by Mari Collier
* * *
Lorenz had no welcoming arms from his feminine visitor that night. He waited until dark and took the wooden toy out of his pocket. He set it on the molded ledge by the bed. Nothing happened. Did it take time? He stared at the darkened shape. What was different? Then he realized he hadn't played with it like a child. On an impulse he pulled it back and forth a few times. He then turned off the lume and stretched out, but his eyes remained wide open.
First there was a light haze to the side of him. Gradually, a form began to take shape. It was someone covered with a shawl with the face barely showing. There was no movement until the figure leaned forward to show brown, wavy hair framing a weary face. “Ye must go to the Laird of Don, my wee one. He will be your fither.” The image faded.
Lorenz's face was grim. The Abs had more technology than people knew or someone from one of the Houses was responsible. He'd have to see if the toy would project the apparition again.
Chapter 23: Fither and Son
Working from dawn until midnight became common for Llewellyn, Andrew, and Lorenz. The Maca was trying to find the educators to teach the young and not so young, overseeing the schools' repairs, locating equipment, lining up directors and keepers for the manufacturing to be, screaming for people, and railing at Lamar for not producing the kine or recruiting members of House to come forward. Every night he went over defenses with Leta, urging her to hire more people and appoint a Training Keeper. Andrew oversaw the Centers with an occasional input from Llewellyn and Lorenz.
Lorenz was in charge of the kine, the zarks, the dairy, the butchering, and the deliveries. Lorenz assured Llewellyn the kine would last, but Rurhran remained edgy, waiting for another raid. Let them wait, he thought. They'll believe their kine are protected. He continued the schooling for the younger ones at his ranch. All the ranch data was entered into Don's info banks once the boys had retired. The nights would be quiet and he could think and sometimes look at the sky, seeing stars and moons in the wrong place.
Daniel spent his time trying to drive Lorenz to distraction. He would be set to pulling weeds and Lorenz would find him examining bugs or swimming.
“Tis warm.” His face was sad as he looked upward at Lorenz. “And there tis nay to talk with.”
Lorenz figured he meant no one his own age and would send him to clean one of the ranch rooms or prepare lunch. Instead, he would find Daniel lifting weights.
“I need to learn how to be a Warrior.” Daniel's voice was earnest, his shoulders and head held high.
When Lorenz found him digging a hole deep in the earth for a bunker instead of turning the compost for the back garden, he turned him over his knee and yelled, “Get back to work or y'all aren't eating tonight.”
One night a week the two refugees from Earth would dine together; grandfather and grandson. Andrew was truly grateful as most Thalians viewed him with awe, certain that he was a leader in his land with his white hair. His blue eyes were another distraction.
Llewellyn had joined them this evening as he and Lamar had had words over Rurhran not returning the kine and the people from House continuing to shun actual work. Tamar had made a quick exit from the room as the words flew between the Maca and Guardian.
“Ye would think the instructors and administrators for the schools would step forward. They should be planning their lessons for fall. If Lamar can find instructors for Flight, ye'd think the ones for the rest of Don would appear.
“It was almost like he kenned why the kine are withheld and why my House tis shirking their duties.”
“Maybe he does, Papa. What does Lamar say?”
“He claims Rurhran fears for their workers and the House members are worried the Sisterhood will return in force.
“Why not call a meeting, Grandfather Mac, and require their attendance and cooperation if they are to expect a normal food allotment?”
“I canna let my House starve, Andrew.”
“I didn't say starve them. A reduction in food might make them more amenable.”
“They would think the Sisters correct and that we were running low on sustenance. They might even consider deserting.”
“So make the Tris House.”
“That tis tempting, Lorenz, but there are too many connections with the other Houses.” Llewellyn grimaced and changed the subject.
“Ye two have seen little of Thalia. How would ye like to attend the celebration of Beltayne at Betron? Their cured sausages, hams, the smoked fish from Ishner or Betron's lakes are superb.”
“Why go to Betron? We could celebrate here.”
“Betron tis where Beltayne started and tis the House of the Guardian of the Realm. All of Thalia will celebrate there and their booths and vendors will make an appearance.”
“Does that mean we can take the best venders we have? Have y'all tasted or seen what they manage to produce?”
“Aye, we can. Andrew can alert the Center Directors and we'll coordinate taking them.”
“Papa, there's no way we can transport all of Don.”
“True, but those that have been working have their own flivs and have learned to use them.
“I also have a request for ye, Lorenz. Ye need to call me Fither in such a crowd.”
“Why? Y'all never called me son.”
“Just what do ye think I meant by calling ye my laddie all these years?”
“And just what do you think I meant when calling you Papa all these years?”
Llewellyn's face reddened and the sides of his cheeks puffed out.
Lorenz looked relaxed, staring upward, flat eyed and smooth faced. “Before y'all get too upset, Papa, it was the proudest day of my life when the judge said, 'Henceforth you are Lorenz Adolph MacDonald.' ”
“Ye are enough to drive a man mad, son.” The words almost gritted out.
Lorenz smiled and his face and eyes lit up. It was the smile that Llewellyn called Anna's smile and the anger left his face.
Lorenz stood, “Well, then, Fither, in that case I can probably throw in a ye or two instead of y'all.”
Llewellyn was shaking his head. “All these years, ye could have asked or said.”
“Why? I was a MacDonald and ye were Papa. It meant the same to me, and now I suppose the next thing y'all are going to tell me is that I have a laddie with the same semantic problem.”
“Does he ken the context of 'son'?”
Lorenz lost his smile. “No, he doesn't. I'll take care of it. Maybe he will quit acting like a ten-year-old.”
Llewellyn stared at his son. “Laddie, he tis the same as a ten-year-old Earth child. He tis bigger, aye, but nay in his maturity or attention span.”
“What the hell do I do with a ten-year-old? Antoinette took care of them at that age.”
“Father told me that you taught him to ride when he was only four.”
“Andrew, most of the time I was gone on cattle drives or out on the range. The kids were schooled by a governess and then a teacher from St. Louis. If I was home, I'd see them, but most of the time I was out on the range. From mid-May to August I was gone on a drive.”
He looked at Llewellyn. “After Beltayne I'll find those teachers.”
Chapter 24: Beltayne
Betron's buildings and windows were tinted green. To Lorenz it looked like moss had overgrown the round structures and would eventually bring them down. The Tris of Betron wore light green. House members wore a darker green. Those with status had a dark green sash around the waist or a sewn sash running up over the shoulder.
“Fither, it makes them look like they have liver problems.”
“Ye Gods, ye call me Fither when ye insult Betron?”
“Maybe I said it because something's wrong. I can feel it, smell it. There are too many damn Sisters strutting around. We need to stick close.” His jaw was tight and his words low.
They were standing in front of the stalls set up by the House Tris. Grease was running down Daniel's chin as he sampled a sausage and a cup of pina tea sweetened
with brool juice. Pillar was breathing deep of the wooded, humid air and trying to decide which sausage he would try. Andrew was watching everyone with a bemused look. Kahli was devouring a wrapped sandwich of ham and bacon.
“I am expected at the Maca's Tower. Then Brenda and I will attend the booths and greet everyone.”
“I should be with ye, at least keep your back in sight.”
“When I am with Brenda, the guards will be close enough. Ye think that I am in danger?”
“I don't know.” Lorenz shrugged. “The feeling is too vague. Something is being planned. I wish I had left the boys at home. At least Ur had sense enough not to come. What are we supposed to do? Aren't there any horse races?”
Llewellyn smiled. “Nay zark races, but there are contests for all ages; contests that test your strength and your skills. Thalians often wager on those the same as ye would races. Why nay take the laddies and stroll around. I will return in two hours. Ye'll find the different events in the tents. Don has some entrants in the wrestling and weight lifting.”
“I don't like it.” Lorenz's voice had dropped to gravely growl. “Where do we meet up?”
Llewellyn's white teeth flashed. “We'll meet here where the best of the sausages are. Brenda and I will be hungry by then.”
Llewellyn left them sampling food and exhibits. Within minutes he entered the Maca's Tower where Brenda was waiting for him in her alcove off her office. She had shed her official Beltyane suit and turned as he entered.
“Llewellyn, ye are welcome.”
He smiled and crossed the room, pulling her close to him. Her muscular legs came up and closed around his hips as he walked her to the bed. “Would ye let me disrobe, my love? We shall both enjoy this more.”
“Aye, and I can trace every muscle ye have.” Laughter gurgled in her throat as she helped pull the shirt upward and then ran her hands down his thighs to help remove the trousers. It was glorious to have a man with her and nay a woman.
They began to explore every Thalian zone that heightened their arousal. Their ability to exchange emotions while in physical contact added to their pleasure. Within minutes their nerves were tingling and neither could wait any longer.
Two hours later, both were gasping for breath as they lay side by side. Llewellyn rolled over and then propped himself up to look down at her. “In theory we should make an appearance, but tis nice to be here and look at a magnificent Thalian lassie.”
Brenda looked up. “Ye dinna ken how I suffered without a Thalian male all these years. How did ye stand it?”
“I was wed for fourteen years. At times my counselor was able to connect emotionally with me. Nay in our manner or the Justine, and it would be brief. It was as though she possessed some mystic quality. It helped soothe the yearning for Thalia.”
Llewellyn little realized the pain that statement gave Brenda. “Ere I wed her, and after her death there were always willing lassies; although they nay had Anna's abilities. I did nay suffer the same pangs as ye.”
“They were nay Thalian.”
“True, but dinna ever refuse an Earth being a bedding. Ye may be surprised.”
He ran his index finger down her middle. “If we bed again, I will have to Walk the Circle with ye.”
She pouted. “Your memory tis false. We already must Walk the Circle. Did ye nay take pleasure from the bedding?”
He smiled. “My dear, the pleasure was such that I lost track.” He reached for her again when the com began beeping.
“Llewellyn, they would nay ring without a reason.” She walked to the panel and touched the audio.
“Maca, there are twice as many armed Sisters here than tis necessary.”
“Have they started anything?”
“Nay, but I think ye should be here. People are becoming edgy and are asking if ye are avoiding them.”
“Aye, give me twenty minutes.”
She turned to Llewellyn and made a face. “It's time for showers. The Macas must make an appearance.
* * *
Lorenz frowned as Llewellyn walked off, and then he collected the boys. Laten, Dolo, and Ki he did not worry about.
“Okay, men, let's go see what's in the tents. Andrew, are y'all coming with us?”
“Of course, it's always interesting to see how another culture celebrates.”
They watched wrestling, bending the bar, and gymnastics. When they were at the wrestling tent for Daniel's age group, the two in charge felt Daniel was older, but let him proceed. Daniel emerged triumphant with red blotches on his body and a blackened eye.
“I dinna want the salve.” Daniel felt the black eye was a badge.
Lorenz laughed and they returned to the food stalls, this time buying from the Don venders. Lorenz favored the yeasty concoctions that reminded him of the bakeries on Earth.
“This pastry is delicious!”
The man beamed. Lorenz started to reach for another one when the hairs on the back of his neck began to prickle and he whirled around to see six black clad Sisters, their faces taut, bearing down on them. He dropped the pastry, picked up Daniel and dumped him behind the stall.
“Stay there.”
He pulled his knife from the boot sheath and leaped forward. A Texas cattleman's scream, half rebel yell, half Native American war cry, erupted from his throat, overriding the noise. People stayed their steps and stared.
The Sisters stalled for just one moment and it was enough. Lorenz slashed at the one on his right and whirled to face them in the classic knife fighter's stance. One Sister tackled his knees and he slashed downward impaling her arm. Sisters grabbed at his arms, forcing him to the ground. Someone started kicking him in the ribs. He'd given his father and grandmother his word that he would not use his mind here, but the red rage started in him; the blind fury that sustained him when he was little and physically defenseless. He felt the fury building when the weight holding his right arm suddenly lifted.
Daniel had jumped from the vendor's counter and had one arm around the Sister's neck and the other pulling her arm upward. No one noticed the small, seed-like silvery piece of metal skittering over the tarmac. The Sister stood, roaring, pulling at the body clutching her hair and neck.
Andrew, Kahli, and Pillar were watching with sick looks on their faces. Andrew hadn't fought anyone since he was a teenager, but he and Pillar jumped into the fray to rescue Daniel as more Sisters arrived to join the ones on top of Lorenz.
A crowd of Betrons and visiting Thalians was forming. They, like the Maca of Don, had heard the savage yell.
Llewellyn had been sampling the sausages with Brenda when he'd heard the sound of long years gone.
“Lorenz.” He turned and ran, unmindful of those he pushed out of his way or trampled to get to his laddie.
For a moment Brenda frowned. The morning had been most fulfilling. She had planned on the whole day and night with Llewellyn. For another moment she watched his huge body shoving the milling crowd out of his way when she heard someone yell, “Fight!” She sped after him while giving orders into her wrist com to her enforcers and troopers.
Llewellyn used fists and feet to beat away those on top and surrounding Lorenz. He almost hit Brenda before he realized she was fighting beside him. A fist caught him in the temple and he turned back against the other Sisters taking the place of those that were down.
Within moments the green clad enforcers arrived and the troopers behind them. Other Betrons and visitors from Don joined the fight to protect their Macas. Finally, order was restored and Llewellyn began to assess the damage. The Don stalls were smashed and pushed over. Lorenz had a black eye, split lip, and a cracked rib.
“He used his mind,” a Sister was screaming. “Arrest him.”
“He did nay.” Llewellyn roared. “If he had, ye would be dead, and he would nay be injured.”
“They attacked him,” Libi, the vendor from the Don pastry stand yelled.
“Lorenz, are ye able to walk?”
“Medical will nay treat alien
scum.” One of the Sisters was yelling at them. “I have called them and warned them about the interloper.”
Llewellyn started toward them, but Lorenz held onto his arm.
“Fither, I don't need their damn doctors. This is like when that bronc got me or the fight in Sedalia. Just pretend you're supporting me like when Daniel and Jeffries arrived at the Rearing Bear.”
Llewellyn looked at the swollen, determined face and knew Lorenz was planning revenge. He could feel his body trembling with controlled rage.
“There tis nay proof of anyone planning this.”
“Fither, I'm betting I know who inspired it.”
“I'll help ye to the crait and help the rest of Don pack up. Then I will come with ye to try out that zark ye have been training for me. Luman and Lavina have another air combo.”
Lorenz shot him a quick, pulled up grin and turned to his grandson.
“Andrew, I'll need y'all along to wrap me up. Kahli, y'all find Ki, Lamen and Dolo. Daniel and Pillar, help the others pack.”
Chapter 25: Thwarted
In the excitement no one had seen the rat-like bawd creep out of its hole and scoot out to grab the silver, seed size, quivering bot that had been ejected from a med needle when Daniel slammed onto the Sister's back.
A few minutes later, the Keeper of Kine on Rurhran noticed the bot was activated. She quickly used the com to call Rocella at Rurhran's Beltayne celebration.
“Tis activated.”
“Excellent, now assign someone to watch its movements. Should it head toward Rurhran, they are to inform us and the field keepers immediately. The rest may truly enjoy Beltayne as the mutant has been injured and will nay bother us this eve.”
At midmorn of the next day, a Rurhran technician noticed that the bot had nay moved all morning. The previous watcher had stated, “It was most curious. The Laird spent his time running around the waterfront of Bretta. He must have visited every brew hall and pretty there.”
Something was wrong. He contacted Rocella.
“Director, the bot tis still in Bretta. Did the La…” he switched titles, “mutant nay return to Don?”
