Frontiers Flint MurdockChapter 16 LeMat
- 3 years ago
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The Bighorn sporting ladies turned into mother hens, flocking around Rosie. She was surrounded by gentle attention, by affection. Which, I figured, was mostly to the good side of the ledger.
Rosie was clingy with her mother. Rebecca had been overwhelmed with emotion. Joy, relief, guilt ... mostly joy, I think. The two of them, mother and daughter, were inseparable. But Rosie still hadn’t said a word.
Of course no one asked her about what she’d been through. Not with the Chippewas, not with the three brothers who, we learned later, had paid 20 dollars in gold coins for her. Well, those three buyers hadn’t had a chance to do much more than maul her a little. Humiliate her. Terrify her. And only Rebecca knew about them.
The Indians? I’d provisioned Cayuse up and he was slow-trailing his way back toward the Chippewa reservation.
Three weeks after we’d brought Rosie home to her mother, the US Marshal for this part of the Territory of Montana looked me up. George Autry, huge gunfighter mustache, white hair, around 50 or so, said, “Heard some good things about you, Murdock.”
He was a short man, compact, but didn’t seem to have a chip on his shoulder about his height. Some do.
We were seated in wooden chairs on the boardwalk outside the Buffalo Cut, sipping coffee. There was a better brew across the street, but here we were. We watched two lean cowboys, skin like rawhide, haze a Brahma bull up Market Street, heading north. He was heavy, lumbering, over two thousand pounds by my estimate. Massive horns wider than I could reach.
His maleness swung ponderously back and forth by his rear legs. Across the street on the west side, three young girls, blushing and giggling, nudging each other, walked along the boardwalk following the procession. Whispering and shushing each other.
One of the cowboys tipped his hat, “Ladies,” and they turned even redder. But still stared at the stud bull.
Autry said, “Word is, Goodwin’s getting into the cattle business.”
Figures. Meat purveyor to Camp Métis. The rich get richer, nothing newsworthy about that. Except that if he got a herd going, Goodwin would be hammering the last nails in the sodbusters’ coffins. And Brahmas make some fine eating, so he’d probably be able to charge the Army even more.
Autry and I watched two high-bustled women jiggle their way across Market to Ollie’s emporium.
He said, “I like the way you quieted Little River down.”
I nodded, had the feeling he was going somewhere with this conversation. The longest we’d ever had. Usually he just sent a deputy into town.
“I asked around. Chambers, Mosby, Harlan Goodwin. Consensus being, the town could use an official sheriff and you’d make a good one.”
“Which Chambers?”
He grinned, “The Decider.” Mrs. Chambers.
He stood and spat tobacco into Market Street. “Interested?” “Maybe.”
“If it’s money, you won’t lose any. Won’t get rich, but won’t come up short neither.”
“A couple of things. Rules.”
He grinned again, “The famous Flint Murdock Rules. Let’s see, you want to expand them to cover the whole town.”
My turn to nod.
“And the second thing?”
“I pick my own deputy.”
“Whoa. That ain’t part of the usual package.”
I shrugged. I’d pretty much tamed down the entire town and he knew it.
“Who you got in mind?”
“A breed. Name of Cayuse Valdez.”
Autry frowned, not liking the breed part. “Helped you with that little girl, what I heard.”
“Rose of Sharon Robinson. Wouldn’t have found her otherwise.”
He gazed off into the distance, no longer seeing Little River. Two different whores had told Rebecca that Autry had some political ambitions once Montana became a state. Which was looking more likely.
Ying Lee and Dumpling hadn’t conducted business directly with the Marshal, but a couple of his civilian aides blabbed in bed.
So Autry was probably considering the political impact. Well, Little River was just a backwater, barely a dot on the map. The news about one breed deputy probably wouldn’t make much noise down Territory one way or another.
Now some of the local talent might not take too well to a Cayuse Valdez getting into their business. But that way my lookout, not Autry’s.
He held out his slender hand, “Deal. Let’s drink on it.” Strong handshake.
Rebecca and Rosie watched the swearing-in ceremony from the upstairs balcony of the Bighorn. That night, Rosie stared at the gold star and spoke her first words. She cupped her little hands around my ear and whispered, “Don’t leave me.”
I was glad, really glad, to have Rosie back with us. But it sure changed things between me and Rebecca. Bed things. Nevertheless, I had planned on taking the room next door, leaving the Robinsons to their privacy. To their getting-to-know-each-other-again privacy.
But Rosie, wide-eyed, clinging to my arm, shook her head. Rebecca touched my arm, “No, you’ll stay with us, Mr. Murdock.” Her back to Rosie, she mouthed, “Please.”
Rosie, so far as I could tell, didn’t have screaming nightmares. Some nights she whimpered in her sleep and tossed around a little. But mostly she just clung to her mother throughout the night. I slept on the other side of Rebecca, nearest the door.
Rebecca bought me a pair of pajamas from Ollie’s Emporium, first pair I’d had since I was a kid in Indianapolis. I thought Rosie maybe had a little smile on her face, but couldn’t tell for sure.
Mrs. Robinson now wore a floor-length cotton nightdress to bed.
But one room, even with that little balcony, was too cramped for privacy. Rebecca got back to her old bathing everyday ways. And, after four or five mornings, started washing me too. Rosie looked silently on.
The three of us went downstairs for breakfast, then I was off to render lawman duties to the town. Rosie never left her mother’s side. Assisted with the waitressing work at lunch and then again at night. Cleared tables, helped with the washing up, did whatever needed doing, never speaking a word.
But no matter how small she walked, you could tell the memories were still haunting her.
Rebecca and Rosie both worked steady, but I knew it was nothing like what they’d been doing back on that little hardscrabble ranch.
The neighbors down there had simply buried what was left of Chet Robinson. A small ceremony, over quick because there was always more work that needed doing. Rebecca hadn’t attended; so far as I knew, she and Rosie never visited the grave that was marked only by a cairn of rough stones. Well, their business.
A couple of weeks after we’d brought Rosie back, Cayuse Valdez moseyed back into town. He looked at the star on my chest, but didn’t comment. Not much of a talker, Cayuse. He took out his Bowie; honing it when he was seated seemed to be kind of an automatic habit.
I said, ““Chippewas?”
He made a brief slashing motion across the front of his neck.
I held up three fingers.
He nodded.
So, that’s that.
Well, there was one more thing. Cayuse opened a buffalo skin pouch. Chippewa markings. Gold coins.
I smiled, “Yours.”
Rosie couldn’t look in our new mirror. Shielded her eyes every time she passed in front of it. I hadn’t actually noticed it, but when Rebecca turned the mirror to face the wall, she explained things to me. Speaking from my experience back home, I knew mothers could be especially perceptive.
Having a breed as a deputy sheriff didn’t cause as much of a local stir as I had thought. For the most part, the townsfolk seemed to appreciate the no-gun policy I’d established for the whole of Little River. A newcomer couldn’t buy a drink, sample a whore, enjoy a meal, until he’d stopped by the new jail at Second and Market.
It wasn’t a proper jail yet, funds hadn’t come through for the construction of the cells. But I had a sturdy, padlocked closet inside the Market Street office for holding guns and knives. Rebecca even figured out a system to keep track of whose was whose when it came time to return the weapons.
Cayuse had gained some favorable attention for tracking down Rosie’s abductors. Word got out about the three missing Chippewas and several people whispered Cayuse’s name. Officially, the Army, the agent for Indian Affairs, and Marshal Autry had no comment about the missing braves.
The three men who had paid for Rosie ... well, the first night after we’d taken Rosie away from them, Cayuse showed me a saddlebag he’d packed and brought back from their campsite. I looked at the three wallets, about 20-some dollars. I handed over the cash to him. He nodded and put it away. I was getting paid every week; he had been a volunteer on that operation.
I poked through the rest of their stuff — three brothers, worked at a boiler manufacturing operation owned by their father, Ward Riggers. The company was headquartered just over the border in Wyoming Territory. No one ever connected the Riggers brothers to Rosie, to the Chippewas, to Cayuse and me. Their horses were eventually rounded up and identified by the Riggers’ brand, but no one knew where the riders had disappeared to. Hell, I hope.
Nature took its course, had her way with me. Rebecca giggled; she was soap-and-watering me and ... well, nature took its course. I was pointing straight up at the ceiling. She winked at Rosie, “Don’t think this here is normal, Rose of Shannon, it ain’t, not by a long-shot.”
My face felt pretty hot, but Rosie seemed more curious bout the proceedings than upset. Rebecca got that impish look on her face and held me around the base with both hands and shook it in the air, soapy water flying around. Rosie had that maybe-smile on her face, but didn’t say anything, just watched.
Rebecca put on a Southern drawl, “Why, Mr. Murdock, I do declare.”
For some odd reason my two aunts, Aunt Molly and Aunt Emma, popped into my mind. They, and my mother too, joked around considerable. The Gilmore Girls. While I didn’t understand a lot of the undercurrent of their comments back then, I had a vague sense of something playful, maybe even naughty.
Two mornings after her mother had waggled my equipment at her, Rosie leaned across the Bighorn breakfast table and cupped her hands around my ear. So far as I know, I was the only one in the world she whispered to.
“Mama said you’re the town stud. The girls say you’re the biggest man around.”
Rosie sat back, dabbed a piece of biscuit in a pool of honey and took a small nibble. Looked about 10, maybe 8-years old.
Cayuse and I took turns walking Market Street, up the east side, down the west. The other one of us would walk back and forth on the twelve numbered streets — three blocks to the east of Market, four to the west. Little River kept expanding, slow but steady.
And more growth was coming. The town had taken up a collection for its first schoolhouse. They bought the lumber from the Hank Mosby Sawmill. He had offered a discount for green lumber, but too many citizens had been burned by that one already. The cracked and warped and split boards called for a lot of replacement lumber, which Mosby was happy to supply.
The town advertised and hired a schoolmarm who had attended the same land-grant college I’d spent a year at in Laramie. But she’d been before my time. Miss Helen Maple had just turned 50. Probably a story there — why’d she pick up and leave home to come to Montana? Where she didn’t know anyone?
But most of us around here had some sort of story or another. Besides Miss Maple was the only one to answer the ad. Mrs. Chambers patted the application and approved, “She can read and write, do her numbers, that’s all we need.”
Mrs. Chambers spent some time talking with her newest permanent hotel guest, Rose of Sharon Robinson. It wasn’t hard to figure out that palaver — Rosie was 14, bosomy, had a great smile like her mother. And a pussy. Pussy most of all.
We decided to picnic down by that little creek. Rebecca spread out a blanket and Rosie unpacked our lunch. Simple, just ham and biscuits and some corn whiskey to sip on. No need for a cooking fire. Rosie looked at her mother and Rebecca laughed out loud. Rosie grinned. Rebecca jumped up, “Mr. Murdock, that creek water looks mighty inviting. Care to join us?” Rosie stood too and, bold as brass, the two of them started unbuttoning their dresses. Not a care in the world. I stood up, looked...
Evening didn’t take long to reach Little River, but the town never got all that quiet. Saloon laughter and arguments, a lone coyote off howling about something important to him, the wind whipping through. Sometimes I felt the night was talking to me, trying to tell me something. Word had come from Cleveland, via Kansas City, to pull in their murder suspect. Hold Venerable until further instructions arrived. It was a law enforcement request, not an order, but I was more than ready to...
I would never win any speed contests sending telegrams. My fingers are big and they felt clumsy tapping on the key. But I’d had enough experience to send a message on my own. And to decode incoming ones. It was a small talent, but learning how to do something new never had hurt me. Hunting and fishing were new once. Skinning. Roping. Shooting. Of course everything at Mrs. Adler’s had been new at one point. Credit due, Ollie Chambers may be portly and soft and over-careful around his...
I’d learned from Ying Lee that being the purchasing agent for Camp Métis was a pretty lucrative post. The fort was on the Missouri River, not that far from the mouth of the Judith. Near where Camp Cooke had been before they abandoned it to the rats back in 1870. The Army needed beef and the purchasing agent supplied it. And, he determined the price he would pay the ranchers. Another whore, my pal Masie, told me, “They got over 400 soldiers stationed there. To protect the steamboat traffic,...
The Territory came through with the prison construction money — $85. It wouldn’t be much of a town jail, two cells big enough to hold four or five miscreants each if Little River had a sudden crime wave. But it made the growing town proud, our new jail. The builder had to knock out part of the back wall of our office and build a 10 by 15 addition. I ended up sort of job foreman and passed on Hank Mosby’s ‘sale’ lumber. It wasn’t part of the Territory contract, but Cayuse and I ended up...
The first time I borrowed the hotel’s one-horse buckboard from the Bighorn so Rebecca could ride down to see her family, I followed her on Scarface. Stayed just out of sight, but she wasn’t checking her flank. I got my spyglass out and could see Chet and Rosie standing in front of the house. If he tried anything, I’d fire both barrels of my scattergun up into the air. The sound would carry easy, even this far away. But he just stood off to the side as she hugged her daughter, held her as...
What Rebecca had spotted in that magazine from back East was an illustrated article about quilting. She and her mother and sisters had done some before she ran off with Chet. And now she was determined to get back into it in a serious way. These days Rebecca was working in the Bighorn Restaurant, waitressing for both lunch and dinner. Dinner was the big draw. She was a volunteer, wouldn’t take a dime from Mrs. Chambers. Would the money have helped her husband with his debts to Ollie...
My room on the third floor — our room, I guess — had a rocking chair, a handsome walnut job that Rebecca had comforted up with a thick pillow filled with goose down and a red cover she stitched together herself. I liked to sit on it of an evening and sip a sip or two of Jameson. Rebecca had taken to undressing and then straddling me when she was in a certain mood. We put that chair through some pretty fast paces. Sometimes, when we’d finished, she’d squeeze me, keeping me corralled until all...
Cayuse and I, feet up on opposite sides of the sheriff’s desk, were sipping after-breakfast coffee that Rosie had brought us from the Bighorn. He said, “Take a ride, jefe?” Talkative this morning. “Sure. Where?” “Sodbusters.” It was outside our jurisdiction, some miles south of town. But things from the outside often slopped over city boundaries. And if Cayuse suggested it... We got our mounts from Livery Lou and wheeled them left, past the Holy Redemption, past Matty’s Bar, past the...
Cayuse carried a Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver, .44 caliber. When he made his rounds in Little River, he usually left his Winchester rifle locked in the office. But he always carried that wicked-looking Bowie in his belt scabbard. Always. Just like I took my eight-gauge with me when I walked the town. More habit than necessity. The first time the Bighorn bartender, Cheney, saw it, he asked if I hunted locomotives. My first day in town. Well, we didn’t have any locomotives here, but my...
Rebecca and I waited to order breakfast until Rosie and Cayuse came down to join us. Rosie was a little flushed, Cayuse looked the same. The Bighorn had eggs that morning, went good with salt pork and biscuits and honey. Rosie and Cayuse didn’t mention the previous night so neither did Rebecca and me. I figured Rosie and her mother would talk things over when they were alone. Although, thinking on it, Rosie was just as likely to talk with me. She’d gotten in the confiding habit back when...
"Do you know the way to Bell Street?" The man asked. "If you go back the way you came, and turn left at th- " The young man clamped a rag over Chad's mouth, his eyes flickering before his body goes limp, falling to the ground, Flint barking. When Chad opens his eyes, he's naked and strapped to a hard wooden table in a dark room. He looks around, past his spread legs. Flint sits in the corner, waiting patiently. "Flint...here boy!" He whispers loudly. Flint growls and falls...
It wasn’t much of a telegram — just three words: “Return to Helena.” Four words, if you counted the signature: “Autry.” Well, we had made it as far as Butte, about 70 miles or so south of Helena. Not all that much progress since we were on our way to San Francisco via the transcontinental railway system. In fact, it felt like we were moving backwards in time as well as distance. But no one argued about the change of plans. The Montana Territorial Marshal wouldn’t ask us to interrupt our trip...
After a good breakfast — they had eggs available — Riles asked what Cayuse and I would be doing that morning. “First we’re going to ride around town, get a sense of where everything is.” “And then?” “We’re going to visit the madams. Starting with Josephine Airey.” Emma laughed, “She sounds pretty formidable. A while back, Chicago Joe put a notice in the newspaper. Told saloon owners and gambling houses not to serve her husband, not to let him drink or place bets and, most of all, not to...
In front of the hotel I said, “Meet you at the depot.” Riles grinned, “I hope it’s a big bonus. You and Cayuse earned it.” Chicago Joe had sent a runner, her houseboy, and asked me to meet her and Crazy Belle at the Castle on State Street. Another bonus might be a possibility, but that seemed especially generous since they’d already given Cayuse and me $200. Well, one way to find out. As I walked down State, I was still impressed with what the locals called Fun House Street. Those angled...
A couple of Denver things were bothering me. Cayuse and I were sidelined, out of it. We couldn’t even reconnoiter, explore the area. And, I found myself itching to stay proficient with my weapons. I’d never practiced drawing my Peacemaker without firing it too. My grandfather Clive had told me, “It should be one smooth motion. Physically and mentally. You don’t want to clear leather and then have to start thinking about pulling the trigger.” But now, back in our bedroom ... well, I worried...
One thing struck me as odd. Cayuse was off on another of his “Be back” trips and the Gilmore Girls had never asked me about his absence. Three of the most curious people I knew. So I approached Molly, and of course they already knew all about Cayuse’s mysterious disappearances. Molly said, “What do you know about the Kiowas, Flint?” “Well...” “The name means ‘principal people’. Serious people — people who take their dreams seriously. Interpret them, think about them, analyze them. And the...
Early one morning, Molly smiled at Cayuse and me, “You’re going for a walk with us. Time to see the nicer side of town.” It wasn’t a suggestion, wasn’t even an invitation. Cayuse and I were going for a walk with them to see the nicer side of town. We were quite a crowd — the Robinsons, the Gilmore Girls, Miss Melanie, Cayuse and me. He and I had already covered the entire city several times, but I knew we hadn’t seen it through their eyes. It was still snowing so everyone bundled up. No...
Three axe murders. One in each of the three whorehouses. Two in one night — The Red Light Saloon and the Castle. The third one in the Osgood Palace. All three after the ladies were finished for the night, the customers had gone home, and the establishments were closed. Cayuse and I, and occasionally Marshal Autry, did most of our patrolling during the killing hours. We worked until the sun started coming up. Well, it was more clouds and snow than sunshine. Cayuse and me ... it wasn’t our...
Winter 1862 I looked out the window of the stage coach as the snow started to fall, the first snows of winter feeling a little sorry for the driver. I hated the damn snow. After this job was done I take my money and head west, California maybe. There sure as hell wasn’t anything left for me back home after the war. The snow sent a chill down my spine but luckily I had two lovely ladies to keep me company. I glanced down at them. A French lady from and her daughter. I had paid their way in...
Group SexAs we dressed for the Christmas Eve event, Rebecca was trying to tamp down a big grin. She said, “Miss Melanie.” “Okay.” “We all agreed that the Gilmore Girls will spend time with her first. Since they don’t have sleeping companions.” She burst into laughter, “Like me and Rosie.” “Okay.” Rebecca was a little giddy. Partly the idea of another romp or two with Miss Melanie. But also tonight’s gala at the Ming Opera House. And tomorrow was Christmas with presents and the tall, fat tree in...
While Autry was based in Helena, he was a Territorial Marshal responsible for Lewis and Clark County and several surrounding ones. One of his current concerns was a prospective new gold mine a few miles north of Helena. It was a recent claim, not too far from the already successful Gregory Consolidated Mine and Works. The site was an early summer discovery that was still generating some excitement around Helena. Supposedly some big-time bankers from Chicago were considering investing in what...
The snow kept falling pretty steady, but Cayuse and I continued to explore Helena and the area around it. Several downtown faces were becoming familiar to me. And probably to Cayuse as well, although he didn’t mention it. I’d had a glimpse of Varner three or four times since he had arrived in town. Walking around, tending to Pinkerton’s business I guess. I never was close enough to actually see his face, but I recognized his shape, his thick body. And the black overcoat he always wore...
Autry went off on marshal business and I returned to the Lenoir. Hoss was staying on our floor, and he and Cayuse and I walked down to the meeting room on two. I explained what Riles had overheard. And the telegram that Autry had just sent. Both men listened without interruption. Hoss nodded. I said, “Here’s what we’re going to do, starting tonight.” This time both of them nodded. It was a small change in tactics, just a minor adjustment. And it was unlikely to actually pan out. But it was...
“How do you know Dewan?” No help for it, “Ask Jimbo.” I chuckled. Take that! Jimikins. Didn’t work. Jim said, “Ask Albert.” Drat. Albert confessed to getting lost and stumbling on the house when it was an illegal restaurant. “As to the rest ... ask Surprise.” I explained the sinking, finding the land, phone call amiss, leased the land, this boat ... and like that. “Daddy says you are loose with your favors,” one said. “That would be Cyn, my sister.” “You have a sister?” “And a...
Contact notes: Contact=Tyche Selene Flintkote. The following is from the recording and video tape of the night in question. Tyche Selene Flintkote is four(4) years old... “But I’ll be 5, October 31st 2020.” (First instance of Miss Flintkote’s interpretation of Rules Rule 1:Contact does not volunteer information. Okay? Okay.)(Also First instance of Miss Flintkote’s intelligence) Miss Flintkote possesses Princessapality Pilots License...”It’s a beginners ... Okay Okay okay.” 2nd instance...
I’m sure you’ve heard this before: No plan survives first contact. In our plan, we were nonstop from BNE, 11 The Circuit, Brisbane Airport QLD 4008, Australia to Hong Kong International, 1 Sky Plaza Rd. Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. It would have been oh so convenient ... Hong Kong International is in Aberdeen, Hong Kong ... damn near walking distance to Starship. “No,” said the man behind the counter. “We don’t fly direct to Hong Kong. We fly to Singapore or Manila.” “But, my tickets ... paid...
The watch was old, the crude ring older still. Scrabbling around in the box, I found a letter written on grocery bag paper. The letter was the same color as the cardboard box Flintkote, the letter in the box began. Just Flintkote ... Not Surprise, Cynthiamae or Jack ... just Flintkote. Flintkote, This all of your inheritance. The watch will take you to the past or the future. Eventually, if you use it enough, you will meet the Seven in One ... they are from the future ... and the past....
“Who are you?” said the pretty lady behind the desk. “Kucherenko, Khrystyna,” replied the pretty Ukrainian. “Ya know ... I didn’t think this thing was going to work.” “Tyche Flintkote,” said the tiny replica of Sultry Wench Flintkote. She was still holding on to Krys’s shirt. “What have you done with my daddy?” “We have absolutely GOT to fix the damn portals,” said the Ceiling. “Your daddy?” “John Walter Flintkote, my daddy,” Tyke said. Ceiling said, “Sent him home weeks...
“Where did the ‘We’ come from?” I said, “I’m building Farr 3.7’s ... you’re going to school.” “Nope ... not old enough. Have to be five ... won’t be five until October.” “I’m going to check on that.” I called. “Hi. I’ve had a 4 year old foisted on me by her mom. What proof do I need and how old does she have to be?” ‘When will she be 5?’ “October.” ‘I’d say you have plenty of time to gather up your paperwork. Just for conversation’s sake ... her name and present address.’ “Tyche...
When you’re at sea, passage making, it feels like you can’t wait to get ashore. After 29 days at sea ... even Samoa works. But ... three days ashore and we’re itching to get to sea. You can’t please everybody all the time. Teenagers seldom settle. Satellite radio and TV are our means of keeping up with the doings of the land based. Listening to the propaganda (NEWS) 0r watching the bubbleheads express opinions so far away from the opinions of real people gets either boring or hilarious ......
Cyn was right ... they should have warned her ... but the Powers that Be aren’t Gods ... they are extremely adept scientists. Scientists generally don’t have time for mundane shit ... like explaining about a watch user materializing in water because the marina isn’t there in the past. They haven’t warned the holder about the invisibility factor either. That should be easy ... don’t wind the watch backwards. Cyn turned to me, “I don’t want the damned thing ... you take it.” “Nope ... you’re...
Several weeks later, after Cyn, JW and the CAT had moored in front of the Hotel waiting a berth at the Yacht Club, I got a strange request in the mail. The address was: Miss Surprise Flintkote The 48 foot Farr Cutter The Anchorage Carey’s Bay Hotel Port Chalmers, Otago New Zealand The letterhead: Bank Of New Zealand Wellington Office Wellington Miss Flintkote: The Bank has received a request. An anonymous party has made an appeal. The party wishes to make a deposit in your account....
She had to think about that for a few seconds, “Flintkote Addie Resort-managers daughter?” Tyche asked. “No...” And here was a bit of Icelandic... “Tyche Addierétturstjórnandidóttir,” Addie said. The planet, Cassandra, has been receiving Heroes from all Earth nations. Admittedly, the majority of those heroes have been from English speaking territories. But not all heroes are restricted to English ancestry. Cassandra is a Matriarchy, and that is a social system in which females hold the...
It used to be so simple. Men and women. That was it. I'm struck by how complicated things are now. So much talk of genders. Of more than two. Nature though, nature keeps it simple. Nature and evolution have come up with a system that the penis gets erect, penetrates the vagina, and ejaculates. The vagina and uterus take this seminal fluid and grow a new being. This continues the species. I'm amazed at the evolution from its most basic principle to how we as humans are now. At what people...
Nick stood on the riverbank, staring at the water as it cascaded mercilessly over the rocks. The sun beat against his skin, beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of a breeze, he knew the sun would take its toll on him later, but at the moment, he didn’t care. “These are going to be incredible,” he muttered, peering through the camera and zooming in for his next shot. He expertly clicked the button several times before reviewing the pictures. “Damn, I’m...
Nick stood on the riverbank, staring at the water as it cascaded mercilessly over the rocks. The sun beat against his skin; beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of a breeze; he knew the sun would take its toll on him later, but at the moment, he didn’t care. “These are going to be incredible,” he muttered, peering through the camera and zooming in for his next shot. He expertly clicked the button several times before reviewing the pictures. “Damn, I’m...
Straight SexSo, here we are. The 2009 Mac Pro Desktop has died again. Not really. There are three deaders, two 2008’s and one 2009, sitting in various stages of disrepair and no end in sight. This may or may not be chapter 46. I have a perfectly good chapter on the 2009 but such is life. I have no idea what I wrote on the 2009 ... so. There is more to it than that. The 2009 mac pro is also called a 4,1 but I flashed the 4,1 to a 5,1(2010). It worked fine but the video card bit the big one. As soon as I...
“You knew my father?” “And your mom,” he said. “Box of rocks ... but damned sexy.” I was all set to lambast him a good one when his phone rang ... the red one. “Hold that thought. I have to answer this.” He picked up. Whoever was on the other end made the ex-SAS man smile. He pushed a button. “You got other I.D.?” I was flying out of country ... of course I had other I.D... “What do you want?” I said. “US passport, New Zealand passport, US Birth certificate, New Zealand Naturalization,...
The knock on the door came a couple of days after I spoke to the Everyboat Insurance receptionist ... who assured me that Mr. Arbuthnot was perfectly fine. “There wasn’t anything he struck on the way down, Miss Flintkote. He just ‘wilted.’ I’m calling our Hong Kong office. An adjuster will contact you soon. May I have your current address?” “Mr. Kwan? Would you speak to the lady?” Information soon passed, the call disconnected and I resumed fretting. Oh ... I wasn’t brooding over the boat...
“Remember when you guys vacationed on the Island?” Junior said. “We won’t be doing that again,” said Six. Junior broke down. If Surprise hadn’t been flying from ‘Feet Wet’ over Lake Huron and knew what to do ... they’d have crashed. Six was immediately contrite. Looking at me he said, “That was rather callous of me.” Looking at Junior he said, “I’m sorry ... I’m sorry, Junior. I didn’t mean it.” “It’s time I started living again,” Junior said. “I did get my revenge.” Surprise said....
Ambassador Johnson wasn’t there to discuss his Ambassadorship with Junior ... he was there to discuss Ms. Flintkote’s status. Since he served at the whim of the President ... as do all Ambassadors ... he was stuck with greeting Ms. Flintkote Officially ... even though he was a personal friend of the murdered president and didn’t approve of ‘that murdering bitch’ or her offspring. The sins of the parents shall be visited on the offspring even unto the tenth generation. He got the quote wrong...
“Language, little girl, what would your mother say?” “She would have climbed up on a chair and torn down your tiles,” Tyke said, “You’re lucky I’m so small. WHERE.IS.MY.DADDY?” She was loud enough to rattle the secret doors. One of those hidden doors opened and an older woman entered the room ... Eva Caretaker Controller entered the picture. Ceiling said, “Good Day, Ma’am.” This was the ‘Good Day’ of the ‘Thank the gods you’re here’ variety ... not the ‘oh shit’ kind. “Ceiling ... what is...
When Tyche came through the door, Ceiling could smell and taste the mouthful she was chewing. Now, you need to know that ‘something new’ was one of the highlights of Ceiling’s existence. Soviet Russians were an unknown commodity, and the new Russian Federation hadn’t started sending Russian heroes ... yet. Going by the old adage, “Beasts of the field feed. Men eat. The gentleman of distinction dines.” Ceiling had NO idea what the Russian heroes liked to eat. The run of the mill English...
“That was just plain mean,” Eva said. “Did you send them?” “Not me,” I said. “Her.” I pointed at Tyche. I expected that might not satisfy Eva ... but it was all she was going to get. “Tyke,” Eva said, “I realize you’re four years old. I also realize that, just like your Dad and Aunt’s that Four is a number that has no relationship to you except size. We don’t have your Daddy ... well ... The organization that is known as Crossroads has confessed that an effort was made to send him home...
“How does it happen that you have two boats?” “Insurance... SV Surprise, the big boat, hold your horses, Lieutenant, the big boat had just finished total scrape, grind, patch and paint. she got a salon makeover and all new fabric ... sails, bedding, cushions ... beautiful example of the kind of work the Starship Yards in Hong Kong can do when she got crushed ... I’m getting to that ... crushed when the Sultan’s warships were sabotaged by terrorists ... or pirates. Turned my little hundred...
Esme tried to understand the world. It was so complicated. She tried to understand herself and she seemed even more twisted and weird.Today she was wandering through the woodlands near her family home feeling lonely and confused. She was barefooted, her sandals dangling from a finger, as she walked the well-kept trails. They lived on the edge of a protected nature area open to the public. Her home was where she and her grandparents had lived all of her life. Actually, their homestead was really...
Hardcore‘Are you sure you want to do this Gina?’ ‘Yes I do. I can’t believe that a successful corporate lawyer like you can be a naturalist, and I want to see first hand what you see in nature.’ James laughed back at her. ‘Corporate lawyers like me huh?’ As they pulled their gear out of the back of his Land Rover, James looked over at Gina. She was a few years younger than his 36, but he could tell that she took great care of herself, and looked years younger. James worked long hours, and had very...
"Are you sure you want to do this Gina?" "Yes I do. I can't believe that a successful corporate lawyer like you can be a naturalist, and I want to see first hand what you see in nature." James laughed back at her. "Corporate lawyers like me huh?" As they pulled their gear out of the back of his Land Rover, James looked over at Gina. She was a few years younger than his 36, but he could tell that she took great care of herself, and looked years younger. James worked long hours, and had very...
There once was a girl name Lauren, she cared for all the plants and animals. She couldn't bring herself to think of the animals being trapped in cages, tortured, then slaughtered without knowing the joys of life. This is why she made the decision to become vegan.One day Lauren was sitting in her garden tending to her friend the garlic. She had grown all of her plants from seeds, therefore she thought of all of the plants as her children. As she was watering her garlic, something moved in the...
SupernaturalD?terminisme naturel ? son retour Solange vit tout de suite que Marc ?tait tout chamboul?, et il ne lui fallut pas longtemps pour lui tirer les vers du nez. Solange ?tait une personne g?n?reuse, et elle ?tait sinc?rement heureuse que Marc ait pu trouver du travail. Elle tenu ? f?ter ?a, et elle annon?a que ce soir ils d?boucheraient une bouteille de cidre pour la circonstance. Solange questionna Marc en d?tail, et tr?s vite elle donna des conseils "Mon chou, les entreprises de publicit? il y a beaucoup d'argent,...
Hi Folks. For those of you who didn't like the ending of last week's story, I'm sorry. But you have to remember that these are only stories. You may not like the way they end, but they are fiction. No real people ever die in them. Anyway if you didn't like the way last week's story ended you probably won't like this one either. I also made a terrible word choice in last week's story. I just wanted to let the person who told me about it know that I will not do that again and to thank them...
“Are you sure you want to do this Gina?” “Yes I do. I can’t believe that a successful corporate lawyer like you can be a naturalist, and I want to see first hand what you see in nature.” James laughed back at her. “Corporate lawyers like me huh?” As they pulled their gear out of the back of his Land Rover, James looked over at Gina. She was a few years younger than his 36, but he could tell that she took great care of herself, and looked years younger. James worked long hours, and had very...
EroticNobody asked. The pair had money for food and a ute. They moved into a garage flat and bought both ... the flat and the garage. People took them to be mother and daughter. The name was unusual ... Flintkote ... Tyche Selene was 4 but very smart. Mom was 22 and American. Surprise Me Flintkote. Tyche was Aussie born and had the accent ... unless she was having you on ... then she was posh. The garage was on Beach Road in the flight path of the Whangārei airport down at Onerahi the seaside...
Pentwater... In the spring when the ice goes off the Lake and the big lake is clear as glass ... the dormant bugs are coming out. In the summer ... if the Lake is up ... every 29 years the lake cycles from ‘where did it go’ to ‘Oh Shit.’ This year is the peak of ‘Oh Shit.’ ... and this year the Lake runneth over ... the three curses ... the bugs AND the tourists AND the Summer folk are in abundance. The beach is crowded, there is no room at the inn and the park is reservations only. In...
Drudge ... Drudge ... Drudge... I forgot how repetitious cabinets can be. Gee ... was it only a year ago I was building them at Gold Coast? At least I had fun teaching the stations building the Farr’s. Not all my help stayed. I ended up with half... 13 employees ... with 13 wives and 26 children. I sunk a ton of money into the first year ... and then I sold the first boat... 14k ... for boat and trailer. The breakthrough came at a University of Michigan Law School Alumni Reunion. During...
“No.” “Flintkote International?” “No ... wait ... International?” “Do you gentlemen and lawyers realize I can’t spend the interest on my trust fund ... I’ve tried ... seriously tried. Bought 18 million dollar boats ... a month worth of interest. I’ll admit mom bought it but she used my trust fund ... educational use. “Why on earth would an anonymous buyer want to buy my little shop? Now that I’m production I can build one a day ... start to out the door. Fifteen thousand a day. I’ve been...
Departure was delayed five hours. Although there was no public notification, rumor had it that an important arrival had been delayed due to Communications failure in Samoa. A bar fight over the result of the final try at a national Rugby test, put several customers in hospital and led to the arrest of several participants ... all wearing India National Team Rugby shirts. No mention was made or inferred as to whether or not the shirted participants were players. Rumor had it that they were...