Beyond Galactic Marshal
by
Hilltopper

Chapter 11

Indians were sitting on ponies on both sides of us. Once again, there was no point in running. We looked at each other and just started down the trail toward the village. I turned to Rosco.

“What do you think is going to happen when we get there?”

“I wish I knew!”

Just before we reached the first of the teepees, two braves and a pretty Indian woman rode up to us. Rosco and Lilly were led away by the braves. I started to follow but was stopped by the woman. She said something and motioned for me to follow her. I looked over at Rosco. He just shrugged. With no other choice, I followed her into the village. Everyone was looking at me and smiling. Well, at least I seemed to be welcome. The dog was welcome also. We stopped at a large teepee near the center of the village. A tall Indian came out and waved the woman away. She rode off and he approached my horse.

“Welcome traveler. Your coming was for told to me after the god bird flew over our village many seasons ago.”

Well, he obviously spoke English. The god bird must be Lilly’s ship.

“What about my companions?”

He looked at me seriously.

“If you will help us, they can go on their way unharmed.”

“Help you how?”

He smiled.

“As a child of god, you will know. It is your special nature that is needed.”

“Can I talk with my friends?”

He frowned.

“It is not permitted.”

I could see no other option. I nodded.

“I will help as I can.”

Suddenly, a brave rode up in a cloud of dust and jumped down off his horse. He spoke sharply to the tall Indian and then came at me. I acted without thinking using a technique taught to me by Mary. He was now on the ground with my knee on his chest. I looked up.

“Tell him I’ll let him up if he has cooled off.”

I realized I was treading on dangerous ground here but I dared not show fear. The first Indian spoke something to the brave under me and he nodded. I stood up and he got up rubbing his shoulder. I knew from experience that it would be tender for a while. The brave gave me a hard look then turned and walked away leading his horse.

“You are indeed special.”

“What was that about?”

He shook his head.

“He is in line to be the next chief and does not believe my vision. Your presence is resented by some. I am Danra and what you would call a shaman.”

“I take it the vision involves me.”

Danra nodded.

“All will be explained. Please come with me.”

I figured that we would go into the large teepee but we walked around it and headed toward a smaller one that set kind of by its self. It was decorated with lots of strange images. He saw me looking them over.

“These were all in my vision.”

We entered the teepee. The Indian woman that had led me into the village was inside.

“This is Tiana. She will be your guide.”

With that, he left.

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We were led to the other side of the village. One of the braves pointed at a campfire that was ablaze. Rosco looked at me.

“I think we are to sit by the fire and wait.”

“Wait for what?”

Rosco sighed.

“Our future.”

We dismounted and sat down. Two women came over carrying what looked like fry bread and some kind of meat. One of the braves spoke. Rosco interpreted.

“Well, at least we are being given a last meal.”

I grimaced.

“Is it that bad?”

“I don’t know. It seems they are waiting to hear from their chief about John. I’m not sure what it is they want from him.”

I saw someone approaching after we had eaten. It was the same chief we saw yesterday. He stopped and talked with the braves that were holding us then turned to Rosco. I didn’t like the look on Rosco’s face.

“It seems we are free to go as long as its west.”

“What about John?”

Rosco shook his head.

“Well, we won’t go then!”

He sighed.

“I’m afraid that is not an option. I think, if we refuse, we will be killed.”

“Does that mean that John is to be killed?”

“No, for some reason, they look to him as a chosen one.”

I nodded.

“I guess we have no choice. We will continue on to find my ship then we will come back.”

I smiled.

“That should shake them up!”

We were given back our supplies and horses. Our escorts rode with us until we were out of site of the village. They pointed toward the mountains and waited while we headed on.

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I awoke the next morning to a pounding on my door. Groggily, I got up. Raylan seemed oblivious. I opened the door to an energized Karen.

“Get dressed. We have received a message from Tinker.”

“What!”

She nodded.

“I don’t know what they want but we have set up a meeting at the spaceport.”

“What about the military?”

“I don’t think they have any one here yet. Hurry!”

“OK, OK, give me 30 minutes.”

I took a quick shower, dressed and fed Raylan. We were just about ready when Karen came back.

“Let’s go. I have a vehicle waiting.”

We were soon at the spaceport. I did not see any alien ship. As we waited for a landing, a man drove up and stuck his head out. I did a double take. It was an avatar!

“Hey beautiful, get in and I’ll take you for a ride.”

Karen rolled her eyes. We got in and were driven way into the desert. Finally, he stopped.

“All out for a fun time.”

We got out and he drove off. I huffed.

“Well, this is just great!”

Karen laughed.

“I never did get used to their avatars. They used the men at the resort for models. It leaves a lot to be desired.”

“Yeah, but now what?”

She shrugged.

“What else, we wait.”

We stood around for almost an hour before a shuttle suddenly appeared behind us. I don’t know how they do it but it always surprises me. We walked over to it and the hatch opened. Once inside, the hatch closed and it took off.

“It looks like the aliens are in stealth mode.”

Karen laughed.

“I imagine so. I’m sure they don’t want to be seen by the Planetopolis military.”

The flight up to their ship took about 20 minutes. It was the ship we always associated with Tinker. We docked and entered the ship. Tinker and Bell were waiting for us.

“Welcome, we need to talk.”

I was a little sore.

“You bet we do! Have you any idea of the mess you have caused?”

“We are sorry but it was necessary.”

I was getting really mad now.

“Are you saying that you did that to Jonnie on purpose?”

“No, that was not foreseen. We believed that the builders of the gate would notice its activation and make some kind of contact.”

“So you actually did not think Jonnie would disappear?”

“Certainly not!”

“Then why did all of you leave without warning?”

“We were called home. You two had not come back yet so there was no one to tell.”

I guess that made some sense but I was not satisfied.

“Did you know we would not get to where Jonnie went?”

Tinker and Bell exchanged looks.

“We suspected it might happen.”

Tinker handed Karen and I tablets.

“Please write up every thing that happened then we will make our plans.”

I eyed Tinker.

“Those plans better include rescuing Jonnie!”

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I looked at Tiana. She smiled and said something.

“I’m sorry but I don’t speak your language.”

She frowned and said something else. I just shrugged and shook my head. I couldn’t figure out why she was my guide if we could not understand each other. She seemed to be reaching the same conclusion because I saw frustration on her face. Looking around the teepee, there wasn’t much here. A pile of skins was at the back. I thought they were for sleeping. There was the remains of a fire in the center. A flap at the top opened to let the smoke out but it was closed now. Pots and some items I did not recognize were along the sides. I looked back at Tiana. She appeared to be studying me. I smiled and pointed at a skin beside the fire pit.

“Mind if I sit down?”

She just stared so I sat. Finally, she shook her head, said something sharply, and left.

“Well dog, looks like we’re off to a great start.”

I wondered about Lilly and Rosco. Hopefully, the Indians were keeping their word and had let them go. I figured they would head toward the ship. That might take a couple of weeks assuming they can find it at all. It was starting to get dark and I was very hungry. I looked in the pots and found some dried meat and fry bread. Another pot held water with a dipper made from a gourd. This at least satisfied my stomach. No one had come back so I went over to the pile of skins. Lying on them, I realized that they were actually pretty comfortable. I took my holster and boots off but decided to stay fully clothed. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was very quiet and very dark now. I thought I would have trouble sleeping but noise and daylight woke me up. I needed a restroom badly. Peeking out the opening, there was no one close bye. Some trees were behind the teepee so I went there. Coming back, I saw the shaman coming out of my teepee. He looked anxious until spotting me. I walked over.

“Had a little business to attend to.”

He nodded.

“I am sorry about last night. In my vision, you could understand our talk. It troubles me that you can not.”

I decided on a half truth.

“Where I come from, your language does not exist.”

He smiled and nodded.

“From the future.”

This took me back.

“How did you know that?”

He raised his eyebrows. I sighed.

“I know, your vision.”

He looked up.

“It has been told to me that a woman from the future would come to us pretending to be a man. This person would not be harmed by arrows or knife. Our chief had said you are the one and I agree.”

I frowned.

“So what is this person supposed to do for you?”

He smiled.

You are our spirit of good fortune. There will be a ceremony proclaiming this. Then we wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Why good fortune, of course. Your guide has been instructed to help you get ready. Do what she shows you. She has been informed of your dual nature.”

The shaman walked away and I went back into the teepee. This was getting crazier and crazier. I didn’t like the sound of this ceremony. They had me over a barrel however. If they decide that I’m not this spirit person, I was dead and, probably, Lilly and Rosco as well. A few minutes later, Tiana came into the teepee. We stared at each other for a minute. I started to sit down but she stopped me. She then started removing my clothes. I was a bit embarrassed but I figured that I had no choice. Taking off my underwear did concern me. Once naked, she stood back looking me over. I was hairless except for my long head of hair. My testicles had retreated again and my penis was not, uh, substantial. To be honest, I looked like a preteen except for my musculature and mature face. She smiled and nodded. She went to the side and picked up a beautiful beaded deer skin dress. I knew what was coming. Taking it, I slid it over my head. The fit was fine. She then braided my hair and tied it with a small dream catcher. Nodding, she left. It seems that I can’t escape these back and forth transformations. Oh well, at least I have experience with it. I dreaded what would come next however.