ADULT: Meeting Of Minds - Part 22 of 26
Dana Short (DanaShort@aol.com)
Sat, 5 Jun 2004 19:17:15 EDT
This story may be considered PG-13 due to both the situation, and=20
the occasional use of profanity (Chapter 11) when a char was upset.
Please direct flames/comments to DanaShort@aol.com=20
Please note the story title in the subject line, or your message will=20
be lost to my SPAM filter.
Legal Disclaimer: See first post, or visit the URL below for full=20
disclaimer. Just let it be known I don't own this universe.=20
Archive only according to rules mentioned in full disclaimer.=20
I hope you enjoy the story.
Fully formatted text of Chapters 1-22 available at:=20
http://www.DanaShort.com/HL-MOM.htm
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Chapter Twenty Two
...and Indians
=20
The last of the cattle finally thundered past, a Volvo station wagon=20
filled with a family angrily honking behind them as it was restricted=20
to the slow 30 to 40 miles an hour the herd was making as it followed=20
the road's twisting path down to the bottom of the canyon.
=20
As soon as the road was cleared, Adam, Sue, Cassandra, and Sally ran=20
across, and peered cautiously over the remaining overhang and into=20
the canyon below. "Can you see anything?" Sue asked Adam, who was=20
actually leaning over the edge next to where the rock had detached,=20
and looking almost straight down.
=20
"I see the rock. I don't see any sign of Patrick or that mangy dog."
=20
"It was a coyote," Cassandra added, "not a dog. And with the way the=20
rock was tumbling, it is possible they both ended up underneath it.=20
We'll have to drive down and look for ourselves."
=20
Crossing again the empty highway, the remaining party climbed back=20
in, and Sue again at the wheel took off down the road, swiftly=20
catching up with the honking Volvo, and following it for the next=20
half hour or so as it continued to drive the cattle along the road=20
towards the canyon bottom.
=20
When they finally made it to the bottom of the canyon, Sue took a=20
road which left the highway and headed back along the bottom of the=20
canyon towards where Patrick had gone over.
=20
Finally, she pulled to a stop at the side of the road when Adam=20
pointed to a rock at the base of the far side. "There it is, that's=20
the rock," Adam said.
=20
Sue shut down the engine, and they piled out, walking over to the=20
small boulder.
=20
A slow circumnavigation of the stone produced one discovery - one of=20
Patrick's muddy, bloody, and mangled feet protruded from one side of=20
the boulder, the shoe sitting torn and shredded off to the side.=20
Other than that, there was no sign of him.
=20
"Guess we have ta dig," Sally said, squatting down to peer at the=20
protruding foot.
=20
"Maybe not," Adam said, stepping back, and taking in the position,=20
shape, and angle of the stone.
=20
"What are you thinking?" Cassandra asked, looking at the boulder.
=20
"What if we cleared the rocks out on this side, then jacked the other=20
side up a bit? It might roll over and uncover Patrick so we could get=20
him out without excavating the whole area." Adam explained, pointing=20
at the larger side of the rock.
=20
Sue looked around, studying Adam's plan, and came up with a second=20
option. "If we use both the jacks from my car and the RV, plus=20
assuming we have a rope or a chain that's long enough, we might be=20
able to, nah. But the two jacks and digging on this side of the rock,=20
yeah. That will work."
=20
Having decided on a plan, the four set to their "rescue" with grim=20
determination. The three women hauled the smaller stones, while Adam=20
used a pole he had found by the road to help pry the larger pieces=20
out of the way, creating a trench on the far side of the stone from=20
Patrick's foot.
=20
About two hours of hard, sweaty labor later, they set up the two=20
jacks beneath the surface of the rock, as far under as they could,=20
and started jacking. When they had reached the maximum extension of=20
the two jacks, Adam and Cassandra slid more rocks under the boulder,=20
creating small cairns to hold its weight as the jacks were lowered=20
again, then propped up on larger stones, and again raised. Midway=20
through the third cycle, the boulder gave a shudder, and rolled over=20
onto its side into the trench with an enormous crunching boom which=20
echoed loudly off the canyon walls, and shook the earth beneath their=20
feet.
=20
Revealed by its absence, was the flattened, bloody, and still muddy=20
body of Patrick. Adam and Cassandra again bent over to pick him up,=20
and carried him to the motor home, to again lay him out in state upon=20
the couch, his apparent new home.
=20
Firing up the engine again, Sue turned the RV around, and headed back=20
towards the highway, turning on it towards the west, and driving off=20
into the setting sun.
=20
----------------------------------------------------------------------
About an hour later, just after they stopped in Gallup to switch=20
drivers and get gas, Patrick sat up with a gasp, then fell off the=20
couch onto the floor at Sue's feet.
=20
"Welcome back" she said wryly, reaching down to offer him a hand up.
=20
Patrick started raising a muddy hand towards hers, but paused,=20
examining the caked dirt and blood on it, before taking her hand and=20
climbing unsteadily to his feet. "I take it I died, again?"
=20
"Yep." Sue said, "=E2=80=99You fell off a cliff this time. Then you got=20
squashed by a rock. We had to excavate you, like some sort of mummy."
=20
"No wonder my head hurts," Patrick said reaching up to rub it, then=20
looking down at his disheveled body. "Uh, do you folks mind if I use=20
the shower? I feel very filthy. Then, is there anything to eat? I'm=20
starving, and would hate to die again today."
=20
Sue grinned and gestured grandly towards the rear of the RV, even as=20
Sally came forward from the bedroom, looked distastefully at the=20
filthy couch then settled into the booth beside Sue. "Goan ahead,=20
lad. I even laid out some clothes for you."=20
=20
Patrick headed on into the back, while Sue got up, pulled the now 6=20
hour old steak from the fridge, and tossed it in the microwave,=20
pausing along the way to kick on the generator.
=20
The sounds of the shower running in the small bathroom filtered up to=20
the kitchen as she returned to her seat at the table opposite Sally.
=20
It was only a few seconds after the microwave chirped it's completion=20
that the door to the bathroom slid open, and a damp but clean and=20
newly dressed Patrick stepped out, making his way to the oven to=20
remove the food he obviously smelled.
=20
Sue slid over to make room, as Patrick settled himself at the table,=20
the steak and potato balanced on a plate in one hand, and silverware=20
and an un-opened soda can in the other. "Ya know, I never really=20
liked steak before. But I think it is going to be one of my favored=20
foods from now on," Patrick said, slicing off a hearty bite of the=20
steak, before shoving it in his mouth with a malicious grin.
=20
It was only a few minutes before he had finished the steak in its=20
entirety, and started tearing in to the potato, which fared no=20
better. Finishing his meal, Patrick looked around, and asked, "Uh,=20
when's dinner, or did I, er, miss it?"
=20
Sally and Sue both laughed, while Cassandra called from the=20
front, "We're approaching some place called Lupton, do you want me to=20
get off the highway so we can try and find somewhere to eat?"
=20
As Sally, Sue, Adam, and especially Patrick made noises of agreement,=20
Cassandra moved the RV over and took the exit.
=20
Exiting from the highway, she turned right, away from the frontage=20
road, and headed up the intersecting road a short ways to a=20
dilapidated building, its sign proclaiming it to be a food=20
establishment offering "Genuine Navajo Tacos." Pulling to a stop in=20
the small, potholed parking lot, Cassandra shut down the engine, and=20
said, "Hey, it's food."
As they got out of the RV, all four Immortals recognized the feeling=20
of another of their kind. A door to the rear of the restaurant=20
banged open, and a heavyset middle aged man of apparently Native=20
American heritage came charging out. A wild look in his eyes, along=20
with a large, and very sharp butcher knife in his hand combined for a=20
menacing countenance.
=20
Sue uttered a name, as an image of the same face in a very different=20
setting floated to the surface of her mind unbidden. "Gaagi=20
Ashiinii."=20
=20
Sally looked at her quizzically, having heard her utterance.
=20
Sue explained softly, "I may be wrong, but I believe that is an=20
Immortal who was once known as Gaagi Ashiinii. He was a Navajo=20
warleader who crossed paths with Eadgils in the 1800's. The Navajo=20
and White Men were on again off again at war back then as the=20
bureaucrats in DC asserted their authority over the newly won=20
territories from the Mexican American war. Eadgils was out here as a=20
miner, silver, I think. Gaagi was the first Indian immortal he=20
encountered. They fought twice, but more as a sparring match, than an=20
actual attempt to take a head. Eadgils won the first round, and=20
specifically did not kill Gaagi at that time. Gaagi after that felt=20
honor bound to the white tchindis as he called him. They were not=20
really friends, but they respected each other. I had no idea he was=20
still around.=E2=80=9D
=20
The man with the butcher knife on the other hand, was looking at the=20
party of five with an odd expression on his face, his eyes passing=20
from one face to another, and the panic slowly fading from his=20
features. "I am Gus Ash, and I don't want a fight, with either of=20
you." He said, as he walked forward, but came to a sudden stop as he=20
encountered the Quickenings of both Sue and Patrick. Taking a step=20
back away from the group of strange Immortals he added, "I don't want=20
to fight any of you."
=20
Cassandra stepped forward, and with a sidelong glance at Adam, spoke,=20
her voice echoing a bit eerily, "I am known as Cassandra, Witch of=20
Donan Woods. I was the equivalent of a Medicine Woman among my tribes=20
long ago. I tell you true, we come to you in peace. Neither me nor=20
mine shall lift a hand against you without first being smitten."=20
The force of her ritualistic words seemed to freeze the other man,=20
who looked at her, then took another step back, lowering the butcher=20
knife to fall loosely at his side. "I have heard of a Cassandra, who=20
walks with wolves. They say she is a seer of great power."
=20
"That is I", Cassandra agreed, stepping forward, and indicating the=20
people with her, "Allow me to introduce the Mortals Adam Pierson, a=20
researcher, Sue Danning, and Sally MacGreggor, co workers of his, and=20
Patrick Wescott, a new Immortal, who has named Sue as his
teacher.=E2=80=9D
=20
Gaagi stared at Cassandra in confusion, then glanced at Sue and Adam,=20
then paused to study Sally, his gaze pausing briefly on the flash of=20
light blue tattoo barely visible on her wrist. Nodding his head, as=20
if coming to some conclusion, he said, "Pleased to meet you all. I=20
assume you are here for some tacos then?"
=20
At the mention of food, Patrick suddenly perked up, "Yes!"=20
=20
Sally laughed, and added in an aside to Gaagi, "He's been killed=20
twice today already. Apparently he's worked up quite an appetite."
=20
The party followed Gaagi into the small building, the smell of fresh=20
food filling the interior. "Let me head back to the kitchen and get=20
out your order. We can talk later," He said. Then he called=20
out, "Sarah!"
=20
A young woman with long dark hair, and dark eyes came out from the=20
back, calling out, "Yes Uncle Gus?"
=20
Sue caught a flash of blue from her wrist as the woman casually=20
brushed her long hair back over her shoulder and out of her face.
=20
"Customers, Little Deer. Please take their orders. They are Old=20
acquaintances, and I'll want to talk to them later, but for now, they=20
are hungry." Gaagi said, stressing the word Old.
=20
Sue caught Sarah's eye, and moved her wrist so her own tattoo showed=20
briefly, and added, "Go ahead Mr. Ash. I am sure that Adam and Sally=20
here can help Sarah keep an eye on Patrick and Cassandra for you,"=20
nodding at the individuals as she spoke, and emphasizing the word eye=20
a bit. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m Sue Daniels, by the way, and I've recently
stopped=20
looking after folks myself," she added for Sarah's benefit, once more=20
putting a bit of emphasis on the word looking.
=20
Sarah's eyes widened in recognition of the name, her wyes flashing=20
over to glance at Patrick briefly before returning to Sue. Apparently=20
it was part of the briefing now that she was somehow associated with=20
Patrick. Whether it had been a general release, or Sarah had been=20
specifically informed because she was along their path, Sue didn't=20
know, and wouldn't bother asking.=20
=20
Noting that Gaagi had disappeared in the back, she added softly, "I=20
just wanted to make sure you knew, so you wouldn't get in trouble for=20
saying something you shouldn't. I am officially out of the loop."
=20
Sarah smiled, and said, "Some of us may understand the situation more=20
than others. Trust me, being assigned to my 'Uncle' has caused me no=20
end of conflicts myself. But I am the only one he will let follow him=20
around. Don't know if he actually knows about the Watchers, but I=20
sort of suspect he does. He does know I know about Immortals, and=20
that he really isn't my Uncle per se, especially since his entire=20
tribe died out a long time ago, but he almost spent as much time=20
raising me as my real parents did. They were his Watchers as well,=20
you know."
=20
Patrick spoke up, reminding Sarah of his and Cassandra's presence=20
saying, "So, you, Sally, and Sue were all second generation Watchers.=20
I suppose it really is a kind of family business. Is it normal for=20
several generations of watchers to watch a single Immortal, or is=20
that just a misconception I am getting from Sally and you?"
=20
Sarah suddenly went white, and looked at Sue. "He knows?"
=20
"He knows, Cassandra knows, yer 'Uncle' knows, they all bloody know,=20
it seems. My 'mmortal's been keeping her own Chronicle on my family=20
for oer four hundred bloody years." Sally garumphed.
=20
Sarah looked at Sally, then at Cassandra, then back at Sue for=20
clarification.
=20
Sue responded to the look, "Cassandra figured back in the fifteen=20
hundreds sometime that if the MacGreggors would be keeping a record=20
of her life, it was the least she could do to return the favor."
=20
Sally added, "Reads like a bludy novel. More 'n just a who married=20
whom, or what not. Covers what they did on a daily basis at times."
=20
"Hey, I was bored. And a lot of the time, their lives were more=20
interesting than anything else I could record." Cassandra added,=20
while looking over the hand written menu above the counter. "So, what=20
makes a taco a Navajo taco, other than the fact it was made by a=20
Navajo?" she asked, finally steering the conversation back towards=20
food
=20
"Mostly the bread. Navajo tacos are made on something we call fry=20
bread, instead of a regular corn tortilla like a normal taco. Then,=20
it is made in a layered fashion, first the chili sauce, then the=20
meat, then the veggies, and finally the cheese."=20
=20
"I'll take at least four, to start. With a coke, please." Patrick=20
said.
=20
The rest ordered their food, and when it was delivered, carried it to=20
one of the two largest tables in the front of the restaurant, where=20
they took up 3 of the 4 sides of the table.
=20
As they were eating, Gaagi came out from the kitchen, and dragged a=20
chair up to the remaining open side of the table, and sat down with a=20
large glass of sun tea. "So, are you folks here for a specific=20
reason, or did you really just stop in for the tacos?" he asked,=20
taking a long sip of his drink.
=20
"Tacos," Patrick mumbled, around a mouthful of his second taco.
=20
Sue took it upon herself to expand. "We are heading to L.A. By the=20
way, would you know of a good hotel somewhere to the southwest,=20
relatively close?"
=20
Gaagi shook his head, then as Sarah approached from the front,=20
answered, "The closest hotel would be about twenty three miles back=20
the way you came, either that or go on anther seventy five miles or=20
so, through the Painted Desert park all the way to Holbrook."
=20
"Uncle Gus?" Sarah asked softly.
=20
"Yes, Little Deer?"=20
=20
"What about the Casino?" Sarah opined.
=20
"It's not open yet. You know that, Sarah. They won't be opening the=20
Casino for another two months or so." Gaagi responded, shaking his=20
head slowly.
=20
"Not the Casino, but the hotel. It's not really open, but it is open.=20
They are having friends of the workers in training stay there. They=20
might be willing to accept some real guests as well. It wouldn't hurt=20
to ask," Sarah said, looking over the back of the booth she had=20
settled into.=20
=20
"Are there any more tacos?" Patrick asked, rising from the table, and=20
heading towards the front counter, Gaagi rising as well to follow a=20
few steps behind him.
=20
"Of course there..." Gaagi started but, his words halting suddenly as=20
one of the florescent lights in the ceiling, which were hung at each=20
end from a short chain, suddenly broke loose. The fixture shuddered=20
as first one side of the chain detached, then the other, the wobbling=20
motion snapping the light tube at the still affixed end off in a=20
jagged edge. Unsuspended, the broken end of the tube started to sag=20
towards the floor, even as the wire providing power to the fixture on=20
the far end broke loose as well. The weight and motion of the=20
fixture's far end plummeting towards the floor converted the tube's=20
slide into an odd arc, which completed its motion as it slammed=20
directly into Patrick's upper chest, sending shattered shards of=20
glass slicing through his thin t-shirt, and slashing the skin of his=20
chest and stomach, while the momentum of the light itself knocked him=20
to the ground.
=20
Patrick flopped backwards, then after a moment, rose shakily and=20
looked down at his ruined chest, propping himself up on his hands. He=20
looked up at the roof, past the swinging lamp, and said, "That hurt!"
=20
Sarah just stood gaping in horror at the sight of the blood seeping=20
slowly from the wounds, even as little sparkles of light played over=20
the wounds through the tears in his shirt.
=20
Gaagi, who had been only a few steps behind Patrick, looked at the=20
form laying literally at his feet, then up at the wreckage of the=20
lighting fixture, the remainder of the still protruding glass tube=20
lightly smeared with blood and hanging pointing almost straight down=20
now, as the fixture swung gently back and forth in the middle of the=20
room, much like an abandoned child's swing.
=20
Sarah took in the unusually calm demeanors of her companions and=20
asked, "Has this happened before?"
=20
Sue looked over at the swinging light, then down at Patrick, who was=20
being examined by Cassandra, and replied, "He's under some sort of=20
curse."
=20
Gaagi, who was still standing over Patrick, said, "What kind of=20
curse?"
=20
At that moment, the last two chains connecting the light to the=20
ceiling snapped simultaneously, and the fixture fell the last 3 feet=20
to thud onto Patrick's stomach, this time shoving the remainder of=20
the glass tube into his bowels. As the other end smashed into his=20
face, snapping his head back to the floor, and breaking his neck.
=20
"That kind," Sally said, before stuffing the last bite of her taco=20
into her mouth and swallowing.
=20
The only reply Sarah could make was a soft "Oh."
=20
Adam and Cassandra stood up, and headed towards Patrick's form. Sally=20
continued calmly eating her taco, while Sue wiped her hands and=20
tidied her tray before standing herself.
=20
"We are hoping we can find some way to lift the curse," Cassandra=20
added, as she and Adam lifted the remnants of the light off of=20
Patrick. "I was hoping to find some sort of Holy Ground where we=20
could try a ritual or two to drive off evil spirits."
=20
"Gaagi was a Medicine Man," Sarah said softly, earning a sudden=20
glance from Gaagi.
=20
"Ah, Little Deer, that was in another life, literally... but you're=20
right. I was a Medicine Man, and I still keep a medicine bag, and I=20
still take Spirit Walks several times a year."=20
=20
"Uh, Uncle Gus, is there anything that can be done?" Sarah asked=20
softly.
=20
"How many times has this happened lately?" he asked, looking at=20
Cassandra.
=20
Cassandra looked at Sue, saying "He's your student, child. Have you=20
been keeping a count?"
=20
Gaagi raised an eyebrow at this, and Sarah frowned a bit, but both=20
turned to Sue.
=20
Sue counted in her head mentally before answering. "Since he was=20
first shot and killed three days ago, he's fallen down some stairs,=20
been electrocuted, crushed by a falling lamp post, drowned in a tub,=20
then slipped in a shower and broke his neck. He managed to go one day=20
without dying. Today however, he got run over by a stampede, fell off=20
a cliff, and got crushed by a boulder, and now this. I'd say he is=20
averaging getting killed two to three times a day, in some of the=20
most bizarre ways."
=20
Cassandra added, "Someone sicc'ed a Kami or Loa on him, I think."
=20
"Well, let's get him out of the middle of the room and cleaned up,=20
incase someone comes in," Gaagi said, "then I can call Jonah and see=20
what he says. Let him know I have some old friends passing through=20
that could use a place to stay, and since his folks at the hotel are=20
in practice, it seemed better to stash them there than on the floor=20
of my place. Tomorrow, we will see what, if anything can be done for=20
your friend here. I hate it when a customer dies in my place. Even if=20
it is only temporary in his case, it still makes me mad."
=20
Adam and Gaagi carried Patrick out to the RV, and laid him on the=20
muddy couch with Cassandra's help. Meanwhile, Sally helped Sarah=20
clean up the glass and blood, while Sue carried the light fixture out=20
back to dump in the garbage.
=20
Cassandra found her there, before she had a chance to return to the=20
front of the restaurant. "Gaagi has known about the Watchers for=20
about two hundred years. He said he wasn't aware of the exact rules=20
and such by which they operated, but could understand that they would=20
not exactly be happy to know that either you or Adam were Immortals.=20
He promised he wouldn't say anything to Sarah."
=20
"That's good. I though he was going to loose it for a moment there=20
when we all showed up."
=20
"I take it from what you said before that Gaagi knew Eadgils?"
=20
"Yes, I can't explain it, but when I first saw him, I, not really=20
remembered it, there was no visualization like when I recall=20
something normally, but I knew who he was somehow."
=20
"Part of Eadgils must be integrating with you somehow. We will have=20
to speak of this tonight," Cassandra said.
=20
"It might be because I remember when Ed remembered being trapped in a=20
mine in the late 1800s. It was shortly before that that he knew=20
Gaagi. I don't really remember anything though beyond that."
=20
"Perhaps Eadgils can fill us in on that then tonight." Cassandra=20
said, as the reached the front door of the Taco Stand.
=20
"Eadgils?" came a voice from behind them, "Is that chiin'dii around?=20
Why didn't you mention him?"
=20
Cassandra turned, to find Gaagi and Adam coming up from behind them,=20
Adam wearing an odd expression on his face.
=20
"Not exactly," Cassandra responded. "He was my teacher, as he is one=20
of Sue's."
=20
"I had thought Sue to be either your or Adam's student, here."=20
=20
"I am." Sue replied, to the sudden surprise of both elders. "But I am=20
also Eadgils=E2=80=99s student. And likely his last, considering the=20
circumstances."
=20
"Why do you say that?" Gaagi asked.
=20
"Because he lost his head the same time I first died, five days ago,"=20
Sue replied with a shrug.
=20
"Wait. You died your first death five days ago, and already have a=20
student?" Gaagi inquired with a raised eyebrow.
=20
"Yeah, but..." Sue started.
=20
Gaagi, ignoring Sue=E2=80=99s reply turned to Cassandra and Adam asking,
"And=20
you claim her as student yourselves, yet allow this?"
=20
"Well..." Adam started, but was cut off by Cassandra's suddenly hard=20
voice, "I 'allow' nothing. In the first day we met, Sue proved to my=20
satisfaction that she could take care of herself. The Youngling=20
himself expressed the desire for Sue as his teacher, and would not=20
even entertain the thought of taking another, even at her urging. Sue=20
is an adult. So is Patrick. I have offered them both the opportunity=20
for my guidance. Should they choose to accept it or not is not my=20
decision to make. Where do you get off standing in judgment of me?"
=20
"I=E2=80=99m sorry Cassandra. I had not meant to offer offense."
=20
Adam spoke up again, hoping to calm things down a bit, "Sue, you=20
can't have three teachers."
=20
Sue looked at him, then at Cassandra, and finally at Gaagi. "I can=20
have as many teachers as I can have things to learn. Who first taught=20
me to use a foil?"
=20
Adam smiled at the memories, and replied, "I did."
=20
Sue nodded, and went on, "Then you are my teacher. And who trained me=20
in the use of the katana, drilling me well enough that I could best=20
Cassandra here?"
=20
Adam responded with a bit of inquiry to his voice, "Eadgils?"
=20
"Yes. And finally, who is it that=E2=80=99s trying to teach me to feel my=20
Quickening, and through it the hidden world around me?"
=20
Again, Adam replied, this time looking in inquiry at=20
Cassandra; "Cassandra?"
=20
Gaagi also looked quizzically at Cassandra, who nodded slowly. "Yes.=20
So I have 3 teachers. One from before I even became Immortal, the one=20
who trained me to use my weapon, and one who is training me even now=20
in the use of my Quickening. And I am sure there are things I can=20
still learn from all three of you. Would you deny me this=20
opportunity?"
=20
"No, I wouldn't. But when an Immortal gives their lineage, there is=20
just one teacher they can name. You know that, right?"
=20
"I suppose so. I guess I should practice a formal introduction, just=20
to make sure I have it right," Sue said, with a grin on her face.
=20
Turning to Gaagi, she bowed, and stood, extending her hand, " Gaagi=20
of the Ashiinii clan, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sue Danning,=20
last student of Eadgils, speaker of the Flornlef tribe. But I have=20
also studied under Cassandra, the first student of my teacher=20
Eadgils, and under Methos, the Eldest of all known Immortals."=20
Turning to Adam, she asked, "How's that?"
=20
Adam looked in shock at Sue, while Gaagi, who still held her hand,=20
started laughing a deep, rumbling laugh. Cassandra herself giggled.
=20
Adam finally responded saying, "I suppose it will work, but I=20
wouldn't go blabbing that last part around. It could cost someone=20
their head."
=20
Cassandra nodded, adding, "Yes. There are Headhunters who would kill=20
for a shot at Methos, literally."
=20
Gaagi suddenly sobered up, and looked at Adam. "Methos?" he inquired.
=20
"Yes." Adam replied with a suddenly guarded expression.
=20
"You know Eadgils didn't like you. If he was here, he for one would=20
be going for your head."
=20
Sue piped in, "No he wouldn't. That much I am sure of. Eadgils had a=20
long memory, but even Death he could forgive. Adam has changed over=20
the last four thousand years. Eadgils would have considered that=20
before issuing a summary judgment."
=20
Gaagi looked at Sue, then at Cassandra. "He spoke of you. He thought=20
you were dead. I am glad he was wrong. He also thought Death was=20
dead. I am not so sure I am glad about that, but I will take no=20
action against you unless first you take action against me or mine.=20
Agreed?"
=20
Adam let out a long breath, and nodded. "I agree. And I thank you for=20
the chance to prove I am not what I once was."
=20
"I know people can change. I have seen it again and again in my=20
lifetime. I have changed as well. The first time I met your teacher,"=20
Gaagi said, looking at Sue and Cassandra, "I tried to kill him. He=20
was a White Man, my people were being systematically abused and=20
slaughtered by the White Man; they were claiming that they=20
were 'civilizing' us while taking the land. Land, which by our=20
beliefs belonged to everyone. They claimed we said no one owned it,=20
so they could take it. That was not what we had told them, we had=20
meant that no one could own the land, that it was for everyone, the=20
people and the animals to use and share. Then one day, another White=20
Man comes. Only this one, he is like me, one of Kani-ah-fanuti. We=20
fought, I to take his head, he to defend himself. He won, and killed=20
me. Imagine my shame when I later awoke, tied by a fire. He released=20
me, and we became not truly friends, but he was the one White Man I=20
would trust. As far as I know, he never lied to me. There are few of=20
your race who that could ever be said of."
=20
"Well, let's get back inside and see how they are coming on cleaning=20
up the mess," Sue said, trying to divert the topic.
=20
"You guys go on in. I need to turn off the lights at the breaker box=20
until I can get someone out here to fix the wiring." Gaagi replied,=20
heading towards the back of the building.
=20
Sue, Cassandra, and Adam headed back into the restaurant where they=20
joined Sarah and Sally as the overhead lights flickered, then half of=20
them went out.
=20
Gaagi emerged a few moments later from the kitchen, looked at the=20
recently cleaned and swept floor, then nodded with apparent=20
satisfaction. "I'm going to call Jonah, and see what he says about=20
letting you people stay at the Casino."
=20
It was only a short time later that Gaagi came back out to the front,=20
and grinned as he said, "Well, I talked to Jonah, and his wife both.=20
You folks are invited to preview the Casino, and spend a night in the=20
hotel as guests of the Nation."
=20
Sue looked up at that, as the door opened, and Patrick wandered back=20
in, having obviously taken yet another shower and again changed his=20
clothes. "Uh, Sue?" he asked, as he headed over to the order counter.
=20
"Yes Patrick?"
=20
"Um, I think I'm going to need to go shopping again when we get to=20
L.A. I am about out of clothes, and most of them are more torn,=20
burnt, or punctured than just dirty. Sorry." As Sarah looked at him=20
at the counter, ha added, "I would like some more tacos, please? At=20
least three."
=20
Gaagi laughed, and turned back towards the kitchen.
=20
As Patrick inhaled the second batch of tacos, Gaagi and Sarah worked=20
on shutting the stand down for the evening, then everyone headed out=20
to caravan over to the new Casino.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D
To be continued in Chapter Twenty Three - We Win, You Lose, coming=20
Monday.