Wishing On A Star

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Before we began, Karuk offered his hand, "By the way, my name is Karuk Narshu, not the "frackin" devil whoever he is, pleased to meet you, uh, Collin is it?" Collin kept staring at Karuk, which caused him to look at Sara then to me. "What's the matter with this guy, something on my face or what?" "Calm down, you're fine," replied Sara, "Don't forget, I was taken by those eyes as well." Finally Collin managed a weak, "You're not from these parts are you?" Karuk laughed, "No I guess not, look I've got to go and keep an eye on the scanner, if I see any indications of "visitors" I'm leaving immediately, and this conversation can continue in space." With that, Karuk went upstairs to the bridge.

Sara then sat down next to her brother and began. "Listen carefully Collin, I'm going to tell you a tale that is the absolute truth, it's all I have. For the next shon she carefully detailed her "introduction " to Karuk, the subsequent travel to Falth, the other women there, and some of the fabulous things she's done and seen. Collin just sat there taking it all in. When she was finished, all her brother managed to say was, "Are you being held against your will?" Smiling and shaking her head Sara answered, "Does it look like I'm a captive? I've got a new life, just as Holly here does, I'm a citizen of Falth now Collin. Come; let us give you a tour of the ship." Collin slowly followed but acted like something was going to jump out at him any minute. He then weakly asked, "Got a privy on this contraption?" "Follow me dear brother." we went upstairs to the "necessary" where Sara showed him how to operate the commode. As we were heading for the bridge, I said to him, "Try to understand Collin, these people are just like us, except they are just in a much higher stage of development." We showed him around the bridge as Karuk kept a close eye on him. Collin then approached Karuk and asked, "Do you people live on Mars?" Karuk gave a look of total disbelief to Collin then looked at Sara, then back to her brother. "I'm not familiar with that planet but if it's in this galaxy the answer is no, Falth is thousands of lightdorns away, it takes us a full relfa to travel here even in hyperspace." Sara then stepped in, "What he means is that Falth is a very long, long way away, we travel at speeds simply incomprehensible to anybody but the Falthians, I accept it, but am still coming to terms with its actuality."

"It's getting late people," announced Karuk, "I'm tired, and we can't stay here, where is this magical mystery tour going next?" Sara glared at him then said, "Are you up to going to Michigan brother?" "What! In this infernal machine?" Sara let out a gasp of despair, "What's it going to take with you brother? Look around you we are in a vessel that travels in space, we'll be back in Michigan in less than two hours, why is it so hard to convince you of what is going on?" Karuk then added his two cents, "Better listen to her Collin, she's not pleasant to be around when she gets mad like this, and I like to keep her happy." Collin gave him a funny look then asked, "You say two hours to get all the way back to Michigan?" "yes," replied Sara, "Now let's get you strapped in that jump seat over there, anytime you're ready Karuk." I sat down in the co-pilot's chair and proceeded to go through the pre-flight.

The tranquilizer I gave Collin had started to work, so he remained calm as we took off and headed for Michigan, I hoped this effort wouldn't take long as I had to worry about not only Andy arriving in Laramie, but his wife, as well as my parents, that was a meeting I definitely not looking forward to.

Sara told me there was a small wooded area near some empty fields Karuk had "planted" with Wort. "That's where he was parked when I stumbled across him," said Sara. "That will put us close to my home, and also allow us to harvest Wort and walnuts as well." While we were enroute to Michigan, I contacted Morkai and filled him in on what was going on and where we were going. Then a flash encryption came in on the computer, "Hmm, what's this?" wondered Karuk. He had me take over while he deciphered the complex code. "I think this is the first time I think anybody's ever sent an encrypted message like this," muttered Karuk. It took him a few taq's to "open" the message, then looking grim, he looked at me and said, "It seems Gitel picked up a signature for a brief instant as he was preparing to land at one of his harvest sites. No need to guess who that was."

The Dekken's were shadowing him, trying to locate his fields, as if we didn't have enough problems. Karuk performed an elaborate evasion maneuver before landing at his Michigan site; local time indicated it was almost dawn. Turing around Collin looked like a prisoner about to be hanged, Karuk noticed this as well, "Cheer up Collin," he said, "We are at this Michigan site." then speaking to Sara, he asked, "So what's the plan Sara, are you three just going to walk up to your parents house and announce yourselves or sneak in there? I need to know, so I can decide how we're going to get the harvest taken care of." Collin then spoke up, "Don't expect father to welcome me with open arms and from the way you spoke it doesn't sound like you will receive a very warm welcome either." Sara made a face, "I suppose we'll have to deal with that as it comes." Collin chuckled, "Maybe I'd better strap on my Colt…Just to be safe." Karuk then chimed in, "Simply tell your father that if he doesn't welcome you two back into the fold, I'll lay waste to his whole farm." Collin looked at Karuk in horror, as Sara snickered, "He's not fooling, brother; this ship has the firepower to really do it."

Collin then unbuckled himself and stood up, "All right Sara, we'll go see father, I do not understand a thing of this space ship as you call it but I've seen enough to realize you are involved in something wondrous, and it's clear you love this man very much. By today I will no doubt have a job waiting for me at the O-H anymore but you are family, and that must come first." "Don't worry about that," replied Sara, I'll personally see to it that you are fully compensated." We then made ready to leave, as Karuk said, "I'll have two DEXX's out, so call when you're ready to return." "What are DEXX's," asked Collin. "Watchdogs," I replied. As we left the ship in the early morning dawn Collin strapped on his pistol.

Sara and I said nothing, but Collin said, "I feel naked without it." We trudged across a couple of fields then worked our way through a small woodlot somebody was up as we saw a light in a window. Collin knocked on the front door a woman who I supposed was Sara's mother opened it and immediately swooned. There wasn't anybody else in the house as we brought Mrs. Blessing over to a small divan in the parlor. Collin waved his hat furiously in her face to revive her, which seemed to work, it took her a few moments to regain her senses, but almost fainted again as she stared into the faces of her concerned children. "Where's father?" asked Sara. "Uh, my sakes, uh he took our milk into town, he just left about a half hour ago, where did you children come from?" "That's not important right now ma," said Collin, we are here with you." "There's still some coffee in the pot, if you'd care for some," said Mrs. Blessing. Collin and I each had a cup and offered another to his mother. By now she seemed to have fully recovered, then studying her son said, "I thought you were way out in Montana Territory or something Collin, how'd you get back here?" "I was ma, and as to how I got back here I can't rightly say, ask Sara, she's got plenty to tell you."

Sara then introduced me to her mother, then went into a much-abridged version of the story she told her brother including the fact that she was now a married woman. Collin then said, "She's being truthful ma, she and her husband brought me here, yesterday at this time I was sitting on a horse talking to the foreman at the O-H ranch out in the Judith Basin in Montana Territory. I've seen some mighty incredible things, ma, can't rightly explain them, they just…Are. Sara's mother then looked at me, "It's true, and then some Mrs. Blessing, Sara is among several of us who are married to Falthian's, they are warm loving men, Sara's husband is not that far away, but more on that later. Right now you must make a great leap of faith, and believe in your daughter." Sara's mother thought on this a moment and then asked, "Was this a "Godless" marriage daughter?" "No mother it wasn't their religion is much like ours, our marriage was sanctified by a priest." This seemed to satisfy her mother for the moment, then she stood and hugged each child speaking of missing them so much. Then Collin spoke, "When father returns what can I expect?" "I-I-I'm not sure son, it's a long time since you left, he's never spoken harshly of you, but then again neither of us have spoken of you much, even though I continued to receive your letters."

Collin sat down and seemed to consider this, while Sara took the opportunity to work in a few more "details" now that her mother seemed receptive to her daughter's strange disappearance. "They didn't hurt you did they?" she asked Sara. This question obviously confused her, "Hurt me mother? No one hurt me, Karuk and I are very happy, I love him very much." I now realized what was going on, Sara's mother simply had no basis or understanding of even the most basic elements of her daughter's situation, she was simply asking anything that seemed appropriate. Sara then went to her mother and kissed her, "Mother, I'm fine, I'm happy, my life is very exciting, I'm doing hinds I never could here. Oh I wish you could see Falth, It's beautiful, instead of one moon there are two, they are just people like us." It was at this time Mr. Blessing arrived home.

Collin stood up as his father entered the room, obviously coming in through the kitchen. Sara was already standing; both children faced their father unsure as to his reaction. He gave them a hard look, then matter-o-factly said, "So nice of you to rejoin us again daughter. I suppose you've returned to announce that you're with child." Before she had a chance to respond, he looked at Collin. "What's your story son couldn't make it as a cattle herder?" Mrs. Blessing attempted to defend her children but he cut her off. Glaring at me, he asked, "And who might you be?" Since Mrs. Blessing was unable to say anything in their defense, I took up the sword "My name is Holly Draaka Mr. Blessing, I'm a good friend of Sara's as well as Collin, your children have returned home to try and make amends for their past behavior, but you knock them down without so much as a welcome home." Collin then quickly jumped into the fray, "Sir, you have no right to speak to Sara that way, she returned here on her own volition, It's true, she is now married, and having met her husband, I declare him an honest and truthful man. As for me I do not care what you think of me anymore, I have made my own way in the world, I bow to no man." Mrs. Blessing now found the courage to speak her mind, "Samuel, will you please sit down and hear the incredible story these two have to tell, or are you so blinded by anger you simply refuse to listen to anybody any more."

Mr. Blessing was taken aback by his wife's rebuke and remained silent for a moment, then turned his attention to me again, "What is your purpose with my children madam?" "Like I told you, I'm a friend of Sara's I've only met Collin recently, but he seems like a truly upstanding gentleman. Your children have returned home to make amends, and to tell you of a lucrative business offer that can only increase your fortune." "And just what is this "business offer that's going to make me a lot of money?" "People we are associated with wish to offer you gold in exchange for harvesting all the black walnuts on your property, not the trees themselves, but the nuts." Before he could respond, I quickly switched tracks, "Sir, it is my understanding that you fought valiantly with the Fifth Michigan Calvary during the late war?" "I did what of it?" "My father was a captain in a Pennsylvania cavalry unit, he spoke highly of the fifth Michigan at Gettysburg, perhaps you two even met at one time. Anyway, my point is that I come from an honorable family as well these people I speak of also wish to offer my Uncle, also a veteran of Gettysburg the same opportunity as you. Knowing the honor of these people as I do I am prepared to recommend to him that he take up the offer." I then produced two gold rings and handed them to Mr. Blessing. "These are what you will be paid in Mr. Blessing; each ring is solid 24carat gold you can't do any better than that."

He studied the rings for the moment then asked, "Why are walnuts so important that someone would pay in gold like this?"

"They extract the essence of the nut and along with St. John's Wort and combine the extract into medicine that cures a deadly brain disease," I explained. He thought about it for a moment then replied, "I don't believe it, walnut trees are everywhere, I've even seen this St. John's Wort growing wild in the fields, nothing special there." "What you say is true Mr. Blessing, however certain circumstances create a situation in which helping one's self to all the Wort and walnuts is simply not practical, I can see now that I must tell you a true story, it's true because Sara and I are living it, Collin here has seen but a small example of it, is there by any chance a family bible close at hand? Mrs. Blessing handed me one picked up from a table. I instructed her to hold it and as she did, I swore an oath with my hand on the bible. This seemed to greatly impress both of them. I suggested we all sit, as I proceeded to tell the full story.

Sara and to a smaller degree, Collin backed me up, when I was finished, Mr. Blessing shook his head, "Humbug! It's simply impossible." "Not so father," injected Collin, "This time yesterday we were in Stanford, out in Montana Territory, it took two hours to travel here, I speak the God's honest truth father, I along with Holly and Sara here, as well as her husband, actually flew in an incredible machine. I do not lie, I know what I saw. Would you believe us if we were to take you to Sara's husband and his flying machine, it's not far from here." Mr. Blessing studied all of us for several moments, then said, "Is this some sort of trick?" ""No trick Mr. Blessing," I replied, we speak the absolute truth, a truth you don't seem very eager to examine. For a man who "went to see the elephant" your curiosity seems to have vanished." My remark seemed to have struck a nerve, as Mr. Blessing appeared to be at a loss for words.

"How far away is this contraption ?" "Not all that far," I replied, "We walked here." "I have a carriage," said Mr. Blessing. "Your right madam, I did go to see the elephant; I seem to have a passion for "elephants" shall we go?"

Collin hitched up the carriage Mrs. Blessing also insisted on going as well, before we set out, Sara told her parents, "I want to warn you tow that you will not be able to understand my husband until each of you receives a Transnano injection, Collin and I have both received these injections, so we can understand him, Holly and I can speak the language so don't become upset at your inability to understand him Collin and I will translate." Shortly after setting off, Sara called Karuk on her wrist cron, "Call off the DEXX's Karuk, we're coming in." Mr. Blessing saw his daughter speaking into what looked like a mans pocket watch mounted on a wristband. Collin saw him as well and said, "Don't ask father, she is actually speaking with her husband." Collin pulled up in front of the path into the small forest and helped his mother out of the carriage, I held out my hand indicating the path, "Shall we?"

Karuk's ship sat in the clearing the landing lights casting an eerie glow as stem rose from the exhaust ports. Sara's parents, as well as Collin hesitated when they caught their first sight of the "infernal contraption." "Junpin' Jehosephant!" gasped Mr. Blessing, I expected his wife to swoon, but surprisingly she didn't, Collin already knew what to expect, so he just steadied hi mother in case she fainted. Sara and I coaxed them up the cargo ramp and offered them seats on strategically placed chairs. Then Karuk made his appearance, "Greetings all!" he announced as he came down from the bridge. Sara translated, but both parents simply stared. He stood next to Sara, who deliberately kissed and hugged him, I watched Mrs. Blessing in particular for her reaction, but she simply asked Sara if he was her husband. This brought forth a dialogue between mother and daughter and Karuk, with Sara translating. Meanwhile, Mr. Blessing continued to stare at the ship's interior, with Collin pointing out a few of the details he had managed to figure out in his short time aboard.

Sara and I kept badgering her parents to take the Transnano injections, as they were perfectly safe, and it would preclude the necessity of someone translating. Finally, Collin added his experience, and recommended they do so. In the end, they gave in, and with the short rest period were able to understand Karuk. "Now this doesn't mean you will be able to read or write Falthian, Holly and I can, but we've been there longer, and actually studied it. You two will only be able to understand any Falthian and they will be able to understand you, but that's enough for now. She added." She walked them through the procedure, preferring that I administer the injections rather than Karuk. Having only done it once before on Collin I was still a bit nervous, but I took great care causing neither of them any discomfort. After the prescribed half hour rest period, the ability to speak and understand Karuk gradually developed.

After that, the conversation developed in earnest, I happened to notice that Mrs. Blessing appeared to take quite an interest in Karuk, obviously not being bothered by his exotic appearance. Karuk took it in stride displaying his well-known sense of humor, and from time to time blunt use of words. When not charming Sara's mother, he answered Mr. Blessing's multitude of questions, ending with a general tour of the ship and the obligatory demonstration of the commode. It was very late when things finally wrapped up; Collin drove his parents back to their home, being made easier with the large battery operated spotlight Karuk let him borrow. "Be sure to bring that back in the morning, and remember to shut it off when you get home," insisted Karuk. The next morning Collin showed up with the carriage and the borrowed lamp. Sara and I as well as Karuk returned with him to his parent's home where we enjoyed a hearty farm breakfast. Karuk continued to work on Sara's mother offering complements about breakfast, as well as her exceptional coffee. Once Collin helped his father, get the livestock taken care of we all gathered in the parlor to discuss the harvest.