DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. If you are offended by 
sexually explicit material or are under the age of 18, stop reading 
now. This material cannot be reproduced for commercial purposes 
without the consent of the author.


John Carter
By
Lazlo Zalezac
Copyright (C) Lazlo Zalezac, 2003


Part 3: Robes of Acumen
Chapter 18

The wedding ceremony was a quiet affair, attended by the parents 
of the new bride and groom. Linda and Leroy glowed with 
happiness. Linda looked gorgeous in her white robe, the white 
contrasting nicely with her dark skin. Leroy looked handsome, but 
felt a little uncomfortable wearing a white robe as it raised 
thoughts of racists organizations. Ling wore a white robe and 
shifted nervously, as this was her first time through the ceremony 
as well. John wore his brown robe and looked impressive with his 
cloak and walking stick. His white hair and beard helped give him 
a mystical look. Ed wore his black robe and still looked like a 
cowboy wearing a black robe. Kelly wore her green robe; which 
hid the fact that she was eight months pregnant.

Beth's parents came to act as representatives of the parents of the 
existing family members. For them, this was a bittersweet moment. 
It was nice to be included in the ceremony, but it reminded them 
that the last time it was their daughter getting married. It also 
reminded them how seriously the family took their relationships 
with the parents of the individual members. They had been taken 
into the family fold without a single question being raised. 

The ceremony was performed by Mary Darling. The ceremony was 
the same as the first wedding and had been performed on the 
anniversary of the original wedding. The blood of the new 
members was added to the wine that had been used at the original 
ceremony. Like before, observers swore they saw the Gods and 
Goddesses attending the ceremony. The Native Americans swore 
they could see the animal spirits around John and Linda. This, 
more than the obvious happiness of Linda, convinced them that 
this marriage was a good thing. 

A large buffet dinner was served in the formal dining room. The 
spread of food was quite impressive. There was venison, duck, elk, 
fish, beef, chicken, quail, and pork. As side dishes, there were 
pinto beans, green beans, steamed carrots, baked potatoes, mashed 
potatoes, greens, potatoes au gratin, rice, white asparagus, salad, 
Brussel sprouts, peas, and cauliflower. Absent were thick french-
fries and broccoli, both of which had been banned by a unanimous 
decision by John, Ed, and Leroy.  Of course, Marguerite had given 
all three of them plates with thick french-fries and broccoli. 

There were more people than places around the table so the party 
spread out to encompass both the living room and dining room. 
People tended to sit in one place for a while and then move to 
another place to talk to other people. There was a continual 
movement of people around the front of the house.

Linda's family was quite impressed by the prominent place that the 
tribal gift had in the living room. It was mounted in a glass case to 
protect it from dust with lights shining upon it to make it stand out. 
Below it was a brass plaque stating the honor shown the family by 
the gift. Each member of her family took the time to look at the 
gift and the care with which its presentation was made.

John sat down next to Leroy's parents, Leroy Sr. and Cleo. Leroy 
Sr. asked, "So what is this group marriage thing about? Are you 
some sort of cult?"

John shook his head, "Well, this group marriage thing is about 
love. It's a group of people helping each other. We work so that 
each of us can become the best person that they can be. Ed got his 
doctorate in this marriage. Linda is working at being an author. 
Kelly is the best triage nurse in the country. Ling is a highly 
recognized expert in security. I am a physicist."

"We're not a cult. Ed, Kelly, and I are Druids. We serve the Gods 
and Goddesses. Although I am the Grand Druid, we do not ask that 
anyone believe along with us. Leroy can continue to be a Southern 
Baptist. Ling is still a Buddhist. Linda will continue to follow the 
beliefs of her tribe," John added. He could see the disbelief on 
Leroy Sr.'s face. Leroy had warned him that his father was a very 
devote Southern Baptist and served as a deacon in the church.  

"So you're head of this so-called religion?"

 "Yes, I am. We serve the good."

"Do you really expect me to believe you?"

John smiled, "No. You don't have to believe me. All that I ask is 
that you respect my belief as much as I respect yours."

Cleo asked, "So what do you think of our religion?"

John looked at her carefully, "I think it is a good religion. It helps 
many people live good and honest lives. It provides a set of 
guidelines that value love and good treatment of people. Your God 
works miracles to help true believers."

Leroy Sr. asked, "If you feel that way, why aren't you a Christian?"

"I have met my Gods and Goddesses. They have commanded me 
to serve in a different way."

Leroy Sr., convinced now more than ever that John was some kind 
of Satanist, asked, "You met your Gods and Goddesses?"

John was getting tired of this line of questioning. He knew that no 
amount of words would convince the man that his religion served 
the good. He pulled out his medallion and held it out. "Touch the 
medallion."

Leroy Sr. reached out and, with a skeptical look at John touched 
the medallion. Immediately he found himself in a meadow. The air 
was clean, the grass soft underfoot, and the birds called to one 
another. He found himself staring at a beautiful naked woman. She 
was black and proudly African. He couldn't help getting an 
erection. She stared at him for several minutes. Her voice sounded 
like wind rustling through trees. "You have a question?"

"John Carter never said you were black."

The woman laughed. She changed into the white woman that John 
had seen. "This is how John Carter sees me."

"Are you a demon?"

"Deacon Jones, I doubt that a demon would give you a message 
from your God." The woman's laughter tinkled like water in a 
tumbling brook. "The Son of your God calls to you. He wants you 
in the church with a red door and a white cross on the steeple in 
Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico at sunrise on Easter 
Morning."

Leroy Sr. found himself staring at John. His trembling hand had 
dropped away from the medallion. He knew that he would be in 
the church at the appointed time. No demon would send him to a 
holy building on the most holy of mornings. He stared at John, 
"How?"

John shrugged as he answered, "I have no idea what you 
experienced."

John stood up and left the room. Leroy Sr. was strangely quiet. His 
wife looked at him concerned for his state of mind. He whispered 
something to her and she looked at him in shock. 

John headed back into the dining room. He found William Redman 
standing in the doorway to the kitchen, watching Marguerite learn 
how to make flat bread from his wife. He was smiling at the 
intense concentration the woman gave learning how to cook this 
staple of life. William turned to John, "Your cook makes a good 
venison dish. My wife went in to find out how she prepared the 
venison. Now she is teaching your cook how to make Indian Flat 
Bread."

"Marguerite cooks with a passion. She will take any opportunity to 
learn how to prepare a new dish." 

William watched the activity. "You have a strange group of people 
here, John Carter. Sometimes I don't know what to make of you." 

"Only sometimes?"

"Okay, most of the time." William laughed. "Where does such 
intensity come from?"

"It's simple really. Everyone in this house strives for excellence in 
everything that we do."

"That is hard to do."

"No, it is simple. Striving for perfection is impossible, even if it is 
perfection in one thing."

William nodded at that and understood the wisdom behind it. It fit 
in with a common belief among his people. "The women always 
leave a flaw in their weaving so the spider woman can get out. 
Their products are never perfect, but they are always excellent."

"I have noticed that you are deliberate in everything that you do."

William retorted, "That's my old age. You have to take care how 
you even walk or else you fall and break a hip. You watch what 
you say because you don't have the breath to explain it twice."

John noticed Ed and Leroy enter the dining room and waved them 
over. He pointed to the clock and they nodded their heads. John 
held up both hands with two fingers raised. They understood his 
gesture. They went to the beverage table and prepared two large 
glasses of iced tea each. John asked, "Would you join us upstairs?"

William shrugged and followed John up the stairs. He grinned 
when he saw that John had led him to roof and four chairs. John 
motioned to him to sit down. Both men sat down in the chairs. Ed 
and Leroy came up with the iced teas. Ed handed his extra to John 
while Leroy handed his extra to William. The two men sat down in 
the remaining two chairs. 

William nodded as he watched the sun set in the west. He, like the 
others, sipped his iced tea while watching the sun disappear 
beneath the horizon. The colors were gorgeous. The men watched 
quietly, enjoying the spectacle nature provided every evening. 
They didn't even have to buy tickets to see it.

When the colors faded and night fell, William took a final sip of 
his iced tea. The ice made a nice rattling sound in the empty glass. 
He turned to the others. "You do this often?"

"Every night that we are here," replied Ed. "We use this time to 
appreciate nature and to strengthen the bonds among us."

John looked slightly pained as he looked at William. He did not 
want to impose on the old man, but he felt that he had no choice. 
He stated, "William. I have a favor to ask of you."

William was surprised, John had never asked anything of him or 
the tribe despite all that he had done for them. He looked at John, 
"What is it that you want?"

"I would like it if our children can spend a year on the reservation 
with your family to learn your values."

"Why do you ask before they are of age to come?" asked William. 
The timing of the request was strange. Their first child had not 
been born yet.

John was silent for a long time. Ed and Leroy wondered if John 
had actually not heard the question. John sighed, "Because I won't 
be here to ask and this will be my last chance to ask you."

Leroy and Ed stared at John as his words sunk in. Ed could tell that 
John was speaking the truth, as he knew it. He sat back and 
wondered why John believed that he wouldn't be around in ten 
years. He could understand why John might believe that William 
would not be around at that time. William was close to a hundred 
years old. John was only in his early forties and had another forty 
years that he could expect to live.

Leroy, uncomfortable in the silence that had descended upon the 
group, was the first to speak. "Why do you say that?"

"My work is almost done," replied John. His delivery of that 
statement was flat and unemotional. There was no arguing with 
him about that point.

Ed stated, "Even if your work is done, that doesn't mean that you 
will die."

Laughing, John replied, "Nature doesn't keep useless things 
around."

Leroy stated, "Your work may change once again."

William had not listened to the rest of the conversation. He was 
trying to work out an answer. He nodded, "I shall ask my 
grandson, Robert White Feather, if he will take in your children."

"Thank you, William." John looked at the old man. "I am sorry that 
I had to ask you to do this. I know that Leroy will teach the 
children to appreciate nature and that Ed will teach them to be 
honest. Kelly shall teach them empathy. Ling shall teach them how 
to defend themselves. Linda will teach them how to take pleasure 
in life. I know that your family can teach them respect and 
deliberation."

"You honor me with such a request. To entrust your future 
generation to the care of my family is a sign of respect that I have 
never seen matched."

"Thank you, William." John looked at Ed and John. He took a deep 
breath and then stated, "Let us return to the party downstairs."

Everyone went down stairs with the exception of John, who hung 
back for a moment. He looked out over the desert and sighed. He 
told the desert, "The college opens in a year. The first class shall 
graduate in seven. I hope you see fit for me to live to then."

John returned downstairs. Kelly came up to John, "Are you okay?"

"Yes I am, my beloved." John looked at Kelly with a smile on his 
face. He smiled, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"No you haven't."

"Okay, remind me that I owe you a couple hundred I love you's." 

Kelly playfully kicked him in the shin. "Is that how you want me 
to remind you?"

"I love you." John walked around for a few steps as though lame.

Kelly hugged him tightly. There were times when she felt as if she 
looked like an elephant. Every time she felt that way, John would 
come along and say exactly the right thing. She nuzzled his neck, 
"I love you too."

John whispered in her ear, "I wish we were in the back of the 
house. I love looking at your pregnant body."

She smiled despite how much she hated how she looked. She 
stated, "You just like looking at my huge tits."

"I love looking at the miracle."

Kelly hugged John tightly. She knew that he really did love 
looking at her and took every opportunity to watch her. He wasn't 
the only one. Ed was always touching her bulging belly feeling the 
life inside. Even Leroy took every opportunity to rub her feet and 
back that he could. Ling and Linda were doing everything to 
prepare a wonderful nursery and clothes for the baby. She felt 
sorry for women that didn't have such loving support in this critical 
time. "You're great. I'd better go beg for some more attention from 
Ed and Leroy."

John laughed and patted her on the rear as she turned to leave. "Go 
right ahead."

Ling came over to John. She cuddled up against him, "She's 
glowing. You must have said the right thing to her."

John whispered in her ear, "I love you."

Ling laughed, "You definitely said the right thing to me."

"She had to remind me to say it to her."

Ling playfully kicked his shin. She knew that Kelly hadn't had to 
remind him of anything, but went along with him. She stated, "You 
cad!"

"All the women in my life are kicking me today," moaned John. 
He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "You're next."

"Next for what?"

"To have a baby. This house needs some pitter pat of happy feet."

Tears came to Ling's eyes. She grabbed his arm, "Are you 
serious?"

"Yes, I am." John and Ed had talked about it for a long time. They 
both knew that Ling wanted a child and Ed was ready to father 
child. He smiled down at her, "I know Ed would love to have a 
child with you. I think you want Ed as the father too." 

Ling hugged his arm tightly as she cried, "I was so afraid that you 
wouldn't understand. I know that I got into the family because of 
my love for you, but I've grown so close to Ed over the past few 
years."

"I'm very happy for you. I know you've wanted this for a long 
time."

Ling stepped back, "you have no idea how much I love you and the 
rest of the family. Sometimes I can't put what I feel into words."

"You have no idea how much we love you. Now go bother Ed."

Ling skipped away happily humming to herself. "I'm gonna have a 
baby."

John watched Ling move through the crowd. She positively 
glowed. He knew that she was ready to start working on a baby 
right away. It would be a month or two before she could conceive. 
Ed would be having a lot of fun until then. 

Mrs. Hayes moved gracefully through the crowd of people. She 
came to John, "I want to thank you for taking such good care of us. 
My husband was going to retire, but we had no plans on what to 
do. Running a simple clinic every morning is perfect for him."

"It was my pleasure. Remember, you are our in-laws and, as such, 
our family will watch over you." John sounded a little sad as he 
said this.

"You miss Beth, don't you?"

"Very much." John's eyes misted as he thought about Betsy and 
Beth. He still missed both of them very much. He missed Mrs. 
South and, even, missed the cats.

Dr. Hayes came over on his crutches. His leg had healed, but the 
muscles were still weak. At his age, the significant damage that 
had been done to his leg took time to heal. He announced his 
presence, "Hello, John."

"Hello, Dr. Hayes."

"Call me Doc. Everyone else in this town does that."

John laughed. "How's that make you feel?"

"Honestly? It makes me feel wanted."

"What do you mean?"

Dr. Hayes smiled, "I worked late yesterday and drove the golf cart 
home. On my way, I passed the baseball field by the school. A 
little league game was being played. Well, I stopped and watched. 
I realized that I had seen half of the kids on the field. I even treated 
some of the parents that were there. It dawned on me at that 
moment, that I knew my patients. Before, I never saw one of my 
patients outside the office."

"So you've become part of the community?"

"Oh, yes. Everyone in town knows me by name. They know what I 
like to eat at the café. Folks ask my advice about things that aren't 
even medical. It's amazing and I've never been happier."

John added, "A lot of big city doctors don't realize how much 
respect a doctor can get in a small town. I would think it would be 
harder to get doctors in the city than in the country."

"Money. It comes down to money. It costs so much to become a 
doctor that it takes a big city practice to pay it back."

"Maybe that will change in time."

Dr Hayes smiled as he replied, "You know. I've been talking to 
some of my colleagues about my life here. I'm sure that many of 
them will choose the same kind of retirement."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"I want to thank you for taking us in. I really appreciate some of 
the changes that have taken place in me and my wife."

Mrs. Hayes laughed. "Yeah. He loves the fact that I am naked 
around the house all of the time now." 

"That too."

"Oh yeah. You like the fact that I go down on you, take it in the 
ass, and fuck you with the sex toys."

Dr. Hayes blushed and said, "I wouldn't have put it so explicitly, 
but yes I love that too. Actually, I love the communication that 
exists between us now."

John nodded his understanding. He concurred, "Yes, that is the 
most important thing that can exist between people."

"I always questioned what Beth saw in you when she married you. 
Now I realize it was my lucky day when she met you. Ed is an 
incredible human being. Kelly is wonderful. Ling is a dear. I like 
your new husband and wife. Leroy took great care of my wife and 
me. Linda is a charming woman that never failed to cheer me up."

"I'm rather fond of my spouses, too."

"Well, I want to thank you for everything you've done for us." Dr. 
Hayes was truly sincere. He really appreciated the changes in his 
life. His sex life with his wife had become so much better than 
ever. He had relaxed and he came to appreciate life much more. He 
had become a community leader.

John watched the elderly couple as they walked over to Leroy's 
parents. He hoped that perhaps they would have some luck 
convincing them that this marriage was a good thing for their son. 
He knew it would take some time for them to come to grips with 
their son's situation. His thoughts were interrupted by Linda's 
arrival. "Hey John. You have to try Marguerites first attempt at flat 
bread. It's great!"

John turned to face her only to have her put a warm piece of bread 
in his hands. He took a bite from it and made appreciative noises. 
After swallowing he exclaimed, "That's pretty good! Almost as 
good as your grandmother makes."

Linda smiled and said, "Well, it'll be nice to have a taste of home 
here."

John laughed at that. He teased, "You sound like you're being 
added to harem where you'll never get to see anyone."

"I'm not?" Linda teased. "I thought that I was."

"You can visit your parents and grandparents any time you want." 
He added, "So long as you get our permission and never leave the 
house for more than five minutes."

Putting the back of her hand to her forehead, she wailed, "Oh woe 
is me. I had no idea what I was getting into."

They looked at each other for a minute and then burst out laughing. 
John leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I love you."

She wrapped herself around his arm. "I love you."

"So how do you feel being married to five people?"

"Strange. I waited until now to find someone worthy of marrying. I 
find it hard to believe that I found five people. It really blows my 
mind that two of them are women. I've never been attracted to 
women."

John laughed aloud. "I know what you mean. You should have 
seen Ed and I dancing around the subject."

"Well, it wasn't that tough for me. I had done it before I even knew 
I was doing it. Going to bed with a man was much more difficult. I 
was so scared of doing it wrong."

John said, "I'm very honored that you choose me as your first. You 
did everything perfect."

"I'm still learning how to give head. In fact, I feel a real strong 
need to practice right now."

Her words denied her expertise. She had become the best at giving 
head that he had ever encountered. It was clear that she actually 
loved it. She could deep throat him with ease. She always 
swallowed and hated to see cum wasted. John shook his head. 
"Learning? You're already the best!"

"I strive for excellence," replied Linda with a wink. Her sexuality 
had surprised her. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed it. 
She had reacted so positively to Kelly's administrations the first 
time. Her first time with a man had been heavenly; John had been 
tender and loving. She had no idea how many times she had come 
that evening, but it was clearly a lot. 

"Well, you've achieved it!"

"Thanks, am I going to be able to get you out of here for ten 
minutes?"

"No, everyone already thinks that you are all my own personal 
harem. I better talk to Ling for a minute and then I'll visit with your 
brother."

Linda looked at John out of the corner of her eye. She loved to 
tease him about how he was perceived. "We aren't your personal 
harem?"

"Of course, haven't you noticed that I keep everyone naked and on 
there knees when I enter a room. I just don't want everyone else to 
know it."

She laughed and went off in search of Ed. John watched her walk 
off. She had changed a lot from the woman that had told him off in 
the restaurant. He wondered when she had changed her mind. He 
went off in search of Robert White Feather, finding him at the 
buffet loading up a plate with duck, beans, and flat bread. He 
picked up a plate and loaded it with venison, rice, beans, and flat 
bread. He joined Robert at the table. Robert greeted him with, "So 
you've tamed the shrew?"

"Pardon?"

"There wasn't a brave left on the reservation that would dare ask 
my sister for a date. I never thought she'd meet someone that could 
live up to her expectations. I had even begun to consider that she 
might be a lesbian. You are a miracle worker."

Shrugging his shoulders, John replied, "I don't know about that. 
I've always found her to be confident and easy going."

"Confident, I would agree with, but easy going is a mighty 
stretch."

"You're her brother and probably got an unfair dose of sibling 
rivalry."

Robert laughed as he countered, "I know at least three men that are 
happy to have both hands after they tried to pat her on the ass in 
the café she used to work in. She went after one of them with a 
knife."

Laughing, John shook his head trying to imagine Linda doing that. 
"I guess I'll find out in time. So how do you like being a 
reservation cop?"

Robert shook his head, "The biggest problem we face is 
alcoholism. We've seen some decrease lately as people start to take 
a little more pride in themselves and their history. I hope that trend 
continues, but we still see a lot of alcohol related spouse abuse and 
major traffic accidents."

"If you can come up with some solution that will scale across all of 
the tribes, let me know and I'll fund it."

Robert shook his head, "I'm not sure that I'm the one to talk to 
about that. I'm busy picking up the pieces."

"Well, if you come across someone that is being successful let 
them know about my offer."

Robert looked at John. There were times he couldn't believe that 
John was real. He had to ask, "Why are you doing this for us?"

"Hey, I want to make this a better world for my children. I'd rather 
do that by solving the world's problems than leave them rich 
enough that they don't have to interact with the world."

"Well, you better get busy having kids. With three women here, I'd 
expect you guys to have twenty or more kids."

John laughed, "I don't think so. Linda wants a couple of kids and 
so does Ling.  Kelly is happy to have one. She didn't think it was 
possible, given her age."

"Well, I think it is a good thing for you to have lots of kids."

"It's not up to me. The women are the ones who are really in 
control of that. We will do our part quite willingly, but they have 
the final say. We all put it off for a while because we weren't sure 
if the marriage would work."

"Smart. The worst thing people can do is rush into having children. 
You need to have very strong relations with your spouse before 
taking on that responsibility. If you don't start strong, it is very 
tough to strengthen it after you have children."


