Chapter 17

Steve

My pile of women was surrounding me, with Sue doing her sleeping best to smother me between her triple Zs. No boobs are that big, but Sue has enough for three or four women. Don't you just love those big balloons? I sure do.

I slid to the edge of the bed without waking anyone, but knew that we needed to get up and get going this morning. We have to leave around seven-thirty. I stretched before beginning to gently wake the women.

Oops, there were two extras next to Juanita. Trixie and Dixie must have had a bad dream and come in during the night. It's a good thing the bed is big and a good thing the ladies are used to a pile of bodies to sleep with.

As the women began coming around, cognizant that it was a new day, Trixie and Dixie sat up, rubbing their eyes. Trixie said, "We were lonely down there and there isn't much room for Dixie and me to sleep together, so we came in here. You don't have a lot of room left either, but Momma Juanita hugged us to her so we could sleep with you.

Juanita was smiling, as I'm sure she was remembering our recent conversation about her being a mother to many. Two thirds of the triplets just confirmed it. Sue reached over and dragged the girls across Kathy and Mercy so she could hug them. There is always a special sweetness shown when a mother hugs one of her kids.

Sue said, "Go get your teeth brushed and face washed to go to the Vatican. Make sure you put on the clothes we picked out for today. We're going to go to Mass with Juanita inside a big church this morning." The two girls left, running for the ladder or stairs that would take them below to the crew quarters.

Today, our second day touring Rome will be fun. It's been so interesting; we may spend three days in Rome so we can see, or at least investigate, more. We are starting out early this morning so that most of our group can attend Mass at the Vatican at 9:00 AM. This will screw up Ed's plan a little, but he said we were starting out there today anyway.

After a quick triple S, I was dressed and up in the main salon, having coffee with Dewey and Julie. Julie was in rare form this morning, excitedly talking about the great day we had yesterday and what Ed had planned for us today. By six twenty, everyone not involved in making breakfast was in the salon. The kids were over by the music stuff with Bonita playing with the new guitar Chuck and Lisa bought. She was being quiet, as she had on headphones so she wouldn't bother everyone. You could still hear the clicking of the pick on the strings, but not the real sound.

Chuck and Lisa came up and began herding the kids below for breakfast, telling them that if they were able to finish practice early today, they would all practice this evening. Just as we were all going to go below, one of the security people was leading four men and three women over the gangway. I stepped outside to see what was happening, but Lisa burst past me running and gave one of the guys a hug. She turned to one of the ladies, hugged her, and said, "You're here early. How did you find us? How did you know where we were docked?"

The big man looked at me, held out his hand, and said, "I'm Kenny. Since no one is going to introduce us, I thought I'd better."

Chuck took over, "These are guys from the band we're going to try and do a concert with this Friday. This guy is Kenny, the bass player; this guy is Dan, the keyboard player; Fred here is the lead guitar player, a really good lead guitar player, if I do say so; and this guy is Carlos. He does a lot of percussion stuff and vocals, along with some background rhythm guitar and harmonica. These ladies are wives of the first three, and also sometimes do vocals in the studio. I don't know why they don't do them in concerts."

Dewey and Dennis had come out and the group members shook hands all around. While we had been doing the introductions, Ed had come on board. He was quickly introduced as our Italian tour guide.

I said, "I think we can find room for you at the table. Come on down and have breakfast with us."

The group looked at each other and grinned. Kenny said, "If we're not putting you out, we'd love to."

We went through the main salon, with the group taking in all the instruments sitting around the music area, and the rest of the beautiful big room. As we went down the wide curved stairway, I could hear the group from the band exclaiming at how big and beautiful the boat is.

As soon as Glenda, Beth, and Missy saw the extra people, they were scooting people over so they could add the extra chairs and place settings. Since everyone was still standing, waiting for Martin to say grace, the transition was fast.

Everyone was soon standing behind their chairs and Martin gave thanks with just a few words. We all sat down and began devouring sausage links, scrambled eggs, with biscuits and gravy. Missy said, "You know I had a premonition we would have extras this morning. That's why we have all this extra food. See, Glenda, it was a good thing I did make extra."

Beth said, "You're just psychic, Missy. Do you think Merlin will make it today?"

Missy answered, "He should, as he said he had good connections all the way through. I hope he didn't book any shows over here so he has time to do some of the tours with us. Too bad he's not here this morning, because he really wanted to see the Vatican."

Chuck's cell phone rang, he looked at it, and unusual for him, answered it at the table. He answered and listened for a few seconds, then said, "Escort him to the boat. I'll meet him at the gangway. Sure, I'll make sure his luggage gets on board." Chuck hung up and said, "Well, now you know where Merlin is, come with me Missy, the man is causing a stir as he's dressed in some kind of magic garb. The folks he traveled with must have thought him really strange."

Mercy, Missy, Sue, and I went up to get Merlin. I noticed Glenda and Beth making up another place setting. We really did have an over full house.

Mercy and Missy greeted Merlin, dressed in a robe and pointy hat. Missy was shaking her head and asked, "What in the world did you have in mind wearing that get up?"

Merlin shook my hand and winked at me, "Why, Missy, my love, I'm a wizard, the great Merlin, able to mystify everyone."

"You don't mystify me, you goon," Missy laughed at his braggadocio. "Did you really wear that all the way here?"

Merlin hugged his wife and said, "Of course not. I wore this just to pull your chain and to let the people at the yacht club know a famous wizard has arrived, along with the group they are all talking about that you are hiding here on board."

Missy said, "Come on, come down and eat. We're leaving real soon to go to the Vatican."

When Merlin came down the stairs, all of the kids began yelling and clapping, as Merlin always performed non-stop for them. He went around to the kids pulling fake birds, scarves, and quarters from ears and noses. He hugged all the kids before going to the chair Missy was pointing to.

The music group was all shocked by the strange guy in a wizard robe and pointy hat. Kenny said, "Are you all a little wacky? This is the wildest group I've ever seen."

Kenny's wife said, "You have so many kids, and there's obviously multiple families. How do you all fit on this boat?"

Mercy said, "The boat is huge. Have Chuck and Lisa give you a tour. I know you guys are going to be busy working on your concert material, but if you want, have supper with us this evening." She looked at Ed and said, "I think we'll be back by six or earlier and we'll have supper on the table no later than seven. That is, if Steve and Dewey can get the steaks grilled by then."

Kenny looked around and said, "I recognize you, John, right? You came with us once and had a broken arm. There is the tiny Tiani and Brandy, our two hostesses that cringed with us going through that horrible storm. Wow! You guys are really a big family."

Chuck told him, "Some of these people live and work with each other back home. Meet my executive assistant, Wanda; John, you know; ah, Ben a phenomenal financial genius, and his wife, Beth. They are Sue's parents. You've met Mercy, along with her mom, Missy, and dad, Merlin. There's Dennis and Marie; Dennis is in R&D with Steve's company, and Marie works for me in the Deputy Marshal's Office. You heard Martin say grace, and next to him is his wife, Glenda, Steve's oldest Florida friend. The tall lady is Kathy, next are Barb, Juanita, and Mickey. In my group here, there is Maria; you know Brandy and Tiani; next to them are Julie, Nancy, Judy, Frieda, Taiying, and Sing. This regal looking gentleman is Dewey, with sisters Sheila and Sheena, and the last two are Jan, a real FBI agent, and her guy, Don, who operates a dojo."

Chuck was grinning when he said, "I'm going to hold off introducing you to the kids. That will take a while. So everyone, this is Kenny, Dan, Fred, and Carlos. The Latin looking guy is Carlos." Everyone laughed. "If I remember the names right, the women are Kenny's Barb; Fred's Carolyn; and Carlos' Ramona. Dan forgot to bring Cindy with him."

Dan blushed and said, "Cindy's not with me anymore. She took off with a guitar player, someone more exciting. I always figured her as temporary, that's why we weren't married."

In Fred's defense, Kenny said, "We're all so involved in our music that we have to have women who understand our mentality. These three ladies understand us, do a lot of vocals for us, and have agreed to do the concert with us. I think they are making sure we don't run off with one of the foxes we usually have on stage singing with us. Now we'll have some real babes to play with after the gig."

The three women blushed at Kenny's praise and continued eating. As everyone finished breakfast, several of the women began cleaning off the tables. As if they felt part of the group, the three ladies with the band group began gathering plates too. In very little time, the tables were clear and dishes were being washed. The rest of us went up to the salon where the kids had begun going through one of the pieces we had been practicing. Fred walked over to Bonita, who was focused on what she was playing with her eyes closed. She was doing the rhythm chords to the piece and listening to Lisa's lead that we had recorded.

Fred looked around and motioned to me, "Where did that come from?" He was pointing at the classic three quarter guitar Bonita was playing.

I told him, "I found it in a music store over here. Bonita needed a smaller guitar, and as you can hear, she can play. Wait till she begins learning all the great riffs and breaks we all know and love. She can play keyboard better than most, is learning bass, and now, drums."

Kenny was standing with us and said, "Man, you have a lot of junior talent here. Look, Dan, there are two violins too. Look at those kids; they all have really nice Gibson acoustical axes. There's some big bucks tied up in those."

Kenny was looking around and said, "Look at that, a double with a six string bass. Now that is classic, and what's this? Wow, a Harmony H-22. That's a real classic."

Fred still couldn't get over the three quarter SG. He said, "I've never seen one, but I've heard they made them at one time. It sounds great."

Bonita looked up and asked, "Are you the guys we're going to play for later?"

Lisa tried to hush her, but Barb, Kenny's wife said, "You better believe it. I want to hear what Lisa and Chuck have for us."

Bonita asked, "Are you going to practice all day here?"

Kenny told her, "No, we have a studio rented and we'll be going there in a few minutes. Chuck and Lisa get your stuff together and we'll head over there. We need to go over a bunch of new original stuff."

Carlos was sitting with Liz while she had been playing her harmonica, accompanying Bonita's chords as they played with the recording. Carlos was comparing their two identical harmonicas. Liz said, "I'm like you," as she was patting the fanny pack around her waist. "I keep one of mine with me all the time."

Ed was trying to get us going, so I told all the kids to 'move it, ' so we could get on the bus. Some of the kids grumbled, but they all put their instruments into their cases and headed out the door. Ed was saying we were going to have to get a move on.

As soon as we were on the bus, not even seated yet, the driver took off to make the Mass on time. The man was a master, weaving in and out of traffic with the giant bus. Drivers in Italy all seem to be playing chicken as they attempt to bluff each other, while trying to make a turn in front of another vehicle. We arrived at the Vatican with about fifteen minutes to spare. It looked like everyone was going to go to the service, so I went with them. I noticed that when Chuck wasn't with his women, they mixed in with mine and stayed close to me. I am flattered.

The Mass was nice and several of the people with us took communion. When we exited through another door, Ed announced that our first stop would be the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Ed kept up a running commentary, telling us the museums were built and furnished over six hundred years ago, so there is a lot of artwork to see. He said there are over seven and half miles of hallways filled with artwork from around the world. He told us that each of us would have some preferences, such as paintings versus sculptures, Renaissance versus Egyptian, and so on. We couldn't pass up the Sistine Chapel, built in 1474. It was painted almost entirely by Michelangelo in the first half of the sixteenth century. After over three hours in the Museum and Chapel, we exited out of the Chapel where we noticed a long line waiting to get into the museum. Ed must have known someone to have taken us into the museum through another entry.

We went to a large cafeteria style restaurant, where we had a very nice lunch with lots of water, juice, and ice tea. Everyone was hungry and thirsty.

After lunch, we went to Saint Peter's Basilica, the largest Catholic Church in the world. More than a hundred years of design and building went into the structure, along with thousands of works of art. Ed said that if we were around the Basilica around five, we could listen to a Vespers Mass.

Ed asked us if we wanted to call it a day, as we had seen what he thought were the highlights. It was already after three, so we all agreed to take a break and relax. Ed reminded us the rest of the week was probably going to be away from Rome, unless we wanted to tour the city for another day, otherwise we would be staying in hotels overnight.

We made it back to the boat before five, and the kids immediately began playing with their instruments. The adults raided the bar for a while, before the ladies went below to begin supper.

Dewey said, "I didn't see the big cooker you said you ordered. Do we have to go get it?"

I told him, "No," and used my cell phone to call the yacht club. The concierge said he was waiting for us to return and an attendant would bring the big gas grill right away. I relayed that information to Dewey who was focused on a cold beer. Don and Dennis came up the stairs, each carrying two cases of beer. Dennis said, "I noticed the big cooler was down about halfway. You said the thing will hold five cases, so if we need another case, I'll bring it up. Let me pull a couple of dozen bottles out and put them on ice, and I'll put the rest of what we brought up under the cold ones."

Martin was directing the filling of the big ice chest and the cooler. He checked the temperature to make sure it was set just a couple of degrees over freezing before suggesting the two men bring up at least two more cases. He turned to me and said, "Good thing we only have to stock one kind of beer. We'd never keep up if we had to have light beer too."

The attendant brought the big cooker and wheeled it onto the deck near the door to the salon. He told me there was a full gas bottle, so we should have more than enough to cook all our meat.

Dewey opened one side of the grill and said, "You can cook over twenty steaks just on one side of this thing."

I told him, "Think about it, Dewey; think of how many people we have on board, all the people from the Irish Bell, and Chuck's bringing seven more. That's a lot of people." I began tallying up how many we were going to have for dinner. "Let's see, I figured with everyone here right now, we had at least 48 people on board. Chuck's bringing 7, there are 11 passengers and the 8 crew and attendants on the Irish Bell, plus Ed will be here. That's ah, 74 and Ed makes 75. I wonder if the girls have figured on that much meat."

Dewey was sitting with his mouth open when Martin said, "You ain't seen nothing yet, Dewey. You know how many show up on Fridays around home most of the time? When there's something big going on, there's more, a lot more."

Dewey commented, "Yeah, but I've seen you guys use caterers for the big crowds."

I said, "I'm going below to make sure they know how many are coming."

I spotted Sue helping get some giant pots of vegetables cooking. When I looked around, I was almost sick. Meat for 75 people should stand out and be noticeable. I asked Sue, "Do you know how many people are going to be here tonight?"

She nodded and said, "Around 75, why?"

"Where are the steaks? That's a hell of a lot of people to feed. There should be a giant pile of steaks."

Sue laughed, "The Irish Bell is supplying about a 100 steaks. They are all marinated and ready for the grill. I think they are what we call New York strip steaks. I don't know what they call them in Ireland or Italy."

Whew! That's a relief. I had another question, "How are we going to feed everyone? Breakfast was jammed and you're planning on another almost 20."

Mercy was next to Sue, and said, "No sweat, we'll eat in shifts. You can't cook a hundred steaks at a time anyway. You can probably do fifty at a time and we can handle that many at the tables at once. We'll feed all the kids, the Bell's crew, and a bunch of us women together, then reload and feed the rest on a second shift."

Well, she had it figured out. The mass of humanity called for me to have something stronger than a beer. When I arrived at the bar to sit next to Dewey, he handed me a tall Beefeaters and said, "There sure is going to be a lot of people around here tonight."

After taking a big gulp of the firewater, I gave him the numbers, "Seventy-five, Dewey, seventy-five people will be on board. That's bunch of people."

Dewey grinned, "At least you're not going out to sea with that many. It's going to be crowded going to the Riviera, but that is only one night on board, right? Then we have hotel rooms for everyone there. When we leave the Riviera, a lot of the people will have gone home. We'll still have a pretty full boat, but not nearly as many as we have now."

I said, "It'll be just close family then, but that seems to be growing too."

Ben was motioning for Dewey and me to step outside. We went out and Ben was acting excited. I had noticed while at the bar that Ben had been out on deck talking on his cell phone. "You know the gold mine we just about gave back to the native workers?"

Dewey and I nodded, "Well, part of our original purchase down there was for the rest of that mountain. My men just told me that one of them had made an emergency trip down to check out what we were being told. He took a geologist with him and called back a little while ago."

Ben didn't say anything for a long while.

Dewey said, "Well, what is it, are you going to tell us?"

Ben was shaking his head, "The local geologist down there had a new mine opened and from what I heard they were only about twenty feet in. They ran smack into a vein of gold that the geologist said has to be the biggest find of this century."

I laughed, "This century is only ten years old."

Ben acted exasperated, "You know what I mean, the richest find in over a hundred years. Probably bigger than the vein in Koje-Do, Korea, bigger than the one in Africa, this is big."

I asked, "So what does this mean since the locals own most of the mine there?"

Ben looked at me as if I were really stupid, "This means that you, me, Dewey, and Chuck are some wealthy sons-of-a-gun. The land, the property the new mine is on, is our property. Chuck owns fifty percent, and you, Dewey, and I split the other fifty. There will be a lot of mining costs, but this is really big. My man hired the local army to guard the place and the shipments out of there. He says that we'll end up paying the army troops about five times their normal wages for the work they will do, but it will be worth it."

Ben paused and added quietly, "And the oil field we are exploring, all ten wells came through. Mexico was begging us to explore, so I used a lot of Chuck's money, some of yours, Steve, some of Dewey's, some of Tiny's, and some of mine to do the exploration. Since Chuck is the majority owner, he's going to be one hell of a popular guy down there. Now all we have to do is to sell the wells and the lease to cash in. We'll collectively bring in about ten billion."

I gasped, "Ten billion? Ten billion? Ben, do you know how much that is?"

Ben was nodding when he said, "Considering my commission, I sure do. Chuck is going to be one of the richest guys alive."

Dewey said, "Steve, I don't know how you met Chuck, but that was one of the best days of both of our lives. You know, you and I may have enough. We might not want to keep trying to build up our portfolio. I think we should just ride with our investments, look after what businesses we have, and kick back. What do you think?"

I was still in a state of shock. "Ben, are you sure about all of this? How much is the gold mine really worth?"

"No telling, but the initial ore removed from the first part of the seam that we shipped has paid about fifteen million. You'll have to pay taxes and stuff down there, but there will be a lot left over."

I said, "I wonder what Chuck is going to do for those people now. He's rebuilt the entire town and has made sure that every man, woman, and child have a good home, food, clothes, and an education. The man has built an electric plant, sewer system, and a water plant. He keeps wanting to make sure they are taken care of, and I think they are ecstatic the way things have been going. They are personally reaping a fortune from the existing mine, while the rest of us have been receiving only a small portion of the whole. That's what Chuck wanted so that's what we've done. Now it's come back to him in the form of an even richer mine."