Cha'Nara's Gift

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Girls With Guns

Emily Picks Up the Story

I went to check on Mrs. Miller and sat by her side until she started coming around, "Here ma'am, take these with this water, you're head will feel much better." "Who was that strange creature with my son, what did she do to me? I fee strange, Owww! My head hurts so much!" "Take these pills and drink this water, just lay back down and relax, I'll explain it all to you.' She reluctantly took the aspirin and drank a sip of water, I smiled and said, "I went through the same thing, that "creature" is a sentient being with a name, it is Cha'Nara Mrs. Miller. She's totally harmless, I suspect you're seeing visions of strange things in your mind, just let them come, what you're seeing are images of Cha'Nara's world, I can't tell you where it is, I find the images very beautiful, very peaceful. You'll be able to talk with her now, for some reason what she does only works with females, Deak can't understand her but she can understand him, mainly through me, she understands our language so she can understand him. She understands Ben as well, but again, he can't understand her, are things making any sense to you?" Mrs. Miller shook her head indicating "no" "Take it from me, ma'am, by tomorrow it will all be clear."

I left her to rest and went out to find Cha'Nara and Ben. Deak was going through all the "loot" as he called it emptying weapons of any ammunition and sorting clothing. Cha'nara and Ben were in the "unit'" she was showing him the computers, but I knew he had no earthly conception of what they were for. I looked at Cha'Nara and thought, "Cha'Nara, Ben doesn't have any conception of what you're showing him, we're in a different time, things even remotely similar are still a hundred years away, why bother?" "Because I like it when he is near me, I am very lonely Emily, this boy helps me to be not so lonely, he is very nice." "I'm sorry you feel so lonely Cha"Nara, just don't take advantage of him, I think you know what I mean. Tomorrow morning I want you to be there when his mother wakes up, if you feel she needs another "mind meld" give her one, she's going to be riding in this thing, I don't want her freaking out on us OK?" Cha'Nara gave me her thumbs up gesture "OK" all this was said without a word being spoken, Ben just sat there giving us funny looks, two females staring at each other without saying a word.

That evening, after chow, Deak was busy cleaning his rifle I took a little stroll, I spotted Cha'Nara and Ben kissing, and I'd guess you'd say "making out" in a darkened corner of the stockade, I shook my head, I felt sorry for Ben, Cha'Nara was going to break his heart when we left for good, but there was nothing I could do about it. Returning to where Deak was sitting, I sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheek, "What was that for?" I giggled, "For being you, lover." I took the first watch, then Ben and Cha'nara then Deak. In the morning, Cha'Nara was sitting next to Mrs. Miller when she woke. I'm not sure what Cha'Nara did, Hell! I never figured out what she did to me, but peeking into the tent, I saw them staring at each other, telepathy! Ben's mom had a calm look on her face; it had to be mind control, no other explanation, simply mind control. The two women "talked" for almost an hour, when they were finished, Mrs. Miller was smiling and even laughed a little, when Cha'Nara came out of the tent I asked her, "Is she OK?" "She is OK" replied Cha'Nara. A thought occurred to me; maybe Cha'nara was a witch after all.

Deak Continues

Emily and Pip seemed to have Ben's mom squared away, so I had him help me put the generator and converter in the back of the wagon, the Miller's didn't have much, so there was room. I had Pip operate her disappearing device which she called a "Dahampa" the wagon disappeared, along with it's cargo. Cha'nara confirmed that it was not meant to be used on living things, things that tended to end up dead when it was tried. By noon we were packed and ready to go, Ben had dispersed the horses as best he could, we had picked up all the empty brass we could find, the stockade might make a nice fort for someone else, we were ready to go. Emily had given Mrs. Miller a sedative, and although Ben was anxious, he was ready.

Cha'Nara and Emily made the corrections, entered the data, and initiated travel, the engine hummed there was some slight movement, then everything seemed to power down. "I think we're here guys," announced Emily, June 20th 1878." Before we did anything, I worked my way over all the crap piled all over and checked the power tube, it was a very light green, first order of business, begin recharging as soon as we could, but first came perimeter security. "Everybody stay put for the moment, I'll see what's happening outside. This time it appeared to be approaching dawn, the cool damp air told me the night was coming to a close; I still had to use my night vision device. I listened, but only heard coyote's in the distance, we appeared to be right on the edge of a tree line, and on closer examination revealed that we were actually in a small clearing, so much the better. I called for Emily and Ben who emerged and started to spread out, I sent Ben out further to see what was out there.

He was gone about ten minutes, returning with the news that there was a road about 200 yards out and running towards the north. This would present problems, roads meant people, and travelers who were likely to appear when you least expected them. "Emily, you and Pip get the generator set up, and charging, right away, it's going to make noise, but so's my chain saw. Ben, cover me while I cut some poles for the netting, don't want anybody sneaking up on us OK?" Ben grabbed his new Winchester and found a spot where he could watch the road. Cha'Nara stood outside the craft with that "Dahampa" thing of hers and pointed it next to the craft making the wagon appear. Emily jumped up in the wagon and started the generator, Cha'Nara brought out the drained power tube and placed it in the charging cradle the generator came to life with a roar while Emily made sure the tube was charging. I started cutting small thin trees for poles to lean against the craft, later I would cut posts and place them around the perimeter and fasten these poles to them for better concealment.

I quickly cut twelve poles and laid them equal distance around the craft; I lashed two to the wagon as tent poles so we could get up in the wagon easier. Emily and I spread the cammo netting over the craft and poles adjusting everything very carefully, the brush and branches from the small trees I cut were placed over the netting to hide the "Unit" even more, close examination would reveal everything, but we knew that. Since evidence of human activity was apparent, Emily and I changed into "local" garb; Mrs. Miller helped Emily dress and loved the dress Emily put on, "That is a lovely dress Emily, where did you get it?" "Off the internet" replied Emily, "I'm not familiar with that dress maker" said Mrs. Miller, a puzzled look on her face. Emily thought my costume was silly, I had chosen the "Clint Eastwood" look, jeans, a light grey shirt, tan sheepskin lined vest and a cowboy Stetson. I put on a Mexican serape to hide my side arm and leg holster, my trusty Sig would remain.

We ate a quick breakfast of powdered eggs canned bacon and freeze dried pancakes, Ben never said much, but his mother thought our food terrible, Emily and I agreed with her, and promised to correct that as soon as we could. I sent Ben further out to rece and just to observe not to engage, about half an hour later he returned to report a cabin that looked occupied about a mile down the road. "Crap!" That means someone probably heard all the noise from the saw and generator, "Stay on the alert for visitors Ben" I took my rifle and a pan and went looking for the creek I knew was around here somewhere. I found it about 400 yards up the road on the other side; I did a quick check of the fast flowing stream with my pan. My efforts showed color, but not a whole lot, this was where we planned to build our little town or "Deakstown" as I had planned to call it.

DEAKSTOWN PART 2 Cha'Nara's Gift

"Ben, I owe you an apology son, you were right about the horses, but I just couldn't see any way to bring them," "It's all right sir, something tells me we'll have more horses in due time." Ben was obviously catching on to the fact that where we went trouble followed, "I think I know what you're saying there son, more buzzard bait eh!" Ben just nodded. I was in the craft looking for something when I heard Ben shout, "Riders!" "Pip inside NOW! Emily grabbed our rifles and took up positions out front, Cha'Nara ran into the craft, Ben's mother went as well, Ben hid behind a tree out front, as three men on horseback and a wagon clattered up the road. I was sure they would spot us, but they just kept going, I started to breath a sigh of relief when I saw Ben pointing down the road, two men were slowly approaching, one of them had spotted Ben, I braced my rifle against a tree, and placed the rider squarely in my crosshairs. "Boy! Whatcha doin hidin behind that tree we see ya, git out here boy… Now!" Ben slowly stepped away from the tree holding his rifle. The men started looking around when one of them said, "Whatcha doin out here all by your lonesome, wheres yer paw?" "His paw's dead!" Emily slowly stood up putting both men on alert; I could see she was hiding her pistol behind her. "Mornin ma'am didn't see ya hidin over there," said one of the riders.

"I wasn't hidin, just that you can never be too sure out here, where you men headin?" "Up the road apiece, minin camp up there, aim to do us some prospectin." "Say, you look right purty there ma'am you wouldn't happen at be up for a poke wouldya?" I knew Emily was probably livid at that remark, but she kept her cool and said, "What makes you think I'm a w***e?" The men chuckled, "What else would a female be doin in these parts, got some dust here, it's yours ifin you do Frank and I here?" One of the men started to get off his horse, he ended falling off, pieces of his head splattering over his partner, Ben swung his rifle up and shot the other man out of his saddle in one quick motion. "Get the horses Ben!" I shouted, Emily and I ran to where the bodies were laying in the road, "Quick, help me drag these guys into the brush here before more people come" I said. Emily and I dragged the bodies off into the scrub, while Ben tethered the horses near the camp.

I went through the men's pockets recovering a small pouch of gold dust and four nuggets, "finders keepers" hah! One man had five dollars in silver dollars a bill of sale for his horse, a knife and a pouch of tobacco and rolling papers. Emily grabbed them away from me and said, I haven't had a cigarette in a long time, I'll just take that stuff." Their clothing was pretty dirty and rough I left them clothed. "Good shooting there Ben, you're really catching on fast son. Here, payday!" I dropped the five dollars into Ben's hand. Ben's expression turned to amazement, "Thank you so much sir, never say this much silver in my life." "Hang with us kid, you'll see a whole lot more." "On the other hand, you stick with us maybe you will hang with us, ooh, bad pun!" I looked at Emily and said, "When that shitstain spoke to you like that I knew things would go south in a hurry, gotta be more careful babe!" "I know lover, but we were just about to lose our edge, that one guy was starting to pull his gun, I think he was going to shoot Ben." "Guess I missed that, I was watching the other guy through my scope, very observant, good work Marine!" I kissed her on the cheek.

Suddenly the clatter of hooves approached a large body of men by the sound of it, "Ben! Up front now!" I stood next to a tree with my rifle in easy reach just behind it, Emily did the same thing, the riders pulled up in front of us, "Seen two men pass this way?" Pointing to the dead men in the bushes, I shrugged and replied,

"They were getting ready to shoot Ben here, and take advantage of my wife, we can't be having that sort of thing around here."

The group leader and another man dismounted to go look. "Goda mighty this man doesn't have any head, but it's gotta be William Deavers, I recognize his clothes, Frank Joyce is the other, this be him. "You kill 'em boy?" asked the leader, "He had a little help," I came from behind the tree, making sure to leave my rifle leaning behind it." "Who are you?" he asked, "Names Deak Mathers, you've already met my brother's boy. My wife Emily over there, and the boys ma who's feelin poorly is lyin down in the tent back there. Can I ask you're name?" I said upping the ante. "Names John Caufield, I'm the appointed leader of this here vigilante group, we're from Gold Hill, been following these two for a couple days now. Say ah, ole frank musta had around five dollars in silver on him, plus some dust, wouldn't know anything about that wouldja? Like to give it to the widow of the man he killed for it." I walked over to Ben and whispered, "Sorry son, the Lord givith, and the Lord taketh away, gimmie the coins and the dust." Ben complied, and I handed the loot up to John. "Much obliged!" "Care if we keep the horses, and their guns?" I asked, "Naw, go ahead, you folks saved us from stringin 'em up."

I stepped closer to Caufield and asked, "Sir, we just arrived in this area, where would a body go to claim this piece of land, and where can we find a sawmill, we're aimin to build us a town, leastways a hotel and maybe a saloon and blacksmith, we'd be lookin for carpenters as well." Caufield looked at me for a moment, then said, "Check down at Georgetown, pretty much find everything ya might need down there, there's a land office there as well. You folks take care!" with that, they turned and rode away. Emily came up to where Ben and I were standing and asked, "Think there's really a widow he's going to give that money and gold to?" I laughed and said, "Not on you're life!" I then turned to Ben, "Sorry son, givin back the money was a whole lot better than getting shot. Say, if you want to, go pan that stream over there, I did earlier, and found color, why don't ya give it a try? Oh, and take you're pick of the two horses,"

While Ben was off doing his thing, I walked back over to where the spacecraft was hidden; Emily was sitting on the tailgate of the wagon smoking a cigarette, "Don't get addicted to those, no filters." She looked at her smoke and shrugged, "I'm cool, I smoked a lot in the 'Stan this place reminds me too much of there, danger and death ready to jump out at ya anytime." She crushed out her smoke and got up into the wagon to check the generator. "Pip and Mrs. Miller still inside the craft?" "Yeah," replied Emily. "How's that power tube charging?" "It appears to be getting greener, must be OK then.' I peeked inside the craft, Pip and Mrs. Miller were sitting in the front seats just staring at each other, Cha'Nara saw me watching and apparently broke off her telepathic discussion with Mrs. Miller. "Why don't you two come out here for a bit, Pip I got a question or two about your "Dahampa" thingie there."

Ben's mother seemed in better spirits as she began to build a campfire for cooking," "Emily come here, I need you to tell me what Pip is saying." Emily climbed down from the wagon and came over, "Cha'Nara, if you were to make you're "unit" disappear with that "Dahampa" thing, how long would it stay "disappeared?" "Up to a cycle" I knew a "cycle" was the Vagan equivalent of a year "I think you told me, but I've forgotten, and I know that as long as you keep it plugged into it's dock aboard your "unit" it stays fully charged, but what if you've made the "unit" disappear, how long does it stay charged?" Cha'Nara spoke to Emily, who in turn said, "Depends on how many time you use it and what you make disappear, making the "unit" disappear takes a lot of power only a couple time doing that, small items don't use so much power." "That's what I was afraid of, so as soon as the power tube is fully charged we're going to "hide" the "unit" so we better have everything we'll need out of it, tomorrow we start building a cabin, once that is done, we're going to take a little trip to Georgetown get lumber and carpenters lined up to start work on Deakstown plus get titles to the land around here, any questions?"