Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 18:28:40 -0400
From: Charles Baudot <cbaudot@juno.com>
Subject: Question of Time Part 2

"A QUESTION OF TIME"
 PART-2
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 13    \|/ \|/

Jason, Ryan and myself, got back to the work shed without
incident.  I took the map out of the gym bag to look at
where the kid's fathers were.

"Ryan," I said.  "What is P.I.R.?  Do you know?"

"I think I heard once," he said pointing.  "It's something
to do with your head."

Something to do with your head...head...head.

"You mean psychiatric something or other?"

"Yeah, Psychiatric Institute...something, something," he
said.

I looked on the paper where I had written the data.

"P.I.R.--  4314 Crutchfield Street," I had written.  Jason 
opened the map and brought his lantern closer.  I began to 
study the map to get familiar with it and find Crutchfield 
Street.  The city had not changed much in general shape, but 
it had stretched out more in 2090.  The county line was much 
further out than it was in 1990.  Tomorrow, I would assume 
my role as a "Teacher", and boldly access public 
transportation to Crutchfield Street and P.I.R.  I needed to 
check out the lay of the land, so I could start Jason's,
Ryan's, and Shaun's respective fathers in the direction of
freedom.  For now, I had to think of a lie to tell the 
security at P.I.R. so I could see the kid's fathers and look 
around.

Ryan broke my train of thought, when he started to take off
his clothes.  I looked up at him with a questioning look,
and could see his angelic face lit by the weak fluorescent 
glow of Jason's lantern.

"Want to join me, Charles?"  He said.  "I'm a little dirty."

He didn't have to ask that twice.  Jason stood up and took 
his lantern with him.  He walked over to the platform, sat 
down, smiled at me, and turned the lamp off.  I removed my 
clothes and walked with naked Ryan outside to the water 
hole.

Ryan broke away from me, briefly, and I heard the noise of 
the zipper on the gym bag.  I turned and looked around.  I 
could sense Ryan moving around and then come toward me.  He 
reached out and touched me on the arm.  I stopped, took his 
forearm and found his hand. I placed his hand in mine and 
squeezed gently.

"Hello, my friend," I said.  "What's going on?"

Ryan didn't say anything.  He just pulled gently on me in 
the direction of the water hole.

When we got to the rim of the water hole, it was still warm 
from the heat of the day and the sky was overcast.  There 
was some residual light from the town reflecting off the low 
hanging clouds.  I could see the outline of the hole 
clearly.  I heard Ryan drop something on the ground beside 
him.  I looked around to see a large towel and a container 
of body lotion.  I knew what Ryan had in mind, but I didn't 
say anything.  This was going to be his surprise for me.  I 
didn't want to spoil it.  Ryan tugged on my hand and headed 
down the bank of the water hole.  I followed, and we went 
into the water, naked Ryan and me.

I released my hand from Ryan's and began to swim around.
Ryan dove under the water and playfully started to pick at
me, just wanting to start something so I would stop and try 
to retaliate and pay attention to him.  Ryan got too close, 
so I lashed out and gave him a quick goose in his little 
butt.  I heard him squeal and come quickly to the surface.

"HEY!"  He said.

I stopped swimming and reached out with my legs to touch 
bottom.  Ryan was in front of me.

"Hey, what?" I said.

Ryan laughed and splashed water in my face.  He then dove 
under the water, forced himself through my legs and came up 
behind me.  This time, he grabbed me around the waist and 
held tight.

"Think you got me, huh," I said as I splashed water behind 
me, trying to get back at him.

Ryan had turned his head to the side and buried it in the 
small of my back.  He relaxed his bear grip on me and moved 
his right hand down my abdomen until he found my hard penis.  


Ryan explored my member with tenderness, every inch.  He 
pulled and pushed it around.  He explored the tip more,  
trying to figure the difference between my cut, and his 
un-cut, member.

"Jason told me this was normal."  Ryan said as he gently 
squeezed my hard penis.

"What else did he tell you?" I said.

"He told me you could help me understand," Ryan said.  " He 
told me how you helped him understand."

I had expected this situation, on the one hand, yet I hadn't 
on the other.  Ryan had been procuring most of the supplies.  


He was the one that discovered the space behind the walls.  
How was it that he was so "street wise", yet deficient in 
his knowledge of the basics of life?

"Well," I said.  "I can certainly do that for you Ryan."

I turned myself around to face him.  I reached down, touched 
my hand to his chin and tilted his head back.  In the eerie 
light reflecting from the low clouds, I looked into his 
eyes, leaned down and kissed him on the lips.

"Let's get out of the water, Charles," Ryan said.  "I've got 
a towel that we can lie on."

I thought I would work with Ryan a little different than I
did with Jason.  The end result would be the same.  Ryan
would experience the release of his Life Force from his
little penis.  This time, it would be under our control, and 
not a nocturnal emission.

We got to edge of the water hole and Ryan spread a large 
towel on the ground.  We sat down beside each other, naked 
as jay birds, and kissed again.

"Ready to begin, Ryan?" I said.

"Yes," he said.  "How do you want me?"

I asked him to hand me the container of body lotion so I 
could start.  I took it and spread lotion across my stomach, 
down my abdomen, and on all parts of my genitals.

"Lie back flat on your back, Ryan," I said.  "Then follow my
lead."

Ryan did as he was told, and I spread the lotion on him,
just as I did to myself.  When I got to his little hard
penis, I was slow and methodical.  I gently applied the 
lotion along his un-cut shaft.  I moved the foreskin up and 
down across the little head of his penis.  Ryan's  breathing 
rhythm began to change in depth.  I could tell he was ready, 
so I didn't want to continue stroking like that.  I wanted 
this to be more meaningful for him.

"Ryan," I said.  "Lie down on top of me, front to front.  
Place your legs on either side of mine."

When he did as I asked, I maneuvered my hard penis, just 
below his scrotum and put it between his legs at the lower 
end of his crevasse.  His little hard penis was flat against 
my abdomen.  I brought my arms around him and held him 
tight, then I kissed him.

"Now what?"  Ryan said.

I took some more lotion and spread it around Ryan's, little,
cute, butt.  I didn't miss one square inch.  Then I put the
container of lotion down.  My right hand was on his little
hiney.  I lowered my middle finger down into Ryan's deep 
crevasse and rested the tip on the edge of his anus.  With 
one single touch, I felt the walls of Ryan's anus open up to 
accept my finger.  I applied a slight pressure, and half the 
length of my finger disappeared into Ryan's warm and  
waiting, anal cavity.

Ryan jumped as his muscles tensed in a reaction to the 
intrusion of his rectum, but in a few seconds, he relaxed 
and enjoyed the pleasurable feeling.  I kissed him again.  
He was facing me, with his head lying on my left shoulder.  
I hooked his right arm under his armpit with my left 
forearm.  I began to gyrate my hips, up and down, forcing my 
hard penis, up and down between Ryan's legs where they 
joined at his little, cute, hiney, and barely rubbing
the back of his scrotum.  This motion caused Ryan to slide 
his hard shaft around on my slippery abdomen and stomach.  I
assisted him by pulling slightly up on his armpit.  Upon 
each upward stroke, the grip I had on his butt aided me in 
keeping the pressure on his little shaft, located between my 
stomach and his abdomen.  I moved my finger slightly, in and 
out, of Ryan's anal cavity to heighten the sensation.  His 
breathing began to get shallow.  The walls of his anus 
gripped my finger like a Chinese Finger Puzzle.  His legs 
squeezed my hard shaft to a point where it was a real effort 
to slide it up and down between them.  Ryan's breathing was 
playing on every nerve I had.  I could feel the waves of 
extacy coming over me.  One or two more upward strokes
would send my Life Force out into the warm night air.  I 
felt Ryan's little, hard, shaft, pressed between us, pulse 
ferociously with his young, sweet, warm, Life Force, onto my 
stomach five times.  Immediately following Ryan's first 
crescendo, my Life Force sprayed out in unison.

Our respective breathing pattern became normal and relaxed.
I slipped Ryan off to one side, found his lips with mine and 
kissed him hard.  I inched my tongue through until it was
inside his oral cavity.  Our tongue's met, then Ryan's 
rolled back and allowed me to explore.  I returned my tongue 
into my mouth with force.  Ryan was pushing it back with his 
tongue to explore me.  We laid there, naked on the towel, in 
each others arms, in the warm night air, and under the eerie 
light reflecting off the low hanging clouds, kissing 
passionately.

I broke the spell to come up for air, so to speak.  I 
removed my finger from Ryan's little hiney hole and said,

"Let's go wash off and then get some sleep.  We can all talk 
about this tomorrow.  Plus I need to get over to P.I.R.  
I've been here too long.  We need to start something and get 
out of here."

Ryan shook his head in agreement, so we got up off the towel 
and went back down into the water, bringing the towel with
us.  He held on to me like we were glued together.  I gently 
maneuvered him around so that I could wash him in all areas
of concern, then I washed myself.  Without saying a word, I 
took Ryan's hand and led him up the bank of the water hole.  
We walked, arm in arm, back to the work shed.  Ryan had put 
some towels just inside the door for us to dry off.  After 
we dried, Jason turned his lantern on to guide us back to 
the platform to sleep.  Oh sweet Jason, oh sweet Ryan, I 
love you both.  Tomorrow night, I will introduce you
to finger cots.

"Good night, my friends," I said as I crawled naked into my
sleeping bag.  "Sweet dreams."

Jason and Ryan were beaming from ear to ear.

"Good night," they said in unison.

Jason reached over and turned the lantern off.  Ryan 
scrambled into his sleeping bag.  I closed my eyes.  I knew
I was going to have sweet dreams with Jason and Ryan at my 
side.


\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 14     \|/ \|/


Jason woke me with a kiss.  It was daylight, early in the 
morning.  The sun was bright and strong through the East end 
of the work shed.  I stretched and groaned, and finally 
looked over at Jason and said a pleasant "good morning".  He 
reached out and squeezed my hand, repeating the greeting.  I 
wondered about Ryan, and whether I should wake him up now or 
not.  I decided against it, for he had a big night last 
night, emotionally.  I'll let him sleep a while longer.  
Naked Jason got out of his sleeping bag and started toward 
the door.

"Where ya going, buddy?"  I asked.

"I thought I'd clean up a little," Jason said.

"Well let's not take too many chances,"  I said.  "There are 
too many people out in the morning.  You may be seen."

I felt the large towel that Ryan and I used.  It was still 
wet with enough water to freshen one up.

"Come back over here, Jason," I said.  "It's enough water in 
this to wash a whole army."

Jason thought about the situation a bit, and came over to 
me.  I got out of my sleeping bag so I could wipe the damp 
towel all over him including the special areas of concern.  
Then I tilted his head back and kissed him.

"Feel better?"  I asked.

Jason smiled and nodded in the affirmative.  Then he dug
down in his gym bag and brought out clean underwear to put 
on, and a clean uniform.

Ryan had been sleeping on his stomach and begun to stir.  I 
placed my hand on his little butt through the sleeping bag 
material and  massaged it.  I greeted him with a "good 
afternoon, sleepy head."

Ryan turned himself onto one elbow, spun his head around to 
search out Jason, then look at me cross-eyed.

"Huh," He said.  "Wha...IT'S MORNING, YOU DINGY."

Damn, I didn't think he had it in him.  I just laughed at 
him, and after a few seconds, he woke up fully and laughed 
at the little trick I played on him.

Jason looked at Ryan and said, teasing,

"It is afternoon, it is, it is."

Ryan just looked at Jason and stuck his tongue out at him, 
then laughed again.  I would have said the big F.U. phrase, 
but thank goodness these kids hadn't learned that yet.

Naked Ryan got out of his sleeping bag and went into Jason's 
gym bag and pulled out fresh underwear.  He had stored his 
in Jason bag so we could use his to get things at the 
school/orphanage.  He put the underwear on, plus a clean 
uniform.  I enjoyed watching these two get dressed.  I guess 
it was my turn, next.  I looked around and found that I was
the only person naked.  I searched in Jason's gym bag for 
some larger size underwear and the silver colored uniform.  
I got dressed and sat down to plan the day.


\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 15     \|/ \|/


The uniform is not very convenient.  It has no pockets and
is too form fitting for my taste.  I wished I had my trusty
pocket knife with me, maybe as a crutch to reinforce my
tenacity.  I don't know, but I get attached to small
personal items and feel naked without them.  We've all been
through that.  I went toward the door to leave and both
Jason and Ryan hugged me and slapped me on the butt cheeks, 
saying.

"Good luck."

"Remember, flag down the "RED" Magnecraft we talked about."  
Jason said.  "They won't check your I.D. until they get in 
later in the day.  They just read it and turn it in later.  
The others check you faster."

I followed the path laid out by Ryan to a numbered street,
34Th. Street.  It dead ended at the back of the school.  I
followed it for about a hundred feet until I came to a 
corner, adjacent to a major thoroughfare.  A few men were 
standing on the North-West corner talking among themselves.  
As I approached, they looked at me in a peculiar way.  I 
returned
their stare, nodded my head in typical Southern fashion, and
said hello.  They turned away from me as if I was
yesterday's newspaper.

"Assholes," I thought. "Bunch of frustrated old farts."

I didn't know how to take the treatment and it made me a 
little paranoid.  I could just feel every scanner in the 
area pointing at me.  About that time, I saw a red vehicle 
moving along the major road.  It had a little lighted sign 
mounted to the roof, that read "Public Conveyance."  I 
raised my arm in sight of the driver and he pulled over to 
the curb.  I could hear the disgruntled old farts behind me,
mumbling under their breath in reference to my action.

There was no noise to be heard from this vehicle.  There 
were no wheels.  Other than that fact, it looked to be about 
the size of a small compact car of the 1990's and was solid 
red in color.  Not one speck of chrome could be seen on it.  
The body did not seem to be metallic.  In fact, it wasn't.  
The driver opened the door of this hovering vehicle for me, 
and I touched the top of the vehicle as I got in.  Plastic.  
Yes, plastic.  How did I know this?  Hmmm.

"Yer wrist, mac," said the driver.

"What? Huh? Oh," I said not paying attention. "Here."

The driver put a light pen device to my wrist at the 
implanted marking and drew the pen across the lines.  I 
heard a few clicking sounds and a small "beep" from behind
the control panel attached to the vehicle.  There was the 
sound of two more beeps with a different pitch from the
first one, and the driver pulled out into a line of traffic 
moving in the same direction.  I figured that was a signal 
of acknowledgement.

"Where to Mac?" the driver said.

I looked at him, square in the eye, and almost laughed in 
his face.  He had the features of a real, live, walking, 
talking, George Jetson.

"4314 Crutchfield Street," (and I almost said George) "that 
P.I.R. place over there."

"Yes sir," he said.

Well I got by that computer check of my number.  How many 
more could I get by with, without ringing every bell in 
town?

The driver didn't say much other than a few words about the
performance of his vehicle.  I looked around at the interior 
of it and did not come to any conclusion.  The general 
layout was still the same as most vehicles have always been.  


It had a steering mechanism, a speed indicator, some foot 
controls, and some kind of visible tabulating device, I 
assumed to be the "meter" that a taxi would use.  There was 
a plastic panel with the familiar scan lines on it mounted 
next to the "meter".  Next to that, was a photograph of the 
driver, and under it, his name. "Frederick Royal", I saw as
I glanced at the name.

"Well, Fred," I said, trying to start something up.  "How 
things been going for ya?"

"Fine, fine, friend," Fred said.  "Couldn't be better.  I'll 
be getting a new young-un soon."

"Oh...when's your wife due?"  I said

I realized I've said too much already.

"Wife?  HA! You must have come across one of them old books 
that missed the great fire.  I hear tell, that a few of 'em 
are still around."

I went along with the flow of the conversation, but rather 
than have ole' Fred start thinking and asking questions, or 
talking all over town, I laid the topic of "wife" off, as 
something my grandfather used to talk about.

"He's in that building by where I picked you up at," Fred 
said.

It had to be a "he".  I haven't seen any "she" yet.  I went 
on to make small talk about the fact that I teach in the 
school there, and that I have disciplinary problems with two
of my students, so I was going to see their father's at the 
P.I.R.  I didn't elude to the fact, whether they worked 
there, or were patients there.  The whole thing was a lie,
but I figured, if I spread more cover and acted like a 
regular "joe" and not like an "asshole", then some
things would go a lot smoother.  I don't know why I was 
going to all the trouble.  Fred was going to turn in his 
scans for the day when he got off.  I know that my scan 
would prove to be out of sequence.  That would ring bells.  
Maybe yes, maybe no.  I'll have to chance it.

The trip took about ten minutes, judging from the timer I 
was watching on his control panel.  Along the way, 
periodically, I would hear the small "beep" that resembled 
the pitch of the first one I had heard earlier.  I guessed 
that was the registration indicator for each half-mile or 
whatever.

"Crutchfield Street up ahead, Mac," Fred said.  "What was 
it, 4314?"

I gave him a one word answer, and within the minute, I was 
in front of the P.I.R. building.  Without a word from
Fred, the passenger door opened for me.

"Ok, Mac," Fred said.  "Here yer are."

"Thanks, Fred," I said in a Barney Rubble tone of voice, 
getting out of the vehicle and chuckling to myself.  I had 
to make light of each situation as it came to me.  
Otherwise, I couldn't keep my  sanity.

"Hey! Mac! Your wrist.

"Oh, sorry about that Fred," I said extending my left arm 
into the vehicle.

He scanned my wrist with the light pen again, wished me a 
good day, and reached over to pull the door shut.  Then he 
moved off, leaving me standing there in the roadway with my
thumb up my ass, so to speak.  What next "Mac?"

What next?  First thing, was to step onto the sidewalk from 
out of the middle of the street.  I walked into the building 
and into a lobby.  There was a long desk, behind which sat 
two men in orange colored uniforms.  These two had orange 
Garrison Caps on their heads with some kind of insignia on 
each side.  I don't know if it was to represent the fact 
that they worked for P.I.R., or it was a security company, 
but the insignia was in the shape of a star.  I
guess it was security.

The two orange colored castrated robots looked at me in a 
peculiar manner, as if to say "what the hell are you 
bothering me for?" I ignored the look and thought it typical 
of this type of employee.

"Yes, may we help you?" One of the orange suits said, 
getting up and walking toward me.

"Yes," I said.  "I represent Henry School and Orphanage.  I 
am here to see a mister Mitchell and a mister Turner.

"Why do you want to see them for?"  Said the other orange 
suit from behind the desk.

Hey, wow...I like his command of the English language.  
Fucking dumb ass, who asked you?

The standing orange suit looked down at a file box on the 
desk opened the top and flipped through the cards contained 
inside.

"They are patients here," he said.  "Sometimes patients are
taking medication.  We can't just let you see them without 
their doctor's say so."

I looked beyond the man talking and observed the other 
orange suit moving controls on a panel next to the desk.  I 
heard the whir of motors and gears behind me.  I knew that a 
scanner was being aimed at my rear left shoulder where the 
I.D. lines were.  Then I looked back at the speaker and 
regained eye contact.

"Ok," I said.  "Is their doctor here today?"

I needed to keep both of these bozos busy and keep their 
mind (mind?) off of checking me out.

The standing orange suit motioned with his hand toward the 
other one, and said,

"Your name, Citizen?

As I answered the question, the other orange suit pushed two 
buttons on another panel.  He stared at it until a large red 
light lit, then turned to me and said,

"Doctor Powers will be here in a moment.  Just stand there 
for a moment."

The seated orange suit was waiving his hands and cursing to
himself.  Then he started to push buttons like a mad man on 
a control panel.  The whirring sound behind me, increased 
with intensity and frequency.  So did the sound from the 
seated orange suit.  He was obviously having trouble with 
the scanning device.  Had I escaped detection, or was it 
delayed?

"That piece of trash goes on the blink about four times a 
week," said the still standing orange suit.  "What do you do 
at this school, now you say?"

"I didn't say," I said.  "I teach their son's and I am
having disciplinary problems with them.  I need to know how 
to deal with them, one on one."

"Fuck this," he said.  "You look like who you say you are.
Besides, ......."

At that same instant, the seated orange suit let out a 
string of curse words, some I'd heard, and some not.  I 
heard the familiar sound of an electrical short circuit 
(I've had enough of those in my life)  and grinding gears, 
behind me.  Then there was a small exploding sound.  I 
turned around and sought the source of the sound.  There, 
just above and to the right, was a scanning device in 
flames.



                    "A QUESTION OF TIME"
                         CONTINUED
                       CHAPTERS 16-18
                    --------------------


\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 16     \|/ \|/


"Citizen... era ah Baw, uh, Dot," I heard from behind me.

Chills rang out all over my body.  That's the worst 
slaughter of my name I've heard, yet.  I shook this little 
culture shock to my nerves off, turned around, and corrected 
the pronunciation.

"Citizen," huh?  Ryan hadn't told me how to greet one 
another.  I wasn't even sure, now if the shaking of hands, 
was customary.  I decided to play it by ear.

I obtained eye contact with a rotund man dressed in a red
suit/uniform.  This is too stupid to be happening.  A red 
suit on a rotund man?  All I needed was the white beard and 
jingle bells.  Give me a break!

"I'm Doctor Powers," he said standing his ground.  "What can 
I do for you?"

He didn't extend a hand, and neither did I.

I went into the scenario with him, as I did the orange 
suits.  I ended with,

"May I see them, now please?"

Everyone here seemed to be robotic, so matter of fact, as if 
they were all sufferers of Tunnel Vision.  Well I can play 
that game, too.  No more pleasantries like "please" and 
"thank you."  Bing, bing, bing, one, two, three.  Give me, 
now, quickly, chop-chop.  It's my turn to be the ass hole.

Doctor Powers started to read me the riot act about the do's
and don'ts of P.I.R., and that patients under medication 
were not reliable, blah, blah, blah, etc.  I've never heard 
such a long line of bullshit.  I re-stated my position and 
was, more or less, emphatic that the doctor check his 
records to see just how much medication I would have to deal 
with, in talking with the elder Mitchell and Turner.  Damn,
I was beginning to like this act of coming on as the 
"heavy".  I hoped that I wasn't pushing my luck just a 
little too much.  The roley-poley, Doctor Powers, looked at
me hard, up and down.  Then he said, changing the pitch of 
his voice from normal to below normal and trailing off,

"This way, Citizen."

I could tell that the good doctor was not happy about the 
task.  Ha! He'll get over it.

As we walked along a hallway toward Jason's and Ryan's 
father's room, Doctor Powers began to engage in small talk 
about something that had happened with the security system.  
My feeling was, that he was trying to cover up for his 
abrasive disposition earlier.  Quite frankly, I didn't give 
a damn about his problems.  On top of that, he spoke as if
he had no education at all.  From my observation, I don't 
know how he got Doctor attached to his name.  I tuned him 
out and began to observe more scanning and stun beam devices 
along the hallway.  I took mental note as to their location.

Robert Mitchell and Nelson Turner were roommates.  They were 
in a room that resembled a dormitory room at a college.  Two 
beds, two book cases, two closet, the whole nine yards.  
Each appeared to be about in their mid thirties.  They were 
both lying down on their beds, in their bright green 
uniforms, propped up and talking to one another when the 
doctor and I stepped in.  Doctor Powers greeted them 
pleasantly (a surprise to me) and explained my presence.  
Then he turned to me saying,

"Do you want me to stay here while you talk, just in 
case..."

I cut him off sharply.  Hell no, I didn't want this dork 
privy to my situation.

"No Doctor," I said. "I don't foresee any trouble."

I knew there would be monitors all over the room, anyway.  I
couldn't do anything there.  I needed to get them outside in 
the open, away from the sensors.

"It's such a beautiful day outside, why don't I walk around 
in the fresh air with them and talk?

The doctor twisted and turned on his feet, then looked at 
me, then looked at the two occupants of the room, then 
looked back at me.

"You are, who you say you are, Citizen Baudot?

"YES!" Who the hell else would I be?"

"Ok, ok, go," he said.  "I'll send security for you when I 
need for them to come in."

The doctor left to go back up the hall, and I watched him 
until he was out of sight.  I introduced myself again and 
assured them I was here to help their kids.  I made up a 
story on the fly, for the benefit of any hidden microphones, 
while I was in the room.  I told them about how Jason and 
Ryan were disruptive in class, etc.  Both of them had a 
strange look on their face.  Did I confuse them, talking 
about their son's?  They seemed to accept it, so I 
continued.  I wonder if that part of their life had been 
somehow erased from their memory?  They may only be slightly 
aware that they had son's, now.  Even then it must not have 
been too clear.

"How about taking a walk with me in the sunshine and fresh 
air, "Citizens?"  I said pointing out the window.

Both Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Turner agreed.  I say mister, 
because they are due the respect.  Although, they are a bit 
younger than I, they have had kids and are fathers.

We walked out of a door that was about twenty feet down the 
hall.  It led to a grass covered courtyard with stone 
benches around its'perimeter.  We struck out for a bench 
somewhere in the middle of the area.  As we walked, I 
sounded the guys out.  I needed to find out if they were 
flakes, as their records indicated, or were they faking it.  
I wanted to believe the latter.  I thought I would try a 
little word association on them.  I started talking about 
the scanning system.  They didn't respond much.  The stun 
beams triggered a response.  Did they know why they were 
here at P.I.R.?  They tried to start a revolution in 2086  
With that response, I knew I had an in with them.

"Tell me about it," I said.

Jason's and Ryan's father went into the finite detail with
dates and times.  By the time Jason and Ryan were six years 
old, they had stockpiled books that had been marked for 
burning.  These books told of war and revolution, guns and 
weaponry, military strategy, and these books were old.  
Nelson's and Robert's main occupation, at that time, was 
contracting.  They were told to go into old buildings and 
prepare them for renovation or destruction.  They had gone 
into several houses in the southern area of the city to 
prepare them for demolition, and began to look to be sure 
the house was completely empty.  In the attic of some of 
these house,  they found the books.  The books had been 
ordered for destruction over fifty years prior. They took 
the books and hid them.  They had access to explosives, they 
wanted to take their history back, and so, the rest was 
history.

"How did you get caught?"  I asked.

"We planted explosives in an official building," Nelson 
said.  "One of the men we had with us, was scanned by a
scanner we didn't detect.  They caught him and forced him to 
talk, then they killed him.  That was in 2084.  Two years 
later, someone we lived with in our quarters, were moved 
out, and we were arrested.  We've been here ever since.

"Certainly," I said, "they keep you under medication so you 
won't try this again, don't they?

"Yes, sometimes," Robert said, "but most of it is in pill 
form, so we palm them.  Then we pretend to be under the 
influence"

It was too late.  Some of the drugs got through to the 
frontal lobe, I believe.  Nelson was too vague about 
"someone we lived with."  Jason and Ryan were just fading 
memories.  I could see where Ryan got his tenacity, however 
from this duo.

"Have you ever thought about walking out here one day, and 
keep on going?"

Nelson and Robert just looked at one another, then back at 
me.  Hmmm.

"What happened to your wives?" I asked.

"Wives?" I don't understand.

Shit...they had kids.  They should know what a wife is.

"The woman that bore your children," I said.

"He must be talking about that registration rule thing, 
Nelson,"  Robert said.

"Have you forgotten?" Nelson said looking at me.  Didn't you 
get your orders?

"Not yet," I said, following along.  "Orders for what?"

"The orphanage!" he said excitedly.  "The orphanage.  They 
select a group of men to become fathers.  You have to report 
for an operation.  Then you go home and wait.  Nine months 
later, they present you with a baby.

"Well, then there is a mother," I said.

"Yes, of course there is," Robert interjected.  That's the 
way it works, you know."

"Yes, yes," I said chuckling. "I was just testing you two.  
I wanted to see if you were under the influence.  So, you've 
had your time there, then?"

They could only reply with, after looking at each other,

"I think we have."

I lied about the little test and almost trapped myself, 
here.  However the ruse worked.  I got the information I 
needed.   Now was the time to plan.  Interesting.  The 2090 
civilization has a Surrogate Mother Program.  The 
"operation" took male sperm from the "draftees" and planted 
it into a selected "Breeders", but not before it is altered 
to produce males.  Maybe a few get through to become 
females, for Breeders.  Hmmm, no wonder these people knew
so little about the joys of sex or just plain fucking.  I 
wonder if they practiced the fine art of masturbation?  
Probably not.  What a shame, too?  Oh well, I had the 
feeling that would change.

"Nelson, Robert, look at me," I said.  Where are your 
friends that helped you four years ago?  Are they here in 
town?  Are they here at P.I.R.?  Are they dead?

"Two are dead, Nelson said, "and another is here, and then 
there's uh, Russell...Russell..."

"Winner," Robert said.  "Russell's downtown at the scanner 
place, er..ah...Mountcastle Main.  He never got caught. Our 
friend died before he could tell them about Russ.  I'm glad 
too.  He is so young.  He deserved a chance."

I had over stayed my welcome here.  When I had walked down 
the hall with Doctor Powers, I felt that the independent 
scanners along the way, were working.  Feeding their signal 
to some central computer somewhere.  Then again, maybe not.  
I hope they were tied to the master control at orange suit's 
desk, and that, in a fit of anger, Orange Suit shut the 
whole system down to call maintenance.

"Hang tight, Robert.  Hang tight, Nelson,"  I said, putting 
my arms on their shoulders.  "Get to your friend, here.  Do 
whatever you have to do and sober him up.  We all have to 
have another meeting like this one, out here, on the grass."

Then I followed with a wink, and,

"Understand?"

I saw a spark of high spiritedness in their eyes.  My only 
hope is that I didn't tip my hand too soon.  For all I know, 
Nelson and Robert were castrated, spying, robots like the 
others.

Robert observed an orange suit moving in our direction.  
Then he sounded the alarm through clenched teeth to us.  
Robert pretended not to see Orange Suit and started to laugh 
and slap me on the shoulder as if I had told him dirty joke.  

Nelson followed his lead.  By that time, Orange Suit was in 
ear shot of us, and was not wise to the fact that Robert had 
made him, and quickly changed the conversation.  Hmmm.  I 
think Nelson and Robert will succeed with my endeavor to 
free this 2090 world from the paranoia I have seen so far.
They may not be the Castrated Robots I thought them to be.

Orange Suit didn't have to say anything.  He motioned with 
his arm for us to follow.  Nelson and Robert pivoted on 
their heels and began to march toward their room as if they 
had a banana up their ass, trying to poke fun at the orange 
suit's position in life.  I followed behind, but kept a 
straight face and walked as a professional person should.

"Ok Citizens," Orange Suit barked at them.  "Straighten up."

Turning to me, he said,

"Is your business finished here, Citizen?"

"I have a few last minute details to complete," I said, "and 
then I will return to the school.

"Ok, Citizen, Orange Suit said.  "I'll give you a short 
while longer with them in the room, but don't let me come
looking for you."

"Thank you, Citizen," I said, and thinking to myself "FUCK 
STICK!"

Orange Suit left us when we arrived back at the room.  I 
made a big production, for the benefit of the monitors, 
about how good Jason and Ryan were, and that everything will 
be ok after talking with Nelson and Robert.

"Let me show you something," Nelson said.  "I was looking at 
you for a long time while we were outside.  You resemble 
someone I've seen before in a photograph."

What the hell.  Had they been to a post office lately to 
look at the wanted posters?  What picture?

Nelson went over to his closet and pulled  a bound book down 
from a shelf.  The book was in the shape of a photograph 
album.  He laid it on the bed and started flipping pages,
then stopped about half way through and pointed to a 
picture.

"That's my Great Grandfather," he said pointing to a kid in 
a picture.

I moved closer to get a better look.... MY GOD!... It was a 
kid that looked like Jason.  There was another kid in the 
picture, and he looked like Ryan.  Both kids were standing, 
one on each side of an adult male who had his arm around 
both their shoulders.  After closer examination, that adult 
was a likeness of me, standing in front of my 1990 house.

"Who is this kid?" I said pointing.  "He looks like Ryan."

"It's my Great Grandfather," Robert interjected, but with a 
blank look on his face.

Did Ryan mean nothing to him?

"How old is this book?" I asked.

"Nelson's father had it around where they lived." Robert 
said.  "I've seen that same picture around where I lived, 
too.   Apparently, those two kids knew each other then, many 
years back."

"My father told me once, but I don't remember," Nelson said.  

"I  know it's at least a hundred years old."

I couldn't tell which one was more enthusiastic, Nelson or 
Robert.

"Who is this?" I said pointing to the likeness of myself.

"I'm not sure," Nelson said.  "My father said one time, that
he thought his grandfather was adopted.  Maybe that's who 
adopted him.  How about your's Robert?"

"I don't know if I ever knew," He said.

"How did you two meet?  I asked.  "Are you related?"

"We met on a job somewhere," Robert said.  "We both earned 
work units from Mountcastle, but I didn't know him and he 
didn't know me.  I don't think we are related.  His father 
and my father came from different states."

"Yes, but you were both born here, correct?" I said.

Both men nodded their head.  With the Surrogate Mother 
System, the possibility of these two being related, was 
high.  Jason and Ryan could even be brothers, and not even 
know it.

"Well I had better leave," I said for the benefit of the
hidden microphones.  "I'll be back in touch to give you a 
progress report on Jason and Ryan.  Thanks for your time."

I gave them the thumbs up sign, turned and left the room.  I 
went back toward the lobby and the orange suits.  There was 
a new set of orange suits at the desk.  As I walked by, one 
of them turned and ask me to stop for a minute.

Your name, Citizen," he said.

What the hell was this?  Did I have to do this all over 
again?  Maybe they got their scanner fixed.  My reaction was 
so violent to my nerves, that my colon filled up with gas, 
which I expelled out between the cheeks of my butt.  Thank 
goodness no one was behind me.  I would have blasted them 
with a green cloud.

"Baudot," I said.  "What's the problem?"

"Doctor Powers wants to talk with you," he said.

Whew.  The scanners were still down.  I wonder what Doctor 
Fat Ass wanted with me?

"Citizen Baudot?" Doctor Powers said.  "How did your session 
go?"

"It went very well, Doctor," I said.  "I need to follow up 
with them, so I can give them a progress report on their 
son's.  I want to come back again.  Do I have your  
permission?

"Yes," he said.  "I'll clear it with security here.  Next 
time you are here, just walk back to their room."

One of the orange suits overheard the conversation and
interjected,

"Your wrist, Citizen.  We will put this into our central 
records when the scanners are repaired."

Orange suit scanned my wrist with a portable type recording
device.  I was a little apprehensive about that, but I 
didn't want to make a scene.

"Thanks Citizens," I said as I turned toward the front door 
and outside.  I hope their central records didn't report 
downtown to Mountcastle.  If it did, I was up "Shit Creek 
without a paddle."

I got outside and walked out to the edge of the street.  I 
heard a noise like a high pitched buzzing sound.  The noise 
was two short burst.  I was startled, but I didn't think it 
was an alarm that sounded on me.  I looked toward the source 
of the sound and spotted a red vehicle moving toward me.  It 
pulled up in front of me and stopped.

"Well I'll be damn," I said in Barney Rubble tones.  "It's 
Fred.  Hi ya, Fred.  Going my way?"

Fred open the passenger door and I got in.  We went through 
the wrist scanning thing again and started with the small 
talk.

"You haven't been waiting for me all that time, have you 
Fred?" I asked.

"No, Fred said," but I knew that they weren't going to keep 
you, so I kept checking back.  You had to have a way back to 
the school.  Oh, by the way, I pick up my son in two days."

"Good for you, Fred," I said.  "I hope everything goes well 
for you."

"Give me your wrist again, Mac.  I'm so happy, I'm going to
cancel your I.D. in my machine here.  Your trip back to the 
school is on the house."

"Mighty kind of you, Fred, I said, "and the name's Charles."

"Ok, Charlie Boy, Fred said.  "Let's go."
-------------------------------



\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 17     \|/ \|/


"I'm back," I yelled as I walked through the old work shed 
door.  "Jason, Ryan, where are you?"

"Up here," Ryan said.

I looked up over my head in the direction of Ryan's voice.  
He and Jason were walking along the rafters and among the
supports.  How the hell did they get up there.  Better yet, 
why?

I looked around to see that the framework of the platform 
was about two feet below the rafters.  The tarp was folded 
down along the control panel, covering the vital parts.  
They must have climbed up on that.  If that's the case, I 
hope they didn't step on any of the vital controls and 
broken them.  Now to the why of it.

"Uh, fellows...what the hell, over?" I said emphasizing the
question with a hand gesture.

"We heard voices and those aircraft again," Jason said.  
"There were so many, all around us.  So we climbed up here 
and hid in the corner behind those things. Two of them came 
in here and looked around,"

Jason pointed to a stack of old tires for my 1982 car.  I 
must have had three or four sets stacked up there.  I don't
know what I was saving them for, but who ever owned this 
land, between when I should have passed on, (I'm guessing 
2024)  and now, must have been a pack rat like me.  I seemed 
to never throw anything away.  The former owner's must have 
left them alone.

"Quick thinking, kids," I said. "Thank goodness they didn't 
spot you. Did they look under the tarp, or fool with the 
platform?"

"No, Ryan said.  "They only walked about half way in and 
went back out.

Hmmm, the footprints in the dusty floor were a dead 
giveaway.  They should have spotted them.

"Oh well," I said, "come down for now.  I have some good 
news for you."

Jason and Ryan walked along the wood beams over to the
framework of my platform.  They slid down toward the 
controls and then to the platform itself.  I cautioned them 
about stepping on any of the controls.  I was proud of them.  

They were very careful.

I told them of my meeting with their father's.  They seemed 
to be pleased, yet a little apprehensive too.  I told them 
all I knew and my observations of their actions.  I think 
they were palming the drugs all the time.  All they needed 
was a little outside support to encourage them.

"How does one communicate with another?" I asked. "How does 
that communication device in the school work?"

Jason and Ryan were confused by my question.  They asked me 
what I was talking about.  I had to explain a 1990's
telephone system to them.  It's strange living in this time 
and trying to figure it out.  Some things seemed to change 
with the advance in technology, and some things seemed a 
step backwards.  I automatically assumed that the telephone 
would change drastically, over the last hundred years.  I 
would have thought that, by now, that there would be video 
phones all around.   WRONG, Fish Breath.  The only changes,
as Jason explained, was that it was called a "COMPHONE" and 
you had to dial eight digits instead of seven.  Oh  
well....so much for progress.

"We need to find someone," I said. "He's a friend of your
fathers'.   He has something to do at Mountcastle Main.  His 
name is Russell Winner.  Ring a bell with you two?"

Jason and Ryan shook their heads negatively.  I had thought 
not, so I retrieved the map to locate Mountcastle Main.

As I sat there studying the map, Jason sat down beside 
putting his arm around my waist.  Ryan dug down into his gym
bag and pulled out the box of finger cots.

"Charles," he said.  "What are these?"

I smiled and looked him straight in the eye.  Ryan's 
expression was priceless.  It was the genuine look of an 
eagerness to learn.  The finger cots were foreign to our 
mission.  The clothes, he could understand.  The personal 
hygiene items, he could understand, and even the body 
lotion, but the rubber finger cots?

"They are called finger cots," I said.  "They are going to 
be an important part of your education while you are with 
me.  Pull one out and look at it."

Ryan pulled one out of the box.  He stretched it out and 
rolled it up, then tried to blow it up like a balloon.  He 
tossed one to Jason.  Both boys marvelled over the texture 
of the item.

"Put one on your finger," I suggested.  "Think about what 
you see."

Ryan put a finger cot on his right index finger.  It was 
loose fitting.  He looked at me as if to say "SO."

I wanted to get naked, then.  I wanted to have them do the 
same and go out into the water hole.  It was hot in the 
shed, but I didn't dare go out again in daylight, in case 
the aircraft came back.  Particularly, since I have exposed 
my fake digital code to the taxi driver and P.I.R.  There 
had been time, now, for anyone to send it to the Mountcastle 
Main.

"Remember our experiences, Jason, Ryan? I said making eye 
contact with each.  "Using the body lotion?"

Jason squeezed me harder around the waist.  Ryan had that 
glimmer of recollection.

"Well," I continued.  "I need to have you experience 
something new.  It's so wonderful, that each of you will 
want to respect each other's privacy and work, one at a 
time, with me.  Then, after you get used to it, we can all 
be together."

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"For our safety," I said, we should wait until dark, so we 
can use the water hole without anyone seeing us.  For now, 
let's get on the platform, take our clothes off, and rest.


To my surprise, Jason and Ryan took all of their clothes off 
and laid down on top of their sleeping bags.  Jason was 
sporting a semi-erection, so he turned away from me briefly, 
exposing a full view of his little, cute, hiney.  Jason
hadn't been shy before, so why now?  Maybe it was that he 
had become aware of himself.

"That's ok Jason," I said.  "Remember, roll with the flow.  
>From now on, your hard penis is going to be natural to you.  
Ryan and I will have one, from time to time."

"Charles," Ryan said.  "Jase and I have been together for 
almost four years.  I won't do anything behind his back, and 
he won't do anything behind mine.

"What are you trying to tell me, Ryan?"  I asked.

"You said that we would want to experience something with 
you in private, first."  Ryan continued.  "We've always done 
things together.  So if what you show me, will you show 
Jason?"

"Yes Ryan," I said.  "I wouldn't have it any other way.  I 
thought that since this would be your first intimate
experience, you would like it to be a little private.  I
love you two, equally.  I would not pit the two of you 
against each other."

I finished taking my clothes off and laid down on my 
sleeping bag.  I reached out to my left and touched Jason's 
butt with a little pat.  I reached out to my right and 
squeezed Ryan's hand, saying,

"Whatever you kids want, I'll do."

My shaft got rock hard just thinking about the situation.  
That was, allowing one or the other boy to place his hard 
shaft into my anal cavity, pump me with all his might until 
his Life Force pulse out the end of his penis into the 
finger cot.  Then to allow the other boy to watch and learn.

Since this was summer, sunset was late in the evening.  I
had slept a few hours, then awoke.  I started to wish the
time away until dark, looking over at naked Jason and naked
Ryan.  Both boys were still asleep.  Jason had turned back
over onto his back.  Ryan had not appeared to have moved.  I 
looked down at their pelvic area.  Both boys' penis had 
returned to normal size and was laying flat against their 
abdomen.  My penis had returned to normal too, but it began 
to rise again while I stared at the two naked boys.  I sat 
up and leaned over to kiss Ryan on the forehead, then did 
the same to Jason. Jason stirred and opened his eyes.  He 
blinked a few times, then looked up at me.

"Hello my friend," I said.  "Have a good nap?"

"Yeeeeah," Jason said yawning.

I bent down and kissed him on the lips.  I laid my hand on
his abdomen and slid it down to his little penis.  I encased
his genitals in my hand and maneuvered his little shaft
between my thumb and forefinger. Jason let out a little
whimper, tensed, and then relaxed.  He reached up and pulled
me down hard against him.  Then he inched his tongue through
to my oral cavity and explored it.

"Yuk." I had not yet brushed my teeth for the day and
neither had Jason.  When we start our educational session, I
would have to make that the first priority.  "Uug." Butt
breath.  I ignored the fact and rose above it.  I continued
to accept Jason's tongue in my mouth, as I moved his little
penis around between my fingers.  I could feel Jason's blood
pulsing into the tissues of his little love muscle.  Jason
was getting hard.

I began to work Jason's little shaft until it was extremely
stiff.  Jason was breathing hard through his nostrils.  I
knew he was almost ready to spray his Life Force out onto
his abdomen.  I continued to stroke his little, hard, shaft,
stretching the  foreskin up and down across the very tip of
his penis, heightening his senses.

I didn't want this to happen.  I had not planned this at
all.  It was spontaneous and just happened.  He pulled me to
him.  He forced his tongue into my oral cavity.  However,
since it had started, I wanted to complete this affirmation
of our love, Jason and I, so I continued to stroke his
little, hard, penis.  Jason's breathing pattern was getting
shallow.  His pulse was rapid.  Then he let out a little
whimper and I felt his penis pulse, hard, twice.  Jason's
Life Force pulsed out into my hand and onto his abdomen.  I
broke the trance and gently eased Jason's tongue back into
his mouth, then pulled away, still holding on to his little
shaft.  I sat there smiling down at Jason, not saying a
word.  He looked up at me, smiling too.  After a few
minutes, I kissed him on the forehead, got up to find a
towel.  I found one and handed it to Jason, then said to
him,

"You might want to clean up a little, my friend.  I love you
kid."

Jason probably had not heard the term "love" before, but
after our little display of passion, "love" would be easier
to explain to him.  Ryan was still asleep.  He had slept
through all the commotion and hadn't stirred, but it was
time to wake him up.

I shook the sleeping bag gently, saying,

"Wake up my friend.  It's getting dark.  We need to go over
to the school.  I want to contact Russell Winner.  I think
he can help us."

Ryan stretched his little slender body and yawned and I
leaned over to kissed him.  He smiled and returned the kiss
on my lips.  My mind instantly recalled an identical scene
with Jason.  I almost repeated the situation.  No! No! It's
not the time for it.  I wanted to get on with my plan.  The
year 2090 was going to be the year of revolution.  I broke
away from the kiss and said,

"Thanks, my friend.  Love ya buddy.

Ryan just smiled up at me.  He was also to be a recipient of
the knowledge of "love."
------------------------------------



\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 18     \|/ \|/


Every minute I spend here in this year 2090, increases my
chance of getting caught.  From what I've seen, I wouldn't
want to spend the rest of my life at P.I.R. or dead.  I was
putting Jason and Ryan at risk too.  They were independent
entities before I happened into their life.  Now there is
the possibility I may ruin their chances.  I sat them down
to explain the situation, but they chose to remain with me,
God love em.

As many times as we have broken into the school, one would
think someone would get wise to that fact.  There was
missing medical inventory, missing keys, a missing map, and
how about my fingerprints?  Hmmm.  If they checked them and
found out they were from a 146 year old man, damn wouldn't
that mess with "their" mind?  "They" couldn't be that dense.  

I made Jason and Ryan aware of this, so we were extra
careful about alarms and stun beams.

Ryan led the way into the building and Jason made the smart
ass remark about the low hanging wooden beam.  I sort of
enjoyed the exchange and let them get away with it, because
it gave the boys confidence in themselves as they progressed
down life's highway.

We went into the office again and logged on to the computer
system again.  This time I typed in "MOUNTCASTLE MAIN."  The
screen filled with data about Mountcastle Main's location,
etc.  I ripped another piece of paper from the printer and
wrote the address down.  There didn't seem to be any other
useful data there.  Then I typed in "WINNER".  The screen
filled with his data file.  Mr. Winner's address, 
communication number, (Ryan pointed out) physical 
characteristics, and his date to report to the orphanage
under the surrogate mother system.  Perfect.  That was to be
in two days.  I had the perfect ruse to go see him.  I was
going to pass myself off as some form of clerk checking on
the accuracy of his data.  I didn't dare start up the 
printer, so I wrote it all down in longhand.  Then, Ryan
worked me through the operation of the telephone, as if I
needed a refresher course.

I rehearsed my little speech, lifted the handset, and dialed
Citizen Russell Winner.

"Citizen Winner?" I asked when the ringing tone stopped.  "I
am Citizen Baudot.  I represent Henry School and Orphanage.
I would like to meet with you at Mountcastle and verify our
records for your duty requirements in two days."

>From his data file off the computer, Russell Winner was
listed as "Key Personnel."  That meant his communication
device was monitored, to me.  I had to be careful.  We
agreed to meet around the noon time hour at the Mountcastle
building, then walk to a nearby park.  I had no idea what
Russell looked like.  What color uniform would he have.
Maybe the computer file has his likeness stored somewhere.
It was worth a try to look again.  I spent a few more
minutes with the computer and found a picture file.  I
typed in "Winner, Russell" to see what would happen.  The
screen blinked out for a second, then displayed a likeness
of Citizen Winner, plus a synopsis of the data I had seen
previously.  Oh my God.  He was a double for my 1990 friend,
Jimmy Anderson.  This was too much of a coincidence.  For my
own sanity, it would behoove me to get back to 1990 as soon
as possible.  I wondered if I has a double in this time.
Would ever I meet him?  I didn't want to even think about
it.

Jason, Ryan and I checked around to see that everything was
in place, then worked ourselves back through the walls and
back to the old shed.  Since Russell had mentioned time, it
dawned on me that I had no concept of time while I was here
in 2090.  I went over to the platform and pulled back the
tarp over the controls.  The kids were curious and watched
my every move.  I pushed a small button on the control
panel.  A digital display lit up with the numbers 08-18-2090
/ 22:15:45 Hrs.  DAMN! I had been fucking around for eight
days.  Come to think of it, I've been missing in 1990 for
eight days.  I had told no one of my plans, not even Jimmy.
This was to be just a weekend trip.  Ha! I didn't anticipate
finding these kids and falling in love with them.  I began
to get that clammy feeling that something was about to
happen I wouldn't like.  I had to get on with the show.  I
set an alarm function on the clock to sound in time for me
to make my appointment at Mountcastle Main.  I turned to the
boys and asked for their input on my plan.  We took our
clothes off to cool down in the August heat, then sat down
on top of our sleeping bags and talked for about two hours
more.  It was Jason that broke the tension when he changed
the subject.

"Hey Ryan," he said winking at him.  "Come outside with me
will ya."

Naked Jason and Naked Ryan got up to go outside and
disappeared beyond the light range of Jason's lantern.  I
didn't protest.  I just sat there continuing to think about
my plan of attack.  My train of thought was interrupted by
the sound of pee hitting the rock behind the shed.  When the
sound stopped, Ryan was first to return through the door.
There, through the dark distance to the platform from the
door, Ryan said,

"Jason said I was to be first to experience with you."

"Experience with me?"  I said.

"With those finger cots you told us about," he said.

"Come here, my friend," I said.  "Now is the time.

I got up to get the container of body lotion and finger
cots, then went back to my sleeping bag and laid down.  Ryan
sat down beside me.  I reached out and guided him down on
top of me.  I kissed him hard on the lips and rested my hand
on his little, cute, hiney, with my finger deep in his
crevasse.

I asked Ryan to hold on for a minute, while I put body
lotion all over our bodies.  I paid attention to his little
hardening shaft until it was as stiff as possible.  From
time to time, I would brush across his anus to facilitate
the event.  I reached over to pull out a finger cot from the
box.  I rolled it out full and started to put it on Ryan's
penis.  Ryan jumped a little and pulled back.  I kissed him
and told him to relax.  Ryan then allowed me to put the
finger cot on his little, hard, uncut, penis.  It was a
perfect fit.  I couldn't believe it.  Ryan was hard and
fully extended.  The tip of his penis filled the end of
the finger cot nicely.  I kissed him again.

"What's that do?" he asked.

It's for our protection, Ryan." I explained  "Trust me."

I turned over and laid down on my front.

"Ok, Ryan." I said.  "Lie down on top of me, face down."

As Ryan mounted me, I reached back to my crevasse and pulled
it open slightly, so that Ryan could lay his little hard
shaft along it.  Ryan laid flat on top of me, then kissed
me.

"Lift your butt up just a little, Ryan," I said, "and follow
my lead."

I reached down behind me and maneuvered Ryan's little shaft
down slightly, until the tip touched the outer rim of my
anus.  I could feel the walls of my rectum open to accept
the intruder.

"Now Ryan," I said.  "Lower your butt gently.  Allow your
little hard shaft to go into my anal cavity."

Ryan's breathing pattern changed as I guided his little
shaft into my anal cavity.  The walls of my anus closed
tight around Ryan's shaft.  The mere presence of it there,
gave me a good feeling, all over.  I removed my hand from
the junction of our bodies and stretched and strained until
I could comfortably place it on Ryan's firm, round, little,
butt.  I placed my middle finger along his deep crevasse and
forced it down until I touched his little anus.  With the
application of a slight pressure, half my middle finger
disappeared into Ryan's sensitive anal cavity.  Ryan jumped
upon its' initial entrance, but he got used to it.  He
reached out and squeezed my arms, then kissed me

"How do you feel, friend?" I asked.

"I'm tingling all over," he said.  "It feels good.

Every nerve I had was tingling and I felt good, too.  The
next education was about to begin, dear Ryan, oh lovely,
little, Ryan.

"Remember how you sort of pumped on me the other night,
outside?  Try to do that again."

I could feel Ryan put pressure on his lower torso, lifting
his pelvic area up and pulling his little shaft with it.
Then he lowered his abdomen back to its' original position.
I could feel his little shaft rubbing the walls of my
rectum.  My breathing was getting faster and my nerves were
screaming.  I gave Ryan an instruction.

"You're doing fine, my friend.  Continue to do that until
you feel you have to go faster, then do.  In and out, that's
it carefully, in and out."

My finger was in concert with Ryan's rhythm.  I was slowly
pulling my finger in and out of his anal cavity with each up
and down stroke of Ryan's little, hard, so firmly packed,
penis, that was in my wanting anal cavity.

Ryan's breathing began to get faster.  Each stroke of his
penis into me, was with more force.  I could feel his
pulsing heartbeat on my back and in his shaft.

"Let it flow, Ryan," I said.  "Let it flow.  It's ok.  Roll
with it."

Ryan was ready.  I could feel his little penis pulse once,
then twice, and then again.  Ryan's Life Force was released
into the finger cot.  My senses were in concert with our
rhythm.  The instant I felt the first pulse, my Life Force
pulsed out onto the sleeping bag below me.  Ryan stopped
pumping me and just went flat against me, letting out a gasp
of air.  His heart was still racing and he was still
breathing hard.  I didn't say a word, then finally, he did.

"That was good.  I liked that.  Does what we did have a
name?"

"Yes," I said, "It does.  However, I hesitate to tell you,
because the sound of the word in no way describes the
beautiful act."

"Please?"  Ryan said. "Please?"

"Let's get out of this position, then I'll tell you."  I
responded.

Ryan gently pulled his little, hard, shaft out of my anal
cavity and rolled over to my right.  I turned to face him,
kissed him on the lips and began to gently pull the finger
cot from around his cute, little shaft.

"If you must know," I said, "it's referred to as fucking.
Sounds horrible, doesn't it?"

"Why's it called that?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know," I said.  "The word is older than you and me,
put together.  It's been used to describe this beautiful
expression of our love for one another, long before I was
born."

"Well I don't care," he said.  "I like fucking.  Can we do
it again?"

"Let's rest a few minutes and cool down.  You need to build
up more of your Life Force before you go again.  Also, you
may want to wash off first in the water hole.  Besides,
Jason is out there all by himself.

"No he's not," a voice out of the dark said.  "He's right
here watching over you."

The sound of his voice startled me, as if I had been caught
doing something wrong.  I was a little embarrassed, but Ryan
laughed and so did Jason. Ryan stood up and went out the
door toward the water hole.  Jason came up on the platform
and sat down beside me.  My Life Force was all over my
sleeping bag, so I grabbed a towel to wipe it up.  I looked
over at Jason, pulled him toward me, and kissed him.

"What did you think?"  I asked.

Jason didn't say a word.  Somehow, I knew what he thought.
He threw his arms around me and held me tight.  He pulled me
down like an old rag doll.  We stretched out, face to face,
and kissed passionately.  Jason was ready to emulate his
friend and confidant, Ryan.  Our respective penis's were
taut and sensitive to the touch.  I reached for the body
lotion and replenished the supply in my crevasse, then I
applied it to all of Jason's strategic areas.  I started to
put a finger cot on his slender shaft, but then he said,

"Here, let me do it."

"You're the boss," I said, handing the finger cot to him.

Jason placed the finger cot on his shaft like a pro.  He was
a fast learner.  In fact, I didn't have to say any more at
all.  Jason directed my every move, up to, and including the
last one, when the last drop of Jason's Life Force pulsed
out the end of his little, hard, uncut, shaft.  Afterwards,
we faced each other and I replaced my finger in Jason's
anus.  I drew him closer to kiss him hard and passionately.
We stayed in that position, for what seemed like forever,
then reluctantly stood up and went outside to the water
hole.  Ryan was already in the water.  I could hear him
splashing around.  As we approached the edge of the hole,
Ryan said,

"What do ya think, Jase?"

"I like this fucking," Jason said turning to me.  "I like it
a lot.  Can we do this again?"

Echo, echo.  Where had I heard the question before?

"Well kids," I said, "the old master is tired.  We'll do
this again tomorrow night.  I need my rest so I can be alert
at my meeting with Russell Winner.  We're going to be doing
things around here at a pretty fast pace, soon.  We will
need all the energy  we can get."

With that, I plunged into and under the water, then
re-emerged on the surface.  I pulled Jason and Ryan close to
me and kissed them individually, saying,

"Love ya kids.  I love you.  Let's go up and get some
sleep."
------------------------

                    "A QUESTION OF TIME"
                         CONTINUED
                       CHAPTERS 19-21
                 -------------------------


\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 19     \|/ \|/


My subconscious mind had taken over while I was asleep.  I 
have never been able to remember dreams for any length of 
time, but this was the last one before I was so rudely 
awakened by the alarm.  The dream consisted of several 
disjointed scenarios involving Jason and Ryan, but one stood 
out significantly.  It involved Jason's and Ryan's father, 
Russell Winner, and someone that always appeared in the 
background.  Someone I really couldn't see, but someone who 
presented an air of mystery, someone I should steer clear of 
until I knew more.  In addition to all of this, the sound of 
the alarm had worked its' way into my dream, making me more 
apprehensive.

Funny thing about dreams.  Every scenario can not be taken
literally.  One has to interpret the message of each.  I
think, from this lesson, I should be looking over my 
shoulder.  There was either an unknown danger, or there was 
a third person that could be of immense help.  Jason and 
Ryan were my first concern.  The word caution may not have 
been too significant eight days ago, but it is now.  I have 
to complete my mission and get the hell out of here.

I became conscious shortly.  I stretched and groaned and 
grunted.  Light was pouring in through the holes in the roof 
and the alarm was still sounding.  Had I something to throw, 
I would have hurled it at the alarm, but I didn't have 
anything close at hand.

"Oh shut the fuck up," I shouted at the control panel.  
"G-Damn."

Naked Jason had snuggled up close to me, but had slept 
through the noise.  Naked Ryan had too.  When I moved to get
up and stop the alarm, I moved Jason slightly with me.  I
saw him open his eyes and stir.  I raised up on my haunches
and reached over to silence the alarm.  Damn, finally, peace
and tranquility.  The alarm was silent.  Jason was
stretching and grunting and yawning.  I looked at his cute,
naked, body, and his yawning face.  "Stop it, Jason,"
I thought to myself while I yawned too.

Ryan had fallen asleep on his back.  His right hand was 
encased around his genitals.  His soft little shaft stuck 
out loosely through the valley between his thumb and 
forefinger.  His left hand was lying to his side with the 
fingers extended in toward his crevasse.  He was so 
peaceful, that I didn't want to wake him up, but I had too.  
I can't believe Ryan had slept through the alarm sound.  I 
twisted around and kissed him on the forehead and shaking 
his sleeping bag at the same time.

"Wake up my beautiful friend," I said.  "Wake up.  We need 
to get going.  Get dressed.  Jason.  You too, my friend.
Time is of the essence."

While I was stumbling around to get into my clothes, Jason 
and Ryan were getting dressed themselves.  I looked around
in Ryan's gym bag for something to shave with and proceeded 
to do so.  The kids didn't shave, so it was no reason to 
think about such things, but Ryan seemed to think of 
everything when it came to our supplies.

I stood under a large shaft of light streaming through a 
hole in the roof.  Jason had been the first to complete 
dressing, so I beckoned him over.

"Look at my clothes," I said. "See if there are any dirty 
spots on it.  I don't want to look like a bum when I get in 
town."

Jason looked all around me. Then he said,

"Here's one.  I'll see if I can brush it off.  What's a 
bum?"

He brushed a spot located on my right butt cheek and 
stopped.  Then he pushes his finger into my crevasse and
sort of gooses me.  I was not expecting him to do that, but
I don't get mad, I get even.  I felt a bubble of gas build
up in my colon.  I released the tension on my anal cavity
muscles and forced the gas out through my rectum and loose
butt cheeks.  "Baraaaap."  Jason backed off and started to
giggle so hard, I thought he would pass out.  I could hear
Ryan doing his tee hee's too.  I turned and grabbed Jason,
pulling him into me.  I gave him a knuckle rub on the top
of his head and called him a little monkey.  Through my
spells of laughter, I said.

"Bum? Bum?  I'll show you bum."

I had to get going, so I cautioned the kids about the 
aircraft and anybody that might snoop around this old shed.
There have been too many times, since I've been here, that 
something to question our security has happened.  I didn't 
like it.  Other encounters with the people of this world, 
have been too smooth.  It brought the hair up on the back of 
my neck just to think about it.

I cautiously looked out the door of the old shed, then 
sprinted across the open field to the spillway.  I followed 
along the spillway to the back of the school and 34Th. 
Street.  I hugged the building and walked out to the corner 
as before.  Look for a RED Magnecraft.  I spotted one and 
flagged it down.  Shit, it was Fred again.

"Fred," I said as he opened the door. "I thought you were 
going to pick up your son today."

"That's tomorrow," he said.  "Get in Charlie Boy...Your 
wrist, sir."

Oh yes, let's not forget the wrist.  Fred scanned my wrist
with the light pen device and I heard the familiar 
registration beep. I waited for the double beep.  Fred 
stayed in his position for a long time, it seemed.  No two 
beeps.  God.  Had my number been flagged?  I started to 
reach for the opening device on the passenger side door and
jump out, then "Beep-Beep" sounded from under the control 
panel.  Whew!  Thank goodness.  Fred moved out into traffic 
and said,

"Where to, Mac?"

I think my underpants had been sucked up into my anal 
cavity.  Damn that was a close one.  Fred had looked over at 
me, once.  Had he seen the beads of sweat pouring off my 
brow, or tension of my face?

"Sure is warm here today," said Fred.

"Yeah, yeah, sure is," I said.  "What's with the two beeps 
there, Fred?"

"Two beeps? He said. "Two beeps?  Oh! That tells me I can 
pull out in traffic.  Old Mountcastle monitors all the 
traffic patterns in the city.  When it's room enough to pull 
out, then "they" send an "ok" for us.  Otherwise, we'd be 
crahin' in ta each other, Charlie Boy."

Why is ole' Fred leading me on this way.  His answer sounded
logical, but I didn't get the vibration he was telling me 
the truth.  He has to know my number isn't logged in at 
Mountcastle by now.  He is really bothering me, with that 
constant square-jaw smile and that cross-eye, George Jetson 
look, at me.  Something just wasn't clicking here about ole' 
George, who is called Fred.  Something just isn't right.

"Where did ya say again, Charlie Boy?

G-Damn that "Charlie Boy."

"900 East Broad Street." I said, as if I was oblivious to 
any danger.

Fred guided the RED Magnecraft down to the next corner, 
turned, and doubled back in the opposite direction towards 
the center of town.  I hardly said a word and just sat back 
to observe the changes that had taken place since 1990.  
Fred talked most all the way about picking up his son 
tomorrow, and some sports figure that had a great game.  I 
didn't know who he was talking about, so I just went along 
with him, with a couple of "uh hun's" here and there.  We 
arrived at 900 East Broad and Fred opened the door for
me to get out.

"Need yer wrist again, Charlie Boy," he said handing me a 
small card.  "If you need me again, take my card here.  Call 
the number on the back."

"Thanks Fred," I said extending my left wrist.  "I'll 
remember that."

Where the hell was I going to put his card, up my ass?  
These uniforms didn't have any pockets in them.  The front 
of the card was printed with Fred's name and "Magnecraft 
Transport, Day or Night." On the back, was an eight digit 
number.  I thought a minute, then slipped it down into one 
of my boots.  Fred's action with the card, had a message.  
Why would he give me his card like that?

As I got out, I had looked at Fred's clock.  I was about 
five minutes early.  By the time I found the entrance to the 
building and got an Orange Suit to call Russell, it would be 
the noon time hour.

I walked into the building and looked around the lobby.  It
didn't take long before ole' Orange Suit was scrambling to 
find out what I wanted.

"Yes, Citizen?"

"I have an appointment with Russell Winner," I said in an
assertive manner.

I looked him straight in the eye.  It got him so flustered, 
that he forgot to move me closer to the focus point of the 
scanner.   His partner touched a button on a panel, turned 
to me, and said, "Citizen Winner is on his way."

I wonder if he would remember to move the scanner on me.  I 
didn't get a chance to find out.  Russell Winner stepped out 
of a doorway and called my name.

"Citizen Baudot?" He said.  "Can we walk and talk?  
Something has come up and I don't have too much time.  Come, 
let's go across to the park."

Russell Winner placed his hand on my left shoulder, over my 
scan number, and guided me out the front door.  Russell was 
a 2090 duplicate of my 1990 friend, Jimmy Anderson.  He was 
in a bright blue uniform with no markings, other than the 
white scan lines that were on the front.  I almost laughed.  
I had never seen Jimmy in anything tight, much less a 
form-fitting uniform.  Russell's attributes were showing 
through in the front.  I hoped that I could, somehow, fall 
behind to check out his rear echelon.  I would at least know 
what Jimmy looked like under his clothes.  Anyway, each 
situation that called me to interface with the people
of this 2090 world, was becoming more bizarre.  Every where 
I went, there seemed to be 1990 look alike's.  I walked with 
Russell and listened to his re-cap of the statistics I had 
called him about, last night.

"Russell...Russell." I said.  "Slow down.  Let's sit down on 
that bench over there."

We got to the bench and sat down.  I continued,

"I have seen Nelson and Robert."

Russell stopped talking and looked at me straight on.  It 
took him back, and he had a deadpan look on his face.

"What are you talking about?"  He asked.

"You know very well what I am talking about," I said. "I 
need your help.  Where are the explosives?  You have some 
stored.  Nelson and Robert told me the whole story."

"Who are you?" Russell asked.  "Are you Mountcastle C.I.B.?"

"If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me," I said.  
Time is of the essence. I need those explosives NOW, 
Russell.  I'm going to free Nelson and Robert.  Look around 
you man.  This is no life for the people in this time.  You 
led the fight once, you can do it again.  Trust me."

Russell looked at me again, but with a look of wanting to 
trust me.  He wasn't sure.  I could see the pupils in his 
eyes change.  He began to flutter his eyelids.  The wheels 
were turing in his head.  Then he stood up.

"I don't know who you are," he said, pointing, "but I'm 
going into that building and get C.I.B."

He was testing me.  He wasn't going anywhere.  Russ seemed a
little emotionally unstable.  He was almost in tears.  I had 
to be careful.

"Sit down RUSS." I said, firmly.  "Listen to me."

He wasn't called Russ.  Only Robert Mitchell called him 
that.  Russell took one step back, swallowed hard, and sat
down.

"Speak to me," he said.

I explained every event leading up to now.  I left out some
details about my location and the school/orphanage.  I had 
to protect Jason and Ryan.

"You're serious about this, aren't you?"  Russell said.

"Dead serious," I replied.  "Dead serious."

Russell Winner and I sat and talked more.  He asked me every
question he could think of.  I answered them on a need to 
know basis.  Finally, after much soul searching, Russell 
broke down and cried.  He confided in me that he had this on 
his mind for a long time.  It was a relief that he could 
bear it all to me and get it off his chest.  I could see all 
the scanners around the park focus on us.  I tried to 
conceal myself behind Russ, hoping to cause the scanner(s)
to mis-read.  After I calmed him down, we agreed to 
cooperate and meet with me at the kids school and orphanage 
after dark tonight.

"Where, Russ?" I said.  "I can't exactly walk around there 
in the open."

"I know of the false walls in that school, too.  I explored 
them as your friends did, years ago as a kid.  Are you 
familiar with the Principal's office?  He has a supply room 
that accesses the vent system.  Meet me there."

Russell wasn't much older than a kid now, it seemed to me, 
anyway.  I didn't let on that I knew the system behind the 
walls, intimately.

"I need to get back across town," I said.  "I want to use 
RED transportation.  May I use the communication device at 
your office?"

Russ nodded in the affirmative, and we proceeded across the 
street to Mountcastle Main.  It was a life of death 
situation for both of us.  Had the scanners caught me with 
Russell?  I had heard no alarms or sirens, yet.

Russell Winner and I walked into the front door of 
Mountcastle Main, past ole' Orange Suit, and into Russ's 
office.  So far, so good.  Both Orange Suits gave me a funny 
look as I walked by, but I didn't return the stare.  Not on 
a bet, did I return the stare.

"There is the Comphone," Russell said.

Russell got my attention and mouthed to me, silently, that 
it was monitored.  I took the cue and thought carefully.  I 
reached down into my boot for Fred's card, then called the 
number on the back.

"Fred." I heard the voice on the other end say.

I remained very formal and went through the standard script 
as to who I was, where I was, etc.

"I'm two minutes away," said Fred.

I would sweat bullets for two minutes, so to cover up, I put 
on a little show for the hidden cameras.

"Thank you Citizen Winner for your information," I said.  We 
will see you in two days."

I had never seen anyone here shake hands, so I didn't break
tradition.  I walked out of Russ's office past the orange 
suits, and out through the front doors of Mountcastle Main, 
to freedom.

"Beep-Beep" was the familiar alert sound of Fred's
magnecraft and not a minute too soon.  If he hadn't been 
there on time, my nerves would have shot me there on the 
spot.  Paranoid.  Who me?

This time I was ready for Freddie.  I put my left wrist out 
before he said anything.

"Good man," Fred said.  "Where to?"

"P.I.R.," I said.  "I won't be long there at all.  Can you 
wait for me?  Put it on my account."

On account "I ain't got nuttin'" I thought to myself.

Fred chuckled at that and said,

"I haven't heard that one in years. That's a good one.... 
Put it on my account...Ha.  Ha...Sure, I'll wait.  Not to 
worry."

Hmmm.  Why am I worried?  I didn't want to resort to 
violence.  I sort of liked ole' Freddie, in a brotherly sort 
of way.  I didn't want to hurt anyone, but this was a matter 
of my survival, and that of Jason's and Ryan's.  If push 
came to shove, ole' Freddie wouldn't know what had hit him.  
With hope, it wouldn't come to that.

I got out of the magnecraft and walked into the front door 
of P.I.R. like I owned the place.  Orange Suit, the lazy 
one, looked up from his position at the console as I passed 
him without saying boo to him.  I could hear him scramble 
for the controls to move the scanner on me, but it was too 
late.  I had gotten out of view.  I feared the other 
scanners down the hall would pick me up, so I pulled an old 
Navy trick.  I zig-zaged down the hall until I got to 
Nelson's and Robert's room.  Nelson was sitting at his desk,
Robert was washing his hands in the vanity between their
closets.

"Hey, folks," I said.  "I have a progress report on your 
son's.  Let's walk outside."

We walked out into the courtyard far enough away from the 
building to feel secure, then I began to tell them what was 
going on.

"I can only stay a short while, guys," I said, pointing.
"Tonight, most probably after midnight, that wall will have 
a big hole in it.  Be ready to jump through it.  I have 
faith in you, that you will bring this hold "they" have over 
you, down.  Take back your lives.  You can do it.  You 
started it a long time ago, now finish it."

With that, I walked them back to their room and said my good 
bye's.  As I walked back into the hallway, I could hear 
gears grinding.  I began to zig-zag again, mechanically 
driving the scanners crazy.  I waved at Orange Suit as I
passed his desk again.  He had one finger up in the air and 
his jaw half open, as if he wanted to stop me or say 
something, but I was too fast.  Out the door I went,
leaving Orange Suit with his thumb up his ass.

Freddie was waiting as I had instructed.  He opened the door 
and I got in.

"Back to the school Fred," I said in Barney Rubble tones.

Fred stopped at 34Th. Street, scanned my wrist and let me 
out.  For someone I wasn't sure of, whether he be Friend or 
Foe, ole' Fred sure was playing it close to his chest.  This 
scanning business was getting on my nerves.  Be that as it 
may, I knew what I must do.

I walked close to the building as if I was going in the side
entrance, then ducked behind it.  I glanced over my shoulder 
to look for Freddie, but he was gone.  I cut across the back 
part of the building, down the bank and into the spillway.

When I got to the other end of the spillway, I heard the 
familiar sound of the aircraft, echoing down the walls of 
the spillway.  SHIT.  Them again.  I stopped moving.  The 
aircraft hovered around the end of the pipe.  I could see 
part of a landing gear on one of the craft
and it stayed there for a long time.  I had flattened myself
against the wall of the spillway.  GOD.  What was that?  A 
red beam of some kind was moving toward me along the 
opposite wall.  SHIT.  I dared move and flattened myself 
down on the floor of the spillway.  Finally, the aircraft 
pulled away and their sound subsided.  G-Damn, that was 
close.  The frequency of these fly overs is getting higher.  
I only hope I can outwit them long enough to get the job 
done and not get caught.  I sprinted across the barren land 
to the old shed, and inside the door, looking over my 
shoulder every other step of the way.
--------------------------------

\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 20     \|/ \|/

It was hot in the old building.  The hot August sun had been
beating down for hours on the multi-hole roof.  When my eyes
adjusted to the light, I noticed that the tarp had been 
replaced over the platform.  Jason and Ryan were not in 
sight.  I called to them, fearing the worst.

"Up here," Jason said.

Thank goodness for small favors.  The kids were ok.

"How long have you been up there?" I asked.  "It must be hot 
up there.  Come on down."

I hope they haven't been up there too long.  It was
dangerous in this heat.  I pulled the cover from the 
platform and assisted Jason and Ryan down from the rafters.  
I made some adjustments to one of the controls and checked 
all my settings plus the time.  It was almost 3:00 P.M.  
With every setting in tolerance, I brought the power supply 
up to full output.  A low humming noise was starting to 
become resonant with the frame of the platform causing it to 
vibrate violently at one point. I set every control, tested 
their integrity, and keyed them all to one, single, pressure 
sensitive, switch.  I set the clock for August 20, 1990, and 
set the power supply to "STANDBY."  The platform again was 
silent and waiting.  Waiting for my command to spring into 
action.

"Has anyone been here today?" I asked

"Just the aircraft," Ryan said.  They were shooting their 
stun beams at the water hole and some rocks outside.  We got 
behind the things up there, just in case they came in here."

"How did you cover the platform?" I asked.

"Ryan went up first and I handed it to him," Jason said.  
Then I went up.  We spread it out and dropped it down over 
the platform.  Good, huh?"

"Damn good," I said hugging them.  "You guys are tough to 
beat."

They may not have been used to the term of "you guys," but 
they just smiled and accepted it.

My uniform was dirty from the spillway.  I was dirty from 
the spillway.  I needed to wipe my uniform off and wash in 
the water hole, but it was still daylight.  I forgot my 
needs for the minute, and laid down on top of my sleeping 
bag to rest and think.

Jason knelt down beside me and lifted my arm up.  He 
accessed the opening device for the uniform and pulled it
down to my foot.  One side of my body was free.  Jason then 
pulled the uniform out from under me and took it completely 
off of me.  I didn't question him.  I just rolled with it.  
I was concentrating so much on Jason's action, that I didn't 
notice Ryan undressing at the same time.  Jason reached for 
my underpants and pulled them off.  Then he pulled my tee 
shirt off.  I was lying there naked, undressed by my friend 
Jason.  Ryan stood before me with one leg on either side of
me.  Ryan was naked.  My penis sprang to attention and I 
held my arms out to beckon him down to me.  Naked Ryan knelt 
down and flattened himself out on top of me.  Hot, sweaty, 
me.

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him on the lips.  
Ryan moved his arms and placed his hands on both sides of my 
face, returning the effort in this passionate love display.  
I moved my right hand down to Ryan's crevasse and sought his
little anus with my middle finger.  However, I met Jason's 
hand there.  He was applying body lotion to Ryan's cute, 
little, butt.  My hard shaft was beginning to pulse and I 
needed to hold back.  I didn't want to ejaculate just yet.  
Jason moved his hand and placed my middle finger, gently 
into Ryan's anal cavity.  Ryan stiffened and moaned with the 
delight.  I parted my lips, slightly, and Ryan forced his
tongue into my oral cavity to explore.  He ran his tongue 
all around across my teeth, into the roof of my mouth, and 
engaged my tongue in a shoving match.  I raised and lowered 
my middle finger in and out of Ryan's rectum.  He was 
gyrating his pelvis on top of mine.  I could feel his stiff 
shaft rub against mine.  I felt as if I was going to emit my 
Life Force at any minute.  I could feel Ryan's stiff penis 
strain with each beat of his heart.  I broke  from the 
passionate kiss.  I should try something new with Ryan
before I lost my Life Force in our present position.

"Stop, Ryan," I said.  "Let me make it better for you.  Just 
hold on.  Give me the body lotion, Jason."

Jason gave me the container of body lotion.  I put some in 
my hand and asked Ryan to raise his butt up slightly, then I 
reached between us and encased Ryan's hard shaft with my 
hand, spreading body lotion on it.  The foreskin was 
stretched back.  The tip of Ryan's little shaft was extended 
and burning with energy.

"Lift up a minute, Ryan," I said.

Ryan raised back on his knees and I reached down to apply 
the remainder of body lotion on my hand, to my crevasse and 
anus area.  I rolled back on my hips and extended my feet 
out over my head and locked my ankles under the protective 
rail around my platform.  My butt was slightly elevated, 
exposing my anus to the air for all to see.  Jason gave Ryan 
a finger cot to put on his little shaft.  When he had it in 
place, I said,

"Now, Ryan, place your little shaft at the entrance to my
rectum and follow my lead."

Ryan was kneeling and inched himself closer aligning his 
hard shaft up with the entrance to my anal cavity.  As soon 
as I felt it touch my anus, the walls of my rectum opened so 
fast, that it almost sucked Ryan into me.  I instructed him 
to inch forward until he was in as far as he could go.

"Uhh."

Ryan shoved with great force.  I reached up and guided his 
upper body down against mine, chest to chest.  I resumed the 
passionate kiss, mouth to mouth, tongue to tongue.  Ryan 
raised and lowered his lower torso, so as to pump his hard, 
little, cute, shaft in and out of my anal cavity.  I placed 
my middle finger in Ryan's anal cavity and moved it in and 
out in perfect rhythm.  He continued to pump for a few
minutes longer.  His constant rubbing against my hard shaft 
between our bodies, made it become more sensitive than ever 
before.  His hard shaft rubbing against my prostate gland, 
started the cycle.  My breathing pattern became rapid.  I 
began to see stars and my heart raced.  All my nerve endings 
were tingling.  Ryan pumped a few more times.  I could feel 
his heart beat against the walls of my rectum, then I felt
Ryan's Life Force pulse, once, twice, then a third time.
Simultaneously, my Life Force pulse out the end of my hard 
penis, squeezed between our bodies.  Ryan broke the spell 
and replace his tongue back into his mouth, then moved his 
lips apart from mine.  He laid his head down on my chest, 
stretched his body out, pulling his hard shaft with him, out 
of my anal cavity.  Ryan collapsed on top of me, and 
breathed a sigh of relief.  I lowered my legs back
to the floor to get comfortable.  Ryan and I remained in 
that position for a good long time.  Ryan was trembling 
while his nerves and heart rate returned to normal  I 
replaced my hand on his crevasse and rubbed his little hiney 
until he calmed down.  I spoke in low tones to Ryan,
reassuring him that things were going to work out for all 
concerned.  I may as well have been talking to a brick.  
Ryan had fallen asleep.  I looked over at Jason, lying
on his sleeping bag.  He was perched up on one arm, with his 
head in his hand, looking over at me and smiling.  I pursed 
my lips and blew him a kiss.  Jason giggled and laid down on 
his back.  He had loosened his uniform to release the 
pressure on his bulging hard shaft and sensitive scrotum.  
It was a wonderful thing Jason had done for his friend Ryan, 
letting him have his way with me.  That's true friendship.  
I won't forget it, Jason.  Your dedication to our love, and 
that of Ryan's, will not go unrewarded.  I closed my eyes 
and let out a sigh.  I relaxed and fell asleep myself, 
hoping Jason will be on guard for all invaders from land, 
sea, and air.
--------------------------------------

\|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 21     \|/ \|/


I woke up with a start.  I must have been snoring and got 
too loud.  When I open my eyes, Ryan was still lying naked 
on top of me.  My middle finger was deep in his crevasse.  I 
removed my hand and squeezed his buns, trying to revive him, 
speaking softly into his ear,

"Hey buddy, wake up.  It's time to get going."

Jason had dozed off briefly, but stirred as I was waking 
Ryan.

"Hello my friend," I said.  "Thanks for being on watch over 
us."

"I'm not much of a guard," Jason said.  "I fell asleep too."

I grunted a disapproval grunt, but after all, I didn't 
exactly ask him to pull guard duty.

I looked up through a hole in the roof to see if it was
almost dark.  It was.  The sun had gone down and there was 
only a hint of blue in the sky.  Ryan had recovered from his 
sleep.  Jason was standing and assisting Ryan to stand also.  


I was still naked and dirty.

"I'm going out to wash up, kids," I said.  "Care to join 
me?"

I looked at Ryan in the dim light.  I could tell that he 
needed a bath also.  I heard Jason remove his uniform.  He 
probably was ready too.  I turned to step off the platform, 
grab a towel, and head for the water hole.  What a relief it 
was to feel the soothing water on my body.  I wiped all of 
my dirty and sensitive parts with the towel, thinking about 
what had just happened between Ryan and myself, and what was
in store for Jason, also.  I almost got hard all over again.  


I was brought back to reality, when two young, firm, naked, 
bodies splashed into the water beside me.  We frolicked a 
little and I washed Ryan all over.  Then I pulled them to me 
and kissed them, saying,

"Jason, Ryan.  What I have to do tonight will be the most
important thing I've ever done, since I've been here.  It is 
very dangerous, so it's absolutely necessary that we all be 
together.  I can't leave you here in the old shed to fend 
for yourselves.  I  would worry about you two if I was alone 
on this.  Not knowing if you were ok, or not, would destroy 
the mission."

"We're with you, Charles, Jason said.  Don't ever leave us, 
not now, not now."

"Fine," I said.  "Let's get up there and get dressed.  A
friend is waiting for us at the school.  Tomorrow is to be 
the first day of the rest of your life."
--------------------------------------

            \|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 21     \|/ \|/

I woke up with a start.  I must have been snoring and got
too loud.  When I open my eyes, Ryan was still lying 
naked on top of me.  My middle finger was deep in his 
crevasse.  I removed my hand and squeezed his buns, 
trying to revive him, speaking softly into his ear,

"Hey buddy, wake up.  It's time to get going."

Jason had dozed off briefly, but stirred as I was waking
Ryan.

"Hello my friend," I said.  "Thanks for being on watch 
over us."

"I'm not much of a guard," Jason said.  "I fell asleep 
too."

I grunted a disapproval grunt, but after all, I didn't
exactly ask him to pull guard duty.

I looked up through a hole in the roof to see if it was
almost dark.  It was.  The sun had gone down and there 
was only a hint of blue in the sky.  Ryan had recovered 
from his sleep.  Jason was standing and assisting Ryan to 
stand also.

I was still naked and dirty.

"I'm going out to wash up, kids," I said.  "Care to join
me?"

I looked at Ryan in the dim light.  I could tell that he
needed a bath also.  I heard Jason remove his uniform.  
He probably was ready too.  I turned to step off the 
platform, grab a towel, and head for the water hole.  
What a relief it was to feel the soothing water on my 
body.  I wiped all of my dirty and sensitive parts with 
the towel, thinking about what had just happened between 
Ryan and myself, and what was in store for Jason, also.  
I almost got hard all over again.

I was brought back to reality, when two young, firm, 
naked, bodies splashed into the water beside me.  We 
frolicked a little and I washed Ryan all over.  Then I 
pulled them to me and kissed them, saying,

"Jason, Ryan.  What I have to do tonight will be the most
important thing I've ever done, since I've been here.  It 
is very dangerous, so it's absolutely necessary that we 
all be together.  I can't leave you here in the old shed 
to fend for yourselves.  I  would worry about you two if 
I was alone on this.  Not knowing if you were ok, or not, 
would destroy the mission."

"We're with you, Charles, Jason said.  Don't ever leave 
us, not now, not now."

"Fine," I said.  "Let's get up there and get dressed.  A
friend is waiting for us at the school.  Tomorrow is to 
be the first day of the rest of your life."
------------------------------------------

            \|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 22     \|/ \|/

The back of the school was dark as usual.  I looked 
around for stun beams or scanners and saw nothing.  I 
climbed the bank and sprinted for the casement window.  
No response from any security, so I signaled for Jason 
and Ryan.

"Pssst."

Jason and Ryan joined me at the window and we went 
inside. Jason being the smart ass asked again, that I 
watch my head.

I responded with a Bronx Cheer (forcing air through the
junction of my tongue and lips), and Ryan laughed.

I instructed the kids that we had to go back to the
principal's office and wait.  As we followed the 
passageway behind the walls, I stopped every couple of 
minutes to listen for foreign footsteps.  The ringing in 
my ears had flared up, so I had to make a major effort to 
listen.  I determined there weren't any other noises but 
those of Jason, Ryan, and me.  We made it to the 
storeroom inside the principal's office and waited.  I 
cautioned the kids not to say a word, and I did the same.  
In fact, we hardly breathed.  Within a few minutes, I 
heard something moving along the air passage.  It was 
either the Booger Man, or an Alligator, or with hope, 
Russell Winner.  A bottom shelf was empty on both sides 
of the storeroom.  Jason and Ryan had stretched 
themselves out along it and I ducked behind some
boxes.  I saw a glimmer of light shine through the vent
cover, then a reflection of the light, off the Russ's 
face. Damn.  He would never have made it with my outfit 
in Viet Nam.  He sounded like a Sherman Tank coming 
through the passageway.

"Pssst!"

I stepped away from the security of the boxes and pulled 
the vent cover open for him.  When he was erect and on 
two feet, I reminded him of his noisy entrance.

"So this is the famous duo," Russ said pointing to Jason 
and Ryan.  "Which is which?"

I introduced them to Russ, and the kids returned the
pleasantries.  Damn, who taught them the manners, or was 
it a conditioned response to elder adult figures?

"We must hurry, Russ said.  "Mountcastle is missing a
magnecraft, only they don't know it, but that may change 
at any time.  Let's follow this passage around beyond the
office."

I thought a minute.  Why the hell should I.  I've never 
been beyond this area.  I wasn't quite sure of Russell's
stability at this point, so I pinned him down on the 
plan.

"That passage leads to a room over the library," Russ 
said
"Library?" I asked.  "What library?  The books have been
burned, remember?"

"No, no," he said.  That's where they have all the Info
Disks on the things that are taught here.  It is where 
all the lies are stored."

I allowed for his political comment, and proceeded to 
follow him, North, to the library.  We turned right and 
then left. We walked parallel along the passageway, where 
just on the other side was one of the scanners.  I hope 
there weren't any vibration or pressure sensors in this 
area.  We made one more turn and came into a room that 
was sealed off from everything else.  I can't believe 
"they" forgot this room was here.  Heaven forbid.

Russell shined the light around the room.  It was filled
with boxes and crates.

"What is all this, Russ? "I said.

I could see warnings written all over the boxes.  As I 
got closer, I could see the word "EXPLOSIVES" clearly.

"Where the hell did you get all this?" I asked.  How long
has it been here?"

That's all we need, to have unstable nitroglycerin 
droplets from the old dynamite all over the place.  One 
sneeze would probably cause the stuff to blow.  I wasn't 
too fond of dying from an accident at 146 years old.  
That would ruin my whole day.

"It's been here about four years." Russell said.  "We 
stored it here just before Nelson and Robert got caught.  
Would you believe we found it?"

Hell no I wouldn't believe it.  I just grunted and picked 
up a box.  Nelson and Robert had told me more than that.

"Now what?" I said.  "Shall we go?"

Jason, Russ, and Ryan each picked up a box of something.
Russ led the way.

"We need detonators and other things, Russ."

"I've got them with me.  You have the dynamite, Ryan has
grenades and Jason has plastic material."

I could see Ryan struggling with his load.  The grenades
must have been heavy as hell.  I offered to swap our 
loads and he jumped at the chance.  We wound around 
through the passageways, back to our entry point.  Russ 
asked that we remain here while he went for the 
magnecraft.  My hair bristled out at the back of my neck.  
I wanted to go, so as to make sure he came back.  I 
didn't want to send one of the kids, if it was a trap.  I 
ripped open one of the grenade boxes and picked one out.

"I tell ya what I'm gona do," I said looking at Russell.
"If you come back with anybody but yourself, I'm gona 
blow your ass into a million pieces.  UNDERSTAND?  It's 
not that I don't trust you, or anything, Russ.  It's that 
I've gone too far in this and have endangered these kid's 
life too many times, to let anything happen now."

"I understand, Charles," he said.  You turned me around,
today in the park.  I saw what you had to do, 
immediately.  I'm back on track, now.  It's something I 
should have done a long time ago."

"Good," I said.  "Just so we understand each other."

With that, Russ went through the window and disappeared 
into the darkness.   My left index finger itched, while 
holding the pin of the grenade in my right hand.  I hope, 
if I needed to use it, that it wasn't a dud.

I stood guard at the window.  The sky was clear and
moonless.  I could see to the end of the building along
34Th. Street, that was sharply defined by the lighting 
along its' sides.  Suddenly, there was a large shadow 
moving along the ground, and then the absence of light.  
A large, dark colored magnecraft blocked my vision, 
between the window and 34Th street.   The magnecraft 
pulled up along the back of the building, and Russell 
Winner got out of the operator side door, beckoning to us 
to hurry.

I went through the window, first and Ryan handed me a 
box, which I handed to Russ.  He placed it in the back of 
the magnecraft.  This continued until we had all the 
boxes in the vehicle.  Jason, Ryan, and myself piled in.  
Russ got behind the steering device, then took off.  
There was a pause, then the characteristic two beeps, and 
we merged with mainstream traffic.

    ****                   ****                     ****

"Pull up along that wall," I said to Russ pointing, "and 
let me out."

Russ cut the operating lighting off and pulled the sleek,
dark magnecraft along the wall to the end I had indicated 
to Nelson and Robert.  It was secluded there, and dark.  
Russ opened a storage area next to the control panel of 
the magnecraft.

"Here, try these," he said.

Russ handed me a pair of glasses that resembled 
sunglasses.

"Put them on and look for scanners or stun beam sources," 
he added.

I put the glasses on, but felt a little silly, since it 
was dark. I looked around and got a whole new perspective 
on things.  Every hint of anything colored red was as 
bright as if I was looking through them in the daylight.  
I couldn't see over the wall, so I asked Russ to hover 
the magnecraft a little higher.  When he did, I scanned 
the courtyard and only spotted one single stun beam 
source and two scanners near the door.  I could see the 
stun beam beginning to rotate in my direction.  I was 
quick to have Russ drop below the level of the wall.

Jason and Ryan went to work.  They began to open the box
with the dynamite and plastic.  Damn, that plastic 
smelled like it had been up someone's ass for a year.  
Russ put the magnecraft on the ground and we got out to 
survey the wall.

I put plastic and dynamite in as many cracks and crevices 
I could.  I inserted one of the detonators in each 
plastic blob along the wall.  The detonators were self 
contained timing mechanisms, complete with its own power 
supply and securing device.  I examined them and found 
that they were operational, even after all this time.  
That was one hell of a battery they had.  I set each 
timer for enough time to get to safety.  The force of the 
plastic exploding would set the dynamite off.

Not more than fifty feet from the wall, there was a 
wooded area.  The first wooded area I've seen around 
here.  Well, that probably won't last long.  We pulled 
the magnecraft over to the edge of the wooded area, a 
safe distance away, then shut power to the magnecraft and 
waited.

We didn't have to wait long.  Within two minutes, there 
was a loud explosion and a light that would have lit up 
Grand Central Station.  I didn't watch Jason and the 
others.  I was too busy hugging the ground.  Oh shades of 
Viet Nam.  I waited until the debris stopped falling and 
looked up.  The explosion triggered every alarm at P.I.R.  
The whole place lit up like a Christmas tree.  There were 
Klaxons sounding, sirens wailing, and rotating beacons, 
flashing.

Nelson, Robert and a third figure were running toward us 
at a fast pace.  Who was the third figure?  Where the 
hell were they going to fit in the magnecraft?  Certainly 
we weren't going to slip into the wooded area and hide?  
Not my ass!

Above all the noise and commotion, I sensed a presence
behind me.  Hair stiffened along the back of my neck.  
Then I heard a familiar Beep-Beep sound.  I turned to see 
a Red magnecraft and a square jaw man sitting behind the 
control panel with a shit eating grin on his face.

"Hi ya, Charlie Boy," the figure said.  "Need a little 
help?

Get in."

I turned to Nelson and Robert and told them to proceed 
with the plan.

"Just go and get the hell out of here."

"Before we go, Nelson said, "I want you to know, that our
mission will not fail, this time.  Thanks Charles."

I could see orange suits scrambling around like they had
their finger up their ass.  I took advantage of the time,
hugged Nelson and Robert, and wished them good luck.

"Who's your friend there, Nelson?" I asked, pointing at 
the third figure.

"Sorry," he said. "That's Craig Jones.  He was with us at
the time I told you about."

I pulled Craig to me and hugged him.

"Good luck, mi amigo," I said, "good luck."

There was no time left.  I didn't have time to check out
Craig or even talk with him.  I deduced that he was 
Shaun's father.  I had to trust Nelson's and Robert's 
judgement. However, the kids were off to my left and I 
didn't note any glint of recognition on the part of 
Nelson and Robert, in response to the kids' expression of 
affection toward their father's.  Nelson and Robert 
responded to them, as they did with me.  They seemed to 
consider Jason and Ryan as my helpers.  At that point, I 
felt justified in taking them with me.  There was nothing 
here for them.  Their life wouldn't be worth a plug 
nickel if they went with Nelson, Robert, and the gang.

Nelson, Robert, and Craig, all piled into Russell's
magnecraft. Jason, Ryan, and myself, piled in with ole'
Fred.  Russ took off like a shot and Fred was right 
behind him.  I looked back to see that the orange suits 
had discovered the hole in the wall, and were aiming 
weapons toward us.  I could see them fire some sort of 
missiles at us, but we must have been out of range.  None 
of them connected with the magnecraft.

Fred swung hard to the left and poured on the energy to 
make the craft, as "they" say, "shit and git."  I was 
pinned down in the seat and against the door for a brief 
moment.  We leveled off and headed toward the city.

As we got closer, I could see strong lights off to my 
right.  I followed the beam to its' destination.  It was 
the side of Mountcastle Main and several other buildings.  
My likeness was plastered, big as life by projection, 
against these buildings.  It was a good picture.  It had 
captured my best side.  Where the hell did "they" get it?  
Of course....the hallway at P.I.R. It must have been a 
video arrangement I didn't observe.  Underneath the 
picture, were some words I couldn't read from this 
distance.  Nelson's, Robert's, and Craig's picture 
flashed up following mine.

"I guess I'm in deep shit," I said, "huh, Fred?"

"Ha..ha," Fred said,  "I guess you are.... DEEP, DEEP,
SHIT."

How was it you caught up with us, Fred?" I asked.

"Well Charlie Boy," Fred said, "it's a long story.  The
first day you got in this vehicle, I scanned your wrist.
Later that night, I put this scan into  Central Storage 
at Mountcastle Main.  Well Mountcastle rejected the scan.  

"They" told me that you were not on file.  Your number 
was out of sequence.  At first, I thought it was an 
error, so I tried again.  Again, the same message came 
back.  I didn't want to stay up all night fighting some 
dumb computer, so I scanned someone else twice.  In 
essence, you had a free ride.

"Thanks, Fred," I said, as Barney Rubble would.

"The next day," Fred continued, "was the same thing.  
Then I put in "Charles." Still nothing.  So I decided to 
check on you, myself.  There was something familiar about 
you, but I couldn't quite place it.  Then it dawned on 
me.  My brother and I were over at Robert's living 
quarters.  We began to look through some old photographs 
he had lying around.  I saw a Citizen, in one of the 
pictures, that looked like you, so that's why I gave you 
my card.  It didn't make a lot of sense, but I had a gut 
feeling.  When you called me from Mountcastle Main, the 
number flashed up on my display, here.

I looked it up, later when I got back to my quarters.  
The number crossed to Russell Winner.  Citizen Russell 
Winner, Nelson Turner, Robert Mitchell, Craig Jones, and 
my brother were all together in the big revolt attempt.  
So I've been keeping tabs on you ever since....My brother 
was killed by those heartless bastards at Mountcastle 
Main.  I knew that you would ultimately help me to 
revenge my brother's death.  I'm just doing my part, 
Citizen Charles, just doing my part.

"Thanks for telling me all you have, Fred, I said.  "I 
feel much better about everything, now.  Perhaps this day 
will be a new beginning to your reclaimed history.  
Perhaps the day will be named in honor of your brother.  
Let's hope."

Fred didn't have time for a response.  A strong light 
shown on the bright Red magnecraft.  A second later an 
explosive shell blew up, mere yards away.  Fred took 
evasive action.  I told the kids to duck down as low as 
they could, and I tried to assist Fred with navigation.

The barrage kept coming.  Fred twisted and turned, 
rapidly.  It was all I could do to keep breakfast down.  
The light from the shells and mortars was bright along 
the ground.  The glint from something caught my eye.  It 
was the water hole behind the old tool shed.  I could 
hear the familiar sound of other aircraft near us.  Red 
streaks of energy were bouncing off the skin of Fred's 
magnecraft.  I could feel the heat building up inside.  A 
few more shots like that, Jason, Ryan, myself and ole' 
Fred here, would be blown from the sky.

"Quick!" I said pointing.  "Down there by that old shed!"

Fred put his magnecraft in a dive, then flattened out  
just inches off the ground, and came to a halt, not ten 
feet from the door.

(Now to get my ass hole out of my stomach.)

He opened the door, and Red stun-like beams were being 
shot at us along the ground, from the noisy aircraft.  
"They" had not stabilized, yet, so their aim was not too 
accurate.  I jumped out of the door and virtually yanked 
Jason and Ryan out behind me.  A stun beam struck the 
open door, protecting us.  Sparks flew all around from 
the contact of the beam and the plastic of the magnecraft 
door.  I jumped and attempted to shield the kids.  The 
sound of the stun beam energy hitting all around, was 
enough by itself, to strike fear in the hearts of man.  I 
grabbed Jason and Ryan under the arms and sprinted in 
"John Wayne" fashion, the short distance to the door of 
the old shed.

A voice from above petitioned me to stop in my tracks.

"HALT CITIZEN!"

Bullshit.  We were at the door, now.  In the last final 
act of defiance, I released my hold on the kids, then 
shoved them in the door.  I lifted my fist in the air and 
extended my middle finger, upward.  Another stun beam 
struck the door as I went through it, just in the nick of 
time.  A piece of metal fragment hit me, but glanced off 
without penetrating.

"Get on the platform!" I yelled.  "HURRY."

Jason and Ryan didn't hesitate.  I was on their heels.  
The stun beams continued to strike the building.  The 
pilots of the aircraft continued to bark orders at me 
about giving up to avoid being destroyed.  I ignored the 
warnings.  I pushed the control I had marked "RUN" on the 
control panel of the platform.  I heard the whine of the 
power supply, and within seconds the light, labeled 
"ACKNOWLEDGE," lit.

"Close your eyes, kids," I said " and grab the rail.  
It's going to be a rough ride."
------------------------------------------

            \|/ \|/     CHAPTER - 23     \|/ \|/

Thoughts of Nelson, Robert, Craig, and ole' Fred, went
through my head.  I hoped they made it to safety.

"BOOM!"

The sound was almost deafening and there was a brilliant
flash of light.  At first, I wasn't sure whether the stun
beams had destroyed the roof and it caved in on my 
platform,
or it was the sound I was familiar with, associated with
this platform.  From the vibration, I determined we were 
on the way back to 1990.  The framework creaked, groaned 
and shook, violently.  Above the vibration, I could hear 
the tone of the homing beacon through an audio section of
control panel.  What a sweet sound that 2000 Hz. tone was 
to me.

"COME ON, BABY.  YOU CAN MAKE IT," I yelled above the 
noise.

Seconds ticked by, it seemed, like minutes.  I continued 
to monitor the control panel for improper readings.  
There was one that began to change, and the beacon tone 
began to drift off.  SHIT.  I made an adjustment and the 
drifting stabilized.  About one second later, the 
vibration subsided, then there was another brilliant 
flash of light.  All vibration ceased at that moment.  I 
could only hear the sound of the beacon.

I looked at the clock display.

"08-20-1990 / 02:14 Hrs." It read.  GOD!  We were home.

I lowered the volume of the beautiful sounding beacon, 
and turned to comfort my passengers.

I helped Jason and Ryan release there death grip on the
protective rail around the platform.  I spun them around 
to face me, then I hugged them both tight to me.

"You're home, kids," I said.  "Welcome home.  Let's get 
out of here and go in my house.  You two must be 
exhausted, and I'm a little tired myself.  We can all 
sleep in a real bed and get a well deserved rest."

Jason and Ryan looked up at me and just smiled, not 
saying a word.  I stepped down off the platform, and 
walked over to a small safe I  had under the work bench.  
I spun the dial, then worked the combination until the 
safe opened.  Inside, I had placed my house keys, wallet, 
coins, and my trusty pocket knife.  I hadn't needed after 
all.

Jason and Ryan followed me out the door to the shed and 
into the back of my house.  Once inside, I turned on the 
kitchen light.  The kids eyes' were open wide.  By their 
standards, my kitchen must have appeared ancient.  They 
kept turning their heads, looking in all directions, as 
we walked through the house to the bedroom.  Neither had 
said a word.  I reached down and started to undress Ryan.  
Jason took the hint and Ryan finished the job for 
himself.  I went over to the bed and pulled the covers 
down, so I could put their little naked bodies under.  
They were so tired and worn out, that a real bath, in a 
real bath tub/shower, would have to wait.  I could always 
wash the sheets later.

"Get under here, boys," I said.  "I'll join you shortly.

My bed was the King Size variety.  I would have no 
problem with space for naked Jason, naked Ryan, and naked 
me.  I went back into the kitchen to lock the back door 
and turn out the lights.  As I passed by my den, I 
noticed the red flashing light on my answering machine, 
flashing rapidly.  Another steady light was on, 
indicating "Tape Full."  I pushed the button to rewind 
the tape and listen to the messages.

The audible date and time stamp started off with,

"Eight-Twelve-Ninety..Ten-Fifteen A.M."

That was Monday week.  There were several messages from 
my station manager and assistant engineer.  They were 
concerned as to my whereabouts and welfare.  One message 
said that somebody was going to get the police here and 
look for foul play, if I didn't return their call.  I 
looked around for signs of forced entry, then I 
remembered that Jimmy has a key to my place.  I had given 
him permission to get anything he needed for his 
experiments.  My manager knew that Jimmy and I hung 
around together a lot.  They wouldn't have to break in if 
they did what they said.  Anyway, the last message on the 
tape, was from my friend, Jimmy.

"Charles, my friend," the voice on the tape said.  "I 
KNOW what you have done.  I hope you didn't get yourself 
into trouble, and that you returned safely.  I don't care 
what TIME you get back.  If you get this message, CALL 
ME!  I am concerned.  Everybody is concerned."

I figured that Jimmy had the goods on me.  I had been 
asking him too many questions of him about Nikola Tesla 
and his experiments.  I should level with him.  Jimmy was 
nobody's fool.

I needed to tell Jimmy the truth, but I needed to think 
up an excuse to tell my staff at the station, too.  I 
couldn't tell them the true story.  They would have me at 
the local mental facility, a real life P.I.R.

It didn't take long to know that Jason and Ryan were now 
a part of my family.  I would tell my staff that I had a
family emergency to take care of, and had to bring my 
little cousins back here to live with me.  Now as for 
Jimmy Anderson, I lifted the receiver of the phone, 
pushed his seven digit number on the key pad, and 
listened for the ring tone.

The ring tone sounded two times.  Then,

"Hello.... CHARLES!" A sleepy, but excited voice said.

"Jimmy," I said.  "How the hell did you know who it was?"

"I just knew, man," he said.  "I just knew.  Are you
alright?

"Yes, Jimmy," I said. "Everything's fine.  Tell everybody 
at the station that you've heard from me, and that I will
explain why I disappeared suddenly, Wednesday morning.  
You come over to the house tomorrow after you get off 
from work.

I will tell you every detail.  Right now, I am going to 
get some well deserved sleep."

"I'll be there at Five O'Clock on the dot, Jimmy said. 
"Get some rest.  I have a feeling it's going to be a long 
story."

"You bet your sweet ass, Jimmy," I thought as I said 
goodbye and hung up the phone.

I cut all the lights off and went back to my bedroom.  I 
got just as naked as Jason and Ryan.  I cut a small 
dresser lamp on to survey the bed and the kids' relative 
position.  Jason was on the left and Ryan was on the 
right.  They were asleep and breathing peacefully.  There 
was a space between them for me to crawl into.  I turned 
off the light, then crawled under the covers between 
naked Jason and naked Ryan.
Welcome kids to the rest of your life.


                      *** THE END ***
                    "A QUESTION OF TIME"
                     By Charles Baudot
                      January 6, 1992
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
           An interesting concept, January 6, 1992

..........................>     Charles Baudot
Any comments?                   C/O 4023 Northrop Street
Please send them                Richmond, Va. 23225
care of                         (804) 233-3170
..............................>

      Thank you all for taking the time to
      read it. ....................Charles
------------------------------------------------


(S)lower (T)han (L)ight