The Legacy of Ashland

ASHLAND

Patch of heaven

1

“Patch of heaven” they called it ! It was the only part of the moon that seldom saw the earth , but what it did see was what made it so important . It made a perfect spot to set up “Eagle Eye”, a telescope , forever gazing into the heavens . Sheltered from the sun , it was able to look farther than man ever hoped to see . For years after it was given life . Eagle Eye was kept secret from the world below . Known only to a handful , those who kept its secret soon found it impossible to keep it that way .

Eagle Eye picked up an object in the distant heavens “PHAETHON,” stable for eons, a planet orbiting in its own Galaxy . For the distance and the time, the light from it reached Earth The time scale was ancient . So when it vanished , It brought a stain of curiosity with it and soon terror would follow .

The rouge planet was found again in its sister Galaxy a few years later . By this time Eagle Eye was no more than a myth , for those who knew of it were dead or just didn’t care . Eagle Eye was turned over to a hand full of treckys whom wouldn’t speak of it , even to one another outside of the lab . As time drew on and the planetary satellite moved from one Galaxy to another . The buzz around the office grew as they mapped its travels , crunching its numbers and readying a prototype simulator so they could get a better mental grasp on what it was that had their undying attention ,

a kind of a time lapse video, if you will .

This one over ages, not hours .

Time moved on, as did most of the treckys; moved on to better pay and more prestigious life . All but one .

James Edward Scott . He was married to the program. So dedicated to it that he would do it for free . And he might as well since he lived , ate and breathed it. Last time he saw daylight he was no more than a statistic. Thirteen years later he was more like the desk in the corner, bolted to the floor when the lab was built . No one ever used it for more than a good place to set the microwave and coffee maker. The drawers used only to hold napkins , plastic wear , straws and lost items found over the years . None the less, it was there. So was James, a permanent fixture, defiant to leave its confinement.

Order of things

2

Eddy , a new gazer , with fantasies of taking flight into the unknown to distant planets and beyond . He really didn’t fit in to the nerdy ways of those before him . He was a renegade , leather jacket all year round and a motor bike that he started building when he was twelve . Eddy like most kids in a single parent, low income family, wore his life on the sleeve of his dingy white tee shirt and the grease permanently embedded in his hands , signs of his only earthbound pleasures in life. Just one of the few things left behind , alongside a wife ,kids, and a stack of unpaid bills. ,

I guess that was his desk in the corner . I guess every one has a desk in the corner. Under all that hair was a mind of unlimited wonder. And behind that battered leather jacket beat the heart of a true scholar. Hell , he looked more like a janitor than a MIT, 3rd of 75 graduates . I wouldn’t be surprised if he would have been first if he looked more like a nerd than a hippie biker thug .

After all, it was he alone that foresaw the inconceivable , the phenomenal things of witch to come .

Alice , forty-five and single , got pregnant by the first guy she offed her virgin body to, and was never seen again. It’d be sure to change her life forever , as it would any strict Mormon family . Alice had to take early leave due to difficulty’s, handing off her assignments to the others as she saw fit .

Eddy , he got the turd load ! That was the reference describing the boring chore of tracking any abnormal movement . By now the planet that seemed to relocate every few years had become a drag that no one wanted to have on their desk assignment .

After a few days, Eddy started taking a closer look digging into files that had been poked atop a shelf, behind the old employee records . Thirty-five boxes of research that was nothing less than breath taking . Not so much because of the volumes , but of the ages of dust they harbored .

Eddy;;;;;”Excuse me , Mr. Scott ! I have a new assignment. And well , there’s quite allot of records to go through before I can get a firm grip on things. Would it be okay if I took it home with me to go over ?

James;;;; “What is it that you have there?”

Eddy;;;; “Well that’s just it , I really don’t know .”

James ;;;;; “Let me see what you have there.”

Eddy handed James the last transcript. James looked over it , then peered over his trifocals at Eddy then asked .

Degrees

3

James;;; “Do you have any idea what this is, son?”

Eddy nervously answered , not wanting to sound like he should be a janitor, “Well, Sir from what I can tell, its a meteor but,,,”

James interrupts Eddy’s silence with an encouraging,

“”WELL GO ON ! OUT WITH IT SON”.

Eddy;;; “Well according to the scale ! They show it . Well, it’s not small enough to be a commit , or meteor.”

James nods as he leans forward, still peering over his specks, handing the thick stack of papers to Eddy then refusing to let go when Eddy went to retrieve them .

James stood up and leaned over to Eddy saying to him in a reverent tone ,

“ You know that anything in this office stays in this office ! You will need clearance.”

Days passed. Nothing more than daily grind went on when MR. Scott walked up to Eddy , handing him a envelope and saying” Don’t let this get in the way of your roster. “Remember ! We are already light years behind ” smiles and walks away . Eddy eagerly opens the envelope, stops to take a look around to see if anyone is watching . He pulls out a laminated card baring A level 6 access .

Weeks passed, then months. Eddy was still the new guy, mostly because he kept to himself . Early to work, last to go home , always crunching at his desk with a yellow sticky on his monitor that reads

“light years behind ” .

Eddy;;; “Mr. Scott ! If I may trouble you ?”

James replied with a surprised look on his face “You still here ?” then laughed .

Eddy chuckled;;; “ I have been going over the old files . I ran into a problem , according to the graph . It seems that the object is bouncing around like a pinball being sling shot by other planets gravity, to change its direction .

I converted the old files and made a new simulation and ,,,,well , It seems that the old records are wrong.

Think you could take a look at what I have so far, Its only about 30 min long.”

James;;; “Sure Eddy! Go ahead get it started in the dark room and ill take a look.”

Time for change

4

Eddy;;;; “Well, actually , I haven’t got that far . I only have it on my laptop .”

James;;; “Okay, Lets see.”

Eddy opens his PC , places it on top of papers James was working on that partly covered the schedule for tomorrows horse race.

James watches the clip then sits back in his chair removing his glasses and rubs his eyes. He pauses a moment , looks at Eddy and asks if he could have a copy of his findings. Eddy reaches down, ejects the Cd, then pulls a protector from the inside pocket of his jacket and hands it to James. He closes his laptop, picks it up, pauses a moment looking into James blood shot eyes then heads back to his desk.

Few days later James comes into the office , late for the first time since his heart attack. A woman enters behind him. Her hair pined up and an outfit that looks like something from a 70s sitcom , wire rim glasses that kept sliding off her dainty nose . They approached Eddy , James introduced the lady as Areon Lukas from NASA. The woman stuck out her hand for a greeting , then pushed her glasses back onto her face hiding a coy smile. “Mr. Scott came to me with something you have been working on and I was hoping we could get together and see what else you can come up with.” covering her blush as she pushed her glasses back onto its perch and clearing her throat.

Eddy replied with a shy “ I’d love to. ” James interrupted “Well , I will let you kids get to it then. ” excusing himself to Areon then passing a wink to Eddy as he turns to walk away.

Eddy gets up and goes into the corner and swiping the chair from the desk that became a beverage counter, looks up to Areon, points to the coffee pot then returns as she nods. The room goes silent of its typing and shuffling of papers . Eddy gets the feeling that he is being watched and scans the room to confirm . He sets the chair down, wipes it off then swaps his chair a nice leather with lumbar support for the old oak stool, and asks Areon to please have a seat .

Eddy;;;; “Where would you like to start ?”

Areon;;;;;”Well ! Lets begin with where you got the info for the simulation.”

Weeks passed as Areon and Eddy pounded out the boxes from storage, cramming them into one program to simulate 40 billion years of travel through the vacuum of space into a 3 hour optical ride . Reluctantly , Eddy agreed not to disagree with Areon’s suggestion to add music to the program.

New order of things

5

Her reasoning was that the recording has sound, so why not use it?

Upon arrival to the office, Eddy was surprised to see that someone had taken over his desk . He was a large man, wearing a military suit, but had no markings as to his stature. As Eddy approached the man, Scott cut him off and informed him to report to administrations for his new assignment. when Eddy inquired about his work Mr. Scott assured him not to worry , that his new assignment will answer all his questions .

When he arrived at administrations he was relived to see a familiar face .

Areon was sitting in her best poise in the hall with her briefcase and a box at her feet . It to was a familiar sight . It was the box that they had been filling with the research of the many boxes at the office . She sees him , stands up composes herself, trying not to smile and hides what part of the smile she couldn’t contain with her hand as she pushed her glasses back onto its small perch. She then gave him a well good morning as she cleared her throat, then remarked how she felt as though she was in JR. high awaiting to see the Principal . Eddy thought little of this He couldn’t see her getting sent to the office unless she was delivering something for a teacher in confidence that she wouldn’t get nosy on the way . They both gave a nervous giggle as they were interrupted by the opening of a door across the hall .

A short, overweight secretary “Good you’re both here! Sgt . Acuff will see you now .” Then moved aside holding the door open , her girth left little room for entry . Areon and Eddy made due so not to offend the lady .

A small older man sat in the adjoining room, pressed between a huge desk and a over- stuffed book shelf that wrapped the room from top to bottom, leaving not enough room for the collection of books that scattered the floor . Some used as a table for a pipe and ashtray, and one provided a makeshift stand for an already dead plant beneath a small window, over -stuffed with frames . The little man insisted “ sit ” with a wrinkled smile styling his too white to be real teeth for his age and a smoker to boot . Eddy clear off one of the old leather chairs . Elegant in its time but badly battered for its use over the ages, then cleared one in the corner for himself . Taking the hefty box from Areon and placing it on his lap , trying not to look around at the mess .

Sargent;;; “Well , seems like the two of you have ruffled some feathers .”

No place like home

6

Eddy ;;;; “Sir. If I may, we didn’t mean to ”

Cut short of his response. Sargent interrupted with a hearty chuckle .

“Its OK ! I was one of the first missioner’s of Eagle Eye . The object that you have been researching has been a skeleton in the closet for a long time and we need to know what more you have found . I’ve read over your report and I get the impression that you left out allot ! Am I wrong ?”

Eddy;;; “Well , Sir. there are a few things, but they are mostly theories with no suitable information to support it.”

Sgt.;;; “Well , I want to hear it all ,no matter how trivial it may seem.”

After A few hours of cramming everything into the little mans head, he excuses himself.

A half hour later, three men entered the room followed by the little man . The most decorated of them asked Eddy and Areon to follow them . They all walked outside to a set of suburbans waiting at the bottom of the stairs .

After opening the doors for Eddy and Areon , the three men got into the first truck . The drive was long but comfortable, not making any stops on the way . It seemed strange but they were too baffled to question anything .

Deep in the woods they arrived to a complex Fenced in with security guards fully armed protecting a lawn rolling out to meet what looked to be a castle from a medieval time. Adorned with ivy , plumed with blooming trees and an orchard of blooming plants that , together filled the air as its fragrance was carried gently by the wind .

The truck carrying the three men stopped in front but the truck carrying Eddy and Areon continued to the back towards a little cottage , placed on the edge of the property, both a mile or so apart. The cottage seemed a bit out of place , with the aerial antenna that stood towering above even the castle itself , barely swaying to the breeze with its cabling running six different directions.

It supported a dozen or so dishes, some looked like none the two had ever seen . The truck stopped in front of the cottage the driver and co-pilot opened the doors , then escorted the two in. Stopping to unlock the door with an odd shaped key , then turning to hand Eddy and Areon each one of their own . After giving the two a speedy tour through the cottage, the driver and his partner left .

Guests

7

Areon was quick to point out that the door locked as the men left and tried to open it , but it wouldn’t budge. She tried her key and it opened , she peeked out to see nothing but the massive manicured lawn that lay in view of the rear left side of the main building . Relieved, she closed the door, turned to Eddy and gave him a “whew !” of relief as she made her way to the kitchen to prowl through the fridge and cabinets, constantly pushing her glasses to their best behavior .

Satisfied , She asked Eddy if he’d like a drink. He agreed and they went into the living room and had a seat . Eddy picked up a remote from the coffee table and started discovering its potential . It seemed to do everything but flush the toilet . This concept took more of his attention than Areon was willing to sacrifice . She snatched the remote from his hands then hoped into a new position , with one leg in the couch facing him, smiling a big smile, then adjusting her glasses and responded with a

“What is going on here ? Are we in trouble or what ?”

Eddy slumped down into the soft couch closing his eyes and propping his boots on the table in front of him saying .

“ I think we will know very soon! “

Areon gave a light toss of the remote onto Eddy’s crossed arms and turned herself into a slumped position , kicking off her heels and propping her feet on the table by her toes . They waited silently, resting before a knock on the door snapped them both up as thought they were doing something they were not suppose to be doing in the first place .

They stood, composed themselves as the door unlocked .

A jolly man waddled in introducing himself with a sluggish Irish accent as the butler “Just call me Reddy ! Everyone does , better that than the alternative .” He then bellowed a hearty laugh and asked if there was anything they required. Eddy and Areon both stood like children awaiting a lolly-pop from grandma, shrugged their shoulders with a nod. They both looked at one another and said . “We are fine thank you.”

Reddy;;;; “There will be someone to come out to clean on Fridays . During that time you may want to make yourself scarce. The ladies that clean are very feisty Greeks that speak no English, but you will know when they are complaining because they are talking . I for one make myself scarce often when they are around and if you require anything ,anything at all , just let me know. My number is on the phone , anytime , anytime at all , just give me a buzz .

early to rise

8

The master of the house sends his apologies, as he was called away at the last minute and will be back in a few days to see you . Until then, make yourselves at home and should you need to go anywhere, the drivers number is on the phone as well. However, if you prefer not to have a driver, he will bring a car around . There is a pool, use it if you like- and there is a gaming room. Do either of you play the Q ball ? I do so love to myself but sadly there is no competition at this lovely resort .” With a hearty laugh he excused himself and out the door he went

The next few days Eddy and Areon bides their time with their research, making use of the excellent accommodation that required so many dishes on the massive areal Antenna , witch was linked directly to Eagle Eye .

Four days later and not a moment to soon ! Friday came early when the two grumpy little maids from Greece arrived, ushering Eddy and Areon out the door as politely as they knew how ,which was indeed quite rude . But Eddy and Areon was starting to feel the bite of cabin fever and with such a warm day, they thought to make use of the rest of the property . After a botched game of billiards and a grand game of hit the tree with golf balls, they retired to the pool .

Eddy saw fit to dive in with his boots and his jacket on, as he came up for air trying to sling as much water Areon’s way as he could saying,” Guess this is laundry day”. Areon rolled her eyes and secured herself a sunny spot in a nearby sun chair .

The jolly butler that dubbed himself as “Reddy” came out to see if he was needed and offered a verbal list of drinks and snacks . Areon turned down the list, but Eddy seeing the mans eagerness to serve placed an order as though he was at a diner, but with a bit of sarcasm in it .

Eddy;;;” Yes ! I’d like one scotch , one Bourbon , one beer and a side order of chips! ” The butler responded with a ‘very well Sir ‘ and went back indoors, placing fresh towels on the bar as he went . Areon laughed , removing her glasses, telling Eddy ‘he should be ashamed ‘ then laid down to enjoy the sun . Eddy pulled off most of his clothing down to his looms then made a few laps, making sure to splash wildly when he came near Areon, but she never flinched .

Soon the butler returned caring a tray with one bottle and two glasses surrounding a bowl of chips , nuts, a variety of veggies and dip placing it on the table beside Areon

master invitation

9

Reddy called to Eddy “Your drinks Sir.” Areon laughed uncontrollably as Eddy climbed out of the pool shaking the water off like a dog . Aiming to saturate Areon, but mostly only succeeded in giving the butler a nice spritz. Eddy apologized , as Reddy wiped the breast and sleeve of his tailored jacket suit, accepting the apology and asking , “Will there be anything else?” Eddy gave a calm “Thank you , that will be all for now Reddy ! ” As he slugged back one shot chasing it with a swig of beer trying hard not to make a face, he then slugged the second one but couldn’t stomach a chaser . Eddy sat down with a forced exhale . Reddy said “There is bathing suits in the bungalow , for the Mrs !”

Areon replied without a look “Thank you, but no thanks and it is Miss. all the same . ” And with that the butler raised a fluffy eyebrow to Eddy as he headed back to the door .

Early the next morning , Eddy and Areon was awakened by the sound of a helicopter landing in the open grounds , then lifting off . With raised voices in the distance still muffled by the rotors. Soon their were footsteps at the door and a knock. By the time Eddy made it to the living room, still half undressed , Areon was opening the door . The voice behind it came a greeting, not in English, then an interpreter announced , “Good morning ! Sorry to wake you so early, but Mr. Giato is eager to get started . ” The foreign voice, either Chinese , Japanese or some Asian dialects, continued as the interpreter continued speaking over the voice . “I sincerely apologize for my absence and trust that you have been taken well care of . May we come in?”

Areon ;;;” Of course! It is after all your house . ” The interpreter translated, He and Giato both laughed and entered .

Areon, being the lady she was, offered them both a drink . They both declined and offered breakfast instead at the main house, stating that it will be ready by the time they strolled that direction. If Eddy and Areon will ready themselves, the men will wait .

Gathering themselves in a rush, Eddy and Areon readied themselves for a nice mile or so walk to the main house . Soon joining the men awaiting in the living room whom both stood as Eddy and Areon entered the room .

The sun was just past horizon behind them. A cool breeze to their face brought a sense of long forgotten pleasures of life they had missed out on for so long living in the big cities, always in a climate controlled building and long nights working and weekends recovering in bed .

food for thought

10

The stroll was brisk. The little foreigner wasted no time , like a child ready to return home .

They reached the rear of the house to a table that was not there the day before, but was placed eloquently to service four. A roller cart sat steaming in the cool morning air . The smell of blueberries and coffee filled the area with sweet remembrance .

The ladies of the house were out the door before the group could sit . Reddy was soon to join, with his tailored suit and a towel over his right forearm . As the ladies sat the feast before the group , Reddy followed with fresh juice, and then coffee , which he prepared, on the small wagon tray . Three different newspapers lay in the middle of the table . Eddy chose one and scanned through it. He noticed that all the fliers were removed and only the important stories remained . Since there were no cartoons, he placed the paper back returning it to the position he picked it up.

The talk was small, mostly between Mr. Giato and his translator till Giato spoke up in broken English but with great syntax. “How long have you been working on the program Mr. “… Eddy cut him off “Please , EDDY is fine ! “

Giato ;;;”Very well ,’ EDDY’ forgive me for my English “

Eddy :;;;;;”I will, so long as you get to the point of why we are here !”

Areon gives Eddy a kick to the shin .

Areon;;;;” Not to complain, it is lovely here , but this is quite unusual .”

The interpreter speaks to Giato, lifting his leg as he speaks Laughing . They both looked at Areon, and continued conversing between themselves, until the interpreter spoke to Eddy and Areon.

“ My name is Tokako. I am Mr . Giato’s liaison, or how you say his right hand . We are interested in your findings from Eagle Eye, and we are very concerned with your translation of the information . We have had many people going over your work , all of which is very impressing . What we are concerned about is its path. As far as we can tell from your model, it appears to be heading this way. However, we’re not sure how , when , or where .

Mr Giato responded to Eddy “You are sure ? YESS?”

Eddy stared at Tokako and replied with a nervous “Yes.”

Areon broke in “What are you talking about ?”

Eddy , still staring at Tokako, said, “Sorry Areon, there is something I didn’t tell you! I altered one part of the path.

News

11

I was hoping I was wrong , but the more we know, the closer it is .”

Areon;;;” Closer ? What is?”

MR.Giato;;;; ” THE END .”

Interrupted by a phone call , MR. Giato had to excuse himself. Eddy , Areon and Tokako retreated to the game room .

Tokako;; “So, why did you hide your true findings, even from your co-worker?”

Eddy;;; “Well , for one thing, I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure. I was afraid that if I did say something that the department of defense would take it from me .”

Eddy turns to Areon and apologizes

Areon accepts . “I understand, but that wasn’t why I was sent to you .There is something I didn’t tell you. I have been working on the same project ,but my field was mapping the systems that it had already passed through .”

Eddy ;;;”Bummer ! Wish you were mapping the ones it hadn’t passed through, that would be more helpful.”

Tokako ;;; “What do you mean? “

Areon cuts in, “If we had a mapping of the systems that it ‘will’ pass through, we could have a better idea were it will go . Will it hit in another Galaxy or continue to slide right on through to us ?”

Eddy ;;; “Yes , But that still doesn’t figure as to how much momentum it will gain, or loose .”

Tokako ;;;” You saying it is getting faster?”

Eddy ;;;”Yes. The last system it passed through it gained ten percent of its momentum .”

Areon:::”Ten percent , that puts it at… what, twice the speed of light ?”

Eddy ;;;”Yes, that’s why it is so hard to catch. As it gets caught in the gravitational field of a solar star, it makes a free trip around and jumps off. kind of like a child dangling his feet off the merry-go-round then trying to get off the ride, only there is nothing to stop this free ride .”

Tokako;;; “So , you need a mapping, we can take care of that .”

Tokako reaches into his breast pocket, pulling out a phone . He speaks in his native tongue, then hangs up and excuses himself .

Eddy looks at Areon and asks if she’s okay , but she just stares off into nothing , then walked slowly to the bar in the corner . She takes out a bottle, pours a drink and downs it ; then another and another, until she looses her breath .

Toast to the Gods

12

Eddy takes the bottle from her, puts his hand on Areon’s shoulder, and tells her to take it easy. She starts crying . Eddy holds her close, taking advantage of the chance to enjoy the smell of her hair. He noticed the perkiness of her body pressed against his . He then composed himself , cups his hands over her cheeks, smiles and says . “Its not the end. It might just be passing through, just like the rest of the cosmos, on its way to someplace else.”

Giato walks in With a embarrassed expression, ” Pardon me ! I don’t mean to intrude.” He turns to exit but Areon stops him sobbing “NO ! It’s okay ! I am just a bit moody. It’s a female thing. I will be okay !” She then excuses herself and leaves the room.

The day drew on and little was said as to what brought all of them together . Areon made herself scarce, which was for the best. She was in no mood to join three men cheering over shots of con yak and chasing it with whatever was handy .

The conversation was mostly overlooked with missed communications, but non the less was understood by all as they fought over who gets to pour the next round .The thought of Areons absence no doubt crossed the three sobering, loud and obnoxious drinkers but the thought fleeted with the next round of shots from a venting COALEMUS .

Lunch proved to be a big hit , not much was eaten most of the food went on the table , their laps and soon the floor . By diner time the men decided it would be best if they just rustled up something from the kitchen themselves , though not seemingly a grand idea for the cooks whom saw fit to escape the raid rather than to try beating the men out of the room like raccoons in a trash can after the Holiday feast .

Dawn did not see fitting to creep in the next morning, instead it came bursting through the glass wall Like a runaway train . Eddy was the first to stir , As he woke, the first thing brought to his attention was the light . The second, was the not nearly empty bottle that seemed to be using his finger as a cork, which he discovered as he threw his hands over his face shielding himself from the sun . ‘ Which seemed to be exceptionally brighter this morning after’ . Like a vampire from a rated B movie joined with the three stooges, he cold caulked himself in the head .

Eddy rose from his chair and made a bumbled dash to the door that became his crutch for a spell . Inside the game room he found Tokako , sprawled out on his back , legs dangling from knees down and one shoe missing .

Far from home

13

Eddy took aim and headed for the pool table , he noticed a retched smell in the air , checking himself to be sure , then noticed that Tokako , not only made good use of the table as a bed , but the side pocket to rid himself of his upset stomach as well .

Eddy headed on into the den were he found Giato , curled up on the floor with his thumb in his mouth ’so much for prestige’ Eddy thought as he made his way to the restroom , fumbling for the light like a blind man ‘he thought he might sit this one out ‘ when Eddy finished he started removing his shirt and jacket from over his head , with some difficulty , but not nearly as much as trying to get the bottle through the sleeve , till he remembered about the zipper , he then started kicking off his boots , witch landed him toward the tub , where he wanted to be just not head first . Eddy finally ready for a nice shower and strong hopes of getting the bottle free of his thumb .

After a few failed attempts to get the water just right , he settled on one setting , leaning in to it with his head just under the shower and his left arm to give support .

He fell into the pulse of the massage , till he had a sudden urge to scream in pain as the bottle released its claim of the thumb and fell to hit just the tip of Eddy’s smallest toe . Such a small thing , one that will make a man speak in a language unknown to even himself .

A knock at the door faded into Eddy’s cloud of pain “HAY! I need ” buaaaa , Never mind ” Eddy’s moment of pain just turned into a case of don’t laugh or you will never stop moment that worsened as he thought about the vase on the half round table just outside the door and wondering if Tokako was able to fill it .

Eddy turned off the water , opened the shower curtain , looking around only to come to the assumption that the bath towels were in the closet across the room. Eddy sat down to prepare himself before taking such a perilous trip for such a trivial thing as a towel .

After a good drip dry , Eddy forgot all about the towel and got dressed .

Mr. Giato still in his fetal position , but Tokako was no wear to be found , Eddy decided to head home , thinking the walk will do him some good , then realizing after the walk was over that it done him absolutely no good. Just as he made it to the front door his stomach decided this is a good place to evacuate .

Morning after

14

The door was not locked , witch was a good thing , Eddy didn’t think he could manage the lock much less find the key , he made way to his room , took aim an made a crash landing .

Eddy woke to the smell of coffee, eggs , bacon and toast and wondered how such a wonderful smell could turn his stomach inside out

Areon;;; ” Well ! How was your night ?”

Eddy;;; “Oh!! it was fabulous ! Thank you ! And how was yours? “

Areon;;; with a loud voice ;; “Better than your morning ! “‘as she smashed a plate , cup and silverware onto the table . ‘

Eddy;;; “Gees ! whats gotten into you ?”

Areon;;;; “Just eat , we got work to do !”

After breakfast they went into the lab were a flashing light on fax machine indicating ‘ reload paper ‘, it had went through a full load dumping it neatly on the floor behind its desk. Eddy reloaded the fax with the paper hit ready then picked up the stack from the floor sat down looking through the long list of data . The next thing Eddy knew he was waking up on the floor , he took a look around , checking out the clock on the way, that read 7 :15 but no indication as to AM or PM .

Eddy dreaded to find out . If it was Pm. he had a very long night ahead of him . But if it was Am. then he had slept thought the day and night , leaving Areon to go through all the data from the fax by herself .

Which was flashing again , not just for paper this time , but for ink as well , Eddy filled them both , hit ready and carried the spent paper with him.

Following the sound of music and smell of coffee . Areon was at the diner table sitting on one leg , without looking up she used her coffee cup as a pointer toward the coffee pot saying . “Its fresh !”

Eddy poured himself a cup then topped hers off . Areon never took her eyes off the ejected papers from the fax machine . Eddy took a good notice that the room was cool by the protrusion in Areons silk night gown . He made sure to sit at the end of the table , so the papers that had her full attention did not obstruct his view.

Areon took a sip from her cup and said “You know ! I been thinking if this thing does come our way , what do we do with that knowledge , and is their anything we can do to prevent , what ‘might ‘ happen.”

After 2 weeks of crunching numbers into a visual concept the day came to soon , the board of defense wants to know what is going on ,outside of their reach and weather or not it will effect the world .

Moment to soon

15

Or so say the letter that was hand delivered by three very well dressed well armed and well built solders.

Aeron;;;;;;”Dam ! I cant believe they are going to push this before we have compiled all the data .”

Eddy;;;;” Well ! I guess they figured that with all the help we have it should be done by now . Maby if we cut out the music .

Areon;;;;”Oh ! do shut up !”

Eddy;;;”;I’m just kidding ! “with a laugh ‘ he walks up to Areon and hugs her from behind , whispers to her “All we can do , is what we can do , after all , we are already light years behind.”

Areon starts to cry as she turns in his arms and returns the embrace “But its not fair ! To be able to tell the future , but not change it !’

Eddy ;;;”Good thing we are not gods.”

Areon pulls back : “What is that suppose to mean?”

Eddy;;;”Well ! if we were gods , their wouldn’t be a hint of danger ! And were is the fun in that. ”

Areon pushes Eddy away ” You don’t take anything serious ! do you Eddy ?”

Eddy;;;”Oh ! Contrary , I do , I am just better at hiding it ! May be to good !”

Areon turns back to Eddy with a curious look .

Eddy;;;”Well ! If I wasn’t so good at it , I wouldn’t be sleeping alone!”

Areon steps closer “Are you trying to tell me something? “

Eddy starts to speak but his words came short as Areon closes the gap between with a kiss . A long ! Over due! kiss.

Back at their computers , crunching out the numbers , that might fortune tell of demise to all that is dear to mankind.

Eddy leans back in his chair running his fingers through the length of his hair . ” Its done ! or at least as done as we have time for .”

Areon ;;;”Hows that possible?”

Eddy;;;”Well ! Basically they want to see the important stuff , so ‘ I just skipped over a few dull moments , were the satellite just passes through , or by a Galaxy with little or no effect . ”

Areon;;;; “Smart thinking ! I knew their was a good reason For keeping you around .”

Eddy ;;;”Ha!!!Ha!! ” As he pulls Areon into his lap and plays back their hard work in high speed “:And I didn’t have to cut the music line out after all.”

Areon smiles , and Eddy suddenly realizes that she is no longer wearing glasses , just before she kisses him.

Admittance

16

Areon gets up , taking Eddy by the hand leading him out of the room , Eddy takes notice of the sun dress that replaced the drab uniform Aeron wore so sportingly when they first met .

All to early the next morning the two nesting birds woke to a familiar nagging of the maids , confused , knowing that today wasn’t Friday .

A small voice came from behind the jarred door. “Excuse me!” Ar’ you Decent ?” with its broken English .

The door crept open , and the small woman entered with two garment bags , she placed at the foot of the bed with its tossed sheet and no sign of top blanket . Eddy and Areon lay cuddled to one another as the woman continued.

Maid’;;;;;;”You get up now ! I fix you breakfast ! You like?”

Eddy and Areon looked to one another, nodded in agreement and responded with a .

“Yes we like !”

The woman closed the door fully . As she left the familiar bickering began .

Eddy and Areon scrambled to the bath room to get first dibs , but since it was a Tye breaker , they decided to share the rewards.

Eddy and Areon arrived in the kitchen to a fragrance becoming of a fine meal .

After breakfast of 5 minute eggs bacon , French toast, fresh juice and coffee . Areon readied their findings and speech they so passionately made for the administrate of defense .

The sound of a helicopter filled the air and entered their body’s with the deep rumble mixed with the engine and propellers as it landed . This time much closer .

Eddy , didn’t take to air travel as well as Areon did . So to his relief the trip wasn’t long , but still to long for his liking .

The helicopter landed in what appeared to be an abandoned steal mill , but was well guarded . The soldiers waiting , adorned with their stripes , and armament , lead Eddy and Areon into an open area large enough the chopper could have landed in . Men swarmed the vacant area and above . All silent and poised in their best posture befitting a well seasoned soldier .

A small table sat in mid point of the massive structure , atop it a odd looking camera attached with an umbilical cord to a generator and the same odd dish that clung to the areal antanaa back at the cottage . A voice arose from the unit

Counsel

17

V;;;;”Testing ! Testing ! Will you confirm ! Stop! ” Areon spoke up firmly , as though she had done this before , “Yes ! We read you loud and clear ! Will you confirm”

V;;; ” I read you 5 by 5 ! ” Stop.”

A soldier approached with verbal instructions . ” when you finish speaking say ‘ STOP ‘ clearly after you are spoken to , wait a moment before speaking .” handing Eddy a small remote switch “Press the button before you address , if you address the whole group say “group” , if you address a single say the name of the single .” He then goes to the table and lowers a screen beneath it “This will tell you who is addressing you in the same manner . Their are 39 single members that you will address , one being the president and his vice . Speak clearly, for your words are being translated accordingly and you are being recorded so try not to make any sudden moves . Stand in this circle , the switch itself is also a microphone so hold it toward your chest . And I emphasize “Speak clearly and try not to run your words together or to fast “. we will begin in a few moment would you like a chair .

Eddy ;;; “Well ! will this take long ? If so just be ready with seats just in case .”

Areon asked for a stool to use for the laptop and asked if she could plug into the interface . The Officer complied readying her a high stool and a cord attached to the unit .

A voice came over the unit ” Will all parties confirm?” Stop”

Areon takes liberty of pushing the button in Eddy’s hand and pulling it toward their chest . The box complied ” All party’s are accounted for Master in chief ,

we are ready now . “Stop”

Silence filled the large hall as the Officer motioned for Eddy and Areon to proceed.

Eddy ;;;” group !’— Greetings all .—” I am Eddy Soltic and this is Areon Lucas.

We are assigned the task of mapping a traveling asteroid , but as it seems , is not after all an asteroid , but instead it is a planetary satellite , and make no mistake , it is heading this way . “,,,,,,,,”STOP”

As Eddy and Areon tell their biography of a lost star wondering the cosmos , along with their well played out visual casting with a eloquently chosen composition of music , the captive audience uttered not a word as the story line came to an end.

Denied

18

Areon asked in her tender sad voice ” Is their any questions?” Stop”. And with that the list of eager unknown holders of the same button that Eddy held , lit up the monitor with all the listeners .

Eddy looked at Areon and said “Now comes the fun part!”

Areon’;;;;; “Group! Lets start at the top with England ! ” England what is your question ? “Stop!”

After hours of deliberation of delegates trying to question the problem away , the president closed the meeting , till further notice.

Eddy and Aeron was glad it was over and wanted desperately to retreat back to their cottage at the end of the grassy knoll .

Eddy , not so eager for the trip back , still wasted no time on boarding the chopper even before it had warmed up .

Back safe and sound in their little love nest Eddy took to a shower while Areon took to the fridge .

After Eddy joined Areon in front of the TV hanging on the wall , showing an old movie , some western classic , were the maiden dies and the horse runs away with the best friend and everyone lives happily never after .

Eddy and Areon sat without a word as Eddy helped himself to a portion of the goodies that Areon had prepared .

A chirping from the phone drew Eddy and Areon out of their snacking slumber party , startling Areon to the point of nearly tossing the tray into Eddy’s lap. Eddy grabbed the phone , dropping it twice before answering it in a loud upset “Hello” then a calm tone brushed over him , and only agreement and Sir. came from him till a thank you .

Eddy leaned back into the well stuffed couch making fluttering sound with his lips , then looking at Areon and taking her hand .

Areon;;; “They didn’t by it ?” Eddy nodded in compliance then both stared back into the TV . The remainder of the day was spent uninterrupted feast and lounging duo , the computer room had not been entered , any time a news broadcast came on they switched to another channel .

Eddy got plenty of time to play with the special remote opening and closing shades , turning on and off lights throughout the cottage and some times having to get up walk around to try and find what this button controls.

Evening drew on Eddy and Areon slept in their own rooms not a word or a cross look between the two . Just a need to crawl into themselves .

Nesting

19

No sign of Giato or Tokako yet everything goes on as if nothing has changed the maids still bickering , the Butler still looking for something to butler , driver still waxing the cars that go no wear , often .

As for Eddy and Areon the computers having become a past time of games and the cottage no more than an elegant prison.

Three weeks passed with no word till a knock at the door . Eddy was surprised to see a young man no more than 25 holding two packages and judging from the uniform he was a Currier the young man handed Eddy the packages , got into his town car and left without a word.

Eddy called out for Areon “You got mail !”

Areon entered grabbing it up like a child on Christmas morning without looking to see who it was from . She riped off the yellowish wrapping then opening the box finding plain tickets , a check and her next assignment orders .

Eddy opened his and found it was the same all but the tickets . The tickets called for them both on opposite coasts Eddy , West . Areon , East .

Eddy;;;; ” I wonder why they are so eager to separate us ?”

Areon;;;”you think this is on purpose ?”

Eddy;;; “What! you don’t ? Do you honestly see this as a mere coincidence ? Come on Aeron ! Think about it ! We both came from the same place and now we are getting tossed to the winds. It doesn’t sound like a good thing , more like we are being punished.”

Areon;;;” You think it’s because we couldn’t give them a definite point of impact and ETA?”

Eddy;;;;”No ! I think that they actually bought it , they just want us to believe it is wrong , divide us up so we don’t do any more digging , this hole thing is more like a demotion I think ?”

Areon ;;;”Well my flight is in 10 days how about yours ?

Eddy ;;;”Five!”

Areon:;;;”Well ! we have seven days to figure out were the danger zone is . If it is a earth impact , Well ! I’m staying right here.

Eddy;;;”Sounds like a plane to me ” throwing his arm around her neck ” I like the way you think Lil’ lady.

They kissed and hugged one another as they walked into the computer room.

Homeward bound

20

Eddy’s transport has arrived , the driver loads what little belongings Eddy had into the car . He arrives at home , the driver insists on seeing him to the door then leaves . Eddy enters looking around at the small one bedroom efficiency apartment , he tosses his things on the couch , looks at his watch notes that it is not yet noon .

Eddy calls a cab thinking he will go to the office and retrieve his motorbike .

As the cab approaches the main drive Eddy was surprised that their was no guard .

He tips the cab-by then does a bit of a how low can you limbo under the red and yellow Candy Cane striped auto gait. He makes his way to the office , the parking lot is vacant , all but his bike and Areons jeep parked beside. Eddy pulls out his level 6 card , slides it through the lock “Nothing ” he slides it again ” Nothing ” third time the door unlocks .

Eddy enters , heads to his desk , but all his belongings are gone . He looks around and sees a box on the table in the corner . It had his name in black marker scribbled across it . He heads over to it then noticed a computer on the far wall was flashing “Ready to receive”

Eddy clicks the mouse on deliver . The screen pops open to a view form the Eagle Eye telescope . Eddy checks the time date of reception it showed 2 hrs ago . he adjusts the time to current position and gets a birds eye view of a climbing Eclipse . Eddy sees something else tho , so he changes the focus onto the object . The view makes the hair on his body stand up , it is the runaway planet . His phone rings causing him to jump from his mental state , as he fidgets through his jacket to find his phone .

With a eager “Hello!” the voice on the other end was sweet and anxious.

“Hi their stranger its me”<

Eddy;;;”Areon?”

Areon;;;”Are you watching this eclipse ? its beautiful ! ” Reddy brought me a telescope to watch it with.”

Eddy;;;;” Yea ! you could say I’m watching it ! And how!”

Eddy wanting to tell Areon but at the same time not wanting to as his mind races.

Eddy cuts Areons Excitement and enthusiasm . ” Areon get some place safe ! The basement ! Quick ! you don’t have much time ! GO NOW ! before” . Eddy looks at his phone slaps it then says “HE ,,,HELLO,,,Areon , ,HELLO ” he returns his gaze to the monitor .

Count down

21

“It,s going to hit the sun ” He said under his breath .

The object passes to close for the EYE to see then the reception is lost .

Eddy looks around the room as the lights start flickering and computers begin shutting down . Eddy notices a low sonic HUM that Pierced the filings on his teeth then enters his very bones “SHIT” he cried out as he pulls out his stop watch , giving a speedy calculation in his head then setting it . Eddy heads for the hefty desk / beverage counter /lost and found /soon to be hideout . He shoves the chair out from under the table removes his heavy leather jacket , ducks under the desk in a fetal position hanging his jacket over his left for-arm preparing himself for the worst.

Hunkered in his small security box Eddy ’s eyes affixed on his watch constantly trying to do the math running ramped through his mind .

Eddy begins to hyperventilate , being a swimmer with some diving experience , he readying himself for a prolonged dive into terror.

Time creeps by in seconds drawing the inevitable moment closer . Eddy’s mind racing but calm at the same time he thinks to himself . “I can hold my breath for 3 minutes easily , after 4 maby 5 my body will long for air , after 6 to 7 minutes I will start to black out , after 7 to 8 minutes it wont matter .

Tick , Tick, Tick seconds passing “the planet must have hit the sun by now , solar flairs are hitting the earth blacking out everything ” Tick, Tick” its time!

Eddy holds his breath , never taking his eyes off the clock . Eddy begins to hear what sounds like bats leaving their den to take flight into the open night . Pain reaches into his mind , not just pain of what is outside of him , but pain of not knowing if Areon got to safety , and the pain of his body trembling and struggling to take a breath , at the same time refusing to .

The sound intensifies , what once was a low rumble of base is now a high pitch ring that pierced through his hands cupped over his ears .

Now his body felling the sting of things to come ,the felling of hot needles piercing every pour of his body and coming in waves . The pins in his leg from a accident when he was 13 began to burn inside his body as a foul acidic taste overpowers his mouth as though the very fillings in his mouth were melting . Eddy now struggling with the overall constant pain.

He begins to meditate , focusing himself , letting the pain cover him like a warm blanket in the bitter cold night . A uncontrolled thought creeps into his mind of himself looking up at Areon , her soft fine hair with its loose curls streaming down her chest , with one lock curling just under the nipple of her perky breast , till she tossed her head back in moment of ecstasy .

The Decent

22

Then falling across him , he feels her body so light , so warm , so soft on him . Her hair caressing his face with the sweet smell of her sweat filling his lungs, her hot breath on his shoulder , the felling of her body as it rises and falls with her every breath till she rises up , looking at him with terror as her face turns to a black ash and blows away .

This vision snaps Eddy back into his own personal nightmare in the present , the pain intensifies as he struggles against his body , trying to contain the urge to breath . Eddy pushes his back against the desk , smashing his fist into the apposing side . Eddy grips his jacket tight as he curls up tighter into his fetal position before trying to stretch out in his confinement pressing his back harder against the desk and his feet against the apposing side , slamming his elbow against the front , not felling the blow only the sudden stop as he leans his head back the contained pain escapes him as no more than a squeal as a small amount of air escapes his lungs. The urge to exhale so intense , but not more than the pain of his outer body , nor the pain within his heart, mind, and soul . As darkness consumes him , he drifts off into blackness .

Eddy becomes aware . He asks himself “Am I dead , or alive?”

“speak dam it, speak” He tries but his body betrays him , nothing comes out. He tries to focus on clearing his throat , first no more than a gurgle . The thought comes to him “I am alive!”. He becomes aware of a horrid taste in the back of his throat , as a well needed cough brings out the rancid bile that had crept into his body while he was unconscious . Up and out it came , he spits but most of it flew from his mouth on its own accord . Eddy tries again to make some form of comprehensible sound , but still no more than babble cut off by a fierce cough releasing more of the bile in the depth of his throat . Much more this time as he spat it out to his right felling the impact of it on his leg.

Eddy rolled out of his nest , less of a roll but more of a free fall . He lay their gaging with no more than a small cough . Concentrating on the idea of getting up , telling himself “Baby steps, just baby steps!”

Eddy mounted himself on his knees and fists , noticing his death grip on the Collar of the jacket that had became a shield . As he rose up hitting his shoulder on the desk , taking notice of the odd sound it made , he rose on , placing his hand on the desk for support , but the desk provided none of that , instead it fell through in the middle scattering the charred items on it to the floor.

Dawn of a new day

23

Eddy looked around into the blankness thinking “Am I blind ” he closed his eyes steadying his breathing , as best as he could with the smell of ash that consumed it .

Eddy tried to see the room in his mind , he placed himself at his desk looking at the corner desk . Eddy stood himself , queasy at first , then trying hard to force his body to forget its memory of the fetal position and remind it of an upright one . He focused seeing himself across the room from his own desk with all the bright lights overhead to guide him .

But his mind’s eye betrayed him once more as it took on its own agenda .

He saw the old chair ,his hand was on the back of it he , looked around the room , he saw Areon standing poised at his desk across the room , she was tossing her shoulders around , though he couldn’t see her feet he could only imagine that she stood on one leg with the other balanced on the pointy toe of her high heel . Areon looked toward Eddy, Eddy points to the coffee maker,she nods , Eddy picks up the chair and carrys it up the isle , he starts to feel as though he is being watched , he casts his gaze around the room .

Reality tries to creep in , but the comfort of Areon still over powered Eddy’s mind . He returns his gaze toward Areon . She stood their smiling as she reached up pushing her disobedient glasses back into their rightful place and concealing her shy smile .

Eddy stumbles to the ground , as reality forces its way back into his head . He looks up for Areon , but now her face is no more than ash , then crumbles to the ground , in a puff she is gone .

The first words Eddy could get out was no more than a whisper desiring to become a yell as Eddy reached out to Areon. “NO” Eddy crouched again on his knees and fists he notices a faint glow , struggling to get through the water , that has clouded his eyes . He fumbles around blind to everything in his path trying hard not to take his eyes off of the light that guided his direction. Eddy , still on his knees reaches toward the light , he realizes that it is the front door , he feels his way up the door , thinking it feels quite cool , he finds the knob it to is cool . He pauses , thinking , it might not open since it is controlled electrically . He grabs the knob , it turns

“Thank God .”

Eddy slings open the door , the light rushes in , he thrown up his arm , shielding him from the light like a vampire from a B rated movie . His mind brings him back to a bottle stuck to his finger and a half round table holding a vase with a mouth larger than its whole. Eddy begins to laugh .

Sanctuary

24

The laugh turns to a cough. The cough turns to a gage. The gage turns to spew deep within his stomach .

Eddy wipes his mouth with his thumb nail , blows his nose free of the horrid bile .

Eddy opens his eyes giving them plenty of time to adjust , trying to ignore the rancid smell that lay in front of him.

He uses the charred door to aid him in his new quest to stand , his eyes are clear now , but still hard to see from the thick ash that fills the air.

Eddy looks around at the vacant , lot his bike and Areons jeep are barley recognizable now.

About 6 miles later Eddy drops to his knees from exhaustion , hunger now is over powering him , but their is nothing , absolutely nothing .

He takes a good look around trying to gain some form of baring , he sees a familiar sight , he remembers it as a diner , he had never ate their but he remembered it all the same.

Eddy fumbling around trying to find something , anything to ease his hunger but everything is ash , he sees a large door it looks like a freezer door , he opens it , it is , the contents within are not burnt but like himself well cooked .

Eddy finds a bucket on the floor probably their to catch the water from the cooling unit , he uses it to wash off the best he can .

“Plenty of food ” Eddy thought ,”but it wont keep long “, so he ate his fill and then some , he then individually wrapped as much as he could to help keep it from going bad .

Tired now , it will be dark soon, the metal counter top made a good bed for the night .

Eddy , as tired as he was found it difficult to sleep with the erry sounds of structures collapsing outside , he felt safe in the diner it was a steal building very well built , so he tried to take his mind to a better time , but his mind needed little help for it was already reaching back to the cottage and its towering areal antenna , but mostly his mind desired the shy blond in a silk pajama set sitting on one leg having coffee . Her thin lips against the rim of the cup, her hair falls softly down her shoulder , her blouse with its tail tail sign that the room is rather cool for silk .

Eddy’s mind slips into darkness with the visions of Areon . Her toes on the coffee table , her glasses sliding down her nose . the shy mannerism in her walk , the warmth of her body and the soothing tone of her voice .

Refuge

25

Dawn crept in , the air was much clearer , the sky looked of rain , so Eddy thought best to find a warmer , dryer spot to wait it out .

Thinking he had at least an hour to find shelter . He ran through his knowledge of the city . He remembered a place not far from him it was a church at one time , built of stone with a dome roof made of stone as well he thought if it withstood the fire storm its possible that it could withstand a little rain .

Eddy hurried to get to the building fearing if it had collapsed he’d have time to find some other shelter.

Ahead Eddy sees the building , it still stands but everything around it was in ruins . He reached it just in time the clouds burst into tears filtering the air and washing away the remains of a past life .

Though the air was cool Eddy took advantage of a shower and a chance to wash his clothing . As Eddy left the shelter of the building into the rain he started taking off his clothes he was surprised and thankful that his leather jacket held up as well as it had .

As he looked at his jacket he started thinking back to his early years when his father wore it . He could see his father coming home from work on his bike the sound of the exhaust as he revved up the engine before killing the power . Mostly just for the child waiting at the door anxious to see the large man before mother called bedtime .

Slowly his mind took its own control as Eddy stood with his face to the sky enjoying the rain as it washed him , his clothes and the world clean of its chard skin it now wore . The thought of him and Areon at the poolside as he dove in fully clothed , Eddy chuckled at the thought of coming up for air and saying “looks like laundry day”

Remembering Areon lying in the sun chair with her dress pulled up to her thigh , one leg up , showing just a hint of her butt . And the poor attempt made to try to get the thin white sun dress wet , only succeeding to get the butler instead.

A sound brought Eddy back to life and snapped his calm spirit fleeting away as his heart jumped into high speed.

Eddy ducked trying to create a hideaway from the direction of the sound .

He listened quietly trying to get his heart to rejoin its regular pace. but that seemed to be imposable when he heard voices “In here Quick it looks safe ” another voice “Is their any one here , HELLO! “another woman cried out “PLEASE ANYONE ANYONE AT ALL “

New friends

26

Eddy grabbed up his clothing started getting dressed when a young child cried out “Their is someone , out their, in the rain”

The man yelled out “I am armed com out were I can see you or I will shoot”

woman””’”Stop that Harold”

Harold;;;”I mean it com out now”

Eddy;;;;I’m unarmed I just wanted to get out of the rain”

Harold;;;YEA! Then why are you out their?

Eddy ;;;;;;”Bathing”

woman’;;;;;;OH Harold put that away “, “Sir really its not loaded please com in ”

Harold;;;;;”AW! Now why did you go and have to tell him that for ?”

Eddy approached cautiously keeping his hands in sight at all times

Woman ;;;;;;”I’m sorry we scared you ,Please , My name is Darla this macho killer is my husband “Eddy cut in “Harold yea i got that .

The woman chuckled the small boy laughed out loud and said “I’m Tim and that over their hiding is my sister Meg or Me ! Me!

Meg;;;;”Oh shut up you little brat”

Darla;;;”You two stop it now ”

Darla ;;;;”Have you seen any other survivors ? we are missing our son hes out with some”

Darla broke into tears Harold held her and finished “He was out with some friends when!”

Eddy ;;;;”No! I’m sorry I haven’t “

Meg runs over to the embrace crying.

The small boy was carrying a stick or the remnants of what looked to be a stick , he was washing it in the water as it fell from the roof . He looked up at the sky and said “We better try to save some of this water I doubt that wall-mart has any”

Eddy snapped out of his heart sank reunion of fellowship “Your right little man we should ! You wanna help me go find some buckets to catch it in “

Tim ;;;”You bet ! Can I mom ?”

Darla looking up from Harold’s shoulder ” Yes! But don’t go to far” with that the boy bolted into the rain stomping and splashing the pools of black water before his mother could finish “And Be careful” as her tone lessened , she looked at Eddy shrugged her shoulders “Please “

No more had to be said Eddy knew the rest “Take care of my boy I don’t want to lose another one”

Growth of man

27

Eddy and his new sidekick Tim rummaged through the rubble grabbing everything they thought will hold water cleaning it off stacking it so it is easier to carry .

Tim , a spirited boy had lots to say , not like any child ! He had ideas starting with fixing up the old Church for mom and Dad and a bed for his sister that he took such pleasure in taunting when ever the urge arose.

It took several trips lugging the containers to catch water in and a 55 gallon drum that had popped its top when its contents exploded. Lil Tim wanted to carry his finding back himself but settled for Eddy giving him the time to clean it well .

Tim worked long and hard without one complaint of his duty he toted the water to the barrel as needed being careful not to spill any and then trotting off to find bigger containers to store his prize water in.

Darla , Meg and Harold done their best to clear debris from their new home .

Tim came rushing in taking Eddy by the hand saying “come with me I need your help?”

Tim lead Eddy to a building much farther than his mother would allow him to go but the treasures he found was worth the trouble he will get into if she knew .

Inside the room only assessable for a small boy , which most boys wouldn’t venture into . Tim started throwing out all sorts of things cooking pots and pans first then towels even trash bags witch he ordered Eddy to fill with the found treasures and Eddy did so without hesitation . Then out came clothing and a claim “This is for mom, sis will like that ,dad will have to come back for this and this is for you ” This referring to a boi knife with sheath a sword and some rope along with a hat Tim claimed ” you will look good in this .”

The boy soon fallowed behind his findings and when Eddy tried to help the boy he received an unapologetic “I can do it myself”

Tim started closing the bags and trying to carry them he stopped looked at Eddy “Well ! This I cant do ! Will you help?”

Eddy laughed “ Id be honored to Tim “ Sticking out his hand for some skin. Tim smiled and returned the gesture then he picked up the box of plastic bags pulled out 6 of them counting as he pulled he looked at Eddy “One for each.” then tossed the rest back into the hole in the wall .

finder of all things

28

It was a heavy load but the bags held together well one falling apart just inside the door but in a safe zone .Tim began digging out items and passing them out like a little Santa clause then looking at Harold and saying .

“ Dad yours is out their it will have to wait till it dries up and we can make the hole bigger “ with a smile “ You’ll like it dad ” then runs to give him a hug .

Meg;;;” you done good squirt ”

Darla started to send her praise but was cut off short by Tim

Tim ;;;”Hay ! Me ! Me ! I’ll make a deal with you ” Meg looked up ” I wont call you Me ! Me ! any more if you stop with the small talk”

Darla with her mouth gaped open and surprised look of her sons tone started to scold him but only got as far as ‘ TIM ! ’ before Meg cut in

“ I tell you what Tim I will stop with the small talk you can keep calling me Me ! Me ! but it will cost you a hug. ” With that Tim shot out from his dads lap into Meg’s open arms nearly knocking her over . Mom and Dad watched from their own embrace as Eddy sneaked out the back door .

Eddy made himself scarce for a few days he had other plans that didn’t involve nesting at least not now and not here.

When Eddy did return to the family they all were glad to see him .

Mostly Tim who had tones of questions . He was eager to hear all about what , where and how far . Eddy thought his tails will be better as a bed time story , at the moment he thought food was more important .

He hadn’t found much but what he did find was lasting and nutritious.

Eddy found a storage room filled with dry goods ; freeze dried veggies ,soups and lots more than he could carry .

Eddy handed Tim a map to the treasure he had discovered and told him to keep it safe . Tim was grateful that he was being trusted to keep such an important thing . Eddy also gave Darla a list of items that he had found their and promised her that the trip was quite safe as was the building it was in ,

The talk of discovery’s was long and Meg was quick to point out that Tim was the finder of all things . Eddy pulled out the knife Tim had found him and said to Tim “This came in very handy and I thought of you every time

i used it , Thank you Tim ! ”

Tim shrugged his shoulders and went on his way .

Giving thanks

29

Eddy;;;;;; Well looks like Tim’s not interested in the rest of it” Tim raced back to his seat at the makeshift table the father built using the tools and material Tim had drug home .

Eddy;;;;;” For dad a bow and lots of arrows to spare for Mom a mirror and for ME ME a dress ; I hope it fits . And for my main man a slingshot .

‘Tim looked sad at the slingshot ; he’d rather had the bow no doubt ’

but his face took on a new shade at the next gift as Eddy pulled out a 22 rifle and 4 boxes of shells . “ Spend them wisely ! ” Eddy yelled as Tim ran out the door with his gifts.

Darla;;;;I’m not so sure about that gift but thank you “

Meg;;;’” Well look at it this way mom , at least he will be on the safe end of it ! ”

A moment of silence then laughter . Eddy stood up announcing that wasn’t all he found as he pulled a bottle from his sack and asked if Tim by chance found any glasses .

Meg”;;” As a matter of fact he did “ as she pulled out 4 coffee cups from a box by the wall that was trying to evolve into a kitchen

Harold;;;” I see 4 cups their Lil’ Missy just what is your intention young lady ? ”

Meg;;;” Same as yours old man just taking the edge off ! ”

The room got silent as Harold opened the bottle and poured the first drink and said “Well looks like we all have to grow up some time”

Meg took the cup and drank down its content without hesitation , she fought back the shiver by holding her breath as her eyes glassed over just before she burst into a cough and handed Harold the cup and barely made her words out “ Smooth ; hit me again old man ! “

Harold kept his and Eddy’s cup wet . Meg tried 2 more drinks but Darla refused saying “Someone has to drive home “

Harold ;;;;” Eddy you didn’t get to see what Tim found me did you? come on ill show ya “

The two staggered away Harold led the way to a large room with just one patch of light in the middle of the room shining down on a Dingy cloth . Harold pulled it off so hard it drifted across the room . Beneath it was truly a treasure to behold it was a vintage 1930 Indian . Harold whispered ” I don’t know what the hell that kid was thinking . I never sat my fat ass on a bike my whole life , and I sure as hell don’t plan on jumping on it and killing myself . Besides wife said if I did ride it it had better be to the hospital , ”

CHEERS! to Tim.

30

Eddy looked at Harold with a confused look .

Harold;;;” She said id need one if I touched it . Now ! I don’t know about you but that’s one woman I don’t want on my bad side . ”

They both laughed till Harold lost his breath he then told Eddy that he talked it over with Tim and they both agreed to see if Eddy wanted it .

Eddy lifted his near empty bottle and said “Cheers to Tim” Harold lifted his hand then realized it was empty . “ Well ! cheers all the same ! ”

“Momma says If you lost it ! You didn’t need it to start with . ‘ I’m not sure what it meant , but ! What the hell ! ‘ CHEERS ’ to Tim .”

As the two staggered back to the main hall Harold excused himself for a nap .

Meg;;;;” I heated up some water for you to wash up . “

Eddy ;;;;” You read my mind ! How is your watter supply holding up?”

Meg;;;;;” Great ! thanks to Tim hes quite the explorer he managed to find a well with a hand pump , go figure ! ”

Eddy;;;”Wow! “

Meg ;;;;”So what do you think ?” ‘Eddy with a blank look on his face. ‘

“about my dress silly ! ”

Eddy;;;looked her up and down “ Wow ! ”

Meg ;;;;” It fits great ” then leans in kissing Eddy on the cheek then stood with one hand on her hip and one palm up “ Well ! Come on I don’t have all day !“, “Hello ! Clothing ! Now” , “Thank you !”

Eddy ;;;”Oh! Yea ! OK! Sure! ” he started taking off his clothes as Meg turned around with her hand still on her hip and the other palm up at her shoulder.

Eddy striped , folded his clothes and handed them to Meg . On her way out the door she looked back. ” By the way their is some fresh gear on the

stool .” She looked Eddy up and down “Hum” then left the room pulling the sheet across the door.

Eddy stayed long enough to help the family bring back previsions he had found and to help Tim bring back some he had found , putting good use to the wagon his father had made .

Eddy slipped out one night while everyone was sleeping .

He wondered the waste land venturing out farther each time , always returning to the family . But his time away grew longer and his visit grew shorter.

New life for an old world

31

Eddy ventured out farther this time and made camp for the night . The moon shined bright over head as he tried to remember the face that haunted him . When out of the dark came a scream , a woman’s scream . Eddy jumped to his feet waiting to here it again then heading its direction calling out “Where are you !” The woman called out till Eddy reached her lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood .

he asked .“were are you bleeding ” the woman screamed “It’s coming ! something is wrong !“

It was then that Eddy knew what was wrong and knew who the woman was .It was Alice from the office .

Alice;;;;” Hes punishing me!” she screamed.

Eddy ;;;” Who is!”

Alice;;;” God ! “

Eddy ;;;;”Alice god is not punishing you!”

Alice looked at him ” Who are you?”

Eddy;;;;” I am Eddy ! I know you from the office ! “Eagle Eye” .She reached out pulled him near “I’m dying ! Please try to give my baby a chance Please!!” Then she dropped . Eddy checked to see if she was breathing .

She wasn’t . He took out his knife cut away her dress looked up to the sky and yelled .“Give me strength !!” Then plunged the knife into her belly slicing her stomach open then reaching in and pulling out the child . He brushed its face , turned it upside down but their was nothing he began to blow in its face , soon the child screamed out .

Eddy took the child back to his camp fire washed it with the last of his water and covered it with his jacket . Once it was warm it fell into a peaceful sleep. Eddy spent the rest of the night staring at it thinking ” how am I going to feed this child ! Soon it will wake ! And hungry it will be “. It then dawned on him that in his rush to warm the child he never stopped to see if it was a boy or girl.

Dawn came in with a howling baby girl hungry for something that dose not exist . In despair Eddy does the only thing he could think of . He took out the blade that brought the child into the world he raised it high above his head and slit his wrist , then fed the screaming child the only nutrition he had to offer .

shelter

32

The child took to it without hesitation . And when the child was full she went back into her slumber . Eddy wrapped his wrist and sat back , he cried for the first time in his life.

Eddy picked up his things using one bag to carry the child in and leaving what he could afford to , and set out to find shelter for the little girl that he was now bound to , by more than a promise , but by the blood of his body as well. Eddy found shelter , he was getting week now from the journey and the preparing of a safe place for the child but mostly he was week from the loss of blood not just from feeding but from the open wound , he needed to find food and fast .

He fed the child and said to himself “I have one maby two hours to find food.” Then he headed out the door closing it off , for what he didn’t know .

Eddy looked every where but found nothing , hope had left him over an hour ago , so he headed back to the child not knowing how much longer he could hold out.

As he neared the dwelling he could hear the child’s screams , a shadow of something lurking and scratching at the door he secured with such a heavy chunk of debris . He moved in closer , silent , hoping that the screaming child keeps the beast at bay , it was busy trying to dig under the door paying no attention to anything other than its own need for food . Eddy moved in closer , closer , he waited , the hole was just big enough for the beast to get its head under , Eddy jumped silently pulling out his sword and chopping off the head of the beast .

The child now barley able to breath let alone cry . Eddy tosses the door and its block aside , grabs the child , he catches the blood from the beast’s open throat and feeds it to the child , it eats and falls back into its quiet slumber .

Eddy hangs the beast to bleed while he rids it of the hide then guts it and eats its liver raw and still warm , he no sooner gets the beast carved up before the hungry child wakes with a new thirst , the blood from the beast will be that much more he keeps in his self.

Constantly looking around knowing that such a animal is not alone . It was male but no doubt were their is one their is more and that meant more fur , more food and much more danger for him and the child.

Wasting no time Eddy striped the beast of its prime meats stretching it out to dry in the sun and tendering it with a stone , then turning his attention to the pelt .

Feast to the Gods

33

Eddy stood the beasts head above the door way , always turning it his direction . Possibly to taunt the beast’s spirit or maby hoping to pees it with the knowledge that its life is going to good use . Eddy was pleased at the blood he managed to save for the child , and the fact that it gave him time to replenish his own . He worked throughout the night cleaning the fur and rubbing ash into it hoping it will help provide some protection from rot and maby conceal the natural odor of the beast so not to attract more.

Eddy made good use of everything he possibly could ‘ The ribs will make a nice basket for the child , the leg bones will come in handy as well . ‘

He though to himself as he began shaping and cutting them to usable size and being careful not to loose any of the marrow . By morning he had made his way to the beasts head , he carved it open and began to shape the skull for a bowl as he made good of the brains for his meal . The child began to stir Eddy knew it was feeding time . Using one of the bones he had shaped into a spoon he began to feed the hungry child not wanting it to start crying again . Like clock work the child was fast asleep once again . Eddy , now exhausted from his busy night sat staring at the little thing that has taken hold of his life and his heart .

He whispers “You need a name little one , and a fitting one It shall be !” You will be known to all as “Hestia” . {hes’-tee-uh }

Eddy passed the day napping with the child and tending to the meats drying in the sun along with the bones and hide . Trying hard not to sleep to much , but having such a precious alarm clock as Hestia their wasn’t much chance of that . As night drew near the meats were well dried . Eddy was so impressed with the fur he tried rubbing ash into the meats , after all the ash done so well on the hide , it hardly needed to be softened , “another day tanning and it will be ready “

he had though that it will take several days to prepare . After gathering kenneling for the fire , securing the meats and giving the fur one last go over he squat peering out of the small opening of the shelter his eyes wondered to the scratches left from the beast , its is as if they had healed , he pulled out a damaged pair of glasses he found with one good lens . it was a tri focal so he thought to keep it to start fires with , he used it to take a good look at the scratches while the light was still in his favor . Then rescratched the surface before closing the door for the night.

New things

34

Morning came and brought with it feeding time . Eddy cuddles Hestia and feed her the last of the blood and beds her down knowing he only had a few hours before he will be back on the menu . He heads out to hunt for a better substitute and taking time to better barricade the door .

After almost an hour and half Eddy finds what he hopes is the answer to his prayer but only one problem . It hasn’t rained for days and he used the last of his water to bathe the child . None the less it was a good find for him and her . A stock of dried goods , milk , potato , beans, noodles and ton’s of already pooped pop -corn that protected the goods . Eddy prowls around for something large enough to keep him from making the trip to soon ,knowing that every time he leaves it puts Hestia in grave danger

Though no sign of dog or rodent . If a wolf can survive why not a rat , with that thought he got a chill , thinking if a dog could get so fearsum a simple rat could too. And be big enough to get in the hut . That thought pushed him on harder to get back to the little one as fast as he could . He reached the dwelling out of breath . With his hands trembling he riped the barricade open . Thinking she should be crying by now to feed , he rushed in to her to find she was sound asleep .

Eddy had to reassure himself by waking her and holding her . She pitched a fit of course , but this time Eddy was glad to hear her screams and was happy to give up his body’s life syrup to calm her . She didn’t seem to want to feed at first but soon gave in to the hunger and returned to her hibernation . Eddy covered his wound and headed outside he then thought to take a look at the scratch he placed that night. ‘As he thought it was nearly healed ‘.“Its alive he whispered ” as he looked around at the world with a new prospective .He then took off his bandage and rubbed the wound with the black then tended to his pelt still tanning in the mid day sun .

“Its done I do believe ” as he took it from its mount and began softening it more , he used the trimmings of it to make string and began the task of a bed for Hestia . After several feedings and painstaking attention to the craft he partook the bed was done .The ribs came together almost as though it was made for just that purpose . Eddy finished just in time for Hestia’s next withdraw . But he noticed something , this time she was taking it much better . he thought “ Maby it is the ash ” he licked the wound , it was not disagreeable at all ,.

land of milk and honey

35

Eddy then tried the meat he had rubbed with ash . “Not bad he thought “, he then tried the meat that was not rubbed It was as if a light came on in his head .’ Not as good and I bet it wont last as long either. ‘

Eddy began experimenting with the ash he found that the ash that got less sun was almost sweet and moist so he began collecting it and using the skull of the beast to extract the liquid from the living ash that was more becoming of a black moss . Soon he had enough to fill his water bottle and just in time for feeding . He made up some in the powdered milk and tried it for him self .” Not bad ” he thought “ but will she accept it ”, “well only one way to find out ” by now Hestia was in fits and none to patient for her meal . She took to the black liquid like a deer to a stream . Eddy screamed for joy within his own head as his heart nearly exploded with joy . Eddy had a new task , collecting the liquid and containing it .

Eddy spent every second foraging the black moss , always keeping the hut in sight and always closed tight . In a full days work Eddy had filled every container he could find and having to use more of the pelt to make tops for them , but he saw it as a good sacrifice . As Eddy and Hestia drank the black liquid with it’s sweet taste that seemed to get sweeter as it fermented like a wine . Eddy began to feel better , stronger and he could see that Hestia was felling it too , the milk he had found was almost useless taking to much of the liquid to prepare . Eddy looked to the sky and said “ WE are ready when you are ! ”

It has been over three weeks since the beast came knocking at the door and no sign of any living animal since . Eddy was ready for another one to come calling , but in his heart he knew that wasn’t going to happen , the last one was probably cast out of the pack , maby sick , or just ran off by the dominate male .

Eddy couldn’t wait for another to be cast out , he had to throw out most of the meat that hadn’t been treated with the ash and was nearly out of the best stock he had prepared . Witch wasn’t nearly a quarter of the meat so his new task was clear

“it’s time to go hunting ”

Now that Hestia has a new food source Eddy is free to begin preparing for the hunt . He heads out now knowing how long and how far he can go and still make it back in time to feed Hestia. Eddy begins searching for the pack of beast , 3 days and not a clue to their whereabouts but he dose find a better home for Hestia and spends his time getting it ready .

Safe at home

36

After Eddy has relocated all of the supplies he returns for Hestia , they both feed then he heads out to their new den . It is a concrete safe in a bank . The door was closed but not locked , so its contents wear untouched , tho not of much use now other than a soft bed to lye on , but the vault itself will be much safer just in case their are any rodents looking for a fresh meal.

Eddy’s hunt continues without the thoughts of Hestia becoming a snack for something hungrier than she . 2 days and still nothing till Eddy sees something . its not the beast , it’s small , very small , but fast , he moves in for a better look , knowing his time is up he sits and waits . Soon out pops a head its a salamander but much larger ,harmless as a small creature . Eddy not willing to take the chance . He sits motionless , the large newt pops its head out again . Eddy reaches down with his big knife and waits for it to stick it’s beady eyed head out for it’s last time . With a quick drop of the blade he catches it . Luckily not cutting its head of as he intended . It jumps around for quite a while before dying .

Eddy still not wanting to find out if it has teeth uses an empty sack and his blade to load the odd creature then heads back to Hestia . Eddy finds Hestia sound asleep . He places his hand on the tiny chest to make sure then sits in the corner to get a better look at a possible meal . Eddy carefully examines his find it has no teeth but a very odd tung , not dangerous , but odd . He then guts the creature hoping to see what it eats , No bugs or worms , just the mossy ash that has been keeping them both alive . He notices that the tail has nearly fallen off and thinks ‘ that it , like most salamanders , when in danger drop their tail as a meal for their predator in exchange for their life , and in its tail it stores nutrition for lean times ‘, With this thought Eddy takes a small nibble thinking ‘now is not a good time to find out that it is poisonous’ he rubs it on his lips . They don’t go numb so he puts some in his mouth and waits . Hestia wakes for her meal and Eddy realizes that she needs to feed less with this black liquid . He picks Hestia up , she smiles , eyes wide open “Well little one since we are going to be living off this for a while I think we should name it” , “you have any suggestions ?” Hestia makes a noise and Eddy says “I think that Is a fine name as well {{{”Akta”}}} it will be . Eddy feed Hestia till she falls asleep and he soon fallows.

New neighbors

37

Eddy woke remembering the newt tail . Thinking he had no side affects went ahead and ate the remainder washing it down with the newly claimed Akta. He leaned back closed his eyes for a moment . Awaken by the blood curdling screaming of Hestia . Eddy reaches for her but can barley move . The room starts to spin . Eddy closes his eyes and tries to focus on the child’s screaming . He raises up checks her out thinking maby she was bit. Finding nothing he picks her up trying to give some comfort but it is useless. “Com on baby whats wrong ? You cant be hungry you just ate! ” He checks to see if she is in need of cleaning then tries to feed her . She takes it and eats more than usual , then goes to sleep . Eddy’s head starting to clear now , he puts her back into her bed and crawls to the door .

It is night , almost morning , he can see the night fading to the horizon . Confused he closes the door then lays back down as darkness consumes him . Waking again to Hestia’s cry but with a much clearer head he takes her feeds and cleans her well . Remembering the small piece of the newts tail he ate before his nap then the rest of it before sleeping through a feeding . Eddy felt bad that Hestia must have cried for more than an hour before waking him .

Eddy’s head was still cloudy so he took Hestia outside and stayed close to the vault for the remainder of the day. A beautiful day and it looks promising of rain so Eddy sets out his collector that he had been working on and finishes it . Hestia making happy noises as tho singing to the clouds that build over head . Eddy climbed to the top of the vault that he had cleared off and began chipping away at the hard stone top hoping to provide some fresh air when the bulky door is closed . Eddy looks to the sky thinking it is a perfect day for his task then looks down to Hestia and smiles at her contentment .

After a well spent day Eddy had finally broke through the top and placed a large and hefty metal plate over it hoping that nothing dangerous will be small enough to fit through the pattern of holes in it . After a well earned meal for Hestia and himself Eddy returned to the roof as she slept . Covering the hole to prevent water from ruining their happy dwelling , turned out to be more difficult than he had thought , by the time he finished night was upon him but still no rain .

Eddy woke early , before the sun had crested he wanted to get an early start on a vent hole in the side of the vault . His banging didn’t stir Hestia a bit she slept peacefully till well after the sun was up .

Song of life

38

when Hestia woke she was grumpy and very demanding starting with a feast then a bath and fresh bedding . Eddy was ruining out of clean material so he made use of the papers in the file boxes . After another feeding Hestia was ready to nap again and. Eddy was ready to finish the hole in the wall . The hole was high on the wall but necessary. Eddy knew that when the rain did come it will bring with it winter , he already had a stove he only needed to hall it to the vault . By the end of the day the hole was finished and so was he . Tomorrow he could fetch the stove and collect wood and that in its self is a chore .

Eddy put away his hunger for three weeks and was felling it hard now but all his choirs were done he had a water collector for the rain and installed the stove as well as a hearty supply of wood but most importantly a better way to extract the Akta that Hestia demanded so often .

Now it is time to find the pack .

Eddy picked up were he left off . The newts now were every where .

They scatter as Eddy approaches . He finds the remains of a withered up body that looks like the one that now clothed Hestia . Eddy makes quick with the hide and thanks the creatures with a name “Qiqirn” and heads back to Hestia . Hestia , still sweet in her slumber , Eddy mounts the hide cleans and treats it to a healthy coat of ash before he is called on by the hungry beast within the vault . Hestia with a full belly and exhausted from play and song returns to her place wear dreams are ample .

Eddy heads out again.

Back at the remains of the owner of the hide now stretched to the sun . Eddy checks the grounds for any sign of tracks , but the Qiqirn with their mighty numbers has destroyed any ,even his own . Eddy journeys out in a spiral till he finds fresh tracks of the unfortunate beast . He stops surveys the land then makes another lap making sure to disturb the ground as he goes .

Eddy returns to the tracks that marked his starting point then follows them as far as time will allow him before he must return . The next few days was spent running to catch up. Eddy tired and frustrated decided Hestia will be easier to tend if he took her with him .

The new pelt came in handy for a back pack to carry Hestia and her daily needs . The load was heavy but easier than running to make up time , but placing her at great risk. Hestia took to the trip well , even though the terrain was rugged it woke her seldom .

Territory

39

Three days out Eddy and Hestia made good ground and even better luck . Eddy found the beasts territory and a safe place to keep an eye on them. Eddy watched the great beasts and was over whelmed at their numbers , size, speed, and color .

Eddy feeds Hestia and asks her what she thinks about their situation .

” They out number us kiddo , so I don’t think it will be wise to bother them on their own turf what do you think”

Hestia response cheerful and sweet but it didn’t help much .

So Eddy says “Lets sleep on it ! OK! “.

After Hestia’s breakfast Eddy decided to create some distance between them and the beasts .

Eddy gains distance then turns Hestia to his front she is awake now but more interested in singing than eating .

Eddy;;;; “So ! you have any ideas ?”

Hestia makes a noise and smiles.

Eddy;;;;; “Oh! really! Are you sure about that?”

Hestia repeats the noise.

Eddy ;;;;” OK! If you say its so , then so it is. ” Eddy holds out his arms looks to the sky and raises his voice ” Hear this ! Goddess Hestia has spoken ! The mighty beasts from this day forth will be know from shore to shore as ‘Bagat’s ‘ “

Hestia laughs with a squeal and buries her head in Eddy’s chest .

They soon reach a structure Eddy decides to stop , feed Hestia and give her a rest .

As Hestia sleeps eddy places her in an opening that could have been a vent at one time then goes to check out the building.

The structure is five story’s high shaped like a cylinder with a large stone statue in a courtyard . Eddy thinks it must have been a small hospital or some nursing care unit as he takes inventory in the rooms making his way to the top looking around .

Eddy busy’s himself as he drags debris to the inner openings barricading them on both the first and second floor leaving only one opening . Interrupted with feeding time Eddy tends to Hestia then takes her to the top floor and barricades the two openings between the second and third floor . Eddy climes down the inner circle and builds a shelf over the last opening then piles debris on top of it and tying the rope that his friend had found him .

Sacrifice to the Gods

40

Eddy goes over to the statue in the middle of the opening tossing debris out of the way as he goes he looks up at the massive statue thinking it must have been some sort of fountain then climes it . The top is concave it must have been some sort of bird bath then realizes on his way down that it is a tree , a stone , fountain , tree he looks around .”I bet this was an aviary ” he wipes off his hands and continues to clean the area and checking the openings for loose spots .

Satisfied , Eddy climes up to the third floor were he had tied the rope then worked on making a solid place to hang the rope to slide easily . Feeding time once again Eddy satisfied with the barricades leaves Hestia in her slumber as he runs back toward sunset .

Morning comes and Eddy gets back in time for feeding , Hestia is in good spirits and full of songs . The day was spent safely atop of the building . Eddy made sure to get as much out of Hestia as he could blowing on her belly and tossing her around like a rag doll in the air . As it grew darker Eddy fed Hestia less and played more . Eddy pulls out a chunk of meat from his pocket and rubs it on Hestia’s lips and tong soon she falls asleep before her feeding time . Eddy climes down the rope and up the tree bird bath placing Hestia in the bowl atop and whispers to her .

“Sleep well my little goddess , dream little dreams , and have no fear , Phoenix is here , so sleep now , and in morning we will be near.”

Eddy prepared himself and took his stead on the windows ledge watching ,waiting ,wanting. The midnight sun hangs full in the sky . Eddy looks up at it he thinks to himself “It looks the same as it did before only closer ” Hestia starts to stir she has been asleep for over 6 hours now and has not had a full meal since morning and she is hungry now, hungry , cold and all alone .

Eddy watches her from his perch above , as his heart bleeds over what he has done but steadies himself , pushes it deep inside then stirs the pot . His heart speeds up but his hands are steady he waits . A noise ,it’s close and getting closer . Eddy looks down below him and counts one, two, three, for, five . He takes the tied rope and jumps taking it with him as the other end pulls away the shelves props bringing down the hefty load in front of the doorway . The bagats scatter to the opposite side with their tails tucked low behind them .

Arena

41

Eddy squatted with one fist on the ground and the other still clinging the rope he smiles and speaks in a low voice .

“The time has come !”

The bagats regroup and start to circle , the largest of them charges . Eddy steps forward pulling his sword nearly taking the beasts head off then stepping into the circle. He could smell the fear and surprise of the bagats as they closed in the circle , with the smallest at his back head hung low ,

Eddy turned slightly to the farthest one as he finished his low warning the smallest nipped at his heel .

Eddy yells out “TO DIE”

As the bagat in front of him lunged taking Eddy’s blade deep inside its gaping mouth . As the heel nipper lunged Eddy pulled his boi slicing its throat then setting it to flight into the side of the largest bagat lurking on the edge of Battle just before the last lunged bringing Eddy to the ground .

Eddy offered his right arm and the bagat accepted it . Eddy’s legs wrapped around the girth of the bagats chest locking his heels with a squeeze of his legs then wrapping his free arm around the neck of the mighty beast shoving his for arm deeper into its mouth. The bagat struggles for freedom stumbles and falls to its side . Eddy says calmly

“You want it , you got it”

With the ground to support the beasts head. Eddy shoves his arm even deeper . As the beast gages Eddy grabs its bottom jaw yanking down with it and shoving up with his arm dislocating its jaw with a crunch and a yelp . The beast kicked wildly. Eddy tightened his grip of the mighty chest squeezing with all he could then grabbed it’s throat stealing its cry of pain . Eddy checks the room , his sword is closest but buried deep in the bagat’s throat . Never letting his grip lessen he drags the struggling beast to the Bagat holding Eddy’s boi . He reclaims it , and sets the wide crooked blade to the Bagat’s throat using his own weight Eddy runs the blade into the beasts last twitch , then falls aside . Eddy’s legs still locked but loose now . He waits for his heart to slow as he gazes at the moon overhead .

The sound of Hestia starts to enter his senses . Trying to get up Eddy’s arms feel like lead and his legs like jelly . He makes his way to the tree then up it . The top is large enough for him to lye down with his legs hanging from the knee . Eddy calls to Hestia some comforting words she looks up with tear stained eyes and rosy cheeks. Eddy begins to feed her , he makes due till she falls asleep satisfied with her stomach.

After life

42

Eddy soon joins her in the dark place.

Eddy wakes to Hestia’s singing , the sun is up , but they are still in the shadow of the building that is now an arena , with the victors perched safe atop of their Buelt.

A figure catches Eddy’s eye . Another bagat , as it looks down at it’s fallen comrades , it stands silent for a moment then looks directly at Eddy , he could feel the beasts green glowing eyes burn through his sole . He could hear its massive paws as they hit the ground running.

Eddy looks over Hestia , she smiles and kicks wildly then pushes her tiny fists into her mouth.

Eddy;;;;”Well good morning my goddess ! what would you like for breakfast this morning.”she smiles and kicks more.

Eddy takes out the bone spoon fills the hallow of it and feed Hestia her fill and a little for himself , filling his mouth , closing his eyes , savoring the sweet taste and thick texture on his tongue . Hestia , busy with her song staring into the sky , Eddy climes down the statue thinking “I still have a few hours before the shade is gone”.

Eddy begins to gut the bagats , then takes out some leather straps from his jacket pocket , taking notice of his right arm , torn to rib-ins .

He then ties the hind legs of the beasts and drags them to the rope by the rubble , he lines them up largest to smallest . He ties them to the rope and halls them to the third floor just in time to get Hestia out of the sun . Hestia slept soundly as Eddy relocated her to a higher and safer ground. Eddy takes her to the fifth floor and leaves her to slumber as he rids the carcasses of their hide lying it out of the way then parting the beasts and hauling them to the roof in smaller more manageable pieces , then returning for the hides placing them in the shade after a good douse of ash that he had stock piled for just the occasion . Eddy thought to make good use of the heads he took them and placed them one on each ledge facing into the arena then removing the rubble from the entry . On the roof Eddy began the task of slicing the meat from the bone , trimming it then tendering it with a stone and seasoning it with ash then lying it to dry in the sun on the ledge of the building .

By the time he was done the meat tray wrapped the entire inner circle and better than half the outer. Eddy cleaned up then went to check on Hestia she was lying in her basket singing and kicking. The sun now hung low enough to take the basket of songs to the roof while he mounted the hides .

Flead

43

Eddy worked through most of the night so the hides will tan evenly , he finished in time for the next feeding then bedded down .

With everything done Eddy and Hestia spent the day napping and singing to the clouds that showed hope of rain but promised nothing but shade . Yet enough light to dry the blessed meats .

Four days passed as Eddy tended to the meats and made sacks from the hides to haul it . Every day he was being watched , always one bagat standing vigilant atop of another building Awaiting its relief to come . Everyday like clock work , same ones , same order and the one that stood looking down on the dead always had the night watch . Eddy got a good look at the beast it was magnificent , even more so than the rest with its white hair flowing down from the ears into a point below the jaw , its glowing green eyes , broad chest and solid black almost shining coat . Eddy liked this one , and hoped he would not have to fight it but will not falter if it came to that ,he liked it so much he gave it a name and every night called it out to the beast .

“Barghest”.

Eddy readied his escape . His load was much heaver this time . He planed to flee early, just after Barghest shift was over , he surly didn’t want to tangle with that one , he could tell from its eyes it wanted him , badly . Besides Barghest’s relief wasn’t very good at his job and his shift was shorter . After a few more days of rest and planing Eddy got a brake . After barghest left the sky finely gave up its bounty and was very generous with it . Eddy took flight , just enough light to see were he was going and not enough to see what was behind him. He ran toward the path that the relief took and he was ready . Just as he got to the clearing the lazy bagat came blindly around the corner right into Eddy’s spear the beast never got out a whimper as the point pierced and went clean through . Eddy ran as hard and as fast as he could . Hestia wide awake never made a sound .

Eddy headed south he ran solid thought the day and night then headed west ,this led him right to the newts farm. Eddy ran around the radius and spiraled inward before heading toward home he didn’t stop till he had Hestia safe behind the vault door. Their they stayed for the next three days . Eddy had ran so hard for so long that he damaged his legs , they needed time to heal .

Home sweet home

44

Eddy was pleased to see that the rain top was working and that the collector was as well . He turned the top into the wind and fresh air rushed in to the vault . The fire kept them warm with the use of very little wood and the water collector provided them with plenty . The rain begins to fade by the fifth day . Eddy was glad he needed to stretch his legs they were much better and the newt tail came in handy when the cramps got to bad , It like the meat dried well and held its potential . Eddy was sure that the long rain covered his tracks and scent , but kept Hestia inside and only went out to collect the moss for her precious Akta and always in a different direction . Once a week Eddy paid a visit to the Qiqirn farm about every three weeks he found a bagat that had fallen for their trickery and removed there hides, never finding the remains of the last victim.

Hestia has grown quickly in the confinements of the vault , winter was mild mostly just rain , and Eddy made well of the dry goods and the stove . The water and food held up well ,they had plenty of fur and Akta but wood was nearly gone.

Eddy had picked clean the area having to venture out farther to find more. Hestia was not yet two but she looked more like fore she was walking ,talking and into mischief .

Her smile and song carried a sign of contentment but Eddy knew he had to get her out of their and as far away as he could . The dead bagats was proof that he was still on their hit list and wasn’t going to stop till they had their revenge .

Eddy thought of going to the family living in the old church but the idea of the bagats finding him their changed his mind . Hestia will never be safe so long as she is with him . Hestia was strong and smart and with spring coming their will be plenty of rain. Eddy packed up and abandoned the shelter that kept them safe for so long and headed north . Hestia was scared at first but soon got over that when Eddy started teaching her what he had learned about this new world , and never telling her about the old one .

Eddy started to relax having seen no sign of bagats at all . Discovering new creatures along the way . Eddy started keeping a ledger after he found the vault he drew everything that caught his eye and took notes on every new species giving them a name . In the old life he looked to the stars in wonder he knew all the stars by name and by legend so he learned of Greek mythology before he could ride a bike or even tie his shoe .

Serenity

45

But today the stars no longer shone bright for him he had a new star one that captivated him more than all the heavens ever did . It was the stars in Hestia’s eyes . There sparkle made Eddy’s heart glow .

Eddy and Hestia’s journey came to a halt as they stood on the edge of a body of water that left them both in Aw ! They fell in love with it and decided they had traveled long enough . As they looked over the water it sparkled like the the very stars above was forever trapped in the waters black serenity . Eddy found shelter but Hestia made him build one there

by the lake and that is were they spent most of their days and nights .

Eddy had found several new source of foods but Hestia was still partial

to the black sweet thick nectar she named before she knew what a name was .

Winter is here but it’s not cold and no snow the nights are bitter but passes as soon as the sun is up. Lots of rain mostly from midnight till six

or so .Hestia spends her days in play and song by the waters edge keeping her distance not to get to close . Eddy uses some of the old leather to fashion a Frisbee and a ball to keep Hestia occupied when Eddy has to go out by himself usually leaving Hestia behind because it is to far or just to dangerous the remains of the old world to Hestia is no more than dark and hallow places , with her fear of these places Eddy doesn’t have to worry about her straying off Eddy spends his nights drawing maps and taking notes . Hestia has learned well , her thirsty mind at the age of three is more like eight , her questions come to a surprise often and Eddy not knowing how to answer them without letting her know about the old world gets frustrated and Hestia is catching on to his reluctance , this just fuels her thirst . Hestia tho she fears dark holes has taken on the task of harvesting her precious Akta and knows when it is at its best she has also found that the ash comes in a variety and classifies 24 of them. Eddy has taught Hestia how to use them to experiment .

One leasurley day Hestia planed out the day full of picnicking by the water, games and story time by camp fire using one of her own findings . Hestia discovered that by packing the moss after she had squeezed it dry that it burned well with a bright blue hue . As Hestia slept by the fire under the night sky .

Eddy found little comfort as the full moon sat half of the horizon . He sat and began to sketch the magnificent sight . He went to have a drink from the dark waters and was startled by a ripple .

New acquaintance

46

Not having his blades he found himself at a disadvantage when out of the murky water came a creature about 7 feet long ,almost human like . Eddy picked up a stone that surrounded the fire lifted it high and just before he brought it down the creature cried out “ mercy , have mercy I mean you no harm ,nor your child ” Eddy took aim at the creatures head it looked at him then bowed its head

Eddy ;;;;;;;;” Your human ? “

Creature ;;;”Not any more ! “

Eddy;;;;;;;; ” Then what are you ?” As he raised the stone again .

Creature ;;;; ” I am something else , we all are .”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;; ” There is more of you ? “

Creature;;;; ” Yes ! A few ! We have been watching you , and the child , you are the first we have seen since it happened .”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;” you mean the burn .”

Creature ;;;;;”Yes ! If that is a good name ! “

Eddy ;;;;;;;;;;” Name ! What is you name ? ”

Creature;;;;;” It was Nancy , , but that was before , we no longer use names , we are a solitary creature now .

Eddy drops the stone ” why , now , why did you wait so long ?”

Nancy;;;;;;;; ” Fear ! ”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;;” Fear ! Of what ? “

Nancy;;;;;;;; ” Being killed with a stone ” then smiling , with teeth that now are two solid bones with small fine ridges.

Eddy;;;;;;;;;; ” Yes ! I understand I apologizes , it’s just ” he was cut short .

Nancy;;;;;;;;;” It’s OK ! I understand , it is dangerous in the water I can only imagine how it must be up there . I must return to the water now , or I will die .”

Eddy ;;;;;;;;;;” Ok ! , Will you be back ? “

Nancy;;;;;;;;;”Yes ! In a moment” Then drags herself back into the dark waters .

Eddy squats near the edge , looking into the blackness , that is home to such things , soon a face appears in place of his reflection , he pulls back startled .

Nancy ;;;;;;; ” Its only me ! Manny times I have watched you from here , many times I have watched you , and the little one play , many times , my heart wept .”

A gift

47

Eddy ;;;;;;;;; ” How ? “

Nancy;;;;;;;;;” When , it happened , those of us that were on the water , dove in , and here we have been since , and here we will stay .”

Eddy looks out over the waters his heart sank at her words , he looks back , this time he looks deep within her eyes and asks .

Eddy;;;,,,,;;;;” May I honor your kindness with a name ?”

Nancy;;;;;;;;;” If you wish ?”

“Thalassa” Eddy spoke softly with a smile , as she returned it saying “Are you Greek?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;;” No ! Why do you ask ?”

Thalassa;;; ” To know such a name ? do you know what it means ?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;” Yes ! I do it is the name of a goddess of the sea responsible for all life .” She sank back into the water without a word , never taking her eyes from Eddy’s.

Eddy heard a voice behind him .

Hestia;;;;;;;” Who are you talking to ?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;” No one ! No one ! He splashes the black water onto his face then looked at Hestia ” Are you hungry ?”

Hestia;;;;;;;” Very ! ” Then ran off to collect more Brigid for the fire .

As Eddy stared into the deep waters lost in his own thoughts Thalassa came up from its deep , in one hand she held remnants of the past world , a pole in one hand and four fish held together by what appeared to be some sort of weed that had been braided into a string in the other. She then pointed to a mass of ground stretching into the water and told Eddy to let Hestia fish from their only as she sank back into the water blowing bubbles and smiling .

Hestia returned saying ” Are you talking too no one again ?” Dropping the arm full of material on the ground beside the fire then picking up the long thin rod asking ” What is this ? Eddy laughed , ” After we eat I will teach you “

Hestia was non to thrilled to watch as Eddy gut the odd creatures but was fascinated with the smell of them as they cooked over the open flame .

She was reluctant to try it till Eddy began gobbling his , showing her how to remove the thin bones from them and telling her ” This is called a fish , it lives in the water .”

After their new meal Eddy took Hestia over to the jetting and explained to her that this is the only place she is to fish .

Aid

48

Eddy was not surprised in her wanting to know why , but ignored the question and continued showing her . He tied the string to the end of the thin pole dipping the other end into the water with its odd shaped bone fastened to it and telling her not to pull on it ,” just hold the pole and Waite till something pulls on the string .” To his surprise as he was showing her their was a splash below them causing him to flinch and Hestia to scream . Eddy laughed as he pulled the fish , dangling and flopping about , with the string in its mouth .

As time passed Eddy kept his secret from Hestia and began to teach her to swim . This will give her something to bide her time during his long trips away and Eddy could feel safe knowing that Hestia will have such a wonderful babysitter .

With Eddy gone and Hestia minding the homestead she was busy at song and play with her full attention on her ball as she tosses it to the sky .

She had no mind to the figure in the distance as it drew closer , till her fun came to an end , with a growl that stopped her very heart , she sees the creature as it slowly approached , with its sharp , thin , but long teeth , showing , its green eyes glowing , with its head hung low .

Another sound crept into her fear , It seemed to take the very motion from her body , but it was a voice “Child ! Over here ! Quickly into the water ! HESTIA ! You must hurry !” Hestia , forced her gaze away from the beast , as it to looked toward the water “Come Hestia it is safe , your father knows me ! RUN CHILD NOW ! Hestia ran and dove into the water , with the beast right behind her , they both were consumed by the cold dark waters .

Hestia feels something on her arm , she struggles against the pull as she comes up from the depths gasping for air . In front of her she sees the beast struggling , then a figure arose grabbing the mighty beast , and then another one , as the beast and the strange water creatures were swallowed up by the darkness that surrounds , she turns to acknowledge the grip on her and begins to kick away from it , as another comes up from the area were the beast once was but now only bubbles exist . The two creatures grabbed Hestia and pulled her kicking and screaming , as she was thrown out of the water onto the safe ground , she scrambles away from the waters edge , then being reminded of the reason that drew her into the water , as it’s body was tossed at her feet .

Leap of Faith

49

She then looks around to make sure that their is no more there , then runs off back to the safety of the den , barricading the door behind her then curling up into the corner crying and trembling .

Eddy returns to the water knowing that Hestia will be there with her songs filling the air , but instead he was horrified at the still wet life less remains of the bagat beside the water . Eddy called out , looked around frantically , as Thalassa arose ” Eddy ! She is safe ! She ran off ” pointing her elongated webbed fingers toward the shelter . Eddy ran as fast as he could , his heart racing , as he approached the door , banging on it , he hears Hestia’s screams within it . Eddy cried out ” Hestia ! Its me open up !” Hestia soon opens the door and leaps into his arms full of tears .

For the next few days Hestia refused to go out and would go into trembling fits at the slightest noise but soon felt secure enough to let Eddy out of her sight .

Eddy not knowing how to help Hestia get over her experience went to see Thalassa.

As Eddy neared the waters Thalassa was their waiting for him.

Thalassa;;;;;”How is she ?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;;” She is fine ! No ! She is not ! She is terrified she wont even come out of the shelter.”

Thalassa;;;;;” Eddy ! Why do you refer to it as shelter ? Why not home ?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;;” It is not a home ,home is were the heart is ! “

Thalassa;;;;;”Funny ! I thought that you big strong men found home were ever you could hang your hat !”

Eddy laughed as he took off his hat and put it on Thalassa’s head , it fell down over her eyes .Thalassa laughed as she slowly sank into the water coming back up just behind the now floating hat lifting it back up onto Eddy’s head ” “That was meant as a metaphor !”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;” Yea ! I know ! but I was never much good at reading between the lines.”

Thalassa;;;;;” She is a child , but not just a child ,you know this “.

Eddy ;;;;;;” Yea ! I do !”

Thalassa;;;;;” Yes ! But does she know ?”

Eddy stands looks over the water ” And to think I came to you for advice .” Smiled at her and with a wink she sank back into the murky water.

Eddy takes his time getting back to the shelter thinking of what Thalassa said .

Haunted past

50

As he reached the door he heard a sound from inside , It was Hestia ,she was singing , the song stopped when Eddy knocked at the door .

Hestia opens it slowly , peeking out then opening it full .

Eddy;;;;; “Hestia we need to talk .”

Hestia pulls him in and closes the door then locking it and testing it . Eddy takes her by the hand leads her over to the table they both sit as Hestia pours them both a drink.

Eddy gets up picks up a mirror he looks into it , for the first time since it happened ,then stands behind Hestia and tells her to take a good look at herself then turns it to him and tells her to take a good look at him . Hestia starts to cry then turns to hold Eddy ,he stops her , “NO Hestia ” He grabs her shoulder and demanded her to look at him ,she looks as her eyes travel down to his hands she puts hers on his and asked .

” What is wrong with me ?”

Eddy;;;;;;”OH ! Baby ! Is that what you think ? That their is something wrong with you ?”

Hestia;;;;With a sob ” Yes !”

Eddy sits down takes a drink and begins to tell her about everything , she sits quietly and listens . starting with his job and the day the world burned.

Hestia ;;;;;” Was she my mother?”

Eddy;;;;;;; “I wish ! but no!” Then he tells her the rest.

Early the next morning Hestia woke Eddy .

“I’m ready now! ” Eddy rubs her cheek “Me to !”

At the waters edge Hestia sitting on Eddy’s lap with the pole and its odd bone in the water and Wait’s . Thalassa sprang up from the water looking into Hestia’s eyes and holding her hands out to her as she falls back into the water . Soon Hestia sees another , then another , then the entire lake was splashing about with the creatures calling out there welcomes to Hestia and beckoning her to join them . Hestia looked to Eddy he nods his head to one side then picking her up and jumping in to the dark cool waters now springing with life .The creatures that had no names soon remembered theirs , all but one ‘Thalassa’ she had forgotten her old name forever .

To survive

52

“Just think of the birth of the world itself and of all life in it , the very chemistry of life in everything ; humans ,animals ,plants even the smallest organisms .

Breathing, growing, killing, surviving , reproducing and even dying.

Those lives that sometimes threatens our own has driven man to learn more about life its self .

This is not something you should shield her from instead you should encourage her to embrace it .”

” only then can we survive .”

Eddy swam to the edge of the waters to remove some of his clothing , as he pulled of his jacket and threw it on the ground he stopped lost in thought .Thalassa swam up behind him with an embrace but felt his disturbance .

Thalassa;;;;” Eddy ! What is wrong ?” as she laid her hand on his shoulder .

Eddy looked at her hand then her face but the look startled Thalassa , as she quickly withdrew her hand .

Eddy;;;;”Which one of you moved the bagat ?” As he looked around .

Thalassa;;;;” NO ! Not us ! you—-” Her words stolen from her with the look in his eyes .”Eddy what is going on ?”

Eddy ;;; “Are you positive no one moved it ? maby ! without you knowing it ? ” As he looked around he noticed that the creatures were looking at him . Hestia noticed and began looking around at the heads of her new friends bobbing up and down with the waves .

Thalassa;;;” Yes ! I am ! ” Then they both looked at the empty spot .

Eddy hopped up onto the embankment , taking off his boot and emptied it of the black waters , as the crowd resumed their games with Hestia .

Thalassa with one hand on Eddy’s knee asked ” That wasn’t the first one you have seen is it ? “

Eddy;;;” No ! No it is not ! Most of our things are made from their hides and the food we eat as well !”

Thalassa;;;;” Oh ! Eddy ! ‘as she turned her head in shame ‘ Do you not know ! To take a life is wrong .”

Eddy;;;” Yes ! Thalassa ! This I know ! And I also know that Hestia would have died if I hadn’t .” he began telling there story .

Thalassa;;;;” And now the mighty hunter is the prey .”

Goodbyes

52

Eddy;;;”Thalassa ! We must go now .”

Thalassa;;;;” Were will you go ! Maybe that was not one of them ! Maybe “

As Eddy showed Thalassa his wrist and said ” How do you think I fed her before ?”

Eddy;;;;” No ! I’m sure ! And if you saw the way that beast looked at me you would know too .”

Thalassa;;;” Forgive me , I shouldn’t have judged you so .”

Eddy;;;” No ! Thalassa It is I who needs forgiveness ! But that is something that no one here can give . We will go into the mountains , maby we can make it to the sea or die trying .”

Thalassa ;;;; Grabbing Eddy’s arm as he got up she whispers ” Maby their is another way !” She looked back , Eddy’s eyes fallowed to one creature , out of all , was looking back . He rose up half out of the water and down then rose up in front of Thalassa eye to eye , they remained then looking at Eddy then back to one another . Eddy noticed that the others had stopped playing again and was looking toward the couple . Hestia swam over and joined Eddy as they stared at them all silent and still in the water like a snapshot . Then down they all went slowly into the deep Eddy and Hestia looked to one another . Hestia;;;;” Freaky ! ”

As Eddy and Hestia dried off the couple arose again .

Thalassa;;;; ” Eddy , Hestia this is Captain Corgis .”

Corgis;;;;;” Just Corgis please I am no longer a Captain as you can see but yes I can help you . I have spent more time out of this place than any one .”

Eddy;;;;;” Out ! Any one ! what do you mean more time ?”

Thalassa;;;;;” Eddy ! Its still there .”

Eddy ;;;;;” What is !”

Corgis;;;;” The old world !”

As the old sea bird told his own tails of adventure , Eddy tried hard to not believe , but he did , and it all made since .

Eddy broke the news to Hestia but gave her a few days to spend with the mermaden and to give himself time to prepare for the trip .

Eddy was given something from the deep waters by one of the mermaden , that told him as it dries it becomes a thick > glue< that resist water , and supplied him with plenty .

It worked well in creating bottles using the hide and to treat the inside of their clothing so when it rained they could turn the fur in and keep warm and dry .

A new beginning

53

They also provided him with plenty of the braided weeds that in its thin constancy was actually stronger than the thicker rope that it now replaced and made for a good binding of the leather .

After several days longer than he had intended it was time to say good by to the gentle people of the black waters . As Eddy and Hestia left the mermaden took to their flight above the waters and descended into it with barley a ripple .

As their trip heads them East for three days then North till they reached a fence , chain link that spread farther than the eye could see and toward up to the sky . As they stood peering through it at the green land stretching out to homes , streets , and people going about their daily lives . Hestia tugs on Eddy’s fur coat that bore remnants of the thick black leather one he wore the last time he had seen such a sight .

Hestia;;;; ” What is it ? Is it safe ? How do we get there ?”

A child calls out from the distance ” Mom ! Their is some one out there ! ”

Woman;;;; ” Go ! Go get your Father ! NOW ! ” as she ran over to the fence , then stopping as she gets close enough to get a good look at the two standing motionless and silent ” OH ! LORD ! ” as she knelt in front of Hestia with her fingers griping the metal wire that separated .

She looks up to Eddy ” HOW ? ” As a truck full of men pulled up and the passengers jumped clear of it taking one look at Eddy then pointing their guns toward him . A sound arose from beneath Eddy’s coat , as Hestia grasped his leg .

One man “You just stand right their and don’t move a muscle .

The sound within his coat again not loud enough to be heard by the noise of the panicky men.

Woman ;;;;;” Dam-it Mikey what are they going to do you Jack Ass !” as she stood in front of Eddy ” They need our help and since your to IGNORANT to notice I will point it out for you ‘The fence’ ” , as she held up both hands to her right “Not to mention were they come from” she points to the wast land as she approaches the man “I doubt you could survive one night out their with your big guns and your friends”as she slapped the barrel to the side with one hand then punched him with the other in the stomach bringing him to his knees gasping for air ‘ “You fat worthless tub of shit ! Get the hell out of here ! All of you before I get really mad ” she then tells the grinning boy ” Go get doc . Then fetch Doug and tell them what is going on ” The boy turns his bike and heads off stopping to ask ” What about the sheriff ? ”

The other side

54

The angry woman ” For what ! Do you see any donuts in distress ! ” She then takes her position back in front of the little girl with her face showing the signs of their long journey ” Now don’t you fret none those men wont harm you .” she looks up to Eddy ” Either of you I promise ” then looks back at the men ” WELL ! ” she crosses her arms ” Go on now ! If we need something scared and defenseless shot I promise you will be the first ones we call ” she turned to Eddy with a smile then returned to her squat in front of Hestia ” So ! What is your name little one ?” Hestia burrow’s her face into the long thin soft fur . Eddy nudges her back encouraging her to answer the lady . Hestia answers with a shy almost whisper ” Hestia ! ”

The lady ” What a pretty name and what is your fathers name ?” Hestia returns to the comfort of the fur , the woman stands still griping the fence and looks to Eddy ” I am Jodie ! ” Eddy returns ” They call me Phoenix “

Jodie ;;;;” Phoenix Huh ! OK ! Mr. Phoenix you mind entertaining me with how the two of you got yourselves into this predicament “

Eddy stood silent as Hestia burrowed deeper into his coat .

Jodie;;;;” Alright then Mr. Phoenix and Miss. Hestia then we will just stand here and stare at one another till reinforcements get here .”

Soon Jodie was joined by two more vehicles , as the men exited their vehicles in a rush.

Jodie;;;;” Gentlemen I’d like you to meet Mr. Phoenix and Miss. Hestia “,”Mr. Phoenix , Miss. Hestia this is Doc. Holiday ! ‘no relation’ .” , ” And this is Doug our finest Mr. fix it .,Doug if you will ! lets see what can be done to get these two scarecrows out of the coop .

Doug ;;;;” I am going to have to go get some things .”

As Doug drives off a police cruiser with it’s lights and sirens blaring races toward the fence sliding to a halt .

Jodie;;;;;” It’s OK ! Every one can relax now ! The Calvary is here ” as the officer gets out of the car.

Officer;;;;” Thanks Jodie I am so glad you took the time to call me I’d be embarrassed to be the last one to know. “

Jodie ;;;;;” Now sheriff I’m sure that there is someone in town that is less clueless than you ,like ,maybe ,Fred , who is passed out at the park again “

Doc. turns away covering his mouth trying hard not to laugh out loud but not being successful at his task ” Howdy sheriff “

Sheriff;;;;;” Hello Doc. figures you’d be in on this too. “

New friends

55

Doc.;;;; ” Well ! I try to be where I am needed ” then bursts into laughter as Jodie quickly responds ” So ! exactly what brings you here Frank !” with a sarcastic tone .

sheriff casts the beam of his flashlight into Eddy’s eyes and asks ” You got some ID boy .

‘Jodie snaps ‘ “ Frank you illiterate sour sum –Doc. cuts in ” sheriff, think the interrogations can wait at least until he’s on this side of the fence .”

sheriff pulls at the fence ” Common little girl clime under .”

Jodie pushes the sheriff ” What the hell is wrong with you ?”‘ as she slaps his shoulder ‘ ” I swear momma must have dropped you on your head . “

Sheriff ;;; ” HAY ! I can arrest you for assaulting an officer of the law .” as he points to his badge .

Jodie;;; ” Boy ! you lay one hand on me and I “– Doc tries to cut in till Jodie pushes him against the fence then sticks her fist up to the sheriff ” I’ll send you home crying again with a bloody nose.” sheriff ducks holding up his arm as he reaches for his holster ” boy ! you pull that thing on me you dam well better shoot me dead .” Doc. grabs Jodie from behind holding on tight .

Telling the sheriff ” Frank ! Now you know I cant hold her long and you better be long gone ” sheriff jumps into his car and races off just as Doug is coming back .

Doug;;;;; ” Dam it I always miss the good parts .”

Doc. releases his grip then takes several steps back dodging Jodie’s swings .

Eddy walks to the fence watching the ruckus. ” Man I tell you ! One of these days Doc wont be around and she going to kill that Lil prick .” he looks at Eddy

” Well I got good news and bad .”

“The bad news is I can get you out , the good news is its going to take a while .” laughs as he takes out his tape and gets some measurements then returns to his truck ” Hay ! As soon as you get done flirting with her , will you move your car ? “

By now word had spread and most of the town was watching from a distance as Doug began cutting and welding at his trailer that sat on one side , his truck on the other and doc’s car in the front boxing in the area .

Greener Pastors

56

Doug ready to begin his assembly hand’s Eddy several bolts through the fence fallowed by some flat steal with holes drilled into it then a wrench . After drilling some holes for bolts into the concrete he stood up one side having Eddy run bolts through the steal on his side sandwiching the fence in between then the other side and the top followed by a weld . Doug was ready now to cut away the fence as the people watching drew closer . With the fence cut away . Eddy and Hestia came through , Doug stuck out his hand to Eddy . Eddy returned the gesture and complimented Doug on his work then asked if he could help .

Doug ;;;;” Yea ! That would be great no one will come near the fence so I usually fly solo but yea ! I could use some help with the door .”

Doug was busy rolling up his power cord and getting things out of the way when he heard a dragging sound he looked up Eddy had pulled the gait from the truck

holding one end up .

Doug;;;;’” On second thought maybe I will just help you !”

Eddy walked to the side of the gate and lifted it up right as the truck rose from it’s squatting position .

Doug;;;;” Then again maybe I will just watch .”

Eddy picked up the door and carried it to the opening setting it in , as Doug watched in Awe then shaking his head to clear his mind he grabbed a large hammer and pecked the gate into place and tacked it in .

Doug;;;;” Dam ! That thing had to weigh a ton it took 4 guys to load it “

Eddy wiped his hands together , picked up his bag then taking Hestia by the hand headed toward the Doc . , Jodie and the crowd that had grown around them .

The crowd was arguing about potential infection .

” not knowing what diseases the two stray mutts carry ” as one man argued ” put them back till we know for sure.”

Eddy;;;;” He’s right ! There should be a quarantine .” as he stopped about 20 feet from the bickering crowd and pointed out toward a large tree with a swing hanging from it’s lowest limb ” Over there ! With a fifty foot parameter . And by the way !” as Eddy released Hestia’s hand and walked up to the mutt man ” Refer to me as you will ” Eddy’s path to the man that he had singled out from the pack had parted way , he stops in front of the man looking him deep in his sickly brown eyes then raising his hand from behind his coat wielding his long thick bowed blade lying it to the well fed mans throat.

Quarantine

58

” But make no mistake ! you will show the utmost restraint when in the presence of Hestia ”

The fat mouthy man lost control of his body functions soaking himself . Eddy never took his eyes from the mans as he looked down at his wet pants with tears in his eyes .Eddy takes Hestia by the hand and continued out in to the distance . Their they sat as Eddy opened his bag to retrieved their cups and Akta , they sat quietly as they sipped there drinks and ate their meats . Now as the sun begins to set the crowd has thinned out and the air begins to chill .

Jodie comes over as Eddy strikes a fire , she squats beside the fire ” The tree is on some ones property , Doug is going over now to talk to her , I don’t see it as a problem she is a good lady .” Eddy offers her a portion of the meat , she took a larger bite then put the remainder in her shirt pocket and said ” Very good I’ll save the rest for latter ” as she reached into the fire curious about the blue flame , she withdrew her hand quickly ” Ouch ! That is really hot what is it ”

Hestia ;;;;;” Brigid ” she said with a smile behind her cup . Eddy grabs his blade as a sound from behind him as its fast clumsy pace drew near . It was Doug ‘ as he collapsed on the opposite side of the small fire from Jodie gasping for air

” She said its OK with her “

Jodie ;;;” did you tell her about the quarantine ?”

Doug;;;;” Yea ! she said its OK with her , she doesn’t go any where .”

his breath slowly rejoining its normal rhythm .”I will take you over , just let me catch my breath , the guys are setting up a tent right now they will let us know when they are done .” Hestia hands Doug her cup “Thanks!” he takes it and drinks it down in a gulp then drops to his back .

Doug;;;;;”Hay ! that’s really good stuff .” as he hands Hestia back the cup , she giggles as Eddy fills it again .

Soon a whistle comes from the direction of the tree and Eddy puts the cups and meats back into the bag , he stands and offers Doug his hand .

Jodie:::” Well ! I got mouths to feed .” as she gets up and heads the opposite direction . They reached the tree and its grounds now lit up by the extra large light by the door stoup and a woman standing at the bottom .

Eddy takes off his bag and sets it on the table , It falls through in the middle . The woman laughs ” Having problems their big guy ” she reaches in the door pulling out a set of keys then heads off to a shed “Just throw that against the house out of the way and give me a hand. “

Safety

58

She opens the lock then the door and soon the light after a missed attempt of the switch . She removes the items from top of a much smaller but sturdy and very nice work bench then wipes it off and slaps the middle .” This should do nicely

She turned to see Eddy. He was tracing the curve of a sickle that hung on the wall “Men !” she responded under her breath “Well ! you gonna help me or do I have to drag this thing out their myself. ” She then began dragging the table out the door pushing Eddy on out , she stumbled , Eddy caught her fall . As she rests their in his arms looking up into his blank emotionless face . ” Thank you !” He stood her up then took the table high above his head carrying it to the tree ” Men !” The table was much smaller so Eddy sat his bag on one of the chairs and it fell through , Hestia laughed loudly . The woman ” Men !” As she shook her head , then went into the house . Soon returning with two chairs dropping the first out the door .

Eddy went to her aid taking the second as he helped her down then carrying the two chairs to the table . ” Men !” As she passed walking toward Hestia sitting by the tree , handing her a small Doll with long blond hair . Hestia took it and began running the length of the hair between her fingers . Eddy sat the chairs down at the table then picked up his bag from the broken down chair . He hesitated before setting his bag on to the new chair “Men!” He opened the bag and began taking items from it .

Woman;;;;” Hestia my name is Alexa .” She grabs the rope hanging from the tree . ” Do you know what this is ?” Hestia looked at the swing .” It’s for cleaning —- .”Eddy cut her off “Hestia” then nodded his head .

Alexa;;;;” Com on I will show you .” Sticking out her hand then helping her onto the wooden seat .”Now hold on like this .” She pulls back the swing and lets go . Hestia falls from the seat . Eddy picks her up and sits her back onto it .

” When you go forward hold tight and lean back .” Holding his hand on her back as she leaned back . when you go back lean forward and tuck in your legs .” His hands pushing her legs under her . “Watch the ground so you don’t kick it and when you want to stop do the same thing opposite . OK?” Hestia nodded then Eddy gave her a small push and goes back to the table . Eddy stops at the tent , he looks inside , the door with it’s thick canvas flaps tied back . He feels the material between his fingers then takes off his hat hanging it on the top . “Men !” Eddy returns to his bag as Alexa takes a seat in the odd chair watching as Eddy pulled out the contents from the bag each one in its own bag .

For the occasion

59

Eddy pulled out two cup from its fur lining he then opened another and poured some of the black liquid into one and motioned for Alexa to drink , she nodded her head . Eddy filled the second cup and filled his mouth closing his eyes a moment then swallowing . Eddy looks at Alexa she then picked up the cup smelling of it first then taking a sip , tasting it on her lips before taking it all . She held it in her mouth as Eddy had done then swallowed . ” That is very good ! What is it ?” Hestia takes a seat at the table as Eddy fills her glass .” Akta ” She said as she filled her mouth .

Eddy opened another sack and pulled out the meat handing Alexa one then biting a piece off from another then passing Hestia several pieces . Alexa now more secure with her squatters from the wasteland in view of the large window facing the south .

Eddy unties the top of his bag handing it to Alexa . She examines the top and it’s detail in the hand work , the shaping of the bones that were the ribs of the Bagat from his first kill in either world . The way it was bound with leather through the spine , cracks shown of a luster almost as though it was lacquered . The leather cut and sewn into a bowl shape that filled the ribs . The top half way covered by the chest bone , it was a thick yellow beyond the shade of gold added to a blue haze , the open area was wrapped with fine fur that came from the ears and the bridge of the nose and muzzle , covered with more ribs creating a cage .
Eddy unties the two parts and opening them from midpoint hinging to the right , Eddy pulls out some items . Eddy opens another bag and pulls out a dried bone then filling it’s hallow with the black drink , holds it to his mouth and drinks then handed it to Alexa . She took it and done the same ,waiting , swallowing . As a warm breeze flows in from accost the ruined plains . Lost in her own minds eye , when she opened her eyes , Hestia is back to her swing , doll and songs . Eddy was standing now at the chair untying a wrap of fur tossing it out on the ground .

Alexa thought it looked like a sleeping bag as she watched Hestia lost in her own thoughts .

Alexa;;;;;;;;” What is that she is singing ?”

Eddy;;;;;;;;;;” I don’t know ” ” I think only she and the gods know. “

Alexa;;;;;;;;” you are welcome ” Hestia’s song pulled Alexa’s thoughts else where .

Eddy;;;;;;;” For ,,,,,?”

Mutt Man

60

Alexa;;;;” Oh ! Um ! Yea ! the ,, the um ,,,, bathroom it’s to the left just inside the door your welcome to it , toilet , bath what ever and Um would you two like something to eat or ;;;;drink .her voice shallows.

Eddy,,,,,,” No ! We are fine and I hope we have not put you in any inconvenience .”

Alexa excuses herself ” Good night ! The door is open should you need the necessity’s and food . Please your my guests theirs not much room but your welcome to the floor if needed .”

Eddy prepares for a fire digging a small hole and carefully placing the dirt from it inside of a pouch he had emptied and returning it to its rightful spot inside of the larger bag that has grown much smaller and lighter .

Eddy removes his coat from over his head spreading it out on the ground and placing his sword , Boi and other items of his own making along with a few tools : a small pick hammer , adjustable wrench , vice grips , and belt holding them as it supported itself over Eddy’s shoulders the sward sheath hung from a pivot shortly off of balance .

Hestia came and placed her coat on top then folded the larger coat over keeping in view the handles of the large bowed knife and the sword before returning to her doll awaiting her on the thick wooden seat . Their she remained till bed time .

Dawn now long gone as Eddy sits facing east squat between Hestia and the opening of his coat . Alexa watches from the kitchen window . She jumps startled by the whistling from a pot for coffee . She pours two and goes out to Eddy she stands in front to one side of his view and sits holding out one cup and saying

” Good morning have you been here all night .

Eddy takes the cup with his hands wrapping it as he blows at the steam then inhaling it’s aroma .

Before Hestia woke the doctor , sheriff and the mutt man came into the back yard fallowed by several well armed men all aimed at Eddy .

Alexa Stands and approaches the men as they push by her ” Wat do you think your doing ! This is my property so unless ——-”

The mutt man points to Eddy ” The moment you agreed to let them stay here this is as of now state property .”

Eddy reaches for his sword leaps to his feet .

Hestia wakes ” STOP IT ! “

Bad Company

61

Eddy calms as Doc. approached pushing barrels aside ” Now Eddy if you don’t let them have your weapons they will kill you most of these guys have been drinking all night and I for one don’t want this to go badly in front of Hestia . Eddy looks to Hestia her face in tears . Eddy lowers his weapon and hands it to Doc .The other men rush over and begin to go through Eddy’s bag and clothes dropping and strewing things on the table and ground .

Alexa;;;;;;” Now that’s just rude pick that up , don’t you dare brake anything , You , I saw that put it back as the man withdrew a stone on a chain . Alexa snatched it from his hand then lost it to the mutt man saying ” I’ll take care of this .” he held the chain looking at the stone ” Very nice and where did you steal this from ?” Alexa grabbed for it but the man was ready .” I bet he stole the girl as well .” he steps toward Hestia Eddy grabs his arm and places a pocket knife to the chubby neck of the man pressing just enough to make him bleed.

” The next one that tries to go near her will be the last one to die .” ,” Who are you fat man to dare touch her ?”

Mutt man;;;;;”l” I,,,,I am the mayor Dick Randall .”

The smell of his urine reached Eddy’s nose , he pushed the fat man to the ground “Pathetic parasite .”,” Any one else care to try ? I promise you the damage I can and will do to this town will out weigh the damage you can do to me .”

He throws the knife in the ground between the mayors pee soaked shoes . Eddy turns and meets the sheriffs eyes ,he gulps hard as the gun in his hand trembles with the safety still on . Eddy takes Hestia’s hand leads her to the table just past the men she takes her seat as Eddy picks up his things he notices the bag with cups beside one mans foot with one glass out broken on the ground . Eddy picks the bottom piece up in one hand and the case in the other stands up looking at the jagged remains in his hand he then shoves the glass into the mans chest just above the nipple . Eddy could fell the glass as it struck bone before the man flew on his back sliding to a stop .

Eddy paying no mind to the nervous triggers trained on him as he sat down filling the one cup for Hestia along with some meats . As he put the items back where they belonged .

The mayor yells ” Shoot that bastard he tried to kill me you are all witnesses .

Mutts

62

Eddy stopped turned and looked at him deep into his eyes just before Alexa punched the man in the jaw sending him into the tent . All the men laughed as she stood over him pointing her finger at him .

” Lets get one thing very clear you will ‘not’ push me aside you will ‘not’ come on to my property pushing someone else around and you sure as ‘hell’ will be spending the next few weeks in the dark you fat lazy bastard now get up and get the hell off my land NOW!”

The men laughed as they began walking away holding there arms up in submission as two helped the mayor up . Alexa looking at the sheriff as he smiled watching the men leave.

” And just what the hell are you smiling at are you so stupid that you cant tell when you have outstayed your welcome ?” She stood stamping her foot and a finger pointing to the road . As the sheriff left around the corner Doug was on his way back . looking over his shoulder as he approached the camp ” Man ! I have the worse timing of any one ” he shakes his head with a wide smile sticking out his hand to Eddy saying . ” Good morning Alexa .”as he hands her a bag . Alexa opens the bag and looks inside ” Did you find Everything ?”

Doug;;;;;” Yea ! I think I did ”

Doc.;;;;” I hate to break this up but Eddy is it OK with you if I send some people out to take some samples from you and Hestia just a few pricks “as he began to laugh ” Oh ! I’m sorry that was not called for ”

Eddy ;;;;” OK ! ”

Doc. ;;;” Great they are on there way ! till then may I have a word with you .” as he lifted his hand to the open grounds .

Eddy;;;” I will tell you what I can .”

Doc;;;;” Just details !, The girl ?

Eddy;;;;;;;” She was born after ! I knew her mother .”

Doc ;;;” Are you ?”

Eddy ;;;;” No ! ” Then telling Doc how he had found the girl . Making sure to be vague on certain details .

Doc.;;;;” So what is it like ,out their ?”

Eddy ::::” I have some papers that will answer most of your questions .”

Doc.;;;;;” Rubs his jaw ” U mm ! Eddy I’m not the smartest man in town but I am not the dumbest . But it seems to me that the two of you are healthy . So it makes me wounder what is it out there that caused you to come to us .

Gathering

64

“HUM maybe your running from someone or something “. Eddy tells the doc about the bagat on their way back to the camp then hands him some papers inside of a leather folder .

“I think you will find this very interesting .”

A call from the front of the house ” DOC ARE YOU HEAR ?”

Doc.;;;;” OUT BACK !” as he headed around with the folder in hand . Eddy picks out a bag and offers it to doc as he directs his nurses to the child on the swing .

Eddy;;;;” Doc. can you have some things checked out for radiation and what ever .”

Doc ;;;;”Sure like what ?”

Eddy opens the small sack showing its items a ring with a rather large diamond ,some coins ,a piece of glass ,a ball of the dried moss and a lock of his and Hestia’s hair .

Doc.” takes the bag ” Yea I think I can take Care of it for you ,thanks ”

Eddy returned to the camp and waited his turn.

Doug ;;;;” Eddy I hate to bother you ” he chuckled as the nurse drew blood from Eddy’s arm. ” but um I just wanted to see, if you wasn’t busy tonight, well maby we could have a few drinks, that is if Hestia will be Ok without you. ”

Eddy looks to Hestia then around at the open grounds between her and them” Be glad to ” pointing out across the plush green carpet and the massive fence standing guard in the distance .

Doug;;;;;” Great ! After sundown then !”

After the nurses had gone and the tension fades Hestia that had refused to leave the swing is now back to her songs and play . Swinging well now and the small doll with its arms holding on at the top of Hestia’s leather hide scraped clean of its hair then adorned with odd pieces depicting a story of her life .The large legs looked to more than a skirt, as she squats it stands creating a tent covering her with color that blends into the landscape and shelter . Eddy his was more noticeable with the black and white long fine fur ending just beyond the knee in its tapered untrimmed edges . The coat more like a poncho giving plenty of room to pivot the sward handle down and out of the way during his trip and running then pulled up if needed for defense .

Child of Ash

64

And its oversize hood and selves that only came down below his elbow .

Eddy and Hestia’s day was spent in laughter ,song and play making good use of the ball and Frisbee always stopping to face the wind that all to seldom brought remembrance of the world that they had grown to more than a love but a connection to. The once thriving land that now struggles to hold on to life . Hestia once heard the cries of the land as a scary and sad thing . Now listens even closer to hear those comforting moan’s and howls carried by the wind that mostly only came in gust and deep in the frigid nights just before the sun chases the moon away.

Eddy telling Hestia that once the moon and sun lived near, till the sun could no longer keep its love for the moon from shining through. The gods cursed the lovers and made the moon see the sun as a great monster. As she ran away in fear, the moon fallows with its undying love .

After There meal Hestia has the need to go to the bathroom Eddy showed her the room to use and explains to her how it worked flushing the water with its blue color caught her attention “Don’t drink ” Eddy applied to her curiosity then turned on the sink “Drink”

She cupped her hands into the cool water then being overcome with the urge she done as instructed then flushed watching the water as it disappeared . then returning to the sink and turning on the water . Eddy pointing out the right one is OK then running the hot till steam appears then showing Hestia

“Hot “no “

Alexa enters she sits on the side of the tub turning on the water plugging the drain setting the temperature on the inner side of her wrist then running her fingers through the water ” Hestia you want to get in “Eddy pushes her back she then tries to get into the tub Alexa stops her as she laughed “NO silly lets do this first ” as she closed the lid on the toilet and sits Hestia on it and begins to remove Hestia’s shoes that laced up her leg Alexa took notice of the braided string and the detail of the pieces that made a firm fit .Alexa startles herself when she noticed three lumps on the bottom of the boot as the noses of the leather stolen from the animal that feeds them . She closes her eyes a moment takes a deep breath then continued undressing Hestia .Eddy leaves closing the door without a word .

After Hestia’s bath Alexa Left to go get the bag Doug brought over .After Hestia dried off and smelling the towel she minded herself with the toilet removing the lid from the tank then watching its guts as they worked .

Something new

65

Alexa comes in Hestia never flinched as Alexa pier over her ” Find something interesting did ya ?” then placing the top back ” I have something even more interesting just for you she turns Hestia around then dried her hair noticing that the once almost black child was blond with a milky fine complexion surrounding the whitest eyes set with brilliant green surrounding the largest darkest pupil she had ever seen . Alexa opened the sack and pulled out a dress holding it up to herself asking ” so what do you think ?”

Hestia reached out at the bright blue flowers then rubbing the lacy edge between her fingers then smiled as Alexa covered Hestia’s head . “Good now raise your hand high” then pulling the dress down she then sat Hestia on the stool and removed thin blue socks then a pair of leather shoes like the hide only brown and tied over the top of her foot.

Hestia liked her new shoes the best. Alexa then reached for a brush from a drawer this fascinated Hestia immensely as she took it from Alexa’s hand felt of the soft bristles then began running it through her hair then tying it back with a brown scarf . Alexa stood Hestia in front of the sink then opening a door with a long mirror showing Hestia her new outfit . Hestia smiled taking Alexa by the hand leading her outside to the table while she fished out a bone with teeth piercing through hide that had been shrunk around the bone. Alexa knew right away what it was just as Hestia new .

Alexa took notice of the detail put into such a strange creation of a brush . Hestia takes it goes to the coats on the ground and begins brushing the fur then pulling her hair over her shoulder and took one stroke through her hair then put it back into the bag .

The sun is setting now just over the roof of the house and Eddy comes to Hestia he smiles but not a word as he took out there ration of meats and Akta . Alexa remembered the cup then went to a cabinet reaching deep into the back she pulls out a small cup nearly the same size with a slight bluish green tent and a small ridge on the rim of it for finger . Alexa presented Eddy with the cup along with one for herself. They all sat Alexa ate and drank with the two guests and watched the sun as it journeyed endlessly seeking its other half .

Soon Doug came around the house with a bag under his arm he greats the Lady’s complementing Hestia on her shoes then asking if he could borrow Eddy for a little while saying we will be just over there pointing toward the East .

A toast to new

66

Hestia watches as the two fade into the dark soon lit up from a fire . As Eddy And Doug sat .Doug pulled out a bottle And started passing it back and forth Eddy pulled out some of the meat and offered it to Doug he took it and ate it down chewing it well in his cheek.

Doug;;;;” I wont dull you with questions out there but id like to know what you think happened whatever you don’t want me to repeat will not be spoken of even to you . Dough drops to his elbow then taking his next swig ” Besides who can I tell ” As he looked into the wastelands ” No one here will get close to me long enough to do anything more than request me to fix build or destroy something “

Eddy ;;;; “And I thought i had it bad “

Dough ;;;;” Screw you ! “as he took another drink.

Eddy ;;;;” So why do they avoid you so .”

Doug;;;;;” Well ” he takes a swig ” you see that fence , I built that ,well I had some help like the concrete , hauling the supplies but I done it. I spent most of my nights camped out here looking out there , He looks at Eddy ” I knew , for some reason I knew there was life out there.”

Eddy;;;” So It came as no surprise “

Dough ;;;;” Hell ! no! you were allot more than I expected and the little girl, Hestia , now her she blew me away then to get to know her ,I thank you my friend.”

Eddy;;;” for what?”

Doug ;;;;;” You, her coming here of all places ,Your going back , out their ain’t ya but alone ?

Eddy didn’t answer he just took a swig looking Doug in the eyes and passed him the bottle he then pulled out a bottle from his bag and handed it to Doug “Try this ” Doug took a swig and handed it back to Eddy ” very good ” as he took another swig from his bottle saying with a forced exhale “Just not good enough .”

Later Doug woke up the moon high into the sky past noon as Eddy sat looking into the fire and poking at it with a long bone that showed of carvings and metal tip .

Doug ;;;;”Wow what happened ?”

Eddy laughed quietly”You looked tired.”

Doug;;;; “I must have been but I feel great now”

Eddy;;;;”strong enough for a walk out their”

Doug looked to the wasteland ” With you ? How far?”

Eddy;;;;”As far as you can handle provided i don’t have to carry you to much Trip into the Bad lands

67

Doug;;;;”Id love to but ,,,,,”

Eddy;;;; “Its safe you have been close enough to it that you should be able to last better than 3 hours “

Doug;;;;;” OK” he gets up and says ” Lets go moonlights wasting”

Eddy checked Hestia then grabbed his things . Doug was at the gait just getting the last lock off. They both entered and Doug replaced the locks. As he fastened the last lock a thought raced through his mind ‘ What if I need to get these locks off in a hurry ‘ then his mind was set to ease as Eddy said “what if you only put one on and someone comes out before we return and they added a different lock ” He laughed hardy as the sound of Doug swallows hard with a gulp ‘CLICK’ the last Lock in place Doug turned to Eddy.

” So any single ladies out here”

Eddy took off with Doug right at his heals . Doug handled the rough terrain well his main difficulty was looking into the dark at an even darker ground Eddy stopped checking out areas for tracks mostly and felling under debris for good moss. As the sun began to rise they had found a good spot and Eddy showed Doug how to get the Akta using the skull and leg bone that he used to stir the fire with Doug took notice of the small hole in the bowl and held his hand under it as the thick black substance of life dripped out he tasted it ” Its not sweet ”

Eddy;;;; ” No its not but it will be in a few days after a few weeks its like your alcohol and after a few months” he pulls out the bottle then puts it back smiles at Doug then heads off . By now Doug has no idea were he is only that they had run a long ways.

Eddy stops opens his bag and they both eat and drink .

Doug;;;; so how far are we from the gait ?”

Eddy gets a slim look on his face.

Doug;;;; ” You telling me we are lost !” he stands up and the gait is just over the mound behind Eddy.

Back at the camp Hestia still sound asleep Eddy disrobes as a peck on the window and a hand motioning to come in . Alexa serves up coffee ” Thought you boys might need a pick me up after last night .you know if someone sees you Doug it wont be a good thing “

Doug;;;;” Like I care most of the town don’t know I exist until they need something fixed. Hell I cant even go have a drink at stiffys without people getting up and moving to the other side of the room and women yea right new subject “

Common spirits

68

Alexa;;;;;” OK how about food as a topic ?”

Doug ;;;;” I bet there is something that Eddy would like. That is unless he has forgotten the taste of a home cooked meal ” All eyes on Eddy now

Eddy;;;;” Toast ,Eggs sunny side up , two pieces of bacon , and juice If that’s not a problem ?

Doug slaps the table now that’s what I’m talking about he looks to Alexa

Alexa ;;;;” Well I guess the kitchen is open .” as she heads off to prepare.

Eddy and Doug lost in conversation as Doug tells his own story .

” I was on the roof of old man Dickerson’s, the cheep old fart , a gust of wind nearly knocked me off. As I looked up I saw fire in the sky splashing down like water tossed from a bucket . I was so close to it that when the roof of the house took off like a kite with me still on it . Dam thing nearly killed me .

Alexa;;;” Don’t forget that dam thing also saved your life MR. “

Doug shook his head as he piers down the cup ” Honestly I thought I was dead then when I came out I looked out over the ruins. There was not a fire one. I ran out to see if there was any survivors but the ash in the air was so thick I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face .”

Alexa;;;;” Yea ! And that fools notion nearly got him killed. No matter how Nobel .”as she looked over her shoulder from the stove . In the middle of the conversation Eddy got up and went out the door to his bag poring a drink then sitting down as Hestia got up from her fur bed and took a seat drinking her precious nectar.

Eddy ;;;” Will you like to try some food , besides this” as he held the bag opened ready for her to choose . Hestia raised her nose to the air sniffing at the fragrance spilling out from the house she looked at Eddy with a smile in agreement. Eddy took her by the hand and started into the house. Hestia stopped let go and returned to the large bag pulling out her new brush and her mirror. Eddy stared for a moment as she sat brushing her hair then continued back into the house . There were now fore chairs two odd ones and two matching the ones outside .Doug had his plate in front of him as Alexa placed one for Eddy Doug hadn’t touched his so Eddy just continued with his coffee and waited for Hestia and Alexa to join .

The chat was small the food being the center of attention after a blessing and a shuffle of salt, pepper, butter and jam which Hestia took to very well.

Bitter sweet

69

As Eddy tried to contain the child’s thirst for the sweet thick substance she had found to be so delightful to her taste Alexa scolded him “now you just leave her be now “

Doug chuckled as he reached for some ” May I ” he took the knife and spread his toast then biting it Hestia did the same then laughing as she kicked her feet swinging then between the legs of the chair . Hestia enjoyed the meat but the eggs threw her off some probably the yellow running out from the egg as Alexa showed her how to sop it up with the bread .

Six days and uncountable needles later. Eddy begins to feel week , he has been trying to hide it from everyone , but Hestia ,she sees it and takes on the feasting ritual of drink and meats 3 times a day now down to only one piece of meats at sun up noon and sundown , a ritual that she will no doubt carry on with her throughout her years , always the same a mouth full of the Akta holding then savoring it as she faces the West hoping to catch a comfort of there home in the Ashlands .

Hestia begins to put the now small bags together creating one larger bag along with the bedding rolling it up just right and securing it to the larger bag then taking Eddy by the hand leading him out into the open , they stretch out there arms leaning there heads back as Hestia begins to sing . Alexa watches this from her large window facing the once lustrous and thriving area that no longer seems desolate and lifeless . With no sign of clouds or rumbling the sky bursts open with no restraint as it pores out its bounty over the land .Eddy and Hestia stands savoring the blessed moment that comes so few and fare between .

Alexa gives them a moment taking her time to gather some towels and a shirt for Hestia and the remains of the tent that she had used to make Eddy a shirt and pants with.

She breaks up there tranquil moment of grace ” hay you two come inside ” Hestia turns and runs to the open door laughing and splashing along the way as Alexa ready’s the towel .

Eddy takes the bag puts on his hat then picks up there coats that Hestia’s had turned hers inside out shoving Eddy’s inside .

Eddy makes it to the door Alexa has striped Hestia from her wet dress then covered her with the shirt . She hands Eddy the clothes “you do still remember how to bathe indoors ” as she tilts her head toward the bathroom .

Tranquil moment of grace

70

Eddy strips clean of his hides then closes the shower curtain. He sets the water to his comfort leans into the pulse of the blast as it takes him away .

A flash of a bottle hinged on the brink of decent , a flower mouth vase in the hall , a chubby little man in his well tailored suit curled up in the floor with his thumb in his mouth , and Areon as her face fills Eddy’s hands as the tear gets lost within the crack of her cheek and his thumb .

Eddy wipes clear the excess water from his body before reaching for the thick soft towel that he rests over his shoulder after a throw drying .

Eddy stands at the sink he wipes the mirror clean of the steam with his hand . Before him the reflection of Areon as she brushes her still wet hair and her body glistening with small droplets of the shower they shared . The vision fades as the moisture reclaims the mirror . Eddy frantically wipes the mirror only to find himself alone . His once shoulder length dark hair now white almost a silver and nearly past the middle of his back , his once pail white skin from days spent indoors now a bronze , and his once hazel eyes now burned of a bright ghostly tone of not but yellow .

Eddy stands gazing into himself a vision he has seen many times but now with a better understanding .

Eddy puts on the clothes recognizing the material and appreciating it’s well fit . He soon joins Hestia and Alexa they are sitting in the living room floor on a large rug in front of the oversize window , popping at a clear ball . Alexa ;;;;” Will you join us ?” Eddy shakes his head then sits quietly in a wooden rocker on the opposite side facing the large window Eddy sits enchanted at the sight of Hestia’s smile and laughter as she plays the game popping then moving the colored pegs around the edge counting aloud and trying hard to remember the names of the colored pegs as she goes. Eddy eyes cast up toward the view of the window as he falls to sleep .

Eddy wakes to the sound of rain now thundering and lightning ,dark now Eddy looks to the clock showing 2 : 45 he makes a trip through the house finding Hestia and Alexa safe and secure in bed , he takes a moment to watch them , cuddled up in the thick covers and fluffy pillows , he then goes into the kitchen , trying not to make any noise he ready’s water for coffee .

Doug made an early trip over to bring Eddy some clothes . Doug enters the back door finding Eddy on the floor with the water container now empty still on the burner .

Home sick

71

Doug slapping Eddy’s cheeks “Hay! You OK man ” Eddy comes to ” You know the couch is more comfortable .”

Eddy ;;;;” rubs his face ” I must have passed out “

Doug;;;” Yea ! I was wondering how long it will take to bring you down ” He help Eddy onto the chair then tends to the stove putting on fresh water .” How long have you been down there “

Eddy ;;;”I’m not sure it was after 3 last I looked “

Doug;;;;” huh ! Well ! My friend you been out for almost 4 hours .”

Eddy ;;;;” I feel like a bagat got hold of me “

Doug ;;;” Well the guys that went out there got like that after about 4 hours and its been what nearly week since you were last out there . We need to get you back out there for a spell .”

Eddy;;;;”But Hestia “

Doug ;;;” But Hestia nothing she will be fine she is in good hands and your no good to any of us dead .”

Doug fixes some coffee dousing it heavily with Akta then bringing his truck to the back door loading Eddy’s thing in the bed then helping Eddy .

At the gait another vehicle pulled up and the mayor jumps from the car .

Dick;;;” Just what the hell do you think you are doing ” he pulls out a gun and points it at Doug ” Get away from that gait and toss the keys over to me ‘NOW’ the sheriff is on his way ” He cocks the gun “I’m warning you “

Eddy throws an object sticking it in the fat shaky hand as the trigger is pulled with a click before it falls to the ground . Eddy wraps his arm around the mans head blocking his screams of pain .

Eddy ;;;”’You should have pointed that at me instead and made sure the safety was off ” then looking at Doug with a wink and a smile “Open the door Doug ” Doug opens the locks his hands shaking as he pulls the gate open . Eddy steps out still holding Dick tight with his face soaked in tears and his pants just as wet . Doug closes the door then replaces the first lock then the second before locking it he asks” You going to kill him ? I don’t like him and I cant think of anyone that does but killing him ,well ,wont be a good thing “

Eddy smiles as he tightens his grip pulling Dick closer to his face “Me and the ‘mutt man’ are going to spend some quality time together ” Dick squirms in Eddy’s arms with a muffled beg for his freedom . Eddy pulls out some rope from his pocket then head butts the man in the back of his head bringing him to his knees and quieting him long enough to gage and bind him before removing the jagged edge from is gaping wound .

Lesson to learn

72

Then rubbing ash into it . Eddy helps dick to his feet .

Doug;;;” Oh Waite I got something for you ” as he returns to the truck opening up a box then bringing Eddy several items and pushing them through the bars .” Its for the Akta I know your running low ” Eddy thanks Dough and tells him that they will be back in a few days. Doug reminds Eddy that the workers could only last a few hours as Eddy pulls the mutt man farther into his domain .

Sun not yet in it’s noon position and not much ground was made before the wining man dropped and refused to go on . Eddy removed his heavy bag then bound the mans feet leaving him alone and heading south. Eddy made better time alone but found none of the best moss for the precious Akta . Eddy returned to where he left the mayor, his bag was there but the fat man was no were to be found . Eddy looked to the ground for tracks but it was no use . He heard the mans cries not far from him . Eddy found the mayor , he had fallen into a gap in the ground still bound and gaged . Eddy laughed then returned for his bag taking his time .

Eddy pulled out a Brigid and lit it with two stones then tossing it into the hole he then tied his heavy rope off and climbed down into the deep hole . He checked out the mayor , he was bruised but not from the fall mostly from hopping around before . Eddy sat him up dusted him off then squat in front of Dick pointing his finger with its thick nail ” If I take this off ” he paused then pulled out his knife stopping it’s edge at the thick neck of the sobbing man ” You scream out and I promise you this will be your tomb “

Dick shook his head in understanding . Eddy took off the gag then the binds from his legs standing him up looking him deep within his sick brown eyes then turning him around and removing the binds from his hands .

Eddy used the Brigid and his thick boi knife as a torch . As he looked around the open area . It was large and empty . Eddy walked to a wall then marked it with his bag , he fallowed the wall with the mayor behind him stumbling around . They circled around as Eddy marked each doorway with one Brigid and two if the door will open , by the time he had made it to his bag he counted seven doors and only three were unlocked .

Eddy picked up his bag “OK you have two simple choices you can climb your fat ass back up that rope or we can try these doors and maby find a easier way out , but I will not carry you , I will leave you behind .

Eddy heads to the door closest to him and enters with the mayor fast behind him.

Under world

73

Eddy renews his torch with one of the Brigid and heading off down the long dark hall telling the mayor to check the walls for a light switch.

Dick ;;;” You really think their’s power here”

Eddy ;;;;”no! but I’m hoping for a doorway “

They reached the end of the hall , still no door , instead they found a ladder to one side . Eddy checked the celling but no opening , Dicks foot found a door in the floor . Eddy opened the door then climbed down after a fresh Brigid , Dick soon fallows “Great another empty room got any more of those patty’s left?”

Eddy” Brigid B ! R ! I ! G ! I !D ! Got it Brigid “

Dick;;;” Right Brigid “

Eddy turns to Dick he holds his hands up “I’m kidding Brigid I got it “

Eddy walks on into the room ,its not empty , it’s some sort of computer lab, he pulls off the plastic. Dick finds a large red button ” POWER” with his hand over it he looks to Eddy.

Eddy ;;;” Go ahead who knows it might even do nothing “

Dick pushes the button “Nothing ” he then turns to walk away before a sound begins to fill the room, lights begin to flicker, first on the top of the computers then the lights on the ceiling .

Eddy takes to the computer while Dick takes advantage of the light to check out the rest of the room stopping along the way to take advantage of its convinces calling out his findings like bathroom , water and kitchen with mostly dried packages of meals marked “REM “

Eddy searches through the network but was cut off by”ACCESS DENIED PASSWORD ” ?????????? after several failed attempts Eddy now frustrated takes time off to checkout the rest of the equipment then the room . The other doors led to offices that showed no indication as to who used them they were all covered in plastic . One door led into a quarters set aside for living ,equipped with beds ,their matrices rolled up sealed in plastic and a supply room loaded with biological suits , portable equipment , guns , ammo and tools . Dick found Eddy ” You got to come see this !” he led Eddy to a larger door , inside was a labyrinth of crates marked food , water , clothing and several with a large cross red , blue , green and black . The room seemed to go on for better than a mile ,soon all the doors merged into the round room they started in that now is well lit .

After a bite and drink from the dried meals Eddy returned to the computer trying codes that he knew . Nothing worked , till a thought crossed his mind ”

Global 35

74

NEST ” EAGLE EYE ” and other invalid ID , then a echo from the past as Eddy looked to the side of the monitor ” LIGHTYEARS” the computer responded with another pass .”BEHIND”

The computer then responded “controller ID required” as a light began flashing , Eddy dug through his bag he pulling out a card ” level 6 priority” He slid it through then another light began to flash circling an odd hole , he retrieved the key handed to him at the cottage , inserting it and trying to turn it but it wouldn’t turn . Eddy tried again turning the key counter clock wise .

The computer came on line “Hello ! Eddy Soltic ! what is your handle?” Eddy responded “Phoenix” HELLO PHEONIX” “I am ARES !” “What is your command ?

Eddy ;;;;” damage report”

Ares;;;;;”All systems functioning at 30 %”

“All doors locked”

” Malfunction to satellite reception”

” Cargo bays not responding”

” MAIN DOOR has been compromised”

” Radiation containment within normal limits”

Eddy ;;;;;” Show map of installation

Ares;;;;;; ” MAP OF GLOBAL 35 “flashed on the screen.

Eddy;;;;;;” Dick , look around for a log book marked map of global 35 .

After hours of searching for the map they both gave in for the night . Eddy found it hard to sleep with Dicks loud snoring and left to find a quieter spot , as he laid in one office he thought might be the commanders , he noticed a wooden cabinet with one odd drawer he grabbed the handle and pulled it , it fell to the floor , it was a book the front of it read “GLOBAL 35 ” Eddy looked through the log till dawn then putting it away and taking a nap leaving the door open so Dick could find him.

Dick woke to his stomach and saw to feeding it then heading off to find clothing and a shower before waking Eddy .

Eddy returned to the computer ;;;;”How many global installations and location?”

Ares;;;;;” DATA not found “flashed the screen .

Eddy told Dick ” Stay close don’t wonder off , I am going to have a look around ” Eddy started off then stops ” And don’t push any more buttons, especially flashing red ones .”

Knowledge

75

After fore days in the compound finding no way out Eddy and Dick climbed out . Eddy took Dick out farther into the wast land , both of them allot heaver than when they went in . Dick full of complaint was mostly ignored and useful as a mule to carry the load of Akta . After 3 days of searching Eddy filled the last jug , during the time dick wasn’t complaining he had a lot of useful things to say he told Eddy how the machinery was abandoned after they stopped running just inside of Ashland and how there was no radiation , none what so ever , not even radio waves and that plains couldn’t fly over and how they lost many inside Ashland and that it carried out into the sea as well as parts of Asia.

” it seemed to circle the globe like a whip ” as he suggested . He told Eddy how the people that owned the most land controlled the decisions and how he was put into office by them , even with no knowledge , he had been a buss driver before . Frank had been a postal worker . Doug was a fireman , chief of disaster relief , and in training for his medical license. Alexa she was a kinda garden teacher , her father owned the land that the power station was on had died in the fire and willed everything to her .

And how since the entire council was in a meeting at one location during the fire was all killed leaving society in a fund less untrusting confusion how the dollar was still used but gold and jewels were more valuable and how they were planing to clear cut what land was left to plant for food and that the Canadians were killing any one that crossed there fence it is larger and electrified with men posted all along it that will shoot you if you came close to the fence . War was on , in the oceans for fishing rights and that Iceland having the most ships were winning , but no one knows were they got there hands on all of there weapons , that they had helicopters not just any but fully armed Apache and carers .

On the way back Eddy heard a noise Doug had been fixing the fence where some kids had cut through it to have a party . As He was stitching it up a Bagat lunged at him shoving its head through the opening only held together by devices he had made just for fixing the fence . Eddy seized the moment dropping his gear running pulling out his sword as he jumped into the air chopping its head off , leaving it to fall to the other side .

Doug ;;;;” Man I’m so glad to see you I don’t think the buckles would held much longer . Were is the mayor did you kill him .” he said with a smile as Dick approached ” No I’m still alive and kicking , and when I get out of here I’m going to start with kicking your ..

Fresh Kill

68

Eddy turns to Dick pointing his sword at him .

Dick ;;;;” I’M just kidding ” as he sat down wiping the sweat from his face .

Eddy began striping the beast of its hide then gutting it , he pulled out the liver just as dick complained of hunger , Eddy held it out to him , he declined . Eddy took a large bite then offered Doug some , he reluctantly took a bite nearly vomiting but forcing it down then handing it back to Eddy to finish . Eddy took another bite a then setting it on the ground in between slaughtering the beast . Doug watched as he repaired the fence after tossing the head back through the hole . Eddy tended to his meats , cutting it into strips pounding it out with the stone and seasoning it with ash then lying it out to dry . He stopped before stretching out the hide to cut open the skull and feasting on the brains . Dick threw up when Eddy offered him some and Doug replied “I draw the line at brain food I’ll stick to a big mack thank you very much “It was getting dark by the time Eddy had finished . All that remained of the beast was the front portion and the inerts left on the ground in a neat pile . Doug had finished up his work and was ready to go far from there , but during the time he told Eddy how the people wasn’t worried about him taking the mayor and how they had a pool going as to whether or not you bring him back dead or alive most of them are hoping you come back without him at all . Dick was none to happy to hear this but it shut up his constant complaining . Doug gave Eddy the keys to the gate just in case he was not around when they got back and told him that when he did return that the doc. wanted to see him at the hospital and that Hestia was doing fine nearly out of her Akta but well . Eddy picked out the first jug he filled and tied the thin rope around the handle then threw it over the fence stopping it before it could hit the ground and thanking Doug for the jugs and telling him that it will be 3 more days before the meats are done . Dick returned to his complaining , Doug told him that it was better than a full days hike to the gait then pointed to the remains of the beast , biding him a farewell then driving off with his radio turned up and waving with his middle finger up .

Five days later Eddy returns to the gait he tucks some of the jugs away for Hestia to be able to get to before he unlocks the gait setting the mayor free to his car still parked where he left it . Eddy continues toward the tree eager to see Hestia’s smiling face as she runs out into his arms still full with the jugs of Akta , he holds Hestia spinning around ” Its so good to see you my goddess “

Return

77

Hestia;;; ” Are those for me ”

Eddy;;;” Every drop ” Hestia slaps his chest “Did you bring him back ?”

Eddy smiles , she smiles and wraps her arms around his neck .

Eddy sets Hestia on the ground , she help him with the jugs ” Are you better now ?”

Eddy;;;” I’m much better now !”

Eddy stops to lighten his load as Alexa comes to the door holding the screen door open with a towel in her hand and the other on her hip. “Well ! Soon as your done come on in wash up your just in time for lunch .”

Eddy tells Hestia that she has more Akta and were it is and to replace the empty jug with a full one as she needs . Then explains to her that soon he will have to go handing her a sack of the fresh meats, Hestia said with a tear in her eye.” They found us” .

Eddy takes Hestia hand then heads to the house . Alexa is still cooking she tells Eddy he has time to clean up tossing him the bag that Doug had brought over . Eddy heads to the shower . After he is done he opens the bag finding socks and underwear he puts them on then pulling out blue jeans and a belt then a shirt with snaps and a pair of boots , tan rough hide with straps and silver tips he starts to put them on he finds something in the boot he takes a black case with a zipper. He opens it to find glasses, sturdy looking metal frames but the lenses are gold he puts them on and can see clearly from the back side but nothing from the outside he places them back in the case and heads out to the kitchen . Hestia stares at him as Alexa gives a whistle “You clean up nice for a mutt “

Then laughs as Hestia laughs out loud from the remark. Eddy sits down at the table Hestia has already pored him a cup of Akta as he finishes it off .Alexa brings him a cup of coffee taking the Akta cup to the sink rinsing it off and drying it as she brings it back to the table handing it to Hestia she places it into the container with hers and sets them in the middle of the table next to the wall . Doug comes in wiping his feet of at the door saying ” Did Ya miss me ” Eddy gets up and welcomes Doug thanking him for the clothes then patting his side were the glass case hangs Eddy points his finger to the corner of his eye winking the other “Don’t mention it “.”So what smells so good and is there enough for one more” as he claps his hands together then rubbing them.

Alexa;;;” NOW ! Doug you know theirs never enough to fill you but I try ” As she pours him a coffee and places it on the table returning to the stove ” Almost done guys .

Respect

79

Hestia you want anything love ” Hestia turns looking over the back of the chair , it hiding her smile but her eyes giving it away ” OK sweets for the sweetie coming right up ”

No sooner than they had finished their meal the familiar sound of a siren blaring in to the house as the sheriff pulls into the back yard accompanied by several other men in trucks , all well armed . Alexa throws her towel in the sink then looks at Doug ” You know what to do !” Doug got up and heads out the front door as men enter without a knock waving their guns as they rushed into the kitchen . Eddy sits calmly with his coffee as Hestia moves from the path into Alexa’s arms by the sink “Good evening guys ,,,,,,Sheriff ,,,,,, How may I assist you boys?”

Sheriff ;;; “You can start by putting your hands were I can see them ”

Eddy lifts his cup giving it a blow then a sip ” Well sheriff my hand do seem to be in clear view ” as he sets his cup down .

Sheriff;;;; “Put your hands up high above your head ”

Eddy lifts his arms , the sheriff fumbles at his cuffs , clasping one on Eddy’s wrist then the other, then hesitating after it locks into place , no doubt thinking he should have cuffed Eddy’s hands behind his back . He tells Eddy to ‘get up and slowly exit the building ‘ as he himself backs out the door, missing the step and falling to the ground , the gun firers into the wall causing tension to rise even more as everyone jumps ,

All but Eddy , he remains calm as he turns around exits the door then helps the sheriff up . Sheriff gets up then pushes Eddy away pointing his gun at him as he holds his leg .

“Now lie down on the ground face down with your feet crossed .”

Eddy ;;;;” well ! you see ! I have a problem with that ! I bow to no one.

so you just as well shoot me and be done with it .”

Hestia runs to the door screaming “NO” as she charges the sheriff, pushing him back . The sheriff pushes her to the ground and turns the gun away from Eddy . Eddy leaped to the sheriff wrapping the chain around the sheriffs throat ” Drop it or I brake it ” as he tightens his grip tilting the sheriffs head to the right the sheriff drops the gun , Hestia crawls to it tossing it away . Eddy ;;;” Now the rest of you unload your weapon’s and place them on the table ‘NOW’ ” as he tightens his grip causing the sheriff to cry out . The men do as he tells them then comes out with their hands up and lined up against the wall without instructions . Alexa loaded one of the rifles then joined Eddy As Doug pulled up .

Settlement

79

She carried a chair over and sat down. ” I got two shots and their is 6 of you who wants to be first SIT ” the men sat quickly . Doug now driving a tow truck with another fallowing him and several men helping they loaded the sheriffs car on to the bed before hooking up a truck then doing the same with the other .

Sheriff ;;;”Hay what are you doing ?”

Alexa ;;” Sheriff you Ignorant fool the moment you drove into my yard , invaded my home ,threatened Innocent lives . WELL! guess what , this all belongs to me now , it’s mine to do with as I see fit and I see fit to have it all destroyed ”

BY now everyone in town had gathered keeping their distance but close enough to hear . They all began shouting and clapping . Now the mayor has shown up “What is going on here ?” Eddy ;;;” Hello mayor just a little disagreement ” as he turns the sheriff to see the mayor .

Sheriff ;;;” Mr. Randall I came to arrest this man for kidnapping ” the mayor laughed ” And just which kid did he nap .”

Sheriff;;;” you sir”

Mayor “Me ! well I’m not a kid and clearly I’m not napping and I just can’t recall pressing any charges . We were Merely taking a walk ” he looked to Eddy ” A long walk ” Alexa do you want to press charges on these men ?”

Alexa;;;” NO Randall , I wont bother the judge with this, I will just seize my property and be done with it ”

Mayor ;;;; “I see ! OK then !” as he walked away and “By the way, MS . ALEXA you are in violation , be sure you get these vehicles off the premises as soon as passable .”

Eddy released the sheriff , Doug escorted the men off , Jodie came over with a big smile as her husband passed by asking Alexa ” You want to sell one of those trucks by chance ?” Alexa gets up puts her arm around Jodie ” lets talk it over a cup of Akta shall we” as they head into the house with Hestia right behind them . Doug walks over handing Eddy a set of keys “well I got a lot of work to be done, think you can get away for the night ?”smiling as he walks back to the tow truck without an answer then hauling away all of the vehicle’s but one .

The remainder of time Eddy spent in peace with his friend by a camp fire with chat and drink , Once a week and Jodie coming over almost every day working off her debt running earns for Alexa but mostly for their own likeness for one another shared with a common bond to Hestia .

Return to Ashland

80

Hestia soon begins to join in company from kids stopping by for a game of catch with the Frisbee and ball as she shows off her new dress still strutting around in her leather hide shoes and her doll , never forgiting to spend time with Eddy three times a day as they give thanks with their ritual drink and feast of the meats. Eddy making steady trips into Ashland gone for days at a time at first then weeks then disapering for better part of a year always leaving behind meats and full jugs of Akta as it ferments under rubble that now has turned into a nice little storage, secured with a latch, built to withstand any attack . Doug, well hes still Doug, ignored for the most part ,spending his days helping others out and keeping the fence from falling apart. And looking into the Land that he once called home . Now, living in a trailer and Alexa’s refrigerator but mostly out along the border of his new world and an old one that he will never see again . The mayor went on a diet and a major attitude reevaluation, offered Doug the roll of sheriff but as Doug said ” Better done badly than not at all ”

The sheriff, now back in his cruiser and minding himself well as payment for its return. And Jodie’s husband still relying on others for a ride, destined to never get behind the wheel of his fore weal drive, with its low stance ,huge tires and its crome protecting its dark blue paint that seemed to change color in the sun light and shade .

And Doc. still trying to poke and prod Eddy to death with his own secret agenda as well as hopes of new discovery to help the people of Ashland .

One night after Doug drank himself to sleep. Eddy stoked the fire covered his friend and said his good byes silently as he left the place that Hestia calls home.

Hestia never ran out of her Akta and meats and often would find a little something else inside of the storage , proof that that her guardian was still out their, and was still thinking of her .

Eddy’s travel has led him along the divide stopping along the way to rest and turn another bank vault into a safe house and to take in the life that he has discovered , most of them simple little creatures . No larger than a mole and no more dangerous than a kitten . He reaches the ocean , the East ocean , he realizes that the sun has betrayed

him. As it no longer rose in the East .

As he looks out across a field of black glass that rolled out from the sea . A lost remnant of the effects of the sun turning the sand into a deep black sheet of glass with veins running through it like cracks in ice.

Along the way

81

This black glass was thick , better than 20 feet as far as Eddy could tell from his excavations . The glass remained a cool temperature during the day and seemed to warm by night fall .

Eddy stuck mostly inland, not liking the wide open terrain , thinking that if he can see something then something could see him . Often he would return to the sea to bask in its beauty as he arks his way south trying to find some proof of where he is , which was best found inside of a bank vault. One of many that was open and full of visitors during the storm as it washed clean the earth .

Eddy kept detailed maps of his travels always leaving behind a copy hidden away safe . The wet moss is not as good here but it is good enough to survive. As he notes several new types of it for Hestia . There are more buildings in tact and larger ones inside the once thriving city that notes itself from the bounty within its large vaults filled with untold riches and documents telling of its location as Florida . Eddy takes refuge atop of

a large building . As he stare into the night sky waiting , hoping that she will come to him even if only for a brief moment , just long enough to remember her smile .

As dawn comes, Eddy tends to his needs before committing himself to the climb back down the 4 story building . He takes his new found baring and heads off . His mind drifting as he walks along not thinking of the terrain his body has become so accustomed to and paying no attention to potential danger with his sword up and cinched and his boi far behind him .

He is stopped with a growl to his right ‘ a poor place for Eddy being a lefty and so well disarmed ‘ as the teeth shown to him telling of pain to come .

It doesn’t attack it just stands their, teeth bare , tail tucked low and head nearly as low . It has the advantage of height as it glares down at Eddy ready to pounce , but it just stands their growling . Eddy thinks to try and walk away but his every move entices the beast , It stands with its massive paws on the edge of decent . Eddy sees the weakness of the ground beneath it’s feet then charges under the beast, ramming his body hard into the ruble, it leans back tossing the beast from it’s stance sending it tumbling to the ground at Eddy’s feet with a yelp . Eddy draws his sword, plunging it into the already wounded beast till life has passed it .

Eddy goes to work . As he makes the first cut he hears a noise , he presses his back to the debris , he waits , he hears it again , but its not a bagat , its soft .

New child

82

He climes to the top looking around on his hands and knees trying to locate the tiny whimpers , as he starts to reach into a opening He jumps back , as the creature lunges at him with its small bark and its beady eyes . Eddy sits still , the small beast sticks its head out, Eddy, ready to chop its head off, he sees a small nose first then a small head then the rest as it ended with a waging tail.

Eddy returned to his work leaving the pup to it’s self while he readied his kill striping it then gutting it stacking the inerts in a nice pile then parting the caucus into quarters to take to a better location where he tendered the meats and stretched the hide then a well needed rest with some warm liver and brains washing it down with the sweet black Akta.

Eddy rests for a while with his blades close at hand listening to the pup as it calls for it’s mother . Eddy gets up and goes to silence the pup before it calls on it’s father he reaches into the dark hole pulls out the yelping pup as it swings from Eddy’s hand by its hind legs . Eddy pulls his boi draws back taking aim of its throat, then hearing another yelp from deep inside the burrow , he ready’s his blow , as another pup comes out of the hole barking for its sibling . Eddy puts the pup down as two more join in on the attack .

He sits back watching the tiny beasts as they chew on one another’s ears and fumble around . Eddy thinking ‘ one day they will grow up to become predators ‘ then a voice almost a whisper jerks Eddy into attention . He looks around startling the playing pups , they begin to sniff at the air then him , one crawls up onto Eddy’s lap and lays down . Eddy picks up the pup, holds it facing him, with its eyes fighting off the urge to sleep.

” you don’t look so vicious , but one day .” The pup drifts off to sleep in Eddy’s hands he puts the pup back on his lap and the others cuddle together with it .

Eddy leans back closes his eyes, he hears the whisper again , he looks around thinking ‘ maby its just the wind ‘ he closes his eyes , again the voice returns, more clearly now as he sees Thalassa , she is standing on the ground in a white dress that flowed with the wind , she points at the sleeping pups.

“Just think of the birth of the world itself and of all life in it , the very chemistry of life in everything ; humans ,animals ,plants even the smallest organism . Breathing, growing, killing, surviving , reproducing then dying. Those lives that sometimes threatens our own has driven man to learn more about life it’s self “.

Challenge

83

As she fades into the darkness Eddy wakes to yelping pups nuzzling at his fur trying to find a tit . He picks one up raises it to his face he stops , he smells of his coat .” So you think I am your mother ” he picks up the pups and takes them to his bag , he then fishes out the spoon he once used to feed Hestia and fills it . The pups didn’t take to it at first but like Hestia and everything else . It obeys its hunger .

They feed and played then back to their nap .

Eddy tends to the pups there till the fur and meats of the mother was done, then used the mothers fur to make a basket for them and headed off to the south .

After a few days Eddy gets the felling that hes not alone , ‘ maby it is what ever is eating the leftovers ‘ but that thought fleets as he sees a figure on top of a ruin then a sound to his right . Eddy turns just in time for a spear to graze him , he drops the pups bound in there sack and draws his sword , the figure is gone now but the felling remains .

Eddy picks up the screaming pups and heads to a spot of defense . He chooses a high wall that blocked him from any attack other than in front , he removes his bag dropping the pups with it then covering them with his coat, treated side up so not to ruin the fur with blood , He takes his stance ready for battle , he waits , but nothing , or no one , shows itself . Eddy waits the day out building a fire , feeding himself and the hungry pups till they return to there quiet slumber . Eddy takes vigilant watch till dawn then gathers his things , just as he begins to step clear of the rooftop.

Voice;;;” So! You stay awake all night and still have it in you to run.”

Eddy;;;;” Wrong ! I will never run from a fight. “

V ;;;;;;;;;” A fight ! Is that what you desire ?” as the speaker laughed

Eddy ;;;” Not I that wishes battle then hides like a thief .”

Laughter rang out from every where surrounding Eddy.

V;;;;;;;;;;” You speak strong for someone that is out numbered .”

Eddy;;;;” I like the odds better at arms length” as he pulled both blades free ” So come all ye and find your right place under my feet “

A swarm of spears jabbed the ground all better than 4 feet from him

V;;;;;;;;;;” You would do well to watch your tong stranger, those were not a miss “

Eddy puts his blades away and steps out into the open holding his arms out

” If you wanted me dead , then dead I would be ! So what is it you want ?”

Confront

84

A man steps from his blind ;;;;” For starters , whom is it I speak to ? “

Eddy ;;;” I am Phoenix “

The hidden crowd laughed so loud it scared the pups .

V;;;;;;;;;;” And what is it that you carry in that sack that is so noisy “

Eddy;;;;” pups”

V;;;;;;;;;;”Pups you say !” The man came closer holding out his arms. ” Arms length yes!” he turns showing he is unarmed ” Show me !” As he points to the sack.

Eddy opens it and pulls out one pup holding it high then putting it away and closing the bag .

V;;;;;;;;;” And what do you plan on doing with those pups ! Food maby ? Hum ! You do realize that creature IS on our hunting list !”

Eddy ;;;;” Not these”

V;;;;;;;;;” These ! And just how many does it take to make,,these ?”

Eddy;;;” Fore “

V;;;;;;;;;” And how may I ask did you come to posses such creatures “

Eddy held out the fur and tosses it on the ground .

V;;;;;;;;;” I see ! And now you are the den mother .” The crowd shone themselves again only by their laughter.

Eddy;;;” I grow tired of your games ! kill me now or let me pass .”

V;;;;;;;;;” oh ! but my dear Phoenix, you forgot one choice ” Eddy ready’s his blades ” You forgot to be,’ hospitable ‘.” As the man stuck out his hand . Eddy didn’t move .

“I see !” the man whistled and the hidden crowd stepped clear of there blinds ” Dose that put your mind at ease , like you said .” as the man drew nearer ” If I wanted you dead , dead you’d be.”

He offered his hand again , Eddy locked his blades then accepted the hand dealt to him .

The man slapped Eddy’s shoulder as he laughed .” I am Theodor ,,but feel free to call me Leo , come lets be hospitable .”

Eddy fallowed the men to several boats , they headed across the waters to an airport . The buildings were large and low to the ground and the tops of solid concrete .

After a brief walk across a clearing that could only have been the air strip had by now been cleared of its bodily remains , from the body of water to the main terminal . Using the debris piled up on the outer parameter to create a wall leaving only the waters as an entrance way, in or out of what is to be a fort that the inhibitor’s refer to as Fort Euros .

Welcome

85

With men posted scattered across the village and most along the waters . Eddy and Leos hunters descend into the largest building , brightly lit with the smell of soot and kerosene thick in the air , most of the men parted ways as Leo lead Eddy to a door opening it and telling Eddy ” Come rest a while , I will send food and provisions for you .”

Eddy;;;;” I need none nor a room. ” as he began to turn Leo placed his hand on Eddy’s shoulder ‘ a silent click from beneath Eddy coat ‘ ” Please ! You have traveled long and far. Can you not sacrifice a ‘few’ days from your journey? “

A cry rose from the sack.

Leo;;;;”Besides you have mouth’s to feed .”

Eddy locked his blade into place then entered the dark room . A man started into the room with a lamp that was no more than a metal bowl on a stand waist high filled with coal . Eddy held one hand up to the man then shaking his head .

Leo;;;; “Very well” as the man looked to him .

Leo smiled as he closed the door leaving Eddy inside the dark hallow.

Eddy removed his bag and retrieved his stones along with a Brigid and a small burner to place it on then lighting it . Eddy’s eyes looked to the security of the room as he sat beside the door

setting the hungry beasts free of there confinement , feeding them then cleaning the sack as they scuffled in his lap taking comfort in the fur then falling asleep .

A knock at the door stirred Eddy “Yes !”

V;;;;” I bring you food and drink .”

Eddy opened the door a woman enters jumping startled at the man sitting on the ground by the door wielding his thick bowed knife as she enters the room .

She places a large tray on the bed and some folded clothes as a man enters with a table and a jug placing them on the floor just out of reach of the open door then leaving without a word .

The woman pored water from the jug into the bowl on top of the table then handed Eddy a small object wrapped in paper as she excused herself saying .

” My name is Elisabeth ! Pleas not Beth .” then closed the door .

Eddy removed his coat along with the pups still sleeping on it then made use of the food and waters . He smells of the soap then tosses it on to a shelf .

Fort Euros

86

He washed himself clean in the cast of the blue flame that by now had brought the room to a warm temperature but was beginning to dwindle . Eddy added half of a Brigid , finished up , then left the pups to there slumber .

Eddy turned heads as the new guy. The children found interest in Eddy’s clothing with his black large brim flat top hat nearly covering the gold lenses set in its frame with screws and his Long, white with black spots, robe that tattered just before the floor .

With his sword now on his back with the handle up to his left and the large knife across his midsection with the handle to the right .

His thick leather boots made an odd sound as its metal spikes struck the hard concrete floors echoing through the hall . Eddy stops , looks down , tapping his foot , then looking around the room at the spectators . He heads over to a chair, sits to replaces his boots

for a well fit thin leather ones that tied up to just below his knee . He then locked his boots together tossing them over his right shoulder, giving full view to the shiny spikes that hung down form the rounded toe , heel and one at the arch with its spike mounted securely to the thick strap around the ankle .

As Eddy continued on now in silent , swift , smooth stride the people parted way giving him ample room on his way up the stairs and out into the now moonlit night were he took liberty of his meats and drink . Leo approaches Eddy from behind making sure to make his presence known but stopping and waiting not to interrupt Eddy as he stood with his head toward the night sky .

As the winds crossed the body of water filling the fort and pulling at his cloak and hair causing them both to dance with the steady flow .

Eddy finished his ritual then returned the top to the leather jug and hung it under his cloak as he turns to Leo .

Leo holds out his right hand ” Walk with me a while ?” There trip around the compound was long and the talk was good , no longer filled with dare and taunts as Leo told Eddy how the life is for them since the fire . Leo asked Eddy as to his travels across the lands and wanted to know of the people he met along the way , being understanding at Eddy’s silence . Leo inquired of Eddy’s contact with the ones outside of the lands , joining Eddy with his own reference to the lands as – Ashland – and the outsiders as – Greenys – .

Idol

87

Eddy kept his silence till Leo insisted with a gesture as he pointed to his own eyes and winking to Eddy ” I know you have meet with them , and since ‘I’ have not heard of you id have to say you met the , GREENYS , to the north .”

Eddy chuckled at the mans depiction of direction as he looked towards moon remembering the story that he had told Hestia before bedtime and how it seemed that the curse had fallen onto him in turn by leading him in the opposite direction as well .

Leo;;;” Forgive me but what is it that is so humerus to you ?”

Eddy points to the moon and says ” The moon and sun has betrayed us all “

Leo laughed;;;; ” Yes ! As we two have discovered ! But none the less ‘I’ prefer to be referred to ‘as’ the southern majestic that ‘will’ rise again , and to keep true to ‘my’ own up bringing .”

Eddy tells Leo of the northern people being Vague on details .

Leo inquires of the food and drink Eddy had . Eddy took out a piece of the meat handing it to him then he hands Leo the jug telling him to fill his mouth and hold it swallowing it slowly .

Leo closed his eyes and sighed at the mixture of flavors his taste buds experienced then taking a bite of the meats that lasted him till they returned to the entrance . Two young boys that had been waiting for there return ran to Eddy telling him of the cries coming from his room . Eddy thanked the boys then headed down the stairs with the boys close behind eager to see what the noise was .

Eddy rekindles the fire with a fresh Brigid as the small beasts pawed at his back and legs , the children giggled at the sight as Eddy invited them in handing each a pup then retrieving more of the hallow bones for each . Filling them and showing the boys how to feed the frisky black and white pups till they had their fill then telling the boys to try the remaining liquid for themselves along with a piece of meats in reward for there aid .

The boys left with there cheek full of the meats and asking if they could come back again .

Eddy held up one of the pups, mostly white with a hint of brown on its ears asking it .” Is that OK with you ” The sleepy eyed beast yawned its large toothless jaws . Eddy told the smiling boys that it will be OK and that they will be ready for feeding in a few hours but that the boys should go to bed and come back in the morning .

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Eddy woke to yelping pups and boys giggling outside the door . The boys now with two girls, hoping to get a turn with the feeding .The children fed the pups and left after a game of play before the small beasts fell asleep on a fur pad made from the mothers hide.

The next few days Eddy spent feeding the pups and getting to know the children .The children gather around Eddy every where he went mimicking his every move as one walks beside him with a long metal shrapnel tucked under his belt trying hard to match Eddy’s long stride as others now wearing there own makeshift cloaks, most made of feed sacks . The adults still watch Eddy with some discontent but secure enough about him to allow the children to fallow him around . As they fallow him outside of the safety of the fort always with guards close by with there spears in hand .

Eddy noticed that some of the men had small hand guns and rifles strapped to them but that they never used them ‘maby they had no bullets, or not enough, or maby the noise it produced when fired was to much of a enticements to the Bagat’s .

On a good day according to one man that took particular interest in Eddy there are no kills and on a bad day an average of 3 to 6 kills, and that good days were seldom .

Tho so many kills, Eddy saw no furs, and he discovered why when he came across a dump where they threw the body’s . He asked one of the oldest boys about it and found that they do not need the fur or meats they trade for all they need with the Greenys . the trade was made from the contents of the safes witch was probably how the people stumbled across Eddy as they searched for the buried treasures .

As Eddy took refuge with his pups, away from the children, on top of one of the large concrete building A boy climbed the 6 ft wall calling for help . Eddy aided the boy up and was told that there was a family at one of the out posts that was trapped in there home by several Bagats and that Leo sent him to ask if he would like to join in on the kill .

Eddy grabbed his things as the pups watched him and sniffed of the air as tho they new danger was near . Eddy stops staring at the small beasts of which he is so eager to hunt their larger counterparts . The boy picks up one saying he will keep them safe as the rest scramble over to him as sits, taking comfort between his legs and chewing on one another .

Eddy runs to the edge of the building and jumps from it landing him just to the right of the stair way . The people point to the east where escorts awaits him as they remark to the daring 30 ft jump as Eddy runs past them.

Safety in numbers

89

Full steam ahead, then jetting past the escort leaving them far behind as he reaches the men watching the great beasts as they try to force there way into the house.

Inside with a screaming woman two small children crying and a man trying his best to keep the beasts at bay . Leo gives the command to move in, Eddy grabs Leos arm pulling him down ” Waite “

Leo holds his fist up high and the people return to there hide .Eddy sniffs to the air telling one man to go around and bring everyone over to him .

After everyone assembles around Eddy that has now made a map with small debris of the area using a rock to show the home now under attack . Eddy shows the men the weak spots and tells them how to block them .

Eddy selects several men and ushers off the rest knowing what they must do , telling them all to stay down wind . And if the beasts run fallow them to the sea . Eddy pulls the remainder of the men aside and explains there role to play . Leo asks ” So fearless leader what is my roll to be ” Eddy tosses him the rock ” your roll is the most dangerous you are to run past the beasts as they charged the men go to the home and get the man out and tell the woman to silence her screams and the children .

The men now in position, hidden outside of the weak spots that provide an escape for the beasts . A group of smaller men move in first fallowed by the larger men then Eddy and Leo .

Eddy whistles out, the men and the bagats jump . ” Hold fast men ! can you smell their fear “

The Bagats turn away from the home with there heads hung low and there tails between there legs and teeth dripping with the taste of blood . The small men close in with the tips of there spears close to the ground, waving them side to side taping at the ground . ” NOW! ” Eddy commands Leo as he takes flight through the men then through the bagats that made no attempt at him till it was to late . The men all yell at the same time ” ουσ ” as the bagats attention drew to Leo the beasts forget about the single man and return there focus to the oncoming men. The beasts divide there positions to cover the smallest men it front of the pack as they circle to the left swinging and taping moving in closer and closer .The beasts charge , the men charge, as the beasts leap the small men take to the ground and roll as the larger men throw there spears, the bagat drop’s to the ground.

Battle

90

The now empty handed men squat as the next group closes in. The Bagats try to retreat to the house but now Leo and the man are standing out side of the building approaching the beasts swinging and taping at the ground . The beasts turn to the two men Eddy commands “NOW” then spears let loose in flight dropping more of the beasts to the ground leaving only a few standing . One lunges toward a man he sticks out his arm the beast takes it , the man wraps his legs and arm around the beast shoving his arm deep into it’s mouth as a spear pierces the life from the beast .

The man jumps to his feet and charges another beast as Eddy joins in, telling the men to stand down, as he swings his blades dropping one then another lifeless body to the ground, then pulling out the small disk with fore jagged blades throwing it into the neck of a beast as it lunges Leo knocking him down and dying on top of him .

Eddy stand firm with one blade in the mid chest of one bagat and the other in his hand the tip pointing just above the ground . A call rang out ” All CLEAR ” Eddy swings his sword slinging the blood from it on it’s way to the holster across his back as the men howl in glory .

The men aid Eddy in taking the dead to the sea , where he is joined by many eager to help him . He instructs the boys to gather some buckets and fill them with ash and plenty of it keeping a few empty ones for himself .

He strips the hides and shows the men how to clean and mount it, then sets aside a spot for the inerts filling one bucket and having a boy take it away piling it up. Eddy begins to part the beast of its prime meats placing them in one bucket then showed a woman how to use the large stone to pound and season it with the ash , then some young girls to lay it out to dry in the sun turning and seasoning it occasionally . It didn’t take the eager boys long to tote the ash till there was a pile large enough for Eddy , the men working on the hides and the girls with there own to treat the meats as it dried . The work was steady and what would have took Eddy a week to do was nearly done before the daylight was gone .

The woman tendering the meats watched as Eddy kept a liver for himself taking a bite then setting it aside like a sandwich while he worked . Eddy paying no mind to his behavior , as it to him was no different than scratching an itch . Eddy with only three naked beasts left that the men took liberty of skinning them selves and the boys took a disgusted pleasure of DE -bowling . Eddy takes one of the heads opening it as if it were a can of potted meat then slicing a section of the brain jabbing it with the tip and eating it .

Slaughter house

91

Eddy looks to the woman as he returns the knife to the skull platter ” Does this bother you ?” She shrugs her shoulders “NO ! ” then reaches out cutting off a rather large slice for her self chewing it well then wiping the escaped juices from her lips, then continuing with her work smashing the strips of meats with the elongated egg shaped stone and it’s pores texture .

She sticks out her left hand to Eddy ” My name is Mary “

Eddy dusted his bloody hand with the ash and took her hand ” Pleasure to meet you Marry” then returning to the brains offering her a much smaller bite . She leaned in with her mouth opened taking the meat from the tip of the blade then returning to her stone .

” When it happened ! the fire ! it was pretty hard on us all, till Leo showed up . We had plenty of water but no food so we looked to one another. “

She paused as she watched the girls as they danced around like ballerinas on the thick black shores .

“Leo had made first contact with the outsiders , he started trades with them, gold and jewels mostly but money as well ” she looked around ” We thought this was every were , most of us were in the airport’ the bus station or at home like me , my house was in a cliff side most of it under ground , my family was lucky they didn’t live to see this. ” as she held up the stone using it to point around at the word ” But now we have clothing , food and weapons ” she stopped Eddy took another portion of the brains then offered her some , she turned it down with a silent shake as she lost her self in the stone and meats . They finished up shortly after sending the boys , girls and men off .

Eddy and Marry took to the sea to wash clean of the days work . She advised Eddy not to go into the surf , that many had went for a swim and never returned . She didn’t know what was out their but that it was hungry . Eddy made a fire and tended to the pups that the boy watching brought out after the men returned to the fort . Marry asked if he would like some company ” Sure! ” Eddy pulled out and separated his pallet spreading out one for her . As she lays down she was swarmed by a heard of pups eager to play .

Eddy pulled out the water bladder took a drink then offered her some , she took it as he did , she didn’t compliment it just handed it back to Eddy and returned to the pups chewing on her . Eddy pored some into a bowl made from a skull as the pups gathered around it lapping and pushing one another .

Offering

92

Eddy then pulled out a glass bottle pulling the cork with his teeth handing the bottle to Marry then telling her with his finger tips about an inch apart . She took a small swig then returned the bottle . Eddy took a drink then replaced the cork and put the bottle away . Setting the leather jug between Himself and Mary then lying down staring at the stars . Marry began to giggle then laughed historically ” What is this stuff WOW its great ” Eddy ;;;;”HYPNOS “

By morning Eddy had arose fed the pups and returned to his meats and hides as the pups snuggled up to Marry . Eddy took notice that the inerts and the portion of meats he had left out were gone . As he finished , Marry woke and came to see if she could help , but Eddy was done so he told her to go ahead back to the fort that it will take another day or so for it all to dry .

Eddy spent his time enjoying the open land and playing with the pups with the secure notion that he was well guarded from any attack . As Eddy began to fill his empty sacks and make new ones along with Mary a blanket for her help and other items for the helpers . A handle for a knife for the men and bowels for the children to Extract the Akta for themselves . Marry came out to see how Eddy was doing handing him a spear . Eddy took notice to the large tooth used for the tip. She explained that she had found it washed up on the beach then asked him if ‘he saw him’ . Eddy looked to her in a curious way . She points to the area were the remains was piled up

“I have , It was maby a month after . I woke up late one night and I saw him , he was standing on top of a building across the way , he looked right at me then just flew away . No one believed me of course , but it’s a man or at least what is left of a man . It was dark so I didn’t get a good look at his face but he had a bony face like maby a bird but not . And wings like a bat but not , he flew right over me and I haven’t seen him since . You left the inerts and meats out for him didn’t you . He must like you , when did you first find him .”

Eddy;;;;” I knew their was something but I haven’t seen it , him , but I realized that I wasn’t alone after I had trapped five Bagat’s and killed them ” Eddy went on telling her of the Quiqrin farm that he made the drink from , then giving her some of the dried tail and telling her of its potential in small doses , and how the largest bagat he called Barghest was tracking and fallowing him .

93

Marry;;;” Sorry love but I don’t think he is after you , they live in the sewage and drains or any place large enough for them to travel . We blocked off all of the drains that we could find .”

Eddy grew silent for a while tending to his sacks with Marry’s help as she made a large one . After they were done she helped herself to the meats as she looked to Eddy’s large bag he carried on his back .Eddy saw to her curiosity by taking the bag apart and showing her how they held the items he needed , for what he needed , when he needed them . He then reassembles the bag and joined her in meats and drink giving the pups a portion of it from a separate bag that he saw fit as a good tether for the small beasts to chew on .

As night drew near Eddy took to his ritual before heading back to the fort . The walk was long but good company made the trip more agreeable amidst the shadows of the nearly moon less night as it entered its final faze over the cloudy sky that refused to give up its bounty .

At the fort , the people not ready to turn in and for those that were just awaking for their shift on guard . Eddy sat the large sack on the table then left to his room . As he removed the pups from their bag ” No fire this night little ones “. In his squatting position with his blades in hand till dawn the pups snuggled under his cloak and around his feet . .

Eddy remained in his room for several days . He heard quiet voices outside the door , mostly the children wanting to play with the pups and maby a sample of the sweet drink Eddy possessed . But no one bothered him .

A knock on the door ” ARE you alive in their ?” It was Leo , he banged on the door again ” You know what day it is ? It is trading day ” Bang bang bang ” Come go with us ” Bang bang bang.

Eddy opened the door putting on his hat adjusts his load ” OK ” then walked right by Leo and outside . Eddy stood with his face toward the sun when a tug on his fur coat brought his attention to a boy wearing the remains of the sack of meats .

” Can I have the pups till you return Mister ”

Eddy pulled out the sack and hung it around the boys neck , then handed a small water bladder with a bone spoon hanging from it, to the smiling boys out stretched arms, then headed off with the men .

They walked to the ocean about 60 miles West of were Eddy had carved out enough meats to last him a long time and an ample supply on it’s way .

94

As they reached the shores their was a boat and a truck were the black glass faded into sand , their was items set out for display and several packages on the edge of the divide . Leo talking to one man moved to one side then handing him a bag . The men picked up the packages using their spears as handles then heading back to the fort . The rest of the men began to bartering for other items . Eddy saw something and asked to see it closer one man brought it near but not to close . Eddy asked how much , the man just held out his hand . Eddy gave him 2 gold coins as trade .

Leo came over whispering .” I could have got it for less.” then continued with his own bartering . The man handed Eddy his trade then went back to the truck . Eddy took comfort away from the noisy crowd . Eddy opened his bag for his ritual , this got the men’s attention , and they wanted to know what he was drinking . Leo came over after Eddy had finished up and asked if the men could try his drink . Eddy went over to the men offering them a drink , several of them took a drink then asked Eddy how much . Leo motioned to Eddy to go on name your price .

Eddy picked out a few more items than he thought it was worth but the men was willing to give more . Leo told Eddy to pick more even if he didn’t want it , or the men might get angry, and that for them to be so generous was a complement ” don’t insult them “

Eddy with the help of others picked out enough to make the men happy . they then wanted to know how much more he could have next trip . Leo cut in pulling Eddy away asking him how much could they harvest in a few weeks .

Eddy;;” not much the moss it comes from is not very good here ” Leo goes back talks to them , they begin to pack up . Leo walked past Eddy , his men waited for Eddy to fallow before they would . Leo had an idea that if Eddy showed them how to find and harvest the moss they could get better foods and clothing as well as medicine , lumber and tools .

The search was use less no moss could be found to make the Akta and he was nearly out now that he had traded off his fullest bladder and this worried him .

Eddy snuck out the next night and headed west until he found good moss and made camp till he had enough Akta to fill his jugs and the ones he made on the beach .

Stray

95

Eddy’s last night their he was awakened abruptly by a woman , she was out of breath ,

cold , hungry and scared , it was Elisabeth .” I found you ” as she collapsed into Eddy’s arms .

Eddy looked after her till dawn , she told him how Leo was angry at Eddy leaving , thinking that he would go into trade with the outsiders and cut him out . He wanted to send some men out to hunt Eddy down but the men were to afraid to .

After a meal and drink Eddy told Elisabeth to go back , but she refused and fallowed Eddy . She trade to keep up with him but he was to fast so when she fell behind Eddy reluctantly went back to get her , She was no were to be found . Off in the distance Eddy saw a figure , it was a bagat , he moved in for a better look , it had Elizabeth pined under some ruble . Eddy moved in closer he lifted his spear and sent it through the air watching it as it stuck into the ground just a few feet short if its mark , the beast jumped , then charged at Eddy . Eddy stood still only the wind moved him as the bagat came closer , not six feet away , Eddy threw what was a saw blade that he cut into a throwing star as it hit its mark in the soft neck bringing down the beast right at his feet . Eddy retrieved his star then swung the blood from it and returned it under his coat then disrobing and preparing for the slaughter . Elizabeth came over with the spear and began helping Eddy with the kill .

Eddy stood vigilant watch for two days while the meats and fur dried , he only used the hind quarters of the beast and was glad that Elizabeth didn’t notice the missing caucus .They made good time as they traveled all day and night . Elizabeth didn’t need much encouraging after Eddy told her that it wasn’t safe their . The fallowing day just before noon they reached the safe house that gave him and Hestia such comfort so long . Eddy locked the door and they stayed their for the next fore days then left just before

dawn . Eddy made sure to stop by his little friends farm , it was abandoned , with the remains of the beasts that fell into the Quiqrins trap . Several days later they reached the church , no one was their . Eddy looked around he was relived to find that the stove was till warm and made himself at home checking out the advancement that was made of his friends home that he hadn’t seen for so long .

Eddy and Elizabeth cleaned up and had a meal before Meg walked in with her arms full of items that she dropped to the ground when she saw Eddy and ran to him with a big hug and a kiss on the lips .

Home again

96

Meg;;;” I am so glad you are here , we were worried about you , you just disappeared without a word .”

Eddy ;;;” Where is everyone ?”

Meg started to answer when Elizabeth walked in , with a towel wrapped around her body and a towel on her head .Eddy introduced the two then reclaimed his question .

Meg;;;;” Tim and mom are on their way , but dad , dad died two years ago . Where have you been ?” as she gave Elizabeth a scornful look .

Just then Tim and Darla came in , they said their hellos then Tim ushered Eddy out the door , eager show him around before dark , while the ladies got acquainted and cooked diner .Tim had been a very busy bee , he had found many creatures over the years and kept a log of them all . He gave Eddy a copy and said.

” I new you’d come back, I just new “.

Tim,,, no longer a small child , now grown into a seasoned young man , that had been building many things to make life more comfortable for his family like windows , doors and alarms as well as weapons . Tim took Eddy to where he practiced . Often , from the look of a large chunk of wood he dug up god knows were , and how he moved it was a story that he made short as he threw his tools into the wood . Eddy fallowed with a few of his own making , then giving Tim one of the small stars for himself .

Elizabeth called out ” Come eat you guys ” The table was filled with the best food and more than they could afford to plenty .Tim’s eyes popped out at the sight of the black and white Creatures rumbling about as Meg sat in the floor trying to feed one that took more to play than food .Everyone laughed as the small beasts heads lowered , there waging tail high in the air as they drew in for the attack , as Tim drew near .Tim snatching up one , rubbing its soft fur across his dark face . The pup began to lick as it scrambled in his arms with it’s tale protruding from them waging like a flag in the wind . Eddy washed up as Meg showed him the kitchen that Harold had finished before he died . the kitchen now had a very large metal tank above , providing water which they all kept full from jugs hanging from the ladder with a bucket of ash at the bottom . Meg saw Eddy taking notice of the ash and nudged him with her shoulder telling him that Tim found a good us for the ash it helped to keep the water from stagnating . Darla called out To Eddy , Elizabeth inquired ” Who is Eddy as she looked around ?” Every one looked to Eddy he shook his head then returned to the basin splashing the cool water across his face then resting himself on it .

Across the great divide

97

As he stared into the water ” I no longer use that name ” as he splashes one hand of water across his neck then dried off . Meg ;;;” And ! hello ! inquiring minds want to know ! Just who are you now ? Eddy turned “Phoenix ” Elizabeth called out staring at her plate .The room went silent before Tim broke it ” WOW ! Can I change my name to !”

His sister and mother;;;; ” NO ! “

The family took Eddy’s visit to be a short one knowing that one morning they will wake to find him gone . So they made their time well Tim had Eddy most of the day showing him all he had discovered , created and some things that he had questions about . Darla had him during the evening as she prodded at Eddy telling him how Harold didn’t live to see a grand child and she herself had no intention of leaving this world until she saw one .

Meg took her time when she could , and was none to polite to Elizabeth in taking it . Eddy stayed longer than the family had thought till one morning they woke to find him gone.

The spot where Eddy spent his nights with the pups snuggled beneath him was cleared of him and his belongings all but two of his things remained . One left sleeping on the fur to one side of the room and the other snuggled up with Tim .

Eddy pointed his compass to the west leading him toward an answer to a question that had haunted his mind for so long .

By now the land had a better look to it as the ash took hold of its own, covering the land in a now more mossy texture that released an ash when it was disturbed . like a dandelion at the end of its cycle being carried of on the winds of time . But now even more dangerous as it covered the dark spots in the ground . Eddy had traveled enough to know were the land was safe for footing and his legs now seemed to take on a knowing all it’s own .

Eddy spent allot of time out in the open range that once was a Forest only dotted with towns within it as he searched for a familiar sight . Eddy had given up hope as he continued on to his westerly setting stumbling across a familiar structure standing like a machine age Stonehenge . As Eddy made his way to the center of the structure one of the small beasts jumped clear of its keeping . Eddy sets loose the rest then made camp for the night . Eddy slept in comfort of having seen no signs of bagats other than the company he now kept , which by now mostly used Eddy as a pouch when they tired of travel during the day and roamed freely in the evening .

Over the mountain

98

Eddy lays staring up into the distant heavens recalling their group names along with their individual names , drifted off with the knowledge that he had over shot his destination by several hundred miles .

Eddy woke to a thorough cleansing of his face by very eager companions , that had spotted something that brought them to some discomfort , in the distant west horizon . Eddy took to higher ground not able to see what it was that disturbed the beasts so . He gathers himself after a meal then strides off with the beasts along side as they pushed one another around stopping only for a moment to see who was the strongest or to sniff of to ground then catching up . They soon reached the foot hills of the western divide where Eddy sat up camp . The bagat were restless , Eddy thought to go south and cross on lower ground , he headed into the mountains thinking if it scares the bagats it must be worth a check .

‘ Better to know dying than to die not knowing ‘ was the logic that pushed Eddy farther into the rugged country and was the same thing that kept the beasts right at Eddy’s side .

Three days into the mountain and not a stir , yet the beasts still on guard taking shifts to patrol the area . The wind made an erry sound as it crossed the naked mountain ridge and came down in shivering gust , one after another , forcing Eddy to turn his back to it and adjust his self .

Removing most of his bags and strapping them else where , his food and drink along with a few tools , he moved to his chest and other smaller bags to his thighs , this provided enough room for the beasts to take some warmth under his coat . There heat keep Eddy warm as he squat with his coat turned fur in and the collar pulled up to just over his head covered to his eyes . Inside his coat he made camp with a fire using only small sections of the Brigid as it sat on it’s tray . Eddy and the beasts feasted on more than their ration of meats and Akta .

Eddy woke to his tenants moving out and heading off to tend to their own needs as Eddy got on with his own before eating then heading out over a land that looked to take everything they had to conquer it . Just beyond the mountain top Eddy stood in Aw at the landscape before him . Its majestic rolling out to the sea .

For the next several years Eddy wondered the land toward the sea then north into Canada by now the beasts had become somewhat self reliant but still tendering to one another and Eddy .

New tools

87

99

They now have grown so large that one would make an awesome adversary . Should one decided to look to Eddy for more than the snacks in his bag , that has dwindled of its plenty and would have been long gone , had it not been for the Beasts finding a new source of food and being so generous to Eddy to make it known to him as well . It looked more like a hog than anything with its round body ,pointy ears and flat nose , but a hog it was not . It had claws , sharp ones and teeth to match , its nose was more bone that made for a use full tool .

Eddy researched every kill thoroughly before parting it out and setting aside the portion of it for ?

The hide was thick , it made good chew for the bagats , as it dried , tough but flexible was of little use to Eddy other than padding for shoes , its meat was mostly fatty but what it did have was juicy even after it dried . This close to the sea Eddy found less of the drinkable Akta and and more food . Where in the central region their was more Akta and less food . So the very large pigs came in handy . Using their lungs , intestines and bladder for making sacks for the Akta even though their was none to fill them with .

Eddy while butchering one accidentally busted its kidney , the fluid that came from it ruined most of the meat and smelled awful , so bad that the beasts ran away and stayed clear of the area , its liver was almost as tough as the hide and its brains tasted of the foul odor , its bones were nearly solid and made for good tools .

Eddy reached the top of what was to be Washington . Their he found plenty of the mossy ash and more variates along with more of the Zhu , now larger with less fat and bones protruding from their spine , this portion Eddy found many uses for one of them was a making of rings .

Finding just the right vertebra to fit his finger, when whore with the horns out it made for a great weapon and with the horns in made for better grip crossing the mountains.

Eddy wanted to head East when he ran into a large fence that was electrified He could hear the Hum of the currant running through it and dead animals along side it , most of them on the opposite side . The Bagats had their own direction as they sniffed of the air jumping and barking out their roar . Eddy followed them as they had fallowed him for so long . The Zhu became larger and more docile , more to the look of a cow now than a pig .

Great norther tribe

100

With a hide like that of a hippo but still with the sharp protrusions and teeth . The teeth Eddy kept in a bag , they were much like the tooth on his spear , that he had become very good at using , smaller and sharper. Their vertebra was much larger Eddy mounted one onto the leg bone of the beast and fashioned two by cutting the vertebra then binding it with the stomach to make a fit to cover his arm just above the elbow then giving it a try on the next kill . As the beast stood grazing Eddy slammed his elbow into the throat of the beast till it fell . Eddy found himself surrounded by the bagats Growling with their tails hung low and the hair along their back standing they all faced different directions but the sound coming from them made Eddy’s heart run away from him. Eddy looked around, he was surrounded by people, Men and women of all ages and all armed .

Eddy called to the bagat’s, they lay down but still shielding their warning to the visitors . Eddy removes his coat spreads it on the ground, then begins to remove his baggage. The people moved in closer as Eddy spoke calm words to them . As Eddy removed all his gear using his clothing to hide him putting on his armament. He now stood in his pants and shirt with its soft hide free of fur and adorned with his sword boi and the bones extending from his limes . The people came closer, they were more indifferent to the strange beasts that obeyed Eddy’s commands than of him

Eddy slowly reached down picking up a bag , the people surrounded him with cautious arms startling the bagats . He lifted the bag and dropped some meats for the bagats settling them . One man approached as the bagats moved in closer to Eddy after the treats . Eddy stepped forward sticking out his hand , the man reached for it then took notice of the spikes on Eddy’s fingers withdrew his hand . The bagats gave warning still in their crawl position with their mouths full surrounding Eddy’s legs .

Eddy removed the bones from his fingers on his right hand then offered it to the man again . He shook Eddy’s hand as his eyes wounded over Eddy body . The man then turned and left with the people behind him instructing a few men to stay behind. The men set up camp about 50 yards away from Eddy as he continued his task of butchering the strange beast “Bosphorus”.

after a few days of drying and making of bags, to saddle the bagats, to carry the meats in . Eddy went to the men and stood silent holding his spear as a cane with the Bagats beside him .

The men got up and headed west. After a days journey they reached the peoples land and was introduced to the leader. He spoke little English and had a woman their to speak for him and Eddy.

A new need

101

The woman told herself to be Rodja;;;–(Roza) and introduced the leader as whendigo;;;;; -(Win’dig’oh) .

Eddy had found fellowship with the Great norther tribe called the Tadaklan-(Naud’a’ken) and made good relation with their tribal leader who had become a favorite to one of the female bagats Laelaps-(Lee’a’pass) . Eddy was shown a way of life in a land of plenty by a people that prided it with respect. As Rodja explained it best .

” Every thing has a purpose and a need . It doesn’t know why . It doesn’t chose it . It only feeds it ” .

She took liberty in teaching Eddy their ways and language . Eddy was welcomed into the tribe as well as the beasts he kept company with . Eddy joined them in their trips to the sea where they had harvested many creatures using a ship .

Laelaps saw to Eddy’s curiosity of the wood they had built the ship with and another under construction that now looked no more than a ribcage of some mighty beast that had run ashore and died . Their trip to the forest pushed them farther north to an area far from the fence as it stopped at the edge of the rugged mountains and was left unguarded . The tribe had harvested trees then cutting the lumber from it to build with .

Eddy took sail on the ship only going as far as their catch .

By now Eddy’s journals had become more like an encyclopedia , full of new and wonderful creatures of both land and sea, with not a sign of creatures of the air other than the missing offerings left from Eddy’s kill .

Eddy told whendigo of the uninhabited land along the coast as, safe and warm, then escorted some of the tribal hunters as far as Washington .

Eddy now having filled his own needs , left one night to fill another . As he left behind an old friend with a new one. whendigo to Laelaps . And taking with him a gift from the leader of the great tribe, A sword, carved from jaw of a beast from the seas. Dotted with fine teeth and a natural razor sharp edge much harder than steel .

The trip across the Great divide was long . Xolotl (Zoult) as she struggled to keep pace was showing sines of distress , , with Zorya,, the only male beast from the litter remaining at her side .

Eddy pushed on carrying Xolotl across most of the rugged country till they reached the other side keeping distance between them and the chain-link fence that divided the two worlds .

Back to the gait

102

Eddy’s new map using the vaults of the old world to mark his location , leading him through Idaho, lower Wyoming , Nebraska and Iowa , where he left the border of the divide as he headed East toward the black waters of Sirens,,,(Sa’reen) where he learned that Captain Corgis had left one day and never returned . His stay was short, as he left his friends behind they bid their farewell’s with a flight above the waters then descending into the deep dark waters with barley a ripple of their existence .

Xolotl now barley able to walk as Eddy carried her through the Gate into the land that is now home to Hestia . The swing still hung from the tree and the extra large light still shown through the night beside the door still left unlocked . Eddy makes Xolotl comfortable on the rug in front of the large window with Zorya at her side as Eddy takes his comfort in the rocker across the room facing the window .

As dawn came Hestia woke to the smell of coffee and bacon . She jumped from her bed and ran into the kitchen with her arms wide into Eddy’s .

“Your home ” Hestia cries in Eddy’s arms then looks into his eyes ” your not , home , are you ” she looks behind her as a tattering sound strays across the hard wood floor . She Freezes with fear . Eddy steps between her view of the beasts that has haunted her dreams as she slept . Eddy cups his hands on her cheeks looking into her eyes.

” Its OK they are friends ” he takes her hand in his then points to the floor with a snap and the beasts lye down . Eddy guides Hestia’s trembling hand with his to the nose of the beasts as they sniff of her .

Hestia smiles as the beasts begin licking her hand . Eddy removes his and returns to the stove . Hestia sits in the floor running the long thin hair between her fingers ” What is wrong with this one ?” Eddy;;;;” I don’t know but she is sick , bad sick .” Hestia leaves returning with Doug and another man . Eddy introduces the men and beasts by name then sends the Zorya into the kitchen with some meats . Hestia seizing her own treat tasting it then looking to Eddy . He leads her to the kitchen and sits at the table telling her of his journey along with a tour through his drawings and notes while Doug and the Vet saw to Xolotl .

Hestia began with what she new as she took a trip down memory lane pulling out the contents then replacing them , the new items she found fascinated her as she put on one of the vertebrae with its sharp protrusion sticking two fingers through its hallow then poring herself a cup of Akta as the Vet left .

The other side

103

Doug joined Eddy and Hestia as she spread some of the tools out on to the table then poring him a drink . Doug told her that the vet was going to run some tests then Eddy began telling Hestia and Doug about the tools showing the sword, gave to him by the great Northern tribal leader, and the great beasts that the tools came from then putting them on as he continued to the next object .

Hestia also had many things to tell Eddy beginning with Alexa she had gone to try stopping the striping of the forests for farm land and that Doc. had left into the Ashland shortly after he was diagnosed with leukemia .

The remainder of the day was spent catching up and ended with Eddy and Doug camped out with a bottle . Eddy told Doug how useful the boots were as he told him in greater detail about his journey north . Zorya all stretched out in the moonlight beside Doug as he stroked the long fur till he passed out before the bottle was empty .

The fallowing morning just after breakfast the Vet. returned with some supplies claiming he knows what is wrong with her , that the doctor was working on something before he left and that it will soon spread through Ashland and that he took with him a serum , the virus is much like a child hood illness bringing on flu that leads to leukemia . Since he was dying of it himself he decided to die out their trying to save as many as he can .

After a series of fluids and shots for Eddy as well as the bagats .

Word had reached the rest of the town as some government men came to the house asking to talk to Eddy but was lead off by Zorya instead . They returned later with more men and more guns threatening to kill the beasts if they attacked again . Eddy met with them outside under the tree he noticed on his way out the door that the gate way was now guarded and the home was fully surrounded . One man dressed in a suit and tie approached Eddy and introduced himself as Commander Garret of the United Federation of Common Wealth . Eddy laughed as he stepped forward closing the already to close for comfort distance ” I think what you meant to say that you are a commander of dogs set loose on a defenseless nation of people that have no need in being told how to live .

Garret;;;” I ask you to lay down your arms “

Eddy;;;;;;”Thanks but I am really not tired and I prefer to stand when I have company “

The commander removed his shades as he turned away from Eddy , the men raised their arms just as Eddy reached out wrapping his hand around the top of the mans head sending him to his knees screaming in pain .

Challenge of right

104

Eddy;;;” As you can feel” tightening his grip more “I can crush your scull before they can shoot me dead ” he lifted the man to his feet “I want no trouble “

Another man stepped forward sticking the barrel of his pistol to Eddy’s head ” You sure have a bad way of showing it , now if you don’t let him go ‘I will ‘ blow you away , and their will be no witnesses I -P-”—-Eddy turned, the man fired, shooting one of his own men in the head before Eddy broke his neck then dragging the Commander into the house as he clawed at the door riping the metal screen with his well manicured nails . Eddy threw him on top of the sink , he bounced off the wall landing in the floor on his hands and knees face to face with Zorya with his Fangs and low growl welcoming him .

Hestia ;;;spoke in almost a whisper” If I was you I’d be very still , as tho my life depended on it “

Doug;;”It does , I assure you , it does “

Eddy closed the door and sat down ordering Garret to join him then steadying Zorya . Garret crawled to the chair Doug helped him into it .

Eddy;;;” Now that we have gotten that out of the way do you want to try a new approach ?”

The man looked at Eddy from across the table ” Your a dead man , soon this town will be over run with military and you cant hide in here forever “

Hestia laughed as she leaned over Garret to his ear ” You have no idea what you have started do you , you see this man , he wont hide and he can out last you so unless you want to be on the menu” pointing to Zorya “I suggest you listen ” she opened up the book pointing out all the beasts that lived out in the barren wast land . After telling how Eddy had cut her from her mothers womb and fed her his own blood then trapping and killed five of the beasts just like the one sitting in the middle of the floor . She poured the man a drink then pulled his head back and pored it into his mouth after he refused it . As the man coughed, choking on the Akta , Eddy sat back in his chair crossing his arms with a steel star in one hand and the boi in the other ” You now have a choice to make , “

” I kill you now then go out their and see how many of your men I can kill before they kill me ‘or’ we can stop this power struggle and you can tell me what you want ” he leans forward ” your running out of time your men are getting ready to teargas the house so decide ” Garret raised his hands in the air stood up and went to the door .

On Equal Grounds

105

” MEN ! STAND DOWN ! EVERY THING IS UNDER CONTROL SEND IN AGENT DOYLE ”

He turned closing the door “Doyle is why we are here ” then took his seat staring at the large beast that sat in the floor showing its teeth but not making a sound.

Eddy;;;;;” Well ! looks like we need some more chairs” . Doug clapped his hands saying on his way on his out of the room ” YEA ! now we are talking ” he patted Garrett on the shoulder twice with a loud smack . Hestia said “looks like we will need some coffee” as she walked around Zorya giving him a long stroke from his chests up the left side of his head .

Doyle now with Garret as they told their story of how a Volcanic eruption on the sun sent a solar flair strong enough to make it through the earths magnetic field causing so much destruction . Doyle , having been one of the nest employees for Eagle Eye , was assigned to studying the sun and only having a short window to get information from the telescope before its shield closed off . Eddy sat and listened to the mans theory of what happened before he pulled out his level 6 card from deep within his bag and told the men what really happened . The men listened and hung on Eddy’s every word along with Doug and Hestia as they listened to a story that Eddy had kept from them, on how the government refused to listen .

Garrett ;;;;” Not that I don’t believe you, but I will need proof of this before I can take it to my superiors . May I have your name and social security number and military ID as well “

Eddy burst into laughter louder than he had ever laughed ” Are you serious ! I really don’t give a rats ass if ‘you’ or your superiors believe me ! ”

“Hell’ the department of ministrant didn’t listen but mostly because they new their wasn’t a ‘dam’ thing they could do but go home to their family’s and hope for the best , and now that its all over and done , ‘you’ want ‘me’ to care whether or not some asshole that owns allot of land thinks ” Eddy stands up points his finger at the men ” Let me make it very clear if the one that owns the most land is the one in control then guess what ! Your looking at ‘the’ larges landowner on ‘this’ continent stretching from Florida to California from Carolina to Washington ! Now ! I ask ! Who is it you work for “

Toast to Ashland

106

Garrett ;;;” We are not at liberty to say “

Eddy;;;;” Not at liberty ! Liberty , you little pricks think you know what liberty is , but you don’t have a clue , liberty is the right to live in freedom . And you and your superiors have robed these people of that right with your Martial law “

Garrett;;;” This is not martial law this is —” Hestia cut in “Not martial law ! It was your people that put a ‘buss driver and a mail Carrier’ in charge of this town , A couple of morons that this man had to teach how to be civil with their duty’s . And you want to try to tell us that this is not martial law ! Get the hell out of my house and off of my lawn ‘now’ before I let Zorya have you and I confiscate every thing on my property with your not so called martial law law on my side and if you don’t think I can I will gladly get you the amendment that says I can . Zorya stood to attention now showing his teeth and growl joined with Xolotl standing in the doorway with the Vet holding up an IV bag and a terafied look on his face . The smell of urine filled the air as Doyle asked if he could go now . Eddy stood calmed the beasts and excused the men then wishing them a good evening as they left . Hestia cleaned the wet spot from the chair and the floor then threw the towel in the trash and began digging through Eddy’s bag . Eddy reached into the bag and pulled out a bottle handing it to her , she then poured them all a drink and toasted .

” To Ashland “

That night the property was clear of the armed men , they now stood guard along the streets as the rest of the town hung the new rights of ownership on their doors as warning .The gait and fence was guarded with a steady patrol running up and down the posts about three miles apart . The vet stayed the night as he slept beside Xolotl with Zorya asleep with his head on his lap .

Now with everyone passed out from the hypnos Eddy gathered his things waking Zorya then heading out threw a window , as they stood at the edge of the house concealed by bushes Eddy took out his throwing star and set it to flight into the transformer over head blacking out the entire town , giving Eddy time to step out and stretch his legs . Soon as he was far enough away he pulled out a towel and held it to Zoryas nose, he ran off with Eddy right behind as they headed toward the setting moon .

Hunt is on

93

Day crept in before they reached their destination .

Zorya took to a drain on the side of the road Eddy lifted the heavy steel plate and they descended into the underworld .

Zorya seamed to know just were to go and Eddy fallowed .

Night has covered the land once again so Eddy helped Zorya out by using himself for a stool . They reached a group of trees that hid a stone fence only six foot tall . As they stood on the edge a group of guard dogs came running over till they got a look at Zorya , he jumped down into the middle of them and rolled around on the ground .

Eddy had thought that Zorya had led him by another scent other than the rag . Eddy walked the wall till he got a view inside the house pulling out a scope and peered through . Zorya hadn’t led him to the urine, he had led him to Garrett. A dog lover with a well breed of Doberman ,and all female .

Eddy left the wall and headed to the house , most of the lights were off and the doors were left unlocked .

Why not with such great guard dogs on watch .

Eddy crepes into the house as he fallowed the sound of voices . Inside the bed room Eddy stood at the foot of the bed and watched the covers jumble around with moans and giggles of Passion arising from them . He grabbed the bottom of the bed lifted it high then dropping it to the floor . The couple jumped out from under the sheet to see Eddy standing with his white sword drawn and his index finger across his lips with a.

“Shh vewy vewy quiet I’m not hunting wabbit ” he then smiled as he grabbed Garrett by the ankle and stood him upside down .

”Scream and die , do I make myself clear ?”

the woman shook her head ” Good get dressed we have people to meet ” as he let go of Garrett dropping him half on and half off the bed then squatting in the corner with the white sword across his arms . The couple got dressed Garrett asked “what do you want”.

Eddy replied ” To go for a ride , you know it’s been a long time since I rode in a car and I bet you got a great one , lets go ” they left out to the garage were Zorya was sitting with his new friends . Eddy stopped Garrett as he started to open the door to a Jaguar and said pointing to the SUV . ” I think we need something a bit larger , don’t you ” .

Search for the leader

108

Eddy opened the rear door and Zorya jumped in fallowed by his harem . Garrett asked ” Where are we going , she has nothing to do with this ”

Eddy ;;;;” she does now ! Get in you are taking me to see your boss ”

Garrett ;;;” You going to kill her ?”

Eddy;;;” Her ! No! but if you don’t step on it she will be the only one with hands to hold the steering wheel ” .

The trip lead them deep into New York .

Eddy;;;;” So ! Tell me about this ’she’ that controls so much and if you lie to me you better pray I don’t find you after I find the truth “

Garrett;;;;” You going to kill us ?”

Eddy;;;;;” You going to give me a reason to ? Is this your wife “

woman ;;;;” No ! I am not! His wife is —Garret cut in ” She is just a friend she doesn’t know any thing about this “

Woman turns to Eddy ” My name is Shirley “

Eddy ;;;” Hello Shirley ! Don’t worry I’m not out to hurt any one ! But I am afraid that you will be stuck with us “

Shirley;;;;” That’s OK ! I didn’t have any thing better to do “

Eddy;;;” So ! Start talking “

Garrett;;;;” Well ! Her name is April I , I really don’t know her last name , I swear , she was with the defense division , some high security office , one of those so secret the president didn’t know . All I know is that it had something to do with a ‘what if ‘ scenario like what if we were attacked with nuclear or biological weapons . “

Eddy;;;;;;;” So how is it that she has so much land ?”

Garrett;;;” Well ! From the silos , they are all over “

Eddy;;;;;;;” Wait ! You telling me that because she owns land that the silos are on—”

Garrett cut in ;;;;” No she doesn’t actually own any land , she is the only one that know were they are “

Eddy;;;;;;;;” I get it ! You fallow her because she knows were these missile silos are “

Garrett;;;;” Well ! Yes and no ! She has the launch codes “

Eddy;;;;;;;;” launch codes ! ‘ He laughed ‘ “this just keeps getting better and better “

Shirley;;;;;” I don’t get it “

Eddy;;;;;;;;;” all of this the machines inside Ashland wasn’t to get gold or empty the vaults was it “

Settlement

109

The remainder of the trip was spent with Shirley and Eddy getting to know one another better as they talked philosophy and mythology she was doing a thesis on the link between todays Christian beliefs and the beginning of the Roman Catholic in junction to the ancient Aztec , Incas , Egyptian , and all other religions that has been pushed away by force Even before the teachings of Christ and how they all depicted the same thing

“JUDGMENT DAY”

Shirley;;;” Is that what happened are we what is left after judgment day ?”

Garrett;;;;” No sweaty this isn’t judgment day “as he reached putting his hand on her leg.

Shirley;;;;”I wasn’t talking to you ” as she lifted his hand returning it to the steering wheel then turning farther in her seat to Eddy ” So your the one that has him so uptight you got a girl friend out their ” Eddy stared out of the window lost in his own thoughts .

Garrett;;;” Oh great I hope he takes you with him “

Shirley turns around turning on the radio covering her voice ” It would be an improvement a real man for once “

They turned into a parking lot under a large building , Eddy let the dogs out first then told his escorts to get out they took a service elevator to the top floor then a another back down to the 35 th the doors opened up to a huge room with a fire place in the middle of it surrounded with curved couch and other furniture keeping a curved appeal as it extended out to pillars surrounding the area with gargoyles perched on top each with a different bodily expression . The dogs took to the furniture digging at the leather and furs from animals around the world . Shirley joined the dogs as Garrett lead Eddy to a set of sliding doors shining of deep mahogany and stainless steel bolts holding the pieces together . Garrett entered the room

” Excuse me for the interruption but we have a visitor ”

The lady stood up as Eddy entered the room ” Well , well , well ! I am so glad you have come to visit me please com in sit you are welcome here . As Garrett tried to explain he was cut of ” Yes , Yes that will be all Grant ” as she fluttered her hand . she walked over to Eddy offering her hand then running her fingers through the fur along Eddy’s chest

” OH ! MY ! and what do I owe this pleasure to ” as she held her hand out to a leather couch ” come sit make yourself comfortable ”

Secrets

110

She was an older woman that took pride in her look of a younger youth with high heels and stalkings with a seam ruining up the back of her legs to a skirt just above her knees matched with a well fitting jacket and perfect nails on her well adorned fingers , Her hair was short and full giving a well view of her ears and the jewels that hung from them accenting the rather large necklace that hung close around her long heck .

Eddy moved into an open area of the room removing his coat with a high toss swinging it to the floor at the end of the couch then removing his bag dropping it to the floor with a thump then removing the tooth buttons from his cloak and letting it fall covering his bag in between the handles of the crossed swords then fallowing it with his belt and its shoulder straps before taking a seat . The woman watched Eddy’s disrobing as she leaned her thigh against the large rounded arms of one of the couches facing one another creating a path from the large doors to her small desk with a thick stone top and large paw as its claws dug into a ball . She offered Eddy a refreshment and a selection Eddy turned it down then reached over retrieving his Akta ” A small glass would be fine ” The woman retrieved two and stood bent over giving a great view of her Brest’s from the low neck line . Eddy filed the glasses and then his mouth holding it with his eyes closed then swallowing .The woman watched then took hers she opened her eyes looking into Eddy’s then licked her lips ” Umm ! delicious ” then having a seat across from him crossing her legs and running her hand up her leg to her skirt giving it a pull then introducing herself ”

I am April and you with no doubt are Phoenix .

But if I may ask what is your true name ” Eddy sat in silence sipping his drink cupped in his hands . April stood and went to the desk leaning over the front of it opening a drawer ” Their is something I would like to show you Eddy I think you will like it very much . she looked over her shoulder still slumped over the desk with one foot lifted behind her smiling ” Yes I know who you are and don’t worry your secret is safe with me ”

Eddy;;” I don’t know what you mean m—-” April cut in as she returned dropping the folder in Eddy’s lap then taking her seat and returning to her drink . Eddy looked over the contents then closed the folder and setting it aside ” And how do you know this is me ?” April laughed

” I didn’t get to were I am by being naive I do know how to use a computer and yes we have many files that were not erased from the storm but relax that is the only proof of who you are keep it its yours a gift do with it as you see fit I have erased everything .

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You my large friend no longer exist in the computer age of man .”

Eddy ;;;” Why?”

April;;;” Quite frankly because you could do allot of damage with what you know and I hope for all are sakes you wasn’t to forthcoming with what you know ”

Eddy;;;” and what exactly is it that you don’t want known ”

April ;;;” Well for starters the fact that most of the missiles that I control is in Ashland which doesn’t matter really i still have enough out here that no one will care but they will be very upset to learn just how many are out their out of my control “

Eddy;;;;” and that is what you want from me to return them to you “

April;;;” Heavens no don’t be ridicules those nasty things I wish they had never been built but they are after all my ‘trump card ‘ but we do have a problem in common with them they need to be dealt with and soon you see we tried to get to them but that proved to not work out so well “

Eddy;;;’ So you sent men out their telling them they were looking for bank vaults but you really wanted was to get your hands on the weapons “

April;;;” Oh my Eddy you sure do get to the point but you missed your mark yes i wanted to get to them but only to disarm them “

Eddy;;;” They are armed “

April;;;” Yes! they came on line the moment that no one reported to them they have a safety feature that if no one reports to the computer after a certain time they come on line and take aim on their specific target zone “

Eddy;;;” 39 “

April;;;” Excuse me “

Eddy;;;” 39 their are 39 “

April ;;;” 39 what “

Eddy;;;;” 39 silos “

April;;;” don’t be ridiculous no their is only 4 “

Eddy;;;;” 4 and how many of them are over here ?”

April;;;” 4 “

Eddy;;;” Global what ?”

April;;;” Global how do you kno—36 ,, 37 ,, 38 ,, and you telling me that their are more I was told that all of them that the numbers was —” she covered her mouth ” God help us “

Eddy;;;” I am pretty sure god is setting this one out “

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April;;;;” How do you know that their are 39 of them “

Eddy;;;” when we were sent to a communications where we told our story to 39 delicates including ours “

April;;;;” We as in you and Areon “

Eddy ;;;” Yes !

April excused herself and came back later with some documents the first was titles to the land between Alexa’s house and the gait insuring him that no one will bother him again then she gave him all of the information he needed to take care of the missiles and a list of possible locations starting with current military bases leading down to government owned property then called for her pilot then flew Eddy and his dogs to the gait .

After a good by to Zoryas friends and a treat to some meats the first place Eddy went to was global 35 . After a few days of trying to sweet talk a computer out of some Information ,with no luck Eddy gave in and started cleaning his bag so he could fit some new thing into it from the stockpile . He come across something a ‘dingy yellow box ‘ he had bought from the traders so long ago . It caught his eye , he didn’t know why but when he pulled it out he remember . Back at the nest before he was reassigned the big man at his desk had one just like it hooked to the computer . Eddy checked out the box it opened up on one end showing a plug but one he had never seen even when he was at MIT . Eddy began looking around at the computers till he found a cord with the same fit , he plugged it up and Ares took on a much sexier persona as she began confessing all her sins to Eddy with just a touch .

Eddy now having a better Idea were the other global units are but that wasn’t much use since their no longer was a solid reference to find them .

Eddy had a thought ” Give me a ship and a star to guide me and I will find my destiny ” he couldn’t remember who said it but it gave him hope as he searched through the surplus in hope of finding what he needed .

It wasn’t their , good thing Ares was so well informed , she aided him in making his own sexton with a few modifications and using the vaults that he had located to keep his barrings he sat out to find the silos . Along the way back to the church Eddy paid a visit to some of the people he had avoided during the time he had Hestia and was being hunted by the pack .

The people told him of the visitor from outside and that he had shown them how to Extract the Akta and all of the uses of the ash that Eddy had put into his notes he left the people with a map showing them were to avoid .

Guidance

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As he made his way toward the rising sun The family was well and one person short Elisabeth had took Doc to the East .Eddy new that she wouldn’t go through the bagats territory , she would head south to the Edge of Ashland then fallow the divide so he made better ground through the Bagats Territory’s As Eddy stood with his full attention on the Sexton he found himself in old company. Barghest had circled Eddy without a sound just that stair the same one he had in his eyes as he peered down at his fallen comrades . Eddy tosses his things aside and prepares himself for a battle that he had avoided for so long Barghest gave out a howl and soon was joined by many more bagats Eddy now surrounded knowing that even if he beat the beast that the others will tear his body to ribbons long before he was dead . Barghest continued to circle as Eddy put on the spiked rings and removed his cloak tossing it out toward the beast taunting it into a charge as it leaped toward Eddy he turned planting the bone protruding from his elbow into the side of the beast but not in a favorable spot to bring the mighty beast down . As Barghest turned and charged Zorya leaped colliding with Barghest as they both spun to the ground snapping and mounting one another till Barghest stood over Zorya as he kicked weakly under him then stopped . Barghest limped away toward Eddy then fell over dead . The pack not knowing what to do joining in Eddy’s confusion He approached Zorya placing his hand on the side of the barley breathing beast .Zorya jumped with a snap to Eddy’s face barley missing as he fell backwards to the ground .Zorya stood looking around pacing in a circle around Eddy as he bellowed out his dare to the surrounding Pack of beasts that stood distant and still soon one approached and bowed down before Zorya and rolling over . Eddy stood as he looked around at the multitude of beasts as they all raised their heads and let out a howl that froze the very blood that flowed trough Eddy’s veins .Eddy’s head snapped to the direction of Zorya as he stood now behind Eddy just to the left with his head hung low teeth bared and a growl that Eddy had never heard from the gentle beast from a pup to now a conquering beast of the wild . He was only warning Eddy and he knew that the spot to his left was a dangerous spot So Eddy took it as a warning and slowly retrieved his things as the circling pack began to thin out into the landscape .Eddy now fully dressed approached the beast as it stood with its rear high tail low and head lower sporting a growl but with a more familiar tone .

Parting ways

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Eddy took to one knee and bowed his head ” Thank you old friend may you live long feared by many and loved by all ” then stood and headed to Florida . Eddy climbed the high wall of debris that surrounded the fort then headed to the rear of the main building making camp till morning Elisabeth came out fallowed by Leo and Doc Eddy watched making sure that things were well . Hearing Leo tell Doc that the men will see them as far as Alabama in the morning . As night drew in Eddy headed out just beyond the border of there territory and waited . Eddy fallowed Elisabeth and Doc till night then approached them as they made camp .

Doc;;;;” Jesus H you nearly gave me a heart attack ” as he stood giving Eddy a hug ” Good to see you again “

Eddy;;;” And you my friend ”

Elisabeth joined in with a hug began telling Eddy that they had just left from Fort Euros .

Eddy;;;;” I know I was there ” pointing to the sky

Elisabeth;;;” Why didn’t you let us know .”

Doc;;;;” We explained everything to Leo he is still pissed but he understands ” they all sat down by the fire ” That man sure has a head full of himself ” As he chuckled

Eddy;;;” I hadn’t noticed “

They all laughed and spent the rest of the night swapping story’s Eddy telling of his visit with Hestia but leaving out the trip to the city then telling about the Bagats how one was with the northern tribe and one with Hestia then the battle with Barghest .

Doc;;;” Well I guess that is our next trip I hope it wont take to long to get there we are running out of time we got to the fort just in time the virus it seems is being spread by you my friend Don’t get me wrong it will spread no matter what but as you travel you carry it with you But the biggest problem is I don’t know were it originated .

Elisabeth;;;” to bad we don’t have a vehicle to get us across the mountain “

Eddy pours another round of drinks this time from the bottle then diluting it with Akta .

Eddy;;;” Well I don’t know how far south this goes so we might not have to tackle the mountain but first we need to take a trip ” Eddy pointed out into the Bagats land .

Camouflage

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Morning came and the three headed into the mouth of the beast . The saw many Bagats but none dared to approach. Eddy got a good look of one that was fallowing them it was Zorya he was standing guard as always . They reached a building as they entered it Doc claimed he recognized this place then was positive as they reached the center of the structure were the Buelt stood with the now no more than skulls of the Bagats looking into the arena from their view on the ledges .

they circled the Buelt as Doc told Elisabeth the significance of the garden turned an arena of death .

Elisabeth;;;” So what are we doing here, I hope you didn’t lead us here for sport ” Then chuckled nervously .

Eddy pointed his finger to the sky rotating it ” What does this look like to you ?” Doc and Elisabeth looked around and agreed it looked like a garden with a large bird bath In the middle on top of a tree . Eddy removed his coat and bag then retrieved some tools he used a wire brush to brush away the thick ash that clung to the structure till he hit the surface doc replied ” concrete ” Eddy struck the surface hard with a small pick hammer knocking away the concrete exposing metal beneath it Doc” so what does this mean ” Eddy ” I’m not sure ” as he headed to the roof with his Saxton soon joined by Doc and Elisabeth . As the two looked down into the arena Doc said ” Phoenix I think I see what you are getting at but why go through so much trouble to disguise it ” Elisabeth ” You guys mind filling the dumb blond in on the joke ” Eddy ” No joke it’s a dish a satellite dish “

They headed back down with instructions to look for a door probably in the floor as they went their separate ways .Elisabeth called out till Eddy and Doc found her she was standing in front of an elevator and the floor in front of it was metal instead of concrete They cleared of the area opened it to expose a short step going just under the large box hanging just 6 feet over a large round door with an odd key hole Eddy inserted his key turning it counter clock wise then opening the door then climbing down after a few Brigeds to show their way . Inside they found much of the same as Global 35 Eddy went to the main computer finding the big red button then sending Doc to find the large book while he hooked up the yellow box to the computer then entering the code to disarm the missile . They fallowed the map to the machinery then to the surplus .Eddy worked on getting the large truck to start while Doc and Elisabeth loaded some provisions on to the truck . After Eddy got the rig to start they searched for a way out .

Return to the north

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Eddy took to a small computer on a wall in a vacant part of the room were a series of explosions went off above ground then a large engine tried starting Eddy ran to it and gave it some fuel then pulling a leaver engaging the hydraulic pump that opened two large doors over the open area . Eddy pulled the truck onto the open area then lifting it above ground to an audience of Bagats the truck was more of a tank with its belts covered in thick rubber and a larger bucket mounted on front Eddy dug out a clearing till the truck was off of the platform then rode it back down and hooking up a smaller truck to a large tank of diesel and heading back up with Doc and Elisabeth . After hooking the large tanker to the rig then returning the truck below they headed out bulldozing their way to a clearer path then heading out west till they reached the vault in Memphis then heading down a much clearer path once known as interstate 40 . Taking turns with the large machine learning how to operate its many features as they traveled along pushing anything that they couldn’t crawl over .and stopping along the way to give medicine to settlers and Eddy to get his Bering’s then heading on out to the mountains .

Once they reached the foot heels Eddy turned south to the area he had crossed then left Doc and Elisabeth to continue telling them that he will meet up with them on the other side and showing them the map and warning them that he hasn’t gone south and that they should go to the northern tribe that w en they return south that he should be across the mountain and they will meet at the ocean then headed back into the rocky mountains in search of the thing that had the Bagats on Edge .

Two days in and no sign of anything Eddy found refuge in a low land and made camp he was woken by a man standing over him with a extremely large gun and to far to reach .

V;;;” Well ?”

Eddy;;;;” Deep subject “

The man pressed the but of the rifle to his shoulder.

Eddy;;” Easy their I’d hate to live through all of this then die like this “

Eddy rose with his hands in sight ” I am going to put my weapons out OK ” the man took a few steps back “I am left handed so I am going to use my right hand ’slowly’ Eddy removed all of his weapons then pulled out some meats and Akta ” you care to join me ” as he held out a piece of meat in one hand then bit the other Eddy pored two drinks set one on the ground then backed away The man watched Eddy as he drank then he cautiously smelled of the dark liquid then drank it down then took a bite of the meats .

torn apart

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When the man woke he was bound with Eddy squatting beside him ” You ready to talk now ” the man just starred at him . Eddy pulled out the large knife and cut the bonds from the man and handed him the gun then turned away tending to the fire . The man shook the clouds away

” What happened ”

Eddy ;;;” Sorry about that but you were making me nervous ” He tossed the man a sack of meats ” don’t worry this wont knock you out I promise “then tossed the man his things and showed him his.

V;;; ” Were did you get those from ?”

Eddy;;;” Same place as you’ the nest’ . So do you have a name mine is Phoenix .

V ;;;” Jim Taylor ‘ Jupiter ‘

Eddy ;;;” OK !

Eddy told the man everything then handed him a syringe telling him if he doesn’t take it he will die and that Eddy needed him alive to help find the Global . the man “you know about ” he stopped then used the syringe on himself .

The man only in charge of 12 Globals assured Eddy that they were in good shape then with some persuasion showed him were they were . After Eddy saw to it that the missiles were fully disarmed he and Jim set out over the mountain .

James knew of many settlements along the way but most of them were to far north and since Eddy hadn’t gone near them and was out of the serum he decided to put them off till later .

Eddy and Jim arrived at the ocean almost six weeks later, Doc. And Elisabeth had only been their a week and had several of the tribes men with them to aid in the journey south . As they traveled down along the glassy shores with the tribes first ship EURUS (Euros) fallowing .

Doc. Calling out over the PA for any survivors as they arced their way south deeper into the peninsula once know as Baja . Finding no signs of life other than smaller versions of Zhu. These looking more to the licking of an ant eater crossed with a porky pine, tho a docile creature they are extremely well armed.

As Doc. Discovered after a closer look at a live one having got to close to it and getting a side full of quills hidden in the fur, painful but harmless. The Baja once hot, covered with sand, was now much cooler during the day and mild during the nights .

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The black glass seemed to work as a regulator . After a few months they reached the salt flats that once was white is now a deep golden yellow that made Eddy’s eyes glow in contrast . Everyone wanted to head back but Doc. Urged to go on wanting to see a salt mine that his brother and a few other of his kin had worked at . Even after all the complaints the trip was worth it . The mine with the high ceilings that seemed to go on for ever, was a comfortable, cool and a sight to see as well as a home for over five hundred souls. The people had tried to travel out but the land was to harsh and the waters to dangerous, with both many lives were lost .

¨¨The people having plenty of food and water rationed out along with the small creatures Eddy had listed as laopex. The miners were already showing symptoms, freeing Eddy’s mind that he was spreading the virus but troubling him since he had left villagers in the mountain Tityos. Most of the people wanted to leave from the mines , It took a few trips with the ship . Jim, returned with the miners with enough of the serum for the mountain people . Eddy and several from the northern tribe as well as a few from the mines took to the waters heading around the tip of the peninsula then east in to Mexico.

After 4 days heading south along the coast and finding nothing the men began felling ill and began their return home . They found EURUS, wanting for them at the eastern side of the peninsula . They returned to the Tadaklan tribe in the northern region in good time and rested . Eddy had convinced the leader whendigo to allow the men to try and find how far to the west that the Ashland carried out and deliver the vaccine. Since the second ship was nearly complete whendigo agreed . After Eddy taught the men how to use the sexton he headed out across the great mountain of Tityos their he left Doc. And Elisabeth to continue on and telling them to stop at the waters and find a fishing pole and were to fish from . Eddy headed south along the top of the mountain in hopes to find Jim well .Eddy had found several clans but none had seen Jim.

As night closed in the air was so still a feather could fall like a stone. Eddy closed his eyes for a moment as he lay gazing into the heavens above dreaming of the cottage and the woman within .

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A gust of wind crossed Eddy bringing him out of his tranquility. He opened his eyes to find bright read eyes set upon him it stood motionless and silent . Eddy reached for his blades but they were gone , everything was gone . The creature raised its arms with a flutter lifting it off the ground then setting down closer to Eddy. Close enough and yet not too close. Eddy scattered back and crouched down ;;; “It is you ! You are the one !”

The beast raised its arms and lifted off with a screech dropping Eddy’s things on the ground in front of him then settling back to the ground at a better distance.

Eddy stood “What is it you want from me ! More food ?”

The beast dropped to the ground with a clicking growl as it crawled toward Eddy.

It began to speak with the words full of clicks and ending every other word with a screech ” I only came to help ! Your man is dead ” tossing out a bag full of medicine that Jim had ” He fell I tried to catch him but he was frightened and let go .”Eddy looked through the bag it was nearly full ” He didn’t get very far “

Eddy looked to the winged creature ” What do I call you “

V;;;;” Friend “

Eddy ;;;” Yes ! I suppose I can you have been fallowing me a long time , I will call you Simurgh”

Simurgh Raised his wings and head and let out a great call that echoed through the hills then flew off into the night .

As morning came Eddy found markings on the ground it was an arrow pointing the way in the shape of wings that guided Eddy to the tribes through the mountain and more along the base of it guiding him farther south again then along the southern divide and back to the north. Eddy took a distant way from the path that was laid before him to make camp at the new age stone hinge . Simurgh joined him that night wanting to know why this spot was so important to him . Eddy told Simurgh a bedtime story as he fell asleep perched upon the girder . Eddy woke to no sign of Simurgh and reclaimed his direction he had left behind and waking every morning to find new directions beside him.

On his next trip heading south the signs stopped so Eddy made camp and waited . After five days Eddy was waken in the night as a creature fell from the sky Eddy cleaned it and stretched the hide by the time it was all done he woke with new directions this one led him to a familiar place it was the castle it still stood but only a shell of its former self .

Eddy found the cottage and as he walked through the remains his mind recalled every detail of it as he saw Areon on the couch , with her head buried in the fridge and the bed room as she lye with one leg and arm across him in bed . The only recognizable part of the cottage was the remains of a once towering Santanana and a closet that looked like it was made of steal this mad little sense Eddy had been in that closet many times it contained supplies for the computer room .

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no signs of the hefty metal shelves just ruble not even the pole only about a foot long but it was thick metal it is gone as well . Eddy Dug around on the floor the ash puled back like turf exposing a steal floor were the rest of the building was concrete. Eddy found a large stone that bordered the flower bed and began banging out S.O.S . After an hour of this Eddy began to feel like a idiot . He headed to the main building . On his way he noticed something that he hadn’t noticed before , a large statue of Atlas bearing the world on his shoulders . Eddy took a closer look he could see the continents in full detail even the mountains on land and in the sea the detail was so clear and so well detailed even a blind man could make it out . But it unlike anything else around was free of the ash that has covered the land even on glass . Eddy moved on tword the main house through the back into the sun room that overlooked the yard and the cottage . Then into the Game room then the den .As he stood in the doorway recalling the last time he was their a noise disrupted the silence Eddy thought it to be Simurgh and headed up the stares . It wasn’t him it was a picture on the wall it was untouched by the ash as it swung on the nail imbeded in the stone wall slapping it as the wind flowed through the open rooms . The photo in it was a scene from the bible depicting the coming of Christ as he stood with one foot on land and one in the sea as it burned and in one hand a lightning bolt and his head concealed in the clouds as a ghostly red light shown through . A scripture on it that read

“And behold he opened the sixth seal and the stars and heavens fell”

Eddy left the building into the court yard looking into the sky’s ” It’s not over, not yet ” He made way back to Atlas screaming to him ” You hear me It’s not over yet”

Eddy heard a noise coming from inside the globe , he pressed his ear to it then began hitting it and screaming ” Give her back to me or dam you all “

then fell to his knees then to the ground as darkness took him back to her .

When Eddy awoke he was in a room a light glowing over him with a faint hum as it flickered, noises outside the door people laughing and talking . Eddy began pulling off cords stuck to his naked body setting off an alarm . The door swung open and several people rushed in piling on top of him he felt a sting then darkness took him once again .

When he awoke again he found himself strapped to the bed , A woman came to him brushing his face with a cool wet towel telling him to rest he is safe as the voice faded farther and farther away into the distant darkness far away from him .

Eddy woke now untied and with fresh clothing at the foot of the bed and food on the table he ate and dressed then went to the door . As he walked down the hall no one even looked his way as they went about their own business till a woman approached him grabbing his arm at the wrist then looking at her watch then striking his eyes with a flashlight and asking him if he is dizzy Eddy responded ” No ! I am fine”, ‘rubbing his head trying to wipe the cobwebs from his mind ‘, ” Were am I ” .

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” You are safe and from the looks of you a safe place to rest is just what the doctor ordered my name is Kathy I am the head medical officer and you are in a underground complex ”

Eddy;;;” Is she here “

Kathy ;;;” Who “

Eddy ;;;” Areon is she here “

Kathy;;;” Come with me there is someone that wants to see you but I am afraid I don’t know Areon but I am sure you will remember this one .”

Kathy lead Eddy to a room and asked him to stay soon after she left a familiar face entered the room saying ” Any thing, Any thing at all ” with a big smile .

Eddy;;;;” Were is she ?”

Reddy;;;;” I was hoping you could tell me she left over a year ago looking for you “

Eddy was sent to intelligence for debriefing that turned out to be more of a briefing as the men asked Eddy questions but mostly only received questions to answer . The compound he was in was only one of many and the people hadn’t so much stepped out other than a few men sent out to do repairs on the communications dish that was useless . They had thought as everyone else in Ashland that the destruction was world wide . After Eddy had received the locations of the other compounds and a better idea as to the were bouts of the other Global units which none of the men new anything about and all swore that all nuclear weapons were dismantled during the 80s . Eddy provided them with detailed maps with co’ordinance using his Sexton that he lost for a spell while it was being duplicated and studied along with his belongings .After Eddy had let go of all his knowledge or at the very least all that he felt they needed to know and telling them nothing about the Greenys and the Great tribe of the north . Eddy was taken to Tokako and Giato they were sitting in a large room with a fire place in the middle of the room with several bottles waiting for Eddy to join them. The night was filled with laughter and drink and little was said or asked about the world above . In the morning Eddy went hunting for his things and a way out . He was met with restraint and after 4 men dying Reddy cut in and escorted Eddy out keeping the men at bay with a shotgun . Once outside he found a sign directing him and he met its course . Eddy kept his direction for nearly 7 days be for he woke to find another along with a fresh kill and some new creatures Eddy ran for 2 days with no sleep and after he had slept he was awoken by Simurgh He wanted to know why Eddy was running so hard and Eddy told him about Areon . Simurgh told Eddy that a woman fitting the description was in the caves were they were heading . This pushed Eddy even harder reaching the caves in a few days he took shelter and watched the opening of the caves for a few days as the people came out to hunt but no sign of her at all.

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Eddy was waken deep into the night and led to a small opening by Simurgh . Eddy went into the opening only large enough for him and his weapons and taking with him the boots and bones on his fingers . For 3 days Eddy climbed the walls and the spaces that no one minded till he reached a large opening filled with ages of draping, tights and strips of stone hanging from the ceiling of the open rounded hall . He made his way to the center of the area and found safety in the middle of the strips hanging down with its hallow middle large enough for him to stretch out and rest as he looked down to see every one as they went about their way .

Eddy could only judge the days by the activity of the people and guessed to have spent 4 days in his hallow and moving about within it by night discovering its labyrinth of tunnels most of them he had to remove his clothing to get through till it opened up once again . This area made safe for him to have light to make mapping of the area which the openings were all to high for anyone to dare to venture yet he found toys in one area and found that it was used by some children as a clubhouse were they sent their days at play . Eddy often sat and listened to the boys laughter as it echoed through the labyrinth into his own hallow were he watched patiently for a familiar face . Eddy had come to his end of hope when he heard a scream coming through the dark spaces . He hurried to see what the noises were for and found the boys being beaten with their toys by a man demanding they tell were they come from . The boys refusal to answer led them to being beaten with fists then as the man drew up a club high above his head taking aim at the boys curling up on the floor crying Eddy reached out and grabbed the club with one hand and thrust his Boi into the mans mouth as he looked up . The boys never made a sound as Eddy came down from the opening wearing only a leather garment covering his chest and growing . The boys looked at the strange man with his bones piercing through his skin and fingers then curled up in fear as he reached out for them . He stopped and removed the bones then reached out again with a smile handing the bones to the boys . The boys took the bones and poked their fingers through the hole then handed them back to the man .

Edd asked the boys their names and they replied Robert and Tyler . Eddy asked if the man will be missed and the boys said he will be missed so Eddy shoved the man into the hole and gave the boys a wink as he fallowed the body then stopping and asking the boys if they new a woman named Areon . The smallest boy handed tossed a toy into the opening then they left out as a woman called for them . Eddy made his way to an area that was large enough to work and began striping the beast of its hide and parting it of its meat and laying it out to dry as the blood flowed into the pit then using the bones to mount the hide and the clothing to bind it together . Eddy made more trips to the boys play room as they pecked on the stone calling to him . The boys brought him food and drink every day and told him of there life in the caves and that the woman was there .

107

Eddy fought hard against his will to run to her as the boys told that she belonged to “Sparat “the leader of the people and that the man Eddy had killed was one of his guards .

The woman goes by a new name the smallest boy told her name is Tethya and that Sparat was the one that saved her from dying in the bad lands and that Spart had locked her up in a cave and trained her to obey. The boys laughed saying she didn’t learn very well and that at night he locks her up to keep her from killing him . Eddy showed the boys his map of the areas below that he knew of and the boys showed him that the area she is kept is down here as he points several inches to the left of the paper. Eddy made a new map with the help of the boys after he had promised to take them with him away from there . Eddy tried to find a way to the area through the tunnels but their was no way to get there . Eddy told the boys that he will be gone for a few days, that he will return, and gave them a key to give to her, then left out. It took him a lot longer to get out than to get in the people were on alert with the disappearance of the guard . Eddy arrived to the outside finding that his bag was gone and three stones pointing way to a cliff facing .Eddy reached the cliff and climbed it to an opening were he found his things .

After a hardy meal Eddy drifted off to sleep . He awoke to a fluttering outside of the cave , as he approached to look out he was knocked back into it by the remains of a dead thing which he had never seen ,startled he tossed the beast from him and scattered to the wall as Simurgh came in laughing with his high pitch scream. “Thought you might be hungry” .as he lifted his head and clucked ” Have a nice nap ” .

Eddy stood drug the remains of the beast deeper into the cave and started a fire . As he sat and ate he told Simurgh that she was in their but she was deep in the ground .

Eddy spent a few days preparing then packed up his things and started down the mountain . Eddy reached the cave main opening and was met with many men wielding clubs and stones Eddy didn’t bother with them, there threats or their words he just walked right through and made his way into the spot were the boys said she was but it was empty . Eddy headed out and was over run by men just in the middle of the hall under the drapery’s . A man approached asking who are you ? Eddy didn’t answer he just looked at all of the faces . The man proclaimed in a loud voice “I am speaking to you ” .

Eddy looked at the man and asked are you Sparat , the man backed up ” yes I am ” Eddy asked Were is she ? Who ?Eddy dropped his bag “Tell me now and I will go in peace ” The man laughed then the others fallowed . Eddy slung his coat high in the air and it fell covering his bag with the fur down “I will ask of you once more were is she ?”

A scream rang out “Eddy!” as a figure struggled to make it through the crowd that subdued her . The man laughed “So it is her you seek “

Eddy looked at the man and asked ” You are Sparat “

108

Sparat lifted his hands and turned to the men ” You see I am known every where “

He looked to Eddy” And how far have you come to die my friend “

Areon yelled out throwing the key to him before she was silenced by one of the men hitting her in the stomach . The men drew in closer patting there hands with the bones fashioned with stones on the ends. Eddy took off his glasses and tossed them on top of the bag then removed his hat and stared at the man with his eyes glowing in the dim light of the torches then he removed his cloak and the men began to pull back as they saw the bones that protruded from his body . ” Well now that we have been properly introduced now what do you say. “

The men charged at command and they fell to the ground as Eddy wield his white sword in his left hand spinning and chopping at the men fumbling around . Eddy made room then took out the men holding the torches with his throwing blades . The men now in a panic in the dark room began swinging wildly hitting one another as Eddy walked through slicing and chopping till only one stood . Eddy stuck out his hand to Areon and she ran to him he pushed her aside when she tried to embrace him . Eddy approached the man . The man knelt to one knee and asked ” will you kill an unarmed man oh great master “

Eddy grabbed the man and checked him for weapons as he striped him of his clothing then lead him to the cave that Areon had been locked up inside for so long and threw him in . Areon closed the door and locked it then ran off returning with a key sticking it in the lock then breaking it off ” I hope you live long and die slow ” then spat at him and turned to Eddy and embraced him ” I knew you were alive “

their moment was cut short by footsteps Eddy prepared for Battle but it was not men of war it was two men carrying his bag and others holding his coat and cloak and some women holding his hat and glasses. Areon tugged at Eddy’s arm and told him it was Ok that they were good people . Eddy collected his things then headed out of the cave with Areon fast behind him and the people there after. Eddy stopped and looked around at the half starved people and said ” If you want to fallow I will lead you to safe land . The people scattered back into the cave one saying give us a moment to gather some things .

Eddy told the man pack light the trip is hard .

Eddy took to the edge of the clearing and stopped to Eat and feed Areon and gave her drink instructing her as she tried to drink it fast .

Areon ;;;” You look so different what happened to you ?”

Eddy;;;” I will explain it all to you in good time but for now we need to get these people to a safer place “

Areon ;;;” We can take them back to the shelter its under ground at the mansion “

Eddy ;;;” NO it is to far we will go east “

109

Areon;;;” But these people are sick they need medicine “

Eddy ;;;;” I know and they will have what they need “

The people done well on their journey to the west and after a few months they reached the lake always finding enough food along the way ,only a few asked about the animal that was dead when they found it and Eddy only told them.

“We are never alone, no matter how lonely we are , we are never alone .”

When they reached the lake Doc. And the rest of the people were waiting for Eddy and was happy to see the new comers . As everyone made camp for the night and taking their turn with Doc. Eddy took to the waters , As he looked into the dark waters a face appeared in place of his reflection smiling at him ” Its good to see you alive and well “

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Book 01        Genesis

01:001:001 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

01:001:002 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
           upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon
           the face of the waters.

01:001:003 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

01:001:004 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the
           light from the darkness.

01:001:005 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called
           Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

01:001:006 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
           waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

01:001:007 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were
           under the firmament from the waters which were above the
           firmament: and it was so.

01:001:008 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the
           morning were the second day.

01:001:009 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered
           together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it
           was so.

01:001:010 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together
           of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

01:001:011 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb
           yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his
           kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

01:001:012 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed
           after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in
           itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

01:001:013 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

01:001:014 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the
           heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for
           signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

01:001:015 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to
           give light upon the earth: and it was so.

01:001:016 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the
           day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars
           also.

01:001:017 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light
           upon the earth,

01:001:018 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
           light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

01:001:019 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

01:001:020 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving
           creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth
           in the open firmament of heaven.

01:001:021 And God created great whales, and every living creature that
           moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their
           kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that
           it was good.

01:001:022 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
           fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the
           earth.

01:001:023 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

01:001:024 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature
           after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the
           earth after his kind: and it was so.

01:001:025 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle
           after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth
           after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

01:001:026 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
           likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
           and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
           all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth
           upon the earth.

01:001:027 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
           created he him; male and female created he them.

01:001:028 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
           multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have
           dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
           air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

01:001:029 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
           seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree,
           in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it
           shall be for meat.

01:001:030 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air,
           and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there
           is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was
           so.

01:001:031 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was
           very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

01:002:001 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host
           of them.

01:002:002 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;
           and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he
           had made.

01:002:003 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because
           that in it he had rested from all his work which God created
           and made.

01:002:004 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when
           they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth
           and the heavens,

01:002:005 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and
           every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had
           not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man
           to till the ground.

01:002:006 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole
           face of the ground.

01:002:007 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
           breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became
           a living soul.

01:002:008 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there
           he put the man whom he had formed.

01:002:009 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree
           that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of
           life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of
           knowledge of good and evil.

01:002:010 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from
           thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

01:002:011 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth
           the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

01:002:012 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the
           onyx stone.

01:002:013 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that
           compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

01:002:014 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which
           goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is
           Euphrates.

01:002:015 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of
           Eden to dress it and to keep it.

01:002:016 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of
           the garden thou mayest freely eat:

01:002:017 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
           not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
           shalt surely die.

01:002:018 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be
           alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

01:002:019 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the
           field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam
           to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called
           every living creature, that was the name thereof.

01:002:020 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air,
           and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not
           found an help meet for him.

01:002:021 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he
           slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh
           instead thereof;

01:002:022 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a
           woman, and brought her unto the man.

01:002:023 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my
           flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of
           Man.

01:002:024 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and
           shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

01:002:025 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
           ashamed.

01:003:001 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field
           which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea,
           hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

01:003:002 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit
           of the trees of the garden:

01:003:003 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
           garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
           ye touch it, lest ye die.

01:003:004 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

01:003:005 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
           eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good
           and evil.

01:003:006 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
           that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to
           make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
           gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

01:003:007 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they
           were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made
           themselves aprons.

01:003:008 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden
           in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves
           from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the
           garden.

01:003:009 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where
           art thou?

01:003:010 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was
           afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

01:003:011 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou
           eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou
           shouldest not eat?

01:003:012 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me,
           she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

01:003:013 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou
           hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I
           did eat.

01:003:014 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done
           this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast
           of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt
           thou eat all the days of thy life:

01:003:015 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
           thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou
           shalt bruise his heel.

01:003:016 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and
           thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and
           thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over
           thee.

01:003:017 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the
           voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
           commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is
           the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all
           the days of thy life;

01:003:018 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and
           thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

01:003:019 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou
           return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for
           dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

01:003:020 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the
           mother of all living.

01:003:021 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of
           skins, and clothed them.

01:003:022 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us,
           to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand,
           and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

01:003:023 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden,
           to till the ground from whence he was taken.

01:003:024 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
           garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned
           every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

01:004:001 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain,
           and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

01:004:002 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of
           sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

01:004:003 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of
           the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

01:004:004 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and
           of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to
           his offering:

01:004:005 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain
           was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

01:004:006 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is
           thy countenance fallen?

01:004:007 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou
           doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be
           his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

01:004:008 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass,
           when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel
           his brother, and slew him.

01:004:009 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he
           said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

01:004:010 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's
           blood crieth unto me from the ground.

01:004:011 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her
           mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

01:004:012 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield
           unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou
           be in the earth.

01:004:013 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I
           can bear.

01:004:014 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the
           earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a
           fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to
           pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

01:004:015 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
           vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a
           mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

01:004:016 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in
           the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

01:004:017 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and
           he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the
           name of his son, Enoch.

01:004:018 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and
           Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

01:004:019 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was
           Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

01:004:020 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in
           tents, and of such as have cattle.

01:004:021 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all
           such as handle the harp and organ.

01:004:022 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructor of every
           artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was
           Naamah.

01:004:023 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my
           voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have
           slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

01:004:024 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and
           sevenfold.

01:004:025 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called
           his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another
           seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

01:004:026 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called
           his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the
           LORD.

01:005:001 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that
           God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

01:005:002 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called
           their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

01:005:003 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in
           his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name
           Seth:

01:005:004 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight
           hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

01:005:005 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty
           years: and he died.

01:005:006 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

01:005:007 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven
           years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:008 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years:
           and he died.

01:005:009 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

01:005:010 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen
           years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:011 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and
           he died.

01:005:012 And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:

01:005:013 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and
           forty years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:014 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years:
           and he died.

01:005:015 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

01:005:016 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and
           thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:017 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and
           five years: and he died.

01:005:018 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat
           Enoch:

01:005:019 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and
           begat sons and daughters:

01:005:020 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two
           years: and he died.

01:005:021 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

01:005:022 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three
           hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:023 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five
           years:

01:005:024 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

01:005:025 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and
           begat Lamech.

01:005:026 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred
           eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:027 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and
           nine years: and he died.

01:005:028 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a
           son:

01:005:029 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort
           us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the
           ground which the LORD hath cursed.

01:005:030 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and
           five years, and begat sons and daughters:

01:005:031 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and
           seven years: and he died.

01:005:032 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham,
           and Japheth.

01:006:001 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of
           the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

01:006:002 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were
           fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

01:006:003 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,
           for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred
           and twenty years.

01:006:004 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after
           that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men,
           and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men
           which were of old, men of renown.

01:006:005 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
           and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
           only evil continually.

01:006:006 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth,
           and it grieved him at his heart.

01:006:007 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from
           the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping
           thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I
           have made them.

01:006:008 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

01:006:009 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and
           perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

01:006:010 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

01:006:011 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was
           filled with violence.

01:006:012 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt;
           for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

01:006:013 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before
           me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and,
           behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

01:006:014 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the
           ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

01:006:015 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The
           length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth
           of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

01:006:016 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou
           finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the
           side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou
           make it.

01:006:017 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the
           earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life,
           from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall
           die.

01:006:018 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt
           come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy
           sons' wives with thee.

01:006:019 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort
           shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee;
           they shall be male and female.

01:006:020 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of
           every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every
           sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

01:006:021 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou
           shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee,
           and for them.

01:006:022 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did
           he.

01:007:001 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into
           the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this
           generation.

01:007:002 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the
           male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two,
           the male and his female.

01:007:003 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female;
           to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

01:007:004 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth
           forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I
           have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

01:007:005 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

01:007:006 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters
           was upon the earth.

01:007:007 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons'
           wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the
           flood.

01:007:008 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of
           fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

01:007:009 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and
           the female, as God had commanded Noah.

01:007:010 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the
           flood were upon the earth.

01:007:011 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month,
           the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the
           fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of
           heaven were opened.

01:007:012 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

01:007:013 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and
           Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three
           wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

01:007:014 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after
           their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
           earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every
           bird of every sort.

01:007:015 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all
           flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

01:007:016 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh,
           as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

01:007:017 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters
           increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the
           earth.

01:007:018 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the
           earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

01:007:019 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all
           the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were
           covered.

01:007:020 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the
           mountains were covered.

01:007:021 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl,
           and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that
           creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

01:007:022 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was
           in the dry land, died.

01:007:023 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the
           face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping
           things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed
           from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that
           were with him in the ark.

01:007:024 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty
           days.

01:008:001 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the
           cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to
           pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

01:008:002 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were
           stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

01:008:003 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and
           after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were
           abated.

01:008:004 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth
           day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

01:008:005 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in
           the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops
           of the mountains seen.

01:008:006 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened
           the window of the ark which he had made:

01:008:007 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until
           the waters were dried up from off the earth.

01:008:008 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were
           abated from off the face of the ground;

01:008:009 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she
           returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the
           face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took
           her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

01:008:010 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth
           the dove out of the ark;

01:008:011 And the dove ca