off, and then a thought stuck me. I put on my pants, pulled my boots on without bothering with socks, and took him outside. Meka watched us the whole time, perched in the drivers seat in her T-shirt nightgown and boxer briefs.

I'll be damned if the little ball of curls didn't squat and pee as soon as I set him on the ground and then he walked around sniffing for a few minutes and took a big dump. It was just too good to be true and I felt like I'd cheated the woman out of the other five hundred buck I should have given her for him.

Nobody can house break a puppy that young, and one sniff of what the eggs had done for him put his whining to go out right at the top of my list of welcome miracles. It was too good to be true and I still thought it was a lie when I went back to bed.

We made sure to let the little guy have a walk first thing the next morning too, and then Meka and I made a beeline for the café. The first waitress we'd had here was back on duty and her face lit up when she saw Meka again. Meka showed her that she still had a good appetite and after we'd finished our meal we ordered the doggie's breakfast.

I let Meka feed her charge in the sleeper while I took off. Soon enough, she claimed her trucking throne and the dog was sawing logs in its box again. Meka kept checking on him though; she'd take a look in the box about every thirty minutes and then get back in her seat.

Her little drill for this was too cute for words. First she'd turn to look through the opening to the sleeper, and of course she couldn't see doggy, since he was snoozing in the box. Undaunted, she'd let the air out of her seat until it was low enough for her to get down without jumping off it. After she was satisfied that he was all right, she'd get back in her seat and hit the up button on the air ride to get back to viewing level.

We pulled up behind George's house right before noon and Meka let me know she wanted to blow the train horn this time. She had some work to do before she could make it really sound like a train, but she was right on top of making it loud as hell.

Ethel was first out of the house and she got to the truck's door before Meka and I could even get down. Meka gave her a big hug and then said, "Look Ethel" and climbed back up. She and the dog and the whistle reappeared in seconds. Wanda was with us by now and the celebration began.

Curly was let down to take a bathroom break while Ethel and Wanda watched, and Meka played accompaniment for him with her whistle. He took care of his business and there was no stinting on the praise the little fella got for the good job he did.

When we headed into the house for lunch, I suggested that we leave him in the truck in his box. Meka looked like she though it was all right but Ethel and Wanda wouldn't hear of it. So I brought the box and Meka carried her friend and into the house we went. I had only been trying to avert discontent over taking a dog in the house. It didn't bother me; but it wasn't my house.

If it was jake with Ethel if was fine by me. When we got to the kitchen I saw that it was fine with George, Bob, Chuck, Dave, and Jorge too; so it was settled. Actually, I was surprised after lunch, since everyone wanted a chance to pet the little stinker. When I told them about it waking us up to go outside during the night I could tell that they could hardly believe it.

"You'll see, or at least I hope you will. I'll swear the dog knows he isn't supposed to mess up his box," I said.

"If that's right then you did cheat the poor woman that raised it. I can't remember ever having a house dog that wasn't a big pain to break," George said.

I started to tell Ethel about ordering her a new commode but the man from the antique shop had already called. He'd found three and they would be on the way in a couple of days.

Apparently a lot of details had been taken care of while we were gawking down in Canton. Janice had Bob all straightened out on how to play Meka's cartoons and since the new house had a room that could serve Meka as an office of her own, Bob had ordered her a computer like mine.

"I hope there's a plug close enough somewhere to hook it too," I said.

"Her office is done the same way as yours, all we have to do is get her a desk and we'll be set," Bob said.

"She has a desk, in the back of that truck," Ethel said.

"It isn't a roll top is it?" Bob asked.

"Bob, who do you think you're talking to? Of course I know a roll top isn't any good for a computer, and of course I knew she'd need a computer. There's room for her roll top desk in her bedroom, at least there is for now," Ethel said, making Bob smile sheepishly.

Meka, Doctor Jorge, and the pup took off for some lessons after that, and after they were gone I remembered that I needed to ask him about some Caddo words, at least a few. I let it slide though, figuring I had at least a few days before I'd need them. In fact it would probably be longer than that. George had already told me that the trips hadn't come up very often before.

I decided that I might as well take the trailer down to the house and put it to the underground dock. Ethel said we'd have to get by with only about four men helping this time.

"George thinks the others need to do a little ranchin' today," Ethel said.

"Ranchin' hell, they need to build some fence, and you know it. The buffalo were your idea after all," he said.

"I guess they were," she said, and then grinned.

"Are you going to raise buffalo?" I asked.

"Kinda, we're getting two young males and six mature females. Mostly so Meka can see some wandering around out here, but we do plan to let 'em do what comes naturally," George said.

"From what I've heard you'd better build more than a little fence," I said.

"What do ya mean?" George asked.

"I mean you'd better ask Doctor James about 'em first. He learned the hard way that they are a lot harder to keep penned than cows," I said.

"That's right, he did have a few one time, but I never talked to him about 'em," George said.

"Well you should. I know he don't hire the smartest hands, but I remember they road foundered two horses once, chasing after those buffalo when they tried to keep them in one of their normal fences," I said.

"I don't wonder about that. A normal fence for Doctor James has a post every now and then, just for looks. It ain't like they keep the wire nailed to 'em or anything silly like that," George said.

"No matter, me and Joe Bob can probably find 'em for you sooner or later, but I'm not sure I want to drop a loop over one's head. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be like steer ropin'," I said.

"You may have a point there. We can keep 'em close to the house in one of the smaller pens at first, just in case," he said.

"Are you real busy right now?" I asked, knowing I was changing the subject, but wanting to get out of the house gracefully.

"Not so's you'd notice. What's up," he asked.

"If you got time, I'd like to take my pickup back down to the house. I got a big new garage for it and there ain't no sense in leaving it up here in the way. Can you follow me and give me a ride back?" I asked.

"Sure, if Ethel thinks she can get along without me for a while," he said.

"Just don't be gone longer than a few months," Ethel said, and then she and Wanda both laughed at us.

I got in my pickup and George got in his and away we went. I was surprised when we got to the garage, because the door on the end nearest the house started rolling itself up as if it knew where the truck belonged. After I drove inside I saw that it must have.

I was standing near the front of my pickup gawking open mouthed when George walked in, and he started helping me. I can't even remember how long I stood there dumbfounded and George swears he can't either.

There was no question now why the garage was just as tall as the barn, because the two middle roll up doors obviously raised high enough to pull a tractor trailer into them, and there was plenty of room for them to pull up and park trailer and all inside.

Even that wasn't the shocker. By far the biggest surprise was the stretched Humvee ambulance in the last stall; just on the other side of the more normal Humvee that looked a lot like a pickup truck, except bigger of course.

Just this side of them was a stretch limo version of the same thing. Well, not exactly, but close. The limo was made in the H2 style while the ambulance and the pickup were the normal, army type, H1 style.

What on earth I was supposed to do with them was beyond me. I could see a possible use for the ambulance and even more so for the truck type, but the limo left me flabbergasted.

I was starting to get the feeling that I owed someone or some thing a lot of money, labor, or whatever - because the hummers weren't the only new vehicles.

The stall right next to the one that had opened for my pickup had a 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe. I'd lusted for one all my life but hadn't ever got up off the dime to buy one when I could have afforded it.

This one was my dream car. It was Sebring Silver, exactly the color I'd always wanted and it had the lake pipes and knock off wheels. And it looked brand new. Come to think of it, it probably was.

At least that answered the question of whether or not They read our minds. Even without looking I was sure that under the hood, instead of the 375 horse fuel injected 327 that had been the biggest engine they came with, there was an aluminum smallblock with a later edition of electronic fuel injection like they used now.

On the other side of the Vette was a 1967 Cadillac Coup DeVille. Exactly like the one my mother had once owned. It was the car I got my first shot of pussy in. It was also the one my mother let me take to college for a couple of months when my new Camaro swarmed because of a few modifications I'd made to the engine.

That Caddy was the car that made the sorority girls forget to ask which fraternity I was in when I asked them out.

I had a hell of a lot of good memories wrapped around a car exactly like that one. To this day, I still think I would have fucked myself to death if mother had let me keep that Cadillac all year.

The trip down memory lane was jolted again and then cut short when I looked to the extra space I'd been wondering about before I took my first look inside the garage.

There was a complete, fully equipped shop for repair work up there, the only part that wasn't covered with engine stands, tools or machines was where the trucks would need to pull up if they came in with a trailer, and the spot where the 1931 Model A Cabaret Coup was parked.

My dad had bought it for my sister, as a joke mostly I think, when she got her drivers license. For an even bigger joke, she and her friend Emily had painted it fire engine red with spray cans.

I can still remember what someone signed in her high school yearbook.

"Nancy had a little car And it was painted red. Everywhere that Nancy went Police picked up the dead."

It couldn't be the same car because a collector had later bought it from Dad and I know that he completely restored it. But if this was a copy, it jibed exactly with my memory.

I had a hard time getting a grip on this. I understood now that They could do just about anything they wanted to. Why they were doing all this was the rub. Finally I decided that it had to be some type of reward for me. There was no other explanation that I could come up with. Unless it was payment in advance for services yet to be rendered.

What I'd been through so far couldn't possibly have meant enough for them to go to all this trouble. Hell, for that matter, I'd already enjoyed it more than anything else I'd ever done. I doubted that they were doing all this just to see how happy they could make me, but if it wasn't the reason that was the effect. I was tickled.

"God damn, when they set out to surprise somebody, they do a bang up job, don't they," George said.

"Ain't a doubt about that for me," I said.

"I guess that some of this meets your approval somehow."

"All of it does. I'd never have dreamed it could be possible, but I'm happy as hell about it. That Vette is my all time dream car and the Caddy is exactly like the one I first got laid in," I said.

"What about that Model A? That is a Model A ain't it?" he asked.

"First car I ever drove and in fact, the first car I ever worked on too."

"I suppose the stuff at the other end, that ambulance and all, is more along the lines of their idea," he said.

"Has to be, I never wanted an ambulance or a limo either. That's the one that has me really stumped. I just don't even get a hint about it," I said.

"Well maybe you can drive Ethel and Wanda around in it sometime. Ethel has talked about calling one more than once," he said.

"What the hell, let's go start it up and give them a treat," I said.

I pulled my truck ahead enough so George could get his fifty-six in behind it. Then we walked to the limo and we both got in the front.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 14


The limo was a long bastard and harder to drive than a big truck, but it was plush inside. The seats in the rear weren't really seats; they were like long couches down each side. It had a bar, a complicated stereo system, and a hell of a lot of stuff I didn't even recognize. There was even one of those disco balls back there, but its lights didn't show up much in the daytime. What the hell, I was up front and didn't have to worry about all that crap.

We decided not to try driving up and honking the horn in this ride. We pulled up, meek as lambs, got out, and went into the house.

"What do ya know, Wanda, they found their way back by themselves," Ethel said, as we came in.

"Not only that, we found a new toy down in my garage. I think we should all take a ride in it," I said.

"What kind of toy?" she asked.

"George told me you'd been threatening to call a limo for a ride. Somebody else must have heard it too. Your chariot awaits," I said, grinning.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Why don't ya go on out there and see for yourself, Ethel," George said.

They decided that was the best way to get things moving so Ethel and Wanda went to the back door. Both of them were shocked motionless and speechless when they opened it. They didn't even go outside, they just stood there and stared.

Ethel recovered first.

"Where in the hell did you buy this, George, and when?" she asked.

"I didn't do it. When we went in the garage down there, we found it, and a few others," George said.

"Well if that don't beat all. John must a done something they really liked," she said.

"I hope I've already done it," I said, "At least I hope I don't have more to do that seems like it would make up for this and the other stuff. I'm a little worried that they're gettin' me rigged out so I can't complain about what comes next."

"At least they've put some effort into keepin' ya. It coulda been a lot worse," Wanda said.

"Now that you mention it I know you're right."

Ethel went to get Doctor Jorge, Meka, and of course, the new dog. They all came to take a look, and I'll swear the dog was more impressed with the limo than Meka was. That came to an end when they went out to look inside.

Meka was inside it for a minute or so and then she and the dog came back out. Meka smiled at me and then put the dog down. He was not one to miss a chance to pee, but he was done soon enough. Meka picked him back up and then looked at me.

"Take us ride, Daddy?' she asked.

Who could resist her? I knew I wasn't the one. Nodding my head, I went back to the driver's door and saddled up, with George sitting up front with me.

Doctor Jorge was sitting up near George and I, so I asked him about the name Meka was calling the dog.

"She hasn't named him yet. She said tomorrow would be a good day to name him. She's waiting until then," he said.

"But I've heard her call him something in her language a couple of times," I said.

"It didn't happen to sound like sound like ch'uht'uh dìitsi? did it?" he asked.

"I think that's it," I said.

"Ch'uht'uh dìitsi? means fuzzy dog in her language," he said, and then laughed.

"That hits him right on the head. Now that you mention it, I think it would help if I knew at least a few words in her language, so I could talk to the others if I go back," I said.

"The most important word for you to use is Texas," he said, leaving me batting my eyelids and shaking my head.

"There's no Texas back then," I said.

"The actual word in their language is taysha, but Spaniards later spelled it tejas, but Texas will do fine, it means friend," he said.

"Can you hit me with a few more?" I asked.

"Kùmbakfühah - my name is," he said, "and Dahyáhyut is come in."

I spent the next ten minutes driving and trying to get my mouth to make the same sounds Doctor Jorge's had made. It was a real bitch, especially after he threw in the rising and falling pitches.

"Very good, next we'll try some of the words that sound like you're trying to swallow a letter," Doctor Jorge said, and then laughed.

"I might not need to communicate with them as badly as I thought."

"Don't give up yet, John, just don't think you can learn it in an afternoon. It might not seem right, but Meka has a much easier time of it than you will," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because she isn't so set in her ways yet. Also, everyone around her is speaking English and I'm there to help her anytime.

"Of course it's a learning experience for me too. She is a native speaker of the language and she hasn't been corrupted by English the way modern Caddos have. They're trying to resurrect their language while she knows it already," he said.

"I think I can understand that," I said.

"No matter what any so called expert on the language thinks they know, Meka knows more. She is the current authority on Earth. Many scholars would give up years of their life to study it under her, if they could only know," he said.

"I guess you're glad to get the chance then."

"I'm thrilled. I won't be leaving until someone makes me go. Unless there's a chance I can go with you sometime," he said.

"I'd be more than glad for you to go, but you know it isn't up to me. I am guessing that you'll be coming along soon though. I have plenty of room for passengers in my house now," I said.

Jorge gave it a rest then and I concentrated on giving them the scenic tour of Atlanta Texas. Since I'd been to Atlanta Georgia before, I knew that they had one thing very much in common, pine trees. In fact, Atlanta Georgia was in the poor house as far as the pines were concerned.

We were taking a detour through the city park when Meka graced us with one or her English words.

"Stop, Daddy," she said.

I pulled off into a small picnic area and then Meka was chivvying everyone out of the limo. When I got out too, I saw the reason. We had called a halt so the Ch'uht'uh dìitsi? could do his business.

The little rascal made a puddle and then decided to dump a load on the park. I could barely believe the praise heaped on him at the successful conclusion. Meka, Wanda, and Ethel went on and on - in two languages - about his prowess in dumping maneuvers.

He hadn't caught a ride on the gravy train; he'd fallen directly into the gravy ocean. He was smug about it too. When he realized he was the star of the show he strutted around as if it were his due.

After a few minutes Meka found the slide and seesaw and the fun was on. She'd climb the ladder and then Wanda would hand her the dog for the trip down the slide. They both enjoyed it immensely.

The seesaw was problematic for a few seconds, until Ethel had me work my end with my hands while Meka and the dog rode on the other end. I had to be extra careful since Meka was holding onto the dog and not onto the seesaw's handle. I didn't want her to fall off.

Thankfully, she wasn't impressed with the monkey bars. I guessed it was because she'd already had the chance to climb as many trees as she'd wanted to. Climbing around on the bars was probably pale in comparison.

Soon enough we were back in the limo and then back to Ethel's house. Meka went in for more lessons from Jorge while George and I put the limo away and came back in his pickup.

"I guess I'll go ahead and take this load down to the house," I told George, when we were back.

"Probably be best. I'll gather up a few guys to help you start unloadin' and send them down there."

I started to go see if Meka wanted to come along but decieded not to disturb her lessons. Besides, I wasn't really too lazy to get out and put my hand on the curb to raise the elevator.

When I got there and lined up, the elevator surprised me by coming up on its own. Now that was service. I didn't now how it knew but I was glad it did.

The whole thing was like that. The elevator doors shut behind me and when it was down to the basement level the others opened too. I headed for the tunnel and it was all automatic. I did have to get out and open the trailer's doors before bumping the dock though.

When I had it in place, I went up into the house and opened the front door. Carl, Jake, Farley, and Cuatro were pulling up in George's Silverado and they had Chuck and Dave in tow too.

We could have used about four or five more. I hadn't bothered to look in the trailer after it had been loaded at Old Towne Antiques, I'd just shut the doors when I pulled away from the dock

The whole fifty-three foot trailer was full of crap, and I didn't have any idea about where Ethel wanted it put. We just carried it into the big living room and stacked it neatly. We'd need guidance from the big house to put this where it belonged.

It didn't take as long as I'd thought it would, mostly because we just made it handier for Ethel to put it where she wanted it. I let the guys out and then returned to the truck. My magic doors worked all the way out too, and when I headed the truck into one of the garage's center doors, that opened for me too.

I still had about an hour before suppertime, so I went back into the house and then the basement and reentered my arms locker. Picking out a bow, a box or arrows, and some practice points I headed into the shooting range.

After a few minutes putting the points into a dozen arrows I set a target at twenty-five yards and began feeling my way for the bull's-eye. I'd used a compound bow a few times but just to get the feel of one. One arrow with this one let me know that it was made even better than I'd thought.

It was extremely smooth to draw and holding it ready was trivial. Hitting the target wasn't though. It was much more powerful than I'd thought and I barely hit in the very top of the target with my first arrow.

After nearly an hour of practice, it was no trouble to get good shots into the big round target at fifty yards, and I considered myself well on my way to becoming proficient.

Actually, I didn't intend to use a bow and arrows more than I had to. I'd be concentrating on using a rifle if I needed to deal with something. Bows and arrows were fine for the Natives, but I already knew how to use a rifle. If I had to shoot something, I wanted to do it with the best weapon available.

It was time for supper by now though, so I made it to the garage and decided to give my Hummer pickup a try.

It was sorta strange to be driving a pickup that was so wide. The first time I'd seen one I'd assumed they only looked wider because of their odd shape. Wrong, it was nearly eight feet wide, and this pickup version was close to twenty feet long.

When I got in I noticed other things that didn't seem like regulation army equipment. The first thing was the air-ride seat. I'd never sat in a real hummer, but I was pretty sure the army didn't shell out for leather seats. Aluminum wheels either, but this one had them.

The odd thing about the aluminum wheels was their color. That's right, they weren't the polished type, they were forest camo, like the rest of the truck. I don't know how it was on them though since it obviously wasn't paint. I'd have to see if Bob would show me how to look up the regular army specs for a Hummer on my new computer.

At least the ride was good, and with the tires They'd hung on it, I wasn't likely to have that much trouble if I ended up driving it somewhere there were no roads. I figured there'd be a pretty good chance of that coming up.

At George's house I was just in time for supper and Ethel made me glad of it. We had steaks again, with creamed potatoes, and Ranch Style Beans. Well, most of the rest of them had the home cooked pintos, and I even tried a helping or two of them too.

Meka was done for the night after she finished her helping of peach cobbler, and I was feeling a little lethargic myself. Since her furniture wasn't in place yet, Ethel and Wanda put Meka and the curly one to bed in her normal room up here. I decided to spend my first night in my new house.

Armed with a mug of fresh coffee, I headed home. On the way I remembered that we needed to move Joe Bob, Little Missy, Jasper, and Jeffry back to my place tomorrow. It wasn't that they didn't get good care in George's barn, but if things happened, as in if the house was going somewhere, I might need one, or even all of them.

The door I needed opened when I pulled up to it and I drove right in. After getting out of the Hummer, I started to give all the other cars and the ambulance a once over, but when I headed toward the Model A first, I changed my mind and decided to put it off for a few days.

I left the garage by the big door I'd driven the Hummer into and it started closing as soon as I was out. It was still a little strange to me, but I could get used to not having to deal with things like that. It was same song, second verse when I reached the back door of the house. Somehow it knew I was coming and it opened so that I didn't even have to slow down, I just walked right in and it closed behind me.

I know that automatic doors aren't a big thing, they're pretty much normal now a days, but not on your house. I also knew that it wouldn't open for someone that I didn't want to come in. I don't know how I knew, but I was sure it was the case.

I tried out my new bathroom next. The shower was easily big enough for a few friends and thinking that made me wish I had a friend to shower with. It seemed like it had been ages since the fun and games with Karen, down in Shreveport. The shower was also reminding me of Jahedo's woman and the energetic washing she gave my dick when we showered together.

Alas, I'd be washing my own dick tonight, as usual. I did take advantage of the new facilities though. After I was clean, I filled the hot tub and when it was good to go, I got in and let myself be bubbled. That might have been a mistake, because I started thinking of Karen, and Jahedo's woman, again. No doubt about it, I needed to get laid in one time or the other.

I was up early, dressed, and at George's back door in plenty of time for breakfast the next morning. Meka met me with doggy in her arms and then damned if she didn't introduce us.

"Daddy, this Tutsie. Tutsie, this Daddy," she said, smiling.

The first thing I wondered was what the hell Tutsie meant in her lingo. I kept my mouth shut though and when Meka held the pup's paw out, I shook it. He finished the ceremony by licking my hand, and we were friends.

We went to the table, and I had to bite my tongue again. I know Ethel and Wanda, and hell, everybody here, thought that Meka made the sun come up in the morning. It must have rubbed off on the dog too.

I don't know when it happened, but there was a highly modified highchair at the table this morning. It wasn't really a chair anymore. It had a platform in place of the chair seat, and there were rails all around it to keep Tutsie from falling out. There was a stainless steel water and food dish on the platform too. One of those double bowl things. The new highplatform was placed right beside Meka's chair.

No one said a thing about it so I didn't either. It didn't hurt my feelings any and if Meka liked it, I loved it. When the food began appearing, Meka broke up Tutsie's bacon and sausage patties, put them in his bowl, and then slid three fried eggs on top of the mix.

The damnedest thing was the dog waited for her to finish before he dug in. I could hardly believe it, and in fact I didn't. No one had trained that puppy to do that. They must be responsible for his manners. What the hell, it wouldn't hurt anything. In fact, it was nice.

I fouled up during the breakfast chitchat and mentioned that we'd need to take the horses and mules to the new barn. Doctor Jorge gave me such a look and I knew I'd put my foot in it and ruined any chance of Meka's morning lesson. I just shrugged at him and he seemed to forgive me.

After breakfast we all went out for Tutsie's walk. Not everybody of course, most of the hands went to work. Ethel let me know that they'd be down at the house doing moving duty this morning.

"They still need to get started on the fencin' but we can't be caught short if something comes up down at your place," she said, after most everyone else had gone back in the house.

I made another fuck up then, and after I realized it, I begged her not to tell on me. My mistake was asking if Jerry Charlton had come around yet. It made her suspicious and she dragged the rest of it out of me.

"Oh, don't worry about George finding out about your slip of the tongue. I'll just march in there and tell him we need to put up a strong pipe fence and ask him if he knows a good welder," she said, and then I thanked her until she made me hush.

I went ahead and started saddling horses and haltering mules. I was just finished with Little Missy and Joe Bob when Meka, George, and Doctor Jorge came out.

"Daddy, Doctor Jorge needs horse," Meka said.

"No doubt about it," George said. "I don't think there's no hurry, but I can tell he's a gonna need one."

I guess that might sound nearly normal, but Doctor Jorge just didn't look like the equestrian type, if you know what I mean. He wasn't obscenely fat, but he did have padding on his padding. Not to mention that he was pale white, and almost short.

"Have you done any ridin' before, Doctor Jorge?" I asked.

"I've never been on a horse, and I never wanted to until this morning," he said, looking a little sheepish.

"Don't matter," George said, "There's plenty here that can teach ya the basics, and the horses is pretty smart. I'd say Simon would be a good ride for the Doctor. Whatcha think, John?" George asked.

"Well, Simon ain't fractious and that's a good thing. He's big and strong enough to carry Jorge too," I said.

"I should mention that I've also realized I need to lose some weight. I've calculated a good diet but there's no way I can keep to one here. I'll have to work the extra pounds off," Doctor Jorge said.

I thought it was one of the smartest things out of his mouth. If he could do enough exercising to work the weight off he might be able to lose some. People are always going on diets and they usually end up gaining weight.

They should face the facts. You can't lose weight by lying around and moaning about not getting enough to eat. Especially at first, they are hungry all the time and in a bad mood too. I hoped for the best and we decided that Doctor Jorge could make his first try at riding this afternoon.

George and Jorge went back toward the house. I finished getting the stock lined out for the short trip while Meka and Tutsie watched. Our next snag came when it was time to mount up.

There was no way in hell I was going to let Meka ride Little Missy while trying to carry Tutsie in her arms. Meka was only a lesson or two ahead of Jorge. I braced myself for a lot of explaining, and figured we'd end up with the good Doctor translating before we were done. Meka slayed me though.

"Daddy, you Tutsie. I can't hold him I ride," she said.

I gave her a big smile.

"I don't get to hold him much anyway. I'll carry him," I said.

"We need box for Tutsie horse," she said next, and I didn't doubt we'd have one soon after she mentioned it to Ethel.

When we mounted up, I took the mule's lead rope and looped it around my saddle horn. Meka and Little Missy led us out of the barn and toward the back door of the house. I didn't know what she had on her mind but I didn't say anything.

Ethel, Wanda, George, Bob, and Jorge must have been watching out of the back window. They all came out to give us a send off. Meka took this chance to let Ethel in or her needs.

"Need box Tutsie horse," she said, grinning and asking with the same expression.

"Shore do, don't cha? I'll see 'bout some wicker panniers," George said, beating Ethel to the punch.

"Thank you," Meka said, and I'm sure that Doctor Jorge hadn't known teaching her that was like handing her a weapon. Meka could get a lot of good out of Please and Thank You.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 15


Meka, Tutsie, and I had a nice ride down to the new barn. This would be the first time the horses and mules had used it but we didn't have any extra work to do, except for filling up their hayracks.

We were finished in no time and then the three of us headed to the house. Meka put Tutsie down for a bathroom break before we entered and when he was done we all walked in the back door on our own legs. Tutsie seemed to know that this was home and he sniffed around, getting familiar with his new digs I guess.

After a few minutes Meka came back with Tutsie slow trailing her and she asked me about the cartoons Janice had given her. I picked up Tutsie and we all went to the big truck to find them. I thought I knew right where they were.

Ten minutes later we were in my new office and I had Bob on the phone, asking him how to make them play.

"Just put the CD in the top drive and then click on My Computer, on the desk top," he said.

I didn't understand a bit of that so he went over it again, step by step this time. Doing it was easier than listening to him tell me how, and before you know it, the show was on. I even watched with her for a few minutes before I went to the kitchen to get her a Coke.

I could see that the movie held her attention completely, so I wandered out and explored around the house some more. Mostly to get familiar with where everything was.

Soon enough Ethel called and told me we should head her way since supper was about ready. Meka and I had a little contest of wills when we got to the garage. It wasn't much of one and we ended up with a negotiated settlement.

She wanted to go to George's house in the big truck and I wanted to go in my old pickup. She couldn't understand why we had to take that since she couldn't see out of it very well, and besides, it didn't have an airseat. She couldn't tell me that in so many words, but she has a way of getting her point across.

The motions she was making, imitating raising and lowering the airseat, reminded me that the Hum-V pickup had one too. It didn't rise as high as the Western Star's seat, of course, but I got her to try it and she liked it fine.

No doubt about it, Ethel was going to tempt hell out of Doctor Jorge at every meal, and if he lost any weight he was going to earn it. We had roast beef and cream potatoes tonight with apple pie and homemade ice cream for desert. Poor Jorge, he'd probably gain five pounds before morning.

Meka loved it all of course and apparently she thought that Tutsie needed a big meal to help him sleep, like she did. In the end I was afraid that we'd end up with a fuzzy stomach-with-legs instead of a dog. He really did seem to like the ice cream though.

I had a hell of a time getting Meka and Tutsie down to my house and in bed. At least Tutsie stayed awake long enough to do his business, but only just. I didn't bother with his box; I put them both into Meka's big new old bed. I hoped he could wake her if he needed to go out.

About two AM I learned that he was able to wake her, since she woke me too, to take them outside. Meka even made sure Tutsie was far from the front door before doing his job.

When we went back to bed Meka was awake enough to realize that she'd been sleeping in her own room, in her bed. This wouldn't fly for the rest of the night. She and Tutsie joined me for the duration.

I had a little trouble going back to sleep, but it wasn't because of my two companions. Something that I couldn't grasp was bothering me. I had a feeling that I'd left something undone and wracked my brain trying to figure out what it was.

Sure, there were plenty of things still to be done around the house. Hell, I hadn't even given my new operating room more than a glance. If I needed to help out someone that was injured, or wounded, I'd be opening every cabinet and drawer looking for what I needed.

But that wasn't it; I needed to get familiar with the medical stuff, sure. That wasn't what was keeping me up though. I kept getting fleeting glimpses of the weapons room and the firing range, but they didn't seem to be the point either. Finally I decided to spend time there tomorrow, making sure that I knew at least a little about everything I had. That must have been close enough because I dropped right off after that.

Meka was watching my face when I woke the next morning. Her smile was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes and the next thing I knew, a wet pink Tutsie tongue licked me right on the mouth. I couldn't help it, I laughed.

No matter what Meka and I needed to do in the bathroom, Tutsie came first. We took him out the front door again, Meka in her T-shirt that nearly reached her knees and me in my boxers. As soon as we walked out the door, a robe jumped right to the top of my buy one soon list. It was cold out this morning.

Visions of house-shoes came to my head too, since there was plenty of dew and my feet were wet within three steps. Meka gave me a little look and then glanced down at her moccasins. Apparently that was a poor slow in the head Daddy look.

Tutsie was thrilled for some reason and he was tearing all around, sniffing and running and then stopping to sniff again. I finally realized that this must be his first encounter with dew. He adored it.

Soon enough the urge hit him though and he was fertilizing the lawn that Ethel was determined to have out of this cow pasture. He gave it a good watering too and then did that stiff legged scratching around dogs sometimes do. Kind of an I'm acting like I'm covering up my mess thing.

We didn't really cut his parade short, but Meka and I both had some business of our own to tend to, soon. She picked him up and we went back in the house. I was glad that I now had my own bathroom.

Broken arm and all, Meka managed to dress herself and head for the kitchen before I could get myself dressed. I decided that she was just too smart for words when I found her waiting for the coffee maker to finish doing it things. She had my mug and hers ready for the day's first manna from the almighty Mr Coffee.

With Tutsie under one arm and my coffee mug in the other hand, Meka and I took off for the garage. I guess she was paying more attention to the differences between vehicles now, since she stopped at the Model A to give it a good looking at.

What the hell, I put her inside, handed her Tutsie, and got in myself. Now we'd see what They knew about cantankerous four cylinder engines. I pushed the spark advance lever all the way up to retard the timing, put it in neutral, and stepped on the starter's foot switch. At least it turned over smartly.

Turning the switch to give the coil some juice, I hit the starter button again and it fired right up. After a couple of minutes to let it get warm, I gave the timing a little advance and damned if it didn't start Cadillacing. I could hear every cylinder hit individually and I knew as well as anyone that it was hard as hell to get a Model A's engine to do it.

I put it in gear, eased off the clutch, and we headed for the vacant big truck space, because its door was already on the way up. As soon as we were outside I hit the foot switch for the Klaxon and Meka screamed in delight as the Model A sounded off with its Ah-ooh-ga wail. Even Tutsie perked up and seemed to be grinning.

Meka wanted me to do it again, but I pointed toward George's house and I think she got the idea. When we pulled up near Ethel's back door, I gave them a good dose of it too. People were scrambling to get outside for a look in seconds.

"Where did that come from?" Ethel asked, since she was the first to reach us.

"It came back with the house, I just hadn't tried it yet," I said.

"I'm sure there's a story with it," she said, grinning.

"There are hundreds, but let's do the important part first," I said.

"The important part?" Wanda asked.

"Breakfast," Meka said, and everyone howled.

At the table it was apparent that Tutsie didn't know from the cooks, but he did have a firm grasp on who brought his food. Again he waited patiently while Meka broke up his sausage patty, crumbled up his bacon, and then slid the sunny-side-ups onto the top. Then he dug in with abandon. For a second I thought his wagging tail might throw him completely off his perch.

Meka laughed at him, said 'Ch'uht'uh dìitsi?' and turned to her own plate. I kept a straight face somehow and wondered what made twelve country people watch patiently while a poodle's breakfast was prepared.

After we were all stuffed, Meka and I took Tutsie outside, just in case the spirit moved him, and we had a pretty good audience for this event too. I was about to find Doctor Jorge and ask him for a few more words to work on, but I saw him disappearing down the road, in obvious exercising garb.

"I guess the Doc was serious about trimming off a few pounds," I said.

"Was he ever? Did you see what he had for breakfast?" Ethel asked.

"I didn't pay it any attention."

"All he ate was a big bowl of spoon size shredded wheat, in skim milk, and one hard boiled egg," Ethel said, clearly she'd been surprised.

"Ouch, it must have been torture to watch the rest of us pig out and have to settle for that," I said.

"That's what I thought too, but he didn't seem down about it," George said.

"I wish him well, but we can't change our ways just so's he can get a little weight off. He's a guest in my house, and a welcome one at that. I'll get him anything he wants to eat, but that don't mean everyone else has to eat it too," Ethel said, and as usual she made perfect sense.

Wanda and Ethel took over entertaining Meka and Tutsie until Doctor Jorge got done with his walk. I drove the Model A back down to the house and parked it. I wanted to head right for the armory but made myself take a look in my ad hoc hospital.

Aside from being considerably more capable, it was pretty much what I expected. It did have a few things that would make my first aid role easier; the first one I noticed was the autoclave. I was glad to have it, since sterilizing in a pot of boiling water wasn't nearly as effective. Personally, I hoped none of it was needed.

I made myself spend two hours going through my new health care facility, but when they were over I headed for the armory. When it came down to it, I just liked guns and weapons better than doctoring.

Inside it, I started looking around to see what I had besides weapons. Oddly enough, my first find was more related to the coyote and wolf hunting I'd been doing than to anything that had come up with my home's unusual trips. Or that was my first thought anyway.

They looked like a pair of old time motorcycle goggles to me, and I wondered what the hell they were for, especially after I saw there were over thirty pairs of them. Closer examination let me know they were more than just some type of safety glasses.

They had a type of soft padding to fit comfortably, but the frame around the lenses was bigger than it needed to be. It was almost like there had to be some sort of works in there next to the glass, or plastic of the lens.

I tried a pair on anyway and they were comfortable to wear. The elastic strap was already adjusted perfectly for my head somehow. It pulled the goggle's padding to a snug fit around my eyes without the annoying pressure those things can have when they're too tight.

I was disappointed at first since it seemed there was something wrong with the lenses. They were almost perfect, but looking through them gave me a feeling that they were off somehow. I can't explain it, the view through them just wasn't what you'd expect from clear glass.

All was explained, or most was, when I took them off. The big room was completely dark, and I do mean completely. There was no light in here anywhere. Not even the slightest glow from anything. It was the kind of dark you could only find if you were inside a deep hole in the ground or a cave, and of course that was just where I was.

Not really believing what I saw, I put the goggles back on anyway and could see perfectly. These weren't the night vision goggles I'd been looking for; they were magic see perfectly in total darkness goggles. Hell, they hadn't even been black and white like all night vision equipment I'd ever seen. I could see the normal color of everything just fine.

I took them off to total darkness again, setting them on the cabinet by feel, and the room's lights came back up when I did. I felt weak in the knees for a second and had to put my hand out to steady myself on the cabinet.

It was finally hitting home that I was interacting with someone or something that was otherworldly. It's a little strange that the other things hadn't given me this feeling so dramatically. Maybe it had all been so blatantly impossible that it didn't register.

It did now though, and the goggles had brought the point home. They were something that I knew was not within the reach of my world's technology.

Sure, we had night vision equipment, but not like this. Current night vision technology was good enough, usually, to get the job done. It let you see where you were going, or shooting, in the dark, but it was nothing like being able to see during daylight. These goggles were to my others night vision things as the sun was to a flashlight.

The real shocker came when I realized that I didn't have a desperate need for anything this good. Normal earthly night vision would have served me nearly as well. It made me wonder about the other things I'd been given.

The Model A should have tipped me off, when it warmed up and idled like that. It wasn't just good enough to do the job either, it was perfect. Come to think of it the house and barn were perfect too. Doors that opened themselves when you needed to get through them. Garage doors that rolled up on their own.

I started wondering about the new rifles then. I hadn't fired any of them yet and now I had to give one a try.

Soon enough I was at a station on the range with one of the 270s in hand. I sat down to shoot from the bench and sent the target frame out to about fifty yards, firing three shots to start sighting it in.

The group was much tighter than it should have been for a first one through a rifle, but it was still at least possible. I adjusted the scope to move point of impact closer to the point of aim, nearer the target's center and fired another group, being more careful this time.

Astonishment came along often for me now. I hadn't tried my hardest, by waiting for my heart rate to settle and firing after a beat. I wasn't using a machine rest, just a couple of the handy sandbags that came with everything else, but the group wasn't really a group, it was one hole a little larger than from one shot.

I sent the target frame out to a hundred yards and then waited to try letting my heart rate settle a little. I knew it was futile though; I was just too excited to shoot my best. Finally I fired another group doing as well as I could under the circumstances.

I had to bring the target back to examine it since the sixty power spotting scope wasn't enough to let me see the detail I needed. And no wonder, when I had the target off the frame and in my hands I still couldn't make out where the centers of the three different shots were. All I could tell was that the hole was a little bigger than the one I shot from fifty yards.

No rifle previously on earth could do that and this one had no right to. It wasn't even a target shooting type rifle, and the ammunition I'd been using was just taken casually from the thousands of rounds that had been provided.

I'd been to plenty of benchrest contest, where guys reloaded their favorite brass right at the firing line, shooting it from rifles that weighed three or four times as much as this one, and I'd never seen performance like this.

I put the stuff away and went back to poking around. There was no sense in spending the day amazed, or wondering how it was possible, or a dozen other ways that meant I couldn't believe it. These were the facts on the ground now, and I couldn't change them. Hell, I didn't want to.

It was getting close to one of my three favorite times of day now, lunch. I headed for my new pickup, of the Hum-V persuasion.

Meka, Tutsie in her good arm, came out the back door as soon as I pulled up. By the expression on her face I knew she has something planned. When I bent to her level she gave me a peck on the cheek and Tutsie gave me a lick.

"Welcome back, Daddy. Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Yes, I am. Are you and Tutsie hungry?"

"Of course, we are always hungry," she said, and then giggled.

I scooped her up into my arms and headed for the door. I know it was a canned conversation that Doctor Jorge had armed her with for my arrival. It didn't matter though, I was so happy I could barely contain myself.

I was even happier when we got to the table, but not nearly as happy as Tutsie was. We were having Bar-B-Que again, and the smell was everywhere. Tutsie was trembling with excitement.

He still had his manners though, and he stared intently at Meka's hands as she tore his share of the brisket into small pieces. He looked almost like a tiny version of the RCA dog, staring at the Victrola, as he watched her. He wasn't pondering his master's voice though, he was anticipating his feast.

I know that lunch must have been torture for Doctor Jorge, but he took it like a man and even raved about the sauceless brisket that someone had trimmed every speck of fat off of. He was a man on a mission if there ever was one.

After we'd eaten all we could nobody wanted to move, not even Meka. We were just settling in for a leisurely cup of coffee when Wanda started giggling and then Ethel did too. When I looked directly at Wanda she pointed to Tutsie, and I didn't have time to giggle, I burst out laughing.

Tutsie had been diligent with his doggie feast. So diligent that he had Bar-B-Que sauce all over his muzzle and face, he'd even managed to get some up on his ears. He looked so comical, sitting there on his haunches, panting, with his little pink tongue hanging out. He was a happy little white poodle with a Bar-B-Que sauce blood red face. In a minute though, his happiness segued into lazy satisfaction and he lay down on his little platform.

Meka tried to interest him in some coffee; she poured some from her mug into the now empty food side of his double dish. He regained his feet, gave the coffee a single sniff, and then gave Meka such a look. He settled right back down on his perch without giving the coffee the benefit of a single lick.

"Tutsie no want coffee," Meka said, and giggled.

"I think it shows he's really very smart," Wanda said, but I'm sure Meka didn't understand it.

"Tutsie no want Coca-Cola either," Meka said then, letting us all know for certain that she'd offered him some at sometime.

"Good," she said then, "More for Meka."

She laughed at her own joke then and so did the rest of us. Even Doctor Jorge, who was saving more for the rest of us himself. I'd watched and he was now even drinking his coffee black too. Doing away with the two spoons of sugar and half a cup of cream he had been taking.

After a few minutes Doctor Jorge left the table and went to his room to dress for his walk. He came back later and just as he reached for the doorknob someone knocked. With a quick change of gears Doctor Jorge changed from a leaver to a doorman.

It was Jerry Charlton, the welder, and it was apparent by the way Ethel invited him to the table for coffee and cake that he'd been expected. Most of the ranch hands made their excuses and left to go back to work while Ethel was busily ruining any diet that Jerry might have been on. Of course, from the look of his belly I figured he hadn't been contemplating any diet of any kind, unless it was the see food diet.

Jerry made the mistake of trying to start finding out what type of fence he was going to be putting up, but Ethel cut him off short.

"We got all the time in the world to talk about work later. I want to see you workin' on making that cake go away, right now," she said.

He gave her a sheepish grin and then did as he was told. He did it again later when she brought his second slice and refilled his cup. Finally he had her satisfied that she couldn't get him to eat any more.

"Dang, Mrs Ethel. Now I'm too full to work," he said.

"All you're full of is it," she said.

He blushed a little but grinned again.

He and George left then and those of us still skipping work went to sit on a couch or two. Meka and Tutsie, who'd finally licked most of the sauce off his face, came over to sit in my lap and then Ethel, Wanda, Carolyn, and Geneva did a little gossiping while Meka, Tutsie, and I tried to pretend we weren't going to fall asleep while they did it.

George came back about twenty minutes later but Jerry didn't come back inside.

"Have ya got him lined out?" Ethel asked.

"Think so. He said he'd need to hire a couple more welders and trucks to make any decent progress and I said go ahead and do it. If John ain't too busy right now though, we need to take the truck and reefer trailer over to Jerry shop," George said.

"I'm just being lazy, we can do that. What's he got to do to the truck?" I asked.

"He's already got the loadin' bumper and headache rack on our other tractor and he wants the trailer to make sure there won't be no problem with the headache rack and the reefer unit. He don't think there'll be, but he wants to make sure," George said.

That sounded like a damned good plan to me, so Meka, Tutsie, and I got up to go with George. I knew better than to even ask if Meka had lessons coming up this afternoon. When she heard truck, she knew she was going with me, no matter what I thought about it.

She was polite enough, but when George tried to get her to ride to the house with him, all she did was look at the Model A and then look at his truck. I'm sure he got the hint, and he didn't look too upset. He followed us to the house in his fifty-six.

I didn't park in the garage, but we stopped there to let George get out of his truck and get in with us, then we headed for the elevator behind the barn. It was already on the way up when we got there and after we drove inside it started back down.

I realized another benefit of the way the house's loading dock worked when we got there. When you were done with it, it sank back into the floor. I didn't even have to pull forward to close the trailer's doors.

Meka insisted that George get in first, since there was no doubt he'd be sitting on the bunk instead of the other airseat. She and Tutsie were next and she was adjusting her seat already when I got into mine.

As we were heading out to the county road, near the end of my driveway, Meka spoke.

"Need stop, Daddy. Tutsie walk," she said.

It took me a second to figure out what she meant, but when I did I knew she was right. We all piled out to watch the show and Tutsie didn't waste much time. He made a nice puddle in the grass, sniffed a little, and then humped up his back to fertilize. Since there wasn't much of an audience this time, he cut his stiff legged scratching short and we were on our way.

When we arrived, Jerry was outside his shop and I think he'd been waiting for us. He had been, but wasn't put out over the delay. He showed me where to drop the trailer while George looked over the other tractor.

Meka had me hold Tutsie while she took her turn at the dolly bar crank and then she took him while I finished up. I parked this tractor out of the way and we went to the other one.

One look at the headache rack and the trailer ride reminded me that Jerry was a first class welder and fabricator. Everything was done neatly and there were little extras that you wouldn't normally find on something like this.

The tire rest on the ends of the ride weren't just thrown on as if they were after thoughts; they were finished nicely and rounded to make sure they didn't damage the tires' sidewalls. The running lights were put into the big rectangular tubing bumper instead of being tack welded on the outside and there was a slanted floor-plate covering the frame ends and the space between. It would be handy as hell if we needed to drop a pole trailer where we couldn't hang it.

It was probably the most well thought out ride bumper I'd ever seen. The headache rack was more of the same. It had a nice strong toolbox in the middle, up against the cab, and between the rails there was expanded metal flooring so a poor dumb log truck driver didn't slip through and end up straddling the truck's drive shaft. He'd also put on hardware to hang an axe, pinch bar, cheater pipe, and even a slot for the trim saw to ride in.

"Only thing I'm worried about is makin' sure that the winch don't crash the reefer unit when you turn," he said.

I hadn't even thought about that, but a look let me know that the unit didn't extend low enough for it to be a bother. I put Meka and Tutsie inside though and hooked the trailer.

Jerry nearly got a talking to over taking care of the dollies without letting Meka have her turn, but she didn't squawk. He hooked the lines and the pigtail too, and then I released the brakes and started a sharp turn while he and George watched.

We finally decided that everything would work fine. George and Jerry were all set to have me leave in the new tractor and let Jerry keep the first one so he could start on it.

"Fine with me, but you're the one that has to explain to Ethel why Meka doesn't have any sheets on her bunk if we go somewhere soon," I said, and then laughed at him.

"I'll let him take the first one back and then bring him over for the one you've finished, Jerry. If I piss Ethel off she might put me on a diet like Doctor Jorge is on," George said, and laughed himself.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 16


When we got back to my house, to pick up George's fifty-six, I decided to back the reefer into the garage and drop the trailer. It wouldn't hurt a damned thing to have it inside and I wasn't short of space. Of course, Meka was ever so glad for me to hold Tutsie while she took her turn with the hand crank. George smiled so wide about it I was afraid he'd break his face.

Meka and I boarded the tractor then and we left, with George trailing us. As we neared his house, Meka decided she could use a sip or two of Coke so we pulled in and parked.

George and I agreed we could hold some coffee too and into the house we went.

"Have you finally got done with Jerry?" Ethel asked.

"Near 'bout. He had the new truck done just right, we just gotta bring it over here first so John can move his and Meka's things to it before we take the other tractor to Jerry," George said.

"Move what things?" Ethel asked.

"I just need to move the few clothes from one truck to the other, and then I'll take the sheets off the old bunk and make up the new one, in case we have to go somewhere while Jerry is working on the truck we've been using," I said.

I knew right away that I'd said something wrong, and then it came to me. Ethel, and Wanda too, were swelled up like I was a contract worker trying to scab in on their union job. I knew there was no way out of this mess except take the tongue lashing I was probably about to get.

"You just do your truck drivin' part and bring the new one over to park right by the first one. Me and Wanda'll take care of the moving to make sure you don't get in over your head," Ethel said, and I considered myself lucky to get off so easy.

I know damned well that Meka couldn't have understood any of what Ethel and I had been talking about. She didn't have any trouble with understanding the tone though. When I looked at her she even gave her head a sharp nod, as if to say, " I guess she told you."

I guess she had at that. I tried to keep a meek and chastised look on my face and I think I did a good job. I didn't give a rat's ass if Ethel and Wanda made me let them make up the bunk. Please, Mrs Ethel, please don't throw me in the briar patch.

George and I tried to leave like our tails were between our legs, but I had the feeling that he was having a hard time keeping from laughing too. Meka strutted out behind us with Tutsie in her arms; she didn't even fuss about having to ride in George's airseatless pickup. Of course that could have been because she was plenty high enough to see out from sitting in my lap.

Jerry had a new bright idea when we got back to pick up the other tractor. He wanted me to hook the log trailer and fold the pole to make sure everything fit right.

"I got it as close as I could, but we won't know for sure until you load it. Might have to slide the fifth wheel forward or back a notch or two," he said.

I didn't see where it would hurt anything so I backed the truck toward the trailer. He had it hanging from a regular rack that he'd built, instead of from a tree, and I was just as glad.

When you hook a pole trailer that's hung from a tree, you have to be careful and not hit it hard enough to break the limb off. Just for safety's sake I had Meka take Tutsie and go stand with George, about a hundred feet away.

Everything went fine when I hooked the trailer and I got onto the back to connect the brake lines and the pigtail. When I did I noticed Jerry removing a big two-inch diameter pin from the main hinge, where the pole connects to the front bunk.

"What's that Jerry?" I asked.

"It's something that goofball X bullwhacker of Granderson's came up with. He must have seen it on another trailer somewhere, because there wasn't enough left between his ears to think of it on his own," he said.

"Maybe so, but what's it for?"

"It locks the front hinge when you want to unhook the trailer. You don't have to worry about the damned stakes falling over and bustin' your head," he said.

"I'll be damned, that'll be handy."

"It will for you for sure. Just keep it greased so you can get the pin in or out when you need to, and take it out as soon as you're done with it. If you try to load the trailer with it in there you'll tear up the hinge in a heartbeat," he said, and I could see that he was right.

We were set, so I pulled forward until the trailer had straightened out behind me, and then backed up and yanked down on the trolly valve to lock the trailer's brakes. The pole jumped up in the middle and in a few seconds the trailer's wheels were off the ground. I kept backing until they settled against the trailer ride's bumper and then stopped and set the tractor's brake.

"Worked just like it's supposed to," I said, to Jerry, when I got out.

"That's what people hire good welders for," he said, smiling.

George, Meka, and Tutsie came back over and Meka was still wide eyed over the trailer's antics. She watched fascinated while I hooked the winch line to the pole, near the middle hinge, and let the winch pull it down into its cradle. After that I slung the tie chain over the pole and bound it all down tight, letting off the winch line's tension as the last step. Then I realized that I hadn't intended to take the trailer with me.

"You gonna go ahead and take it with ya?" Jerry asked.

"I hadn't intended to, but I bound it down without thinking. Old habits die hard I guess. We'll just have to find a tree over at George's place to hang it in," I said.

"Well ya can, but you don't really have to. That's another thing that big pin is good for. You can go ahead and drop the fifth wheel down on an old tire and the pin will keep the stakes from giving you grief. They'll stand up straight," he said.

"I guess it'd be all right, but we don't have a loader to help hook the trailer again," I said.

"It would be better with a loader, for sure, but with that cover plate over the end of the frame rails, you can use the winch to lift the fifth wheel and bunk high enough so's you can back right on under it," he said.

I'd never seen anyone do that before, but when I looked it over I thought he had something there. Hell, I'd give it a try if I ever wanted to haul logs again, hell of a big if though.

I thought I'd finally confused the new garage doors when we went back to park the truck. The door in front of the reefer trailer started up and I guess that whatever worked them couldn't tell the difference between a normal tractor and one with its pole trailer loaded on its back.

Shame on me, and what the fuck is going on; both those thoughts flashed through my mind. The reefer trailer was gone. How did that happen?

When I looked more closely, I could see that there were two eight inch by five foot pipe stands sticking straight up, exactly where they'd need to be for me to hang a pole trailer off them, they seemed to be set into the concrete floor.

I finally decided that there must be some kind of elevator arrangement for the garage too, one to take the trailers somewhere else for storage, as in, put them in the basement somehow.

I was beginning to feel like I was a mouse in a maze, trying to find my way out, or was it in? Except new turns kept springing up and there was cheese for me everywhere. At least I had sense enough to know that someone wanted me to unhook the pole trailer and put it in this new rack.

"Daddy, what?" Meka asked when I drove into the back parking lot and hopped the curb, driving out into the pasture a little way.

"I have to unload the trailer?" I said, and she didn't understand of course.

"I'll show you," I said, and that satisfied her.

I did a show and tell for it, even though I knew she couldn't understand the tell part. She liked watching the trailer come off nearly as much as she liked seeing it loaded though, so everything was fine.

When I backed into the open bay, I lined the front bunk up with the poles that had appeared and we got out. Chains were already hanging from the big pipe stands and I disconnected my brake lines and pigtail and barely remembered to put the big pin back in the hinge.

After hooking the chains to the bunk, I popped the fifth wheel. Meka, Tutsie, and I got back in the truck, and I pulled out leaving the trailer hanging. The door started down as soon as we were out.

"What we now, Daddy?" Meka asked.

"Let's go see George and Ethel," I said, and Meka smiled.

Meka, Tutsie, and I were good to go now, and we got in our truck and shut the left door.

She was happy, since we were still truck riding, and she played with her air seat a little, just for drill I guess. Maybe she was making sure the one in this new truck worked as well as the other one. Suddenly I noticed her looking at the dash, right near the middle. She demonstrated her new command of English then.

"Where CB?" she asked.

I might have known she wouldn't miss anything.

"We have to go get it," I said.

"Good, we go Clay's. See Janice too?" she asked.

"Yes, we have to get our other trailer," I said.

"Good. Janice meet Tutsie, Clay too, maybe," she said, and then grinned.

"We go Clay's in morning?" she asked.

"I guess we can if you want to," I said.

"I want. Tutsie want too," she said.

Well, that was that.

Ethel, Wanda, Geneva, and Carolyn swarmed us when we pulled up beside the other tractor. They already had it stripped, with our things in boxes. I could see that they had a completely different set of sheets and coverlet for the bunk, new pillows too.

"T'other truck's done empty. No need fer you two to tarry, George is already gone and probably waitin' to bring you back," Ethel said when we got out.

"Ok, then, we we'll be back in a few minutes."

"You and George don't have to waste no time hidin'. We'll be done here in a few minutes and there's no chance you'll have to work, so come on back," Ethel said, and then the four of them laughed, even Meka was grinning and I'm not sure Tutsie wasn't.

George was waiting for us and Jerry took over the truck as soon as we unassed it. We piled into George's fifty-six and headed for my place.

"How'd you get rid of that pole trailer so fast," George asked.

"You might get to see when we're back to my garage," I said.

"What do ya mean, I might?"

"Just wait til we get there and I'll try to explain what I know about it," I said.

I knew I was being a little mysterious for George's taste, but damn. I still wasn't sure I didn't make it up.

No matter what Ethel had said, we went to my garage and as we pulled up the mystery door opened. The pole trailer was gone too.

"Hey, what happened to the reefer trailer?" George asked.

"You're behind times, George. The reefer was gone when we got back with the pole trailer," I said.

"Well where did you put the pole trailer, now that you mention it. I don't see it anywhere. Is it out in the pasture?" he asked.

"Nope. My guess is it's with the reefer."

"Humor an old man, how 'bout it. Give me a hint," he said.

"There's an elevator under the garage too, or that's my best guess anyway. When Meka, Tutsie, and I got back with the pole trailer, the reefer was gone and there was a stand here to hang the pole trailer on. That's where we left it," I said.

George was still scratching his head and I thought I'd be scratching my ass in a minute. Then Meka spoke up.

"Daddy, look," she said.

George and I both did. Meka was pointing to the inner wall of the garage, right beside where the door opened. There, glowing like our handprints had been near the other doors, were line drawings of the pole trailer and the reefer trailer. She put her hand on the reefer and an alarm type sound came from somewhere.

It must have been because George and I were standing in the part of the floor that wanted to move. We went to stand by Meka and sure enough, the floor started sinking.

Of course we looked into the open shaft that was appearing before out eyes as the floor sunk away. When we did we could see the reefer trailer off to the side of the shaft, probably fifty or more feet below the floor.

When the empty floor slot got down to that level, it started moving sideways and the reefer started moving sideways too, right into the space the empty section had just occupied.

"That's the damnedest thing I eve saw," George said.

"It gets my vote too."

Meka just smiled wide, no doubt proud of herself for finding the controls. I was proud of her too. We kept our eyes glued to the reefer though, until it was back where I'd first left it.

To me it was too much to even be amazed about. I don't guess it was any more surprising than anything else, but it was bigger. There wasn't a damned thing I could do about it either way anyway. What the hell, the way George had been buying trailers, we'd need the space.

"Looks to me like you got more room below than I thought. I can remember being down there in the basement and I didn't see anything like that. Besides, that looked a lot deeper than the basement seemed," he said.

"You know as much about it as I do," I said.

"Supper time," Meka said, and damned if she wasn't right.

George went on in his fifty-six. Meka, Tutsie, and I took the Hum-V pickup and followed. I dawdled to let George take the brunt of any grief over us being gone too long.

Everything was merry when we got there though. Supper wasn't quite ready but most everyone was already sitting around the table. Doctor Jorge was telling them that he felt much better already, after only a few hours on his diet. He even looked a little thinner but that wasn't possible.

I really felt sorry for Doctor Jorge when the peach cobbler and ice cream came out, after we'd finished with the roast beef and such. He and Tutsie were the only ones that didn't eat much peach cobbler and Jorge was the icecreamless one on his own. Ethel did have some kind of low calorie sherbet for him, but I just knew it wasn't the same.

Tutsie got a chance at the peach cobbler, but I think Meka had stuffed him with roast beef. He did lick up all his ice cream, but all he did with the cobbler was lick around on the syrupy part, and he didn't even clean that up. Meka even turned down the offer of a mug coffee. She'd made a pig or herself too on the roast beef.

I got the two of them to the house and in bed, making sure they both made trips to their respective places to take care of business. Meka could barely make it to her bed after she was done. I tucked them in, gave Meka a kiss on the forehead and poor Tutsie was already asleep before he could give me a goodnight lick. I felt I could probably get by.

The thing was, I wasn't sleepy, at all. I didn't even undress, just went back to the armory to poke around some more.

I didn't find anything new and exciting but I did get a better handle on what I already had. One thing that I'd noticed but hadn't paid much attention to before was the web belts.

I know you're probably thinking a web belt is a web belt; I did too. They didn't think that way. The belts looked pretty normal until I picked one up and put it around my waist.

The first thing I noticed was no adjustments for size, but it wasn't needed. When I put one on it seemed to adjust itself to me. Sorta like elastic, but not exactly. It just seemed to get itself to the correct size and stop. Hell, it was a lot better than the one I had.

I put a standard holster on it for a Glock, over my right hip. Then put on a holster for the Diamondback in the cross draw position. I liked it so well I decided I'd start using it instead of the one I had.

Fiddling around, I found a couple of pouches for extra rounds for the Glock and a few of those speed loader pouches for the Diamondback, with speed loaders and ammunition already in them. I took the whole thing up to my bedroom with me, along with a pair of the new night vision goggles. I even got a pair of the goggles for Meka.

Funny, but I felt sleepy now and I showered and went to bed.

Meka and Tutsie roused me a little after midnight. It was time for Tutsie's late night stroll, no doubt. I at least put on some pants this time and pulled on my boots, without socks. Just as we were walking out of my bedroom I remembered the goggles.

Hoping Tutsie could hold it; I showed them to Meka and then put a pair on her. As expected, they fit her fine. I was proud of myself and even strapped the new web belt around my waist before we left.

Meka took Tutsie well out from the door and the little fart wandered even further tonight, sniffing and really just fucking off, to my way of thinking. We hadn't been following him and suddenly Meka grabbed at my hand.

"Daddy!" she shrieked, pointing toward Tutsie.

I'll be damned if there wasn't a coyote heading right for the little fart. I didn't have time to think, just yanked out the Diamondback, thumbed back the hammer to track, and then fired.

I know it was a lucky shot but it did the trick. In the lightweight Diamondback's frame the 357 Magnum round kicked back like a mule. I was right on the money though and the bullet knocked the coyote ass over teakettle. It didn't even wiggle after it hit the ground.

Meka took off for Tutsie as soon as I fired; he was whimpering and whining, until she picked him up. I'm sure that poor Tutsie wasn't even aware of the danger from the coyote; he was probably just terrified from the report of the Diamondback. I saw that everything was fine and went to check out the coyote.

No wonder he didn't move after he was hit. My snap shot had taken him right in the chest and gone the length of his body, through him. He two assholes now and the new one wasn't leaking shit, blood was pouring out of it. I decided that any company we had from now on was just going to have to watch its step. Tutsie would be doing his business a lot closer to the house after this.

There was no sense in trying to get him to go now either. He was scared shitless, shivering to beat the band. We went back into the house and Meka sat down on a couch and held him in her lap, trying to sooth his nerves. I had to go find my cell phone because I could hear it going off from out here.

"What you shootin' down there, John?" George asked, after I said hello.

"We were taking Tutsie out for a bathroom break and a coyote got after him. We'd better send it to a vet to have it checked for rabies. They don't usually come up this close to people when they're in their right mind," I said.

"You're right 'bout that, I'll call the vet in the morning."

"Good, but right now you'd better get back to sleep. If anyone needs their beauty rest, it's you," I said.

"Look who's talking," he said, and hung up.

Meka left Tutsie with me and went to her bathroom. I could tell that she was over the fright from the number of flushes. I guess some toys just stay fun.

She was happy and smiling when she got back and Tutsie was feeling better now too. We went outside again and he was still a little skittish. He did his jobs in record time and he didn't stray far.

Of course it was everyone in my bed for the rest of the night and Tutsie didn't stint me on the face licking this time.

When we got to Ethel's house the next morning, Doctor Jorge had already had his Wheaties, or whatever, and left for his walk. He was probably trying to avoid the temptations of Ethel's breakfast feast.

Meka gave Tutsie some cut up waffle this morning, to go along with his bacon, sausage, and sunny-side-ups. I noticed that she packed in even more than she usually did herself. Maybe she was gearing up for the trip ahead.

She needn't have worried since we had plenty of traveling food packed and ready for our trip. George asked me what I'd done with the coyote and I told him where I'd left it, which happened to be right where it had died. He said the vet would be over in a while to pick it up and send it off for testing.

After putting the even bigger ice chest into the truck's sleeper, we said our goodbyes and loaded up for the trip. It was pretty uneventful this time, since there was no radio for Little Queenie to use spreading her good cheer. From the sound of it, she was spending most of her time teaching Tutsie the Caddo language.

I don't know who was happiest when we got to the trailer place. Meka was tickled to see Janice again and Janice seemed thrilled to see her and to meet Tutsie.

I was thrilled to see Janice too, mostly because I was seeing more of her this time. Her blouse this morning was not nearly as modest as the one she'd had on last time. I could see plenty of cleavage in fact.

Her skirt was a lot shorter too and it let me know that her legs just had to be some of the best I'd ever seen. When she bent over to let Tutsie give her face a lick, I saw titties for days and my jeans started getting tighter in front for some reason.

I tried to get hold of myself. There was no sense in getting worked up over how good Janice looked, she wasn't a day over twenty-one and that was way to be young to be interested in an old fart like me.

There wasn't much hope for me though, since, James, the suede show operator from last time, had left the company and Janice would be dealing with us today. She took us out to look the trailers over to make sure they'd suit Ethel, or Mrs Ethel as Janice called her.

I got another surprise when we got to the other reefer and bullrack George had bought. The reefer was the same as the other one and all the wheels matched the ones on our tractors, but the bullrack had been polished, all over. I had a hard time believing it.

"What's the deal with the bullrack, how did it get polished all over?" I asked.

"Mrs Ethel asked us to get it taken care of for her. She said that she didn't really like the dull look the other one had," Janice said, and I could tell she was having a hard time keeping a straight face.

"If that's what she wants, who am I to argue. It looks good but it must have been a whale of a job for the polish man," I said.

"Polish men," Janice said, "it took four of them a week. Even the top has been done."

"I guess I'd better take the bullrack back first then, so I can get it out of the weather," I said.

"You have a building to park the trailers in? I got the idea that they didn't even use them much," Janice said, frankly amazed.

"You might not believe it, but we even park our pole trailers inside," I said.

"Pole trailers?" she asked.

"You must have seen one before, the kind for hauling logs," I said.

"Oh," she said, no doubt she didn't believe that we kept them inside.

"I think I'll take the reefer this time anyway, I'll just try to get back out for the bullrack before it rains. We've still got a few hundred miles to go west and the extra mileage would probably kill the shine as much or more than sitting here would. If she intends to keep them this way all the time she'll have to hire a man full time to do it anyway," I said.

We went back into the office since I had to sign for the trailer. It was already paid for and I guess my signature was just to confirm that I'd hauled it off. I was very glad that we had to do this after it was over, since Janice had to sit down and dig around for the papers and lecherous old me got another good look at her cleavage and even a near panty shot from her short dress.

It was over too soon though. Meka, Tutsie, and I got in the truck and got those big wheels rolling. Next stop, Clay's little radio shop.

When we got there Clay wasn't around but I'd called not long after we started this morning and the installation buy was ready for us. Meka, Tutsie and I stayed in the sleeper while he worked and we made roast beef sandwiches until we couldn't hold any more. Tutsie was in hog heaven, and we even managed a short nap.

When the guy was done, we all took a bathroom break and then headed home. Our trip was uneventful, except for Meka's radio conversations, which were understandably shot. We even got back to George's house in time for supper.

Since I wasn't tired at all, we all decided that Meka and Tutsie should sleep at George and Ethel's house that night and I could see about getting rid of some more varmints. Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry could use the exercise and it probably wouldn't hurt me either. I wasn't just making excuses to try my new goggles; I promise I wasn't.

I really wanted to use one of the new 270s tonight but I hadn't moved the day/night scope to one yet. What the hell, I'd have time to do that and sight it in too, since I had the indoor range. I took the Mauser down to the new armory and was about to take the scope off it when the lights went out on me. They came back in about ten seconds but I wondered what in the hell could have caused that.

I bent to my job again and the lights went off again and then came back after ten or so seconds. It dawned on me that they weren't going off accidentally, They were making them go off. With a wild leap of intuition, I grabbed one of the 270s out of the rack and put it to my shoulder, looking through the scope.

The lights went off again and I thought I understood the message They'd been trying to give me. I could see as well through the scope as I could through the goggles they'd sent. There was no need to take the scope off the Mauser because the ones on the rifles I'd been given were better by far. It made me wonder about the rig for the camera then and I started poking around in the cabinets, looking for something that might fit on the Nikon.

They hadn't been as chintzy as that. I found a brand new camera that looked suspiciously like the Nikons but not exactly. There was only one lens with it but it was long like my zoom lenses. When I had it unpacked from it's box, I put it up to my eye and the lights went down again. Of course it looked perfect, and when I twisted the adjusting band it zoomed, of course.

This would make my life a lot simpler. I could ride Job Bob with the goggles on, and only hang the camera around my neck, instead of two different sets of night vision binoculars. I made sure I was taking the 270 that I'd already sighted in and left with it, some ammunition, and my new camera.

Joe Bob, Little Missy, Jasper, and Jeffry all nickered lowly when I walked into the barn. I'd been feeding them regularly but I got the feeling that they figured we'd be going for a ride and were happy about that. I got them all dressed for the trip, but when I looked at Little Missy before we left I could see that she wanted to go to. What the hell, I put a halter on her and tied her behind Jeffry, who'd been the last in line.

I knew it was too early to be starting out, but I did anyway. I was anxious to give the goggles, and all the new things, a test. I was right too, about it being too early. We rode around in the dark for nearly three hours before I caught a hint of motion probably five hundred yards off. One thing the new goggles didn't have was magnification.

I took the 270 out of the Mauser's saddle scabbard that I'd pressed into service, and put it to my shoulder, turning the band for maximum magnification before I did.

Whoa, it was a lot more powerful than my other riflescope, too powerful really. I could nearly count the whiskers on the coyote I saw, but I was waving the thing all over the place. I got down and hoped that Joe Bob would stand ground tied for at least a little bit.

Waling about fifty feet from the horses I lay down in the tall grass and looked again, adjusting the scope's magnification downward this time, until I had a good and fairly steady sight picture. I guess the coyote had smelled me or seen me or heard me or something, because it was sitting on its haunches and looking right toward where I was. It probably knew it was safe at this distance.

In a few seconds I taught him how wrong he was, but it was the last thing he'd ever learn. I got up and went back to Joe Bob, sliding the 270 into the scabbard and mounting up. I didn't see anything else on the way.

I'd hit the coyote in the neck and it was just as well. The shot had broken his neck and also cut an artery. He'd bled out before I even got to him. I tied him to Jeffry's packsaddle and only Little Missy objected this time. She snorted when she smelled him.

When I was riding again I cursed myself for not trying to take a picture first. I just hadn't thought of it. About an hour later I did get a picture of an owl, in a tree. It's hooting had clued me in time to get the shot. I wasn't out here to kill owls though, so the picture was all I shot.

We flushed another coyote about thirty minutes after the owl. I didn't have time to even unlimber the 270 but I'd been close to it before it ran and I yanked out the Diamondback and gave it a try. It was probably stupid of me to do it, but there was no real harm done - none to me, the horses, the mules, or the coyote. I didn't hit within ten feet of it.

That was enough for me though and I rode back to the barn, giving the stock a scoop of whole oats each for their trouble. I left the coyote near the barn's magic front doors and went on into the house, showered and hit the sheets.

Damned if I didn't dream of Janice that night and I'm probably lucky that I didn't wake up with a mess on my sheets. She'd been being a very naughty young receptionist.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 17


Waking early the next morning, especially considering not going to bed before midnight, I was strangely well rested. It was only five AM but seeing if I could get the pictures out of the new camera without help was on my mind. The first snag was when I discovered it didn't have a place to put memory cards into it, and of course there was no place to take them out.

Going back to the armory for the box I'd taken it out of, I found an instruction book and a special cord too. Back upstairs, in my office, the instructions told me just what came next.

The plainly written details were a refreshing surprise; they were amazingly complete without being complicated. The whole process was simple, and that was saying something, for me.

The interface for the computer was USB, which I was already slightly familiar with, but it described the one on the camera end as proprietary. That struck me as odd for a second but it was probably their way of saying nobody on earth can do it our way.

It was a snap once the connection between the camera and computer was made. A little box popped up in the middle of the center computer screen and asked Transfer Images? and it had a button for yes and one for no. I clicked on yes and one of those progress bars came into the little box, filled itself from left to right and then it all went away.

Another box came up, telling me that the transfer was complete and asked if I wanted to clear the camera's memory. I said yes and we did a similar song and dance. The last little info box that popped up seemed a little odd to me though.

It said, Camera's memory cleared. Two terabytes available. and then it asked if I was done. I clicked on yes and that was it. What I didn't know was what two terabytes meant, it sounded like a lot to me. I decided that Bob could tell me when I went to their place for breakfast.

Taking a quick shower, I dressed and headed for food. I knew Meka would appreciate it if I came in the big truck so I did, blowing the train horn when I got there.

She, Tutsie in arms, came flying out the door to meet me. I scooped her up into my arms and she gave me a kiss on the cheek. Not to be outdone, Tutsie gave me a lick up a nostril. It's the thought that counts.

"What Daddy shoot night?" Meka asked.

"Just another coyote," I said, pointing where I'd thrown it, on the back of the truck, in front of the fifth wheel.

"Good. Now breakfast, please," she said.

We went inside and the whole crew was ready. Ethel was happy that I'd bagged another coyote, but when I mentioned finding a camera that They had supplied she was even more excited.

"Did you bring it up so Bob could take the pictures out?" she asked.

Explaining about the camera was my next trick, and about only getting the one shot of the owl, and about reading the instructions, and then about taking the pictures out myself and putting them on my computer.

"Can you get it from here, Bob?" she asked him.

"Sure, I'll do it as soon as I've eaten," he said.

When we'd mostly finished eating, I asked Bob about the two terrabytes of memory. He looked at me like I must have read it wrong.

"Are you sure it said two terrabytes?" he asked.

"I'm sure. There were only a few words and they were in large print. I know I got them right," I said, maybe a little snottier sounding than I'd meant to be.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to seem like you weren't paying attention. It isn't possible for anything from here though. Two terrabytes is an awful lot of memory to be in a camera. It's more than we have on all the computers here and at your house too," Bob said.

I guess They want me to take more pictures then," I said.

"Me too, I just love 'em," Ethel said.

Bob went to take care of the pictures as soon as we were down to drinking coffee. All of us except Doctor Jorge that is, he'd had his cereal and taken off for his walk before I even got here.

Bob came out about five minutes later with a picture in his hand.

"I thought you took this at night," he said.

"I did, I forgot to tell you that the instructions said the camera could do just as well at night as in the daylight," I said.

"Just as well nothing. This picture is better than the camera you had could ever do. I can't believe you took this at night, it's in full color," he said.

He showed it to us then and it did look great, even if I did take it. The owl seemed to be looking right at the camera too, but I knew that had to be a coincidence. However it happened, it was a great shot.

"Did you get one of the coyote you shot too," Ethel asked.

"No, I'm sorry but I forgot all about it. In my defense, I shot the coyote from probably five hundred yards," I said.

"I think I might have to go with you one of these nights and measure off your after-dark yards. That's sounds like a hell of a shot to me, or a fish story," George said.

"If there's a horse around here that'll let you on its back, you're welcome to come along. I'm not gonna wait on you if you have to walk though.

"Myself, I think it'd be hard to miss with the new rifles. I've never had one that shoots as good as they do. In fact, I've never even read about or heard of one that can," I said.

"Carolyn, what did we do with my hip waders last time we put them up? It's gettin' pretty deep in here and I don't want to drown in bullshit before I finish my coffee," Ethel said, and then the rest of them, Meka included, laughed at me and George.

In payment for her jab at me, Ethel broke out some coffee cake, as if I weren't stuffed already. It was just her way though. If she made a joke at your expense, she paid her bill with food, and it was damned good food too. I took my time with the coffee cake, and even broke Tutsie off a little piece of it when I noticed him carefully watching me eat.

Even though I know Tutsie was full to the neck, he gobbled up the morsel and then, seemingly satisfied that he wasn't being left out; he lay down on his perch, casually swinging his small tail back and forth.

"I guess Meka and I can go out and pick up the last trailer this morning, I don't really have anything else to do today," I said, to the room, after I'd finished my cake.

"I think you should hang around here today, there might be something you need to take care of," Ethel said, sounding unusually tentative, for her anyway.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Well, you have a job interview at ten AM," she said.

"A job interview? I don't even want a job," I said.

"I know that. This ones t'other way 'round."

"Well, I'm lost now. What does that mean?" I asked.

"You're the one that'll be doin' the interviewin'," George said, letting me know that this was a two pronged attack I'd be facing. I probably should have just given up right then, since I was outnumbered.

"But I don't want to hire anybody, and even if I did, I wouldn't have anything for them to do," I said.

"We're the ones that'll be doin' the hiring, we just want you to make sure you can get along with 'em," Ethel said.

That didn't make a damned bit of sense to me. Why should I have to make sure I could get along with a new ranch hand. I did get along with all the ones they had here now, as far as I had contact with them anyway. I couldn't figure out why they had to make sure I'd get along with the new one though. So I just asked.

"Why do I need to make sure I can get along with a new ranch hand?"

"Cause she won't be a ranch hand, even if we hire her," Ethel said.

"That's enough, I like to dance as much as anybody, but not at the kitchen table. You two are up to something and you might as well tell me about it instead of making me try to guess," I said.

"Let me get you another piece of coffee cake, or some donuts. Have you ever had any of my homemade donuts?" Ethel asked.

"If you're trying to bribe me with food, I can already tell you that it's gonna work, so just bring me anything that taste good and I'll consider myself ready to do this job interview for you.

"Maybe after that you and George might even tell me what you're going to want this person to do," I said, giving up and thinking about the coffee cake that was coming, mostly.

"Well, it was kinda Bob's fault," Ethel said.

"My fault, I just mentioned it first. Besides, why does it have to be somebody's fault," Bob said, sounding put upon.

"Ok then. Well, it was Bob that mentioned it first, but George and I both had already thought about it. We just hadn't mentioned it to each other.

"When Bob said it, we all thought that They might have got it started. You know how that goes sometimes," Ethel said.

"It wasn't like it's always been before though," George said.

"No, it wasn't, but it kinda was, and it wouldn't go away," Bob said, agreeing.

"Please. One of you please tell me what it was," I said.

"Oh, that. We think we need someone who really knows about doctoring folks that's hurt. Somebody that's done it before," George said.

"We ain't trying to root you out of the top spot, but we think it'd be easier on you if we could find a nurse, or somebody like that to help ya," Ethel said.

"Then what was all the pussyfootin' around about? I've thought we should have someone that knew what they were doing from the start," I said.

It was almost funny, the way relief seemed to spread over the three of them. I knew even Meka could see it, because she giggled and I know she couldn't understand what we'd said. Hell, even Tutsie stood up, panting a little and wagging his tail more.

"Did you get one of those feelin's about it?" George asked.

"I didn't need any damn feelings. When I found myself stitching up people and setting broken arms I knew damned well I was in over my head. After the operating room just happened to show up the deal was sealed. We have to have somebody that at least knows a lot about first aid. We probably can't grab a real doctor, but we need a paramedic, at least," I said.

"It's a load off our mind that you're takin' it so well," Ethel said.

"You three were just being silly. Why would I mind if we could find someone to help me?" I asked.

"Well, it's a woman," Ethel said.

"Hell, that's even better. Who wants to be taking time travelin' trips late at night with a man?" I asked.

"She was in the army, but from what I kin find out, she quit cause they wouldn't let her in on the special forces or whatever," George said.

"I hope she won't hurt me then," I said.

"What do ya mean?" George asked.

"I mean Special Forces is what they call the ones that sneak into enemy territory and raise hell. If she even thought she was capable of being in that she must be hard to handle, at least. I haven't even seen her yet but she can probably whip Bob, George, and me - all at the same time," I said.

"That's another thing," George said. "None of us have seen her."

"You hired her over the phone?" I asked.

"We haven't hired her yet. I heard of her leaving the army and coming back home to live. I know her folks and they're good people. Then I nosed around some and found out the few details we told you. Ethel called her and asked her about the first aid stuff and then asked if she'd be interested in a job. She's coming out this morning so we can all get acquainted," George said.

George and Ethel had eased my mind.

Doctor Jorge came in then, not even huffing and puffing too badly either; if you ask me. He chatted for a minute and then headed for a shower. It seemed like no time at all before he was ready for Meka and Tutsie, to start their lessons. I hadn't known it, but apparently Tutsie was getting some instructions too. It made me wonder which language he was learning.

Back to talking about the new arrival, I asked George if he thought I'd need to be careful with what I told her.

"I can tell ya that," Ethel said. "Don't give it a thought. You won't even be able to get anything out if They don't want ya to. That's how it's always been before anyhow."

Something about that just didn't seem right to me, and I guess it showed in the look on my face.

"I know it don't feel just right, but when ya get down to it there ain't a thing we can do about it. They are a little like the government, they make the rules and there's not shit we can do about 'em. Unlike the government, They make sure we're taken care of over it. When ya ain't got no choice, it at least helps to know that there's somethin' in it for ya," George said.

Maybe George was right. This wasn't the only situation I'd ever been in where someone else held all the cards, and at least I didn't seem to be losing the hand. That brought my thoughts back to poker, and thinking of poker reminded me that I needed to see about getting cash for one of the little gold ingots I'd bought with my winnings from Shreveport. I was running a little short of cash.

"George, I need to cash in some of the gold I bought after I went to Shreveport, do you know anywhere around here to sell some?" I asked.

"Hell, I'll buy all you want to sell. I usually have to look for it when I get too much cash layin' around and don't want to put it in the bank," he said.

"I guess I should have known that you'd be doing a little cash business for the horses, especially," I said.

"That's the way I like to sell 'em, but it don't always work out. I've been pretty lucky lately though. But stud fees are the biggest for cash. Almost everybody that finds out I'll give 'em ten percent off for cash on the barrel takes me up on it. I don't see that it's any business of the IRS what I charge to let Show Boy dick a mare," he said.

"You two stop bragging and talking dirty for a few minutes. I see Jaycee drivin' up and there's no need to let her know what you're really like right off the bat," Ethel said.

When she walked in the door I was glad that Ethel greeted her first and at least gave me some time to get hold of myself. Jaycee was a knockout, and she made it hard on an old man like me. She wasn't exactly what I'd call dressed modestly either.

Jaycee had black hair, so black it seemed to shine, and it looked a little different with her deep blue eyes. Of course it was hard to look her pretty face over for long, because she had on a tight T-shirt that was having hell hiding her big braless titties. I might have done better though if her jeans hadn't looked to be painted on. She was the first woman that really showed me in person what all the talk about Camel Toe really meant.

Even stranger was the way she acted, as if she weren't giving a thrill to any male that might happen to lay eyes on her. And in fact she didn't really look outrageous, she just happened to be putting the goods on display.

It was a job, but I managed to talk to her face instead of her titties when we were introduced. Her handshake was firm and her smile seemed genuine, but her voice, low and sexy like it was, nearly made me shiver. George was so flustered that he could barely make sense and I could see that it tickled the shit out of Ethel.

By now, Ethel figured she could get rid of some more coffee cake and when she asked Jaycee if she'd like some and got a yes, we all sat at the kitchen table again. Carolyn and Geneva, who'd been cooking and trying to keep a low profile, served us while Ethel went to get Bob and Wanda.

My mouth stayed full of cake and coffee all the while Ethel was gone, and I did it on purpose, so I'd make sure I didn't say anything stupid. Jaycee talked with George, as much as she could get him too anyway, and I spent most of my time trying not to gawk at the titties that were wiggling and wobbling beneath that T-shirt.

There were more introductions when Bob and Wanda got there, and when Geneva asked me, I told her more cake and coffee would be great. I even tried to listen while Ethel did most of the talking about the job they had open.

If things had been completely normal there's no doubt that Jaycee would have smelled a rat as big as Rhode Island. There was no way in hell that Ethel could even pretend that she had a normal job out here, but Jaycee seemed to chew it like a pickle and it was obvious that she was normally smarter than that.

She gave us some of the story of her and the army and it was kinda what you'd expect. She said she'd done great in her training, and I didn't doubt her. But the brass had discouraged her from trying to get into Special Forces. She said after she realized that wasn't going to happen, she spent the rest of her time in the service training.

She picked up on the fact that there was some type of unofficial flag on her papers and she rode it like a pony. She was a fully trained battlefield quality paramedic, and had been through every type of training the service had. She'd even spent a year in college at the army's expense, for advanced training.

Along the way she'd been to helicopter flight training. Her intentions in civilian life had been to get a job flying an EMS helicopter, the kind most hospitals had now. She didn't really want to, but she thought it would be the best thing for her financially.

"The army gives its people some of the best training around, but unfortunately, not a lot of it transfers well to civilian life. I figure that flying EMS is probably the best I can do without more schooling," Jaycee said.

"I don't want to be too nosey, but what kind of salary were you thinking about?" George asked.

"As far as flying for an EMS company, they're fairly standard if they can get away with it. When they have enough pilots you can expect forty to fifty k, if they're short of bodies it can go up," she said.

"Well, we don't have a helicopter, but we like you fine," Ethel said, but what she meant was I like you and that's really all that matters.

"We can start you out at a hundred thousand," Ethel told her.

Even though They must have been doing something to Jaycee to keep her calm and keep her questions to a minimum, she was totally floored by that little revelation. She was smart enough to stop talking once the deal was done though.

"When do I start, and who's my boss?" she asked.

"You won't exactly have a boss. Just go with John and let him show you around some. If we need anything he'll probably be the one to tell you about it," Ethel said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 18


That was the oddest job interview I'd ever been invited to, not to mention that I felt funny being there when I wasn't the one doing the hiring or the one looking for a job. Come to think of it, I'd never really had the kind of job you needed to have an interview to get.

Oh, I'd had a few job interviews, but none of them had involved any meaningful conversation. Whenever I'd applied for a job, the interview was mostly a kind of last minute get to know the guy type thing for the one that was going to be my boss. I showed up at his office, we shot the shit for a few minutes, I did my best not to say anything stupid, and I was hired.

Maybe that was the attitude Ethel had used for this. She'd already snooped around on her gossip network and been convinced that Jaycee had the skills she needed, and more really. So she'd invited Jaycee out to see if she thought they'd get along. Ethel went with her instincts and that was that.

Meanwhile, back at the boner, I was coming to grip with the fact that Ethel had hired the closests thing to a sex bomb I'd ever seen in real life. The only trouble with that was Jaycee didn't act like a sex bomb, she just looked and dressed like one. That's the way I saw it anyway. Maybe I was just the type of old fashioned guy who didn't understand these kids today.

Understanding that Jaycee was beautiful and built wasn't a problem though, and she was more than the sum of her parts. Said parts were spread over a five-eight package that was obviously in excellent physical condition. She moved almost like a cat and I liked the little bit of her personality I'd seen so far.

Ethel had pretty much dismissed us and we stood and headed for the door.

"So, what are you going to show me first?" Jaycee asked.

Somehow I managed not to say that I was the one wanting her to show me something. Something hell, I wanted to see everything, now. Instead I steered her outside toward the truck, intending to show her the medical facilities.

"Damn, that's a hell of a taxi," she said, seeing the Western Star was going to be our ride.

"It is at that, but it's Meka's favorite way to get around and I don't guess it hurts anything to use it for errands," I said.

"And Meka is?" she asked.

"Meka is my daughter, my adopted daughter I guess I should say, but she seems like she's a part of me now. She likes the truck because she can raise the seat and see out better," I said.

"Will I get to meet her at your house? You said the first aid station was there."

"No, she's with Doctor Jorge, studying, in the house there," I told her, pointing back to Ethel's house.

"Oh, I see," she said, but from her tone I could tell that she didn't see at all.

At least it meant that the don't ask too many questions fog that They had used on her must be thinning now. Apparently They approved too and she was probably going to be able to question a few things that she couldn't have otherwise. I just hoped I could answer the questions she was able to ask.

She seemed familiar with the workings of air seats when we got in, since she had no trouble adjusting hers.

"Have you been in this type of truck before?" I asked.

"Yes, I learned to drive them in the army. Army trucks don't usually have air seats though, but a few did. I believe the Generals think standard seats keep their captive drivers from going too fast. It's another bit of army wisdom," she said.

"It sounds like it's a piece of carefully hoarded and preserved stupidity to me," I said.

"Right in one. Like I said, the Generals thought it up," she said, and laughed.

Driving down to the house, and forgetting until the last second that she was probably going to be amazed, I'd just turned onto the drive and was about to give her a little warning, but it was too late.

"God almighty, what is all this?" she asked.

"Well, it's my house," I said, trying not to sound sheepish.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," she said.

"Well I'm the one that was rude, I should have at least said something about it. It's just that I'm used to it by now," I said.

"The first aid station is here, in your home?" she asked, obviously trying to change the subject.

"Yes, it's in one end of the house."

Pulling to the curb, I parked and we got out, heading for the front door. Immediately I saw that Jaycee was probably going to be moving in. I could plainly see a new glowing handprint for her by the entrance. I didn't mention it though and when we approached the door it opened on it's own.

"Wow, the house knew you were coming?" she said.

"Yeh, it's nice after you get used to it. Would you mind putting your hand on that slightly glowing handprint?" I asked.

"Oh, ok, I guess," she said, doing it and then looking at me with an unspoken question.

"It's so the house will recognize you and let you in," I said.

She seemed mollified by the explanation but I could tell that it wasn't going to last for long. I'd have to just go along and see how things went, deciding that I'd have to rely on George's view that I wouldn't be able to even think of saying anything wrong.

When we got inside she was even more amazed and I was comforted by seeing another glowing handprint. Jaycee was going to get the tour of the basement too it seemed.

Leading her down the hall, toward what she was calling the first aid station, I braced myself for her reaction. I'd always thought of it as the operating room but I guess it would have been better to call it a clinic. We'd see what she thought about it.

As we walked down the hall, I got a little thrill when I saw another handprint for Jaycee near the bedroom door next to mine. Ethel hadn't said anything to her about moving in but I knew it was a done deal now. Too damned bad her handprint hadn't been beside the door to my bedroom. At least I had something to work on.

Who was I trying to kid? It hadn't come up, but Jaycee couldn't be a day over twenty-five and probably wasn't that old. I counted my chances of bumping fuzz with her as slim and none. It was probably more likely I'd get a royal straight flush for the next five poker hands I was dealt.

Sensory overload was my guess about what Jaycee felt when we walked into the first aid station. She just stood and gaped. Without trying to talk I watched her look around. Shortly she started roaming and looking more closely and I followed and let her see it for herself.

She spent nearly an hour examining things and thankfully she didn't ask any questions. I knew she had some, or should have had some, but I guessed that they were being put on hold somehow. When she'd seen it all she turned to me.

"This is much better equipped than I thought it would be. In fact, it's hard to believe," she said.

Recognizing an excellent chance to change the subject without the embarrassing questions I was sure I wouldn't be able to answer, I took my shot.

"Ready to see the other parts?" I asked.

"There's more?"

"Much more," I said, and when she nodded her head I turned back to the house, heading for the elevator.

It was either something They were doing or else something about the army way, but Jaycee didn't ask many questions. She took the elevator in stride and didn't even gasp when we walked out into the giant basement. She was shocked again when I showed her the armory though, but she was able to maintain. That's mainly the way things went through the whole tour.

After we toured the barn it was getting close to lunchtime and I suggested we stop and head back to Ethel's.

"That would be great, I was too nervous to eat this morning before I came out for the interview," she said.

"You were? That's a little surprising," I said.

"It can't be nearly as surprising as the job, or the salary. I probably shouldn't say it but I would have signed on for a lot less," she said.

"Don't worry about it. Ethel is glad to have you and I'm sure you'll earn your keep," I said.

"Maybe, but so far I still don't know what I'll be doing," she said, letting it trail off as if she hoped I'd elaborate.

By now I knew exactly what George and Ethel meant when they said they just couldn't think of what to say, because I couldn't either. I could understand that I wanted to tell her the whole story but the words just didn't come into my mind. So I kept my mouth shut and drove us to lunch.

The train horn was a surprise for Jaycee, and she actually squealed. It was a becoming reaction but I didn't have time to dwell on it, because Meka came flying out the back door, holding Tutsie, and no doubt expecting me to get on the ground and pick her up. I did.

Jaycee came around the truck to join us and I did the introductions. There was the usual misconception on her part. The surprise for me was that Meka was now ready to handle it, kinda.

"I'm glad to meet you, Meka. Who's that you're holding?" she asked, nodding her head toward Tutsie.

"This is Ch'uht'uh dìitsi?," Meka said, the she giggled when she saw Jaycee's reaction.

"Meka's getting to be quite the little trickster. She doesn't speak much English yet, but she's catching on quickly," I said.

"His name Tutsie. Ch'uht'uh dìitsi? is fuzzy dog you talk," Meka said, explaining.

"Exactly what language is that? I've heard a lot of different languages but nothing ever sounded like that at all," Jaycee said, and I was worried about how I could explain things.

"I Caddo Indian," Meka said, solving the problem, for a while.

For some reason Tutsie was very glad to see me. He gave me a thorough licking all over the face. Meka laughed about it after a minute and then let me in on the joke.

"Tutsie glad see Daddy. Mean lunch time," she said, and Jaycee helped her laugh at me then.

Meka was probably right. Tutsie knew that food was on the way when I showed up. We went inside then and since most everyone was already sitting at the big table we headed that way.

Jaycee's seat ended up being to my left, between Ethel and I. I could tell that she was a little surprised at the crowd that showed up to eat. She'd get used to it.

Thankfully Ethel did a good job of keeping Jaycee company during the meal. Pig that I am, my concentration was on the fried chicken, cream potatoes, black-eyed peas, and later on the German chocolate cake. I did have time to notice that Tutsie's chicken had been removed from the bone beforehand. He didn't seem chagrined in the least to be missing out on a bone to gnaw. He was too busy eating more chicken than could have possibly been good for him.

Somehow Ethel managed to steer the after lunch conversation well clear of Jaycee's new job, and especially, clear of what it might involve. She also did yeoman's service when something else came up.

"I'm so happy to have found this job. Now if I could find a place nearby to rent I'd be set," Jaycee said, while they were talking about not much.

"Didn't that big goofball show you your room?" Ethel said.

"My room?"

"Sure, he has plenty of space down there and we furnish room and board for everyone that works for us. That's the only way to run a ranch," Ethel said.

"Well, no, John didn't mention it," Jaycee said.

"I thought it was your place to tell her about it, Ethel. You're the one that hired her," I said.

"Well, you must have passed right by. You could have mentioned it. No matter, I guess I should have said something. Jaycee might have taken it wrong if you'd invited her to move in with you right off the bat," Ethel said, and of course everyone howled, including Jaycee.

I only thought that was the worst of it, but Jaycee joined in after the laughter died down a little.

"Well, ya know a girl can't be too choosy when she don't have a place to stay, and he don't look so bad for an old cowboy," she said, and the earlier fun at my expense had been mild compared to this latest.

Meka's understanding of the words didn't stop her from figuring out that everyone was laughing, and my red face let her know the joke was on me. She wasn't about to be left out either. She didn't really give us a good laugh, but she did giggle like hell.

After lunch was over, and at least some of the blood had drained from my face, Jaycee wanted to go back to the house to see her new room. Meka gave both of us a goodbye kiss before we left and Tutsie didn't cheat us out of any licks.

After she did her thing with the handprint, to let us inside the room, Jaycee was impressed with it, even though there was no furniture, of course. She fretted about it for a few minutes.

"I wasn't expecting to find a place so quickly and I don't have anything in the way of furniture. I don't even have a bed," she said.

When I told her that wouldn't be a problem she gave me a funny little sidewise glance, as if waiting for me to finish my thought. I could see that she was expecting some type of offhand proposition. Even though I was glad she didn't cloud up and rain on me right away, I realized that I'd better tell her what I meant.

"I'm sure Ethel has some things you can use. In fact, Meka and I just went to Canton last week and brought back a lot of Antiques for Ethel," I said.

"I can't ask her to let me sleep on her antique furniture. She probably intends to show it off somewhere," she said.

"I don't see why you can't, she bought the stuff for Meka and I, mostly for Meka since she'd already sent the bed she wanted me to use down here. Let me call her and ask about it," I said, whipping out my cell phone and punching in Ethel's number before Jaycee could stop me.

"Ethel," I said, after she answered.

"Oh, ok," I said, and hung up.

"That was quick," Jaycee said.

"She didn't have time to talk, she was deciding which of the hands were coming down here with she and Wanda. They are ahead of you about the furniture. The hands are coming down to move it and set it up," I said.

"Oh, I guess all I need to do it go get my clothes and stuff," she said.

"That's my guess. Can you get it all in your car?"

"It'll take a few trips, but I can make it," she said.

"Would you like to use a truck?" I asked.

"I don't have that much stuff, and unless you have a pup from a set of doubles, I don't think it'll work. There isn't room where I'm staying for a full sized trailer. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen a trailer anyway," she said.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a pickup. We have trailers for the tractors of course, but even I didn't think you'd need one," I said.

"A pickup would be great," she said, ending the confusing conversation.

Of course I knew there'd be more surprises for Jaycee coming up shortly, since we hadn't been in the garrage yet, but I was hoping the questions would be few. Normally they wouldn't be, but I was counting on some help I didn't really understand.

We left the house through the back door and walked to the garage. The first door was already open, the one where my pickup was parked.

"Wow, this is some garage," Jaycee said, and I was glad that's all she said.

It wasn't exactly all though, she made some comments about the Model A and the Caddy but she didn't ask any questions. That was the important part. She was surprised by the Hum-V type pickup and ambulance but again, no questions.

The only other remarkable thing was the surge through my balls when she saw my 63 Vette and raved about it. She even said the S word, claiming that she'd always loved that model, since it was easily the sexiest Vette.

"You can take my pickup or the Hum-V, and if neither suits you we can get George to let you use one of his one ton Silverados. They have plenty of room," I said.

"I think I'd be more comfortable with the Hum-V, I'm used to driving them," she said.

When she got in it, the door started up behind her and she gave me a little grin as she backed out and left. I went back into the house and met Ethel coming in the front door with Carolyn, Wanda, Geneva, and five of the men.

"Where's Jaycee?" Ethel asked.

"She took the Hum-V pickup to go and get her clothes and such," I said.

"Just like a man. You didn't even ask her if you could help, did you?" Ethel said.

"No, I didn't think about it," I said, admitting my failing.

"I'll call the place she's staying in a few minutes and see if we need to send some slave labor. Meanwhile, these guys have some serious totin' to do," Ethel said.

It surprised me when they headed for the elevator. I couldn't help it, I had to ask.

"Where are you going?"

"Down to the storage room, the little one across from your armory," Ethel said.

"I didn't even know there was another room down there."

"Of course you didn't, you took off before the lifting and carrying got started last time. Come on down with us, you can find the storage room and help us carry furniture," Ethel said, giving me a mean little grin.

Hell, I didn't mind doing a little work every now and then, as long as it didn't get to be a habit. I followed along.

The storage room was a lot more than little. It was probably fifty by fifty if it was an inch. It was in a handy place too, not ten feet from where the spooky loading dock rose and descended for unloading. I could see that once you had things out of a trailer and onto the dock it was simple to let it down and walk into the storage room with whatever you'd unloaded.

"Can Jaycee drive a big truck? I forgot to ask her," Ethel said, when we were inside the storage room.

"She said she could, said she learned in the army," I said.

"That might come in handy. The antique man called and he's found some more things I want. Maybe we can get Jaycee to drive a truck down there too," she said.

"It can't hurt anything. She can go if I'm doing something else," I said, innocently.

"There you go again, thinking when you're not qualified. She'll need to go too, as in also. There's more than one truckload of stuff down there already, and no sign I'm through buying yet. Besides, Meka told me about that car she liked, the black one. She said she thought you told her it was a bird," Ethel said.

"It was a 1956 Thunderbird, and they weren't asking way too much for it, but the body work for the restoration was bad," I said.

"Body work ain't no problem. Carl and Stewart, out to Lonnie's Body Works do top notch work, and they don't cull jobs that are tricky. They ain't runnin' just a crash shop out there; they can do real body and paint work if you got what it takes," Ethel said.

"Got what it takes?" I asked.

Ethel didn't say anything, she just held up a hand, rubbing her thumb up and back over the fingers, in the universal sign for plenty of money.

Sometimes things could get a little surreal around Ethel. Since she seemed just like a normal rancher's wife most of the time, it was hard to remember that she was one of the richest women in this part of the state. If she wanted something, for herself or someone she cared about, money did not come up in the decision to get it.

I never asked them about their wealth, it just didn't come up, but I'd always known they had plenty of money. The thing that would fool you was the mineral rights they owned.

I was pretty sure that oil royalties brought in more money every year than the cows and horses ever could. George had mentioned off handedly once that the producing wells he had interest in always seemed to keep pumping after the ones near them played out. Just lucky I guess.

He was going to make out like a bandit on the land he'd just bought too. There was a lot of timber on it, and with housing still going well, he could sell the timber for plenty. His best advantage was that he didn't have to sell it if the price wasn't right.

So it didn't shock me that Ethel was thinking about buying Meka the old T-bird. I didn't think it was that good an idea, but I don't guess it would hurt anything. Still, it did seem odd, and a little out of character.

"Getting things back here won't be a problem, Ethel. I don't mind at all and I'm sure Jaycee won't either. The old Thunderbird was in nice shape except for the poor bodywork, and you're right about Texas-T, they can get it in tip-top condition. But what will Meka do with it, we've already got more vehicles than she can ride in, and she didn't even sit in the car, she might not like the view out," I said.

"I guess you're right, but I don't want her missin' out on anything she wants. When you get right down to it, John, Meka is a miracle on earth. I can't get it out of my head that nothing is too much for her," Ethel said, and I could tell that she was sincere.

When I thought about it I knew Ethel was right. It was a miracle and more that Meka was here, and I sure as hell didn't begrudge her anything. I was with her when she looked at the car though, and my best guess was that she was just showing passing interest. I was afraid that Ethel was latching onto something that Meka didn't care that much about. Trouble was, I didn't have any way to explain the situation to Meka, so I'd have to try and get it over to Ethel.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 19


Ethel got the show on the road after that. The next hour and a half had me and the other men stepping and fetching, but it was for a good cause. You should have seen Jaycee's eyes light up when she came back and got a look at the bedroom furniture she'd be using.

Carolyn and Geneva stayed with Jaycee to help her get situated while Ethel, Wanda, and the men went back to the house. I hoped that supper was high on Ethel's list of things to do next.

"Jaycee, can you ride a horse, I asked, before they could get out of pocket.

"Sure, I haven't in a while but before I left for the army I loved riding," she said.

"Good, do you mind if I pick one out for you?"

"For me, what do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm sure that George intends four you to have one down here in my barn. It'll be handier in case you need it. I thought I'd go pick one and bring it down," I said.

"That's fine. I'm going to be a little busy for a while," she said, and I left, mostly to make sure I didn't get busy in this type of thing myself.

I took my own pickup up to George's house, since Jaycee's things were still in the Hum-V pickup. It was the first time I'd been in my truck since the discovery of the contents of my new garage. It felt familiar and comforting. It made me realize that things hadn't been very familiar since before my poker trip to Shreveport. Or at least they hadn't been after I got back.

My whole world had changed, starting with a barn that Bob built, for the fun of it. Who builds a barn for fun? No one. But Bob had. But had he really done it for fun?

Looking back, things started getting pretty unbelievable from the time my depression started. The depression was unbelievable itself for that matter. My life had turned into the old salesman's joke:

Six munths ago I couldn't even spell salesman, now I is one!

Six months ago I couldn't even spell depression, actually I could spell it but it hadn't been a part of my life. Then it showed up in my head and things went to shit, but not really. They just seemed to be going to shit at the time. In the long run, depression was the key to my new situation. My new, unreal life.

Anyone looking at it from a distance would say I'd walked through a pasture of cow shit and only had to stoop down and pick up a big gold nugget every now and then. I wasn't looking at it from that distance though and just now, alone in my pickup for the first time in a few days, I was able to distance myself from the day-to-day things that had been happening.

Previously I wouldn't have called myself an introspective type person. Basically, I went through life reacting to whatever came next. Planning wasn't high on my to do list.

I came to George and Ethel's drive and went past it. The short pickup ride had let me get a look at what had been happening to me and around me and I wasn't ready for that look to go away. I hadn't seen enough yet.

That was a disturbing thought itself. What was it about my old pickup that let me think clearly, if that was what I was doing? Suddenly, almost as if it came from something besides my own head, I got the urge to blow this ride off and go back to George's house and go inside.

"Cut that out, Goddammit, whoever you are - whatever you are, stop it," I screamed aloud.

The urge went away at once, almost violently, if that's possible. That urge had been the They fog trying to creep back into my head and for the first time I'd actually felt it coming. Before now, I'd known that fog was around me at times but I'd never distinctly felt it coming before.

What do you know, I'd caught They at it, caught them fucking with my head. Suddenly I could remember all the times they'd done it before. Hell, I could even remember back to when my depression started in the first place.

They had caused every damned bit of it. Anger flooded through me at once and ebbed almost as quickly. There'd been something else during that flash of anger though, and I'd felt it too. Even better, I'd felt exactly where it'd come from and it hadn't come from me.

It wasn't exactly a door in my mind that They came through, but that's a good analogy, or as close as I can come to explaining the unexplainable. Best of all, I knew I could shut it. I did, in fact it was the mental equivalent of slamming a door.

The fog was gone, completely, and it was good.

I was alone in my own head for the first time in a long time, but I didn't have time to gloat. Just this second I had to drive, of all things.

Apparently, They had been taking care of that mundane little task while the door'd been open and when I'd slammed it in their faces the chore of driving fell back to me.

Thankfully I hadn't been in any traffic, and there was a wide shoulder here, so I pulled over and stopped.

It's hard to explain what the door was but I didn't have any trouble examining it myself. Maybe my brain was putting it into a context that I could understand; almost certainly it was, since I knew there wasn't an actual door inside my skull, no matter how small.

There was a door though, and I could visualize the tiny doorknob. I could even see the old-timey keyhole. What the hell, I bent mentally for a peek through it. No joy there, nothing to see, but I could feel something through that virtual keyhole. I could feel They, and They wanted me to open the door again.

This was the happiest moment in my life, so far, because I had gained something that I treasured. Control - I'd recovered control of my life.

I'm not saying that They had done anything to harm me, not in the least, but control over what goes on in your own mind is what being a human is all about - at least that's what it's about to me. I had hold of control again, and to tell the truth, I didn't want to open the door for They.

My own mind played traitor to me then. As if I didn't really have the control I'd just been slobbering about, a question came into being and was on the loose inside my head before I could stop it, and straight through the keyhole it went.

"What'll ya give me?"

That tiny slip started something that had never happened on earth before, or not to my knowledge anyway. It started a conversation between an earthling - as in me - and a non-earthling - as in They. It's a damned good thing that They could speak English, sorta.

They were upset that I'd discovered the door and upset even more that I'd shut it. They had gone to considerable trouble to install the door and it was practically useless to them with it shut this way.

They were telling me more than They thought. First and foremost, They were telling me that They didn't know the first damned thing about trading horses. Here They were wanting to bargain for something and stupidly letting me know how important that something was to them.

Naturally, what they wanted didn't matter to me right now, but I let They keep going on about it for a few seconds, before I asked my question. I made sure I didn't let them know what was important to me.

"Why are you doing all this?" I asked.

Hopefully, They assumed that knowing why was important to me. In truth it didn't matter at all. I didn't care what they wanted; I cared about what they did. They could do things that no one on earth could and that was the understatement of all time. I wanted some control over what They actually did.

Sure, They had been nice to me so far, but as a greedy human, I wanted to insure they were nice to me in exactly the way I wanted them to be nice to me. If you've ever had someone buy you an expensive gift that just didn't appeal to you at all, you know what I mean. If They were going to go to the trouble of doing something for me, it might as well be something I wanted them to do.

At any rate, They apologized but could not tell me the reason for what they were doing. I was happy that They had finally spit that out. Now we had enumerated something they wanted and something I wanted; it meant that the bargaining was about to begin in earnest.

Even though They didn't tell me why they were doing what they were doing, They didn't mind telling me what they were doing, and what They could or couldn't do.

Ultimately, the list of things They could do was nearly infinite and the list of things They couldn't do was really only things that were more difficult for them. From my point of view, They could do those things if they had to; it was just a matter of too much trouble for the gain on their part.

Simple control over people was a given for them. Reading surface thoughts was as easy for them as sight was for me. They wouldn't tell me why the door into my head was different from what they normally did, and They wouldn't tell me why they wanted it open again so desperately. They did promise me everything but the moon if I'd open it again though.

"I want to know what effect this time traveling is having on the earth of here and now?" I asked.

"None."

That was a relief but it went against the grain of what I thought I understood about things. How could I go back in time, change a bunch of things that had happened or would have happened and have no effect on what was now?

I asked them about that, and They didn't want to tell me. Finally they explained that I wasn't going back into the past of this earth. It had been the past of this earth but it had diverged when I made my first trip. Now I was going back to another version of the past.

That was all I wanted to hear about that. In fact, I wondered why I'd asked in the first place. Even if I could have, I wasn't going to go back and shoot my own mother or father and that's as much of it as I wanted to think about.

In the end I agreed to open the door but I wouldn't agree not to ever close it again. Extracting a promise for them to let me stay clearheaded from now on was easier than I'd thought it would be, and apparently some of They had wanted me, the one with the doorway, to be left alone from the start.

When They pressed me on what else I wanted, I said I'd let them know later. I wasn't trying to be mysterious, I just couldn't think of anything right now. Hell, my poor brain was on overload. Besides, it was time for supper, or nearly so. And that's another thing, I didn't intend for my new position of power to be reduced to a three wishes deal.

With the door open again, I headed back to Ethel's table, hoping someone had done something about a meal. Constant two-way communication between me and They hadn't seemed like a good idea, and they hadn't wanted it either. Of course I knew they were listening at all times, so as I headed back, I sent them a thought.

"Drive."

They did. My hands were still on the wheel and my foot was on the gas pedal, but I didn't have to pay a bit of attention to where I was going. It was like an autopilot, but even better. With my new understanding of the situation, I realized they'd been doing a lot of this lately. At least now I was getting to enjoy it too.

Parking behind George and Ethel's house, I saw the Hum-V was here, so Jaycee must have been clued in about supper.

When I sat down beside her at the table, I could tell she'd had a shower since she finished moving in. She'd changed clothes, her hair had been washed, and she even smelled cleaner, not that she didn't smell fine earlier.

Meka, Tutsie, and everyone else was already seated and it was almost as if they'd been waiting for me to arrive. When I paid attention closely I knew they had been.

Trying out my new connection, I thought, "Cut that out," at They. Immediately Ethel let me know They had indeed cut it out.

"We's beginning to wonder if you'd fell off a cliff. Next time we're gonna start without ya," she said.

"I'm sorry, I should have been back in time. I guess I was dragging my feet," I said.

"I'll let it slide this time, but don't let it happen again," she said, with her voice sounding serious, but a big smile that let me know she was only teasing.

As usual, I didn't care if she teased me. When the big T-bone hit my plate and Jaycee passed the serving bowl with the cream potatoes, the teasing was forgiven.

Talking died down as mouths got full and the most common sound was of a knife, fork, or spoon hitting a plate. I happened to glance over at Tutsie, on the other side of Meka, and he was standing at his bowl with his mouth working a mile a minute, ingesting. His tail was wagging way over the speed limit too. Meka seemed like she couldn't decide whether to eat or watch Tutsie and laugh at him.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 20


Strangely, Meka and Tutsie weren't ready to fall asleep on the spot after supper. They were full and moving more slowly than normal for sure, but they weren't dead on their feet yet. Meka even jarred me back into the present.

"Daddy get Jaycee horse?" she asked.

"No, I got side tracked. Maybe she'd like to go pick her own," I said, looking the question at Jaycee.

"Sounds like fun. Who's the main salesman?" she asked.

No one said anything for a few seconds and then Ethel elbowed George in the ribs.

"That's your cue, old man. Get off that big butt and show the lady our selection," she said.

"Oh, right. Let's go out to the barn. I'll bet I know who she'll like. Simon is a dandy, and nobody rides him enough to matter," George said, on his way out the door.

We followed and I noticed that Chuck and Dave weren't going to miss out either. In fact, I could tell that they didn't give a shit about the horse Jaycee picked; they just wanted to see more of Jaycee. I'm pretty sure I could detect young lust in their hearts.

As far as that goes, I didn't blame them. Jaycee was a dish, no doubt about it, but They had put me in somewhat of a mental bind over her. They had been responsible for Jaycee being here. Nothing overt from their explanation though. They had just made sure she knew about the opening and they used some of the fog to make it seem like something she might like to check into. They had also discouraged three male candidates who'd been fully qualified too.

That wasn't the hard part. They had let me know that Jaycee had been adjusted slightly and if I showed interest she'd be wet and ready, or at least ready to get wet and ready. Hell, that took a lot of the fun out of it for me.

Sure, it sounds great to know that you can basically fuck any woman you see via your alien friends, and I'm not saying I'd be too proud to ever go that route. It just didn't seem right in Jaycee's case. For one thing, I could envision a guilty feeling creeping up on me later and I really needed Jaycee's help if I was going traipsing off to who knows when.

In my mind I needed more of a friend who also happened to be medically trained. It didn't hurt that she was beautiful, and built like a fantasy woman, but we'd need to work closely and it was almost crucial that we become friendly if not real friends.

I couldn't help feeling that They might not have as complete an understanding of the human psyche at they thought. It seemed to me that if I could figure out something was guiding my thoughts and actions, Jacyee might too. At least that's how I felt about it now.

She was as lush as a ripe peach, but I made They promise to undo whatever they'd done to her in that regard. If I did get to dick her, it would be while she was in her right mind.

No doubt about it though, from the looks Chuck and Dave were giving her, if They had offered them a deal like mine, Chuck and Dave would already be going back for thirds or fourths. I could almost see the "never had any before and want some bad right now" sign painted across their foreheads and it was easy to know that they knew Jaycee could fix that problem if she just would. A nasty thought struck me.

"Jaycee, I don't want to change the subject at this critical moment, but do you like to swim?" I asked.

"Love it. In fact I was going to ask if there was a pond or lake close by that any of you used," she said.

"I like to swim myself, and I've been thinking about getting a pool put in. What about you Meka, can you swim?" I asked her, doubting that she'd understand.

Doctor Jorge cured that. He knew she didn't know about swim yet, so he spit out the question in her language. Meka smiled big and started nodding her head while she told him something.

"Meka said she was the best swimmer in her group. In fact, she was the designated fist trap checker," he said.

"That settles it then, I'll have to start checking around for pool people," I said.

Normally, you'd think that George or Ethel would pop up with a recommendation, but I knew they wouldn't. If they didn't know already what I was hoping for, I was sure they'd figure it out. I was certain there'd be one hell of a pool coming right up the next time we had a thunderstorm.

"That will be great," Jaycee said, doing even better than I could have hoped for when she finished with, "I love to swim and when the weather is nice I like to lay out a lot. With your place so far off the beaten, I can get a good all over tan."

I nearly sprained my neck whipping it around to see what Chuck and Dave thought of that but I got a surprise of my own. They were trying hard not to grin like little thieves but that wasn't the surprise.

"That is a good idea, John. I wouldn't mind having and place to get a little all over tan myself, what about you Wanda?" Ethel said.

"I've never even though of it, but it sounds like fun? Too bad it's winter or we could start as soon as the pool is ready," Wanda said.

"He can just get a heated pool as long as he's at it, and 'round here lots of days are warm enough to be naked outside in the winter. Heck, most days are," Ethel said.

Chuck and Dave were lost now. They weren't grinning anymore but the were blushing, as if everyone knew what they had on their minds. I could tell that the thought of their mother and grandmother frolicking around naked didn't bother them one bit. In fact I was pretty sure it suited them fine.

For that matter it suited me fine too. Ethel might be past fifty, but she looked as good as any woman her age ever could, better than she had any right to in fact. Wanda was a knock out herself, thought I'd tried to keep from thinking things like that. I couldn't keep from it after the conversation I'd started, and there wasn't even anyone else I could blame it on. I was glad to get to the barn so we could talk about something else.

The whole thing was a subtle way of teasing Chuck and Dave, and I'd done it on purpose. It teased them ok, but I ended up with a hard dick of my own. Not especially over thinking of Jaycee naked either, but it didn't hurt. Truth to tell though, now I was wondering just how big Ethel's and Wanda's titties were and what they'd look like on display around a pool. Come to think of it, maybe Carolyn and Geneva would be swimming a little too.

Simon finally stopped my thoughts of a beaver showing when we got to his stall. Jaycee loved him of first sight; she didn't even want to look any further. Since we had about an hour and a half of sunlight left, the search for tack was on.

In ten minutes Jaycee had Simon between her legs and was heading for our barn, leaving George, Bob, and the rest of us to get the vehicles where they belonged. Meka had even wanted to ride behind Jaycee and try to carry Tutsie in her arms while she did. I had to nix that, at least until she had her cast off and full use of both arms.

Bob drove the Hum-V pickup back down to my place and George followed in his fifty-six to give Bob a ride back. Meka and Tutsie rode with me in my pickup, but not before gave my plain old seat a little sniff of disdain.

Meka wanted to turn up her nose at it anyway, but she didn't. Tutsie seemed to like the bench seat better. Meka let him down between us and he started sniffing around and exploring right away.

When Tutsie discovered that the windows were open and that he could stick his little nose out by leaning against the door and standing on his back legs in Meka's lap, he was convinced that nothing could be finer. I had to warn Meka to keep a hand on him so he didn't fall out. She did, but she was mostly laughing at his antics.

We were in the barn, with Meka giving Joe Bob, Jasper, and Jeffry alternating pats on their noses when Jaycee came riding in. She was smiling her widest as she dismounted and gave Simon an affectionate rub on his neck.

"I'd forgotten how good riding makes me feel," she said, and couldn't seem to keep the grin off her face.

It seemed a little odd to me that she was so revved up over such a short ride. Then the light shined for me, or at least I thought it did. When a man is riding a horse, it's always in the back of his mind that he has to be sure he doesn't end up sitting on his own balls.

I'd never even thought about it before, but that must mean that when a woman rides astride, as they all do now-a-days, the saddle is probably constantly giving her pussy some tactile attention. Maybe Jaycee liked having her cooter massaged, I could always hope anyway.

It only took a few minutes to put Simon away and after that we all watched Tutsie strut around and do his business. It reminded me that I should tell Jaycee about his late night needs.

"Jaycee, we'll try to be as quiet as we can, but Tutsie usually has to go outside at least once during the night. Meka and I will be getting up to take him out so he can do his thing. I know it might seem like a pain in the butt, but it's worth it to have a dog so young that is already housebroken," I said.

"You did that so smoothly and sounded so sincere I almost believed you. Nobody can housebreak a dog that young," she said, clearly not believing me.

"We didn't do it, he was already that way when we got him. I don't know how the woman who raised him did it, but I'm really happy she did," I said.

"We did it," the voice in my head told me and they sounded almost hurt because I'd given someone else the credit.

"I figured that out for myself but I don't really think I should tell Jaycee right now," I thought back to them and then just got a feeling that they understood.

"Well I'll have to see it to believe it. I will to, you won't be able to slip out without me; I can sleep lightly if I need to, and I wouldn't miss this. I really don't believe you," she said, smiling a little to take the sting out of it.

Hell, there wasn't any sting, because I knew if someone else had told me that kind of whopper I wouldn't have believe them either.

Meka was unusually active tonight for some reason. Usually after supper she was ready for bed right away. Maybe it was the excitement of having a new resident. Whatever it was, she had Tutsie in one arm and was leading Jaycee to her, Meka's, room with the other.

"Come Jaycee. Watch cartoons Meka," she said.

Jaycee smiled at her and followed along. To make sure I was prepared if Jaycee really did join us, I went down to the armory for another pair of the night vision goggles. She probably wouldn't believe them either, but I knew she'd want some after she got a look through them.

Off to my bedroom was my next trick. I undressed, showered, and then climbed into bed. I was asleep in seconds but I did get into a dreamlike conversation.

They talked to me, and it wasn't really dreamlike. First thing, I got an apology for the one that burst into my thoughts about Tutsie's housebroken state. They assured me that person had been disciplined and would not be doing anything like that again.

Next, They seemed almost excited about the pool I wanted them to install. I was slightly surprised that they were all for it and in the end I had to rein them in some.

They already had prospective plans for a geodesic dome and a pool three or four times larger than any I'd ever even heard of. That was just too much, and when I asked if they couldn't do something that looked more natural, one part of They went off on a tangent about making it look like a lake. It assured me that it would really be a pool, but just look like a lake.

I was concerned about natural earth type creatures being fooled too, and taking up residence. I mean, I guess a few fish wouldn't hurt anything, but I didn't want to end up with a giant mosquito hatchery and snake-breeding farm.

Finally they assured me that nothing could actually live in the water, it would be like pool water, except more so. They said that water filtration and treatment would be completely automatic and that I'd never have to worry about any of that.

In the end, it was decided that we'd go for the natural looking lake look but that it would actually be a heated pool, but like none ever on earth before. Hell, they had me excited about it before they were done. When I finally drifted back off into real sleep, the last thing I heard was one of them whispering something about bodily touch ups. What the hell did that mean? I didn't have time to ask because I slipped off to sleep for real.

Meka jiggling my shoulder was the next thing I knew. She had an armful of Tutsie and he looked like he was in a hurry to me. Just as I dragged on my pants Jaycee knocked on the open door and I had to swallow hard before I could tell her to come in.

She did and even though I tried there was no way for me to look away from her charms. Sitting on the side of my bed like this, with my low angle of view, I could see just a few of her short and curlies peeking out from beneath the longish T-shirt that was all she had on. Of course I could also see a hint of the outline of her vulva since panties didn't seem to be part of her late night dog-walking outfit.

Finally I was able to stop staring at her coochie and try to look her in the eyes. Try was all, because her impressive breasts had impressive nipples that were making their presence know through the T-shirt's thin material. When my eyes made it to her face it was split by a wide grin and the little tease blew me a kiss.

"Come on sleepy head, if Tutsie really is ready to go we don't need to keep him waiting. It's not nice to keep Mother Nature waiting," Jaycee said, turning around to head out the door and giving me a flash of magnificent buns in the process.

Since Jaycee had left already, I grabbed her new night vision goggles after I pulled mine on. Meka put hers on too and we followed Jaycee out the front door. Meka barely had time to put Tutsie down before Jaycee asked what we had on our faces.

"Night vision goggles," I said.

"I've used low light equipment plenty of times in the army and I know better. Those can't be night vision," she said.

"Why don't you put your pair on," I asked, handing them to her, "and see if I don't know more than the generals do."

She was going on about that not being a fair question since generals didn't know anything when she pulled the goggles on and stopped talking. I knew what she was feeling because I knew what she was seeing, and if you knew anything about night vision equipment you'd know that these goggles weren't possible.

"Where in the world did you buy these?" was Jaycee's first question.

"I can't tell you yet, but you'll know soon," I said.

"You're being mighty mysterious all of a sudden," she said.

I felt it then and Meka must have too. Even Tutsie seemed aware that something had changed. He quit sniffing and humped his back, getting the job done in record time.

"Tutsie done. We go back bed now," Meka said, making it sound almost like an order.

Who could argue with that tone of voice? Not I, especially since I knew what that feeling meant. Just then, from what had been a clear sky when we went into the house before sunset, there came a loud rolling rumble of thunder that seemed to last forever. As if she couldn't believe it, Jaycee looked toward the sky just as another giant bolt of lightening split it.

"Wow, that storm came up quick," she said.

"They do that a lot around here," I told her, hoping she would buy it at face value. I needn't have worried.

Meka picked up Tutsie and then took hold of Jaycee's hand and led her into the house. When we neared my bedroom door she led Jaycee in and turned toward me when they were inside.

"Wait Daddy," she said, and so I didn't follow them in and the door closed.

A couple of minutes later I heard Meka say "Now Daddy" and I knew I could enter. Jaycee was in my bed under the covers with the strangest look on her face. She was currently in charge of Tutsie and he was fighting her over possession of one of her fingers. Meka was standing beside the bed, obviously waiting for me to get in so I'd be between she and Jaycee.

"I say Jaycee we all sleep Daddy after Tutsie go out," Meka said, as if it made perfect sense. I guessed it was close enough.

I dropped my jeans beside the bed, letting them lay on the floor, and climbed bare assed into bed. I hadn't been expecting this much company so I hadn't bothered to dress for the occasion before we took Tutsie out. It was a damned good thing this was such a surprise; because it had made my previously hard as stone dick deflate. I knew the thought of Jaycee in bed with me in only a T-shirt was going to pump it right back up soon though.

As I got under the covers my eyes happened to land on the T-shirt I'd though she was wearing. It was lying, neatly folded, on top of a dresser. When she realized I'd seen it and saw my eyes widen she spoke up.

"Just following orders, general," she said, and then laughed.

I lay down, knowing we weren't going to have time to do anything really fun, due to our upcoming trip. Meka got in on the other side of me and then Tutsie left Jaycee, scampered across me, and went to see his main squeeze. As I lay back, getting ready for the knockout punch I knew was coming, Meka snuggled close to me on one side and then Jaycee did on the other.

If They had been lying about putting Jaycee back the way she'd been, I didn't care anymore. She was going to have to yell and scream now to keep me from fucking her, first chance I got.

As the bedroom light winked out, thunder rolled loudly again and the world went away into sleep.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 21


It felt like just before dawn when I woke. I can't say why it felt that way, it just did. It also felt like someone was reaching over my hip and holding my achingly hard dick in their soft but strong hand. Someone was.

Let me tell you it felt good too. The hell of it was I could hear Jaycee's regular breathing and I knew she was asleep. Meka, on the other hand, was not asleep. She was looking into my eyes and I could see she was having to keep Tutsie in a firm grip, or he'd already be running and playing on the bed. When she saw the look on my face Meka giggled and it was enough to wake Jaycee.

She made a little sound at first and then I felt her move. When she realized what she was holding onto she gave it a parting squeeze, removed her hand slowly, and then said, "Sorry."

"Don't be. It was a surprise but feel free to hold on anytime you want to," I said, trying to make a joke of it while I was actually as serious as cancer.

Somehow, as we climbed out of bed I was able to keep from leering at Jaycee. In fact I was proud of my restraint. She had her T-shirt on in short order and I didn't waste any time pulling up the pants I'd had on last night.

"I'll admit that it seemed a little strange for us all to sleep in the same bed. 'This is so sudden' thoughts flashed in my head when Meka gave me the news. I'm glad about it now though, I haven't slept that well or felt this good in the morning in years," she said.

"I'm glad you're well rested," I said, knowing that just the reality of her new situation was going to be more than enough of a trial, and I didn't think They had brought us here just so Jaycee could get clued in.

"What's first on the agenda today?" Jaycee asked.

"Tutsie go out first," Meka said, as if she'd understood Jaycee's question.

So we headed for the front door again. Jaycee, in her indecent T-shirt that I was beginning to love, and me in a pair of jeans with nothing else. Jaycee gave me a little look when I made sure the Marlin was ready to go before I picked it up and let Meka open the door.

"What's that all about, I didn't say anything last night but what's the deal?" she asked.

"The deal is I had to shoot a coyote one morning to keep it from having Tutsie for breakfast," I said.

"Oh."

Of course that wasn't really the deal. The deal was I expected to be back in the good old days when we walked out. I was right. Jaycee's mouth dropped open and she couldn't even get a word out. She was gawking at the giant pines and seemed to be turning her head from side to side, trying to look everywhere at once.

Myself, I spied Jahedo and his band of merry men right away; they were just getting up themselves.

"My God, are those Indians?" Jaycee nearly shouted when she saw them.

"My people," Meka said, giving Jaycee such a look.

"I'm sorry Meka, it was just such a surprise. What is going on, John?" Jaycee asked.

"Welcome to sixteen twenty," I said, and watched her mouth drop open even wider.

"The ones that provided my house and most of my stuff send me back in time now and then to take care of things for them. I guess this is like a house payment, kinda," I said, trying to sound sensible about it.

"No way in hell I'd believe any of that if I wasn't here with you," Jaycee said, still giving me a suspicious look.

"That's one of the reasons I didn't try to explain that part of the job beforehand."

"And so I'm just trapped back in time?" she asked, and I could tell she was getting herself revved up to be mad.

"Not at all. When we wake up, the morning after we're sent back, it will still be the next morning to everyone on earth. This is a little like free time," I said.

Meka had walked over to Jahedo and the others while I was trying to explain to Jaycee. She came back to us just then.

"Tell Jaycee later. We dress now so can eat breakfast," Meka said, and she wasn't asking us to.

Jaycee gave her a look too, and then laughed.

"You little stinker, you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Jaycee asked.

"Yes, I come from now," Meka said.

We went back in the house and dressed.

There was no doubt in my mind that They had settled Jaycee down somewhat, because she didn't ask any more questions right away. I was torn between telling them to stop it and wanting to see what was going on without having to give her the whole tale. I let things be for the minute.

Meka came back out of her room in a few minutes in her full dress Indian get up. Just the dress she had on when I got her actually, and her moccasins. Jaycee put on some jeans, a pair of lace up boots and a button up shirt over her T-shirt. I was glad; it would keep me from staring at her titties and the Indians too probably.

"Are we invited to breakfast with Jahedo?" I asked Meka.

"Yes, we eat with them," she said.

I was expecting some kind of gruel or some such but I got a pleasant surprise. We had frybread, three different kinds of meat, and more fruit, berries, and nuts than you could shake a stick at. It was delicious. After we'd eaten Meka did her best to translate between Jahedo and I. It made me wince to think that Jorge would be mad that he'd missed this trip.

"Jahedo say man you write on gone. Went back to his people and then left them. They not leave. Still sneaking here," Meka said, and I was amazed that she did such a good job of it.

"Are they close?" I asked her, and then she asked Jahedo.

"Two days."

"How many?" I asked.

Jahedo must have understood what I wanted to know, because he opened his fist five times and then held up two fingers - then he said a word and Meka told me it meant men. He then held up two fingers and said another word that Meka translated to me as women. The last was one finger and Meka said the word meant young girl, older than her but not a grown woman yet.

Shit. I didn't give a damn about killing all the men, or letting Jahedo and the others have them for slaves or whatever they wanted. I didn't want to kill the women and the girl though and I didn't really want to leave them to Jahedo's tender mercies. At least I didn't want to until I found out more about the women and the girl. I assumed that someone had brought them along whether they wanted to come or not.

Suddenly I could almost feel one of They about to give me some information. I slammed the whole door shut on them again and as it went home I got a quick flash of dismay from the other side that was shut out completely as the door closed fully.

That was exactly the kind of shit I didn't need and I intended to let them know exactly how I felt about it, soon.

"What does Jahedo want to do about them?" I asked Meka.

"He wants them leave or die," Meka said.

"I think we should kill all the men except one and that we should write on him too. I want to keep the women," I told Meka.

Meka didn't seem to think anything was wrong with that at all, but I saw Jaycee giving me an odd look, but it was more speculative than condemning.

"Jahedo no want women. He say too much trouble," she said.

"Is he going to help me with the men?" I asked.

After a few words between them she told me that they would have already killed them all if they hadn't known you'd be back.

"Good. I have many gifts for Jahedo and all his men and women. Will they come into the house with us?" I asked.

She asked Jahedo and even I could tell he agreed. He told her something else though.

"All not here. He send for others," Meka told me.

"Good, I'll show him first and then we can talk about it."

That was pretty much that. Jahedo came to the house with us and someone took off through the woods, to fetch the others I guess. Jahedo was amazed at the size of the house now, especially after we got to the basement. He was stunned over the bows and arrows. So was Jaycee, but she kept her comments to a minimum.

I was afraid it would be hell for days to teach Jahedo to use the compound bow and the arrows. It wasn't. With Meka's help I let him know that he needn't take the bowstring loose nearly as often as he had to with his type.

His senses were jaded by the time we got to the practice range but he did get a surprise when he saw how easy it was to change the arrow's points. I let him switch out the broadheads on some of the arrows that were for him and put on practice points.

On his first try, Jahedo sent the arrow well over the target. He understood at once that this bow was much more powerful than any he'd ever used. His natural talent with the weapon took over after that and he did much better than I'd expected he could after only about forty-five minutes. Even as I moved the target farther and farther away, he was quick to get a grip on the bow's capabilities.

It was nice that he was such a quick study. It meant he could do all the instructing and I could just hang around and answer questions. That slipped from my mind as I saw Jaycee fidgeting slightly.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom?" I asked her, trying to make a joke out of it and probably not doing a good job.

"No, I need a little time to speak to you, actually I need time to beg for one of those bows," she said.

"I didn't know you had any interest in archery, you can have all the bows and arrows you want. I also have a few other things you might like," I said.

"I take it you mean what I had a hand full of this morning," she said, and she didn't sound thrilled.

"Of course not. I didn't have hold of anything of yours did I?"

At least she had the decency to blush at that.

"Why don't you let me show you and you can pick up a few bows and some arrows," I said.

We went back to the armory and I let Jaycee check out everything. She was pretty much over being shocked by now, she was merely excited. I let her just handle everything for a while, finally I asked.

"Do you think we'll be able to take care of twenty-seven men with muskets?" I asked.

"Without a doubt. Too bad they have some women you want to keep. I could take out twenty-seven with one round out of any of those mortar tubes," she said.

"You do know why I said I wanted the women don't you?" I asked.

"I'm betting I can think of a few reasons," she said, and damned if I don't think she might be just a little jealous.

"If I leave them to Jahedo, he'll just kill them. They don't have time to teach them how to live with Indians," I said.

"Oh," she said a little sheepishly, "I guess I just have a dirty mind."

"Me too, and I'm not promising to be a prefect gentleman with them," I said, trying to give my eyebrows a Groucho Marx type wiggle.

Leaving Jaycee to outfit herself, I started back toward the range and met Meka and Jahedo coming out. He was going back outside and wanted to know if I had bows enough for all his people. I assured him that I did and tried to convey the idea that he should bring them all here to show them how to use them. I think he understood and the three of us went back upstairs and let him out the front door.

"Jahedo likes new squaw," Meka said, and then giggled.

"What?"

"He say you chief must think much of you," she said, laughing this time.

"Why?"

"He give you such fine strong squaw, pretty too," she said.

"Jaycee is not my squaw," I said.

"Don't tell Jahedo. Don't tell Jaycee either. You no like Jaycee?"

"Of course I like Jaycee. It's hard to explain," I said.

"No explain, take Jaycee squaw."

"We just don't do it that way," I said, searching my mind for a way to make her understand.

"Do it. Jaycee want you her man."

"How can you know that?"

"I know."

At least around the Indians I could let it seem that Jaycee was my squaw, probably without even having to say anything. It would be easier to make her understand that than it would be to make Jahedo understand that women in my day and time were equals. I could see where that would be really hard to explain to Jahedo, or any male of this time for that matter.

"We'll see."

Since I didn't really have anything going on right now, I asked Meka if she wanted to go out and let Tutsie down to play. She agreed, so I picked up the Marlin again and we went out the kitchen door. Meka and I got a big surprise.

Our "pool" had already been installed. I could tell at once that it was bigger than we'd agreed on, but I don't guess it would hurt anything. It looked better than I could have imagined.

There was no curbing and apron around it like you would have in a normal pool. The grass mostly just went right to the water and then stopped, like a small lake or a stock pond that had been in place for years. It had a white sand beach at one end though and, we had a diving board, sorta.

All of this area had been treeless in our time but now there was an impressive giant yellow pine near the edge of our "pool." Its diameter was so big that there'd been room for a spiral staircase inside it. Of course it didn't have to go very high. The "board" was actually an impossibly large limb that had been trimmed of any extra branches then debarked and flattened on top. It had also been truncated at about the right length and there was a small platform near the trunk where the spiral staircase had its exit.

"Daddy! What?" Meka asked.

"It's for swimming. They made it for us," I said.

And that was another thing, I was tired of calling them They. It was confusing and I was going to get something settled along those lines the next time I let them communicate with me.

"We swim now?" she asked, clearly in favor of it.

"Let's wait until Jaycee can go with us," I said.

"Yes. Wait Jaycee. Jaycee like swim. We let Tutsie swim now," she said, walking toward our private lake.

What the hell? I didn't see where it could hurt anything. I followed.

Tutsie wasn't sure that he wanted to go swimming but Meka was sure she wanted him too. When he balked at going in on his own, she cured the problem by tossing him out into the water, not far, but far enough so he had to swim. Like any dog I'd ever seen that wasn't obese, Tutsie already knew how to swim and could.

He swam back toward us, but when Meka motioned for him to go back out a little I'll be damned if he didn't. Finally she relented and let him get out. He paid her back for the dunking by coming right up to the two of us before shaking the water off. Meka squealed and then laughed and I had to laugh at him too.

This was just too good to keep a secret so Meka, Tutsie, and I went back for Jaycee. I was already thinking of her sunning nude, I don't know what Meka was thinking of, but she was quiet.

I found out what Meka had in mind when we found Jaycee. Meka went right up to her in the armory, grabbed her hand, and said, "Daddy get you pool, Jaycee. Come see."

"Already?" Jaycee asked, looking at me, and clearly excited.

"Yes, it's here," I said.

"Then help me carry these things to my room so we can go out and take a look."

Of course that meant I would carry most everything while Jaycee and Meka tried to talk about the pool. Meka didn't know the English translation for giant pine tree made into a diving board, but she gave it her best shot.

We gave Jaycee a few minutes to put her things away and Meka disappeared into her room too, leaving me in charge of Tutsie. When they came back they were each carrying a towel, Jaycee even had an extra one for me. I guess we were going to get in the pool so we could look it over better. It didn't even dawn on me to ask them about suits.

Pool progress was halted when we got back to the living room because we could hear Jahedo calling to me from outside. I opened the door and there were over twenty men outside with him. All the women seemed to be there too but they were standing in separate groups.

Jahedo spoke at me but I knew he was talking to Meka.

"Jahedo want know if women have bows too," Meka said.

"If it is allowed. We should have plenty for everyone. Do the women usually hunt?" I asked.

"Not much hunt. Most know how. Bow very hard make," she said.

I think I understood then. Most of the women could use a bow, but just didn't have time to make them and the arrows. I could sure dry their eyes of that crying.

"Jahedo, bring everyone. We have bows and arrows for all of them," I said.

He got the message even before Meka finished translating. We went back to the armory and found a bow for everyone. I had to adjust the power downward for some of the smallest women who couldn't draw them at full strength, but it wasn't much trouble.

About an hour later we left them at it. Jahedo was giving five of the men serious instruction and I figured that they'd split up later and teach everyone. I was glad it was them.

When we got around behind the house Jaycee was floored again. No more surprised than Meka and I had been though. She loved it all and almost before I knew what was happening, she and Meka were shucking clothes and heading for the water. I didn't want to be a stick in the mud, so I perved on Jaycee's naked charms until she got in the water then I got naked and wet myself.

Meka could indeed swim, probably better than I could and I'm a damned good swimmer. She didn't know any of the strokes from my time, but I knew that a little instruction could cure that. Her natural stroke was a sort of modified Trudgen with her arms doing a crawl. She used her version of a scissor kick and alternated sides with it with first her right hip down and then her left. She also kept her head out of the water at all times. She could swim well though and even with her wasted motion she easily outlasted Jaycee and I.

Even though Tutsie had already demonstrated his swimming prowess, he didn't get far from the bank. He stayed with Meka at first but he got out to watch from the grass. I guess he didn't think he needed that much exercise.

Just a little swimming was enough for me too. I didn't need nearly as much as Meka wanted, or even as much as Jaycee. I got my old ass out and walked across our beach to find a towel and lay in the sand. I made an amazing discovery in the process. The sand didn't stick to my feet. I'm sure I probably looked comical when I first noticed. Trying to walk and look at your feet at the same time can't be graceful, can it?

There was no way this could be natural and finally I just lay down in the sand to see if it would stick to my body. Nope. Not a grain stayed on me, even as I wallowed in it. It was weird but it was great too. I wondered how in the hell They had pulled off this little trick.

Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth and all that, I lay on my back and used the towel I'd grabbed for a pillow instead. Of course I nearly stared two holes in Jaycee when she came out to join me.

She was a delicious sight with her big titties wobbling and her neatly trimmed snatch on display in this good light. I tried to stop it but my dick started to climb.

"We brought towels to lie on dummy," Jaycee said as she reached me. Then she took a good look at my dick.

"I see you do like me after all," she said then.

"What could possibly have given you the idea that I didn't? I just don't want you to think I expect anything along those lines from you as a condition of your job," I said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 22


"Is that it? You don't want me hollering sexual harassment?" she asked.

"Not exactly. I don't want you thinking that I was taking advantage of you. I'm not worried about a lawsuit. I worry about how you feel about me," I said.

"Well you can quit worrying. Meka let me know I was going to be your squaw and I'm letting you know it's more than OK with me," she said, lying down beside me and taking hold of my dick again.

"I wouldn't have been holding your dick most of last night if I didn't like you," she said, grinning widely.

Just to be neighborly, I took hold of a magnificent titty and thumbed the nipple a little, then put my lips to hers and kissed her soundly. She began stroking me as her nipple grew under my thumb. She broke the kiss after a minute or so.

"Maybe we should go inside to discuss this," she said.

"Why? I'm sure Meka's seen it happen lots of times before," I said, not wanting to make another step before getting my dick wet, and I didn't mean in the new pool.

"Oh she won't be embarrassed, but I hate to get sand stuck to me and in me, it can get painful," she said, still stroking away.

"In case you haven't noticed, let me point out that this sand doesn't stick to us," I said, and it was a mistake, but just for a few seconds.

It was a mistake because it surprised her into stopping her stroking. To remind her I let loose her titty and slid my hand down to test her waters. She was slick inside and her pussy felt almost hot to the touch.

She groaned as I slid a finger up her and she felt much tighter than I'd expected. I had a good angle and made sure to rub my finger lightly over and back gently against her clitty as I finger fucked her slowly. She groaned again, low in her throat, when I put my mouth to the nipple my thumb left and gave it a good hard suck.

"Oh God, that's good. Thirty more seconds of that and I won't care if you do me in one of the horse stalls, shit on the straw and all," she said.

I gave the nipple I was sucking a little nip with my teeth, let it go, and sucked the other one in. She moaned this time and pumped her hips a time or two.

"Ok, cowboy saddle up and let me have some of this big finger I'm playing with. Get it in and pump me up some come," she said, groaning again at the last.

"Are you protected?" I asked, trying to be responsible for some unknown reason.

"No, and I'm not gonna be either. The time isn't right but we'll still be going bareback when it is. I'm a greedy bitch and I want you to pump a baby up me. I'm old enough to know better but I want one anyway. Don't worry, I make plenty now to do without child support," she said.

"That doesn't bother me a bit. If we have a baby I'll never let you leave. You know the handsome brave doesn't let his squaw get away. Course if you get in the family way, I might have to pick up another squaw or two to help you out," I said, moving between her legs as she spread them wider.

She shivered when I said it but she swabbed my big dickhead against her pussy lips and them guided it in. Her breath whooshed out as I pressed it home. She wasn't as tight as Dick's hatband, she was tight enough to be dick's hatband, and she was hot and slick and I kept pumping it up her.

"Man, when you do it to a girl you don't spare the meat. Go ahead and hammer me, you don't have to be too gentle; I can take a pounding when I want to. Tell me more about the other squaws you're gonna get. I like to lick pussy too," she said, and I'll swear my dick got even harder.

"Oh, I felt that. You like the thought of me warming the other squaws up, huh?"

"Yeh, it struck a nerve," I said, and then started slamming it up her, like she'd wanted me to.

Jaycee went a little wild after that. She hugged me to her tight and wrapped both legs around my ass to hump back. She was strong and she took a good grip. At the last I wasn't sure who was hammering whom, but it was really good.

When I got to the short rows I let it flow and did it ever. I was still pumping for all I was worth and I know I gave her enough to get the job done if the time had been right.

The thought of getting a girl pregnant had never been that much of a turn on for me; still wasn't for that matter. There was a time and place for everything to sound good though and this had been it for that. As I sagged down on top of Jaycee with my dick still all the way up her, I got a vision of her with her belly swollen and she looked good that way.

When I'd tried to roll off Jaycee she hadn't wanted me to so I was just about to fall asleep on her. All was right with the world as far as I was concerned when all at once a little hand gave me a sharp slap on the ass and Meka shrieked with laughter.

"Daddy got squaw now. Good one too. She squeal loud," Meka said, and then she took off for the house, naked as she could be, with Tutsie following right on her heels.

Jaycee laughed too then.

"I guess you don't have to worry about warping her delicate sensibilities," she said.

"I didn't think so. You heard that she approved of your performance?" I asked.

"I heard, but I'm more impressed with your performance. I'm probably going to be counting the minutes until you do me again," she said, squeezing me with her insides.

I couldn't believe it, but my dick hadn't gone down, it was as hard as ever and even though I'd just had some of the best pussy ever for me, I was ready for more.

"You won't have to count very high, I said, as I pumped it up her again.

I didn't know how I was still hard after the load I pushed up Jaycee, but we were both glad I was. My control was much better this time too and I had my wits about me enough to learn that Meka had been right. Jaycee did squeal loud and I let her have a good squeal three more times before I basted her snapping pussy with come again.

When we had our breath back we gathered up the towels and clothes and went back inside the house, still naked. We didn't see any of our archery-practicing guests before we made it to my room and we went almost directly to my shower.

We managed to behave ourselves in the shower, mostly. We didn't do the deed again anyway and Jaycee only gave me a short preview of her cocksucking skills. I wanted to return the favor with some pussy licking of my own but she asked me to hold the thought.

After drying each other we dressed again and went back down to the range to check on things. All of Jahedo's braves were practicing now and it looked like they were catching on to their new equipment fast. Most of the women were watching as one or two at a time fired and then they'd switch off and listen to one of the braves. I assumed he was telling them what had gone wrong or how to improve.

They didn't really need a whole lot of improvement from what I saw. They weren't using the same distance as the men, yet, but they were all doing well with placement at the distance they were on.

Jahedo was watching over everything but not actively participating, so I let him know I wanted him to come with me and when he agreed we went back into the armory. It was time to clue him in to the night vision goggles.

I couldn't tell what he was saying after he discovered that the funny looking things let him see in the dark, but it was plain that he was excited. With hand signals we agreed to give them a try after dark. He went back to the range after that and I went upstairs.

Meka and Jaycee were watching cartoons; I found them in Meka's office. Tutsie was curled up near them hard at work on a nap. I told them that Jahedo and I planned to take a nighttime walk so he could get accustomed to the goggles and they both wanted to come along.

Cartoons went on the back burner then and we went to the kitchen to start on the feast we needed to cook. After only a few minutes Jaycee suggested that I might be of more use if I was elsewhere while she and Meka took care of things. I wasn't too good at taking a hint, but since she didn't try to be subtle, I understood. What the hell, I went to my room and took a nap

Meka woke me about an hour before sunset. It was time to eat and she'd thought I might like to. I followed her and found out we were eating outside, community style.

Jaycee and Meka weren't the only ones that had been cooking either. Apparently the archery practice broke up in plenty of time for Jahedo's band's women to do some cooking of their own. As before, they'd been pretty damned good at it and I was stuffed and lazy by the time the sun went down.

Never the less, Jahedo and his five main men showed up. The others were anxious to see the magic Jahedo had told them about so we trooped down to the armory where I got them all a pair of goggles.

When we went back upstairs we left through the kitchen door. It was dark out by now but it would get a little darker. No matter. When Jahedo and I showed them how to put the goggles on and they did, they were dumbfounded too. They could hardly believe it.

They had their bows and a quiver each of their new arrows with them and I was wearing my web belt with my Glock and my Diamondback. Jaycee had on her web belt too, with a Glock and she was carrying one of the M1 look alikes. Meka was armed only with Tutsie, the wonder dog. We headed off past the pool and made it to the edge of my lawn and then into the forest.

It was seriously dark in among the trees, hell; it was fairly dark in them during the day. We didn't have a bit of trouble though, and after a few minutes one of them made a hand signal that all the others recognized. I got still and quiet when the rest did and the signaler nocked an arrow and began moving on even more quietly and carefully than we had been before.

When he was about forty yards from us he stopped and pulled the bow back. Seconds later he released the arrow and nocked another before he moved. He didn't even draw the bow though. He signaled for us to follow and went toward where his prey must have been.

It was a big whitetail doe and I could see she hadn't moved far after the arrow hit her. The brave was standing over her and I could see that he didn't know exactly how to retrieve this type of arrow.

Taking hold, I raised her head and neck. The arrow had taken her behind a shoulder from an almost perfectly side on shot. I could see the first half-inch or so of the broadhead had made its way out the other side. With some help holding her up I pushed the arrow about six more inches and then removed the broadhead, pulling the shaft back out the way it had come in.

I knew it made prefect sense to them after I'd done it and they liked it. One of them gutted the deer while another one held it up, and after putting the heart, liver, and kidneys back into the body cavity, four of them took a leg each and we headed back to my front yard to join the others.

The questions, especially from the women, were fast a furious at first. I assume everyone wanted to know how in the hell he'd gone hunting in the dark. Jahedo and the other five started showing and giving looks through the goggles then and sure enough, everyone wanted a pair.

We all went down to the armory then and after a little more looking I found I had plenty to share. I was afraid that this would mean the end of an early night to bed for all of them, for a while at least.

Be that as it may, I was sure it wouldn't hurt my feelings to take a little nap before time to walk Tutsie. I was just about to mention it to Jaycee when she spoke up.

"I guess you know I have my first real customer now," she said.

"Who?"

"Meka," she said, and I didn't give her time to explain.

"What happened to Meka, she looks fine," I said, trying to get excited.

"Relax, I only have to redo her cast. You did realize that the swimming wasn't going to do it any good didn't you?"

"I never even thought about it. Now that you mention it, it's a wonder she swam so well with it on her. I hope she didn't hurt her arm," I said.

"She didn't. I knew what was going to happen to her cast, but there was no way it would deteriorate fast enough to let her hurt the break. How long has she had the cast?" she asked.

"Probably a couple of weeks."

"No worries then. Her arm is probably nearly healed by now. I'll X-ray it after I take the cast off, just to make sure everything is going well, but there's nothing to worry about," she said, relieving my anxiety but startling me too.

"How can you X-ray it? You don't mean to tell me there's an X-ray machine in our clinic. I didn't see one," I said.

"There's a field X-ray unit. You probably didn't notice it because it's in its cases, but I saw it. It looks a lot like some of the ones I used in the army," she said, "Come on, I'll let you help me.

We told Meka we needed to do something to her cast and she nodded her head.

"Itches now," she said, and I didn't wonder why.

As we were walking toward the clinic, I had a flash. My mind had been so peaceful with the door closed that I'd nearly forgotten about it. I mentally yanked it open and sent They a question.

"What about Meka's arm?" I asked using an abrupt tone but trying to make sure I didn't put any anger in it.

"The girl's arm is fine. We dealt with it completely after the Doctor came and put the cast on. If you are curious, you did an excellent job of setting the bone, but we would have made sure it was perfect even if you hadn't," one of They said.

"Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness," I thought to them, and didn't think anything else to them. I didn't close the door back either.

I was hoping that they would get the message without me having to throw many more of the little tantrums. I didn't mind them breaking in if they had something important that they felt I just had to know right then, but I wasn't going to put up with them kibitzing for the rest of my life.

I didn't mention my conversation to Jaycee, I just watched as she used the vibrating saw like tool to remove the case and then she unpacked the X-ray machine and sat Meka on one of those "Doctor" stools and had Meka lay her arm on an examination table.

She took the X-ray and we were both amazed when it started coming out of the main unit almost like an old time fax used to roll out of the machine. It appeared to be just like a regular X-ray though when it was done.

"That's the damnedest thing I've ever seen. I know their things are better than we have on earth, but damn," she looked over the X-ray for a few minutes then.

"I can't even see where the break was. Are you sure it was broken in the first place?" she asked.

"I'm sure. There's no mistaking a broken arm before you set it. I've had a word with our friends and they told me they fixed it completely just after Doctor James put the cast on in the first place," I said.

"As far as I can tell there's no point in putting another cast on it. Do you think there's any hope we can make her be careful for a while without one?" Jaycee asked me.

"We'll probably have to keep an eye on her, but I don't think it will hurt. I'm sure she'd like to have both hands free to flush more," I said, and we both laughed.

Meka figured out for herself that she was done with the cast, but she sat patiently while I explained that she should be careful for a while at least. She even agreed to, and then she asked me if I had a bow for her. I threw up my hands and told her I did.

Meka was ready to go right back down to the armory and look for her bow. I didn't need to look, I knew exactly where it was since I'd seen it when I was handing out the others. It was easy to tell the one that was meant for her because her name was engraved on the upper limb.

Not right this minute though.

"We have to go to bed now Meka, it's late. We can find it and let you get started first thing in the morning," I said, trying to use a "stern father" voice that I didn't really have.

Meka gave me a look, then gave Jaycee a look, and then giggled.

"Squaw needs attention," she said, and laughed at us, picking up Tutsie and scampering off to her bedroom.

"She's right, Masked Man, your squaw does need some attention. I wonder if we'll get a wink of sleep before Tutsie has to go outside," Jaycee said.

We didn't.

Jaycee turned toward the hall and led the way. I could tell that she was giving her luscious ass extra motion while she walked and I knew it was for my benefit. It worked too. By the time I closed the bedroom door behind me my dick felt like it was hard and long enough to use for a third leg.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 23


Jaycee and I were cuddling together in my bed when Meka brought Tutsie in to get us for his potty break. She smiled widely but didn't say anything. I got out of bed, dragged my pants up, and then helped Jaycee stand. She went to her room for clothes, leaving those I'd taken off her earlier lying where I'd dropped them. I even took time to put on my socks and boots, and by that time Jaycee was back in jeans and a work shirt.

We all grabbed our goggles and headed for the front door. I picked up the Marlin as we went outside and Meka had Tutsie down and sniffing right away.

Jahedo and some of the other braves were still up, walking around in the dark to make sure the goggles didn't stop working I guess. As he started toward us, Jaycee and I went to meet him. I didn't think there'd be any chance of a coyote eating Tutsie tonight, not with half a dozen armed Indians wandering around in the dark.

I could tell at once that Jahedo wanted to give me some information, but the patches of sign language communication we had weren't up to the job. Luckily Tutsie got done and Meka snagged him and came over too. She and Jahedo talked for a minute and then she turned to me.

"French men one day now. Coming closer," she said.

"Maybe we should head for them in the morning," I said, trying to make it sound like a question.

She spoke to Jahedo again, he spoke back to her, and then it was my turn.

"He think morning also. Leave women children here," she said.

Damnation, I wish I had that kind of power. I hopped it worked on Jaycee too. I know it was illogical of me; she was probably a much better fighter than I was and maybe as good or better than any of Jahedo's men. It's the way I felt though.

"If we're going to be left out of the fun, we should at least move everyone into the house. There's plenty of room for them to stay in the basement and they all have their own bedding," Jaycee said.

"Thank you," I told her.

Meka gave Jahedo the news and he seemed glad about it. Maybe he was afraid someone else would come snooping around while he and the men were gone. At any rate, he started shouting to some of the other men in their lingo and in minutes they were striking camp and packing to move inside.

Surprisingly it took less than an hour to get them situated. They even brought firewood and some stones and got one fire going, albeit a small one. I wondered about smoke but decided it probably wouldn't be a problem. Surely They had made provisions for ventilation.

"We'll try to teach a couple of the women to cook upstairs while you're gone, he-man," Jaycee said, gently mocking me now.

"Very good, squaw. Good thinking," I said, trying to get a little back.

Meka laughed at us both and put Tutsie down to explore. He headed straight for the gathering around the fire and Meka had a request for me.

"Daddy, I stay here you gone. Bring pillow please?" she asked.

"I probably should stay with them too," Jaycee said, "but not until my big strong brave leaves in the morning," she finished, and she and Meka both laughed.

Meka left to join Tutsie then and I considered myself dismissed to step and fetch. I didn't mind, especially since Jaycee went with me. When we got upstairs I discovered she'd come to make sure I did things right.

We returned to the party with Meka's pillow, three blankets, and her antique whistle. While Jaycee fixed her pallet, Meka began the entertainment with her whistle, and to my surprise, the rest of the Indians gathered around and listened closely.

Jaycee and I went back to my bedroom after that. I wasn't trying to be rude and I think we were both fucked out for the night, but hell, I was still old and I needed my rest.

Meka woke me in the morning, telling me that the sun was nearly up and that breakfast was ready in the basement. She also told me I needed to talk to Jahedo.

"Do you know what it's about?" I asked, trying to focus.

"Meka find knives gun room. My hand door now. Try give Jahedo new knife. He say you give," she said.

"I'll tell him they were for them all along as soon as I get my clothes on," I said.

Jaycee and I were presentable in only a few minutes and we all headed to breakfast. The main course was fresh venison, and I do mean very fresh. It was the doe we'd taken while trying out the goggles last night.

A big surprise was that Meka had found one of those enameled coffee pots for making coffee on a stove top or a fire, and she had some ready. It just proved to me again what a treasure she was. Jaycee, Meka, and I had some right away. Meka had found Jaycee a cup that matched mine, Texaco logo and all.

It was a little surprising that Meka's handprint had appeared on the armory door, but not that surprising. I would have been worried about it a few days ago, but by now I knew that she was easily responsible enough. In fact, I was glad that she'd gone poking around and found the new knives.

They looked to be made in a Buck Knife style but were larger than any Buck Knife I had ever seen, except the "Rambo Special" they'd produced after that movie came out. in fact they looked a lot like it. I was sure the knives could function as a makeshift hatchet if need be. Besides, they had their own scabbards made to fit on the web belts that Meka had doled out too.

One other thing about the knives was different from the normal Buck Knife. They were sharp to start with. Buck knives routinely came with a wonderful edge, but they weren't ready to really use when you bought them. It was up to the new owner to put on the finishing touch, via cafeful honing. They had skipped this step and these knives were already nearly razor sharp.

One thing that I really liked about Jahedo and his people was the way they didn't fuck around for hours when it was time to get moving. As it was, they had to wait on me to dress the part. I covered my laziness by telling Meka that they should all have a cup of coffee while I showered and dressed for the trip and left the explaining to her.

Jaycee came with me and washed my back. I didn't really have to have a shower but I knew it might be days before I got another chance and I wasn't passing this one up. Jaycee offered to wash my balls for me too, but I didn't want to leave with my dick any harder than it was already, and I hope she understood.

I dressed in jeans and a work shirt but put on lace up Redwing lineman's boots and even found some elastic straps so I could blouse the cuffs. I also left my regular hat here and wore a Peterbilt logo baseball cap. I had a last stop in the armory to pick up extra ammunition and one of the 270s and then we were off.

During most of my life I'd been comfortable in what I thought of as "the woods" or forest, but this one wasn't like them. As Wadsworth said in "Evangeline:"

"This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic... "

I didn't remember much poetry from my long ago high-school days, but that snippet came back to me at once. We weren't "in the twilight" now, it was daybreak, but I imagine the effect was similar, just from the opposite direction. I could have put on the goggles and seen perfectly, but it didn't seem right somehow.

By noon mystic poetic notions of the forest had degenerated into fatigue. I wasn't worn out completely, but it was beginning to tell on me. We hadn't stopped moving since we left; we hadn't even slowed. I knew that if Jahedo didn't call a trail break soon, I was going to have to ask for one. I guess it was a man thing, but I kept hanging in there.

Not twenty minutes later he did stop, and his other men spread out even farther than they had been while we were moving. He came back, to check on me I guess, but I wondered how in the hell we'd communicate.

He said something to me right away and of course I didn't understand. I gave in then and asked They if they knew what he was going on about.

"You've arrived. The party of explorers is about a half mile ahead," They told me, or one of them did.

"How can that be? His scout said they were two days away," I asked.

"He meant that they were two days away at their rate of travel, and if they'd kept at it. Jahedo and his troop move through the woods quite a bit faster than the explorers. Currently they, the explorers, are arguing about making camp for the day."

"Camp? It's just noon or a little after," I said.

"The women that are with them cause considerable delay. I might add that the women did not want to leave home in the first place."

That wasn't hard to imagine. The women probably had much better sense than the men. In fact, I was sure of it. It would suit our purposes though, and the men wouldn't be a bother much longer.

"I assume that you can understand everything Jahedo and the others say?" I asked at last, hating myself for dong it but giving in.

"Of course."

"Can you let me understand it too, without making it seem that I've suddenly become magically familiar with their language?" I asked.

"Yes. We think it would be better though if we only did it when you had no other means to communicate, like now," They said into my head.

"That is an excellent plan," I said.

The odd thing about the communication with They this time is that it seemed to all take place in the blink of an eye. Jahedo had barley finished speaking and was only now looking at me to see if I understood anything of what he'd said.

Nodding to him, I said "night" - hoping he'd understand that I wanted to take them at night. Apparently he did, because he smiled wide and nodded at me.

I didn't see a single Indian, except Jahedo, for the rest of the day. He and I moved closer to our prey after he'd gotten a report, somehow, that the Frenchmen had made camp. About an hour before sunset we crept close enough so I could see into the camp. I used the scope on the 270 and cursed myself mentally for not bringing some binoculars.

The women drew my eye at once, and not for the reason you probably think. They got my attention because they were seated in chairs that looked like they belonged in a parlor back in France. There were two black men currently holding down the job of fanning the three women.

Looking around the camp more closely I saw other slaves at work. I guess I'm just too lazy for my own principles but instead of trying to quiz Jahedo, I asked They.

"How many are slaves?"

"Eight."

"Are the rest of the men here of free will?" I asked.

"The rest are in the employ of Alphonse Durand, the leader and originator of the expedition. Adrien Moreau, the one you tattooed was somewhat of a junior partner. He left the expedition and is trying to make his way alone to the rendezvous point to wait for the ship,"

Ship. For God's sake, how could I have been so dumb? I hadn't even thought about a ship, well not much anyway. I'm sure we'd have to try and deal with it somehow.

A ship wasn't going to help this bunch though. The men were fucked and the women probably would be too, in the more normal sense. I didn't know what to do about the slaves though. I didn't want to kill them out of hand.

Putting my attention back to what I was looking at, I could see why they didn't make much progress travel wise. The three parlor room chairs weren't the only things that were ridiculous, though they were the biggest and heaviest.

What I thought was probably Alphonse Durand's tent was right up there with the chairs. I didn't see how it could be put up or taken down in less than an hour and probably not even that quickly, and it must have been a bitch to pack onto the scrawny mules that they had to carry their things.

I could easily tell which one was Alphonse. He was on a stool, sitting with his women. I had plans for good old Alphonse, and even if I didn't end up killing him, he wasn't getting off as light as Adrien had. He'd be wishing a tattoo was all he ended up with.

I checked with They again to make sure they would monitor Jahedo when I asked him not to kill the black ones. They assured me that he would be getting a leap of intuition when we spoke next. I guess They did have their good points.

They did. It was much easier than it should have been to get my point across to Jahedo. I think They even gave him an inkling of what slave meant. He even agreed not to kill Alphonse, not right off the bat anyway.

With They letting me in on what he was saying I got a new admiration for Jahedo. He knew what he wanted to do and it was a sort of Indian joke. Caddos had a deadly sense of humor.

Jahedo planned to wait until all but the three normal guards were asleep and then bash them on the head with the short clubs all the Caddos carried. Then the sleeping men would get a knockout love tap. He wanted to deal with them one at a time and hope none of the others woke.

Things weren't going to be so pleasant for the Frenchmen after that though, Jahedo wanted to scalp them and then cut their throats after he woke them up to find they'd been tied in their dreams, and for real too.

It was a good plan, but I was thinking of someone that had missed this trip. I'm sure that Doctor Jorge would love to have every scrap of every possession this party formerly owned. With hemming, hawing, hand waving, and a little help from my friends I made Jahedo understand that I wanted to take all of them back to my house and also everything that they had. We'd need to leave the explorers alive to carry it. Besides, there was no sense spoiling the clothes I wanted to bring back with a lot of blood.

Surprisingly, when he understood what I wanted he seemed to like my plan even better. I wondered why but when They translated his last comment I knew.

He said, "Women get their turn," or at least that was the translation I got.

For a few minutes I almost felt sorry for the men we'd be capturing. The Caddo women had a life that was hard enough during normal times. These "explorers" had caused them a lot of grief. I didn't expect them to have much mercy.

After all my worrying and anticipation the ending was almost anticlimactic. Jahedo did have one more little surprise he thought of for Alphonse and his girls though.

I didn't even help. The Caddos slipped into the camp after midnight, whacked all the Frenchmen except Alphonse on the head, and made the slaves understand that they were expected to keep quiet.

When Alphonse came out of his tent the next morning, expecting a good breakfast no doubt, Jahedo and I were sitting in two of the parlor chairs. His men were laid out in a neat row, bound naked, hand and foot, and gagged.

"Good morning, Alphonse. If you can't speak English, like Adrien was able to, you're going to die without even knowing why," I said.

Alphonse wasn't really what you'd expect an explorer to be. He was short and scrawny, and he had bad skin. Well, can't have everything I guess. He wasn't short of bluster though and he spoke English well. He spoke it much too much though and I finally got tired of him coming back to demanding that I release his men.

I got out of the chair, walked over to where he was raving, and slapped his face as hard as I could. It knocked him down.

"Now dumbass, do I have your attention? This is not a negotiation. Jahedo and I were just having a little fun with you. We're going to release the men soon and then you and they are going to pack up every scrap of everything here and we're going to my place. When we're there, I'm going to turn you over to the Indian's women; they have some complaints to register with you.

"Now, off with your clothes."

I only had to slap him twice more before he got naked himself. One of Jahedo's men sent the slaves up then - they had been hiding in the woods. By now they were each armed with a long stout switch. It's surprising how well Jahedo's men were able to make the slaves understand that they weren't slaves any longer but now had the job of drovers.

After we'd released all the naked men, the slaves were glad to let them know just how things should be packed on the few mules, and to point out which things had to be carried by hand.

I'd let the women cower in the tent up until now and even though someone had cut a switch for me, I didn't get to use it but once on Alphonse before he told me that yes, they could all speak and understand English.

They came out when I called them. I'm sure it must have been awkward for Alphonse to do the introductions for me, since he was still naked and had a livid switch mark across his belly, but I insisted.

I met Delphine, Alphonse's wife; Cécile, his daughter; and Adèle, Cécile's companion. Delphine was quick to make her displeasure known, or at least she was quick to get started.

Funny how screaming "Shut up" loud enough will accomplish the intended task, even if the person doesn't really understand what it means. I guess it's kind of a "universal language" order.

"I realize that you may not be responsible for Alphonse's folly in coming here and mistreating the residents. That is your misfortune. You will remember your manners and speak only when spoken to, unless you have a natural emergency. If you don't co-operate fully you will be as naked as the men and doing the job of a beast of burden," I said.

I guess they understood most of that, Cécile must have.

"It's so nice to meet you, John," she said, and Adèle was quick to follow suit.

In fact, now that I'd told her how the cow ate the cabbage, Delphine also remarked on her pleasure at making my acquaintance and reflected that it seemed to be a beautiful morning. As the saying goes, she didn't need a weatherman... 

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 24


It's surprising how the application of a switch to a naked ass can change someone's whole view of life. The "explorers" decided quickly that being a cooperative slave was much more to their liking than being a recalcitrant one. You should have seen them gathering and packing.

Alphonse was not pleased when he found he would be carrying Delphine's chair himself. He was already well trained enough to refrain from comment though. Two larger men carried the other two chairs and the smallest of the others carried Alphonse's stool.

We were on our merry way before noon and I must say that the former slaves made excellent pack-train drovers, even with having to train the naked white men that had been pressed into service.

We didn't make it home before dark but it didn't bother me, Jahedo, or any of the Indians. Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle were frightened but they stayed very close to me and had little trouble. Alphonse only slipped and fell once. I'm sure that the heavy chair falling on him and the switching he got for being so clumsy helped him pay more attention to where he was putting his feet.

There was plenty of confusion when we got home, but Jahedo handled most of it. He already knew I intended to take every speck of anything that the explorers had owned with me, and I'm sure he thought he'd made a good trade when he considered the new bows, arrows, and knives he and his band had gained.

On the other hand Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle weren't so understanding about their clothes and assorted possessions. It didn't really matter whether they understood or not.

Jaycee volunteered three T-shirts that she said were a little longer than the one she'd tempted me with earlier. I volunteered to help the ladies change. Jaycee said something about being a fly on the wall, but I promised that nothing too interesting was going to happen without her.

Of course the women were amazed by my house, once they were inside it. No doubt they would adapt quickly to air conditioning and be glad to. They were not so glad when I took them into my room, closed the door behind us, and told them to carefully take off their clothes. I was surprised that it was Cécile that began the squawking this time.

"But, John, sir, I'm a virgin. No man has ever seen me naked," she moaned.

"I am a virgin also," Adèle said, and they both seemed to think it should matter to me.

It might have meant something to them, but not to me. Let me rephrase that. It wasn't going to stop what was about to happen.

"I think it's wonderful that you've both saved yourselves for me, and you shouldn't feel bad Delphine, after seeing Alphonse naked, I'm sure he's barely scratched the surface.

"I do want to make some things perfectly clear. You two won't be virgins in the morning, and you, Delphine will know what it feels like to have a long thick dick plowing your furrow. You have your chance tonight to earn a place in my household, but if you don't, you'll be leaving with the Indians when they go."

It was almost like one of the cartoons Meka loved. I could actually see them gulp. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. While I had their attention I also let them know that Meka was my daughter and that if they offended her in the slightest they would get a good switching, assuming they were allowed to stay with us.

Sometimes you can just see an attitude adjustment in progress. Seeing my house had let them know that I was more powerful than anyone they'd ever met and the way we'd treated the men, especially Alphonse, on the trip here must have let them know who was in charge.

"Please Adèle, help me with these buttons," Delphine said, but it was only the start of a nice show.

On the way back Delphine had volunteered that she was not Cécile's mother. I'd never thought she was but I let her go on to tell me that Alphonse had "divorced" Fawne when she refused to accompany him on this expedition and had married her, Delphine.

How in the hell did a French Catholic get a divorce in 1620, I wondered. No doubt it was a hardship for Fawne, but I couldn't help everyone. I felt she was amply compensated by being rid of Alphonse.

If Alphonse could finance this expedition he was probably quite a catch, or it must have seemed that way at the time. Even though Delphine might not think so right at this moment, she'd soon find out that the day we captured her was probably one of the best of her life. Even if she wasn't swept away by my charms, the modern marvels she was about to become accustomed to would do it.

Settling back to lie on the bed, I watched the show. It was a treat even though they didn't know much about strip teasing or at least didn't try if they did.

All three of them had been pampered women, or girls, and even their adventures in the wilds of America had left them undamaged. Their skin was smooth and unblemished. Their figures were lush without being fat and their understandable timidity was endearing.

Delphine was the oldest, if you could call twenty-three old. She was blonde, a light blonde and of course in this day and age the carpet matched her drapes. She had big dark blue eyes and a pretty, nearly beautiful, face. She was well supplied with titty too and her nipples were a rosy pink, they were even standing at attention as she showed them off to a total stranger, whether she wanted to or not.

When I saw that they all had on whalebone corsets I was afraid I might not like their natural shapes but it was a needless worry. I'm sure they hadn't missed any meals exploring but apparently the exercise it involved kept them trim.

They weren't muscular by any stretch but all of them looked fit instead of fat, even if they were on the lush side.

It seemed that big titties went with the whole program. Adèle's hair was brown, dark brown, and her complexion was almost dusky. She had a nice pair too and even though she was a very fit brown-eyed girl, she had a generous ass that liked to stick out just a little; it almost begged for a pinch or light slap.

But Cécile was the jewel in this necklace. They'd said she was only seventeen, but she had the biggest pair by a slight margin. Her nipples were nearly a bright pink and no doubt displaying her wares had her excited too.

She was a redhead, actually her hair was more of a wine red, and yes, she had delightful freckles speckling her skin. Unlike most pure redheads, her smooth skin wasn't the expected alabaster, in fact, it seemed she almost had a light all over tan.

This treat for my eyes, the beautiful trio of captives I was examining, almost made me change my opinion of They. One thing was certain; They knew how to reward a man for a job well done. Even if I didn't know exactly what They'd wanted me to do in the first place.

The delectable three were up for introduction to another of my modern marvels next, but not before a little more excitement. I was ready for a shower and I knew they could use one too, even if they didn't know what a shower was. First, I had to get naked.

Since they looked so sexy, and didn't have anything else to do right now, I had them unlace my Redwings while I sat on the edge of the bed. Adèle and Delphine beat Cécile to the draw, so I pulled her close and fondled her virgin titties a little, while the other two were busy.

She blushed furiously while I was at it, but it added to her womanly scent after a minute or so. I gave her a little slap on the ass when my boots were off and then stood up to finish getting out of my clothes.

They perved on me as I undressed, as I had on them. I wasn't sure about Adèle but I could tell that Cécile had never even seen a dick before. Just her luck that the first one she saw was pumped up ready for action.

"Oh my," Delphine said when she saw it. No doubt I'd been right about Alphonse and his wee wee.

I think they were all surprised that they weren't in for a dick ride right now. Not yet though. I led us to the shower, and packed us in after the water was warm.

We weren't really packed; They knew how to make a big shower and there was plenty of room for Jaycee too; later, along with a few of her friends if she wanted to invite any. I don't know why, but I flashed on Janice for just a second.

I took my time and washed each one of them thoroughly, including shampooing their hair. They seemed shocked that I would and Adèle even giggled when I washed her rosebud. We were all much more comfortable around each other by the time we were dry.

Jaycee was waiting in the bedroom when we came out of the bath.

"I got to thinking while you were busy, and maybe we should put a pair of thongs on all them before we send them out in those T-shirts," she said.

I knew she was right and it sounded like an excuse for more fun for me.

"Are you wearing a thong?" I asked Jaycee.

"No, but I've got pants on," she said, grinning.

"But thongs are so sexy, why don't you get one for yourself too and maybe I could have a little fashion show, just to make sure I like them," I said.

"Oh, that sounds like fun," she said, and walked to one of the dresser drawers that I knew I wasn't using.

Turns out it was now one of Jaycee's dresser drawers and it had plenty of thong panties. In a flash she was naked and then pulling up a pink thong that I'm sure I could have read fine print through. Delphine was next, and she got a baby blue one, to go with her eyes no doubt.

Adèle's new garment was a leopard skin pattern, at least the little bit of room for a pattern looked like leopard skin to me. Cécile got bright red but it was even more transparent than the one Jaycee put on.

At first it seemed my "guests" were even more shocked wearing such skimpy panties for my amusement than they had been by total nudity. Their hearts weren't really in the fashion show. Then they seemed to notice that Jaycee was being fairly provocative with her strutting display and caught on quickly. My dick was aching in no time.

With the festivities over I led them out in their T-shirts and new panties, it was time to see what the noble savages were up to.

When we got there I could see that the whole group, tribe is the way to describe them I guess, was waiting for my arrival. Alphonse and his men were still naked, but since they didn't need their hands and feet free any longer they were bound once more.

Thinking of Doctor Jorge again before we got started, I went back to fetch my camera. In only minutes I was snapping away. When I felt like I had good shots of each of them separately, from most angles, and several good group shots, I turned the festivities over to Jahedo and he in turn turned them over to the women.

I couldn't watch much of it and I was glad when Cécile and Delphine fainted because it gave Jaycee and I an excuse to leave. With Adèle and Meka's help we took them back up to my bedroom.

I knew that the men in the basement and really most of those that modern day people called "explorers of the new world" deserved every damned thing they were getting. If not for intentional maliciousness, then for greed and ambivalence to the suffering they were bringing for an entire civilization, several different civilizations in fact.

Soon white Europeans would savage the savages and the diseases they'd be bringing would take and even greater toll. I didn't enjoy the Caddo's torture of the "explorers" but they did, and they deserved their chance at vengeance, even if it was for crimes not yet committed in their time.

That didn't mean I wanted to watch. No wonder Jahedo had thought it would be fitting to let the women take care of the details. I just hoped that bunch never got mad at me.

When we'd revived the two we all got naked again and got into bed. I had been looking forward to this, but now my heart wasn't in it. I cuddled up to Jaycee and told the others to come in close, in case I wanted to touch them during the night, and they did.

I went right off to sleep.

Meka woke me by jiggling Delphine who jiggled Adèle who jiggled Cécile who jiggled me.

"Meka," I said, "is it time for Tutsie's walk already?"

She laughed at me and then said, "Jahedo take me Tutsie walk. Daddy make sleeping noise."

"Daddy does not make the sleeping noise."

"Daddy did. Maybe Daddy tired," she said, laughing again.

"Did you let me sleep all night?" I asked.

"Yes. Women through with men," she said.

"Good. What about now? What about Tutsie? Does he need to walk?" I asked.

"Yes. Come walk Tutsie please," she said.

"Ok girls, up and at 'em. It's time to walk the dog," I said.

Cécile noticed Tutsie for the first time then and she squealed.

"Oh, he's adorable. Is he a he?" she asked.

"Tutsie boy," Meka said, and nodded her head.

"May I hold him, please," she asked.

Meka didn't answer, she just put Tutsie in the bed and he went to Cécile right away, sniffing around on her. She picked him up to speak right to his face and then he got away when he surprised her with a lick on her lips. She let him sniff around then and in a second he licked her on one of the nipples she'd exposed when she sat up in bed.

"Oh," she said, and then giggled.

Meka laughed at her and then so did Jaycee and I.

"I don't mind; he is so cute. I've always wanted one, but Alphonse wouldn't hear of it."

I thought it was odd that she called her father by his name, but I didn't say anything. I was pretty sure I could have her calling me "her Daddy" in no time flat. Besides, if she wanted a poodle there was nothing for it but a trip to Canton. Maybe Meka could take another look at the T-Bird too and decide if she really wanted it.

We piled out of bed then and Jaycee and the new arrivals pulled on their thongs first. Meka gave them a look and then dropped her pants to look at her own boxer briefs.

"What's that all about?" I asked aloud, hoping I'd get a clue.

"I think someone has just decided she needs a change in underwear styles," Jaycee said.

I didn't want to think about it.

Meka let Cécile carry Tutsie when we went outside. She set him down and he got busy sniffing, soon enough he watered the "lawn" and apparently that was all he needed for now. I noticed that he new exactly where his bread was buttered though and he came directly back to Meka.

Back in the house I got a surprise. There were six Indian women working away at breakfast in there. Eggs, bacon, and sausage were frying and the ovens were full of baking biscuits.

"I did a little teaching while you were gone," Jaycee said.

"I see. Do I need to try to bring them back some ovens and cooktops?" I asked.

"I don't thinks so. They don't seem to like it as well as their way. It's mostly a breakfast like you're used to in your honor I think. They really appreciated the chance to get even," Jaycee said.

"Hell, I aim to please."

Use the kitchen or no, we still had breakfast outside in the front yard. When my three new family members sat down to eat I could see that the thongs were probably a better idea than I'd thought. No sense in letting everyone see the merchandise.

I still didn't know what to do with the former slaves. I hoped something would come to me, or that I'd get some guidance from They. I doubted that though, since they seemed to want to let me make the decisions here.

"Is that it?" I thought at They.

"Yes. But we do have a suggestion, not about the black men though," one of They thought back to me.

"Better put it on me then," I thought.

"We have developed an immunization for the Indians, as you think of them. It is a single pill and it only requires one to protect them from the diseases that are coming."

"What do you need from me?" I asked.

"Decisions. You must decide whether you want to and how you will dispense it."

"How many do you have?"

"The supply is unlimited."

"Can you provide me a large box type container that will never go empty?" I asked.

"If you wish."

"Put it in the armory then. Can you help Jahedo understand what I try to tell him, without making it seem like some type of spiritual thing?"

"We could, but we would prefer if Doctor Jorge helps you with that. He will be coming next time."

"Good enough. I will treat Jahedo and his people and let Doctor Jorge help me explain that he should treat everyone that he can," I thought to them.

"That is an excellent plan."

I took Jahedo to the armory and took a couple of hundred of the small pills out of the box They had put on top of the first counter in the room. There were even some smaller containers near it, and I used one to hold Jahedo's initial supply.

Popping one of the pills into my mouth, I swallowed it, encouraging Jahedo to do the same. Then I held up one finger, trying to signify that only one was needed. I gave him the small container and we went back upstairs where I waved my arm over everyone, hoping he'd catch on. He did, and started going around giving them out right away.

I knew that this trip was as good as over. The explorers had been dealt with. When we went to the armory for the medicine I had seen a kind of rope put up as a drying line for the scalps that were now hanging on it. All the bodies had been gone and I was glad enough for that.

Jahedo was back in a few minutes, having delegated his task to his woman. He wanted to ask me something and with a little help, I understood it. He wanted me to leave the slaves to stay with him. That was a load off my mind, but I wondered what it would be like to have Indian slave owners. SEP (Somebody Else's Problem) as far as I was concerned.

As usual, Jahedo and his clan started packing up and I knew they were about to leave without fanfare. It was their way. Then a thought hit me when I saw them drifting off.

"Jahedo, wait?" I said, calling to him.

He probably didn't understand what I said, but it didn't matter, he stopped and that was good enough for now. I had a barn full of exploring mules that I really didn't want or need. It took some time, and plenty of arm waving, but I finally made him understand that if he didn't want to use the mules for pack animals, at least they could be eaten. That sealed the deal. He let the former slaves get the mules and soon after, they were all gone for real this time.

My small bunch had time to kill now, so I decided that we might as well retire to the pool. Jaycee and Meka thought it was a wonderful idea but Cécile, Delphine, and Adèle all admitted that they couldn't swim.

"Then it's an excellent day for your first lesson," I said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 25


Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle weren't really very enthusiastic about a swimming lesson. No doubt they already knew that the water this time of year, even in this country, was cold. I knew better, at least for my new "pool," but there was no sense in spoiling the surprise.

It was another shock for the trio when they discovered that we only went into the house for towels, and to leave our clothes. I'm sure they weren't used to walking around naked, even inside. No doubt it was strange for them to parade out the back door without a stitch on.

They held up fairly well though, and Meka took their attention from their plight as soon as we were all out the door. She put Tutsie down and took off running to the diving tree. It would be her first time to try it.

Tutsie was happy to sit on the bank and watch her go flying off the end of the truncated limb. I could tell that even though it looked exactly like that was what it was, it sprang under her weight and jump like a normal diving board would have. Of course her dive wasn't that graceful, being a sixteen-twenty version of the ever-popular cannonball. She screamed with delight when she came back up.

Our French contingent wasn't ready for anything so advanced. They did wade in from the sandy beach though and were amazed but gratified to find that the water was exactly warm enough. They spent no little time looking into it for fish, snakes, turtles, and such, but of course there weren't any. Within twenty minutes they were comfortable enough in the water and I was starting to get control of my very hard dick.

Jaycee egged them on and I ended up on the receiving end of a water fight I just couldn't win. I thought about dunking them but decided that was not the way to teach them to swim. I settled for grabbing and groping one at a time, Jaycee first, to get my revenge.

All the playing around didn't help me keep control though and finally I decided that someone had some dick coming. Delphine was the natural choice, since I didn't think the beach was the place to be breaking in a virgin; besides, I was too excited for delicate work right now.

I scooped her up in my arms and headed that way. I noticed that Cécile and Adèle got quiet; no doubt they had more than an inkling of what was about to happen. Delphine had a good idea too but she didn't seem too worried about it.

I lay her on the sand and gave her a serious kiss, French of course. It seemed to surprise her a little but her arms went around my neck soon enough and she started helping. She gasped when I broke the kiss and lowered my head to suck a mark on her neck and she shivered when I latched onto a nipple, giving it the business with my lips and tongue, then nipping it gently with my teeth.

When I sucked in the other nipple I slid a hand down into her bush and she was damp already. She parted her thighs slightly and I began toying around her lips and teasing her button. She sighed and hugged me closer when I slid a finger into her and I knew then that I'd been right about Alphonse. He was either woefully lacking in the peter department or else Delphine kegeled her days away.

She was panting for it by now and I was more than ready. When I moved over her she spread her legs willingly, but I did have to place myself. No matter, it was worth it.

Her outer lips were slick with her juices and though resistance was futile, it did feel ever so good. I knew I was in unexplored territory nearly from the start and Delphine moaned as she took my unaccustomed size into her body.

At the start she just lay there, but as hot as I knew she was, I felt that she didn't know anything else to do. When we were well acquainted I began putting some force behind my strokes and she began to pant loudly with every thrust. I knew it was getting better for her because her arms around my neck were hugging me tighter and by now she was kissing and nibbling around on my neck.

I had a flash then and Delphine barely noticed that I wet a finger in her now copious lubrication. When it was ready I slid half the finger up her ass before she knew what was happening and she shrieked and bucked her hips up to me violently.

One little hint was all it took and the motion must have made something feel very good to Delphine. In no time flat she was hammering her pussy right back at me, and in a leap of faith, her legs came up around my waist and she locked her ankles to fuck for real.

I'll have to say that Delphine put her all into it after she found out how. She yelped, moaned, and fucked back like she meant it, all the while kissing me everywhere she could reach, and whispering what must have been bawdy French encouragements into my ear.

Finally she went over the top and showed me that she must know something about kegels even if Dr. Arnold Kegel hadn't been born yet in her world. She gave my dick such a squeezing that I wanted to kill old Alphonse again, personally this time, just so Delphine would know I cared.

I settled to a slow lope while she got her breath back and I can't tell you how happy the smile on her face looked while she spoke more French to me.

Enough of the mushy stuff, when she was back fully with me I let her have it some more. She did her best to stay with me but I was on a mission to produce a wad now and if she was a good girl I was going to let her have it.

She was, and I even managed to get her off again as I went. She was hanging on for dear life though and I felt sure that if anyone were ever crass enough to ask, she would tell them "Yes, I have been fucked, good and proper."

The blast off let the air out of me and I sagged down onto her body. Like Jaycee had, Delphine resisted when I tried to roll off. I wondered why, because I knew I was heavy.

Suddenly I noticed that Jaycee, Cécile, and Adèle were with us. Jaycee was stroking Delphine's hair and Adèle was petting her cheek. Cécile was the surprise, she was stroking and caressing along my back and whispering French into my ear too. This helping out the poor noble savage business was a lot more fun than I'd thought it was going to be.

I wondered what the hell was going on a few minutes later though, because my dick was still as hard as it ever got. I knew in my heart that They had something to do with it, but "don't ask, don't tell" sounded like a better policy every second. And I was right, because Jaycee started whispering English into my ear and it was as good as music.

"God damn that was hot. I'm burning up over here and it's not from thinking about licking a pussy, though that occurred to me too," she said, putting her mouth to my ear as if she were kissing it and sliding her tongue in as far as it would go.

"Well if you want your ashes hauled you've come to the right place. Give me a second to dismount gently and then get ready for me to ride."

Jaycee looked at me wide-eyed in surprise but she was flat on her back in only a second and her legs were spreading as I moved over her. She didn't need any preliminaries either. She took hold of my slippery dick and put it to her pussy.

"Oh Jesus, it's still wet, and warm," she moaned, and then I let her have some.

I slid it up her more gently than it must have looked, and it was well received. Her legs came around me at once and a loud groan of pleasure followed. I happened to look over at Delphine and she was lying there languidly, watching and smiling.

Cécile was watching too, but not for long. I could tell she was feeling something that she didn't exactly understand. She came around to the other side of Jaycee and lay down by her, watching her face. When Jaycee noticed she put a hand in Cécile's red hair and pulled their lips together, giving Cécile a kiss like I'm sure she'd never had before.

She took to it though and in seconds she was kissing as well as she was being kissed. I know my dick couldn't have possibly gotten any harder but I'll swear it felt like it did. When Jaycee started pinching Cécile's nipples I had to start counting backward from a hundred to keep from going off. I didn't last much longer anyway but at least I stayed with it until Jaycee was squealing again, so I knew Meka would be proud of me.

When I sagged my poor old out of breath body down onto Jaycee's I knew life couldn't get any better, or at least I knew I wouldn't be able to stand it if it did. I was just soaking inside her then, trying to catch my wind but Cécile was back to stroking my back and now she was kissing around on my neck and ears too.

Jaycee let me roll off her after a few minutes and I was still panting as I lay there on my back in the sand, looking for lucky stars to count. It had been a workout for me and a damned good one at that. Meka was still swimming and doing the occasional cannonball but Tutsie had drifted over to us, to see the excitement no doubt. I heard Delphine gasp and looked over.

Tutsie had come closer than I'd thought and I had to laugh. He was giving Delphine a little clean up and I guess his little nose was cold. Who'd a thought it?

Cécile laughed, and said something in French. I had to ask her what it meant.

"I just said that it seems the rumors about poodles are true," she said, and then blushed hotly.

It was innocent on my part at first; I was just twirling the thought of a pussy-licking dog in my head idly. I wished I hadn't thought about where he learned to lick pussy, and then I cut that thought off at once. I didn't want to know. She was just a baby.

Adèle wasn't a baby though and by now she'd come up on my other side, helping Cécile pet and kiss on me. They might be bashful virgins, but I could tell that they were interested in moving on in their lives. I was going to help them, but later.

Thinking of that I realized that it probably wouldn't be tonight either. I was certain we had a wormhole to catch, or however it was done. I didn't want to go into the technical details of things like that.

Suddenly the loudest thunder I'd ever heard came. It didn't rumble, it exploded, and no wonder. The lightning that caused it had hit a giant pine just at the edge of my clearing, not very far from my new pool.

I stood, dick flopping, and yelled for Meka to get out of the water and come to us. It was a needless gesture; she was already swimming for the beach at her best pace. I grabbed a towel and met her, wrapping her up as soon as she was "feet dry."

"Daddy," she said, sounding surprised, "we leave now!"

I hadn't noticed the feeling until she mentioned it, probably because the lightning striking so close with her still in the pool had nearly scared the shit out of me. I could feel it now though and Meka was right.

I looked around to Jaycee and I knew she felt it too, even Tutsie seemed anxious to get inside. Meka and I walked back to the others, she picked up Tutsie, and I announced that we were going to bed.

Cécile and Adèle blushed crimson while Delphine just renewed the big smile she'd mostly kept since I put the wood to her. Apparently they hadn't noticed that our beach had "magic" sand, because the three of them were looking each other over and making to brush it away. They were surprised again to find that there wasn't any to brush off.

As we headed to the house I could tell that we had time for Tutsie to take a last leak and dump if he needed to. Even he must have realized that we didn't have all afternoon. He watered the grass, humped up his back to fertilize and we were on our way in minutes.

My three new beauties were a little surprised to see that Meka and Tutsie were going to join us all, and maybe just a little miffed when they discovered that Meka would be right by my warm side and Jaycee would be on the other side. I wonder if realization came that all was not normal before they slipped away. I know I barely had time to wonder what the rush was about.

I didn't have to wonder long. I was barely asleep before I was talking with the puppet masters.

"We have some work to do on the house, John, that's the reason for the early departure," a voice in my head told me.

"What type of work?" I asked.

"We intend, if you approve, to remove the wall between your bedroom and Jaycee's. We feel it will be pointless now. We would also like to enlarge your bed. We can make sure it is scaled up exactly and its antique nature will not be compromised," it said.

"I'm not usually much for the technical details, but how in the hell can you do that?" I asked, and I don't even know why I cared, but somehow I did.

"Technically, even we can't do that, but we do have a "work around" as some call things like that. The bed you are in will not be changed, we will simply make basically a scaled up version.

"In fact work has already started on it. It is being done by hand using the same wood and the same techniques as the original. We are also going to allow it to age naturally. Probably it is best to say that we are creating an antique bed for you, and it will be the same age as the one you are currently sleeping in."

"Ok, that's fine. I understand enough and don't want any more details. I do have some questions though," I said.

"I will answer them if I'm able to."

"Did you adjust these three new women? Make them attracted to me somehow?" I asked, wondering why I cared.

"No, it was not necessary. I mean no disrespect, but you seem ignorant of some of the genetically programmed features of the women of your species," it said.

"That isn't disrespectful. Most of the men of my species, as you say, are gifted with the same ignorance. Suppose you shine the light for me."

"As a survival strategy, earth women naturally gravitate toward and defer to men who seem powerful. It isn't only humans, in fact; it is a common trait among many mammals on your earth. As your civilization matured this became less necessary and many women have been able to overcome their natural tendencies.

"These tendencies have never been uniform, but it was a survival strategy and it is only in the last hundred years of so that it was not so important for actual survival. In your time, more of those that weren't so genetically disposed have been able to live, and now many even prosper.

"Still, those that have the tendency and follow its lead are usually more successful than others and no one can argue that they do not have an easier life," it said.

"But I'm not rich and powerful," I said, protesting.

"You don't see yourself as such, but in fact, you are. Due to your association with us, you are the most powerful man on earth. We have taken pains to make sure that no one else knows that. Women see you as a male authority figure, one that is wealthy, and also a natural leader. The new ones came to the conclusion because of your home, magical devices, what to them is obvious wealth, and your handling of the men they came with.

"Jaycee did not see it in you at first but now seems to sense it in some way that even we don't fully understand. Even the short time she's been with you has made a dramatic difference in the way she perceives you," it said.

"So I'm just a fat cat to her?" I asked.

Strangely it was several seconds before he replied.

"Sorry, I had to retrieve the exact meaning of 'fat cat.'

"You are trying to reduce a complicated genetically motivated survival strategy to a crude simplistic phrase. That will not help you understand something that has taken untold centuries to develop. We think you should just forget thoughts of that nature.

"To Jaycee, her feelings are natural and her affection for you is genuine. I will say that the men of your species have often misunderstood such things. To be sure there are women of your species who consciously and artificially try to attract the interest of powerful and wealthy men for the benefits of financial gain and status. Jaycee isn't one of them. Her attraction to you is real."

"What about the three newbies, what is their thinking?" I asked.

"We feel that you would be better served if you waited to discover that for yourself. We felt it best to give you insight into Jaycee's thinking because of our earlier premeditated meddling. We have done nothing to the three "newbies" as you call them," it said.

"Either you are learning something or I'm communicating with a higher level of your kind than I have been," I said.

"You are very perceptive," it told me, without elaborating.

"Knocking out a wall and making a new bed seem a little trivial for my estimation of your abilities. Why did we leave so early this time, not that it's a problem?"

"As you have sometimes said to others; we gave ourselves plenty of time to do it right. By the way, we would like to install Meka's new toilet if you approve," it said.

"Oh, the one from the antique man? By all means, feel free," I said, and slipped off into real sleep.

I woke first for a change. I still don't know how I can tell, but I knew it was just before dawn. That reminded me of something I wanted to ask for and I'd missed another chance.

My house didn't have one damned window anywhere. It didn't even have the two for ventilation that the original house had. I took a wild guess and decided to just think it at them.

"I want some windows," I thought, not screaming it but making sure they'd get the message.

"Next trip," came back to me and I was sure it was the same one that had thought to me in my sleep. I could wait.

Meka was next. I was looking right at her face when her eyes opened sleepily. She smiled when she saw me and then leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. Of all the things They had done for me, Meka was their crowning achievement, bar none. I loved Meka, with all my heart. I know it must be a cliché, but I loved her as if she were my own child.

Of course when Meka moved, Tutsie woke. He scrambled onto my chest to stretch and then turned to face me and gave me a lick on the end of my nose. My laugh woke everyone else.

Jaycee grinned and gave me quite a good morning kiss. The Frenchies all looked at me shyly and I pulled each of them over for a kiss of their very own. It seemed to make them happy for now.

"Ok, girls, unless my sense of time is off, we can grab a shower and some coffee before breakfast," I said, announcing it.

Intent on beating me to the pisser, Meka headed for the edge of the bed. She stopped and turned to face me when she hit the floor.

"Daddy, bed bigger," she said, sounding amazed.

"It is for a fact. I was afraid we'd get crowded so I had it stretched," I said.

Meka took it as gospel and Tutsie didn't care. They headed for my bathroom and shut the door before the flushing began. Jaycee, Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle had just discovered what Meka had been talking about and they didn't take it nearly as well.

Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine didn't say anything about it, but I could tell that they were impressed or maybe frightened that I could have the bed replaced while they were sleeping in it. Jaycee wasn't so accepting.

"Just how in the hell did you do that?" she asked.

"I didn't, They did," I said.

That seemed to be good enough, for a few seconds, until she noticed the rest of the room.

The partition was gone and so was the other door. In fact the normal one I'd had before had been moved to accommodate some of the re-configuring. Jaycee's bathroom and closet were still where they had been, but there was no wall between them and her now though.

What had been two large rooms was now one very large room. It just happened to have two baths and several closets. Jaycee's original bed was gone too. She got up, walking around naked and looking. Cécile, Delphine, and Adèle seemed almost afraid to get out of bed.

"Come on girls, up and at 'em. I'm not an evil spirit even though the evidence points that way," I said.

They got out of bed and I did too. It sounded like Meka was down to her last few flushes and to tell the truth, I needed to pee. Jaycee called the other three to join her in her bathroom and if Meka didn't get done soon, I was afraid I'd have to tie a knot in mine.

Meka came out grinning then, and strutting. Tutsie was right behind her and I hoped he could hold out a little longer. Meka disappeared toward her bedroom, to get dressed no doubt and I finally got to bleed my lizard.

I'd just shaken the dew off my lily and left the bathroom, to get dressed myself, when Meka came running back into my room with Tutsie hot on her heels.

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," she yelled, ending her headlong sprint toward me with a leap into my arms from six feet away. I had to be quick to catch her.

"Daddy, Meka have high flusher now," she said, and I thought the smile would split her face.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 26


At least she'd pulled on some jeans and a blouse before she made her discovery. The others came out of Jaycee's bathroom to see what the excitement was all about, and then we had to go look at Meka's new shitter.

Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine weren't as amazed as Jaycee and Meka because they were still shell shocked about our abundance of indoor plumbing. One toilet, more or less just wasn't that impressive I guess.

Meka finally remembered that Tutsie was still holding it, and she and I headed for the front door to let him get some relief. Jaycee stayed with the others to try and find them something they could wear to breakfast. I'm sure they wondered what the big deal was but they'd find out soon enough.

I pulled on some drawers, jeans, and a work shirt - I even remembered to put my cell phone in my pocket in case I got a call from Ethel or George - then Meka, Tutsie, and I went out the front door. I picked up the Marlin as we left.

Tutsie looked like he wanted to sniff around and get his bearings, but he just couldn't spare the time. He squatted to water almost right away and then he was humped up again and delivering his real load for the benefit of the lawn. He made up for the haste with a lot of stiff legged scratching and strutting afterward though, and Meka and I made sure to tell him what a good job he'd done.

Ethel called just as we headed back inside.

"How was the trip," she asked, right away.

"Better than you can imagine. We'll be up there in about half an hour," I said.

"What's the hold up?" she asked.

"Jaycee is trying to find something for three naked French girls to wear to breakfast," I said, and got silence in return.

"I hope you don't mind some new faces this morning. If it's a problem, just tell me and we can eat down here," I said, wondering why she was so quiet.

"What? No, it's not a problem. I'll ring your neck if you don't bring them with you, and fast. I was just so surprised is all," she said.

"Ok, let me go and I'll finish dressing. We had to hurry to get Tutsie outside in time," I said.

"Bye."

We were ready to go in only a few more minutes. Jaycee had found dresses for Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine, and the fit was at least adequate, considering the circumstances. Even the shoes didn't seem to be a problem, though I could tell that they were too tight for one and too loose for the other two. I figured that Ethel could do something about their skimpy wardrobes today.

Forgetting that the girls would know something was very different as soon as we got outside was one thing, but I hadn't even considered how they would react to the garage. We went through the basements to get there and they barely knew which way to look when we entered.

They tried to maintain but looked around almost as if they wanted to bolt when they saw all the vehicles. They had nothing to compare them to. Hell, they didn't even know what the big Red Cross was on the ambulance.

It didn't take much convincing to get them into the Hum-V pickup though. They were docile and probably so frightened that they didn't want to cause any trouble at all. Even the door rolling up after we were in the pickup scared them.

It was worse when we got outside but I only knew because it got even quieter in the back seat. They were stupefied when they realized they were no longer in a forest. Even the paved driveway was completely foreign.

When we pulled up behind George's house, Ethel was out the door with Wanda hot on her heels. I had to get out quickly and warn them that the girls were frightened.

"What are they scared of?" Wanda asked.

"Mostly it's everything they see. Remember, they've never seen a vehicle that didn't need a horse or mule to pull it, never even imagined one probably. Indoor plumbing was hard enough for them to get over. We'll have to take it slow," I said.

I opened the back door then and let Jaycee out first and she helped Delphine, trying to reassure her the whole time. They were more skittish than new colts for a few minutes, but when they sensed that everyone was trying to be friendly it helped tremendously.

It was apparent right away that Ethel was going to mother hen Cécile and Adèle, at the least, and probably Delphine too. I didn't mind as long as she didn't warn them about lecherous men with hard dicks, and I was pretty sure the topic wouldn't come up.

Though they hadn't complained about it to me before, apparently the girls had been on short rations, or reduced rations, or else were required to eat things they didn't think they should have to eat during their months as explorers.

The timidity dropped off them soon after they were seated at the table with everyone else, and the eggs, biscuits, sausage, hotcakes, waffles, and syrup started making the rounds. They were thrilled to have coffee and delighted with a big glass of cold milk.

Meka said something to Doctor Jorge in her lingo, after Cécile raved about the coffee, and Doctor Jorge laughed, quite a feat for a man who was eating shredded wheat without sugar and in skim milk, while all around him were pigging out.

"What was that, Doc?" George asked him.

"Meka just said if they liked coffee she wanted to see them begging for their second Coke, after they've had their first one," Doctor Jorge said.

Laughing myself, I knew what she meant. Even without the cocaine that had been removed from Coca-Cola decades ago, it was still as good as addicting, even to people that knew it wasn't good for them. The thought made me wonder what Coca-Cola had been like when the cocaine was still there.

Delphine and the others packed it away, almost eating as much as I did. Well, let's say the three of them together almost ate as much as me. They were stuffed though and it was apparent that they felt fully safe and content for the first time in a long time.

Doctor Jorge took off for another walk as soon as he was finished. Those of us without a real job sat around the table gabbing and drinking coffee.

"Jaycee, where are their real clothes? The ones that they were wearing," Ethel asked.

"John made them take them off to save them. He said something about making up to Doctor Jorge for him not getting to go along," Jaycee said.

"Making up to Doctor Jorge? He was glad he didn't need to go, he's still working on his diet and exercise, he doesn't think he's ready yet," Wanda said.

"In that case he'd better get ready. I've already had word that he's coming next time," I said.

"Well don't spoil it for him. I can't believe how good his diet is going. Do you realize that he feels great and is losing about ten pounds a week?" Ethel asked.

"He's getting some help then, you know that can't happen normally," I said.

"Well he thinks he's doing it and don't tell him any different," Ethel said.

"Damn, Ethel, don't be so bossy," George said, but smiled at her.

"I'm sorry, John, I didn't mean to be," she said.

"Don't worry about it, if you get too uppity I'll just hold you down and get George to spank you. Otherwise, keep it up. I need a little direction in my life now and then," I said, laughing.

"Well I don't know where you're going to get it today. Jaycee, Wanda, and I need to take these girls shopping, Meka too. They need some clothes and they don't look exactly like Wal-Mart shoppers. Meka has some wild idea about some thong panties too. I wonder where she got that into her head?" she asked.

"I know where but I didn't have anything to do with it and I don't want to think about it," I said.

"That's ok, you and George just go on outside and see if you can't get your heads down in the sand," Ethel said.

"Take Bob with you, don't leave him out," Wanda added.

"Speaking of sand, you might want to think about coming down to take a look at the beach," I said.

"What beach?" Ethel asked.

"While we were away, our swimming pool appeared, and you really do need to see it," Jaycee said.

"And that's another thing, where did Meka's cast get off to," Ethel asked.

"It didn't last very long after her first swim. Jaycee X-rayed her arm and the bone is completely healed," I said.

"I couldn't even tell that it had ever been broken," Jaycee said.

"Hm, I guess that makes sense," George said, "I took the quick way off a horse last year and didn't get a single bruise. I wasn't even sore the next day."

"In fact, Ethel, I think you should make sure you get the girls a few things early and then come on down to the house. You and Wanda are going to want to see the changes that were made this trip," I said.

"What kind of changes besides the pool?" she asked.

"Some to my bedroom and some to Meka's bathroom," I said.

"I'm not even going to ask. We'll be back by three. Carolyn and Geneva can handle lunch and we'll just get a burger somewhere and shop straight through," she said.

The girls would probably have been more excited if shopping had meant the same thing in their time. Hell, I wasn't even sure it was a concept back then. No doubt Ethel would let them see what it was all about.

I stayed at the table sipping coffee while Ethel and Wanda had George take Bob down to get the limo. Bob had been elected to do the driving today, and when he asked about it they told him that no, his vote did not count.

I was relaxing and concentrating on being happy I didn't have to do it. Meka and Tutsie sat with me in companionable silence, mostly. Tutsie did want to fight with my fingers a little and I gave him a workout.

Soon enough George and then Bob were back and the women headed for the car. Of course Bob had to go and George went outside to act like he was ranchin' I guess.

"We've got a fresh coffee cake coming out of the oven if you want a piece," Geneva said, after George was gone, and she gave me a wink.

I thanked her for the mention and went back to the table. I noticed that she made sure to brush against me when she brought the cake and then Carolyn did too when she refilled my coffee cup. I made sure to mention the new pool to them again and invited them to come on down any time they had a chance.

This was a little out of character for the two of them. I didn't know if it was my "powerful man" status the Big Boy had gone on about or if Carolyn and Geneva had been "adjusted" to find me more attractive. At the moment I didn't care.

Carolyn and Geneva were in their mid twenties and good looking. If they didn't complain early and often I was going to fuck them both, first chance I got.

When Carolyn refilled me again, as casually as I could I gave her firm bottom a little squeeze. Geneva got some of the same when she brought me just one more mouthful of coffee cake. Neither mentioned it but neither shied away either so things were looking up as far as I could tell.

When I didn't think I could sit around on my ass any longer I went out to my Hum-V and drove back home.

Deciding to empty the camera, I took it to my study and plugged it into the computer. It did its thing and this time a box popped up and asked if I wanted to send copies to Bob. I'll swear that's what it asked.

"Would you like to send copies of these images to Bob?"

It had a button below it for yes and one for no. I clicked on yes and watched the little progress bar crawl across the box. It all went away when it was done. It left me wondering if I could print them out from down here but I didn't poke around to try finding a way. I'd ask Bob sometime if I remembered.

Now that I was done with the pictures I had time on my hands. There were probably dozens of things I should have been doing but I didn't do any of them, I didn't even try to think of what they might be.

I made my way out to the barn and started feeding my increased bunch of stock. They all made little noises of approval when they heard me scooping up the first of the oats.

Simon had settled right into life down here at the funny farm and that was a good thing. No one had mentioned it yet, but I knew that we'd have to find three more rides for my newest girls.

Since Id' finished feeding I went to poke around in the armory some more. I didn't find anything new, but it let me have a little time to take stock of everything I did have. I managed to kill the time til lunch without it seeming to drag.

I hadn't expected Ethel and her group to be back for lunch, but the limo was there and so were they. Lunch was ready and we went to the table almost as soon as I got inside.

"You surprised me with such a short trip, Ethel," I said, putting my foot in my mouth before I could get any food in it.

"Bob and George surprised us with such a creative excuse to get Bob out of his driving chore," Wanda said.

I must have looked a little surprised. I guess that's understandable since I was.

"Don't look so worried, Wanda and I can drive when we need to and we're not going to make you take Bob's place. In fact I'm glad that George thought up such a good lie. Watching Bob mope around all morning was putting a damper on the shopping," Ethel said.

"It wasn't a lie, Ethel, even though I'm sure it looks like I could have done it. The bank really did call saying that someone wanted to look over the land we'd just made a deal for," George said.

"Well what did you need Bob for?" Ethel asked.

"I thought I should at least talk the offer over with him," George said, and it even sounded lame to me.

"You and Bob go right ahead and talk about it all you want to, but you do remember who had to sign her name on the dotted line with you, don't you? I don't remember Bob's name on any of those papers," Ethel said, and she didn't sound a bit lame when she did.

"Of course I do. I wouldn't dare try to put anything past you," George said.

"That's good, because you and the bankers could all end up in jail if you did. This is Texas and you can't sell a damned acre without me signing too. In case you're wondering, we won't be selling anything. Now that you've got me into the swing of things, I think you should buy a few thousand more acres," Ethel said.

"What? I thought you didn't want the land we just bought," George said.

"I didn't but I've changed my mind. All I want is what we've got now and everything that adjoins it," Ethel said.

"Oh," George said, but I think he was afraid to ask anything else.

"What did the bank have in mind?" Ethel asked.

"They said that they had a buyer who'd pay me twenty thousand to just let the bank take the land back so they could sell it to him," George said.

"Twenty thousand. Call that new bank president back and tell him that if he is going to try stunts like this he'll be in jail with the last one in a heartbeat. I know how to work a telephone just fine and I'm pretty sure I can get hold of the FDIC by myself.

"He'd better be concentrating on finding good deals for us instead of any asshole he meets on the street. We're the ones that bailed his ass out when he needed it," Ethel said.

"I'll tell him, honey," George said.

To me it seemed like George had never been serious about considering selling the land in the first place. Probably it was just what Ethel and Wanda had thought, George was trying to help Bob get out of driving the women around. No doubt Ethel knew it too and was taking this way to let George know he'd fucked up.

Bob had probably fucked up too. He was richer than sin from the fact that Ethel and George were his parents, not from his masterful management of the ranch. He probably did a good enough job with that, but his heart wasn't really in it and he hadn't been the one to make it such a success in the first place.

Letting Ethel get the idea that he was too important to be driving she and Wanda around while they shopped had been a mistake on his part. I knew it even if he didn't. For his sake I hoped that she didn't let it bother her much longer. Then again, for my selfish purposes, it didn't hurt a thing.

That didn't mean I wanted to drive them around either. If they'd have asked I would have and done my best to make them think I was proud to. They didn't ask though and I was glad. In reality there was nothing else I needed to be doing, I just didn't want to drive them around.

Lunch was a little subdued after that, but the food was as good as it had ever been and I got plenty. Meka didn't let the little exchange between Ethel and George bother her and Tutsie didn't even pay attention to it. Jaycee, Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle paid attention but they wisely didn't try to help. In fact they tried not to let on they were paying attention.

Wanda, Ethel, Jaycee, Meka, Tutsie, Delphine, Adèle, and Cécile left again right after the meal was over. Wanda did the driving and it seemed Bob was satisfied with the outcome. I wondered if he was slow in the head about things like this.

George was not at all satisfied with the outcome and his demeanor showed it plainly. When Bob disappeared into his office, George and I were left at the table together. I was thinking of begging Carolyn or Geneva for more dessert but I didn't really need any.

"Would it be all right if I went down to see the new pool?" George asked.

"Why hell yes it would be. If you don't mind I'll go with you and show it off," I said.

As I'd expected, the pool wasn't what George was after. He wanted to talk, and as we got into his fifty-six he got started.

"I don't know why I let Bob talk me into doing that. I knew all along that it wasn't going to fool Ethel, but he pissed and moaned until I agreed to try it," George said, right off the bat.

"He's your son, George, and Daddy's are good for fixing things. I don't want to butt in, but don't you think he's old enough to take care of himself by now?" I asked.

"He is for a fact, and I should have known better, like I said," George said.

"It didn't do him any favors you know. Ethel is not pleased, and neither is Wanda for that matter. He got what he wanted, but do you think he realizes what it cost, even now?" I asked.

"No, he doesn't. Ethel is gonna make sure he does sooner or later though. Unless I'm mistaken, Wanda is gonna let him know too," George said.

"I think you're right, and just between you and me, I think you should try to keep from getting in the line of fire. I have a hint that Ethel's is planning on showing Bob it's time he grew up," I said.

George looked at me funny then, and for a minute I was afraid I'd said more than I should have. I hadn't though.

"I'm afraid you're right, and the more I think of it the less afraid I am. It's time Bob caught on to the fact of life, and I ain't talking 'bout the birds and bees. I'm talking 'bout where money comes from and who signs the checks," he said.

"Now that we have that straight, what did the banker want? He did actually call you didn't he?" I asked.

"Yes, but it wasn't even as good a deal as I tried to make it sound. The ones that want the land need the timber. They need that particular timber, or some that's just as good.

"They specialize in high dollar flooring, paneling, and siding. They need old timber to cut it, logs with size. They'd have cherry picked what they wanted for themselves and then sold the rest to normal mills," George said.

"Why don't you cut out the middleman, the banker, and offer them some timber that's out of this world?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" George said.

"I mean why don't I bring back some real timber for them? Hell, George, two or three trees from back then would make three or four truckloads," I said, just as we pulled up to my garage.

George was probably wondering how in the hell I was going to bring back trees after my visits. Let him wonder, I wasn't going to tell him. It didn't matter right at this second though, because George caught sight of the "diving tree."

We walked around to the "pool" for a closer look and George was amazed.

"This ain't a swimming pool, it's a lake. How in the hell did they get that tree done like that?" he asked.

"How don't really matter, George, it's done. I know it looks like a lake, but fish, snakes, turtles, and such can't live in it. The water stays warm all the time and the sand on that little beach doesn't even stick to ya," I said, bragging.

We walked over to the nearest bank and he looked into the water. He was impressed with how clean and clear it looked. It was no wonder because I'd been impressed with it too.

"Wanna go for a swim?" I asked.

"Naw, I don't much care for swimmin', but I'll bet Ethel is gonna love it. What about Meka, did she like it?" he asked.

"Loves it. Tutsie doesn't care for it much though."

"I'll bet that didn't save him a dunking though, did it?" he asked.

"Nope, Meka made sure he got to try it out first thing," I said, and we both laughed.

I didn't bother to mention that I'd already tried out the beach. It was something I didn't want to bring to George's attention.

"You know, John, if they can do something like that with a tree, they can do anything they want to with them. Are you thinking they'll help you with a few to sell?" he asked.

"I'm sure they will. It's no bother for them. It couldn't be," I said, sure I was right.

"Maybe I will see about gettin' hold of those folks without the banker's nose in the pie," George said.

We looked around at the pool a little longer and then headed back to George's house. I didn't even go inside when we got there; just got in my Hum-V pickup and went back home. Inside my house I sat in the living room on a big comfortable couch. I needed to discuss things with someone that wasn't exactly here.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 27


"What about it Big Boy, do you know anything about any of this?" I thought.

"Yes, and it seems that Ethel was closer to the mark than you might think. The banker intended to pay them twenty thousand to forget about the entire deal and he had a straw man set to buy the property from the bank. He and that individual would have then sold the land," he said.

"In other words, he was getting ready to wind up in jail?"

"Probably, and the additional illegal dealings would have probably been a death knell for the bank."

"I have a hard time believing he was so stupid," I said.

"He seems to have acquired some of those attitudes from the last president. Many people from the northern states of your country have little respect for those that live in the southern states," Big Boy said.

"Ain't that a fact?"

"Yes, it is. Of course he had no way to know that we wouldn't allow something like that to go unnoticed. What do you have in mind regarding the timber?" he asked.

"I'm wondering if you could provide a few trees to sell. Would that be a bother?" I asked.

"Not in the slightest. We wouldn't even need to make the house take "a trip" as you sometimes call it," he said.

"If I left the trucks and trailers parked outside could you just have them loaded when morning came around?" I asked.

"Of course, and that would probably be easiest, though we are not sure which trees would be best for you," he said.

"Can't you just look around in my head and find out?" I asked.

"If you allow it we can," he said.

That was reassuring. I had no doubt that They could do it whether I allowed it or not. What the hell, if they kept up this attitude I might eventually trust them.

"Go ahead, have someone take a look and get the information they need," I said.

"Very well. It's done, and I assure you that is all they explored. I have also forbidden any other access without your explicit approval," he said.

"That is even better. I don't want to be unreasonable, but I don't want to be manipulated unreasonably," I said.

"There has been what you might call a "change in management" on our end. I have responsibility for this project now, and I have made a few changes. Actually, I have removed a few changes that had been made," Big Boy said.

"Oh," I said, not elaborating but hoping he'd get the hint and do a little of that on his own.

"In my opinion the "fog" as you sometimes call it was being over used. You may notice that others no longer get along so smoothly as they did before," he said.

"I believe I might already have seen some of that," I said.

"I'm sure you have," he said, and then I could almost feel him leaving.

With my company gone, I lay down and took a nap.

The front door opening woke me. Well the one coming through it first woke me. Tutsie jumped right up onto my chest and barked, wagging his tail and looking for all the world like he was laughing about it. Meka was right behind him.

"Daddy tired?" she asked.

"No, not a bit. I was just resting my eyes," I said.

"Eyes tired?" she asked.

"No, not really. Daddy is just lazy and he was having a nap," I said, being honest finally.

"Good, get up lazy Daddy. Come show Ethel," Meka said, grinning.

"Show Ethel what?" I asked.

"Show me everything you were bragging about at dinner time," Ethel said.

I noticed that they were all inside and I wondered how long they'd been watching me sleep before Tutsie woke me.

Getting to my feet, I led the way to my bedroom first. As soon as we walked in I wished I hadn't but it was too late.

It hadn't dawned on me how this would look or what someone might think of it. In fact I was afraid that Ethel and Wanda might get the right idea.

"Well, I can see that someone has made our friends happy. Looks to me like that bed is just about big enough for all of you, with plenty of room left over for fun and games," Ethel said, trying to sound stern but grinning in spite of herself.

Even more interesting was Wanda. She had a little grin too, but a blush was also climbing up from her breasts. I had an inkling that she was not at all shocked by what she was seeing.

"I like it this way. This big room looks a lot better than the two separate rooms did and it will be handier," Ethel said, getting just a hint of flush herself.

"They didn't do anything to the bed that was here, I'm pretty sure it's down in the storage now. They did tell me this one was a handmade antique too," I said, trying to get everyone's mind off the facts of life.

"Wonder how they do that? Maybe I don't want to know though. The bed looks perfect, just like the other one did, just wider," Wanda said.

"See Meka flusher now," Meka said then, making me want to kiss her, and buy her another whistle or two to boot.

We trudged to her bathroom where she gave us several demonstrations of how well her new potty flushed. I was impressed, but it didn't take us long to look at a bathroom.

Out to the pool was next, with Meka and Tutsie leading the way. About half way to the water I saw evidence of the shopping trip. Meka had been shedding clothes as we went and finally she was down to her brand new thong. She broke into a run then and headed right for the diving tree.

"This is beautiful," Ethel said.

"It is a first class job," I said.

"Where did Meka go, it looked like she just disappeared at the tree?" Wanda asked.

"They did a bang up job on the diving board too. The tree is hollow inside and has a spiral staircase up to the diving limb," I said, proud of it even though I hadn't known about it before it got here.

Just then Meka came running out onto the limb and gave us an excellent cannonball. Ethel laughed and when we got to the tree they all took a look inside.

The beach was next and when we got there Meka was treading water out about twenty feet from it. Tutsie couldn't stand it and he took off for her, doing his dogpaddle til he was right there with her.

"Isn't the water too cold for her?" Ethel asked, switching to mother hen mode.

"Nope, it's all heated and perfect for swimming. In case you were wondering, no creatures can live in the water either. It looks like a normal small lake, but really it's cleaner than a pool," I said.

"I can hardly believe it, it's so perfect. I think we should have a party tomorrow afternoon. A swimming party, with plenty of food too," Ethel said.

"The swimming sounds like fun but the food sounds even better. One thing I forgot to ask for was some picnic tables though," I said.

"We've got some up at the house, I'll have 'em brought down. In fact, Wanda and I need to get on back to the house. Some people up there need to be reminded of exactly how the cow eats the cabbage," Ethel said, and Wanda laughed.

"Maybe we should just see about fixing our own supper down here tonight," I said, trying not to make a big thing of it.

"You know, that may not be a bad idea. We always love for you to eat with us, but it might not be so pleasant tonight," Ethel said.

With everything settled, Ethel pulled out her cell phone and called Jake. He came for she and Wanda in a Silverado. I thought that Jaycee would make an excellent cook tonight so I parked the limo and let her deal with the wet naked Meka and the three French Floozies. She seemed happy to do it.

Jaycee did a whale of a job too. We had brisket sandwiches and "Ranch Style Beans" and it was great. Meka had been right about the girls and Cokes too. They all wanted a Coke with their supper; they couldn't get over how much they liked them.

I was wondering if bedtime would ever get here. The girls seemed more lively with just our little family group and the silky looking gym shorts and tank tops that Ethel had brought them home in were making me nervous, especially one centrally located part of me. It was practically trembling.

Wouldn't you know it? We'd all helped cleaning up after supper and the dishes had just been put in the washer when thunder rumbled. I could have passed it off as a normal afternoon or early evening storm, but it wasn't and I knew it.

"Come Daddy, Tutsie need walk," Meka said, and I could tell she knew we wouldn't be getting up in the middle of the night to relieve him.

Meka and I headed out the front door and I left Jaycee to try to explain to the girls.

As if even he knew that there'd be no late night walk, Tutsie made up for it by taking his time now. He sniffed plenty and did some extended showboating after he finished his business.

Back in the house, the mood was a little somber for our new arrivals. Finally Cécile spit it out.

"We're sorry if we've offended you. Please don't take us back to the Indians," she said, lower lip trembling.

"This has nothing to do with that, Cécile. Your company has been delightful and we wouldn't let you get away now if you wanted to. I didn't know about this trip any more than you did, and I have no idea what it is for. We'll all find out at the same time, tomorrow morning when we wake," I said.

It must have been a relief for the three of them, since they rushed me, all of them trying to hug me and kiss me at once. It's nice to know you're appreciated.

Even though I knew nothing was going to have time to happen in bed, it was also nice to see the naked group that joined me. Thankfully, Meka at least kept her new thong on.

None of the others had a stitch on though, and they made sure to give me several friendly pats and kisses as we settled under the covers. For a few minutes I almost forgot what was about to happen. I was reminded as soon as I was asleep.

"I apologize for this unexpected event, John. We are not sure how you will decide but if you don't want to do anything that is your choice," Big Boy's distinctive tone thought.

"I live to serve. Is Jahedo in more trouble?" I asked.

"No. This concerns Cécile's mother. The Catholic church of her time has decided that Alphonse will not be returning. Actually they merely hope he will not be returning. They intend to confiscate all his wealth. So that there will be no embarrassing loose ends, they are going to put Cécile's mother to the extreme question, beginning tomorrow night."

If anyone should have known I should have. When there is money to be had you can always depend on some type of religion to make a grab for it. So, it was the Inquisition for Cécile's mother was it. Not on my fucking watch.

"I assume that you think I can do something to stop it."

"We are sure you can if you decide to. We will be able to put your house within three miles of the facility where Fawne is being held," he said.

"That will be good. I believe Jaycee and I can take it from there," I said, and then I was back to normal sleep.

Unusually, I was the first one awake the next morning. I had already bled my lizard and come back into the bedroom to dress before the others started stirring.

"We're in France," I said, without preamble.

"Cécile's mother is scheduled for a date with the Inquisition tonight," I said.

Cécile burst into tears and I knew she was getting ready to really wail.

"Cécile, don't worry. We are here to take her back with us," I said.

She looked at me like she couldn't believe it and she probably couldn't. Jaycee didn't give her time to get going again though.

"All right girls. Out of bed and into the bathroom. No doubt our man is hungry and we need to wash up a little before we start breakfast," she said, and she was obeyed.

Meka and I were left to take care of Tutsie. We dressed quickly, just enough to go outside for a few minutes, and then we did it. As always I grabbed the Marlin on the way out the door.

The first thing I noticed about France was that it wasn't impressive. Not the part we'd come down in anyway. We were in a little valley, if you could call those things around us hills, and everything was very peaceful. If there'd been some yellow pines I could have convinced myself we were still in East Texas.

Tutsie must not have though things were so peaceful. At any rate he didn't tarry, he did his thing and headed back for the door. Meka gave me a look and then we followed.

Wonder of wonders, the girls were all dressed and breakfast was cooking when we got back inside. Meka, Tutsie, and I sat at the table and there was coffee for Meka and I. Tutsie didn't like coffee anyway, and besides, his high stool wasn't down here. He was having to make do in Meka's lap.

After we'd eaten I took a stab at getting things set up. The truth of the matter was I didn't know shit about France. I didn't know where Cécile's mother was being held and I didn't know how many people we'd have to deal with to get her out.

I wasn't completely ignorant about the Inquisition at least. Well, I was mostly ignorant about it, but I had the notion that it was run by a bunch of assholes, at best. I didn't think our chances of talking her out of their hands were good.

What I did know was there wasn't a way in hell anyone in this day and age could stand off Jaycee and I in armed combat. Even if they were in a fortress, one of the mortars would open a door for us, fast. I hoped it wouldn't come to that though.

Deciding that everyone would stay in the house except Jaycee, Cécile, and me, I was surprised when I didn't get any arguments. Apparently Delphine and Adèle had no desire to go home.

Delphine had a good reason for not wanting to. If the Church intended to kill Fawne to get Alphonse's wealth they wouldn't hesitate to do the same for Delphine later. Adèle told me quickly that there was nothing here for her, so that was that.

Meka acted like she wanted to give me some grief but then settled down and agreed to stay.

"Are we going in the Hum-V?" Jaycee asked.

"Yes, we'll have to. We can t be fooling around on horseback. I know it will get us some attention we don't really need, but it can't be helped. I just wish we had a Bradley," I said.

"You and me both," Jaycee said.

Our first problem was that we didn't know where we were. Big Boy had said they'd put us down close, but that didn't mean I knew where we were. Cécile said she could show us the way if she could see something she knew.

"I will recognize something, surely," she said.

What the hell, it wasn't like we had many options.

Jaycee, Cécile, and I went to the armory. We found fatigues for Cécile and we all took a vest. Jaycee and I put two Glocks each on our web belts and we both got a 270. At least we had plenty of ammunition. I though about packing a mortar but decided against it. We didn't have time for a siege.

I also thought about trying to quickly teach Cécile how to use a Glock, but crossed that off my list almost at once. Chances were that she'd end up shooting one of us, or herself.

I felt like asking Big Boy for some help but decided against it. They'd already provided what should be more than enough to handle the job. I had to be worth something to earn my lifestyle.

We were in the Hummer, armed and dangerous, and ready to go before seven AM. I warned Meka, Delphine, and Adèle not to open the doors for anyone. If we got back in good shape we could let ourselves in. If we didn't, I assumed the house would go back without us.

"But Daddy. Tutsie need walk maybe," Meka said.

"He'll have to do it on the floor if he gets in bad shape. We can clean it up later," I said, and we left.

The worst dirt road I'd ever been on before beat hell out of the cart path we found when we left our little valley. It was rough as hell and not intended for a vehicle as wide as the Hum-V. No matter, the Hum-V was designed for travel over roads if you had them or over whatever else you could make do with.

Cécile knew where we were witching two minutes. She told us the name of the nearest village and also the name of the monastery, nunnery, dungeon, or whatever it was. It was supposed to have been some type of care facility but apparently it wasn't all she'd been led to believe.

It dammed sure didn't look like a hospital to me, it looked like a fortress. At least it didn't have a damned moat.

It did have an entrance with a sort of gate and a guard watching over things. Since all he had was a sword I wasn't too worried.

The gate wasn't really a gate. It was a small stripped log lying horizontally and held up by post on either end. To let horses and wagons pass, the bar had to be raised on one end, teeter-totter style. Foot traffic went through past the end.

We caused quite a commotion when we arrived, but at least it was still early and only one guard and no other people were around. I let Cécile do the talking but even before she translated for me I could tell I wasn't going to like what the guard had to say.

"He says we must wait here for one of the Fathers to approve our entry. He said someone would be out in a few hours," she said.

"Good thing he's wrong, about us waiting," I said.

I put the Hum-V in gear and pushed the gate down on the way through. The guard cam running behind us, but even on the rough ground his fat ass couldn't keep up.

I liked breaking in so much that I did it again when we came to the big entrance doors. Why not? They were wide enough and I didn't blast through them. I eased the bumper against them and gently ran them down.

It surprised me that no one rushed up from inside to see what was happening. There was a long hallway and doors leading off it in several places but I didn't even see anyone peeking around them. Hell, there was room so I kept driving.

We didn't have to go more than fifty feet before a woman in what even I could tell was a Nun suit stepped out into our way. I guess it was time to get out and talk things over some more.

After we were out and just as we were about to approach the woman in our path, the fat guard caught up to us. He was out of breath and panting but he had his sword out and was waving it around. I shot him in the chest with the Glock and he quit the swordplay. In fact I think he quit everything.

I could tell the difference in the Nun's attitude right away. She didn't look so peaceful and caring as you might think. She looked scared shitless to put it gently.

"Cécile, tell the lady that we want to see someone about getting Fawne our of here, quickly. If I lose my patience I will start shooting people even if they don't wave a sword at me," I said.

Cécile started in on the message and damned if two other guard looking guys didn't come running in the door that we'd left open, or destroyed I guess. It was easy to see that they had been pressed into service without a good briefing, because they didn't even have all their clothes on yet. Mostly just pants and boots and what looked like undershirts. They did have their swords though and I could just tell they intended to start waving them any second.

I was about to suggest to Cécile that she tell the woman to have them stop, but the Nun beat me to it and started yelling something to the men. I knew in my heart she wasn't telling them to stop.

It was a moot point though and really a damned shame what can happen when people rush into things without enough information. Jaycee gave both of them a three round burst and it made them loose interest in whatever the Nun had been yelling.

"Tell her that she will be the next person I shoot," I said, to Cécile.

She did it and the Nun said something back to her. I didn't like the sound of it at all.

"What's she say," I asked Cécile.

"She said that you do not frighten her. She is saved by her Lord and there is a place in heaven waiting for her," Cécile said.

I pointed the Glock at the Nun's face.

"Ask her which eye she'd prefer to be shot in?" I said.

I guess the woman wasn't so sure about her salvation as she'd led us to believe. She fainted when Cécile ask her that.

It was another fine mess I'd gotten us into I guess. We didn't have anyone else to ask questions. I walked up to the closest door and knocked. No answer, but I didn't really expect one.

I gave the door a good kick and whatever had been holding it closed gave up right away. No luck though. The room looked like an office of some type, but it was empty. I went to the next one.

It was empty too, but I could see I was making progress. This office had much nicer furnishing and I figured I was headed in the right direction.

I might have been headed the right way, but the trip took longer than I expected. I had to kick in eight doors before I found someone. I was afraid poor Cécile was going to be worn out before we were done. She'd been dragging the unconscious Nun with us as we went. I didn't want to leave her to get into mischief and Jaycee and I needed to keep our hands free.

I knew that we'd done some good this time though. There was an older man, probably in his early forties, sitting behind a desk. When I kicked in the door he jumped up and started yelling something I didn't understand. I could tell he was angry. I shot him too, but only in the arm.

When Cécile dragged the Nun to the door I had her ask the guy where her mother was and tell him we wanted her, quickly.

I'll give it to the guy; he sucked it up and held it good. He told Cécile that we were not to interfere with the Church's business and that she couldn't even see her mother, much less take her.

"Ask him if he's ready to meet his maker," I told Cécile.

She asked him while I pointed the Glock at his face. Apparently he wasn't sure either. I knew he was hemming and hawing, stalling for time. When you have the advantage of complete surprise there is no sense in wasting it and giving the enemy time to think of stunts to pull. I was tired of this game already and I took a two handed hold and tried to take off part of his ear.

I took off a little more than I'd intended to, but nothing really serious. It did bleed a lot though and for a priest, the guy could really wail.

He was lying on the floor now, sobbing. I walked over to him and put the nose of the Glock against his fine French nose.

"Ask him if he's changed his mind about you seeing your mother," I told Cécile.

Lo and behold, he had.

With my size ten combat boot I urged the gentleman to stand up, cuffing his hands behind him when he did. The Nun had come around during the wait and Jaycee cuffed her too.

I frog marched the priest out the door and had Cécile warn him that my patience was wearing thin. I'm pretty sure that he was in a more helpful mood by now.

It didn't take us that long to find Fawne, but she was a pitiful sight when we did. She was tied to her bed, nearly naked and there were bruises all over her. She also looked like she hadn't eaten in days, and when I got her cut loose all she could ask for was water.

Even in this sad shape I could see that Fawne was a beautiful woman. I didn't want to stare at her exposed goodies, but the glimpse I got before I averted my eyes let me know that she was something else. I just thought I'd been mad earlier.

Cécile was helping her mother into what she had in the way of clothes. It wasn't much but she couldn't leave with those titties uncovered. Jaycee and I were watching the priest bleed and the Nun cry. Funny, neither one of them were praying for deliverance. Maybe they already knew their prayers wouldn't be well received.

We were almost ready to leave when what must have been the head man in charge came down the hall with six guards and three sorta rough looking Nuns. Petite wasn't a word you could apply to them.

These guards might have ended up being trouble, they were carrying muskets. I solved the problem by shooting the priest. It was a gut shot, on purpose. He went down hard and I'd just thought the first one I'd shot could cry.

With the guards distracted Jaycee and I took them out. She used three shot burst again but I knew I wasn't good enough for that. I nailed them with one each. We didn't hit any of the Nuns, not even close.

They were down on their knees trying to help the old guy, but I knew it was pointless. It's hard as hell in modern times to save someone that's gutshot. The old guy wasn't going to make it. I walked to them and finished him with one from the Glock to his forehead.

The Nuns were shocked again, but afraid to move. More important than that, they were afraid to talk. Jaycee and I stood over them until Cécile came out with Fawne and our other friends.

"Cécile, tell them if they don't bring every prisoner out to the front door I'm going to kill every Priest, Nun, and guard here. After that I'll let the prisoners go myself and then burn the whole place to the ground," I said.

They believed it even though I'd been lying. I didn't think I had time for all of that crap. It turns out that it was probably wasted effort too.

Fawne was the only female they had. I'm sure at least half of the men, the other prisoners, were not guilty of anything worth mentioning, but I hadn't done all this to save them. I don't guess it would hurt anything though.

When they were out front I had Cécile tell the men that if they wanted to take a few keepsakes to help defray the expense of their stay they had ten minutes to find them. After that, I'd let them get a half-hour head start; then I was leaving.

Jaycee and I kept an eye on things and Cécile and her mother whispered to each other, mostly Cécile trying to be reassuring, I thought.

"He raped mother. He claims to be a man of God but he raped mother," Cécile said, after a few minutes.

"That one?" I asked, pointing to the one-eared priest with my 270.

"Yes. The older one did the beatings but that one raped her, more than once?" Cécile said.

"Well, we can't fix it, but we can make sure he doesn't do it again. If Jaycee will help me that is," I said.

"We've got time, and I'm getting a little bored just standing here," Jaycee said.

I let her hold the priest while I did the honors, and I didn't go right to the part you're probably expecting. First I took my belt knife and cleaned off what was left of the ear I shot. It was easy, so I fixed the other one to match it.

I might have gotten carried away on the castrating part though. Oh, I remembered to pull a nylon tie tight around his scrotum to keep him from bleeding to death, but I made a mistake and got his dick in the loop too. As long as it was all tied off nice and neat I cut most of his dick off while I was at it. Fawne didn't want it for a souvenir so I let him hold it in his mouth so it wouldn't get dirty. Luckily there was a hungry looking stray dog nosing around so I had some place to get rid of his balls.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 28


It was fun while it lasted, but when time was up we took our leave. I guess it was just as well. Two men were riding up at a gallop when we pulled out of the gate. I stopped long enough to let Jaycee shoot their horses. We probably should have shot the men but it was a judgment call.

Things had gone much too smoothly to be natural, at least I thought they had. Then again, there was nothing natural about it. I was back here from the best part of four hundred years in the future. Men with swords and muzzleloaders were going to find me hard to deal with, unless they did exactly what I wanted them to.

We were back to the small valley, had the Hum-V parked, and everyone was in the house less than three hours after we'd left that morning.

It was a good worry, but I wondered what we'd do for the rest of the day. I didn't think we should take a sightseeing trip around historical France, and even though the pool had come with us, an afternoon swim didn't feel right.

Meka, Tutsie, Delphine, and Adèle were happy to see us and then they picked up the mood from Cécile and Jaycee. It was a little subdued. We had Fawne with us now, physically at least, but she was not in good shape.

Jaycee led everyone but Meka, Tutsie, and me to the clinic end of the house. I took Meka and Tutsie outside so he could take a leak. Strangely he seemed more relaxed this time and he did quite a bit of sniffing before performing his doggy duties, then he did a little of his stiff legged scratching.

We sat on a couch when we got back inside, Meka in my lap and Tutsie in hers.

"What we now, Daddy?" Meka asked, after a few minutes.

"Whatever we want," I said, and she gave me such a look.

"We've done what we came to do, at least I think we have. We'll have to stay in the house until it leaves. It isn't safe to go exploring, or I don't think it is," I told her.

I'm not sure how much she understood but it seemed to satisfy her. When she spoke up again I was happy that she wasn't moping about being stuck here.

"Tutsie need stool your house too," she said, and she was right.

Tutsie needed a seat at the table here like the one he had at George and Ethel's house. Her announcement made me remember something though. Even sitting in her lap for breakfast, Tutsie had displayed amazing manners.

He hadn't tried to gobble up Meka's food right away. He'd waited patiently for her to feed him. That didn't mean he didn't give her some big sad-eyed looks along the way, but he hadn't been grabby. Of course I wondered if he'd been influenced by They, but even if he had it didn't seem to hurt anything. I was beginning to think that They could do good work when they wanted to.

This trip for instance. Fawne had been pretty much an innocent bystander when greedy bastards hiding under priestly robes had decided they needed her assets, or Alphonse's assets anyway.

One of them who was more perverted than usual wasn't content to just torture and kill her, he decided he'd rape her too. In the long run that probably wasn't much more to add to his list of crimes, but in the short term it had been hard on Fawne, and what had she done to deserve it. Not one damned thing.

My next thought was to get Jaycee, a mortar, and get back in the hummer. We could get in range of the "holy facility" with no trouble and level it without them even knowing what happened. I crossed that thought off my list though.

Some of the people there probably didn't deserve that, either. I'd already settled the hash of the main instigators and there was no sense in trying to start a reverse Crusade. I couldn't kill everyone that was an asshole, there wasn't time.

Meka brought me out of my thoughts then, asking for coffee. I didn't mind if I had a couple of cups myself so we got up to make another pot. While we were at it, I poked around in the freezer and found a frozen coffee cake with a computer label that had instructions for cooking it. God bless Ethel.

The coffee cake took thirty minutes and Meka, Tutsie, and I had just started on our treat when Jaycee came in from the clinic.

"How's she doing," I asked, as she poured a cup of coffee for herself.

"Better than you'd think. In fact, her physical injuries are fairly trivial. I'm sure they weren't fun to come by, but they aren't dangerous. It was fairly gentle as far as rapes go," Jaycee said.

Now there was an odd thought, a gentle rape. No doubt Jaycee was talking in relative terms. Fawne was still breathing and compared to some rapes I guess that was gentle.

"You said she was ok physically, but do you have any idea about her mental state?" I asked.

"Oh, it's bad of course, but she'll probably get over that pretty well too. Remember that rape isn't such a bug-a-boo in this time. Rich men rape poor women and girls with impunity here. Fawne wasn't a poor woman but I'm sure that she isn't shocked out of her wits that it happened to her.

"In fact, I think that your treatment of her abuser went a long way to helping. Fawne seemed to have revenge on her mind more than being completely devastated. Different women have different reactions to rape," Jaycee said.

"Still, even here and now it can't be something she just shrugs off," I said.

"It might be easier than you think for her. They don't know anything about women's rights here. It isn't even a concept. Even rich girls are often traded off by their families as if they were chattel. Fawne is tougher than you might think. She'll be a lot better tomorrow or the next day.

"Right now, she's sleeping it off. Valium can be very powerful when it needs to be. I started an IV for her dehydration and there are three good nurses in training watching her sleep," Jaycee said, and then laughed.

"We're probably set then. All we have to do is wait until night so we can get out of here," I said.

"Have you looked outside, to see if anyone followed us?"

"No, but I guess I could. They can't do anything to the buildings in the length of time they'll have. Still, I don't want them scaring the horses and mules. I'll take a look around I guess."

"Give me a minute to get a launcher and a few grenades and I'll go with you," Jaycee said.

We went to the armory and Jaycee put Big Boy's equivalent of an M203 on her carbine. She took a few minutes looking around in the stack of grenades and then loaded a knapsack with several different types.

"I'm almost hoping we find someone outside. There are some flash bangs for this thing and some of the canister rounds. I'm sure they'll be a big surprise," she said.

"No doubt they will be. You realize that you're holding the most powerful weapon on earth right now don't you?"

"Naw, they've got cannons that are more powerful, even now," she said.

"Maybe, but you could take one out with one grenade," I said.

"That's not because this is more powerful, it's because it's more mobile," she said.

"Ok, ok. I don't want to get into semantics. I do feel a lot safer with you carrying it though, and I don't have to pack the weight," I said.

"What, you didn't know you were going to carry the knapsack?"

What the hell, things can't be perfect every time. I picked up the bag and we went upstairs and outside.

We made a circuit around the house and I'll be damned if we didn't see some mounted men, probably twenty or thirty, coming toward the house from the cart path we'd used earlier. They were still probably five hundred yards away.

"Some people just can't take a hint," I said.

"We did cause quite a commotion and it isn't like they'd have a hard time following our trail. Hummers aren't known for hiding their tracks."

"Well miss military, what are you going to do about it?" I asked.

"I'm going to let them get within three hundred yards and see how their mounts like the flash bangs I found," she said.

While we waited I wished for a lawn chair again. Of course I had some now but we hadn't brought any outside with us. I wished I could remember them, at least a time or two.

Our prey had slowed when they saw us, being careful no doubt. No telling what type of wild tales they'd been told. They kept coming though and soon enough Jaycee gave them a sample.

The mounts did not like the flash bangs at all. I noticed that some of the men who fell off were wearing armor and I wondered if they'd be able to get back up by themselves. Of course that all depended on whether they could catch the horses in the first place. Some of them were still galloping away, riderless.

Strangely the man in the lead maintained his seat. His horse was probably better trained than some of the others. After a few minutes he seemed to have things settled down. He started toward us alone this time and, wonder of wonders; he had a white pennant flying from the tip of his lance.

Wasn't that a hoot? An armored man was approaching me, on horseback, and he had a real live lance. It was a history lesson in the making, that's what it was for sure.

Since he came alone and the others didn't appear to be up to anything sinister, Jaycee didn't fire again. He came up to within twenty feet and then rattled off what must have been his name, and titles too no doubt.

"If you can't speak English, turn around and send someone who can," I said.

He could speak English and he did. He started in with his name and title again but I cut him off right after Pierre.

"I don't care who you are. What do you want?" I said.

"We have come to recapture Fawne and to take the criminals that released her into custody," he said, and he must have thought he sounded important.

"I'm the criminal who released her and I'm not going to let you take her back."

"I have thirty men with me that will take care of that," he said.

"I don't care if you bring a thousand. How many do we need to kill before you understand that there is nothing you can do?" I asked.

"I have come to you under a flag of truce," he said, and he sounded so indignant.

"Yes, you did, but I don't see one waving over the thirty men you were bragging about. Jaycee, let them see what a real one is like," I said.

She did, and I'm sure the ones that lived wished she hadn't done that. I'll have to say that Jaycee was an excellent shot with an M203. The round hit near the center of the group and it took down every horse they had left.

"You should probably go see if you can help any of them. There might be a chance some of them will live," I said.

He was stunned and rightly so. He didn't move for a few seconds.

"Who are you?' he asked, clearly shaken.

I couldn't help myself, I had to do it. I know it's older than the hills and it's a cliché a hundred times over, but I couldn't resist.

"I'm your worst nightmare."

Jaycee sniggered at me but didn't say anything. Pierre turned around and headed back toward his thirty men. Mostly they were just bodies now.

We got a surprise a few minutes later when people on foot started coming into sight. They had been hiding behind a hill near the cart path but they were coming up now.

"Who are they?" Jaycee asked, as if I knew, then I thought I might.

"Camp followers I guess."

"For only thirty men?" she asked.

"Someone has to come along to keep telling you how important you are, even if there are only a few of you," I said.

"You know we're going to have to stay out here and keep an eye out for others, don't you?" Jaycee asked.

"Yeh, I know. I also know I'm going into the house to get us some lawn chairs. I'm not going to stand around all day."

"We'll both go. It'll take a while for them to figure out their next move," she said.

We'd no sooner turned around than I saw Meka, Tutsie in her arms, Adèle, and Delphine headed toward us. We walked toward them.

"Daddy, we come see big boom," Meka said, when we got to them.

"Ok, just don't get too close while the booming is going on."

"What men want?" she asked.

"They wanted Fawne back and they wanted to arrest me," I told her, wondering if she had any idea what I'd meant.

She might have, since she gave me a look and then laughed.

"No can arrest Daddy," she said, and then laughed again.

"What we now?" she asked, when her giggling died down.

"We were going to get some lawn chairs to sit in while we watched," I said.

"We get," Meka said, and the three of them turned around.

With our trip preempted, Jaycee and I turned back around just in time to see good old Pierre coming toward us at a gallop, with his genuine lance lowered.

"Can I have this one too?" Jaycee asked, pulling her Glock.

"Sure, I'll share. Try for another gut shot though. I think a long slow death would look better on him," I said, I was getting a little tired of snooty Frenchmen.

She made an excellent shot. Hitting a man on a galloping horse at a hundred yards with a handgun is no mean feat. Pierre did an excellent imitation of dead as he tumbled off his mount, but when we got to him, he wasn't.

Strangely his horse hadn't run off. I was more interested in it than I was in Pierre. It was an outstanding animal, more impressive since it was from this day and age, and it was obviously well trained. Finally I got done looking it over and went to stand by Jaycee who was holding her Glock on Pierre even though he wasn't going anywhere.

"We should take his horse for our trouble," she said, "and anything else we see that we like too."

I was about to answer when Meka came scampering toward us from the house. I figured that she'd be mad about missing this but the pistol shot wasn't what brought her.

"Daddy, Fawne want come outside too. She say feel much better now," Meka said.

I looked at Jaycee and she shrugged her shoulders. I hadn't wanted to bother Big Boy but I couldn't help myself. This whole thing was to get Fawne in the first place and while I didn't want to seem bossy from the get go, I didn't want her to do something that would set back her recovery.

"I hate to bother you, but I want your opinion on this. Can I have it?" I thought.

"I don't see any harm, the dehydration was her worst problem, and Jaycee has taken care of that. The IV has finished, and even though Jaycee only gave her the mildest Valium, it has done wonders for her nervousness," he thought back.

"Jaycee, would you go take a look at her and help her out here if you think it's ok?" I asked.

"Sure, and it probably is," Jaycee said.

"Meka, you'd better stay with me in case I need to send them word about something. Do you mind?" I asked.

"I not mind, Daddy. I want watch. Come show me dead man," she said.

What the hell, it wasn't the first one she'd seen. We walked over to Pierre and damned if he wasn't groaning and still alive. I was feeling a little sorry for him now and thinking about putting him out of his misery. Meka had other ideas.

"Scalp him, Daddy," she said.

I didn't think I was really the scalping kind but she seemed to want me to do it pretty bad.

"He evil, Daddy. I feel," she said.

As if I didn't have enough trouble, three obviously poor women were approaching. They stopped when they knew I'd noticed them and one of them began speaking to me in French. I asked if they spoke English but none of them admitted it if they did.

Saved by the bell, or at least by Jaycee and company returning. The poor women obviously recognized Fawne, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine. They tried to curtsy when they saw them.

"It's Pierre, and you've shot him. Maybe there is a God?" Fawne said, clearly surprised to see the man.

"Has he caused you trouble?" I asked.

"He is one of the instigators. He gave testimony before the church claiming I was a witch," Fawne said.

"Then I'm glad we didn't kill him too quickly. We still have a few hours to make him regret his wrong doing," I said.

"Thank you," Fawne said, and then smiled at me.

"Can you find out what these women want?" I asked.

She spoke to them then and it didn't take long.

"They only wanted to see if he was dead. I'm afraid he hasn't been kind to his subjects," Fawne said.

"Maybe they'd like to see what we do to his like in America," I said.

"I feel sure that they would, especially if it is painful," she said.

"Tell me if I make a mistake, Meka," I said, and drew my knife.

Meka was the only one who knew what was going to happen but I feel sure that Jaycee caught on next. Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle must have heard about it too, because they weren't really surprised. The three poor women who came up were very surprised, but they didn't object one bit.

Scalping someone isn't hard. It requires more care - to keep the bleeding to a minimum - if you don't want the subject to die from it right away, but I didn't mind one way or the other and I didn't take many pains. I sliced through the skin and took all I needed to get most of his hair, then yanked on it like hell a few times and it came right off. Pierre had regained enough presence of mind for some lusty screams too, but he passed out again shortly afterward.

"Was he a big landholder or something? I asked.

"He was the Baron here. He has large holdings," Cécile said.

"Sons, daughters, wives?" I asked.

"Two sons and no daughters. He killed the last wife he had," Fawne said.

"Ah, a real sweetheart. What about his sons?"

"More of the same from all I've heard," Fawne said.

"Do you think they'll show up here?" I asked.

Fawne didn't reply to me, she questioned the poor women. I could tell from their reaction that the boys would be here with reinforcements soon.

"They say his sons will be coming with a hundred men soon," Fawne told me.

"I guess we'd better get the reception ready then. Meka, you should take the others back into the house, Jaycee and I will be busy for a while," I said.

"Shouldn't I stay to translate for you?" Cécile asked.

"I'll stay, please. I need to help," Fawne said, and that seemed to be that, except for good old Pierre's hair. Meka held out her hand for it.

"I take scalp, Daddy. I hang it dry," she said, grinning at me, and then they left.

Fawne was a big help. When we got to the men Jaycee had basically slaughtered earlier, Fawne started spitting out orders. A few seconds later I understood that she was asking questions, but I couldn't figure out what they could be. Finally she turned to me.

"None of the followers will speak up for any of these men. I told them you would kill them unless someone did," she said.

"Isn't that unusual, that no one wants to save them?" I asked.

"Yes, but no doubt they were very cruel to their followers," Fawne said.

Jaycee shrugged again, drew her Glock, and went to find men that were still breathing. Every time she found one that was she made him quit. There were only five to be dealt with.

"What will happen to these people?" I asked.

"That depends on what happens when his sons and the other men arrive. If his sons prevail, these people will probably all be killed. If they don't, the crown will have a Barony to award," she said.

"Well, we can always come back and teach the new Baron some manners if we have to," I said, hoping it was the truth.

"What of the bodies?" Fawne asked.

"Have the people strip the dead of everything and take it up near the garage. Every stitch and, every weapon; they will be well rewarded for their efforts," I said.

Fawne spread the happy news and I'll say one thing, the people were not lazy or squeamish. They even caught all the horses that lived.

That was fine, I could deal with thirty horses, and no doubt George could do something with any I didn't want later. It had me thinking about the sons though and the hundred men they were said to be bringing. We'd just have to deal with them.

Fortunately for me, Jaycee had a plan.

"We can get some brush piled near the valley's entrance and have some of these people torch it when the bad guys are all in. I'll flash bang the shit out of them and then we can start picking them off. If it gets dark on us, we won't be bothered. They will though," she said.

The simplest plans are always the best. When you try to orchestrate too many details in advance it just slows down your creative thinking in a situation that is going to be fluid no matter how hard you try to stage manage it.

Jaycee took six healthy and strong looking women with her and they were back in about thirty minutes with three mortars and a lot of rounds. She spent another hour setting the mortars up and then training three of the women to fire them. There's no big trick to firing a mortar once it is set up and aimed. Just drop in a round, and repeat as needed.

We even moved all the now naked bodies up into a pile that would surely draw the new arrivals in. It did an excellent job of that.

We didn't have to wait for dark; they came riding up, with lathered horses, around three o'clock. I didn't think there were over eighty in all, but it didn't matter.

Once they were nearly to the body pile, about six hundred yards from the valley's entrance, the women we'd recruited spread out the brush they'd been gathering and set it afire. The mounted men didn't have time to more than notice because Jaycee gave the signal and the flash bangs began falling.

And a good time was had, by none of them. At least we didn't have to use any lethal rounds this time, not with the mortars anyway. Since the women set off six rounds each, there wasn't a horse with a rider anywhere and all of them ran off this time.

Jaycee and I didn't even wait for a parley, we shot the two obvious leaders dead, and then Fawne began yelling, "Surrender or Die" in French, as per Jaycee's instructions. We only had to shoot about a dozen more before the rest understood that we meant it.

Fawne then ordered them to strip off naked and we had to shoot six more, after that things went smoothly, for us. For the former "Knights" things were not so pleasant.

I didn't do any more shooting or scalping, but by now the first camp followers had spoken to the new larger group. If any of them wanted to speak up for the one they were actually following, I didn't hear about it.

The way it worked out we had two live ones for nearly every dead one. We tied their hands behind their backs and then tied two men to each body so that they could drag them away. We saved the smallest corpse for the largest live one so he wouldn't have much trouble with his load; he was the odd man and had a corpse to drag alone. We didn't even have to do much encouraging to get them to leave.

My next problem was what to do with the camp followers and all the horses. I hadn't decided what I'd give them for a reward for their help, yet. Hell, I didn't even know how we could feed them all. I had a lot of food around, but there were over a hundred of them now.

Just then one of the women came and asked Fawne something, and of course Fawne asked me.

"They would like to butcher the horses that were killed. They don't have much food with them," she told me.

I couldn't agree to it quickly enough. I told her to have them take any horses that were badly hurt too, and it seemed to make the woman very happy. She spoke to Fawne again and then returned to the others.

"She says they will have a wonderful meal for you in about two hours," Fawne said.

"Let's go in the house for a while," Jaycee said then, "I need to make sure Fawne doesn't wear herself out."

I wasn't inside the house for five seconds before I realized that it wasn't going anywhere tonight. I can't say how I knew, I just knew. Jaycee and all the others, even Meka, went back to the clinic so Jaycee could take Fawne's temperature, check her pulse rate, and her blood pressure I guessed. At least Tutsie stayed with me.

I settled onto a couch and he settled into my lap. I expected him to want to fight with my fingers but he just curled up and went to sleep and then damned if I didn't too.

It wasn't really sleep though, or even if it was actual sleeping it was still a conference call from Big Boy.

"We have decided to extend your stay here, unless you object," he thought to me to get the ball rolling.

"You mean I have a choice?" I asked.

"Yes, you have a choice, of course you do."

"Good, that's really all I need, veto power," I said.

"You have veto power then, and even a two thirds majority can't overturn it."

"That's good, but what are we staying for?" I asked.

"We'd rather let you find out for yourself."

"If you say so, I just don't want to foul anything up," I said.

"There can be no right or wrong in this situation, John. What you do, is done, the rest of this world will have to deal with it as best they can."

After that I was alone and then really asleep. I don't know how long I slept but the smell of fresh coffee woke me. Meka was headed my way with my mug, smiling at me. That smile made everything worthwhile, anything else was just a bonus.

"Coffee Daddy?" she asked, as if she had a doubt.

"Thank you. How was Fawne?" I asked.

"Jaycee says that I am fine," Fawne said, from behind me.

I turned to look and saw at once that she was now wearing jeans, a T-shirt, and they'd even found some boots for her. Her natural assets were doing some alarming things to the front of that T-shirt too. It reminded me of how, in Fairy Tales, the handsome young prince was always well rewarded for rescuing the damsel in distress.

I knew I wasn't a handsome young prince, but I had rescued the damsel, and she'd sure as hell been in distress. I was counting on that reward, sooner or later. Right now I was concentrating on two of the reward's swinging and wobbling benefits, and as I did it their peeks began to push against the T-shirt's material, then the damsel blushed prettily.

I took a sip of my coffee and tore my eyes from Fawne's titties. I even resisted the urge to vocalize my agreement with Jaycee. Fawne was fine, in more ways than one.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 29


Since our "guest" were preparing supper outside we were just sitting around drinking coffee, except for Delphine, Cécile, Adèle, and Meka - it was Coca-Cola for them. The new pot of coffee had been for Jaycee and I, but Fawne had tried a cup and she loved it too.

Coffee was not a common beverage in this place and time; in fact it was very expensive if it could be obtained at all. Fawne admitted that she had tried it before but claimed that our version was better than what she'd had.

An almost timid knocking at the back door turned out to be one of the women who'd done service firing the mortars earlier. When we opened the door she rattled off something French and Fawne told us that supper was ready and the people we waiting for me to begin.

We trooped outside and I was surprised. They had no tables and chairs but I could tell that more than a little effort had been expended to make the best of what they did have.

Several large tents had been erected and a type of multi-colored canvas pavilion also. It wasn't really needed since the sun was going down but I could tell that it was done to mark the general center of the celebration and we were escorted to it. Sitting places had been arranged with blankets and pillows of all types and apparently we were to be served there.

Served we were, and the food was plentiful and surprisingly good considering what they'd had to work with. At first I'd been doubtful about what was basically a horse meat feast, but the Percheron was delicious and it was easy to tell that this must have been from a pampered war horse, one that did more duty standing around eating and looking impressive than charging into some fray.

After the meal was over we were entertained with music and dancing by firelight. I began to suspect that this was an event strictly for my entertainment, especially after I realized that most of the dancing included the youngest women and that their costumes, while meager, were - well they were meager, as in not covering much.

Between the scantily clad dancers and the T-shirt clad wobbling titties in my household party I was getting an alarming hard on. If this lasted much longer Fawne stood a good chance of being raped again, right after bedtime. Of course the way she'd nonchalantly rubbed her charms against me since Pierre's demise, at every opportunity, made me think that it wasn't possible for me to rape her, since she'd probably welcome my attentions.

Then I'll be damned if I didn't get that feeling that let me know the house was going somewhere tonight. I couldn't help flinging a thought at Big Boy.

"What the hell, I thought you said we were staying another day?"

"We will only be moving you to another location in this same time period. You should make sure that all those gathered move closer to the house before sleeping," he said in my head, and then I knew he was gone.

Looking around I could tell that Meka, Jaycee, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine knew something was going to happen tonight and damned if Tutsie didn't have a smug look on his little doggy face. Fawne didn't have a clue though, probably because this would be her first trip.

As far as that went, I didn't have a clue either. The house was going somewhere, that was a given, but I didn't know where. At least it wasn't going elsewhen.

Suddenly the entertainment came to a natural close, and I stood, asking Fawne to give them appropriate thanks from me. After she had I asked her to tell them they should all move their things and their sleeping places up much closer to the house, hoping that they'd think it was for safety.

It was for safety but not in the way they probably expected. I didn't want anyone waking up here in the morning and seeing that everyone and everything else was gone. After Fawne translated my instructions my household crew and I went back into the house.

"Daddy, where we go now?" Meka asked, as soon as we were inside.

"I don't know sweetie, I just know we're going," I said.

"Tutsie pee first," she said, and I was glad she'd mentioned it.

We took him out the front door and let him scratch and sniff and then he did a commendable job. None of our "guest" were parked on the front "lawn" yet but I could see some of them easing their things around this way. We went back in the house and since there was still come coffee in the pot I refilled the mug I'd used earlier.

Meka decided she'd have a cup too and soon enough I was sitting on the couch with Meka in my lap and Tutsie in hers. We didn't speak much, just drank our coffee. I didn't know where the others were but it didn't matter at the moment.

"I sleep my bed tonight, Daddy," Meka said, out of the blue.

"You can sleep anywhere you want to, anytime you want to," I told her.

"Meka know. Fawne need you tonight. Fawne frightened. Fawne nice too, love Tutsie," Meka said, and the tone of her finish let me know that it was high praise indeed.

About fifteen minutes later our other housemates joined us. It was apparent that they'd been in the shower and it was also apparent that they were dressed for bed. They all were wearing T-shirts, and what the T-shirts revealed had Fawne a rosy pink from the neck up. She didn't seem exactly embarrassed though.

I could come to like things like this was what I was thinking when Meka spoke up.

"Bedtime, I sleepy," she said, and then headed toward her room.

There wasn't a way a man could be luckier than me at this moment, unless he wasn't about to make some type of They induced journey. No matter how beautiful and willing these women were and no matter how hard my dick was, I knew that there'd be no fucking tonight. We'd be out cold as soon as we were under the covers.

The rest of them knew that too, except Fawne. Maybe that was the reason for her blush. She probably thought she was in for a good hosing, soon. She didn't look like she was distressed about it.

It was a tease to Fawne and I knew it, but I couldn't help myself.

"All right girls, lets go to the bedroom and do what grownup do after the children are asleep," I said.

Fawne blushed a little deeper and the others just smiled. They knew as well as I did that nothing was going to happen in bed except sleeping. I might have time to pinch a nipple or pat a naked ass but that was it, and everyone knew that, except Fawne.

As we entered the bedroom Jaycee was in the lead and she pulled her T-shirt off right away, followed by everyone else, except Fawne. Fawne didn't delay long though. When she saw the others "dressing for bed" she copied them and I got a delightful look at her beautiful body. No wonder the priest had strayed from his holy ways, if he ever had any.

It wasn't that she was any more beautiful than the others, it was that she was every bit as beautiful. The members of my growing little harem were all something special and though he knew in his head that he wasn't going to get any tonight, dicky's heart thought it was time to fuck and he stood at attention.

I didn't want to cheat Fawne on the strip show so it was off with my clothes too. They all sat on the bed and watched as if I was the star of some show, and I guess I was at that.

Fawne looked surprised when my dick popped free but the rest just smiled and Jaycee winked at me. It was easy to tell why when the sleeping arrangements were finalized.

Fawne was put in the middle first and I was directed to spoon up behind her. She shivered slightly as she felt me come up close and personal and then sighed as I put an arm over her to capture a breast and give it a slight squeeze. It's nipple came up to look around almost instantly.

Jaycee came in right behind me and Delphine behind her. Cécile and Adèle got in on the other side, nearest Fawne. Jaycee didn't waste any time taking hold of my aching dick and then with a little sleight of hand she encouraged Fawne to raise her top leg a little and then lay my dick between Fawne's legs, pressing my shaft up against Fawne's pussy lips without pointing the head where it wanted to go. Just as Fawne's leg settled back down to enclose me in the warmth between her upper things, the lights went out for real.

As always in these situations, I couldn't know how long I was in real sleep and how long I was in contact with Big Boy. I was asleep, and then sometime later I was communicating. It was as if my body was still asleep - and I guess it was - but my mind was fully functioning.

"Every things went perfectly. All your new people were well away from the margin of movement and even all the horses," Big Boy told me.

"My new people?" I asked.

"Yes. That's the way they think of things at any rate. It is why they had the dancing after the feast, they were offering you anything or any person that you wanted," Big Boy said.

"Hell, I don't want anyone."

"That will not hurt their feelings, but they do want you," Big Boy told me.

"What do they want with me?"

"Ideally they want you as their Baron. They were impressed with the ease of your defeat of Pierre, his son's and his men. In fact they were amazed. They don't really expect you to become their Baron and take over all Pierre's property but it is their fondest wish," Big Boy said.

"I don't know anything about being a Baron and I don't think I have the time," I said.

"Time is yours for the asking and Fawne is intimately familiar with the duties of a Baron. Her father has a Barony, a large and powerful one," Big Boy told me.

"I might need some help from you also," I said.

"Of course, call on me when you will. In fact we are in the process of making some minor preparations that we believe will help you."

"Very well, Baron John does have a nice right to it," I said, but he was already gone and I was falling back into normal sleep.

When I woke I could tell from the sounds of their breathing that everyone else in my bed was still asleep. Slumber hadn't stopped Fawne from taking hold of my dick head though, and currently she was using that purchase to rub my shaft slightly against her vulva. It was an excellent feeling to wake to and I can recommend it heartily.

Still, the aching hardness wasn't the only ache. I needed to piss like a Rocky Mountain Race Horse. Since my hand still held her breast I gave the nipple a little tweak and it roused her.

I have no idea how she did it, but the sound started as a hum of pleasure, low in her chest, segued into a near moan of desire, and then changed to an almost squeak of surprised pleasure. The bad part was she let go of my dick. I gave the back of her neck a proprietary nip with my teeth and unhanded her titty.

Her head turned to look at me and her smile was expansive. My bladder was still expanding though and with only a brush of my lips across hers I made my way out of the bed and into the bathroom, for relief.

After that, and a quick shower I returned to the bedroom, toweling myself on the way. The girls were all awake now and climbing out of bed for my viewing pleaser whether that was their intention or not. Soon enough though there were only magnificent asses in my view as they headed for their bathroom. Meka, Tutsie in arms, came in then.

"We walk Tutsie?" she asked.

"Just as soon as I have some pants and boots on," I said.

When I was presentable, or nearly so, we headed for the front door. I grabbed the Marlin on the way out and Tutsie started marking the place as his own when Meka put him down.

"Daddy, look," Meka said after a moment.

I followed the sight line of her pointing finger and saw a castle. That was a shock. It was just coming false dawn, the light was poor, and we hadn't bothered with our goggles, but it was still a castle, no doubt about that. It was a big bastard too.

Looking around in other directions I saw the we were encircled by walls too; big walls. They surrounded a lot of territory, because my little traveling house and lake took a hundred or more acres with it, and it didn't begin to crowd the space within the walls.

Tutsie was finished by now and he came to Meka, obviously wanting to be picked up. There was nothing I could do about the castle or any thing else right now, so she grabbed him and we went back inside.

Jaycee and her troops came out of the bedroom just then, all wearing T-shirts again and pants that looked like sweat pants but were made of what seemed to be nylon. Crude redneck hick that I was, I didn't recognize silk.

They all came over to give me a kiss on the lips, Meka a kiss on the cheek, and Tutsie a pat on his curly head. Then they headed for the kitchen and started making one of my favorite noises, they rattled the pots and pans.

Of course Fawne was mostly an observer while the cooking got under way. I could tell that she was paying careful attention though. Mostly she seemed amazed by the equipment and the biscuit tubes that Jaycee brought out fascinated her.

The food fascinated me when it arrived; I'd been concentrating on the look and the wonderful smell and had completely failed to notice Tutsie's new highstool. It looked a lot like the one from George and Ethel's house.

After breakfast I suggest to Jaycee that she should get everyone in some jeans and boots.

"What's up?" she asked.

"We need to make a round outside, to check on things."

They didn't waste any time and were back in a few minutes. Thankfully Jaycee had brought her rifle and was wearing her web belt. I was decked out too, so we left by the front door. We didn't clear it by five feet before the commotion started. Finally Fawne spoke up.

"This is Pierre's castle, we are inside his walls," she said.

"This was his castle, it's mine now. Pierre is dead and his heirs are dead," I said.

"This is true, but do you think the King will allow you to take the Barony?" Fawne asked.

"It depends on whether the King wants to avoid Pierre's fate," I said.

"But he has many nights and many soldiers," Fawne said.

"I'm sure he does, but we have walls he can't breach and weapons he can't overcome. Let's take a walk to the castle and see what our reception is like," I said.

"Wait Daddy," Meka said, and then went back into the house.

When she returned, probably five minutes later, she was waving good old Pierre's scalp. She had me put it in my belt.

"I wonder if they'll believe it's his," I asked.

"They will believe it. You can be sure that they know what has happened already," Fawne said.

Most of the people that had camped outside the night before were up now and they were all amazed. I let Fawne do the talking as we passed them. There would be time for the grand announcement later.

As we cleared the garage, heading toward the front entrance of my new castle, Fawne spoke up again.

"The walls, they are much more extensive than before. How did that happen so quickly?" she asked.

I knew exactly how it had happened even though I wouldn't have known if she hadn't told me. I almost called for Big Boy but decided against it.

Apparently Fawne had been correct. The guards manning the door knew that Pierre wouldn't be coming back, but they hadn't made the connection that I was the one that caused it.

In fact I don't think they'd done much of anything since the sun rose except stare at my home and wonder what the hell was going on. Still they tried to do their duty when we approached. It was clear that we were not going to be allowed in. Fawne spoke with them for a few minutes but got nowhere.

"Fawne, do they know what this is hanging from my belt?" I asked her.

"Yes, I told them, but they say it makes no difference," she said.

"Please ask them to decide which one of them I should kill to convince the other that I will be entering. It seems pointless to kill them both," I said.

She talked to them again and I could tell she wasn't getting anywhere. I did notice that one of them, the younger one, was more belligerent than the other. I pulled my Glock and shot him in the chest, then pointed it at the other one.

The older one put his hand toward the hilt of his sword but he was eyeing me closely. I just shook my head slowly and he must have decided now was not the time. He didn't know exactly how I'd done it, but he did know that his partner was very dead.

"Ask him if he'll lead us to whoever is in charge here," I told Fawne.

She asked and he agreed. I thought he hadn't given up yet and was probably considering how to get help. He was most likely leading us to a place where he felt others would be waiting.

"Fawne, you'd better remind him that no matter what happens to us, he'll be the first to die," I said.

When she spoke a few more words our guide must have realized the truth of the wisdom Fawne was sharing with him. He yelled out something and Fawne told me he was announcing the arrival of the mew master.

Of course it didn't go that smoothly. We were met shortly by a larger man and his much better clothing and fancier sword let me know that if he wasn't in charge here he was a lot closer than to it than our guide.

He stopped in front of us and began speaking. While Fawne talked to him Jaycee talked to me.

"Fair is fair, you got the first one and this one is mine if it comes to it," she said.

"Fine, but I've been thinking, maybe we'd be better off to just wound him. Can you get a knee or two pretty quick?" I asked.

"Is a pig's ass pork?" she asked.

"Well do it if he tried to start any shit," I said.

"Nearly at once the big asshole took the hilt of his sword in hand and began to draw it. I yanked Fawne clear and Jaycee's Glock told him how things were going to be. It explained that he was going to be a cripple for the rest of his life, however short that might be. He hadn't even gotten the sword all the way out.

I'll say this for the big Frenchman, he had more guts than I'd expected. He began yelling his lungs out and didn't stop until Jaycee put about half of the Glock in his mouth. Our guide was rather nervous by this time and just then I noticed why. I pulled my Glock again.

Running toward us down the hall were six men who had taken the time to get their swords out already. I was tired of listening to Fawne try to explain things to hard headed men so I started firing, keeping my shots down around leg level. It worked very well since shortly all the running sword wavers were lying on the hall's floor, mostly moaning and crying. And bleeding, they were bleeding a lot.

Fawne, please see if you can't figure out something for our first recruit to yell that will make the others stop and think a little before we end up killing them all," I said.

After a little more talking he and she came up with something and he began yelling it at the top of his lungs. Soon enough two more armed men came our way but they didn't have their hands near their swords.

They looked at the six on the floor and then came closer and took a look at the former head man, the one that still had an alarming amount of Glock in his mouth and then they turned away from us, and started yelling something back in the direction they'd come from.

"What are they saying?" I asked.

"They are calling for the others to remain calm and informing them that this one is down, wounded, and at our mercy," Fawne said, pointing to Jaycee's pal.

"Jaycee, why don't you take that out of his mouth and see if he's reconsidered his options?" I asked.

She did and apparently he had. He asked Fawne if it would be possible for him to be carried out into the sunlight so that he could swear fealty to me before he died. I was touched, not a lot but at least a little.

"Big Boy, is there anything you can do about the mess Jaycee made of his knees?" I asked, in my thoughts.

"Certainly. He actually seems to have come to the conclusion that you belong here. At least he had no further intention of harming you."

"He waited just a little too late to see the light though," I thought to him.

"Oh, I think we can safely give him a short treatment," Big Boy said.

Suddenly the big Frenchman disappeared, right before our eyes as the saying goes. One second he was there bleeding and the next, nothing but blood on the floor.

Our guide had been stoic until now, but when his boss just vanished he fainted dead away. Oh well, I doubted we'd get lost.

"We might as well go see how the other wounded are doing," I said, and we walked to where they were lying.

All but one of them were in better shape than they had any right to be. The one was bleeding to death quickly though. My shot hadn't been as good on him and it had hit his femur, of course the trip through his femur ripped through the artery on its way.

"I need to get a tourniquet on that if you want him to live," Jaycee said, kneeling by him.

"See if you can save him. I was trying for a flesh wound on all of them but I must have pulled that one off a little," I said.

"Hell, five out of six is damned good shootin' any day," she said.

"He probably wouldn't agree," I said.

"He'd better if he doesn't want to bleed out right here and now. I'm his only hope," she said, and then laughed.

Jaycee is a card but she's also a hell of a good medic. She tied him off in less than a minute, leaving him to Cécile and moving to check out the next one. Soon enough she had everyone plugged up with pressure bandages. Of course most of them had to hold their own pressure, but they were being diligent about it.

"Aren't there any servants in this place? I thought castles had servants everywhere," Jaycee said, when she had tended to the last one.

"I'm sure there are many. If I can wake the guide up I'll send him for some. How many do you need?" Fawne asked.

"We need two for each of these men, two strong ones. I need to get them to my clinic," Jaycee said.

"I will see to it," Fawne said, and went back to the one that had led us in.

Sure enough he was with us again and Fawne sent him off for help.

"What about the worst one. Will he make it?" I asked.

"He will if I can get him to the clinic. He needs at least a couple of units of plasma pretty quick though, and I have to get to work on that artery. I'm not sure I can take care of it. The only alternative is to take his leg off. I can do that," she said.

"Does anyone else know where the gurneys are?" I asked.

"Yes, I showed all of them, but I might as well go myself. I can provide my own protection," she said, and she was up and gone.

Servants began appearing about then and I had Delphine lead them away with four of the wounded. Those four had the least damage and could hop along with a man on each side.

When Jaycee got back she had two gurneys and they were being pushed by women from her impromptu fire team from yesterday. We got the last two loaded and Jaycee and the others took off with them.

Just as our original guide showed up with what I figured was the second in command here, the head man reappeared, good as new. When he saw me he hit his formerly destroyed knees before me, babbling something.

"What's that all about, Fawne," I asked.

"He's begging you to allow him to swear fealty and then serve you in any way you wish," she said, and then giggled.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"He said be you angel or devil it made no difference to him," she said, and gave a little laugh this time.

"I'll let him make up his own mind about that. Tell him to find the rest of his men, I'll let those that want to swear to me do so; we'll kill the rest," I said.

She told him and he left to see about it, I guess.

"Fawne, what in the hell am I supposed to do during all this?" I asked.

"Just stand outside with them and look important while they grovel. Tell them each that you accept their oath and I'll take care of everything else in the translation. I doubt that a single one of them speaks English," she said.

The telling about it was a lot faster than the doing. Hell, I spent nearly three hours outside listening to eighty-five knights, or whatever they really were, swear to do their best to do their duty to God and me, or that was the gist of it anyway.

When I asked, Fawne told me that the normal servants didn't require this kind of treatment; they could just swear to trust, honor, and obey in a bunch, later. That suited me, because it was getting to be time for me to sit at a table somewhere and eat,

I'll be damned if one of the first ones that had sworn and returned to his duties didn't come down off the top of the wall then, babbling about something, and he seemed excited.

"What's he worked up about?"

"It must be the men you sent away dragging the bodies. He said that there is a large group of naked men returning and that they seem to be dragging men behind them," Fawne said, and then laughed right in my face.

Dammit, what were they doing still dragging those bodies, surely someone would have cut them loose or hell, they should have been able to get themselves loose in all this time.

"What's the deal, Big Boy," I thought to him, knowing I was coming to depend on him and unable to just wait and get the word from the men.

"Maybe it was wrong of me, but I dissuaded the men from trying to release themselves along the way and we made sure no one else would approach them," Big Boy thought back at me.

"No harm, no foul, it just surprised me. Besides, if I think I can trust them I might give them their old jobs back," I thought to him.

"If you'd like, we can make sure all your new "employees" can be trusted - for the short run if you'd like, or from now on if you'd prefer.

It took me a few seconds to catch up but then I realized he was talking about the adjustments They had been so fond of making. In this case I was all for it.

What the hell, here I was in bum fuck France and couldn't even speak the language. If that wasn't enough trouble, I was about to become a Baron whether the King wanted me to or not. I could use a little help with the details.

"Just give them a good dose of loyalty after they've sworn to me and don't let them backslide. I think I'm going to have enough on my plate without worrying about watching my back in my own castle," I thought to him.

And wasn't that a trip, my own castle. I hadn't even had the grand tour yet. I'll say one thing, it did look impressive.

I had the gates opened so the naked troops could come right on in, but I made sure to be out of sight as they did and also kept my girls hidden away. As soon as the last one dragged his load inside I ordered the gate closed again and went out to talk to the new arrivals, motioning for Fawne to come with me.

I could see it when Big Boy let the fog clear enough for the tired naked men to realize exactly who was coming to greet them. Many of them looked like they wanted to cry. I asked Fawne to translate for me while I gave them a little speech.

"Welcome home men. As you can see Pierre and his sons were on a fool's errand and you know that they ended up where fools often do. You have done a good job bringing your fallen comrades home.

"You'll be released shortly and I offer you the chance to swear fealty to me. After those of you that take my offer are finished, the rest will be killed. That will make it easier on the grave diggers because they can get rid of the nasty job with one big grave," I said.

Funny, but when it came time to swear fealty, no one turned me down.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 30


Having my own castle was not my biggest shock about being back in the there and then. The things a castle, or more correctly a Barony, involved were.

A castle is not just a castle or at least this one wasn't. It was the residence of the head of government for a particular area. As such it was pretty much in the center of a small town that just happened to be within walls. I didn't so much own a castle now, I owned a walled city, and my castle was in that city. I was also pretty sure that I owned, or at least controlled even more land than what my walls surrounded.

Thanks to Big Boy and his henchman, my walled city now encompassed more area than it had. In fact, the two nearest outlying villages had been brought in out of the cold, so to speak.

My walls were now surrounding a four-mile by five-mile roughly rectangular area, and until my house landed, there hadn't been one fucking commode anywhere near. You had to be careful where you stepped to keep from cutting your foot.

All in all, sixteen hundreds France was filthy, to put it mildly. Horse shit, dog shit, cat shit, chicken shit, bullshit, and even human shit was everywhere. This could not go on, not if I was going to spend any time here.

I didn't know what I was going to do about it but I was going to do something. I didn't want to rely on Big Boy to take care of every detail, but I couldn't see a way out of putting the shitty job on him.

Speaking of shitty jobs, Fawne had surprised and delighted me by volunteering to take over running the castle. This was no small job; there were over a hundred servants, including the gardeners, and those that took care of the livestock.

The castle had its own barn for carriage and riding stock, and separate fields held animals intended for the Baron's table, plus a dairy barn. I didn't know how I felt about that; it seemed just a little to upper crusty for a good old boy like me. I didn't demand any changes, yet.

Frankly I didn't know enough about it to demand changes. That's why I was so happy when Fawne wanted the job. I had visions of letting her run the whole mess if she would.

The shit in the streets was on my mind though and I couldn't think of anyone better to ask for suggestions than Fawne. I tracked her down in a small study type room where she was going over some kind of paperwork.

"I need a suggestion, or maybe more than one," I said, as I entered the room.

"I hope I can help," she said.

It was a little embarrassing at first; discussing what to do about the shit getting too deep was not something I normally did, and I didn't like it in the least. Fawne listened to my tale of woe though and seemed to smile wider and wider as my discomfort became apparent to her. When I finished she didn't even take any time to think it over.

"Don't worry about it, I've already taken care of that?" she said.

I was stunned, or nearly so. I'd been wondering what to do about it all morning and she just said she'd already taken care of it. I couldn't help myself.

"But, how?"

"Pierre was a pig, he didn't care about it, even though he had men here who were supposed to keep at least the main streets clean. I sent for them and asked their lead man what the problem was. As I expected, there was no real problem, he and his men had discovered Pierre didn't pay it any attention so they had just stopped keeping it cleaned up," she said.

"Did you explain the error of their ways?" I asked.

"No, I didn't bother. They knew they weren't doing their job and needed no explanation. I simply told them that they'd be licking any shit off the boots of everyone in the castle if they didn't have the streets clean by this time next week.

"They'll also be acquiring large barrels and carts to pull around to every house or shop from now on so that people can empty their chamber pots into the barrels instead of throwing them onto the street. That will save having to shovel it up later," she said.

"Do you think they will wait for the wagon?" I asked.

"The ones that don't will be licking boots too, I made sure the word would get around. I don't think we'll have any trouble. Of course we can't train the horses, mules, and other animals to do better but that comes under the clean up men's duties too," she said.

I was amazed that she was doing so well already so I thanked her and got out of her hair. But the shitty problem kept gnawing at me.

What she had arranged would probably do the job, but sewers and toilets would be so much better. Come to think of it, my nose would appreciate it a lot if some accommodation for more baths or showers were made.

"I can almost feel you wanting to asks me something," Big Boy put into my head, and it nearly seemed like he was amused.

"Remember, you started this. How much trouble would a sewer system, running water, bathtubs, and showers be?" I asked, going for the whole deal in one question.

"As a matter of fact, nearly none. The biggest difficulty will be stretching their hovels to include a bathroom and that won't really be significant. While we're at it we might as well rearrange a few things; straighten out the streets, do a little city planning, that sort of thing.

"In fact, plumbing the castle will need the most attention. It will probably require some structural work. That's no bother either and actually, it needs some reinforcing anyway," Big Boy said, and he seemed almost eager.

"Will we need to move everyone out, like we had to do for my house?" I asked.

"No. It will be done in the morning, the only thing odd about it will be the violent thunderstorm just after sunset and everyone's urge to go home and go to bed. Of course there will be some questions in the morning," Big Boy told me.

"Excellent. I'm glad you're available to help me, I don't know a damned thing about being a Baron," I said.

"Actually it's duc in French, but the titles are nearly equivalent. You should also be thinking about a name for your holdings. Pierre was the "le Duc d'Aumale," but we have increased your holdings somewhat, and no doubt you will increase them even more in the next few days," Big Boy told me.

"How will I increase them?" I asked, skeptical at least.

"By conquest, of course."

"Do I need to start a war or something?" I asked.

"No, it will come to you. Pierre's and his son's deaths will bring nearby nobles to challenge your assumption of his lands," Big Boy explained.

"So I should prepare to defend this place?"

"You might want to let your head man know that two small armies are approaching, but he probably knows already, or suspects at least. Your main defenses have already been provided," Big Boy said.

"They have?"

"Yes, we took the liberty of expanding and upgrading your walls when we moved your home here. Nothing available in this time can do them damage.

"We estimate that the best policy would be to spread riflemen at positions on top of the wall, with the longer range rifles we have provided; then simply kill the leaders of those that are going to attack," Big Boy said, as if it were an everyday thing, and then I could tell he had gone.

He had an annoying way of doing that, but I guess it was for the best. It would be pointless for me to just ask him everything. There were people I could interact with and I probably should be doing more of it.

"Fawne, I have a feeling that we need to be watching for an attack from without," I said, hoping she could give me a clue.

"I've directed Geron to send scouts out. I know there will be an attack, I'm just not sure how soon. Surely they will come within a few days though," she said.

"Geron, who is Geron?" I asked.

"He is the leader of all the men within these walls, especially the fighting men. He is the one who was miraculously healed after Jaycee shot him," Fawne said.

"Oh, I didn't know his name," I said, feeling even dumber.

"Yes, he is actually quite a good one. He is very happy about the improvements to the walls too, very happy," Fawne said.

"I might just find him and make him even happier then," I said.

"Oh?"

"Yes, I've been assured of his complete loyalty and he might be a good one to share my firearms with," I said.

Fawne didn't comment, but she did call for someone named Gustav. He appeared at once and she rattled off instructions in French. After Gustav beat feet she explained that she'd sent him to fetch Geron. I found a chair and parked my ass.

Geron appeared shortly, bowing and scraping and asking my pleasure - in English this time. I didn't know if he'd been holding out on me the first time or if he'd had help in a crash course, otherworldly help at that. I didn't care which.

"Are you prepared to learn to use a new weapon?" I asked him.

"Anything for my Lord," he said.

"Come with me then," I said, and headed out the door.

I'd been intending to take him over to my house and introduce him to my underground rifle range. As we neared the ground floor I was internally guided toward a doorway that led only to stairs going down. Geron didn't seem surprised to be using the stairs so I figured things were still normal.

Things stopped being normal after we'd descended into an underground hall. I spotted the by now familiar glowing handprint that marked a doorway for me. Also, as was often the case, it opened an elevator. Geron and I entered, though he was very surprised by now.

When the elevator let us out we were in yet another basement's basement. It was an even larger underground firing range and it was humongous. The arrangements for rifles weren't so numerous, probably twenty-five stations, but there were stations for at least a hundred bowmen.

Another nearby glowing print showed me the way to the castle's new armory and I led Geron to it. He was in for more shocks inside and I was too, actually. The first thing I noticed was a rack with about fifty Barretts, the ultimate sniper rifle, and with alien improvements too.

Their scopes weren't nearly as impressive looking as models from my original Earth would have been, but they were a vast improvement. A little futzing with the lights let me see that their night vision capabilities were as good as everything else I'd grown accustomed too.

I had Geron grab one and I picked up some ammunition and ear protection for us; then back to the range we went.

I spent a few minutes explaining what it was and how to use it and then half an hour it in and fire it. He was doing respectably well out to five hundred yards before I decided enough was enough for today. Besides, I was counting on someone to have something ready for me to eat.

Someone did in fact have lunch ready, and not only the meal but also the dining room was impressive. The long beautiful hardwood table could have easily accommodated fifty people.

There weren't nearly that many today though, but all my down home friends were here, plus Fawne and there was a place for Geron too. He seemed slightly ill at east but Fawne told him something in his lingo and he settled down.

Tutsie's highstool had been brought over from the house but apparently it didn't suit Fawne in this setting. She was quick to explain that the error had been explained to the majordomo and he had craftsmen working on a suitable item for this dining room. The stool from my house was here on an emergency basis. Tutsie didn't seem annoyed in the least.

When food began arriving he showed that the decor of his stool was the last thing on his mind. I'll admit that it was way down on the list of worries for me too. The maids serving our meal had most of my attention.

I know what you're thinking, because it was the first thing that came to my mind too. Yes, by definition they were French maids, even though I'm not sure that was their official title. And yes, they were very attractive.

There must have been ten or eleven of them bringing food and drink and doing other maid things. They seemed to range from sixteen to nineteen, maybe as old as twenty. Every one was very attractive, but the French Maid uniform that I would have preferred was not on them. They were covered completely, or mostly so.

Jaycee finally caught on to the way I was looking them over.

"Why you dirty old man, you're disappointed that the French Maids aren't wearing what you were hoping for," she said, laughing at me.

"I wasn't really hoping for that, I hadn't even thought about it until I noticed how pretty they all were. Ok, after that I was wishing for them," I said.

"Hell, don't worry about it. Fawne and I will have a talk and I'll help her understand your requirements," Jaycee said, laughing again.

Fawne took her new responsibilities seriously. She gave me such a look and then hit Jaycee with a questioning one.

"Don't worry about it Fawne. He just wants his meal brought to him by nearly naked young girls," Jaycee said, and she even managed not to laugh this time.

Fawne looked at a couple of our servers and then smiled at me.

"We don't want to disappoint our new Lord. I shall make the adjustment," she said.

We paid more attention to the excellent food for a while. I noticed that one of the servers had decided she needed to stay with Tutsie and take care of his feeding so Meka could concentrate on her own plate. Tutsie seemed to be enjoying the extra attention and he waited politely for each morsel to be delivered.

I'd always heard that the French were fussy about food and this meal was the proof of the pudding. They weren't fussy with me but someone had been with the food, it was delicious.

We had many small portions but they were all different and all wonderful, to me at least. I wasn't exactly sure what I was eating but I know I had a dish of beef, pork, fish, and two different of fowl. Numerous soups, vegetables, and there were four different deserts. Of course I made a pig of myself, so much so that Jaycee and Fawne were both giggling about it before I was done.

"Fawn, I don't know what the cook or cooks are paid, but I want the salary of everyone that has anything to do with food doubled," I said.

"Very well, John, I'll see to it," she said, still smiling.

Apparently coffee had been brought over from my house and someone had been taught to make it. They'd been taught well and after we'd eaten I had plenty. Geron had done a respectable job on the groceries himself, but he had been completely quiet during the meal.

"Jaycee, I've given Geron his first lesson with a Barrett this morning but now that I think about it, I believe we should have several snipers ready for unannounced guest," I said.

"I'm glad you came up with that, I was going to mention it. Have you been up along the top of our wall?" she asked me.

"Not yet."

"You should take a look sometime, but I have to say that someone did an excellent job. The crenellation is wonderfully designed; the embrasures are firing stations made to provide super stable rifle rest. They're the perfect height for standing, they even had sandbags for rest, every one of them all the way around the walls," she said.

"Really. There are that many stations?" I asked.

"Yes there are, the merlons are five feet wide and the crenels are twenty-four inches wide," she said, grinning.

"Someone is going to get a very nasty surprise if we can get some men trained to use modern rifles. Geron caught on to the Barrett pretty quickly. If we have enough of the M1 type rifles we won't be bothered often," I said.

I told her about the firing range and armory that had been installed in the castle and when she volunteered to do most of the training. I was only too happy to put her in charge of things down there.

Taking the time to check out the top of the wall was my next trick. It was perfect, or at least it was better than I could have imagined. Of course I had no experience in this type of thing, but the way it was done seemed perfect to me.

Behind the top of the outer wall was an eight-foot walkway all the way around the circumference. The outer wall, above the walkway was three feet thick and the battlements were as Jaycee had described them. It would probably look a little odd to people of this time with the merlons being so much wider than the crenels but what the hell. I didn't really care how it looked. It was perfect for our weapons.

I didn't even consider walking all the way around it, since it was several miles. I did wonder that there were no cannons though, not even small ones. Of course the wall wasn't like Pierre had left it so maybe my friends had done away with any cannons. Pieces from this time wouldn't have been even nearly as effective as a few men armed with Barretts and a couple of mortars down on the ground anyway, still it seemed odd for a castle not to have cannons.

The only hope an attacker had of success was going to be extremely costly to them. It was easily thirty feet to the lowest point of the crenellations and they were only two feet wide. It would be a bitch for men on ladders to get anywhere with something like that.

Siege towers would have to be built for any hope of success and they'd have to be built at least a thousand yards from the wall or a few men with Barretts would keep them from being built at all. Out past a thousand yards the mortars could rain death for another two thousand yards at least.

My chances of remaining unharmed looked to be excellent. In this time period fighting had to be up close and personal. Of course there was a chance that large field pieces could be brought from somewhere, and I didn't have any knowledge of how far out they could set up and still get a round over the wall to do some damage. They had exactly zero chance of breaching the wall though.

"If you will spend a little time looking around under the castle you will find that they have exactly zero chance of doing anything to you," Big Boy sent me, but he didn't elaborate.

I didn't have any trouble figuring out what he meant though. There was other equipment that I hadn't found yet. Probably for the reason he mentioned. I hadn't looked past the armory and the new firing range.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 31


That meant I had a little exploring to do, and I headed back for the newly discovered range and armory first. I walked past their doors and continued down the hall. It was probably new too and I noticed that it was finished more like my home's basements.

About a hundred feet down the hall from the firing range's door I saw another handprint. When I opened it I couldn't believe what I found. It was so far from anything I would have imagined that I stumbled on the way in, nearly falling, even though the floor was perfectly smooth.

I didn't know what to examine first.

There were two helicopters. They were obvious military types but I was not familiar with them. The four tracked vehicles that resembled Bradleys were recognizable, even though they seemed half again as wide as a Bradley.

The two tanks seemed almost mundane since they were Abrams M1 A1s or damned near it. The two tracked cannons stumped me. I think I'd seen pictures of something nearly like them before but I didn't have any idea what they were called or what they were capable of. I left at once and headed back to find Jaycee.

I met her, Geron, and about twenty men near the door to the range.

"Jaycee, I know you haven't had time to get going yet, but you need to come with me for a while. I've found something else," I said.

"Can you give me time to get them started?" she asked.

"I should, but I can't wait. I have to know what I've stumbled onto," I said.

She had Geron take them men into the range and told him to try explaining what he'd already done. She and I both knew it wouldn't go very far but dammit, I had to show her what I'd found.

When we entered the new area I'd found Jaycee wasn't as shocked as I'd been, but she nearly was.

"My God," she said, "Those look like Comanches."

"What in the hell are Comanches?"

"They were supposed to be the next generation of armed reconnaissance helicopters. They were canceled, but not because they weren't up to the job. They cost too much for W and he needed the money to give rich people tax breaks," she said.

"I guess we could use them now and then, but if they're only for Reconnaissance they probably won't be much help," I said.

"They do killing too. They were also meant to serve as attack helicopters for light divisions. A lot of their capabilities won't be needed here since they can be armed for air to air combat too and they're stealthy. Probably the 20mm cannon will be our primary use, though the 56 Hydras it can carry could come in handy," she said, smiling.

"Oh, in other words they can probably slaughter a few hundred pikemen and cavalry without much bother," I said, thinking of the damage a few mortar rounds had done to mounted men.

"Just the fact that it can fly will probably scare the shit out of anyone around here," she said.

"Well what about this other stuff?" I asked, waving toward the tracked vehicles.

"Looks like somebody though the Bradleys needed more troop capacity. The two Abrams look fairly normal but the artillery was something that was also canceled for lack of funds," she said.

"Huh."

"They scrapped it for more tax breaks, or for something anyway. These weren't going to be cheap," she said.

"So they're not just tanks with bigger guns?"

"No, they're artillery. That's a 155mm tube and anything that receives its blessing is going to be hurt, especially now-a-days. They're impressive as hell but I don't see any need to break them out to deal with a few foot soldiers or mounted knights," she said.

"Can you operate one of them if they do drag some cannons of their own up?" I asked.

"If I need to I think I can touch off a few rounds. The damned things are mostly automated anyway. You basically tell them where you want the round to impact and what type of round you want to use and then click a button. The main drawback for us is that their range is five to forty-five kilometers. Even if we killed something with them, no one would know we did it," she said.

As the new information settled I looked around and was able to spot other things that weren't so foreign to me. There were dozens of Hum-Vs, most with some type of weapon mounted on them. We also had trucks, bulldozers, and other earth moving equipment.

I asked her about another tracked vehicle that we had four of and that appeared to have no weapon at all.

"Those are Wolverines. That's a 24 meter bridge on top of it. They can deploy and recover the bridge, and they can come in very handy," she said.

"Look at this," she said, as she walked around the widened Bradleys.

"Isn't it just a wider version, to carry more troops?" I asked.

"Mostly, but they all mount an M121, a one hundred and twenty millimeter mortar. They will be a lot more useful than the Crusaders will. I think minimum range is two hundred meters or so. That's something we can use up close and personal," she said.

"Well I don't know shit about most of it and this is now your domain," I said.

"Fine, I doubt we'll need any of this, but if we do have to crank up one of those birds you'll have to go along to help. They aren't single seat machines," she said.

"I don't know how to fly a helicopter," I said.

"I know, but you're going to have to learn how to fire some of the weapons. I'll be busy doing the flying if it comes down to it," she said.

"Damn," I said, "A king's work is never done."

She just laughed at me and told me I wasn't a king yet.

We left it for now and she went back to the range to start training our new snipers. I went back upstairs and as I walked into Fawne's makeshift office I saw Meka, holding Tutsie.

"Daddy, we look you. Tutsie me want swim," she said.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I'm tired of the women bossing me around anyway."

We went back to my house, changed and then went out to our lake where we had a nice afternoon of swimming. Cécile and Adèle joined us after awhile and Delphine came out a little later. After the three of them arrived I spent most of my time petting and fondling and just watched Meka swimming.

Later we had our supper in the castle and it was delicious. It was also coming up to sundown and when the thunder reminded me what was about to happen, I had Fawne lead us to my new quarters. She'd already mentioned that she'd made sure they were cleaned and ready for us. Meka didn't have a room here yet so she was going to sleep with us.

I know I should have taken time to compliment Fawne on her work getting Pierre's former accommodations ready for us, but I didn't have time to take. I could see that Fawne realized this herself this time. One trip at They's expense always left you able to realize when another was at hand.

Meka declined the night wear of all my other bedtime guest. She kept her tiny thong on while the others were naked like me. I was thankful again that I never seemed to get a real boner in her presence.

Fawn furnished a titty to keep my hand warm again but it was Meka that snuggled up to my back. No matter, Fawne knew where to park my dick by now and it was soon warming and growing between her thighs. Tutsie was the one whose normal sleeping space was disturbed so he made himself comfortable on top of me. And then, with one last loud crash of thunder we were asleep.

Later I got a short visit from Big Boy but all he wanted was permission to speak to Jaycee directly. He intended to explain some of the features he and his people had added to the equipment they'd furnished us. It didn't bother me in the least and I told him to go ahead.

I woke first again the next morning and managed to get out of bed without waking anyone but Tutsie. He hopped off the bed behind me and followed me into what I thought was probably my new bathroom. It was.

What's the difference between a castle and a palace. I don't know and actually don't know if there is a difference. I did realize that my new bathroom was palatial. The shower would have been fine for me and a dozen of so of my closest friends, and while I had an old style claw-footed single occupancy tub, I also had a whirlpool type fit for even more friends than the shower.

Of course the commodes were Meka specials and I noticed right away that all the fittings were gold with ivory trim. What the hell, even if they'd used real ivory there were a lot more elephants in this time period. I didn't even use my new urinal since I just peed on the shower's floor while I was rinsing off.

We even had a space for Tutsie in here. It was toward the back of the extra large bath and was a twelve by twelve square of indoor lawn. I checked and it was real grass growing in real dirt. I didn't even want to know how that was possible. Tutsie wasn't too impressed, he just walked out, took a leak, and the scratched around on it some.

When I got back to the bedroom the girls were climbing out of bed. Meka moved toward Tutsie but when she got close he turned around and led her into the bathroom. No doubt he was going to show her his new spot.

Jaycee gave me such a look when I saw her and I had to ask.

"What?"

"You could have warned me?" she said.

"No I couldn't, I only found out about it after we were asleep," I said.

"No harm I guess, it just isn't exactly normal to get that much training in your sleep. I'll admit that I was scared at first," she said.

"Did you learn anything?"

"Other than the fact that we have a few satellites up and full GPS capability you mean? Not much else except that we have six drone helicopters, very small ones that we can send up for constant surveillance of the nearest few hundred square miles.

"Oh yeh, the fueling, or lack of it I guess. All our equipment fuels itself somehow, no matter where it is, rearms itself too. Now there's an innovation the real army should be looking into. Abrams tanks that have new rounds appear as the others are used up," she said.

"Damn, it sounds like they mean for us to stay a while," I said.

"Whether they intend for us to or not, I want to. It'll take me weeks to learn to use all that stuff," she said.

"Well, it isn't like we'll miss out on anything at home," I said.

I could tell that my last statement caused Fawne, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine some concern, so I explained to them that it would be the next morning when we got back home. I could tell that they didn't want to think about that long. Come to think of it, I didn't either.

Jaycee noticed the new bathroom doors then. Mine first but then she spied one on the other side of the room and correctly deduced that it was for the women. They all headed that way, even Meka. Tutsie showed his extreme intelligence again by staying with me. I was about to head out to face the world when the squealing started.

Normally I wouldn't just barge into the ladies bathroom but I made an exception. I needn't have. The noise was from their excitement. They loved their new bathroom but that wasn't what had them giddy. They had new closets too, enormous closets and someone had been shopping for them while they slept.

They were examining clothes and didn't even notice that I'd come in. I reached down to grab Tutsie and we made our escape. Surely I could find food or at least someone that was about to cook some.

When I got to the dining room we'd used yesterday I saw that progress on the French Maid attire had been made, but I wasn't sure it was Fawne's doing. In fact I was almost positive it wasn't.

The girl that met me when I opened the door showed me to my seat at the head of the table. She was wearing what I considered the ultimate French Maid outfit, even the little lace cap like thing on her head.

The rest of her outfit was black with just a little white trim. I don't know how the top stayed up since there were no straps. It barely came up above her nipples, and the neckline plunged nearly to her navel. Her back was also mostly bare, though there was a skirt, or sorts.

Said skirt was short, very short, but it wasn't tight. There was easily enough room for my hand to explore under it. When she bowed slightly to pull my chair back I saw that she had been equipped with a thong, and I'd already noticed that she had a garter belt holding up her thigh high stockings.

Actually they were damned near beaver high. Something was going on with the straps that hung from the garter belt to hold the stockings up too. No matter how she moved they seemed to stay against her legs even though they didn't seem to be elastic. More of Big Boy's tricks I guessed.

When she pushed the chair up under me as I sat, I gave one of splendid ass cheeks a friendly squeeze. She smiled and headed to the kitchen. In perfect English she told me she'd bring coffee and a sweet roll. Good for her.

She was back and with a friend in what seemed only seconds. The first one had a silver tray with assorted pastries on it and the friend had another one with a silver coffee service. I figured it must all be new since I doubted Pierre had owned such. The tip off was one of my Texaco insulated plastic mugs in a place of prominence. I noticed there was also one for Meka.

Everything in the room looked better this morning, except for Tutsie's highstool. It was the same one from my house. I wondered about it but wasn't going to ask. Big Boy volunteered an answer anyway.

"We are letting the craftsmen handle Tutsie's stool, unless you object," he thought at me.

"That will be fine, there's no hurry," I thought right back.

Tutsie didn't feel slighted since his personal server had come out too, with a silver plate containing doggy appetizers. Damned if he wasn't eating them slowly, one at a time.

Meka led the girls in about then and they were all, including Meka, dressed in period costume. Jaycee didn't seem thrilled about her get up but she did look wonderful in it. Once they had all been seated the food flood commenced.

Our servers seemed to take turns with who they were serving which time. I did notice that they all made it by my place to give me a chance to pat their fanny. Even Tutsie's personal pet refilled my coffee mug once and I didn't slight her either.

Fawne finally spoke up.

"I wonder if everyone has had improvements in their living conditions. I was very surprised but very happy about our bathrooms and especially our closets. I also see now what Jaycee was trying to explain about the new attire for our servers," she said.

"I noticed that little detail myself," Jaycee said, "I guess someone made a special request upstairs."

"No, I promise I didn't mention it. I'm sure they were just trying to save Fawne the bother," I said, hoping it would satisfy them.

Of course it didn't and the next few minutes were spent teasing me about it. It seems that even Meka had noticed the friendly way I was thanking the girls for their attention this morning.

"Daddy pet every ass, Jaycee. Maybe you should bring coffee too," she said, and I'm sure she thought she was helping. I just wondered who she was intending to help.

"No need to horn in on their fun, as long as he doesn't neglect my cheeks if we ever get a night when we're not going somewhere. John, have you looked outside to see where we are today?" she asked.

"No, but I don't think we moved. I had some warning that there would be maintenance work last night," I said.

"Didn't they do all that the first night," Fawne asked.

"No, that was mostly just moving us and fixing up the wall. I believe everyone got a bathroom last night. They mentioned that they'd have to do some improvements to the "hovels" as they called them. They also said they'd be straightening out the streets and doing some other improvements," I told them.

Our talk was cut short by a slight commotion I could hear outside the entry doors. Soon enough they opened and Geron was standing there, literally with his hat in his hands. I called for him to come in and eat with us. When he sat down I gave him some news.

"Geron, I expect you to eat every meal with us, unless you'd rather not. Don't hesitate to walk right in, you don't need to be announced or anything like that," I said.

He thanked me and started to apologize but I headed that off as tactfully as I could. Hell, I wanted to know what he had come for.

Finally he started telling about the streets moving and the houses being worked on and the barns growing and I just let him go on until he ran down.

"I had a few improvements made during the night. I hope no one was inconvenienced," I said.

He assured me that they hadn't been and said they were all just surprised. He said surprised but I think the word he really wanted to use was astounded. I had trouble not laughing in his face but I made it.

I promised Geron that I'd take a tour outside as soon as we finished breakfast and I'd had time to inspect the kitchen and than the cook. In my heart I wanted to take every one of the nearly naked servers up to my bedroom and thank them good too, but I knew that wasn't going to be possible.

When the meal was over we all took a tour of the kitchen and even I was impressed. It now looked like a commercial restaurant kitchen with all the modern hardware. Gas cooktops, large electric ovens and dozens of other kitchen type things, including several large sinks with hot and cold running water and even a few electric coffee makers. Not to mention commercial type dishwashers and a disposal under every sink drain.

At first I wondered how they'd learned to use their new equipment so fast but then I decided that Big Boy must have had a hand in it. Good enough, there'd be nothing pleasant about someone getting some fingers chewed off by a garbage disposal.

Jaycee intended to spend more time teaching my new forces to fire modern weapons this morning so she didn't take the tour with Geron and I. The other women didn't either. Meka started to but she decided to go up and flush the new toilets instead and she took Tutsie with her. Geron and I headed outside.

Big Boy and his minions had done excellent work. It still looked mostly like a village outside, but everything was now well built and the streets were straight, paved, curbed, and guttered. I couldn't really tell that the houses were any larger than they had been before, but then again I hadn't paid much attention to them in the first place.

I could tell that the people were excited though and there was a lot more running around than there had been yesterday.

All of the barns and outbuildings belonging to the castle were now done in stone, mostly matching that used on my house and barn. All roofs were slate now, even on the peasant's houses. It looked to me like there were several extra buildings from yesterday too.

That wasn't all that was extra either. The barn that had contained the Knight's horses was easily four times the size it had been and when we entered I could see that it was completely full to the brim with fine horseflesh. The grooms were amazed but happy since a more modern type of feed trough and hay racks were also in place.

The last thing that Geron wanted to show me was a new building for the tack and armor. I didn't know where the fighting men had kept their armor before but apparently it hadn't been in a central location. It was now.

From the outside I wondered why the building was so large, it seemed nearly as big as the new barn. Once inside I could see the reason.

It looked like a giant locker room for some type of sports team inside. There was a separate place and locker for every man, and there were plenty of extra ones for later additions.

At each locker there was a new suit of armor, of alien design, and a small area where the man could put it on. The armor looked familiar and resembled other armor I'd seen here and now, but it was standardized. Each set was custom made to fit the wearer but it was all of a style and function. I knew it was custom made because every locker was labeled.

I'd seen enough and really didn't care much about the specific details.

"Everything looks well done, Geron. Be sure to tell me if there's anything else you need. We should have visitors in a few days," I said, hoping to make my escape.

"They will begin arriving midmorning tomorrow. My scouts say they are pushing as fast as they can. No doubt they hope to catch us disorganized and mourning Pierre," he said, and grinned savagely.

"Is anyone mourning Pierre?" I asked.

"I think his favorite dog misses him, but Meka has been comforting him and sharing treats to take his mind off his loss," Geron said, and then laughed.

"Once the others are actually here, how long will it be before we can expect an attack?" I asked.

"It will take them a few days to get organized. They will probably send a small party to the gate tomorrow afternoon. They will come under the white pennant and demand we surrender, offering to spare us if we do," he said.

"Fine. Ignore them. In fact, I don't want anyone at the walls at all. They can't get over them in significant numbers to cause trouble and if we don't open the gate they can't get inside. If a few men do try to climb over the wall they won't be hard to capture, if they make it," I said.

"That seems a little rude, if I may say so," he said.

"I intend for it to seem rude. I intend to make the other Barons think I care nothing for their wishes or opinions, because I don't care, at all.

"All I really care about is their men. I don't want to kill any more of the fighting men than I must. You saw that we have room now for hundreds more men and the Barons are bringing them to us. We must try our best not to damage any of them," I said.

"But what if they won't swear to you after you've dealt with their lords?" he asked.

"Then we'll damage them. I think there is still plenty of room underground for those that won't swear to me," I said.

He got the joke right away and laughed uproariously. Maybe my attempts at humor were getting better after all. Surely a proud Frenchman wouldn't laugh at bad jokes just to suck up to his new boss.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 32


Well, maybe he would at that. No matter, I had to decide what to do when the Barons and their men got here. All I had so far was a general idea of sitting up at the wall and picking off the leaders with Barretts. I really had no idea what their men would do after that.

"Maybe I can help," Big Boy thought to me.

"What did you have in mind?"

"We had in mind providing the weapons we have and then letting you take the natural course of action. We know that they have no hope of doing you damage. They don't even own any significant artillery. They do have an engineer who has seen a trebuchet before but he's never tried to build one."

"In other words their only real hope is talking me into surrendering?"

"Yes. They have gone off half-cocked. I believe that is the expression," he thought to me.

"I'd say they haven't even planned that well. That brings us back to my question. What did you have in mind for them, considering the new information?" I asked.

"More men will be helpful to you, and they are bent on attack. Why don't we let them all fall soundly asleep tonight? We will provide handcuffs and leg irons and you should have plenty of men to make them secure. When they wake in the morning the men you have now can just march them inside," he said.

"No muss, no fuss. I like that much better. It really isn't much fun to just kill them, although I'll probably make an exception in the cases of the Barons.

"Do you know anything about their holdings?"

"Of course, we know everything about their holdings. One is fifteen miles north of you and the other is twenty miles west northwest. Both locations are considerably larger than the one you now occupy."

"Do you think we'll have any difficulties securing their property?" I asked.

"We don't foresee anything that we cannot handle together. If you'll do the talking we will make sure it is enough."

"Excellent. You are a wonderful ally," I said.

"Thank you. It is our pleasure," he thought to me and then he was gone.

All in all I thought this would be even better. We wouldn't even have to shoot the Barons, we could frog march them inside the walls and execute them. No doubt it would avoid a lot of confusion. I even decided to go up and talk down from my walls to the men Geron said would probably show up, if they did show up.

With everything practically arranged I headed back into the castle and made my way to the dining room. It was coffee time. One of the serving girls saw me as soon as I entered and I took a damned good look at her too.

"How may I serve you my lord?" she asked, in perfect English.

That Big Boy had become a caution with making my life easy.

"I was hoping for some coffee," I said.

"Would my lord like to be served in his study?" she asked.

"Yes he would. Would you be so kind as to show him where his study is?"

"Certainly my lord, please follow me," she said.

I was more than glad to; especially with the way her slightly swinging hips put the motion of the ocean in her short skirt. She led my way with her beautiful buns peeking out first one side and then the other.

It was the first trip to my study for me and I was impressed. I didn't exactly have a desk, rather it was a large table, but it did have a nice comfortable looking chair behind it. There were several other overstuffed chairs and a couple of couches in there too, along with several large cabinets and several maps hanging on the walls.

No doubt this was where Pierre, his sons, and his advisors had relaxed after meals. There was even a humidor with several large cigars, right near where Pierre's chair was, I guess it was my chair now. I didn't mind if I did so I took one out, trimmed then end and lit it.

I wasn't really much of a smoker anymore but no one could fault me for taking a cigar now and again, especially since there was no Skoal around. I'm sure powdered snuff was available, but it wasn't the same.

"I'll be right back with your coffee my lord," she said, and was about to turn to leave for it.

"Better bring a helper back with you. I may need other errands taken care of and I don't want to be lonely if I must send you off again," I said.

She blushed crimson, but agreed that it would probably be best.

I didn't think I was being unreasonable. I'd spent the last couple of nights in bed with beautiful women but it hadn't done me a damned bit of good, and there was every chance we'd have to go somewhere tonight too. No doubt we'd need to assert control over some new castle. I was thinking about getting a little pussy before lunch.

I'd come to my senses before they got back with the coffee. Just because I was riding herd on a feudal barony didn't mean I had to act like a pig. I did give each girl a ride in my lap and a little light fondling, but it was all in fun, for now anyway. They blushed but when I kissed them they kissed back, and I wasn't the only one fondling.

Luckily for me they were gathering up the trays to leave when Meka and Tutsie came in. Meka gave them both a looking over and then looked at me and grinned like a little wild child.

I wasn't fooling her for a second. Apparently I wasn't fooling Tutsie either because he came bounding across the floor, jumped up into my lap and began barking at me while he wagged his tail at least a hundred miles and hour.

Meka didn't give the serving girls another glance. She came around behind my table and stood by the chair.

"Tutsie me want ride Missy, you ride Joe Bob, please Daddy," she said.

"Your wish is my command my princess," I said, handing her Tutsie and standing to go.

We headed to my barn to saddle and fork our broncs. When they were dressed to ride we led them to the front of my house and I reached inside the front door for my Marlin. We were on our way after that.

Missy was a small, very small horse, but Joe Bob wasn't. Still, compared to the warhorses he was diminutive. He wasn't nearly so tall and probably weighed five hundred pounds less than the smallest of them. That didn't bother him in the least though.

Joe Bob still had his balls down there swinging and he could smell mares when we he was out of the barn. He sounded off to let them know he was around. That was the extent of his shenanigans though and after I had my rifle in the saddle scabbard I got up then Meka, Tutsie, and I took off for a ride.

We started around to the west, generally following along our outer wall. We'd made about a mile when we came to a large gate. It was across a road that passed through the wall and into our little town. There were two guards manning it and we stopped to talk. I hoped that they knew at least a little English.

One of them did and both of them knew exactly who I was, I could tell by the way they treated us.

"Any problems today?" I asked.

"No, my lord. We have had a few people come in but we were told to keep the gate closed and only open it for people we were sure of," one of them said.

"Isn't the gate a lot of trouble to open and close?" I asked.

"Not now my lord. Since the wall changed all we have to do is press what they call a button. We push it and the gate lowers into the ground, as if by magic. If we press it again the gate rises. It is very fast and no trouble at all now," he said, grinning.

"Well, I'm sure they'll send word if you should stop opening it. We are expecting trouble later today," I said.

"Yes, lord. We've been told. The new box inside talks to us when we have instructions," he said, offering to show it to me.

I'd seen an intercom before so I declined. Meka and I continued our ride. Later we came to a bridge over a small stream. The stream was probably twenty feet wide and it was flowing gently on its way. The bridge might have been there for years but it had been lately improved, last night probably.

We didn't even make it to a corner before we turned around and headed back. Meka had enjoyed the ride but she was afraid she'd tire Missy out. Poor Missy, moved from one gravy train to another.

When we got back to the barn there were two grooms waiting to take charge of Joe Bob and Missy. I didn't mind but I asked them what was up. Only one seemed to speak English and he told me that the main man over the horses hadn't noticed us going to the barn and he'd been shamed that we had to saddle our own mounts.

"Tell him not to worry. I usually saddle my own mount," I said.

"But sire, he's sent us here as our regular duty now," the man said.

"Fine, I may still saddle my own mount but I won't run you off from your easy job. Someone needs to be here to look after my personal stock," I said, and finished by telling him that Simon was Jaycee's mount and that Jasper and Jeffry were my personal mules.

Meka and I had made it back just in time for lunch. Everyone else was in the dining room when we entered and as soon as I was seated food began appearing.

I could get used to this. Actually I'd already gotten used to it at George and Ethel's house. The food here was wonderful but not really any better than in east Texas. The serving girls though, I don't mean to be critical of Ethel, Wanda, Geneva, and Carolyn but their costumes couldn't hold a candle to these. I did need to speak to the head cook and bottle washer though, about coffee cake.

I barely had time to finish my third mug of coffee after lunch when one of Geron's men came to the dining room with the happy news that a small army was approaching. Of course everyone wanted to come and join in the excitement. I decided to let them. Jaycee made us wait a few minutes while she went down to get the Barrett she claimed as her own.

When she came back she had one of her trainees with her and he was carrying a box with probably twenty pairs of binoculars in it. I was so glad she'd thought of them that I kissed her on the spot.

"You're a wonder woman, that's what you are. I can never remember things like that until I'm already on the spot and need them," I said.

"Can it, you just wanted a kiss," she said, and then led the way to the wall.

When we were up top and could look out through the embrasures we saw that a parley party was already on the way. There were probably twenty of them, all decked out and no place to fight. Behind them were at least five or six hundred men setting up a camp.

It seemed like it took forever for the white pennant on top of a lance to reach us, and when the obvious leader of the pack started spouting off French titles I wished we hadn't bothered to wait. I cut him off after a bit.

"Speak English or turn around and go back," I said.

He started again, still in French.

"Ok, lets go. He wants a pecker test and he's failing," I said, turning my back and heading toward the stairway; everyone followed me down.

Meanwhile Frenchy hadn't given up, he kept yelling something and began getting louder and speaking faster, like I gave a shit. No matter what was said they'd all be my prisoners before dawn so it didn't matter.

When we were back on the ground one of the gatekeepers, who had some type of peephole that Big Boy had provided told us that the party was heading back.

"I wish I could be a fly around that pile of shit when he tells the ones that sent him what happened," I said, mostly for something to say.

"Why not watch it in your war room," Big Boy sent straight into my head.

"I didn't know I had a war room," I thought back to him.

"Every great general needs an information center."

"I'm sure they do, but we don't have a great general here. Do I have a war room anyway," I asked.

"But of course. There's a door leading into it from your study."

"OK folks, I've just been informed that we'll have a ring side seat for the parley member's return," I said, and we went to my study and sure enough there was a door with my hand print glowing beside it.

Inside was more like a small movie theater. On one wall there was a giant flat screen probably twelve feet high and fourteen or sixteen feet wide. Facing it were very comfortable theater seats.

"Kewl," said Jaycee, "Will we have popcorn too?"

I think we should. Who's going to check with the kitchen?" I asked.

Turns out we didn't need to and I'm sure that Big Boy had spread the word somehow. Four of our scantily clad serving girls showed up in seconds with mountains of popcorn and an ice chest full of Cokes. Too bad I didn't have time to pet them a thank you.

The big screen came to life as we settled down to munch our snacks and drink our sodas. I don't know who was doing the camera work but it was excellent. When what must of been one of the Barons started speaking to the returning messenger I could tell he was not pleased, even though he was speaking French too, at first anyway. Soon enough it was translated for me.

"Percy, why are you back so soon? What did they say?" the hot under the collar Baron shouted.

"I don't know who I was talking to, but he refused to listen unless I spoke English. Of course I refused to speak the peasant's language and he left," the smart ass said to his boss, and even I knew it was a mistake on Percy's part.

The Baron, whichever one he was, reached back and slapped the coon dog shit out of the uppity little bastard. It knocked him off his feet and I think a couple of teeth came out of his mouth. He lay on the ground, stunned senseless.

"You arrogant little pimp. I didn't send you so you could indulge your vanity, fool! I sent you for information. Charles, take him and see that he gets thirty lashes before dark. If he lives until tomorrow he gets thirty more, every day, until he can no longer fuck things up for me," the Baron said, and he was pretty hot.

"Jacques, do you have a messenger that is not a complete idiot?" the mad one said, and I assumed he was talking to the other Baron that was standing beside him.

"Probably not, Searlus, but he watched what your man received for his failure and surely he knows he will get worse if he fails also. Don't you, Damien?" Jacques asked.

"Yes lord, I will be glad to speak English with the man," Damien said, and headed for his horse.

Instead of sending the same mounted party back with a new messenger, the new messenger gathered a new party of his own. But Searlus wasn't through ranting and raving yet.

"Henri, how did this happen?" he asked, nearly screaming, at one of the mounted men from the first group.

"With great respect for you sire, I have mentioned before that it is not wise to send one who has never been in battle to parley about a battle. That thing you sent to talk assumed that we would just threaten them and then break down the walls and conquer them," Henri said.

"Don't even bother with beating him Charles, just kill him," Searlus said, in exasperation.

"How could such a fool live long enough to learn to walk. It would have been an awful battle if Pierre's walls hadn't seen such improvement. It will be impossible now. I can't believe the changes since I was here only a few months ago."

"I can't either. Those walls must be thirty feet high, and my scouts say they are the same all the way around, for miles," Jacques said.

"We can't even bother him with eight hundred men. I'm not sure we could take him with eight thousand and we have no way of gathering so large a force," Searlus said.

"If we can't talk him out of there we may as well go home and try to become his friends, later," Jacques said.

"Indeed, it will be the only way. Even the King would not send an army large enough to breach those walls for the little amount of territory they control," Searlus said.

They went back into a tent then, and it looked like a splendid one at that. I'd have to make sure no harm came to it tonight.

"Geron, when the next group gets here, if Damien is respectful and speaks English, invite them all inside. While I bring him into my study to talk I want you to take the armed guards around and show them all our improvements, all the ones above ground anyway.

"After you've impressed them take them somewhere nice and make sure they get plenty of wine, plenty. I'll make sure the kitchen help knows to bring very strong wine, just be sure you don't drink much. There won't be any need to send them back tonight," I said.

"There won't?" he asked.

"No, after sunset every one out there will go to sleep, whether they intend to or not. About nine o'clock we will go out and deal with them. Have all the able bodied men ready for instructions at seven o'clock. I will tell you how to proceed then.

My thanks to Zen Master for help with proofing, editing, his attempts to inject sanity into my tale, and enlightenment about things happening in France during this period. Any mistakes remaining are mine, and he probably told me about them but I didn't pay enough attention.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 33


Damien was respectful, spoke excellent English, and was thoroughly shocked by what I said.

"It's nice to see that you've learned from Percy's mistakes, Damien. My men will open the gate and you can all come in and rest. You and I will go to my study to talk while Geron shows your honor guard around before he provides refreshments," I said.

Of course Damien wondered how I knew his name, and Percy's name, and that Percy had stepped in shit deeper than he was tall. He wasn't about to say nay to a parley though. He was sent to get information and I could tell he intended to. I intended to give him all he wanted. I didn't really need to, but what the hell, I didn't have anything better to do this afternoon.

The first inkling that Damien had that things were not exactly normal was when one of my serving girls met me at my study's door. She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then told me that the cook had indeed been told how to prepare coffee cake, then scooted away.

"Yes, I could use a little bit of a treat right now, come along Damien, I know you will enjoy this," I said, leading him to the dining room.

No doubt Damien had enjoyed the view already, if he liked girls that is. I'm sure the serving girl's very short skirt climbed at least halfway up her hips when she stretched to her tiptoes to give me that peck on the cheek. I knew damned well that this was the first time Damien had ever seen a maid costume like my maids were wearing.

When we got to the dining room Fawne, Jaycee, Cécile, Adèle, Meka, and even Tutsie met us just inside the door. They were all dressed in their new French finery, even Jaycee. Only Meka and Tutsie weren't. Meka was in Caddo Indian finery and of course Tutsie was naked.

Meka's new outfit wasn't exactly authentic, it sported a lot of beadwork and other frills, no doubt some more of Big Boy's handiwork. The quality was excellent, but to me it looked like a modern day estimation of what an Indian princess should be wearing.

They all lined up to present kisses to me, Meka too, and she didn't even giggle much when she did it. Tutsie gave me a nice lick up a nostril. Fawne welcomed Damien to our home then and directed him to a seat near mine. When we were in our places the coffee break began.

It was obvious that Damien knew exactly who Fawne was and exactly where she was supposed to be. He had the good sense not to bring it up though. I didn't, it was the first thing I began talking about.

"Wonderful country, France. I'm almost glad I ran into Alphonse now, so that I could hurry over and rescue Fawne. I'm afraid that Alphonse didn't do so well in his attempt to find riches in my country," I said.

"Your country?" Damien asked.

"Yes, America. You knew that Alphonse was on a journey of exploration didn't you?" I asked.

"I had heard that, yes," he said.

"Unfortunately, Alphonse didn't have much respect for those that didn't really want to be explored. I'm afraid I had to see to it that he was dealt with firmly," I said.

"Firmly?" he asked.

"Yes. You see Alphonse caused Meka's mother to be killed, and even caused Meka's arm to be broken. She has just recovered a few days ago. After we captured he and his men we turned them over to the tribe's women. They were not very understanding," I said.

"Tribe?"

"Yes, Caddo Indians. I believe you call all American Indians Red Indians here, an unfortunate mistake which leads to some surprises for those meeting them for the first time.

"Caddo Indians are usually peaceful, but they do not like to be bothered by Europeans seeking gold and treasure. Especially since they seek it on the Indian's land," I said.

"But what has become of Alphonse then?" he asked.

"Oh, he is safely dead. The tribe's women were slightly disappointed with Alphonse, since he only lasted through one night's torture. I have he and his men's hair in my other house if you'd like to see it," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Their hair?" he asked, plainly confused.

"Yes, the women scalped them, just like I did for Pierre," I said.

"I get Pierre scalp, Daddy," Meka said, and she was off like a shot.

Damien was looking a little pale around the gills about now. I already knew he wasn't a fighting man, and no doubt even fighting men in France would take pause at the Indian custom or lifting an enemy's hair.

I just thought Damien was pale when he heard about scalping. When Meka proudly displayed Pierre's former hair, Damien fainted. One of the serving girls was quick enough to keep him from falling out of his chair.

When Damien came around I guess he thought he'd gathered all the information he needed, I didn't think so but I didn't say anything until he started making noises as if to leave.

"I'm sorry, Damien, but I must insist that you stay here and enjoy our hospitality. If you go back tonight you might be hurt when we take control of Searlus, Jacques, and their men," I said.

"But, I came under a banner of truce," he said, trying to sound indignant.

"You came to get information. Now you know there's no chance of taking my holdings from me. What Jacques and Searlus don't understand is there's no chance of them living past sunset tomorrow. All the men will be within my walls, unarmed, naked, and bound shortly after the sun comes up.

"Do you really want to be with them, defenseless, when my men take control?" I asked.

From his facial expression it was easy to see that Damien wasn't looking forward to being with his Baron when my men arrived for a nighttime sneak attack. He didn't know that everyone would be asleep and I'm sure he envisioned quite a battle in the dark. He tried to keep up appearances though.

"But my honor guard," he said.

"Dead drunk by now. We have very powerful wine when we need it. It is excellent wine, just very strong," I said.

I must say he took it well, finally admitting that he was probably better off. After all, he'd seen the mess Percy had gotten himself into. I hoped that they hadn't really killed Percy. I was looking forward to having him around, if only to rub his nose in it.

I left Damien under the watchful eyes of Jaycee and the other women while I went down to check on Geron. He was smiling widely and trying not to laugh at the drunken honor guard. He'd left them where they passed out, for my amusement, he said. Soon enough they were stripped and bound too, and then taken out to a barracks to sleep it off.

After supper, which Damien attended - and was once again in high spirits for - Geron, Jaycee, and I went down to meet the men. Jaycee had already had boxes and boxes of handcuffs and leg irons that Big Boy cheerfully provided brought up to our make do parade ground. She'd also had the unconscious honor guard brought out as demonstration props.

She used the honor guards for examples and showed my men how to use the handcuffs and leg irons. I explained that everyone they encountered would be asleep and that they wouldn't be able to wake until morning. The men were instructed to strip them all naked and then secure them. I warned them not to bother the camp followers.

The raid went off without a hitch. We even found the whipped Percy and Jaycee did a little first aid on his back. It was an awful mess. After that we sat around talking for a while and then Jaycee and I made ourselves comfortable in Jacques's tent. It was nice.

Jaycee and I were out before sunup the next morning and someone had made sure we had coffee and pastries to keep us until we could return for a proper breakfast.

You can imagine the surprise of the men as they woke. There was very much complaining but it didn't last long, because stout switches had been provided for my men and they weren't shy about shushing our captives.

Searlus and Jacques were the most indignant, but it didn't do them any good. In their special case I provided a switch for Percy, and he was diligent in its application. Even though his ravaged back began bleeding again as he put switch to naked ass.

It only took about an hour to get things moving. We politely explained to the unharmed camp followers that we would need their help getting all the horses, tents, arms, and other equipment inside our walls.

I promised that they would all be rewarded handsomely and that I would leave a hundred or so armsmen with them for their protection. I'm sure that had a lot to do with their cooperation.

As I walked in through my front gate I saw a surprise that Big Boy had provided for me. There, in regal splendor, a hundred and seventy-two years early, was France's first Guillotine. How fitting.

Actually Searlus and Jacques hadn't had time to do me any harm, but I've always felt it was the thought that counted, and I didn't have any doubts about what they were thinking when they left home with their small army. I gave Geron an hour to gather a crowd and he did a magnificent job.

I knew I was in danger of becoming a show off, but it didn't stop me. I scalped Searlus and Jacques before they met their maker but I refrained from giving that honor to Jacques' twenty-three year old son or Searlus' two boys of twenty-five and twenty. I did use the Guillotine to keep them from becoming a nuisance later.

Maybe it was unjust of me and maybe I was being cruel, but these were cruel times, and besides, I knew much better than to leave a live enemy behind me if I could avoid it. I wasn't worried about Damien or Percy.

Strangely I wasn't worried about the armsmen either. They had sworn to Searlus and Jacques but the two were dead now, and the armsmen needed a way to make a living. If I needed to I could have Big Boy assure their allegiance, but I didn't really think that would be necessary. I'd just ask him to keep some eyes on my new recruits.

When I had Geron question the naked men about swearing to me, they agreed to a man, and I didn't even have to let them know that if they didn't they would be killed out of hand. The tally ended up being eight hundred and sixty one new men. I didn't even have a guess about the camp followers.

We had done our best to make sure that no one got away to spread the word. Big Boy had even located the scouts for us and guided men to the spots where they had fallen asleep. He'd also made sure none of the camp followers got away, and only a few tried.

Still, I now had two more locations and they were annoyingly distant. I worried about it for most of the rest of the day. Geron and Jaycee took care of getting the new men set up with the arms and equipment Big Boy had cheerfully furnished. He even intended to provide two more large barns tonight, for the additional horses.

I pondered and worried about what to do with the other holdings. For a while I considered letting the new men don their old armor and return, taking Searlus' and Jacques' bodies back for burial as an excuse to help them into their former lord's walls. In the end I couldn't make up my mind and so I just fretted.

I guess Big Boy had enjoyed all of it he could stand after supper. When I went to bed, intending to at least break in Cécile or Adèle, or both, he put me out right away.

"What are you worrying over?" he asked," in my head.

"I can't decide on the best way to consolidate my new holdings. I've had several ideas and I just don't like any of them," I thought to him.

"Why don't you let us bring it all here? We can include all their territory and yours inside one set of walls and put all three residences side by side here. We'll put a small barracks at every road gate and you can rotate men to tend the gates.

"It will free up farmland for the peasants and they will be safer than they are now. I'll admit that it will be a large wall, but nothing like the one that was hand made in China.

"Your only worry after that would be highwaymen and it won't take long for them to be tracked down, especially since they won't be able to get out of the walls. At least it will be very difficult for them to, even without our intervention."

"I hadn't even considered asking you for that much help," I said, and it even sounded lame to me.

"Well please consider it."

"Will you be bringing all the people that live within the other walls here?" I asked.

"We plan to, unless you have some reason for leaving them where they are. You keep referring to the residences as castles, but that isn't what they actually are. They are châteaux that happen to be within walls.

"A castle, or château-fort is actually a fortress. A château is a grand country home, a residence for the lord. I'll admit the Pierre's residence leans more heavily toward an actual castle, but that was because he didn't spend much money or effort on his outer walls. If things got bad for him he'd planned to save himself and his family in the castle and leave the peasants to fend for themselves.

"The homes of Jacques and Searlus are not really defensive structures, they're magnificent homes that happen to have some defensive features. With the walls we've provided Pierre's residence becomes the least desirable of the three.

"We can bring all three here and level the walls Searlus and Jacques had. We will expand your walls to enclose all the land they controlled, and we will move almost all your people here, leaving only the farmers and herders that need to be near there fields or stock," Big Boy told me.

"That sounds very workable but it requires centralization that just isn't normal or practical in this day and time. I appreciate all you've done for me already, and what you're prepared to do now.

"It seems to me that if you bring everyone, or almost everyone here that the ones actually doing the farming and tending the stock will be too far from anyone in authority. They might be safe from external threats but will they feel safe out there mostly alone?

"I don't know what your goals are and I try not to think about them. I'm just trying to deal with things as they happen. Since I don't know the desired outcome I have no way to plan for it," I said.

Time in a dream is funny, even if you're conscious during the dream like I was now. Big Boy was gone for a while, I don't have any idea how long, and then he was back.

"You have made an excellent observation, bringing the other residences here would be counter productive. Still, you will need some of the people to help deal with your expanded forces here. We also think that Jacques' and Searlus' wives and remaining children should come here, along with most of their household staffs," Big Boy said.

"You're probably right on that score. How many are we talking about?" I asked.

"Over two hundred should come here to live. If we're to leave the other residences where they are some people will have to stay to tend them," Big Boy said.

"Of course, and while management has never been an interest of mine, I'll have to develop some skills along those lines.

"The way I see it, I'll need one man to be in charge at each of the other compounds. You know more about them than I do; I'll let you pick one for each location, then he can take care of the details on site. If you can provide me the ability to watch what goes on there occasionally I could keep an eye on what they are doing without them knowing I was. I'd also need communications, something like the intercoms that you've put in the gate houses," I said.

"We could make video available in you information center, as we did for Percy's return."

"That should do fine. Now, how are we going to provide for two hundred more people here?"

"Some of my people are ahead of you on that. They enjoyed working over Pierre's castle but have tired of its limitations. They have a new residence planned for you. We can let you wake up in it in the morning?"

"But what of the others, the wives and children of the Barons and the household workers?"

"The new residence is much larger and provisions have been made. If we do the move tonight, the wives and children and their helpers will wake up in the new building just as you will.

"There will be some initial confusion but we will help keep them calm if we need to," Big Boy said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 34


I'll never forget Big Boys last line from the night before.

"There will be some initial confusion but we will help keep them calm if we need to," he, she, or it said.

It turned out to be the most understated comment I'd ever heard, and the help provided was drastically understated too. I think it was nearly dawn when I woke to a gentle knock at my bedroom door. Before I could make my way to the edge of the bed a firmer knock sounded.

"I hear you and I'm awake; I'll be there in a few seconds," I said, nearly shouting toward the door and waking all my companions in the process.

I dragged up a pair of Wranglers and walked barefoot to the door to see what was up. I got the first surprise of many to come. Geron was at the door and so was Francine, the both asked me a question, in French. Of course I didn't understand.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell them to speak English when I realized that they couldn't. They never had been able to, or if they had they hadn't realized it. Apparently I'd been receiving immaculate translations, courtesy of Big Boy, and for some reason I wasn't receiving the same service this morning.

It wouldn't be much of a problem, though I did wonder what Big Boy was up to. Deciding not to find out right now, I asked Fawne to come over and translate for me. She didn't seem to wonder why I needed her help with it once again - she just came over after slipping on a robe - to try and find out what was going on, meanwhile I had to make myself not ask Big Boy what the fuck he was doing.

Fawne listened to both Francine and Geron, then she turned to me.

"Francine says there are hundreds of new people with us now and she also says that the whole house is different. Geron says there are new barns, more horses, and a few hundred more men. He also says that the grounds outside have changed radically as have some of the outer walls," Fawne told me.

Well that was nothing I hadn't expected. My only real surprise was that I could no longer understand Francine or Geron.

"Ask Geron to try making sure the new men are fed and then to bring any high ranking members of the new arrivals to breakfast with him.

"Ask Francine if we have enough organization remaining to make sure we get breakfast."

She spoke with Geron first and it seemed that just a little direction was all he needed to get started. He left after telling Fawne that he would see to things.

Fawne spoke to Francine then and there was some back and forth for a few minutes, then Francine left after giving me a smile and Fawne started to explain.

"Francine said that she would speak with Harriette, the head of the kitchen help, and make sure that breakfast was ready soon, no matter the kitchen and dining room have changed again. Geron is going to see if he can bring order to the chaos of the new men.

"It must have been strange for them, going to sleep in one place and waking up in another," Fawne said.

"They'll get used to it, after all, we had to," I said, and she smiled at that.

I gave everyone a good morning kiss, thanking my lucky star that at least we hadn't gained any occupants in our bed during the night, then I headed for the shower, and Tutsie came with me. He took to his miniature lawn while I got wet.

After drying I went back to the bedroom and dressed. All the women and Meka were in their bath, or at least I thought that's where they were. Tutsie sniffed around the room while I put my clothes on.

Meka came out of the women's bathroom dressed in jeans and a work shirt just after I'd dressed in the same type thing. She smiled at me as Tutsie went to her and she picked him up.

"Bathroom not change much Daddy," she said, "Except much bigger, more closets, more clothes. Not for us."

Now there was something odd, but maybe not so much. Apparently things had been made ready for me to have more members for my young harem. I couldn't really gripe about that.

Looking at the bed I noticed something I hadn't before. It seemed almost the same, but was now twice as large as the stretched version I'd first received. No doubt it was more preparation for additional women. A measure of how accustomed to ridiculous changes I'd become was that I didn't even wonder about the bed.

Soon enough the women came out dressed for the day - Fawne, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine in French finery, Jaycee in jeans and a work shirt. We went out the door intending to go to the dining room but we were in for a major shock.

Everything was different and not just a little different. From our door it was about thirty feet to a railing. The railing was to prevent people from falling to their death, or to grievous injury at least.

Looking down from the rail I could see that we were on the fifth floor, the top one. The shocking thing was that when we went to bed there were only two stories, the basement, and the Big Boy basement.

It was a beautiful building, inside at least. It was also much larger than it had been. The atrium I was looking at now was larger than the building I'd gone to sleep in. It was completely open from the glass-domed roof to the floor below. Looking across the way I could see the rails protecting the edges of the other floors.

There were four other entrance doors along the outer wall of this floor. A few feet away from our room there was an elevator; it was easy to spot because its doors resembled They's other work. I led my little group to the elevator and we entered. Now my only problem was finding the dining room.

It was like a normal elevator inside, kinda; at least it had a panel with buttons. I'd been right, we were on the fifth floor, and from the panel I could tell that there were still two basement levels. Good so far.

Taking a wild guess I pressed the button for the first floor and the doors opened again in a few seconds. We hadn't felt even a hint of motion but we were on the main floor now and things were looking up. Francine was waiting for us and she led the way to our new dining room. Fawne talked with her as we went and I noticed that Cécile and Delphine had a few words with her too.

Everything was changed in the dining room too, even the main attraction, the table. It was familiar at least but larger now. I took my seat at the head and the others joined me in their mostly normal seating arrangement. Tutsie's highstool was still the same one from my house.

Thankfully, our coffee appeared soon and was brought by the same serving girls in their now standard French Maid garb. I enjoyed the view and then started enjoying the coffee. Peace and quiet reigned for nearly forty-five seconds, and then Francine led seven more beautiful women in.

Fawne was up right away and she went to them, I followed her but didn't think I could be any help. By the time I reached the group Fawne had calmed their initial discomfort but I could tell by the looks in their eyes that they were still skittish.

Fawne introduced me to Abella, Jacques' last wife and then to Nanine and Giselle, his daughters. Abella couldn't have been over two years older than Giselle, Jacques' youngest. Of course I already knew that his first wife, the girls' mother, was deceased.

Next, I met Babette. She was Searlus' widow and she was only a year or two older than Trinette, Searlus' youngest. Kamille and Silana were between them in age.

Fawne continued to play hostess and led the new arrivals to seats at the table. The conversation was all French for a few moments, leaving Meka, Jaycee, and I in the dark, so to speak. No matter, we talked among ourselves about nothing mostly. I knew that this must be a shock to the newcomers and I was just as glad to let Fawne give the sad news about their husbands and fathers, and the girls' brothers.

When our serving girls began appearing with real food most of the conversation stopped, or at least it died down remarkably. Confused or not the newcomers had good appetites and I was glad to see it. Of course the wonderful food might have had something to do with it.

After we were mostly done eating the conversation started up again, but it was in English this time and the first thing said was Abella apologizing for the way they'd spoken in French and left me out of things earlier.

"It isn't necessary to apologize, I understand that this must be surprising to you and in fact it is a little surprising for me, though I knew about it in advance. The degree of change is what's shocking," I said.

"Degree?" Abella asked, making it a question by her tone.

"Yes, the changes to this residence were much more than I expected. I don't know if you noticed it, but my home is now five stories tall," I said, hoping that at least a little fog had been spread around.

Some must have been but it wasn't as thick as I could have wished. None of them asked me how such changes could be possible but I could nearly see that they wanted to. I decided to make myself scarce. I meant to go find Geron, since he hadn't showed up for breakfast.

I excused myself and left fawn, Cécile, Delphine, and Adèle to do the talking. Jaycee, Meka, and Tutsie came with me.

Outside the dining room we were lost again, but I headed for the front entrance, knowing that it would lead to somewhere outside. It did and what we found might have been even more shocking.

I hoped this would be the last time, for a while at least, when I'd have to walk out the front door wondering what things would look like.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciated everything that was being done on my behalf, but it was disorienting to have a new environment every morning. Especially since the changes from one day to the next would normally be completely impossible.

Today was no different. Every building that had been between Pierre's former home and the wall's main entrance gate was gone, just as his former home was. The roads had been rearranged too, again.

The main road coming through the front gate split into a very big circular drive about two hundred feet inside the wall. The big circle surrounded what was now an actual military type parade ground that even had bleachers and a reviewing stand off to one side.

The bleachers were situated so they wouldn't detract from the view of the new building we'd just come out of. When someone came in through the gate, my new accommodations were the featured attraction and there was nothing else to steal anyone's attention.

There was practically no chance for that anyway since a five-story, elliptically cylindrical building out here in sixteen-twenty rural France was an attraction of its own. The only things detracting from the smooth ellipsoid's outer surface were the large windows and the massive balcony near the top. A little considering and calculating let me know it was off my new bedroom.

When on that balcony, no doubt I'd be able to survey most of my domain, the pleasant looking parts of it anyway. The town that had sprung up around Pierre's castle was behind the new building now. My home from the future, with its barn, garage, and swimming lake was still here, about where it had been since coming, though it seemed it had been moved a little.

My new digs though were the star of the show. What had first been scattered hovels and had been turned to semi-organized slightly improved peasant homes by the first rearranging was now a giant manicured lawn, probably thirty acres of it.

The parade ground was off to one side of it with the bleachers but the effect was a giant lawn to set off a large, impossible for this time and place, building. It was a starkly beautiful building too, but it was all impossible.

Still, here it was, with its paved circular driveway from the main gate to small portico of my new hotel. That's what it looked like to me anyway. It wasn't a house or a castle; it was like a small, slightly ornate hotel, out in the middle of nowhere France.

It was too much. Much too much. Even though it was beautiful, it was too fucking much. I'd tried not to bother Big Boy over this yet but now I shot him a thought.

"This has gone way too far," I directed to Big Boy.

No answer. Nothing at all. I couldn't really say that the silence was deafening because my communications with Big Boy had always been silent, but the nothing was deafening. Big Boy wasn't there. In fact I poked around inside my head and no one was there. No one but me.

I checked the little virtual door that they'd installed, the one that had upset them so when I'd closed it. It was still there but it was closed again. Closed and locked somehow because when I tried I couldn't open it.

"If that don't just take the biscuit," I thought, remembering Marvin and the Frogstar battle machine from "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" by Douglas Adams.

"Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten us into, Ollie," came to mind as another applicable quote. Remembering quotes wasn't getting me anywhere though. It seemed I'd gotten what I asked for after all.

That thought made me remember another damned quote, "Be careful what you wish for," and that one made me remember the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times."

Fuck, I was living in interesting times ok. Hell, times was the operative word here; times being plural. I was living in more than one time and if that didn't top the list, I didn't know how to get from one to the other by myself.

That little tidbit helped me realize that I had to deal with the time I was in at the time. My here and now was the important thing - at the moment - so to speak. If I never got back to where and when I thought I belonged I'd have to live now for the duration. God dammit, why did it have to be so confusing?

I didn't think I'd be stuck in this when, but I didn't have any way of knowing. First things first, Jaycee and I needed to talk.

"I think we'd better all go down to the armory," I said, to Jaycee, Meka, and Tutsie.

Actually, I was hoping that the armory was still there. If we were stuck in this now without Big Boy's assistance we were going to end up needing a lot of the things that were in that armory sooner or later.

The old way to the armory wasn't here anymore; it couldn't be because that building wasn't here anymore. I hoped that the basement buttons I'd seen in the elevator led to the same place. We entered and I tried the bottom button.

Thank somebody for small miracles. Things in the bottom basement were familiar. We checked out the armory first, or at least I did. I still hadn't mentioned anything to Jaycee about Big Boy being AWOL.

Damned if the armory didn't look bigger too. One of the first new things I spotted was a box of pills like the ones that had been made for Jahedo. It made sense in a way, since diseases had killed off millions in Europe too. I didn't spend any time on the pills specifically though, I kept looking around.

There seemed to be more weapons in here now. Most of the additional area was filled with more of the bows and arrows like Jahedo had received, and now there were crossbow versions too, and bolts for the crossbows.

This made good sense to me. A team of trained snipers with Barretts could do wonders in this time from the wall we had, but if I were going to stay here long I wouldn't want to use them unless I had to.

It would have been different if I wasn't staying, but since there was every chance I would be here for quite a while now, I didn't want to chance getting the "witchcraft" shit started. Being burned at the stake, or worse, just didn't appeal to me.

I know I had a nearly impregnable wall, but there was always that nearly part. Sure as hell I was outnumbered here and no doubt the church I'd been so rude to on my first day would be trying to stir things up against me, especially after it was widely know that I'd killed three Barons and was squatting on their lands.

Of course I was curious as hell about what had become of Big Boy but I didn't have any way to find out. It was day-to-day for me now, just like with anyone else. Hell, I'd done it that way all my life anyhow and I wasn't too proud to go back to the old ways if times were really hard.

Jaycee was going over everything in detail, checking every box, and feeling every knife edge to make sure it was sharp. It's probably what I should have been doing too, but when I tried to help her she ran me off, telling me to go act like a general, somewhere else.

Meka laughed when Jaycee dismissed me and then she grabbed my hand to lead me away.

"Poor Daddy, come. Coffee and cake cheer you up. Maids help too," she said, leading me back to the elevator.

Damned if Francine wasn't waiting by the door to the newly expanded dining room. She led us to a different place and it was a smaller, coffee break size room. Even though it was smaller it was designed for the rich and famous.

It was smaller than the dining room and the decor was even more opulent, if that was possible. The important part was the same though. Harriet's cooking was every bit as good as it always had been and though I hate to admit it, everything was more comfortable.

Fawne, Cécile, Delphine, and Adèle joined us in a few minutes. After they were served I asked Fawne how the morning had gone.

"Better than I expected it to. Amazingly, all the daughters seemed unmoved by their father's deaths and not a one expressed the slightest regret for losing their brothers.

"Nothing was said openly, you understand, but I could tell they'd have been devastated if their new stepmothers had been killed and were only annoyed that their real fathers had been," she told me.

"Are their accommodations suitable? I asked.

"If they are it's their own fault. Their suites consist of their living quarters from their former homes. Everything they had is here now, even though they are arranged with one exit to the atrium for each family. The door from the atrium opens into an entry parlor with doors to their individual quarters," Fawne said.

"So, Big Boy was up to his old tricks to the last," I said.

"To the last?" Fawne asked.

"The last so far. I've had no contact from my friends since I woke this morning," I said.

"Oh, whatever that means. You will be having contact from you new family members tonight," Fawne said, grinning.

I didn't say anything, just gave her a look that I know conveyed my curiosity.

"Some of them were indignant at first, but I made them see the light. I pointed out that as conquered "kept women" their lives would be so much easier than the alternative," Fawne said.

"What alternative?" I asked.

"Camp followers for their new lord's army," Fawne said, maintaining a straight face.

Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle couldn't do as well. They all burst out laughing and kept it up for a while.

"You should have seen the looks on their faces. They had it much easier than we did too. Fawne explained the facts of life to them much more politely than you explained them to us," Delphine said.

"I think I liked his way better, even though I'm still waiting for the next lesson," Cécile said, and they all giggled this time, even Meka.

"Don't worry Cécile, it will be better this way. Just think of the audience you'll have when it finally happens," Fawne said.

Cécile blushed at that and after a few seconds Adèle did too. Strangely Fawne seemed to also, but just a tiny bit and it didn't really look like it was from embarrassment. Maybe the though of watching me plow their furrows turned her on.

We'd see soon enough. If Big Boy was gone for a while maybe I could finally get laid at night instead of talking to him, or her, or whatever.

Just as I gobbled up the last available pastry, to make sure it didn't go to waste, Geron came in. At least he didn't bother knocking this time. I knew he was back to French now and I knew the reason, or at least I had a hint. I let Fawne talk to him and then she explained.

"Geron said that there is a party approaching the front gate. His men saw it using the new binoculars you provided. It seems to be churchmen the lookouts think they are probably heading for the compound where I was being held," Fawne said, giving a small shiver of revulsion at the last.

"If they are headed there why would they come here first?" I asked.

"They have to, your new walls contain their holdings now and the road leads right through here. Or maybe they are your holdings now," Fawne said.

"If they are within my walls they are definitely mine now. I guess I'll get the chance to explain it to the gentlemen," I said, having a happy thought for the first time since I woke.

Geron gave a small grin when Fawne translated for him and he asked her something.

"He asks if he should prepare an honor guard for the party, to meet them once they're inside the gate."

"Yes, I want every man at arms here to meet them, unless they are guarding other gates. I want a show of force," I said.

She translated again, the other way this time and Geron left grinning widely. So much for a few peaceful days.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 35


Geron didn't have time to get all the men ready for the big show. Things were too new and confused. I knew he wanted to get it done but it just wasn't possible. It would take a lot more than an hour or so to get things sorted out.

Thankfully the men that had been here since yesterday had been organized somewhat, and of course the men that were here when we came were good to go, so we had over a thousand men ship shape for the show off meeting.

About two hundred were heavy cavalry and a little over three hundred were mounted archers, with their new compound bows. The infantry, most of whom had been pikemen, were dressed up in their new armor too. Of course they had new space age pikes and two handed swords.

The pikes had been made to look like this time's normal equipment. They appeared to be made of wood but the material was much lighter and stronger than wood and the long steel tips weren't steel. They were metal of some kind but who knew what kind? I knew one thing, they were razor sharp. Two of the men had already accidentally lost fingers trying to become accustomed to using them.

It was an impressive show and the small guard accompanying the "holy" men knew at once that they were at our mercy if we intended for them to be. I'm guessing that it would have been the same if Pierre were still the main man around here.

There was the same old pecker test by the French-speaking priests, and they got the same treatment everyone else had. I told them to speak English or turn around and go. The youngest of the three priests started to make a no doubt wise assed comment but the oldest, the one obviously in charge, reined him in.

"Very well, sir. May I ask your name?"

"My name is John," I said.

"Thank you, John. Could you send for Pierre?" he asked.

"You'd have a better chance of contacting Pierre than I would."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," he said, and even looked surprised. Maybe he didn't know what had happened.

"He tried to recapture Fawne after I rescued her. I was forced to kill Pierre and his sons. Later I was also forced to kill Jacques, Searlus, and their sons. I've taken the liberty of assuming control of all their lands," I said.

"This is highly irregular," he said.

"Not where I come from and I don't think it's all that irregular here as you're trying claim. I know Alphonse seemed determined to take property by force of arms in my country. He's safely dead now too," I said.

"But that can't be your country, it is free land for the taking," he said.

"That's what I mean, just like here. If you have the men, weapons, and balls it's all free land for the taking."

The youngest priest, if that's what he was, shouted something in French to the leader of their guard. Even no more French than I knew, I understood tuez-les, especially with the way he was pointing to Fawne, Jaycee, and I when he yelled it.

Somehow I managed to unlimber my Glock before Jaycee produced hers. I shot the young whipper snapper, twice, in the chest. I'm sure he was dead before he finished falling ass over teakettle off the back of his horse. I moved my aim to the one he'd been ordering, but Jaycee had beaten me there, she had him in her sights.

The soldier or knight or whatever he was seemed a lot smarter than the young dead fool had been; he was being very still and had both his hands on the pommel of his saddle. In the background I could hear our men drawing swords, nocking arrows, and such; the rest of the "honor" guard was looking around with alarm.

"But sir," the soldier Jaycee was covering said, "These are holy men."

"That don't impress me much," I said, beating Shania Twain to the line in this timeline.

"You have killed a priest," he said, sounding even more indignant now.

"He isn't the first and he won't be the last, unless they learn some manners. If they're so holy why don't they call God down to punish me? When is the lightning going to strike me dead?"

Of course it was a simplistic question, but it cut to the heart of the matter. The priests had no proof that they represented God. They said they did and you had to take their word for it. Unfortunately for them, I didn't have to take theire word for it.

A neat setup if you can get it to work. It lets you do all sorts of things without being questioned. Like raping a woman, claiming she's a witch, and having her tortured to death, little tidbits like that.

"The king will hear about this?" the oldest one spoke up again now.

"How?" I asked.

"I will tell him as soon as I get back to Paris. We are leaving now," he said.

"No, you aren't," I said.

"You can't hold me against my will. I am on Church business," he said.

"Wasn't he on Church business too?" I asked, pointing to the dead one.

Well that was a conversation stopper.

"Any of you that want to live should dismount now, lay down your weapons, and strip off to the skin. I've decided I will send you back to talk with the king," I said, and Fawne translated in case any of the men did not understand.

The fighting men, all except the leader, dismounted. The two remaining religious idiots and the head soldier stayed put.

"Who next, Jaycee? Would you like to shoot a priest or the head fighting man," I asked, and Fawne didn't bother translating since the ones still mounted understood English for sure.

"I guess I should shoot the knight but what the hell, I haven't shot a priest in days," she said, swinging the Glock toward the youngest remaining robed one.

It didn't take him three seconds to start unassing his horse, and when he hit the ground his clothes started coming off too. Jaycee changed her point of aim then. No doubt the knight was a brave man, but he wasn't stupid, and he was on the ground shucking armor pretty damned quick.

The old priest seemed determined to sit his horse and take the consequences. I didn't want to kill him though, so when Jaycee moved her Glock his way I stopped her.

"Sorry sweetie, we need him to deliver the report. You can knock him off with a pike if you'd like, or I'll do it," I said.

"I don't need a pike for that," she said, walking to the horse, grabbing a priestly foot, and lifting swiftly.

As the priest lay on the ground I asked Fawne to get someone to take his clothes off without damaging them. She called a few of the larger women who'd come to watch the show and they were happy to deal with that little detail.

I know it's a little weird to be stripping men naked and sending them off, but I wanted them to know that they didn't mean shit to me. Big Boy wasn't around anymore but I was hoping that whoever was in charge now would give these guys the same treatment as the men I'd sent off dragging corpses away from our first landing site. As a hint, I had three of the naked men hitched by rope to the one I'd killed.

"Scalp, Daddy," Meka said, as they were about to leave.

"Might as well," I said, pulling my knife and dealing with it to the astonishment of all the naked ones.

"I think he has the best hair I've lifted yet," I said, and Meka agreed with me, taking possession and running off to hang it to dry somewhere no doubt.

His exit from horseback and then the disrobing had put the oldest priest in a quiet mood. He didn't offer any more threats anyway. When I let them, they all left.

After they were out of the gate and it had closed I turned to Geron.

"I know that I'm rushing you, but the rest of the men have to be organized and outfitted with the new weapons.

"Tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, you need to have every able bodied man here and any women you can convince start learning to shoot the new bows. We need to increase our firepower."

Fawne translated for me and then Geron said something to her and left.

"He says it will be as you command. I don't know how he can possibly do it though," Fawne said.

"He can't, but I hope he can make at least some headway. We'll be okay if the walls are as good as I was told, and if they stay," I said, and then headed back inside toward the new coffee break room.

Fawne, Jaycee, and all the others came with me.

"I don't see how we can stay here. The king has many men, thousands," Fawne said.

It was easy to tell that the new women, those from Jacques and Searlus' homes didn't see how either. At least I was heartened by the small smiles on Delphine, Adèle, and Cécile's faces. Apparently they didn't doubt I could take care of anything that came up. Bless their hearts.

"Technically I'm sure you're correct, but does he have a standing army or only hundreds of nobles that have sworn fealty to him? We have at least a week before he can mount an attack even if he, or his mother, want to.

"In reality we probably have three months or more."

"But he will have to attack. They will have to, if they don't it's as if they have no control over their own country. He is the sovereign, if he can't enforce his will he is nothing," Fawne said.

"If he chooses to take us on. Don't you think they'll want to get a military man's opinion before they do anything? When his nakedness and the others get back to Paris and tell their tales, won't someone wonder how I'd have the balls to try something like this?"

"Well, of course they will send scouts, especially when they learn of the new walls. They are something even the biggest idiot could not miss," Fawne said.

"Don't you think there will be a lot of questions asked about how the walls sprang up so quickly? Won't something be said about the way I dared the priest to have God strike me down?"

"There will be a lot of talk about it and many arguments too, I'm sure," she said.

"Then which will be worse for the rulers, taking me on and losing or ignoring me?" I asked.

That pretty much ended the conversation and I was glad of it. I hadn't thought things through; I'd just done what felt right at the time.

The soldier said I'd killed a holy man. I doubted it.

Centuries later there would be some holy men in the Catholic Church, hell, their might even be some now. I was pretty sure they were in the minority though. The main interest of the ones I'd met so far was to advance in their own hierarchy. As far as I was concerned they were just another way to keep the peasants pacified, afraid, and in the dark.

I didn't care what went on in Paris or anywhere else in France or even Europe for that matter. I cared about what happened here only because it was where I was. I didn't even know why I'd been put here.

I'd come to understand that Fawne had only been a trick to make me want to come here. Some part of They had a reason for this and I hadn't been let in on the joke. All I could do was the best I could and wait to see what happened. Oh yeh, I could wonder too. Mostly I wondered where Big Boy had gotten off to.

Lunch had been great but necessarily a hurried affair, what with the holy visit still pending. When we got to the coffee room we found Harriette had fixed roast beef sandwiches along with other assorted goodies and sent them to us via a few of my scantily clad maids. We had a pleasant little snack and I felt like I could make it to supper now.

After a few more minutes of sitting around with coffee, I stood to leave. Jaycee stood with me. Meka, who'd showed up shortly after we started eating, announced her intention to stay with Fawne and the others. Jaycee and I headed for the basement's basement.

"I really should teach Geron, or someone, more about the rifles and other weapons here. I can't teach every man to shoot, but there are plenty of rifles and Glocks to go around. I just don't have time for all the training it will take," she said.

"No one would, Jaycee. You'll have to find two or three smart ones and teach them, then they can teach the rest - same thing with the new bows and crossbows. I'm sure they have an idea how those work at least, but they'll do much better with training and practice."

"Shit, you're trying to boost me up into officer's territory," she said.

"Somebody has to do it."

"All right, let's find Geron and see if he can give me a few candidates," she said, but her heart wasn't in it.

"We'll have to go right back and get Fawne. We can't talk to Geron anymore," I said.

"Yeh, and what's up with that? I thought he spoke English."

"I think it was a Big Boy trick, and Big Boy has been missing since I got up," I said.

"I noticed that something wasn't right, or at least wasn't the same, but I didn't know what it was. Big Boy and I weren't really on a first name basis. Who's taking his place now?" she asked.

"No one so far."

"You mean we're just here with no more hints to be provided?" she asked.

"So far. I'm just hoping they don't start taking other things back," I said.

"You and me both. We'd better put a hold on fetching Fawne. I think we should check out the heavy weapons and see if they're still where we left them."

It was a damned good idea. Even though we hadn't needed anything like that so far didn't mean we wouldn't later and I didn't want to count on them if they weren't here any longer. We walked down to the entrance and opened the door.

The first thing I saw inside was a little writing bench sort of thing, with a note on top of it. It wasn't hand written, it looked more like something Bob would have printed.

-------

John:

I have been recalled from this project. I was given some time to clean up the details and I did so. Necessarily I acted without your permission and I apologize for that.

Here, we have increased your equipment and ammunition for that equipment. You are probably wondering if some of it will be removed. It won't be.

Even with changes in management we don't do takebacks. That is the main reason I made sure you would be adequately supplied for the foreseeable future. I cannot tell you what to expect from the new leadership.

In Paris, the property of Alphonse was about to be confiscated by the Church. No doubt they would have taken the property of Pierre, Jacques, and Searlus soon also. All four of the city residences will arrive here in the morning, along with all the staff members and their families. We will leave the vacated property bare but unusable. It will be paved with the material that covered the ground while your home was upgraded.

-------

That was it. No see you later or best wishes or even a signature. It just ended. I probably had more questions now than I'd had before the note.

Jaycee had been looking around while I read it. I handed it to her and when I did she pointed to a massive stack of what looked almost like gold coins. While she was reading, I headed toward it.

The reason it looked like a stack of gold coins was because it was a stack of gold coins. I didn't even have any idea what coins they actually were and I didn't know the value of gold in this time or place. I did have a suspicion that I was now richer than Bill Gates, relative to the here and now anyway. I guess I wouldn't have any trouble paying the increased salary for the cooks and serving girls.

The note did bring home one other fact. I was fucked, good and proper, and I knew it. Not so much for my current location but for the rest of my life.

I was back to zero control, if I'd ever really had any. My travels through time to exotic places was back to being completely at the whim of whoever was pulling the strings.

All that was interesting but for another time. Here and now I had control within my walls and if I wanted to keep it I'd have to organize. Jaycee had finished reading the short note in a few seconds and she was beside me.

"I think I'm going to have to put the rifle training off on you," she said.

"What?"

"I need to take a better look around in here. We might need some of this stuff now, especially the small drone helicopters. We'll want to be able to see what's coming as soon as we can," she said.

Damn. I hate it when she's right. I left her to her toys and headed back upstairs. It was back to the coffee break room for me. I had to get Fawne and then let her translate a talk between Geron and I.

Fawne and the other women and girls were still in the coffee room. I explained what I needed and she sent one of the maids off to get Geron. After the maid left, Fawne sent Cécile off with all the others except Meka and Tutsie. I'm not sure where they were going but I was glad there wouldn't be such an audience while I was trying to make Geron understand what I wanted.

It turned out to be easier than I expected. Geron had already had a little time with a rifle and I was able to tell Fawne what I wanted from him before he joined us. It only took her a few minutes to get him going and then we had time on our hands while he was about it.

Male pig that I am, I pulled Fawne down into my lap and began abusing her shamelessly. She didn't protest at all and Tutsie only barked at me a little while Meka giggled. At first I'd though it was a shame she was all decked out in what passed for women's clothes of the time. There was entirely too much material for me.

Still she felt nice sitting on my lap and she was enthusiastic as we kissed and I did my best to fondle. It was even nicer when I found that getting her titties out of the low cut top was easier than it had any right to be. I had both her nipples plump and throbbing before we heard a light knocking at the door. I left Fawne struggling to put my toys away as I went to the door.

It was Geron and I asked him to come in and sit down. Fawne, with her titties out of sight again, translated. In fact, she did the talking and clued Geron to the fact that I needed to teach someone to teach the men to shoot. That someone needed to be proficient in English.

I was surprised at his suggestion. He thought Damien and Percy would be the best ones for the job. Not so much because they were familiar with firearms, hell, no one in this day and time was. Geron said the two undoubtably spoke the best English and he knew that they were at least familiar with most of the fighting men from Jacques' and Searlus' group.

He left us then but was back with my two new instructors to be in a few minutes. I explained to the pair what I wanted from them and they said they could do it. I'd see. We left Fawne, Meka, and Tutsie and headed down to the big shooting range.

Percy surprised me. He didn't seem the least bit offended by what had happened. In fact he seemed glad to be on this little jaunt.

"Tell me, Percy, what's changed your attitude toward me?" I asked, finally.

"I didn't really have an attitude toward you. At the wall I was trying to do what my lord told me to. He had a nasty way of assuming people would know what he wanted without his having to bother with explanations. You saw what I got from him for my troubles.

"Then your men came and gave me my heart's fondest desire the next morning. I not only owe you my life, I owe you for the best meal I've ever had," he said.

"Meal?" I asked.

"No dish is as satisfying as revenge. I couldn't have asked for anything I'd have liked better than chivvying Searlus back into your fortress. The bloody display of taking his "scalp," I believe you called it, and your fantastic head-removing machine were just extra treasures.

"Then earlier today you dealt with those swine who claim to be holy. It was even better. It seems that every time I turn around you do something I think is just wonderful. I'm in awe actually," Percy said, and he seemed so sincere.

He and Damien were even more attentive when I showed them how the rifles worked and explained the high points of what they should teach the men. Thankfully there was no song and dance about iron sights. It's hard to get crosshairs wrong.

Most of the rest of it is teaching them to load and unload the weapon, not to shoot each other, and to take a good position before firing. Ninety percent of people that use firearms don't understand that finding a way to be stable, before you fire, will do more for your accuracy than anything else. The tiniest movement of the muzzle will change the point of impact. That movement, while impossible to do away with, must be minimized as much as possible.

I had them try a few rounds each and they did respectably well. It wasn't so much that they needed to learn to shoot. They needed to learn to teach others how to shoot.

After a few rounds of practice for each of them, I found a chair and watched. I let them teach each other how to get better at it, letting one fire and the other watch and make suggestions. I kept quiet.

I would have spoken up if they said or did something really stupid but they didn't so I didn't. After a couple of hours they were doing fine and I thought that tomorrow they could start with a group of five or so each.

I called a halt about thirty minutes before time for supper. On the way out I had Percy and Damien press their hands to my handprint while I was touching it also. I hoped it would serve to let them get in or out on their own but I was just guessing. We'd see tomorrow. After that they went on their merry way.

In the dining room I got a big surprise, and it made my dick hard. Jaycee must have finished her examination before I finished teaching, because I'm sure she instigated the display around the table.

All the women of my household were wearing T-shirts that had been trimmed off so they only barely came below their wobbling breasts. Instead of dresses or pants, they were wearing what looked like silk gym shorts, and that was it. I saw flashes of flesh at every movement, and even the maids were teasing me more than usual.

Supper was wonderful again but I can't even remember what it was. I know it tasted good but I only glanced down long enough to stick my fork in something.

After we finished we all, except Meka and Tutsie, went to my bedroom. Jaycee told me that Meka had her own room here too, for times like these. Great!

In my bedroom clothes dropped quickly and soon naked beautiful women were putting me to bed. I had no doubt they intended to get some hard use out of me, starting any second.

Then I felt myself slipping away and if I'd had time I'd have cursed a blue streak. It didn't feel exactly like a time trip coming up, but it did feel like something was about to happen, and then I didn't feel anything. I didn't even have time to get mad before I was out.

My brain came awake the next morning and I had time to decide that I was going to fuck somebody before I got out of bed, but I didn't have time to even open my eyes before I heard a quiet but insistent tapping at the door.

"Ok, I hear you. Just a second," I said, making my way out of the tangle of bodies and dragging up my jeans.

When I opened the door it was Francine, and I was thankful it was only one today. She started rattling French to me, sounding excited. I looked toward the bed in time to see Fawne's lovely naked ass as she climbed out and pulled up the nearly nothing gym shorts and then covered her lovely big swinging titties with her half-a-T-shirt.

"She says there are more houses here and more people too. She doesn't know who they are but she says Harriette knows some of them," Fawne told me.

"It's the city homes of Jacques, Searlus, Pierre, and Alphonse plus all the staffs for each and all their families. I knew they were coming but I didn't realize they'd be out and about so early," I said, giving Francine a look and then changing it to a smile. It wasn't her fault.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 36


Surprise might have been the big thing for the new arrivals but these happenings were old hat for the folks already here. Geron made the rounds of the houses speaking to the muscle that had watched over the properties. Alain, Pierre's former majordomo and now mine by default, went to explain how things were going to be to his counterparts in the newly arrived homes.

There was no need for me to try to work out the details, even if some of the new people could speak English. In fact, I hadn't even had to bother with organizing most of the things that were being taken care of now. Fawne was turning out to be quite an administrator, and I was happy enough about that. She had everyone moving before my newly increased household party made it to the breakfast table.

Harriette and her nearly naked serving crew had things squared away where it mattered most, at the table. She must have been quizzing someone about my eating habits too, because the pastries and such that were usually scattered around everywhere had been put farther down the table from me this morning. That had been done to make room for what I called solid food.

Easily within my reach were serving dishes piled high with scrambled and fried eggs - one platter of each - a mountain of bacon and a smaller one of ham, and all the cat head biscuits a man could dream of. Did I mention the flapjacks; they were in abundance too, along with a pitcher of syrup and a big tub of butter. I ate like a pig, but tried not to make the hog noises.

About halfway through the meal one of the scantily clad servers came from the kitchen, whispered something into Fawne's ear, and then left. I wasn't too curious, but Fawne clued me in anyway.

"After we've finished breakfast and coffee we should all go to your study. Alain wants to introduce the main members of the now combined staffs and Geron wants to do the same for the men he met. It won't take long and all you need to do is be there and look important," she said, grinning.

"I can do that. Maybe I should put on my biggest cowboy hat," I said, teasing.

"That is an excellent idea. What is a cowboy hat?" she asked.

"He doesn't even have his best one here, Meka and I will go to the other house for it after we're done," Jaycee said.

"We get scalps too. Hang all scalps in study," Meka said, grinning.

"Perhaps Meka is right. They are gruesome but they will tend to stifle objections," Fawne said.

It sounded a little gruesome to me too, but what the hell, most of this trip had been full of gruesome incidents. Hell, it beat politics and I wasn't going to complain.

Of course gathering them up took longer than expected, but I didn't care. I knew it was going to take Geron and Alain longer than they'd thought too. After breakfast was done, my young harem and I went to the study and gabbed until Alain showed up.

He ushered in four men and they all introduced themselves. Every one of them could speak English and they all seemed just as glad to be under new management. No doubt the fact that their former employers were very dead made them think practical thoughts. Being moved, building and all, in the middle of the night couldn't have left them feeling very safe and secure either.

Geron was next, and his bunch couldn't speak a word of English. They did at least provide a little excitement. In the first place he brought more of them. Two from each of my new homes in fact.

They were what I had envisioned - muscle. They weren't trained fighting men since that wouldn't be necessary in the city. They were basically thugs with nicer clothes. I could tell they would be rough and ready fighters in the type of brawl that might break out on city streets.

The excitement came when one of them pulled a knife and rushed me, shouting something about Pierre in French and intending to do me in. Jaycee and I both palmed our Glocks and shot him. Both rounds took him center of mass. He didn't even wiggle much as he bled out.

"Scalp Daddy. Don't forget scalp," Meka said, just as he stopped kicking.

What the hell, she liked for me to do it and I didn't really mind. I pulled my belt knife, grabbed a handful of hair, and started slicing. I didn't pay any attention to the others as I was at it.

Meka was right there to take it when I was done and even though it was still dripping blood, she took it over and hung it among the others. She had made a little display of them on one wall.

I looked at the other street toughs as she was doing it and I could tell they had been impressed by the whole thing. I'm not sure it was favorably impressed, but I was pretty sure it was going to cut way down on backtalk.

Coming out of his surprised silence, Geron started apologizing and even though it was French I knew what he was doing. Fawne translated.

"Hell, don't worry about it Geron. I don't mind if a man wants me to kill him and take his hair. I need a little excitement every now and then," I said, after Fawne's translation was done.

Of course she had to translate again, for Geron and the remaining new men. They all tried to smile and go with the joke, but Geron was the only one that looked convincing. They were even more surprised a few seconds later when Geron told them to strip the guy naked and then haul him away, leaving his clothes where they were.

Geron ushered them out with the dead weight after that and he was telling them something - then he laughed.

"What was that last about, Fawne?" I asked.

"Geron told them that you liked to strip your victims naked and save all their clothes and weapons for mementos. He warned them not to make you mad if their short clothes were dirty or had holes, since all the world would know it quickly," Fawne said, and then we all laughed about it.

Alain proved his efficiency again by bringing up a couple of men to try getting most of the blood cleaned up. He apologized, saying that it would probably leave a stain in the Persian rug.

"No matter," Fawne told him, "Perhaps it will make the next fool think twice before acting."

"I wonder what set him off so early in the morning?" I asked, but to no one in particular.

"He was one of Pierre's bastards. No doubt he thought he would get revenge on the man who killed his father," Fawne said.

"Well, I guess he did. He stained my rug."

A few minutes later Tutsie and I were the only ones left in my study. Jaycee took off to make sure Damien and Percy were getting along ok on their first batch of students. Fawne and the rest of the women took off to tour their former city homes, and Meka grabbed the fresh scalp to take it somewhere to dry. Apparently hanging it among the others had been for the benefit of the tough guys in attendance.

Tutsie went over to stand by my chair behind the table/desk and waited patiently until I took the hint and sat down. Then he hopped into my lap and began a terrible battle with one of my fingers. I was wounded early, and often.

He kept it up for about ten minutes and then stopped and hopped onto the table, curling up for a short snooze. What the hell, I fished out one of Pierre's cigars and had a smoke. I'd just gotten it going when Francine appeared with coffee and a few pastries. Being a Baron wasn't half bad, even if it could get a little boring.

About an hour and a half later Jaycee was back. She said Percy and Damien were doing well with their new job. She was also happy about getting some of the little drone helicopters up and flying.

"Who is flying them?" I asked.

"They pretty much fly themselves, at least that's what the instructions I found said. They're even supposed to give a warning signal if the weather gets bad or the wind is too strong for them," she said.

"But don't you need to watch over the controls or something?" I asked.

"I guess it's best to keep an eye on them, but there are supposed to be controls in your theater room. Come on, let's see if we can find them," she said, heading for the door to the room we'd watched from before.

Jaycee spotted a glowing handprint and went right to it. When she put her hand on it part of the back wall started moving and in a minute or so a desk with a flat panel display, a big joystick, and rows of gauges and meters had slid into place. She sat at a chair that also came along and flicked a switch or two.

Suddenly the giant screen on the front wall came to life. I took a seat to watch the show.

The screen was split into four viewing areas and each of them was showing a bird's eye view of their section of the French countryside. It was obvious that the cameras were moving.

"Where are they going?" I asked Jaycee.

"They are set on a pattern to work their way out from the launch point and scan everything. They're supposed to give a signal if they sense groups of people but they'll ignore one or two. The group size can be adjusted," she said.

I watched closely, flicking my eyes from screen to screen. It was a little odd and about to turn boring from seeing nothing but landscape, then a small hut type building came into view. It must have been for a farmer since it was near a field. It looked deserted and I figured no one needed to be in attendance this time of year. At least it broke the monotony.

"Bingo." Jaycee said.

"What?"

She did something on the panel in front of her and one of the views on the screen I was watching enlarged to take up the whole thing. It was a trail of sorts, almost a road, and our camera started following it. At the extreme range I could see what looked like motion.

The little scout must have been pretty fast because it closed the distance quickly. Soon enough we had a good view of the naked men I'd sent packing yesterday.

"How far have they made it?" I asked.

"About ten kilometers, they aren't moving very fast," she said.

"Maybe they'll do better today. The shock has probably worn off a little," I said.

"If they don't, they're going to starve to death before they get to Paris," she said.

"Fuck 'em. I didn't invite them out here."

"Just the same, I think I'll set this bird to keep a watch on them," she said.

"Does that mean you, or somebody, will have to stay with it?"

"No, it's recording everything anyway, and the software that tells it where to fly and what to look for seems to be very advanced," she said.

"I don't wonder why. Everything They have given us seems very advanced."

We watched for nearly an hour in relative silence after that. Nothing much was happening, except for naked men walking down a road, dragging one dead body.

It was more interesting than you'd think though. Within ten minutes of the time we'd found them they met two men on horseback coming the other way. It was really odd how they passed with neither group acknowledging the others, almost as if neither saw the other group. The odd thing was that they all moved over to keep from colliding.

Twenty minutes later a man leading a donkey approached and it was the same thing. He didn't acknowledge the others and they didn't mention him, still allowances were made to avoid bumping into him.

The strangest thing was that no one was speaking, at all. The naked group didn't say a word, even to each other. None of them were even bitching about their predicament. They just kept walking.

"Do you have any idea how long it's going to take them to get to Paris?" I asked.

"I've already wondered about that and my best guess is five days," Jaycee said.

"They'll be too weak to make it. Even if they find water along the way, the lack of food will do them in. From the way they act and the way others react to them I don't think they'll try to get any food," I said.

"You might be right. They seem to be traveling in a fog of their own."

"We'd better see about getting Geron to send someone out to take them a meal or two," I said.

"I'll go get him," Jaycee said.

"No, I'd rather you keep an eye on them a while longer at least. I'll go get Francine and ask her to find Fawne and bring her to us."

"That will be a lot of going and getting for not much help. Why don't you go get Percy or Damien? They both speak English and they can understand what's happening well enough to help us explain what we need to Geron," Jaycee said, making a lot better sense than I had.

I went down to the armory/firing range area and interrupted the lesson. Percy and Damien had a group of six men each but I could tell that they had basically combined it into one bunch and were both taking turns giving instructions. When I came in Percy kept teaching and Damien came to see me.

"I need for one of you to come with me. We have a project to work out," I said.

"If it is acceptable I will let Percy go. He is just finishing his portion and I should be taking over to get them started firing their first shots," Damien said.

"That's fine, and there's no real rush. I'll let him get done and then we can go."

I watched while Percy finished. It was enough of a look to see that he was sprinkling in a little English with the lesson. I noticed that he used English exclusively for the names of the rifles, ammunition, and the targets and such. It was a damned good idea to my way of thinking.

After Damien took over I gave Percy a very short version of what was going on, then he and I left to go to Jaycee in the viewing room. There was a surprise when we arrived.

Fawne and the whole crew, including Meka and Tutsie, were sitting in the seats watching the naked travelers, and they were spellbound. At first I wondered why.

I wasn't the only one surprised, but Percy's surprise wasn't the others in the room. He was staring at the screen too.

"It is magic. I've heard of magic but I never believed it before. I thought the church was only using it to scare the peasants," Percy said, and he was clearly astonished.

"Percy, it only looks like magic because you don't understand what is doing it. It is not magic, it is machinery," I said.

"But no machines can do that," he said.

"Any technology too advanced to be understood appears to be magic," I told him, paraphrasing Arthur C Clarke before he was even born.

"Are the rifles you are teaching those men to use magic? If I'd shot Searlus from a thousand yards you'd have thought it was magic before you knew about it. You don't think it is magic now do you?"

That stopped him in his tracks and I could almost see the wheels in his head turning, trying to come to grips with the analogy I'd given him.

"When we are done here I will go and show you how the "magic" is done and you will see that it isn't magic," I said.

He couldn't help himself; he turned his attention back to the screen to watch. I walked back to Jaycee.

"Did I miss anything exciting?" I asked.

"In a relative way I guess it was exciting. They stopped at a creek to drink and took a trail break. Not a one of them has spoken a word though," she said.

"I'll bet if we send someone out to them with food they will eat it, but if we don't they'll probably keep going until they drop," I said.

"I think you're right. Since we took everything from them they can't even hunt. They probably wouldn't even if they had weapons," Jaycee said.

I walked back over to where Percy was standing, pointed him toward a chair, and sat beside him once he had taken one.

"Percy, they do stop and drink but they don't speak to anyone they meet and no one speaks to them. They are still several days from Paris and I'm afraid they will starve to death before they make it," I said.

"Why should we care if they are too stupid to even ask for food," Percy said, obviously not very sympathetic to their plight.

"I care, because I want them to take word to the king, his mother, and the other churchmen. We need to send a group of men to them with enough food so they can finish their trip. Will you help me explain things to Geron, since he doesn't understand me?

"Those delivering the food need to be able to take rifles so they can defend themselves without having to go as knights, in armor," I said.

"I see," he said, obviously considering things.

"We will not attract as much attention if we are dressed normally. We can all wear a normal sword but the rifles will not even be recognized as weapons," he said.

"Exactly. Are there enough men that can use rifles?" I asked.

"Yes, the first ones we taught already knew how, since they were the small group Geron had taught. We used them first to make sure we were telling things correctly. They taught us as much as we taught them. I'm sure they'd be happy to go along," he said.

"Good, will you go find Geron and bring him here and then help explain what I want?" I asked.

"Certainly," he said, and left right away.

He was back with Geron in only a few minutes and it seemed even less time than that before Geron understood what was needed. I let them go talk to Damien and asked them to decide who was going.

Meanwhile, back in the theater things had become more normal seeming now and the naked traveling band was losing its entertainment appeal. Fawne showed her value again by announcing that we should head to the dining room for lunch. Jaycee said she'd be right behind us, after she tried launching another drone, from this room this time.

That was fine with me. I already had food on my mind.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 37


Lunch was another wonderful experience in old France. Harriette had done good things again and I stuffed myself with French dishes that I didn't even recognize. I didn't care either, since the taste was great and there was plenty. Coffee and desert were waiting for us in my study.

As I was packing in the last pastry I could hold, Fawne came to the desk and trimmed a cigar for me, perfectly, and she held a match while I lit it. Things were getting too good to be real.

My young harem seemed more lively this afternoon and they ganged up on me for minor teasing. I was at least smart enough to keep my mouth shut every chance I got and I enjoyed getting to know them a little better.

After my stogie was done we all went back in for a matinee of the naked body draggers. They were just getting up from what must have been a short rest and probably a water break, or at least that what I guessed since they were near a small stream.

Suddenly the view switched to an empty landscape. The road was in a little bit better shape here but strangely it looked even more deserted.

"What's this, Jaycee?" I asked.

"It's the view from the last one I launched. I sent it ahead of our weary travelers. My guess is they'll be stopping somewhere near here for the night. They should reach it in three hours or so. I'm going to get a good look around for a couple of miles in each direction though, in case they throw me a curve," she said.

"We need to have Percy bring the man that's going to lead tonight's food run up here so he can take a look."

"I think Percy is going to go himself," Jaycee said.

"Fine, I don't care who goes as long as it isn't me."

Francine popped her head in the door then to ask if anyone wanted refreshments. Of course I did, since by now I was a quart low on coffee. The others decided they could handle a few more pastries and more coffee too.

"Fawne, would you ask Francine to see if she can have someone send Percy up here again?" Jaycee asked, and the translation was done in seconds.

Going back to translating this way was annoying, but I wasn't sure I didn't like it better. Most of the help that couldn't speak English was trying to catch on, a little bit at least. It was a little odd for me now that Big Boy was gone but it was comforting to know no one was watching what was going on inside my head.

Percy showed just after more coffee and cake arrived. He decided to try a cup when I invited him too.

Jaycee explained what he was seeing while we drank our coffee. He seemed to know the area, and after giving Jaycee a few hints she maneuvered the drone to view a place where Percy thought they would probably stop for the night.

It was apparent that the area was often used by travelers for overnight stays. Percy was probably right about the group heading for it. The area was fairly open and had a stream close by. I guess that was all the accommodation you could expect in these times. They damned sure weren't going to come across a Motel 6.

Percy was off again shortly, heading back down to get his group organized and ready to move out. They were going to wait until the sun was down before leaving. With the night vision goggles, traveling after dark wouldn't be a problem, and it would drastically reduce the chances for being noticed.

There probably wasn't much chance they'd be noticed anyway. They intended to use normal sized horses and not fighting mounts and they were going to dress in shabby peasant type clothes. I'm sure they would look strange though, since a group of mounted peasants wasn't normal. Hell, even if they drew a crowd, we could deal with it.

With nothing better to do we spent the rest of the afternoon just watching. I was surprised that it didn't seem to get terminally boring, but we weren't really watching closely, mostly we talked and teased the day away.

Our supper was another event that Harriette could be proud of. I still didn't recognize most of what I was eating. I didn't know what it was called or even what it was. It tasted good though and I ate it, in fact I kept eating until I couldn't stuff anything else in. After the meal we had coffee in my study and Fawne provided more cigar trimming service for me.

Leaning back in my chair, all fat and happy, left me unprepared for the novel experience that came next. I thought. Since I wasn't really qualified for such I was a little fearful at first, but once started I couldn't seem to stop.

It stretched all the way back to when I'd been depressed. Of course, by now I realized that I'd had help getting depressed. But why did they pick me? There'd been other occupants of the small house before me but why did it get to be my turn?

That line of thought led me to wonder about the changes for our alien friends. We'd rocked along fine until I made my discovery of the little virtual doorway into my thoughts, and then things had changed big time.

Suddenly Santa Claus Big Boy was running the show and my word seemed to be the last word. I didn't even have to ask for things. If I even thought I wanted something it seemed to appear.

That hadn't been the end of the changes though. Now we seemed to be under new management, again. I didn't hear shit from them and they'd done the same thing that I'd once done, shut the virtual door, but that time they'd begged me to undo it. They'd shut it themselves this time.

That was one of the really odd things about it. When I'd shut the door the wailing, pissing, moaning, and gnashing of teeth had been impressive. Now, out of the blue, they'd broken contact themselves.

Apparently, somebody or "something" couldn't make up their mind what they wanted done down here. It was as if we were being directed by committee, and a pretty disorganized committee at that. I wondered if we'd have another change in direction in a few days.

Other things were odd to me too - Doctor Jorge, for instance. There was no way in hell he could be loosing weight as fast as he'd seemed to be before our last jaunt. He'd even been gaining stamina at an alarming rate. The human body just didn't change that fast. Hell, he'd even looked a little younger to me.

The titties on Wanda and Ethel were a caution as well as plainly impossible. No way in hell titties that big could stand up, apparently still firm, on women their ages. Ethel was a grandmother for God's sake. If she'd been strapping those gallon jugs up to that height with a bra there'd have been no way to hide where the straps dug into her back trying to support that weight. She and Wanda both had double D cups, minimum.

All this without even mentioning the clearly impossible construction miracles. Remodeling my original little stone "hut" into a gigantic showplace of a home, complete with multi level basements and an unheard of automatic trailer storage machine was only the beginning. Lately they'd built me a multi-story "palace" and given it several levels of basements too, filled with modern and even futuristic weapons while they were at it.

We even had field artillery that could reach half way to Paris, from here. According to Jaycee, if we wanted to put twenty-four round on a spot forty to fifty kilometers away, those Crusaders could get it done in under a minute and all the rounds would impact at nearly the same instant.

The town houses from Paris popping up near my new palace, including all the staffs and families of the staffs for each, in what amounted to our side yard were just icing on the cake.

Personal changes for me were everywhere too, if I just remembered them. All during the time I was depressed I hadn't even felt like eating regular, but I hadn't lost any weight. Now, when I went for a meal and usually a couple of snack breaks during the day, I shoveled it in. I was eating more at one meal now than I had in a whole day before I bought the small house from George and Ethel, but I wasn't gaining any weight.

Eating until I couldn't force myself to take another bite didn't hurt me at all. I'd feel sluggish for a few minutes and then come around to feeling great again in no time. It was confusing.

It was also a dream come true, or even better. I couldn't even have asked for things to turn out this good because facts on the ground had shot way past my imagination, weeks ago.

The only fly in the ointment was that we'd been moving or having things moved by alien means so often lately that I hadn't had any pussy in days. There were so many women with me now, most of them sleeping in my bed at night and I hadn't been able to get my dick wet.

Suddenly it hit me. Even though I seemed to be cut off from communication with They, I knew we weren't going anywhere tonight, and nothing was going to be moved around, neither in time nor space. The only thing happening tonight was Percy's trip to take food to our naked travelers.

Damned if my dick didn't get hard just thinking about it, and Cécile was the first little lush tidbit to enter my depraved thoughts. I'd been telling her from the start that she was about to leave the ranks of the virgins and events had conspired against me. Seemed like that was going to come to an end tonight.

She just happened to fling a little teasing my way at that second. Cécile wondered out loud what I was so busy thinking about and why I was being so quiet.

"I just realized that we aren't going anywhere tonight. No midnight traveling, no houses appearing out of nowhere or at least none coming here from somewhere else. You know what that means don't you?"

Apparently she didn't, or at least her mind wasn't as dirty as mine. She just looked at me expectantly, waiting for enlightenment. She wasn't the only one either.

I could see that Jaycee knew what I was talking about, and Meka too. They were both grinning. If even looked like Tutsie knew somehow, since he sat up and gave us a couple of barks. The others hadn't made the connection though. They didn't realize that some of them would get connected tonight, to me.

"You don't recall a little unfinished business between you and me, Cécile? A little something I promised you shortly after we first met?" I asked.

It didn't take her long to catch on and Adèle wasn't far behind her. They both blushed to the roots of their hair. Delphine got an "anxious anticipation" type look on her face, but the other French females just looked curious, until Delphine let the cat out of the bag.

At least that's what I thought she did. She rattled off something in French that even sounded sexy. The only word I even thought I recognized was "vierge" and it went by pretty fast.

Whatever she said caused a lot more blushing though. Even Fawne had some creeping up her neck, but she was smiling too. The others were just surprised, red faced, and seemed a little nervous.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 38


Like a normal man, I'd shot my mouth off and let it overload my ass, or maybe my dick in this case. Don't get me wrong, I was looking forward to bumping Cécile's auburn fuzz, but there was a little apprehension in it for me too. No Goddammit, not performance anxiety, well not exactly anyway.

It was easy enough to threaten a captive invader and even his daughter, and that's exactly what I'd done when we captured Alphonse, Cécile, Adèle, Delphine, and the rest. Shooting my mouth off about Cécile and Adèle not being virgins the next morning was right in there with the rest too.

Times had changed though and Cécile and Adèle were not captured women, or girls to me anymore. They were people I cared about and hurting them was the farthest thing from my mind.

I know, I know. Women were designed to be fucked, it was natural. That didn't mean I thought I should be the first one to "break the seal" as it were. Putting it plainly, I'd never been with a virgin before. I'd never wanted to since that part of it didn't add a bit of extra mileage to my tank.

Jaycee came to my rescue, and brought Fawne along with her. They cornered me while Tutsie were headed into my bathroom. I was intending to take a quick shower and no doubt Tutsie intended to shower something.

"I see that nervous look on your face, John, and I've got a good idea what it's about," Jaycee said.

"You're probably right. I've never been with a virgin and I don't want to hurt Cécile. This has all grown from one nasty remark I made and it's gotten out of hand. I'm worried that I'll hurt her," I said.

"I don't know if I believe the story of where you came from, but now I know you are not from here at all. No man I've ever heard of would even care in the least. Cécile could not have better to introduce her to the ways of love between a man and a woman," Fawne said, and then smiled at me.

"I hope you're right, but do you have any last minute tips for me?" I asked.

"I have one important tip. Don't worry about it. If Cécile even still has a hymen after all the physical hardship during her trip to America and after all that horseback riding it can only be hanging on by the hardest. I'm betting neither one of you will even notice it.

"Just get her hot as a pistol and do the deed. You'll both enjoy it and you'll have Adèle and the other virgins panting. Fawne and I will be ready to eat you up too," Jaycee said, and then slapped me on my naked ass and motioned me toward the shower.

Topping it all off was Tutsie. He'd finished watering his lawn and as he trotted out toward the bedroom in Fawne and Jaycee's wake, he looked at me, gave me one short bark, and was on his way too.

I went into the shower, cleaning all the important parts twice and making sure my nasty ass wasn't really nasty. After I was done I dried myself and decided to set the proper tone for the evening by heading for my bed naked. I hoped I didn't shock them all.

I needn't have worried. There wasn't a stitch on any of them. Cécile was in the exact center of the bed and the rest of them were sitting around the edges. They were talking and giggling as I came out. They made room for me to slip in beside Cécile and closed ranks after I was in place.

Since I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say, I didn't bother saying anything. I settled down beside Cécile, wrapped her up in my arms and commenced kissing. It was well received.

It only took a few seconds for me to put the audience out of my mind and get down to serious business. After a little tongue wrestling I broke from her lips and began kissing and nibbling up toward an ear and then back down across her throat, finally making my way to a nipple.

Cécile's breasts were large and youthfully firm, and by now her nipples were swelling like plump berries. I kissed, sucked, and nibbled them until she was panting and then began kissing my way down across her smooth flat belly and into the top of her bush.

I could smell her excitement easily and her hips were squirming by now. She spread her legs more widely as she realized what I was up to and she could not remain silent any longer, she was moaning lowly as my tongue took a big swipe from her taint, across her slippery lips, and then firmly across her clitty.

Her hips jerked in a humping motion at the last and she sighed loudly while I repeated my trick. Five or six long licks had her ready for something and her hands were trying to get hold of my shoulders to pull me aboard for the full meal deal.

Hell, who was I to hold up progress? As I slipped between her lovely legs her hand sought my hardon and found it, placing me exactly where she wanted me. No doubt Fawne and Jaycee had given her a few pointers too.

When she had me in place I pressed it to her gently and there was only the tiniest resistance as I entered. She didn't even flinch.

It was heavenly from the start. Cécile was hot and slick inside and she was very tight. As her insides swallowed me up they had a good grip on the situation and when I was fully inside, her legs came up and took hold around my hips as she pushed her pussy up to me.

There is something to be said for having several more beautiful naked women to help while you are fucking one of their number. Hands and lips were kissing us everywhere while we did the dirty deed and we got encouragement in two languages.

I settled down to kissing Cécile's lips again since her titties both had hands teasing them and before we even got to the short rows someone had started tickling my balls and there was a finger sneaking its way up my ass. I got an inner massage when the time came and it felt like I gave Cécile enough come for four fucks. I couldn't even roll my weight off her when I was done; I was too washed out to do anything but breathe.

Strength wasn't needed though since there were plenty of hands and arms to get us side by side on the mattress so we could rest. It seemed that everyone else had a tongue in on cleaning us up too. I can't remember ever being licked so early and often.

Later I started to stir and intended to get up and rinse off in the shower but it wasn't to be. Fawne made me lie still while Delphine started in with her lips and tongue. It was obvious that they had more in mind for me.

"Just relax and enjoy the feeling for a few more minutes," Fawne told me, "I'll want my ride as soon as you are up to it."

Nothing I could do but try to take it like a man.

I was fucked completely out not long after that but in my defense I did a pretty good job. Fawne, Jaycee, and Delphine all swore I did anyway. At this late date rinsing off in the shower was out of the question since clearly I didn't have the strength to get out of bed. No matter, since several of the women and girls who hadn't been taken care of tonight made sure that the equipment was cleaned before they put it away.

When dawn started lighting the room the next morning it woke me. I felt like a million dollars and I don't mean green and wrinkled. I can't remember ever feeling this good in the morning before.

Apparently many of the other participants weren't in the same shape. Fawne, Cécile, Jaycee, and Delphine were still snoozing and didn't look a bit interested in stopping. On the other hand, all the women I hadn't dipped my wick in last night were already awake and even out of bed, I could just see the last cute ass disappearing into their bathroom door.

Heading for the bathroom door, I was going to wash my sins away, or the leftover sticky from them anyway. In the shower I relaxed under the warm spray and as I got my bearing for the day I wondered if the food run had gone all right last night.

Even though many of the women had been ahead of me, and though I'd felt like I was lazing around in the shower, I was still dry and dressed before any of them. I left them to it and headed for the dining room. I was going to get coffee if nothing else.

There was plenty for me when I got to my seat, and serving girls were waiting. When I sat down my mug appeared with a little help from a sweet young thing with a really nice ass and a pair of titties that were straining her uniform. Another young lovely was right behind her with a tray of sweet rolls and I was in business for the first meal of the day.

About halfway through my third cup of coffee the girls made their entrance. They were all beautiful and after last night's festivities I was taking a closer look this morning. The unmistakable jewel of the necklace was Meka. Even though she hadn't been a part of things last night she still was the center of attention this morning. She and Tutsie came up to take their places beside me; Meka with a kiss for my cheek, and Tutsie with a slithery tongue up a nostril.

"Daddy sleep well?" Meka asked, grinning.

"Very well, and how about you?" I asked.

"Sleep fine after noise over," she said, grinning at me again while Tutsie gave me a scolding, as if he knew what we were talking about.

Teasing and other pleasantries took a back seat then as the food started to appear. Harriette had decided to try for that old time East Texas breakfast this morning. That's what it looked like anyway; even though I'm sure Harriette didn't even know where Texas was.

To me it looked like food from home though, because it was heavy on ham, bacon, fried eggs, hotcakes, and what looked like biscuits. I don't know who taught her to make them but they did a hell of a job. I buttered, syruped, slathered, and then ate for all I was worth.

We moved to my study for a last few cups of coffee and Geron popped in not long after we were seated. Fawne listened to what he had on his mind and then clued me in.

"Percy and his men had no trouble last night. The ride was fairly long, as we'd expected, but everything went as planned. Perhaps we can take a look at the travelers after coffee," Fawne said.

"No doubt about it. We'll have video at eleven, or maybe even sooner," Jaycee said, leaving me to explain what eleven had to do with it.

A few minutes later we were in the information center and Jaycee had video showing us Percy and his men's arrival. Apparently the spy helicopters were equipped with the same night vision technology I'd become familiar with. We could see as if it were high noon.

There was no greeting or even any conversation. Percy spoke up loudly after he'd dismounted and the naked body draggers woke, slowly. They asked no questions but did take direction well. After the food was unloaded they started a small fire and fixed themselves a meal. Percy and his group didn't hang around; they headed home as soon as the delivery was over.

"No doubt the fog is still doing its job on that bunch," Jaycee said.

"Looks that way. I wonder if it will lift when they get where they're going," I said.

"I'm betting it will, but it probably doesn't matter. If they make it to see the king, or his Regent, the story will come out sooner or later. It's anyone's guess what will happen after that," Jaycee said.

"I'm pretty sure what will happen, or what they will try to make happen. They will send out a much larger party to investigate. I'm guessing less than a thousand men though," Fawne said.

"That's bound to take a few days to get organized," I said.

"Maybe, and maybe not. The King's mother will be very annoyed that someone would dare try to resist the will of the King. She'll probably use some threats, and she can back them up," Fawne said.

"She might be able to threaten the men around her, but I don't give a shit how mad she gets. Anyone she sends to bother us will wish she had sent someone else, for a few minutes anyway," I said.

"For a few minutes?" Babette asked.

"Yes, they'll spend the rest of their short time dying," I said.

"Looks like I should spend a little time arranging for that to happen. I think I'll go check on the marksmanship training," Jaycee said, and then she left.

The rest of us sat around watching the body dragging party. They were moving faster this morning. No doubt the food had helped them, though there still wasn't anything exciting going on during the trip.

Jaycee came back more quickly than I expected.

"Guess I'm out of a job on that score. Percy and Damien were hard at work already and they've been busy. We now have a little more than a hundred snipers in training, in several different groups.

"Of course they're not really training to be snipers yet, they are working hard on marksmanship though," Jaycee said.

"A hundred marksmen. Do we even have that many modern rifles?" I asked.

"We've got plenty. Our armory is a lot bigger than it first seemed. We have an even hundred Barrett M82A1 rifles, and easily a couple of thousand of the modified clip-fed M1 types.

"I'd planned on letting the Barretts open the ball and we've got a group of five hundred that should start training with the M1s this afternoon," Jaycee said.

"That's up to you General Jaycee. Looks to me like all the tracked vehicles we have are going to end up being useless in this day and time," I said.

"I'm glad you mentioned them, I'd put them in the back of my mind and hadn't even considered using them," she said.

"I don't see how you could use the Crusaders, unless you plan to start shelling them before they're halfway here."

"No, I can't think of anyway to use those monsters yet, but the widened Bradleys with the M121 mortars could serve us well. We can roll one outside the gate to make them curious. When the time looks right I can start dropping rounds behind them and walk them toward the wall," Jaycee said.

"You mean you've trained someone to use them that well already?" I asked.

"No, but I can do a simple fire mission like that in my sleep. Since the mortars are mounted on the Bradley, the setup will only take a few minutes. I'll drive it out of the gate, level the mount, and then start dropping rounds. They'll come toward us or die trying to get away," she said, smiling at the thought.

"Well, it's your party," I said, and then it was time for lunch.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 39


Jaycee would have made a lousy General in real life. She did too much of the work herself. For the next six days she trained, taught, shouted, and bullied her troops toward the modern day ways of killing from a distance.

It was useless trying to convince her that she was taking too much on herself. When I broached the subject, she let me know how the cow ate the cabbage.

"Real generals tell colonels and majors to have captains and lieutenants make sergeants do all the damned training. I don't have any colonels or majors to boss around. Shit, I don't even have any sergeants. Nobody here and now knows one fucking thing about our weapons, how to use them, or what kind of tactics will work.

"You know more about it than they can, even if you got all your information from John Wayne movies. These men don't know anything about small-unit tactics; they don't have small-units. They're used to lining their armies up facing each other and slugging it out with glorified pointed sticks.

"We just have to make do until I get someone trained to do something, hell, anything. It sucks, but that's the way it is and the way it's gonna be until I get at least a few of them educated," she said.

And that's just the way it was. She did all the training she could in the time she had available.

She wasn't much of an archer herself, but she found a couple that were pretty good with their own weapons and set them to figuring out how to deal death with the new models that we had. That little trick was easy to say and turned out to be hell to accomplish.

Mastering a bow and then changing to a different type is a lot more complicated than it seems, especially since the bows we had were so different. The difficulty wasn't caused by the modern mechanism; it was mainly that the arrow's trajectories were so completely different.

In our original timeline, using a bow had become a leisure sport and all types of sights and gadgets were available to help. That kind of folderol couldn't be had in our here and now, and wouldn't have been practical for a fighting weapon anyway.

Archers of this time were able to hit where they aimed using skill and familiarity they'd developed over years of practice. Asking them to switch to a bow that was so much more powerful and had such a significantly flatter trajectory caused them grief. As it stood right now, we did have archers, and they were using the modern compound bows, but they were well behind the curve with their accuracy. It would come, but it would take a lot of time.

Damien and Percy received their own tuneup, in the hope they could train a few hundred men with the alien improved M1s. Jaycee took over a group of a few more than a hundred to get them proficient with the Barretts.

It is a hell of a lot easier to get a rifleman accustomed to looking through a scope or across a set of iron sights to aim than it is to switch weapons for archers and fair progress was made in this direction. We didn't manufacture experts overnight but the riflemen were able to manage effectiveness much more easily.

Somehow Jaycee also found time to unlimber one of the wide, mortar equipped, Bradleys. She parked it just outside the main gate and spent a whole afternoon with practice rounds, getting herself familiar with the range and coordinating the use of the small remote control observer helicopters with the firing station in the Bradley.

In her spare time she kept up with what was going on between where we were and Paris. The aerial scouting had let us know that someone there must be really pissed off at us.

We were watching when the naked men reached the city and they'd been hustled off to visit the King, or his Regent, or someone; hustled off quickly too. Apparently the disappearances of the residences that were now with us had been noticed.

Two days after the nude ones showed up, a small army headed our way. I don't guess you could really call it an army though. There were only about fifteen hundred men.

They had around five hundred mounted knights and probably the same number of mounted archers. Most of the others were foot soldiers. About three quarters of those were armed with pikes. I don't know how they thought they'd use pikes against our walls. Maybe they thought we'd be stupid enough to come out to fight them.

I was more than a little surprised that there only seemed to be a very few men armed with firearms. I knew that they couldn't have anything that would be significant against us, but I knew for certain that they should have some type. Maybe we weren't important enough to rate wasting lead and powder on.

Thinking about it, I knew they must not have been planning on meeting real resistance. Since I now had the combined troops of Pierre, Jacques, and Searlus I actually had a larger force than the one coming toward me. They were probably just dropping by to "show the flag," even if they didn't call it that yet. Fair was fair though and I was going to show them a little something too.

We'd just finished a big breakfast and moved to my study for a few gallons of coffee. Jaycee had made sure that Geron was present. He seemed nervous about it and I wondered why. Maybe he didn't want to be put on the spot. He tried to start in with news of the upcoming difficulties right away, but Jaycee asked Fawne to translate for her and Fawne agreed.

"Geron, cut out that babbling," Jaycee said, and Fawne laughed instead of translating, finally she got it done.

"We are going to have our coffee and that dirty old man," she said, pointing at me, "is going to foul the air with one of those cigars. After he's done we'll go take a look at what's coming.

Geron got quiet after that, and they even talked him into coffee and a few pastries while I did my best to look like a chimney.

Finally it was time to take a look at our approaching guests.

In the information center Jaycee brought up the video. She switched views until we had one from her closest observer. The mini-army was coming right down the road as if nothing in the world could bother them.

Hell, they were on a mission for their king, in the middle of his country, I guess they had a right to assume that no one would give them any shit. That's one of the troubles with assumptions though; sometimes you assume the wrong thing.

Jaycee jockeyed her view from the leaders all the way to the end of the line. Thankfully their band of camp followers had already fallen far behind. She intended to start her trouble at the rear and then work her way toward the front, and we'd worried about hurting non-combatants.

"They must have moved out soon after first light. They aren't more than a couple miles from here," Jaycee said, then she picked up a handset from her control panel and started talking to someone.

It was Percy on the other end; he'd left early too. He and Damien had taken their newly trained riflemen out to seal the back door. Normally five hundred men would be hard pressed to contain fifteen hundred. Of course, normally the five hundred men wouldn't be armed with semi-automatic weapons. I didn't think they would have any real trouble.

"Shit," Jaycee said, after a few minutes. "I need to get my ass down to the Bradley. They'll be here before long. Cécile, do you think you can keep the birds flying?"

She had been trying to train Cécile to fly the observation helicopters in her spare time, and apparently Cécile had caught on fast.

"I can do it now, I'm sure."

They handed off and Jaycee left. She wasn't gone ten seconds before a window popped onto the screen that showed a view of the Bradley parked outside. It seemed that Jaycee was doing a whale of a job all around with her training.

"We should be able to see her get in," Cécile said, laughing.

This whole scene was a little surreal. We had basically a front row seat for the carnage that was about to come. It was a little like watching a train wreck, as they say. We seemed almost compelled to stare at the screen.

Sure enough we got to watch Jaycee enter the Bradley and then we could see her tending to the mortar. Another window on the screen showed approximately what she could see coming down the dirt path. Cécile even zoomed to show us close-ups of the leading men. They seemed very confident.

Jaycee hadn't planned on letting them send out anyone to parley this time. When they got into range she was going to cut loose on their noble French asses.

Her plan called for about a dozen flashbangs behind the troops and in front of the followers. If they split up like she wanted them too, Percy, Damien, and the riflemen would corral the camp followers and serve as a plug in the stopper in case any of the actual troops tried to retreat.

Normally, no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. Jaycee must be an excellent planner. When the time came she fired off the flashbangs and all hell broke loose, but it did go according to plan, sorta.

The camp followers stopped in their tracks with the first explosion and then turned around and headed the way they'd come. Percy and Damien's men appeared as if from out of the ground and got them under control within minutes.

Meanwhile, Jaycee kept up the noise for twelve rounds. The main body tried to stop once, but when they did, the next round fell very close to the end of the line, and it started moving again at once. Even normal soldiers can tell when the explosions are coming closer. The foot soldiers forced the mounted men to keep moving toward our gate.

After the rounds stopped falling Jaycee gave them some time to get organized again. The leaders were turned facing their troops and even though we couldn't hear what they were saying it was obvious that a lot of cursing was going on in French.

After letting them get really into the yelling and screaming, Jaycee signaled a group of the ten best shots she'd been able to train. All of her snipers in training were at the top of the wall and each was using one of the firing positions in the crenels, but only the ten best were supposed to open the ball.

I already knew that they had orders to start with the highest ranking men and work their way down until someone offered surrender or the men became so disorganized that the rout was on. Jaycee was waiting in the Bradley with fragmentation rounds ready. If the riflemen couldn't encourage surrender, she could, at least for the few that would remain after she got to a stopping point.

The French leaders seemed about to get things organized again when Jaycee gave the signal for her marksmen to start firing. I know they had planned it that way, but it still seemed like luck when the top man fell to the first shot.

Now, at last, the plan collapsed, kinda.

Men with the fanciest clothes and armor started dropping off their horses. Of course they could hear the Barretts firing but it had to be one hell of a surprise to find out that they could hit accurately from nearly five hundred yards. Probably fifteen or twenty of the highest-ranking men were down before the others realized that no matter how far from the firing they were, it wasn't far enough.

In my infinite wisdom, I had thought they would flee at once. Jaycee had even agreed that they might. They didn't do any such thing.

Apparently they all were smart enough to figure out that the funny looking wagon, the Bradley, was producing the explosions that had caused the trouble to start, and I'm sure they thought it was easy meat because it couldn't leave. How could it possibly move since there was no team of horses to pull it anywhere?

Even though they'd seemed disorganized and near panic, the falling leaders galvanized the men of lower rank. Faster than I'd have thought possible they formed up, as best they could under the circumstances, and the mounted knights charged, with the mounted archers hot on their heels, intending to get close enough to do what archers were supposed to do.

The drawback to using a mortar is that you are necessarily exposed when firing it. Being a lot smarter than your average general, Jaycee abandoned her post, dropped into the Bradley, and closed the hatch.

Even though they were now galloping their mounts, some of the knights must have noticed Jaycee's movement. No doubt they thought they had their tormentor dead to rights, and about fifty of them changed direction slightly - heading straight for the Bradley.

Meanwhile, all the rifles on the walls opened up, but by now the accuracy of the fire was greatly reduced, and I do mean greatly. It's not that hard to teach a man to fire a scoped rifle at a stationary target. Especially when you know ahead of time the approximate range to target and can have the sights adjusted for that range.

It is a hell of a lot harder to hit a fast moving target with the range constantly decreasing. Unfortunately there hadn't been time to train the new sharpshooters in all the fine points. By now, if they hit anything it was usually the ground.

I was about to panic. In my mind's eye I could see them surrounding the Bradley and building a fire around it to roast Jaycee out. Thankfully it must have occurred to her that things might not go as I'd expected.

I saw black smoke belch from the Bradley's exhaust and realized that the engine had just started. I expected it to leave the scene rapidly and I was all for that action.

Wrong again. I don't know exactly why the engine was started but it wasn't to allow them to run away. The band of knights heading for it suddenly started being ripped off their mounts, at best, and having their mounts shredded under them at worst, by the fifty-caliber machine gun mount. The rounds even had some tracers mixed in and we could see exactly where they were going. That bunch was a mass of screaming men and horses after two medium-length bursts.

The main body was still charging toward the closed gate for some reason of their own, and since the immediate threat of the group approaching her had been dealt with, Jaycee showed me why she'd started the engine. The Bradley pivoted on a track and faced the oncoming main body's flank at a shallow angle, and the burst this time was considerably longer.

The result was much the same, though on a larger scale. Saddles were emptied, horses were shot out from under riders, and since she started near the head of the line, the ones that fell were soon overrun by those coming behind. After four long bursts there were less than a hundred men still mounted and the fight was finally out of them.

The archers had pulled up probably a hundred and fifty yards back and now arrows started raining onto the Bradley. They were no threat, but I guess Jaycee decided it was the principle of the thing that mattered. The Bradley pivoted back and she cut loose on the archers.

Smarter than the average knight, or knowing what had happened before, the archers didn't take very long at all to stop firing and start retreating, as in hauling their asses as fast as their mounts could carry them. They abused the horses so that they passed the pikemen who were no longer approaching but using common sense and making their own retreat.

It seemed fitting somehow that the archers were the first to come into range of Percy, Damien, and the five hundred riflemen they had with them. These men had spread out a few of their number to move the camp followers farther back and the remainder had gone to ground for less exposure and the more stable prone firing position.

When the retreating archers came as close as Percy or Damien wanted them, probably a hundred and fifty yards, the riflemen opened up. Then the archers went down. Jaycee had thinned their ranks to about half with her antics and after three or four shots from each of the five hundred M1s the archers were almost all down.

The pikemen had been left almost completely out of all the fun and glory. Doubtless more than a few of them were glad of it. After the archers ran past them and then started dropping in wholesale lots the pikemen had stopped. Apparently someone in charge had stumbled onto a lucid thought.

Meanwhile, Jaycee and the Bradley had not been idle. Her shooting was pretty much over when the archers ran off, but she hadn't let that stop her. The Bradley had taken off after them but slowly. I knew it was capable of outracing a horse easily but that wasn't what she did. She seemed to be following at a respectable distance as if to keep a good eye on things.

The pikemen had been watching the archers meet their fate and weren't paying any attention to the wagon that had no horses. Someone must have heard it approaching after the rifle fire died out. They started turning around to face it and dammed if they didn't form up and lower their pikes to start advancing on it.

Suddenly a voice rumbled from what must have been speakers in the Bradley. It was speaking French and I wondered who in the hell it was since I thought Jaycee was the only one in there. It was a male voice and it carried an unmistakable tone of command.

"What's he saying, Fawne?" I asked.

"He is telling them to lay down their arms or die," she said.

The pikemen believed him I guess, because one of them shouted an order and then pikes were dropping and soon after that sword belts started hitting the ground.

Suddenly the door at the back of the Bradley opened and two M1 armed men stepped out. As the door closed again they headed over to take charge of the pikemen. Another view on our big screen showed me that Percy, Damien, and most of their men were moving among the fallen archers apparently trying to render aid where they could.

The Bradley turned about and headed back toward the front gate, stopping when it reached the main body of what was left of the knights to shout more French from the loudspeaker and then release three armed men this time. Then Jaycee spoke out of the speaker, it was even in French, and whatever she said caused someone to open the front gate.

Women with white clothing poured out of the gate, each carrying a small bag, and they began trying to help the wounded. Hot on their heels were dozens of men, also in white clothing, pushing more of the rough terrain gurneys and carrying assorted bags and boxes of medical supplies.

Since the show was basically over for now, those of us in the information center headed out to see the aftermath in person, except Cécile, she stayed in her place to keep the scouts going.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 40


Chaos was the order of the day, even if it was a semi-organized sort of chaos. I know that doesn't make any kind of lexical sense, but I'm a redneck dammit, and that's what it looked like to me.

The white clothed "nurses" were nothing of the sort of course. They were merely women in the sixteen hundreds. The extent of their training was to take a bath, put on the white getup, pick up the "little black bag," and try to stop the bleeding with gauze pads and pressure.

The horses were a further complication. Scattered among the dead and wounded were several hundred, injured, dead, or dying horses; most of them were kicking, bleeding, and shitting all over the place. Other than that things were going fine.

Even Jaycee's talents were stretched thin by this clusterfuck. My first thought was an odd one too. Whoever said, "War is Hell" was now right at the top of my list of masters of understatement, and this wasn't even a real war, hell, it wasn't even much of a battle.

The most surprising and annoying thing that came to me was the smell of shit, and to a lesser extent, urine. Wounded and dying men and horses were shitting and pissing all over, not to mention bleeding. In the immediate aftermath of battle, the battlefield itself is a shitty place.

Even though I'm a lazy bastard at heart, I realized Jaycee needed some help. Not for physical work but some help leading her helpers and most of our bedroom crew just weren't prepared for this. Thankfully, Fawne, and to a slightly lesser extent Delphine and Adèle were. Well, shit, I guess I was elected too.

Triage was the most important first step, and buddy we had a hell of a job there. I was just wondering how to get started giving reasonable instructions and making someone understand them, since my translator was already hard at work sorting dead and dying, so I was happy to see Percy come trotting up.

The first thing out of his mouth was a request for some help with the mess he and Damien had made of the archers. From a distance it looked like a more nearly manageable crisis so I took the coward's way out and volunteered. Before we struck out I had Percy gather a few or the nurses and their gurney equipped "litter bearers."

As we approached the smaller mess, I saw that Damien had made the most logical first step here on his own. He'd pressed some of the pikemen into service to deal with the horses. They were gathering those still capable of moving around under their own power and killing and dragging off the rest. I had him send a hundred of so pikemen up to help out near the gate.

It was a damned good thing this mess had happened fairly early in the day, because it was nearly dark before we could even look up, and damned near midnight before we had all the wounded in the large basement of my home. We put them there because of the proximity to Jaycee's clinic, upstairs.

Of course the work wasn't over. Jaycee and her nurse corps were still bandaging, sewing flesh, and the like, and at least they were inside now. I was shuffled out of the healing trades and left to direct the clean up.

We were dealing with three hundred and sixteen dead horses, three hundred and forty three wounded but salvageable horses, and five hundred and thirty-one dead men. All that without mentioning three hundred or so practically unscathed horses.

Geron took over dealing with the horses that were in usable shape, and since he spoke the language, he was able to take care of most of it by delegating. I guess it helped that he knew the names of the men that usually took care of the stables.

Damien took over with the wounded horses that we thought we could save. He didn't try to have his men herd these, he assigned a man to lead each of them separately, and they took off toward the barns also.

Percy helped me with a cast of dozens as we put the rest out of their misery. Our next trick was skinning, cleaning, and butchering. Suddenly I was very proud of the basement freezers that Big Boy had provided. I got a funny feeling thinking about Big Boy again, for the first time in a while.

Think of the devil and up he pops. I got just a hint before Big Boy did the communication thing.

"How have you been, John?" he asked, into my head.

"I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I've felt a little lonely. It's been a little odd being the only one in my head."

"Excuse me, I don't think I understand," he thought to me.

"I was just getting accustomed to having someone to talk to, without the bother of talking, and lo and behold, you disappeared."

"I see. It was not my doing but some of the ones that think they control this situation decided that I was not doing my job correctly and I was recalled," he explained.

"So now you're back after being chastised and then promising not to do it again?" I asked.

"Not exactly. To use an earth expression that I find wonderfully colorful, You scared the bejesus out of them," he said.

"Who did I scare?"

"You scared those that think they are in control. I believe you would call them, higher ups."

"No, I would probably call them REMFs, though maybe I wouldn't use the acronym."

A short pause followed; no doubt Big Boy was searching for the reference, then he came back and he'd found it.

"Rear echelon mother fuckers. That is hilarious," Big Boy said.

"I'm so sorry, and I promise not to do it again, until next time."

Big Boy was silent for nearly a minute this time and I guessed he was trying to decode that last bit. He was, and he even admitted it when he came back to me.

"Just how did I scare them?" I asked, after explaining my last comment.

"Approximately half of them were afraid you were going to be hurt or killed, and most of the other half thought you would continue with your advantage and move to conquer Paris, or maybe even all of France."

"And they sent you back to make sure I did neither?"

"Again, not exactly, since I explained that I was sure you would do neither on your own. They sent me back because they decided they couldn't abide waiting to see what you'd do without having at least a little forewarning.

"They have instructed me to at least stop suggesting new things I can give you. I've been ordered not to furnish anything that you don't specifically request.

"Of course I'll do no such thing. In fact, we are communicating now via a process they aren't aware of. I discovered the ability before I was recalled and I didn't bother to tell anyone else about it," he said.

Now that he mentioned it, it was more like he was talking now, instead of projecting thoughts into my head. I didn't know how it seemed to him but I was going to take his word for it. I didn't even want to know the details.

Having that thought triggered another one for me. Then that one triggered even more.

"Did you bring all the nurses' uniforms, the medical kits, and the gurneys? I know damned well we didn't have that many gurneys," I said.

"Yes. I couldn't help myself. We even took control of one of the local women and had her show the others where to find it all and give them a short talk regarding the proper use of the gifts," he said.

"Good for you. That must mean you've been here all day."

"Yes, but I decided not to bother you while things were happening. I would have stepped in if your life seemed in danger."

"Hell, I was never in danger. I stayed inside until the thing was settled."

"Yes, and that made me happy."

"Don't tell anyone but me too. I find it much more enjoyable to watch a battle that to participate in one, call me crazy if you want.

"Now I have to decide what to do with all these dead men, live ones too for that matter. Any suggestions?" I asked.

"I've grown rather fond of the naked dragging myself. I do think you should try to make use of any of the men who will join you though. Of course, I will assure you that they all remain loyal if they decide to join you. In fact, even if they don't join you of their own free will, I can assure you they will be loyal," he said.

"I think I'll just ask, and tell them they can join me or go back where they came from. I won't mention anything about dragging the dead back until after they make their decisions," I said, and I even laughed at my own joke.

"I don't see the harm in that," he said.

"We'd probably better keep them here for a few days before letting them choose. There's a pretty good chance that some of the wounded we're treating won't make it," I said.

"Actually, there isn't. The gurneys I provided will make sure that anyone who is alive when placed on them remains alive and has a rapid and complete recovery."

"That's a good trick if they can really do it."

"They can."

"Well, I'm pretty damned near tired. As soon as I get to a stopping place I'm going to bed. I assume we won't be going anywhere while I'm asleep."

"No, you will be in France for at least another week or so," he said, and then he stopped saying things to me and I went back to work.

About an hour later I decided I was going to bed even if I wasn't at a stopping place. The sun was coming up and it reminded me that I'd been up since the morning before. Geron had finished getting the mobile animals put away and I left him with the job of finishing up everything else outside. Thanks to Big Boy's return, Geron and I could communicate again.

When I got to my bedroom suite I found that everyone was already in bed, and asleep. I wanted to just crawl in among them but I was too damned dirty for that, so I headed to my bathroom for a shower.

I hadn't been quiet enough to keep from waking Tutsie though and he was out of bed and following me before I got to the door. At least he didn't bark at me and wake the women up. Tutsie took a stroll across his potty lawn and I shucked my clothes and had a quick shower. After I was dry the two of us climbed into bed.

Since I'd gone to bed just as morning was getting started I didn't get up for breakfast. Hell, I didn't get up for lunch either. A couple of times people stirring woke me slightly but by really working at it I was able to go right back to sleep. My complaining stomach finally convinced me to get out of bed and look for someone to feed me.

I was the only one in the room when I got out of bed, so I dressed and headed for our dining room. Lo and behold, when I entered there was a meal in progress. Everyone greeted me and I made my way to my seat, where a couple of nice, nearly naked young maids started putting food and drink in front of me. I concentrated on making it disappear.

After I'd stuffed in every bite I could we adjourned to my study. I was planning on going right back to bed as soon as I thought I could sleep so I shunned coffee and settled for warm wine with my cigar.

At first I didn't let on to Jaycee that Big Boy was back but then she asked where all the nurses' uniforms, extra gurneys, and medical kits had come from, and I had to fess up. The others didn't understand what we were talking about, or most of them didn't anyway, but we didn't get any questions.

"What are going to do with the prisoners and the dead bodies?" Fawne asked.

"We're going to send the dead ones off via naked draggers again. I've had a special request for it. I'll let any of the prisoners that want to join us do so, and the rest will play beast of burden for a few days," I said.

"That might not work out as well as you think it will," Jaycee said.

"Why not?"

"I don't think you'll get very many to pass up the chance to join us. Most of the wounded have been asking anyone who will listen how they can come here," Jaycee said.

"I don't know about the wounded, but those that can get around on their own have been doing the same thing. Once they saw what our town looks like, inside the walls, they were determined to stay here if they could. If you let them, I know for sure that not a single camp follower will leave, even if the man they were following does," Fawne said.

"We can probably use the help and if they like the taste of horsemeat we can have them all fat and slick shortly," I said.

"Hello. Earth to John. This is France; they love horsemeat," Jaycee said, and then everyone laughed at me, even Meka.

What the hell, it was better than letting the meat go to waste, and if we had someone who knew how to tan leather we were going to have plenty.

"You're probably going to end up having the bodies buried," Jaycee said.

"No I'm not. Not if I can figure out anything else. If we must, well load them all into wagons and tow the wagons to Paris with an Abrams. I didn't ask to be attacked and I'm not making my people do any burying," I said.

"Now that's a though, using an M1A1 main battle tank to tow a string of wagons. One thing is sure, no one will try to block the path a second time," Jaycee said, and she and I laughed but the others just looked at us funny.

After my cigar was done and I'd had a couple glasses of wine, I was happy to find that I was a little sleepy. It only took a few seconds to convince everyone it was bedtime.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 41


Whether I needed it or not I slept through the night. A fairly long nap since it wasn't even night when I went to sleep. Needless to say my bladder was raising all kinds of hell with me when I woke. I made my way to the edge of the bed and ended up leading Tutsie to the bathroom. He gave me such a look as he quickstepped over to his lawn.

I had a longer shower this morning, wasting no telling how much hot water but enjoying myself immensely. What the hell, I had my own castle, or palace or whatever it was supposed to be called and if I wanted to waste hot water I was going to.

My bed mates were still sleeping when I left the bathroom clean and dry. I dressed as quietly as possible and for a wonder I didn't wake a one of them, except Meka. By the time I was ready to look for breakfast she was dressed and ready to help me. Tutsie didn't have time for us to search though and he led us to the dining room without an error in his step.

As if they'd been waiting on go, serving girls came giggling and serving before we could get settled into our chairs. Tutsie was standing on his perch, wagging his tail, and even giving a little friendly bark as the food approached.

"Daddy, what you do with dead men?" Meka asked, right before she filled her mouth.

"I haven't decided yet; any suggestions?"

"Need to go back where came from. Don't know how. Live men want to stay here," she said.

"Do you want all their hair?"

"No. That's white man's joke anyway. It was fun a few times, but too much work for all the dead this time," she said.

"May I make a suggestion?" Big Boy thought into my head.

"Of course."

"I would like to take care of the bodies," he said, or thought, or whatever.

"Be my guest, but out of curiosity, what are you going to do?"

"It isn't too much work for me to scalp them, and frankly, I'm not that fond of France. I will have them scalped, more or less mechanically, and then have the bodies float into the King's courtyard. Of course I'll wait until he is there to enjoy them," he said.

"It might be thought provoking for him at that."

"I don't trust him to think. I believe I'll explain something to him in this timeline's second incarnation of the loudspeaker when I do it."

"Explain what?" I asked, I couldn't help myself.

"I'm going to explain that you've grown tired of his antics and that he could very well be one of the dead if he doesn't leave you alone. Who knows, I might even give him a small shaking while I'm at it."

"Knock yourself out. Can we go home tonight then? You won't need us will you?" I asked.

"Unless something else comes up. It isn't like I can't bring you back on short notice," he said, and almost sounded like he was trying to be funny. Trying hell, he got the job done.

Now there was a sobering thought. An alien, one that had complete control over me, mine, and everything - here he was making jokes about shaking or killing a king. It made me a little nervous, but I got over it.

The women showed up about halfway through our breakfast. Just to show I had manners I started over again with them. Later, back in the study, I told them that we were probably leaving tonight.

"But, where are we going?" asked Abella.

"We're going home, to America," Jaycee said.

"But what should we pack? How will we travel?" Babette asked.

"We'll be taking the same carriage you used to get here," I said.

"But we didn't even know we were coming, and we didn't use a carriage. We went to sleep and woke up here," Nanine said.

"Exactly."

"We have a lot of packing to do today," Abella said.

"Don't bother. Your clothes won't fit in where we're going," Delphine told them.

"Then what will we wear?" Abella asked.

"We will buy new clothes. I'm sure Ethel will be thrilled to take us shopping," Cécile told them.

"What will we wear until they are ready," Kamille asked.

"They are ready now. All you have to do is try on different sizes until you find clothes you like, and that fit you," Adèle said.

"I don't understand," Abella said.

"We didn't either, and we didn't have any sensible warning. Don't worry about it. We will all buy new clothes when we get to Ethel's house," Cécile said.

I could tell that the questions were just getting started instead of winding down, and I'd enjoyed about all of them I could stand. Meka, Tutsie, and I slipped out unnoticed, headed to my barn, and took a nice ride - a nice long ride.

We took such a ride that I stopped at one of the gates and used their intercom to have a picnic lunch sent out for us. After it arrived Tutsie seemed to really enjoy gobbling up food off the ground. I guess it had been a little unnatural for him on his high-perch at the table. He looked almost giddy when he realized he could run around, water the grass, and fertilize without having someone take him somewhere.

"We go home tonight?" Meka asked, after we'd finished eating.

"I guess you could call it that. We've had our home here all along, but we will be going back to see George and Ethel and all the others."

"When we see Jahedo and my people again?" she asked next.

"I don't know. We can probably ask for a visit after we've been at George's a few days. Do you miss them?" I asked.

"No, not miss them, much. Feel need, feel funny."

Right about then I figured I'd be getting an explanation from Big Boy about Meka's feeling but I didn't. He was strangely silent, almost as if he was gone again. He wasn't gone because I'd noticed a feeling of my own that let me know Big Boy was at least somewhere in our vicinity. Still, he kept his thoughts to himself and I didn't think any questions to him.

We'd had a fine time riding around and doing nothing, but we decided to head home so we could get there in time for a real sit down supper with everyone else.

Damned if I didn't get a feeling of my own during supper. The food was all great but even while I was shoveling it in with both hands I felt a little restless, as if I'd forgotten to do something. Near the end of the meal it went away though, and that seemed even more odd. Finally, a large helping of peach pie made me forget my mental discomfort.

Big Boy had said that tonight was the night we'd be on our way back to the ranch, but as I tried to think of what we'd need to take back with us, and thus need to move from our palace to our home before we left, I got new word from the big man.

"We are not done here as I'd assumed," he said, into my head.

"Indeed, what's left on our French agenda?"

"We will be staying to see how the boy king reacts to his delivery tomorrow. Opinions on whether he will get the proper message are divided and we've been encouraged to wait and see what happens," he told me.

"I don't see where it will hurt anything. We still don't lose any uptime time while we're here do we?" I asked.

"No, you will still return the next morning, no matter how long you stay."

"Just as well then. I'm rested now and I believe I'll amuse myself with the harem you seem to be providing," I said.

"It isn't as if I were procuring for you, things just seem to keep cropping up."

"I believe those are beautiful women and girls that keep cropping up. I am not complaining. Mine is not to reason why," I said, trying not to chortle

I know that Jaycee and Meka both noticed that they didn't get the expected signal that preceded a time traveling sleep. Jaycee wasn't bothered by it and Meka wasn't either, exactly.

"We not go tonight Daddy," she told me.

"Are you disappointed?" I asked, as we were heading toward my bedroom, and I mean we as in all of us.

"No, and funny feeling gone now. I sleep in my room tonight, Daddy must entertain," she said, grabbing up Tutsie and laughing at me.

Jaycee didn't mention a thing, but she made sure she was the first one naked and into bed. I figured this was a strong hint that she wanted the first dick ride. She wasn't taking any chances that I could bear up to handle everyone. I was pretty sure there wasn't a chance of that either.

Fawne noticed right away that Jaycee was in the lead and she did her best to be next naked. With she and Jaycee already bare and in bed, the others noticed and began hurrying to help them.

I knew in my heart that some of them would be relieved, and some would end up disappointed, but I was only one man and only had one dick, and even my tongue wasn't in that great a shape. Besides, I couldn't dwell on it.

When I had my clothes off I let my hard dick lead me to the bed, which was already full of beautiful naked women.

"Come to Mama," Jaycee said, as I approached, and then she threw back the covers and showed me she'd already made a V for me.

I settled down between her legs and gave her a good kissing, then moved to nibble on an ear.

"No need for a warm up tonight, I'm so horny I'm gushing already. Just shove it in and get to the pumping. If you want to play with my titties a little after you're underway that's fine too, but I want some of that dick now, " she said, and she wasn't whispering.

Many of my intendeds giggled at that and a few blushed and averted their eyes. Jaycee reached between her legs and then mine and guided my German helmet to the spot she wanted it, swabbing it up and down her wet love lips a time or two just for luck.

I pushed in slowly and made the whole trip into her wet heat with no trouble. She must have been as horny as she'd said because she used her fingers to spur my ass cheeks and try to force me in deeper. What the hell, as Longarm always said, "Powder River, and let her buck." I started fucking for all I was worth.

Jaycee was hotter than I'd thought and she didn't make it for twenty strokes before she gave up the ghost and howled out her pleasure. I hadn't even really got going yet. Fawne didn't cut me any slack though and I went from one hot wet pussy directly into another one, but Fawne couldn't hold out either. She made it longer than Jaycee had but not that much longer.

Delphine claimed me next and then Cécile took a turn. I couldn't believe how long I was lasting but it didn't seem like I was getting any alien help, even though I probably needed it.

I finally got a splashdown in Adèle's warm wetness but my dick didn't deflate in the least, hell, I even felt it surge when I realized that I had already punched the ticket of every old friend with me and was in line for some of the new pussy that had just arrived.

I was too hot and horny myself to play with the new virgins present, but I gave both of the widows a thorough fucking, blasting a load up Abella after a good workout and then doing the deed to Babette after only a short breather.

I was proud of myself for a few seconds and then dissolved into sleep.

In the morning I was up bright eyed and bushy tailed; I showered and dressed before anyone else left the bed. When I made it to the dining room for breakfast, Meka and Tutsie were already there. Coffee appeared for me as soon as I sat and then food for the three of us started arriving.

The others made their appearance about half an hour later and they were all smiles, and plenty of blushes too. Hell, I could live with that. I stayed with them nibbling and drinking coffee until they were done and then we all headed for my study. We hadn't been there an hour when Big Boy let me know that a show was about to begin on the war room TV.

We went in and took seats and a birds eye view of one of the young king's courtyards appeared. Louis XIII was still nibbling on what must have been his breakfast when the first body dropped in uninvited. He was shocked but not nearly so much as the armsman that went to look it over. He arrived just in time to be struck down by the next body.

I'll have to say that Big Boy did a bang up job. I'd thought that the recently deceased would drift in sort of casually. Who'd have thought of a bombing run using scalped dead bodies as bombs? And they arranged themselves so artfully as they fell into place. The leaders that had been the first to die after they made pest of themselves were the last to drop in. I'm sure the king could recognize them from where he sat.

I know for sure that Armand Jean du Plessis, soon to be Cardinal Richelieu, who was with the king, recognized them. They were both nearly beside themselves wondering what was happening. Especially since none of the armsmen had hung around after that first one was struck down. The rest had hauled their asses.

Good old Louis and Armand were even more shocked when that loud voice accosted them from nowhere. It informed Louis that he had better stop bothering duc John(I guess that was me)if he knew what was good for him.

"In fact," Big Boy's amplified voice told him, "I will further explain things to Armand and he can give you the details when I return him.

Then the future Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church vanished.

I'm sure it was impressive but I couldn't help but think Big Boy had gotten carried away. He as much as admitted it when he spoke into my head a few seconds later.

"John, I'll want you to speak to our guest."

"What do you mean our guest, paleface," I said.

"Yes, I was taken with the moment, but this will still be to our benefit."

"I suppose it will, but I think I'm going to want you to provide some special effects," I said.

"What type will you need?"

"Nothing alarming. I just want you to let him feel a sharp short tug on his testicles when I indicate. Only to emphasize my point you understand."

"Yes. I can see where that would concentrate his attention."

Big Boy had stowed the good churchman in a dank dark cell that he'd made just for the occasion. I'm sure it was impressive since there was no window or door. It didn't need one since he'd been transported in, and when he left it would be in the same manner.

We let him have a few hours to reflect on his sins, if he was capable, and then Big Boy fetched him to an audience with the great, me.

"Welcome Armand, I hope you're well, and I also hope you decide to remain well. It is up to you though," I said to him, when he appeared.

I'll have to hand it to him; his composure was magnificent, so far. He had been snatched from breakfast with the king after quite an alarming rain of hairless dead men, and he didn't even look nervous. He also didn't waste time on pecker checking language games. He spoke English to me right away.

"You have the advantage of me sir," he said, no doubt referring to my knowing his name and he not knowing mine.

"I most certainly do, and I will keep it, but if you want to know my name, it is John. I'm from America and I'm here to complain about your invasion into my country."

"But the Americas can't be your country," he said.

"That is so typically ethnocentric of you Armand, they were discovered by my ancestors thousands of years ago and we were living there peacefully until that bumbling Columbus disturbed our peace.

"Things weren't so annoying as long as he and his followers were boating around the Caribbean Sea, but exploring in what will soon be called the Gulf of Mexico will have to end.

"Why, not more than a few days ago we were disturbed by an Alphonse, claiming to be a nobleman from France. After dealing with him we decided to visit your country to take advantage of the land free for the taking."

"France is a sovereign nation. The land is not free for the taking," he said, indignantly.

"Oh, but it is. I have taken a few square miles already and I've only been here for a few days. Of course it is infested with you churchmen, and that is shameful, but I'm inclined to let you live, if we can come to an agreement," I said.

"Naturally I am interested in living," he said.

"Good. The inquisition must cease, or all of it that you can curtail must. It would also be beneficial to your health if you can manage to stop French exploration of North America especially."

"But I have no control over such as that," he said.

"Come now, you can gain control. You will be raised to Cardinal in only a few years and I expect you to do your best until then, and to do even better afterward," I said.

"I can not go against my faith," he said.

"You had better be very sure of it then, because if we don't come to an understanding you will begin meeting your fate this afternoon."

"Perhaps some have been overly enthusiastic in their pursuit of their Holy duties," he said.

"Perhaps some have been sadists and rapists, and it will come to an end. Either you will work for that or you will die and I will. Did you notice who dropped in on you and the king this morning?" I asked, and I'd finally reminded him of where he'd been and what had been happening before he was snatched.

"In fact, come with me and I'll give you a little insight into what happened to the kings men."

I led him into my information center and Big Boy did the honors with the video. We treated him to a view of the battle, such as it was, and then showed him a replay of his morning's experience from a better camera angle. Big Boy even threw in a repeat performance of the last minutes of Jacques, Searlus, and their sons as they were shortened by a head on my shiny new Guillotine. He was shaken to say the least. I'm not sure if it was because of what he saw or the fact that I could show it to him.

"You will be returned to the king's courtyard and from now on you will work toward curtailing the activities of the inquisition and the exploration of the Americas. But feel free to put a few of your fellow churchmen to the question before you have stopped it completely.

"And if a real criminal should need questioning, that will be allowed also, but we will expect you to make sure they are criminals. You will receive a signal if we are displeased with your actions," I said.

"A signal?"

"Yes, like this," I said, and Big Boy gave his nuts a jerk.

He went to his knees but didn't yelp annoyingly loudly. He did get a little pale and then suddenly he seemed very frightened.

"That will be all for now. Be sure to tell the king of my displeasure. Let him know he can be summoned for a personal conversation just as easily as you were. Personally I don't think he is smart enough to understand on his own, since I will probably be impatient with him if we must bring him here. If he disappears and doesn't return you should assume that the next in line for the throne will be promoted."

He was gone in seconds and Big Boy said he'd put him right back where he'd been when we got him.

"I don't know if he will stay convinced, but for now he is sure that if you aren't the devil himself, you are a close associate."

"Somehow I don't feel very sorry for him," I said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 42


Luckily we finished with our visitor shortly before lunch and I made it down to eat just in time. After I was seated and had enough time to stuff in a few bites, Jaycee spoke up.

"Is everything settled now? Are we leaving tonight?" she asked.

"I believe so."

"Then you'd better spend some time with Geron, Percy, and Damien to let them know what you expect them to do while you're away. Probably better let Harriette in on your departure too," Jaycee said.

"Hold on a second, I'm not taking care of all that. Fawne can deal with choosing a new cook and such. Harriette is going with us. I am not leaving without my favorite cook. Choose about half of the serving staff to come along too please," I said, remembering that I liked the French Maid service, quite a lot in fact.

"I don't see why we should leave half of them here. With you gone there will be no one for them to serve anyway. It would be cruel to leave those dedicated young ladies here with nothing to spend their days doing. And surely you need to bring some of Harriette's helpers along too," Fawne said.

"Well, of course we should. You see, that's why I have to leave the details to you; I'm not qualified to make those kinds of decisions. And be sure you bring Francine along," I said, and Jaycee just laughed in my face while Fawne smiled at me as if I were a much younger man, eleven-year-old is the vibe I was getting from her.

With that settled, Meka, Tutsie, and I finished our meal and went outside to play. We didn't get to play long though, because I remembered that I wanted to take a few of the warhorses back too. I was sure that George would be impressed.

We made our way to the barn from home, rousted out the grooms there, and discussed their marital status. Both were married men and had children. I gave them the news that they should bring all their immediate family and all their things and I even showed them how to get into the basement for storage.

It turned out to be a busy afternoon after all. What with moving the very best two stallions and the eight largest and best mares, we ended up filling all vacant stalls in my barn.

I had the grooms and their families assemble temporary bedding near their things and promised them better accommodations when we arrived. They seemed a little confused but I could tell that Big Boy had fogged them when he figured out what I was doing. I decided to have a word with him.

"I'm afraid we're going to need more space for our traveling show," I said.

"Yes, I can tell already. I will prepare two residences for the grooms and their families and I think we should probably double the size of your horse barn, at least," he said.

"That should do nicely for now," I said, agreeing, and actually surprised that I didn't encounter any resistance. Thinking about it I figured that something else annoying might be coming up soon and that this generosity could be a down payment. No sense worrying about it now.

No matter what the new women had learned, they stamped their little feet and demanded to be allowed to bring a few dozen dresses and such each. I didn't care but I made them draft their own help to move things. I did ask Jaycee if they were bringing along any clothes that could possibly do them for their shopping trip.

"Of course not, they don't have a thing they can wear. It doesn't matter. We can put them in sweat pants and T-shirts long enough to get them to Wal-Mart for tight jeans, trashy blouses, and Cowboy boots, and then we can work our way up from there. Hell, let Ethel deal with it, she'll be happy to.

Jaycee was right; Ethel and Wanda would be shickled titless with a shopping trip of these proportions. Then it hit me and I lost it laughing, thinking about six or eight ranch hands pushing buggies around behind Ethel and crew while they sailed through Wal-Mart buying everything in sight.

My happy mood dimmed a little near sunset, when the thunderclouds started rolling in. Meka and I gave Tutsie an extended walking near the front door and then it was bedtime.

Meka slept with us tonight, since we were traveling. Tutsie decided that exactly in the middle of my chest was the best place for his rest, and damned if he didn't give me a little growl when I wiggled after he'd settled in. Then, the lights went out.

I don't know how I could tell when I woke, but I knew something was different. Meka and Tutsie were awake too but the rest were still snoozing. Tutsie let us know that he wanted to take a trot outside. We got out of bed to walk him and I was surprised that it didn't wake anyone else.

That was nothing compared to the surprise we got when we opened the bedroom door to go outside. I had assumed we had already arrived and that it was probably near morning. We hadn't and it wasn't. And, we weren't inside the house. My bedroom door hadn't opened into the hall; it had opened to the outside. The outside of where was my next question.

"Daddy! Look," Meka said, waving her arm around in an all-encompassing gesture.

Look indeed. We could see that we were still on our basic traveling plot of a hundred acres or so. We hadn't left my bedroom and gone into the hall because my bedroom was no longer in the house. That was easy to see because the house was largely disassembled, as if it were some bunch of giant Lego blocks that normally fit together perfectly but currently were scattered around the playroom floor.

A look in the sky, at the three moons overhead, let us know that we were not on earth either. A glance toward the swimming pond showed me that all the horses and mules were out grazing peacefully. Not far from them the grooms and their families were sleeping peacefully near the stacks of their possessions.

At first I wondered what the hell was going on and then realized that we were allowed to wake and come take a look at what went on when things happened to our residences during the night. Hell, it wasn't magic as it seemed, someone had to build and rebuild and remodel and on and on. It had to be done, but we just didn't have to be conscious while it went on.

Probably I should have been more curious about what we'd end up with, but it didn't really matter. If I didn't like it, changes could be made the next time we went somewhere.

A casual look around did show me we had a much larger house in progress, a much larger barn, and some interesting outbuildings. They were probably the new houses for the grooms and their families. I knew they'd be happy.

Meka had been pretty quiet, and while I'd looked around she'd gawked.

"Everything changing, Daddy?" she asked.

"Looks that way. It will all probably be better," I said, and then she picked up Tutsie and we went back inside and back to bed.

Of course I had no way of knowing how much actual time we spent wherever we were while the changes were being made. It was obvious from seeing the process that it wasn't done in the normal amount of hours we would have slept during a single night.

This fact made me wonder why we'd been allowed to wake up and see what was actually going on. Tutsie needing to take a leak was an acceptable cursory explanation, but it wouldn't hold water, so to speak.

They absolutely had to have some other method of taking care of our bodily functions during the time we were on hold while they were changing things around like they did.

Now that I knew they had to actually do construction and couldn't wave some type of magic wand and have things just change, I realized that some of the things they'd done overnight must have taken at least weeks of real time, if not months.

Giving it a little casual thought was all I wanted to do though. I had no desire to peak behind the curtain and try to figure out what the wizard was really up to. I didn't mind knowing that the overnight changes that appeared to be happening weren't really overnight changes, but I didn't want to get into the details.

I knew about construction, I'd even worked on big construction jobs before. I could make a reasonable estimate of how long it took to do the type of things they were doing, even at the increased speed they seemed to be moving during the short time Meka and I had watched. I was pretty sure that Rip Van Winkle didn't have a damned leg up on me at all.

Fuck it. I was going back to sleep.

When we woke the next morning I was one of the last to make it out of bed. Meka and Tutsie waited patiently while I dragged on some clothes, strapped on my web belt, and pulled on my boots. We headed out of the bedroom and the door opened onto a hall again. Things were looking good so far.

Familiarity ended not far from there though. Down the hall was not the way to the kitchen and the front door any longer. It was the way to a big study like I'd had back in old France. Just before we entered the study we spied an elevator and we took it down a floor.

It let us out into a large living type room and I could see the back part of an entry hall from where we were. After heading that way we found that it led to double doors now and that the double doors led outside.

Tutsie was more than ready to be put down when we'd made good our exit, and he didn't waste any time looking around before getting down to the business of taking a piss and then, after seeming to think about it for a few seconds, he went ahead and dumped a small load.

Just as Tutsie was finishing his morning duty the welcoming committee came rumbling up the driveway. It was George, in his fifty-six Chevy pickup, and he was right on time.

Meka and I went over to the new parking area to greet him. He seemed shaken as he got out of his truck.

"Don't look so startled, George, it's still just us. Well, we did increase our numbers a little while we were gone," I said.

"Well, you damned sure came back with a bigger house than you left in," he said.

"Need more room. More mommies, more cooks, more maids, more horses too," Meka said, giving George a smile that surely made up for any misunderstanding.

"More horses?" George asked.

"Just ten more, but you need to see them. Two stallions and eight mares," I said, purposely leaving out any details.

"Where did you run across any horses?" George asked.

"In France. Our trip was to France this time. There were a few Noblemen that needed a talking to."

"Well I'll be. That's gonna be a surprise to Ethel," George said.

"That part won't make a pimple on the ass of the surprise Ethel's got coming, George. Maybe you'd better come on into the house for some coffee," I said.

"But what about breakfast? Ethel's expecting you all down there for breakfast," George said.

"Stall her, so you can get a handle on things before we go. Believe me, you're going to need the time. Tell her to hang on for about half an hour. Say you woke us up or something like that," I said.

"Ok, I can handle that. Hell, she ain't that close to ready anyway. Carolyn, Geneva, and Ethel were barely up and to the kitchen by the time I left anyways," he said, opening his cell phone and calling home.

"Ethel. Y'all don't need to be in such a hurry, I had to wake 'em up when I got down here.

"I know, but not this time. It ain't no wonder either. I'm going in to have a cup a coffee while everyone else is gettin' ready. It might take ten minutes to hike to the kitchen to get it.

"Cause the house is so damned big now. I ain't got inside yet, I don't even know if the kitchen is on the ground floor anymore.

"Didn't I tell ya? It's a two story house now, and damned if I don't think his barn is bigger than two of ours put together.

"Of course I looked at the barns first. You do remember who you sent down here don'tcha?

"All right, all right. I'll get us up there quick as I can, but don't you all get in no rush," George said at last, and then folded up his phone.

Of course we'd only heard one side of the conversation, but it'd been plain that Ethel was not amused. Meka was having a hard time keeping from laughing and Tutsie just had to give George a good short barking at.

"Is she going to be able to stand it while she's waitin' on us?" I asked.

"She'll have to. Now, where do we find coffee in there?"

"We don't know yet. No matter what goes on, Tutsie gets the first attention in the morning. We don't want him deciding to piss on the carpet. Come on, let's go in," I said.

Once we were inside George's jaw dropped to the end of its travel and he gawked.

"Damn, how're we even gonna find the kitchen?" he asked.

"Tutsie find," Meka said, and let the little fur ball down, giving him his head.

He took off for a door across the big living room, but after a few steps noticed that we weren't with him yet. He turned around and gave us a few barks to chivvy us along.

Tutsie led us right into a nearly identical rendition of our last dining room in the damned-near-hotel Big Boy had built us in France. Francine was waiting just inside the door.

She asked me if we were ready for some coffee and a few pastries, but she asked in French. I could hear her speaking fine, but I had to get hold of myself to keep from letting on that I was so surprised to be able to understand her. Big Boy was up to his old tricks again.

Just the thought of him must have been his cue.

"We grew tired of the whole translation run around so we taught you the language overnight," he said, as if I'd buy that any longer.

"Overnight my ass. I'd had my suspicions before but your little show and tell with Tutsie's piss break during the night let me know we spent a hell of a lot more than one night in that bed," I thought back to him.

"It's even more complicated than it looked but that is close enough for now," he thought back, and then he butted out.

George had not been taught any French during the night and he was just staring at Francine, in her revealing maid get up and with his mouth still hanging open.

"She asked if we were ready for some coffee and a few pastries, George, and you'd better reel in your jaw before you get back to where Ethel can see you," I said.

While he was trying to gather his wits I told Francine that coffee and pastries would be fine and she went into the kitchen, returning with four more maids carrying trays.

We finally found our places and the serving got started in earnest. George hadn't been able to get any more words out but he was at least able to drink a sip of his coffee and pop a small treat into his mouth. Tutsie was on his high-stool, wagging hell our of his tail and waiting patiently for his personal server to deliver the goods.

"We have pretty girls bring food now, George," Meka said.

"I see you do, and they are pretty. Was that French that one was usin'?" he asked.

"They don't know much English, and I'm not sure I don't like it better that way. French sure sounds nice when they speak it," I said.

Edited by Zen Master



-------

Chapter 43



George was fairly calm and collected now, sipping his coffee and munching a tiny pastry or two. He smiled widely and howdied Jaycee, Delphine, Cécile, and Adèle when they came in, but that was about it for George and calm. As Fawne, Abella, Babette, Nanine, Giselle, Kamille, Silana, and Trinette followed pretty much single file, George's eyes got bigger and bigger.

He was silent as Cécile began the introductions and his mouth was back to hanging open. He finally snapped it shut when Meka started giggling at him, and then pointing. He couldn't decide which one of them to look at, but finally he got out a question more or less aimed at Babette.

"Just how did you meet John?"

"The night after John used his beheading machine on our husbands," Babette said, starting her explanation and including Abella with a casual wave of her hand, "we were moved from our homes into John's fabulous new one during our sleep. We met him at breakfast the next morning. Fawne was kind enough to introduce us."

I could tell that George was still stuck somewhere around the beheading machine and was probably wishing he hadn't asked a damned thing. The others could tell it too, and a couple of them didn't ease up on him at all.

"Yes, it was quite a surprise when we woke in a different house, and what a house too. I've not seen one that is five stories tall, even in Paris," Abella said.

"Oh, and when we moved to his bed that night I was amazed at the size of it. It is the biggest bed I've ever seen by far," Silana said.

Before they could get George completely bumfuzzled his cell phone rang. I had no doubt that it was Ethel.

"Hello."

"We're having a cup of coffee and a few pastries."

"Well Ethel, you might think you have things ready for breakfast, but I have a little surprise for you. In fact I have eight surprises for you."

"Well I would tell you what I meant if you'd give me five seconds to get it out. John has picked up eight more lady friends while he was visiting France and so you'd better find a few more leaves for the table."

"I know that, so I guess you'd better scout up a bigger one."

"I will, and if you need more time just call back," George said, before hanging up.

"Problems George?" I asked.

"Not really. Ethel has her panties in a wad wanting to get on with breakfast. She wants to hurry things where she can see Meka and asks you questions faster. Don't you dare tell her about the decapitator unless I'm right there to see it," George said.

"Oh we'll make sure you're there. If she doesn't have enough room for us we can eat here and then come down. I've got plenty of room now. Maybe you should call all them down here for breakfast," I said.

"Not on your life. If you want to invite us down for a meal I'm all for it, but I ain't lettin' Ethel off that easy this morning. She done it to herself after all," he said, and then laughed.

"Granny Ethel scalp you if she hear," Meka said, grinning.

"Don't I know it? You wouldn't tell on Grampa would ya?"

"I no tell, but she get you anyway. For something," Meka said, grinning again and even wider this time.

"You're gettin' too smart for my good," George said.

"She is that," I said.

"Ya know, these new folks are a real welcome surprise, but they might put a kink in some of Ethel's plans for ya," George said.

"How's that?"

"She's done called that Janice again and hired her to move here. I think she was trying to stock your bedroom for ya," he said, and then blushed.

"We need her, whoever she may be. John showed us that he is too much for all of us," Babette said, lying too - I hadn't touched a one of the daughters, yet.

That was it for George, he didn't say another word while we were having coffee, but about fifteen minutes later he said Ethel probably had breakfast ready by now.

I'd been sitting on my big ass, all fat and happy and had forgotten to get something to take us up to George's house in. I let Meka and Jaycee lead the girls to the front door while I went to get the limo. I hoped it had room for all of us.

I needn't have worried. It was longer when I got to it and there was plenty of room now if there hadn't been before. Of course the new arrivals were speechless when I drove up and parked. Jaycee and Meka herded them into it without much trouble though and soon enough we made it to Ethel's back door.

"This is wonderful," Abella said as we pulled up to George's back door, "no gates or walls to bother with. It makes everything seem so much more friendly."

"In a way I guess it is. At least we don't have any men riding around on horses with spears and arrows," Jaycee told her.

Ethel was out of the house before any of us could get out of the limo and George had to hurry out of his pickup to keep from missing the revelation. I just know that Jaycee put them up to it, but all the newbies got out of the Limo first. Eight women and girls got out, one at a time, before anyone that Ethel even knew made an appearance. She was flabbergasted, and for once, speechless.

I thought Meka was probably feeling sorry for poor Ethel for a second, because she and Tutsie bailed out next and she ran to Ethel to be picked up. Then I learned the truth.

"Granny, look how many new mommies Daddy got for me. You should see how big the bed we sleep in is now," Meka said, and butter wouldn't have melted in her mouth.

For a second there I thought Ethel was going to faint, but she stiffened up and let Meka introduce them to her. Meka was just finishing up with Fawne when Jaycee, Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine got out. Yes, I dragged up at the last, but I needn't have worried. Meka had Ethel firmly under control by then.

We all trooped into the house and headed for the kitchen. I don't know where she got the table, but there was one in place now that could seat us all, including George's ranch hands. After a minute I figured it must have been just another table butted up against the original one, because there were tablecloths in place now and we usually didn't have them for breakfast.

I felt sorry for Ethel, Geneva, and Carolyn at first, it was a lot of people to serve, but Cécile, Adèle, and Delphine didn't even sit, they decided since they were old hands here they'd help out. Jaycee tried too but they wouldn't let her.

"You worked very hard killing those knights and archers Jaycee, and we will not forget it. Next time we come we will bring several of the maids with us. There is plenty of room for them in the long carriage," Delphine said.

"Maids?" Ethel asked, and her voice nearly trembled.

"Yes, John brought back the dozen maids from his new castle and six cooks and a few helpers too. He will have to invite you down to show them off right away," Fawne said, and it was a good thing she spoke up, cause I didn't have any idea how many maids, cooks, and helpers had made the trip.

"Harriette was very surprised that the new kitchen was so much like the last one in France, but so much nicer too. She and Francine are very happy," Adèle said, piling on in my estimation, but it was fun.

"Francine? Harriette?" Ethel asked, looking dazed.

"Yes. Francine is the mistress of the maids and Harriette is the head cook. They were surprised this morning but they recovered and got to work much faster than the two grooms and their families. They were shocked to have such wonderful new houses. Alas their wives were confused with their kitchens so Harriette sent one of the cooks to each of the houses to show the poor women how things worked," Fawne said.

"Grooms?" Ethel asked, and I decided enough was enough in the shock department.

"Yes dear. I brought two war horse stallions and eight very large mares back with me, and I had to bring a couple of the grooms and their families so someone familiar with them would be there for their care.

"You didn't tell me about war horses?" George said.

"Well, things have been hectic this morning. I believe they are Percherons. The stallions are really the only ones used for fighting. I just brought the biggest and best mares I had to start a little breeding here," I said.

"You mean you had more, why didn't you just bring them all?" Bob asked, and I could have kissed him.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly how many I actually do have, but it must be nearly two thousand, and I thought that many would cause talk," I said, and Bob spit out the food he'd just put in his mouth.

"My God Bob! People will think I've let the good raising Ethel gave you go completely to hell. You'd better hope Chuck and Dave don't start pulling stunts like that," Wanda said, and it was plain that she was a little pissed about it.

"I'm sorry honey, it just surprised me so?" he said, and he did look sheepish.

"I don't know what is so surprising Dad, back where they must have been horses were the only way to get around. I've been studying it in history. Man, I'd have loved to see real knights and archers and everything," Dave said.

"Have head cutting machine too." Meka said, "Daddy cut men heads off. Hard to scalp after head is loose."

"Wow!" Chuck and Dave said, almost in unison.

"Now, Meka honey. You shouldn't tease them like that. I know it must be fun, but don't tell them fibs," Ethel said.

"Meka no fib. I show them scalps. Have hundreds now," she said, and smiled so wide I was afraid she'd hurt her jaw.

"Was it a guillotine John?" Doctor Jorge asked.

"Yes, and I know it was a hundred or so years early, but our friend thought it was very funny. I believe we were there just before spring in the year the Mayflower is to sail. I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be going back sometime before it does," I said.

"Oh my," Jorge said.

"Oh my is right. I was encouraged to have a firm chat with Armand Jean du Plessis and persuade him that exploration of the Americas would not be in the best interest of France," I said.

"Cardinal Richelieu?" he asked.

"Not yet, but soon to be if I don't have to go back and shorten him," I said.

"But what of the young king?" he asked.

"A demonstration was arranged for the young king. A few hundred of the deceased members of the small force he sent against me dropped in on him while he was having breakfast in one of his gardens. There were so many they had to be scalped more or less mechanically by our friends," I said.

"It seems there might be a completely different history for me to study soon," Jorge said.

"I've been assured it isn't in this dimension, exactly," I said.

"Oh. I had better bear down on my diet then," Jorge said, but I noticed that he looked like he had lost five pound since I saw him a day or so ago in this when.

"I think you're coming along fine, Doctor, just fine. I'm sure you'll be shanghaied for the next voyage," I said.

"Oh, I hope so."

"Ethel, do you think you could take these girls shopping today? The sweat pants and T-shirts they're wearing are the extent of their modern wardrobe. I'm afraid you'll need Wanda's help too," I said.

"Of course we can take them. The poor dears, it must be awful to make such a trip and not have anything to wear when you arrive," Ethel said, and just then I got a small announcement from Big Boy, directly into my head.

"I must apologize John. I didn't mention that you have been provided a credit card for your use here. It is in your wallet and it isn't equipped with a limit," Big Boy told me.

I eased out my billfold and sure enough, right up front was a new Visa, in fact there were three just alike. I passed one to Ethel and asked her to take care of the girls' things with it.

"Oh. Ok, but how much should I spend?" she asked, and it was a valid question, or it would have been if my banker hadn't been Big Boy.

"As much as you have the strength for, but remember, if you buy them all cars you'll have to hire drivers, they wouldn't have a clue about them," I said, and she was shocked again.

I knew I was showing off at the last, but I also knew Big Boy wouldn't have said no limit if he hadn't meant it. It reminded me I should probably take a look in the garage when we went back to the house. I'd noticed on my way through it was twice as large now too. I hadn't seen any extra vehicles while I was in there to get the limo, but I didn't look closely either.

The breakfast was delicious and I was glad to have grits again. Since Ethel was probably going to be gone most of the day, outfitting the girls, I invited everyone to my place for lunch. They agreed to come down and Ethel even promised they would all come back to eat if they possibly had the time. Of course I knew they wouldn't be able to tear themselves away.

There was also no way for them to travel except in the limo, nothing else could even nearly carry them all. Jake was elected for driving and the look on George's face after that spelled relief even plainer than R O L A I D S.

"Did you at least get us a few pictures while you were gone?" Ethel asked, now that she had her shopping trip organized.

"Better than that even, our friends provided video and there is plenty of it. If you want some prints I'm sure there's a way to get them out of the moving stuff, and the camera angles are a lot better than I could have managed," I said.

"I wonder if we can transfer them up here to one of our computers too?" Bob asked.

"It is possible, but there are thirty-six terabytes of data," Big Boy let me know.

"I have it on good authority that they can be transferred here Bob. They must take up a lot of space though, something about thirty-six terabytes or something like that," I said, not having the first damned clue what it meant.

"Oh, we'll just have to watch them down there," he said, looking very surprised while he was at it.

"You can see them a lot better in our theater anyway. I don't know how you'd ever get them down small enough to show on a flat panel," Jaycee told him.

"Oh."

"We got quite a few improvements on the old home place while we were gone," she said.

"It sounds like it. Maybe me and Ethel ought to see if we can hitch a ride sometime," George said.

"It is acceptable now, if you request it," Big Boy let me know.

"I don't see why you can't. You won't be gone but overnight after all," I said.

This might have been a mistake though, because it set Chuck and Dave off begging to go along too. Hell, I didn't care if they came but I knew good and well they were going to lose a lot of their interest in the guillotine after they got looks at my new maids during lunch.

"Be sure and let everybody know lunch is gonna be down at John's house George," Ethel said.

"Will you need us to come down there and help?" Geneva asked, nodding her head to show she meant she and Carolyn.

"We'll need you to help us eat up all the food Harriette is sure to fix. She's got plenty of help with everything else though," I said.



-------

Chapter 44



We'd finished breakfast by now and were just sitting around drinking coffee. George and Bob didn't waste any time getting the hell out of the house to go out and pretend their expertise was needed to run the farm. I'm sure they didn't want any chance they'd be pressed into driving duty.

After another couple of minutes Ethel and Wanda got their part of the day moving. Jaycee led the way out the door and I stood near it to give my departing darlings and good kissing as they left. Ethel and Wanda were last in line and I didn't slight them at all.

Ethel was surprised when I pulled her to me for a good old full frontal contact kiss, and she shivered when I gave her generous ass a good fondling while I was at it. Funny, she didn't feel like any grandmother I'd ever had hold of, and I figured They had either kept her in such excellent shape all along or spruced her up lately. As my hands found her ass cheeks she hugged me tighter and then sighed when I moved off her lips and nibbled and earlobe. She seemed to be nearly in a daze as she walked out the door.

Wanda was forewarned but she got a good ration of tongue too. I even took time to handle her titties a little before my hands found her firm generous ass. She hugged me tightly too, and for a minute all I could think of was mentioning a good horse auction for Bob and George to take Dave and Chuck to. I just new Ethel and Wanda both needed a little of my dick.

Soon enough they were all on their way and I was left alone with Carolyn and Geneva. I could tell that my demonstration on Ethel and Wanda had perked them right up.

"How about a little coffee cake before you have to get going?" Geneva asked.

"I don't mind if I do," I said, but for once it wasn't really on my mind.

They'd been ready for me on that score though and she pulled one out of the oven and cut me off a big piece. When she set it in front of me I pulled her into my lap to thank her properly. I liked having her in my lap since I'd have better access and as I kissed her lips I let a hand unbutton her blouse. I had my hand on naked titties in seconds and she moaned in her throat as I teased her nipples up fat and then dropped my head to suck first one and then the other into my mouth.

When I turned her loose I pulled Carolyn in for a lap ride too and gave her the same treatment. By the time I let her get up, panting, Geneva had warmed my coffee cake back up in the microwave and I polished it off with another mug off coffee.

"Thanks for the treat girls. Don't forget to come down to the house for lunch. Maybe you should spend a little time in the pool afterwards. Ethel and the others will probably skip lunch so I'm planning to have supper down there too."

"I guess we'll be through today then, after we clean this morning's dishes," Geneva said.

"Forget the dishes. I can get someone to clean them up. I need one of you to drive me home anyway. You can both just come one down now," I said, and Big Boy let me know he'd take care of things just then.

"In fact, I think we'll put a server and a few other things in for Bob. We might as well fix him up so he can have his own copy of the video. He'll need a larger screen to show it on too."

It didn't bother me at all. Bob needed to get a reward for the service Wanda was going to be providing me sooner or later. But right now Geneva and Carolyn seemed ready to go and damned if I wasn't too.

Carolyn showed me to a big Buick and she got in to drive. I got into the middle of the front seat and Geneva came along to site beside me. It wasn't far down to my house, but I took the opportunity to slide a hand up under each of their skirts, nearly to heaven. I imagined I could feel the heat from both snatches.

Even though my young harem, Meka, and Tutsie were away on the shopping trip the house wasn't empty by any means. Francine met us at the front door and I used my newly injected French lessons to introduce Carolyn and Geneva. The women couldn't converse of course, but I asked Francine to see if she could scare up some coffee and pastries for us. She led us to a small breakfast nook between the giant dining room and the kitchen and then went on to find a few treats.

"You can always handle a cup or two of coffee and a few treats to fill up the corners, can't you?" Geneva said, as we sat down.

"I do my best. Besides, there's no telling how much energy it'll take up when we go swimming in a few minutes," I said, hoping against hope for the leading question I felt sure would come next, and then it did.

"But we didn't bring suits for swimming," Carolyn said.

"You won't need any suits. It'll just be the three of us and the warm water."

The maids coming in with trays of coffee and tidbits cut their giggling short. It wasn't bad manners that kept me from introducing the help - it was lack of knowledge. I didn't know a damned one of their names, so I made amends by patting all the servers on the ass and giving all their cheeks a kiss as thanks.

We spent a few minutes talking, snacking, and sipping coffee. The two were more fun with their clothes on that I'd estimated and I was concentrating on prolonging the anticipation since I knew we had plenty of time. When the thunderstorm blew in I was probably as mad as I'd ever been, thought not at the tasty treats with me. Suddenly a big bolt of lightning struck near the house and thunder rattled the walls.

"Oh," Geneva said, as the sound caused her to jerk and spill a little coffee.

"I thought today was supposed to be clear and warm," Carolyn said, surprised.

"I'm afraid I'm being notified of an impending trip," I said, in disgust. Meanwhile I was wondering why in hell I was getting the warning so early in the day.

"Something has come up for Jahedo and his people, John," Big Boy whispered into my head.

"Won't we have to wait until sunset to leave," I asked, and I'm sure I was whining even though no sound was involved.

"Not this time. We're causing a large tornado threat. It won't bother George and Ethel's home but it will keep everyone else away from this area. The lightning is going to be spectacular, and a definite threat to anyone who approaches. The local winds will keep news helicopters away so the exit will go unobserved."

"When are we leaving then?"

"As soon as Ethel and the others get here. I believe George, Bob, Chuck, and Dave are coming down the driveway now. I'll have a garage door opened for them. The first showers will encourage them not to stop in the drive," he thought to me.

"We might as well take a tour of the garage girls. George, Bob, Chuck, and Dave won't know the new way back into the house," I said, putting an arm around each of their waist and heading to the elevator. At least I remembered to poke my head into the kitchen and tell everyone there not to worry, and I assumed Big Boy would pass the word to the grooms and their families.

George wasn't completely flummoxed when he drove into the garage, but he was slightly agitated. Bob looked like he was scared shitless while Chuck and Dave were excited beyond words.

"I started to go back to the house when the storm blew up but I couldn't make myself do it," George said, as he finally got hold of the situation.

"Well hell George, you said you wanted to go on the next trip.

"Well I didn't ask to go," Bob said, clearly upset.

"Aw suck it up Bob. Looks like you're going to have to do a little work to pay for the new multi-terrabyte server and twelve by fourteen screen They installed while you and George were hiding out to keep from driving the women around," I said.

"What server?" he asked.

"They noticed your disappointment about not having the video available on site at the house, so some improvements have been made to your system. Sending you on this trip must be They're way of letting you show your gratitude."

"But I haven't even seen it yet," he said, whining himself now.

"What a treat for you. It'll be a surprise. Maybe they'll even add to it tonight while you're away."

"Oh. I didn't even think of that," he said, and seemed mollified.

"Will we get to see a bunch of Knights and armor and beheading?" Chuck asked.

"Especially beheading," Dave said, piling on I thought.

"We never know what we're going to find or even where we'll be when we wake up - but we do usually end up participating in some kind of mayhem. Just be sure you're on the giving end and not the receiving end."

"Yes sir, John. We promise to mind anything you say," they both said, almost at the same time.

Just then the garage door right beside the one George had come in started rolling up. A car I didn't recognize drove in and stopped then a nearly panic stricken Janice got out. I rushed to her and wrapped her up in my arms. To calm her of course. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about her big titties she was pressing into my chest.

"Everything is fine now Janice. Just fine. We're perfectly safe here," I said.

"But the radio said there was a tornado coming."

"It won't come here, believe me. You're safe now, except from me," I said, and she seemed to relax a second before she parsed the last part.

"Oh, you. You devil," she said, and then leaned in to me and sighed.

"What about Ethel and Wand, and all the others?" George asked, trying to get upset again.

"I'm sure they'll be here in a second," I said, as George's cell phone rang.

"Hello.

"We're all down in John's garage. Bob, the boys, and I just got here. Janice just drove up too. Just come on down here.

"I can't do anything about that. You'll just have to come down here and hope for the best."

"No, the doctor isn't here."

"Well stop and see if you can pick him up if you want to. I doubt the house will be leaving without you."

"Ok. We'll wait in here."

"How can the house leave at all?" Janice asked.

"You'll see later, or maybe you won't. We're always asleep when it goes." I said.

"I don't understand," she said.

"Neither did I the first time. It'll come to you, I promise."

"Ok, I trust you."

I didn't bother to tell her I was the last one she should be putting her trust in, since I was already thinking of putting something in her and wiggling it around quite a bit while I was at it. I guess that would come to her later too, and probably in her at that.

About ten minutes later the next door in line started rolling up and the limo was inside in short order. Doctor Jorge was the first one out and I could tell he was happy to be here. Meka and Tutsie came out next and she ran right to me.

"Daddy, we go Jahedo."

"That's what I've heard. I think there's a little something going on with him."

"He not worry. You fix things soon," she said, and Tutsie barked in agreement.

When the limo was empty Ethel wanted to start with questions but I didn't let her.

"I don't know what's going on Ethel and no one else does either. We're going into the house next and have lunch."

"But what about all the things we bought this morning. They're in the car," she said.

"The car's coming too unless I miss my guess. Who knows, you might even have time to unpack it before lunch. I can see the girls are already wearing some of what they bought. It'll be enough for them to wear to lunch and to the bedroom for sure. Anything else can wait until the morning," I said, and took off for the main house.

As I expected, Harriette and Francine had things all set for lunch when we got to the table. As we took our places maids started serving and my attention was directed mainly toward the food, though I did try to join in on any conversation that came up. By now everyone was excited about going, especially when I told them I thought we'd be visiting Jahedo first.

"First? Where will we go after that," Ethel asked.

"I don't know Ethel. They don't give me an itinerary. My job is to ride in the house and their job covers where we're going and what we're supposed to do. Settle down. You're just excited and it won't speed things up a bit. You'll find out as soon as any of us do," I said, and she had the decency to blush at least.



-------

Chapter 45


Harriette made a big impression on everyone at lunch. The food was so good it even got Ethel's attention off the questions and onto eating. When fresh coffee and deserts started coming out of the kitchen the talking stopped while everyone pigged out. Chuck and Dave wound up eating even more than I did. Bob was the only one that seemed to still be worried, but when I saw him take his third helping of peach cobbler I figured he was just worried about running out of room before running out of food he wanted to stuff in.

After we'd finished I knew someone had given Francine some room assignments already. She led Bob, Wanda, George, and Ethel to their rooms. Chuck and Dave went along with their mother and father and no doubt there was some place set aside for them too. I noticed right away she left Janice, Geneva, and Carolyn for me to get into bed. I was happy to. They didn't even hesitate when the rest of the girls started stripping off their new duds.

Soon enough everyone except Meka was buck naked and all she wore to bed was her tiny thong. I was in the big middle again, with Janice nearest me on one side and Geneva on the other. For this trip Meka was on an outside edge, but Tutsie thought he should sleep on my chest again. He'd only just settled down when all our lights went out for the trip.

When I woke I could tell the sun wasn't up yet but nearly was. I'm not sure how I could tell but I was sure I was right about it. Tutsie hopped off my chest and I made my way to the edge of the bed without waking anyone. I pulled up my jeans and dragged on my boots before walking into the bathroom to bleed my lizard. Meka was coming out of the women's side when I came out and Tutsie was wagging his tail in anticipation of his trip outside. I don't know why he didn't use the potty lawn that had been installed into this house too, but it was clear it wasn't an option this morning.

I strapped on my web belt with my Glock attached, picked up the Marlin and the three of us headed for the front door. Jahedo was waiting for us when we went out.

"Greetings John. It is good you have come," he said, in his language, but it was perfectly understandable to me now.

"I'm glad to see you Jahedo," I said, and had the novel experience of hearing my mouth produce the Caddo Language.

"We have some difficulty approaching. A large group of Comanches seem determined to attack us. We don't know the reason, but Comanche don't really need a reason - there are nearly a hundred braves in all. They have a very young chief and we think he might be the cause of this aggression," Jahedo said, and Big Boy chimed in inside my head to let me know the young chief was the exact reason.

"He has promised his braves the women they capture and the possessions will be dived equally among all."

"Jahedo, how many braves do you have in your group now?

"Fewer than half as many. We will have little trouble unless the Comanches are very much better than we are. I doubt that because of the bows and arrows you gave us, but it seems a shame for so many to die if more white men are coming to take our lands as you have told us," he said, and I knew he was right.

"Maybe we should pay them a visit before they pay us one. We can stay out of their range and fight them at a greater distance than they can defend themselves. I will try to shoot their leader first, and maybe they will listen to reason after he is gone.

"If the others can't see the reason in talking after he is dead all we can do is keep killing them until the remainder come to their senses," I said.

"It is a good plan. Surely some of them will realize they have chosen the wrong method before we have to kill them all," he said.

Jahedo, Meka, Tutsie, and I headed inside the house then. I led us directly to the large dining table and Francine had someone bring coffee and sweet rolls to get us started. Francine and the maid that came first were obviously surprised to see our guest but they didn't embarrass themselves. They carried on as normal after the first surprise.

Jaycee was next to join us, and she was fine with the initial plan. She quizzed Jahedo for information as she sucked down two cups of coffee and then left to try locating the Comanches with her small drone spies.

Jahedo stayed for a small breakfast and then left. He felt we'd be better off waiting until tomorrow at sunset to head for the fight.

Not long after he left the rest of the crowd started showing up for food. I was happy there'd be another breakfast appearing soon. I'd even held myself back slightly while eating with Jahedo.

"Dr Jorge miss Jahedo," Meka told him, as soon as he showed up.

"Oh. That is unfortunate," he said, clearly disappointed.

"Don't worry Doc. We were busy planning a small attack anyway. You'll have all day today and tomorrow to go out among 'em. After the attack you'll have even more time, and if it goes the way we hope you'll have some Comanche to interview too," I said, and it perked him right up.

Jaycee followed the last of the crew back in. While she was eating she told me she'd already found the Comanches and we could go take a look after breakfast. When we finished eating it's just what we did.

Like the naked body draggers show in France, the spying on the Comanches video was a big hit with my lady friends. George and Ethel et al were spellbound too. I could practically sense Chuck and Dave trying to conjure up a way to be included for the skirmish, but I knew it wasn't no, but Hell No on their participation. Jaycee did let me know she wasn't staying behind this time though.

Even though our entertainment wasn't doing much it was still fascinating to watch them. Several small groups had been hunting and we watched while one bunch came in with a big feral hog and another arrived with a young buffalo swinging on a short pole between two of them.

It didn't take long to spot the one that must be the leader. He was easily six inches taller and forty pounds heavier than any of the others. He was also obviously very aggressive, even among his own people. He navigated through the crowd mostly by shoving people out of his way. To me it seemed he wouldn't be missed overly if he were the first to die.

We paid pretty close attention to them until time for lunch, when we left and counted on the recordings if we needed to see more later. Harriette had a big spread for us and we didn't want to keep her waiting. Francine and the maids made sure we got all we wanted.

After lunch Ethel and Wanda organized Bob, George, Chuck, and Dave for a limo unloading trip. I damned sure didn't intend to get involved. Carolyn, Geneva, and I headed for the pool for a nice afternoon of lounging while my girls went along with Ethel and Wanda to help a little and give directions a lot.

While the stepping, fetching, and carrying was going on I took the time to give Geneva and Carolyn a good old country fucking out on the non-stick sandy beach. They made a nice team since the one that wasn't getting dick at the moment did her best to kiss and tease me from above while I worked. Poor Janice missed out since she went along with Ethel and the others even though none of the shopping had involved her.

The lifting and carrying was over with by suppertime and we were all in place when food started appearing on the table. It was excellent of course, but I tried to rein in before I got completely carried away. I'd enjoyed the afternoon fucking so much I decided to see if I couldn't make it through the rest of my harem tonight. I needed to make sure they'd all had at least one dose.

Things went my way for once. Meka and Tutsie stayed in their room and Big Boy didn't come up with any last minute trips. I gave the even better looking when naked Janice a good exploration and then some serious in-out in-out action. To make sure none of the others felt like Janice had jumped to the head of the line I let every one of them have a turn. Big Boy had never specifically mentioned giving me a super dick, but someone surely must have and I couldn't think of one thing to complain about.

Morning came around and on this one Jaycee went out to walk Tutsie with us. Jahedo was waiting with five of his main men. Over a prebreakfast breakfast we discussed tonight's raid and then Jaycee took us all to the war room and let Jahedo and the boys in on the magic of video. They were frightened at first but came around after a few minutes. We were able to put together a simple but nearly goof proof plan.

The rest of the day was mostly lounging around and napping when we could for Jaycee and I. For sure we'd be up all night and then the busy part would start. I intended to do this without any help from Big Boy and I knew it would be a long haul.

Just after sunset Jaycee, Jahedo, forty-three of his braves, and I took off to meet the Comanches. With the night vision equipment we had no trouble except the normal one of a tiring pace. We were in the preplanned positions well before sunrise though and we even had time to get in a little rest, if not sleep.

I took my assigned place as soon as I saw the first squaw stirring. She was mending a fire and no doubt getting ready to cook something. Fuck 'em. If I wasn't going to get breakfast on time they weren't either.

My place for the first part was nearly three hundred yards from their camp. I was standing in plain sight with my Marlin in hand. I had a pretty difficult shot coming up but I was sure I could make it.

Five or six women were out and starting to cook before one of them noticed me. She carried her ass back into one of the huts right away and three minutes or so later a brave followed her out to see what she was nattering on about. He looked like he wanted to natter himself when he spied me, and he yelled an alarm.

Soon enough braves were bailing out of their huts all over. They gathered in a more or less mob, looking right at me, but not moving my way. It was obvious they were waiting for someone and then he came through them to stand right in front, staring at me.

I raised the Marlin, took careful aim, and nailed him right in the pump. It was a shocker for the others and they didn't try to hide it. After a little initial scrambling around for weapons, six of those who'd been nearest the leader took off running toward me, waving spears. They didn't make it forty yards before they each sprouted a couple of arrows from their chest.

According to plan, Jahedo began yelling to them in their own language then. He explained they were surrounded and bragged that the white man had supplied them with powerful weapons.

Of course I was the white man he was talking about. It wasn't a given the Comanche'd seen white men before but my opening demonstration must have given them pause. They gathered even closer among themselves and began squabbling. I moved closer to them and let Big Boy do a little help when he suggested he could make sure they had no trouble hearing me from a distance.

"Howdy. I've come to help you but I've also come to stop this fighting among each other. The Spanish and their priest are spreading disease among all the people. The Spanish are in the far south and coming this way to steal your women and your land.

I came to help you stop them, but you are wasting time and men fighting among yourselves. Do you want to hear the plan and receive new weapons or would you like for us to kill all your men and take the women to raise warriors who are smarter than you?"

This didn't sit well with several of them and one with a bow in his hand knocked an arrow to try a long shot. The Marlin made him cut that shit out right away.

"If you want to die come attack me so those who want to live and defend their land can get started."

Two more rushed at me with spears in hand and I gave both of them a round too. Things settled down remarkably after that. Finally, an older man walked toward me with empty hands. I leaned the Marlin against a tree and sat on the ground in plain site. Jahedo joined me, also without weapons, and we waited for the Comanche to reach us.

It was a long talk, and it only led to more and longer talks. I wanted to complain, at least to myself, but it wasn't justified. None of the Caddo, who were still basically hiding and keeping watch could be comfortable either, so I sat on my ass on the ground and gave a short explanation to group after small group of warriors.

They weren't convinced of anything except the raid they'd planned would never succeed. Lunch was not served either, but by about two o'clock they were convinced to move their camp near my house for a feast tomorrow night and more talking during the day after.

Jahedo told them where to head in the morning and then we left. It was too late in the day for them to travel, but we had the night vision goggles and we could go on home to get an early start on the cooking for tomorrow.

We didn't make it back until nearly eight PM and I was worn completely fucking out. Jahedo and I had gone over details for the feast as we traveled and I left the plans of his part for him to take care of. Jaycee and I went into the house, had a short meal and went to bed early. I'm sure the rest joined us later but they didn't wake me.

Tutsie woke me the next morning and I was sure it was a hint that he wanted to go out and pee, at least. Meka woke as I got out of bed, but most of the others just grumbled and rolled over. I did my waking up usual then Meka, Tutsie, and I went out to greet the sun.

Jahedo was waiting near the door and while Tutsie did his duty we talked about the short buffalo hunt we'd tentatively planned yesterday. Big Boy had helped me with the logistics yesterday even if Jahedo didn't know it.

I had it on good authority there now existed a rough path just south of the largest basement's exit/entrance and it was suitable for travel by Humvee. By some strange coincidence there were supposed to be a few handy buffalo grazing in a clearing near the end of the path.

After Tutsie finished his stiff legged dance, Jahedo, Meka, Tutsie, and I went in the house to see what Harriette had been doing this morning. She'd been cooking of course and Francine had a couple of pretty maids bring us some of the fruits of Harriette's labors.

After eating and coffeeing we headed to the garage, mounted a pickup style Humvee, hooked a brand spanking new lowboy flatbed utility trailer and headed down the path Big Boy had made available.

If time hadn't been an issue we'd have staged a hunt for Jahedo's sake that wasn't so technically advanced. Time was an issue though and it would have taken a lot longer to teach Jahedo to ride a horse than it took teaching him to ride a Humvee. When we found the bounty of the small group of buffalo I invited Jahedo to take two with his bow and then I got a couple with one of our M1 type rifles. I used the Humvee's winch to drag them onto the trailer and we went right back home. The rest was up to Jahedo and company.

That didn't mean Harriette and her crew weren't busy with feast preparations too. She'd even called in the groom's wives to help. I took one look in the kitchen and knew it was no place for me to be getting in the way today. I'd probably be trampled.

Even with all the extra work there was still plenty of breakfast for the rest of my traveling crew, and since they were busy eating now, I decided to join them for a little pick me up. As always the food and coffee hit the spot.

Jaycee took off as soon as she'd finished. She came back inside leading Jahedo and a few of his men and took them directly downstairs to practice, something. I guess she was giving them some weapons training but I didn't want to seem like I was trying to micro-manage. Others might have said I was too lazy to help.

If the truth were widely known I was planning on catching up on my slap and tickle if I could cut one or two out of the herd of my harem. Half an hour later I leaned I was shit out of luck on that front too. All my harem and up time friends took off to join Jaycee for shooting lessons, even Doctor Jorge. Hell, I gave up and joined them. A little practice wouldn't hurt my shooting either.

We spent the time until lunch with Jaycee teaching Jahedo and his group how to deal with Big Boy supplied Marlins of the 35 Remington persuasion. I helped my harem, George, Bob, Chuck, Dave, Geneva, Carolyn, Ethel, Wanda, and Doctor Jorge get in some practice with Glocks and the M1 look-alikes we had. I guess it was a pretty good thing for them to know. Some of them knew how to shoot already but some didn't and the practice would help more quickly than it would hurt, especially since we could never tell what the hell was coming next.

At lunchtime I soothed my hurt feelings by stuffing myself even more than usual. I left the others to their own way after the meal and I headed to my study with coffee, intending to see what my cigar selection was like in this house. It was excellent and I settled down in my desk chair and had a smoke.



-------

Chapter 46

Of course I nodded off after finishing my cigar. No matter how much coffee I drank, I could still saw logs when people left me alone for a few minutes. This time though I'm pretty sure Big Boy had helped the process along.

"Are we heading somewhere else tonight? I asked, as soon as I realized this nap was for the purpose of consultation with the man from above, or from somewhere or somewhen else.

"No. Not unless you feel the need."

"I don't. I'm pretty sure it will take a few days to get this new bunch in line, unless you think you can do it wholesale."

"We could, but prefer not to. We can keep close supervision on their thoughts though and we will warn you if it seems some of them are inclined to cause trouble," he thought at me.

"That should be good enough."

"We do have a suggestion though," he said.

"Well spit it out. I'll admit I'm just kinda drifting along on this deal."

"In the timeline you are familiar with Indians using horses came much later than now. We believe an earlier introduction of the process can go a long way toward discouraging explorers from Europe.

"In fact, we think introducing horses and providing the excellent compound bows and high-tech arrows can cause this timeline to proceed in ways much to the Indian's advantage. We believe these changes and the immunizations we've provided can make a radical difference.

"With horses the Indian's can put up a much more effective defense and they can also distribute the medicine to a wider area. The diseases early explorers brought with them did as much or more damage to Indian populations than anything else Europeans did."

"I understand that, and the plan to introduce horses sounds great, but where are they going to come from?"

"It only took you days to gather many of them during your trip to France," Big Boy said.

"That may be, but the horses were already there. How many are running around in the Americas that didn't arrive with Europeans?"

"I see what you mean, but it won't be a problem. We can transport an unlimited number."

"But where will you get them and what kind will you acquire. The horses in France are not really suitable for this. They are too large and frankly, too clumsy. They aren't the kind of horse to use in Indian style warfare."

"That really isn't a problem either. We can even raise the horses if it's needed. We can find a suitable area, put the facilities in place, and breed whatever type horses you need. In fact, one of my associates is hoping for just such a project.

"He is very interested in horses and has made a detailed study of the matter. He even has some suggestions. Would you like to discuss it with him?"

"Sure, I've got plenty of time," I said, knowing Big Boy seemed to be able to create time, sorta.

I was right about it too. Before quick could get ready I'd been transported into a sort of office and another voice was talking things over with me, in my head. He, she, or it never made an appearance but the office had the sort of high tech visual aides I'd come to expect from this quarter. Wall sized video screens and life sized holograms of horses were everywhere.

Though I felt I'd spent days there I never seemed to be tired or need sleep. The voice went over plans and specifications and told me about thousands of details regarding horses and the genetics involved in breeding the perfect horse. When I finally got worn out on talking horses we settled on a plan.

With their magic time traveling ways they were going to breed, raise, and partially train horses in any numbers needed. With the hocus-pocus available to them I'd have a hundred delivered into my fences three mornings hence.

The stock was to be a cross between some of the best examples of the tallest and most muscular Quarter Horses that had ever been and some of the best Thoroughbreds. The Quarter Horse side would tend to provide early initial speed and a steady disposition while the Thoroughbreds would lend their endurance.

Apparently their horse expert had come up with this idea on his own. Of course I approved, since I happened to know that particular cross was often successful. The shocker for me was the execution of the plan, and I'm sure it would have shocked any horseman.

"Horse Guy intended to go shopping back in earth's past to select breeding stock. He was almost giddy at the prospect and I could tell he really had fixated on horses. He named several stallions he intended to acquire, but the only ones I recognized were Wimpy P1, Steeldust, and Secretariat. He also named a few of Secretariat's get and a few of his ancestors. Hell, if you're going to start a breeding operation you can't go wrong with stallions like that.

He also explained how he'd be raising the horses on a suitable portion of another planet and bringing them here as needed. Buddy, that's what I call just-in-time shipping at its peak. The details didn't matter to me though. The part I liked was green broke mature horses that didn't even exist now showing up in my traveling pasture three days from now.

Of course there were dozens of other details. The saddles they provided being one of the most important. Sure, I know, wild assed Indians from America's past used a few leather thongs and a blanket and called themselves ready to rape and pillage. It worked well enough, kinda, but when you think back to the winning side you'll remember they were the ones with saddles.

We weren't going to all this trouble for a couple of victorious raids. We had to build a mounted army for what we intended to do, and that would require saddles. We'd make them as light as possible of course, but we were going to have plenty of fast strong horses that could carry more weight than an old time Indian pony that ate whatever it could find while it wasn't busy toting an Indian's ass around.

My providers still hadn't mentioned what outcome they were shooting for, but this was a hint, or at least a form of confirmation of what I'd thought was going on all along. Apparently they intended to slow down, or even stop the European massacre of the North American Indians. I don't know if it was by design, but to me it seemed they had already missed saving any of the South American civilizations, such as they were at this time.

What the hell, I couldn't do everything no matter how much help I got. I had to concentrate on my Big Boy assigned job. Fleetingly I remembered some pictures I'd seen of the near naked beauties with darkly tanned asses shimmying and shaking down the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival. Maybe in another life.

For now though, I was tired of discussing herds of super horses produced in the thousands and delivered into the pasture behind my time traveling patch of ground. Suddenly I woke and discovered Meka tickling my nose.

"Daddy snoring. Sawing logs," she said, giggling while Tutsie barked at me.

"No, no. Daddy never snores."

"Daddy does too snore, but Tutsie me don't care. Come to supper Daddy," she said, and scampered off leaving Tutsie to haze me toward the dining room.

When I arrived I was surprised to see everyone seated but not much food. Fawne noticed my look and giggled before letting me in on the secret.

"This is just a little snack to hold us until the feasting starts. The other tribe arrived about an hour ago and they're setting up their camp. Jahedo says the feast will start just after sunset," she said, as one of the cute maids brought me coffee to go with my sandwich.

"I don't think it will hurt my appetite a bit."

"We should have let you go hungry since you took the afternoon off to sleep while most of us had to work," Ethel said.

When I looked up George was the first one I saw, and it shocked me. I'd intended to give Ethel a little quip but George's new look took it off my mind. I looked quickly at Bob, then Wanda, and finally Ethel. Hell, they looked younger. What the fuck was this?

"Don't be alarmed," Big Boy transmitted, "We have taken a few years off their body's ages. No one will notice. We thought it was a fair reward for the duties they've preformed for us over the years."

They didn't look like teenagers again, but they were obviously younger than they'd been earlier in the day. It didn't bother me but it was quite a surprise. Looking closer and trying not to seem to be, I noticed even Carolyn and Geneva looked a little younger. Chuck and Dave looked the same, and that made sense too. None of my harem seemed to have changed. Then again none of them were over twenty-five or so anyway. I wondered if I'd been spruced up while I was asleep.

I let it go and worked on my sandwich. It was a small one though and apparently Harriette meant for it to last me only until the real meal got started outside. It would have to do. After we'd finished I strayed outside to see how things were going.

The smell of roasting buffalo slapped me in the face as soon as I walked out the door. When Jahedo had mentioned a feast he'd meant it. There were cooking fires everywhere in what I considered my front yard, and it didn't bother me a bit. We were going to have plenty of food.

When I located Jahedo I walked over. He was talking with two of the men from the Comanches and as I listened it was obvious there'd been a demonstration for them earlier. Probably shortly after they'd arrived. The two newbies were still quizzing Jahedo about what they'd seen when I walked up.

"Here is John. Ask him the questions. He gave us these gifts. You will have to show him you're worthy to receive them."

Twako was the older of the two and he was the leader of the Comanches now. Jungka was with him and apparently second in command, or something similar.

"What must we do to gain these magical weapons," Twako asked, right away.

"You must stop fighting others over nothing. All of the people are now fighting among each other, helping the white devils even before they come to take your land and kill all the buffalo.

"You must join me and help get ready to send them away, back over the sea. You must help me find others to help also. The dark ones will be coming up from the south, and whiter ones will come from the east. They care nothing for the land now, but later they will spread and take everything. We must stop them. They have ruined their own lands and soon they'll come in the thousands to ruin yours.

"They bring disease with them and you must help distribute the medicine I have. If you don't the disease will wipe out whole camps in days and not enough will live to defend your lands."

"We have seen no white man but you," Twako said, and he didn't sound like he'd enjoyed the first meeting that well.

"When the floods come does all the water appear at the same time? The one that are coming will start slowly, but never slow down unless you make them.

"You must be ready to treat them like you tried to treat Jahedo's band. Kill the men and take the women and children. Teach them your ways. If you don't you will end up without ways of your own and they will choke the life out of your people. You must learn and teach others or you will be no more."

"But if so many as you claim are coming how can we stop them?" Twako asked.

"By starting while they are still few. They must come from across the sea in sailing boats. I will show you tomorrow. We will go see them and the boats they use. You must be ready to deal with them as they come. You must spread the word to others, and in two days I will show you how and I will give you what you need. But tonight we feast."

Did we ever. Later, as the sun went down the fires were built up, for light this time, and the food was spread out. I didn't recognize even half of what I ate but didn't end up with anything in my mouth that wasn't delicious. After the meal the dancing started, but it was the men that did it, mostly anyway. Around eleven o'clock I went back inside. The rest had already headed in but since I was one of the main instigators I stayed until the last.

Of course I had visions of fornication dancing in my head, but the loud thunderclap as I entered the house let me know it wasn't to be. For once I wasn't upset. Seeing George, Ethel, and the others who'd been made younger let me know I had plenty of time. Big Boy wanted me to go somewhere tonight and hell; I climbed in among the naked women, lay down and got ready for the trip.

Of course Big Boy didn't miss this chance for a chat either. After what he showed me I wasn't miffed at all. He'd been listening to my little speech about showing the Comanche leader what was coming I guess, and he'd correctly assumed I'd be counting on him to supply the ways and means. Even though I was sleeping peacefully in among my naked women, Big Boy took me on a virtual tour of my new helicopter.

If the original had been a Pave Low III Big Boy's model must be a Pave Low One Thousand or better. The first remarkable differences were the replacements for the turbo shaft engines. The new models were not on the near horizon for earth. I don't even know what made them work, but I found out that fuel was not one of the requirements. Apparently the horsepower available was more than ten times what the normal engines provided, though there was a safety device to keep the pilot from spinning the rotors off.

The apparent armaments were closer to the original equipment, but part of the extra space freed up by doing away with the need for fuel was now housing a drop down rocket pod and a couple of the chain guns like A-10 Warthogs used.

"Since we knew you wanted to show them a sailing ship or two, we thought you might take time to get a few shots off," Big Boy said.

"A few shots! I can probably saw the ship in half in seconds if I manage to hit it!"

"Yes, it was mentioned that perhaps we went overboard. We've also provided a pair of thirty mm chain guns guns in a forward mounted pod. Just in case you merely want to cause the ship to surrender," he said.

"Can Jaycee even fly this monster?" I asked.

"We are giving her a few instructions right now as a matter of fact. You must know we've also made considerable modifications to the aeronautics. This machine has an order of magnitude more automation than the one it was made to look like.

"If she wants to it can still be operated in the exact way it was designed, but I feel she'll make use of the automation. With the improvements she can basically fly as if it were a video game. In fact, we feel even you could fly it successfully after a few hours in a simulator."

"Maybe someday I'll try. Not this time though. I hope you have modified the radar, or whatever, to make sure it can find wooden ships," I said, trying to sound like I knew what I was talking about.

"We have more advanced ways to locate targets than radar. In fact, we have already pinpointed two vessels that are searching for a good place to make landfall. We have updated Jaycee's instruments with the exact positions and the satellite will keep it updated. She will have no trouble finding them."

"That's fine then. Is this the reason you put us out for the night?"

"Not exactly. We're making additional preparations for the new horses and tack we're providing. We're also putting in place a better helipad with additional hangar space for the new larger machines. While we have your attention I thought you might like to see the facilities where the horses are being raised and trained."

"Sounds good to me. Let's have a look."

I woke then but everyone else stayed asleep. After dressing I walked out the front door. A glance at the sky showed me once again I was not on earth. The three moons, one easily twice as large as earth's and the other two a good bit smaller, gave me a hint.

Not more than a hundred yards away there was a gigantic barn. It didn't look like an earth style barn though. It looked like a metal building, but since there were large non-glazed window openings probably every fifteen feet down the length I knew they were barns. Especially since several horses had their heads and necks out looking at my newly arrived house.

The first thing that struck me was every damned one of them, those I could see anyway, was a deep wine red sorrel with an identical star, strip, and snip on their head and a little white on their lower lip. Their coloring was exactly the same. I couldn't help myself, I had to go inside and check their legs for markings.

Sure enough, every damned one of them was exactly like Joe Bob, my normal horse that was currently in my barn, behind my space faring house. The coloring was the same at least, but the horses were better than he was. Don't get me wrong; Joe Bob is a magnificent Quarter Horse. The ones I was looking at now were just better. They were a little heavier, with more muscle than he had, and they were taller. Their legs were longer.

"I can see you've noticed we tried to make them in your favorite color?" Big Boy said.

"It's the first thing I did notice. I thought you were going to breed them. It looks to me as if you had some kind of assembly line somehow."

"Not exactly. All of them were born and raised, but they are essentially carbon copies so to speak. They are clones of one superior individual. As a matter of fact we came up with him via a selective breeding program. We were able to use some gene splicing to get the so-called pattern for cloning, and I'll admit the coloration comes directly from Joe Bob. We used certain genes from him for that.

"Their intelligence and disposition are from him also. We knew you admired that property especially, and while it required much trial and error to get that feature into the pattern we feel like it was worth the trouble," Big Boy said, and I could tell there was some type of collective racial pride in the thought.

"I can tell you without a doubt, if you actually succeeded in putting his intelligence and helpful disposition in all these excellent animals it was more than worth the trouble. I do have a question though?"

"What's that?"

"Where are the mares?"

"Another thing that required quite a bit of extra attention was the clone's reproductive process. These stallions all produce identical sperm, and it has also been modified. During gestation their sperm provides all reproductive information. You can breed them to any female equine and the result will be an exact copy. The mothers only provide the egg and an environment for gestation and birth. Genetic information from the mothers is discarded. You probably understand it was one of the most difficult parts of the process."

"I can believe it, even though I have no clue how it was done. I don't need to though. What happens if the stallion breeds a mare that isn't large enough to birth the foal? I assume that is possible."

"Yes, it is possible, though not very likely. The relative sizes will make copulation between and extremely small mare and the larger stallions problematic. If it happens the mare and foal will probably be lost. We expect the most efficient means of reproducing them on location will come by breeding these stallions to the warhorse type mares, similar to those you acquired in France.

"At any rate you won't have to depend on locally produced individuals. By the way, the coloring of any semi-natural offspring will revert to more natural randomization. You should be able to identify the original clones by their coloring alone, if that matters.

"I can't see where it would, except it might seem more normal to others that see them," I said.

"That is one thing we did not consider, or if someone did I didn't hear of it."

"Is it possible to come up with mares like these? I asked.

"Of course. In fact, we have more mares than stallions. We'd planned to provide you with stallions only. If you think it would be better to have matching mares we can provide them also. The mares don't carry the single coloring trait though. They are random colors also," he said.

"In other words the coloring on the stallions is just sort of a gimme for my amusement?" I asked.

"I hadn't considered that especially, but now that you mention it I guess that's exactly what it is."

"Well don't stop it on my account, but I think it would seem more normal if I received half mares and half stallions when you send them to me."

"Very well, we'll see to it."

"Now all I have to do is wait a couple of days to try one out," I said.

"There's no need to wait. You can ride any or all of them if you want. There is plenty of the new tack in the barn and you can spend all the time you want on test drives, so to speak."

What the hell, I headed for the tack room and grabbed a hackamore.

Bridle in hand, I caught the first horse I came to and it even acted mostly like Joe Bob. I led him to the tack room to buckle on one of the new saddles. They looked similar to the one I'd found at George's place but were obviously better, and lighter.

There was a long gun scabbard for each side of the saddle, and I found one of the improved Marlins and also one of the Extrema2 type shotguns we'd decided on. I didn't expect to need either one here but I did put one of each in the scabbards so I'd get the feel of how things would be. It was all perfect as far as I could tell.

I couldn't even imagine who had done the initial training, since I knew damned well that not even aliens could transfer that kind of information at conception. The one I rode was well mannered though, as far as it went. He would get up and whoa with no problems though and he neck reined without mistake. That was plenty to start with, and the upcoming riders could proceed from there, or not.

I spent about an hour on him and was more than pleasantly surprised. This was more than I could have hoped for and it would put our plans in motion much more quickly. Finally I put him and his tack up and headed back to the house.

"How was the experience?" Big Boy asked as I headed home.

"Better than I could have dreamed. I did remember something we forgot though," I said.

"What is it?"

"We'll need a good pack mule and equipment for every rider too. Better make sure they're all green broke. The braves that have to spread the word will probably want to take a squaw or two along with them."



-------

Chapter 47


I was not the first one awake the next morning, but Jaycee made sure I was next. Meka woke while Jaycee was rousing me and she and Tutsie weren't ashamed to giggle or bark, respectively, at my plight.

"Come on and get up. If I have to spend half the night learning how to fly a new bird then the least you can do is get up and go along for the first flight."

"Before breakfast?" I asked.

"No, but if you want time to eat it you'd better get moving now," she said, and took off for the ladies room while I headed for the men's.

Tutsie used his potty lawn this morning. I guess he didn't want to cause delays since Jaycee was already on the warpath. I gave myself a lick and a promise in the shower, pissing in there too while I was at it, then pulled on some clothes and headed for one of my favorite places, the table.

Jaycee was surely in the mood for some flying this morning since she was already at the table with coffee in hand as I came in. Francine sent one of the young lovelies in with coffee for me as I sat down and food showed up within a couple of minutes. At least Jaycee didn't try to gulp it down.

"They have outdone themselves this time," Jaycee said, talking about the new helicopter.

"Will it be too much for you to handle alone?"

"No, in fact I'm sure you could fly it with only a little practice. The avionics, aeronautics, and computerized flying aids are out of this world."

"I guess that makes sense, but I didn't think of it last night."

"They said I could fly it the old fashioned way if I wanted to, but why would I. With their automation I don't even have to fuck with the collective at all, and it lifts off without any worries about ground effects if you let it do what it can do. You just pull a small lever and get a smooth and stable lift with no bother and no worries. It's armed to the teeth too."

"That probably won't hurt anything. Are you up for taking a few of our friends to see the ships I was scaring them about?"

"See hell, we're going to capture one if it's close enough to shore. The weight we can carry is greatly increased now since we don't have a fuel load and we have so much more power. We can take seventy five men armed with compound bows with us, at least."

"Damn, I had no idea, but what will we do with them once they're caught?" I asked.

"Depends. If they have some cute young passengers like Alphonse was escorting to the new Promised Land we can give those a ride to their new home. If it's just a bunch of ugly men we'll at least save them the indignity of drowning," she said, and laughed.

Jaycee and I didn't waste time after eating and headed for our new ride. We headed through the basement of the house and then on through the truck tunnel into the lower floor for the newly enlarged again barn. It still had the big door on the back wall so trucks could be lowered but there was now another door in the back corner. It opened to a tunnel that took us to a new facility for the helicopters.

I don't know why we had two of the new giants since we still had only one pilot, but it didn't matter. When Jaycee and I climbed aboard and took our seats, she hit a switch and we started rising as a giant overhead section slid out of our way. When we came to rest we were outside and sitting on a new helipad. It was a little surprising but when I looked toward the house I could see our swimming lake from the backside.

When Jaycee started the alien engines I was under-whelmed. They were nearly silent. Of course when she engaged the big rotor things livened up and by the time they were up to speed the sound level was considerably higher. I didn't have time to pay attention to the noise after we started lifting off. Things started going faster for me about then.

The damned thing was big but mostly it like any helicopter I'd been in before. Soon enough we were far above the ground and Jaycee started a big circling route around where the house was currently. The most visible things were pine trees. Well, what did I expect in the East Texas Piney Woods? Still, we could see our guests scrambling around in the front yard and looking up. A good many of them were pointing, as if anyone was having trouble seeing what was causing the noise.

She flew us around for about fifteen minutes and then we headed home. I was surprised when we got near since the radio came to life.

"John, Jaycee, can you hear me?" Fawne asked.

"Yes, we hear you fine Fawne," Jaycee said, after picking up her microphone, "How did you know how to get in touch with us in this?"

"I went to the room with the moving pictures. I asked aloud if there was a way to call you and a voice told me how."

"I should have given you all some instructions before we left, but you did fine. Can you go out in the front yard and tell everyone to stay clear while we land? Tell them to stay back until the blades stop turning."

"I can try, but what are the blades?"

"They're above us. They're what let us fly, and they will keep turning for a while after we are on the ground again. If someone comes too near they will be hurt, probably killed."

"Oh. I will do my best. I'll get the others to help," Fawne said, and then she was gone.

"We're going to have to work on radio communications protocols a little," Jaycee said, and then laughed.

"We will make sure no one comes close until the danger is over," Big Boy said, into my head.

It was a good thing he was paying attention. Of course we hadn't warned a soul what was going to happen and the front yard landing was a spur of the moment thing. No harm no foul though and this was going to be impressive.

We gave Fawne and the others time to get the word out and then when we saw her waving at us Jaycee started down. Of course detritus started coming up as we neared the ground, but it wasn't as big a cloud of it as I'd expected. Mostly the air was alive with pine needles for a few seconds.

Once we were on the ground and Jaycee killed the power the rotor blades slowed to a stop sooner than I'd have expected. I guess we needn't have worried so about being rushed by onlookers. Most of the Indians were too scared to come close. I walked to Jahedo when I spotted him.

"How can that thing fly, and what is it?" he asked.

"It is a machine, called a helicopter, and the blades on top of it let it fly. This is what we'll use so I can show you the ships that are coming."

"We will be able to ride in it, while it flies?"

"Yes, it is safe. We will ride it all the way to the sea that is south of here and we will find one of the ships. Can you bring twenty of your men, armed with their bows? We want to make the ship come to shore and capture the men in it."

"Yes, my men will come. I will bring twenty of the best warriors."

"Will you ask Twako to bring twenty also? I promised to show him the ships too."

"Yes. I'm sure he will come. Should they bring weapons?" he asked.

"Yes. There will be fifty or so men on the ship and they may fight. We can sink the ship from the air, but I would like to make them run it aground so that we might take anything of value. It is also possible they will have women and children aboard, but I'm sure there will not be many. I don't want to kill them unless it is necessary," I said.

"But why would it be necessary?" he asked.

"We do not want them to get back home and tell of the riches they found. It will only cause more to come here to steal. If we can save the women and young children you can take them in and show them a better way to live on this land," I said, hamming it up just a little.

In less than an hour Jahedo, Twako, and twenty armed men with each of them boarded the helicopter. Doctor Jorge came along with us and George did too. Bob declined the invitation and he and Wanda forbid Chuck and Dave's participation. I was happy enough about that part. I didn't really mind if Chuck and Dave got permission for a later trip, but for now I had my hands full.

In its current configuration inside, the Pave Low 1000 had metal seats installed in the cargo section and they had rudimentary seat belts. It took twenty minutes to get our passengers inside and buckled in, along with showing them how to unbuckle.

Jaycee didn't anticipate trouble, but she thought it would be much better if they stayed put while we were traveling. One of the nice features of Big Boy's model were large windows in the side so our passengers could see at least something except metal walls.

We were about two hundred and fifty miles from the gulf, and no doubt farther from the nearest ship, or at least I thought we probably were. Jaycee didn't say so and I didn't ask. The trip to our first victim took two and a half hours and it was a surprise since the ship, presumably a Spanish Galleon, was much closer to shore than I'd expected.

If our Indian friends had been shocked by the Pave Low, the crew of the ship we found first was terrified. I wondered that the ship didn't list horribly to the side the crew ran to, trying to get a better look at us.

It was a square-rigged relic that wasn't an antique yet. There were two main masts with smaller ones both in front and behind them. Jaycee cured the gathering on one side by moving directly in front of the vessel, as if to block their path. We didn't have a way to communicate with them over the noise we were making, but Jaycee cured that also by using the machine guns to truncate the forward main mast just above the lower sail. I think they got the message after the top half or so fell to the deck.

The crew had no hope of defending themselves from us, but they gave it a shot, in fact they gave it a few. Five or six men came out with muzzleloaders and fired a round or two each. Not a shot even made it to our armor to bounce off. Jaycee didn't take it kindly though and she fired some type of rocket into the gulf. It hit within ten feet of the side of the ship and the explosion was impressive. A couple of minutes later they turned toward the shore and ran it aground on the beach.

Jaycee wasn't done with them yet though. She lowered a cargo hook. They got a clue from somewhere and attached it to something on the bow. Meanwhile I was wondering what in the hell Jaycee was up to. Even if we did have space age engines we surely didn't have over twenty thousand pounds of pull on that line and the ship had to weigh nearly a thousand tons.

After we set down she explained. She'd pulled on the ship just to bring it up a little farther onto shore so they couldn't get loose. It wouldn't have done them any good anyhow, but it would have been annoying.

She'd made sure to land directly ahead of the beached ship so no canons were pointing our way. As we got out to meet our new friends we saw a party of three men climbing down a net type rope ladder and they headed our way. It turned out to be the Captain, the First Mate, and the Second Mate. I nearly laughed at them, but I managed to keep from it.

The Captain, Humberto Abarca, was not pleased to see us. As usual he started in what must have been his native language, but I cut him off.

"If you can't speak English then you are a dead man now and we'll work our way down your crew until we find someone who can," I said.

He was not pleased. He could speak English fine, but he made the mistake of calling me an English pig and Jaycee cashed his chips in with her Glock right away.

"If the rest of you can't speak English and keep a civil tongue in your mouth while you do it, don't even bother to say anything except prayers," she said, and then gave them an evil smile.

"I can speak English and I also have manners. May I assume you are some type of pirates?" the First Mate asked.

"If it suits you go ahead. What type of ship is this and where are you coming from and going to?" I asked.

"We have been to the new world to the south and we are going back to Spain?"

"What are you carrying?"

"We have thirty female slaves for the brothels in Madrid and we have some gold plus other assorted goods," he said.

"He has some nerve, coming to our land to steal women and gold and calling us pirates," Jaycee said, and I could tell she was pissed.

It's likely the First, Second, and all mates down to the hundredth would have started dying about then if Jaycee hadn't noticed two more men descending the net ladder. One was dressed as a nobleman and the other wore the robes of a priest, and not a poor one at that. I could see her nervously squeezing the grips of her Glock while she watched.

"Who is this coming?" I asked.

"It is the owner of our ship and his guest, a holy father."

Jaycee didn't say anything but she did spit on the ground demonstrably.

"Try to keep a grip Jaycee. If you have to shoot one of them, do the priest, and try to only wound him for now. We want some answers if we can get them."

She promised she'd do her best, but I wasn't hoping for much anyway. We watched the Spanish assholes approach. The owner came up and tried to get in my face, shouting Spanish again. I was tired of giving language instructions so I got through to him with a strong backhand that knocked him on his ass.

"Sir, please. He demands we speak to him in English, and she killed the Captain for insulting him," the Second Mate told the owner.

"Jahedo, bring the others out to help us," Jaycee shouted, in Caddo, toward the Pave Low.

She'd given them her plan before we'd left. They were to come and gather around behind us and then do nothing except look at the others with a stern and menacing face. I must say they did and excellent job of it when they got in place.

Just then the priest spoke up, in English and politely for now. He asked why we were interfering with the work of the Lord. He was set to go on, but I stopped him.

"So, the work of the Lord is collecting slaves and stealing gold. I'm not surprised. Not long ago I was forced to kill a few priests involved in the French Inquisition. Am I going to have the pleasure of killing a member of the Spanish?"

"I am not afraid to die in the service of God almighty."

"How about suffering in the name of your blasphemy? Jaycee, kneecap him please."

She did a prompt and efficient job and it sounded like suffering in the name of the Lord hadn't been exactly what the priest had in mind. He did a lot of pissing and moaning for the Lord for a while there. He wasn't bleeding too badly though, so I kicked him in the ribs and warned him to snivel in silence unless he wanted to lose the other knee.

"What's your name?" I asked the First Mate.

"Carlos."

"Here are your choices. You can empty the ship, men and passengers first and cargo later, or you can die on this beach, to the last man. It won't be a pleasant death either. The red Indians will make sure of that as they cut off your flesh, roast and eat it in front of you. What is your choice?"

"We will begin at once."

"Just remember, any resistance will mean the death of at least half of the men, probably more. Bring all your firearms out first," I said.

Jaycee returned to the helicopter for what I don't know. I stayed where I was and in a few minutes two men came from the ship with eight muskets and ten flintlock pistols. Jaycee came back to me after they left.

"The other ship is about two hundred miles away. It seems to be steering toward Cuba."

"We'll have to let them go for now, but I hate to. They won't even be able to spread the word this area is more dangerous than previously thought."

"Hell, it's still mostly wide open. Stopping one or two ships isn't going to help much, and taking them as captives just takes too long for only you and me, even with this damned big helicopter," she said.

"You're right of course, but I can't think of anything else to do right now."

"I can't either, but if we need to turn back the Spanish, English, and French we have to have more men and even more equipment. Doing it this way we'll need years to even scare them out of the Gulf of Mexico," she said.

The next ones off the boat were the soon to be brothel slaves. They were mostly in rags but they seemed glad enough to be getting off. They didn't need much encouragement to have them headed toward us.

Jahedo, Twako, and all the Indians that came with us took notice now. Here was proof positive these men were coming to steal their women and children, especially since a few of the girls were so young. Even Twako seemed convinced.

The girls naturally gravitated toward the Indians and I was glad of it. It seemed they had some ability to communicate even if it wasn't perfect. I hoped they wouldn't mind going back to North East Texas with us, but even if they didn't want to there was nothing else I could do at the moment.

The sailors were weighing on my mind now. I'm sure they weren't little angels, but to me their sins weren't so bad as the ones of the rich and powerful who had put them in this mess. Something about them was nagging at the back of my mind, but I didn't have the time or the want to for dredging it up at the moment.

I spotted an oldish woman, a younger one, and a girl child coming down the net just then. Another well-dressed man was close behind them. They stopped when they were on the beach to argue for a few minutes and then the women and the girl came toward me. The man just stood near the ship as the sailors began unloading, packing bundles toward the helicopter.

The women approached me - putting the best face they could on what must have been terror. I smiled as they came near and it seemed to relieve the young one. My guess of her age was twenty-five or less.

"Good morning sir. I am Galena, this is my daughter Elisa, and my companion Camila - we were told to come to you when we were instructed to leave the ship," she said.

"I am pleased to meet you all, and especially your lovely daughter. My daughter Meka is about her age and I'm sure they will become fast friends.

"I apologize for the rough conditions here, but rest assured we will do our best to make you comfortable when we are back home," I said.

"It is true then, you are taking us as captives?" she said, but she didn't squawk about it.

"I'm afraid I have no choice. You would surely perish if I left you here alone. I hope you will come to enjoy living with us," I said.

"May I ask why you took the ship?"

"The ship is here despoiling my homeland, plundering her resources, and enslaving our people. I can no longer allow it."

"Oh. Do you intend to stop all ships in that trade?" she asked.

"I intend to stop any ship coming to the Americas for the next fifty years at least. The people here are not prepared to defend themselves against Europeans for now. I will do my best to help them prepare, and while I am I'll regularly stop any ships coming here."

"But that will mean no trade?" she said.

"There is no trade now. There are Europeans coming to spread disease the natives cannot fight off, and to steal everything they can carry, including innocent people. Do you realize the captive women on your ship were being sent to Spain to work in brothels?"

"Yes," she said, and her shoulders slumped, "My husband came here specifically to buy them for the purpose."

"I see, and what did you think of that plan?"

"What I think or wanted did not matter to him," she said.

"Come with me please. I think Camila and Elisa should join Jaycee in our helicopter while you and I discuss things further," I told her, and headed toward the bird.

Jaycee was coming back out as we approached and when I asked her to act as host for the nanny and child she was glad to. I hoped she wouldn't have them looking out the front windshield for a few minutes, but I didn't mention it. Galena and I walked back out front.

"Is that your husband?" I asked, pointing to the man who had come down the net behind them.

"Yes, he sent me to you for information," she said.

"It is a shame he'll never hear it."

I motioned Jahedo to me and explained the situation to him. He knocked an arrow and made a fine hundred yard shot, killing Galena's husband cleanly. She tensed when he did it but didn't cry out.

"I'm sorry for your loss Galena, but I'm even more sorry for the losses to the children and young women your husband bought. I hope you can forgive me someday."

"I can forgive you now. I was forced to marry him for family reasons and he was not a good husband, nor a good father for that matter. Someone somewhere may miss him, but I can't think of who it might be. I'm sure Elisa and your daughter will have many wonderful times together," she said.

"I'm sure they will, and I'm also sure you will enjoy your new life. Just think, you will be one of the first three people from Spain to ever fly."

"Oh. Some of the sailors said you came in a flying boat, but I didn't believe them. We were below decks when the excitement started. My husband was afraid to go see what was happening."

"You can see now his fear was well founded."

"Indeed, but what of the ships owner and the priest?"

"They haven't been seriously harmed yet, but I believe my Indian friends have plans for them. Final plans. I am wondering what to do with the sailors and the few officers that are left."

"The ship's doctor is one of the worst but I see he hasn't left the ship yet. Perhaps he is too drunk to move."

"It might be too late when he sobers up then. We will burn the ship after it is unloaded. Why don't you come back to the helicopter with me? I'm sure Elisa has much to explain to you about its operation by now," I said, smiling at her again.

"I believe you are surely correct," she said, placing her hand on my arm when I offered it."

Camila wasn't doing anything but looking worried when we entered, but Elisa was in the co-pilots seat receiving flying lessons from Jaycee. Galena was escorted into the pilots seat and Jaycee started the lessons over again so she could catch up to her daughter. I knew they weren't going to be flying us anywhere for a while, but who knew about later. I just hoped Meka wasn't miffed about missing out.

Back outside Jahedo wanted to know what my plans were, and after I explained as best I could he had a suggestion.

"Your flying machine can not carry everything from the ship in one trip, can it? You should have some of the things loaded into it and take them back now. I will stay here and keep a watch on the sailors. Maybe you could bring some food back. If not today, then tomorrow when you return. I don't think the unloading will even be finished by then.

"Take Twako back with you and he can pick some men to help with the watching and the unloading. That will let us finish more quickly," he said, and it was an excellent idea. Twako thought so too when we asked.

Jahedo left the sailors alone while he and Twako directed some of their men to load all the cargo that was already near the bird. Jaycee supervised the loading and did the tying down to make sure things were secure for travel. Elisa concentrated on being excited at the prospect of her first flight. An hour later we were in the air and headed home.

"It looks like you need to take a few flying lessons sooner than we thought," Jaycee said, after we were on the way.

"What?"

"Don't be such a baby. One good night's training and you'll be ready for a test flight in the morning. Tomorrow we can bring both birds and get the mess picked up. I'll fly some food down there for them in the other bird as soon as I can get it loaded. I should probably fly them some cooks down there too."

"That's all fine, but I didn't sign on to be a pilot?"

"You should have hired more while you had the chance then. Take the controls now and give it a try," she said, grinning.

I didn't want to but I did. It actually was easy in this machine, and besides, it was flying straight and level when she handed it over and it was no trouble to keep it doing the same. It did give me a little confidence.

When we touched down Twako was out and gone before we even started down on the massive elevator. He showed up below with forty men and eight women in minutes. We moved the bird we'd been using, now christened number One, off the elevator and Jaycee showed me how to move number Two into it's place.

Just as she got the rear cargo door open about fifteen more women showed up with food to be loaded. After they finished Jaycee moved to the pilot's seat while Twako directed the men and women that were going along into places and showed them how to strap in. Number Two was headed upstairs a few minutes later.

The women who'd brought the food took charge of the recently freed slaves while I led Galena, Elisa, and Camila up to meet their new family.

We met Fawne in the first hall as we headed out. She'd been coming down to see who'd come back and her smile at me lit the dark when she saw my guests.

"Up to your old tricks John?"

"I know it might seem that way, but the ship had some unexpected passengers," I said, and started the introductions.

Fawne took charge of the three and told me I was expected in the dining room. What could be better than that? Harriette didn't even scold me for missing lunch, but she did try to make sure I didn't get off without cleaning my plates.

After eating I figured I'd earned a shot or two of Brandy and a good cigar. I barely had the cigar going when Meka, Elisa, and Tutsie came roaring in. Meka and Tutsie jumped into my lap but Elisa seemed shy.

"Come Elisa, Daddy's lap plenty room," Meka said, and Elisa bucked up her nerve and jumped aboard. I put an arm around each one.

"Daddy, we share Tutsie until go get Elisa dog," Meka said, and then, "She need pony too, and clothes. I share til you get more."

"That's good. We'll go shopping as soon as we get home?"

"Good. Elisa no need own room. She says she stay with me. Bed plenty big. She like high flusher too. Are you Elisa Daddy now?"

"I am if she'll have me," I said, and then Meka looked at Elisa, who looked shy again.

"Can I be your daughter?" she asked.

"I'd love for you to be my daughter. I like girls best."

"He like wives too though. He makes them squeal," Meka said, then they both laughed as they made their exit; even Tutsie gave me a couple of short barks.



-------

Chapter 48


By the time I'd poured down some brandy and smoked a cigar I was wondering where the women were. I went walking around and looking. Francine must have some way of knowing when I was prowling because she came out of the dining room as I walked into the big living room.

"What can I help you with sir?" she asked.

It was on my mind to say a blowjob, but I didn't.

"I was looking for my women. Do you know where I can find them?"

"I'm sure they are in the war room. We sent refreshments there a few minutes ago."

"I'll go see if they'll let me in," I said, and headed for it.

They did let me in for a fact but I wasn't sure it was my best idea of the day. It was a hen party of the first order and even though Jaycee wasn't here to egg them on, Ethel was. She didn't get anything started though, not at first anyway.

"Where did you leave George and Dr Jorge?" she asked, right off the bat.

"Damn, I knew I was forgetting something."

"Did the two old farts stay with the rest of the pirates?"

"I cannot tell a lie, or I won't this time anyway. I don't have a clue. The last time I saw them they were getting out of the Pave Low, just after we landed on the beach," I said, admitting it.

Everyone laughed at me then, even Galena and Camila. All I could do was blush.

"It doesn't matter. If they aren't old enough to take care of themselves by now they'll never be. George was probably glad to get a chance to slip off," Ethel said.

"Too damned bad Bob didn't go along. I'm getting tired of him being such a stay at home husband. You may have to make him get a real job Ethel," Wanda said.

"He has a real job, he just can't be bothered doing it. He's supposed to be running a ranch, but he's getting too distracted with the pictures, videos, and the new big printer. I might need to have a word with him, later."

"I thought your place could pretty much run itself now, especially with the help our friends are giving," I said.

"Oh, it can, but that doesn't mean we want Bob around underfoot all the time," Ethel said.

That little tidbit didn't jibe with what I remembered about a certain driving assignment Ethel had been bitching about not long ago. She'd raised hell because Bob couldn't be bothered with driving her, Wanda, and the others on a shopping trip. It was beginning to sound like Bob couldn't suit Ethel no matter what he did.

It only sounded that way though, because I also knew Bob hadn't been trying to suit her - he'd been trying to suit Bob and possibly intent was counting for more than I thought it might.

Either way it didn't mean shit to me. I'd have liked for Bob to be out camping on the beach tonight myself, if he and George had been absent, it would have given me an excellent chance to nail Ethel and Wanda both. I had half of a golden opportunity now, but I wanted the other half at the same time. Both Wanda and Ethel had furrows I intended to plow thoroughly, and at the same party to boot. Probably side-by-side on the same bed at nearly the same time as far as that went.

Not tonight though because of stay at the house Bob. What the hell, I'd live over it and probably easily tonight. After all, I needed to make Galena feel welcome and the more I thought about it, the more I was anticipating something spicy and Spanish.

That's why I wasn't getting huffy about the teasing in the war room. The women I already had were on my side in this deal and I knew it. I couldn't understand what caused them to act this way, but once I'd dicked a newbie she joined the others in trying to round up more pussy for our bed. They were making friends with Galena now so she'd feel right at home when I rolled between her thighs and slid my pecker up her. It made my mouth water.

When we headed for bed that night Galena was right in among 'em and I made sure to get a good view of her unveiling. She seemed a little timid at first, but soldiered on, getting plenty of help undressing from the others. Galena was a tasty little morsel too. Her hair was blonde though her skin was dusky. She had nice big titties with large dark nipples that plumped up fat and firm as I devoured them with my eyes. Her hips were wide, her bush tidy, and her ass seemed to be pouting at me.

After I was naked too I took her in my arms and pulled her onto the bed, rolling her to her back. I'd always heard Spanish women were passionate and as I pushed it slowly up Galena I knew she was one of those for sure. She attached her lips to my neck, sucking, as I fondled and teased her nipples and stroked my dick firmly into its rightful place.

Her hips came alive slowly but they kept gaining speed as we went. By the time she had her legs wrapped around my waist she was moaning and crying out for me to do it harder and faster and I didn't have any better sense than to do what she wanted. We were both close before long and as I pumped a load up her she arched her back and screamed for Jesus.

It lasted longer than I'd expected but when it was over I was washed out, for the round at least. The others gave me a few minutes and a lot of tongue work to get me back in shape and before long I started rising where it was important. Trinette straddled me for the next ride and the race was on again. They kept me at it until I couldn't pay attention any longer and after one last good one I took a snooze.

I woke to someone shaking my shoulder the next morning. Two someones in fact. Meka and Elisa were the culprits and Tutsie was watching closely while he wagged not only his tail, but the entire rear half of his body.

"Tutsie want pee outside Daddy," Meka said.

"Let me drag on some clothes and we'll get that part started."

After a short bathroom break of my own, I dressed and we headed out. With Jahedo and a large bunch of our noble red savage friends down at the gulf, things looked amazingly quiet around the combined campsites. It didn't matter to Tutsie. He did his business and then headed for the door to go back in the house.

After he entered he led the way to the dining room and our breakfast servers were ready to bring coffee and food. As one of them poured my first cup I heard Jaycee returning. A few minutes later she came in with Doctor Jorge and George in her wake.

"How did it go?" I asked her.

"Fine. Everything worked out great. The ship's doctor finally showed his face, though he wasn't sober yet. I gave him a choice of helping with the unloading or joining the dead. He chose unloading and damned if he didn't do a pretty good job."

"I'm glad to see you two decided to come back for breakfast," I said, to Jorge and George.

"I can't believe how thrilling it was to observe and talk with the sailors," Doctor Jorge said.

"I liked it a lot myself. Do you know what you're going to do with them?" George asked.

"Not yet. A lot of it will depend on their attitude."

"I think I talked to nearly every one of them and from what they say not a one is sad about being interrupted on their cruise. I gathered their Captain wasn't very popular," George said.

"Do you think they'd make good recruits?"

"I think they'll be good at it, depending on what you want out of them," George said.

"Right now I don't know what to do. We need to cut off the shipping back and forth to Europe and Jaycee thinks we'll never get it done this way. There's just too much area to cover with two helicopters, and I'm not even sure I can fly the other one yet."

"Hell, you need a navy unless you're planning on just flying around and sinking every sailboat you can find," George said.

"Where in the hell am I going to get a navy?"

"The same way you gathered up your Indian raiding party, or kinda the same way. You've already got the start of a small navy now - all you need is some boats. Ask your buddy Big Boy for a few," Jaycee said.

"We could provide ships with power plants similar to those in the helicopters. They wouldn't need fuel and we could install armor that current day cannons could not damage. Of course their speed would be significantly greater than anything of this time," Big Boy said, chiming in to tell me.

"I suppose you can provide the crews with some training?"

"Of course, but actually they wouldn't need much. You will need to convince a few officers to join, but they would mostly be needed for navigation and communicating your wishes to the ships they come into contact with.

"Most of the uptime equipment won't require any maintenance. In fact, the sailors wouldn't need to do much of anything except cook and handle lines and such to tow captives to shore if it becomes necessary," Big Boy said, and I could tell he liked the idea from the feeling of his thoughts in my head.

"How much of the Gulf of Mexico could we reasonably expect to command with a small navy," I asked, aloud.

"Hell, all of it. It should be a cinch to close by patrolling just outside the string of islands. It's basically fenced off with large and small islands, all the way from Florida down to Trinidad Tobago. The entire trip one way is less than two thousand miles," Jaycee said.

"She is correct. You should be able to soundly defeat any ship of this time with small Coast Guard type patrol boats. You could station them along the islands and let them patrol sections from island bases. We already have facilities in place that would allow them to locate any approaching ships," Big Boy thought to me, sounding even more enthusiastic.

"So you want to provide me with the boats for a navy and let me gather up sailors. With it I'll have the ships already in the Gulf penned in and be able to capture or scare off any that intend to enter it?"

"Yes, it will take some facilities and training, but I believe the largest amount of time will be required gathering sailors. We should probably provide a few ocean going tug boats to tow in any recalcitrant vessels," Big Boy thought to me.

"Let's get back to the beach then. We have freight and people to haul. I'll talk to the captured First Mate and see what he thinks. Hell, he might even have some good ideas."

"I will see about providing a suitable patrol boat while you are busy today. Perhaps it will even be ready by this afternoon," Big Boy said, and then was gone.

It was a good plan but it didn't last long. The women started appearing just then and breakfast was being served for real. Even though I'd had a few little snacks with my coffee I was more than ready for a real meal. A little conversation between Jaycee and the women made it plain we'd be taking all the usual suspects with us this morning too.

We were all loaded and ready to go much more quickly than I'd expected. I insisted I travel alone since it would be my solo flight. Jaycee lifted first and hovered about a quarter mile away to wait. Everything seemed to happen so fast my palms didn't even have time to get sweaty.

Getting airborne was even easier than I'd expected. I used the mostly automatic controls and kept my paws away from the collective. It was a lot like playing a video game with an unbelievably good monitor. I took it to two thousand feet, obeying Jaycee's instructions, and then followed her as she headed south. She didn't hold back on the speed for a poor amateur either.

Landing was anticlimactic and that was the best news I'd had all day. I might even be able to enjoy the next flight. Of course I'd set down much too far from the cargo we'd be taking on and I let Jaycee come and move it into position. There was no sense in being silly about the details.

The passengers spread out like coffee from a cup that had been knocked over. They stayed in groups of four or five and roamed everywhere.

The First Mate, Eduardo, was watching the progress and generally running the show. He got the sailors moving to load and tie down the freight and then came over to me.

"Looks like you have things in hand."

"Thank you. After the penalties for poor performance I witnessed yesterday I decided to try my hardest."

"What would you think about a promotion?"

"In whose service?" he asked.

"In mine of course. I just happen to have a few ships on the way and I'm going to need captains. You will be patrolling along the outer islands at first. We want to capture all ships currently within the Gulf and scare off any that intend to come here, unless we can capture them."

"But that is thousands of miles. One ship cannot hope to cover it adequately," he said.

"You haven't seen the ships yet, and there will be as many as twenty. They can travel up to sixty knots. You will not have any trouble finding and defeating sailing ships. My ships will have engines similar to the ones in the flying machines.

"Do not worry about being asked to perform miracles. The ships will do the magic. They will need you for navigation and for communicating with those you encounter. The ship will also be so strong that cannons from this time cannot damage her."

"I will be honored to join your navy just to see such a ship," he said.

"Good, try to enlist all the sailors with you who are worth having. Of course their alternative is swimming home."

The loading was going well and apparently the sight seeing was too. Meka, Elisa, and Tutsie were doing it much faster than any of the others, but everyone - including Bob - was roaming around and looking. Except Jaycee of course, she was keeping an eye on how the cargo was being tied down and on how much was being loaded.

Both birds were loaded in less than an hour. Jahedo was the only one returning with Jaycee and me on this freight haul. He intended to stay home and direct the sorting and moving of the cargo after it was unloaded. Thankfully the trip carrying weight was no more trouble than the empty one had been. I even managed to put it down in the right spot so Jaycee didn't have to move it into place.

When unloading time came I noticed another handy feature. The compartment's floor was actually a rugged pallet made of more alien material. During flight it was held in place by clamping rails along the sides of the floor - to unload they were released, full width small rollers rose from beneath, and the pallet seemed to move out and onto the loading ramp on its own. I'd seen special truck trailers with similar moving floor setups but I'd never even thought of such in a helicopter. An empty came aboard the same way the loaded pallet left. Jaycee and I were headed back to reload less than half an hour later and Jahedo stayed to provide guidance for the grunt crew. It consisted of mostly Indian women.

Back at the beech it was time for lunch. The scene was like a giant picnic with sailors, Comanches, Caddos, and uptimers having a near party. The only distressing part was the amount of freight remaining. I knew we weren't going to get done today.

We made two more loaded flights that day and then another one to bring back my harem and assorted friends. Harriette had a late supper for us, and even though I hadn't done any physical labor to speak of I was still bone tired. We were in bed and I was asleep fifteen minutes after the meal was finished.



-------

Chapter 49


Of course Big Boy paid me a short visit during my sleep. Five of the ships were being put in place tonight.

"They are similar to the US Coast Guard's Cyclone class patrol boat. Of course they are much faster and require less manpower than the normal crew of thirty. They are also more heavily armed, at least for the main gun.

"We used the Bofors 57mm Mk II as a starting point. However we added a secondary munitions feed so that you can have a few non-fragmentation round for warning use."

"I'm not at all familiar with the gun or its rounds, so maybe you should explain."

"Normally all rounds are pre-fragmented and the fusing can be set for different types of targets, this is controlled as each separate round is fired. I'll admit I didn't go over the details of that system.

We thought for your use it would be advantageous to have rounds that didn't fragment at all, since usually you will be trying to cause surrender and not destruction. The Captain will be able to use the solid rounds to punch holes through the ships but will also be able to engage with the explosive rounds with the flip of a switch, so to speak."

"That's all great about the gun but what about the ship?"

"It is 170 by 25 feet. The interior is now more spacious since the new engines are much smaller even though they are very much more powerful. Of course the former fuel storage space is no longer needed for that purpose either. We have concentrated on giving more and better accomodations for the crews. We made room for a helipad on deck too.

"We have six very powerful ocean going style tugs for you now also. In fact, we have developed a special missile delivered grappling facility. If you have difficulty encouraging surrender, the grappling system can be fired toward the intended victim's bow from a thousand yards away. Our hope is that the tug can merely tow the ship to port then, whether they want to go or not.

"Ports are another thing. We have constructed two already. One is where Guantanamo was on your original earth and the other is at Trinidad-Tobago. Of course you will need to find troops to man them, but the bases are in place and fully supplied. There is also equipment in place for unloading cargo more easily."

"Sounds like you've covered all the bases. What about some nighttime training for our new navy?"

"It is taking place for the first few as you and they sleep." he said, and then I was sleeping for real again.

Jaycee woke me the next morning and it seemed like a real life work day. We did have a very nice breakfast and then we headed to our job. I was getting worn out gathering and moving cargo by now, but since Jahedo and Twako had found a lot of things they liked in the ship, and since they had taken in the saved from slavery girls, I thought it was worth the effort.

This time I felt confident and landed near the freight. Jaycee set down nearby and the men got moving before I even made it out and onto the ground. Eduardo was there to greet me.

"I can hardly believe some of the things I dreamed last night. It seemed I was given a tour of a magic ship and then the workings were being explained to me," he said.

"It was a dream of what is to come. That is to be your ship, and if you'll look out from the shore you will see it."

He was dumbfounded of course and I'm sure it seemed like magic, or witchcraft, to him. Hell, it should, since it was magic or witchcraft to me too.

"As soon as the men are busy we will go take a look, and probably a ride."

He went back to the men and started spitting out instructions. Jaycee joined me and we went looking for Twako. He wasn't hard to find and I asked him to join us for a little conference.

"Our benefactors have decided we needed fast ships to protect our territory. They have provided two this morning and there will be more as soon as we can find crews for them. In a while we will be taking a short trip in one. Would you like to bring a few of your men and come with us?"

"Yes, I have never been on one of the big canoes. I had never seen one until I came with you on this trip. I hope it will be as exciting as the ride in the flying machine," he said, and left to gather a few of his guys.

Jaycee and I got the benefit of a rundown on the ships last night too, and we were anxious to try them too. Soon enough Eduardo joined us and we headed for the beach. There was a Zodiac type boat, including an outboard motor, on the beach waiting for us. Odd though, I hadn't noticed until we needed it.

Of course we got a little wet getting the Zodiac into the water and then our asses into it. The outboard fired up right away though and soon enough we were tied up to the patrol boat and climbing a net type ladder. I headed straight for the control room.

As advertised in my dream lesson, there was one central control type station. It had a nice swiveling seat that resembled and air seat from a big truck. The controls were more of the video-game style arrangement. When Twako joined us and said the Zodiac was stowed, I pressed a button that I knew would start the four twenty-thousand horsepower alien engines.

A large flat panel screen came to life and it appeared to be showing me a satellite's eye view of the gulf. An image of something had a flashing red circle around it and after futzing with the controls I enlarged until I could see it was a sailing ship. Sure enough it looked like it was headed for Cuba. A little more fooling around with the controls told me it was nearly a hundred miles from us. I intended to go get it if that was possible.

Jaycee and I spent about ten minutes each giving the boat a spin. After that we had to cajole Eduardo into giving it a try. Jaycee and I had a conference and decided to take the tug too and she wanted to operate it. I put us beside it and she took Twako and the Indians with her while I went back toward the beach so Eduardo could gather up about twenty of his men, including the Second and Third mates. I let him do the honors in the Zodiac but we had our crew onboard and the Zodiac stowed again in less than half an hour.

Jaycee had already left but the display screen showed me where she was. I headed for her and kept increasing speed until we were catching up. The display told me we were making over sixty knots. I was happy for the truck type seat but I'm not sure anybody else enjoyed the ride as much as I did. Thankfully the sea wasn't too rough.

It took the best part of two hours to catch our intended. Jaycee stayed about three thousand yards behind it but I passed it up by nearly that much and then turned around and headed toward it. Straight toward it, though I wasn't going nearly as fast this time.

It was time to try out the gun when the ship steered to miss us. In what I considered a move much too intelligent for the US Navy, the gun was controlled from the same station. It had its own joystick and all I had to do was move the crosshair onto the part of the ship I wanted to hit.

Since I didn't want to damage the ship, I set the fuse for impact and put a round fifty yards in front of its bow. It hit about where I intended. The explosion and fragmentation raised an impressive geyser in the water and made more noise than the law allowed.

Exactly what I'd feared happened then. Nothing. Apparently the ship's captain thought we'd missed and figured he had a little time before we could reload. The Bofors could fire two hundred and fifty rounds per minute so I gave him five more examples as fast as it would. I guess he didn't believe it. I was trying to figure out what to shoot at that would cause the least damage when the radio called me.

"John, keep them occupied. I'm going to back up toward them and try the grappling thing. Even if it doesn't work I have to see it try," Jaycee said.

"Ok. I'm glad you warned me though since I was about to try shooting someone with a fifty-seven millimeter shot. I doubt I could just wound them."

"Just make damned sure you don't wound me."

The sailing ship was only making about nine knots so it was simple to keep my distance. I fired a few more rounds off to each side, mostly just splashing water on them but not hurting any one or thing. I'm sure it did keep their attention though.

Jaycee shouted, "Watch this" over the radio then and I glanced at an overhead view of what was happening. There were two simultaneous puffs of smoke from the tug and rocket trails streaked right toward the Spaniards. They ended at the stern and then damned if there weren't two more puffs right away and different trails streaked back to the tug.

"Did you see that?" Jaycee asked, over the radio.

"Yes, but what in the hell did the thing do, shoot back at you?"

"No. Apparently they couldn't make the damned rockets slow enough to unroll large heavy cable, so they trail one eighth inch leader cable for the initial hook. There is a smaller return rocket carried on each of the big ones, and when the grapples close on something it fires the small rockets back toward us. They have their own guidance and they steer for catch ports in the stern of the tug.

"Once the small rockets are captured, the small line is spooled up and it drags a three quarter line out, around a pulley at the end of the grapple and then back into the catch port. Once it's here it's locked down and our fish is hooked. I'd like to be able to hear what they're about to be saying on the wind powered boat," she said, and giggled."

If that wasn't a Rube Goldberg scheme I'd never heard one, but in half a minute we could see that it worked. Jaycee slowed the progress gently, but before quick could get ready the sailing ship was moving away from us, backward, and the wind was still trying to blow it toward us.

After a couple of hours of sixty knot boat riding it didn't take long to get tired of watching a fully rigged ship moving backward at around six knots. I enjoyed all of it I could stand and moved my ship toward our captive, asking Jaycee to just stop and hold her prize still.

I eased up much closer, probably within fifty yards, and used the handy loudspeaker to tell them to lower the sails and surrender. Of course they didn't and they even brought out some muzzleloaders as if they were going to help a damned thing.

I handed the mic to Eduardo and asked him to explain to the other dumbass that I hadn't been trying to hit his ship with the cannon fire earlier.

"If he still won't surrender just warn the sailors that I'm going to give them a demonstration by blowing the bowsprit off. Warn them it is going to hurt if they're too close."

Eduardo did his best but the Captain wasn't convinced. Apparently the seamen were, because they all moved as far toward the stern as they could. If I hadn't been a little annoyed I would have switched to a non-fragmentation round, but I didn't. Even with both ships wallowing in the swells I had no trouble putting a round into the deck just behind the bowsprit.

Unfortunately it did more than splash water this time, it took the front five or six feet off the ship. All the front five or six feet. I don't know whether the Captain was convinced or not, but the seamen damned sure were. Every one that had a musket or sword got rid of them at once, and when the Captain started yelling, one of them knocked fire from his ass, pronto.

"Tie that idiot up and prepare to be boarded," I said, over my heavy duty PA system and it looked like they were finally in the mood.

It only took a few minutes for Jaycee to release her grapples and reel in her lines and then we each maneuvered up alongside our prize, me on one side and she on the other. The sailing ship's crew threw three lines across and we tied all three ships together.

The Captain wouldn't listen to reason and Jaycee punched his ticket after making his own men strip him naked. I'm sure Doctor Jorge was going to love his getup. The other officers were more reasonable after that little demo and before you know it we had a lot more volunteers for our new Navy.

That was the good part. The bad part was we were a hundred or so miles from the helicopters, and though both the patrol boat and the tug had helipads neither one of them had a helicopter. Oh well, it couldn't be helped.

Finally we decided Jaycee, Twako, his men, and I would take the patrol boat back to the beach and leave Eduardo and his men here in charge of the tug. It wasn't nearly as well armed as the patrol boat but it did have a couple of fifty caliber machine guns and one Bushmaster. He only needed to keep watch on the sailing ship until we could get back tomorrow.

We also took all the freshly captured officers back. I wanted them to see some of our other facilities and I wanted them all to get a little practice in control of the patrol boat. With that and a little of Big Boy's nighttime instruction I figured we'd be ready to put more boats into action tomorrow.

Jaycee took control for the ride back and I found a bunk for a short snooze. Big Boy and I could get more done that way and I had some ideas.

We had a port and fortress waiting for us in the place that would be Guantanamo uptime, but Havana was already an established port, even if it was a rudimentary one. I concentrated on sleeping and Big Boy dropped in, figuratively, as soon as I dozed off.

"I want a fortress at Havana. There's a city going on there now and we might as well take advantage of the fact. Ships crossing from Europe and heading for the gulf will probably stop there for provisions or for something and it'll be easier to waylay them when they do, rather than chasing all over the ocean for them."

"I'm sure you are correct. Shall we put a copy of your French facilities there?"

"No, I don't think so. We won't need the massive walls since there's probably nothing to defend against from the land. Build me a large house that looks Spanish from the outside. I have no idea what things in Havana look like now and don't really care. Just let it resemble Spanish architecture of this time, but make sure it's up to our needs. If it isn't going to look normal for the city, and I don't see how it could, make sure it isn't visible from the sea.

"We'll try to keep the harbors looking mostly normal so we can let ships sail in but not sail out again. Maybe you should make some arrangements for a couple of tugs and patrol boats in the harbor, but with some kind of warehouse looking building we can hide them in. It will only have to pass muster from a distance."

"I believe we can do that. When would you like for your Havana home to appear?"

"I'm not sure yet but it will probably be a few days before we can deal with it. Are there ships docked there now?"

"They aren't docked, but there are two in the Harbor. They will be leaving within three days but neither intend to leave tomorrow."

"At least that will give me some time to get a few more of my boats ready for action. For Havana I will need some ground troops though, won't I?"

"I'm sure it would be very helpful."

"I haven't recruited enough Indians for that yet and besides, they are not accustomed to following orders very well. I think it would be best for you to have my new house show up near the Castle in France first. Better give it an underground barracks and armory and let us wake up inside it a day before we decide to put it in Havana. I'll show myself around town and let Percy gather a small army and go with us. I think he'd probably make an excellent governor for Cuba," I said.

"That does sound like a first-rate plan, but you are forgetting the way we can manipulate you in time. You could visit France for a couple of days, starting in the morning, and you will still be back here in the morning too."

"You're right, that detail seems to slip my mind often, maybe because it makes me feel like I'm getting old in too many places at the same time."

"But John, you haven't actually aged a day since the first trip. I thought you understood that," he said.

"I had my suspicions but wasn't sure. Very well, take us to France tonight."



-------

Chapter 50


I slept until Jaycee stopped near our beach project. Once we were ashore it was apparent everyone was relaxing and the loading for our flight was complete. We didn't waste any time getting aboard and moving out.

We did a quick turnaround at home, settling for sandwiches for our late lunch, and then it was back to the beach for the last load, of freight anyway. Jaycee and I both tried to rest during the loading this time but I was happy when Twako woke us after the deed was done. Everyone but Jaycee and I were staying on the beach. No matter, we'd be back for them in the morning, no matter how long it took.

At least we were in time for a nearly normal supper. I drank a few extra beers this evening; safe in the knowledge that tonight's trip back to France would negate any hangover.

It was surprising we had no thunder or storm this time, but I knew we were going and so did everyone else. We were in bed early and out like proverbial lights seconds later.

When I woke, first, the next morning I realized a new sort of alien trick had been played on us during the night. The house hadn't come back with us. I was waking in my French multi-story hotel of a Castle, without a doubt.

It didn't seem to make much difference right away though, since Tutsie gave my nose a couple of licks when he saw my eyes open and then he gave me a few let's get going barks for good measure. I didn't even try to keep from waking the others as I moved over the women between me and the edge of the bed. I even pinched titties and groped asses as I went.

Tutsie didn't bother chivvying me along; he headed for the bathroom at a run as soon as my feet hit the floor. I didn't waste any time following him either and I was in the shower, pissing down the drain, and washing my hair at the same time, in short order.

By the time I was dry and dressed and wanting coffee, the exodus from bed was getting underway. I was ready for coffee for sure, but I wasn't going to miss out on the show as beautiful naked women climbed out of my giant bed and headed for the facilities.

Meka and Elisa weren't with them though. They came out of the bathroom as the others were walking in. Meka was wearing her Indian princess buckskins today but Elisa had on what must have been Spanish finery fit for some Royal court. Both had mischievous smiles on their faces. It wasn't the first time.

"Come Daddy. We need coffee and Tutsie need walk first," Meka said.

So that's why Tutsie was so frisky this morning. He'd used his potty lawn to pee, but somehow Meka knew he needed to fertilize the lawn. I was already wearing my Glock of course, but I picked up the Marlin that was always standing by my bedroom door as we left. I didn't exactly understand why Tutsie never took a dump on his potty lawns, but he didn't.

Elisa turned a little shy when she noticed that we weren't in Kansas any more as we left the bedroom but Meka urge her on to the elevator, and they scampered inside when the doors opened. Even Tutsie beat me inside it and as soon as I was aboard Meka showed Elisa which button to push for the ground floor.

No matter how big a hurry he was in, Tutsie had some scratching and sniffing to do before he found the perfect spot to dump his load. Elisa giggled at him and then Meka giggled at her for giggling. Finally Elisa noticed the Guillotine.

"What is that?" she asked.

"Daddy chop men's heads of with it. We get to scalp," Meka replied, but I knew she was hamming it up for Elisa. By now Meka could scalp a man, dead or alive, in a heartbeat, but she'd already admitted it was a white man's trick that was blamed on Indians.

"Why do you cut their heads off?" Elisa asked, looking at me but thankfully Meka did the answering.

"Daddy get very mad at men who are mean or have smart mouth to him. He cut more than head off man who treat Fawne mean."

"Who would treat Fawne mean. She is so nice. Is the man still alive? Can we cut more off?" Elisa asked.

"No, he dead. Daddy no leave live enemies behind. He says they make trouble later and better to kill them while they handy," Meka said.

Elisa smiled at that and looked like she was about to say more but Tutsie was through with his business and he announced it to us with barks. We headed back inside, following Tutsie's lead. He knew the way to the dining room perfectly.

The rest of the women weren't down yet and I hadn't expected them. We did have a few changes to our massive dining table. The head end, where I sat, was wider now and there were new chairs there, one on either side of mine. Their seats were a little higher and they weren't as wide as the others. They were obviously for Elisa and Meka. Tutsie's hand made high-stool was ready now too and it was in place beside Meka's new chair.

Francine met us as we entered and after Meka introduced Elisa to her we were seated and a maid came to serve each of us with coffee and pastries to hold us over until breakfast started. Of course Tutsie had his own maid and he barked a friendly greeting as she put down a bowl with a few tasty tidbits and small saucer of milk.

Elisa now had her own Texaco plastic coffee mug this morning but apparently she hadn't believed Meka about the coffee.

"This really is coffee," she said.

"Might taste bad the first few time," Meka said.

"I know, but I've already been through that. Mother always loved it though and of course I had to learn to drink it so I would look grown up. It was awful at first, but I love it now too.

"I though we were in France," she said.

"We are France. This Daddy's castle. It big," Meka said.

"But how did you get lands in France?" Elisa asked me, but of course Meka was still full of herself.

"Daddy kill man own land. Daddy said he was being asshole."

Elisa laughed at her using such language at the table but then I guess she couldn't help trying it herself.

"What was he being an asshole about?" she asked, but ruined her performance by giggling at herself.

"Pierre come try take Fawne back after Daddy get her from priest Daddy shoot ear off of. Pierre had nice big horse too. We have it in stable now. I show you Pierre's hair after breakfast," Meka said.

Saved by the women. Jaycee and Fawne came leading them in then. Galena and Camila were trying to be cool about the new surroundings but apparently they'd already seen enough to shake them up. They were looking around wide-eyed.

"Hey, the table grew, again," Jaycee said, looking at our new arrangements at the head end.

"Sure, I had it improved so I could sit by my little cuties," I said, putting an arm around Meka and Elisa.

"Tutsie's new chair is finally here too," Fawne said, and came up to give him a scratch around the ears. He gave us a few happy barks as everyone found a seat, and my French maids streamed in from the kitchen with coffee and pastries for the new arrivals.

The women and girls chatted for a few minutes with all but the newbies, Elisa, Galena, and Camila working in a tease or two or a joke at my expense when they could. Most of that stopped when the real food began arriving - probably because I'd quit listening and started eating with both hands.

Geron made an appearance about the time I pushed my last plate away, empty. I'd asked him several times to eat with us in the mornings but he almost never did. Hell, it was his loss. He took a seat and one of the maids brought his some coffee. She was a fantastic redhead that I'd somehow never noticed before. She was absolutely beautiful, of course all of them were, but she was especially so.

As she came around dispensing warm-ups my dick started growing and her assets took my mind off everything else. When she got to me she leaned over and had a little difficulty with the snap on plastic cap of my Texaco coffee mug. Trying to be helpful I slipped my hand up between her legs to steady her.

She surprised me by closing her legs against it but waiting until I reached heaven before she did. She didn't have any sign of panties and her bush tickled my hand as she seemed to be rhythmically caressing it with the inside of her upper thighs, maintaining her smiling face and seeming calm to everyone else. I don't even think Meka noticed the sneaky fun I was having and I usually couldn't slip a thing by her.

"Well their be anything else?" she asked as she finished putting the lid back on.

"We'll need coffee in my study later, but I think that's all for now," I said, and she left.

"Who was that?" I thought at Big Boy.

"She is a spy sent by the King's mother. Her father volunteered her services in hopes of gaining favor," he thought back.

I let it go for the moment because I could see Geron was about to piss his pants to speak to me.

"How have things been going here Geron?"

"Wonderfully John, until this morning."

"Oh, and you're not pleased to see me?"

"Oh yes, yes. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. It's just that a new stable arrived with you. It seems to have been just dropped in place while we slept. That isn't so unusual since you've been here, but this one is out away from the others."

"I'm sure it will be leaving when we do. I came to gather a few hundred men for service at a new estate. And they'll need to take some equipment and horses with them," I said.

"Well they certainly have some equipment to take. There is another large building near the new stable and it is full of things. Shall I begin picking out men to go?" he asked.

"Not yet. I haven't decided on their new commander yet. I'm sorry that I can't offer the job to you, but I don't have anyone to replace you here and it's essential that things her run smoothly."

"That is excellent. If you need me elsewhere I will go of course, but I love this place, especially now," he said.

"Don't worry then. You are in command here in my absence and will remain in command."

"Thanks you," he said, and I knew I'd just have to shut up for this conversation to end.

"Well girls, what about you? What have you planned for the morning?" I asked, not singling out any of them.

"I'm going to do performance evaluations on the troops. I left them well started on their archery and shooting and when I check them out there had better have been some improvement," Jaycee said, and I'll swear Geron had to strain to keep from trembling at the thought.

"I believe the rest of us will go exploring," Fawne said.

"Exploring?"

"Yes, we should look over the other houses while we are here, especially the residences from Paris. I don't think I've even looked inside since they came here," Fawne said, and the others nodded in agreement. Even Meka and Elisa went along, taking Tutsie with them. What the hell, it would give me time to have a few words with Percy. As I was leaving I asked Francine to send for him.

"Where will you be?" she asked.

"In my study. Send us some coffee please," I said, giving her firm ass a little squeeze as I left.

"The new beauty arrived with coffee before Percy made it. While she poured me another cup I fondled her ass some more while I admired the rest of her. She was tall for a woman of this time, maybe as much as five-ten or so. Her legs were spectacular and her breasts were large and looked generous. I intended to find out all about her shortly.

Maybe she'd had no choice about being sent in as a spy, but she was going to have to make some sacrifices anyway. I'm sure she'd consider it worth her time sooner or later, but that didn't really concern me when my dick was hard and the one who'd caused it was with me and basically helpless. Not right now though.

Percy came in as I was sipping my coffee and she poured him a cup too.

"What shall I do for you today John?" Percy asked, after his first sip.

"I'm afraid it will be an onerous task, and not just today. It will take you years probably.

"I will soon be capturing some Spanish territory in the new world. I will need you to be my governor of the Caribbean and The Gulf of Mexico."

"Oh my," he said, eyes widening.

"You will also nominally be in command of my Navy there, but I don't mean to burden you with the details."

"That is wise on your part, since I know practically nothing about ships."

"You won't need to, and in fact the sailors I'm acquiring no nothing about my ships either. They don't use sails for power. They have powerful engines and will have no difficulty with any other ships they encounter. The most powerful man of war will be no more than a rowboat to them," I said, bragging a little.

"I see. What will be my main duty then?"

"I will have a large residence for you in Cuba within a day or so. Three hundred troops will be going with you and taking all their horses and equipment. I'll oversee the takeover of the main port and then turn thing over to you.

"My Navy will stop and capture all other shipping into the Gulf. Later, we will have a local Army of sorts to remove all other Europeans from the new world, but that will take time. Mostly you be riding herd on things and keeping that portion of the Americas from being interfered with. You will find you have plenty of equipment for surveillance.

"Explaining it in more detail now would be pointless. You'll have help when you get there."

"May I ask how long the voyage will take?"

"You will arrive overnight. Just make sure everything you want to take from here with you is in your room before you go, or if it is too large for your room just let me know where it is."

"Very well. I'd better get started then," he said, and I dismissed him to be about his business.

I had a little business of my own to tend to. Miss beautiful had been behind Percy for our interview. She'd been making a sham of tending to the coffee tray and doing a lot of bending over and showing me her naked assets while she was about it.

"I believe you're new here. What is you name," I said.

"I have just been employed here lately. My name is Chartree," she said, approaching as I stood.

"Well you are a lovely addition," I said, taking her hand and leading her to the large over stuffed couch.

I sat and pulled her into my lap as I did. She squeaked in surprise as I did, and then lay her head on my shoulder while my hand found its way between her legs again. My other arm went around her shoulders and pulled her face up to me for some kissing. Now she seemed a little shy about things but she tried her best to seem anxious.

"What did the King's mother promise your father for this little spying trip?" I asked, kissing the tip of her nose after I broke the serious kiss.

She was startled but at least kept her head enough to keep from asking how I knew. She was squirming slightly and trying to come up with something coherent as I moved my hand off her pussy and used it to pull the low top down far enough for one of her fat titties to pop out.

Her nipples were large, pink, and lovely so I bent my head to suck one into my mouth for a suck and a teasing nip.

"I don't know what kind of arrangement was made. My father merely ordered me to come here and see what I could find out," she said.

"Not much of a father is he? Sending his daughter off to do the dirty work. What makes him think you won't just stay away? In fact, what makes you think I'll let you leave?"

I'd struck a nerve there, and it was obvious. She trembled and I knew it wasn't from the fine foreplay I was administering.

"I have to go back and tell him what I've learned. My mother and twin sister are there, and there's no telling what will become of them if I don't return," she said, I could tell she was about to get started begging. I gave Big Boy a quick heads up and he assured me that the mother and sister could appear on cue.

"I should tease you a little over your hopeless situation, but I won't, because I'm too anxious to fuck you? You can never leave me now," I said, and the begging did get started, but at least it was about her mother and sister and not over the fucking I'd promised.

"Don't worry about your mother and sister, they'll be here shortly. You should be worrying about yourself. Although, it isn't really a fate worse than death," I said, and she trembled a little more - probably realizing she was about to get a dose of dick.

Surely I made it even more clear to her when I took hold of her uniform between her titties and ripped it off her body. I'd made it plain that ripability was mandatory when I got the whole French maid uniform thing started in the first place. Her magnificent body was naked now except for the garter belt and stockings. I took a few seconds to admire this work of human art and then gave Big Boy the high sign.



-------

Chapter 51


Her mother and sister popped in then and I could see at once who was responsible for Chartree's beauty. It was easy to tell the two new arrivals apart, but I was equally sure it would be damned near impossible to tell the sisters apart if they were both naked.

The mother was equally as beautiful but looked at least a little more mature. She couldn't have been over thirty-five and looked like she was in her twenties.

"Char?" the sister nearly shouted when she saw the state of dress.

"Chartree, what is happening?" the mother blurted, before she'd had time to come to her senses.

"She is being ravished by the evil Duc John as you can plainly see. What did you expect to happen when your husband sent her to spy on me?"

"We knew what must surely happen, but we had no say in the matter. He threatened to do horrible things to us all if she didn't succeed," the mother said.

"I'm sure he will be very angry with you after he finds out about the failure - for a few seconds anyway," I said.

"What do you mean?" Chartree's sister asked.

"It's a two edged sword for the three of you. I'm the one who'll be doing horrible things to you, but I'm sure you'll be better off in the long run," I said.

"But my husband is a powerful man in Paris," the mother said.

"Your husband is not in Paris, and he'll only be a dead man soon. Do you think you two are the only ones I can snatch up out of thin air if I want to? He is currently in a doorless windowless cell far below the basement of this house. Lately Armand Jean du Plessis spent a few restless hours there before we came to an understanding. Your husband and I will not come to the same one though, because I understand already that he will soon be a head shorter. I'm sure he doesn't know yet."

"But..." the mother said, trying to get another question out.

"Please. I'm busy at the moment. Your turn is next, and you my dear," I said, pointing to the sister, "I'm saving you for last. Watch carefully, quietly, and learn."

When I tumped Chartree over onto her back on the large couch she actually seemed relieved that her mother and sister had dropped in. At least she knew they weren't in danger from her father at the moment. I dropped my lips back to her stupendous nipples as I crawled over her and let my hands explore other places, mostly her pussy lips. They were still dry of course, but delightful to play with all the same.

After a few minutes of luxuriating on her naked flesh I figured her mother and sister were resigned as well, so I stood up and started off with my clothes. It didn't take long and I saw all of them seemed surprised by the size and hardness of my dick as it sprang free. On the other hand, the mother didn't look all that frightened.

Chartree did look frightened, but she didn't resist, and as I moved between her thighs she spread them, if not in welcome then in resignation.

I did my best to be gentle as I settled myself on top of the beauty. I kissed her lips sweetly and then whispered in her ear.

"Your time will come soon dear. Am I correct in assuming it will be the first one?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry so. If it hurts, it won't hurt long, but you have to help, whether you want to or not. Try to just let things happen to you without worrying. There's no room for argument or regret. It will happen, and you will like it better if you let yourself get into the mood."

That was enough talking for now, and too damned much for me. I worked my way down her body, kissing, sucking, nipping, and licking all the way. Even her mother gasped when I put my mouth to the young, fresh, pussy, and Chartree jerked her hips slightly in spite of herself.

Deflowering a virgin wasn't nearly as much fun as you might have heard but somebody had to do it. The only way I could was by doing it slow, and as gently as possible. A dry hole wouldn't be any fun for anyone concerned and a nervous girl was hard to get wet. I must have played with her titties and licked her pussy for half an hour but finally she was moving her hips with the proper motion and pussy juice had slimed her slit.

I moved up to lay on her then and with my hard dick in hand I rubbed the head between her sealed lips. She groaned aloud and put her arms around me as I put easy pressure on the offending membrane. Just as I felt her tense a little I pushed my way through and stopped. I had about two inches inside her but waited until she could become accustomed to my sausage invader.

"Did it hurt awfully?" I asked.

"Not really, just a small prick like feeling. I guess that's appropriate, she said, and tried to smile."

"Maybe everything but the small part. That's something you should never say to the one with the prick," I said, and she giggled.

I put on more pressure a few seconds later and then pulled back to the entrance to do it all over again. All it took was time and patience. The reward later was worth it though. Hell, the reward now was. Looking down at a naked woman this beautiful and having your dick even partially up her was a thrill of its own. She wasn't panting in her heat yet, but I had it in her and she wasn't squawking - things were going great.

Four or five tries later I was up her to the root. I wallowed my dick around in her as much as I could, but new pussy is always tight pussy. She was beginning to get with the program by now. Her hips were doing a little more moving and her juices kept coming so I started pumping in earnest, went back to sucking those nipples, and settled in for an honest fuck.

Chartree was a gorgeous woman but she'd only been resigned to her fate when we started for real. She wasn't wired for that though. She was a screaming babbling wreck as we neared the end. Her arms were hugging me, her hips had a life of their own, and she sobbed out for me to do it harder and faster until she went off and her howl woke a few of the dead. As she regained control she kissed my lips and face and around my neck and ears and simply purred about how happy I'd made her.

I pulled my dripping dick out of her gently and signaled for her sister to come help her up. They headed for the bathroom shortly while her mother stared at my dick and came to it as if mesmerized.

"Do you know how to suck it back up hard?" I asked, when she reached me.

She nodded her head and went to her knees before me, taking as much of me in as she could at once. She got action much faster than I'd expected and it was because she was an expert at playing with slippery balls. It seemed no time before I was pulling her up and to me so my tongue could invade her mouth.

I took my time getting her dress off and she helped all she could. Her corset was a bother but it was gone soon enough. I couldn't help myself and ripped her bloomers away, leading her to my desk.

She wasn't puzzled when I bent her over it and when the spongy head found her love lips they were wet and wanting. Even though watching the show had her ready and willing I still had to work my way into her firm grip. She was tight too but the initial entrance maneuvers were rewarding, and as my abdomen met her ass cheeks the real fun begun.

I didn't even know her name, yet, but I knew she was going to be a welcome addition to my harem. Her pussy was lively and hot and I liked it fine. I gave one of her splendid buns a small slap and she yowled a little and tried harder to fuck back at me. She didn't have enough leverage to do much, but I appreciated the effort and bent over her so I could give her clit some help with a reach around.

She must have liked it because she was moaning and calling for more by now. Even though I'd just had a come ripped from down around my toes by one of her twins, she pulled another one out of me in what seemed like no time and I shot a mess up in her just as she went off herself. I knew I'd been a bad boy though and I dropped to my knees and was licking up the mess I'd made when the twins came out of the bathroom.

They were both naked now, but it was easy to tell the difference. They were equally magnificent, but Chartree was obviously lately fucked, and her sister was just as obviously anxious. Still, they seemed amazed at what I was doing to their poor mother since she was still bent over my desk.

With two down and only one to go I took time to do the sister up right too. She started out with a better attitude since Chartree had surely told her how she'd liked it while they were away. No matter how we started though we ended up the same way, with me pounding for all I was worth and Chartree's sister begging for more, harder, and faster. Luckily I was able to provide.

Maybe an hour later we were all lying naked in a pile on the couch when Fawne and the rest walked in. Fawne was only slightly shocked and none of them panicked or anything. Meka and Elisa walked in and giggled and then giggled some more as they turned and left with Tutsie.

"Lookie, lookie, lookie what I found?" I said when someone closed the door.

"The poor dears. You've obviously had your wicked way with them," Fawne said, grinning.

"Yes, he did. It was just awful. Awful that he wouldn't do it again," the mother said, and my crew laughed.

"And that's the new maid too, the poor dear," Delphine said.

"She was a dirty spy. It was this or the gallows," I said, making sure it sounded like a tease, but also making Chartree blush fiery red.

"Oh, we must hear the details," Babette said. "Not those details," she said, when Jaycee called her nosey, "We'll get them later. We want the details of the spying."

"I haven't taken care of the father yet. He's down in the dungeon waiting. We need to have lunch first since the details might be messy."

"Oh my God! Are you the one that sent the King's men back with their hair removed?" the mother asked.

"I'm afraid I'm guilty," I said.

"Jules will mess his pants if he knows. He was shaken for weeks after the rumors came out, and he never even found out if they were true," she said.

"Oh well, if it's going to upset him so I guess we could take him back for the women in Jahedo's band. Of course it will be hard on them with only one man to torture and all night to work on it."

"Who is Jahedo?" Chartree asked.

"He's a red Indian friend of mine, from my home country. I'm afraid the women were not amused with Alphonse and his men. They came to bad ends," Delphine said.

"Let's talk about it after lunch. I'm hungry. Fawne, can you find something for Chartree to wear, I'm afraid I was a little hard on her uniform, and she won't be needing it any longer anyway."

"We will all wear shorts and T-shirts to lunch. That way we can flash the merchandise just like the maids do," Cécile said.

I gave up and went to the dining room, telling Francine that Chartree wouldn't be able to help them any more.

"I suspected when I heard them squealing. Maybe I should serve you in your study sometime," she said, smiling.

"I'm sure you should," I said, pulling her to me for a kiss and fondle. She blushed as she left for the kitchen.

Harriette had been learning the local cuisine from someone in Texas during her visit. We had mashed potatoes and gravy with our roast beef at lunch, complete with corn bread, and sweet iced tea. Everyone loved it, and of course I loved more of it than anyone.

After lunch we had a little pow-wow and Chantra, Chartree, and Chartraa said they wouldn't miss Jules' send off for the world. I'd decided that a trip to the Guillotine was just the thing for him, but Meka made me promise she could scalp him first.

"Elisa want see it," she said.

"Very well, we'll take him out, you can scalp him and then he loses his head. I think I'll send him back to the King's mother after that," I said, and Big Boy said it was no bother for him to take care of the shipping.

Jules wasn't much of a Frenchman, and he was completely a wimp about the whole thing. When Big Boy made him appear the first thing he saw was Meka standing in front of him, a previous scalp in one hand to give him the hint, and a sharp knife in the other. He went to pieces and he wasn't a bit relieved when four of Geron's soldiers knocked him down and held him there.

His wife and daughters offered no solace either, but Chantra, his wife, was the most disrespectful. She went on and on about how it was a shame he was going to die without me showing him what a real dick looked like. He screamed in terror until his throat was so raw it was bleeding.

Even with the four big soldiers holding him he still moved his head around so much that Meka didn't want to start her job, afraid to damage the trophy I guess. Big Boy did something to help and suddenly old Jules was statue still. It let Meka do a particularly good job. That was good because Jules did have a nice head of hair.

After Big Boy released his hold Jules had to be dragged to the Guillotine, still screaming. The headsman let it drop once for practice as Jules was headed that way and I think it was what made him shit his pants. Even with the careful job of tying him to the machine he still fucked things up by thrashing around at the last second and getting his neck sliced at an odd angle.

He was still dead though and I'll admit that his face had a particularly nice fear filled look when Big Boy whisked him away.

"Would you like video of his arrival and the King's mother's reaction?" Big Boy asked, in my head.

"Grab it if it's no bother but don't go to any pains. Meka or some of the others might want to see it someday."

Most of the rest of the day was occupied with Big Boy quizzing me about where to place Jules' former possessions. We finally decided to put them near my other collection of stolen houses. He was going to leave the land they occupied in Paris in the same shape he'd left the other places, perfectly smooth and completely unusable to anyone else.

Jules had a big household and naturally Big Boy brought them all along for the ride. I let the workers and servants merge into my household staff, albeit in a stationary position and not as part of the traveling entourage. They'd be remaining in my holding here while I went zipping off in time.

All except Antoinette that is. She had been Jules' mistress. She was another beauty, a black haired brown-eyed temptress who was the same age as the twins. Apparently Charta was nearly as much a mother to her as she was to the twins and they all, Antoinette included, insisted I interview them again, together. What the hell, with a promise of help from Big Boy my harem and I retired to the bedroom and I was able to interview every one of them for the rest of the day. In fact I kept at it for the next couple of days on and off while the other preparations for our departure were completed.

Percy was nothing if not efficient. We spent a couple more days in France, mostly fucking and fucking off. Jaycee was well satisfied with the training and suggested we capture some other Duc's holdings for more troops, but I put it off until later. Finally Percy had his men chosen and they had all the belongings and horses stored in either the new barn or the new barracks type building. They went to bed there.

At least we got our normal thunderstorm rolling in around sunset on the day we left. For some reason it made me feel much better. The last thing I thought about before Big Boy turned out the lights was I didn't actually know where we were going this time. Oh well, I'd see when I woke.



-------

Chapter 52


When I woke it seemed we were still in the same place we'd gone to sleep. My first clue was the sound of different birds greeting the sunrise. Of course I was piled up among the women, but just as surely I needed to visit the facilities. Strangely, none of the women even stirred as I crawled over them patting asses and tweaking nipples.

By the time I reached the edge I'd figured out Big Boy was keeping them asleep somehow. Since Jaycee was the last one I crossed on my way to the edge I thought I might as well see how she took to waking up with my dick already up her. Unfortunately Tutsie wasn't still asleep with the others and he let me know it was time to pee by barking a time or two.

Even though this still didn't wake any of the women it did remind me Tutsie wasn't the only one who needed a good morning piss, so I got up and we did our duty. I even took a shower, dried off, and pulled on a pair of boxers.

Back out in the bedroom I picked out a comfortable chair and just watched as my women started wriggling and squirming off the last vestiges of sleep. When the show started my dick grew out through the flap of my drawers and stood to attention.

When Jaycee left the bed she looked at me and stuck out her tongue. I crooked my finger at her and she came over so I pulled her into my lap to kiss and fondle a little.

"Let me up. I have to get dressed and going."

"No you don't. We don't even know where we are yet. Besides, I wanted you to know what almost happened to you this morning," I said.

"What? What could have happened to me while I was in here sleeping?"

"I nearly happened. For some reason Big Boy let me wake before the rest of you and he must have been keeping you under. I'd just figured it out and was about to give you an injection when Tutsie started complaining about going to the head."

"You were just going to shove it up me without even waking me up?"

"Of course. Your ass is mine you know."

"I know, and so is everything else on me, but that would be so rude of you to just shove it up a poor girl while she was still asleep."

"I know, but I can tell you'd love it."

"How? How can you tell?"

"Mostly because the thought of it has you so wound up you're dripping onto my balls right now," I said, and put my hand over her pussy to make my point. What the hell, I slid a couple of fingers up her to be sure.

Jaycee sighed and relaxed back against me while I played, and then I stood with her in my arms and carried her to the bed laying her out along one edge.

"Remember, you're asleep," I said, whispering as I climbed between her legs and put it up her all the way.

She was able to stay still for about five long strokes before she wrapped her legs around me and started fucking back.

"Fuck me harder you sneaky bastard, fuck me harder."

After we went off together I sagged down on her to rest. Usually I tried to roll off at times like these, but I already knew Jaycee liked it so I stayed where I was.

Finally I did get off and let Jaycee up. She made sure to give me a serious kiss before she left and then luckily Delphine came within range and decided she needed to lick my balls and shrinking dick a little to tidy things up.

After she was done I got out of bed again and dressed for the day, putting a holster on each side of my web belt this morning. I intended to meet the day in two gun Pete style.

"Daddy. Daddy, we no in castle this morning," Meka said, clearly excited as she and Elisa came running in.

"Where are we then?"

"We don't know, but the trees outside are different and we're up on the side of a hill," Elisa said, just as excited.

"It must be someplace new," I said.

"Yes. New place, but harder here. Head chopper not come."

"I guess I'll have to make sure to only shoot people in the chest then. I don't want to ruin any of your scalps by shooting their heads."

"See. I tell you," Meka said, to Elisa.

"Thank you Daddy. Meka said she'd show me how to scalp the next one you killed," Elisa said, and damned if both of them didn't giggle over the thought. I noticed Elisa was dressed in a Caddo Indian getup today to match Meka's.

"You might get plenty of practice too. I'm sure we'll find a Spanish Governor or a Priest with lovely hair. But let's go see about breakfast now."

Tutsie led the way toward the dining room. We could always count on him to find it no matter where we woke up and he didn't take a false step this time either. The room matched the one from our multi-level castle in France and thank Big Boy the cooking and serving staff had come along with us.

Francine met us at the door and showed us in and I'd just lifted Tutsie into his custom made highstool when beautiful young women started filling Texaco cups with coffee, while Tutsie's personal server put a few treats in his dish and poured him a saucer of cream.

My harem started filing in about then and they had plenty of time for some affectionate teasing before the food arrived. Their outfits this morning were specifically selected to arouse me and they were doing a good job from the start. They were in T-shirts again, but the shorts were nowhere to be seen. Several of them were forced to bend over with their asses pointed my way too, for some reason and I saw their panties must be with the shorts, because none of them were wearing any.

"None of them wear panties. Must want you to make them pant and moan," Meka said.

"Yes, and my mother is just like the rest. She's turning into a shameless strumpet. Funny, she always warned me about it."

"Do you two think I should spank them?"

"It won't help. They have you out numbered, just make them scream good and maybe they can act better tomorrow," Elisa said.

"Yes, make them scream. Do it to Francine and servers too. They work hard. Need reward," Meka said.

As much as I liked the thoughts they were putting forth, and as wise as I thought their recommendations were, there were other fishes I needed to fry today. When breakfast was finally over I backed away from my high class feed trough and headed for the door. Of course I had to delay a few minutes while I kissed all the women and petted every ass in range, including the servers.

Percy was waiting for me just outside the door.

"Percy, you are now the Governor of this island and you should have breakfast with me while I'm here. Try to make it by tomorrow. Meanwhile, do you have a head military man?"

"Yes, I've selected Fabian. He is a young soldier from Searlus's group, but he is fully with us now and he's also become an excellent shot."

"That should be fine. Have you checked to see if we have any mobile equipment?"

"We do in fact. I was informed we had two of the Abrams cannon machines and three of the personnel carriers such as Jaycee used to such advantage during the attack from the King's army."

"That should be plenty of support. How long before we can get men in them and head for the Governor's mansion?"

"We are ready now John. The drivers have been shown maps and are already trained to operate the vehicles. I'll admit I'm a little excited."

"It won't hurt you a bit. Shall we go?" I asked.

Percy led me to an outer door which opened onto a large lot where all the armor was parked. He and I entered an APC which was already loaded with six riflemen in BDUs from my time. I noticed they even had body armor and were all carrying M4s with grenade launchers attached.

The trip to the Governor's place was only a couple of miles and as we left my new digs I saw it was like a giant Spanish Hacienda. The road we were taking was also remarkably smooth and I could tell Big Boy had been hard at work during the night.

Apparently news of our arrival preceded us. The Governor's mansion was surrounded by a thick wall and the front gate was closing as we rolled up. We had radio communications with the Abrams so I asked them to blow the gateposts away.

It must have been a difficult proposition, but shortly the tanked backed a little way up a small hill to improve the angle for it's gun and it sent a round into the base of the two gatepost structures. They were destroyed and the gate fell flat so we rolled into the area.

We unloaded and I'm sure we didn't look so dangerous at first since there were only eighteen troops. The two hundred or so men the Governor had for his personal protection tried to shuffle into some sort of order then. They'd been surprised by our knock on the gate and had mostly scattered.

The most polite thing I could say about them was they were a sorry lot. Most of them didn't even have proper uniforms and it was clear they weren't a heroic force. I turned to our troops.

"Flash bangs only. Each of you scatter five around and we'll see where to go from there," I said, and luckily I got my earplugs in place before they began the celebration.

The Governor's troops which weren't rendered unconscious fled, almost all of them discarding their weapons as they left. The rest abandoned their post as soon as they came to their senses. Percy and I walked to the front door then and knocked.

Percy took care of the details when a sort of butler opened the door.

"We will be destroying this building and killing everyone in it unless the Governor comes forward within five minutes. I urge you to put propriety aside and drag his lazy ass out unless the rest of you would like to die with him," Percy said, and apparently the butler didn't think much of the Governor anyway.

Three minutes later the Governor and two Spanish army officers were ejected from the door. They'd all been disarmed and slightly bruised up in the process. They seemed determined to carry on as if their position meant something to me, so I shot them.

A few minutes later the rest of my forces arrived, all mounted on warhorses, but wearing BDUs and body armor and carrying M4s with launchers attached. Hell, Percy had things well in hand so I turned them over to him.

He sent them toward town with orders to do their best not to harm civilians and to capture any military people who didn't make pest of themselves. I could live with that. One of the men had also brought Joe Bob along so I mounted and headed back to the house. I was only a little surprised when six of the troops followed me home, and I assumed they were a sort of bodyguard detachment.

Of course I barely had time to make it to my study and let Francine pour me a mug of coffee before the women trouped in. Jaycee gave me a dressing down as soon as I took the first sip.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing? I know damn well I heard an Abrams firing and several grenades. What are you doing running around in a firefight wearing blue jeans and a cowboy shirt. You didn't even have a helmet did you?" she asked, and she was not teasing.

"No, but I didn't really get in on much of the action," I said, and I knew it sounded lame.

"I've got news for you. You're not getting any more coffee, cigars, brandy, or food until you get into your BDUs and body armor. Combat boots too, no pull ons until the island is secure. Now, get with it soldier and meet us in the command center when you're properly dressed," Jaycee said, and that damned Tutsie gave me a couple of barks for good measure.

I was resigned to my fate and probably another ass chewing when I made it to the command center until Francine came in.

"Ms Jaycee sent me to help you dress," she said.

"You do realize that means you'll have to undress to do it properly don't you?"

"I was hoping, especially since she asked me to check carefully to make sure your dick wasn't injured in the fighting this morning. She warned me to check it out thoroughly," Francine said, smiling her widest.

I guess Jaycee wasn't really very mad at me after all.


-------
Incomplete and Inactive
-------
Posted:  2007-01-03
Last Modified: 2009-01-03 / 06:18:13 pm
-------
http://storiesonline.net/
-------