John and Argent by cmsix

Chapter 91

That settled that. If Shateala were going to be out until tomorrow we'd just have to wait to get her thoughts. Until then I still had a couple of hours to kill before the celebration began.

I went to my office, alone this time, and was greeted by Ralph as soon as I entered.

"Hello John, you've had an exciting morning," he said.

"Yes I have, I believe it was something the Chinese would have called interesting times."

"May you live in interesting times, it was said to be meant as a curse," he said.

"I think that I live in interesting times but I don't consider it a curse. Even the adventure today wasn't so bad; at least it didn't turn out bad for anyone. None of us are bleeding or otherwise injured."

"The woman got the worst of it and you were exactly right about her state. She had known for some time that the cat was following her and she realized that she had no way to escape it. The constant weight of the threat finally overwhelmed her thinking," he said.

"The main question I have is about what she was doing in the first place."

"I can tell you if you'd like but it is our opinion that she will be coherent by morning. She probably won't be awake before Argent's forty-eight hours are elapsed though. Of course we can extend the time as long as you want," he said.

"That won't be necessary and it wouldn't be polite. I don't want to make Argent mad, or at least any madder. I'm not seeking any type of ultimate power or negotiating position. I feel confident that with the help of Frank, Phil and you I can carry on as I please but I don't want to rub it into their faces. If Argent returns with a reasonable tone in his voice I'm sure that we'll all be getting along famously within a few minutes."

"Even though we blocked all communications from this planet to the ship we didn't block them the other way and neither did they. They were so shocked that I feel they just didn't think to do it. We know everything that has been going on aboard ship and we know what information was sent back to the ones at their base. We also know what the base sent back. Argent will surely have what you call a reasonable tone," he said.

"Now I am confused. When I sent a message to Argent and got a reply back it took longer than that."

"This qualified as an emergency to Argent and he used a higher priority for the transmission as they did to send back the answer," Ralph explained.

"So as long as I was sending messages to him it wasn't considered an emergency but now that he has problems it is an emergency?" I asked.

"It didn't happen exactly the way you make it sound now. No slight was meant to you. If you remember it was I that sent the message to Argent while he was away and I didn't consider it an emergency. You didn't seem to think it was one at the time or at least I didn't take it that way. Since I didn't use emergency protocol to send it they didn't use it sending the answer," he said.

"I don't guess it really was an emergency after all. What makes it an emergency this time?"

"Telling you that would go directly to explaining the whole purpose of the experiment. I will tell you if you want me to but I still think that it would be counterproductive," he said.

"Was sending Argent back to the ship against his will that big a deal?"

"No, but cutting off their access to the data was a tremendous deal. I wouldn't recommend doing it again unless you find it absolutely necessary and I'm certain that they will not do anything again to make you feel the need. I have searched for a phrase from your original planet that will convey your position to you. You have them by the balls, is the one that fits best I think," he told me.

"If that's the case then I can afford to be magnanimous when he returns."

"You can afford anything," he said.

That was good to know but it made me wonder again what was so special about what I was doing here and for the life of me I couldn't understand it. I wasn't making any exciting discoveries or doing any critical research. Hell my biggest technological advancement here had been picnic tables and Bar-B-Que. I couldn't figure out how that could really impact a civilization that already had access to interstellar and interdimensional travel, not to mention time travel. It didn't make sense, not to me anyway.

I wasn't going to argue though. If they thought they'd be ruined by missing out on watching us pull off a Bar-B-Que and a good kegger then damned if I was going to ruin their whole day over it. All they had to do was furnish the beer and the bathrooms and we were all set as far as I cared.

"Are you sure that they have given up the idea of rearranging my cage?"

"Your cage? I don't understand that. What is your cage?" he asked.

I'd fucked up and let my musings enter into my real life conversation. I'd have to try to blow by it.

"Have they decided not to keep trying to take things back from me or any of us?"

"They have done more than that. The former head of the project and all those that voted with him to make those changes are now unemployed. In my estimation they are lucky not to have ended up in the alien's version of what you would call prison. Argent now has full authority to run this project as he sees fit and everyone involved with the project has been made painfully aware of the risk they run if they cause him any more difficulties," Ralph said.

"So he didn't come out so bad after all?"

"No and he is not unhappy about the developments so far. He has no intention of taking anything away from you," he said.

"When did this happen?"

"He got the news via the emergency communication protocol not more than twenty minutes ago," Ralph told me.

"Why don't we give him a little bonus to show our good faith then?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Do you think it would compromise your ability to monitor their communications if we suddenly restored the data stream to them? Would they know that it was because we already knew that we had won?"

"If they were as calculating as you have turned out to be it might but they aren't. If the data came back up they would be so happy that they wouldn't worry about why it had," he said.

"I guess I don't understand why it seems that I am usually able to out maneuver them. I know that they have resources that I can't even dream of and yet sometimes they do things that make me think they don't even know what's going on down here."

"Part of their original selection criteria is at fault for that. They knew that they needed a very intelligent specimen for this experiment. You may not realize it but you are more intelligent than most of the aliens that are present here, including Argent. You are also vastly more experienced at interpersonal relationships.

"The superiority that you assume they have comes only from their lead in experience as a species. They have been around much longer than your species and collectively they have much more experience. In the current situation this advantage is useless to them, or nearly so. You are not dealing with their total experience; you are dealing with a few individuals.

"Another advantage you have is their attitude. None of them ever considered that you would do anything other than just what they wanted. They mistakenly thought of you as an ignorant savage when compared to them. They meant no disrespect, they just didn't consider that you could develop an agenda of your own and they certainly never thought that you would acquire assets that could block their will. Even with all their technological advantage they are now completely overmatched here. They will stay overmatched because now they are afraid that this whole project could dissolve into nothing if they try to thwart you again. The tail is now wagging the dog, as you might have said on your old home planet," Ralph said.

"I guess I will never understand how that has happened."

"You would understand instantly if you knew the reason for this experiment and if you knew how successful it has become and why it has become successful. The three of us still think that it would be a mistake to tell you but we will if you insist," he said.

"My curiosity is not as great as it once was and I don't think that I need to know that now. I seem to have more control now than I really need and my inclination is to leave things alone as they are. I do not want to damage their experiment and I am grateful to them for choosing me and for saving my life. Are you sure that they will not be suspicious if we restore the data stream?"

"They will be too happy to be suspicious. It will also be a major vote of confidence for Argent, doing him more good than you can imagine," he told me.

"Turn it back on for them then. Don't tell them why and in fact don't tell them anything or answer any questions they might have, don't even respond if they send questions. Let them have the video and audio again and don't mention it otherwise. We'll still wait until tomorrow to let Argent come back and talk about it."

"Very well, it is done," he said.

"Maybe you should make sure that they notice."

"They have already noticed and at the moment they are celebrating and also trying to contact us," he said.

"Just keep quiet until it is time to let Argent come back."

"Very well," he said.

"And thank you."

I left the office then and made myself quit thinking about Argent. Ralph had said we had him in line now and that was good enough for me, for the time being anyway.

Out in my cave all my mates seemed fully engaged in the preparations. I went into the party cave and the smell of hickory-smoked meat assaulted me. I surrendered at once. I had to have a taste of that and I didn't mean tonight. I went to the nearest cooker. Jaada was in command and as luck would have it she was about to open up.

"I can see I'm just in time."

"In time for what, John?" she asked.

"In time for a taste of smoked mammoth."

"I was going to check it to see if I thought it was done yet. I guess you will be the best judge of whether it is cooked right," she said.

"I'm sure that I will, it is my duty to make sure that all went well."

"No doubt it's a duty you are anxious to perform," she said and laughed.

No matter about the laughter though because she opened the foil and cut me off a big slice. It was perfect of course, so tender that it nearly fell apart before I could get it in my mouth and the hickory flavor was just right. I don't think I'd ever had any type of Bar-B-Qued meat that tasted this good. Of course there hadn't been much mammoth available in Texas before I left.

"Well is it good?" Jaada asked.

"It's better than good, it's the best. I've never tasted any meat this good."

"Maybe I should try some too," she said.

"Sure you should, you're the cook after all."

She cut off a piece and took a bite.

"It is good John, I can tell that it is mammoth and it is wonderfully tender. There is another flavor that I haven't tasted before mixed in too though. What is that?" she asked.

"That is the hickory smoke's flavor."

"I can't believe that the smoke made it taste so good. We will have to cook this way often," she said.

"That's the kind of thing I like to hear you say. Now you should cut up a little of the meat you've just cooked and mix it into the beans. It will add the mammoth and the hickory flavor to them too."

She started on this and looked to me for how much meat to add. I took a wild guess knowing that I couldn't go wrong. When she had enough meat cut off I had her cut it into small pieces and then she stirred it into the beans. I told her to just leave them and they would be flavored soon.

She left then and went to the others to spread the news. Before long I could see that all the cooks were having a little taste and shortly they were working on their beans too. My arduous tasks were finished for a time so I went to the kitchen for some beer.

To my surprise I found Failiela and Deimeta minding the kitchen.

"Daddy, what can we get you while we are in charge?" Deimeta asked.

"I thought that I might like a mug of bruga."

"Very well, are you getting an early start for tonight's celebration?" she asked.

"You might call it that but I will probably have only one mug now and one more tonight."

"I know that it's hard on you Daddy, you'll miss out on so much bruga since you have to keep your wits about you tonight," Deimeta said and then burst into a giggling fit while Failiela turned beet red in the face.

"What do you know about my having to keep my wits about me?"

"I know that you will have to help some of the men to their furs and that you will probably have to console their mates while you're at it," she said and giggled more.

"You know more than is good for you, or maybe more than is good for me."

"I know that you have your duties to perform to keep your camp happy," she said and kept a serious look on her face somehow this time.

"That's right, the welfare of all my camp members is always foremost in my mind," I said and also managed to keep a serious look.

"I hope that the responsibilities you have don't weigh too heavily on you. All work and no play make Daddy cross in the morning," she added.

"Well, my vigil during celebrations does have its compensations sometimes."

"No doubt. That's why I'll be staying with Failiela again tonight even though she wants me to watch from my bed and tell her all about it," Deimeta said.

"Deimeta! You don't have to tell him everything you know," Failiela squeaked.

"He knows that you're curious Failiela. I've watched them before and I must be too young still to get very interested. Don't worry though; I'll be sure to be in attendance after you become one of my mommies. Just think, now we are good friends but soon enough you'll be my mommy and probably be bossing me around," Deimeta said, teasing Failiela.

"Count on it," Failiela told her and then laughed herself.

"Poor little Deimeta, she has so many mommies and they are always making her do such dreadful things."

"I know that they have been very kind to me so far but they might boss me, someday," she said.

"Yes and the sun could easily come up green in the morning."

They both laughed this time since they knew very well that there would be no bossing around of Deimeta anytime soon, or ever. The best part of it was there was never any need to scold Deimeta. I couldn't remember her ever doing anything that required it. She did like to tease a little but she never went too far with it and she was always so polite about it. She was a treasure as far as I was concerned and I knew that all my mates felt the same way.

"I hope that no other plots are discovered tonight like at the last celebration," Deimeta said, surprising me.

"I do too, I don't want to have to shoot anyone in the next few days," Failiela said.

"I do three, I don't want anyone trying to kill me in the next few days either."

"Maybe we should try to think of something else to talk about, I wish I hadn't have brought that up," Deimeta said.

"It doesn't hurt to remember that things can go wrong when you aren't expecting them too but there is no point in dwelling on it. Have either of you tasted the Bar-B-Que yet?"

"Yes, mommy Shelalliea brought us some and it is wonderful. I could hardly believe that you thought it up Daddy. Men aren't supposed to know how to cook," she said.

"I know a lot of things I'm not supposed to know and a lot of them are fun aren't they?"

"If you're talking about the rocking horse or the mammoths or the little sleighs then you're right. They are all fun. I am so happy to have Darta and the sleigh and we've had a lot of fun with the rocking horse too," Deimeta said.

"I just love Kackto and his sleigh too. It was so much fun when we all gave everyone a show the other day. I can hardly believe the way Kackto tries to do what I want him to," Failiela said.

"Maybe I should try to think up something else that would be fun."

"Please do Daddy, there is still a lot of winter left and we can't play with the mammoths every day," Deimeta said.

"I'll do my best then. I don't want you and Failiela to get bored."

"It isn't just Failiela and me, there are a lot of others here that don't have very much to do in the caves and most of them don't even have a mammoth to play with," Deimeta said.

She was right of course and I hadn't even thought about all the other children. No doubt that they would be wanting something to do to occupy their time and I'm sure that their mothers at least would appreciate something to take some of the load of entertaining them. Funny that in my old life this had been something that I hadn't had to deal with but in this one I really should make some provisions for it. I'd have to ask Ralph if he could come up with some playground equipment.

Our conversation had died while I was thinking of monkey-bars and teeter-totters; Failiela and Deimeta were once again about the business of being in charge of the kitchen while I was left with my mug of beer for company. I remembered what Raalto had said about waiting around while the celebration was being arranged and I wondered how I would pass the time until it began.

I didn't want to go back into my office and shut myself away with Ralph again. I was afraid of myself; afraid that with nothing to do but sit I would give in to the temptation of asking him to explain things I knew that he knew. It had finally sunk in that if I got all my answers from Ralph or Argent or any of them, I would be doing myself no favors.

I could probably think of millions of ways I could have used that kind of power in my old life but here and now it would be a dead end street into a cul-de-sac of perpetual boredom. Sure it could make me the king of earth but I was already there. I didn't have a big army but I had more of one than I needed to impose my will on any group I could reach.

If I were further on up the time line I would need more troops but in this time I was at least thirty-eight thousand years removed from serious opposition. I probably couldn't find a group of fifty men to conquer if I wanted to and I had nearly a hundred here, let alone the fact that I had firearms. If it weren't for me, Jadatako and the spearcasters had been set to takeover all he could encounter and I'd been able to snuff him out in a few seconds.

If I were in my home time I could use Ralph, Frank and Phil to eliminate terrorist, or torture spammers or right any wrong I could think of. Here, where the population was so small and most crimes hadn't even been considered yet, I could do it by hand and still take the afternoon off.

I would seek information from Ralph if I really thought it was necessary but if I didn't watch myself I'd end up with nothing to see and nothing to do; nothing to find out for myself. That would be a good way to ruin the real gift that Argent had given me; a chance to live a long and uncomplicated life with the opportunity to be outside doing something instead of inside watching the world go by on television. Here I didn't need to watch an imaginary world with pretend action go by on an electric box. I could go outside, saddle a horse and meet a real world on my terms. All in all it beat the hell out of Longview Texas even if there was no Reo Palm Isle here.

I finished my beer and got up from the table, heading into the party cave again. When I was there I watched the women working here and there and generally in a rush with the preparations. The smell of the hickory-smoked meat was everywhere and it made my mouth water. I looked into some of the bean pots and could see a bubble of steam rise up from them every now and then.

I saw that sometime during the day Ralph or Frank or Phil or maybe all of them had lined up a row of beer kegs in the ice filled barrels along the back wall. Soon there would be a steady stream of men heading toward them to fill their mugs and then their stomachs until they were so drunk they fell down and had to be helped to bed.

That would leave scores of women, who weren't so drunk, for the sober men to comfort. Suited me fine and I was going to comfort as many as I could. One of the best parts of the celebrations was wondering ahead of time which men would be drunk and which women would need comforting. It would also give me another chance to wonder if I was getting some more members of the next generation started.

Maybe I should talk to Ralph after all and ask for a few more candidates to be put into operation tonight. No need for that though. It seemed plain to me that I was getting plenty of action on that score already and if I didn't know which ones were ready I could pretend that anyone I was with was. It never hurt my feelings to think that I was well and truly spreading my seed. I guess that was a man thing for real.

When it came down to it, old Johnny boy had fallen into a bucket of cancer and come out smelling like a whole trainload of roses. If Argent had any idea of changing things now he was in for more shocks. Now that I'd taken a little time to count my blessings it would be a fight to the death to get me away from them. In fact, now would be a good time to walk around, look at what was going on and pat a few of my blessings on their cute asses, just to help their morale of course.