In the early hours of the morning, Shanta and Gary got up, showered, ate a light breakfast, and tended to some of the duties on the farm. The sun was slowly rising in the clear blue sky as she grabbed a bucket and headed to the barn, where she sat naked on a short stool and began milking a cow. He was also nude, feeding the chickens and pigs. Their housemates soon joined in and helped. Some picked fruits and vegetables from the fields, while others worked in the garden.
After milking the cows, Shanta and Gary went to the stable and made some new horseshoes. They put some of these on the horses. She was a tall East Indian woman with a thick, muscular build and had black shoulder length hair and a brown skin complexion. He was a little taller and of Japanese descent, having short dark hair and an athletic frame.
Moments later, they were finished with their chores and started loading a wagon with crates of produce and other goods. Then they got in the cab where she grabbed the reins to the horses and they were off.
When they reached the village of Modron, the sun had risen even higher and the heat and humidity had settled in. Rivers of sweat trickled down her long, wide back as she and Gary set up their tent and unloaded the crates. Other merchants were nearby, putting out their merchandise. They didn't wear clothing, either.
Customers strolled over and checked out the artwork, jewelry, and crafts at Shanta's table. One woman didn't have enough money for a necklace and a bracelet.
"Don't worry, bartering is totally fine," Shanta said, smiling.
In exchange, the woman gave her two candles and some incense.
Gary sold some fruit to another patron. "The broccoli and berries are going fast," he told her.
"Great." She chatted briefly with the vendor next to them, a young black man selling indigenous drums and music instruments. "Hey, we gotta hook up and drum together some time."
"How about tonight?"
"Sure. Why don't you stop by the farm around seven?"
"Okay."
In the late afternoon, as the sun was slowly setting, a group of rough looking men and creatures rode into the village on horses. After dismounting, they asked a merchant something and the person pointed at Shanta's tent in fear. Two of them approached her quietly, one big creature that resembled a lizard with its long, slithery tongue, and a thin, pale human with a blonde mustache. Both wore Viking-style helmets, battle vests, and capes.
"Greetings," the man said pleasantly. "Are you Shanta?"
"I am. How can I help you?"
"My name is Udar, and this is Colos. We were told that you're a guide, and that you sometimes take others to destinations for a price."
"Where do you want to go?"
"We want to find the mythical Talking Statue."
She raised her eyebrows. "Ahhh."
Udar smiled. "Is it just a legend?"
"No, it's real. . .I just haven't received a request to be led there in a while and thought it had been long forgotten. You know the story behind it?"
"Oh, yes. It is said to be able to provide the answer to any question and to grant any wish."
"Sort of like a genie," Colos added.
"But you get to ask one question only, and one wish," she said.
"Correct," Udar replied. "When can you take us?"
"We'll leave tomorrow."
* * *
The following morning, Shanta and Gary got two horses from the stable and led Udar and his group into the forest. After trekking through many miles of dense foliage, they rested at a creek. It was muggy as usual and she wiped the perspiration from her face, neck, and chest with a towel. She caught Udar looking at her large, swinging brown breasts and big black nipples from time to time, as well as the dark hairy bush that covered her big vagina.
He sat next to her, on a mossy rock. "You know these parts well. Are you from around here?"
She shook her head. "I grew up in the big city."
"Oh, you mean New Oakland?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Yes. You've been there?"
He shook his head in disgust. "The cities frighten me, with their overpopulation, pollution, crime, and disease. I'm a simple man, and like it out here in nature where everything is pure and green." He looked at Gary talking to Colos. "Is he your husband?"
"Boyfriend," she corrected.
"Lucky guy," he said, grinning. "So, can we go?"
She took one last drink of water from her bottle before mounting her horse.
The glaring rays of the afternoon sun beat down on them as they resumed their journey through the forest. Fortunately, they soon rode under the shelter of some tall redwood trees. Shanta stared up in awe at their beauty.
"Are we getting closer?" Colos asked.
"We have about two more days of travel," she replied.
"Shoot!"
"Be patient, my friend," Udar said reassuringly.
"We'll have to find somewhere to camp. It'll be dark soon," Gary said, looking at the sky.
Hours later, she led them to a cave and they set up camp. Gary, Colos, and the other members gathered some wood and started a large fire at the entrance. Shanta, Udar, and another blonde man returned to the wilderness to hunt. The dirt was still warm and dry under their bare feet as they walked past a series of eucalyptus trees. Twenty minutes passed before they arrived at a small lake, where they saw a wild boar drinking water eagerly.
She looked at the others, putting her index finger to her lips. Then she loaded an arrow into her crossbow, aimed the weapon carefully at the animal, and squeezed the trigger. The big arrow quickly struck the boar squarely in the trunk, causing it to squeal angrily. Blood gushed from the wound as it tried to flee. She reloaded the crossbow, aimed, and fired once more. The second arrow hit the pig's left eye and it continued its mad squealing, running recklessly into a tree. Soon, it collapsed onto the ground, its short legs convulsing in the air.
"Excellent shot!" Udar commended. "I have to go game hunting with you next time."
She grinned. "Thanks."
His men tied the bloody carcass to a wooden pole and carried it back.
* * *
The skies were dark and starry as she hungrily took another bite from the giant pork drumstick in her hands.
"Whoa! Slow down, woman!" Udar said, chuckling.
She stopped eating and joined in on the laughter. They sat Indian-style next to each other on a fur blanket, before the campfire. Gary grilled more meat over the flames.
"So tell me why you want to find the Talking Statue?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious? We each want to ask it a question, and ask it to grant us one wish."
She chewed slowly, looking at him thoughtfully. "What's your question and wish?"
He suppressed a smile. "That's personal."
She nodded.
"Are you going to ask it anything?"
"I was thinking about that during our journey. . .trying to think of something to ask. What wish would I want fulfilled?" She pondered over it.
He drank wine from his goblet, looking into her big brown eyes hypnotically. "What are your deepest desires, Shanta?"
Her eyes locked with his for a moment, and for a few brief seconds she heard nothing but dead silence, followed by his voice inside her head, saying: You know what you want.
She shook herself awake, staring at the wild, flickering flames of the fire before turning back to him. Her mouth dropped open a little. "You're a sorcerer," she whispered.
He shot her a mischievous smile. "That's our little secret."
In the morning, they bathed at the lake before leaving.
As they rode, she looked at Udar a few times. He always gave her a friendly grin. Sometimes, he'd send her a mental message.
She led them through a wide, breathtaking valley with high mountains on both sides. They passed by another farm where they saw cattle and goats grazing in a lush, green meadow. Geese drank water from a pond.
On the other side of the valley was the start of another jungle, and they took a trail that ended abruptly at a suspension bridge. The flimsy, narrow bridge was constructed of thin wood planks and rope that was badly frayed.
"Well, we're on foot from this point on," she said, getting off her horse. She patted the animal's head gently, gathered her things, and strapped on her backpack. The others packed their belongings also.
"You couldn't pay me enough money to go across that," Colos said warily. "It'll crumble with my weight alone."
"It won't break, trust me," Shanta said firmly. "Gary and I have been on this bridge many times, with aliens heavier than you, and nothing happened."
He shook his big reptilian head. "I'm still not going."
"Watch, I'll go first." She stepped onto the bridge, causing it to wobble a little.
"See!" Colos said, laughing.
"I'm gonna prove you wrong." She resumed walking forward, carefully placing her bare feet on the planks and not the rope. The rope looked like it was hanging together by threads and would rip apart if the slightest weight fell upon it. Some of the gaps between planks were wide enough for a person to fall through. The drop to the raging waters of the river below was steep.
She paced and balanced herself carefully on the bridge, never allowing it to wobble or get too heavy on one side. Within minutes she reached the other side.
"There's your proof, Colos!" she shouted across the river. "Now, c'mon!"
Some of Udar's men and creatures looked at him hesitantly.
"I'll be the anchor and go last," Gary said. "That way I can help anybody who gets stuck."
Udar glared at his troops in disgust. "Cowards! You're not men or beings! I'll show you." He stepped onto the bridge cautiously, trying to imitate what she just did, holding onto both sides of the rail and placing his feet onto the planks only. Occasionally, he made the mistake of looking through the wide gaps between the pieces of wood, at the river below.
"Don't look down!" she instructed.
He immediately looked up and kept moving slowly. When he was halfway across, a bunch of winged creatures that looked like gargoyles flew out of a nearby cave set in the cliff wall. They hovered over the bridge, staring at Udar with ravenous smiles revealing long, sharp teeth.
