15. The Maca Takes Charge
1674 Words
Llewellyn arrived first. Lona"s mouth dropped at the sight of the figure that emerged from the blue fliv. Nothing had prepared her for that huge, muscular body in the black body suit of a Warrior and the blue sash of Don over his shoulder.
Magda flew in next and looked around with a puzzled face. Michael had started moving toward her and then remembered his patient.
“The patient tis here.” He pointed down at Laman.
At his words Magda was running across the distance, her arms spread wide to embrace Michael.
Melanie followed at a slower pace and knelt besides the patient. A quick scan of Laman"s leg showed that the knee was out of joint. Melanie stunned the area around the knee, pulled the leg back into alignment, wrapped the knee, and looked up.
“It would be best if he tis carried back on a stretcher.” She stood.
By this time Magda was tugging at Michael"s arm. “Ye must greet your Elder,” she said to Melanie.
Laman was conscious again and bellowing. “I need a crutch. Who are ye people?”
Lona knelt beside him. “It tis the man who claims to be Maca of Don, and the Maca of Medicine tis here too. Michael has identified her.”
Laman sat up and stared at the assembled group. He decided against ordering an attack and fighting a man five inches taller and Gar kenned how many pounds heavier while he had a banged up leg.
“Why have ye come? Is it to imprison us?”
“Hell, no! All I wanted to do was find a place for sheep.” A grin slashed across Lorenz"s face. “How would y"all like a new profession with the assurance of flivs, schools for your wee ones, and a way to make credits?”
“First I need to ken how these people managed to be here and how they survived.” Llewellyn wasn"t negating Lorenz"s offer, he was curious and he needed to be in control. If these people survived, there might be more on this side and on the other side of the mountains. He had been remiss in assuming the Justines were more efficient than this.
“We ran when the announcement came through the coms. They dinna ken how many we were as so many had died in the war. There were those that stayed, but they dinna ken how many had left or ran. They were all put in the same transport, and we were left with their possessions.”
“They weren"t given time to gather their things.” Loma clarified her counselor"s statement. They didn"t even bother with the food. What they did was turn their stunners on our buildings sealing them.”
“Ye mean ye have lived out in the open?” Llewellyn found that difficult to believe.
“Nay, we dug under them and came up inside. It took months, but we survived.” Laman"s voice was bitter.
“Nay all survived. The eldest and youngest could nay survive on what we had.” Loma"s voice was just as bitter.
“How many are ye?” asked the Maca.
Both Laman and Loma looked troubled and did not answer.
“I need to ken before I order supplies or if ye would prefer to relocate to Donnick, I will need to decide which section.”
Laman swallowed. Loma rose. “Ye mean live like normal Thalians again? What of the Justines? The Kreppies?”
“I told y"all, they are gone.” The Devonites continued to look puzzled.
Llewellyn solved the problem. “I am Maca and I issue my call to all who are here.” He voice boomed out over the area.
Laman struggled to his feet and both he and Noma approached. Others emerged from behind the buildings and one by one they gave the Thalian sign of submission; all eighty-four of them. The eighty-fifth was still a baby. It was the last couple. They had taken time to put the child in a blanket sling.
Both Lorenz and Llewellyn saw that some of the people were wearing moccasins. “From whence did ye get your leather for shoes?” asked Llewellyn.
“We have killed elbenors over the years. They are dangerous, but they supply meat, lard, and leather.” Laman answered. “Once some kine wandered here and we kept those.”
“All who wish to relocate to Donnick move to my right.” Llewellyn commanded.
The entire group moved as one. “It will be so nice to have a home with Ab servants again.” Tears were appearing in Noma"s eyes.
“There are nay Ab servants. Ye will need to do your own work and many of the buildings need repair and cleansing. It has been a difficult time for Thalia and for Don.” Llewellyn took a deep breath and continued.
“Ye have your choice. If any stay here and live in the homes ye have created. I will send technicians and they will replace the doors and windows. Power connections will turn on the lights and communications. Just be aware that the inside of the homes ye are allotted in Donnick may be in worse condition than those here.
“We will bring sheep here until we sell or transport them for meat. Have any of ye tended sheep ere this? I also need to ken what type of fruit tis on your garden trees.”
Two of the men stepped forward. “In the eld days sheep were here. They would be pastured higher in the summer months.”
Lona answered about the fruit. “They are brools, but nay like the one from Rurhran. These are yellow and some are a green color. They are suitable sauce or for trade with Abs, but we have nay seen our trader this season.” She did not see Lorenz"s eyes light up.
“If y"all are waiting for Bi, he won"t be by this year. He messed up and lost his trading ability in Don. Then his two villages were raided.”
They all looked shocked and dismayed.
“But we have brools…” and Lona stopped speaking.
“Good, Don can use them. I"m betting the yellow are for eating or for brool butter and the green ones are for baking.” He was thinking of apple pie and somehow he had to convince Lesta to bake one. Maybe if he drew a picture he could convince her.
It took the rest of the day to determine who stayed and who would be transported back to Donnick. Llewellyn called the carvers and had a delivery of meat and milk for those remaining and an extra ration to the Second and Third Sectors for those transferring. Laman and Lona both decided to stay since he would be Director and she the Keeper of the rebuilt Center.
* * *
It was close to eight in the evening when Lorenz made it back to the station. He was greeted by Daniel leaping on him and then exclaiming, “Mither tis almost healed! Fither ye need a cleansing!” The last sentence as emphatic as the first. He wrinkled his nose.
“And ye my laddie, need to get ready for bed.” He hugged him and set him down. He looked up to see Diana smiling at him and then doing a slow twirl with her arms over her head.
“Do ye see? I am almost healed. Now your Elder Mither will work on making both sides symmetrical while in the gym. Melanie said we should wait to build up the muscles before proceeding. Others are beginning to suspect what tis occurring and that way they would forget.
“Oh, and have ye eaten? Daniel tis right. Ye do need a cleansing, and Melanie said it would be safe for the bedding to be twice from now on till the next healing.”
Lorenz could feel himself start to harden and then realized Daniel was still there beaming at them both. It was maddening. Thalians thought nothing of letting children hear such intimate speaking and he took a deep breath.
“I grabbed a meat pie at the Center and a couple of brools. I"ll head for the showers and Daniel can head for bed.” He stomped off leaving two rather puzzled Thalians.
Diana was disappointed that he had not hinted at how magnificent she would be and Daniel because he kenned he would be banished to his own room. Fither was strict about such things.
Diana fumed and paced in their room until Lorenz emerged from the cleansing.
All the words she was ready to throw at him died in her throat when she saw his handsome face smiling at her like she was the Guardian of some House and his manhood was ready. She could think only of all those years without a proper bedding and the hurt and loneliness. Then she was in his arms and somehow they were on the bed.
The ability to fully participate excited her. When he started to go harder and faster she closed her legs around Lorenz and rolled. He exploded inside of her.
“Whoa, I didn"t expect that.” He looked at her wide-eyed and then grinned that lopsided grin.
“See what y"all have done. Now we"ll have to work things up again.” His lips and his hands were on her again and she felt the tremor rising inside.
An hour and twenty minutes later, she rolled over. “Melanie said just twice. Else I might pull something.” She looked at Lorenz expecting to see relief. All kenned he was part Justine, but once again the Earth being surprised her.
“It"s okay, sweetheart. One of these times it won"t matter.” He stood and pulled her tight. “Then I"ll show you just how Thalian I can be.”
- Writer
