by Arwen Jayne
Simon’s cat on the verandah shook itself awake and padded in to accompany the pair.
Simon nodded to the cat. “Follow Meta, he’ll look after you.”
Phoenix glared at the cat as if she was having the mickey taken out of her. “Really!”
“Still the sceptic I see Phoenix.” He wondered what the expression on her face would be when the cat morphed into a man and then teleported them and Ang’s truck back to the roadblock. But he had other things to prepare for, not the least of which was finishing his batch of herbs for drying.
30
The convoy that hit the road just out of Boswell made an impressive sight. Holden ute’s, old Ford Fairlanes, F100s, a couple of Bentleys, a Mercede’s 6x6, Daniel’s big rig, two police cars, a white unplated government car and a bright orange 80’s Laverda motorcycle that took the front because its engine would give grief it had to go too slow. By the time they hit the outskirts of Valeton word had got out. Phoenix had made sure of it. People watched from the street waving and yahooing. Camera crews from all the major media outlets were there. Live coverage was breaking into international news broadcasts around the world. The people presumed dead from a fluke meteorite strike had come on mass to show they were still alive and well.
As they pulled up outside the Council Chambers Mayor Goodwin got out from the driver’s side of her Bentley, opened the door and was immediately swamped by reporters. Phoenix was at the head of the pack.
“Mayor Goodwin. You and all the people with you were presumed dead. The Council meeting called here tonight was to decide an acting replacement for you. Would you care to make a statement?”
Tyra smiled at Phoenix and straightened herself. “I certainly would. As you can see word of our demise has been greatly exaggerated. Fortunately we had forewarning and we had the means to save our town. The full truth about where that meteorite came from, out of the blue, may never be completely understood but I can assure you it was no accident. I have this to say to those who sent it. We have taken Boswell out of your reach. We will come and go from it as we please. We’ll even let visitors in if we like them. But know this, we will use the same means to save other parts of the planet you threaten. Desist from your global interference with the lives of humans and the environment they live in or we will take the planet from your reach one piece at a time. Now if you’ll excuse me there are council matters to attend to.”
“Thank you Mayor Goodwin. You don’t want to say anything more about who you are accusing?”
“No I have nothing more to say at this time. They know who they are. They have enough power to discredit any claims we make so we just won’t make any. There’s enough conspiracy myths out there already.” Tyra turned and walked into the Council Chambers followed by her men and the townsfolk who had come to make a stand. The cameras followed them in.
Phoenix flicked her finger at the cameraman to get his attention and then started her piece to camera. “And so mystery adds to mystery. There is no doubt that a large meteorite hit the coordinates where Boswell is or was located. Federal Aviation has confirmed that a large object appeared on their screens just before it hit the site. Yet here the people of the town are making a statement to the world that they are still here. Is the whole town suffering post shock paranoia or did someone really try to wipe them from the map? The fact remains there’s an enormous crater out there, covering the area that was once a large lake, eucalypt forest and town. Yet a strange mist now permanently hovers over the whole area so there is no way of proving or disproving the townsfolks’ claim that they still live there. This is Phoenix O’Halloran for the One Network’s breaking news coverage of this amazing and bizarre event.
31
Smith knocked on the Generals’ door, in some vague hope the man might be able to save him. He dithered at the door.
“Enter.”
Smith tentatively opened the door and entered. Standing to attention. “Sir, the news.”
Polemarch used the remote on his desk to switch off the flat screen TV on the wall. “Yes I’ve just seen it.” If he had an opinion on it it didn’t show.
“I’ll have to tell Mr Sauros Sir. He’s going to kill me this time isn’t he?”
“I’m afraid so Smith. He won’t take to kindly to this latest development. It may be the first time in thousands of years that anyone’s given him an ultimatum like that. I expect he’ll blow like Mt Vesuvius.”
“Sir?” Then it would be as bad as he had feared but he didn’t understand the General’s comments about thousands of years.
Polemarch looked at him curiously. “You really don’t know do you Smith?”
“Sir?” He hardly wanted to question someone of Polemarch’s status, even if he was known to be more even tempered than their boss, especially lately. The men were starting to fear him less and growing to love their General. He’d become a fair man to serve under.
“What you don’t know Smith is that you are serving aliens. Indeed you yourself are possessed of one but for some reason it does not seem to have much of a hold over you.”
Smith was astonished. “An alien Sir?”
Polemarch got up from his desk and walked over to lock his office door. Keying in a security number on a keypad. Smith wouldn’t be fleeing in terror. “I’ll show you.” He came to stand directly in front of the junior officer then closed his eyes, seeking something within. “Come out!” He commanded.
Smith watched in horror as a grey shadow seemed to separate from his body and slowly take form. “Friggin hell!”
Polemarch looked curiously at the fearsome reptilian beast. It’s great lion shaped head turned to look at him but it didn’t snarl. It wasn’t aggressive it seemed. “Well isn’t that interesting. You’re a female. What were you doing hiding in Smith?”
The beast turned surprisingly doleful eyes on him. “Hiding from the one you call boss. You know what his beast form would want to do with me.”
“Yes I could imagine. You are exceedingly rare you know.”
“I know, that’s why I’ve always been in danger. Your boss would rape me a dozen times over and still want more. Worse he’d mate me and bind me to him. It’s also why I kept my hold over Smith light. I didn’t want him working it out and reporting it to Sakla. It would have spelt my doom.”
Smith was terrified of the huge beast but still aghast. “I would never betray you like that. No one deserves that. Beast or no you’re still a female and I will protect you as best I can. How long have you been with me anyway?”
“Since you were born. I have lived in your aura so size when you were small didn’t matter.”
“So can you leave me now?”
“No I’m afraid I need a host. I cannot survive in my beast form more than a day or so. It needs the life energy of a host to live on this plane. You are the nicest of the souls I found that were open to possession. You never would have been open to it in the first place except you were cursed at birth.”
“Cursed, why?”
“You’re mother had chosen your father over another. That other man had a particularly strong intent to do you and your family harm. That intent became a powerful thoughtform with a life of its own. It waited and bided its time to do maximum harm. It is why your parents died in that car crash when you were young and why you were open to me.”
“But you don’t seem that bad?”
“She isn’t. The females of our kind have to have some amount of maternal instinct or they would never care for our young.”
“Our young? You’re one too.”
“No I’m an integration of the two and I’m leaving myself wide open by telling you two that but I need to before I can make my offer.”
The female Din looked at Polemarch suspiciously. Now he mentioned it she couldn’t see sense one of their kind about him. He seemed almost human, although maybe something more. “What are you?”
“I have integrated the Din into the soul of this host body. We are one.”
“That’s not p
ossible.”
“Oh I assure you it is and not only that but I can still shapeshift into beast form.” Which he did momentarily before shifting back again. “There is no boundary between the Din and the human in me. We are one.”
“How?” Smith quizzed. Something about what the process might entail intrigued him. “Could I integrate her into me?” He indicated the large lizard in the room.
Polemarch looked at him surprised. “I underestimated you. You would do that for her to hide her would you?”
“It seems a fair thing. She’s lived within me peacefully all these years and never tried to take me over. She has no wish to be a mate for anyone as brutal as our boss. Am I right?” He turned to ask her.
“You are right. I do not wish to perpetuate a species as evil as ours has become and I certainly don’t want to be forcibly raped and mated.”
“Then join with me. If the General has done it he must know how.”
Polemarch frowned. “You know the consequence of what you are asking don’t you? You’d be taking a female soul and integrating it into your being. You’d not only become a hybrid but also something neither male or female. Are you really comfortable with that?”
“General, half the guys think I’m gay now. It’s only my position as aide to Sakla that has kept me safe from reprisals. But this discussion is meaningless. I’m about to die.”
Polemarch thought on that problem for a moment then he smiled deviously. “Not if you become our official spy in Boswell. You would report through me. You would have no direct dealings with Sakla and it would remove you from his presence.”
“A spy.” Never in a million years had he considered becoming such a thing.
“A spy is what Sakla will think you are and he will thank me for it. In truth you will tell the man who is guardian of the town exactly who and what you are and be scrupulously honest with him at all times. He’ll know anyway if you’re not. You will be my direct contact on the ground and you will liaise with the Australian security people there too.”
“I will?” To tell the truth he was slightly overawed at the level of responsibility being thrown at him and the trust the General was placing in him.”
“You will never tell anyone of this discussion or what you are. I will deny all knowledge of it if you are stupid enough to be found out. Is that understood?” Polemarch asked rather pointedly.
“Of course. So...”
“Shut up for a moment.” He turned within himself again. Another being flashed into the room.
“Polemarch? I was shocked when I got your call, relayed via Silwa to Simon and then to me.”
“You answered quick enough for all that. I have a favour to ask and a proposition to make. I need to save these two beings from Sakla and they are willing to become as me. Can you do it and then hide them in Boswell.”
Ma closed her eyes and was obviously having a telepathic conversation back down the line. She opened her eyes again and stared at the shy man and the Din. “It can be done. It will require you both to face your karma first then I will make you one. You know the ramifications I gather?”
“Yes. “ Answered the Din.
“I am willing to accept the consequences.” Answered Smith. “But who’s going to tell Sakla about Boswell?”
Polemarch waved his concern away. “Leave that to me. He can’t harm me.”
Smith wondered why the general thought himself beyond harm but wasn’t about to query the life saving offer. “Thank you Sir.”
Polemarch bestowed a rare benevolent smile on Smith. “No, thank you Smith. I would not have liked to have seen what Sakla did to you both. I wish you well.” He nodded to the goddess.
She raised her hands to the heavens. “Very well, as you wish so let it be.”
Smith and the female Din fell to the ground in a scream of pain. A comatose silence settled over them before the Din shimmered into a grey shadow again and merged back with its host.
Ma lay one hand on the body “Be one and whole.” She turned to Polemarch. “I will transport him, or her”, she added as an afterthought, “back to Boswell.”
“Just before you do Ma. I’m curious. How did you guys save Boswell exactly?”
Unbelievably Ma blushed. “I mated with Meta and we joined Boswell with the dimension of Faery.”
“Faeries, well I never.”
“They don’t show themselves to many but everyone in Boswell can see them now.”
“And I gather you did the same in the Yungus?”
“Yes, but that wasn’t me. Helena and Zex did that. Now tell me something. How did you know to warn us?”
“Ah, to tell the truth your mate is not the only one who can shapeshift. Yes I know I can take on my Din form but this is different. I accidentally found out I can shapeshift into about anything I choose.”
That was surprising indeed. “Usually only the most highly evolved can do that. What happened?”
“I was dreaming I was flying around the room. When I woke I realised I really was a fly. Once I got over the shock I got curious and as luck would have it I flew into Sakla’s office just as he was planning his little surprise for you. I telepathed the news to Silwa and he passed it on to Simon.”
“You know you could talk to us directly.”
“I have a strong link with Silwa, it’s easier but I’ll work on broadening my skills.”
“If you have this much power to shapeshift you have the power to do a great deal Polemarch.”
“I suppose so. You’d better go. I’ve kept this office locked too long. They will have heard the scream and will be wanting to break down the door soon.”
Ma nodded her understanding. “Until next time then.”
The body on the floor disappeared at the exact moment she did.
Epilogue
Boswell's first market was in full swing. Bolivians from the neighbouring faery annex had brought their produce too. It was a free for all share and exchange, no money changed hands. Those that had no produce of their own offered their skills freely in return. There was no danger that anyone would abuse the system because everyone was...well them. They were individuals, each unique, expressing an infinity of diversity and blossoming in their own way yet connected by an underpinning union with the all-spirit. That part of themselves was their source, home and complement to their relative physical based selves. They would no more opportunistically take advantage of another than they would themselves because anything other; animal, sentient being, plant or the earth beneath their feet was all part of who they were. They used the resources of the land, yes, but they did it respectfully, with gratitude, giving back more than they took. They healed and enhanced the land with their love using techniques they were learning from their new friends and allies the fairies.
Oghma whispered to his mate Eadaoin. “It is as it should have been.”
“It’s never too late old man.”
“Less of the old thank you my queen. Did you see that glade in the Yungus jungle? I was hoping we might go there after the market. You know...” He winked.
“Yes I’d like that.
Upal and Mendal sorted through the sheets on Melissa’s stall of haberdashery, garments, curtains and sheets.
Melissa found the queen size sheets she had already put aside for them. “I think these are what you are after.”
“A couple of hours mechanics on Rob’s dozer?” Mendal quizzed.
“Sounds good by me but I think it’s fine at the moment. I’ll let you know when we need your help again.”
Deal struck they wandered off to find their beloved mate. By whatever miracle Simon had engineered it had worked. They’d both come at the exact same moment as Ally commanded it. She was now mate to both of them. Never in the least bit inclined to the same sex Upal and Mendal had somehow accommodated their discomfort of being naked around each other. It seemed normal now. Their friendship had only deepened through their love for the woman they shared. They refused to hear of her becoming their slave as a
housekeeper so they’d changed their ways and cleaned up after themselves. The three shared the cooking. No one washed up because Simon had gifted them with a dishwasher by way of congratulations. They’d all move into Ally’s restored church eventually but they’d need to build a partially glassed in area on the sunny side of it so they could hang up their cloud chairs and have a place to warm up in the early morning sun. The logistics of their relationship were working out.
What had truly surprised them though had been when Ally woke the morning after. A delicate trail of burnished bronze scales adorning her spine. Tangerine eyes had stared back at them.
Ally had seen their startled looks “What?”
“You’ve changed.” Upal had whispered in awe, caressing her scales.
As he’d touched her Ally had suddenly felt the scales and sprung out of bed to pirouette in front of the dresser mirror. “Wow, cool.” Then she’d dashed into the bathroom. It had been some time before she came back out to her now worried mates. “Um it looks like that wasn’t the only change. I’ll have to go and see Doc I think but if the little I’ve investigated is correct you guys will plug me just right now.”
“Is that so?” Mendal had looked at her quizzically. “I can think of a better way to test that theory. Come here!”
Much much later in the day Doc had confirmed that Ally now had a dual vagina, each connected to a separate uterus. They weren’t sure yet whether she’d be fertile or be able to shapeshift like them but neither man cared. They had their woman and she was their everything.
Further down the market Zex, who was visiting from the Yungus with his mate Helena, was doing a juggling show for the kids, young and old. Some of the people in his village had turned their skills to making the beautiful hand knitted, mini-beanbag juggling balls that had soon become a craze with everyone there and here in Boswell. He couldn’t believe the two little girls in the audience were the same Crystal and Sky who had come to care for his war ravaged orphans so long ago. Wise for their age they snickered when they spied the collar that adorned his neck. Helena had made a big deal of collaring him. He’d tried to explain once again that the Malakim weren’t into the whole possession and ownership thing when it came to their mates. She’s simply shrugged her shoulders. “Stiff, where we might go sometimes this will protect you the same as any gun or knife in your boot. Wear it for me.” And so he did. The collar was made of two strong stands of masculine looking black tourmaline, clasped in the centre with a plain sturdy ring that would allow her to attach a chain whenever she wanted to play and that he didn’t mind at all. Just thinking about it had him nearly dropping a ball but he caught it deftly to the awe of his audience.