Another mall another stash of mirrors. We were getting closer to home and I knew where I was at now. Daniel didn't have to direct me to the last four malls. The truck was nearly full when Daniel said another truckload after this should do it.
I was stunned and alittle upset. Those mirrors were heavy! "Another truckload of mirrors! Daniel, I'm not a pack animal." I protested and then regretted it upon looking into the reflection and seeing his eyes. "Pretty One, I know it's hard work and you're tired but you have to do it. If I could help you I would and on this end I am helping you but where you are you can't tell." I apologized and took a sip of my coke that I got from my last visit to a mall. "I guess, I'm lucky most husbands wouldn't want their wives anywhere near a mall." I said trying to focus our conversation on something else.

The state route that ran near our house wasn't far now and I was preparing to make my turn when Daniel stopped me. "Not that way Pretty Girl! We're not going home, head on and I'll direct you we have to drop our trailer off." It was another two hours but it seemed like longer when we arrived at 'Voice of America'. It was a vast park where high towers held antienas and transmitted via radio waves around the world.

(19:30 hrs)

I woke up...all was still...WAB was setting quietly up front.

HB: "are we there?"
WAB turned and quietly spoke, ".....no, DL6 needed to ...go."
HB: "go?"
WAB: "Yeah...you know!"
HB:" ohh....go...go...sooo where is she ...going?"
WAB: "Behind the chopper"
At this point my eyes were almost open...I started to look around me and was about to ask,"where are we?" but then I saw the bleachers.
HB: "AHHH, WAB , are we where I think we are?"
WaB:" It was a clear landmark...very good target.."
HB:"....O....K..... come to thank of it, I need to go myself. How about you?
WAB:" No Sir, my father would kill me...."
I climbed out of the Blackhawk, right there on the 50 yard line...and unzipped my fly.
HB:" AHHHHHH.....So your Dad played for A&M?"
WAB:"yes, Sir"

I was finished about the time DL6 returned .....we climbed back in the chopper and we took off again...we landed around 8 p.m. out in front of the L.B.J. Space Center by the large Saturn V rocket.

Sept. 21
I guess the stress and confusion must have been wearing on me worse than I knew, because I slept for almost 14 hours straight. Killer Jones, his usual alarm clock self, roused me out bright and early. I took him out to attend to nature’s call, and then decided I better check on Gwen. She was up, and looking for something to eat. Her stomach was still not able to handle large quantities of food, so she was eating tiny meals every few hours.

“Hi…how are you feeling now?”
“Still hungry,” she said. “By the way…what’s the plan…I mean, you know… like, are you headed somewhere…how did you find me…are you looking for someone in particular?”

I told her my story, and she was actually quiet for a little while. (I began to suspect I had rescued a real chatterbox.)

“I still want to go to Columbia, to see if I can find my son…but maybe, we better spend a couple days getting you back on your feet.”
“Yeah…I do still feel kind of puny, you know…what else is there to eat…I could really go for some pizza…”
“Right…well, I guess I can go get some more supplies…anything else?
“Coke…I need lots and lots of Coke….I mean, how’s a girl supposed to survive, if you don’t have any Cokes around. And …well, something for entertainment…I found out the TV doesn’t work…and, like, wasn’t that stupid Emergency Broadcast System supposed to come on, when something like this happens…I think I’ll just go shopping with you…like, you’d probably not get half the stuff I need.”
“Whoa…slow down there, girl…shouldn’t you be resting up?”
“Hellllloooooo….I sat in that stupid jail for 5 whole days…I want to get out and hit the streets…do some shopping…shopping is the best cure I can think of…besides, it won’t cost a thing…I mean, like what could be any better? Let’s GO!”

Fort Wayne was their next zoo. So out of Indianapolis, heading North on Route 69 Lida now driving, they are on their way to zoo #3. Aaron was exhausted and fell asleep. Lida put the window down, took the ribbon from her hair and let it fall. One of her favorite songs was on the radio and she sang along "I will follow you,. Will you follow me. All the days and nights, it was meant to be Darlin" by Mike and the Mechanics, she thinks. Only this is the version done by 'The London Symphony Orchestra'. Much better, she thinks to herself. She passes up a handful of spinach ,she had stuffed in her pocket at the last zoo, to the Lizards on the dash. They grab it out of her fingers and gobble it down. The sun is setting behind her and she is feeling sleepy as well. "Got to find a place to sleep tonight." She says to the girls.

The Sunset at least an hour ago, now the moonrise was ahead of her. What's this? An Airport? " She said to herself. Aaron woke up. "What?" He asked. "Look at the Moon coming up over that airport Aaron. Isn't that beautiful?" She asked. 'Yea, beautiful." He answered and went back to sleep without even looking at it.
[attachmentid=1919]

The she thought to herself. "There MUST be a hotel around here somewhere so she got off the highway and headed towards the airport. "Ramada Inn, that'll do." She said as she pulled into the parking lot and up to the front door. She got out, went around the car and opened Aaron's door, which he was leaning up against, sound asleep. She caught him just before he hit the pavement. "Thanks Sweetie" He said. As he pulled himself up. "Where are we?" He asked. "Wheeling." She answered. "OH, bed, yes bed." He said. "Chasin and being chased by wild animals is exhausting, isn't it?" He asked jokingly. " Yea, I'd hate to have this as a career. Well, maybe not."She answered with a smile.

Lida grabbed Kes and BT off the dash and they all went into the hotel for the night. They grabbed keys numbered on the first floor right next to each other and went to their rooms. "Night Sweetie" Aaron said. "Sweet Dreams." Lida answered back as they both unlocked their doors and disappeared into their rooms. No electricity now in the hotels, they had both lit one of the candles when they got into the lobby.

BlueCrystal's Personal Log

I'm not even certain what day it is anymore. They come and go in blurs. I'm so tired, I sleep soundly throughout most of the nights but I often have nightmares. I find myself thinking back to a really old Twilight Zone program. It's about a man that discovers he's all alone in the world and his only desire is to go to a great library and read the books. He stumbles and breaks his glasses on some stairs and can't see well enough without them to read. I feel that way at times, I know Daniel is laying beside me but with my eyes I can't see him and only when I lift up my hand mirror can I see him beside me...

We left our trailer and I'm trying to get through Dayton and find another trailer. As we will still need more mirrors and oh coax cable. (D*mn I wish studied better and not just memorized the answers. Who'd of thought I would actually have to know this stuff.) It's hard to think straight...I must be tired. I still think this can't be happening! Daniel has be a blessing to me so calm and loving. He knows I'm scared but always he's with me. I'm going to sleep now...

I awoke to find myself in a dark airport terminal lying beside Bill. Bill was lying beside me and Lenny was standing over both of us holding a flashlight and looking at us.

"What the heck just happened?" I asked.

"In order to prevent you and Bill from killing each other, I immobilized both of you." Lenny answered as Bill began stirring.

"How?"

"A technique I learned many years ago while in the entertainment industry." Lenny answered.

I presumed that the darkness had resulted from a loss of power due to an unmaintained power grid. Looking onto the darkened runway as the sun was setting, I noticed that teh Challenger collapsed under the weight of the 747, tilting the 747 awkwardly to the side in the middle of the runway. With no power, no runway lights, no weather radar, and no outgoing NAV frequencies, it would be very difficult to remove the wreckage from the runway and commandeer another 747 - flying by visual - before the sun set.

I sat up quickly and shook off the headache that seemed to come from the neck pinch administered by Lenny. Looking out the second story terminal window, I saw a catering truck sitting on the tarmac. I ran down the steps to the lower level and out the terminal door to the truck. Bill and Lenny, curious as to my immediate plans followed. Opening the door to the truck, I found a set of clothing from whoever was driving it before disappearing. The key was also in it. Starting the truck, I put it in gear just as Bill and Lenny were jumping into the back. I put the truck in gear and drove to the 747.

Pulling up to the cargo bay door, I stepped out of the truck and into the platform carrier.

"What's going on?" Bill asked. I didn't answer as I raised the platform to the level of the cargo bay. Opening the cargo bay, I stepped inside and gathered my backpack with my sat-phone and maps. I sorted through the maps until I found the one for New York and surrounding areas. After about fifteen minutes, I had memorized the route to La Guardia. Untying the black Kawasaki Ninja from its moorings and stood it up on it's wheels. I kick-started it and drove it out the cargo bay door and over the platform of the catering truck - landing hard onto the pavement below. I heard Bill shout behind me. I spun around and stopped to see him and Lenny running towards me.

"Where are you going?" Bill was out of breath and sweating as he spoke.

"La Guardia." I answered. Revving the engin, I took off on the rear wheel as I heard Bill shout behind me.

"Wait for us....." was all I heard.

As I drove down the runway to the exit, Bill and Lenny both ran to the catering truck. They both grappled breifly as each attempted to get into the driver's seat. Finally Lenny got in and Bill shoved him to the passenger seat. Backing the truck up, he follwed me down the street with the platform still raised - taking out several electric lines and stoplights as I drove down the streets of New York to La Gaurdia airport.

At LaGuardia, I drove to a 747 sitting on the end of the runway. Bill and Lenny pulled up beside me in the catering truck and Bill stuck his head out.

"We're coming with you!" He smiled. I nearly objected, but then thought it might be safer if we were all in the same plane.

"Don't piss me off, or you'll find yourself landing much faster than you'd like." I glared at him and reved the engine for punctuation.

"Fine." He said quickly and fidgetted.

La Guardia was also without power and I thought briefly.

"Follow me, guys!" I ordered and drove to the end of the runway. Turning around, I pointed the motorcycle back towards the 747, put the kickstand down, and left the headlights on. I then climbed into the truck, shoving Bill over and floored it back to the 747. Pulling up to the cabin entrance, I lowered the platform, got out and got on the platform. Bill and Lenny joined me as I raised us up to the level of the cabin door.

The inside of the plane was eerily empty with several sets of empty clothes lying in the seats. I moved to the flight deck and removed the empty clothing from the captain's chair, tossing it aside. I looked at Bill and Lenny standing there. As I began my ritual of covering the cabin with post-it notes, I spoke to Bill and Lenny.

"Go to the galley and fix some coffee." I barked. They nodded and ran to the galley, bumping shoulders as they attempted to exit the flight deck at the same time.

After an hour of preparations, I looked down the runway, seeing my motorcycle which I had converted to a runway light. It would do. Bill and Lenny returned with a tray of coffee. Bill had changed his clothing into the captain's outfit - complete with hat - while the coffee was brewing. I rolled my eyes at him as I took the coffee. Reaching into my backpack, I pulled out two more dexatrine pills and swallowed them with the coffee.

"What do you want us to do?" Bill asked.

"Buckle up," I answered as I powered up the four massive Rolls Royce RB211 turbofan powerplants. Bill began to move into the pilot's chair.

".... somewhere else." I growled. Bill sheepishly got up and moved to the main cabin with Lenny.

Checking my fuel balance and level, I started the ECIS NAV system and looked up the VOR frequency for Kennedy, which was actually in the computer much to my surprise. Punching the throttle, I sent the plane hurling down the runway, and pulled smoothly into the air.

At cruising altitude, I switched on the cabin intercomm and asked Bill and Lenny to get me something to eat. After a few minutes, they brought in a bag of peanuts. I asked for a sandwich.

Bill returned with a stale sandwich and spoke.

"Where we heading?" Bill asked as I set the autopilot and opened the sandwich.

"Kennedy," I said. "We have some friends to help." I pulled some NASA proceedure manuals out of my backpack and began reading.

Sept. 21

As we climbed in the police car to head back to Wal-Mart, Gwen remarked,” You know, we really need a better car.”
Yeah, but this way, Killer Jones gets to pretend he a big, bad police dog.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she said sarcastically.
“Come on…if you’re a really good girl, I might let you blow the siren!”
~~~

We entered the store, side-stepping piles of clothes. Gwen said,” See ya later!”, and was off in a flash. Killer Jones took off in the other direction, barking excitedly.
I stood there trying to decide which direction to go first. I could hear Gwen, excitedly filling up her cart and talking to herself.

Just as I was reaching for the canned dog food, the lights went out! The occasional skylights overhead did little to help illuminate the interior of the store. It was really dark.
“Gwen…Jones…where are you?” As I fumbled for my lighter, I walked straight into one of the support columns placed, unfortunately, in the middle of the aisle.
“ OW! #!&*#$@!” …for the next couple seconds, all I could see was stars!
“Are you all right…what was that loud noise…where are you…”
Rubbing the knot on my forehead, I yelled back, “Stay put…it’s hazardous in here.”
I could hear Gwen over in the clothes dept., so I cautiously made my way in that direction. She started humming the ‘Mission Impossible’ theme song.
“HA HA Not Funny…where the devil are you?”, I said, as I stumbled against one of the clothes racks.
“You know…if you had a flashlight, you might not burn down the store,” she said, as she popped up in front of me.
“Well, don’t just stand there! Go find one and I’ll go look for Jones.”
I stomped off towards the grocery section, where I could hear the dog, growling and barking, like he had something cornered.
“Jones…Where you at, boy…come here….”
The fresh fruit and vegetables weren’t so fresh anymore…in fact, some of them were starting to stink! My feet got tangled in some clothes or something, and I went down, face first right into the big cardboard container of watermelons. Struggling to extract myself from the juicy mess, the side of the box tore and watermelons went rolling away into the darkness. “Great…Just what I need, MORE ‘road’ hazards!”
Jones came bouncing out of the darkness, and landed in my lap. He was trying to lick my face as Gwen came strolling up with her flashlight.
“Sure glad I don’t have to clean up that mess!”
“Yeah…let’s just get our stuff and get out of here.”
~~~

As we entered the parking lot, Gwen stopped suddenly. With a devilish gleam in her eye, she turned to me and said,” I have a GREAT idea!”

September 30th, 2004
(8 pm CDT)
We all climbed out of the Blackhawk and headed across the lawn towards the well lit side-walk leading up to the front doors…well at least the power was still on. We reached the front doors to find the glass had been broken…someone had beat us here! I told WAB to run back to the chopper and bring me a MP-5. He did so, and brought one for himself too, which DL6 quickly disarmed him and began brandishing it herself.
DL6: you think who ever broke in is still here?
HB: “maybe, or else they just didn’t bother to turn off the lights when they left….let’s stick together….I don’t want to run into you and spook you with that. Let’s find the control room.”

We located the control room ten minutes later, there on the ‘big screen’ were the astronauts still alive and going about their ‘routine’ business. Over in the corner of the control room I noticed a cot had been brought in, there was sleeping bag on it, and it was surrounded by stacks of manuals, code books, and memos, etc .. The whole things looked like a bird nest or rat’s nest…take your pick…atop the books were empty ‘Chinese take-out boxes’ “peanut butter cup wrappers and setting in the middle of the cot I found a pair of Roller-Blades and a ‘tickle me Elmo” doll with it’s head torn off and the name ‘Barry Manilow’ carved in the chest. I knew then and there….whoever this guy was….he had issues to deal with and decided to hide the doll from DL.

DL had meanwhile located the com panel and the control station for the VOX. As I walked back over to her side carrying the roller blades she had begun calling the I.S.S.
DL: “hello, you who, this is Houston calling you guys up there ….”

I could see the astronauts had heard her, and had directed their attention towards the camera…
ISS: “Houston, I.S.S., please identify.”
DL6: “ Wow…you guys are still alive….that’s so great.”
HB: “hey, …..everybody’s beamed up except a few of us, but you already know that! Afraid you just have two kids and a truck driver now…and whomever these belong to”( I wave the roller-blades in front of the camera.)
ISS; “Roger that, Houston., those would be Nik‘s?”
HB: “ Nik? Hey, WAB isn’t there a Nik at STF.Net wrote in Jeanway’s ~Sea Trek~~ with us?
WAB: “yeah….real bright guy”
HB: I.S.S., this is Houston, we are three possible friends of Nik’s.. if ‘your’ nik is the same guy we‘re thinking of.? He doesn’t seem to be here at the moment.”
ISS: “That’s an affirmative, Houston, Nik is chasing a possible contact .”
HB: “ I’m not going to even pretend to understand what that means…except Elvis has left the building, I gather…hey, you guys tell him Hb, DL6, and WAB are here in Houston, will ya?

Sunrise woke Lida up. She forgot to close the drapes which covered an East facing window. She wanted to sleep but she was hungry and so were the lizards. They were laying on her chest, sneezing up Lida's nose and doing push-ups. This is normal behavior for iguanas who want to get things rolling. "O.K., let's go find something to eat." She said to them. She took the girls to the bathtub and let them have a bath and relieve themselves. Then Lida looked at her clothes. "I think I'd better find something new to wear. I've been in this UPS uniform for almost a week now. I must stink." She thought to herself.

Down in the lobby, on their way to the kitchen she spotted a Gift Shop with clothing hanging on racks in the window, she went in. Put the lizards down in an old wicker baby pram that was used for display and started looking through the racks. "Mmm, silk, na, too fancy" She said to herself. "I need something durable and tough, like denim." She spotted a set of white bibs hanging on the wall next to a stack of T-Shirts that said on the front. "I'm With Stupid" and an arrow pointing to the side. She found her size, then one for Aaron in his size. Then grabbed a few extra for each of them. Then she changed her clothes. Grabbed a bag and stuffed it with the T's and an extra set of black bibs for herself and two blue ones for Aaron. Now, "Let's go" she said as she picked up the girls and headed for the kitchen. On the way there was a door leading to the pool. "Hmmm" She thought.

In the kitchen now most of the food was dried out, mouldy or rotting. But in the freezer most things were still cold. She found bags of frozen vegetables and took handfuls an placed them on the counter next to the lizards, which they quickly gobbled up. "Coffee, coffee, coffee, where's the coffee." She said repeatedly as she opend the row of cabinets. "AHA! Here it is." She said as she pulled a can from the shelf. Then she checked the stove, it was gas but it didn't work. so again she started searching through the cabinets. when under a counter she found something. A huge silver chafing dish in a silver cradle with cans of Sterno inside. "This'll work" She said to herself. From the cooler in the corner she filled the dish with Spring Water then placed it on it's stand and lit the Sterno she had piled in there. It went up like Mt. Saint Helens and soon the water boiled. She emptied the coffee right into the boiling water, let it simmer for a minute then took it off the fire. The smell was heavenly, it filled the room. She gave it a little stir then scooped a cup out for herself. "Uh oh." She remembered. She never drinks coffee black. But all the milk and cream had curdled in the refrigerator. 'Now What?" Then she remembered "Ice Cream" In the freezer, still semi-solid and very cold were gallons of ice cream, all flavours. She opened the door and took out French Vanilla and dropped a large scoop into her coffee. Stirred it and drank it down. "Mmm, that tastes like MORE." She said outloud and refilled her cup.
Aaron appeared in the doorway still sleepy. The aroma of the fresh brewed coffee pulled him from his bed and to the kitchen.

After they had drank their fill they decided to go for a swim in the Inn's pool just outside. "I don't have a suit." Aaron said. "Neither do I but wait." Lida ran to the gift shop and found bathing suits for both of them, ran back to the kitchen and said "Here, now you do." as she handed it to him. A nice Royal purple 'Speedo' and Lida's, the female version also in purple. "Let's go." Aaron said as they headed with the lizards to the outdoor pool.
[attachmentid=1950]

As they walked the airport as small plane sat there in the sun, sparkling and pristene. It looked like a toy it was so small. But right away Lida felt a kinship with this little beauty. It was the image of the Piper she learned to fly in. "Oh, Aaron, I know this plane like the back of my hand." She told him. "Well, I guess this is the one then." He answered. They climbed in.
[attachmentid=1951]

(Still Sept. 21)

“Great idea, huh….now what has that little blond brain come up with?”
She turned and started across the parking lot. I followed, still flinging off bits of watermelon. She approached a big RV.
“Aw, no way, Gwen…it’ll probably be locked anyhow.”
She dived into the pile of clothes lying on the pavement and emerged triumphantly with the keys. “SEE…it’ll be perfect…it even has a nice car in tow!”
I eyed the RV, considering the possibilities.
“You take the cop car back and get our stuff at the motel….maybe a shower, too….and Killer and I will get this ready to go.”

~~~~

By the time I got back, she had the RV cleaned out, stocked up and ready to go. I was somewhat amazed! As we pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed that big, angry-looking clouds were taking over the sky.

Lida climbed in on the pilot's side, Aaron in the passenger's side. They left the doors open as they searched the inside for the flight manual. Lida had put the lizards in the back on the floor since it was only a two seater. Aaron searched around, reaching under his seat he felt around. Someone had left a jacket in the back, it made a comfortable bed for them.

"I found it" Lida said.
She opened it and showed it to Aaron.
"We have to go down this list before we take off, Aaron. We can't skip anything. This is very important.O.K.?" She said.
"That's a long checklist." Aaron said."Are we going to get off the ground today?"
Lida laughed and said. "Sure just take us about HMM, an hour or two, it's been a while you know but we can do this." She told him.

"Alright, now first we have to remove the wheel lock." Lida struggles with it until Aaron reaches over and pulls the block free.
"Alright. Let me see here. It says we should check for bullet holes. Holy crap! Did they write this thing in Beirut!" Aaron said looking over the list. "Well I don't see any, what's next?"
"Well, next we have to get the paint stick and put the wheel lock in the pocket behind my seat." She does this by herself.
"Now, we have to make sure the ignition switch is OFF. The magnetos will be active if we don't and any movement of the prop will start the engine and we don't want that now do we?" She said.

Now, we have to make sure the ignition switch is OFF. The magnetos will be active if we don't any movement of the prop will start the engine and we don't want that now do we?" She said. "O.K. Aaron, Master switch is in the on positon. Now we need to check the fuel quantity. Both full, good. Now extend the flaps. Turn Master switch OFF. Set fuel selector to BOTH, ok, Now one of us needs to check the baggage door, outside the plane. Let's both do it.

Getting out of the plane they walk over to the baggage door. Aaron grabs the handle and yanks the door. It's unlatched and swings open, he falls hard on his butt. " Come on, get up." She tells him. "Now we have to remove the rudder gust in the back, come on, I'll show you. Then we have to disconnect the tail-tie down. Check the elevators and hinging. Now we need to check the rudder." She said.
" Next we need to check the assembly and disconnect the wing- tie down then
check the main wheel tire."

" Then climb up on the wing and check the fuel quantity. You want to climb up there? I can tell you what to do Aaron?" She asked him. "Alright." He says. Aaron tries to scramble up onto the wing but slides right back off. He tries again. After several minutes he finally manages to climb up on the wing and stay there. "Now where's the stick?" He looks around, Lida hands it to him.

"OK, now unsrew the cap and dip the stick down into the tank then look at the stick, what does it say? Full??" She asks him. "Yep. It's full." He says as he screws the cap back on. "Next we have to check the fuel integrity." She hands him the sampler tube. "Stick it down in there and fill it and hand it to me." She tells him.
After a few seconds he hands her the tube. "How's it look?" He asks. "Looks fine to me." She tells him as she holds it up in front of her eyes.

Aaron screws the cap back on and hops down.
"Now we have to check the engine and the oil." They walk around to the front of the plane. They inspect the engine cover, satisfied it's good they open it and check the oil. Lida pulls out the strainer drain knob and let's the plane take a "leak."

"Okay. The oil looks good." She says.
"Check the propeller." Aaron takes a look at the propeller. "Looks good."
"Good." Lida says. "Now check the exhaust pipe. Is it loose?" Giving it a tug Aaron answers. "Nope it's fine."
Lida checks the alternator belt and then closes the engine cover. She checks the nose wheel while Aaron undoes the front tie down.

"Check the static air source." Lida says.
"Which one is that?" Aaron asks. She points. While he looks inside it Lida checks the fuel tank vent.
"Looks good. Now the stall warning vent and the pilot tube cover." After that they check the flaps and the ailerons.

"Is there anything left on the list?" Aaron asks.
"Nope, everything checks out just fine. You ready to take off now Aaron? Do a little spin around the airport then land again? But you do know if we do, we have to do a check when we land then again before we take off again. I hope you realize that." She told him.
"Well I suppose practice makes perfect." He said. They laughed.

"So? We ready?" Lida asked Aaron. "I think so." He replied. They climbed into the small plane. Lida pointed out the gauges to him. "That's the tachometer. And that's the air speed gauge and that's the artificial horizon. Master switch on, ignition on." She started the engine. The propeller statred to whirl. Easing the throttle in just a bit the plane began to roll.

Lida kept her eyes on the guages as they began to accellerate down the runway. Since there was no one in the air or in the control tower, clearance wasn't neccessary."We need to get the plane up to 88 miles an hour to lift off." She told him. The tiny plane held together nice and tight. Hardly a rattle or noise, just the engine growing louder as she picked up speed. When at just the right moment Lida pulled back on the yolk and they were in the air. Lida looked over at Aaron who was turning a lovely shade of PUSE (green) Holding on to anything he could reach.

His eyes were bugging. "Relax. We'll just do a few circles around the airport. Ok." She reassured him. "Ok." He croaked and tried to clear his throat.
"Calm down Sweetie, everything is fine." She said as she reached over and patted his shoulder. He was shaking like a vibrator. "One circle, One circle, ONE circle." He kept repeating. Aaron sat in his seat and concentrated on his breathing. He looked out of the window and saw birds flying underneath the plane. Lida heard him make a gulping sound. "O.K., One circle, then we'll land, alright?" Lida assured him.

Lida banked left and pushed the yolk forward. Aaron thought they ere "GOING DOWN" FOR SURE. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? He yelled. "Nothing Sweetie, just want to get a closer look at the area." She answered. "Will you Please relax?" She said. Aaron tried to distract himself. He sang showtunes in his head but he kept forgetting the words. He looked out again and felt his coffee coming up. He gulped and stared down at his feet. He relaced his shoes in his mind and tried to ignore the sound of air rushing by the tiny plane.

Once around the airport now. Lida began her descent towards the end of the runway. Dropped the nose and pulled back on the throttle to slow the engine. Almost down now, the wheels touched gently on the tarmac and they rolled gently to the exact spot they had started from, in front of the hanger.

"Relax. We'll just do a few circles around the airport. Ok." She reassured him.
"Ok." He croaked and tried to clear his throat. His eyes were bugging out.
"Calm down Sweetie, everything is fine." She said as she reached over and patted his shoulder. He was shaking like a vibrator.
"One circle, one circle, ONE circle." He kept repeating.

Aaron sat in his seat and concentrated on breathing. He looked out of the window and saw bird's flying underneath the plane. Lida heard him make a gulping sound.
"O.K., One circle, then we'll land, alright?" Lida assured him. Lida banked left and pushed the yolk forward. Aaron thought they were "GOING DOWN" for sure.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? He yelled.
"Nothing Sweetie, just want to get a closer look at the area." She answered. "Will you Please relax?" She said.

Aaron tried to distract himself. He sang showtunes in his head but he kept forgetting the words. He looked out again and felt his lunch coming up. He gulped and stared down at his feet. He relaced his shoes in his mind and tried to ignore the sound of air rushing by the tiny plane.

Once around the airport now. Lida began her decent towards the runway. Dropped the nose and pulled back on the throttle to slow the engine. Almost down now, the wheels touched gently on the tarmac and they rolled to a graceful stop right where they had started from in front of the hanger. Aaron opened his door and hurled on the ground.

Aaron spent several minutes laying flat on the ground. Getting up he was a little woozy.
"Whoa. I guess I'm not a good flyer." He said.
"Sweetie?" Lida asked. "Are you sure you've been up in an airplane before?"
"Just once. But I was a kid and I don't remember much." He felt his stomach lurch and ran behind a tree and emptied the rest of his breakfast on the grass.
"Well, we'd better get you some Dramamine from the gift shop, I saw they had some in there." Lida said to him. "If we are flying up to West Bend today, your going to need it, O.K.?" Lida asked him.
"Ok." He agreed. Inside the gift shop they found the Dramamine and some sodas. They weren't cold but they hadn't gone flat yet. They also picked up some snacks that were still edible but Aaron didn't feel like eating anything yet.

I called the dogs in after they made the rounds of a neighborhood in Dayton. It was a cold rainy autumn day and we were headed back to 'Voice of America' taking the scenic route. The trailer I found wasn't the best but it served our purpose and I had finished stripping the yet another mall of mirrors Daniel agreed that we had enough. We then headed to a store that exclusively sold amateur radio equipment. It took us hours to get there and then I made the discovery that the shop was closed. Breaking in was very difficult but I managed to smash in the glass panel door. I cut my left forearm during the ordeal and I was so angry and frustrated I cried not in pain but in anger. Daniel's image stood powerless in a display case and he look at me as if he would give anything to just hold me and rock in his arms. I felt as through I was encircled by heat and I knew it was Daniel trying to comfort me. I dried my eyes, as Daniel spoke softly and gently to me. "It's alright Pretty One, don't cry." I felt like a little girl that fell down and skinned her knee. Daniel had insisted that I show it to him and I held my arm up to the mirror above the sink in the bathroom. After a few minutes I found a first aid kit and cleaned and dressed my wound.

I worked hard getting the equipment he wanted and packing it into the truck. Soon we had moved on to the local hardware store and I took a case of duct tape, tools, over 20 flood lights, the brightest bulbs I could find, and several glass cutters. My crime spree had just begun as I move from there to a boutique that must of catered to the higher classes I took a several changes of clothes and a warm jacket as I had felt chilled with the cold and wet weather during the day. The local drugstore was my next stop for things I needed to treatment injured arm.

Night was now falling on us and I wasn't familiar with the area, there weren't any restaurants or motels so I found out in the boonies a farmhouse and stopped there for the night. The dogs needed to be fed and I wanted a hot bath.

Oct 1st 2004
(06:00)
Late the previous evening we had said 'Good-Night' to the astronauts and went in search of nearby accomodations. We had found a 4 bedroom, executive-style ranch nearby. It had a garage, a pool, a deck with a telescope...probably belonged to one of the NASA suits...lots of NASA pictures on the walls.

I sat at the breakfast table eating my Cocoa Pebbles swimming in powdered milk, staring at the sat phone which the astronauts had kindly informed us where to procure..still no call from that Nik guy. I had called him but was there had been no answer... Images if the worst scenarios crossed my mind...maybe he had crashed...maybe he was laying somewhere unconscious. WAB sat at the table, as well, playing with his new toy...a sat phone of his own.
"These things are GREAT, HB! Do you know you can be out in the middle of the desert, or on the ocean, and they STILL work!
I look up from my Pebbles, and say, "You know what I like best about 'em...the fat government accounts...no shutoff." I produce my recently rendered inoperable Sprint cell phone from my pocket (which the Sprint Company computer system had seen fit to disconnect when the U.S. Mail had haulted when everyone dispeared, no doubt with my payment somewhere in route) and tossed it across the room, just missing DL as she hurried through the kitchen. Setting her stack of Barry Manilow CDs on the counter, she rapidly grabbed a glass & filled it with Tang.
HB:"Where's the fire?"
She shot me annoyed look, and replied, "Don't you guys know it's a Nasa tradition...the "wake-up call". Every morning mission control plays some music for the astronauts?"
"Oh....OK", I said as my spoon plopped back into the bowl.
She curiously eyed the cereal and remarked "I thought you were a Frosted Flakes kind of guy."
" I have discovered that after all the chocolate comes off the Cocoa Pebbles, it can make ANYTHING taste good!"
"Yeah...well, My astronauts are waiting...see ya later, guys."
As I hear the engine start on the "borrowed' Chevy truck in the drive, I asked," Zack, did you get all the toys unloaded?"
"Yeah, HB, they're all in the garage."
"Zack, I've got a mission for you."
"Oh, no...I'm not gonna go hunting for any more nerve gas!"

Lida and Aaron had now taken off for the second time. Heading North towards Fort Wayne. Aaron busied himself with a crossword puzzle and tried to keep his mind busy during the flight. " What's a six letter word for 'not too bright'?" He asked her. Lida thought for a second and replied "STUPID?" HE GAVE HER SUCH A LOOK! The girls slept in the back the whole time.

Coming in slowly for a landing they could see that the Fort Wayne International Air Port was much larger than Wheeling's. The parking lot that surrounded the terminal was packed. "Hey, something just occurred to me." Lida said. "Why don't we just land right at the zoo? Funny I hadn't thought of that before this." She said."That'll save us alot of time." She added. "Go for it." Aaron said. They looked on the city map and located the zoo. "We need to fly West from here." She said as she turned the yolk and pulled back on it." After only a minute or so they spotted the zoo. Right next to it was a large field which Lida thought perfect for a landing. The landing was a bit bumpy once they touched down on the grass. It wasn't as smooth as it appeared to be but still a fine landing. She steered the plane up to what appeared to be a large rear entrance and turned the engine off.

Aaron was the first out of the plane, like a shot, then he headed for a nearby bush. "Be right back." He yelled as he exited the plane. "O.K., I'm going in." She answered.

[attachmentid=1969]
Lida exited the plane and closed the door. She had parked it under a tree so it was in the shade and should remain cool for the lizards still asleep in the back. She walked to the rear entrance. A rosevine covered archway and stood just inside it waiting for Aaron. She could hear that the zoo's sound system was still running and a song was playing over and over again, which was exceptionally appropriate. She remembered this song even though she had only heard it a few times it went like this:

Someone told me
It's all happening at the zoo.

I do believe it,
I do believe it's true.

It's a light and tumble journey
From the East Side to the park;
Just a fine and fancy ramble
To the zoo.

But you can take the crosstown bus
If it's raining or it's cold,
And the animals will love it
If you do.

Somethin' tells me
It's all happening at the zoo.

The monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere,
And the elephants are kindly but
They're dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical
Of changes in their cages,
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.

Zebras are reactionaries,
Antelopes are missionaries,
Pigeons plot in secrecy,
And hamsters turn on frequently.
What a gas! You gotta come and see
At the zoo.

Since this was their forth zoo release the routine had been established. The primary walk through feeding and releasing the smaller, less threatening animals. Then making mental notes as to which would be their final releases, the most dangerous animals would be last. At which time it would be a race to out run the last ones and opening gates and cages before they caught up to them. Sadly there were many weak and dying there already. Their efforts may have caught some of them just in time but some were at death's door. The giraffs were among those as were the elephants whose pond had dried up and they lay in their compound dried up and breathless in the sun. Their bodies swarming with flies. This was a sad,sad sight for Lida and Aaron. All their efforts came just a little too late. The Polar bears and the Grizzly seemed to fare better though. The goats were huddle together in the corner of their pen. Some were dead, some dying, but a few were still interested in food, this was a good sign for them. All this death around them discouraged Lida and Aaron. Knowing how many zoos they would never be able to get to but they had made a commitment to do two more zoos in Northern Indiana.

They were on their final walk-through and were releasing a fiery looking wild-boar. When it looked at them and charged. This was the last animal to be freed so they opened the gate then ran like hell towards the rear entrance and to the plane, wild boar hot on their heels. The need to yell "RUN" wasn't there, they knew that if this boar caught up with either of them they could lose a leg, or worse.

Lida reached the plane first, opened the door and was climbing in when Aaron flew at her and pushed her and himself in on top of her. "Get off me!" Lida yelled, nearly upside down in the c o c k -pit of the tiny plane. Aaron tried his best to right himself yet stay inside the plane. As they scrambled around trying to get into their seat the boar ran right under the plane and out the otherside into the field. Totally forgetting what he was chasing. "Whew! Now that was close." Lida said. As they watch the boar run into the woods.

"Well, now what?" Aaron asked as they sat there trying to catch their breath. "Well, I think we are going to have to find a fueling station somewhere. Hand me the map. I hate to fly all the way back to Fort Wayne since we aren't too far from the next zoo, which is in South Bend." She said. He handed her the map and she looked for perhaps a small municipal airport on the route. "Ah, there's one, only about 10 miles from here, let's get going." She said as she began her pre-flight. Aaron knew what to do now so it took alot less time than before.

They flew into the tiny airport at Columbia City and refueled then took off again. next stop, South Bend.

Circling the zoo just North of South Bend they landed on the street. Lida spotted an empty stretch, touched down and rolled right up to the front entrance. The lizards were awake now and hungry. Trying to crawl all over Lida and Aaron to tell them so. "O.K. Sweetie. You can come with us this time." She said to Kes as she held her up in front of her. Lida had little hope now of finding very many live animals after the last zoo. and thought carrying Kes and BT wouldn't interfere with what they had to do. Once inside the entrance pavillion there were numerous small ponds with fish in them. Lida checked the depth with her arm and found them to be fairly shallow plus with all the plants sunk down under the surface the lizards had plenty of things to grab hold of. Lida put Kes and Baby Tongue in the pond. Surprisingly enough they spotted the fish and went after them. "Boy, they sure ARE hungry, aren't they?" She said to Aaron as they dashed around under the surface churning up the water by whipping their tails. The side of the ponds were high and slippery so they decided to leave them in there while they did the release. They had to come back out this way anyway.

This was a very active and noisy zoo. Not at all what they had expected. Perhaps the animal keepers at the last zoo weren't doing their jobs very well and all those animals were in bad shape before this happened.[attachmentid=1975] The animals here all seemed to be very active and alert. As if there had been no interuption in their care and feeding.[attachmentid=1974] When all of a sudden a familiar face appeared on the otherside of one of the pens. "Abe!!" Lida yelled. "Look Aaron it's Abe over there." She said to him. It seems that Lida and Aaron's quest to save the animals had hit Abe right in the heart and here he was doing the very same thing.[attachmentid=1973] "I knew I'd run into you two eventually if I stayed here long enough." He said as he walked towards them.[attachmentid=1972] "Are you here by yourself Abe?" Aaron asked him. "Naw, I got One of my boys with me and two of my girls. They've all been helpin me."[attachmentid=1971] "Where are they? Lida asked. "Oh, they're around here somewhere." He said.[attachmentid=1970] "Well, you know why we are here then, let's get to it." Lida said. "I'm right behind ya." Abe answered. They set out doing the release. Abe called to the three children and they joined them. This release went very quickly with so much help. And without any casualties. At the very end, they all ran into the pavillion and closed all the doors and waited for a while. This gave them a chance to talk.

Inside the pavillion they found the Snack Bar. They all were starving by now and rummaged through all the shelves and drawers and boxes the could find. Taking all the candy bars and snacks they opened up the refrigerator, which was still cold inside. They found boxes of unopened meat. Hot dogs and hamburger patties and bags of frozen french fries. "Sure wish there were a way to cook up all this." Abe said. "Well, Paw, there's alot of wood over there and I saw a woodpile somewhere around here too for that big fireplace over there." He pointed. "AHH, the fireplace, I hadn't noticed that. Aaron said. "Yea, I been here in the wintertime bafore and they have us all roastin marshmallows on sticks in the fire." Abe told them. "O.K., Cain and Abel, go get the wood and be careful out there we don't know if that warthog is still hangin around here, they can be nasty ya know, chew ya foot right off." Abe laughjed. The boys didn't.

After the fire was blazing in the huge fireplace Lida and the girls began to attempt to cook the hot dogs and hamburgers. The hot dogs cooked up fine on the ends of long sticks, but those hamburgers were another story. Even with the long handeled spatulas it was difficult since there was no grate to lay them on. "Just lay em on the hearth, close to the fire, they'll cook." Abe suggested. and sure enough, it took a while but they did.

After eveyone had eaten they all sat around on the floor in front of the fire. Everyone was exhausted. Baby Tongue and Kes had climbed a small tree. It's roots firmly imbedded in one of the small fish pools and gone to sleep. Lida could see them from across the atrium.

As they chatted Abe told Lida and Aaron somethings that surprised them both. It seems Abe and his children had already done the release at the final zoo in Gary. So to their surprise, Lida and Aaron's Mission was over now. He told them he also visited few small animal parks along the way and did release there also. So relieved now Aaron layed back on the warm stone floor and fell asleep. Followed by Lida, Abe and the children.

At dawn the sun woke all of them at the same time. The East facing windows allowed the sunlight to flood the entire room. They all got up and looked for something to eat. They washed in the small pools and used the facilities. "Where are you going now Lida?" Abe asked her. "Well, I really hadn't thought about that yet." She answered. 'I want to tell you about a place you and us and the rest of the STF.Net members could all live, very nicely too I might add. It's up state, East of here. A little community of Amish. I'm sure they are all gone now. But it is very beautiful there and lots of crops and animals are still there." He told her. "Do you have a map?" He asked her. "Yea, outside in the plane there is a map, let me go get it." Lida went to the plane and got the map. Brought it back and unfolded it on the floor. "Here." Abe said as he pointed to the town of Albion. "All this area around here, for miles and miles, nothing but great farmlands and great farms. You must go there." He said again and pointed.

After a while of good-byes and Abe assuring them that he and his whole family would also be going to Angola, Abe loaded up his children in the buggy and headed back to Lafayette. Lida and Aaron watched and waved as the buggy clip-clopped out of site. with tears in their eyes they got back in the plane and started their pre-flight, once again. Then they took off, heading East now, Towards Angola.

According to the map Angola wasn't very much futher now. They had been flying for about an hour. When they recognized the lake Abe had told them to watch for, Pleasant Lake. He told them his brother's farm was right next to it and he had visited there many times. He told them to go to that farm and stay there and he would get the family there as soon as he could.

[attachmentid=1976]

They flew over the farm and recognized it from Abe's description. "Many out buildings." He told them. "And painted red." There it was, below them. Lida flew around the house and barn and the fields then they decided to land on the long dirt road that led up to the house. "Well? What do you think?" Aaron asked her. "Couldn't ask for a nicer spot. Looks like Eden to me." She said. They got out of the plane and went into the house.

The old farmhouse was a bit shabby but I'm sure that owners loved the place. In the small bathroom I found a claw footed bath basin. When I filled the tub with hot water I could hear the pipes rattling against the walls as it force the water down the faucet and out into the tub. I undressed leaving my clothes on the floor and laid back into the old tub. The steam bellowed up into the room and I felt warm for the first time in days. I watched the mirrors as Daniel's image seemed to jump from one mirror to another. I summized that he was looking the place over.

Daniel seem to be watching me bathe with interest, I pretended not to notice. I dried off, dressed myself and we left the old farm as we found it. As we drove away I caught a look of longing in Daniel's eyes and without saying it I knew what that look meant. I felt a blush rise to my checks. Daniel chuckled, "Feeling sick, Pretty One?" I just shook my head 'No' and kept driving. We arrived at 'Voice of America' shortly thereafter. I broke a pad lock off the fence with a crowbar and pushed the gates open wide. I ignored the signs posted warning of high RF and a number of other danger signs. I drove the truck up to the towers as near as I could get and left the one trailer there and then went and retrieved the other one I had left in a parking area nearby. In the morning I would start to build that which Daniel invisioned. I was still clueless to the design but as I laid in the bunk I saw Daniel's reflection on the screen of the laptop. "We're gonna need a truck with a big wench, maybe a cherry picker too." I nodded in agreement and whispered softly, "I love you Daniel." It was then I felt the warmth of what I believe was Daniel encircle me. I reached over and turned off a small lamp and in that instant I can't be sure but ....I must of dreamed Daniel and I made love.

Lida, Aaron and the girls stood in the front hall and looked from side to side. The kitchen was to the left, the parlor to the right. The stairs straight ahead on the left side of the hallway. Lida went to the kitchen and looked around. It was a very large kitchen. A huge trestle table with matching benches flanking it. She estimated that with the two chairs at either end it could seat up to 16 people, comfortabley A huge wood burning stove sat at the far end with a large window above the soapstone sink on one side. The sink had a pump. Large wooden corner cabinets in each corner of the room that went to the ceiling with glass doors. She could see all the dishes and glasses and cups through. There was a back door next to the stove. It led out to the side yard. She went out it and noticed there was alot of mint growing around the small porch, she could smell it.

Meanwhile Aaron went upstairs, to the second floor. He counted five bedrooms on the second floor. Then up another set of steps he found three more bedrooms on the top floor. These bedrooms were even larger than the ones on the second floor. He came back down to the kitchen where Lida had picked a mass of mint and was trying to lite the stove. "Here, let me help you." Aaron said. He took out the three logs she had put in and replaced them with handfuls of kindling then lit them. Slowly he added more until the fire was going well. Then he stacked a few very small logs on top of that. Once they were lit he put the three large logs back in on top waited a few minutes until the fire was established then he closed the door. "O.K. All set. You can cook now." He said jokingly. Lida just glared at him

They sat a the table and drank their mint tea. Lida had found a Mason jar of honey in one of the corner cabinets, it still had a piece of honeycomb in there with it.

"What do we do now?" Lida said. Aaron thought for a minute then said. "Any chance Abe's brother had a generator around here? I know they are forbidden by the Amish but Abe had one. Maybe his brother did too. They looked at each other and at the same instant a light went off in their heads. They both said "The Loft!" at the same time. Out the back door they bounced, down the steps and ran across the yard to the barn. Then up the ladder to the loft.

They stood there in amazement. They thought Abe's barn was stocked. This one looked like an explosion at the Sony Factory. "Wow" Aaron said as he looked around. He started the generator, one of three. The computers are all ready to go. Shall we?" He said as he bowed and waved his arm towards the nearest computer. "I know Abe knew about this. It's too much of a coincidence. I bet that's where his boys got the idea in the first place and why they are coming here too." Lida agreed and kept typing. "I'm logged in now. I'm going to invite everyone to come here in a thread. Now let's see, what shall I say. Lida typed quietly to herself as Aaron logged in as well. "Done." She said as she hit the 'Add Reply' button. "O.K., now where is it?" Aaron asked. "Just look, at the top." She answered. "Oh, I see it." He said then clicked on it then read it outloud..........................

Aaron began to read:

~ Come to Eden ~

"We have hundreds of empty, self-sustaining farms here just waiting for you. Everything you need is here. Food, water, pets, a new home, friends and companionship. We CAN all survive here. We don't even NEED electricity. We are in the upper NorthEast corner of Indiana. If you have a map just aim for the town of Angola. It is right in the center of our community. If you get to Angola and see no one around just ring the church bell, it can be heard for miles and we will come to you. Come as soon as you can. Your Friends, Jeanway and Fenriz."

I stared at the laptops computer screen reading Jeanway's advertisement about EDEN. It was early in the morning as most mornings I woke before dawn by habit. Daniel's faint reflection shown in the screen, "What are you doing?" he asked. "I'm reading about a place called 'EDEN', there are other survivors Daniel and they're building a settlement on the Amish farms in Indiana." Daniel seemed to look away as I saw his image in profile now, "I use to regret the choice I made you make. Leaving home and the only world and life you knew behind." I reached over touching the computer screen that held his image. "Daniel with you I gained more than I lost. I'd 'jump the fence' all over again for you."

It was not the time for regrets. I grew up being educated at my parents home along side of my siblings. My education was suppose to end for me at the 8th grade level. I can remember how angry my father was when he discovered I was going to college. I remembered being on 'rumspringa' and working in a diner where I first met Daniel. He was so very different from the boys I grew up with and the ones that would call for me. When Daniel came to my parents home looking for me that cold rainy night in February. My mother was so upset, she told me I could never be with Daniel and remain with them. They threw Daniel out and I ran out after him. After that, I was with Daniel in the 'English' world.

Oct 1st 2004
(still at breakfast table)

HB:"Weareborg, do you think you can fly that Blackhawk all the way to Florida?"
WAB: "Sure, when we leaving?"
HB: " Not we....just you...can you make it there on your own? land and do the refuelings? I need you to check on this Nik guy see if what the astronauts are saying is true..see if this Nik is down there at Kennedy Space Center and help him get the shuttle ready to launch."
WAB: "What are you and DL gonna do?"
HB: " well, Nasa always has a back-up plan..I'm gonna need DL's help to grab Doc out of Rod Sterlingville and work on a back up plan to rescue those astronauts...if Doc really is good at computer programming we'll need him. I think the odds of this guy Nik succeeding in piloting the shuttle is a long shot, but if he's willing to risk his life to save those two astronauts then we got to support him."
WAB: "you really don't think he can pull it off?"
HB:" He might not even be alive right now, we haven't heard from him....but my dad used to tell me that two things will make you a success in life, brains and balls, but this time we are talking about flying the Shuttle! We'll, just have to wait and see if this Nik guy has the "right stuff". I've done some calculating with the computer, the Blackhawk has got a 300 mile range. You should still have enough fuel to reach the air port here in Houston...fuel up...then fly to Baton Rouge, La>>just follow I-10 east till you see a city with a building that looks like a small 'Empire State Building" then fly north to the air port..that's 267 miles from here...re-fuel there..and fly to Pensacola Navy Air Station or Eglin Air Force Base that will still be on I-10 just follow the hi-way east (that's another 257 miles) refuel again..then stop at the air port in Tallahassee, FL and be sure to top off your fuel tank there(another 200 miles) then your last leg will be by compass to Cape Canaveral ITS 295 MILES! so when you reach Kennedy you will be on fumes. The flight time is around 7 hrs but with all the refueling it will take all day, take the sat phone and call if you have any trouble...call when you get to Kennedy Space Center and find Nik.........Good Luck.

The hours past in mere blurs as I have appropriated a truck with a cherry picker and wench on it from 'Voice of America's' maintenance department less than 2 miles away. I didn't mine the walk but sped back in a hurry to get to work. As I passed a huge microwave transmitter/receive site, I stopped hard looking at it. I then reached up and angled the rearview mirror so I could sit and see if Daniel was with me. I called out, "Daniel! Daniel, what about the satellite dishes?" The mirror stood void of Daniel. As I started down the road towards the towers, breathlessly Daniel appeared. "Give a man a minute to get to you. I'm not God, I can't be everywhere. I saw the dishes back there when we came and dropped the trailers off. We can't use them, the wave lengths would be all wrong." "Can't we modify them to work?" I questioned. Daniel shook his head, no, then answered, "it's not just the wave lengths it also the harmonics. We have to do this my way Pretty Girl."

I learned to cut the mirrored glass and piece the panels together like a seamless quilt. The glass had to be angled in a large circle set as a 45 degree angle within the three towers that formed a triangle. As the night fell I managed to finish installing the last of the floodlights about 30 feet about the ground using coax cable and the towers themselves as supports for the lights. I felt under pressure to finish Daniel's vision as quickly as I could. I had throughout the course of my work overcame my fear of heights. Daniel urged me to get some sleep but still the radio repeaters had to be built and oh so much to do. I collapsed on the bunk of the truck with my laptop laying open about to log on to Startrekfans.net. Daniel must of seen the screen waiting for my password and with what must of been his touch the computer shut itself off. His reflection whispered as his warming energy touched and rubbed my shoulders, "There will be another time to visit your friends Pretty One."

After Lida had posted the thread, she felt the need to move the Piper from the front of the house to somewhere in the back of the farm. She walked out to it, climbed in and started the engine. A pre-flight wasn't necessary now since she wasn't going up, only around to the back of the farm. The engine started and she pushed in on the throttle and turned the yolk. The prop turned as it usually did and she manuvereed the small plane across the adjoining field then past all the out buildings. Not realizing how close she came to the row of honey-bee hives that were out there. It was nearly dark and difficult to see but the turbulence caused by the propeller blew a few of them over and the bees were very aggitated. She pulled behind the last building and turned the engine off. Then walked back to the barn. "I'm going to sleep now Aaron" She yelled up to him over the loud generator racket. She waited for an answer but said to herself "Oh well, when he's tired he'll probably fall asleep at the keyboard." she went into the house and flopped down on the sofa in the parlor. Too tired to climb the stairs to a real bed.

I crawled out of my bed and stretched, yawning, I opened the small frig in the sleeper and took a sip of coke. I wasn't the best thing for me in the morning but it was something. I had been working so hard everything else was put lower on the list. The dogs ran wild now and often crawled under the trailers to sleep or play. I left a large pan of bottled water for them and feed them their dog food. It was windy out today and I sat for the moment watching the towers shift and sway in the wind. I was concerned about motion of the towers when Daniel appeared in the right wing mirror of the truck. Daniel smiled and said, "Pretty One, they're designed to sway." I looked startled at his reflection, "how did you know I was wondering that?" "I wondered that too when I first came to a tower to cut the grass, that was how I paid my dues to the club." Daniel admitted, he was poor but he could work and it was a trade. No one else would do the work around the tower that his clubs radio repeater was on so he did it.

I worked on building the repeater as Daniel instructed using each and every component that he requested. I was his hands and I angled mirrors so he could see everything I was doing. Occasionally he got ahead of himself and had to repeat his instructions several times. I felt tired and frustrated but continued to do his will. I was fearful when he told me I would have to run more coax cable up the towers at the 50 foot level and then I also need to climb the tower as we need to set a pulley system up and run the cable of the wench through it. That would be another 50 feet up it was his way of saying I was going up 100 ft. without trying to cause me fear or panic. In the utility truck I borrowed I found climbing gear so I knew I wasn't the first to scale one of the towers. "Daniel," I protested, "50 feet is high and I may not survive a fall from that now you are wanting me to go up a 100 feet and rig a pulley. Why?!?!" Daniel was insistent, "If you listen to me you won't fall and it has to be done and done my way. Please Pretty One, if I could I would do it myself." I wordlessly agreed.

As we pulled out of town, I asked Gwen,” Are you sure there isn’t anyone you want to check on?”
“Naw…I figure if there was anyone left who cared about me, they would have come to the jail long before you did. By the way, thanks for rescuing my hide!”
“Glad to be of service,” I smiled.

The rest of the trip to Columbia went pretty smoothly, except for one strange incident. I was surprised at how well the RV, with a car in tow, handled. Gwen was digging around, trying to find some CDs she had spotted earlier.

It was then I noticed some kind of large animal, running down the shoulder of the highway toward us. I did a double-take, and then another one.

“Uh, Gwen…could you come up here for a second?”
“What now?” she asked peevishly.
“Just come up here and take a look…Hurry!”
As I pointed, she glanced out the window…then her mouth dropped open.
“What in the world…Where did THAT come from?”
“I don’t know, but if you’re seeing it too, I feel a lot better!

I think there‘s one of those drive-thru animals parks around here somewhere…maybe he got loose from that.”
“Or maybe, someone turned him loose from a zoo!”
Hope painted our expressions as the antelope, I believe an eland, continued right on past us with out slowing down.
“I don’t know where he’s going, but he’s sure in a hurry to get there!”
“Yeah…hope he makes it OK…how much farther do we have to go?”
“Bout another hour or so,” I replied.
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