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Chapter 18

Make Room for Reginald

Guy never ran into Mike Lark again before leaving with Reg on their way to Australia. Life usually flows along the path meant for us if we don't try fighting against the natural current. Society doesn't have the right to force us to struggle against our true nature although they will try.

When their plane landed in Sydney Guy didn't know what to expect, but having no one in the lobby to greet them wasn't something he would have imagined. "There must have been a delay of some kind Reg, I'm sure there would have been someone here to meet us along with some transportation. Let's relax for a few minutes while we're waiting for the luggage to be unloaded." Ten minutes passed, fifteen, and then twenty and no one from the ranch showed up.

Guy and Reg decided to gather their luggage only to discover there wasn't any of their baggage to be found. Guy stopped a porter and asked where their luggage was; the porter didn't turn to look at him but said, "All the luggage that came off the plane has been taken care of sir."

Just as Guy was starting to get concerned he noticed the Porter was wearing boots which weren't part of a porter's attire and he was sure they belonged to James. Guy grabbed him by the scuff of the neck and turned him around, James was already laughing when he threw his arms around Guy as he said, "Welcome home Guy."

Doors flew open and everyone came bursting out cheering, Quinn grabbed Guy and swung him around like he used to when he was little before handing him off to his mother. He then gave Reg and bear hug. Reg wasn't sure what to say or do as everyone gathered around shaking his hand, giving him hugs and telling him it was great to meet the guy who brought their kid back home.

Guy said, "I guess I should have expected the unexpected from you guys. I hope Reg isn't traumatized by your surprise." Looking over at Reg who had a big smile on his face, as James and Jon had their arms draped around his shoulders, Guy had to laugh as he thought, it's good to be home again. And better yet to be home with a mate.

Reg had neither been to Australia or on a sheep ranch before so this was all exciting and new to him. He could hardly believe the beautiful house that was surrounded by what seemed like endless acres of stunning, unblemished countryside. It took a couple of months living at the ranch before Reg began to realize that here in Australia on this ranch with these exceptional people, he was no longer a servant but a man among equals.

The paradigm shift for Reg came in realizing that love is a commodity that flows freely from each of us once we understand there is an endless supply and are willing to set it free. Each person here has a love for their mate; that love is different from the love for the others and their mates but is just as endearing.

Reg learned as a child his worth as a good servant; he knew his place in the woven fabric of life as his father had taught him. He has now learned his real value as a human being as endowed by our creator is no less and no more than any other man. The fabric he had been taught to respect and value was woven by men, and that fabric is imperfectly woven in a way to favor a chosen few. This was life's new beginning for Reg and he loved the prospect of what the future might bring. He hadn't realized how soon that future was going to change. Another new paradigm shift for him and the others as related to the universe was about to take place.

Martin, Peter, Michael, Ian, Guy and Reg were relaxing on the front veranda enjoying a June evening when Martin pointed to what appeared to be a shooting star racing across the night sky. Suddenly it changed course and appeared to be making an uncontrolled fall towards the earth. Whatever it was wobbled and gyrated until it hit the ground in a blaze of light. No sound was heard by any of those watching so it must have hit further away than they thought.

Reg said, "I wonder if it's one of those satellites the United States and Russia are launching into orbit? If you recall the Soviet Union launched something they called a Sputnik back in 1957."

Guy stood as he added, "I suppose it could have been, but I wonder if it would be wise of some of us to investigate in case some of our sheep have been injured."

After they explained to the others what they had seen the six of them soon had horses saddled and were on their way heading in the direction where the object appeared to have fallen. There wasn't any light from an explosion or fire, which was a relief since fires could be devastating and hard to get under control so far from a water supply.

They couldn't have ridden more than six miles before sighting a large object in the distance that looked to be possibly thirty-five feet long and eight to ten feet wide. It also was much closer than they thought. Martin suggested they slow their pace and approach with caution. When they were about four hundred feet away Guy raised his hand in a motion for them to stop. They dismounted and crouched low as they notice men walking around while others appeared to be helping men who were lying on the ground possibly injured.

There were lights that seemed to float in midair that lighted the entire area around the craft or whatever it was. The light showed only downward which explained why they hadn't noticed a glow in the sky. Peter whispered, "Martin do you sense anything from them?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure what yet, I feel some trepidation but it's more like they're the ones feeling endangered and there's a lot of confusion, it's hard to explain, it's like they're all talking at the same time. I do sense concern for those lying on the ground that may be injured.

Michael said, "If these people came out to investigate, how did they get here before we did? Our ranch is the only close building and why would there be injured men, and do you see how those lights float freely in the air like that. This whole situation is really strange."

Just then a door slid open and two more people came out of the craft carrying equipment over to where the injured were lying. Reg said, "That has to be some kind of flying machine, but it's nothing like any of the planes I've seen or read about. I have goose bumps, I feel there is something unnatural about all of this, I think those people are all from the ship."

Ian added, "You're not the only one with goose bumps, I also feel there's something weird about all of this. I wonder if a couple of us should approach and see if they need help. Martin said he didn't sense any danger to us, at least not yet."

Guy suggested that only two of them go down, if their aircraft is damaged they may be stuck out here not knowing where to go for help. It was decided that Michael and Guy would go down and see what kind of reaction they get before any of the others show themselves. If the guys still hiding see anything hostile happen one of them would ride back and call for help from the village.

Michael and Guy stood and walked slowly down the slight incline until they were in shouting distance. Guy asked if they needed help. The answer came back nonverbally, "Yes, we have injured crew who need medical assistance, you are in no danger, our injured need more medical attention than we have available on our ship."

Guy looked at Michael, "Michael did you hear that?"

"I can't say that I actually heard it, but yes I understood what was said."

As they continued their approach they noticed the people appeared to be male and each wearing much the same style of clothing or uniforms. Michael said, "Is there anything we can do to help, we are from a ranch not far from here." One of those wearing a different insignia from the rest came close and introduced himself. "I am Gollem, I'm afraid we had a problem with our ship and were forced to make a landing here, a rather hard landing as you can see. Several members of our crew are injured some more severely than others. We would appreciate any medical help you can offer."

Guy said, "There is a hospital in the village and we have a man at the ranch that might be able to help also. We're on horseback so we're not sure how to best transport your injured people."

Gollem looked confused, "Horseback, I don't understand what you mean by horseback?"

Michael and Guy looked at each other feeling a bit unnerved at being asked such an odd question. Michael said, "Horses, they're animals, we ride on their backs. It would be too hard on your injured to move them that way, we'll have to go back to the ranch and see if we can get a truck back this far."

Guy signaled for the others to come down with the horses. When the other four arrived on horseback the strangers acted like they'd never seen anything like them. They were excited and all talking at once which caused confusion in our thoughts, all except Martin that is. He waved his hand and they all stopped talking or speaking telepathically as it appeared they were doing. Gollem also raised his hand and spoke to them verbally in their own language explaining that they needed to speak to us using their voices and one at a time.

Gollem said, "We have never seen anything like these animals you call horses, they're beautiful, may we touch them?"

Martin asked the question that all of them should have been thinking, "Where are you from?" Gollem pointed to the Milky Way visible in the night sky and said, "Our home is just on the other side of that galaxy." One of the others became very upset and a spoke to Gollem telepathically. "Gollem, you know we'll have to kill them all now, you shouldn't have told them where we're from."

Martin gave a barely noticeable hand signal and instantly Michael and Guy jumped on their horses and they all rode off as fast as the horses could move leaving the visitors in a cloud of dust. As they neared the safety of the ranch Peter called for them to stop and asked Martin what the other crewman said to Gollem.

Martin looked almost in a state of shock. Guy rode up and put his arm around Martin's shoulder, "its okay Martin take your time and catch your breath, and thanks for giving us the warning that there was imminent danger.

A few deep breaths and Martin composed himself. "The man who spoke to Gollem telepathically spoke in a strange language which somehow changed to English as I heard it. What he said was, "Gollem you should not have told them where we're from, we'll have to kill all of them."

Michael said, "So much for telling us we were in no danger."

Martin replied, "Michael, the strange thing is I didn't feel any danger from Gollem, it wasn't until the other one spoke that danger entered my thoughts, I knew even before he completed his conversation with Gollem that we needed to get away, and fast."

Quinn came walking up to them from the ranch house carrying a double- barreled shotgun. Ian said, "Quinn, what are you doing out here?"

"We got Martin's message that there was danger, we're all armed and spread out hidden in the dark. What's going on?"

Martin said, "How did you get a message, I used only a hand signal? All I did was lift my little finger as my hand rested on the saddle horn and you couldn't possibly have see that, we were at least five or six miles away."

"I don't know Martin, but James and Jon came rushing out of their bedroom with their hair standing on end yelling that Martin said there was danger."

Reg pointed to the sky and yelled something's coming our way and its' coming fast. This time it was Thomas who ran up from the ranch carrying guns for all of them, he ordered them to scatter and hide. They did as he said without question he had fought in the Korean War and knew what he was doing.

Suddenly a small flying contraption of some kind hovered overhead. Gollem spoke to all of them telepathically apologizing for the crewman who said you would all have to be killed. "Please forgive us, I am the leader and you are in no danger, I would not have allowed any harm to come to you. You came to us offering help and what you heard was a deadly threat, I cannot blame you for leaving."

"I want you to know we will bother you no further; our ship will be repaired and ready to fly again soon. I am sorry for many reasons; the first is that two of our crew have died from their injuries, one was my only son, and the second reason is I wish to have gotten to know you better because of the kindness and love I felt from all of you. My crew will talk of your wonderful horses for many years to come."

"Gollem, we haven't any ill feelings toward you, we're sorry we could not help with your injured crewmates after hearing the threat against us. Especially now that we know one of those injured was your son. We wish you a safe journey back to your home. Perhaps one day we'll meet again."

"Thanks to you all, you are very special people, but we will never meet again this was our last journey through this part of the galaxy."

Martin said, "Never say never."

"What does that mean?"

"It's a saying we have when we wish to meet someone again."

Gollem smiled, waved and disappeared into the darkness.

Chapter 19 to follow: