Chapter 11

Gentle Doe said, “They did not even look at us as we went by. How could they not see this giant canoe go by so fast?”

I said, “Magic. You did not see my canoe. At the village, it was floating right above you.”

Doe’s father, Swift Creek, said, “It turns and follows the bends in the river?”

I said, “Yes, this is more of my magic.”

He shook his head negatively.

Aloud, I said, “99’ please take us down on the surface. Speed, five knots please.”

“Yes Tom.”

We could now hear the water going by.

Doe’s mother, Swift Creek, said, “How is this possible?”

I said, “I am not from here. I am from very far away. That is the only way this magic could be possible. I know things you do not from my own land.”

Gentle Doe said, “Look, there is another fishing canoe.”

We zipped past.

Swift Creek said, “They do not see us, but they are looking behind us.’

I said, “Yes, the giant canoe leaves a trail in the water.”

He looked at me. “So, it’s true. This canoe does exist. We were in the air and nobody could see us. Now we are in the water moving fast. Nobody is paddling.

Gentle Doe asked, “Who is 99?”

99 said, “I am mistress, I am this ship, or the big canoe as you say. More of our magic. Tom is my owner and tells me where to go.”

Swift Creek said, “What happens of I walk over that way?”

I said, “You will fall of into the river. You will probably get bruises.”

The silence was deafening. We sat there nibbling cookies and sipping iced tea as we continued to move upriver.

The three natives broke the silence, and eventually, the subject turned to things happening in the village. I knew none of the people they were talking about, so I passed the time mentally chatting with Drozul.

A bit later Jade came out. “Tom, I have prepared a meal. It will be on the table by the time you get there.”

I said, “Thank you Jade.”

I stood up and the others followed me in.

She had gone all out. Aalea and Amber were already seated. I set Swift Creek at the head with me on his right side and his wife on the left side.

Jade had butterflied shrimp and made it into coconut shrimp. She had a sweet sauce for dipping and vegetable fried rice, Chinese style, of course.

The two parents looked at the two new women who joined us.

I said, “This is Amber, and this is Aalea. They are both my mates as well. Ladies, meet Gentle Doe and Swift Creek, Tall Woman’s parents.”

Tall Woman dug right in, so I knew the parents were not into praying over dinner to a deity.

Tonight, Jade had put two dark beers in cozies for Swift Creek and I. Gotta love that Modelo.

Tall Woman told her mother she would soon look much younger. She mentioned that Amber was older than her father.

They looked at Amber.

Amber said, “It’s true, I am well over five decades old.” Look at Tall Woman’s face. She does not look nineteen. See how round her cheeks are and how smooth and young her skin looks. I have seen her body; she looks fifteen or sixteen now.”

Gentle Doe asked, “How young will I look?”

I thought we had been over this earlier.

Tall Woman said, “You will look like you are thirty years old?”

Gentle Doe said, “NO.”

Tall Woman said, “Yes, you will. You will also be very healthy.”

Gentle Doe giggled, “Will Swift Creek become pretty and young again?”

Everyone smiled.

Tall Woman said, “No. He will be healthier but still look much as he does now. But he will have the energy it takes to chase you around the wikiup.”

“Daughter!” Swift Creek chided.

I said, “My magic works better on women. I am sorry I cannot make you young and pretty too, Swift Creek.”

Swift Creek said, “I earned these wrinkles, and Tall Woman caused my hair to become gray. If Gentle Doe becomes young and pretty again, I will just have to fill her belly with more babies.”

Drozul sent, “Um, this is a suitable time to tell you. All three of the women you enjoyed today should get pregnant from you. We have discovered that different PH levels in humans such as these, help determine sex. All three will likely carry male babies. We had each woman drop an egg.

Drozul sent, “This will boost this tribes health and create a baby boom like never seen before. No infant mortality. No Whooping cough, no dysentery, none of the other childhood diseases. Do you know Tall Woman had a less than one-in-four chance of surviving until puberty? Your sons and their mothers will be much healthier. Your sons will be as randy as you are and scatter their seed far and wide.”

I sent, “I guess I am lucky to have Tall Woman. Did you notice she looks better and better every day?”

Drozul sent, “Feedback from social media says Tall Woman is trendy watching amongst all humanoid citizens. Females identify with her and her elegant beauty. Males love her. Good thing they have no idea where you are.”

I said, “EEK. Don’t put worrying ideas like that in my head.”

Swift Creek asked, “Tum, how did you get so many wives?”

I said, “Very carefully and with great fear.” I smiled so they would know it was a joke.

I said, “I was born a special kind of person. I am what is called an Alpha Male. Men follow me naturally. Woman want me. It’s a part of who I am.”

Swift Creek said, “So, you were born with magic?”

I said, “Not exactly. I met someone and saved his life. He has magic and gifted me with some of his. We are still excellent friends after many years.”

He said, “So, someone with more magic shared some of his with you?”

I said, “Yes. We talk often.”

Swift Creek said, “Hmm ... Four women and from what I gather, there are others too?”

I said, “You have no idea. My magic has a cost. My task is to go around healing people. I think you know I healed Gentle Doe. When she kisses you, she will pass healing on to you. She cannot pass more than that. Any person you kiss will and any others Gentle Doe kisses will also gain this healing magic.”

I said, “If a healed woman becomes pregnant. That child will be born healthy and never get childhood illnesses. Anyone healed this way will not get dysentery or other diseases. A knife or spear will still kill them, but they and you will not get sick ever again.”

The two parents were quiet for a while as this sank in. Disease is a significant killer here.

I said, “99’? “Altitude 50 feet, please. Turn us around, set speed at thirty knots, and return by best course to the village.”

99’ said, “Aye aye, captain.”

Gentle Doe noticed things whizzing by outside. We are going fast?”

I said, “We will have you home in minutes.”

Jade got us all a small dish of chocolate chip ice cream.

I told Swift Creek, “This treat is so tasty, but women go crazy over it. I think it is their favorite food.”

He looked at me, slowly licking some ice cream off his spoon. He looked at his spoon wonderingly.

He said, “Yes. This is the best thing I have ever eaten and it’s so cold it’s almost frozen. What is it called?”

I said “Ice Cream. The bad thing is, it comes in many excellent flavors.”

He said, “You are my favorite son-in-law now.”

Gentle Doe started giggling and said, “He’s your only son-in-law, husband.”

I said, “We are here in your village. We will visit you tomorrow early in the morning. Jade, will you give them a big piece of the mahi-mahi?”

She said, “I will get it now, my husband.”

99’ ported us down inside their wikiup. I started considering that I might want my own wikiup. It would make coming down and going back up easier.

I sent, “Drozul, I think I need a wikiup here on the edge of the village. That would allow me to pop in and out easily.”

He sent, “Should you not visit the chief first?”

I sent, “I am Tall Woman’s husband. So she and I should have a wikiup here. I noticed that my in-laws did not say anything about me needing to visit the chief, although I mentioned the idea. It led me to believe he is more a chief in name than anything else. In some tribes the chief was only in charge when they went to fight. Big things were decided by several senior members getting together and talking. The chief acts more as an mediator.”

He sent, “Let me make a wikiup for you that will appear there during the night. It will not be your ordinary stick and reed wikiup. It will have added features.”

I sent, “Now you’re cooking with gas. This trying to sneak in from the woods was going to get us caught. This way, it will be less about trading with people, than just being here and letting the women talk and come for me.”

He sent, “Since Jade looks somewhat like a native, wouldn’t she be an asset as a second wife if we dress her differently?”

I sent, “Yes. The added bonus will be that the women will see me with two wives. That will be proof of my virility and power. My two women down here, and my mother-in-law should be able to get the word out. Jade will need the Lenape language overlay.”

He sent, “While we are talking, Anna Collins has had her brain replaced. She is ready for pickup.”

I growled. “Don’t remind me. I am not going to visit with Anna Collins, let alone dip my wick in her. Tell you what, send me a test tube or something with a cap. I will have one of my ladies assist me in putting a shot of sperm in it for her. You can artificiality inseminate her with a turkey baster. Be sure to add nails on the outside of it.”

He laughed. “Well, Anna Collins certainly got under your skin. She can’t help the fact that her brain was defective.”

I sent, “Maybe not. I have met a number of people over the years with various problems like hers. I don’t need to like them or be with them. Wacko’s like her are a good part of the problem in my world.”

He sent, “Well, a thousand years from now if your people don’t blow themselves up. Your improved genome and Exo’s will have spread enough that they will be at the next level of civilization.”

I sent, “That’s nice. That’s my long range plan for Earth 0. I think the Lenape can spread west, north and south from here, the epicenter of their improved race. Many years from now they can travel to Europe by ship and wipe out the Denisovans. That race is a pox upon this planet.”

He sent, “So you wish to save this Earth as well?”

I sent, “This one more than mine. If we can give the natives small incremental steps in technology. Hopefully, this way, they won’t be as destructive as in my world. No nukes. No great smokestacks of coal or oil are being burned to make electricity. Yes, we should not allow electricity. It is a huge step up in the cause of pollution. The plethora of electricity and automobiles is a big part of pollution. Freeze them at the Iron Age stage with sail and steam engines.”