“Ardel,
we should take the plain transporter and not my artsy one.” I can’t
resist
teasing him about my painting experience. Fortunately he is
good-natured,
“Oh,
so you don’t want me to wear the striped multi-colored tights with the
purple
cap that matches your artwork then? That means I can leave my polka dot
boots
behind. I could’ve been color coordinated, you know,” he quips.
“Oh,
sure. A sight to get sore eyes, right out of my nightmares.”
“Why
are you talking nightmares now, honey? Are you suggesting I don’t look
lean and
mean in tights, maybe even sexy?”
“I
think I’ll keep you guessing on that one, sweetie. I’m ready to go. Do
you want
anything before we leave?” I ask.
“Yes,
I want my handy dandy pocket knife with fifty gadgets on it. Do you
know where
it is?”
“Yup,
in my pack,” I smile at him.
“That
figures.”
“Where
are you going to put it? You don’t have any space left in your pockets
with all
the necessary stuff you need to take filling them up. I bet your bag is
full
too.”
“Well,
I could wear an oversized tent, maybe a one piece would suit me. Look,
Jurnee, I
do have an empty pocket here, see?” he points to the only pocket with
free
space located on the front of the uniform he wears when we travel.
“O.K.
but I have dibs on that gadget when I need to use it,” I bat my eyes,
and give
him a coy smile. Well, I hope it looks like a coy smile and not a
grimace.
“Oh,
you think you can win me over with that look do you?” he walks over to
me, gets
the knife and kisses me.
“I
sure hope so. I’ve had a lot of practice, you know.”
“And
it’s worked so far…..just so far,” Ardel grins.
I
give him a raspberry.
“We were told we didn’t have to do
anything but get into the transporters since they’ve been
pre-programmed for
our trip. I’ve no idea what’s next,” I admit.
We walk out to our little pod and
climb in. “This seems small. It’s been awhile since we were in one of
these,” I
say “I’m glad we are taking two other pods. It makes me feel safer.”
“Yup, but remember they’ll be
transporting the victims that have been taken from their homes,” my
honey
replies, giving me a reassuring hug.
“They
need to be rescued,” I say as we secure our safety belts.
We lift off and the pod moves three
point four miles north east of our spot of take off, and stops. It shakes a little and
suddenly our
surroundings change. We are above a grassy area surrounded by trees
that have
deep blue green leaves the size of my hand and an intense purple smooth
looking
trunk. They look to be about five to six feet tall and growing in
clumps with
maybe eight to ten in a group.
We
pass hundreds of starling-like birds. These appear different in that
they have bright
green and yellow feathers with white tips on their tail and wings.
Dozens fly
out of the trees nearest us. I
think we
startled the flock. I
see sparkling neon
yellow on their bodies too. They
fly
gracefully except one variety of bird that stands out. They are light
to deep
lavender, weighing what appears to be two to three pounds and have, I
guess, a
five to seven inch body with tail feathers a good ten inches long. The birds wobble in the
air as their tails
whips in wild circles. I
laugh as I watch
them.
As
our pod moves forward, outcroppings of large boulders come into view.
They are encircled
by wild flowers more brilliant than any we remember. Shades of bright
sparkling
oranges, brilliant reds, bright yellow greens that are almost glowing,
show
clearly. The pure yellows seem to have bright lights inside. It is
quite a
display. Colors appear to be more brilliant here, wherever here is. It
is warm
and clear. There must be a gentle breeze as we see leaves move
accordingly.
We pass the boulders and maintain a
straight direction. Approximately twenty feet directly below us, is a
walkway in
a shining rust color that has a smooth surface. An intentionally
artistic design
in a graceful pattern is inset in the walk that continues as far as we
can see
from our altitude. It’s attractive. “This is where I’d walk to relax,”
I tell
Ardel.
“It’s pretty, but I don’t recognize
the material from here. I’d like to check it out when and if we get
time. I
don’t see any people, or any beings except the birds. The larger beings
could be
in danger if they are caught out in the open,” Ardel says.
We set down not more than five point
six miles from our beginning point of entry. A voice directs us to look
to our
left for a light.
“There,
I see it, honey,” I point.
We check the area before getting out
of the pod and carefully walk over to the light, scanning the
surroundings as
we walk. We seem to be alone. The
light
appears to hang suspended in mid-air surrounded by plants and brush. We
can’t
see any structure at all. Within a few feet of the light, a huge hairy
cat like
creature comes running at us. My heart is in my throat. We run like the
dickens
to the light and an opening appears before us. We rush through and are
inside,
beating the cat like animal by inches. I look back and see the front
door is shut;
we are standing in the entry. I turn and gaze around seeing the
familiar look
of home. We are safely inside. This new House greets us.
“Welcome,
be comfortable. There is information on the table for you.”
I
peek out the front door leaded glass window and see the furry creature,
just
sitting, as if waiting, facing the door, looking right at me. I begin
to shake
with fear. This critter resembles an odd looking wildcat with huge
pointed ears,
and I’m so nervous I only see its eyes.
“The
furry creature is bigger than us, Ardel.”
“That
is a dauge-hug, an intelligent being here to protect you. It will speak
and do
as directed. Also, warn you of danger and will be your assistant. Let
it enter
so you can become acquainted.” The House advises.
“Shall
I let it in, Ardel?”
“Go
ahead. We need to get familiar with it/him/her, whatever it is.” he
says.
I
walk to the door and open it. The dauge-hug perks up, faces me and
that’s when
I notice it looks far different than a cat. Its nose is just one hole
extending
out of the flat face. It opens and closes as he breaths. Otherwise his
face is
flat, almost hairless, and I see a wide gentle ‘U’ shaped mouth just
below the
nostril that makes him look like he is smiling. I can’t see his teeth.
I assume
it’s a male. He’s
covered in hair that
is a smooth bright gold. His eyes are large and oval with gold flecks
of yellow
mixed with brown that surrounds narrow, elongated pupils. His four feet
end in
a long flat, narrow shape with three long toes, useable as fingers I
figure, by
their design. He walks on all fours.
“Won’t
you come in?” I ask.
He walks slowly into the House, goes
to the chair next to the large table in the big room and sits down. He
watches
me until I sit down in front of him and next to Ardel.
“Hello, I am Journee and this is my
mate, Ardel,” I say.
“I am pleased to meet you. I am
Dorwith, here to be of service.” He actually smiles, stretching his
thin lips
into an extended straighter shape.
Ardel laughs out loud and says,
“Excuse me but you sound like a highly educated, well-mannered
executive and
you don’t look the part. I’m not intending to be rude, but you are a
surprise
to me. I am happy to meet you.”
“My partner is right; you are not
what we expected. Actually, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s good to
meet
you,” I say.
“Now that you have arrived, I can
load the chemical powder into your transporter pod.
The House has filled you in, I presume.
I’ll stay close to you while on assignment,” Dorwith
says in slow, impeccably enunciated words.
I notice Dorwith appears to be
bored, he exhibits a bland expression, eyes half open and his body is
somewhat
slumped, in a lazy pose. I then remember he is probably related to the
cat
species. Now, I know he presumes to be boss, in control of the
situation. I’ll
watch and see if I am right.
The three of us settle in, eat and
rest before we begin our first day’s challenge.