by Mari Collier
“But you must return it to them.”
“I can't. It's their gift to me. The same gift as they gave my brother and sister.”
There was no conversation as they rode to the hills on the East section. They rode past the place where the homesteaders once lived. The small house was now used by line riders and the infrequent traveler.
“Even travelers are disappearing,” Lorenz explained. “People don't ride through the country like they once did.” He led the way to the other side of the hill that looked out on the plains toward Arles, then doubled back to the midsection through a small canyon, and then upward again. They stopped at a slightly flattened area with shrubs and grass struggling to stay alive. A stunted oak provided shade where it was already shaded by the surrounding rock during the mornings.
“First I have to secure the rope and then we can push and pull.” He sailed the wide-looped lasso up and over a boulder and made sure it was snug. “Y'all want to do the same or do y'all want to push?”
Kendall stared at his father. Why would he want to roll that boulder? For what purpose?
“Okay, y'all lead my horse, and I'll push.” Lorenz dismounted and his crooked, pulled up smile appeared. He slung his reins over to Kendall and positioned himself behind the boulder.
“Now!”
Kendall started to move forward and behind him he heard the rolling of stones. He looked back and saw an opening. Why would his father hide a cave? And what was a cave doing up here?
“Just think, Papa can move that by himself.” Lorenz smiled at the memory. “We can tie the horses to the tree. We shouldn't be too long, unless y'all want to spend a lot of time there. It took your mother two or three trips to become accustomed to it.”
Silently, he followed his father into the yawning opening and realized this was far more than a cave. Lorenz reached up and pulled out something hidden behind a rock. From his hand shot a beam of light. The ground sloped downward and was wide enough to accommodate three trains running abreast with room on either side.
“Pawpaw, what the hell is that in your hand?”
“According to your grandfather, it's called a lume. It lights the way until we get down below. The vehicle your grandfather came in is down there with all the information about his people and their universe.”
“Wait a minute. What is down there? Why did you say Mina's Story isn't a fairytale?”
“The Golden One, the ship that your Grandfather MacDonald arrived in, is down there. He and his people are Thalians, and my biological father is a Justine, the people with two hearts. I have the two hearts; something that Randall and Melissa inherited.” He saw the doubtful look on Kendall's face.
“If y'all don't believe me, just listen.”
Kendall saw his father's face was solemn, his eyes narrowed as the man unbuttoned the collarless shirt and summer underwear underneath. For a moment he hesitated, then removed his hat, stepped forward, and stooped to lean his head against his father's chest. The sound of two hearts beating was unmistakable and for a moment he was paralyzed by the doubled thumping. He stepped backward looking at his father as though seeing him for the first time.
“Like the Justines, I have the ability to mindspeak with another and to enter the minds of others. The Justines call those who do not possess this skill 'lesser beings.' I do not. It simply means they are different.”
Kendall felt empty, but he had to know. “Randall and Melissa can do that too, can't they?”
“Yes, it's why your mother and I tried to make sure you and Randall never fought while growing up. Melissa was a bit more considerate, but equally dangerous.”
“Dangerous, how?”
“Either of them could have hurt y'all without intending to or realizing the consequences.”
“And they are the ones that will have children like that?”
“It may not work that way, Kendall. According to Papa, the traits can miss a generation, or even several generations, and appear in the next. The Justines and the Thalians call this the recessive genes. That won't mean anything unless y'all study their biology. It's available in the ship below if y'all are interested.”
“Are you telling me that Alice and I can have children like you?”
“Yes, it's possible, just not as probable as it is for Melissa and Randall. It's simply the luck of the draw. If y'all do have a child with two hearts, y'all will require help raising that child. Your Aunt Mina did not have such a child.”
Kendall was baffled for a moment. “You said Grandpa was Thalian.”
“I left out the part about his biological father. Papa does not acknowledge him, but Papa has the two hearts.” He smiled at Kendall. “Ready to go down?”
Kendall nodded. He didn't have the least idea where his father was leading him, but this was something everyone in the family had seen. “Why did you tell Mama?”
“Because she heard the two hearts in everyone's chest and she demanded that I explain to her how this could occur.”
There was the smell of earth and the air became cooler than outside, but Kendall was beginning to feel queasy and sweaty. The walls seemed to be closer than they actually were. The knowledge that his family was far different than anything he'd ever known added to the desire to leave this place. Ahead Kendall could observe a dim light, almost gray, then gradually gaining strength until they descended into a huge underground cavern. Once they entered the cavern, Kendall stopped short, unable to move.
In front of him sat a huge, monstrous golden ovoid with what looked like a shimmering glass row located along the top of whatever this machine was. It stood three stories tall and was fully as long as ten railroad cars. Kendall had no way to gauge its thickness, but it seemed almost as wide as three trains jammed together. There wasn't any entrance that he could see.
“There it is: The Golden One. Papa's and Grandmère's return home vehicle. They are almost ready to move it to a new location.”
“Why?” Kendall's voice was barely more than a whisper, and what did he mean “move it?” Also the fact that his great-grandmother could be alive was beyond his comprehension.
Lorenz turned towards his son and saw the sick look on Kendall's face. “I haven't told y'all the true ending to that tale. It was Grandmère who stole a Golden One, smashed it into the Justine planet, and escaped using a Krepyon ship. Krepyons are the ones Papa's tale named Kreppies; the mean spirited ones. Their ships don't have the technology this one does, and the support systems started to deteriorate. She landed in the Adirondack Mountains and hid it. They've bought the surrounding land and have had a hunting lodge built. They've a crew working on a basement to house the Golden One and the Krepyon vessel underground. They feel it won't be long before this world will have other modes of transportation, and it would be best to have the Krepyon ship loaded into this one. Your Uncle Red will supply any men needed to guard the place. Y'all think you're ready to go inside now.”
“Pawpaw, how old are grandpa and his mother?”
Lorenz noted the voice was stronger and color was returning to Kendall's face.
“Remember, in the story that Thalians are long-lived?”
Kendall nodded.
“Papa is about one hundred and twenty and Grandmère is more like two hundred and twenty-five years. It's one of the reasons they are anxious to leave.”
“Don't they show their age?”
Lorenz laughed. “Right now they are in their prime. Thalians, according to Papa, do not show their age until about three hundred years. Y'all will find that Papa looks like he has grey hair when he visits, but it's dyed that way. He doesn't stay long as people would eventually figure that out.”
“When do you expect him?” Kendall's voice had lowered again. “Is his mother coming with him?”
“Papa will be here within a week or two once he receives that telegram. Grandmère won't be with him as that creates too many questions in people's minds. She couldn't anyway. She's married a sea captain and just had a baby.”
It was too much. Kendall made up his mind. “Pawpaw, I'm going back outside where the sky and the sun are where and what they should be.” He turned and hurried upward.
Lorenz blew out his breath and shook his head. Kendall was reacting like Daniel. Did that mean that Kendall would take his family and leave? Antoinette would be inconsolable. He walked after Kendall.
When Lorenz stepped outside, Kendall was leaning with his back against the boulder, agony written across his face.
“I'm sorry, Pawpaw, but I don't have the guts to go into that machine.”
“Why apologize?” Lorenz's voice was gruff. “I was scared shitless when I first saw it. I was just too stubborn to let the man who would become my father know it. The fear of seeing contempt in his eyes was greater than going inside.”
Kendall looked at his father and shook his head. “But you went inside. I couldn't. It's like a lot of things I can't do.” His voice became bitter. “You'll just have to admit that your son is a coward. I can't do the things you do. It's the same as when I ran that night Marty died. I couldn't kill a man that just killed my best friend. Frankly, I doubt if I could ever kill a man. It was a fool's dream to even think about joining the army to fight in Cuba.”
He started to turn away. Lorenz reached out and grabbed his arm and was suddenly confronted by a cocked fist.
“Whoa, son, y'all reacted just fine on that one. Now calm down a minute and listen.
“Your great-uncle Kasper would never have been able to kill a man, but that didn't mean he was a coward. When he came out here to look for Mama he was a complete tenderfoot. It's a wonder someone didn't kill him. He would stand up against people when he knew they were wrong just like you did by going after your wife and child.”
“But I couldn't kill that bounty hunter; nor, could I let him lie there once I had them safe. You would have let the buzzards eat him. There is no way I can go inside that thing—whatever it is, but I'm willing to bet both Randall and Melissa have been inside without any qualms.”
“What they do is their business. What y'all do is yours. Your Uncle Daniel wouldn't even get as close as y'all did. He refused to believe anything about us.”
“Didn't he hear the two hearts?”
“Yes, but Daniel tended to have his own version of reality. A spaceship and a father from another planet weren't part of it. Personally, I think he did believe us and instinctively knew not to ever have children.”
Kendall straightened. “I suppose that will weigh on me too.”
“Kendall, aren't y'all interested in how it flies?
“No, it's not humanly possible.”
“Wrong, right now the ability to move machines through the air isn't part of Earth's science, but it will be someday.
“I'm not sure how long Alice will be content to stay here, Pawpaw. Right now, I'm not sure if the hands will accept me.”
“They will as long as y'all don't do something stupid like try to brand a cow on the wrong end.”
Chapter 34: Patriarch of the House
“Where tis the wee one?” The man's voice was as huge as his bulk and filled every corner of the ranch house.
“And where tis that scalawag, Kendall?”
The senior MacDonald had fully matured and weighed in at three hundred and ninety-eight pounds. Every stitch of clothing he owned was tailored and his shoes cobbled, all by the finest of craftsmen. He beamed at Antoinette descending from the upper level.
“Father MacDonald, y'all made record time, but for goodness sake, do lower your voice. Sarah is sleeping.”
“Wee one,” he greeted her and swept her up into his Thalian embrace, laying his head first on one shoulder and then the other, while he made the “tsk” sound in each ear. Giggling, Toni returned the greeting.
“Now, Father MacDonald, y'all can't expect Alice or Sarah to greet y'all the same way. Alice is upstairs in the sewing room and we've told her that y'all were coming. She'll be down shortly, or did y'all want to ride out and look for Lorenz and Kendall?”
“Mayhap I'd best check on the laddies. Where did they go?”
“They rode out to the northeast section yesterday, and plan to ride back in today. Kendall's becoming reacquainted with the land and is taking over as foreman.” There was a pleased purr in her voice.
“They'll have our original house. It's just so exciting. Would y'all like a cup of coffee or a glass of water?”
“I'll have some water later. My valise tis by the door. Which room twill be mine?”
“Why I do believe y'all can take Randall's old room. I doubt if we'll ever have a visit from him and that high society lady he's marrying.”
MacDonald bent and kissed her cheek, his brown eyes filled with amusement. Antoinette's voice and words betrayed her thoughts of the cool, perfect Yankee.
“Tell the newest additions to the family that I twill greet them this eve. I have a hunch Lorenz kens I am here and tis now at the corrals.” He charged merrily out the door to greet the riders approaching the barn.
Antoinette looked from the door and saw that Lorenz and Kendall had returned. They've been mindspeaking again, she thought while going to the kitchen. Angela would need to increase the amount of food for tonight's meal.
Kendall was almost swept off his feet by the exuberance of his grandfather's greeting. He was caught in a quandary. How could he accept the fact his grandfather wasn't what he thought? And yet this was the man who had given him rides on his shoulders, told wondrous tales, and always brought him gifts when he was little. Right now the elder MacDonald was gripping him by the shoulders.
“Dear Gar, ye look like yere fither.”
Lorenz was laughing. “He always has. That's why Antoinette spoiled him rotten.”
“Aye, tis true, and now ye are a fither. Ye must introduce me to yere family.”
“Uh, Grandpa, Alice is blind. To see you, she needs to run her hand over your face.” Kendall was aware that this could make people uncomfortable. How would Grandpa accept this? Worse, Alice had reacted badly to Lorenz. Afterwards she had become more concerned about staying here. What would she think when she “saw” his grandfather? To Kendall's eyes the man hadn't changed. It didn't matter that he'd dyed his hair grey. The man was as rock-hard as he had been when Kendall was little.
MacDonald's brown eyes lit with amusement. He was Thalian, and Alice's way of seeing was the perfect way to greet a new family member. He smiled broadly.
“Tis fine, laddie. Dinna worry, but Antoinette said Alice twas in the sewing room. How does she sew if she tis blind?”
Lorenz had handed the horses over to the hands and grabbed the saddlebags. He then followed the other two to the house.
“She went to a special school in Keokuk, Iowa, Grandpa, and learned to do all sorts of things. She's not helpless like a lot of people think.”
“How does she get around?”
“She knows what room she's in and how many steps it takes to go where she wants to be.”
MacDonald stopped. “Ye mean she keeps that all in her head?”
“Yes, sir.” Kendall realized he'd fallen into his childhood way of responding to his grandfather's questions.
Lorenz had caught up with them. “How about a brew, Papa?” He deliberately used MacDonald's word for beer. “It's not what Mama used to make, but I keep a supply on hand.”
“Twould be fine on this warm afternoon.”
“Uh, could you two hold your drinking until after Grandpa's met Alice? If you waited until after supper it would be even better.”
Both of the older men were staring at him. He tried again.
“Alice is a Methodist. She thinks drinking condemns you to hell. It's one of the reasons she wants to leave.”
“Leave? Are y'all out of your mind? Y'all can't leave Texas right now. Not unless the thought of the state of South Dakota arresting y'all, taking Sarah away, and putting Alice in the sanitarium again doesn't bother you two.”
“I know, Pawpaw, but she grew up thinking that
way and that school just reinforced her thinking. She'll smell the liquor if you have a drink.”
“Son, it's my house and if Papa wants a drink, he can have it. Besides it might keep her from figuring out that he's really a young man.”
Lorenz was speaking low as they were rapidly approaching the steps to the porch or verandah as Antoinette called it. Comfortable white wicker chairs filled with soft down cushions of muted grey and green were set along the walls.
MacDonald draped his arm over Lorenz's shoulders. “How could she ken that? Did ye go into her mind.”
“No, Papa, it was my skin. Yours isn't 'old' and her finger tips will tell her. I saw the look on her face when she traced my features. She made the usual comment about how much Kendall and I look alike, but she made a mistake. She said, 'their skin is identical.' She had a puzzled look on her face, and she's been rather cool to everyone since.”
Kendall looked blankly at his father. How could the man sense things like that if he hadn't used his mind? Marty had said that his grandfather Rolfe always knew when people felt something was wrong. Pawpaw hadn't said anything about the elder Rolfe being different.
MacDonald smiled. “In that case, I shall have a brew. She twill nay wish to be near me.”
No one was at the front as they entered, but Angela came hurrying from the kitchen. Kendall marveled that his mother always managed to have the people do exactly as she had ordered.
“Do you wish anything, senor?”
“Yes, please bring my father a beer to the office.” He smiled at her.
“Papa, this is Angela. I don't believe y'all have met her. She's become head cook since y'all visited last time. Angela this is my father, Mr. MacDonald.”
Angela popped a quick curtsy and hurried out of the room. She was slightly alarmed at the sight of such a big man that looked like he might hug her. Those things happened at other ranches, but so far no one had bothered her here. It was said the Patron had forbidden the other hands to go near the Mexican quarter.