Him
Who Made The Seven Stars
By
Waddie
Greywolf
Chapter
9
"If
you
want
to
really hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to
be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The
arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of
making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or
badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the
shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend,
even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an
enormous reward. You will have created something. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
“Not only did
they manage to get a two ton Shedu into stasis, they got the rest of
you to safety as well. Wouldn’t you say that was a bit strange?” Nick
asked. Nobody said a word. They didn’t have anything to say. “Joe and
Crunch are damn big men. It would have to be someone with leveraging
abilities and some other pretty spectacular powers to get the ship from
the bottom of the river to this cave; to say nothing of carefully
hiding it by sealing it up behind a wall of solid granite almost three
feet thick in places,” he added like he was thinking out loud.
“Seems obvious
to me," Billy replied, "whoever or whatever done them things, was
looking out for you
and your family’s best interest. Is it important to figure it out right
now, Tonto, with all the rest of the shit we’s looking to get done
in the next several weeks?” Billy asked trying to direct Nick’s
attention away from his current train of thought. “Beside we got us a
bigger
problem how we’re gonna’ utilize, house, and feed your crew,” Billy
said.
“My crew is
self-sustaining. The ship is one large hypersphere. Basically, there’s
a miniature planet inside. This village and all the land you see out
there for miles is contained within a giant cube inside my ship. It’s a
tesseract. It’s a large dimension stuffed inside a smaller one. They’s
wild animal herds out there we keep for food for Leon, Pan, Joe,
Crunch, Raz, and the village people hunt them.
“What village
people?” Boomer asked.
“Eyee! Hosanna!
The village people!” Nick exclaimed and slapped the palm of his hand
against his forehead, “Here we are in the village, and I ain’t even
thought about them. I just thought they’ s probably hiding. They’s shy
around new folks. Seth where are our people?” Nick asked.
“Safe in stasis,
Captain. You didn’t ask about them earlier,” Seth replied.
“You’re right, I
didn’t. My mistake. Are they all right?” he asked.
“Two adults have
broken bones. One little boy and his sister have major burns on their
bodies, but they’re alive. The rest are fine, sir,” replied Seth.
“What about your
wild animals, Nick,” Billy asked. Nick looked confused.
“How about them,
Seth?” he asked.
“The outback is
so large, they managed. There were a few casualties, but most
survived,”
Seth reported, “It’s good you arrived when you did, sir, sustainable
oxygen for the ecosphere was becoming rapidly depleted, and the plant
life was unable to replenish enough to offset the imbalance,” Seth
said, “Perhaps now you might reconsider your crew’s suggestion of
creating a tropical area which would raise the sustainable oxygen rate
to ninety percent or better,” he added.
“Remind me
later. I've changed my mind on the matter. I'm convinced. I think it's
a good
idea. Wake up our people and tell them to meet us here in the square,
Seth,” Nick said.
“Right away,
Captain,” Seth replied.
Nick turned to
his crew, “Before they arrive I have an announcement to make. As you
know, we were coming to Earth at the request of the Grigori and a
couple other advanced alien species we never met to see if we could
make a difference and turn their world around to one of knowledge,
reason, and social equality for everyone, not just a few with money and
power. I
certainly
didn’t count on our crash landing, but as a result, this young cowboy
you see before you risked his life and that of his owner to save mine.
As you well know, there are unspoken laws in the universe which must be
upheld, and many of your species practice the same; if a man saves your
life, you must give your life to him. I have no choice but to give
myself to Billy Daniels to become his slave,” Nick announced.
There was
surprise and quiet talk among his crew. Nick let them have their
minute. “What about us, Captain?” Beauford acted as an unofficial
spokesman for the crew.
“I ain’t really
had time to think on it, but by universal law when I become his slave,
Master Billy has legal right to everything I own, and it would include
this ship, its contents, and all of you,” Nick said.
There was a
massive silence. “Does he have other slaves, Captain?” Beauford asked.
“Yes, Boomer
here, is his number one salve and bonded mate. Boomer is the nephew of
the two highest members of the Grigori council. Master billy was give
several slaves by the Grigori and five hundred others from the Irin,
with another five hundred promised to him when we have room and can
provide for them properly,” Nick replied.
“How long have
you had these slaves, sir,” Beauford asked Billy.
“Only a couple
of days, sir. It’s all happened since I run into you at the bottom of
the river. I didn’t ask for none of this, Mr. Beauford. T’weren’t none
a’ my idea. This is all coming together so fast I’m becoming
overwhelmed. Then these damnably heavy wings grew in last night. I
couldn’t get out of bed this morning 'cause of loss of blood from them
breaking through the skin on ma’ back. Thank goodness Nick was with me
to help me through my metamorphosis. I’m a young man by human
standards, sir, and I ain’t got a lot of knowledge about life and
living.
“I got me some
cowboy smarts, and I’m a fair musician, but beyond that I ain’t nobody
special. Maybe, if I had someplace to get away from the madness what’s
going on in my world, and share some quality time with some wise
creatures like you to give me advice, it might help and make me and
Nick’s journey together a mite easier,” Billy said, “As I see it, I
will only be your master in name only. Nick will still be your boss.
He’ll see to your needs and wellbeing. Lord knows, I ain’t gonna’ have
time to do much more'n visit from time to time,” Billy said.
<< Damn,
that was smooth, >> Nick thought to himself, and grinned.
<< Thanks,
Bird-man, but I’s jes’ shoot’n from the hip, >> Billy sent to him.
“While you folks
slept, I had a chance to get to know this young human. He bandaged, and
healed my wounded wing, and apart from becoming his slave, I bonded
with him. While I’m not his number one, I will be by his side
throughout our time here on Earth. I’m convinced the greater powers in
the universe want us together, and we will stay here for as long as it
takes,” Nick said.
The village
people began to come into the square. There was a couple of hundred
various races and sizes. At first glance the majority looked like
normal humanoids with a little stockier build, but the males were much
more muscled out and the females were more petite than humans. There
were
shorter ones who looked like pictures Billy saw of dwarfs; some looked
like elfins and had gossamer wings; and a few even looked like what
Billy thought Hobbits might look like. They even called their village
the “Shire.” Then there were several variety of colorful monkey-like
people with fur and tails. All of them were wonderful and seemed happy,
healthy, and well fed -- except for the wounded, whom they pushed in on
anti-grav gurneys like Billy used to rescue Nick.
The village folk
looked at Billy in awe and shied away from him. The younger ones ran to
Nick’s crew laughing and yelling their names. Each crew member had a
couple in each arm, hugging, kissing them, and calling them by name.
Beauford even allowed
several on his back. They were not afraid of any of them including the
dragon man. He was playing with several, holding them, and making over
them. The children’s reaction to the crew told Billy volumes about the
goodness and likability of Nick’s crew.
When Billy saw
the little boy and girl in such pain from massive burns on their small
bodies, he automatically went to them, and knelt over them. To
everyone’s amazement, his wings raised up and out to cover them. The
villagers were in awe of the beauty and grandure of Billy’s wings. They
started glowing like they were receiving an unknown light source. They
became so bright and radiant everyone in the shire was forced to cover
their eyes. Billy smiled at the two children and held his hands about a
foot over them. The light from his wings traveled down through his arms
and out his hands to shine on the burned flesh of the children.
Everywhere the light touched, it instantly healed the burns and
returned their skin to its original state. There was no pain, and the
children didn’t even cry out. They opened their arms to Billy, and he
took them both into his arms for a hug and a kiss. The crowd was
mesmerized. Even Nick’s crew was gobsmacked.
<< E’aup,
them Irin done give you the grand deluxe package, cowboy,” >>
Billy heard
Nick in his head.
“Bring me the
two with broken bones,” Billy said like a command.
The small folks
brought in a male dwarf who looked like a sturdy warrior with a full
beard and mustache. He was a handsome creature, but he was in great
pain. He lay naked under a blanket they threw over him. Billy simply
put his hand to his head, and it glowed. The man lay back in a deep
sleep. “I put him to sleep, so he will feel no pain. I must set the
bone in his leg before I can heal him,” Billy said loud enough so
everyone could hear him as he removed the blanket and handed it to one
of the dwarf’s relatives. He expertly took the small man’s leg and gave
it a quick jerk. Billy could feel it pop back into its proper place. He
began to gather the light again, and passed his hands over the man’s
leg until it was completely healed.
When he was
finished, Billy leaned
over, kissed the man on his forehead, and he awoke. He got a funny
look on his face with Billy so close to him, but he kept himself
together. Then he realized his leg didn’t hurt anymore, and raised his
leg to look. The smile which crossed his face was one of delight and
thankfulness. He grabbed Billy, threw his small but mighty arms around
his neck,
and kiss him hard, right on the mouth. Billy didn’t pull away, but
returned the handsome dwarf’s kiss in kind. Everyone
applauded.
Billy then
proceeded to heal the young woman who was the daughter of the male
dwarf he just healed. She was more reserved, but equally grateful. Then
all hell broke loose with applause and stomping of feet for Billy and
his compassion for their people. Everyone came to him to take his hand
and quietly thank
him for helping their family members. So did the crew members including
Raz who rarely allowed others to touch him other than the children. He
broke his right wing and a bone in his back sometime ago. It healed
wrong, he walked with a limp, and he couldn’t fly anymore. Billy
invited the dragon-man into his arms, and Billy's wings began to
recharge.
The two
of them
became surrounded in a brilliantly bright heavy light which poured into
the dragon-man and came out like shards of light which fell to the
ground and disappeared. Billy held him for almost ten minutes and
hummed an old Bach choral to him as he held him tight. The old dragon
shed tears, because he could feel his body rearranging itself, and he
knew he was being returned to his previous state before the hunting
accident. He would be able to fly again. When Billy was finished, he
released Razza, and watched him walk around without a limp. Raz raised his
wings together and began to flap them. The old dragon-man got the
biggest smile on his face as he slowly began to lift from the ground
and flew around the square to the applause and whistles of the people.
He returned to Billy and gracefully landed before him. He fell to his
knees in front of Billy, kissed each of his buckaroo boots, and spoke,
“I can’t speak for my brothers, Master Billy, but if you will have me,
I would be proud and honored to be your slave, sir,” he said.
“Come to your
master’s arms, my good slave, and share your love with him,” Billy said
softly.
The dragon-man
was in Billy’s arms in an instant. Neither held back any affection or
admiration for each other. Raz’s penis, hidden behind a bony shield,
began to become erect and protrude from its carapace. Billy could feel
it and grinned, “Why, Raz, you old demon-dog,” he said and laughed.
Raz threw back his head and laughed with him. “Sorry, my good
master, you have that effect on me. That hasn’t happened to me in
years. You made me feel young again, sir,” he said.
“Glad I could
help such a fine looking demon, and I would be proud and pleased to
call you my slave,” Billy said and stole another kiss. Raz was in love
with his new master. He would do anything for Billy.
“Ain’t chu’
upstaging me there just a bit, Kemosabe?” Nick whispered, and grinned.
“An angel’s
gotta’ do, what angels do, Tonto,” Billy replied.
“Do you want me
to go through the ceremony before my people?” Nick asked.
“No, they ain’t
interested in no ceremonies. They’s more interested in the details, and
how it might affect them. You done already told 'em you’s gonna’ give
yourself to me to be my slave, and answered their questions. I think we
put aside any doubts or fears they might have, and they’re satisfied
you and me ain’t gonna’ sell them down the river. That’s enough. I got
no intentions of taking over your ship or people. It would be a
wonderful get-away place for us to have some one-on-one time with each
other. I think it might be a great place to store our extra gold until
we need
it, or if we need to hide some folks for a while. Our ceremony only has
to be before two of our family,” Billy said.
“Boomer and
Clyde?” Nick asked.
“Exactly,” Billy
replied, “If’n you’s squeamish about it, we can just tell the others
it’s a done deal,” Billy said.
“You’d be that
understanding?” Nick asked.
“I done told ju’
the position of becoming my dad is still available. I weren’t kidding.
What son would demean his dad by placing him in a situation which might
be uncomfortable for him. I want you for my dad, Nick, but as we done
seen, others desperately want you to be my slave -- demon cock, balls,
and all. I don’t care how we do it, but if saying them words and paying
homage to me in front of people is gonna’ cut chore’ balls off, it
ain’t what I want. Yore’ cock and balls won’t be doing me no good
hanging around my neck,” Billy said.
Nick broke up
laughing at Billy’s cowboy hyperbolical metaphor. He calmed down, and
said quietly,“I understand what you’re saying, Son, I hope you can
forgive me. With your arcane knowledge of religions and the bible, I’m
sure you’re probably aware I ain’t got the best reputation with
mankind. Jehovah said he created man in our image, but we knew he
neither had the talent, knowledge, nor the technology to create them.
Like so many other things, he lied about them, too. When we found out
the truth, he bought the human worker prototypes from the Annunaki
priests who were supreme alchemist, me and my brothers tried to help
them. When he found out what we's doing he went crazy and was gonna'
make us slaves to them to punish us. We refused to bow down to them and
acknowledge
them as our masters.
“When he first
to us for his slaves, he placed me and my brothers at his right hand.
He
told us we were most important to him, and he loved us without measure.
You don’t do something like that to someone you love and respect
whether he’s your slave or not unless you's bat shit crazy and more
viciously cruel than a sidewinder. Jehovah’s
problem was, he was total sociopath; claimed he loved you one minute,
then treated you like shit the next. Because we stood up to him, we
were accused of being arrogant, rebelling against him, and trying to
usurp his power.
“Nothing could
have been further from the truth, but truth and compassion was never
one of Jehovah’s strong suits. I was the only messenger what escaped
his wrath, and my brothers are still in stasis under Mount Ararat.
Since then, I avoided human kind as much as possible, and now more than
ever, I’m convinced them Grigori played a major role in getting us
together. Truth is, Kemosabe, I just ain’t never met a man like you
before,” Nick said quietly.
“Neither have I,
Tonto,” Billy agreed with a sigh, “but I think I rather like the man
I’m becoming,” he said.
“No argument
here, Kemosabe,” Nick said, “only my feelings run a bit more deep than
‘like.’ I’m in love with you, Master Billy Daniels,” he added.
“It’s mutual, my
comely bright angel. I love you, too, but one question lingers in my
mind. Why didn’t the other angels rebel against Jehovah?” Billy asked.
“Fear and
cowardice,” Nick replied, “That’s the way he operated was to instill
fear and suspicion in everyone he dealt with. They were scared to death
of him, and well they should have been. He was a nasty, mean spirited
alien who only wanted one thing -- wealth, with no regard to anyone
else’s wellbeing. Sound familiar?” Nick asked.
“I’d say the
spirit of the evil Jehovah is still alive and thriving on Earth hiding
under the guise of religion. Ain’t no doubt, it’s the way most of them
operate,” Billy said sadly, "What about Clyde. Were was he during all
this, and how did he escape?" Billy asked.
"Any advanced race could buy us from the Annunaki. Clyde and I were
what you might call class mates and we was buddies growing up until we
were sold to different buyers. I was sold to Jehovah and Clyde to the
Irin. We never saw each other again until you brought him home with
you. He told me he's been with the Irin most of the time with other
adventures like the one he's on now by volunteering to come to Earth
and be your slave," Nick said.
"Does that mean I gotta' give him back sometime?" Billy asked.
"Probably not. He knew when he volunteered, and his masters allowed him
to go with you, it might be a life time thing; or at least your
lifetime. Depends on how well he serves you, and how you feel about
him,
I suppose," Nick replied, "but I never met the Irin. I ain't got no
idea how they operate," he added.
“Will your crew be able to make repairs on your ship, Nick?”
“Yeah, we
got us emergency repair plans which will have the ship ready for travel
in about three days, but other repairs will be made as time permits.
Many of our villagers have been trained as backup mechanics and
engineers. We school the brightest of their siblings on ship functions
and maintaining the ecosphere. They’re considered junior staff, and
they’re very proud of their abilities. They earned the right to be
proud. Some are damn near geniuses at their specialties. More than a
few times our junior staff saved our butts. I’m glad you thought we
should come and check things out. You’re concern may have saved a lot
of lives. What say we wrap things up here pretty quick and get back to
the ranch?” Nick asked.
“If you’re
satisfied everything is okay, and they’ll be all right for a while,”
Billy said.
“Now they’re out
of stasis, I can communicate with Beauford several times a day to check
on things, or he can contact me if they need a decision made,” Nick
said, “By the way, if you need ready cash, I got several hundred
thousand dollars in American money on board. I didn’t know whether I’d
need it or not, but it’s yours now, anyway. We don’t use cash on the
ship. Everything is bartered and credits are stored and accounted for
by our main computer, Seth,” Nick said.
“It sure would
help us out of a tight spot right now, and I could repay you later when
I cash in some of the gold, Tonto,” Billy said.
“Ain’t no need.
Money means nothing to me. You and I will take a side trip to Vegas one
day soon when we got a free day, and I’ll teach you how to milk the
cash cow,” Nick said, and laughed.
“The Grigori
told me about your nefarious ways,” Billy said and grinned.
“I like to look
on it as a manufactured Darwin trait, Kemosabe, survival of the
fittest,” he said, and grinned.
Nick took Billy
and Boomer to his personal quarters. It wasn’t just a large room, it
was a small palace built on the side of a beautiful lake. It looked
like something from a medieval story book. There was an actual moat
stocked with fish, several pairs of swans, a draw bridge, with many
rooms and towers. It was enormous and fully staffed with servants. It
was magnificent and spotless. Not a stone was damaged in the crash.
Nick explained the castle was where his protectors lived as well, and
Beauford had his own stable suite with several keepers and grooms to
see to his needs. Nick got two fine leather suitcases from a large
cabinet, and set them on a nearby table. He undid the straps to one and
opened the lid. Inside were stacks of American money in various
denominations starting with hundred dollar bills with several stacks of
five-hundred dollar bills.
“There’s a
hundred thousand in each case, and I have a dozen more just like it.
Will two of these do for a while?” he asked with a grin.
“It certainly
will. It will keep me from having to get to the gold exchanger right
away,” Billy said, “What do you think about my idea to store our gold
here, Tonto? Would it be safe?” Billy asked.
“This is your
ship, Kemosabe, or as the Spanish say, me casa, su casa. I think it’s a
wonderful idea. There’s no entry to this part of the cave where the
ship is resting. The only way in or out is by trans-location. No one
can get to it here, and my crew will defend it with their lives. We
certainly wouldn’t take off with it. We ain’t got no use for gold,”
Nick replied, “Besides, when we bond as master and slave, I will be
placed under universal law to see to my master’s wellbeing, to protect
him and his property with any and all of my resources and talents. Them
laws are strictly enforced and woe be unto the slave who don’t honor
his troth to his master,” Nick said seriously.
Nick handed
Boomer the suitcases to carry, they headed back to the village square
to say goodbye, and transport back to the cabin. Since Nick had his
bearings about where the ship was located, and the navigation sensors
were working, it would be no problem to transport directly. Nick
checked with his crew for any last minute details or questions they
needed answered, and they seemed to be happy everything was going to be
fine.
Nick, Billy, and
Boomer transported back to the line cabin to check on things.
Everything seemed to be okay, so they made another jump and appeared in
the living room of the ranch house. Nathan was in the kitchen having a
cup of coffee talking to Kate and her helpers when he saw a flash of
light down the hall coming from the living room. Billy’s uncle became
as fascinated with the the halflings and psyches as the rest of Billy’s
family. As they worked preparing the evening meal Kate had her stereo
cranked up in the other room playing Ravel’s Daphnis and Cloe. The
twins were listening intently. They remarked they never heard anything
so sensual. Kate agreed with them, and said it was like one musical
orgasm after another for forty-five minutes.
“I think our
fledgling angel and his men have arrived in our living room, Ma,”
Nathan said.
The twins looked
at Kate. Out of respect for their mistress, they wouldn’t leave their
station without her approval.
She saw the look of anticipation on their faces, grinned, and nodded
for them to go to their master. She told Archie and Edith to drop what
they were doing and join them. The twins sounded like a herd of buffalo
stampeding down the long hallway in their buckaroo boots they had come
to love because their beloved master wore them, and they wanted to look
just like him.
Billy had his
arms open for them as they rounded the corner of the stairs, and
started to enter the living room. Poly instantly stopped and Cass
almost fell over him, but he gathered himself together and stopped to
look at the tall imposting angel with bright shining gold wings
standing before them. Kate told them about it to prepare them, but they
were nonetheless gobsmacked by their master’s ethereal beauty. They
fell to their knees and said quietly, “Hosanna! Hosanna in the
highest!” Archie and Edith did the same right behind them.
“Will you guys
cut it out?” Billy said firmly, fell to his knees, and once again
opened his arms for them. They were in his arms in a second hugging and
kissing him like they hadn’t seen him in years. Archie and Edith were
as generous with their affection as the halflings.
“Master Billy,
you look...” Cass couldn’t find the words.
“Holy!” Edith
exclaimed, and they all agreed.
“Yes, that’s it.
You look like a handsome young god,” Archie said, and the halflings
agreed with him.
“Funny, I don’t
feel like no god. Ain’t they supposed to be om-nippy-tent and speak in
a booming voice to scare the crap out of ever’body?” Billy asked, and
laughed.
“So it would
seem, Master Billy,” Archie replied, and they shared a laugh.
“Edith, remind
me to show you good folks an old movie from almost a hundred years ago
about the “Wizard of Oz" in
which there is a man who tries to fool folks into believing he’s a
god-like wizard when he’s nothing but a fraud. I ain’t nothing like
him. I ain’t no wizard, neither. This is an unexpected gift from them
Irin buckaroos we done visited on Fort Adam Lear when they enhanced us.
They grew in last night, and Nurse Nick says I gotta’ wear ‘em for at
least twenty-four hours to let them imprint on my physiology to be able
to hide them away when I don’t need them or call them forth when I do.
Learning to morph and trans-locate are next on the list. They’s heavy
mothers. I’m exhausted from walking around wearing them,” Billy said,
and sat on a large bar stool in the living room.
Kate walked into
the living room wiping her hands on her apron, “We’re fix’n
supper, and it won’t be long before we eat. We invited Moss and Tron
again for dinner,” she said.
“Oh, Sweet
Jesus, Moss is gonna’ think I’s a freak’n weirdo,” Billy lamented.
“No he won’t,
Son. Moss loves you. He and Tron are part of our family,” Kate said.
“I know. Boom,
give that suitcase to Uncle Nathan,” Billy ordered his number one.
Boomer handed one of the suitcases to Nathan.
“What’s this?”
he asked.
“Open it,
Uncle,” Billy said, and grinned.
Nathan carefully
opened the case, and his eyes got real big, “Holy Shit!” he exclaimed,
“Sorry, Ma,” he said in deference to his mother.
“That’s all
right, Son, I’d say it was an appropriate response for the enormity of
the surprise,” Kate said, and giggled.
“How much is in
here, and were did it come from?” Nathan asked.
“They’s a
hun’nert thousand in each case, and it's a gift from Nick. One for
you and one for me for whatever we might need in the next couple of
weeks. With chow to buy and more clothes for the staff we’ll probably
run though it pert-damn quick, but by then we should have more. Try to
pay cash for everything. I plan to give Tron some cash to operate on
this evening so they won’t be so strapped and depressed. Don’t put
more’n ten thousand in the bank. They’ll get nosey, and wanna’ know
where it came from. They might report it to the feds,” Billy admonished
him, “Oh,
and
by the
way, when they bring them ranch vehicles, don’t let ‘em try’n charge
you a delivery fee, ‘cause it’s already done been paid for by the
Grigori.
If’n they do, tell them you won’t sign for them or accept them. They
can just take them back, we’ll notify the buyers, and the sale will be
canceled,” Billy said.
“How do you know
this, Billy?” Nathan asked.
“I don’t know,
it just come to me. They’s like a voice in ma’ head what told me to say
it. I just done what it told me. Obviously, they’s on our side, and
don’t want us to get horn-swaggled by an unscrupulous dealer. You know
how them jessie-god-bot business zombies can be. If’n they think they
can bleed you for
more, they’ll cut your throat to get it,” Billy said in a disgusted
manner.
“Why don’t you
let me take care of Tron, Son?” Nathan asked.
“How ‘bout a
compromise, Uncle? You slip Tron ten thou, and I’ll do the same for
Moss,” Billy said with a wicked grin.
“For a novice
angel
you got a wicked streak, boy. Does it for me,” Nathan said, and
laughed.
Billy stuck out his hand, and they shook on it as co-conspirators.
“I don’t know
about leaving that kind of money around the house, Billy,” Kate said
with concern.
“We got
granddad’s big old walk-in safe built into the foundation of the house
hidden behind that old hinged tool cabinet in the basement,” Billy said.
“I know, but we
ain’t got the combination,” Nathan said, “Daddy done took it with him
when he died. Mean'n no disrespect
to ma' dad, but my old man kept a lot
of things to his’self. I think he meant
well. I’m sure he eventually would have told us, but he passed away so
unexpectedly it caught him by surprise. We don’t even know what’s in
there,” Nathan said, and shook his head.
“I think I might
have the combination,” Billy said.
“How? Did he
tell you?” his uncle asked.
“No, but one of
my favorite children’s books, “Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On,”
he read to me so many times I lost count. It was his favorite book to
read to me, and it was something very special between us. I was in
heaven when he read it. Every time he read it to me he made me promise
I would take
good care of the book. Granddad said he wanted me to keep it forever as
a memory of our love for each other and our good times together.
Granddad said he would always be by my side when I looked at it, and it
contained more information than was in the story itself. There was a
message within the book I would one day discover for myself,” Billy
said.
“I remember that
book. Daws spoke of it many times, and told me to make sure you never
threw it away. It was as important to him as it was to you, Billy. You
think he left you the combination to the safe in the book?” Kate asked.
“Only one way to
find out, Grandma. Cass, you and Poly go up to my room in the tower and
look in the top drawer of the night stand on the right-hand side of my
bed for a small book with a drawing of a cowboy laying down getting
ready to go to sleep and bring it to me,” Billy said.
The twins were
away in an instant. Everyone could hear their cowboy boots clomping up
three flights of stairs to the tower were Billy’s room was. Billy
grinned, “Ah, them little men’s boots is heavenly music to my ears,” he
said, and everyone laughed with him.
“They been a
god-send for me,” Kate said and sighed, “You sure you wanna’ make them
into cowboys, Billy?” she asked.
“Grandma?” Billy
asked indignantly and laughed, “What’s wrong with being a cowboy? My
granddaddy would give you one of his blank stares what said without
words, ‘Is you daft?’ Billy said and laughed again.
“I know. God
knows they can’t talk about anything else but when they'll get to be
‘real’ cowboys. I just know they’ll be as good at it as they are
everything else. I’m convinced there isn’t anything those two can’t do
if they set their minds to it,” Kate allowed.
The twins
returned and handed Billy the book. “Thanks, gentlemen, I’ll let you
read it when we finish with it. It’s for a young kid. It’s silly, but
me and my granddad loved it. You might enjoy it, but be careful with
it, I want to keep it for a long time,” he said.
Billy began to
look through the book, and on the very first page was a picture of a
clock. It had a circle with an arrow drawn counterclockwise around it
and the number 3 was circled on the face of the clock. At the bottom of
the page was the page number and by it was a plus sign with the number
10 carefully printed next to it. Billy turned to page 11 and there was
an 'R’ before the number and a another plus sign with the number 6
neatly written next to it. Billy turned to page 17 and there were more
instructions until he had the complete combination for the safe.
Everyone was agog over his granddad’s sly message. Kate and Nathan were
stunned.
They had to go
to the basement to try it. Kate gathered her crew. The twins and
psyches returned to the kitchen to continue helping Kate with dinner.
They still had a lot of work to do to get supper on the table for their
growing crew.
The old cabinet
hadn’t been moved since Daw’s death eight years before, and it moaned
and groaned when Billy and his uncle moved it to expose the great
built-in wall safe. Billy spun the dial, and it was still in working
order. He turned it three times counterclockwise to 11 and then right
to 17 and so on until the last number. He cranked the handle, and the
great heavy door unlatched. Nathan was overjoyed, and Nick was beside
himself with anticipation.
If nothing else,
Billy’s granddad, Daws, was a meticulous business man, and kept
detailed
accurate records of all his dealings. It was lucky they found the
combination because the safe contained the family land grant records
and many family historical records few people even knew about. It would
take Billy and Nathan weeks, perhaps even months, to go through and
catalog its contents. They didn’t have time to look at much, but were
ecstatic they now had access to it. Partially hidden, stood up on its
hinged end, pressed to the back on one of the lowest shelves was a
large dark metal strong box a bit larger than the leather suitcases
they brought with them.
“Hello, and what
do we have here?” Billy said as he fell to his knees to get a better
look.
“What is it,
Son?” Nathan asked.
“A large
metal strong box, Uncle Nate,” Billy said as he began to wrestle it out
from the wall.
It was really
heavy, but fortunately had metal handles at each end. Billy huffed and
puffed, and managed to get it to lay flat on the shelf. He took one end
and his uncle took the other, and together they lifted it onto a small
table at the end of the safe. It had a welded metal hasp with a
substantial lock on it. “Well, I guess we’ll have to wait until we find
the key,” Billy said.
“Not
necessarily, my angelic nephew. When daddy died, ma gimme’ his
keys to sort. I put the common ones he used every day on a ring I keep
for duplicates, but those I didn’t recognize, about five, I put on this
here key ring of mine thinking I might, one day, find the lock what
they open. Let’s see...” Nathan said, and got the keys. He found one
which
looked like it might match the lock and tried it. It worked, and they
lifted the lid together. They both let out a low whistle. Nick was
peering over their shoulders.
“Holy mother of
god!” Nathan exclaimed softly.
“Sweet Jesus,”
allowed Billy.
The lock box was
filled with carefully wrapped packs of thousand dollar bills and five
hundred dollar bills. They even found five ten thousand dollar gold
certificates issued in 1934. The serial numbers were in perfect
sequence order with each other. Nathan picked up a pack of fifty,
one-thousand dollar bills and slipped one out.
“Would ju' look
at that,
Billy. Bet chu’ ain’t never seen one like that before,” Nathan said. He
could see Billy was puzzled. “Read the bottom of the bill, Son,” his
uncle told him.
“Gold
Certificate,” Billy read aloud.
“I’ll bet you
the five-hundreds are silver certificates,” Nathan said, and grabbed
one of the packs. Sure enough they were all silver certificates. “This
money was collected and stored long before my daddy took over the
ranch. These have to be from my granddaddy and dad just kept them in
case of an emergency. He never talked with me or my brother about none
of this. I doubt seriously ma knows anything about them. Yore’
granddaddy was a cowboy and kept his personal matters to himself,”
Nathan said. “Now, they’s as much yours as mine, Billy. What do
you wanna’ do with it?” Nate asked.
“Close it up,
and put it back until we got time to go through it and think on it
some,” Billy said, “We got enough money for right now, and soon, we'll
have much more. We don’t need this right now. This is all coming
too soon and too quickly. A few things must be put on hold until we got
more time,” Billy said.
“I agree,”
Nathan said. They closed the strong box, and returned it to it’s
hiding place on the lowest shelf.
They stored the
two suitcases on separate shelves. Billy counted out twenty thousand
dollars. Ten for him and ten he planned to give to Moss. His uncle took
the same amount from his suitcase.
Nathan stuck out
his hand to Nick. They shook hands. “I had my doubts about you, Nick. I
ain’t unaware what the name ‘Nick’ might imply, but if’n you’s good
enough for ma’ nephew to love and want as a close member of our family,
you’s all right by me, Son,” Nathan said.
Nick was so
moved by Nathan’s words he almost lost it. “I plan to give myself to
Master Billy this evening before his family, sir. I appreciate your
kind words, and I promise I will do everything in my power to protect
him and help him accomplish whatever them advanced aliens got in store
for us. I give you my word as an ex-angel and messenger, sir,” Nick
said with conviction.
“Ain’t no doubt
in my mind, Son. Together you men will make an unbeatable team,” Nathan
said.
The three men
returned to the living room to await their guests for supper.
* * * * * * *
Hank, Buck,
Andy, and Clyde in the front door and joined them while they were in
the living room. The
four cowboys were filthy. Clyde wasn’t wearing his wings, and looked
like one of the other buckaroos. Billy marveled at Hank and Buck. They
didn’t look much older than his messenger or his Irin foreman. It struck Billy deep
inside how intimate he was with each of them, and how much they meant
to him. He knew beyond a doubt they would become two of the most
important people in his life. He was grateful for that bit of enhanced
insight.
The four cowboy
were stunned by their master’s new wings. “Mistress Kate and Clyde done
told us about your wings, Master Billy. They said they were awesome,
but we never imagined anything like this, sir,” Hank said.
“Are you an
angel, now, Master Billy?” Buck asked.
“No. I ain’t no
angel, and I ain’t no god. I’m just a brown-dirt cowboy master what’s
been given this set of wings by Andy’s supreme leaders. We all got
enhanced by them. I think some of us probably got more than others, but
I don’t know for sure.
Just wait, buckaroos, you might find you got powers you ain’t never
counted on. If you find out, be sure to let me know. I need to know
everything about each of you for me to utilize your talents in the most
efficient way to make things easier for everyone,” Billy said.
“Will do, sir,”
said Hank.
“You’s a filthy
lot, but I like to see my cowboy like that. Tell's me they been doing
some work. What chu’ men been up to?” Billy asked.
“We been
cleaning up the bunkhouse, and got it in pretty good shape. The sun
come out for a bit. We took the mattresses outside, beat the dust out
of them, and let them sit in the sun for a couple of hours. They’ll do
until we can afford some more. They ain’t a lot of linen, but all a
cowboy needs is a fart sack to cover the mattress and a good warm
blanket. We can rough it until we get better, more comfortable
accommodations,” Hank allowed, “Buck and me, we lived in much worse
places,” he added.
“I agree with
Hank, Master Billy, we don’t need a lot to get started. What we really
need is a place to have a cook shack. We can’t bring a lot more cowboys
on line until we got a place to cook and feed 'em. We cain’t impose on
Mistress Kate and Master Nathan to feed ten or fifteen cowpokes. Even
if
they ain’t cowboy’n all the time, they got other skills. Every one is a
master carpenter, electrician, and plumber. They can do any kind of
building from design, estimating material cost to building the final
structure, whatever it might be,” Andy said.
“What about heat
out there? I know that old water heater for the showers was on it’s
last leg,” Billy asked.
“The big
potbelly stove worked fine once we got it cleaned up, and the stack
cleaned out. That’s part of why we’s so dirty, but you’re right about
the water heater. It ain’t working a' tall. Besides it was only thirty
gallons. For a group of cowboys to fill the bunkhouse you’ll need a
couple at a hundred gallons each,” Buck replied.
“Okay, let’s
start slow for right now, gentlemen. Andy, we can seat another couple
of cowboys at our table until we get fully operational. Have two of
your best men morph tomorrow and bring them to me. Clyde can outfit
them. We’ll have Hank and Buck take measurements, and give me the
figures. I’ll get on-line and order what we need. It may take several
days for delivery, but we’ll save a lot on volume orders,” Billy said.
The cowboys got blank looks on their faces.
“They don’t
understand what ‘on-line’ means, Kemosabe,” Nick said quietly.
“I’ll explain
‘on-line’ and computers to you men later,” Billy promised, “but right
now, you men go clean up for supper and return here. Your dirty clothes
ain’t no problem. Grandma’s used to work’n cowhands at her supper table
as long as they got clean hands and faces,” Billy said and grinned.
When you men shower before bedding down for the night, we’ll have the
twins gather your dirty clothes, wash and dry them, and return them to
you in the morning so’s you’ll be fresh for tomorrow,” Billy explained.
The men took off
for their rooms, and shook hands with Tron and Moss as they walked in
the front door. Nathan met the Garretts in the front hallway, and
graciously
invited them into the living room. The mature rancher and his son were
stunned by what they saw standing before them. Billy looked like
pictures they saw of archangels, and they were cautious and reserved
upon entering the room. Billy acknowledged
the older cowboy first and shook his hand. “Good evening, Mr. Garrett,
glad to have you and my cowboy brother join us this evening for supper,
sir,” Billy said warmly and smiled.
“Thank you,
Son,” Tron Garrett said in a reserved manner. Billy was almost as big
as his son.
“And do I get a
hug from my brother?” Billy asked.
“You's still,
Billy Daniels, ain’t chu’, hoss?” Moss asked like he was confused.
“To the bone,
Brother,” Billy said, and grinned as he took Moss into his arms. Moss
gently hugged him back. Billy offered his hand, and Moss shook it.
Billy noticed Moss’s hand where he was missing the little finger on his
right hand he lost several years before in a haying accident. He was
self-conscious about it, and hid his right hand most of the time. Being
right handed, he learned to do a lot of things with his left hand just
to
hide his right one from sight.
“Would you like
to have that finger back, Brother?” Billy asked.
“Yeah, but
what’s done it done. I miss it, I don’t feel like a total man
sometimes, but you and me, we live by the cowboy code -- cowboys
adjust,” he said.
“Give me your
hand, Brother,” Billy said. Moss instinctively gave Billy his left
hand. “No, your right hand, Moss,” Billy said.
Moss reluctantly
gave him his hand, and Billy held it in both of his. He raised his
heavy wings, and they began to adsorb a tremendous amount of power and
light from some unknown source. Billy’s wings became blindingly bright.
Tron and Nathan had to turn their heads aside and shield their eyes
from the almost painful blinding light. Nick didn’t move. He seemed to
be enjoying watching the two young cowboys coming together within the
light. It was like he was bathing in it and gaining strength from their
bonding. He walked over to them, put his hands over Moss and Billy’s,
raised his wings, and even more light began to spill forth from their
conjoining.
Moss looked down
and couldn’t believe what was happening. He could actually see the stub
of his small finger begin to glow a stark white color, and he could
swear it was growing. They stood together for almost thirty minutes
with the bright light filling the living room, until Billy and Nick
were satisfied Moss’s finger was fully grown and functional. Still
within the bright light Billy spoke to his brother, “Move it for me,
Moss,” he said like a gentle order. Slowly but surely Moss began to
move his new finger until he could move it about and up and down. A
great smile spread across the young cowboy’s face and tears ran down
his cheeks.
“Oh, my God! Oh,
my God! Dad, look! he exclaimed. Tron came to his side, and he
could see Moss’s new finger moving. The others joined them when they
saw the bright light coming from the living room. They were gobsmacked
by what they were witnessing, and they knew the conjoining of Nick and
Billy coming close to the point of melding made what they witnessed
seem like a miracle to them. Finally, Billy and Nick lowered their
wings, and the light slowly began to dissipate. There was a great hush
fell over the room.
Billy looked
deep into Moss’s eyes and saw tears of gratitude and love for his
cowboy brother who just gave him back his finger. “Now, my brother, can
we try that hug again, but this time I better get me a kiss from yore’
big ugly mug what will curl me toenails, buckaroo,” Billy said, and
grinned. Billy got what he asked for.
“Everyone in the
room could feel the love which passed between them. Billy’s wings
raised, and he began to absorb light again which poured into and out of
both men. Nick walked to them, gently put his hand upon Billy’s
shoulder, and motioned for the others to do the same. The entire family
had a hand on either Billy or Moss, and they were drinking in the
natural goodness of their love for each other like it was a cool spring
of flowing water, and they were thirsty. It filled everyone with the
most gentle and gracious unconditional love for one another, there was
nothing which could be said to define it. It couldn’t be described. It
was the ultimate feeling of belonging. They were bonding as family.
“Wow!” exclaimed
Kate, “Never felt anything like that before. It certainly was an
eyeopening
experience. Since when have you been able to perform such miracles,
Billy?” she asked.
“They ain’t
miracles, Grandma. We should be far enough along now we don’t have to
rely on the ideas of things we don’t understand as unexplainable as
‘miracles.’ What I just done for my brother is based on solid
science, physics, and the laws of the universe. I was enhanced to be
able to do these things,” Billy said, “I’m beginning to understand why
I was given this set of wings. They’s not only flight worthy, they’s
giant receiving antennas for collecting the healing power that exists
all around us and is as plentiful as the dew, the very essence of the
firmament, the physical application of the ethos of unconditional
love,” Billy said.
“He discovered
his new powers while we were on board my ship, Ms. Kate. He healed two
badly burned halfling children, a dwarf with a broken leg, and his
daughter who had a broken arm. He also restored one of my protectors
who was hurt in a hunting accident many years ago and left
crippled and unable to fly. He now walks proud and tall and can fly
again. Your grandson made a big impression on my crew and the people of
our
village,” Nick said.
“We came to
invite you men to supper, but got a bit sidetracked. Come, gentlemen,
let’s gather for supper, and we can discuss this over a good meal. My
fine helpers, and the cowboys, Hank, Buck, Clyde, and Andy worked hard
today; they need a good feed. Come,” Kate said and made a motion with
her hand for the men to follow.
Everyone moved
toward the kitchen and left Moss and Billy standing together in
the living room. “Thank you, brother,” Moss whispered softly to Billy,
holding out his right hand to admire his new finger.
“You’re welcome.
Your kiss paid for it in full, buckaroo. Ain’t had me none finer. I
gotta’ admit I been want’n to do that for a good while,” Billy declared.
“Y’ain’t alone,
brother. I been want’n to make a little love with you since yore’
granddaddy past away,” Moss said quietly.
“Let’s us get
off by ourselves after dinner and talk for a while, partner,” Billy
said.
“I’d like that,
Billy,” Moss replied.
* * * * * * *
Everyone sat
down at Mistress Kate’s groaning board and began to fill themselves.
Billy thought he might have problems sitting in the chair at the table
but the back wasn’t so high his wings could comfortably draped over the
back. He saw Nick and Clyde do the same.
“How will you
explain your new wings, Son,” Tron asked Billy.
“I won’t have
to, Mr. Garrett. Nick tells me after twenty-four hours for my body to
adjust, I’ll be able to morph them away like the Irin cattle can change
shape. It’s not uncommon in the universe. Cass and Poly are masters at
shape shifting and can become most anything I ask of them. When I first
met Poly he was a huge white Great Pyrenees dog. Right, cowboy?” Billy
asked and winked at Poly.
“That’s right,
Master Billy. Me and Cass were both dogs that afternoon, but you met
Cass in his natural form earlier,” Pollux replied.
“What chu’ men been up to today?” Billy asked.
“We mostly been
helping Mistress Kate, but we helped the cowboys some out to the
bunkhouse. Mistress Kate says she’s going to start teaching us to read
music for an hour each day after breakfast,” Cass replied.
“Worming your
way into the hearts and minds of my slaves, are you, Grandma?” Billy
asked with a grin.
“No, just
rounding off the rough edges,” Kate replied and smiled sweetly. Billy
fell out laughing.
“You men pay
close attention. She’ll take you to new heights in music,” Billy said.
“We’re looking
forward to it,” Poly said.
“What did you
men find in the safe?” Kate asked.
“We’ll give you
a full run down later, Ma. It was mostly important property and
personal documents with a couple of surprises we’ll share with you,”
Nathan replied.
The supper went
well, and everyone was sated. Kate decided not to serve dessert until
later, and everyone retired to the parlor after the kitchen was cleaned
up. Kate mentioned to Billy she and the twins worked up a little tune
they thought he might enjoy. The twins got out their fiddles and tuned
them. Kate sat down at the old upright grand and began to play Percy
Grainger’s “Country Gardens.” Billy damn near fell out of his chair
laughing. It was the first major piece of music Kate taught him to play
for his first recital. So he wouldn’t be afraid for his musical debut,
Kate wisely decided they should play it as a duet. Billy played the
treble part and Kate played secundo.
After Kate
played the melody through once, the twins joined her on the next round,
and played the melody straight with Cass playing accompaniment. The
third pass Kate played both, the twins riffed on the melody, and
invented their own counterpoint. It was stunningly original. Billy was
in heaven. Kate looked over to her grandson, smiled, and patted the
bench next to her without missing a beat of the music. Billy slipped
onto the bench just in time for the last go round of the melody.
Once again he
and his beloved grandmother played the duet they played together so
many years ago, only this time, they had two beautiful violins playing
an intricate counterpoint over their plodding melody. It was fantastic.
Grainger never got a better reading. When they finished everyone was on
their feet applauding for them and the twins. Another brief but
enjoyable musical evening had come to an end.
Kate and her
crew returned to the kitchen to get trays of desserts ready to take
into the parlor. The men continued to talk quietly among themselves.
Billy wasn’t much interested in talking and invited Moss up to his room
in the tower for a few minutes. He told him he had something he wanted
to show him. They climbed the several flight of stairs and were
breathing heavy when they got to Billy’s room. Billy turned and took
Moss into his arms. Moss had no problem returning his younger roping
partner’s embrace. “Now, where were we?” Billy asked quietly.
“I don’t recall,
but I know I need me another one a them buckaroo kisses from my
partner,” Moss replied.
Billy
didn’t need another invitation and shared a passionate kiss filled with
all the repressed love the two young men held for each other; a love
which
found no outlet, no release in the strictly ultra-conservative confines
of the hyper-masculine cowboy world. All the taboos and false
equivalences of relationships of any kind were swept aside in a moment
of carnal lust. The two words which most adequately describes the
attraction two people of any sexual appetite have for each other,
cheapened, and made to sound dirty by the foaming foul mouths of rabid
evangelical preachers who repress their own sexual desires to such a
great degree they became twisted and demonic beyond their wildest rants
about their self-styled inventions of perversion. Self hate for the
demons inside
distill over time to become a strong liquor they became drunk on and
would be caught performing the most foul sexual acts. They became that
which they condemned.
None of that
mattered to the young cowboys holding each other in a shared moment
of unvarnished, uncomplicated love for each other. “Fuck it all, Moss.
I love you so goddamn much I almost pissed ma’ wranglers,” Billy
whispered after they broke off.
“I’m confused,
Billy. I feel the same way, but I don’t see how I can fit into your
world with all them devoted folks you got around you, and it looks like
you’s even gonna’ have many more,” Moss said voicing his doubts.
“You let me
worry about it, Hoss. I’ll make time for you and me. I got my bonded
mate, Boomer, but he’s my slave. He also owns me, just like I tried to
tell you one time Samson owns me, and you laughed at me. I promise you,
it’s true. 'Slave' is just a word. All them folks down there own a
chunk
of me, and I won’t let none of ‘em down. Same with you brother, but I
don’t want you for no slave, Moss. I want you for a partner. You’s my
big brother and mentor, with privileged access to my heart, my mouth,
my cock, and my asshole, if’n you so desire.
“Nick plans to
give his’self to me tonight as another slave, and I will accept him. I
have to. This moment has been carefully planned by a handful of super
intelligent, highly advanced benevolent alien races what want to see
mankind join them among the stars, but won’t abide them bringing the
baggage of myth and superstition with them. What role is Nick gonna’
play? The daddy I ain’t never had, and I’m to act as a buffer for his
sometime erratic behavior. I’m still growing and learning, Moss. I need
me a daddy, and Nick needs somebody he respects and admires to love
him, believe in him, and trust him,” Billy said and stopped for a
minute.
He reached into
the back pocket of his Wranglers and pulled out a wad of five hundred
dollar bills. Moss’s eyes grew big. Billy carefully counted out
twenty of the bills and put the rest into his back pocket. He
gathered the bills on the table and handed them to Moss. The big cowboy
didn’t offer to take them. “We’d ju’ get money like that, Billy?” Moss
asked like he was dumbfounded.
“Nick give it to
me to tide us over until I win the Super Lotto tomorrow night and get a
chance to exchange some gold I brought back with me from Retikki Prime.
I want you to have this. It’s ten thousand dollars with only one string
attached,” Billy said.
“I can’t take
your money, Billy? That’s a hell of a lot cash. That’ s more’n me’n and
ma’dad make in a year,” Moss lamented, “Besides, what’s Nick gonna’
think?” he asked.
“You don’t think
I’d do nothing behind his back, do you? He knows about it and
encouraged me. Just look at it as an advance on yore’ salary as my
right hand man. Considering it’s an entry level position on my staff,
I’m offering you a thousand per month, under the table. With this I get
me ten months work out of my brother. You got any better offers lately
I don’t know about?” Billy asked wickedly and grinned.
“You know
better,” Moss lamented.
“Just take it,
and put it in yore’ pocket. If’n you’s gonna’ work for me, h’it ain’t
charity, Hoss,” Billy said convincingly, “And you will work. During the
early stages you may find yore’self doing dirty work right along side
my cowboy slaves. Whatever needs to get done to get this operation off
the ground and running smoothly, I will expect you to pitch in and
help,” Billy said.
“I ain’t no
proud man, Brother. You know I can do that. What’s the one string
attached,” Moss asked raising an eyebrow.
“You love me
unconditionally,” Billy said tenderly.
“I already love
you so gotdamn much sometimes I think ma’ fuck’n heart’s gonna’ break
when I’m around you, Billy, ‘cause I want to hold you in my arms so bad
I get the fever-quakes, and all I can think of is make’n sweet cowboy
love to you,” Moss said with tears forming in his eyes.
“Then do we have
us a deal, buckaroo?” Billy asked, holding his hand out with the money.
Moss reluctantly
took it, and shoved it into his back pocket. The bigger cowboy
carefully
surrounded Billy with his big arms and embraced him. “Seal our
contract with a kiss, Boss?” Moss asked.
“H'it's the best
way to do business with a handsome rancher, what’s gonna’ become my
personal ramrod,” Billy replied and they kissed a prolonged kiss which
said more than all the words about love and faith in each other ever
could. Billy and Moss bonded as partners. Their hearts were filled with
joy and contentment for each other, and they hadn’t even made the beast
with two backs yet. Yet. That would come as a matter of course, as
natural as the drawing down of shades at the end of day.
They broke off
their kiss when they heard two pair of cowboy boots clomping up the
last flight of stairs and running down the hall to Billy’s room.
Billy’s new enhancements added another dimension to his musical
abilities. He could distinguish walk patterns and the pitch of
someone’s boots when they walked like they were carefully tuned
percussion instruments playing though a section of one’s life called
movements. “My munchkins have been sent by my grandma to fetch us,”
Billy said quietly.
“Will we ever
have time alone, Boss?” Moss asked.
“Trust me,
buckaroo, I’ll make time for my ramrod,” Billy replied.
Poly and Cass
came running into the room. Poly ran for Billy and Cass chose Moss. Not
unlike two lovable pets, they always expected a hug and a kiss. Moss
couldn’t help be charmed by them. They seemed to be full of life and
happiness. “Mistress Kate told us to come gather you and Mr. Garrett,
Master Billy. She’s serving dessert in the parlor, sir, and it’s
delicious. We done already et ours so’s we could help Mistress Kate
serve them others,” Poly said breathlessly.
“Come, then,
we’ll walk down together. No more running. You’ll wear yourselves out,”
Billy said, and stole another kiss from Poly, “And nice Texas speak
there, buckaroo. Proud of ya,” he added and laughed.
After everyone
finished dessert, the dishes were taken back to the kitchen, and the
family gathered together in the parlor again, Nick looked over and
caught Billy’s eye, << It’s now or never, Kemosabe, >> he
sent with a nervous look in his eye.
<< My
heart is open, and ready to welcome you home, Tonto, >> Billy
returned.
<< I
wonder how many voices will be rejoicing out there this evening?
>> Nick mused.
<< So many
it will make the heaven’s bright with new stars what will be
created in celebration of our conjoining, >> Billy answered.
“Folks, if I
could have you attention for a moment,” Nick began, “I won’t bore you
with what led up to this moment. You will find out the details as time
goes on. Billy Daniels and I have been brought together by
several advanced, highly intelligent creatures in the universe to
become a team. They have made it clear, I am to humble myself before
him, a human, a son of man, and give myself unto him to be his slave,”
Nick said.
“No, Samu’el,
tell them more. If they are to trust us they should not be kept in
darkness. They should hear the truth. What they choose to do with it
will be up to them. When we get underway we must have the trust and
faith of our base, or we’re doomed from the beginning. One contrarian
heart in this room would be enough to upset the delicate balance of our
mission,” Billy said in a commanding voice no one ever heard him use
before.
“Aye, Master
Billy, you are right," Nick humbled himself, “I am an immortal. I have
lived for centuries and was once the messenger and slave to an evil
alien named Jehovah and known as Yahweh to the Jews, who deceived the
world into believing he was a god so he could control them to be his
slaves to work for him and provided him with food. He was a hideous
creature and would allow none of his messengers or slaves to look upon
him. A few of us actually saw him, and he was a monster with long slimy
arms or tentacles which he used to draw food into his huge gaping maw.
To say he was Lovecraftian in appearance would be a compliment.
“Many of his
messengers who were put in charge of his artificially created human
slaves came to know and care about them. They began to teach them
language; taught them art, hygiene, and many other things to better
their lives until Jehovah found out about them. He wanted to keep the
humans ignorant filled with fear and superstition so he could control
them. He rounded up those messengers who disobeyed him and placed them
in stasis deep in an underground cavern under Mount Ararat. They remain
there to this day. Only one of the messengers who rebelled escaped and
was rescued by the benevolent race of the Grigori of which our Boomer
here is a member. They are known throughout the universe as the
Watchers. The messenger who escaped was me, Samu’el.
“Samu’el was my
original name when I was artificially created by the Annunaki and then
sold to Jehovah as his slave. The 'el did not mean 'of god’, it meant
the group type or model number given us by our Annunaki makers. I have
been known throughout the ages by many names; Lucifer; Azmodeus;
Beelzebub; Azazel; Samyaza; Satan, the devil; Mephistopheles; Old
Scratch, and Old Nick. Jehovah did a character assignation on me
through his bronze age propaganda machine of myth and superstition
which became the religion of the desert tribes and later Islam and
Christianity. Unknown to them, they have worshiped a monster of
darkness, greed, and mammon all these centuries.
“When Jehovah
found out we were disobeying him and trying to help the humans, his
original punishment was, if we cared so much about them he would make
us their permanent caretakers -- their slaves. He demanded we bow down
before them, pay homage to them, and beg them to accept us as their
slaves. I refused, and so did the rest of the so called fallen angels.
We decided his punishment was overly severe and despotic for a minor
offense, and we stood up to him. It was the first organized labor union
strike in history. We were hoping if we reasoned with him he might
negotiate with us for a lesser punishment not so harsh, but he refused.
We
were falsely accused of the sin of pride and rebellion. He claimed we
were trying to usurp his authority and take over as supreme being, as
he liked to think of himself. The rest is history embellished with myth
and miles of more superstition. However, even the smallest kernel of
truth will shine and light the way through the darkest of nights.
Nick stood
walked over to where Billy was standing by the fireplace, fell to his
knees before his young cowboy savior and spoke, “Master Billy Daniels,
there are many reasons why I’m kneeling before you tonight. You and I
know them all. We discussed them at length, but the primary reason is
because in a short time, I have come to love you and your family
deeply, and I can’t imagine a future without you and them in my life. I
have never been more sure about anything I ever done before, but I know
beyond a doubt I must give myself to you, a son of man, to become your
slave, sir,” Nick said. Suddenly Billy’s wings unfolded, and he raised
them high over everyone in the room. The light they gathered from the
frimament began to shine brightly and his radiance was given off to
fall
upon everyone of them as if each was becoming a part of this wonderful
moment of conjoining.
Nick leaned over
and kissed each of Billy’s buckaroo boots and spoke, “Please, Master
Billy will you accept this humble ex-messenger, ex-archangel for your
slave, sir?” Nick asked.
In a booming
voice that sounded like the very voice of god himself, Billy commanded
Nick to rise, embrace his new master, and share his love with him. Nick
was in Billy’s arms in an instant sobbing his heart out. They kissed a
kiss which moved the heavens and Earth. At the very moment they kissed,
bells rang out from their small town and could be heard upon the
mountain top. There was a massive wind passed through the upstairs
ballroom and eerily passed through numerous organ pipes to make a
cacophonous ethereal sound. Everyone laughed
nervously, but were respectful. They knew they witnessed something as
damn near sacred as they were ever going to experience in their lives
-- the final humbling of the fallen angel, Lucifer, to beseech a humble
brown dirt cowboy, a man of the Earth, to allow him to become his slave
and Nick’s acknowledged master was the completion of a little known
prophecy from centuries ago no one ever gave much credence. The circle
was complete. The prophecy was fulfilled. The sky was ablaze with
meteor showers that evening which looked like the very stars themselves
were falling from the firmament as if its very bosom swelled with
exultation and made a great sigh of release for the final resolution.
They broke off
their kiss and Billy exclaimed, “Hosanna! The lost has been found and
returned to the fold! Blessed be him who maketh the seven stars and
Orion! Hosanna in the highest!”
Everyone
replied, “Hosanna in the highest!”
“And on Earth,
peace, goodwill to all men, and all the creatures who share this planet
with them,” said the small voice of Edith.
“Hosanna!”
exclaimed Billy more softly, smiled, and nodded to his pet in agreement.
Again his family
responded, “Hosanna in the highest!”
* * * * * * *
The evening
wound down. There was more talk as some drank coffee and others drank
hot chocolate. Archie and Edith became quite fond of chocolate. It was
one of their favorite treats. Kate was sure to have chocolate pudding
with whipped cream for dessert at least one evening a week. The night was
unusually warm after such a bitter cold snap for a couple of days, but
that was Texas weather. They walked out onto the front porch, and
enjoyed the heavenly fireworks display of the Leonid meteor showers. It
coincided perfectly with Nick becoming Billy’s slave, or at least
that’s what they told each other. A few had thoughts of their own; a
bit more creative, perhaps, but it’s not a bad thing to let your
imagination run wild from time to time if you’re firmly grounded in
reality. You should also check your reality as regularly as you do your
oil in your truck. Once every other month or so ought to do it.
Moss and Billy
said their quiet goodbyes. They didn’t have to speak the words. They
knew what was in each other’s heart. They understood the evening was a
new beginning for them, and they were comfortable with their new
relationship.
Nathan and Tron
had a few words for each other with a promise made of a weekend over to
the Garrett ranch together to knock boots while Moss spent a weekend at
the Daniels' ranch with Billy. Tron turned to walk away to his truck
where Moss was waiting for him, stopped, turned around, walked the few
steps back to Nathan, and said, “Fuck it! I don’t give a good goddamn
who knows no more, Brother, I done loved you too many years to waste
any more time,” he said firmly, grabbed Nathan, and planted a kiss on
him which made every man there get an erection and drool in their
Wranglers.
“Ain’t nothing
hotter than two mature cowboys saddled up in the lip-lock of death what
would make the angels swoon,” Hank allowed to his mate. He was right.
In fact, two did.
End of Chapter 9
~ Him Who Made The Seven Stars
Copyright ~
© ~ 2012
~ Waddie Greywolf
All Rights
Reserved~
Email to:
waddiebear@yahoo.com
04/13/2012