Wishing On A Star

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Before we left, Andy rode back into town with Collin to send a wire to his folks telling them that not only he and Emily would be arriving in a couple of days, but that his brother as well as his wife and daughter as well. Before he left, Andy and I worked out the body of the telegram, which ended up sounding a little mysterious, as our method of arrival would be rather "unconventional." Andy told Morkai and I of a small open area at the end of a farm lane that was hidden from the main house. "Father's farm is unique in that the house and outbuildings are centrally located," stated Andy. "While there are neighboring farms, thick woods conceal this area." Chuckling, I said, "your folks no doubt assume we will all be arriving by carriage or something, this is where you come in, Andy. More than likely, you will have to hike up to the house around dawn, and announce to your folks "We're here!" Then as diplomatically as you can, break the news to them." Andy's grim expression indicated that he was not looking forward to this task. My father then offered to accompany Andy to help break the news, "I think between the two of us," he added, "Jefferson will at least realize something unusual is afoot, and I can help to make him accept this unusual situation."

This discussion was also preceded by one trying to convince everybody that we would be returning them home, rather than another tiring rail journey. The plan called for a short flight to the Dakota territory, for a couple of days while we harvested our Wort fields, as well as dropping Collin off. Then on to Uncle Jefferson's farm near Pittsburgh close to Sandy Creek. At first Andy was the only one willing to fly, the rest being rather terrified at the thought, but eventually with Collin assisting, I was able to convince them that there was nothing dangerous involved at all. So around ten that evening, I became an "unofficial" flight attendant, and calmed jittery nerves. "Just relax everybody," I said assuringly, "This first flight will be rather short in duration, and although it would probably take a couple of days by coach from here, we'll be there in slightly over half an hour."

I made sure everyone was properly strapped in before we took off, and as expected, my mother and Emily became alarmed and a bit queasy as we took off, the flight began and ended uneventfully. When they finally realized the flight was over, and there really wasn't any more to it than that, my family became more relaxed. However, it wasn't until Andy and my father looked out over an entirely different landscape that they realized that they had in fact actually flown and nothing dire had befallen them. We landed a few hours before dawn, so while my parents slept, the four of us got a start on Wort harvesting. Collin offered to maintain a vigil for any intruders, Andy watched us for an hour or so, before turning in. This was one of our smaller fields, so we had it harvested as well as re-seeded about an hour after dawn.

One by one, we finished off the other fields; Andy as well as my father watched with great interest our little harvesting operation. The fact that we were in a part of the country my parents had never been to before was equally thrilling. All thought wild Indians would come bursting forth from the surrounding forests, kept them overly cautious. Once we were finished, we set down near Deadwood in order to let Collin go. Before he left, Morkai provided him with a radio, as well as a sizeable amount of gold. "Holly has written out instructions on the radio's operation Collin," said Morkai. "If you would, check on the availability of the property we're now on, I had to destroy the shack that was originally here, but if you can purchase the property at a reasonable price, it would allow us to land discreetly and you would be close at hand. There should be enough to build a small house as well as any outbuildings you deem necessary." Hanna and I also had instructions for him as well. "Get that gold assayed, and in the bank right away, there should be enough to see you quite well through until we return, which by the way, when we do, we'll initiate a radio signal that will cause your radio to activate, so keep it well hidden." Hanna asked him to check on Mary's grave in the cemetery as well.

Collin and Andy had made arrangements, concerning any correspondence, as well as a code in regards to any wires sent, so Collin shouldered his saddle as well as the rest of his gear and amid warm "goodbye's" walked down the ramp and away from the ship. Once he was clear, we climbed back into the sky, heading for my Uncles' farm. By now, our guests were used to flying, in fact, Andy, and my father said not a word as they played poker with Nargra and Hanna. Morkai was getting some sleep so I took control of the ship as we made for Pennsylvania. Emily then quietly joined me while I was at the controls. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, "Absolutely not," I replied, "I just made a fresh pot of coffee in the galley, help yourself." Soon she returned with a mug of steaming coffee and sat down next to me in the co-pilots seat. "I can't believe the fact that you are able to pilot this craft," observed Emily, "The opportunities for women on this strange world you live on are simply amazing, I know I could never do anything like you are."

I looked over at Emily who seemed to have a dejected look about her face and replied. "Emily, believe it or not, with the proper training, you could fly the Na'Vas as well, never sell yourself short. This is one of the things we women love about living on Falth, the limitless opportunities available to us as women. Once things settle down with this harvesting business, I will quite possibly be teaching at the university in Cluria, I've been approached by a professor teaching earth studies there." Emily then lowered her head, "I have been thinking more about this trip Andy and I have been requested to make to this planet, and quite frankly I'm very frightened Holly." I reached over and gently squeezed her hand, "What are you afraid of Emily?" I asked, "this vessel is perfectly safe, we've made this flight numerous times before." Emily attempted a wan smile, and replied, "Surprisingly it's not the flying I mind, gracious, sometimes I can hardly believe we are moving at all, I'm afraid it's the fear of the unknown that troubles me."

As I continued to monitor the instruments, I tried to reassure Emily that nothing dangerous would befall her or Andy. Eventually I discovered that she was worried that she might actually like visiting Falth and basically become like the rest of us, and not want to leave. "From what you and Hanna tell me, Falth is a fabulous place, disease and sickness while they do exist, there are credible cures, look at yourselves, returning home with the ingredients for legitimate medicine, and the lights, Oh the lights!" She than told me a story of how when she was a little girl, accidentally knocked a kerosene lamp onto the floor, and almost burned the house down, since then she's always had a fear of doing it again. "Here there is no chance of fire, Hanna and even your husband have described the wonders of Cluria, no Holly, it's not the journey that frightens me, it's the very real possibility I may never want to return."

This admission took me completely by surprise, coming as it did from a woman still firmly rooted in the nineteenth century; I was definitely going to have to talk with Andy. Once we were over my Uncles farm, Morkai returned to the bridge, and brought up the terrain scanner showing Andy the farm as viewed from twenty-five thousand feet asking him to point out a secure landing site. Once Andy understood what he was actually seeing on the screen, he pointed to a spot between a small wooded area and a field. "That's the place I was telling you about," he said, "it's close enough to the house I can walk." Morkai snickered, then said, "I'm initiating the cloaking device Andy, and because we are in your planet's atmosphere, a very vigorous storm will result, you might get wet walking up to the house." Andy then got very interested in what Morkai was talking about, so when the cloaking device activated, clouds began to swirl around us drawn by the electricity being given off by the ship's hull. There were also chemical reactions as well, then lightening, then before we knew it, a thunderstorm was in full operation as we descended down to earth.

Although we were safe and sound inside the Na'Vas, thunder and lightening boomed and flashed all around us, rain came down in sheets, both Andy and my father thought this was the most amazing thing, and that somehow we were doing this deliberately. Morkai and Nargra had to explain as best they could that this storm wasn't intentional, but merely a side effect of "disappearing" from view. Since there was a good hour and a half until six, when Andy felt comfortable showing up at his father's farm we all laid down in our respective beds for a little sleep.

By the time, Andy and my father were ready to head up to the house, the storm had dissipated, and the rain had tapered off to a sprinkle. "Well here goes nothing," said Andy with a nervous chuckle. "The first thing my brother will want to know is how we got back so quickly from Wyoming Territory, and what Andy and I are doing at his house," muttered my father. Morkai lowered the ramp, and while the two men strolled up the muddy lane, Morkai and Nargra headed out to size up the walnut potential. Meanwhile, we women pulled up chairs and stools at the top of the cargo bay and chatted. My mother had brought knitting with her and worked on that, while Emily tried to finish reading "Emma" the Jane Austen book I had bought earlier. Hanna was sitting closest to the opening and quietly said, "Here they come, looks like everybody's riding in a carriage." We remained where we were, while Hanna described for us what was taking place. "Now it looks like they've stopped, your father, and who I presume is your Uncle are both pointing this way, and seem to be arguing, Ooop, now they're moving again, there's a woman in back with Andy," "That would be Aunt Katrina," I observed. Now we all could hear both brothers arguing as my Uncle stopped a short distance away, probably because the horse was skittish, and wouldn't go any farther.

"Well I suppose we'd better go down and do what we can to convince Uncle Jefferson," I announced. So we slowly made our way down the ramp, "Uncle Jefferson, Aunt Katrina," I announced, "How are you? Kind of a nasty storm we had this morning wasn't it?" My Aunt and Uncle appeared to be astounded by the appearance of the rest of us for some reason. "Holly! Emily!" gasped my Aunt. I went up to her and gave her a warm hug, then one for my Uncle as well. While all this was going on however, both of them kept staring at the Na'Vas. "What in the name of all that's holy is that contraption?" stammered my Uncle, while his wife acted like it might decide to eat her for breakfast. "I'm sorry I can't introduce you to my husband just yet Uncle Jefferson, Aunt Katrina, but he and Hanna's husband are prowling around your property sizing up the potential walnut crop, but they should return shortly." My Uncle looked nervously around at the possibility of beings from another world "loose" on his property. I introduced Hanna to them both, and though they greeted her in a normal fashion, the fact that a vessel they couldn't explain or understand was sitting on his land.

I was starting to become rather agitated at my Uncle's behavior and attitude, so I said to him, "Uncle Jeff, I'm very disappointed in you and Aunt Katrina, here you and my father fought in a terrible war, which I'm sure offered you many opportunities to see things you two had never seen before, well consider the Na'Vas just another "elephant." My Uncle gave me a funny look, then finally got down off the carriage, and cautiously approached the ship. Andy must have been working on his mother as I could hear them engaged in a lively discussion about people from another planet. My father began to point out things on our ship acting as a sort of "tour" guide, while Andy was able to get his mother to approach a bit closer. Emily gave my Aunt a hug as well, and did what she could to assure her, that this wasn't the work of the devil and that we were all alive and well, and that what my Aunt was seeing, actually existed. With everybody's best efforts, my Aunt and Uncle finally began to accept the fact that this whole thing was very real, and that it wasn't some sort of hoax. About the time, my father and Andy were discussing the offer to sell walnuts, Morkai and Nargra who were in the midst of laughing about something came around the corner of the Na'Vas.

Both of them were wearing sunglasses so my Aunt and Uncle didn't see their eyes, but they jumped, nonetheless, thinking the spectacles were their actual eyes. My father told his brother, "You haven't taken one of those injections so you and Katrina won't be able to understand these gentlemen, but Andy and I will be glad to translate." And so we brought all the chairs and stools down so my Aunt and Uncle wouldn't have to enter the ship, something they refused to do. With my father and Andy translating, Uncle Jeff sat and listened to Morkai explain the offer, as well as what he and Nargra had seen in their walk around the property.

My father's first efforts were in getting his brother and sister in law to calm down when Morkai casually removed his sunglasses, "Just settle down Jeff," demanded my father. "Susan and I were just as startled when we first met Morkai, however I can assure you both he and Nargra are honorable men, Andy and I have spent considerable time talking with them, and accept the fact that they are simply voyagers from another world, Holly is married to Morkai here, and both appear to be very much in love with each other. Now…Morkai and Nargra work for a pharmaceutical company that is interested in purchasing for a reasonable price all the walnuts they are able to harvest from all your trees here, plus, if you have any spare acreage, they are equally interested in growing St. John's Wort in these fields as well." Eventually my Uncle understood there was money to be made here, and began to change his view on things. I then told him, "Uncle Jeff, one thing you will have to do is receive an injection like the rest of us if you're going to be able to understand Sandrick when he comes here." This started a whole new round of debate, which I left to Andy, Morkai and my father to deal with.

While all that was going on, Nargra and Hanna decided to take a walk, while Emily and I chatted with my Aunt. I asked her about Andy's sister Sally, "I'm afraid she's not doing so well," said my Aunt, "Her husband Tom drinks too much and treats her badly, it's got Jefferson and I worried sick, but there's really nothing we can do about it, the last time she was here, all she did was cry, and we feel so bad for her children, the poor things." I had always been fond of Sally, and this news greatly disturbed me. "We planned to remain here for another day or so Aunt Katrina," I replied. "Do you think it's possible I could see her?" My Aunt wore a distressed look about her but said, "She and Tom live in a run down cottage in east Pittsburgh, I'd have to write her but I suspect Tom hides her mail, your best bet would be to visit her yourself while Tom is at work." Emily then spoke, "If you wish to visit her, I will gladly accompany you." Andy must have been listening in on our conversation as he chimed in with, "I would go with you as well, but Tom hates me, he's threatened to beat me up if I show up at his home."

"I certainly wish we had Collin with us," I remarked, but once Hanna had returned, and I told her of my plans, she offered to come along as well, so there would be three of us to travel into town to see what we could do for poor Sally. By late afternoon, Andy and my father had finally convinced my Uncle on the advantages of the plan, I had also told him of the arrangement with Sara's father up in Michigan along with the fact that he was a veteran as well. Both my Aunt and Uncle also agreed to the injections so they too could converse with Morkai and Nargra. When my Uncle complained of being behind in his chores, Morkai and Nargra offered to help, mainly because both were bored and the livestock seemed to fascinate them. Finally, the rest of us gravitated to the house, where my mother and I helped my Aunt prepare the evening meal, chicken and dumplings along with green beans and carrots, with apple pie for dessert.

While we were working, my father and Andy sat at the table discussing the merits of the deal Sandrick was purposing. At one point, my Aunt asked me, "Do these people eat our food?" embarrassed at the thought that maybe she was preparing food Morkai and Nargra couldn't eat. "Relax Aunt Katrina," I replied, "While Falthians don't eat as much meat as we do much of their food is similar, they have a tuber's much like our potatoes, animals called stoats which are like our cattle, only larger and with more hair. But if you're unsure, serve plenty of coffee Morkai and Nargra can't get enough of it." As things turned out, apple pie was something else neither of them could get enough of either. While I translated, Morkai profusely thanked my Aunt for the pie, "Mrs. Bickford, I can't tell you when I've eaten anything as wonderful as this…" "Apple pie," I repeated. "Yes, yes, apple pie, we have nothing like this back on Falth." When I repeated his words, my Aunt got very embarrassed at his complements and ended up giving him a hug.

Before we headed back to the ship for the night, my Aunt and Uncle consented to the injections, "When we show up for breakfast, you two will be able to understand Morkai and Nargra," I said. Andy and Emily were staying in one of the guest rooms along with my parents, so as we walked down the dark lane, I asked Hanna, "Where did you and Emily go?" Hanna gave a nervous chuckle, "Emily wanted to know all about my past, I brushed her off at first, thinking she was prying, but it turns out she is fascinated by whores and the way we supposedly live our lives. I kept telling her that life was behind me, I'm married to a warm loving husband and that's the way I like it, still she insisted on knowing what it was like." "So what did you tell her?" I replied. Hanna laughed, "Since it looks like she and Andy will be coming to Falth, I'm going to introduce her to Zarka that should fix her." I laughed as well, Zarka was a member of the Thenta Makur an order of professional courtesans both male and female, Hanna had befriended her and from time to time, they would engage in long discussions. Tomorrow, after breakfast, Hanna and I, as well as Emily would go see Sally for better or worse.