Chapter 194: The Experiment

{4b}Wednesday, June 30, 1971

“What’s cooking?” I asked Karla as I wandered by the galley.

“Enchilada casseroles. I made them up yesterday. Now all I have to do is add some refried beans and some nachos and salsa.”

“Need any help?”

“Nah, I’ve got it. You wouldn’t happen to know how many we have on board, would you?”

“About twenty-nine or thirty, I think. However, we did pick up a new passenger today.”

“Let me guess. It’s a beautiful young girl, right?”

“You’re good,” I told her.

“Like shooting fish in a barrel...” she laughed.

Since Karla seemed to have everything under control, I next wandered back to the parlor of my new sleeping car. While it wasn’t as lavish as mine, still, it was nice. It seems that this is where the adults were all congregated. When Jeff offered me a beer from the small refrigerator built into the cabinetry, I knew why.

“Are you going to the high school to register when we get to Tennessee?” John asked. “Remember, it was one of the terms of your emancipation.”

“I guess so,” I replied, “although, from a security standpoint, it might be easier to home-school.”

“I did check into it, Michael. However, there does not seem to be many curriculums out there. It would take a lot of planning to try to do something at this late date. And with the triplets coming, I won’t be able to teach the whole year,” Debbie told me.

“I’ve already spoken to Mr. Baumgartner, the Principal. He’s expecting you,” John added.

“I guess that settles it. Speaking of going to school, do I have a car in Tennessee?”

“No. But I’m sure we could find you something. I think Liz has an old Pontiac Tempest. A ‘63 I believe. I’m sure you could use it until she gets back from Tapato in three years,” John said with a grin.

“Thanks, Uncle John,” I said as I stood. “But I think I’ll look into my own mode of transportation when we get back from the islands.” With that, I left before they could sabotage any more of my life.

The Guest Wing was a customized sleeping car that my great-grandfather had designed with eight staterooms that slept up to three persons each. There was a communal bathroom at one end, and a security room/infirmary at the other. At the moment, all eighteen girls were congregated there, running in and out of each other’s rooms and all talking at once.

I passed through as quickly as I could with only minor stops to hug or kiss different ones. Finally, I made it to the rear car, the one my great-grandfather had named the Rowena, after my great-great-grandmother.

I was the only one in the car. I went to my own stateroom, which had originally been designed for the president, where I stripped and stepped into the shower.

I was toweling off when Ileana, Abby, and Shelby walked in without knocking.

“Shelby wants to ask you some more questions, Michael,” Abby said as she flopped down on my berth.

“I figured that you would have told her everything she wanted to know by now,” I said as I walked naked into my room. I went to the built-in chest and removed some boxers and shorts. I was going to have to go shopping to replenish my stock of t-shirts tomorrow.

“I take it that nudity isn’t a big deal to you all,” Shelby said as she studied me in amazement.

“When you live with this many women, in quarters as cramped as these, it doesn’t make sense to get too upset about it,” I told her.

“We haven’t explained the ‘no privacy’ thing to her yet,” Ileana said.

“No privacy?” Shelby asked.

Both Abby and Ileana looked to me. They were wondering how far I would go.

“Shelby, what do you need to finish your story?” I asked.

Shelby looked at her notes. “I have the story about how you met the princesses from Ileana, but can you tell me why you were at the nude ranch?”

“Oh. That’s easy. We were hiding out from the Russians. They had just killed my parents and put me in the hospital, in a coma. The CIA was afraid they would try again,” I told her.

“You’re kidding!” she said.

“Shelby, I don’t lie. I may avoid answering your questions, but if I do answer them, I’ll tell you the truth.”

“You’re unbelievable!” she said. “Everyone knows that boys lie. Especially when it comes to getting into girl’s panties.”

I quickly connected all the girls, including Shelby, and told them, “Shelby thinks that I have to lie to get in your panties.”

“Michael DOESN’T lie!” said Candy.

“No way!” said Jenny.

“Why did she say that?” asked Rose.

“Michael wouldn’t ever lie!” said Eve.

“Michael can lie to me ... if it will get him in my panties,” Julie said with a giggle.

“Can Shelby hear this, Michael?” Hanna asked.

“I don’t understand! What’s going on?” Shelby said out loud.

“I’ll be right there!” Hanna said. “Where are you?”