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EXILED TO A LESSER WORLD 11-16

EXILED TO A LESSER WORLD 11

All of us moved the wagon into the barn, unloaded it, stabled the stock inside, and pitched tents quickly as if we had long practice working together.

Everyone was either in the barn or the house later in the afternoon as it started getting dark with a light cold rain falling. The "men" were in the barn talking. All of a sudden I heard Drago's voice in my head saying "to get everyone inside me quickly" as I stood in the middle of the barn. "Look at the river. People are coming. I hear their thoughts. They are very mad at you all."

As I told everybody in the barn what I heard they all went to the wagons and got something to protect us. As I came out of the barn I saw Nat was doing the same out there. We went to the upper story and stood on the veranda to see who was coming.

After a few minutes, we saw three figures sneaking up from the river. It was the three men from the village who said we were friends. I wonder why if they felt we were friends why were they sneaking up on us? Dan and Cal stood on either side of me asking me what I wanted to do.

Before I can say anything Nat stepped in and whispered something in my ear. "Is that possible?" I wondered. Drago's laughingly in my head said he could do that. Both Nat and I both thought about it and said yes.

I don't know what Drago used or how he did it, but suddenly the creeping men were covered in a spray of thick brownish-yellow fluid. Even from our distant high vantage point, we could smell the fluid covering them. Gagging, they quickly went down the hill and dove into the river clothes and all.

We all couldn't help laughing, but all the adults knew that this wasn't the end of these men coming at us.

Everyone, but Nat and I, went downstairs and we talked with Drago about protecting ourselves. He assured us that they or anyone else couldn't get close enough to do any harm and that when we were traveling close to the trees we all would be protected, our parents and families, included.

When we came down everyone was working on a bar-b-q supper. When I looked confused Nat explained it was meats cooked over coals or smoked for a long time with grilled sides and beer. Everyone had to help even the two older kids helped by bringing stuff out of the house and the wagon in the front of the barn.

One by one all the adults came by and we talked about the problem of these men. Everyone had a different idea of how to protect themselves, but mostly for the children's safety. That night none of us slept easily always having one ear open listening for any sounds.

Everything settled down, but after a few days, everyone wanted to go back to their homes. I understood why but would miss them after only knowing them for a short time. I felt we had become a real family, but understood why they had to leave.

Helping them pack up was very difficult for me and saying goodbye to the adults was even harder. Saying goodbye to Beth and the other kids was outside of anything I had ever done before.

Beth wanted a hug and a goodbye kiss. As I hugged her she whispered "You and Aunt Nat need a baby so you won't be so lonely and I can have a new coussin to play with when we come back. Promise?" she asked and held out her little finger crooked.

When I looked around everyone was smiling and Nancy whispered "She wants to make a pinky promise. You do know they are binding, don't you?" I started to speak stammering when she added. "You also can't talk about them. They are secret."

"Your Aunt Nat and I will talk about it. I will promise that." I said and held out my little finger extended. She completed the pinky swear.

Before they left Cal and Millie took me off to the side and asked me two questions that were bothering them.

The first was Nat going to be finishing her Veterinarian training?

The second was if so would I let her have a clinic here?

They also said quickly that our relationship was taking care of itself very well.

We watched as all of our visitors left, waving until they were all out of sight.

Later when we were sitting outside drinking a cool glass of tea Nat said "You're in a Blue Funk, in other words, you are missing them already."

"Yes, I think I am. I've never done that before have I?"I asked. "Not depressed unless you were thinking about your sister at the time. You never cared one way or the other about anyone else." she slowly answered.

"Maybe, that is another side effect of the accident." I pondered out loud while hoping she wouldn't finally see I was a stranger hiding as her Pledged one.

"I briefly talked to Cal and Millie before they left about you finishing your Veterinarian Training. What does that entail? Does that mean you must leave or can you do it here?" I asked.

"Trying to get rid of me already? In about 3 weeks I can leave and no one will say anything." She questioned me. "NO" with more force than I intended "I was just trying to provide you what you needed as you do for me all the time."

"Sorry. I was just trying to protect myself. I need to perform about 3 more training surgeries with my instructor, Doctor Cole. He can schedule them to be performed; I attend and do the surgeries. After that, I can open up a practice anywhere. Why?" "Could you open a practice somewhere close or here?" I asked.

"Do know what you're asking? This is the start of a much bigger commitment than a Clinic. We have been able to gloss over the additions to the house with your accident. You do understand that? Right?" she said slowly.

"I'm beginning too. We have been so close together and we seem to dovetail each other actions and needs more daily. I seem to be looking for you when you're not around me. I want us to see if it is real for us. I've never been in any type of close relationship before, that I remember." I said knowing that I had never been in a close relationship with anyone before. I felt and heard Draco's presence in my mind and I could see Nat felt him too. "Draco, Can I help?"

"No. I can help you through. On the left side of this dales cliff is a natural large cave that could be opened up for the Clinic. The floor is slanted slightly from back to front. There is water trickle in it that can be used for cleaning and I can take care of the sewage, of course. After opening it there would have to have a front, like a barn, built. We, the trees, can make you all the custom boards and pieces required.

"Draco, how long did you know about this cave?" we asked. "I've known it since I started sending out my roots across this dale, about 240 of your years ago. It was never needed by your ancestors or parents, so why open it up? Later to expose it for his "YOUR" old friends to move into, when I didn't want them here?" he answered.

"OK. Let us talk about it and we'll work it out with you. Could you show it to us later?

"When you're ready it will be slightly opened to clear the air. I can plug it again with a root if not wanted or needed." He said as he left our minds and thoughts.

Nat said "Even Drago thinks of you as different people. The Steve of before and Steve of now, how do you think I feel? I want this to work with you and me. What will I do if you change back?"

Half joking I said "Shoot me or something worst, I think"

"If I set up a clinic here after Commitment with you and it all goes bad. I don't know how I would survive. I would have to go to another part of the continent and start over without my family or friends." she said.

"I will leave here, not you. That is a promise." Smiling I held out my pinky finger. She shook her head no and said "This is a better promise", and moved over and kissed me differently than I had ever been kissed before and put her arms around my neck hugging me.

I think instinct or biology took over as she deepened the kiss. When we broke the kiss we were both breathless and excited. In a slightly strained voice she said "Alright from now on we will start acting Pledged with each other. Agree?" I simply nodded taken aback by this new form of closeness and then said "you'll have to show me the right path, Thou."

When we walked outside she wanted to hold my hand as we walked. Looking to our left, close to the bathrooms, was an opening in the hillside. Draco had made an opening that we could walk through. The cave opened about 5 feet inside the hill. The cave was shaped exactly as Drago said.

As we looked around I asked if another opening could be made for a private entrance. Drago said "Yes, I should have thought about that before. It would be easy to do.

Looking around inside and outside I had a question Drago "When you built the outside toilets and showers? Did you also have this in mind?" That was the first time I knew that tree's thoughts could blush. Nat and I looked at one another and smiled knowingly. Finally the answer of "No, I wasn't thinking about that exactly, but, fortunately, they are close by."

Drago said "I talked to the other trees, who talked to their people, about having a barn/clinic raising party. Since all the trees are going to donate the lumber for the clinic and their people could bring it to you and help build the clinic.

This would be fun for everybody, and they look forward to these types of get-togethers. I think we could have everything ready in about three weeks and if you want me to we can have it set up, but you will have to tell us what notes to give to the different families around here." Drago thought.

Nat said she would take care of that later today.

As she showed me over the next few days, what she meant by closeness. I thought I understand understood what closeness was when everyone was visiting and I spent time with Beth.

But this was deeper than anything I had ever experienced. The times when she would come up behind me and either tickled, scared, hugged, or kissed me were new things that I had become quickly accustomed to and looked forward to. When I asked her about them she gives me funny looks for a second before answering "They were just little joys or closeness that should pass between people committed to one another." I slowly started trying to find ways to show her closeness too.

A few days after she sent a message with a rider to the instructor an answer came back. Saying that she could come to the village or if she was going to have a clinic here he could come out here so she could perform the scheduled surgeries here right after the clinic raising. This would also let people know for sure the clinic and doctor were there. She quickly sent back a message to him requesting that the surgeries be here at the new clinic when it opened. She also asked if he could stay here for a few days.

The next day Drago told Nat that her mother had asked her to come over and spend the day. She said she had some personal things to talk to me about. Nat asked if it is okay if she rode over by herself, as she felt her mother wanted to talk to her, not to us. At my expression, she laughed and said "I think my mother wants to know what's going on with us. I've been expecting a message or her to show up unexpectedly.

"Would you think you'd miss me if I left one morning and came back the following evening?" she asked. "Yes. I know I would miss you. I've come to need, want, and care for you. So yes, I will miss you, but you have to go." I said.

"Drago let my mom know I will be there tomorrow morning and I will come back the following evening," Nat said. Within two minutes Drago came back and said "Your mother will be waiting for you and to be careful. Also, you can stay longer if you want." Drago added, "The track from here to your parents is all lined with trees, so you will never be out of our contact."

EXILED TO A LESSER WORLD 12

The next morning, a couple of hours after Nat had left driving the small cart pulled by a single ox; I was working in the barn on a project that I just started. When behind me I heard "GPC-1411-A6 I see you're doing well. I also see that you're happy and productive." As I spun around I saw Stargar standing there.

"Why are you here? You're not here to take me back are you?" I gasped, shocked at seeing him. "No. You need to sit down before you fall. I think I scared you. I'm sorry. We couldn't take you back after the experience you had coming here. I came to check on you as I said I would.

I also came to tell you what's happening back in your old world. In the last 2 1/2 years their time, since you left your old "perfect" world. It is collapsing upon itself. As you well remember how you were replacing people who were supposed to die because they'd reached their supposed useful end age according to law. And you were replacing people who died unexpectedly or accidentally with the people that were supposed to die saving their lives.

"You said 2 1/2 years since I left?" I stammered.

"Yes. I put you into suspended animation until the right event happened to allow me to put you into this society with the proper help and background. There were limits to how much healing I could do with what I knew and had to work with. You didn't think I had anything to do with that accident, did you? Except for removing the body and turning the BMID on, I did nothing else. That accident had already happened and he was dead when I arrived. OK?" Stargar explained. I nodded relieved.

"Getting back to what is happening. Just before you were caught you remember that a rapid illness was killing a large number of people had started? That was to start of an epidemic that swept the world and over half the population died. "

"Some of the people who died ran functions that were critical for normal daily life functions. The epidemic started on one of the gardening moons with a mutated type of fungal growth and quickly spread. The planet and the moons were infected shortly. Now only the automatic shuttles are moving back and forth. Your home planet is in turmoil because your people over eons largely lost the ability to be able to be freethinkers or have creative thoughts."

"I'm not asking you to go back, because you cannot, but I would like your input, thoughts, and ideas on what would help. I thought you were right and they were wrong, but it's not our species' place to put ourselves into a planet's business that deep. So please think about what could help your old planet to survive."

With that, we shook hands and he said he would be back in a couple of weeks to talk to me again.

He turned around and walked away. I sat on one of the benches in the barn for a very long time. Looking at my new world and remembering my old one. The differences were so stark, so separated. From so lonely and unfeeling world there versus a warm, caring, exciting world here. But maybe I was the only one who could help them. From then on I thought about the problems most of the time. Throughout a long night, I was writing notes as I had ideas.

The next morning I was working in one of the terrace gardens, when I heard in my head "Help! Help! Help me! My son is caught, he can't move away or escape and I see a huge poisonous snake crawling towards him. We can't get over to him." the voices said.

"Where are you? I don't see you" I answered in thought. In my head, an image developed and I could see where this was taking place. It was slightly above the upper dam on the right side and the other side of the river. I grabbed a hoe, knife, and spear and ran in that direction. When I got to the river I swam across carefully and climbed above the dam.

I found what looked like a juvenile person, but smaller and hairier, trapped by a log that was broken and he was trapped in between the halves.               Looking quickly around me saw the large broad-headed snake coiled and hissing at me. Looking like he was about ready to strike. I tried nudging him with the spear, but he just struck at it leaving streaks of venom dripping from it. It instantly recoiled, ready to strike again. I moved slightly aside, so its strike would be away from the person. I made it strike again and when it did I chopped off its head with the hoe.

When I walked over to the trapped person I spoke softly and said "I'm going to get you out," and in my head, I heard "Thank you. I know you're going to help. My name is Kobe and I heard in your head your name is Steve. Thank you!" It only took me a minute to move the parts of the log and release Kobe, who seemed to be unhurt.

Hearing noises and sensing movement behind me. I turned and saw four more people like Kobe across the river. Lifting Kobe I walked down a few steps and walked across the wide upper lip of the dam, it hadn't rained in a few days so there wasn't any water cascading over it. I sat Kobe down in front of the other people. The two bigger ones, about 3 feet tall to Kobe's 2 1/2 feet, had small spears, knives, and bolas arranged on a harness or vest. One was male and the other was female. The other two people were younger, smaller and I couldn't tell what sex they were. They all had subdued multi-colored patterned hair covering their entire bodies except for their hands and faces. They all had deep brown huge slitted intelligent eyes.

They were all dressed in some type of cream-colored woven fabric that looked like shorts and sleeveless t-shirts. The female came up to me and offered her hand and we shook. In my mind, I heard "My name is Kitty, This my mate is Julius. The two little ones over there are Meepy and Caesar. And you met our older son Kobe. Thank you. We might not be able to kill the snake or get him free in time. Thank you for his life."

"No problem. Didn't I see you in the garden on one of the terraces some time ago? "I thought. "Yes, just a few of us live near Drago and we help him from time to time. We also knew the other person who lived there alone for many years and didn't like him." Kitty answered.

"When we heard you were being carried back to Drago and were hurt badly, we wanted to see what happened to you. When you were carried into Drago we felt you were not him. When you started coming outside and we knew that for sure. That you were a different person and not the type of person we had disliked and feared for so long, so we started watching." continued Julius.

"We wanted to come and see you but didn't know how you would be around us. We used to live closer to the trees before humans came. When we saw how you and your mate acted and the people who came and went now. We hoped someday we can meet and help one another. When Kobe was in danger I had to try to call for your help. Can we meet your mate, Nat, later?" they thought in a rush.

Smiling I thought "I think she would be pleased to meet you all. She should be back tonight. How about if we all meet tomorrow evening, at about two hours before sunset, by Drago?" I questioned "We will be there tomorrow. Thank you Steve." she thought and they all shook my hand and walked away single file with the younger ones in the middle.

Drago waited till they were out of sight and hearing. His presence, somehow after feeling slightly blocked, in my mind returned. "That was the first time they have been here in the open since Nancy and Dan lived here and they just had a waving across the fields relationship.

They are the Maraca or commonly called Macs.

When humans came there are no dogs or cats here from the old earth, because they did not survive in-vitro transport. The Macs, a native mammal quickly made themselves a replacement.

They were smarter and work as a team much more effectively than a dog or cat because they can move on the ground and thru the trees. Like a cat, they are there because they want to be, not thru need.

They are a family-based creature, so if you friended one you usually had a gang (small family unit 1 male 2 females, and up to 3 kits for each female.). The connection between a Mac and a human didn't seem to matter about sex or age. The attachment was a personal thing between two sentient beings. Some people never bonded. Some were not even approached because there couldn't be a bond between them.