Name of the book: Dent 4
Author: Michael W. Bell
Type of book: SF/F
2015
2017
2018
When I was on USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) and in the Security Group Detachment. We were visited by an Intel officer who said that intelligence agencies were run like newspaper offices. There were the Reporters (Intel Analysts), Editors (Editors
Senior Analysts), the Editor in Chief (I don't know what the Spook title is) and the Publisher (Publisher?).
I think I already went with this idea in the 2017 story but that was about 1 year and 4 months ago. I would have to look this up when working on restarting my "Dent" novels...
In conversation between The Aunt and Uber-Father have Uber-Father tell The Aunt that genetically Dent was closer to a parent to his siblings than he knew. Dent was programmed to not be physically attracted to any of his siblings.
Have the Dent folk from village deep South of Central City (modern Cairo) go to People of the Valley and say they were told of a forerunner called "Dent" who was the first true survivor and his wife, who was the second survivor. Have group hidden in the Temple be group 2; people who went to the Port be group 3. Have group 4 kill their "trainers" and go hunting for those who Thus us attacked the House of the Grandfather...
See previous notes regarding remainder of these novels...
Easter Day 2019
Consider dog as an element in creating fear, especially if the same dog is being walked through by advisories. Have two almost make contact in the fog, Have contact be broken and the two parties cross without either realizing contact had almost been made earlier.
Magic must be in conjunction with a deity or perhaps someone representing a deity. This would not be a classic "read and use spell" matter.
Have characters doing regular things - riding horses, going for a walk, sneaking an Apple - or whatever.
This is a keyboard that actually works!
I can take this with me on our big vacation this coming fall!
Write about people's lives. Make them the important and unimportant.
Put together the various Sun-Times and for into an outline.
Save stories of trips. In future portions of Dent, pin in details of monsters. Have them organized at bequest of Arby's people. Make them something Dent as the Western Grandfather caused to be done.
Upcoming Events:
1. Crystal will be 7 when Dent's grandkids and Emma were born.
2. Dent and Rowena were in the birthing room for all of Dent's grandkids and Emma and three Half Orc Births.
3. Have this be a very busy several weeks. Have people witness the exhausted Dent and Rowena be seen sleeping on same bed with or without covers. Have folks talk of how comfortable - natural - they looked.
4. When newborns were three, have Dent and Rowena marry.
5. Screen where Crystal gives baths to Emma, 3 "human" children and I e of his younger siblings (a younger brother). Crystal was10 and the smaller children were all 3.
6. Have the "herd" of three year old (40 "human", 3 Half Orc, 1 Halfling {Emma}) present at this "Wedding of Old Folks". Have Jonquil (spelling) present to entertain the kids and to organize the music.
7. Fine crop of 80 varieties of potatoes came in at end of year two. New Calendar based on date of Big Wedding.
8. Amount of available starch depends on variety of potatoe. (I wonder if the State Agricultural Commissioner can verify this?) Then make Vodka with same weight of potatoes, distill the same way, put in different bottles.
9. Have people take potatoes with eyes to Temple South of City Five. They start growing them and come up with different selection s for different food, try all 92 in terms of Vodka and send samples back to House of the Fish.
10. Friday's former apprentice (now an outstanding Captain) takes bottles of 40 different varieties of Vodka and a ton of highly refined metal to the Trading Port, where they are surprised to find a Cargo Ship delivering f one Lebanese Cedar to the Northerners.
11. The Naval vessel leaves with about half of their Cedar and follow fishing boats to Harbour of House of the Fish. There they give Forrest Martin a letter from the Mayor of City Five saying the Cedar was a gift. The mass baby deliveries had lead to an increase in business for the hospitals and for temples and in folks not only moving into the city and her satellite towns but establishing farms near these places.
12. Some of these folks bring tales of haunted waste lands in the deep South and abandoned towns. (The External Guard has sent emissaries to other places for years recruiting "monsters" to serve as buffers. Some of these "monsters" were gathered together when a company of Royal Construction Engineers - led by a Naval Officer - came in and were introduced as Construction Personnel sent by the Western Grandfather of Assassins to construct a village. Introduce this Naval Officer by the name of the Doofus who appeared in the earlier segment featuring Forrest Martin. Have more about him actually being a good leader of a crew of "monsters" and "RCS" (Royal Civil Servants).
13. Have Dent be surprised to find he was being called the "Western Grandfather of Assassins".
14. Have Forrest's daughter and her third cousin leave City Three with a wagon of all 92 varieties of potatoes and small bottles of the all 40 varieties of Vodka. Have two more wagons with camping
survival fear along and 2 squads of Mounted Infantry. A Wizard embedded in the MI used an advanced levitation spell to lift wagons and all horses and move them 50 miles a day. After several days travel, they were within miles of the People of the Valley. They broke into two parties after moving to a marker a mile from where Dent et. al. met "Talking Boy". Now, he was severely sober and was called "Somber Dad" and his wife was in a hyper phase and was called "Madam Exuberant". They had what appeared to be a present to the People of the Valley.
15a. Surprise sprung. Forrest's kin introduced to Dent's abandoned kin (group 3 would arrive later). Have them "coffee book" of group weddings. Pictures surviving members of Arby's group, pictures of first batch of kids (drawn when almost 3), pictures of Crystal, Emma and the 3 Dent kids he be babysat. The idea of such an arrangement shocked Dent's relatives.
They explained how Dent realized he could never go home and how h e had been courted by Rowena (one sister murmured He always did like Elven Ladies).
15b. Soldiers a mile away dug a deep hole in dry soil near the road. They started a hot fire and keep burning fresh wood in it. Kids of the Valley assigned to monitor them broke cover and asked what the strangers were doing. They explained about the beans. In a cast iron pot they put clean beans and taking well cooked bacon from that morning, crumbled up the bacon and put it in the pot along with onions and some s p ices. They covered this with water from a leg of clean, sweet, water, put the cover on and placed the pot in the cool shade. After several hours of conversation, they scooped out the hot ashes, put the pot in filled in the open volume with joy ashes and covered this with dirt. The hot ashes and heat soaked dirt would cook the beans and onions and further cook the bacon and water through upcoming very long night.
Their visitors brought their parents who chatted. The young soldiers realized they were being vetted and were well mannered. These parents realized they had been made but didn't care. After a pleasant evening meal of wild onions, broccoli, dates, chicken, and a sour beer made from an ancient recipes they switched to mead. Their guests left shortly after dark and the soldiers gradually fell asleep. The ancient beer recipe was almost like a desert and it's golden surface shouted that the beer had tetracycline. The young soldier's health would see an improvement as the beer the would drink the next day and the morning of their departure the morning after. The following afternoon they got a tour of the Valley and left with strong memories of this lovely place. Later, they would master the various arts of thieves, become investigators and even keen to play instruments and join the first generation of Bards...
24 April 2019 - 8:10 pm (Rachell is on...)
Modifications to fud:
Have the soldiers take salt pork from a linen sack and soak it in clean water. Then, put it in a small cast iron pot cover with water, surround with live coals and fresh think logs. bring the water to a boil and this is to remove salt from the salt pork and to partly cook it. Eventually, add the partially boiled salt pork to the pan with the beans, molasses and spices,
Have the two squads be lead by more senior people. One squad by a corporal and the other squad by a staff sergeant, who is also Detachment commander.
Questions?
what are the kids in the squads doing to east when the SQT is off with the Pep0le of the Valley etc.?
Will the Corporal east with grown ups or come back to dine with the Privates?
What WILL THE "KIDS" EAT?
They will have
coocoos
mutton
carrots
cabbages
figs and apples
Next morning, the cast iron pot with beans, etc., are taken form the ground and served to the squad members, the young folks who stayed with them and a selection of older folks.
It is difficult to sit here and try to be creative. Normally, when the spirit moves me I am at work and typing on my Kindle with a finger. If I' at home, I am typing with that awful computer keyboard. I am not typing on this lovely keyboard onto the Kindle.
Well, enough typing, it is about tine for me to get ready to go to bed!
After getting up in the middle of the night with hypoglycemia, I went back to bed. I wonder if Diabetes could fit into my stories?
Back to my story:
Have the sergeant come back to the camp and ask for an update. Gets news about the beans and salt pork. Tell them they would have visitors for breakfast. Have "the kids" be offered coins and have them politely accept the coins. Have SGT tell them to save a few of the coins for themselves and to send the rest to their families. Have the "kids" behave well and impress the Elders of the People of the Valley with their manners and also their lack of lust for money...
Have the kids come to the main meeting place to spend the day with the young ones of the People of the Valley.
The adults whom they had escorted, the Elders of the People of the Valley and a strange group of humans (Dent's missing kinfolk) talked about the events which happened after they had left the PotV. These people in the Valley has written their histories of their exile in the Assassin Can't they had been taught. They have a copy of each one's history and these were put in a compartmented vault in the Grandfather of Assassin's House in the Central City.
These histories were given current handling instructions about 75 years before the "opening" of Sanctuary centuries after the time of the Great Wedding. These histories were copied, with two copies going to the Vault in the Central City "House" (of Assassins), one of the originals going into the library that would be built (along with two translations) and the other original, a copy and two translated versions into an underground vault in Sanctuary.
-----------------------------------------------------
Tetracycline from soil bacteria
Penicillin from yeast
Sulfa drugs from ??? coal tar
Aspirin from willow leaves
Digitalis from foxglove plants
Heart medicine from what tree???
What other "natural" Medicines came from plants???
When Crystal was six, he entered the mines with his older make kinfolk. However, no one has told him the various medical personal among his Orc kin had evaluated his overall health very carefully. He was deemed to be very intelligent and likely to master languages very quickly. He was at the norm for his age in physical and above the norm for intelligence.
His lungs simply were not good enough for him to survive a working life in the mines.
The Elven doctors, the medically trained among Dent's people and the medical doctors among Forrest's people were in agreement. The Orc boy called Crystal simply did not have adequate lungs. Matters were at an impasse until Aunt Beverly suggested they ask Dr. Foulston for his medical advice.
Her letter simply read:
Dear Willis:
Among the community with your children are a number of Orc who were genetically modified centuries ago. One of them is a six year old boy with weak lungs. The various families are hoping for a miracle.
This boy named "Crystal" is convinced that "Grandfather" Dent and "Grandfather" Old Chef (an ancient chef and bard) can repair him. From what Dent and his people have told me, they are right to have faith.
Please let me know what we can do to assist.
Regards,
Beverly
The letter was read and approved by Dent, Rosena, Crystal's parents and the Old Chef and his wife.
One of Forrest's two courier boats took his courier boat to it's usual berth in the controlled access government port and as it was being tied up, the usual day time deck guard motioned a police officer who was patrolling the docks to take the deck guard duty. The deck guard was waiting by the brow when the Courier Boat Captain came ashore.
"Good morning and what brings you to my lovely spot on the pier?"
"I bring greetings from my Elders to your Elders. And what of the news? Has anything of interest happened lately?"
" There was a brawl downtown and that lead to a stern sermon from Brother Stegg. We have some excellent soup in the police mess and some very well seasoned cous cous. You and your officers should have plenty of time to enjoy your dining. "
"We will, cousin, we will!"
The two parties company, with the Police Guard mounting his mule and making the trip to headquarters. The Courier Captain went to his boat. It was perfectly safe to 'leave it unguarded.
All the craft along the Government Pier were under heavy if hidden guard.
The Police Guard mused on how much this visitor revealed. Referring to his Elders suggested he was part of a tribe, possibly several tribes. This was true. The reference to what the Guard heard as "your Elders" suggested this visitor thought the guard part of a tribe as well. The Guard was also but did not realize it.
The Guard did not realize the police matters which filled his life were on the periphery for other folks. Fortunately, Naval Captains were trained in subtility (subtle) and diplomacy.
When Dr. Fouls on read Beverly's note, he realized what a pretty problem he and his Medical Mages had been asked to solve. First, he would need a preliminary evaluation of the boy's lungs. For that he would need the help of a pulmonary specialist, Dr. Annita Salmans. She would have to take field testing equipment to the "House of the Fish" for the preliminary analysis. There would have to be blood drawn and analyzed in situ. The blood would be taken to the laboratories at the City 5 hospital where really detailed blood work would be done. (The Hospital’s Lab was far more capable than the Hospital realized.) Then the most difficult work would be done once they had the needful detailed information. That is, analysis and hopefully restorative
corrective measures.
It would be fun!
-----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Foulston's note was hand delivered to the Courier Captain, who had enjoyed his lunch (as did his crew).
The trip back home was uneventful.
The Courier Captain figured he would have the rest of the evening off and might not come back on duty until the early afternoon (this was correct). He also thought he would end up on a fishing trip as they did not have any trips scheduled to the Trading barge for a week and he was guilty of having taken the last courier run "to the big city".
He was wrong.
He was A Reserve Naval Officer and was surprised to see a Naval Two Mast boat and two Naval single mast boats tied up at a visitor pier. The two single mast boats were deceptive in that they could run a jib sale and spinnaker. They could go dangerously fast...
***-need name of newly minted officer-***
The young Captain knew that neither Forrest or his Aunt Beverly would be at their offices; it was after all, in the late evening. Never the less, he walked to Forrest Martin's home, knocked on the door, which was answered by Forrest's eldest daughter.
"Dad, Captain Abdul Raman is here."
"Andrew, it is so good to see you! What did you learn?"
"Only that they provided a letter with their answer to your letter, Forrest."
"How urgent is this Andrew?"
"The guard courier said the note could wait until tomorrow."
"Then, I will read it later. How was your trip?"
"Uneventful and unexciting. I could do with something different."
"Why, of course you could my boy. Please come to my office at 11 am."
Andrew Abdul Raman
160 my evening score
After Captain And us Raman left, Forrest stood holding the thick envelope. He looked at it clearly musing. His wife, who had watched the conversation, asked "do you intend to open this note in your office tomorrow?"
" I think I do. Beverly would be happier if I open it with her. Can you come in with me so I can open it with both of you? "
"Of course." She paused. " Why did you smile when you told Andrew to come in at 11 am? "
"I didn't expect him back tonight. Time to teach Andrew that such diligence can have unexpected consequences."
They both laughed.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Both Forrest and his wife went to be office after breakfast. On the way, he asked a mess cook in the crew mess to send up a pot of coffee, 3 cups and coffee cake, with plates and forks. None the less, they were in Forrest's office and in his social area about his usual time. Forrest put the letter on his table and his Aunt hustled in as the coffee and food arrived.
"Good morning and what happiness do we have today?"
" Andrew returned in the late evening and dropped off a letter to you. " He handed the letter to his Aunt and she put it on the table. "We'll have to see what Dr. Foulson has to say. On a different subject, I will have a surprise for Andrew. We'll have visitors coming in in late morning. As I recall, Andrew is still a junior officer in the City Five branch of the Royal Naval Reserve. Isn't he about to get his 'Water Wings'?"
"Your Andrew has accomplished everything but one item needed for his 'Surface Warfare Officer Qualifications'. He could do that one remaining item easily".
" What are you two so amused by, "
demanded.
"Andrew's last evolution will be to take part in a simple Fleet Evolution. He will have to maneuver his Courier Boat in a simple operation. I think a simple 'CORPEN RIGHT 090' or 90 degree right turn followed by a short run and another right 'corpen'. This would get the four boats through a 180 degree turn. It would test the ability of the officers to react to changing conditions and to see how well the crews handle flag signals. It could be interesting."
" I hope you are planning on giving everyone a lot of room. Forrest, our people are not in heavy practice in these maneuvers. The fleet people are. "
"Then, we simply will have to have practice. We could have table exercises until we feel confident enough to go out onto the water. I suppose who ever is in charge will agree."
"Yes, I suppose that would work," he agreed with a sight smile. that should have alerted Forrest.
"Does anyone know what time the three Federal boats arrived this morning? All I have is a note rom the night6 guard gave me when I came in this morning. It said they will be resting until after they take their noon meals on their boars and will resume after said noon meals."
"I can send a not inviting their officers and Senior crew members here for coffee and coffee cake at their convenience," Aunt Beverly said..
"Excellent," Forrest replied.
Forrest then got coffee cake while hi Aunt wrote a bri3f note and sent it to the Officer commanding the little group off thee goat. This officer’s name was on the note he had forwarded regarding the rest period of his crew.
The note was carried by one of the sailors who had made the mistake of being seen by Aunt Beverly.
open note from All Father
decide how to react to his proposals
send note to Thunder and wife, Dent and Rowena and the Old Chef and their spouses
They (Thunder and wife) decide who needs lung etc. medical exams
They agree to send these children with minders
minders are children's parents and he elders
A Courier boat goes to City 5 with list of the number of children needing help
The initial exam personnel leave City Five in a boat manned by sailors of both Houses
Equipment is unloaded and put into a large tent. The equipment is complicated, based on tech the locals know nothing about and is self powered.
Each of the patients and their parents and the Elders are introduced except for Dent who eases to the back of the crowd. Crystal leaves his parents, goes to Dent, yells Grandfather and drags Dent forward to Ann. She has been briefed on how to recognize Dent and recognizes the "I'm nervous" small he was emitting.
She smiles at Rowena and said "I'm told he might have come with a lovely Elven Lady to comfort the children,
Rowena said "You know him then?"
"I believe I know his Father,"
Dent pulled his hood back and growled "So much for secrecy".
Exams begin.
***************************************************************************
Orc parent ad 7 month baby
Doc: " He seems like a healthy baby. “He
The Doc began to give the Orc baby a standardized baby exam.
Eventually, she completed her exam, made some notes on a sheet of populous (Egyptian paper) and skilled at the young couple.
"You have a very healthy child. I could hear nothing wrong with his heart of lungs. He is a well formed child and without doing a more in depth set of examinations, I checked safely say he is healthy baby."
" that is very good, " his Mother said.
"That is very good " his Father agreed, "and also very bad. I don't want my son to go into the mines. We both agree our son should be physically fit but should be a warrior of the mind. I would like him to be the most deadly of mind warriors: a lawyer!"
" We want him and his future brothers and sisters to be taught to be Monks. I know he will be a great disciple of Grandfather Dent or Mother KG of Father Ten or any of the other Monks. " The baby's Mother spoke feistily.
I'm the distance Dent thought "so much for keeping our identities secret". Rowena was amused, thing as she had all along that maintaining such secrecy had always been futile.
"Those are excellent plans for him. I will be giving you son an examination with our portable lung and heart devices. I would like to take him to the City Hospital for a very in depth exam." Doctor Salmans looked at the Father " I fear the children are scared of the examination equipment. Perhaps if I give you an exam, the children will be less afraid? "
"If you think this will be beneficial then I will be happy to do so."
"Are the mines very dangerous?" Doctor Salmans knew they were.
"They are very fine powders in the air and we must wear breathing masks and eye protection. There are gassed that damage the lungs. Our breathing masks can filter the air but some poisons come through. It is good out older miners can
"Were there any truly odd "enjoy a pleasant retirement. I am looking forward to working in one of the farms growing these 'potatoes' the 'Old Chef' talks so much about. "
"These examinations were started from the fear that Crystal's lungs are too weak for him to enter the mines. They may be. Do people living in your village have a legal right to enter the mines? "
The baby's Mother spoke: "A person wanting to enter the mines has the right to do so a limited number of times. If they don't enter the deeper mines, the truly dangerous mines, within a given number of times, then the Miners say the Gods are banning these outsiders for life."
"Is this hard to arrange?"
" No, " the Baby's Father replied, "it is quite easy. Just hand a manual to the person to be kept out or sounds alarms. Say something about gas intrusions or perhaps cave ins or water floorings. These happen only infrequently but serve to burn each outsider's opportunities. They worked for Dent and his people."
"Were there any truly odd events?"
"Dent, Ten and Toes said they saw ghost like creatures walk out of a rock wall, cross the tunnel and walk into the rock face again. One creature supposedly smirked at Dent and his family members. They retreated."
The Baby's Mother took up the narrative.
"'Toes' - she is one of Dent's sisters - said a ghost creature winked at her and blew her a kiss. They decided it was a good time to retreat."
They continued chatting and in the distance Dent turned to Rowena.
"I wondered about the manner in which we were blocked from entering the deep mines. We were handed manuals three times, then there was a gas emergency followed by two minor water flooding, a minor cave in and another water flooding. The last time we tried entering the mines ended when we retreated.
"The Orcs don't appreciate just how good our hearing is," Rowena commented.. "Did a 'ghost' really wink at 'Toes'?"
"More than that, my dear. The 'ghost' winked at Toes and then blew her a kiss. Moments later, the last ghost - one who looked close to human - to leave the wall said 'now would be a good time for you to leave. I am conducting a deployment change for my External Guard. I am moving 3rd Regiment back to the rest area and replacing them with my 4th Regiment. This will mean a lot of personnel moving through the rock. My people become material in the air of the mine and we don't need physical collisions between guards returning to their coffins and your people. I suggest that you and your people return to the air and continue the paths of your lives. "Toes", you are about a week pregnant and both your fetus are fine and will be fine. With that, this almost human ghost rushed through the air and entered the rock wall. I didn’t order a retreat; Toes and I simply followed Ten who was moving backwards along the tunnel."
Dent paused before speaking further:
"So, this last 'ghost' commands Regiments?"
"He commands a Brigade of four Regiments and is thought to be in contact with similar units in the lands north of the Great Sea."
"Impressive", Dent said, "should we seek to speak with him?"
" No, " Rowena said, "there are superstations that speak of this being a bad idea. "
When the, Commander snorted in disagreement, both Dent and Rowena snapped their heads toward the sound. They saw a dark skinned Palestinian with old facial features. This person had a look of wry amusement and they could almost hear him saying "oh, really"? In that instant the Guard Commander realized the similarities between Rowena and pictures of Dent's wife he had seen. The pictures were in highly classified files in the supposedly deeply hidden files in the House of Assassins archives in City Five. By the security measures in place, he should not have been able to read any of the files. It helped that one of his Personal Staff had magical ways of finding and exposing that which was hidden.
Now he understood the attraction Rowena had for Dent. There was also the death of Rowena's husband and the metaphorical death of Dent's wife. The External Guard Commander felt a strange mixture of sympathy and pity for both; he also felt the surprise of realizing this was the first true set of "human" emotions he had felt in centuries. His "men" felt the changes i n their Commander and this lead to subtle changes in their behaviour for centuries afterward...
QUESTIONS:
1. What is coal oil?
2. Who makes it?
3. How is it make?
4. Is coal available in Africa?
What parts of Europe or Asia?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
10 times density of lead
27 million degrees
behaves like a gas
So, is R star the same?
********************************************************************
Eventually, the seven children and the one adult had their preliminary exams. The Father of the seven month old baby was motioned over in front of the scanning equipment,.
"We have not been introduced. I am Annita Salsman and am a Medical Doctor and specialize in heart and lung issues. "
"I am Plait of the Fifth Mine, not to be confused with my cousin, Plait of the Third Mine."
"I'll try to keep you two separate in my mind. Now, if you don't mine, I need you to remove your clothing from the waist up. Do you have anything metal in your belt or trousers or sandals?"
"No, we don't take metal tools outside the mines."
Partially disrobed, Plaitt of the Fifth Mine had an almost gaunt appearance, with ribs evident . He had several burns, multiple scars and areas where his skin was discolored from gasses in the mine .
It was a shocking scene only to those who had never been in the mines.
"Now, do you see the real reason I do not want my son to enter the mines. My wife feels even stronger abut this then I do. Still, Orcs are needed to enter the mines and remove the minerals we need trade with outsiders. Those who enter the ground are called to do so."
"Then, Plaitt of the Fifth Mine, on this raised dais. Take a relaxed stance, breath normally and just b e patient."
Plaitt mounted the dais, took the relaxed stance and waited while a beige curtain of light formed above him and moved down across his body. There were banging noises as of huge hammer striking unseen anvils; oddly, he felt them as sensations and not really as sounds. Eventually, the noise level dropped to near inaudible and the beige mist disapplied.
To those on the outside, it simply looked like a cylinder of beige air had formed around Piatt. When it dissipated, Paitt was asked "how do you feel"?
"I feel fine."
"Would you recommend this?"
"Sure; how noisy will it be for the children?"
"Much lower First, I need to look at the results. Dr. Salmans looked at the eights Elders: Thunder on the Craig, his wife, Dent and Rowena, the Old Chef and his wife "Lady Chef", Forrest and his wife and jerked her head towards an area on the side of the equipment. These eight Elders joined her in the small area which was enclosed by another beige wall.
"Well, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that Plaitt of the Fifth Mine had strong and healthy lungs." Dr. Salmans paused and then continued. He has indications of testicular cancer. This can be treated in hospital but that means taking him to the Main Hospital. I believe that the All Father and his Mages can cure his testicular cancer but he can never into the deep mines again."
"Can he Father more children," Forrest's wife asked?
"I believe the All father and his Mages can make this happen. He will need o go to the Main Hospital. Who will tell him?"
"I will," Thunder on the Craig stated. "Shall I make the announcements?"
Thunder walked to the front of the audience of children and their parents
"Plaitt, you will be taking your wife and son to the Big Hospital in City Five. I suggest that Elder Dr. Salmans begin this scanning for those who have been in the mines and for the little ones "
"Why are you sending us to Hospital when my son has not been tested", the Wife of Plaitt asked.
"We hope your son will be fine. He will be tested by the strange machine and will then go with you to Hospital."
"What of my husband?"
"Plaitt, you are out of the mines until you've gone with your family to the Hospital. When you get back, you can decide to work your own farm or you can undergo the screening required for those newly entering the deep mines."
"Really, Elder Thunder." Plaitt was amused and knew what was coming.
"Yes, really! The first Monday, you can proof read a new manual. We will have another manual ready by the second Monday and a third manual by the third Monday. Elder Dent, what disaster will happen on the fourth Monday?"
"Oh, I'm sure there will be a minor cave in."
After Dent spoke, KG chimes in whit "I'm sure there will be whiffs of toxic gasses in the deep chasms."
Ten glanced toward part of the back of the room where the ghostly face of the Brigade Commander and the face of one of his soldiers were visible and were wrinkled with laughter.
"Perhaps a mass movement of ghosts through the walls could lead to shutting down the deeper mines?"
"Really?" The Soldier had spoken and then both ghosts had emitted laughs that faded as both ghosts had faded into oblivion.
This event lead to different legends that lasted for generations...
Eventually, the seven children were scanned and several of the Fathers were also scanned. Eventually, all the women were scanned and this lead to the remaining men being scanned.
Dent, Ten, KG and Toes were also scanned. All four were revealed to have three organs which "standard" humans, Orcs, Denarian
Humans or Hobbits did not possess. Not even Dr. Salamans knew about these strange organs. She would later have an uncomfortable conversation with The All Father. Actually, the conversation was not very uncomfortable for her...
They had feared that getting blood samples would be difficult and had planned to take each patient into a separate room. However, the City Five people had wonderful contact pain killers with some of the finest antiseptic agents. When these mixtures dried, they left temporary sterile surfaces for the needle.
The difficult part was getting saliva and urine samples. It was during this collection session that the Elders left the room.
After the Elders returned, they listened to Dr. Salamans: "We have taken blood and saliva samples, done preliminary physical monitoring of the sounds of breathing and heart beats, blood pressure and body temperature. The scanning was to determine the size and locations of internal organs and their appearances. From this, we can infer their health.
Sometimes there are surprises." She looked at Dent and his people. "We will be studying these surprises. I have hopes of solutions for any problems which are found. Ah, I believe that Elder Thunder wished to speak with his miners."
She turned quickly and few saw the look of amusement on her face.
"My Brothers, since you will be away from the mines, all of us will have to reapply to reenter the mines. You four will have brief delays." Thunder pointed his right forefinger at four miners. "You other three" (plaitt and two others) will be reading a manual on the first Monday. We want to learn if this manual is still good."
"Elder Thunder," spoke Elder Dent, "will your Brothers be reading manuals on the subsequent two Mondays as well?"
"Why yes, yes, I believe they will be. You can never have enough proof reading of instructional material."
"Will all three of your Gentlemen experience the same possible disasters?" KG was trying hard to avoid smirking.
"I fear that they shall," Thunder on the Craig sighed.
One of the three said: "I would like to discuss this removal from the mines, Elder Thunder!"
"We planned on having all of you spend the night", Forrest said. "The other parents can take their children to the Dakota's mess for their evening meals. My daughter can play with your kids and one of Dr. Salaman's nurses can care for those still in cribs. I believe Dr. Salaman will address the real reason Thunder On The Craig has removed from the mines.
"So we are to be taken from the mines? "I
" Yes. " Thunder was adamite.
"The reason being?"
"This is a medical decision and can not be argued with. I wish it were not..."
Dent began to speak: "We can wait until everyone else leaves and Dr. Salamans can give each of you a briefing. Then, Dr. Salamanca can tell us more about what she found in us."
"Are you bothered, Elder Dent?"
" Yes, I am Hammer of the Depths. I am concerned! I thought I knew everything about us. Now, I wonder what else we don't know? "
"Will you want us to leave, Elder Dent?"
" No, I don't Mistress of the Deeps (wife of Hammer). News is best shared with family. " This alone cemented Dent and his people as family to the Orc Community.
Just outside war shot, one of the departing Orc said "you know the news is bad when they ask the Priest to speak."
" Will we be told later? ".
"Yes, Elder Thunder have me the 'briefing later' gesture.".
"Do you think it is bad?"
" Yes! Did you see the reactions when Dent and his family were tested? Did you see Elder Rowena's reaction when her Dent was tested... I hope she was overreacting... "
She wasn't...
±+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
Aunt Beverly looked at the group near her, sighed and said: "When we contacted the City Five people, I had expected some problems with the children but no problems with the adults. Now, our visiting Medical Doctor and Mage, Dr. Salamans will have much to explain, and I fear what we could hear, Doctor?"
"The scanner readings simply are frightening looking images that must be explained. I could tell the men were not expecting the results. The three extra masses in the bodies of Dent and his people were nothing I was expecting to see and I am concerned with them. The three minors who have alarming results make me wonder if Elder Thunder on the Craig might have similar problems. Elder Thunder, would you be willing to be scanned as well?"
"I will be happy to be scanned. I should have thought of this myself."
Elder Thunder stood on the scan platform while the air changed colour and when the test was over, there were smalls areas of red scattered through his lungs."
"I will submit these results to dedicated Medical Mages who have spent their lives studying these results Elder Thunder, but i think you do not have anything to worry about. You might consider retiring for the deep mines. For that matter, we should have everyone who works in the mines need to be scanned."
"I can have all my miners here for these examinations. How much longer can you stay?"
"I have permission for three more days. I will write my supervisor and request all additional time. How many miners do you expect will need to be examined
"
"I have forty working miners and about eighty retired or part time miners. Do you have enough time in the next three days?"
Dr. Samamans considered the question.
"An exam take 15 minutes to set up, conduct and collect data from. Then, perhaps another 10 minutes should the results demand discussion. Every scanning must be saved in artificial memory." She paused, realizing her audience was puzzled. "Every scan produces information that must be saved on devices that we consider to be 'artificial memory'. This information is examined as needed and some of this information is useful enough that it will be studied for decades to come. I'm afraid the information on your three miners will be stored and studies probably for centuries. Your children have all passed the scan test. Still, I cannot in good conscious give them medical permission to work in the mines. They are their Father's children and are in grave danger of developing the same problems their Father's have developed. This means Crystal simply cannot go into the Mines. He just might become that fieriest of warrior: the Lawyer!"
"Before you speak with my men, perhaps you could test a very old miner: Old Chef! He has fought with food for many years after he left the mines."
The beaming old Chef received his scans and passed with the possible exception of physical damage easily attributed to standing too much. His wife had equal results. This was pleasing to all..
There was a long pause before Aunt Beverly took charge.
"Dr. Salamans and her aides plus the wives of all three miners need to speak. I don't know if they want privacy."
"Brothers," Thunder on the Craig spoke softly, " you and your wives must decide if you want privacy. "
The three miners and their wives spoke briefly and urgently in Orc before turning to the Elders and one said "I have nothing to hide from my family or the Elders". The other two nodded in agreement.
One of the Medical Aides did various things to different machines. An image of an Orc body that still looked like Pilatt appeared.
" Pilatt, " Dr Salamans spike, "your lungs are fine as are your son's lungs. The problem concerns your right testicle. There is a strong possibility of testicle cancer. I am not an expert in this area of medicine and you must attend one in the City Five Hospital when you and your wife report to Hospital."
"Very well. When can we attend these Mages?"
"It will be at least a week. Perhaps you would like light outdoor work? "
"I would like one or two more children."
" I would like that as well, my dear. "
Dr. Salamans had not planned to get emotional with Orcs but these young parents did not act like the Orcs she knew.
The next Miner, Whispers in the Shadows, stood frozen when an image of his body appeared. His wife had a look of horrified expectation.
"Whispers, you have the possibility of testicular cancer but not quite the extent that Piliatt does. The real problem is you have liver cancer. I want you to go to our hospital as quickly as possible. Who can I ask about arranging for a fast trip."
Forrest Martin decided to cut short the discussion he could tell was coming.
"Can Whispers wait until after morning high tide? If he can wait then I can crew one of my courier boats and take him myself."
Dr Salamans spoke to Whispers and his wife: "Do you have children besides your 4 year old?"
" No, we have not. "
"We have an excellent pediatric ward, full of medical personal who would love to care for your daughter when her parents are busy in the Cancer Ward."
The last of the three Miners, Hunter in the Dark, spoke hesitantly. "My son, Crystal, loves to meet people. He can keep your daughter company while my wife and I are dealing with any problems I have."
" Then, let us turn our attention to Hunter In The Dark. You are in danger of testicular cancer as is your son, Crystal. We will collect all our data on Whispers and send it with Forrest Martin on his boat tomorrow. Whispers and his family should be able to handle the trip easily. Having said that, we will pack up all our physical samples and data for the trip tomorrow. "
"That won't be necessity," one of her Aides said, " we have already packaged the physical samples and our copy of the scanner data will be ready in moments. I suggest we try to do something to cheer us up. "
"You are a people with a deep and subtle knowledge of medicine?". This spoke Madam Chef as she joked her arm through the Doctor's left arm.
" Yes... "
"A people who know just how much medicine comes from the Gods?" Aunt Beverly hooked her arm through the Doctor's right arm.
" there is a magical drug from the Gods that cured a horrible disease and helps cure another disease. My husband will be happy to tell you if it! " Madam Chef
"Yes! Yes! The drink of the Gods, Gin from the tree of life and the Tonic that gentle the magic medicine and is named Quinine!"
" What diseases does this drug cure?, " one of the Medical Aides asked Forrest Martin.
"Officially, this Drink of the Gods treats malaria and unofficially, the drink treats sobriety. After I post the Mission Alert for my boat crew, I'll come to the village Tavern and make versions of the drug that will be safer for you to drink.
Forrest went to the planning area (just off his Aunt's office) and noted who was available for duty the next morning. To no surprise, the message board showed all of his crews - officers and sailors - had their pins in the spots for the Community Pub.
He put a note on the board asking for a voluntary crew for the trip to the City Five Government Pier in the morning.
The walk to the Town's Tavern was through a pleasant evening and Forrest was happy to see so many of his people, all of the Orc Mages who were working on building the "island" and de-salting sea water and both the Orc Miners and City Medical people. He always liked it when Dent and his people were in attendance. Dent and his people were a strange lot but were quite welcome. They were simply a odd group among other odd groups. Forrest Martin liked it...
Forrest quickly found the Medics who were standing in a group and looking bemusedly at their "Medicine".
Forrest took a sip of one these "gin and tonics" and gasped at the strength of the drink. His eldest daughter took a sip from another Medic's drink and gagged.
Forrest laughed and said "it is your own fault, child! You may have a small beer and lets give these overly strong drinks to my crews."
Members of his crews wondered over to take the very strong "Medicine of the Gods" (gin and tonic) from the visiting medics and others made "weak" "Medicine of the Gods" for the visitors.
They liked the "weak" versions and took the ingredients home with them. It made a big hit at family parties.
Forrest gathered Whispers, his wife and their 4 year old, Hunter in the Dark, his wife and their 5 year old (Crystal) and the Elders.
"I believe we need Whispers to go to the City Five cancer specialists as soon as possible. I'd like Whisper's daughter and wife to go with him. I'd also like Hunter and his family and Piliatt and his family to go as part of a group. There are people in the Temple of the New Way who will rush to the Hospital to be with and comfort all of you."
"I will draft a letter to the Temple and ask for their help," Aunt Beverly said. "You know
gets along very well with all the children. Forrest, do you think your daughter might like to go along to babysit Crystal and Ludmila (the 4 year old girl)? Can you free up your daughter from her usual duties to attend these children?"
"Let's ask her."
Aunt Beverly motioned Forrest's eldest daughter over.
"We are going to send Crystal and Ludmila and their parents to the City Five hospital tomorrow. Would you be willing to go along and watch over them?" Belatedly, Aunt Beverly decided to be formal and looked at the parents of both children. "World you like her to watch over your children while you are occupied in the hospital?"
The two sets of parents looked at each other, communicated non-verbally, and nodded in agreement.
"You'll have to pack for perhaps a week."
"Well, then, one or two of Dr. Salamans people will be going back with the raw data. I will provide appropriate letters as well as Dr. Salaman's letters. "
The party did not last much longer and the patients and their families went to visiting crew men quarters, Forrest went with his family home and his oldest daughter packed her clothing and took her pre-packed "bug out bag".
Her Mother supervised this and added a few items that she had not thought of.
****************************************************
Those unused to the sea had light breakfasts and those used to the sea made sure they had light breakfast. Reports of weather and sea observations suggested it could be a bit rough but it was a trip in a fairly small courier boat and they hoped that someday there would be medications to stop sea sickness.
To those on deck, it was a smooth departure and to those used to Mother Ocean down below, it was another routine day. To the children, it was an adventure and the crew worked at making them feel relaxed. Their parents were less sanguine but tried hard to keep this from the children and each other.
The boat was a single mast vessel and left harbour with the main sail set. They set the jib sail, which extended from the mast forward across the boat's deck and then had to be a bit more careful in their ship handling. The up side was the trip was somewhat faster the downside was the trip was a bit more rocky that day, The children were put down for naps with their Mothers and were much more quiet...
The length of the trip depended on who was experiencing it. To one of the small children or was an eternity when they weren't sleeping. To Forrest's daughter it was a very long trip (she liked to be on deck And this made the trip seen shorter. This trip had her below deck helping watch the land lovers. To the crew this was a routine trip and to Forrest Martin a good chance to evaluate the crew's professional performance. To those back home in the Home of the Fish it was a day not really different than any other...
By this time, the Courier Boats were accustomed to bring treated as visiting government boats And not visiting civilians. As they arrived, the Guards at the entrance post recognized their colours and semaphore to them which pier they were assigned.
Centuries later, Naval Forces in the Central City asked "why" and were told this courtesy had been ordered centuries before. They were shown a directive signed 300 years before which stated this custom had started a century before; it was signed by the glyph of a Father of Assassins who had ruled the West then. One of these Naval Officers was also an officer of that future force and he had thought this "Father of Assassins" a myth. Now, some of the "little wars" suddenly became real...
They had become as comfortable at docking in City Five as they were docking at home.
Captain Forrest Martin walked down the brow (gang plank) and received the salute of the Police Guard.
"What brings you to our fair city, Captain Martin?"
"We have some medical emergencies; three men need to be in the hospital. I have some letters that two hospital personnel will take there. There is a letter which must be delivered to him" - both knew he meant the All Father - "And a letter for Brother Luther And Brother Jonathan And their wives. They are friends of the three patients. I need these letters delivered."
"Certainly, Captain Martin. There is a courier going to a Post Office serving the Temple; the mail delivery is three days a week and your letter will be delivered this afternoon. I will have my runner deliver this other letter when she gets back from communing with the spirits, sir."
The other guard came back, saluted both men, took the two letters and rode her mule off.
"I believe I hear a child, Sir. Your guests might be happier on the pier."
" I suspect that you are correct, Sergeant. They can stand outside but there is no point in moving their baggage on deck until wagons have arrived. "
"I'll arrange that, Sir. How many guests will we have?"
"Three families of three, my daughter, two Hospital Medics and myself. I take my leave of you Sergeant and I'll get my guests roused. It might be a few minutes as they were sleeping off the trip here."
Both laughed.
Aunt Beverly's letter explained about the seven children who needed to be tested and why three families were coming. After finishing the letter, Brother Luther Staff asked Brother Jonathan and wives to visit him. By the time they arrived, Brother Luther had glasses of The Old Chef's "Magic Drink" (Gin And Tonic) waiting. No one took that as anything other a bad sign.
"One of Miners decided he did not his son to go into the mines. He asked Forrest Martin and more important, his Aunt Beverly, if they could arrange to have his Crystal's lungs and heart examined. Six other Miners and their wives decided they too wanted a better life for their children. So, a Medical Doctor and assistants went to the Village and used unknown devices to examine the children. They were apparently healthy. To make the children comfortable, their parents were also scanned by some magical machine."
Brother Luther sighed and took a swig of gin and tonic.
"The women were fine but three of the men have testicular cancer and one has liver cancer. Apparently, there were no symptoms."
All took a draught of medicine...
Luther took a deep breath.
"Beverly Martin said quote our lovely cousins have problems they did not know about. The rest results are going to be taken to the City after all of the cousins are tested unquote. When you read this letter, you'll see that it is addressed to the four of us. I suggest we all go to the Hospital to give blood samples and be examined.”
" I suggest we pack for a week. We can ask Jonathan's great grandson and his Mother if he would like to play with Crystal and Ludmilla. Forrest's daughter is well liked by all three. They will have fun! "
And so he did.
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or better yet, you could help care for the
Telling the three about those bad balls
getting Aunt Beverly to speak with the All Father about the three extra organs in the Dent folk
Things I had to do before we went to Lawrence…
Collect inhalers and check use by date...
Find the various missing hearing aid batteries
Find the cell fone charger
Read that first Unfettered III story...
Time to go to bed...
+
