Even though the full Pleiad endorsed the Chairman's agreement, the plan was far from "done and done." One reason for that was the direct government participation of the citizenry. In addition, as is always the case with officers and politicians, nothing is ever as simple as it first sounds. For one thing, the Pleiad had to make my presence known to the citizens of Paradise Valley. Then they had to explain why they kept it a secret for two days, and finally, they had to stand for a vote of confidence. The big chief of the Pleiad handled that adroitly, by first announcing the successful testing of the time machine and the acquisition of the Hawkingium.
Next he slipped me into the picture by relating how I had assisted Sonja and her team and saved them from the Indian attack. That was pretty funny in itself, because the chairman's name was Joseph Amerind Bearclaw. The chairman made it clear that my being there was beyond the Pleiad's control, but they were inclined to utilize any special skills I had until they could send me packing back to 1869. With that in mind, he told the populace that I had offered my services in their vexing problem with the Outlanders, and the council had accepted. Details of that help were being worked out, even as he spoke.
The old boy didn't lie for a second, because there were details aplenty. One of those details was a plebiscite for a warrant for one Miss Elizabeth Smith, (aka Queen Elizabeth the Seventh.) The warrant would be executed by a duly appointed officer of the court. The Pleiad Chairman neatly sidestepped having to put my name up for a citizen vote by recognizing my status from when I was Marshall of Cheyenne. The Pleiad simply enacted a reciprocal law enforcement agreement between the city/state of Paradise Valley California and the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They further resolved that the agreement would go before the citizens for a vote as soon as Cheyenne officials signed it also. These future men might be without ambition, but they sure were cunning.
The fine citizens of Paradise Valley, angry about the attack on the research farm, overwhelmingly backed the Pleiad. What amazed me was that the entire process of the explanation and vote took less than half a day. I had to wonder what these future folks had in mind for Queen Elizabeth's punishment. I mean, as opposed as they were to violence, I couldn't see them lynching her.
I did not hang around the council chambers waiting for results though, because I had an appointment with a dentist. Now I was no stranger to dentists, we had a very good one in Cheyenne that I had visited just last winter. The dentist of the future was not nearly as awe and fear inspiring as the Mediscan thing but she made Doc Wheatley in Cheyenne seem as backwards as an Indian medicine man. In only a couple of hours, Doctor Davis and her assistants had all my bad teeth tended too (she said I had two minor 'cavities') and my choppers were as pearly white as every one else's here. They even did something to my teeth they said would prevent them from ever rotting. Most blessed of all, it was completely pain free as compared to the torture session old Doc Wheatley conducted.
From the dentist's we went to the 'cafeteria' for another fake meat meal. The label on the plate said 'Salisbury Steak' and Sonja raved about the subtilely nuanced sauce with its hint of Burgundy. Trust me, it was shoe sole in nasty brown gravy. The only thing nice about the meal was the company, as Sarah Hunnicutt joined us again.
I found out Sarah was not there just for my wonderful company, when they led me straight back to Mediscan Unit Seven. I balked, dug in my heels and refused to enter the room again. I might as well have saved my breath, though, as Coleen sighed and turned to Tonya.
"If he doesn't go in, stun him," my no longer favorite doctor said.
I stood there with my mouth hanging open as Tonya jumped back out of my reach and whipped out the big stunner she had been issued.
"How big a jolt?" Tonya asked as she fiddled with a knob on the side of the thing.
Coleen shrugged and replied, "A triple dose of anesthesia didn't put him under yesterday, so you better turn the juice way up."
I threw up my hands in surrender, spun on my heels and walked through the door. I was not a happy man by the turn of events, and I guess it showed on my face. Coleen looked just as stubborn and angry as I felt.
"Don't fight us on this, Jeremiah. You should know by now that we'd never do anything to harm you. Today you are going to receive an infusion of vaccines for a spectrum of diseases. Doctor Hunnicutt recreated the vaccines from our archives this morning. In six hours you will be immune to all the killing diseases of your time, from small pox to influenza. You'll also be inoculated against some of our modern bugs, like mutated malaria and radiation plague."
I nodded mutely and started shedding my clothes. I had to wonder why she had not offered the explanation first, instead of ordering me shot. Now I felt like an ass once again, both for not trusting them and for showing fear in the face of something I had already been through once. Coleen stopped me from disrobing farther once my shirt was off. She had me hop up onto the table and Sarah handed me a cup of some greenish, very sweet liquid to drink. When Sarah stepped back away from me, Coleen once again activated the 'containment field'.
"Very good, Sweetie. We are delivering the vaccines to you in three different ways. You just took the oral component. Next, you are going to receive an intravenous dosing, followed by a misting that you will breathe in. Hold still, put your right hand on the table face up and turn your head to the left. You will feel a slight pin prick when the IV is inserted. Just relax, remember to take deep breaths and it will be over in five minutes," Coleen lectured.
Well hell, it was over in fewer than five minutes and I felt even stupider for the fuss I raised. I pulled the stretchy black shirt over my head and followed them out. As soon as the door closed behind us as we exited the room, I started apologizing.
"I am very sorry, ladies, for acting so childishly. That room takes away my ability to think rationally. I think everything in there seems mysterious and sinister to me, because I cannot comprehend any of it."
The women shrugged and all of them except Coleen said it was not a problem. Coleen though, stopped walking and turned to face me with a pained expression on her face.
"I should have thought of that, Jeremiah, and done more to make you comfortable in there. Instead I treated you as if you were one of my other patients. When we have some free time, I'll explain all about our medical system, okay?"
I put my arm around her and squeezed.
"That would be great," I said. "But I am still going to tan your pretty little butt for threatening me. And while I'm at it, I'm going to fix Miss Tonya's wagon too."
The women all laughed as if I was joking. We would see about that. It was one thing to tease me; it was a horse of a different color to treat me with disrespect.
I was wondering what we were doing next, but I would be danged if I asked one of them. They'd had enough fun at my expense already today. I figured it out on my own anyway, when we turned down corridor G3. I had been taking note of the numbering system since yesterday, so I knew the Pleiad chambers were at the end of this hallway.
One of the Pleiad's minions stopped us in the anteroom to prevent us from walking into the chambers. He pointed to a glowing red sign above the door that read 'On The Air'.
"The chairman is thanking the citizens for the vote of confidence; he'll only be a few more minutes."
Sure enough, ten minutes later, we were sitting at the long table again, as a beaming chairman Bearclaw explained the results of the voting.
"The vote was quick and decisive," he gushed. "Over eighty percent of the citizens expressed confidence in our actions. The vote is slower on the warrant issue, but the percentage approving is about the same."
As the chairman bubbled away, my nose detected the smell of coffee. I whipped my head around as a man and a woman rolled in a coffee and tea service along with a tray of pastries. The smell of coffee had me slobbering like a hungry dog in a butcher shop. As the beverages were being served, I noticed that most of the men opted for coffee, while all the women except Tonya had tea. The coffee was prepared and served in the Spanish way: very strong, in small cups and with plenty of cream and sugar. I took one of the bigger tea cups, poured in about a third of a cup of the coffee and filled it the rest of the way with hot water. I blew across the rim of the cup, took a sip and sighed in contentment.
A councilor sitting across from me raised his cup in my direction as if toasting me.
"Coffee is vexingly hard to grow here Mister Brock, even in our hothouses. Plus most women detest the stuff, so we seldom have it. Today, though, we drink it to celebrate the successful trip back to your time, the acquisition of the Hawkingium and today's vote. I sincerely hope that in a week or so, we will be celebrating again when you bring in that Smith woman."
After a few hearty 'here — heres', Bearclaw told me the plan.
"I think we have covered all your requirements Mister Brock. Tomorrow morning, we will transport you, your party and your supplies to a riding stable located mid-valley. The owner of the stables will provide you with whatever livestock you need. Besides Senior Agent Larson, how many security personnel will you require?"
I shot Tonya a look and shook my head.
"I don't need anyone, including Miss Larson. I need the ability to move fast and with stealth. Even one person will slow me down and make movement harder."
I could not voice my real objection which was that, based on my experiences with these people, they would be more hindrance than help if there was serious trouble.
The chairman's eyebrows arched up and he leaned to his right to whisper something to the man sitting there. After an exchange or two of whispers, Bearclaw nodded and turned back to me.
"You going alone is unacceptable Mister Brock; you will at least need a guide familiar with the outlands. Agent Larson spent three years at one of the Fringe outposts providing security to caravans. She will be an asset to you. Administrator Ferren will also accompany you. She will be the council's eyes and ears out there. If you change your mind about taking more personnel, inform Miss Ferren."
It was still early afternoon when we finished with the Pleiad. I was fine with that though, because a nap sounded like a very good idea about then. The women cooperated with me for once, and let me catch a cat nap. I woke up feeling much better about all that had happened that day. I shrugged off the experience in Medscan Seven and stopped worrying about the Pleiad forcing me to take Tonya and Sonja with me to the outlands. My good mood lasted until I sat down at the table and contemplated the meatless meal laid out in front of me. It looked as fancy as anything I'd ever seen, but it was as insubstantial as fog. I did not complain about the food though, because everyone else was eating the same thing.
Sonja had some news for me towards the end of the meal.
"Jeremiah, we put it off for as long as we could, but this evening, Coleen, Helena and I have a debriefing with the time project's senior scientists. Will you be okay staying here with Tonya?"
I looked at Sonja with my poker face.
"If Coleen has not put her up to shooting me, I guess it will be alright." I answered.
Tonya actually blushed and looked down at her plate, but Coleen's jaw tightened in annoyance.
"We've been over that, Jeremiah. I'm your doctor, for goodness sake, you know I would never let any harm come to you," she said crossly.
I was beginning to see that Doctor Colleen O'Neil was a different person in her own time and place. Here and now, she appeared accustomed to ruling the roost, and she had little patience for anyone disagreeing with her. That was going to lead to some interesting times between us, because ever since I was paroled from the Confederate Army, I had a serious aversion to taking orders. My friend and brother-in-law, JC Colbert, said I had the same ornery disposition as my mules.
We finished our meal and my time travel companions departed for their meeting. They all gave me hugs and kisses before they stampeded out the door. Tonya and I remained seated at the table. She was avoiding looking at me. I cleared my throat to capture her attention.
"I was teasing, Tonya. I was pretty sure you were not going to shoot me on Coleen's whim."
She nodded her head in confirmation.
"I was just playing along," she moaned.
I gave her a grin and nodded my understanding. I had some surprisingly warm feelings for Tonya, and we were about to be out in the badlands of the future together for who knew how long. I thought I had better at least warn her of how I felt.
"Tonya, I know that your job is to keep me out of mischief, but before we ride out tomorrow, you need to know that I am powerful attracted to you and not just physically either. You might be better off passing that chore to someone else instead of being stuck nursemaiding a moonstruck muleskinner."
Tonya's wide-set hazel eyes opened in surprise, then she smiled the smile she gave me when we danced together. That smile transformed her attractive features into a thing of beauty.
"I don't think that will be a problem at all, Mister Brock. And for the record, my assignment now is to protect you, not police your conduct. Not everyone likes you, but they do not doubt your integrity."
Before I could reply to that, Tonya excused herself.
"I need a shower," she said, "then we can talk about our trip."
Tonya walked to the bathroom and I settled onto the comfortable sofa with the history book from Sonja. I lost myself in the fascinating manner in which the authors of the book presented the political and social consequences of the reconstruction of the south after the War Between the States. The retribution the Union doled out made southerners second class citizens for nearly a century.
I looked up from my book when I heard the door to Tonya's room open. I was slightly surprised to notice it was almost dark outside, but I was completely flabbergasted by the sight of Senior Agent Lawson. See, she was draped in this diaphanous white gown that hid her body from direct view, yet highlighted every big beautiful curve. Tonya was at least six feet tall and she probably weighed one-seventy. Her shoulders were wide for a woman and she carried herself proudly erect. Of course that emphasized her spectacular breasts. Her waist nipped in severely, her stomach was flat, her hips perfectly proportioned and her legs were impossibly long. Both Tonya's feet and hands were long and slender, her wrists and ankles surprisingly trim.
When I finally dragged my eyes up to her face, her hazel orbs bored into mine. Tonya had a generous mouth with very kissable lips; her nose was unremarkable, but fit her face. She had shortish chestnut hair that barely reached her collar. Tonight, her still damp hair was pushed behind her dainty, shell like ears.
Tonya stalked across the room, tawny and graceful as a tiger. Once at the couch, she knelt, straddled my lap and put her hands on my shoulders.
"Tell me some more about how much you like me, Cowboy, then show me how much you want me," she said.
Her voice was husky and low pitched. It made the hackles on the back of my neck stand up. The feel of her on me made my heart careen around in my chest. I growled, put my hands under her generous behind and stood up. She squealed in surprise, then wrapped her legs and arms around me. I carried her to her bedroom and eased her down on the bed. She reluctantly let me go, then she sighed in contentment as I stripped off my clothes.
An hour later and temporarily sated, Tonya and I lay on the bed, trying to catch our breath. Her head was on my chest, her long muscular leg tossed haphazardly across my thighs. Our love making had been stupendous. I do not think any two people could fit together better than Tonya and I. She was incredibly passionate, stronger than any woman I had ever met, and she was as limber as a river otter. It took a few minutes, but our normal breathing finally recovered. When it did, Tonya pushed herself up onto her elbow and looked down at me.
"I can't smell you anymore, Jeremiah, and I still feel myself falling in love with you," she said in amazement.
I rolled over on top of her and pinned her down to the bed. I pushed myself up on my arms and pushed my revived staff against her. Her eyes widened when she felt my hardness. Tonya loved it when I acted manly and strong.
When we broke apart after another half hour of passion, I told Tonya how beautiful I thought she was. She was truly surprised that I thought that.
"You don't mind that I'm one of the Unevolved?" she asked incredulously.
She read the lack of understanding in my expression and explained.
"The breakthrough in genetic engineering that made possible the alteration of males, also allowed women to alter their female children. Women could sit down with the geneticist and custom design their child. At the time of the genetics breakthrough, the harshness of life had eased enough that people had time for pursuits outside of just surviving. It seemed only natural that genealogy would become very popular.
"People started taking pride in their ancestors and as an extension of that pride, they started programming traits they admired into their children. If a woman identified with an ancestor from Ireland, it was a simple matter to alter your unborn child's genetics so that he or she was born looking Irish. Today, over half of the population of Paradise Valley belongs to one of about forty loosely knit clans based on genetic heredity. Clan identity is part of those peoples' name. About two thirds of women back then chose appearance modification.
"At the same time, doctors were touting genetic changes that improved health and longevity. Women who opted for the hereditary changes also signed on for the healthy body template. The researchers determined that the ideal height for men was between five feet nine inches and six feet, and for women it was five-seven to five-nine. Weight range was one-thirty-five to one-forty-five for women, and one-fifty-five to one-seventy for men. The healthy body template also turns off the gene that allows the body to store fat and it changes the genetic mix that produces enzymes in the digestive tract. Sonja spoke of food the way she did the other night, because her metabolism is so efficient. Altered men and women can extract over ninety percent of the nourishment from anything they eat. In addition, as soon as the nourishment they need is extracted, they lose their appetites.
"Only about twelve percent of the population is unaltered. Although not blatant about it, the altered ones look down their noses at us. Some of then even call us Proto-Neanderthals. The government doesn't outright discourage natural selection, but they highly encourage the healthy body template. Because of that, there are fewer of us naturals in each succeeding generation. Today about ninety-five percent of women opt for genetic modification of their children. Sarah Hunnicutt and I are the only unaltered women working around the time project."
I did not understand many of the words she used or the concepts she described, but I think I got the gist of it. It was an incredible story and it confirmed that these future men had advance way beyond my grasp in the field of medicine. Everything else about the future was disappointing because, in most things, they were not that far ahead of 1869. I pulled Tonya against my side and answered her original question.
"Tonya, I do not care what they call you here. To me, you are a beautiful, intelligent and extremely passionate woman. What could a man ask for beyond that? I plan on keeping you as long as you let me."
Tonya's face lit up with one of those smiles I love, and she rolled over on top of me.
"I am never going to let you forget you said that, Jeremiah Brock, and I'm not going to ever let you regret it either."
We fell asleep before the other women returned from their debriefing. I fell asleep lying on my side, spooned up against Tonya's back, my arm draped over her side, holding one of her large breasts.
I awoke at six the next morning, feeling gloriously alive and content. I think waking up with Tonya still sleeping sprawled across my chest had a bunch to do with that. I slipped out of bed and for once, found no competition for the bathroom. I took care of my needs and luxuriated in a nice hot shower. I was out of the shower, frowning over a cup of the weak greenish tea the moderns preferred, when Tonya popped out of the bedroom, redressed in her white gown. She gave me a grin and a wave before dashing to the bathroom.
Tonya and I yakked for half and hour before the other three women woke up and joined us. I dutifully ate my oatmeal gruel and smiled to myself when Tonya took a bite and winked at me. From our talk earlier that morning, I knew Tonya preferred the same sorts of food I did, and she said game was plentiful in the outlands. Equally important, and making me love her even more, was Tonya's admission that she had at least five pounds of coffee horded. Tonya's public service job was as a restaurant hostess. Her pay was a few ounces of coffee for each night she worked.
At nine, Coleen and Helena departed for their duties over in the big medical building. Coleen was slightly out of sorts about not going with us to the outlands. She also did not like it much that I slept in a bed with her not in it last night. Once they were on their way, I asked Sonja why Coleen was acting the way she was. Sonja laughed and shook her head.
"Coleen is from an important family in a powerful clan. Add to that the fact that she is absolutely brilliant. In fact, Coleen helped Helena crack the harmonic resonance equation for transmitting living organisms through time. So Coleen is used to having things her way, and you aren't cooperating as she feels you should," Sonja explained.
I grunted and shook my head. I did not care who she was or what she had accomplished, if she did not start treating me with the same respect I showed her, we were soon parting ways.
At nine-thirty that morning, we caught a ride on a vehicle smaller than the trolley for our trip out to the livestock ranch. I was relieved that this horseless coach had a driver, even if he did aim the thing with a round barrel hoop looking device. I also thought he was going way to fast for comfort as the scenery swished by in a blur. Tonya explained that the ranch was located in an area called the Fringe. The Fringe was lands reclaimed from the outlands, and turned to productive use as the valley's population and needs increased. The folks who lived out there were a hardy lot, who worked tirelessly to clear and turn to productive use lands that had been fallow for centuries. We passed through the residential section that encircled the university complex and then rode past neatly laid out farms and fields. Our trip took about an hour.
I swear that riding up to the ranch was almost like riding up to our place in Cheyenne. The house and barn were bigger and nicer than ours, but they were constructed of logs the same as ours. There were a couple of corrals and a few fenced off paddocks where a number of mules and horses contentedly munched on the sweet summer grass.
When we exited the vehicle, I started to head for the fence to look at the horses and mules grazing in the small pastures. Tonya grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"Time for that later, cowboy. Right now you need to meet the person who owns those beasts."
I blushed and nodded. It was not like me to be that rude.
Before I could say anything, the house door opened and a woman walked out on the porch. I looked at her, my mouth fell open and I spun towards Tonya. But Tonya ignored me and waved happily to the woman.
"Hey Mom," she hollered, "look what I found."
I am willing to bet a buzzard could have flown into my mouth as slack jawed as I was. I was astounded, because the woman on the porch looked as if she were Tonya's twin sister. Finding out it was her mother was mind-boggling, since the woman on the porch could not have been over thirty years old. If Tonya had not grabbed my arm again and dragged me towards the porch, I would probably still be standing there gawking. Tonya made the introductions.
"Mom, this is Sonja Ferren, Councilor Bearclaw's representative and this is Jeremiah Brock. Sonja, Jeremiah, this is my mother, Carol Lawson."
Miz Lawson politely shook hands with Sonja and then turned to me. I lightly took her proffered hand, but I was still gaping at her. Up close she looked as young as she had from the ground. Finally, my brain activated itself and I spoke.
"It is a pleasure meeting you Miz Lawson. You are just as beautiful as your daughter; you must have been a child bride."
Miz Lawson's eyes widened when our hands touched, and she took a deep breath. Tonya laughed and separated her mothers hand from mine.
"I forgot all about that happening. Settle down Mom and show us some horses."
Miz Lawson blinked a couple of times and jerked her head up and down.
"Of course, sorry Mister Brock, I don't know what came over me."
Carol Lawson had bred some amazing animals. Her horses, mules and donkeys were the best I have ever seen. While Sonja and Carol looked over horses, Tonya and I checked out the mules. The mules were all tall, stout and looked as smart as whips. These were the type of mules I wanted to raise with my Percheron mares. It took me only five minutes to pick out two that reminded me of Zeke. Tonya already had a horse and mule picked out for herself. We would only need two pack animals, so once Sonja selected a mount, Carol led us and the animals to the barn.
Once in the barn, Carol showed us the tack room. The tack was old and well used, but it was in good repair and well maintained. Most of the gear was of the English type, but thankfully, Carol had a couple of western saddles. Tonya stayed paired up with me to keep my scent from distracting her mother again. While we were across the room finding a saddle for me, I leaned over and whispered in Tonya's ear.
"Better stick close to me, beautiful, so I do not grab the wrong Lawson."
Tonya squealed and hit me hard enough on the arm to numb it to my fingertips. Carol and Sonja looked at us quizzically, but I just shrugged and rubbed my bicep while Tonya was trying to stifle her laughter.
We eventually sorted out what we needed, outfitted the animals we were riding and took them for a tryout. Sonja appeared to be an adequate rider, but Tonya posted in the saddle as if she had been born there. We rode for half an hour until we were all comfortable with our mount, then headed back. We secured the animals in the barn for the night, then went up to the house. Carol had promised us lunch and I was hungry enough that even future food sounded good to me.