Jethro left the farmhouse and headed for his shed. It could take him a long time to find his dad on foot because the farm was a big sprawling place on the edge of Dartmoor. His hoverbike would make the search quicker.
In the shed he called his garage, nothing had been touched. It was just as he left it when he was last on leave. He sat on his hoverbike and pressed his thumb then his forefinger from his opposite hand on the finger read. To his delight, the display lit up and he started the engine. After a few checks he was on his way.
There was a time when he had hated the farm and he used to worry he would spend the rest of his life stuck there. But now the smells and the colors and the backdrop of the mighty Dartmoor looming above wrapped him in a comforting embrace. This was home. His home.
It surprised him how well the fields had been tended. The crops had been planted that year and weeded and it looked like little in terms of farming had changed since he left.
Dad must be working bloody hard to do all this on his own.
Dusk was coming. He saw lights in the distance and headed for them. There were three hoverbikes, and he recognized one of them as Dad’s old machine and he wondered who the other two might belong to. He saw three people; they looked as though they were examining the Soy Bean crop, maybe testing it to see if it was ready for harvest.
They saw him speeding towards them and they stopped what they were doing. He recognized Dad from a distance because of the prosthetic arm and leg. Then he recognized the other two as Martina and Alan, the twins from a nearby farm; old school friends.
Jethro touched down with the other bikes. Martina and Alan recognized him instantly and ran towards him.
“Jethro. We were told you were dead mate.”
“Wow. Look at that scar on your neck.”
“Where have you been?”
“Got married yet?”
“Kill any aliens?”
“Stop, stop, stop.” Jethro was almost overwhelmed by their welcome. “There’s plenty of time for that. It’s really good to see you both.”
They shook hands and hugged.
“We’ve been helping your dad. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
Martina tapped Alan on the shoulder and pointed. Jethro’s dad was still stood where he was when Jethro had arrived.
“Alan. We ought to get for dinner.”
“But mum said dinner was at nine tonight.”
Alan pointed to Jethro’s dad again. “I said we should go back for dinner.”
Martina looked at Jethro’s dad then looked back at Jethro then at Alan. “Dinner, of course. Why didn’t you say so? We have to go Jethro.”
“You will be around for a few days?” Alan asked. “Maybe come down the pub Saturday night?”
“Yes,” said Jethro. “I’d like that. Thanks.”
They left Jethro with his dad.
“Hi Dad.”
“You came back then.”
“Yes Dad, I came back.”
“Some guy called Lytton came to see us. Me. You have some important friends son.”
“How much did he tell you?”
“Everything, I think. But your mum,” Dad was finding it hard to speak. “I couldn’t tell her… and she wouldn’t accept my reassurances.”
Dad’s almost crying but Dad never cries because he’s… well… Dad.
“Maddy’s with her.”
“Maddy? She’s alive then?”
“Yes. She’s alive.”
“That’s good.” Dad took out his handkerchief and blew his nose.
“Why don’t we go back to the farmhouse Dad? Maybe have a cup of tea.”
“Yes son. I’d like that.” But before he got onto his hoverbike he gave Jethro a hug.
“Dad, Dad. You’re crushing me.”
Dad stepped away from Jethro. “Sorry son. I forgot about this.” He waved his prosthetic arm.
Jethro laughed and Dad laughed as well although tears were rolling down his cheeks.
They went to the farmhouse. Maddy had almost cleared the kitchen.
“Sorry it’s not clean yet Jethro.” She was finishing the washing up by hand.
The dishwasher probably needs fixing. I’ll get on it tomorrow.
“Mum?”
“She’s in the shower. She’ll be down shortly.”
“The gun?”
Maddy nodded to the gun rack.
Jethro was relieved. The shotgun was locked away in the gun rack and he could hear the shower going upstairs.
Dad entered and gave Maddy a hug.
She made tea and Mum came down and burst into tears when she saw Jethro which set Dad and Maddy off. Jethro had to admit it was infectious but he was able to hold his tears back so he could pour the teas.
“You’ve changed son,” said Dad.
“I suppose I’m all grown up.”
That set Mum off again and Maddy and then Dad. Jethro drank his tea, Twynham’s Green and Black blend, milk, no sugar. It was great to be home.
The End.
What Next?
Well done for reading to the end of this second book of three in this story in the series “The Legend of Jethro Tull.” This story concludes in the next book, book three of the series, “Green Caverns of Mars.”
I have completed all three books and they will all be available from Amazon. Book three will be published in early September 2019.
I have also planned and am currently writing, books four to seven in this series which will be a new story and will be published early 2020.
I would be grateful if you can find the time to write a review of this book on Amazon.
Thank you very much for reading the second book in “The Legend of Jethro Tull” series, I hope you enjoyed it.
Blue Sky of Mars Page 19
