Chapter 9 thoughts of old

Chapter 9

thoughts of old

Tim turned his head away looking toward the campfire. An expression of pain was running through his face. Jen looked trying to understand what the problem was. Jen looked in the direction that Tim was looking then turned back. Jen watched Tim as he sat not moving not talking sitting in silence. Tim clearly ether does not want to talk about it or is waiting for me. It’s not time yet thought Jen Embarrassed Jen spoke up trying to change the subject. Trying to break the silence Jen stabbed out with some thing anything to change the mood.

“Tim so…how can I build a laser saber? I’m not familiar with it, so I find it fascinating.” Tim sat as still as stone still looking toward the fire still in silence.

Jen wondered if he had broken Tim. “Um…Tim you ok…you still there…Tim.” Jen touched him on the shoulder. Tim was startled. “What’s going on what you say again?” Tim did his winning smile. “I said I fined laser swords fascinating.” “Oh yes right fascinating.” Tim looked glad for the change of subject and relaxed. “That all?”

Tim looked at Jen with one eyebrow up and a half smile. “I’m also interested in learning how to fight with a laser sword if that’s what you mean.” Tim smiled then removed his laser saber from his belt. “You know about laser swords there isn’t much for me to tell you that isn’t in basic level electronics.” He started to field strip it in to its parts laying it out on his folded trench coat. “I’ll go over the parts with you” Pointing to them as he spoke. “First we have the emitter basically speaks for its self it emits the 10,000mW Laser beam, then we have a force field capacitor, a focus crystal is basically an energy refinery.” Jen spoke up “So the crystal it’s a lot like those security fields that are in some places were the gun powder doesn’t expand inside the copper shell, I think they call that a negative zero energy field. “Then you know vanas lwa.” Enough to see where this is going gust about.” said Jen. “I won’t need to cover that--good.” Tim looked down “Ok where was I…The battery pack, and the on off switch. “With your background building it won’t be hard either.” Tim reassembled his saber and hung it on his belt. I’m sure you can build one if you want one.” Tim smiled.

And collected his tools and put his mechanical hand in the crook of his arm, he started to walk to a trailer. Jen grabbed Tim’s trench and ran behind him. “Tim you’re forgetting this.” Tim turned and looked down at the trench. “No use it if you get cold.” then Tim entered the trailer... Jen just went back by the fire and lay down on his back. He looked up into the stars seeing the constellations as he drifted off to sleep.

Jen awoke early in the morning, the camp was being packed up and tents were being broken down. The camp fire was out; Jen sat up right and looked around, Jack and Tim ware sitting Indian style on the ground a few yards away. They were talking with some one on the other side of a holoprojector. Jack seemed to have a built in holoprojector in the palm of the suit. The rest of the men, women and children ware packing things up. Jen got up and started walking over to Tim. Tim looked up and spotted Jen. Then Tim spoke to Jack. Jen could not hear what they said. Jack continued to have a conversation with the one on the other end.

As Tim got up and walked over to Jen. “Good morning Jen how did you sleep?” “Fine.” Jen said groggily “still waking up though.” Tim smiled. “Good if you need anything just ask and I’ll try to help.” “There is one thing.” Said Jen “Tim is there by any chance a stream around here, I need to at least clean up a little, I fear that if I go on like this I may become a little ripe.” “I understand.” Said Tim. “Follow me theirs an area over in the woods.” Tim started walking away “come-on I’ll show you where you can clean up.” Jen got a small black toiletry bag out of the saddlebag of his speed bike and followed Tim.

He followed through the woods along an old animal path. By and by they came to a small stream. Jen knelt down to clean up. But Tim said “Jen you won’t be able to get as clean there follow me there‘s a better place.”

Jen stood up he then caught up with Tim. They traversed the stream to where it cascaded over a cliff down rock face into a ravine. “Down there you’ll find everything you’ll need.” Tim said pointing down the rock face. Jen leaned over. “O.K. how do I get down?” Jen looked at Tim “What do I do jump down?” Tim smiled and chuckled. “No.” “Then what?” said Jen .Tim then walked over to a tree and pushed on a knot in the wood to reveal a hidden compartment. Tim removed a rope ladder then threw it over the cliff and climbed down. It was twenty to thirty feet down to the ground. There was a pool of water perfect depth for bathing at the bottom. The water came from the stream above like a shower. Jen looked up it would be for I’ll practical purposes impossible to come down without the ladder. At the end of the ravine was a small cave.

By the entrance was a folded up pile of cloths. “It looks like some one else is down here.” Said Tim. Jen looked at the pile of cloths. “How in the verse did this person get down there’s no way anybody could survive landing On to the gagged rocks down here.” “That’s easy someone came along to poll the ladder back up.” Said Tim. “but any way theirs a lot of places in that cave, go back maybe you’ll see some one else you know.” Tim climbed up the latter and was poling it up. Jen Yelled up. “Hay how do I get back up?” Tim chuckled and yelled down. “Climb, if you need help ask whoever’s in there for some.” Tim poled up the ladder the rest of the way.

Jen turned to enter in to the cave following it down to the chamber. It had a small ultrasonic washer and dryer and a clothing press for washing clothes. There were a few smaller chambers along the wall as well. Jen went in to a smaller chamber along the wall to undress. Folding his clothes in to a pile. He heard the sound of footsteps running up out the tunnel. Jen took out a set of cloths out setting them on a shelf. Then he went out the chamber to the cave. He set his dirty close on a table for later. He went out for a shower. He saw someone beneath the waterfall bathing. He cold not see who it was rocks were in the way. He walked around and stopped. He saw her. He had seen the female form before Jen had no real modesty taboo. But still she was gorgeous. You know how brains have a tendency to go to autopilot with out you wonting it to. It did that now, the first instinct is to stare, so what cold I do she was a reel women not a poster girl, you know the body, there bodies ware merely hangers for clothes. The only other purpose was for caring around there heads, she was short and what is called curvaceous or voluptuous his eyes went from the one delicious head of curling hair to another, Jen was embarrassed but. Sadly Emotions have there own morals but they definitely have a point of view. He had a wish to throttle his brain to make it step in. never the les his hand full of dark feathers went from fright wig to feather duster. The next thing that happens is to have you speak but your brain wont let you. So it comes out as a jumble of sounds.

This startled the women she grabbed a crescent shaped folding knife from a cubbyhole in the rock. And world to face the intruder ready to fight. She examined him quickly then recognized him. She waved Hi and retuned the knife to the cubbyhole then went back to bathing. Feeling espoused and troubled by his own reaction. He averted his eyes. After a minute she turned back to Jen. “what’s wrong kido theirs plenty of space for all.” she said with a smile “um…yes but….um…you’re a girl.” She looked down. “Well look at that I guess I am a girl, your point?” “But you’re a girl.”

“Yup I’m still a girl.” But. …You’re ….a …girl.” “Well yes we’ve been over that.” this Time a hint of impatience and annoyance

In her voice. Still averting his eyes. “I not used to...” said Jen a look of understanding swiped the woman’s face “oh I know what you mean, so of I was male there wouldn’t be a problem right?” “Om …yes.” Jen supplied not understanding. She went back to bathing again. “Then.” She smiled “think of it this way, what the difference between bodies of a male is and the body of a female, we have the same bodies mostly. Between male and female, some are closer than others, the problem its only minuet really, I’m not ashamed and I don’t think you should be ether; it’s a waste of Time and energy. But if it helps you.” She smiled at Jen obviously finding this funny. “You can think of me as a man. A curvaceous gorges man.” she stepped out from under the waterfall tying her hair back in to a ponytail. With a hair tie she had around her wrist. She walked up to him she stud in front of him. “Com on look up.” she said Jen still diverted his eyes. “Don’t make me do something drastic here HonJen.” Jen slowly looked up at her he truly recognizing her. It was Lisa the other dancer from last night? “Now inset that better?” she smiled. She walked by a shiver ran up his spine as she walked past him in to the cave his body stiffened even more if possible. Just before she entered the cave she paused to yield back over her shoulder. “By the way thanks for the STIFF clamant there.”

Jen felt enberist and slightly dirty. Jen walked in to the waterfall. The water was cool and helped him with his problem, Jen washed up then went in to the cave. Happily Lisa wasn’t there. He put his clothes thru the ultrasound washer. He added some vinegar in lieu of detergent. He had to use a hand crank to build up the electricity to run the Ultra sound Washer and dryer. He dried them part way in the clothing press then the rest of the way in the ultrasound dryer. While the dryer was doing its thing he shaved. It had been a week since he had saved his blond hair was beginning to make him look like a peach. Jen lathered himself with shaving soup then began to use a strait edge. Jen dress in the fresh set he had left out earlier

When he was dun he kerfaly peek then dressed in his now dry clothes. After shaving Jen returned to the main cave were He fawned Lisa buffing her feet with a sandpaper stick and applying moisturizer with the seriousness only a dancer or acrobat could do. Jen packed his cloths in his bag when Jen was done Lisa was also about finished.

Jen followed Lisa to the rock face, she practically walked up the rock face like a fly on a wall, Jen followed with difficulty slipping and almost falling off completely multiple Times, Lisa got to the top. Jen worked harder to get up. “Lisa a little help pleas.” a moment later the rope ladder came down, Jen gratefully got it Jen clamed up the ladder to the edge of the cliff. Up on to flat ground. Jen got up. “thanks Lisa I would have been stuck down there thanks.” Said Jen. “You’re welcome, Jen.” Jen walked beside Lisa back to camp. They talked allowing the way.

Back at camp every thing was cleaned up. All the tents war broke dawn. Most of the trailers wore gone from the site. Lisa went over to a trailer and drove away. Jen put his things back in the trunk of his speeder. Tim walked up to Jen. “Jen what do you think?” “About what?” “About joining.” “I think there a fine bunch.” Said Jen. “Then would you like to go with.” “ I wouldn’t mind being out of the retch on the empire, I would be unhappy if I cold not.” Tim smiled “for all protocol proposes welcome to the gang. Hitch the speeder on to the back of the trailer and weal be off.” they tied it to the back with rope. Jen sat in the passenger seat. Tim went to the driving seat. He started the Tyler and drove to the mane rode.

“So what’s the designation Tim?” “That’s for me to know and you to fine out.” Said Tim “O.K. then what’s the job.”? “It’s a smuggling job.” Tim turned on to the mane road. “What are you smuggling. Jen you’re going too laughed.” “No I won’t.” said Jen. “Yes you will.” “Lets not play the yes no qwegen com on try me.” “Ok turkey semen.” Tim waited for Jen so say something. Jen shrugged his shudders and said “ho-hum and what’s new.” as he stifled a smile. “Ok then mister mowrth, turkey semen on this trip, and we have to install the semen.” Jen laughed. "Oh. Boy!" Tim shuddered "I am not doing it. Said Tim. I'm going to fide some bulk heads to polish instead.” Said Tim “Jen bit his lip and shook his head “well wherever you’re going I’m coming to.” Tim took in a deep breath and shaped his face in to complement “you know you do have soft hands.” “NO I don’t won’t to know a turkey that we’ll no way!”

Enough turkey talk lets go on to some thing less

“So what would you be doing right now if the empire had never come to be, What if the empire had never came then what would you be doing Tim?” Tim glanced over at Jen “that’s not reI’lly I’ll that hard would probably take an inter alternative book to tell but, I would be… well Jen I’d be doing the exact same thing that I’m doing now, it’s like the food industry everybody’s got to have food sometime. Or take the housing industry “There are not gust big emperors but small ones as well Tim paused, I can’t remember the name of the organization.” “Maybe I can help.” said Jen “describe the place.” “You know when you live in a group of homes and theirs very strike rules you have to fI’llow. Or of the organization can get you thrown out of your house. Say if the grass an inch high instead of two thuds. Or you’re supposed to have daffodils not roses in the flowerbed. Or you won’t to build a wheel char ramp to your house or whatever.” “Oh you mean a home owners association.” “Yes that’s the one.” Said Tim

“I give en alternate.” “You would be the free community.” “Yes.” Said Tim “so I’d be shipping medicine, selling, smuggling. If the verse had been free of the empire but not of small fries.” “There will always be some one who needs goods that is hard to get.” “Are you familiar with the clipper ships?” “Yes during the gold rush there wars ships that bought illusory supplies for the normal price.” Tim nodded “Right and ship it there, they would sell them for multiple Times what they paid for it.” “The basically the same thing I am doing.” “Even if the empire was no more there would be people who can’t get goods or services. Either beaus of some one or some thing. I would be living as I am now doing enough work to get by and have the illusory. I wont the difference is that I would be with my wife and my sun but I’ll to gather the same things.” the conversation petered off.

Latter.

“Jen do you know how to drive…we’ll of coerce you do you lived on a farm.” “Jen I need a go a wee cold you take over the controls for me.” “Shore Tim.” said Jen Tim poled his set back and relinquished the controls to Jen. Tim walked to the back of the trailer and on the way grabbing a Kelvin and hobs in space comic strip collation.

Jen drove for the next few miles when he hard a flush. Tim came back sat down in the passenger’s seat and watched the rode.

Jen offered the controls back to Tim. “No thanks I’m happy here.” “Jen have you had any food this morning?” Jen shook his head. Tim went to the fringe then started to make a sandwich out of some of last’s night’s dinner. Tim asked Jen if he wonted anything no thanks. Tim said. “Come on you haven’t had any thing I’ll day, I’ve got Homemade honey mustard, think about it slices of stout meet with honey mustard with lettos tomato red union. Or maybe some bbq sauce.” Jen mouth began to water. “I’ll right I’ll right shore the former honey mustard.” Tim made up too sandwiches and gave one to Jen. Then set a can of pop in Jens drink holder Tim sat down in the passenger side seat and began to eat his sandwich. Then got up and took a bred box from a cupboard. “Yo Jen have you ever had any Bareback bread before.” Jen shuck his head “its An Irish bread most Irish breads are leavened with baking soda and would be classified as quick breads.” “Barm Brack is similar to the Welsh bread known as Bara brith which is flavored with currants, raisins, sugar, and citrus, it’s a nice dissert dread good for a lunch or picnic.” Tim cut of a chunk and gave it to Jen. Jen began to eat it.

“Tim I’d rely like to know about what you use to do and up to date.” Tim was about to protest when Jen interrupted “a window of a story is a window in to the sole.” Jen said. “It’s going to be a long journey I might as well tell you.”