Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:09:04 -0500 From: Eff Del Subject: The Oak and the Ash-Chapter 6 (Revised) *The Oak and the Ash-Chapter 6* *By Eff Del* *Nolitimere156@gmail.com * *"You can't prepare for everything life's going to throw at you. Moreover, you can't avoid danger. * *It's there.* *If the woods were not so filled with danger, they would be considerably less seductive and beautiful.* *Like `Little Red Riding Hood', in order to get to `Grandmother's house' and back, we must go into the woods again and again striving to avoid the `wolf `every single time.* *The `wolf' on the other hand, needs to only get lucky and catch us once.* *The world is a dangerous place, but if you sit around wringing your hands in fear of the danger...if you never actually step into the woods, you'll miss out on all the pleasure and adventure." * The small blue roadster passed us just before a sharp turn with its engine howling like a wild creature as the driver punched down on the accelerator straining every bit of energy from the small power plant. I smiled to myself. That little blue Japanese convertible certainly looked like a hot car but my `Red Cat' Jag WAS a hot car and even the Lexus that I was currently driving could have blown that little blue Miata off the road. The driver was obviously a `hot shot' who thought he was cool. "Well, that guy certainly wanted to pass us in a big way." A younger `me' might very well have taken on the challenge of teaching the driver that just because he was driving a convertible, he was not driving a powerful car. I'd grown up over the past three years though and I was carrying precious cargo so, that person's games didn't interest me. Besides, I'd never hear the end of it from Richard. "OK, so we're going to park down here at the foot of the trail and we're going to hike up. Only wimps drive the road to the top and park there. Right guys?" That comment was met with a chorus of young boy laughs as they piled out of the car. We each had a small rucksack containing bottles of water, towels, snacks and bathing trunks because we didn't know what we'd find at the lake at the top of the trail. It wouldn't do to just assume we could swim naked in the lake. "OK, everybody at his own pace and we'll all meet at the top and freeze our nards off as we swim in the lake." The boys all laughed and started up the trail. It was not nearly as steep as the `Goat Trail' at Black's Beach but it was certainly steep enough to be a workout. Brian had discovered my photo studio in the mansion a few weeks ago and had become fascinated. His artistic nature was drawn to the camera and so, just recently, I'd gifted him a camera just like my own and he'd brought it along for this hike. He almost tumbled up the trail with youthful energy and enthusiastic exuberance as he began snapping photos. "I'm the old man so, I'll meet you all at the top." I said and the three of them grinned back at me. I began my slow ascent enjoying the gentle burn in my legs and looking at the tough little plant life that surrounded the trail. There were many tall trees up here, it was more though, like a high desert climate not at all like the lush wet forest around Lake Ossa Largo where my cabin sat, but at the top of this mountain, there was a little lake that was as pretty as anything you've ever seen. I smiled as I heard the hoots and hollers of glee from my boys and I was tickled as every now and then, Brian would pop out from the brush and snap a couple of pictures of me from `ambush mode' and then race up the trail . There was something so warm and wonderful about my life and I often wished these three boys had come to me earlier but I also realized that logically that couldn't have happened. We'd all come together at an almost precisely pre-planned point in time. Walter used to say to me when I was younger; "You can wish into one hand and shit into the other...guess which one will fill up first?" Things were as they were, and we made up a unique but certainly loving family. The colors around me were subtle and comfortable. Nothing was a brilliant almost sparkling green like the vegetation by the lake, rather, the colors were far more subdued. The greens were almost interspersed with grey and the reds were more orange than actual reds and the yellows were a creamy sleepy hue. I thought about it as I climbed and decided that this was all the color of the very nature of an old and comfortable earth while the colors at lake Ossa Largo were newer...or perhaps they pre-dated age altogether; they were maybe the colors of the original garden when the mountains were still new and life was striving to find its pecking order. This small mountain (though it was hardly a mountain anymore) felt like an old thing that was still vibrant with life; retaining a strong memory of its youth. Once in the long ago, this little mountain had thrust itself high into the sky. Time, climate, wind and water had worn it down and yet life clung to it and prospered. The colors had faded and mellowed but they were still the colors of life and they were comforting. The earth was so diverse. It was hard to despair when you brought yourself out into environments such as this and felt so close and so full of hope. As I crested the top of the trail I saw that Sean and Jack were standing on the little sandy beach undressing. There were no other people around and no cars in the trail top parking lot so, it was obvious that their swim suits were not going to be used this afternoon. Brian wasn't there and I assumed that he was off playing with his new camera. He'd join us when he was ready or else, he'd miss the swimming. "I take it that you two have decided that we're skinny dipping?" They grinned at me and nodded their heads. "We're here in nature Dad, so we should swim au naturel" Sean grinned as he said it. I grinned back and said; "Nice Sean, where did you learn that phrase? You might have had a great career as a con man because...when you don't rush, your vocabulary is certainly magnificent." I received a genuine `Sean Smile' for that comment. "Let's race to that little island out there!" Jack exclaimed. With gusts of young laughter, the two of them dashed into the lake and were soon stroking frantically forward. I laughed as I heard both of them exclaim various versions of `Brrrrr'! Jack was an exquisite swimmer, but Sean had some sort of magic about him. They were more or less head-to-head for most of the swim but, at the end, Sean found something that Jack just didn't have and he was laughing with glee as he scrambled up onto the small island before Jack had even reached the shore. They wrapped their arms around each other and collapsed to the ground in loving pleasure. Jack did many things better than Sean, but almost nobody out-swam the young man. As he'd told me when he'd first come into my life, he was `Aquaman'. I stripped down and swam out to join them. Not being a young boy, I found the lake to be quite cold but as I worked my limbs through the water, it became more comfortable and about halfway to the island, it was actually quite pleasant. I climbed up the slope of the little island and sat down on the rocks next to the two boys. "It's nice here Dad. Not as nice as Long Bear Lake and the cabin, but we should come up here more often" Sean said. "I know Son, sometimes we forget about great things nearby in favor of things further away. We'll make a habit out of hiking here more often." "Hey, remember that I haven't been to the cabin yet. Do I have to wait until Sean is sixteen and can fly alone so that there's room for me in the plane?" "No Jack, actually the swim team season ends in three weeks and for the past two years, I take the `Seven Samurai' up to the cabin as a reward and you of course, will come along then. We'll drive up." He smiled and said; "About time." And then he giggled. My red haired wonder stretched his long young body backward over a flat stone warmed by the sun and sighed contentedly. Sean scooted up alongside me and we lay down together and the three of us fell into a late afternoon nap. I didn't sleep very well and was very soon sitting up wide-awake. I realized why at once: Brian wasn't with us...where was Brian? Had he hurt himself? Was he lost? My mind was racing. I realized that I was naked on a tiny island in a little lake at the top of a small mountain. I jumped into the water and swam frantically to shore. I retrieved my cell phone and punched in Richard's code as I dressed. "Richard! Brian he's..." "We're already on it Eric. The four Skuggor in your following cars have these two guys surrounded. Brian is just too vulnerable right now for them to make themselves known or to make a move. Rest assured though that they will not leave that mountaintop but more importantly, Brian will be safe." "What the fuck is going on Richard?" "It's a classic snatch Eric. They see your son as a quick and easy paycheck. These Bozos obviously never did their homework about you and your family. They only know that you're rich. My Skuggor tell me that Brian kept wandering further and further away from the rest of you and so your cover party had to thin out. Brian wasn't even aware of what was going on. He just joyfully walked through the woods snapping off pictures. The Skugga in charge of tailing Brian came upon the scene just as these two guys snatched him. The interaction was so close that the agent didn't dare do more than inform us and observe. At least one of the people was brandishing a large pistol. They've got him stuffed into the trunk of a Miata...that must be uncomfortable and from all that's obvious, they're getting ready to walk to the lake to talk to you; face masks on... a sort of a live delivered ransom note. They have no idea that anybody...even you, knows what's going on yet. They feel safe with him locked in the trunk Once they move to you, we'll have Brian free and then take them. I'll buzz your phone once he's safe." "Do we have more than my original four Skuggor up here Richard?" "Oh yes, you can be assured of that Eric." "Good then, once Brian is free, I want to talk to these two scumbags before we bag them so wait for my signal on my phone OK?" "You got it Boss just be careful please." I called out to the boys and told them to stay out on the island. "What's up Dad?" Jack called back. "Never mind Jackamo, you two just stay out there until I tell you to come in got it?" "Got it Dad." About fifteen minutes later, two male figures wearing black ski masks strode into the parking lot. One of them held a cheap pistol obviously obtained for its size rather than its quality and accuracy. "So you're Mr. Turner right?" His ignorance astonished me. "Do you mean Mr. `Tucker'?" "Whatever, you're the rich guy that lives behind that huge fence right?" "I acknowledge that. Is there something wrong about where I live?" "Nah, nah in fact it's kindda alright because we got somethin' we think you want." "What might that be?" "We got a kid and we're pretty sure it's your kid and we want two million bucks if you want him back." Almost as soon as he was saying this, I felt the buzz in my phone that indicated that Brian had been rescued from the trunk of the blue roadster. I smiled. "Gentlemen, I hope you don't have some innocent little kid in your custody but all of my boys are accounted for. In fact, I'm about to swim out to join them." Despite their masks, I could see they were astonished and frustrated I smile pleasantly at them and I took off my clothes down to my boxer briefs. As I reached into my pack for my trunks, I secretly pushed the button on my phone that alerted Richard to have the Skuggor move in. Having stripped completely and then donned my trunks, I waded out into the lake. "Guys, unless we have some other business, I'm swimming out to have some fun with my sons. If you have some other young boy, you should let him go because I suspect you won't get a lot of ransom. This is a very middle class area." The man with the gun waved it in my direction. "Not so fast Mr. Turner!" "Tucker!" "Not so fast Mr. Tucker! If we don't have one of your sons back at the car, we want one of them now. You have one of them swim out here right now or...or I'll shoot you!" I smiled and said; "How good a shot are you with that piece of shit gun? Look behind you and you'll notice that you're surrounded by at least a dozen armed men with state of the art weapons. You'll get one shot which I have no doubt in the world will miss, and then you'll be dead." They both turned around and saw that they were ringed by a large force of grey clad Skuggor with weapons drawn and focused upon them. "Fuck Howie! I told you this could never work!" The shorter of the duo pulled off his ski mask revealing an attractive young face with a currently messy mop of dirty blond hair. His facial expression was one of total despair. He threw his arms up into the air. "Please! Please don't shoot me! I only drove the car. I never meant to hurt anybody. Drop the fuckin' gun Howie for chrisakes they've got us." "Shut up Paulie and let me think!" "Kneel or die." The lead Skuggor said to the other man whose name was apparently `Howie'. Though he was obviously confused, the young man wasn't stupid. He dropped his pistol and crumbled to his knees. A Skugga came forward, picked up the gun on the ground and pulled off the man's ski mask revealing a remarkably handsome young face stricken with terror and surprise. I was almost appalled. These were just boys. They couldn't be very much older than Jack. What would have driven such young men to commit a kidnapping? "You probably don't know because you obviously didn't do any research, but the penalty for threatening or attacking my family is death. That can be swift and easy or it can be slow and painful. How you answer my questions and co-operate over the next few days will sway that decision." "D-death? B-but we didn't do nothin' that bad. We were just gonna get you to give us some of your money...you've got lots of it." I was enraged and I walked up to `Howie' and punched him in the stomach. I just wanted to hurt him. He crumpled to his knees gasping for air. "Nothing that bad? You accosted my son who had done nothing to you and seized him at gun-point! You stuffed him into the trunk of a small car and then demanded a large sum of money from me for his safe return! Would you have actually returned him safely?" "Of course we would've Mister Tanner." "It's Tucker you jackass." I turned to the leader of my Skuggor; "Richard will tell you where to take them. Do you have Brian?" He nodded and signaled toward the trees. At once, I could see Brian running to me from out of the shadows. I opened my arms wide and he ran into my embrace. I hugged him tightly against me and we stayed that way for a long time. Eventually, I whispered to him; "Are you alright son?" "Yes Dad but...but I peed my pants." He spoke very softly. "They didn't hurt me but they sure scared me. I knew that there are Skuggor with us wherever we go so I was pretty sure that I'd be safe unless those guys did something crazy. Where are my brothers?" I remembered I'd told Jack and Sean to stay out on the little island. "You go wade into the lake up to your waist to cover up your little accident Bri and I'll call them to shore." "Boys, come on in now!" They were soon swimming to shore no doubt confused. "What's going on Dad?" Sean asked as he walked onto the beach not in the least bit embarrassed to be naked in front of a dozen Skuggor. Jack followed him up from the water. Both boys were looking anxious. "A couple of guys tried to kidnap Brian but he's OK and as you can see; safe. We've got them and we'll deal with them in a few days. It would seem that our hiking/swimming day has been ruined so let's go back down the trail and drive home." The lead Skuggor stepped forward and cleared his throat; "Launcelot...sir, I have been ordered by Galahad that you are to be driven to your car and then closely escorted back to Joyous Gaurde. I'm not allowed to let you hike down the trail." I sighed and thought to myself that Richard (the mother hen) was going to do everything to keep us safe and would certainly make fun and adventure less practical. That was his job though and I certainly couldn't fault him for doing it so well. ********************************** "What's going to happen to those guys that took me Dad?" Brian asked as we were driving back to the estate. "I'm not certain yet Brian. Once it would have been cut and dry but Jack has got me to thinking about things so I'll ask some questions and make a decision. Therefore, the answer right now is that I don't know. I can promise you that at this moment, they're both very uncomfortable and very afraid." We drove through the gate and Richard was standing there. I let the window down and he smiled. "So, you're all safe but that was too close to be acceptable. May we meet in your study in about an hour?" "Absolutely. I just need time to change and get the boys calmed down." ************************ We were sitting in the comfortable `conversation corner' of my study and we each had a drink. "Eric, this is the kind of thing that we can't plan for. All of our Intelligence can't anticipate crazy independent shit like what just happened. Brian didn't do anything wrong by wandering off and taking pictures but he did spread our security team thin because they also needed to guard you, Sean and Jack, so, I'm going to make this proposal; I want to double the security on each of you as you leave the property, but I'd also like for each of you to consent to GPS implants." "What are they Richard?" "They're kind of like chips that they put in pets but much more sophisticated. They'll allow us to track you all anywhere on earth. For instance, it certainly would have helped during Jack's shipwreck and if those two guys had somehow sneaked away with Brian." "But that seems a bit invasive Richard." "Perhaps Eric, but it is evident that attacks against you and the boys are going to become more frequent and we need to use the latest technology to protect you. All these implants will do is allow us to find you. In dangerous situations that could be the difference between life and death. They will not allow us to listen in on your conversations or anything like that. They will simply allow us to get an immediate and accurate global fix on you. Think back to when Gary swallowed the `shadow fly' back in Montana, it allowed us to find him in Idaho but unlike that, we won't be able to listen or intrude in your lives. I'd actually like to have every key member of the staff implanted with a chip so that we can protect everyone. To begin that Eric, Barry, Wolfman, Phil, Chris and I are being implanted tomorrow morning." "Well I'll think about it Richard but whatever I decide, it will be an individual decision for the boys of course. Something like this certainly can't be mandated." "I agree Eric but I'd rather propose it now than later when it could have prevented a tragedy." We shared a second drink and he was up and gone. I walked out to find the boys. *********************************** To my surprise, they were in the game room but not playing pool. They were seated around the card table in the corner playing cards. "Hi guys, what are you playing?" "Five card draw Dad. Five dollar buy in. Sit down and try your luck." Sean said all that with a straight face before he broke out in a big grin. "I smiled to myself. How quickly little boys turn into confident young men. "Come on Dad, you can afford to lose five dollars." I nodded and took a seat at the table and passed over a five-dollar bill and in exchange received a stack of chips. There was a hand currently going on and I sat back and watched. I noticed that Sean had the largest pile of chips and Jack had the smallest. Jack looked a bit nervous as he called. He spread his hand as he revealed triple threes. Brian sighed in disgust as he showed his pair of tens. Sean smiled as he folded out his full house with queens high. "OK boys, deal me in." I said as I leaned back in my chair Brian had the deal and was about to hand out the cards when I stopped him. "The guy to the right always gets to cut the cards before the deal guys. I taught you that but you seem to have forgotten." "Sorry Dad" "No big problem Bri it just keeps the game open and honest" I cut the deck paper-thin and Brian dealt out the cards. Jack looked at his hand and his face was an instant `tell'...he didn't have shit. Sean on the other hand, looked pleased with what he had in his hand. I unfolded my five cards and discovered that while they were otherwise divergent, four of them were clubs. There was no read from Brian. He had a perfect poker face. Jack drew three new cards and Sean drew two meaning that he already had three of a kind I suspected. I drew one and kept my face straight as I greeted the two of clubs. Brian stayed pat and as we went around I wondered what Brian was holding. It was time for the throw down. Jack just laid his cards down. Sean had three sixes (he hadn't got lucky on the draw) I turned over my flush. Brian revealed four tens. I hooted in surprise. Brian just shrugged. "With four of a kind I'd have expected to win every time." "Yes son, I suspect I'd have too. Good hand young man but, to tell you the truth, with a flush, I'd have expected to win almost every time as well. You played that great." He grinned. "Thanks Dad." The game ended and the boys told me that they'd like to spend the night together in Brian's room and was that all right? "Of course guys, you're going to spend your entire lives together. You should be comfortable with each other and enjoy everything that you do. My hope is that the bond of love between you will last for your entire lives. You're brothers not because you were born from the same parents, but because some force in this world has drawn you together and brought you to me allowing me to be your Dad" I was down in my study and I picked up the phone. "Chris, do you feel up to some mischief tonight?" "Actually, no Eric. I'm sick as a dog and Mom and Aunt Rita are filling me up with soup and stuff but I can't hardly get out of bed." "That's not cool. Do what you need to stay well." I was consoled to a cold bed and so I brushed my teeth and undressed. I climbed onto the bed and pulled the covers over myself. I looked out of the large window and smiled at the brightly lit sky thinking that life was certainly wonderful even though I needed to pass a private verdict upon the two young men who had threatened my family. It was late at night when I felt him slip into my bed and scoot up against me. His voice was very soft and I suspect he didn't even know that I'd heard him. "You can't sleep alone Dad. You need someone to cuddle with you." I pulled him close to me and kissed him as he pulled himself into his long familiar posture of a leg and an arm over my torso as he rested his head against my shoulder. It was my favorite way to sleep. I loved Jack and Brian. I loved them with deep passion, but Sean was my favorite thing in my whole life. I couldn't imagine living without him. Sean was the keeper of my heart and my soul. For some reason, as I faded off to sleep I thought about my conversation with Richard and his reminder about the ranch in Montana. ******************** The day had been rather normal; swimming team practice, school with the professor and now after dinner, we were sitting in the library talking about what was going to happen tomorrow. "From this point on, Sean and Jack you will be a part of these things. Brian, it really concerns you as well especially in this situation since it was you they accosted. We'll fly off tomorrow after breakfast and we'll talk to them and then decide their fate. I will listen to your in-put but the final decision will be mine. Is that understood?" "Yes Dad." The answer was delivered almost in unison. "You know that my decision may very well be brutal and unpleasant?" "Yes Dad." "OK, then finish your drinks and meet me in my bedroom. I want to cuddle with all three of you tonight because we might deal out death tomorrow." Quickly, they left the library and a few moments later, I followed them down to the elevator. I'd been on the phone with Pete Riddle for about two hours earlier today. Mr. Chang's vast Montana ranch had been deeded over to me after the conflict and I'd hired Pete Riddle to manage it and turn it into a proper working ranch. We raised primarily cattle, but also horses, sheep some American Bison, chickens and of course, pigs. I'd explained to Pete the situation with the two boys and told him that unless I detected real evil in either of them, I'd be flying them out to the ranch and he was to put them to work. I knew from his reputation that he was a hard working but fair boss. I felt that if anyone could get these kids straight, Pete was the man. There was a laugh in his voice as he said; "Eric, I've sure been known to tan some boy's butts HOWEVER...no kid yet has ever worked with me and not turned out a man. The ranch will cure all of the `smartass' in them and this ranch is so big that they can't run away. They'll work hard and they'll learn stuff they never knew they could do and they'll turn out to be fine young men...I'll work it into them." I told Pete that we'd see him in two days. I asked him to have someone buy appropriate clothes for the two guys including stuff for the Montana winter. I told him to just buy everything in size large and that they'd grow into them. "No Sir! They'll need good boots Eric and you can't get those out in your sissy assed part of the world. After you dump them off on me, I'll personally take them into town and get them boots, belts and hats and everything else they'll need right down to skivvies and Long-Johns so, we'll get all their stuff at the same time including warm coats and gloves. I won't baby nurse them Eric but I'll sure as hell take care of them and I WILL teach them to be men. I'd known Pete for most of my life. He was the assistant ranch manager of my family cattle ranch in Colorado. That ranch was nowhere near the scale of the Montana ranch we'd acquired after the Chang submission. I'd asked Pete to take over management of the place right away and he'd done so with gusto and great success. ********************************* The helicopter flew us out to the `Steel Cunt" and the boys and Richard and I walked into the interviewing room. "Boys, begin this process by remembering that these two young men kidnaped Brian at gun point, locked him into the trunk of a small car and left him there and then demanded an extremely large amount of money for his release. Under old and regular family rules, that would earn them both a bullet to the back of the head...what we call `sending them to the cornfield.' After Jack's recent encounter and my summary judgement upon that young man, I'm inclined to consider alternative solutions so I'd like for the three of you to talk to these boys and then, we'll talk afterwards. Remember that family justice is harsh and it's outside of the law. It can't be `whishy-washy' and it has to be resolute. Sean and Jack, you already know that. Brian, this won't actually be your part of the family business on most occasions." Both the young men were brought in shackled, naked and obviously terrified. "A-are you going to kill us now?" The blonde young man who'd been addressed as `Paulie' asked. "No, Paul. We're not going to kill you now although that may eventually happen. Right now, we want to talk to you and Howard." The interview extended almost three hours and as I expected, we heard the heartbreaking tale of two boys raised in poverty by non-caring parents left to roam the streets and survive as they could. `Howie', the dark-haired boy was the oldest and he was just newly 18. `Paulie' was 17. I was right in my initial guess that they were not much older than Jack "We was never gonna hurt Brian. We just locked him in the trunk of the car so that we knew he was secure...couldn't run away... you know?" Howie tried to explain their motives. "We just needed money to survive an' live on and lookin' at your fenced in estate we knew you had a lot of money and we thought that a quick grab would be easy and well...you know. We were wrong. "When you kill us, can you please make it quick and easy? We didn't hurt Brian when we snatched him and we weren't mean to him aside from stuffing him in the trunk of that car to keep him in one place. Dying quick is OK I guess but dying slow and painful ...that's a terrible thing. Mister Turner, we didn't do anything to deserve that." "It's `Mister Tucker' Howard." I nodded to the Skugga in the room and the two young men were taken back to their cell. I then sat silent as my three boys discussed the interview and came to conclusions. They talked for a very long time before Sean (typically) came to the forefront. "Dad, we don't think these guys should die for what they did. We three are so lucky to have been raised and be living like we are. Those guys...they never had a chance. We think that they're lucky to actually still be alive the way they were raised. Jack an me, we had the NEST to keep us safe an' teach us and Bri had his Mom who worked so hard for him all those years. These guys didn't have anything. What they did to Brian was stupid but they never really hurt him and we don't think that they'd ever have used that gun. Please don't have them killed Dad. There's got to be a better answer to this. In another world, these two guys could be us." I smiled at them. "I agree boys. Not long ago the decision would have been death for coming against the family but Jack changed my mind last time. However, it was too late for that young man. Let's see how you go along with my decision this time." I signaled the two Skuggor to bring the boys back in. They were both terrified and blond haired Paul was weeping beyond control. I felt certain that they were both convinced that their lives were about to end. "Sit boys and try to calm down. You are not going to die. The fact is you may just be beginning to live. I'm sentencing you to two years of life re-construction. In about an hour, we're all going to fly to my home. You'll share dinner with us and sleep in a comfortable room with two nice warm beds. In the morning, you'll shower, we'll have a big breakfast and then we'll all get into my private jet and fly out to a ranch I own in Montana. You'll begin your two-year sentence. It's not as if I'm taking you to prison, it's just like something you're going to do to learn about yourselves and what it means to be a man. At this point in your lives, I may be taking you to the most important and exciting place you could possibly go. I think that you'll find out something about your selves out there and perhaps may not ever want to leave the place. That alternative will be available to you by the way. Fact is, if this two years creates in you what I suspect it will, you'll have many wonderful alternatives available to you when you're finished. In any event, you are both young enough to change and I want to help you to change. I want you both to know that you are being cared for and being given a huge second chance at life. If the truth be told guys, this may be your first legitimate chance." The two young men were crying profusely and I encouraged my boys to move over and help calm them down. I had clothes brought in to the room and the two quickly dressed looking at me with gratitude. I understood that. While I enjoyed recreational nudity, forced nakedness especially among clothed dominators was humiliating, demeaning and tended to give a person a feeling of helplessness and total vulnerability. That's why we did it to prisoners in the first place. *************************** We flew in the helicopter back to Joyous Gaurde and the flight was mostly silent. The two young prisoners were mostly worried about their futures. My three boys were happy about the way the day had gone though I suspected that Jack didn't fully trust me in that regard yet. Jenny had dinner duty this night and it was wonderful: fried chicken, rice and red beans, home-made biscuits and huge bowls of gooey three-cheese `mac and cheese' as well as a cold crisp lettuce salad followed by a wonderful lemon pie desert. I'd kept alcohol off the table. The five boys drank milk and I drank iced tea. Howie and Paulie inhaled diner as if it was the first meal they'd eaten in months and it occurred to me that this might very well have been the first real meal that they'd eaten in a long time. "Boys, your lives are going to change tomorrow. If you are careful and learn, your lives will become full of promise and prosperity. You won't be shackled tonight but there will be a guard at your door. I must tell you though, you would be stupid to attempt to run away from the chance I'm presenting to you. I'm actually offering you a new life. Good night Howard and Paul. Sleep well and be confident for your futures. I have faith in you and I expect you to become fine men. We the Tucker's have a family motto and I'd urge you both to adopt it as your own. It is; `Noli Timere' and that's Latin for; `Don't be afraid'...from this night on boys; `Noli Timere' don't be afraid of anything. More than that though boys, there's another Latin word that I'd encourage you to accept as your personal mottos; `Spes!' It simply means `Hope' say that to each other tonight before you fall to sleep" A Skugga escorted them up to their room and I nodded to my boys that the evening was ended. I considered that the outcome of the day was quite satisfactory. Tomorrow, we'd fly out to Montana and from then hopefully, they'd grow into real young men, Pete Riddle had that talent and aside from a bullet to the brain, I couldn't think of a better solution and I didn't think these boys deserved a bullet to the brain. I turned my gaze upward and smiled to myself. I spoke softly; "Well Dad and Walter, here I go changing the rules again. I hope you approve because that last guy didn't deserve the death I gave him. This just makes more sense to me. What a life eh? Isn't that my job though...the world is too big to change everything that's broken but, I can try to fix little chips and cracks that I find and just perhaps; THEY'LL go out and fix the little broken pieces that THEY find etcetera, etcetera until, after not too long, the world will be a better place and everyone will work together and its possible the world WILL change. I've just got to believe that otherwise, I just might as well go back to what I was before I brought Sean into my life." I was headed to my study to pour another drink but instead, I stopped dead in my tracks and headed for the elevator. "Spes!" I whispered to no one and also to everyone in the universe.