Him
Who Made The Seven Stars
By
Waddie
Greywolf
Chapter
12
"Faith
is
the
surrender
of the mind; it's the surrender of reason, it's the
surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals.
It's our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our
reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in
someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. Of all the
supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated." ~ Christopher
Hitchens
There was
a great flash of light and Billy’s family touched down in the barn at
the line cabin. The look on Enoch’s face was priceless. “Woah!” he
exclaimed and everyone laughed with him. The first experience of
transporting can be a bit mind blowing.
“Everyone arrive
in one piece?” Billy asked.
They responded
and laughed. “Nice flight, Kemosabe. You done good,” Nick said.
Billy walked
over to Roz. “How’s it going, Roz,” he asked.
“About the same.
If I didn’t have Sam and Maybelle to jaw with mentally, I’d probably be
a basket case by now,” she said and laughed, “But I see the twins have
brought their instruments. That’s a ray of hope,” she added.
“A talking cow?”
Enoch asked in awe and walked over to get a good look at Roz.
“And not just
any talking cow, young man, she’s also pregnant with my grandson, Billy
Junior,” Kate bragged.
“No. How is that
possible?” Enoch asked.
“Didn’t anybody
ever teach you about the birds and the bees, cowboy?” Roz asked drolly.
“Sure, but birds
can’t have bees or vice versa,” Enoch replied.
“Alas, this
world is so limited,” Roz lamented, and everyone laughed, “It depends
on the universe you’re familiar with, but there are so many different
ones, it would boggle your mind some of the things higher life forms
can achieve,” Roz said.
“Amen to that,
little sister,” Billy agreed with Roz, “Don’t worry, before the
weekend’s over you’ll have a pretty good grip on the basics, Big
Brother,” Billy said.
“Are all these
strange cows like Roz?” Enoch asked.
“No, about half
are bulls,” Billy said and grinned. “Hank -- you, Buck, and Andy ride
herd on our tenderfoot cowboy and fill him in on the details. Moss, you
might wanna’ stick close to 'em, too. In the meantime, I’m going to
open the doors and let in some fresh air. It smells like a barn in
here,” Billy said.
“It is a barn,
Billy,” Kate said and laughed.
“I know, but it
don’t have to smell like one,” Billy said.
“Roz, I assume
you can morph like Andy and the other highland cattle, why do you have
to remain uncomfortable and bored as a cow during the first stages of
your pregnancy?” Kate asked.
“I guess because
it’s the way Master Billy wants me. I never questioned him about it.
First and foremost, I’m Master Billy’s slave, and it’s considered bad
manners to question your master. When I volunteered for this job, I
told him I didn’t mind carrying his and Boomer’s son to term, it would
be an honor, but a consideration must be for me to be in cow form to
accept insemination to accommodate Boomer’s size. He’s quite large, you
know. Master Billy was kind enough to share with me, he wouldn’t ask me
to take something so large into my body he hadn’t already had in his,
and while the knowledge was a comfort, it was not an inspiration. In my
humanoid form I’m rather small physically. I’m only five feet tall.
Beyond that, I don’t have an answer for you, Mistress Kate,” Roz
replied.
There were
giggles, chuckles, and a couple of downright guffaws at Roz’s innocent
but truthful comment about Billy and Boomer’s bonding. Hank and Buck
were holding each other laughing as their master rolled his eyes and
blushed. Kate even laughed. Nick and Clyde were holding each other
laughing. Moss and Enoch laughed together.
“What about it,
Billy?” Kate asked.
“About what? Me
and Boomer’s bonding or Roz?” Billy asked and laughed.
“Oh, Billy, get
over yourself for goodness sake. Folks aren’t as naive as you might
think these days. One plus one equals a proto-embryo, no? I don’t care
how you and Boomer done it. All I care about is, I got me a great
grandson on the way, and by God, I plan to fight tooth and nail like
the fiercest mother bear protects her cub to see he gets a good start
in this world,” Kate declared.
“Good to know,
Grandma,” Billy sucked in air and let it out with a laugh. “To be
honest, we been in such a rush and preoccupied with one crisis after
another, I never gave it much thought beyond the initial insemination.
I thought the rest would work itself out. No pun intended,” Billy
replied and giggled.
“No wonder the
poor dear is bored. She don’t have anything to do or occupy her mind.
Could you morph to your humanoid form until you began to get really
large, Roz?” Kate asked.
“I don’t see why
not, but it would be up to my master,” Roz replied.
“What about the
proto-embryo? When you morphed back into a cow would he then become a
highland calf?” Billy asked.
“Naw, it don’t
work that way, Master Billy,” Boomer spoke up, “I already asked our
uncles about it, and they assured me it wouldn’t happen.”
“Billy, I can
always use Roz around the house if she’s willing to give me a hand, and
we got that small apartment off the kitchen what’s warm and
comfortable. It ain’t being used. She could stay with us until it was
almost time for delivery. Having given birth to two large male sons, I
should think being in cow form for delivery would be a blessing. Believe
me,
childbearing
is
highly overrated. If given the option,
I would have done it in a heartbeat. We know the exact date of
insemination. She shouldn’t have to remain as a cow until, perhaps, her
final couple of weeks,” Kate said, “Roz can decide that. She’ll know
when the baby gets too large and uncomfortable for her,” she added.
“What about it,
Roz? You think you feel like starting work a little early and giving my
grandmother a hand?” Billy asked.
“Absolutely,
sir. It would be like an answer to a prayer,” Roz replied.
“Fine. Clyde if
Roz morphs to her humanoid form could you outfit her with something
nice to wear?” Billy asked the big angel.
“Sure, Boss. I’m
not much of a women’s clothes designer, but between Roz and Mistress
Kate we should be able to come up something suitable,” Clyde replied.
“Later, I can
give grandma some money, and she can take Roz into town to buy her
several outfits to wear around the house. We’ll take her along this
afternoon and then take her back to the main house with us. She can
have the added benefit of meeting Nick’s folks and enjoying the twin’s
music. You up for it, Roz?” Billy asked.
“You bet, Master
Billy! I’d love to get out of here for a while,” Roz replied.
“Okay, all males
out of the barn into the cabin so Roz can have a little privacy.
Grandma, we’ll leave you with Roz and Clyde. We’ll go tidy up the cabin
while you folks help Roz. Make it something practical but comfortable
for our trip to Nick’s ship,” Billy said.
“Will you get
out of here?” Kate asked and grinned, “He fertilizes an embryo and
thinks he’s in charge. Wrong! Us girls and Clyde can handle this,
Master Billy,” Kate said with emphasis on the word ‘master.’
Billy hung his
head, tucked his tail between his legs, and replied like a young boy,
“Yes, ma’am, Grandma,” he said as he turned and walked away with
slumped shoulders. Kate and Roz laughed at him as he left the barn and
closed the door behind him with a big grin on his face.
“Is it okay for
me to change, Mistress Kate?” Roz asked.
“Don’t see why
not, child, they’re all gone but Clyde, and we’ll just think on him as
our big brother who’s simply fabulous with wardrobe and hair,” Kate
replied and giggled.
Roz morphed into
a petite young female with close cut blond hair which framed her face
perfectly. She looked like a beautiful little pixie, with human ears.
Kate couldn’t help take her in her arms to give her a hug and a kiss.
“You’re lovely, Roz, but you still smell like a cow, darling,” Kate
said and smiled.
“I can take care
of that, Mistress Kate,” Clyde volunteered, “If you’ll stand away from
her for a moment, Ma’am,” he added.
Kate moved away,
Clyde raised his wings, and Roz was flooded with a bright white light
which rained down on her -- all over her -- splashed onto hay on the
barn floor, and seemed to be absorbed into the ground beneath. She
raised her arms above her head to catch the light like someone might in
a shower, and rubbed it all over her body. Roz ran her fingers through
and massaged her hair with her hands. When she was finished, she turned
around a few times to rinse, and she was done. The light changed color
from white to blue and then a dark lavender. It contained a wonderful
scent of fresh wildflowers on a spring day. It was as comforting a
fragrance as it was intoxicating. The light stopped and Roz shook her
hair. It seemed to settle about her head and face, and framed her
beauty perfectly. Kate was stunned. By anyone’s standards, Roz was a
small, but beautiful young woman.
“How about a
form fitting, but not too tight, full body jump suit with a pair of
low-cut tennis pumps with matching canvas belt?” Clyde asked.
“Let’s see it,”
Kate said, and instantly Roz was dressed in a sky-blue jumpsuit with a
comfortable looking pair of canvas pumps with navy shoe laces, a canvas
belt to match, and a nice red silk scarf loosely tied around her neck.
“I think not! Clash! Change the color of the scarf to a light pink,
Clyde,” Kate said like a fashionista. It was done in an instant. “Much
softer. Very nice, Clyde, thank you,” Kate complimented the big angel.
“Thanks,
Mistress Kate, coming from you, it means a lot,” Clyde blushed.
Roz walked up to
him, threw her arms around his neck, and gently kissed him on the
cheek. “It’s perfect, Clyde. Thank you,” she said, and he blushed a
darker red. Roz and Kate laughed at him.
“You look
stunning for an afternoon of exploring, Roz. Shall we join the others?”
Kate asked.
“I’d love to,
Mistress Kate,” Roz replied. Clyde was too busy blushing to comment.
The men had the
same reaction Kate and Clyde did to Roz. They were stunned by her
petite radiant beauty, and she looked perfect in her small sky-blue
jumpsuit. Billy walked to her, opened his arms, and they embraced. He
kissed her gently on her forehead. “You look and smell wonderful, Roz.
Glad grandma said something, and you decided to join us. You’ll make a
wonderful addition to our family and grandma won’t feel so alone with
another woman around the house,” he said, “But be careful. Once she
gets her hooks into you she’s difficult to escape,” Billy added and
laughed.
“I’m not the
least worried about Mistress Kate, Master Billy. I welcome her role as
protective great grandmother bear, for me as well as the child I carry.
I think it’s a wonderful idea, Master. This way you won’t have to
invest in entertainment for the cabin, I can help Mistress Kate, and
have her and all of you men for company. I’m happy it’s a win-win idea
for everyone,” Roz said.
Everyone got
busy, tidied up the cabin, removed the animal waste, and put down fresh
bedding for them. Billy closed up the cabin, and they moved to the barn
to depart. He left the door open at the opposite end of the barn for
Samson and Maybelle to return when they wanted. He figured they were
out tending to business. He wondered how long it would be before
Maybelle was in foal and Samson became a sire.
They gathered
together for the final leg of their journey. Once again Billy gave the
order for his flight crew to wing-up, they responded, and Billy’s
family vanished to reappear in the village square of the ship. No one
seemed terribly surprised. Many stopped what they were doing to come
see who the new visitors were with their captain and their new young
master. Since it was Nick’s ship, Billy told him to take the lead.
“Seth?” Nick
said to the evolved intelligence on board.
“Welcome back,
Captain Nick. Beauford said there was a chance you and our young master
might be returning with a group of people. I will alert him and your
other protectors to meet with you in the village square. Welcome to
you, Master Billy, and welcome to our new visitors. We’re always
pleased to have folks we never met before visit with us. We hope you
enjoy your stay,” Seth said.
“Thank you,
Seth, it’s a comfort to hear your voice again,” Billy said.
“Why, thank you,
sir. It’s very kind of you to say,” he replied.
The badly burned
young boy and his sister whom Billy healed ran to his ams. Billy picked
them up, hugged, and kissed each one. The stout, handsome dwarf walked
up to Billy leading his daughter. He got down on his knees and was
going to kiss Billy’s boots, but Billy stopped him and fell to his
knees. No need to pay homage. Come to your master’s arms, Faustus, and
show him your love,” Billy ordered. A big smile crossed the little-big
man’s face as he stood to grab Billy around his neck in a bone
crunching hug and kissed him right on the mouth. Billy returned
Faustus’ kiss in kind. Next his young daughter, who was still quite
shy, hugged Billy, and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. Billy smiled
and thanked her for her affectionate welcome.
The crowd parted
as Razza, the dragon man, flew down from the sky to land not far from
Billy. “Master,” he said and fell to his knees and proceeded to kiss
each of Billy’s boots.
“Come to my arms
my handsome dragon and share you love with your master,” Billy said
gently. Raz was in his arms in an instant, and they kissed a goodly
kiss. “So good to see you again, my friend, and to see you flying is a
happy sight,” Billy said.
“You can’t know
what’s it’s done for me and my spirits, Master. I’m a new dragon. I can
hunt and help provide food for us and the villagers. I no longer feel
useless. You gave me back my dragon-hood. I will forever be in your
debt, sir,” he said.
“Nonsense. I did
what I could out of empathy and respect. Beyond your gracious thanks
and continued respect for me as your master, you owe me nothing more,”
Billy said.
“Welcome,
Master, and welcome to your guests,” Razza said with a grand flourish
of
his wings and a deep bow. Billy’s family was wowed by what they were
witnessing. Moss and Enoch were stunned. Billy warned his grandmother,
but even she was impressed by the people and various critters, large
and small, who lived together on Nick’s ship in harmony.
Pan the
panther-man came running at a fast pace and Leon the lion-man with
wings was flying by his side as they came in from the outback and knelt
before Billy. Billy didn’t go through any formal ceremony with them. He
just shook their hands and told them how fine they were looking. Billy
found Pan particularly attractive.
The great Shedu,
Beauford, arrived and came to Billy. His enormous size made it
difficult for him to kneel before his master, but he graciously
welcomed Billy. His young cowboy master showered him with compliments
and praise for how much his crew accomplished in a short time. The
repairs to
the ship were obvious. It looked like everyone worked around the clock
to get things back in order, and it showed. Beauford gave a report to
Nick and Billy what they got done and gave a great deal of the credit
to their junior crew and their exceptional talents.
Nick’s last two
protectors, Joe and Crunch, a giant blue human and his greenish
half-Ork lover, lumbered in after the others, and Billy settled for a
handshake with the two enormous males. Leaving tusk prints in his face
after kissing an Ork was not particularly to Billy’s liking. He didn’t
feel he knew either species well enough to get so close. Everyone seemed
to relax and got to know one another. The villagers were fascinated
with Kate
being Billy’s grandmother, and they adored the young pregnant humanoid.
She didn’t have to tell them she was pregnant, they just knew, and the
women of the village were protective and solicitous of her, offering
her food and drink. She and Kate became a pair. They seemed to be
enjoying themselves and each other’s company.
The twins
discovered the dwarfs and halflings and felt like they were returned to
their people. They were in tears for the first thirty minutes after
they arrived. Billy purposely didn’t tell them about the other
halflings or dwarfs he met on Nick’s ship. He wanted it to be a
surprise for them. Poly and Cass were flabbergasted. Nick introduced
his new family to his old family on board the ship and told them to
accept them and be as gracious to the new folks as if they were their
own family members.
Hank and Buck
took Moss and Enoch under their wings to explain to them they lived for
damn near sixty-five years on another planet and they were used to
unusual humanoids and intelligent critters. Many on Nick’s ship were
species they recognized and met their kind before. They were friends
with many. The bigger cowboys walked around with their mouths open the
first couple of hours they were on the ship. “Did you know
about this, Moss?” Enoch asked.
“I knew Billy
rescued Nick from his crashed spaceship and saved his life. I knew
Billy’s visited other worlds and met Boomer, the halflings, Archie and
Edith, but I never met none of these folks. I’m as bewildered as you,
but like you said a while ago, I have to know more about all this.
Billy offered me a job in his organization yesterday, and I readily
accepted. As of today, I’m working for a man I know’d all my life, a
man I grow’d up with, who I love more than I’d like to admit, and I
feel like I’m just now getting to know him,” Moss said.
“I only know’d
him for less than a day, yet I feel like I know’d him for years. I keep
asking myself why I ain’t more surprised, disturbed, or upset about all
this, but there’s a voice what speaks to me in the back of my mind
since I’s a little kid what told me this is where I belong. These
people, through Billy and his family, are my people. My voice done told
me, even before Orville tried to kill me this morning, Billy is the man
I must work for and serve the rest of my life,” Enoch said with firm
conviction.
“Y’ain’t alone,
brother. I feel the same damn way. I told ma’ pa if I had to, I’d give
ma’self to Billy to be his slave, if’n he’d have me,” Moss shared with
the giant cowboy.
“Same here,
brother. I come to the same conclusion, but you know what? I don’t
think that’s what he wants from us. Call me a dreamer or a crazy man, I
don’t care, but I think we been brought along, same’s him, by outside
forces in the universe what want us together as bonded brothers for a
particular purpose; now we met and joined up, it can all begin,” Enoch
said. “My problem is, I don’t know what I’m gonna’ tell my family. They
been good to me and expect great things of me,” Enoch lamented.
“Perhaps the
things you may potentially accomplish with Billy and our family might
not be as your family imagined, but perhaps they will be as great or
more so than what they envisioned for you,” Moss said.
“I ain’t never
considered it that way, bro, but you got a good point. I guess we got
to sort our priorities and come up with a solid vision for the future,
not only for us, but also for those we come to love and those we’d like
to help. I know some consider it treasonous to suggest changes must be
made in our society -- big changes -- or we will forever be slaves to a
corporate dictatorship under the guise of theocracy, in the name of
their self-made image of their god and Christianity. I think this just
might be the place I’m meant to be to help form my own thoughts into a
more clear picture of my part in all this,” Enoch said thinking out
loud.
“Couldn’t a’
said it better ma’self, Brother,” Moss agreed, “Welcome to the family,”
he added, held out his hand, and the two cowboys shook.
* * * * * * *
“While everyone
is occupied for the moment, Tonto, let’s you, me, and Clyde slip off
and relocate the gurney with the precious stuff to a secure room in
your castle,” Billy said to his two wing men.
“We’re ready,
Kemosabe. I know I done told you we could just grab if from the other
dimension, and I was correct under ordinary circumstances; however, I
forgot a tesseract is a hyper-dimension outside normal time and space,
but Beauford reminded me, and he’s right. We gotta’ go get it,
materialize it in the barn, trans-locate it to the ship, place it
wherever you want it, then make it dematerialize within this dimension.
It will only take a few minutes more, and actually, it will even be
safer that way. No one can stumble upon it accidentally within a
tesseract,” Nick explained.
“Let’s do it,”
Billy said. He turned to his family to briefly explained why he, Nick,
and Clyde must disappear for a few minutes, but they would soon return.
He told them to have a good time, enjoy themselves, make some new
friends, and they would join them in a short while. The three winged
men raised their wings and vanished. They arrived at the cabin and
dematerialized the gurney. This time Nick flew them back to his ship,
and they landed in the great entryway to the castle where they found
Beauford waiting for them. “May I suggest one of the cells off the
dungeon, Captain?” Beauford asked.
“You got a
dungeon in this castle, Tonto?” Billy asked and perked right up with
interest.
“Well, sort of .
. .” Nick replied and grinned sheepishly.
“Be honest with
our young master, Captain. He’s been honest with you,” Beauford
admonished Nick.
“It’s a kinky
sex dungeon,” Nick admitted and blushed more red than his devil persona.
“Do tell!” Billy
exclaimed. He and Clyde fell together laughing. “This I gotta’ see,” he
said firmly, “You been hold’n out on me, Tonto?” Billy asked.
“I’s fix’n to
work up the nerve to tell you, Kemosabe, but now’s as good a time as
any to show you, I suppose. It was originally a medieval torture
chamber, but with a few minor adjustments here and there, I made it
into one ‘hell’ of play room,” Nick said and grinned wickedly, “Our
protector is right, one of the cells has a four inch thick solid metal
door. We’ll put it in there, dematerialize it, lock it up, and no one
will be able to get to it but us,” he added.
“Sounds good.
Let’s see this awesome playroom and stow the gurney,” Billy said.
Nick was right.
It was one hell of a dungeon. Billy and Clyde were astounded. It had
everything from leather slings to stocks and numerous contraptions
Billy could only imagine what they might be for. He didn’t care, it all
strummed his magic twanger and caused his amigo down south of the
boarder to get the happies. It looked like something out of Better
Homes & Dungeons. It impressed the shit out of Billy and Clyde.
“Nice,” allowed
Billy, “Very nice, Tonto,” Billy said.
“Wow,” Clyde
agreed, “I once was owned by a kinky master, but his dungeon was
nothing like this. This has got to be the Six Flags of Dungeon World,”
Clyde said and laughed. Billy broke up again. “I feel like a kid what
can’t wait to get aboard the first ride,” Clyde added.
“Be careful what
star you wish upon, my good slave, it just may come true,” Billy said
and chuckled.
“Say the word,
Master,” Clyde said like he was calling Billy’s bluff.
“One evening
soon, we’ll sample Tonto’s talents together. Just think, Clyde, an
evening with Satan, the devil, my demon dad, in his very own dungeon.
What more could any son wish for?” Billy asked and broke up laughing.
“I’ll look
forward to it, Master Billy,” Clyde replied.
* * * * * * *
It took little
time, and they placed the gurney in the cell. Billy took one box of
gold coins from the gurney and put it in a backpack he used when he
went deer hunting. He handed it to Clyde and told him to take care of
it for him until they got back to the ranch. Nick suggested Billy
dematerialized the gurney, in case for some reason, he had to come to
the ship alone he would know how to materialize it. They closed the
heavy metal door to the cell, Nick locked it with the large key, and
handed it to Billy.
“I don’t wanna’
carry this around,” Billy said.
“We can make it
disappear, or you may leave it with my number one protector. It will be
safe with Beauford, and if you should need it, he’s yours to command.
If someone should find it by accident, even if they open the cell, it
would appear empty to them,” Nick said.
“I like that
idea. It will show Mr. Bull I place great trust in him. It might go a
ways toward cementing a relationship between us,” Billy said.
“I don’t know
how much more bonding you need to do, Kemosabe, he already speaks of
you in reverent terms, and admonishes me to be more respectful of you,”
Nick said shaking his head.
Billy laughed
imagining the huge imposing bull-man chastising his captain. “Well, I
have a
very high opinion of the big Shedu bull-man as well; otherwise, I never
would have shared my knowledge of him with Madame Spartza. She is a
lady
Shedu of breeding and quality. She also has one of the biggest hearts I
ever felt,” Billy declared.
“She let you
feel her heart, Kemosabe?” Nick asked in awe.
“Yes, she
instructed me to put my hand on her back. It was necessary for me feel
her to
sync with the rhythm of her large heart to show me parts of my future,”
Billy replied, “She was most gracious and generous with me. I found
myself enchanted by her and her beauty. I felt like I should always be
protective of her; not only for her, but my own selfish reasons of
having her for a friend and confidant. I think we all need someone
outside our immediate circle of friends and family who might act as a
sounding board or a lens with which to reflect and focus ourselves,”
Billy added.
“It’s a great
honor for a Shedu to offer you to touch their heart. It is their most
vulnerable spot, and for their size, it is also the softest. If they
find you worthy they will ask to bond with you and share their heart
unconditionally. If they give you a part of themselves, you must do the
same for them, or you will diminish their spirit,” Nick said.
“And has
Beauford shared his heart with you, Tonto?” Billy asked.
“Yes, but only
once when he was given to me as my number one protector many years ago.
In all these
years he’s never offered again, but neither have I pushed the matter.
He
has never failed to protect me or be by my side if he was able,” Nick
said.
“Good. That
gives me an idea,” Billy said and smiled.
“Would you like
to share your idea with me, Kemosabe?” Nick asked.
“Not at the
moment. I have to think about it for a while,” Billy replied.
“Do you have
plans to tell him about your other Shedu friend on Retikki Prime?” Nick
asked.
“I would like
to. Because of Madame Spartza, we saved the life of one of our family
members this morning, and if I win the Mega Lotto this evening, I will
owe her a great debt of gratitude. I asked Madame Spartza if she wanted
me to tell Beauford about her, perhaps show him a mental image or her
excellent photo, and she said 'yes.’ I would be doing her a disservice
not to keep my word,” Billy replied.
“Any thoughts as
to when?” Nick asked.
“Not for a
while. Not until Mr. Bull and I get to know each other a little better,
but soon. If we get busy and I forget, I know I can count on you to
remind me in a couple of days,” Billy replied.
“You can count
on me, Kemosabe,” Nick said.
* * * * * * *
The three
winged-men returned to the village square. The town folks decorated the
square with colorful banners and brought out large down stuffed pillows
for their honored guests to sit comfortably; especially, for the two
ladies, Kate and Roz. They were enjoying a large glass of a slightly
sweet citrus drink made from Buddha’s fingers.
Several of the
halflings and an equal number of the male dwarfs were forming a circle
and each one held an ancient vihuel. There were several leg vihuels,
later known as viola da gamba, and three arm vihuels; soprano and
tenor. There were several stand up bass viols the larger dwarfs manned.
One was so large the dwarf playing it had to stand on a stool to take a
full stroke on his enormous instrument. He was a mighty warrior who
could easily handle his magnificent vihuel with pride. He made it
throb from his heavy strokes as the music built to an enormous climax
and exploded into a final crescendo. He put his all into his instrument
and his final climax left the audience as breathless as himself. It
took the mighty warrior several minutes to recover.
Billy took one
look at the viols and grinned at his grandmother. “Where did you folks
get these ancient instruments, Tonto?” Billy asked.
“They came with
the castle when we lifted it onto our ship. They were found in the
antechamber of a great room we suspect was used for music and dancing,”
Nick explained.
“They’re
beautiful,” Billy said, and the twins agreed. They didn’t remove their
violins from their cases. They were using their best manners as guests
and
wouldn’t participate until invited or their master gave them
permission.
The village
musicians had drums, tam-tams, bells, cymbals, and several of the
younger men sat on the ground in front of the viol players and played
various wind instruments including wooden flutes or recorders, a double
reed instrument which sounded slightly better than a billy goat calling
its mate, and a couple of sackbutts. One must be careful including
sackbutts in any ensemble. Too liberal a use and they can be rude and
arrogant like an overbearing drone. Fortunately, the amateur players of
the village were well rounded, seasoned musicians, and the sackbutts
were not abused. And what a glorious racket they made. It was a
magnificent sound straight from the heart of the Earth or portion of
the
planet from which the land was lifted.
It was like Kate
and Billy were transported back to the eleventh century and were
listening to music like it might have been played back then. It was as
refreshing as it was educating. Billy always had a theory about music
he shared with his grandmother many times. He was sure there was an
innate music inside all people that came from a more ancient and primal
urge, the call and answer of wild animals like wolves and others of
their kind. After each piece they played, the villagers and the guests
applauded with genuine pleasure and enthusiasm. Roz was beside herself
with joy being able to share the experience with Kate and her new
family. It sure beat standing around in a barn chewing your cud all day.
The maestro or
leader of the group was a firmly packed, muscular dwarf who wielded a
large baton to conduct his pint sized orchestra with dignity and grace,
but most of all, an unquestioned authority. His troop of merry music
makers was not a democratic society. He was a benevolent but unyielding
monarch who demanded and got the best from his players. After playing
several pieces from folks dances to more serious antiphonal and
contrapuntal music he stopped and acknowledged the twins. In a
respectful manner he asked their master, Master Billy Daniels, if he
would introduce his two slaves to the village.
Billy motioned
for Cass and Poly to get their fiddles out. They did as their master
wished and began to tune the fine violins as Billy spoke to the
assembled crowd. “I would like to introduce you good folks to two of my
most treasured slaves. They were given to me by my uncle-in-laws on the
planet Retikki Prime. Unknown to me, they liked me enough, they
secretly
asked their masters on Retikke Prime if they would give them to me. I
was deeply flattered two such fine looking and talented young men found
me worthy enough they would ask to become my slaves and serve me as
their master.
I was a bit wary
of taking on two halflings for slaves, but I realize now, I couldn’t
have been more wrong. It was bad and disproportionate thinking on my
part. Just because chance and evolution created me to be twice their
size does not make them any less a man than I am; however, my original
thought made me considerably less a man than them,” Billy paused for a
second as the gathered crowd applauded his words of wisdom. “I won’t
tell you what wonderful musicians they are or how proud of them I am.
I’ll let their music speak for itself. Gentlemen,” Billy motioned for
the twins to begin.
Cass and Poly
began very simply with “Waltz Across Texas” and then on the third pass
absolutely exploded into theme and variations. After completing about
fifteen intricate and technically demanding variations they ended the
piece with the huge chaconne Billy heard them use before, but the icing
on the cake was for the last they repeated the simple tune with all the
love they could muster. It was stunning. Billy carefully watched the
dwarf conductor and his musicians sit with their mouths open in awe.
There was a stunned silence for only a second and the village erupted
like a volcano of whistles and applause for the twins.
They played one
more piece and it had the same effect, but the last piece they played
they announced was for their Mistress Kate and their new sister Roz.
They played the Gigue, the last movement of Bach’s third Brandenburg
Concerto. The village musicians never heard music like the twins were
playing and drank every note in as if it were the purest water flowing
from a clear mountain spring. Not only were the twins outstanding to
the native musicians, they
were also convinced the music they were hearing must have been written
by a
god. They weren’t far wrong.
The twins had a
surprise for their master. Cass announced to the crowd with their good
master’s permission they would like to play their last tune for him in
gratitude for taking them as his slaves and to show their love for him.
They asked the village musicians to join them on the second round of
the melody. Kate played a recording for them of a country band playing
the “Orange Blossom Special Hoedown.” She told them it was one of their
master’s favorite country pieces, and they learned it. They started in
to play and Billy recognized it immediately. He looked over to Kate
with a big grin on his face and winked at her. The piece was
simple, more down home to the village musicians, and they joined in to
give it their best shot. It was wonderful, and got everyone tapping
their feet or clapping their hands.
Finally, Billy had all he could
take, made his wings disappear, stood, took off his cowboy hat, threw
it high into the air and shouted “Buck and wing!” at the top of his
voice. He got up and started doing the cowboy hoedown buck and wing
Kate taught him years ago to dance along with his granddad and other
cowboys.
Moss jumped up,
threw his hat skyward, and joined his brother. Enoch was next and there
were three cowboys doing the buck and wing.
"Hell far and damnation!”
exclaimed Hank, “H’it’s been sixty-two years since I done me the cowboy
dance. You up for it, pod’na?” he asked Buck. They threw their hats up
at the same time and joined the dance. Billy motioned for anyone else
to join them; a couple of halflings, and a dwarf managed to pick up the
steps and began to dance with the men. Everyone was laughing watching
their new young master enjoy making a fool of himself. His sense of joy
and abandonment of societal airs bought him their love, trust, and
respect. Billy couldn’t have been happier at the moment. Life was
good.
* * * * *
* *
Nick took his
new family on a tour of his space ship, the village, and his castle.
Nick showed them the outback and the agro farms the villagers worked to
feed themselves and the crew. There were clever waste disposal and
water purification systems which depended solely on organic mechanisms
to function. Most of the oxygen for the ship was provided by plant
life, but it wasn’t enough. They still used artificial means to provide
all that was needed, but they soon hoped to rectify it with the
addition of a new tropical area they were planning to create. The natives and
Nick’s crew were living examples of their success. Everyone seemed to
be well and happy. Of all the wonders on Nick’s ship everyone was most
taken by the picturesque castle. Billy’s family was amazed. There were
enough rooms and facilities in the castle alone they could house a
small army.
“I just knew all
that talk about a castle on a lake with swans was cowboy bullshit,”
Enoch shared with Moss.
“You’ll learn. I
used to think the same thing when Billy would confide in me and tell me
he saved a Bigfoot’s life and now they’s best buddies. I would listen
and nod, but deep inside I wondered why the kid felt it necessary to
spin such elaborate yarns? Well, you met Boomer. He ain’t no fiction.
So when Billy told us about Nick’s ship I just reserved my opinion
until I could see for myself. There it is. Bigger’n life, on a
beautiful lake, with a moat, and swans,” Moss said, “You should a’
learned this morning, if’n Billy tells you he can do something, he
probably can,” he added.
“Yeah, you’re
right. When he told me he would take my pain away with a kiss I thought
he was crazy, but my voice inside ma’ head done told me to trust him.
Glad I did. My leg hurt bad. One kiss and I either forgot about the
pain or he switched off something in my head to keep me from feeling
it. Now, there I was doing the cowboy buck and wing a while ago and
feeling fine,” Enoch said.
* * * * * * *
After Nick’s
tour Billy’s family returned to the village square to say their
goodbyes to the town folks. Everyone made new friends through sharing
music and laughter and were sad to part, but they knew they would be
seeing more of each other because their captain’s ship planned to be
docked on Earth for sometime. The crew and villagers were used to long
periods in one place. They went where their captain went and everyone
supported each other equally. While Nick was the undisputed captain and
their unspoken owner, ruler, or whatever label one might wish to refer
to him, he was easy going and for the most part well met with everyone.
He would go out of his way to inquire as to the health of the elder
village folks and visited them regularly.
Nick suggested
to Billy he have Clyde transport the family back to the main house, and
he and his master would close up the cabin. Billy caught the grin on
Nick’s face. “Is there a hidden motive in your request, Tonto?” Billy
asked.
“Me no lie,
Kemosabe. Umm -- Tonto watch mask man do cowboy dance. Make
Tonto’s pony drip. Tonto feel great need to pleasure cowboy master,”
Nick said in terrible American native character speak.
“One of your
best ideas all week, Tonto,” Billy said and grinned, “The Lone Free
Ranger would certainly appreciate the attentions of his main wing man,”
he added.
A group of dwarf
children and halflings ran to Nick. Their spokesman was an incredibly
handsome young halfling. “Captain Nick, Master Billy, our mate, Aeron,
hurt himself while we were playing. He fell down into the ravine on the
other side of the village. We can’t move him. He’s hurt too bad,” the
young halfling said. He was almost in tears. Billy nodded to
Nick. “Take us to him, Renaldo,” Nick said.
Billy and Nick
were already winged-up getting ready to depart for the line cabin. It
didn’t take them anytime to get to the wounded boy. The young dwarf
wasn’t moving.
He was in great pain, and it only added to his pain if he moved any
part of his body. Billy knelt by him, leaned over him, and spoke, “Kiss
your master, Aeron, and I will take your pain away. Then I can inspect
your body without hurting you,” Billy said quietly.
He kissed the
young dwarf on his lips, and the young man returned his kiss with equal
passion. The more he gave to Billy the less he hurt until his master
ate his pain away.
“Better?” Billy
asked as he broke off their kiss.
“Yes, thank you,
Master Billy,” Aeron replied.
Billy ran his
hand over the young dwarf’s body and discovered his wrist on his right
arm was dislocated. His left arm was fractured but not broken, and his
left leg was broken. “Your left leg is broken, Aeron, and I must reset
the bone for me to heal you properly. Also, I must pop your dislocated
wrist back into place. You shouldn’t feel anything either time,” he
said.
“I’m numb from
the neck down, Master Billy. I don’t feel anything,” Aeron replied.
“Good, that’s
the way I want you to feel. It will only take a minute. Relax, breathe
normally, and close your eyes. If you don’t look, it will make it
easier for me, and it won’t frighten you as much. Try to stay brave and
calm. If you get frightened your blood pressure will rise, and it will
make it harder for me to heal you,” Billy instructed him. Aeron did as he
was told and was very brave. It didn’t take Billy any time to make the
corrections to his leg and wrist and then he began to gather energy to
heal him. It took Billy a little longer to heal Aeron than it did Enoch
and Enoch’s wound was much worse. Next time, he would insist Nick let
him transport a patient outside the ship to be able to absorb more
energy quickly. Aeron was so relaxed from the warmth he felt coming in
waves over his body, he drifted off to sleep, and much to his mates’
amusement he began to snore.
“Let’s not
disturb him, guys,” Billy said, “We’ll transport him back to the
village square and wait for his parents to come for him,” he added.
They got up and
were away running back to the village. Nick and Billy transported the
young dwarf back to the village square where his parents and
grandparents were anxiously waiting for their boy. They had a gurney
waiting for him. Billy carefully picked him up, kiss him on his
forehead, and gently laid him down on the gurney. His family didn’t
miss Billy’s tenderness with their child and were deeply touched. They
each had to give Billy a hug and a kiss of thanks. He told them to let
him sleep, and he would send some watcher milk for Aeron to drink,
fresh from his
mate’s breast. He explained it would complete the healing of his wrist
and bones. They were most grateful and thanked him again and again. The
other kids got back to the square, and were all over Billy thanking him
for his kindness and graciousness to help their mate.
“While we’re
winged up, Kemosabe, would it be too much to ask you to take a look at
an older halfling, one of our most revered warriors. He used to be one
of my very best protectors, second only to Beauford, but I was forced
to retire him for his own safety and well being. He’s wasting away, and
I can’t tell if it’s because of an illness or just advanced age,” he
said.
Billy looked at
Nick and grinned, “Tonto better damn well keep his promise,” he growled
and laughed.
“I would be in
your debt, Kemosabe,” Nick said humbly.
“Nonsense, take
me to him,” Billy commanded.
Nick took Billy
to the man’s hut, and his family were gathered around him. Nick
introduced Billy to them as their new master. They heard about Billy
but were busy taking care of their elder warrior, Cloog. He was an
amazing figure for a halfling with crystal clear blue eyes and a full
white beard and mustache kept neatly trimmed by his family. Billy knelt
beside him. “It’s good to meet you, Cloog, don’t be afraid. I won’t
hurt you,” he said. Billy leaned over and kissed him gently on his
forehead. The brightest smile crossed his old weathered face. “Better?”
Billy asked.
“Much better,
Master, thank you,” he replied and let out a deep sigh of relief.
Billy raised his
wings and once again they began to collect energy. Billy ran his hands
up and down the halfling’s body until he found something very strange
and certainly abnormal. He looked worried.
“What have you
found, Kemosabe?” Nick asked.
“Another life
form inside him starving him to death. See if they have a large wooden
spoon they might bring me, and have everyone in the family leave the
room but you and me,” Billy ordered quietly.
The family
provided what their young master asked for, left the room, and closed
the door behind them. Billy took the covers off the halflings to leave
his emaciated body naked. “Let’s get his legs
propped up and spread apart. For his family, this might be too much to
watch, but for you and me, it shouldn’t be too difficult to endure. I’m
going to force the varmint out his rectum. I’ll zap it to numb it so it
won’t resist you pulling on it. You grab it, wrap it around the handle
of the wooden spoon, then slowly turn it to wind it onto the spoon,
I’ll zap it again, and we won’t stop until you pull all of it from his
gut; but, be very careful, don’t pull too hard or it will break, and
the part what’s left will grow a new head. We don’t want that. We want
to rid him of it completely,” Billy said.
Nick looked at his young cowboy master in awe. “As disgusting as it
might seem, let’s do it, Kemosabe,” Nick said firmly. It’s the very
least I can do for this man who risked his life time after time to
protect me and worked faithfully and tirelessly to assure my safety for
many years,” Nick said in tribute to his retired protector.
It took them
about an hour to totally extract the entire worm, and it weighed almost
eight and a half pounds. It must have measure fifteen to twenty-five
feet in length. Billy confirmed they got all of it, and now Cloog could
eat, begin to gain weight, and reclaim his health. They cleaned the
older halfling, and covered his nakedness. Billy induced a deep sleep
for him and told his family he would bring some special milk for him to
drink every day for a week to get his system functioning normally
again. He must have one full glass in the mornings. The family couldn’t
believe the monster their captain and new young master removed from
their beloved patriarch’s body. They were relieved and grateful he
would recover and get better. They almost gave up hope for him. There
were many hugs and kisses for their captain and new master for helping
their loved one. Billy gave them explicit instructions to burn the worm
and the spoon with it in a very hot fire. Make sure there was nothing
left of it or the spoon.
* * * * * * *
Billy and Nick
finally managed to get away after more thanks and gratitude paid to
them by Nick’s protectors and crew. In a flash they found themselves
back in the barn at the line cabin.
“Now we got
business to attend to, Tonto,” Billy said.
“I’m ready and
willing, Kemosabe,” Nick replied.
“Not that kind
of business, Tonto. Right now, we got to get our butts into the shower,
scrub each other within an inch of our lives, wash and dry our clothes,
and then we can take care of needs and promises,” Billy said.
“Glad one of us
is thinking soundly. See what you do to me, cowboy? I lose all sense of
what must be done when I’m around you,” Nick said and stole a kiss.
“That cain’t be
all bad, Tonto, but I’d like to keep you around for a while and a
little insurance cain’t be a bad thing, neither,” Billy reminded him.
“H’it ain’t.
It’s damn good think’n on your part, Son,” Nick assured him, “Let’s get
to it, shall we? The quicker we get it out of the way, the sooner I get
me my taste of heaven,” he said wickedly. Nick grabbed Billy strongly,
held him close, and tenderly kissed him. “Thanks for saving my
protector’s life, Son. I owe you much more than a blowjob,” he said.
“Are we gonna’
keep score, Tonto?” Billy asked.
“No, I imagine
there will be times when I come to your rescue,” Nick said, “but h’it
don’t hurt none to tell the one you love how important they are to
you,” he added.
“When you’s
right, you’s right, Demon Dad. I certainly appreciate your sincere
thanks, Pa,” Billy said like a little boy.
“That’s my good
boy,” Nick said and stole another kiss.
* * * * * * *
While they were
showering Samson and Maybelle returned to the barn. They sensed there
were men in the cabin and Samson tapped their minds. << Billy, is
that you and Nick in the shower? >> he sent.
<< It is,
my handsome owner, >> Billy replied.
<< Good, I
just wanted to make sure, >> Sam said.
<< Ya’ll
have a good afternoon? >> Billy asked casually as Nick listened
and scrubbed his master’s back.
<< A very
nice afternoon, Rider, thanks to you, >> he could swear he heard
Sam laugh and Maybelle giggle. Nick laughed, so Billy knew it wasn’t
his imagination.
<<
Congratulations. I’ll
mark it on my calendar, >> Billy returned dryly. This time he was
sure they laughed.
Billy and Nick
got out of the shower, dried each other’s wings, and threw their
clothes into the washer. Billy added a half cup of bleach to the wash
just in case. He took his cell phone and pressed the button for the big
house. Nathan answered. “Hey, Uncle
Nathan, me and Nick got waylaid on his ship shortly before we left.
There were a couple of folks what needed medical attention. We just got
back to the line cabin and cleaned up. We’s washing our clothes because
of a small possible chance of infection, and as soon as they’re done,
we’ll transport up to the big house to help with supper. Is ever’ thing
all right with Archie and Edith?” Billy asked.
“Yeah, she’s
been up and around. She drank the milk you set aside for her, and after
a while, got up and came downstairs with Archie for something to eat.
Me and Tron done our best to feed them. They seemed happy and went back
to their room to rest for the afternoon. She’s fine and can’t wait to
see you,” Nathan said.
“Tell her I’ll
be there soon and check with her first thing,” Billy said.
“I will. Take
your time. It’s still early and Tron and I can start the barbecue.
We’re getting everything ready. Sounds like ya’ll had a good day at
Nick’s place,” he said.
“We did. We’ll
take you and Tron there soon. I know you’ll both love it, Uncle
Nathan,” Billy assured him.
“Tron’s excited
about the idea, and I gotta’ admit, it piques my interest,” he said.
“Good. I’ll sign
off, but we should be up there within the hour,” Billy said.
“I won’t hold
you to it, Son,” Nathan said and laughed.
“Thanks, Uncle
Nathan,” Billy said and disconnected.
Billy no sooner
hung up the phone when he found Nick on his knees in front of him. He
began to make sweet love to Billy’s penis. Billy let him have his way
with him and Nick went after his master’s cock like a hound dog on a
bone. He gave Billy a first class blowjob and drank his come like it
was a fine rare wine. Billy was fully intent on returning the favor for
his demon dad, but after a little love making, stroking, and
compliments, Nick stopped him, “Are we gonna’ be alone this evening,
Kemosabe?” he asked.
“I planned on
it, but we got to think about our protector. Like it or not, which I
do, Boomer’s a part of us, but he’s my slave and will sleep comfortably
in the hayloft. The hayloft is a hell of a lot more comfortable for him
than sleeping out doors in the wild. I also have to husband him once in
a while, but that’s to be expected. I probably won’t this e’nin,
because I took care of him yesterday,” Billy said.
“I understand
completely, Kemosabe. You got certain responsibilities, and I knew the
score before I agreed to become your slave. I got no problem with it. I
just wanted to know, ‘cause if’n we’s gonna’ be alone together this
evening, I’d like to save mine for your other sweet hole, if you’d like
your old devil dad to throw a good hot demonic fuck in yore’ young
cowboy butt,” Nick growled.
“Shit! Don’t
talk like that, Nick. You know what it does to me. Just look!” Billy
demanded pointing to his rock hard erection. Nick laughed at him. “Of
course my demon dad can have his son’s asshole anytime he feels the
need to release his inner devil,” Billy said and grinned, “But for
right now, morph real quick and tease me. Lemme’ have a goodly taste
and rub your demon cock over my face, cock whip me with it, so’s your
signature smell will fill my senses for the rest of the e’nin until we
come back to the cabin. By that time, I’ll be so hot with anticipation
the very fires of Hell won’t be able to quench my thirst for you until
I feel your demon cock planted so deep in my ass you’ll have to breed
me to get it back,” Billy said using his best cowboy hyperbole.
Nick fell out
laughing and held Billy tight against his hard body and their erect
penises fought for room, “Fuck! I do so love me some cowboy bullshit,
Son. You could charm the most foul and evil demon with your words,
Billy Daniels. You done got my heart wrapped up and lemniscated with
pretty black bows,” Nick responded in kind and morphed into Billy’s
personal demon he loved so much, “On yer’ knees, Christian heathen, and
pay homage to the devil’s cock,” Nick ordered.
Billy grinned
real big as he fell to his knees before his demon dad and took a deep
breath with his face buried in black kinky hair against the dark red
skin of Old Nick’s huge cock. It was awesome and smelled delicious.
Billy was fully under his demon dad’s spell. “If you want to taste a
little bit of heaven you gotta’ pay the devil for it, boy,” Nick
growled. He grabbed Billy by his hair, held his head away from his
crotch, and began to slap his face with his enormous cock. First one
side then the other. After about the third time he growled, “Beg the
devil for a taste of his big meat, boy! Let him know how much you need
to worship him,” he ordered firmly.
“Please, Satan,
let this poor humble Christian boy what’s given up blind faith in myths
and superstition for enlightenment and reason taste your handsome cock,
sir? Nazarene Nancy ain’t never offered me such a fine treat. A wafer
and a sip of wine in absentia ain’t sexy. Symbolic cannibalism ain’t
only perverted it’s downright sick; besides, I never thought a man what
wore long hair and walked around in a dress had a solid grip on
masculinity. I want a real man, a masculine demon to love and serve;
one who acts and smells like a man, who ain’t afraid to be either a
strong man, an hellacious angel, or my demon dad,” Billy begged.
“Remind me to
tell you about him sometime, Son. For now, your demon master has heard
your supplication and found you worthy to taste his big fat juicy cock,
but only a taste, boy. I hear tell you got a more hungry hole on yore’
backside what needs filling and cries out like an empty vessel for some
good hot demon cock,” Nick growled.
“Yes, sir,
nothing else can fill me or satisfy me like you can, Satan, and I
promise, I’ll only take a taste,” Billy said before impaling himself on
Nick’s erect penis to the hilt down his throat and moaned deeply. Billy
wondered what magic pheromone Nick possessed within his wonderful
masculine fragrance which never failed to trip his sexual switch to the
'on’ position. Billy took several hits on Nick’s red demon cock until
Billy could tell Satan was just before climaxing, and he pulled off.
Nick proceeded to cock whip his young cowboy’s face several more times
until he coated it with his pre-come mixed with Billy’s saliva.
“That’s enough,
boy!” Nick exclaimed, “Come to your demon dad’s arms,” he ordered.
Billy rose into
Nick's huge muscular arms and laid his head against his massive chest
as Nick surrounded him with his strong arms. “Kiss me, boy! Show your
demon dad your love,” he commanded. They exchanged a kiss which almost
made them both ejaculate, but they held it. They wanted more for later;
much more.
* * * * * * *
They got dressed
and locked up the cabin. They stood in the barn and held each other. “I don’t know if the
last part was such a good idea, Tonto,” Billy said.
“Why, Kemosabe?”
Nick asked.
“I got your
smell all over me. It’s gonna’ drive me nuts until we get back, and you
got chore’ demon cock so far up my butt my eyeballs spin in opposite
directions.”
Nick laughed.
“Don’t you think your old demon dad would want you to suffer just a
little for him?” Nick asked mischievously and grinned, “Especially,
since you know he’s gonna’ do his damnedest to answer your prayer as
soon as we get back,” he added.
“Suffer a
little? Sure, don’t mind a bit, but this will be more like walking
through the fires of hell,” Billy said and laughed, “Damn you, Nick,
I’m gonna’ prove to you I’m the only man what’s worthy enough for you
to call master. I may walk around with an erection all evening, so bad
my eyes squint like a Chinaman, but it will be worth the anticipation!”
Billy exclaimed, and they shared a laugh.
“I’ll say one
thing, cowboy. You’s the only man I know what can make everything into
an ongoing symphony, and it don’t never end; one exciting movement
after another,” Nick proclaimed. “You ready to fly with me, Son?” he
asked.
“Aye, aye, Cap'n
Nick, let’s went!” Billy exclaimed and they vanished.
* * * * * * *
They
reappeared in a great flash of light in the living room of the big
house. They were still holding each other when they heard the clomping
of two small pair of buckaroo boots running down the hallway from the
kitchen. Cass and Poly ran to their master and Boomer was right behind
them. The twins had to have more hugs and kisses and compliments from
their master and his dad for their splendid performance earlier in the
afternoon. The twins took them by the hand and led the two winged
men into the kitchen where everyone was waiting. Kate and Roz were busy
getting ready for the barbecue Billy promised everyone.
Billy explained
their delay and the tug-or-war with a monster parasite inside one of
Nick’s retired protectors. Kate said she didn’t need to know the
details, but thought it was nice of Billy to take care of him and the
young boy who broke his bones. Talk was lively. Roz and Enoch seemed to
be fitting in perfectly. Along with Moss they were helping anyway they
could to get supper underway.
“Grandma, have
you milked my slave today?” Billy asked.
“No, we been
busy since we got back. He’s been helping Nathan and Tron see after
Archie and Edith,” Kate replied.
“Have you taught
the twins how to milk him?” Billy asked.
“No, it just
didn’t cross my mind, but I’ll bet he’s probably full again,” Kate
allowed, “Right, big fellow?” Kate asked and smiled at him. Boomer
nodded shyly.
“Boom, I need
some of your milk to take to the two folks I helped this afternoon to
speed their recovery. So, let’s get you milked. The more we milk you,
the more you will produce, and we just may need it,” Billy said, “I
want Roz to start drinking an eight ounce glass per day, and we may up
that in a couple of months,” he added.
“Sure, Master
Billy,” Boomer said and sat on the stool Kate used the night before.
Kate got her
breast pump and showed the twins how to operate it. They were
fascinated with it and argued over who was going to use it first. Billy
flipped a coin and Poly won the toss. “Grandma, could you buy another
one a’ them things at the drug store in town, so’s we could milk him in
stereo?” Billy asked. Everyone in the kitchen laughed.
“How am I gonna’
explain to our druggist, who is one of our town’s biggest gossips, I
need a breast pump at my age?” Kate asked and laughed, “Why don’t you
get your cowboys to refurbish and clean up one of those old milking
machines we got out there in the barn what ain’t been used in years?
They still work and Boomer wouldn’t have to sit for so long. One of
them could drain him in a few minutes,” she said.
“Good idea,
Grandma. Hank do you and Buck know anything about milking machines?”
Billy asked his two main buckaroos.
“We know how to
use them, but I don’t think either of us ever worked on one. They can’t
be that complicated. Me and Hank are both pretty fair mechanics and can
put back together most anything we tear apart. We’d be happy to give it
a go, Master Billy,” Buck said.
“Good. Uncle
Nathan can show you where they’re stored. See if you can clean,
sterilize, and piece together one for our brother,” Billy said.
“You know,
Billy, with all them Highland heifers out there you might have to milk
some of them if they get pregnant and become cows. Besides, have you
thought about the birds and the bees with them? Will the heifers be
getting pregnant by the bulls?” Kate asked.
“They could,
Mistress Kate, but they won’t unless they have Master Billy’s
permission. We all volunteered to become his slaves for this mission on
Earth and sex is strictly forbidden unless two come to him and ask his
permission. Actually, it was another reason for me to volunteer to have
Billy Junior, so’s I wouldn’t have to worry about a bull sniffing
around my flanks. Now I'm pregnant, I’m totally off limits for them,”
Roz
said and smiled. “I’m even safer in human form,”she allowed.
“I hope to get
the first five hundred morphed, housed, and working for the benefit of
our mission as well as themselves before too long. They didn’t come
with instruction booklets or parts catalog. I don’t even know what they
can do. Can they hit the ground running or will they need education
about our world? For the first few days, it’s going to be hit or miss,”
Billy said.
“Maybe Andy and
I can help, Master Billy,” said Roz, “we know most of their
capabilities and strengths. We can create lists for you of their names,
brief bios, and their capabilities. Most have been educated especially
with this mission in mind. We are well learned in all aspects of your
world and different governments. Most of us speak up to fifteen
languages fluently,” she said.
“Gees, that’s
mind boggling to comprehend. Let’s look into it tomorrow. I’m getting
too tired to think straight this evening. It’s been a full day; one
which started out in fear and pain but ended in joy and hope. It’s been
a roller coaster ride, exhilarating, but exhausting nonetheless. I need
a quiet evening with my family, some good food, and conversation what
don’t need to be about what we’re gonna’ do and when. I’m doing good to
take it one day at a time. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without my
family’s support, talents, and input,” Billy said quietly, “You are
each unique and bring special talents to our family, and for that, I’m
grateful. Now, Roz, not to shut you up, but I want to get you a glass
of Boomer’s milk to drink,” Billy said.
Roz got a look
of suspicion on her face. “Don’t knock it till you tried it, sweet
heart,” Kate said, “I drank half a glass last evening and may have more
this evening if there’s enough. I never felt better in a long time than
I have today, and I can only attribute it to Boomer’s milk.”
Billy got a
glass of cold watcher’s milk for her from the fridge on the back porch
and set it before her. Roz picked it up, smelled it, raised her
eyebrows, and took a sip, “Holy crap, that’s so good!” she exclaimed,
“Sorry, Master. Sorry, Mistress Kate,” she said. Everyone laughed at
her. She drank more until she finished the glass. Pump them tit’s
faster,
men,” she said to the twins, “Momma Roz wants more milk!” she
exclaimed. Everyone fell apart laughing at her enthusiasm.
The evening went
perfectly. It was laid back. No one pressed Billy for answers
and the family seemed to be enjoying themselves with everyone
pitching in to make supper. Archie and Edith joined them for a while
but didn’t stay for supper. They ate earlier and wanted to get to bed.
Billy wished them well, and they left for their room. Billy wanted to give
Kate some money for more clothes for Roz so she would be comfortable
and not have to wear the same thing everyday. “Let’s wait on that,
Billy,” Kate said, “women never throw out old clothes. I got three
trunks full of clothes in the attic I been meaning to give to the
thrift store for years, but just never found the time. I told Roz about
them, and she’s excited to look through them. I even still have my
pregnancy clothes I wore while I was carrying your daddy and your uncle. Later, we might
get her something new for a surprise, but give us a chance to look
through them. I’ll bet you a solid nickel and a howdy-do, Tron and Moss
have never gotten rid of Ellen Garrett’s clothes, and if you remember,
she was small like Roz. A couple of well placed questions might result
in an outpouring of spontanious generosity,” Kate said and winked at
her grandson.
“What would I do
without you, Grandma?” Billy asked.
“Ah, you’d get
by, but it wouldn’t be near as much fun,” Kate said and giggled.
“You got that
right!” Billy exclaimed, and they shared a laugh.
* * * * *
* *
Supper on a farm
or ranch is usually served in the late afternoon or just before the sun
goes down. Most country folks are working as long as there’s daylight
available. At the Daniels ranch things were a bit more relaxed, and
they sat down to eat right at seven. The food was wonderful. Tron and
Nathan outdid themselves with the brisket, and it practically melted in
your mouth. Buck and Hank swore they died and done went to cowboy
heaven. Roz particularly enjoyed eating as a human again. She said
everything tasted new and wonderful to her. Talk was random and
light. The family purposely kept away from plans for the future to give
Billy a break. Kate asked Tron if they got rid of Ellen’s clothes.
“No, Ma’am, Ms.
Kate. I ain’t been in our old bedroom since we returned home from the
funeral. I took the key, locked the door, and hung it on a nail next to
the back door. We should, but
neither one of us hard-nosed, rough talk’n cowboys has got the guts to
go in there to sort and gather her stuff so’s we can take it to our
local thrift shop,” Tron said.
“Want some
help?” Kate asked.
“It sure would
be a big boon to us, Ms. Kate. You think’n Roz might be able to wear
some of
Ellen’s things?” Tron asked.
“I’d swear she’s
about the same size as Ellen,” Kate replied.
“I agree. Sure,
ya’ll come on over anytime you can get away. You’s welcome to any or
all of it. What you can’t use maybe you can store in the barn here for
some other lady what might could use them when they morph into humans,”
Tron said, “I wouldn’t mind having the bedroom back, but I just can’t
bring myself to do it,” he added sadly.
“Say no more,
Tron. Roz and I will be happy to drive over tomorrow. You’ll most
likely be over here working with the boys anyway. It shouldn’t take us
the better part of a morning to get things together. Personal things
we’ll box up and label for you,” Kate said.
They ate a
leisurely meal and everyone enjoyed themselves. Nathan kept looking at
his watch. “Ma, it’s just about time for the Mega Lotto drawing on
T.V. You wanna’ turn on your set in the kitchen here?” he asked.
Kate turned on
her small set she sometimes watched while fixing breakfast in the
mornings to get the national and local (state) news. The music was
playing and the little balls were falling into the slots on the
screen-intro for the showing of the lotto. Everyone knew about Nathan
playing
Billy’s number provided by his friend a Shedu seer on Retikki Prime. It
came time for the Mega Lotto balls to come down the tubes and roll into
the slots. Nathan wrote the numbers on a chalk board Kate kept in the
kitchen to write reminder notes for herself: 03 - 21 - 33 - 40 - 45 - 36
The unctuous
announcer began his spiel about this particular Mega Lotto being the
highest in history and Lotto fever across the county pushed the final
amount to a new record high of eight hundred million six hundred and
forty-eight thousand, five hundred, and six dollars. There was nothing
but quiet and stunned looks on the faces surrounding the table.
Everyone expected a large amount but this was double, almost triple,
the amount they expected.
“Grandma, now is
the time for an expletive,” Billy said nervously.
“Hosanna!” Kate
shouted.
“Hosanna in the
highest!” everyone echoed and laughed.
The happy little
balls came down the tube one by one and the announcer called them out.
“The first number is three 03; the second number is twenty-one 21; the
third number is thirty-three 33,” he said. Everyone in the room was
leaning toward the TV hanging on to his every word carefully checking
each number against those written on the green chalk board. “The fourth
number is forty 40; the fifth number it forty-five 45, and the Mega
Ball number is thirty-six 36,” he said. He ran through the numbers
again, but no one was listening by that time. The kitchen erupted into
utter chaos. There were handshakes, hugs, kisses, pats on the back,
thumbs up, and a lot of shouting and stomping of boots. Then like an
agreed signal everyone suddenly got quiet. Kate turned off the TV, and
they all turned to Billy. He was as stunned as they were. It’s one
thing to think you just might win the lottery, but doing it, and
realizing you’re a winner is altogether different.
“At this moment,
I can only think of my humility and a feeling of overwhelming gratitude
for a beautiful lady, a good friend, and seer who gave me the numbers
to play, Madame Spartza on Retikki Prime; the very same lady who tipped
us off to Orville Higginbothem’s plan to murder one of our family
members this morning. I think Grandma Kate said it best, Hosanna!” he
said quietly.
“Hosanna in the
highest,” everyone replied.
End of Chapter
12 ~ Him Who Made The Seven Stars
Copyright ~
© ~ 2012 ~ Waddie Greywolf
All Rights
Reserved ~
05/04/2012
WC = 12726