《Lilly's Adventures In the Old World》


 1. Fall

    Scene 1. Dawn


    Lilly awakens, covered her usual cold sweat. Damn those lucid dreams. I might as well get up, I have a lot to do today anyway. She turns over and casts her gaze on her sleeping, handsome, husband, Roc. What did I do to deserve him? She reaches towards him, but then reflects, He needs his sleep. He has trained himself to sleep, just as effectively as the rest of his athletic training.


    I could really use a hug, but I cannot start making my problems his problems.


    Lilly carefully arises from the bed and completes her morning bathroom ritual. At the bathroom mirror she pauses to regard her motherly form. Look what as happened to me. Why does Roc even keep me? Her once athletic, muscular body has been softened by her pregnancy, and by her relatively immobile lifestyle since. (And pizza, Damn that pizza...)


    As she is walking towards the closet to dress for the day when she hears sounds from the yard outside. She walks to the window and looks out into the still dark back yard. She can see two, identical, small, glowing-white, wraith-like figures darting about and scampering up and down the junk in the yard. The two figures pause their running periodically and jump gleefully, straight up into the air, emitting squeaks of joy and facing the shafts of light high overhead from the rising sun.


    I was like this once, a minion of the ''Goddess of the Dawn''.


    I so hope that my daughters do not carry ''my affliction''.


    Lilly retires to the kitchen, to distract herself making breakfast for her family.


    Breakfast is usually a chaotic affair, spent mostly restraining the two kids long enough for them to get sustenance necessary for their proper growth. Lilly holds one down while thinking, How did I let this happen to me? Roc is sporting a huge smile, while his daughter is hugging him tightly, leaning to the side out of her chair, smearing her breakfast everywhere. Lilly looks at him and cannot help but raise a smile too. I guess this is why he keeps me around. I have given him what he wants most. And because he cannot chase them both at the same time!


    ¡­..


    The day progresses the kids are now out of the house and have resumed their active-ritual worship of the new day.


    Lilly is standing, in the hallway, folding laundry, and Roc is seated on the living room couch reading the daily newspaper. Roc extracts a small card from the newspaper and regards it. He announces, still staring at the card, ¡°Lilly, let¡¯s go to the carnival!¡± ¡°It is closing soon and we haven¡¯t been for a long time.¡± Lilly looks up and stares at him but does not speak, But look what happened to us the last time we went to the carnival! That ¡®carnival¡¯ is why we have two daughters now! Roc continues, not noticing the faces Lilly is making, ¡°Rod¡¯s family would love an excuse to take care of the girls.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make this a date, the two of us, just like before.¡± Lilly continues her wordless stare, her face pulled into a grimace. Please, not like before! No more kids! But he asks so little of me and he really seems to want to do this. How can I refuse?


    ¡­..


    And so Trish drives up the residence driveway and collects the kids, with the help of her step-daughters, and drives off, leaving Roc and Lilly alone for the first time in a long time. The two look at each other, now without distractions. Lilly looks down, terribly self-conscious, ¡°Are you sure that you want to be seen with me?¡± ¡°You the fabulous sports-hero, and me the dumpy housewife?¡± He reaches around her form and embraces her firmly, her soft form against his solid chest, ¡°Don¡¯t say such things.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Although public conveyance is available, they choose to walk across town, locked together, both smiling. The other pedestrians defer the sidewalk to them, even tipping their hats. Eventually the two approach the carnival, with all of its carnival noises, screams from the rides, cheers from the events.


    Scene 2. Carnival


    It is a crowded scene, with lots of yelling and running children. ¡°We should have brought the kids.¡± ¡°No, this is for us!¡± They stop at shooting gallery booth and Lilly picks up a pellet gun. ¡°I can do this one.¡± she proudly announces. Roc looks at her and laughs, ¡°Are you going to make me carry all of your toys?¡± She looks at him with a broad smile, ¡°Yes! This carnival was your idea.¡±


    Lilly looks at the target shelf and notices a small plushy doll on the top (hardest) shelf. It is the figure of a wolf-man, dressed in a business suit. Lilly stares at the doll through the gun sight and it is everything that she can do to keep from choking up. ¡°I think I¡¯ll get that one.¡± Roc scoffs, ¡°You sound awfully sure of yourself.¡± Lilly squeezes the trigger, ¡°When it comes to salary-men, I never miss¡­¡± "Even with this bent gun-sight."


    ¡°Click, clank.¡± The figure falls over and down. The booth attendant states, ¡°Nice shot!¡± and turns the doll over to Lilly. Lilly, freezes, motionless, staring intently at the doll. Roc, long used to his wife¡¯s strange behavior, announces, ¡°Lilly, we have to move.¡± ¡°Since you ¡®won¡¯, all the others want to try.¡±


    Lilly stuffs the doll down the front of her tight blouse. The doll is held firmly in place, between her body curves, its head peaking over the low-cut front of her blouse. I hope Fendor (and the rest of me) doesn¡¯t pop out to greet everyone! Roc glances at this somewhat revealing action of his strange wife, but he knows not to react. Lilly gets lots of stares. She then proceeds to walk, chest out, holding Fendor with pride, through the carnival crowds.


    The next booth is a hot-dog-on-a-stick food vendor, featuring a variety of carry-about food items, both meat and veggie. Lilly jumps straight up into the air with glee, ¡°Let¡¯s get these!¡± Roc motions to the vendor and drops several coins on the counter. The vendor then produces two of the featured sticks. Lilly is smiling with eyes glowing as Roc passes her a stick. Without pausing Lilly snaps off the top half of the hot-dog and swallows it whole. Roc is startled, looking at her remaining hot-dog stump, I need to be careful with my ¡®body appendages¡¯ around her snapper! Lilly is still smiling at him when she takes another big bite. This time she takes a bite, then slowly and seductively she chews her bite, mouth open, for him to see.


    They continue to walk around and to collect toys from the galleries. They are both very good at the games. The vendors eventually plead for them to leave something for others, which they do, once they cannot carry anything more. Eventually, the night comes and the carnival continues in the darkness.


    Scene 3. Wall


    One large arena booth is a sporting event. It features a tall, simulated, cliff rock face, for rock climbing demonstrations. Both Roc and Lilly are accomplished rock climbers, so they stop and ask the attendant about it. He says it is for demonstrations that are held several times during the day and night, to promote climbing and camping gear sales. Roc asks the attendant if outsiders are allowed to climb. The attendant says ¡®on occasion¡¯, but they have to be approved, accomplished, climbers. Roc then produces a photograph from his wallet, of himself and Lilly climbing a well-known cliff out in the countryside.


    The attendant takes the photograph to the event shack and reappears with climbing harnesses. ¡°The boss says to go ahead. He has seen you play ball.¡± Lilly thinking, I don¡¯t look like that old picture at all anymore. I guess I can go if I am with ''Roc the hero''.


    The two put on the harnesses, Lilly still with her doll installed. The attendant proceeds to explain the wall and the holds. This is unnecessary for Roc, but he pays attention, knowing that it is an insurance thing. The attendant and the two climb the ladders to the top of the structure and the attendant hooks the harnesses into the winches. Lilly then exclaims: ¡°Let me lead! Everyone already knows that you can do it!¡± Roc nods and stands back. Lilly reaches forward then down over the side and proceeds to descend, down the rock face, head first, like a spider. The attendant shakes his head, ¡°She is going head first!¡± Roc just nods, ¡°She likes doing that.¡± Lilly is smiling, very happy to be doing something athletic besides chasing the kids.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Scene 3.1. Spotlight


    Lilly quickly proceeds to climb down the rock-face, head first. The rock face is dark up high but Lilly can see well enough in the reduced light. Lilly is pleased to see that even with her increased weight, her upper body is still very strong. From the ¡®kid lifts¡¯ no doubt.


    She sees a crowd gathering below, to watch them climb, and then disaster strikes.


    Another attendant has pulled out a large, wheeled, electric-arc searchlight. He faces it up the simulated cliff and points it up to Lilly on the rock face. He then turns it on. A blinding flash of arc light washes over Lilly and the cliff face. Lilly stares directly into the dazzling arc-light. Her eyes reflect the bright light. Lilly looks like a demon, with shining eyes. In arc silhouette, up on the wall, behind Lilly, is the sharp, unmistakable, outline shadow of a dragon. Lilly opens her mouth and screams, a long shrill, piercing scream, ¡°BHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!¡± like a banshee.


    No doubt heard throughout the carnival, and beyond.


    Scene 3.2. Fall


    Lilly releases her hold on the cliff wall and plummets, down toward the ground below.


    The harness pulls tight and stops her fall. She bounces up and down a few times, looking like a rag doll. She hangs limp and still, apparently lifeless, with eyes closed and mouth open, her large pink tongue out one side. She appears as someone executed, hung.


    The crowd gasps in horror at the fall and Lilly¡¯s hanging body. Roc unfastens his harness and quickly descends the wall ladder, head first, like Lilly. The attendant at the top of the wall winches Lilly¡¯s body down. Rock is there below her to cradle her in his grasp. Tears are streaming down his face. ¡°Lilly, don¡¯t you dare die!¡±


    He carries her to the ambulance that is stationed at the carnival entrance for such emergencies.


    The ambulance medic opens the back door and wheels out a gurney and asks, ¡°What happened?¡± Roc, carefully placing the still lifeless body of his wife on the gurney, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We were climbing and she suddenly fell.¡± ¡°She did not fall to the ground, The harness caught her.¡± The medic places his hand against the side of her throat. ¡°She still has a heartbeat¡± He looks at her expansive chest, still holding the doll. I can¡¯t listen there very easily. He removes a small mirror from a pocket and holds it over her open mouth. ¡°She is still breathing.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do anything more here without risking making her injuries worse.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get her to a hospital. Can you come with her? Ride by her side in the back.¡± Roc nods and helps the attendant lift the heavy gurney. Roc then climbs into the back of the ambulance. The medic-driver carefully drives out the carnival exit and proceeds to the hospital.


    Scene 4. Hospital


    The emergency room doctors examine the still unconscious Lilly. They determine that she has no obvious physical internal or external injuries. The doctors agree that it is best if they wait for her to regain consciousness naturally but insist that she stay in the hospital for observation for at least one day. Lilly is then wheeled by gurney, still unconscious, to a ward room, undressed, and placed in a bed and covered. Roc takes the doll from the pile of clothes and puts it in her grasp. It is now late at night, the night nurse gives him a look and he nods. ¡°I know, visiting hours are over.¡±


    Roc proceeds to the front desk and asks the attendant to call him a cab. The cab takes Roc across town to Rod¡¯s large ranch house. Roc walks from the cab slowly to the double-wide front door. We were supposed to have the kids back hours ago. I wounder what they did with them? What I will tell them about Lilly? They are all really Lilly¡¯s friends, I am just the husband, along for the ride¡­ And look what I have done!


    ¡­..


    Lilly comes-to, alone, in the dark hospital room. She stares at the moving shadows on the ceiling. Am I finally dead, at last? Her senses gradually return and she recognizes the room as a hospital room and looks around. She carefully moves each part of her body, not really sure that she is really okay. She holds the doll figure tight against her chest. What is the last thing you remember?


    She is exhausted. The period of unconsciousness gave her no rest. But at least it was dreamless. I guess I should try to sleep. Maybe the trauma of today will keep the lucid dreams away?


    Lilly closes her eyes and then suddenly opens the again, with light streaming in the window. Yay! No dreams! Roc is seated across the room, reading. Roc sees Lilly stir and stands up. He quickly walks to the door and shouts to the staff, ¡°Call the doctor, Lilly is awake!¡± He strides back to the bed and reaches down to embrace her. He looks at her and opens and closes his mouth, like a fish, unable to find any words. Lilly smiles, ¡°You look like a fish!¡± They both nervously chuckle, relieved¡­


    Lilly¡¯s vitals are taken. The doctor looks in her mouth and listens to her chest with a stethoscope. He then carefully examines her eyes, looking for any sign of a stroke. ¡°Folks don¡¯t usually lose consciousness for no reason.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t see anything wrong.¡± ¡°I am going to ask Dr. Foxworthy to have a look at you to see if there might be a neurological issue that caused this.¡± "Maybe run some tests..."


    Lilly suddenly looks terrified, and shouts, ¡°A SHRINK!¡± ¡°NOOOOO!¡± "Not the Psych-Squad!"


    Lilly''s fear of the ''Psych-Squad'' is well-founded. A form of mental instability affects all of the intelligent beings of her world. Those strongly afflicted are diagnosed and taken away by the ''Psych-Squad, never to be seen again. Rumor is that those taken are incarcerated and eventually dissected while still alive. Researchers are desperate to find the cause, treatment, and cure, for this dreaded and progressive malady. The lives of a few of the afflicted are seen as a necessary sacrifice.


    The doctor and Roc stare at the frowning, terrified, shivering, Lilly. Roc then turns to the doctor, ¡°Maybe not today.¡± ¡°When can she be released?¡±


    The doctor shakes his head, ¡°I usually would hold someone longer if they collapsed like she did and I could not find the cause.¡± ¡°But since you say she is back to normal, I have done all that I can, I will sign her release into your care. Come back if there is a re-occurrence, or any other problems.¡± ¡°Or call me.¡± The doctor gives Roc a business card. The nurses help Lilly, still unsteady, get dressed. Lilly is wheeled, seated in a wheelchair, down to the lobby. Trish is waiting in the lobby. Lilly exclaims, ¡°Trish! How long have you been waiting?¡±


    Trish reply''s, ¡°We drove over together this morning. We were going to take turns watching you until you woke up.¡± Trish then walks out and retrieves her car from the hospital parking structure. Roc lifts Lilly into the backseat the car. Aren''t I too heavy? Please don¡¯t strain your back! Roc and Lilly return home.


    Scene 5. Home


    Roc places Lilly carefully on a living room recliner. Lilly looks around, ¡°Where are the kids?¡±


    ¡°I asked Trish if they wouldn¡¯t mind keeping them for the next day or two, while you recover.¡± Lilly imagines the two large kids jumping onto her lap and chest, tipping the chair over backwards. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°Now order us some pizza!¡± slapping her soft belly with a ¡°Pop¡±. Roc stares at the rotund Lilly. ¡°What! Now don¡¯t give me that look!" "I am in recovery!¡±


    Roc looks at Lilly, relieved, I am glad to see that she is feeling better now...


    The two spend the rest of the day eating pizza and working on tasks, such as cleaning the yard and home-repair projects that are difficult to do with the kids around. After a fairly busy day they retire to the bedroom and prepare for bed. Lilly stops in the hallway and looks down. She sees that she is trembling slightly. It doesn¡¯t seem to be any worse than before the carnival, that¡¯s good. How long can I hide this from Roc?


    They retire to the bedroom. Lilly undresses in the large closet and dons a sleeping gown. When she comes out she sees that Roc is already in bed, facing the wall. He appears to be asleep.


    She walks slowly up to the edge of the bed, stands and stares down at the sleeping Roc.


    Don¡¯t get used to this Roc, I am exhausted tonight, but watch out for me! I¡¯ll be back! And then you had better not be wearing anything you don¡¯t want ripped off!


    He is handsome and irresistible, but I need to be careful. He has already saddled me with two kids. And I know he wants a whole team!


    Then Lilly reflects, frowning sadly, Oh Roc! I am already missing you!


    She is about to get into bed when she notices a small, plushy, wolf doll, sitting on the top of the dresser. It is her prize from the carnival shooting gallery. Fendor! I am taking you with me this time! She picks up the figure and holds it tight against her chest and crawls into the bed. She carefully slides over until her back is against Roc¡¯s. It will be harder to be alone from now on.


    Lilly closes her eyes to see a familiar stream of luminescent cartoon figures, dancing and cavorting against her closed eyelids,


    I won¡¯t miss you guys though.


    End of chapter 1.

 2. Old World

    Scene 1. Dawning Blue


    Lilly breathes in deeply, Aahhhh, what a wonderful smell! I don¡¯t know where I am, but when I die,  bury me here! In this wonderful smell! Lilly inhales deeply, through her nose, and smells the grass, the morning dew-fall and fresh mountain air. She relishes he smell for a long while. Although the air is cold, she feels an increasing warmth across her back. She starts to open her eyes and is met with a bright flash of light. She raises her head to face the Sun, rising at dawn, breaking above a mountain range in the far distance. She is couched down in a small level field of grass and flowers, surrounded by hills and mountains in the distance. The meadow appears to end with a cliff on one side, with only blue sky.


    Why am I all wet? Why am I naked? WHAT THE HELL IS THE DEAL HERE?


    Lilly looks back over her ¡®body¡¯ and is shocked by what she sees: What is this? An animal?


    She pulls her right fore-leg out from beneath her body and gazes down. A cloven-hoof? What have I become? What am I? She shakes her head and is suddenly aware that her head is different too. For one thing I have a better sense of smell!


    Lilly tries to stand up. She promptly falls on her side, into the soft grass. She is completely disoriented by her new quadruped-animal form. She tries again, this time more slowly, one leg at a time, and succeeds in standing, trembling, still cold. I wonder if I can get this water off, like Fendor did at the beach? She plants her hooves and oscillates her body, in half rotations, like a dog. The moisture sprays off. It worked! Her short white pelt quickly dries in the warm morning sunlight. She regards herself again, I am a white goat!


    Scene 2. Apollo


    Lilly then tries walking. Awkward as a newborn at first, with a lot of stumbling, she quickly gets the hang of it, walking around and up to the sprays of flowers in the field. Wow, these smell great! She then looks up to survey the meadow, the surrounding landscape and the sky. Across the meadow she see a figure, a biped? Setting on a stone seat, facing the cliff, looking downward. Lilly cautiously approaches the figure to get a better look.


    The figure notices Lilly¡¯s approach and turns to face her and speaks, ¡°Good morning sleepyhead!¡±


    Lilly encounters yet another shock, although she cannot understand its words, its thought appear directly in her mind.


    Lilly stops and stares at the figure. Never in her existence has she ever seen anything like this figure, and anything so ugly! She moves closer to get a good look at it. The figure stands up. It is of medium height, dressed in short toga, revealing much of its hairless, tailless, pale body. Its only fur is on the top of its head, a few gold curls. On each side of its head are small blogs of flesh. She assumes that these function as its ears. Its head is almost perfectly spherical, except for its ears. Its head is like a ball, with no nose, and no jaw.


    Now I know I must be dreaming. No population could possibly survive with so little ability or protection: no fangs; no claws; no horns; not even legs that could possibly outrun even the slowest of predators. Impossible! Just ugly... Maybe that is its defense? Some dream, what a disappointment! My ¡®lucid dreams¡¯ are better, as sometimes I can fly, and have sex.


    The figure speaks again: ¡°Come over here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bite you.¡±


    All of Lilly¡¯s caution is instantly lost. His statement as hilarious. What are you going to bite me with? You are going to baby-tooth me with that tiny little jaw?


    Lilly laughs, and she is once again shocked: ¡°Baaaaaaah!¡± she bleats!


    Astonished and with eyes wide, she falls back on her butt, now sitting on her haunches, like a dog, confused¡­ She stares at her folded, long, back-leg bones and notices that her knees are almost as high as her shoulders.


    The figure is laughing too, but in the regular way. He walks up to the sitting Lilly and strokes her head with a fore-leg appendage the likes of which she has never seen before. It has long digits, like a claw. The digits are thick, hairless and fleshy. One fleshy digit sticks out to the side of the rest, like an arboreal creature¡¯s claw. Before she can fully regard this alien appendage, it is softly scratching the white fur on the back of her head and neck. She looks up and regards the figure, now noticing that it is obviously male.


    His touch is reassuring, and strangely familiar. She is no longer afraid. She no longer feels lost in this world. Am I his pet? Answer the real questions. What are you? Where am I?


    I have never had a ¡®lucid dream¡¯ seem as real as this. But this must be a dream. He is too ugly to be real. Will I ever return to my world?


    Scene 3. White City


    Lilly can now see down over the edge of the cliff. She stands up and walks closer to the edge to get a better look at the amazing scene below. Down below is what appears to be a large city. It glistens white in the sunrise that has now reached down into the valley below. The buildings have no visible windows and appear to be all of the same form, they appear as a growth of opaque, white, crystals. Although there appears to be streets between the buildings, she is too far away to see if there are any vehicles or residents present.


    The figure walks over to Lilly and crouches down to face her: ¡°I don¡¯t know what you remember, so I will start again.¡± ¡°My name is ¡®Apollo¡¯ and I am a ¡®human¡¯.¡± ¡°And no, I am not a ¡®god¡¯.¡± He continues: ¡°You are my friend and co-worker, ¡®Lilly¡¯. You are an animal known as a ¡®goat¡¯.¡± That last part I already know. My name and species are the only things in this world that I do know! Co-worker?


    It appears that, although she can read his thoughts, she cannot project her thoughts back to him, and she cannot speak. This is going to be awkward...


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Come on Lilly, let me take you home.¡± Apollo stands, turns and begins to walk to the edge of the meadow where there is a path down the mountain toward the city below. Lilly stands up and quickly trots to his side. ¡®Healing¡¯ close along his side, like a good dog. I had better not loose track of this guy. As they walk he emits strange musical tones, like a flute. None in her world can ¡®whistle¡¯.


    Scene 4. Home


    The two walk down the path to a road and then walk along the side of the road for a while. Eventually they reach the first first buildings on the edge of the city. Apollo announces: ¡°Welcome to ¡®slkjfsl¡¯!¡± His telepathic ¡®word¡¯ for The White City¡¯s name is unintelligible to Lilly. It appears that there might be trouble conveying proper nouns to me¡­


    The road into the city has signs along side. These may be traffic controls or rules of behavior for entering the city. The upper part of the sign has a simple sketch picture glyph that must represent what the sign is about. The lower part of the sign has rows of randomly shaped figures that may be letters or words, giving details for the glyph. Well, so much for my driving around here¡­ I guess I won¡¯t be able to read anything here either...


    They continue walk through the edge of the city with the buildings getting taller as they go.


    No windows? On such a lovely day?


    Eventually, Apollo stops in front of one building, turns and walks up to it. Not visible until they are near it, is what appears to be the outlines of a doorway. He reaches out and touches the door and the door vanishes. Lights come on and they walk inside.


    ¡°Welcome home Lilly!¡± She turns her head, Now what.¡±First things first, wash off your hooves.¡± ¡°Germs!¡± ¡°This will be even more important later on.¡± Egad! Apollo stops at a doorway near the entrance, ¡°Here is the bathroom, there is one upstairs too, the one I usually use but inside my house there are no restrictions. Feel free to go anywhere.¡± ¡°Be careful outside and in town though¡­¡± I ain¡¯t going nowhere around here without you!


    The bathroom is very spacious, seemingly larger on the inside than on the outside. It must be an illusion. ¡°Here is the goat toilet.¡± He motions to a long tray, set into the floor. Lilly looks up at him with a grimaced face. ¡°Okay¡± ¡°Okay¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you some privacy.¡± Apollo walks back outside and the doorway becomes opaque. Lilly looks at trough, straddles it and begins. Then relieved: Ahhhh! Thank you!


    And once again Lilly is startled by this world, as she feels a soft spray of warm water on her sensitive under-parts, followed by a flow of gentle blowing air, to dry everything off. This is going to take some getting used to, but it is kind of nice. I could sell these back home.


    Her excrement has disappeared and the tray is sparkling clean again. She looks around the rest of the bathroom and notices a stall with curtains and extendable shower-heads above and below. Along the sides of the stall are soft brushes, on levers that also appear to extend. ¡°I see you have found the ¡®goat washer¡¯¡± Lilly is momentarily startled by Apollo¡¯s sudden reappearance. ¡°Tonight, after dinner, I will show you how it works.¡± I can¡¯t wait! Really! I could probably sell these too!


    Apollo begins a tour of the house. First the living room. At one end is a large frame. Along the walls are chairs, recliners and a couch. A coffee table is at the center, featuring a row of small devices, and a few jars and dishes, likely containing ¡®human¡¯ snacks. ¡°No, don¡¯t eat those, they are poison to goats.¡± That sounds like ¡®bullshit¡¯ to me. But I won¡¯t take the chance unless I get real hungry.


    By the way, when do we eat? Lilly looks at the dishes and then looks up at Apollo. ¡°Okay¡± ¡°Okay¡± ¡°It¡¯s lunch time.¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± He walks through another door across the living room into what appears to be the kitchen. The walls are lined with an array of strange devices. Only the stove and refrigerator are recognizable. The refrigerator is very large. Isn¡¯t this overkill for just one ¡®man¡¯? ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I don¡¯t live alone and you eat a lot!¡± Now that wasn¡¯t very nice! Although true...


    Apollo prepares two trays of nice looking fresh vegetables. They return to the living room. Apollo spreads out a soft blanket floor covering in front of the table. He places one tray on the low coffee table and one tray down on the blanket. ¡°You can stand, lay, or sit to eat.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make adjustments, if necessary.¡±


    Lilly looks down, trying to decide what would be most comfortable. She finally decides to remain standing to eat. Her long neck has no problem lowering her head to reach the tray contents. She sniffs the tray. Ohhh, that smells good! And she begins to munch on large mouth-fulls. Apollo eats much more slowly, no wonder, with that tiny mouth!


    Apollo demonstrates the large frame at the end of the room by pressing the small buttons on one of the small black devices from the coffee table. A remote control? The frame comes to life as a bright window into a very kinetic world and sound blares from the walls. It¡¯s a movie player? ¡°Yes, it plays movies, but also displays life as it occurs instantly, without a photographic process.¡± ¡°I have designed a remote control that you can use to watch shows when I have to leave you home.¡± He picks up a large plate from under the coffee table, it has pads with symbol drawings on it. Lilly grimaces: Look! You brought me here! I didn¡¯t come here to be left ¡®home¡¯!


    The lunch dishes are placed into a drawer in one of the mysterious kitchen devices. The drawer closes and a soft swooshing sound is heard. The house tour continues. Lilly is shown her sleeping quarters that are just a tidy as the rest of the house. How does he keep this place so clean? At night, do mice come out and clean the place? You would never guess he is keeping me, a goat, inside the house!


    Apollo shows Lilly how to unroll the different sleeping pads and how to work the room lights.


    Apollo''s room is sparse, with a low bed at one end, a desk and a desk lamp at the other. Another smaller frame is mounted on one wall. Off to the side is his bathroom, much smaller, with a stool and a shower recognizable from her world. What! no bath tub?


    His closet is almost as large as the bedroom, with rows of costumes along the sides. He smiles: ¡°As you can see, I play a lot of parts...¡±


    Scene 5. Good Night


    Apollo continues the tour and it is mostly pretty ordinary; stores of dry food; clean laundry; office supplies. One closet contains devices that apparently heat the water and filter the air, all automatically. But no windows, no books, and no telephone or other communication devices. Maybe they communicate through ''the frame''?


    They retire to the living room to watch programs on ''the frame¡¯. Some channels are movies of cities teaming with entities that resemble Apollo, although the entities shown are of all different colors. The cities are both modern and primitive. It is not clear if these pictures are contemporary or historical. Or movies, as Lilly cannot understand the written and spoken languages of this world (yet).


    Eventually Apollo helps Lilly prepare for her first night in his world. He pulls out a pad for her to sleep on and turns on her water bowl for water during the night.


    He then kneels down to Lilly¡¯s level, facing her. He reaches out with his arms and embraces her head and shoulders in his arms, ¡°Come back when you feel like it.¡± ¡°And when you can.¡±


    He then stands and leaves the room. The doorway becomes opaque and the room is suddenly silent. She faces the light control and sets it for ¡®motion¡¯. She walks to the pad and couches down, laying her head on her fore-legs. Then she closes her eyes and reflects: Whew! What a day! No one will believe it, not that anyone has ever believed me before.


    The room slowly darkens to black.

 3. Return

    Scene 1. Awake


    Lilly awakes with a start. She opens her eyes and raises her head. It is early morning and it is still dark in the room. She arises slightly from her couched position. The Fendor doll is nowhere to be seen. She carefully extends her legs and slowly lifts herself from the bed. Wow, I¡¯m back to my old self. What a relief. She looks around and sees Roc still in the same position in the bed as when she ¡®left¡±. She gets up and pulls on a robe and slippers. I need to find all of my school stuff and get going again. The school will eventually loose patience with me, stopping and starting again and again. She walks into the bathroom and regards the bathroom fixtures, reflecting on the bathroom in her dream. What a nightmare! I really wonder if any of it could be true or if it was all just the illusions of dream-magic?


    Roc meets Lilly in the kitchen. They are alone as the kids are staying at Rod¡¯s for the next couple of days. Roc looks at Lilly with a questioning gaze, ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± ¡°You look pretty good to me.¡± Lilly looks away, like she is guilty of something, How can I tell him about my dream. He¡¯ll have the ¡®Psych-Squad¡¯ on me for sure.


    Roc begins the confrontation, ¡°You got up last night," "apparently you were sleepwalking.¡± ¡°I had to help you use the bathroom."And find the kitchen, refrigerator and food and with eating.¡± ¡°You were like a child and did not speak.¡± "You were very spooky, like it was not you at all."


    Lilly¡¯s eyes are wide, like saucers, immediately recognizing what had happened, Oh no! We exchanged places, across worlds! "Thank you for helping ¡®me¡¯.¡± ¡°You know that you should never try to awaken a sleepwalker¡­¡± ¡°What did ''I'' do while ''sleepwalking'' around?¡±


    Scene 2. Last Night


    Roc begins to recount the details of the events from the last night. ¡°Well, you woke me up. You were lying in bed, crying.¡± ¡°You were gasping and bleating." The doll was across the bed but you looked terrified of it.¡± ¡°I could tell that you were still in another world by your glassy stare.¡± ¡°I took the doll and put it out of your sight." I could see that you were struggling to stand. I helped you stand up but you kept staring down as if you had never stood up before.¡± ¡°You were very unsteady, like you were learning how to walk for the first time.¡± ¡°I helped you walk to the bathroom.¡± ¡°You looked around in there as if you didn''t know what to do.¡± ¡°You did not know how to use the facilities and stared at the middle of the floor, looking for something.¡± ¡°I thought you might crap in the middle of the floor if I did not help you with <u>everything</u>.¡± ¡°I cleaned you, and everything else. Then I brought you back to the bed but you kept looking at the bedroom door,¡± ¡°I thought you might be hungry so I helped you to the kitchen.¡± ¡°Once again, you looked confused, so I helped you there too¡± ¡°You were looking at the refrigerator, so I started with that.¡± ¡°I took out a piece of pizza, but you shook your head.¡± ¡°I have never known you to refuse pizza, so I am convinced that, although she looked like you, she was really someone else ,ha ha." Lilly is very nervous about this discovery, ha ha indeed! ¡°I prepared a tray of vegetables, which you ate by sticking your whole head down into the tray and chomping.¡± ¡°Then I guided you back to bed," "you seemed to walk better after some practice.¡± ¡°You slept like a log the rest of the night, but I don¡¯t remember you snoring so loud before.¡±


    Lilly just stares at Roc, unable to comment on what had to have been an ¡®exchange¡¯ with the animal ¡®Lilly¡¯ of Apollo''s dream world. Lilly looks down at the floor, thinking, Apollo seemed to know had happened to me. He must have initiated this ¡®exchange¡¯, somehow. The weird feelings that I have had lately, even my seizure at the carnival, must have been from his ¡®probing¡¯. He was searching for a target and found me. But why me? And why the exchange? This all must have a purpose, but what is it? Apollo must need me for something, but what?


    Lilly is anxious to change the subject, ¡°I am returning to school," She announces, not bothering to seek permission or approval, ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can arrange a schedule for afternoon classes and drop the kids off at Rods.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay his girls.¡± ¡°They are so much better than me at ''day-care'' anyway.¡± Roc just stares at Lilly, who is not looking his way. I don''t know what is up with her. There is something, maybe a lot, she is not telling me. She''ll tell me if she wants me to know... someday... I think...


    Lilly then reflects back on this reality, I won¡¯t make a full confession, but I do need his help, ¡°Please help me if I ¡®sleepwalk¡¯ again.¡± Lilly looks up at Roc and smiles, still looking guilty as hell. Roc knows she is not telling him everything, but he looks down and smiles, reassuringly, ¡°I will.¡±


    Scene 3. College Again


    She then is off searching the house for her schoolwork. She also pulls out a few small pieces from her long ignored metal sculptures. She picks up an electrical switch and looks at it, Now how did they make a light switch that is ¡®motion controlled¡¯? The room lights had to be electric too.


    She pulls the college class catalog from her pile of school papers. I need to take some science classes. I''ll start with a physics class. I have always been interested in electrical stuff anyway.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Lilly walks to the campus and once again makes the rounds to be re-admitted. And again, waits by the art class door. And, once again, meets up with Liz and invites herself to a game of tennis and lunch. They have spent some time together lately, as Liz is fascinated by Lilly¡¯s kids, taking them shopping for clothes and toys. Liz is jealous of Lilly and does not think that Lilly fully appreciates her situation with Roc and the kids.


    Lilly does not mention her dream to Liz either. Lilly¡¯s memories of the dream fade over the next several days since. Lilly as not had any other dreams either, which is a relief.


    Scene 4. Physics Student


    Lilly enters the large lecture hall that is used for lower division science classes. It seats about two hundred in stepped gallery seats. The room acoustics are terrible. The room loudly rings with the voices and commotions of the other students. Her first collage physics lecture begins with the professor walking in and stepping up onto the raised stage at the back of the hall and drawing diagrams on the sketch board.


    He was large, older, spectacled-bear-man, with dark rings around his eyes. He wears glasses to exaggerate the effect. Lilly sought him out for his reputation. Originally he was a war veteran and then became an engineer in technical industry. He is now an active researcher in physics and astronomy. He has many friends and contacts throughout industry and academia. He has research and development projects in many of their laboratories. Perfect! He can help me interpret what I see in my dreams and tell me if the dreams represent what could be real devices and actual phenomena. I hope...


    She could not hear his lecture over the roar of the students. Most seemed uninterested in the class and more interested in visiting and flirting with each other. I guess I am going to have to take charge here.


    The noisy lecture hall was not Lilly¡¯s only problem with the physics class. There was also the material. Once she starts to do the homework problems she realizes how far behind she is. This is an emergency! I am going to have to ask my parents for more money, for tutors in math and science. She hated to contact her parents, although they were always supportive, especially for school. It is the only way I have any chance with this! She is determined.


    For now she ignores the lecture problems and concentrates on catching up on the basics. The tutors were not very far ahead of her in the classes, but they were still very valuable. With their help, she quickly catches up. It also helps that she is intrinsically intelligent, although in the past she was a bored, under-achiever student.


    Scene 5. Laboratory Assistant


    Lilly continues to attend the physics lectures. One day stares down at the noisy lecture hall students and considers, I can use this to get his attention. I loath attention but I need his help. And the best way to get it is to help him first. Tomorrow is the day.


    Back at home Roc notices his wife softly humming as she is polishing all of her large hoof-toenails crimson red. War paint? He sees she is straining to reach her back hooves, ¡°Let me help you with that.¡± She smiles and passes him the nail polish brush and presents a back hoof to him. He completes the war paint and watches her as she dresses in her athletic clothes, this time adding her signature choker, ¡°Please promise me that you wont kill anyone today.¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Okay, I promise.¡± ¡°No promises for tomorrow though!¡± He watches as she admires herself in the hall mirror, happily wiggling her tail. This extra body-weight does make me look a lot meaner.


    And so the physics lecture begins, as usual, with so much noise that the lecture is inaudible. This time Lilly takes the regular office desk, up near the front stage, used to hold the front door to the lecture hall for fresh air. She takes out her notebook and pen and sets them down on the desk and surveys the class. There are about fifty students of various types milling and visiting in the gallery. She slowly mounts the desk and stands up on it and shouts, loud enough to be heard over the din, "Okay you slugs! SHUT THE FXXXX UP!" "NOW!¡± She then crouches down on all fours, glaring at the class gallery from the top of the desk. Her bright red nails are crimped to the edge of the desk for all to see, ¡°If any of you want to take issue with me, step right up!¡± ¡°It has been a sXXXXty day and I could use the workout!¡±


    The students immediately fall into silence and look up, not at her, but at her shadow. High up on the wall behind her, projected by the light from the lower doorways, is the silhouette of a large, hunkering dragon, with flaming violet eyes.


    There are no takers for her ¡®workout¡¯.


    Lilly slowly arises and flashes a smile, sweetly, at the professor, who also is watching her in stunned silence. After a pause, he turns and resumes his lecture, this time clearly audible to all.


    She waits to leave the room last. She slowly saunters toward the door as the professor is collecting his notes. He turns to her, ¡°Would you mind coming with me to my office?¡± Lilly smiles, I thought you would never ask! "YES!" Lilly''s tail oscillates briskly with glee.


    The professor sits down, exhausted from the lecture and the extra excitement. He motions Lilly to sit in a folding chair next to his desk. It squeaks loudly as she sits, her large rump hangs over the sides of the small chair. She looks down and frowns. I hope this chair doesn''t collapse and dump me on the floor! The professor pays no attention, ¡°You are doing very well in my class. I would like you to consider helping me in my lab, if you are interested and available.¡± Lilly smiles and holds herself down on the chair as to not go rocketing through the roof. Smiling and trying to not look too obvious, ¡°I have some home commitments that I will have to work around, but yes, I would like to help you, and learn more.¡± She knows that she will also be expected to act as Sargent-at-arms for his class from now on without being specifically requested. She is very proud of herself, This was way too easy!


    The Professor is still staring at her. I think he likes me! You like ''em fat?


    Scene 6. Return Ready


    Roc, supportive as ever, helps her with a day-care schedule at Rod''s for the kids and keeps them from bothering her at home when she is studying. He also has adopted the household chores of cooking and laundry on the weekends when he is not a training camp. She is still receiving the increased stipend from her parents. Although she is not using tutoring services anymore, household expenses have increased, with more services contracted out, mostly to Rod''s family, in her absence and Roc gone during the week.


    The days continue without dreams of any kind. Lilly has hired Rod¡¯s daughters for care of the twins and cooking. Rod¡¯s son Timmy, now twelve, has been very helpful in assisting with home cleaning and repairs. He is fascinated by Lilly¡¯s sculptures, especially their animation by solenoids and electric motors. She starts working on her ¡®art¡¯ again, incorporating what she has learned in physics class for new features and animations. She teaches Timmy how to solder, weld, and work sheet-metal.


    When night comes for this busy family, all are exhausted and head straight for bed. Roc is back from training for the weekend. Camp is not close by, but Roc returns regularly, by train.


    Lilly is hesitant, looking down at the bed. I feel weird, like last time. Something is coming on. She looks at Roc, who changing into his bedclothes, ¡°Remember Roc,¡± ¡°be nice to me if I sleepwalk again.¡± Roc stops and stares at Lilly, ¡°I am always nice to you, Lilly.¡± True. What would I do without you?


    She looks around the room and sees her beloved doll on the top of the dresser. Hmmm, I had better leave it up there. My other self seems to fear my Fendor doll for some reason. She shudders, the ''other Lilly'' is smart too. Am I missing an important clue from the other world? She then climbs into bed, scooting up to Roc, touching back-to-back again. I wish I could take you with me.

 4. Wonderland

    Scene 1. Wonderland


    Lilly lifts her head from the soft sleeping mat and looks at the wall with the motion light switch. The room lights come on with her movement. She is back in her room in Apollo¡¯s world. And she is back in her quadruped-animal form. Okay, okay, I am not surprised by this. She then thinks, this world seems to be free of chronometers and calendars. I wonder how long I have been gone from here. Lilly retires to her special side bathroom and conducts her morning constitutional. I guess this will be a routine, every time I return. It must be natural for my other self. Relieved, washed and refreshed, she walks to the bedroom door that vanishes with her approach. She then pauses, feeling a familiar feeling between her legs. Uh oh, I feel like I am going into ¡®rut¡¯. I hope that I don¡¯t cause a stir. She walks to the kitchen to see that Apollo is already there and has breakfast ready. He announces, ¡°We have to get going. There is a lot to see and to do today.¡± ¡°I am taking you with me to my work.¡± Cool!


    ¡°We are walking to work today, even though it is a bit away." "I want you to see the city,¡± ¡°so that you will be able to find your way back home, if we get separated.¡± Don¡¯t leave me!


    After breakfast the two walk towards the end of the living room. A wide doorway suddenly appears, open to the outside. And they are off, down the street. Lilly looks around and they are alone, Where is everyone? No cars, buses or people.


    They walk across a large city square with a few green lawn areas and a large water fountain in the center. Everything is neat, clean and white. There aren¡¯t any birds, or any other animals.


    ¡°Also today we will visit your friend ¡®Billy¡¯.¡± ''Billy'' is my Friend?


    They walk a fair distance further into the city to what appears to be the industrial district. They approach one of the buildings and a door suddenly appears, no surprise to Lilly this time. Inside is a reception desk and a long hallway with short entrance ways, apparently doorways, but different from the others. The walk up to one but the will does not immediately open, there is a delay, the doorway leads to a small square room with several people resembling Apollo. Lilly is almost overcome by the smell, Whew, does it stink in here!


    One of the figures turns to Apollo and looks down at Lilly, Should I be on a leash?


    The figure speaks, ¡°Is today bring your stinking goat to work day, I didn¡¯t see the notice.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it crap on the floor!¡±


    I am fresh and clean from the goat-washer, I¡¯ll have you know. The stink is coming is not coming from me. It is coming from you all!


    Apollo does not react, he just replies, ¡°You know this is one of my experimental subjects, and it is very well trained. I have permission to walk it around the facility myself.¡± There is no further discussion. Lilly looks at the wall where they entered, thinking, I can read the thoughts of the others, in addition to Apollo, apparently. And now I¡¯m an ¡®it¡¯?


    The door appears, into a hallway but it is not the same one. Lilly quickly determines that these small rooms take the place of stairs in this world, perhaps lifted by motors as in one of her sculptures.


    Scene 2. Hall Of Science


    The two walk side by side down the halls of the institution, getting stares from everyone that sees them. Lilly looks at the other ¡®humans¡¯ thinking, Doesn¡¯t anyone else ever walk their goat here?


    They enter a large ¡®instant¡¯ doorway and proceed into a large hall. The hall is so large that the far walls are not visible. The ceiling is high overhead with hanging fixtures emitting bright illumination to the floor below. Lilly looks around, amazed one again, ¡°We must be below ground as nothing I could see walking in could house such a large room.¡±


    The room is filled with tables, of various sizes and shapes. On the tables are what appears to be apparatus of various designs and functions. Some of the devices were recognizable: motors and other electric-motive devices, although the designs had been streamlined, likely for their applications. Lilly is allowed to carefully examine these first tables. Lilly looks at the other tables, These tables seem to be arranged to show the apparatus in the increasing order of complexity, gradually incorporating new physical phenomena as it was discovered then applied.


    Lilly stops at the next table to see the motors and solenoids incorporated into a figure of a large bipedal doll. All of the devices can be demonstrated by pressing buttons on a display placard at the front of the table. The Placard also had what appeared to be text, likely describing the devices and their operation. Lilly is frustrated, I have to learn how to read all of this! Lilly had already started a notebook, back in her world, listing the simple primary numbers that she had seen here, as well as some of the symbols from the road-signs.


    So far Apollo has been pressing the buttons for her. Lilly thinks, I can do this! She sits down on the floor, on her haunches, in front of the doll-table. She then reaches up with her right fore-hoof and presses a button, and the doll starts to move.


    Lilly watches the doll move, fascinated. Apollo is aghast! He quickly reaches down and places her fore-hoof back down on to the floor. Apollo whispers to Lilly, ¡°Let¡¯s not have any more of that!¡± Lilly looks at Apollo and nods, Okay, I guess I am unusual here in this world and I must avoid giving myself away.


    Lilly continues to sit at the doll-table and shakes her head until Apollo has pressed all of the buttons and completes all of the doll demonstrations. The doll performs a number of complex movements. It looks pretty freaky to Lilly who then reflects, I wonder if this doll has something to do with the ¡®fear of dolls¡¯ my ¡®other self¡¯ has? And how are these actuators controlled for such complex motions? I don¡¯t see a wind-up clockwork control, just wires to a small box. The box seems too small to fit in anything mechanical, it must work on another principle.


    Lilly looks up at Apollo, ¡°Ready to move on?¡±And Lilly nods, I hope ''nods'' are okay here. Even animals can do that in my world.


    The next table displays different types of simple chemical electrolyte batteries. Lilly had many of these types in her world. She was a little surprised that few of the battery types were any different, I guess battery technology has not progressed much in this world.


    And then on to the next table. This was the first table to demonstrate phenomena unknown in her world, electric illumination by means other than arc-light. Lilly looks at the small bright lights thinking, where is the gas, oil or wax for these? Only wires leading up to the glass spheres and long tubes of various sizes. One demonstration had a large magnifying glass. Apollo motions to Lilly to step up. She has to turn her long nose sideways to look through the lens with one eye. She sees a thin coiled wire filament, glowing red when Apollo presses the button, then it becomes a dark when he releases the button. So these lights are just hot wires? There must be more¡­


    Apollo shows Lilly an apparatus at the end of the table, an electric motor connected to a pump with a belt. And then another device, apparently a pump using the liquid metal, mercury. Mercury was mostly a novelty in her world, although sometimes it was used in gravity switches, and for rat poison. But this device was using mercury for a very different purpose. Apollo presses a button and the motor starts driving the mechanical pump. An inductive-interrupter coil begins to buzz. After a short time one of the long tubes begins to glow with a long red electric discharge. Then the mercury pump begins by pumping a column of mercury up into a vertical glass tube, the valves change position and the red glow becomes bars of red as the tube is evacuated. The bars fade to a glow around one electrode at one end as the tube is further evacuated. The valve to the filament demonstration is opened to evacuate the filament tube. Apollo presses the button and the filament now produces a very bright light with the electrical current. I get it, materials can only be electrically heated to the high temperature required for white light in a vacuum, and a pretty thin vacuum at that. Lilly looks back at the mercury vacuum pump, and this mercury pump device is the secret!


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Apollo is now staring down at the smiling, knowing, Lilly, ¡°Lilly, you''re scaring me. You are grasping these principles too quickly.¡±


    Lilly, excited for more, gallops to the next table. This table has an array of glass tubes laid out across it, apparently to demonstrate what happens when an electrical discharge is sent through the different types of gasses. The tubes glow in an array of colors, blue, violet, pink, and one a bright orange-red. There are cards identifying the different gasses in the tubes but Lilly cannot read the text. Apollo¡¯s reading of the names is also unintelligible. The same as when he tried to read the names for the materials used in the batteries. As usual, no proper nouns are allowed for me. I guess I will have to do some experiments if or when I get back to my world. Oh boy! The table also display''s something else, next to each glowing tube is a metal slit facing a small wedge of glass. Behind the wedge of glass is a card where the wedge projects a series of lines of different colors, arranged in the order of a rainbow. Each tube had a unique series of lines. And so you can identify each gas by its series of lines? Apollo is looking at me, looking worried again.


    ¡°I think this is enough for today. Let¡¯s go visit ¡®Billy¡¯.¡± Apollo is now looking more relaxed as he herds Lilly out of the hall with his knees. Lilly. of course, wasn¡¯t finished with the hall tour, and keeps looking back. I want see more of this!


    Scene 3. Billy


    They are back in the seemingly endless hallways again, walking for what seemed to be miles. The another ¡®floor transfer¡¯ box ride to a hall with overwhelming smells. It smells like a farm. They enter another great hall, but this one has a variety of pens and fences. Lilly can see the heads of animals peering at them from over the fences. Some of the animals are calling out to them. She walks up to a pen of sheep, they see her and run over to meet her and call out to her though the pen rails.


    She detects no thoughts from them, Nuts!


    Apollo is still walking to the farther side of the hall. They approach a large pen with only one individual, a large, white, billy goat. The goat is chewing on hay. He immediately stops when he sees Lilly and runs over toward her, calling out the whole way, "Baaaaaah!" His body display''s his excitement, once he is close enough to smell Lilly. Lilly observes, I can see that you are happy to see me. Lilly is happy to see him too. She has been very uncomfortable with her ¡®rut¡¯, then she gets a whiff of his smell. Oh Lord, may I order a few bottles of that smell?


    Farm assistants appear with halters, hoof covers and horn covers. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to kill each other in your excitement!¡± But Lilly suddenly notices something else, her mind is faintly receiving some of the billy¡¯s thoughts, not yet receiving clearly, but it is unmistakable. She tries an experiment, she stares directly at him, pulling her lips tight and squinting. She thinks the phrase slowly, several times, ¡°My name is Lilly.¡± ¡°My name is Lilly.¡± ¡°My name is Lilly.¡±


    The billy goat suddenly steps back and stares at Lilly, with eyes wide, ¡°My name is Alabaster.¡± Lilly clearly receives his projected thought. And her thought to him is the first communication that she has sent to another entity in this world. And she finally finally and clearly received an intelligible proper name, also for the first time in this world. She is overjoyed and bounces up and down, ¡°At last, a conversation! And sex!¡± ''Al'' stares at her, still smiling, ¡°Careful now, I can hear you!¡±


    Apollo sees that the goats have likely linked minds but he carefully resists acknowledging it. Apollo looks down and smiles at Lilly, ¡°How would you like to spend the night here, with billy?¡± Lilly continues to bounce. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a ¡®yes¡¯.¡±


    Lilly allows the farm hands to lead her to a pen where she is then fitted with protective ''mating'' armor. She is then released to the greater pen to ¡®meet¡¯ with her new friend. They look at each other in their goat armor and laugh, as only goats can, audibly, and in their thoughts. It is a joyous ¡®meeting¡¯ and it is not long before he ''introduces'' himself in the traditional way. Lilly kneels down on her front knees, to allow Alabaster even further inside her, and she sequels with pleasure and she reflects, ¡°Wow! Sex in this body is even more overwhelming than in my world!¡±


    She then receives a thought from Al, ¡°You have another body?¡±


    Lilly shudders, ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, you can read all of my thoughts! Oh my!¡± ¡°But thank you for ending my ¡®rut¡¯¡±


    ¡°The pleasure is all mine!¡±


    After their long congress, the two collapse from exhaustion. After they catch their breath, Al shows Lilly to the food dispenser. Al demonstrate it by bumping one of the levers with his nose. and an apple falls to the tray below. ¡°I want to try it!¡± And Lilly lifts a front hoof to a lever. Al quickly pushes Lilly back and shakes his head. ¡°Don¡¯t use your hoof, or anything but you nose!¡± ¡°Unless you want to get dissected!¡±


    ¡°Dissected?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, so be careful.¡± ¡°Do not show any signs of advanced intelligence!¡± ¡°If you want to continue to live in one piece!¡±


    Lilly is thankful for the warning. And now she knows why Apollo is ignoring her most of the time, especially around other ¡®humans¡¯.


    The lights in the hall eventually dim, apparently to simulate the night. Lilly looks at Al, ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed. Whatever ¡®bed¡¯ is here.¡± Al leads Lilly up a ¡®climb¡¯ to the ¡®goat-loft¡¯ high up. Lilly looks out on to the expanse of the hall, ¡°Cool! A view!¡± She truly loves her new friend. They both then assume couched positions, on their knees, on the soft pad in the loft. Lilly scoots over to be in contact with the body of her new friend, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind but I need reassurance.¡± ¡°I need to feel your body right now.¡± They lower their heads to sleep. It is Lilly¡¯s first night away from Apollo in this world. Lilly reflects, ¡°Another first!¡± Lilly still feels a bit sticky from her congress with Al, I do miss Apollo''s goat-washer though.


    ¡°Al?¡± ¡°Are you asleep?¡±


    ¡°Not any more.¡±


    ¡°I share this body with another.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°If she takes this body, be nice to her.¡±


    ¡°I am always nice.¡±


    "You sound like my husband."


    "Husband?"

 5. Wizard

    Scene 1. Physics Class


    Lilly awakens, laying in the bed of her world, her back still touching against Roc¡¯s. She rolls over and stares at the ceiling, I guess I will talk to The Professor today about setting up a demonstration. I¡¯ll need to fabricate that mercury vacuum pump, but I think the department has a mechanical vacuum pump.


    I really want to know if what I am seeing in the dream world can be true in this world. And, actually, I hope not.


    She gets up and starts to dress for the day. I need to get closer to The Professor somehow. He seems to be interested in my photography, maybe we can ¡®develop¡¯ something in the ¡®darkroom¡¯.


    When Roc is away in camp, Beth, Roc¡¯s oldest daughter, becomes the live-in day-care attendant. Beth is also taking care of the ¡®other me¡¯ during the nights of the ¡®exchange¡¯. Beth has prepared breakfast. My, she is as good a cook! As good as Rod at least! She is much better, and faster, at cooking than I am!


    Beth speaks, glancing at Lilly, ¡°You were up again last night.¡± ¡°Your sleepwalking has improved, you could stand and walk by yourself this time, so I didn¡¯t have to help you as much.¡± ¡°Also, you seemed to know the layout of the house now.¡± ¡°I still had to help you in the bathroom though.¡± ¡°And your midnight snack eating is still pretty messy.¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°I don¡¯t remember any of that, but I thank you for taking care of ¡®me¡¯.¡±


    Beth then turns and walks to the high-chairs, to help the twins. But they, too, are needing less help now. Lilly then thinks about the twins, Maybe I should put them in preschool, they are so smart. But Timmy seems to be happy reading to them and taking them to the park. They adore Timmy, and will do anything he asks. They always rubbing up against him and sniffing him. I hope they are not taking after their perverted mother and her love of carnivorous furries!


    Lilly then collects her school notes, stuffs them into her folio and walks to the college. I¡¯ll need to make a drawing of the mercury pump. It didn¡¯t have that many parts, so it should be easy to make, if I can use the college¡¯s machine shop. I¡¯ll need The Professor to help me with that too. I could use his help with the drawings. He is a good sketch artist.


    Lilly walks to the lecture hall and listens to the physics lecture with interest. Afterward she follows The Professor back to his office. She walks to his door and knocks. The Professor in his calm voice says, ¡°Come in.¡± Lilly peeks in, ¡°Is now a good time to talk?¡± The Professor nods. Lilly is anxious,¡°I have a physics demonstration I would like to do,¡± ¡°may I show you what I have in mind?¡±


    Lilly proceeds to show The Professor her drawings, of the tubes, pumps and electrical equipment necessary for her proposed demonstration. The Professor regards the drawings carefully, one by one. Lilly has already circled the apparatus she knows the Physics department has, with only a few black figures remaining to found, or fabricated, to complete the demonstration set-up.


    The Professor regards Lilly, ¡°Do you know how the run the machines in the machine shop? Could you make the necessary parts yourself there?¡± Lilly nods.


    The Professor continues, ¡°I will need to accompany you in the shop for school security reasons, but we should be able to find some time when the shop isn¡¯t being used, and we are both available.¡± ¡°Probably at night, if that works for you.¡± Lilly nods briskly, now very excited as The Professor seems to want to proceed.


    She then makes another request, ¡°Do you have anyone to help you with your photography projects?¡± The Professor stares at the young women over his glasses, ¡°I am behind on developing my astro-photography plates.¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°May I help you?¡±


    I am a demon in the darkroom, elsewhere too.


    She is also getting a faint whiff of a forest smell from The Professor.


    Let¡¯s get close in the darkroom, you smell great!


    ¡°I am developing some of the plates this evening if you would like to join me and are otherwise available.¡± ¡°We can meet at The Sciences darkroom at 7:00pm.¡±


    Lilly smiles, wiggling her tail and her body a bit, ¡°I¡¯ll be there!¡±


    Scene 2. Darkroom Developments


    She attends her remaining classes for the day and heads to the library to work on her drawings for the demonstration apparatus.


    I will need to add some detail if we we are going to be machining parts from these drawings.


    She then heads over to The Sciences Center. She finds the Center¡¯s darkroom in the back of a large, general sciences, lab area. Unfortunately, the room has several young sheep-women, working on papers and lab apparatus, all apparently are his assistants too.


    We will not be alone together tonight.


    Lilly looks at the women in the room and notices that they are all pretty plump.


    No wonder he likes me. I don¡¯t think it will be to difficult for me to get on his ¡®good side¡¯!


    The Professor appears. He then enters the small closet that has been converted into the darkroom. He retrieves several chemical trays along with several large black folios. The Professor lays out a printed procedure checklist for the glass photographic plate development process. He recites the procedure carefully with Lilly. Each photographic palate represents several month¡¯s work at the observatory, so it is important that nothing is spoiled. This set was taken over the entire previous winter season.


    Wow, you are behind!


    He also wants to make prints from historical discovery plates, for an upcoming presentation to donors to the college. And that presentation is coming up soon.


    Lilly is relieved, ¡°Let¡¯s start with the prints,¡± ¡°we can always start over if those don¡¯t come out right the first time.¡± The Professor nods.


    And so the plate image projector is set up, the first glass plate is slid in to the plate holder of the projector. The large stiff sheet of photographic print paper is slid into the holder below the main lens of the projector. Lilly looks into the projector and slides the head up and down, until she feels it is a focused as good as it is going to get. Then the exposure is started in the small darkroom. The Professor and Lilly are working pretty well as she can reach the lower apparatus, and he, the higher up. However the space is quite narrow, and they are both rather thick of body. Their bodies are in constant contact with each other, and despite the strong smell of photographic chemicals, they can also smell each other. Neither seem to mind, or mention it. These are a few of the extra benefits of the ¡®development¡¯ process.


    The exposed paper is then set into the trays of solution. The details soon appear, in the dim red candle light. The papers are then removed from the tray, rinsed and hung from clips on wires, to dry.


    The prints came out very nicely.


    Lilly is very pleased that the process was so easy, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Will the regents like these?¡±


    The Professor smiles at Lilly, ¡°Yes I think they will do nicely,¡± ¡°Now I just need to do the write-up.¡±


    Lilly, eager to help, ¡°It¡¯s just a caption for the photo, right?¡± ¡°I think I can do that for you, and save you some time.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll just have to check me.¡± The Professor nods again and writes down the references for the five prints. These will be shown by the regents as projections on a large screen from an arc-light overhead projector.


    The photographic plates from the winter are left for development on another night. Lilly has made the essential impression.


    Now, where am I going to get the time to do all of these things? I¡¯ll have to confess a bit to Roc. And get also get more help for home, from someone, somewhere.


    Scene 3. Homework


    Roc is finished with summer training. The pro season is about to start. He is on a short vacation at home. Lilly is sitting across the front room where she has set up a large work-desk using and old door where she has been doing her homework. She is preparing the captions for The Professor¡¯s astro-prints. The regent¡¯s need to impress the donors to give more money to the college. Lilly is aware of its importance, half of the cost of running the college is covered by donations. She reads the discovery papers, as well as popular press articles, about the discoveries. She then plagiarizes the best words from all of the sources for the captions. She looks up from her work. Roc is facing away, reading the sports section of the local newspaper.


    ¡°Roc?¡± ¡°I have something going on at the college that I need to tell you about.¡±


    Roc is studying the newspaper and does not look up,


    ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you having an affair with one of your teachers?¡±


    Lilly looks up, startled and shocked, her eyes wide staring at Roc¡¯ back. Every single strand of her bristly white fur is standing straight up, along with her long ears.


    He can¡¯t know. He is teasing me. I hope¡­


    Lilly, in a shaky voice, continues, ¡°No it¡¯s not that.¡± ¡°I have a demonstration project in the physics department that I¡¯ll need to work on for the next few nights.¡±


    ¡°Okay let me know if there is anything I can do to help.¡± ¡°A demonstration?¡± ¡°Can I come and see it?¡±


    ¡°I will need the evenings for the next couple of weeks.¡± Weeks? ¡°And yes, it is a demonstration of a potentially new physical phenomena.¡± ¡°And yes, you can come and see it, if it works.¡± ¡°There might even be a public showing.¡± And Lilly relaxes a little. I am so close to being busted for all of this. I have to be more careful. But that is so not me. I am never careful. That¡¯s why I have two kids. And Roc wants more!


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    Scene 4. Shop-Work


    Lilly meets The Professor at the Engineering School¡¯s machine shop. They are intercepted by the Electrical Engineering department head who seems to know they were coming. He an affable raccoon-man with horn-rimmed glasses. He looks like and engineer, Lilly reflects. He is smiling and pawing at Lilly and The Professor, This guy wants something pretty badly. ¡°Hello hello, I heard that you were coming over to the Engineering School today and I wanted to see if there was anything you needed.¡± Lilly does not miss a beat, ¡°Yes, we need five liters of liquid mercury.¡±


    The man looks puzzled, ¡°Whatever do you need that much mercury for?¡± ¡°I doubt there is that much in the entire county.¡±


    Lilly smiles sweetly, ¡°Would you check for us?¡± Gotcha!


    The ¡®glad paws¡¯ knows he will get no further cooperation from them without fulfilling this request, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± And he trundles off.


    It is evening and the shop is locked, but The Professor has a key. He unlocks the door and they enter. Usually the shop is illuminated by daylight as the gas lamps provide a feeble illumination. The Professor starts an arc-light at one end of the large shop room and aims the bright light beam to the ceiling. It reflects down and casts deep distracting shadows, but is sufficient to see well enough to operate the machines. The Professor then recites the required safety statement, ¡°We¡¯ll have to be careful, running the mills and the lathes in this light.¡± ¡°Show me before you start <u>anything</u>.¡± Lilly nods, not wanting to sacrifice a body appendage for science.


    They examine the pile of drawings and decide to start with the easiest one. It is a short pipe-fitting with a threaded whole in one side. The drawing says ¡°stainless steel¡± whatever that is. The Professor states, ¡°we¡¯ll use nickel.¡± The Professor finds a tube section in the scrap pile. The two cut it to length, with a band saw then drill the hole with the mill. They then screw in a tap, to thread the hole.


    Then on to the next part. The most complex part required the mill and took several operations to complete, but by midnight they had finished all of the required metal parts.


    Lilly is examining some of the other drawings, ¡°Who do you know in the Chemistry department?¡± ¡°We need some blown glass fixtures.¡± The Professor chuckled, ¡°I can probably do those myself, I started out as a chemist, that¡¯s how I got into photography.¡± ¡°Eventually I moved on to astronomy and astro-photography because it seemed like there is more to be discovered there.¡± ¡°Tomorrow we with start in one of my other labs. I have glass-working set-up that I keep for making apparatus, such as this.¡± ¡°Ha ha!¡± he laughs as if he is pulling one over on the school.


    Scene 5. Glass-Work


    The next night they meet outside a locked laboratory in the Chemistry department. The Professor opens the door and turns up a gas lamp. He then lights several oil lanterns and sets them out on the desks. In the back Lilly can now see the gas jets, set at the odd angles necessary for working glass.


    The Professor now is studying Lilly¡¯s drawing of the glass contraption at the business end of the mercury vacuum pump. The Professor then lights the gas jets and hands a pair of goggles to Lilly and then puts on a pair himself. He pulls out a long glass tube and starts to work it. Lilly is fascinated by the process. She is good at welding but has never had a chance to work glass. She has only seen the glass doodles that the vendors make at the carnival. The Professor never stops, except to get more glass. He melts sheets, rods and tubes into a beautiful and ornate glass sculptures. He sets the most complex piece, the heart of the mercury vacuum pump, into an annealing oven, so that It won¡¯t later spontaneously explode.


    He continues to work several glass tubes into the finished discharge tubes, with electrodes held in to each end by pressing the hot melted glass tube ends shut against the mounting wires. He uses nickel battery electrodes, with lead wires already attached, for the electrodes. In short order, he has five discharge tubes ready to go. Then he mounts a tungsten wire, crimped in to nickel lead wires, carefully into the end of one tube that already has the other end crimped shut. It is the incandescent light-bulb for the demonstration. All of these tubes have small evacuation tubes projecting from their sides, for evacuating the atmosphere with the vacuum pumps.


    The Professor then turns off the gas jets and places the remainder of the glass artwork into another annealing oven. ¡°These won¡¯t take as long.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait as I cannot leave the ovens running unattended.¡± Lilly nods, ¡°No problem.¡± She looks at her drawing pile, ¡°Are we finished¡± The Professor smiles, ¡°Unless we missed something." ¡°The next thing to do is to screw it all together and turn it on! Ha ha!¡±


    The Professor then pauses, frowns and stares intently at Lilly, ¡°We¡¯re not going to destroy the world, are we?¡± I don¡¯t think he is kidding. Is he on to me?


    Lilly manages a weak smile and bats her eyelids, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Scene 6. Demonstration Day


    Lilly and The Professor work to assemble the high-vacuum demonstration apparatus. ¡®World destruction¡¯ is not discussed again. With the help of the other lab assistants, a large demonstration table is cleared and piece by piece the critical components and mounted and connected. Large knife-switches have been mounted to the table, to start the various stages of the experiment and to maximize the dramatic effects. The Professor waves the air and insists, ¡°A good scientific demonstration should always have drama, or no one will remember it!¡±


    At last, the assembly is finished. Lilly looks at the table. Wow, it is neater and more clearly laid out then the one in my dream. ¡°Maybe we should check it out in here first?¡± The Professor shakes his head, ¡°Breakthroughs in science are not made by cowards!¡± ¡°You have to be ready to die for your work!¡±


    Die?


    A notice announcing the public demonstration was placed in the student paper, as well as posted around campus, on handbills. The Physics department loves publicity. Unfortunately for Lilly, the regent¡¯s presentation to the donors is also scheduled for the same day, and, of course, the donors all insist on seeing the demonstration event of the ¡®new science¡¯.


    Lilly sinks into deep depression, Oh Well, I might as well make the humiliation complete.


    Lilly calls Roc and invites him to see the demonstration, to be held the next day.


    The hall is decorated as if it was a festival, with colored paper buntings. Prints of The Professor''s astro-photographs are hung on all the walls. Lilly is inside standing dejected on the lecture platform. She looks down at the demonstration table, Could this get any worse? What ¡®is¡¯ the ¡®worst¡¯ that can happen?


    The Professor walks up to the stage and silences the crowd with a wave. He then begins with a lecture, reciting the history of science and how so many discoveries have been made by students, in school classes. He points at the table and announces, ¡°This is one such breakthrough.¡± Lilly is sitting at a side table with The President of the college and other dignities. She is sinking down beneath the table as The Professor speaks.


    The Professor then dramatically approaches the table and slowly closes the first knife-switch. The mechanical vacuum pumps begin operation with a ¡°chug chug chug¡±. The Professor then turns some of the valves mounted on the table. He then, slowly and dramatically, closes the second knife-switch. A glass column fills with the bright silver liquid mercury and the crowd gasps.


    Lilly is now shaking in her seat, uncontrollably. The Professor slowly and dramatically walks from the demonstration table over to Lilly and defers to her, ¡°Here is our inventor, I am proud to say, one of my students.¡±


    Lilly has her teeth tightly clenched and is holding herself down to the chair thinking, projecting, NOOOOO!!!


    The Professor sees her stress but he is not taking ¡®no¡¯ for and answer. Lilly is going to close that last knife-switch. She looks up. The Professor is, despite his age, a huge, strong, bear. He is big and strong enough to lift Lilly out of her seat and over to the table, if necessary. She concedes, and stands, unsteady, and staggers over to the side of the demonstration table. She is seeing black blobs floating around in her field of view. She losing consciousness because she has not taken a breath since the demonstration started.


    Lilly reaches out and closes the last knife-switch. The mercury column descends and a loud buzz is heard from the high-voltage inductive-interrupter. It is now providing electricity to excite the gas in the discharge tubes. The table fills the room with an array of colors of light. The bright new incandescent light-bulb is shining like a star from the center of the demonstration table, filling the dim gas-lit lecture hall with the new white light.


    Lilly loudly screams, ¡°Baaaaaaaaah!¡± to the table and the crowd. She reaches up towards the roof, shouting, ¡°No!" "It¡¯s true!¡± "No!" ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Then she stumbles, collapsing backward into the soft folds of The Professor¡¯s body. He sees her struggle. Worried about her condition, he is ready to catch her, if necessary.


    And it is.


    Lilly becomes as limp as a rag doll. Her eyes are closed and her large tongue is hanging out the side of her open mouth. She is completely unconscious, with The Professor holding her up. He quickly escorts her to an alcove, out from the sight of the crowd.


    Scene 7. Realization


    Lilly suddenly regains consciousness in a panic and opens her eyes. She calms down a bit when she sees that she is lying, still fully clothed from the presentation, on a bed with white curtains pulled closed around it. She is in the collage¡¯s medical suite. Since she is still dressed for the demonstration so she knows that her memory of it is not a dream.


    She calls out and Roc opens the curtains on one side of the bed, ¡°Lilly! What happened to you?¡±


    Lilly sinks back in to the bed, looking at the ceiling again.


    She softly croaks, ¡°You saw it...¡±


    ¡°The Professor asked me if I was going to destroy the world...¡±


    ¡°And I told him, ¡®not yet¡¯...¡±


    ¡°I lied.¡±

 6. Industrialist

    Scene 1. Blast Pattern


    Lilly resists any further medical examinations and demands that Roc immediately take her home. Outside the college clinic, a considerable crowd has gathered to see the young genius physics student that bought a new form of light down from ¡®heaven¡¯. Lilly had Roc push them out of the way as Trish drives up. Liz and Roc help Lilly into Trish¡¯s car. Trish has to drive slowly to avoid running over the crowd around the car. The crowd now includes newspaper reporters and celebrity magazine photographers, all trying to take pictures of Lilly. To their disappointment, Lilly wraps a blanket around her face and body. Only her horns are visible out the top of her blanket-roll in the back seat.


    At last they are home. Trish, Liz and Roc help Lilly into the house. She is gradually gaining control standing and walking. They seat her in a chair, the three standing staring down at her. Roc considers the exhausted Lilly and announces, ¡°Maybe we should wait until tomorrow for ¡®question and answer¡¯.¡± Trish and Liz both nod and leave.


    Roc faces Lilly again, ¡°Is there anything you want to say now?¡± Lilly shakes her head ¡®no¡¯, trembling again.


    Meanwhile The Professor holds a news conference, as much for college dons, regents, students and donors as for the press. He does not take credit for Lilly¡¯s discovery, he says that he only helped Lilly construct parts for the apparatus from her plans. It is clear from the questions that many have already realized the political, commercial, and military value of these discoveries. And, of course, everyone wants to know what is next. The Professor honestly states that he does not know.


    Several of the ¡®donors¡¯ are of note, an Industrialist, that goes by the moniker, ¡®The Chief¡¯, An army officer that is only known as, ¡®The General¡¯. Also in at the conference is the Professor¡¯s superior, the Physics department head, affectionately known as ¡®The Head¡¯ and a psychologist that works for the school and the general hospital, known as, ¡®Foxworthy¡¯. All of these men, as well as many others, have Lilly in their sights. And they all note Lilly¡¯s physical and mental vulnerability, and perceive these weaknesses as an opportunity to exploit her.


    The next day Lilly is better, she has regained her balance and her normally calm demeanor. Roc hides the envelopes of interview requests from her. She appears at the living room doorway, bright and smartly dressed. She announces, ¡°I am going to school today!¡± Roc shakes his head ¡®no¡¯, ¡°I am afraid that is not possible. I¡¯ll call your teachers so that they can send you their assignments.¡± ¡°You will have to study at home for a while, until the foo-foo blows over and the ¡®cads¡¯ give up on watching the house.¡± ¡°People have short attention spans, I don¡¯t think you will have to wait very long.¡±


    Lilly collapses onto the couch and kicks off her shoes, ¡°I guess you are right.¡± ¡°But would you call The Professor, I do need to talk to him, and apologize to him.¡±


    Roc nods, ¡°He might want to see you, is that okay?¡±


    Lilly nods, ¡°He is a prince, he did everything that I asked him to do.¡± ¡°So I owe him ¡®big-time¡¯.¡± ¡°Anything he wants!¡± ¡°And you too.¡± ¡°You know that I have not told you everything but you are such a gentleman and you don¡¯t ¡®probe¡¯.¡± ¡°Please understand that it is not because I don¡¯t trust you.¡± But if I say it out loud, you will think I am even crazier than you already know that I am. ¡°I know you won¡¯t ¡®rat me out¡¯ to the ¡®Psych-Squad¡¯.¡± But others have a way of finding these things out for their own nefarious purposes, and I¡¯ll end up disappearing, and dissected!


    Roc calls The Professor''s office. The Professor¡¯s office telephone exchange tells Roc that The Professor is out of town for a few weeks, but that he will be calling in and picking up his messages. Roc leaves his name, his relationship to Lilly, and his telephone number. About an hour later, The Professor calls and talks to Lilly on the phone for a half an hour. Roc cannot resist listening in. He is horrified by Lilly¡¯s half of the conversation. Lilly and The Professor arrange to meet at Lilly¡¯s house, after dark to avoid the ¡®paparazzi¡¯ and their cameras.


    Roc prepares the guest rooms. He expects that overnight guests may be a staying at the house for a while, since Lilly can¡¯t leave. The Professor appears at 9:00 pm. Roc leaves them alone to talk, not wanting to hear any more of their frightening words. They talk for two hours. Roc offers The Professor a guest room, but The Professor says he has too much to do and cannot stay the night. The Professor leaves the house and somehow sneaks past the press sentries that are stationed around the house.


    The next morning Roc tells Lilly that he is dropping out of the team this season to take care of her. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, ¡°Please Roc, No,¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t necessary and it won¡¯t help me.¡± ¡°The only thing that will help me now is for me to leave the house and hide somewhere the press can¡¯t reach.¡± Roc is shaking his head, but Lilly is persists, ¡°You know this is the only thing I can do for now.¡± ¡°If you try to help me, you too will be dogged by the press and dragged further into this mess.¡± ¡°The best thing for you to do is to go and play ball.¡± ¡°The league and your team is already set up to handle the press.¡± ¡°The press¡¯s fascination with your involvement in this affair will encourage more people to come and see you play.¡± ¡°The Professor has offered me a place to stay.¡± ¡°There I can continue my college studies and even do a little research.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be paying my way through college by transcribing The Professor¡¯s papers,¡± ¡°I am doing some of that now anyway.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t try to guess where I am or tell anyone that he is helping me, or even that I am still alive.¡±


    Roc stares at Lilly, She has thought this through, and hopefully, it won¡¯t be for long.


    Lilly looks down, ¡°I would not have done this ¡®demonstration¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Put you all through this¡­¡± If I thought there was any chance it would really work.¡± ¡°Now I am ¡®damned¡¯.¡± ¡°It is up to me, alone, to atone.¡±


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    ¡°The Professor wants me to meet someone, an industrialist. The industrialist has asked The Professor if he can put my invention into production. He is a friend of The Professor¡¯s and they have collaborated on several products in the past.¡± ¡°The Professor trusts him, and that means a lot to me.¡± ¡°Maybe getting this thing out and available to everyone will make it ordinary and commonplace,¡± ¡°and take the heat off of me.¡± ¡°I have agreed to meet with this ¡®industrialist¡¯ at his factory.¡± ¡°The Professor recommends that I reside at the industrialist''s factory for awhile.¡± ¡°The industrialist has a lot of places for people to stay, secure, while they are working for him.¡± ¡°You can even come visit me there and stay over.¡±


    Roc finally gives in and agrees with his stubborn wife. He then starts packing for his pro-circuit games, ¡°At least I can come visit you between the games,¡± ¡°I have more time off during the season, traveling ¡®the pro-circuit¡¯ than during the summer when I am at training camp.¡±


    Scene 2. Pieces


    Lilly, The Professor and Roc are seated on one side of a large oak conference table. The conference room is attractively furnished, around the sides of the room are soft, dark colored, curtains. Behind the curtains are the display boards and stages used for holding new product demonstrations and press releases.


    A door at the side of the conference room opens and in walks a handsome, boar-man. He stands straight, and looks fit and confident in his fashionable business attire. He is very neat and carefully groomed. His tusks are polished ivory-white and glisten. He stands a moment and poses, then he carefully regards the seated group. He then flashes them his eyes closed, signature smile.


    Lilly reflects, His unique smile is no doubt a significant factor in his company¡¯s success. The Professor and Roc stand, Lilly remains seated and appears to be downcast, Oh great! More Attention on me! And more questions that I can not truthfully answer!


    The Chief speaks, ¡°Good morning, My name is Percival, but everyone here simply calls me ¡®The Chief¡¯. I think originally this title was a pejorative from employees that did not like my management style, but the has name stuck. So if you ask for Percival, no one around here will know who you are talking about.¡± The Chief smiles and chuckles, trying to break the ice with the solemn group. The Chief then looks to The Professor, ¡°Professor! Great to see you again, my friend! You always say you are going to visit, but you never do.¡± ¡°What brings you here today?¡±


    The Professor responds, ¡°Chief there is someone here that I would like you to meet.¡± The Professor smiles and looks down at Lilly. ¡°She is an inventor, with some product ideas I think you will find interesting.¡± ¡°Chief, I would like you to meet my student, Lilly, and her husband Roc.¡± The Chief is momentarily distracted, spotting the famous ball player, Roc, ¡°You are Roc the ball player, aren''t you?¡± Roc nods. The Chief¡¯s attention then immediately returns to Lilly.


    Of course, The Professor and The Chief have already been in contact. The Chief was at the demonstration at the invitation of The Professor. The Chief is already familiar with, and very interested in, Lilly¡¯s inventions. Practical electric illumination has been a goal of industry for many years, without success, except for the arc-light. And Lilly demonstrated low-power electrical illumination on her first try, a stunning first success.


    The Chief looks down at the seated Lilly. She is staring down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with anyone and feeling very self-conscious.


    The Chief cuts to the chase and speaks directly to the vacuous Lilly, ¡°My dear, I was at your demonstration.¡± ¡°Very impressive for many reasons,¡± ¡°beyond all of the drama of the lights.¡± The Chief looks up at the Professor, ¡°All of that drama was your idea, wasn¡¯t it.¡± The Chief returns to Lilly, ¡°I would very much like to be the first to offer you license agreements to develop and produce your inventions such as the ones you displayed,¡± ¡°and perhaps, the ones you haven¡¯t yet shown us.¡± ¡°That new vacuum pump of yours, alone, will revolutionize production of many existing products,¡± ¡°and make practical the production of many other new products.¡±


    Lilly awakens, suddenly her eyes are wide open. She looks up at The Chief, meeting his small, glistening, intense eyes for the first time, He already knows that the mercury vacuum pump is the key to it all!


    Scene 3. Factory


    The Chief continues, ¡°Before we proceed further here, I would like you all to go on a tour of my factory. I would like you all to see the all of products I am currently producing. I would like to believe that we here are making life better for everyone in the world.¡±


    ¡°My office assistant will drive you around in my electric cart, so you don¡¯t have to walk the length this large facility, and for your safety.¡± ¡°I have arranged for you all to have lunch in my cafeteria after your tour.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll meet up again here after that.¡± ¡°I apologize that I cannot join you for the tour, but I must attend to this factory regularly, to keep it running smoothly.¡± ¡°I do hope that you all have the time for this and will join me afterward.¡±


    ¡®The Assistant¡¯ is a very sharp, middle-aged, fox-woman, with cat¡¯s-eye glasses hanging from her neck. She is dressed in a smart, tailored, dark business suit. Lilly stares at her, You can look great in things like that if you¡¯re thin! The woman introduces herself as ¡®Ellie¡¯. ¡®Assistant¡¯! My Butt! She is obviously The Chief¡¯s Second in Command!


    The Professor later tells Roc and Lilly that ¡®Ellie¡¯ is actually an engineering school graduate and an experienced production engineer. She is personally responsible for working out problems with several of the company¡¯s critical products. She is an expert in many technologies and is directly credited with the company¡¯s success with all of its diverse product lines. Despite her technical successes, she insists that she only be addressed as ¡®The Assistant¡¯, to avoid taking the spotlight away from The Chief, whom she has served for many years.


    Lilly is manipulated, by The Professor and Roc, into setting in the front passenger seat of the electric cart, next to Ellie. Roc and The Professor then sit in the back seats. The Professor is seated in the left rear seat, to balance the weight with Lilly in the right front seat. The factory tour revives Lilly. She stares down at the cart and wonders what the electric motor uses for bearings, and how the ride could be so smooth and quiet. Indeed, so quiet that none of the workers can hear Ellie driving up behind them, so Ellie has to be careful not to hit any of them, occasionally beeping the cart¡¯s horn. Lilly is ever interested in technical things so she is fascinated by the numerous large machines they see throughout the factory, designed to quickly produce large quantities of items for mass distribution, and eventual sale, to the people of the world.


    Of course, Lilly cannot resist sneaking glances at Ellie. Ellie is sitting straight and beautiful, as she narrates the tour. Lilly looks down at herself, reflecting, Roc dressed me in the best clothes that I have that still fit me. Lilly is wearing a simple solid color pink blouse and a pink skirt. But Lilly¡¯s jacket dates to before her pregnancy and it barely fits over her broad shoulders and there is no way that it can be closed in the front, over Lilly¡¯s large chest, in contrast to the sharp, thin, middle-aged, fox-driver. I wonder if I can look as good when I am her age?


    The plant produces a large variety of consumer and industrial goods. Lilly snickers, Production equipment producing production equipment! Lilly¡¯s sees where arc welders similar to hers are being fabricated. The sleek new models make her old welder look as obsolete as she knows it is.


    After driving around the huge factory, they pull in to the cafeteria parking lot and walk in to a large, modern eating area. The food service is in the back and workers are walking out holding trays of food. Everything looks and smells good. As the group is filing in to the food service area, Ellie motions to Lilly and whispers to her, ¡°Come to my office when you finish here.¡± ¡°Alone.¡± ¡°I have something for you.¡±


    The group makes small talk over lunch, to avoid sharing the big events with the larger world just yet. They then walk back to the conference room to continue the meeting. The Professor begins,


    ¡°Chief, I have a favor to ask,


    ¡°do you have a place where Lilly can stay for a while, away from all of the public attention she has been getting?¡±


    The Chief acts as if this is no problem,


    ¡°We have suites and guest houses where people stay while they are working here.


    ¡°Lilly, do you mind staying in one of the factory guest suites for a while? They are close to your dedicated work area, this allows you to start working on your ideas immediately, or any time you want.


    ¡°These suites will get you away from unwanted public attention as they are inside the factory grounds, and the factory is closed to the public. Of course your family can visit you here and you are free to leave at any time, but you are welcome to stay with us here, until the commotion dies down.


    ¡°Ellie will bring you, or buy you, any personal items you need or would like. All of your living expenses will be paid, for as long as you stay with us. And you will immediately be paid an hourly consulting fee for all of your time here. Of course, this would be in addition to your licensing royalty, that will be paid from sales, once your inventions are sold.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the papers drawn up so you can review the contract. You should have the contract proposal reviewed by a contract specialist though.¡±


    Lilly is thinking, I should rope one of those weaselly-lawyer customers from Rod¡¯s restaurant into taking a look at my contract, rather than looking at my butt!


    Trish is a business accounting specialist, I¡¯ll ask her to look at the contract too.


    ¡°I think I have people to help me review your contract proposal.¡±


    Lilly, at last, smiles with some confidence.


    Lilly looks at Roc and shakes her head,


    ¡°I will start staying here tonight. My coming and going from home is too disruptive, for you and the kids, but bring them with you on the next visit, so they won¡¯t forget that they have a mother.¡±


    Roc nods, as he has already lost his argument with Lilly about this arrangement.


    Scene 4. Employee


    Roc and The Professor both stand up to end the meeting. They both give parting words to The Chief and depart, leaving Lilly to face Ellie and The Chief, alone. She looks at them and then holds her head from both sides, distraught again. The Chief then speaks, ¡°We can start any time you are ready.¡± ¡°If you would like to rest now, Ellie will show you to your quarters.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to do anything until you are ready.¡± ¡°I know you were upset on the day of the presentation, so we will be checking up on you periodically, to see if you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°You are also welcome to explore the factory, but it is necessary to have someone escort you, many areas here are very dangerous, as you saw. These areas require safety equipment to be worn to enter.¡±


    ¡°Ellie, Please show Lilly to her suite and see if she finds it satisfactory.¡±


    Ellie, gestures to Lilly and they walk out together. Once out of earshot of The Chief, Lilly looks at Ellie as they walk, ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Ellie smiles, looking kindly at Lilly, despite her sharp fox features, ¡°Let¡¯s go by my office.¡±


    Elle¡¯s office is very large, with a large desk at one end, bare except for a green blotter, a pen holder and a clock. There are also several workstations in the room, These all have papers and items that are likely prototypes of products. The workstations were left with the daily work still in progress. Lilly observes, It is at these workstations where she really works.


    Ellie motions for Lilly to take a seat. Ellie looks around to the different chairs and picks a relatively large, wheeled, secretary chair for Lilly. The fat-person chair?


    Ellie then walks to her desk and opens a drawer and takes out a small card. She then walks to a locker and pulls out a hard-hat and a reflective vest. ¡°Try on the hard-hat and see if it fits over your horns. I only have this one and it is for a Minotaur. You will need to wear it on any factory floor. The vest is for walking outside on the roads and walkways, to avoid being run over, especially at night.¡± ¡°We really need those new lights of yours around here.¡± ¡°Use this temporary card for the cafeteria and for entering restricted areas.¡± ¡°Just show this card to the guard.¡± ¡°Have them call me if there are any problems.¡± Security will issue you a photo-badge tomorrow.¡±


    Ellie then pulls around another wheeled chair and sits facing Lilly, ¡°I would really like to know more about you and how you ended up here.¡± ¡°Once you are comfortable, maybe we could share some stories.¡± ¡°I would like do ¡®women talk¡¯ once in a while. Most everyone here is male, and while it is fun to tease them, I miss the companionship of other women.¡± ¡°There is so much that men just don¡¯t see or care about.¡±


    Lilly reflects, I would rather discuss my crazy dreams than confess my female activities, especially to someone I have just met. Let¡¯s see, it¡¯s either the Psych-Squad or prison...


    Lilly remains silent and Ellie does not push it. Ellie stands, ¡°Let me show you to one of the suites and see if it is to you liking.¡± ¡°I know it isn¡¯t home, but maybe it will do for now.¡± ¡°I can get you some decor items if you choose to personalize it.¡± They walk up several flights of stairs. The stairway access door leads to a long hallway. The hallway has a row of identical doors resembling a hotel hallway. Ellie produces a key and unlocks the first door, ¡°This is where guests to the facility stay if they don¡¯t want to stay at a hotel in town.¡± Lilly looks around the room. The room has a ''suite'' type layout and is set up to hold small meetings. The living room has a small table with four padded chairs, one on each side, and several more chairs along the wall. The suite has a small kitchen alcove in the back of the meeting room and a door leading to the front bathroom. The bedroom is a door off to the side, with its own bathroom and a large walk-in closet. The bedroom has a king-sized bed, has a moderate sized desk and a dresser. Wow, this suite is almost a big as my master apartment. Lilly nods approval to Ellie, ¡°I¡¯ll have Roc send over my things.¡± ¡°Already done.¡± There is a knock at the door, an attendant sets several large suitcases into the room. I guess Roc is still mad at me for arguing with him and he has finally shipped me off!


    Ellie continues, ¡°The cafeteria has breakfast after 7:00 am, you can call and have anything brought up to the suite.¡± ¡°Also have the cafeteria send you a menu each week.¡± ¡°It changes every week with weekly specials.¡± Ellie then smiles at Lilly, thin and deviously, ¡°In the afternoons, they have a good variety of pizzas!¡± Lilly frowns, looking down at her substantial form, Is it that obvious?


    Ellie gives Lilly her business card with her telephone extension number, along with a large folded map of the factory layout, ¡°If you need anything, or have any questions, please call me.¡± ¡°Let me know when you want to started so I can arrange for your help from the staff.¡± ¡°Here is the suite key.¡± ¡°The suite door is always locked, so don¡¯t lock yourself out!¡± ¡°If you do, there is an open phone downstairs.¡± ¡°Call the main switchboard to connect to me or anyone else here.¡±


    Ellie then excuses herself and walks out of the suite leaving Lilly alone. Maybe I¡¯ll call Roc and have him come over and ¡®console¡¯ me... I can¡¯t do that, I made a promise not to ruin his life...


    Although it is still early, Lilly is exhausted and flops face down onto the bed. I think I¡¯ll order a pizza from the cafeteria. Ellie said that they deliver.


    Lilly grumbles again, I hate being alone.


    Then she sports an evil grin, But The Professor is ¡®fair game¡¯.

 7. Between Worlds

    Scene 1. Next


    Lilly opens her eyes and she back on her bed in her room at Apollo¡¯s home. She is suddenly concerned about her ¡®other self¡¯, on the loose in The Factory suite back in her ¡®waking world¡¯.


    Maybe ¡®she¡¯ has spent enough time in my world that she won¡¯t panic. She can use the bathroom now and she knows that the refrigerator has food. I left some pizza in the frig, but ¡®she¡¯ apparently doesn¡¯t like pizza. I don¡¯t think she can get out, the front door is always bolted and it is not easy to open. And she seems to only appear late at night. And not every night. It is only if she has to get up. I need to be sure that I have used the restroom thoroughly every night before bed! I guess we¡¯ll see how she does. I am glad that they have a good cleaning service for The Factory suites though.


    The Lilly turns to thinking about herself, What now? More scientific demonstrations? Another visit to my Billy, ¡®Al¡¯? She arises and trots to the bathroom. I might as well get ready for the day, no matter what. I wish I could tell Apollo what happened to me in my world. I¡¯ll need to be more careful in my world with the knowledge he gives me. They seem to also have a Psych-Squad here as well. I need to be careful <u>everywhere,</u> if I want to remain intact!


    The bedroom doorway suddenly appears, as usual, Apollo is here with a big smile, ¡°Well! How did it go?¡±  Lilly scowls at him, You ass, you know <u>exactly</u> how it went! ¡°I am sorry for that Lilly, but you had to do it yourself alone for the first time.¡± ¡°Hopefully you made contacts that can help you from now on.¡± Lilly drops her scowl, Well, I did do that.


    ¡°Would you like to see more electrical stuff today?¡± Lilly smile brightens up and she nods. ¡°Let¡¯s eat breakfast and get going!¡± Lilly nods again. Yay! Breakfast! Why am I so hungry, even for me? And they are off, repeating the walk across town to the same building, the same hall, to resume the demonstrations with the next table.


    On this table is mounted a large metal cylinder with a glass window on one side. A high-voltage inductive-interrupter is connected by wires to a Y shaped glass tube mounted inside the large outer metal cylinder. The Y tube has an evacuation port that is attached by metal tubes to the vacuum pumps, in a manner similar that on to the previous demonstration table. Lilly sees that the Y tube has a filament at the end of one arm and a nickel electrode in front of it. The filament must heat the electrode. Another electrode is at the end of one of the Y arms without a filament. On a solid wire attached from the other Y arm was mounted a small thick sheet of some sort of silvery metal, like platinum. It is mounted at an angle, as if something is being sprayed off of the metal target and out the side of the glass tube. On the bottom of the chamber is a glass plate, smeared with a yellow-white paste. A paper envelope is suspended between the tube and the plate.


    Apollo reads the plaque, ¡°In this demonstration we see that ¡®dlskjlsd¡¯ rays are produced by a ¡®lfgkj¡¯ metal target illuminated by ¡®cmncvs¡¯ particles emitted from a high temperature electrode element in a high vacuum. The ¡®cmncvs¡¯ metal target releases the ¡®dlskjlsd¡¯ rays that then shine on and penetrate the opaque envelope. The contents of the envelope block some of the ¡®dlskjlsd¡¯ rays. The item in the envelope is then made visible by the ¡®lkljkl¡¯ coated glass screen located below it.¡± Damn those nouns!


    ¡°Note that the apparatus is housed in a metal radiation shield as the ¡®dlskjlsd¡¯ rays are dangerous to life. These rays can be blocked by metals, however, with increasing voltage and heaver metal targets, the ¡®dlskjlsd¡¯ rays produced can penetrate all but the heaviest metals.¡±


    ¡°Well Lilly, did you get all that?¡± Lilly shakes her head ¡®no¡¯. ¡°Are you ready for the demonstration?¡± Again, ¡®no¡¯. With a smile, Apollo presses the button and the apparatus comes to life. The the mechanical vacuum pump starts to chug. The inductive-interrupter starts to buzz. The mercury tube fills and then drains.


    Lilly gasps when she sees yet another miracle of this world¡¯s science. Below the envelope, the screen gradually brightens to display a silhouette, of a pair of metal scissors, the contents of the opaque envelope. The negative image of the open scissors is a shadow on the screen¡¯s green fluorescent glow.


    Scene 2. Basic Sciences


    I apologize, Lilly, we really did start in the middle of all of this ''science'', but I wanted to empress on you the larger purpose of this room.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s wind back and start again, this time with the basics.¡± ¡°If we are covering something you already know from your world, stomp or ¡®bleat¡¯.¡± You <u>want</u> me to bleat? Out loud, really?


    ¡°You did ask me to teach you our language, but we don¡¯t have time to do this completely. Complete understanding of any language is not necessary to understand science.¡± ¡°You just have to memorize a few symbols used in math and science.¡± ¡°Let start with the numbers.¡± Apollo walks to the side wall of the hall. The side walls are covered with what Lilly thought was decorative artwork or panorama painting tapestries. On close inspection, these ''tapestries'' have stylized diagrams that define the mathematics of this world. These are arranged in the order of increasing difficulty, starting with simple numerals, then simple arithmetic, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and so on to geometry, calculus and differential equations. She had already started a numbers book, but now she needs to add these symbols for the formulas. At least all of the formulas on this wall are for math I already know, I just have to memorize the symbols used in this world. I wish I could make a dictionary here.


    The next tapestry is arranged the same way, with diagrams of simple concepts leading up to advanced science, this tapestry is for chemistry science. The first diagram she immediately recognized as a periodic table of chemical elements. Apparently the elements are the same in both worlds. I guess all worlds have figured this out. But this is important, she recognizes that the symbols used for the screen are for zinc and sulfur. I thought goo smeared on the screen looked like zinc sulfide. Lilly quickly identifies most of the metals used in the demonstrations, tungsten, nickel, copper, etc., But some of the metal symbols are not listed. These metals must be mixtures of metallic elements that are not compounds. These metal mixtures must be defined on another tapestry.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Then on to the tapestry of ''optics''. ''Optics'' is one science that Lilly knows well from her physics class, but she still studies the drawings and symbols carefully, noting the symbols used to describe this familiar science in this world, so she can recognize them when she sees them again later on.


    There also were tapestries describing sciences that Lilly has never seen before. She just shakes her head at these, and looks up at Apollo. One diagram had a table organized much like the chemical periodic table with a matrix of symbols. The matrix must represent the relationship each ¡®particle¡¯ has with the ¡®particles¡¯. She recognizes one symbol on the table, the ¡®particle¡¯ used to generate the ¡®invisible-rays¡¯ in the invisible-ray machine demonstration.


    Apollo smiles, as she breaks the rules and points at the symbol with her fore-hoof, ¡°Yeah, that one is pretty important for electrical stuff,¡± ¡°but don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get back to that one.¡± ¡°Maybe tomorrow.¡±


    How do you know that I will I be here again tomorrow?


    And when do I get to see ¡®Al¡¯ the ''Billy'' again? I have so much I would like to ask him about this world.


    I would like to ''frolic'' with him again too.


    Scene 3. Industry


    The next day Lilly is back in her suite room at The Factory. She stands up out of the bed and regards herself in the mirror. Today is the day to deliver my list of demands. She dutifully dresses, walks down to the cafeteria, eats breakfast. She then calls Ellie, ¡°Ellie, I¡¯m ready to start now!¡±


    Ellie joins Lilly on The Factory floor in Lilly¡¯s designated work area. Ellie has Lilly put on the safety gear required for her working on the factory floor. The hard-hat is not a great fit, as it is designed for a Minotaur with horns coming out in a different direction. The hard-hat does stay on well enough to get by for now, ¡°Ellie, I need you to get me a proper hard-hat.¡±


    The ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ demonstration is set up in a space made for it on the factory floor. The floor still has the mounting outline from the machine¡¯s floor mounts of the manufacturing machine that was moved out of the way. On the table, are all of Lilly¡¯s drawings for the assembled devices and the component drawings that The Professor used to fabricate the necessary parts.


    I am going to give you all what you want, but we are going to do it my way.


    She then hands Ellie a ruled pad, with all pages, front and back, sketched with diagrams for new metal parts. Ellie looks at the pad, still with the pages bound together at the top. Ellie is curious, ¡°When did you do these?¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°At breakfast.¡± ¡°I know you won¡¯t let me run the metal working machines. It isn¡¯t much fun here anyway. The machinist just presses a few buttons and the finished part falls out the bottom.¡±


    Lilly also gives Ellie a long list of electrical components: small motors, switches and solenoids, as well as chemical battery components. The battery designs are new, recently snatched from the other world.


    Lilly still smiling, ¡°I am also going to need an arc-welding machine. A new one like the one of the ones we saw on the production line yesterday.¡± ¡°And I also need welding rods, flux, gloves, and goggles,¡± ¡°and the latest inert-gas welding stuff too.¡±


    Lilly smiles broadly, ¡°Oh, and call The Professor,¡± ¡°I need his help with all of this.¡± ¡°Have him meet me for dinner tonight in the cafeteria, before it closes.¡± ¡°And tell him to bring his over-night bag.¡± ¡°By the way, assign him to a room next to mine,¡± ¡°For our quick and efficient work schedule!¡± He he.


    The Chief and Ellie just pause and stare, clueless, at Lilly.


    Lilly is stands up, straight and proud, sporting a broad smile, Gotcha!


    Lilly is impressed by the industrial efficiency of The Factory staff. The parts she requested are all gathered in a couple of hours. The new arc-welder machine, complete with the inert-gas accessories, is standing on the floor near the demonstration table.


    A worker asks, ¡°Are you going to need any welding jigs?¡±


    ¡°Bring me what you¡¯ve got.¡± Instantly, a number of welding jigs, of various sizes, appear. Ellie reappears with several bags and boxes containing the new electrical components Lilly requested.


    Scene 4. Invisible-Ray


    Lilly spends the rest of the day assembling the demonstration prototype of the ¡®invisible ray¡¯ machine from the components The Professor fabricated at the college. His ¡®Y tube¡¯ is a work of art. The finely machined iron target screwed on to a sturdy rod of nickel. The rod passes through the crimped glass to form a tight vacuum seal. The other Y leg contains a suspended cylinder of nickel foil attached to a copper wire also crimped to the glass tube. The bottom of the Y is a filament and a suspended nickel element that emits these ¡®particles¡¯ to strike the iron target and emit theses strange new, ¡®invisible-rays¡¯. Lilly smiles and speaks to the air, ¡°Professor, it is lovely!¡± She will try it out on a small package containing a whole frozen fish in an opaque wrapping, obtained by Ellie for her from the local meat market.


    Lilly places the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ tube into the sheet-iron shielding and connects it to the high-voltage inductive-interrupter power source, previously used for the discharge tubes in the last demonstration. Lilly prepares the ¡®invisible ray¡¯ view screen using a scrap photographic glass plate painted with a slurry of zinc sulfide. She places the screen down on the table, facing up. She suspends the frozen fish package slightly above the screen. The Y tube with its iron target set to reflect the ¡®invisible-rays down from above onto the fish package. She then starts the device, the vacuum pumps come to life and the glowing screen begins to display the shadow of fish skeleton. It¡¯s working! Now to make some plate exposures.


    Lilly looks around to see several workers nearby. I think we are okay for today, but The Factory will need to build a shielded permanent ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ facility. The rays from this device are said to be hazardous on the warning signs in the ¡®other world¡¯.


    Lilly then makes several plate exposures, using different exposure times. She then takes the wrapped photographic plates of the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ exposures across the floor of her work area to one of The Factory¡¯s darkrooms. In the development solution trays she set up earlier, she lays the plates into the solution lets the solution dissolve the outer wrapping and develop the plate.


    One image shows the fish skeleton clearly, at the ideal the exposure time. Yay! We got a ¡®bone image¡¯, for the first time in this world. Now I know that the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ science exists in this world too! It looks right through flesh and into bodies. Lilly frowns, That¡¯s kind of creepy.


    Lilly takes a break to do some welding ¡®art¡¯ and relax. She then starts arc-welding some of the metal components fabricated for her by Ellie and her staff. Lilly¡¯s workmen arrange portable iron shields to block the dangerous arc-light from shining out from Lilly¡¯s work area and into the other work areas.


    One of Lilly¡¯s workers comments to another, ¡°What is that sound, over the arcing sound?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lilly, she is singing.¡±


    Lilly sings, with tail wiggling, as she works on her welding sculptures into the evening. She proudly stands next to her latest creation. She snaps a switch and watches the collection of welded plates and tubes stride across the shop floor. She then she retires to her suite, to prepare for dinner with The Professor. Still singing.


    I can¡¯t wait to show him ¡®everything I¡¯ve got¡¯. I am so excited, I hope I don¡¯t kill him!


    Scene 5. Extra Credit


    She meets The Professor at the cafeteria and they enter together. She is wearing clothes for her smaller size, before her pregnancy. These clothes do fit her now. Her blouse is very tight, she is bulging around the buttons in the front, revealing her curves within.


    Professor, I know what you like. You won¡¯t escape me this time! She sniffs the air around The Professor, Mmmmmm, he smells like the pine forests. She frequently looks up and stares at The Professor, with a sly smile, murmuring ¡°Mmmmmm¡±, while they eat.


    After dinner, she invites him to her suite, ¡°Lets go to my suite and review my latest drawings¡±. The Professor motions to the cafeteria tables, but Lilly frowns, ¡°It¡¯s too bad, but the cafeteria is closing now.¡± Lilly''s hide is bright crimson, under her thin, translucent fur. She looks and acts as if she is ready to explode. I am terrible at not showing my feelings!


    They enter the living room of Lilly¡¯s suite. She seats The Professor on the couch and pulls up the meeting table and places her drawings in front of him. ¡°He you go.¡± ¡°Take a look here and see if there is anything you would like.¡± Lilly smiles and leans down, suggestively, in front of him.


    ¡°I know that The Chief wants to make a larger version.¡± ¡°Bigger is always better,¡± ¡°don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Would you excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable,¡± Like You!


    She reappears from the bedroom wearing nightclothes that leave little to the imagination.


    ¡°Ahhhhh! That¡¯s better!¡± She sits down on the couch and cuddles up next to The Professor, squeaking with excitement, tail wiggling.


    The Professor looks at her and exclaims,¡°Lilly! Your husband!¡±


    She smiles and stands. She pulls him up from the couch and leads him back to the bedroom, smiling, ¡°I don¡¯t plan to tell him.¡± ¡°You had better not.¡±


    Scene 6. Confession


    The bedroom is very dark, with a single candle burning on a small table next to the large bed. The Professor is grimacing in reluctance at being dragged into the bedroom by his anxious student. Lilly releases him and closes the door. Two of the meeting chairs have been positioned next to each other, along the bedroom wall. She leads the Professor to a chair and sits him down and she then sits in other chair. It is so dark that their voices seem like disembodied spirits. The professor looks over at Lilly and is notices her shadow, projected on the wall behind her by the candlelight. It is the silhouette of a hunkering dragon.


    Lilly takes a breath, takes his paws into her fore-hooves and begins her confession to him, ¡°I need you now, like I need the Sun.¡± ¡°You have many things I need. In addition to the support for my project, I need the comfort I feel from your company, and from your friendship.¡±


    Lilly starts to softly weep, ¡°I know I have a good husband.¡± ¡°He is a wonderful family man, a hero, and a saint.¡±


    She sits up and clearly states, ¡°However, a saint cannot help me now.¡± ¡°Roc cannot see into my world no matter how how much I want," "and he wants to and he tries.¡± ¡°He may never understand me and what I am doing, and what I must do.¡± ¡°I need someone to help me that has depth of experience, in the arts and the sciences, both the light and the dark.¡± ¡°And not just with the technical details, as much as I also need that.¡± ¡°I need help to keep focused on my long and frightening journey.¡± ¡°I need help to stay sane, at least as sane as is possible for me.¡±


    ¡°I need you to come with me.¡± ¡°Let me rephrase that.¡± ¡°I would like you to come with me." "I don¡¯t have anyone else in my life that understands what I see.¡±


    Lilly then stands and walks over to The Professor¡¯s chair and lifts him up to standing. She then embraces him tightly, setting her large head against his chest. She closes her eyes and begins to softly weep again, appealing, ¡°Please join me!¡± ¡°Please love me!¡±


    The Professor feels Lilly, weeping and shivering, pressed against his chest and he is genuinely concerned for his precocious physics student¡¯s sanity, ¡°Okay, I will continue to help you with as much as I can.¡± ¡°But you must promise me that you will tell me everything that you see.¡±


    Lilly looks up at The Professor, their faces almost touching, and she tearfully nods.


    She then pulls him over to the bed, sniffling, ¡°Please!¡± ¡°sniffle,¡± ¡°sniffle,¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t deny me!¡±


    Her shadow has now assumed the shape of a dragon, with wings unfurled, ascendant.


    She looks up again as The Professor stares in to Lilly¡¯s longing, other-worldly, violet eyes. He kisses her on her forehead, carefully, between her horns.


    ¡°You know, you don¡¯t have to address me as ¡®The Professor¡¯,¡± ¡°I have a name.¡±


    ¡°To me, you will <u>always</u> be ¡®The Professor¡¯.¡± She then presses her large chest against his, very tightly. The Professor then finally capitulates to Lilly¡¯s advances. Lilly gives him two soft pink cylinders from her pocket, ¡°What are these for?¡±


    ¡°Put them on my horns.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to lose an eye.¡±


    As Lilly snuggles up to her big, furry, hug-pillow, and she reflects, This has been a good day. I got everything that I asked for today!

 8. Inventor

    Scene 1. Release


    Now back at The Factory, Lilly has been assigned an office with a large desk, a drafting board, a telephone and file cabinets. The security on Lilly has been steadily increasing, her portion of the factory floor is closed to all, except to the workers directly assigned to her. Her office has a guard stationed at her office door during the day and returns to her office door if she comes in to work at night. The office is always kept locked and she does not have the key and has to have security open the office.


    The Professor visits Lilly every few days and Roc visits once in a while, when he is in town. Her other friends, Trish, Liz, Tex and the kids have been asked to stay away, for ''security reasons''. They are told that this is to keep the press bothering them, but they all think that there must be a more important reason.


    The Chief invites The Professor and Lilly to the ¡®electric light tube product press release¡¯, for the new incandescent light tube product lines. The Chief and Ellie have taken Lilly¡¯s original designs and made them into several practical variants, with accessory sockets, light fixtures, stands and wire strings. The small low-voltage electric light tubes can be run from batteries, useful for portable lanterns and for automobile lights. The larger electric light tubes are higher voltage and brighter, for room lighting in homes. The very large industrial sizes are for factory floors and streetlights. Lilly and The Professor are seated behind a reflective glass panel to watch, out of the sight of the press.


    The press-room fills to capacity, with many observers left standing on the sides of the room. The Chief walks out to the podium and waves to the crowd, the crowd responds with a cheer. The Chief then narrates the history of the discovery. He states that the discovery was made at the local college and further developments were then made here, at The Factory. He makes no mention of Lilly or The Professor.


    The Chief then pulls a curtain open. On the back wall is mounted a flat black wooden panel, facing out. Mounted on the panel are examples of each type of incandescent electric light tube in initial production at The Factory. The Chief proceeds to press buttons on his lectern. He describes the application for each type of ¡®electric light tube¡¯ as he lights it. He proceeds to demonstrate all of the ¡®electric light tube¡¯ types on the panel.


    Seated off to the side, in the back of the room, is The General, frowning. He occasionally looks down to take notes. He could have sent an underling to this press conference, to retrieve the written press release, but The General insisted that he see it for himself. He was also present at the original demonstration.


    The Chief waves at the board and states, ¡°All of the products shown today will be available for sale by the end of the month,¡± ¡°and new lighting products, yet to be announced, will be available soon after.¡± He ends the meeting by posting a world-wide list of distributors for these new products. He then waves to Ellie, standing at the conference room door, ¡°Be sure to pick up a press-kit on the way out!¡± The Chief then holds a small item up over his head, it is projecting a beam of light. ¡°Also included in the press-kit is a ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯!¡± The ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯ is small, cylindrical, self-contained, battery-powered, hand-held ¡®lantern¡¯ that projects a fairly bright, directional beam out one end. The crowd roars and jumps up cramming to the door, to be first for the kit, and especially the ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯.


    Lilly also stands up and jumps into the air, ¡°I want a ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯ too!¡±


    Scene 2. Invisible-Ray


    Lilly telephones The Professor and tells him excitedly about her second invention. She then meets with The Chief, Ellie and The Professor in the The Factory conference room. Lilly spreads out her drawings onto the large conference table. The Chief smiles, ¡°Your draftsmanship has improved markedly, Lilly.¡±


    Lilly smiles and starts, ¡°These drawings are for my new ¡®Invisible-Ray¡¯ device.¡± ¡°I have also discovered that the device can not only light up the florescent screen with an image, but it can also expose photographic film and make a permanent record of the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ image¡±. Here in this photograph you can see a package containing a frozen fish. The package is still unopened and opaque to visible light.¡± ¡°These glass plates are of the same type as used for the college observatory¡¯s astro-photography research." "These developed plates clearly show the shadow or negative image of the fish skeleton, this photograph was made from the opaque wrapped package with the fish inside."


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lilly continues, ¡°I would demonstrate the device¡¯s operation for you here in the conference room, but it might be dangerous as the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ from the device can penetrate living bodies and possibly disrupt living processes.¡± ¡°We''ll have to set aside a dedicated area for the operation of this device at The Factory, far away from people for this reason. ¡°We should do research to determine exactly what effect the ¡®invisible ray¡¯ has on living tissue.¡± ¡°In the mean time we can check the effectiveness of the shielding with photographic film as it is quite sensitive to the radiation exposure.¡±


    The Chief then stands and stares intently at the photographs, his mind whirring, ¡°A device like this could be a great advance for medicine!¡± Lilly nods in agreement, knowing that the device is used for examining ''broken bones'', among other things, in Apollo''s world.


    The Chief then drops back into his chair, suddenly looking very worried. Lilly starts to pick up a fabrication drawing to begin discussions on the device¡¯s design. The Chief does not even glance at Lilly or the drawings, he stares blankly at the conference room ceiling.


    The Chief dryly interrupts Lilly, ¡°Lilly, I don¡¯t think it is safe for you to work here at The Factory any more.¡± Everyone turns to stare at The Chief for his statement out-of-the-blue. He continues to stare at the conference room ceiling. He is no longer interested in the discussions about this dangerous new device. Everyone clamors for an explanation.


    The Chief sits in silence for a long while. Finally, The Chief turns to The Professor, ¡°You must take Lilly back to the college and confine her. Do not tell anyone where she is.¡± The Chief looks at Lilly, ¡°Lilly you must remain out of contact with everyone from now on.¡± ¡°You are in danger for your life!¡± The Chief then looks at The Professor, ¡°And you too!¡±


    The Chief then stands, ¡°I¡¯ll have a truck sent to return you to the college.¡± ¡°From now on Lilly, you will only be working with The Professor in one of his closed labs,¡± ¡°And no one else.¡± ¡°Plan on living in that lab as well.¡± ¡°Once you have working prototypes The Professor will bring the devices and the drawings here, to The Factory.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t show these drawings or devices to anyone.¡± ¡°We will continue the development process here at The Factory. We will work to convert the prototypes into producible products, if possible,¡±


    ¡°And if we are allowed.¡±


    ¡°Even doing this work here at The Factory, will not be without risk!¡±


    ¡°It may already be too late...¡±


    Scene 3. Exile


    On the drive back to the college The Professor looks toward Lilly, "I don''t think you will stay undiscovered if you remain on campus,¡± ¡°even if you stay in one of my closed labs my assistants or the janitors will see you eventually." ¡°We¡¯ll have to find you a place, off-campus, where maybe you can still work and be safe.¡±


    The Professor, frowning, suddenly smiles with a thought, "How would you like to do some astronomy research this winter?" "I think we can keep you safe at the college observatory." "You still won''t be able to make phone calls to your friends and family, just to me," "But I promise to be your go-between with your world for the duration of this crisis." "I don''t know how long this crisis will last, but let''s plan for your sabbatical to be for astronomy research over this winter,¡± ¡°And hope we can bring you back into the world in the spring."


    Lilly, is looking down at the floor, depressed, until the mention of astronomy research, "You''ll let me use the big telescope?" "And you''ll come visit me often?"


    "Yes, but don''t break it!" "Or me!"

 9. Astronomer

    Scene 1. Observatory


    Lilly and the professor are standing outside the college¡¯s off-road back-country exploration vehicle. They are standing on the access road and looking up at the dome of the college¡¯s astronomical observatory facility. Several support buildings are also visible, everything is painted a dramatic bright white. All in white! The Professor and his drama!


    ¡°Welcome to my winter home!¡± The Professor smiles and waves at the buildings. Lilly looks around, she is excited, seeing this facility for the first time, but she is still dismayed and depressed that she is being exiled to it. Apparently no one uses the telescope except in the winter, and even then it is usually just The Professor. Everyone else gets too cold. The Professor walks over and unlocks the door to the main hall. The inside main hall the view is very impressive, with the three refractive telescopes of various sizes mounted on an elevated three-axis tracking mount in the center of the large round hall. ¡°The telescopes are the different ones the college obtained by grants through the years.¡± ¡°The big one is the latest, we got it five yours ago,¡± continues The Professor, trying to cheer up the downcast Lilly, who is already feeling imprisoned. ¡°Look at it this way, you have exclusive use of one of the worlds leading research instruments.¡± ¡°Look here at this eyepiece. I modified for specifically for photography.¡±


    The Professor walks to the back of the room, ¡°There is a complete darkroom.¡± He points to a door at the rear of the hall. ¡°The out-buildings contain a complete machine shop.¡± ¡°I took the older saws, mills, and lathes when the engineering department upgraded to newer machines." "So these machines are not the latest designs, but they all work and are great to have, especially up here when you need items quickly for emergency repairs and don¡¯t want to wait for a delivery from below.¡±


    ¡°Follow me to our ¡®Luxury Suites¡¯.¡± ¡°Ha ha!¡± "I am afraid they are not as nice as The Chief¡¯s, but they get me through the winters here.¡±


    ¡®The Suites¡¯ are small closet sized sleeping areas, with cots and blankets and a small heat radiator in the rear. ¡°The furnace is in the basement, it supplies steam to all of the radiators. You will have to keep the furnace going with wood from the forest.¡± ¡°You want to minimize burning anything in the main hall as smoke and oil deposits are hell on the optics.¡± ¡°Maybe we can install some of your electric lights.¡± ¡°The observatory has electricity. I put in a water wheel, an electrical generator and a small dam, in the canyon up above.¡± ¡°The electricity is for running the telescope mount motors and dome door motors, but there is plenty of extra power to run lights, once we have them.¡± The Professor smiles and waves around imagining the twinkling of electric lights.


    ¡°There is a drafting room where you can do your drawings.¡± ¡°Give them to me when I visit and I will have your parts made at the college.¡± ¡°There should be enough room here, and the jigs, to assemble and test your prototypes, unless they are really big.¡± ¡°If they are really big, or require special support, we will assemble and test them at The Factory.¡±


    Lilly broods, Everyone is assuming I will be bringing more of the ''new technology'' to this world. Is this a good thing?


    The Professor looks around to see if he has covered everything. ¡°Oh yes, the kitchen!¡± He walks to the rear of the main building into a small side room. ¡°This is the observatory kitchen,¡± The Professor announces proudly. Inside the small kitchen is a small stove, a small refrigerator and a small table with several simple wooden chairs, all painted white, of course. Cupboards line one wall. The Professor opens the cupboard doors, in sequence, to display all of the dishes and the durable food rations stored within. ¡°There is also more storage for food, bedding and other supplies in the back storage building.¡± ¡°Oh, be sure to store all food and trash in durable metal containers with secure lids.¡± ¡°Lots of wild animals, some not so friendly, try to help themselves here, so be careful.¡±


    Lilly is drawn to something else in the kitchen. The concrete floor has one odd rectangular patch, about one meter by two, that is of a slightly different, yellowish, color. Lilly stares at the floor patch and suddenly feels a chill, although this fall day is mild.


    The Professor notices Lilly¡¯s interest in the kitchen floor and interrupts, ¡°Let¡¯s get your stuff.¡± He walks out of the kitchen and back to the college¡¯s vehicle. They are wordless and somber, as Lilly and The Professor unload and carry the boxes into the gallery and some boxes are carried to one of the small sleeping rooms.


    Finally, everything they brought up has been unloaded and stored in the observatory. The Professor is standing next to the vehicle, preparing to leave Lilly alone on the mountain. He stands still and she walks up to him and embraces him tightly, eyes closed and with tears. ¡°You are my last contact in this world, so please visit me as often as you can.¡± ¡°And bring pizza, you know, my favorite kind, and make it a ¡®large¡¯ with extra cheese!" "Maybe you should bring two!¡± The Professor smiles and kisses her carefully, on the center of her forehead, avoiding her horns. He enters the vehicle and starts it up. The vehicle moves out, turns around, drives around the curve and disappears from sight. Lilly can still hear the sound of the vehicle engine, fading, as it descends the mountain. I miss you already!


    Lilly then walks back in to the main hall and stares at the telescope. I guess I can be an astronomer between inventions. I¡¯ll need to keep myself busy, to keep myself from sinking all the way into insanity. She stands and listens to the complete silence in the hall. Then, just on the edge of perception, she hears voices, and she laughs,


    One thing about being schizophrenic, I¡¯m never alone.


    Scene 2. Invisible-Ray


    Lilly spends the rest of the day assembling the prototype of the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ machine, moved from The Factory. She sets it up for a demonstration for The Professor¡¯s next visit. After that it will be taken back to The Factory for further development, and maybe, production. She stares at the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ tube. She then walks back to the machine shed and returns with several large sheets of metal. She sets the sheets around the tube and places a photographic plate, still wrapped in its opaque envelope, under tube. She then lays her entire lower fore-leg, hoof and nails, over the large glass photographic plate. She starts the pumps and then switches on the inductive-interrupter power supply. She holds still for the exposure time that she observed with the frozen-fish experiments. She turns off the machine and the associated pumps. She removes the photographic plate and takes it to the observatory darkroom and develops it, she then rinses the large plate and takes it outside to dry. Lilly looks down at the plate in the sunlight to see the shadow of her bones, her fore leg along with hoofs and nails, as clear as an anatomy skeleton, without any flesh


    Am I already dead?


    Scene 3. Astronomy Domine


    Lilly settles in to her life as an astronomy monk by taking her isolation and sexual frustration out on the telescope. It does not take her long to figure out the all of the observatory''s operations. She tunes everything up, with new bearings, proper lubrication. She even adds access ladders with additional telescope and camera supports. I guess my years working as the plumber at my apartment complex weren¡¯t wasted after all!


    She has also optimized the operation of the great telescope, cleaning the optics and adjusting the cameras. The Professor left her suggestions for photographic and research targets, celestial objects that are visible in the heavens this time of the year. She is immediately drawn, as many are, to the brightest star in the night sky, ¡®Aurora¡¯. Aurora is said to be a binary pair with her world¡¯s star. Aurora is imagined to have a collection of planets similar to this solar system. These planets, however, cannot be seen, even through the large telescope, as they are lost in the glare of Aurora, the host star. The two stars have been calculated to revolve, around a common center, every few hundred years. Oh boy, let¡¯s have a look! Maybe I can see planets cross in front of the star!


    So Lilly starts on the real science of astronomy, carefully measuring the dimensions between the points of items from the photographic plates, with a compass, and the angles, with a protractor. She was very proud of a device she made to compare two photographic plates with each other, switching from one to the other to see movement. She used parts from a ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯ for it. This is the first useful thing that I have made that is not a gift from the other world. This was made by me! The Professor will be proud. Plus I think I have enough material for another scientific paper, all my own research, with The Professor¡¯s help, of course.


    Now that I think about it, I have not seen any scientific displays for astronomy science in Apollo¡¯s world. I wonder why?


    Lilly has now spent several nights alone on the mountain and is lying on her back on her cot staring at the near ceiling of her sleeping room. I have not had any dreams since I got here. I wonder if I have been forgotten by everyone? Tomorrow I will hike to the summit, it is said to have a nice view.


    The next day is again a very nice, early winter, day, with a chill in the air. I am supposed to wear a disguise if I spend any time outside the observatory. It is cooler now so it shouldn¡¯t be too bad. She unzips a large clothing storage that The Professor left her, saying it is her disguise. It is a hanger bag containing a large, fluffy, wool coat, complete with a hood. The wool hood is adorned with large sheep horns on the sides. It looks kind of silly but The Professor and The Chief were adamant that I always wear it when I go outside, to avoid discovery. There aren¡¯t that many ¡®white goats¡¯ around anywhere.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    That reminds me, I forgot to ask The Chief what he is so afraid of? Who wants to kill me? And why?


    Lilly then tries the sheep-disguise on. It fits! Good! None of my old coats fit me anymore, so this is great, even if it does look silly. The coat is thick wool fleece and it is very warm. Lilly looks at herself in the closet mirror, Ha ha! I look like one of the Professor¡¯s plump sheep assistant girls! He must have used one as a model!


    Lilly then sets off for the summit. She reaches the summit in about an hour and a half. Mountain tops are visible in the distance but the valleys are obscured by haze. She sees no one else on the trail. I guess this trail is more popular in the summer season.


    She decides to check out the generator while she is out near it. She breaks from the trail and heads off cross-county, toward the ravine. The electric generator looks very old, like something that The Professor salvaged. She brought tools to adjust the brushes and grease for the bearings. I will need to rework this generator before the winter if I don¡¯t want to risk a sudden power failure. The associated dam and the waterwheel both appear to be okay, for now. The dam has several water pipes leading out of it. This must be the observatory¡¯s water source as well. She then walks back to the observatory.


    She enters the kitchen and then begins to prepare a meal from the dehydrated rations The Professor keeps on hand at the observatory. Ahhh, what I wouldn¡¯t give for a fresh, hot, pizza right now! She slaps her belly, "Pop!"


    While she is boiling water to reconstitute her dinner ration, she again is aware of the discolored yellow patch of concrete part of the floor of the kitchen.


    Lilly shivers again.


    Scene 4. Ghost


    Lilly is lying in bed again reflecting on her past dreams, she has not been to Apollo''s world for a while. Maybe my ¡®other me¡¯ doesn¡¯t want to come here. I don¡¯t miss my other dreams though. She closes her eyes, No jumping figures! Good! She is still lying with her eyes closed when she becomes aware of a strong windstorm wind that seems to be shaking the entire observatory. She hears the main hall door, slamming open and shut, down below, "Bam!" "Bam!" "Bam!" Oh no, I thought I bolted that door! She gets up and dons the sheep disguise for warmth and heads down to the main hall. She sees rain and wind blowing water and debris into the hall through the open hall door. She quickly steps across the main hall to secure the door. She is startled to see a figure, standing just outside the main hall door, in the wind, framed by the light from the hall. She tries to pull the figure inside but her fore-hooves feel nothing there.  The figure then walks into the hall. Lilly then closes and secures the door, behind the figure. The whistling gale of the wind with the blowing debris suddenly stops and there is an eerie silence in the hall. Lilly turns to regard the figure. The figure is a young sheep-woman, dressed in an antique fashion, for mountaineering. She looks like an old picture of my mom. She is dry and does not appear to be windswept. The woman looks at Lilly and smiles. Lilly is still dressed in the sheep disguise. The woman starts to laugh and Lilly laughs too, knowing how silly she must look. Lilly briefly worries that she has blown her cover, but motions the woman to the kitchen anyway. It¡¯s too late now, I might as well save her life, if she is alive... ¡°I¡¯ll make us some tea and you can tell me what you are doing up here in this windstorm so late at night.¡± The woman walks in to the kitchen and sits on a chair against the wall. The woman stares into space and begins her narrative, ¡°I came up to the observatory on a tour by the college this morning. We toured the observatory and then went out on a trail hike after a tour of the observatory.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t go very well for me.¡± ¡°One of the college advisors separated me from the main tour group and then forced me off the trail, he then pushed me down to the ground, held me down and raped me.¡± ¡°Then he struck me with something.¡± ¡°That is the last thing I remember. Then I was at the observatory doorway in front of you.¡± ¡°I must not remember the trip very well as the observatory does not look at all like what I saw on the tour.¡±  Lilly examines the woman carefully, she notices that the young woman is very attractive and is even more voluptuous than herself. You¡¯re a lovely sheep-girl! Like The Professor collects! ¡°Who is your trip advisor?¡± The woman gives a name and the name gives Lilly a jolt. It is the name of the current physics department head, The Professor¡¯s boss. Lilly quickly thinks, ¡°Do you know what the year and day it is today?¡± The woman gives Lilly a date from twenty years ago! Lilly is beginning to panic at the horror. She notices that woman has not touched her cup of tea, or moved anything since arriving. The woman looks down at the kitchen floor, ¡°And that floor patch was not there,¡± pointing to the yellow concrete patch on the kitchen floor.


    Lilly picks up her tea cup as if to drink and then suddenly tosses it at the woman and the cup passes through the woman and shatters against the kitchen''s far wall.


    Lilly sits up, in a panic. She is in her cot bed, A dream? Lilly gets up, dons the sheep-coat, walks down to check the hall door. The hall door is still bolted from the night before, with no sign that it was ever open during the night. The kitchen is undisturbed, no broken teacup, and no evidence that any tea was brewed last night.


    The next day Lilly walks around outside the building and examines the kitchen foundation from the outside of the building. Lilly thinks that she can dig under the kitchen floor and examine what is under the floor without having to break through the concrete kitchen floor.


    No astronomy today, just a murder mystery.


    The strong Lilly has no difficulty with the pick and shovel work, even in the stony ground of the observatory. After a while she has dug in under the floor about a meter. She is pretty sure that she is now under the discolored concrete floor patch, but so far she has found nothing. She continues digging, certain that she will ultimately find something. Then, a long narrow white spear appears out from the side of Lilly¡¯s hole beneath the kitchen floor. Lilly examines the white spear, afraid to touch it, even through her gloves. This is a leg bone! Lilly then carefully replaces all of the soil and rock she previously removed. The Head, in addition to bullying The Professor, is a murderer! What do I do now, I can¡¯t tell anyone,


    but especially not The Professor.


    Scene 5. Professor


    Without warning, Lilly returns to visit Apollo in the morning of his world. Her other self does not seem to sleepwalk at the observatory as there is no mess. It must be because it is so cold. She must return to her world to do any business she needs to do, where it is warmer. I have been being careful about keeping my body ¡®relieved¡¯ before bed in my world, so she doesn''t feel the need to get up at night.


    Something is different on this visit to Apollo''s world. Lilly notices that she is feeling ill after getting up in the morning. She is very hungry for breakfast though, even more so than usual. As they walk to the science building from Apollo¡¯s home, she also notices that she can feel a solid lump forming at the bottom of her abdomen. She reflects, with a start, eyes wide, I have felt this feeling before... Oh No! I¡¯m pregnant! She looks at Apollo with a grimace, You took me off to ¡®meet¡¯ ¡®Billy¡¯, and you had him do this to me! Deliberately! Now I will have kids to take care of in this world too!


    Lilly ignores her ¡®delicate condition¡¯ for now. She wants to know more about this invisible radiation and the mysterious ¡®particles¡¯. She steers Apollo to the tables and charts she thinks are relevant and has him run the demonstrations and read the charts for her. Back in her world she tries to reconstruct the diagrams for The Professor. Unfortunately these new charts and demonstrations seem to be too far beyond the science of her world to decode.


    Except for the ¡®cloud-chamber¡¯ device. This one is interesting as it has no parts to be fabricated. She closely examines the demonstration. It consists of a glass flask containing a small piece of ore mounted in the bottom center. The flask is placed on a very cold item, a block of frozen carbon dioxide. A small amount of alcohol is added to the flask. The alcohol forms a vapor layer near the bottom of the flask. And then, short straight vapor trails start to appear, emanating from the ore fragment. Particles!


    The professor drives up to the observatory, with food and supplies for Lilly, as well as components for her latest demonstration, This time it is not for a device but for the demonstration of a scientific phenomena known as ¡®elemental radiation¡¯. Lilly is beside herself with glee in anticipation of being able to reproduce this new science. She is also in ¡®rut¡¯. It is everything that Lilly can do not to jump the poor Professor as he exits the vehicle, she is so excited to see him, or anyone. She helps The Professor unload the vehicle and then she allows him rest from the long drive, as she gobbles the pizza he also brought with him. She sorts through the components, rations and papers and an ice chest that holds the required solid frozen carbon dioxide.


    The Professor stands up from the table and Lilly immediately jumps up and embraces him tightly. The Professor attempts to beg off smiling, ¡°I really love your passion for science!¡± ¡°but let¡¯s do the demonstration first.¡± ¡°I wish you were my student thirty years ago!¡± Lilly pushes him back and looks at him sternly, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have liked you then!¡± ¡°My men must be aged, (and stink!) like old cheese!¡± They both laugh.


    The demonstration goes very well, the ¡®particles¡¯ can be easily seen. Lilly then shines one of the ¡®demonstration lanterns¡¯ on the ore sample. The ¡®particle¡¯ trails more clearly seen and shadows of the trails are projected on the wall behind. She adds a magnet. The previously straight trails now form screw trails. Lilly jumps in the air and squeaks, ¡°Eee!¡± ¡°Eee!¡±.


    The professor has also brought a new discharge tube, with a filament a plate. One end has the zinc sulfide screen material coated on the inside and the sides of the tube are inlaid with a thin metal sheet. The tube is pumped down and the filament and high voltage supplies are started. The glow at the screen can be moved around by a magnet. More kinds of ¡®particles¡¯?


    Then wireless communication system is demonstrated. A spark gap apparatus with two metal wings. It communicates, on and off, with a similar device with the wings connected to a discharge tube. Both devices have a coil. Wired in parallel with the coil is a mechanical assembly consisting of two adjustable parallel metal plates, almost touching. The plates are slid closer or further apart, to maximize the brightness of the illumination in the receiving discharge tube. The the gap between plates on one transmitter receiver pair can be set to maximize the received signal on the other. Now the two wireless transmitter and receiver pair systems can operate both at the same time and place without interference from each other. The each transmitter-receiver set is both wireless and independent.


    Another demonstration is an electrical generator, wound to produce electricity that is alternating in polarity as the shaft is rotated. The rotating element can be wound in such a way as to couple electrical energy from the stationary elements coils to the rotating coils around the shaft without direct electrical contacts or ¡®brushes¡¯. In a similar way, a motor can also wound to use the alternating electrical current for power and to rotate the shaft without brushes. Lilly thinks of the observatory generator and realizes that it will be much more resistant to the elements than the one that requires ¡®brushes¡¯. In addition, this alternating polarity electricity can be transformed into different voltages by magnetic coupling of the electrical current through coils with different number winding''s, to produce higher or lower voltages, replacing the inefficient inductive-interrupter device that is presently used to produce high voltages.


    Another device is an evacuated tube with three elements. This device is demonstrates the electrical amplification of the voice signals from telephone circuits into an electromagnet with a cardboard sounding surface. The telephone voices can now be heard throughout the room.


    Lilly is skipping through the air and celebrating these successful demonstration reproductions. Her reward is ice cream, and The Professor. She glares at The Professor, grinning, ¡°Don¡¯t you even think about driving down this dangerous mountain, in the dark, tonight!¡± ¡°It is way too dangerous!¡± ¡°You will be staying here tonight!¡± ¡°With me!¡± "Where it is safe!"


    The Professor regards the excited Lilly, tail wiggling and hide glowing crimson under her translucent fur,


    But Lilly, you¡¯re dangerous too!


    Scene 6. Lamb


    The Professor is gone and the days continue. It will soon be spring. Lilly continues her astronomy observations and research. The Professor supplied Lilly with strings of the new electric lights, courtesy of ¡®The Factory¡¯, and Lilly has installed them, twinkling, throughout the observatory. No more greasy, stinky oil lamps that ruin the optics! The Professor also brought improved optical instruments, photographic plates and photographic development chemicals. These, with Lilly¡¯s hard work and the clear, cold, winter night skies, have all resulted in yet more discoveries from the heavens above.


    Lilly lies in her cot, very pleased with her night¡¯s work and reflecting on her world, If this keeps up, who knows what I will find. Maybe, I¡¯ll finally find ¡®The Universal Truth¡¯  and become even more famous. She closes her eyes.


    She becomes aware of a glow through her closed eyes. She opens her eyes to see a small figure sitting, in profile, at the end of her cot-bed. The figure is glowing a gold-orange. The figure appears to be a small, female sheep, a lamb. The figure resembles The Lamb figure on The Ram''s cross. The Lamb is looking down, holding a small book, reading. Lilly, in fright, speaks to the golden apparition, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The figure looks up and replies, ¡°I am known by many names,¡± ¡°but I am usually just called ¡®The Lamb¡¯.¡±


    Lilly is increasingly frightened, ¡°Why are you here?


    The Lamb replies, ¡°I come because I am called,¡± ¡°by the desperate and the hopeful.¡± ¡°I appear before martyrs and emissaries,¡± ¡°to tell them that they are about to face a trial.¡± ¡°I ask them to reflect on their faith, for the strength to endure.¡±


    Lilly suddenly opens her eyes to see only the darkened sleeping chamber. It is completely dark and she is alone. She remembers the worry of The Chief. And that she is incommunicado, except for her weekly visits from The Professor. What is going on with me? She thinks about the words of ¡®The Lamb¡¯.


    I am about to face ¡®A Trial¡¯?

 10. Enemy

    Scene 1. Forbidden Knowledge


    Historians and archaeologists have long been confused by the sequence of discoveries leading up to modern civilization. The earliest evidence of any life on this world is dated, with some controversy, to about five thousand years ago, for all advanced lifeforms, plant and animal. Before that, there was only bacteria in the oceans. The bacteria is thought to have produced the breathable atmosphere of oxygen, and the planet¡¯s only ancient fossil, oil. The theory is that all of the advanced plants and animals existent today did not originate on this world. Hence the popular legend of ''The Founders''. "The (mysterious) Founders brought it all," or so goes the myth.


    But the ''creation'' event is not the only mystery of this world. From a primitive wild-beast past of herds and packs there are sudden jumps. The earliest species of the advanced bipedal lifeforms strongly resemble the species of the wild quadruped animals, presumed non-sentient. The advanced biped species have distinguished themselves with spoken language as well as their bipedal, upright, body form. In addition their hooves and paws of their fore-legs are shaped for grasping. Part of the popular ''Founders'' myth is that ''The Founders'' made ''us'' in their image, from the wild quadruped animals.


    The first jump for the sentient species was about two thousand years ago, the knowledge and control of fire. Packs and herds became tribes and villages.


    About a thousand years ago another jump, the establishment agriculture, permanent cities and the domestication of the wild plants and animals.


    Then another jump, the knowledge of baking bread, brewing of beer, and fabrication of fired-pottery and the first evidence of written language.


    About five hundred years ago saw the rise of industry, with waterproof concrete, smelting and working of metals, iron, brass, pewter, and gunpowder. City-states arose and tribal raids became wars between nations.


    One hundred years ago the electrical storage battery, the motor-generator, the telephone, steam and oil power, appeared almost at the same time, and wars became even more destructive.


    The breakthroughs always seemed miraculous and simultaneous. Other than a few incremental changes nothing new appears between these breakthrough jumps. Historians and philosophers had their theories, but no one knew why.


    The historians all agree that it could happen again at any time.


    And now it has, at The Chief¡¯s Factory.


    Scene 2. Fugitive


    Everyone knew that it was too good to last. The new products from The Chief¡¯s Factory were indeed revolutionizing the world. And everyone was wondering how The Chief and The Factory were doing it.


    The Chief was known to be very smart and resourceful. He had no reluctance in plowing back his considerable fortune into new ideas, not all of which were successful. But that did not slow him down in the least. The Chief, ever the instinctive showman, continued with the dramatic product introduction shows, usually with free samples. The Chief soon had the attention of the world, and he loved it.


    The General decides that it is time for his troops to pay The Chief and The Factory a visit to find out what is going on there. One night, without warning, the factory is overrun with his Army troops. Power to the production machines and telephone service is immediately cut. The troops quickly round up all of the factory personnel, strip them, and placed them, naked, into temporary stockades, only with blankets for covering. The troops deliver temporary clothing to the factory workers the next morning. But the real effort is examining all of the work spaces for evidence of any ¡®new technology¡¯. Once identified, the ¡®new technology¡¯ work areas are sealed off and only high-clearance personnel are admitted access. There is an all-points bulletin for the immediate arrest of The Chief, Ellie, The Professor and Lilly. They were not found at The Factory. Orders are that once they are found they are to be immediately separated from each other and everyone else, stripped, bound, gagged and taken immediately to military headquarters and placed in soundproofed solitary confinement for questioning. This is a national security issue and the local police are not to be contacted or involved.


    The Chief and Ellie are on a ship to his The Chief¡¯s hideout down in The Southlands. Fortunately the ship does not have Lilly¡¯s new ¡®wireless communicator¡¯ and The Southlands has only local telephone service. They will be safe there for a while, out of contact. The Professor is said to be on an expedition with his archaeologist friends in Eurasia, also out of contact.


    Lilly is sleeping when she hears the sounds of vehicle motors ascending the road up the mountain, approaching the observatory. She was always expecting an unplanned visit, so she dons her disguise, and grabs her pack she has prepared for a ¡®quick exit¡¯ situation. She then and heads out the front door of the hall.


    As she runs out she looks at the hall door, I am not going to lock the hall, they will simply break in and then I will have to fix it all¡­ Someday... So much for my life as an astronomer...


    She heads down the hiking trail as it is the fastest way down the mountain. I¡¯ll head out cross-country if I see them coming up the trail. The troops overrun the observatory, they find, and immediately secure her drawings of the ¡®new technology¡¯. The drawings are spread around on the tables along with her astronomy notes, leaving no doubt about who is the source of the ¡®new technology¡¯.


    Martin¡¯s telephone rings, he is awakened from his sleep in his quarters at Shadow¡¯s compound. It is one of Martin¡¯s old contacts from his gang days. The telephone voice shouts, ¡°Martin, there is something big going down, The Factory has been raided by the Army!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Lilly?¡± ¡°She was at the college observatory but that has been raided too!¡± ¡°I think she ran out when she heard them coming.¡± ¡°Follow her and don¡¯t you lose track of her, she is very fast and agile!¡±


    The Professor¡¯s laboratories at the collage are also searched and numerous items are seized, ¡®new technology¡¯ or not. Roc is on travel for playoffs, but he too is still seized during a game, by the Army, and held incommunicado. Lilly¡¯s children are also taken to a facility for ¡®war-orphans¡¯. Beth is held briefly, but she only answers them in the language of The Southland, so she is released, identified as a harmless domestic servant. Once out of sight, Beth runs home and immediately reports the affair to Trish. Trish immediately contacts her friend, Shadow, the head of the State Police. Tex and Liz already know about Roc¡¯s arrest and they immediately confer with the group for a plan of action. It does not look good, they are likely to all be rounded up and arrested also.


    The General means War against these unauthorized ¡®new technologies¡¯! Lilly heads down toward the ocean, which is far away, She hopes to slip onto a ship out of the country as the only way out this. But the town is crawling with solders and the roads all have checkpoints. The General is taking no chances of her getting away. He know she is the key to the ¡®new technologies¡¯.


    Lily then reflects on the words of The Chief about the danger to everyone, and thinks of her family and friends.


    I am putting everyone in danger by running away. There is only one thing for me to do now.


    Scene 3. Surrender


    Lilly calmly walks towards the nearest highway roadblock-army checkpoint. The dog-solders watch Lilly. She is calmly walking toward them. They jump up and react in horror as they squeal and retreat behind the roadblock barriers, as if she is a walking bomb.


    She stands in front of the barricade, with her forelegs up in the air in surrender, looking down at the cowering solders, hunkering down behind the barricade,


    ¡°Really guys, I look <u>that</u> dangerous? You should have see me before I lost all that weight!¡±


    At last the lieutenant walks up, ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡±


    ¡°Hi!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lilly!¡± Lilly smiles, winks, wiggles her tail and flirts.


    The lieutenant just stares at her, ¡°So what!¡±


    Lilly smiles even more, I might as well have some fun. They are going to shoot me anyway,


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty hot!¡± She shakes her body, still quite wiggly, and her tail is wiggling wildly over her big butt. She then puts her fore-legs to the sides of her face and twirls sideways, back and forth on her toes, ¡°Mmmmmmmm!¡± ¡°In those handsome uniforms you guys look good enough to eat!¡±


    On cue, the lieutenant loses it. He roughly grabs Lilly and pulls her down to the ground in a cop hold. But she is not finished,


    ¡°Oh I love a man that takes charge!¡± Still smiling, while being firmly pressed to the ground, ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°In front of everyone?¡±


    A slam to the ground is not about to phase the tough, athletic, goat-woman in the least. She moves her head up, with her strong neck muscles, to the lieutenant''s face. Then she plants a big, wet, kiss, ¡°Mmmmmmm!¡± ¡°Smack!¡± She lays her head back down on the ground, grinning, ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn!¡±


    The lieutenant screams for restraints and a towel for his face. The shocked and previously immobile, solders finally start to move to assist him. Lilly continues, ¡°OHOOO!¡± ¡°Cuffs!¡± ¡°Mondo! Bondo!¡± ¡°You pervert!¡± They finally bind and gag the non-resisting Lilly, who is still laughing at them all.


    Lilly is totally pleased with herself and her extemporaneous comedy routine, especially the reaction of the crowd of cowering solders.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    You know, I really should go back to ¡®Stand Up¡¯ comedy again¡­ If I ever get a chance¡­ Some day...


    The commotion finally alerts the chain-of-command that the high-value fugitive has finally been detained.


    Scene 4. Prisoner


    Lilly is blindfolded, fore-legs bound, horns covered and mouth gagged, her hind legs are chained but she can still walk. A cloth bag is pulled over her entire body. She is setting back on a vehicle seat, likely an MP van.


    Wow, they really are afraid of me. Do I have some sort of super-deadly and highly-contagious disease?


    The van then starts to move. Lilly then reflects, as the van bounces, I really should have used the toilet this morning, before I left.


    The van finally stops and Lilly is jerked out of the van and carried upside down, still in the bag, to her new home, a very small holding cell. She is roughly dumped out of the bag and on to the hard floor of the cell. Her bindings, her shackles, her gag, her horn protector along with all of her clothes are then ripped off, without any caution for body parts they still might contain. She is left, naked, lying on the floor when the overhead shower sends down a drizzle of soapy, lukewarm water. She lies still as the soap is rinsed off with lukewarm water. She then feels warm air blowing in through small holes at the bottoms of the walls of the cell. She then sits up with her knees to her chest, still soggy, and dazed from the van trip and the subsequent dumpling and stripping. She looks around and sees that the small cell has a sink and a toilet stool, nothing else. She examines the toilet stool and looks up. Sure enough there is a view-port at the top of one cell wall. She waves at the view-port. She tries out the stool, long overdue. ¡°Ahaaaa,¡± ¡°Finally,¡± ¡°Relief!¡± She then smiles. I guess that¡¯s one reason they put me in the bag, to avoid a mess. She looks down at the hard floor. I guess I am sleeping on the floor tonight.


    The cell then starts rattling and blankets fall in from a trap door. ¡°Thank you!¡±, she calls out. No answer. No other sounds. Exhausted, she unfolds the blankets spreads them out on the floor, into a bed roll, and climbs in. Egad, what a day! It isn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t know this day was coming, I just thought it would be for something else that I am wanted for. I have had better days, but the comedy routine was fun. I guess the torture and the beatings will begin tomorrow. I do hate to lose teeth! The cell darkens.


    The next day begins with the arc-light turned on and blazing down into the cell. The trap door drops a small paper roll down to Lilly. She unwraps it, it is a breakfast roll and a hard gelled fruit roll. She takes bite. Not bad. She shouts, ¡°Can I order another one of these?¡± ¡°And maybe some coffee?¡± ¡°Cream and sugar?¡± No answer. She drinks water from the sink. I guess I know what the paper is for... Aah, for the ''goat washer''!


    She laughs to herself, As if the observatory food wasn¡¯t <u>diet</u> enough, well, Roc, I am still on a diet! You¡¯ll love the skinny, new me¡­ I hope... If I ever see you again...


    She finishes her small snack meal and washes in the sink. Again, down from above, drops in some folded fabrics. Lilly examines her new delivery: clothes, loose and unmarked army fatigues, no undergarments. She shouts again, ¡°Ouch! Rough fabric!¡± ¡°I am a delicate flower so I need a bra and some panties too please!¡± As expected, no response.


    She dresses, Well, I might as well get ready for my execution. It does not look like they are going to bother with a trial, or even with charges.


    Scene 5. Foxworthy


    The cell door suddenly explodes open to the dark hallway. Outside in the hallway she is facing grim looking solders each holding an inductive-interrupter shock rod. They motion for her to emerge. She walks out slowly holding her fore-legs aloft. She is walked into the larger holding room with bars everywhere. A large army guard dog-solder then opens an iron door at the end of the room. She walks out into the larger hallway. There she is held and fitted with a metal collar and a control leash, leading to a shock-device, no doubt. She does not test it. They then continue to walk down flights of stairs and through seemingly endless hallways. She has the impression that they are now far underground. The hallway walls gradually change from the dark green of the prison to a brighter off-white office look. She is led to a stairwell, she then ascends a number of flights. It appears to be an office building, or perhaps a medical clinic, with large suites. The entourage stops at a door, labeled, ¡®Dr. Foxworthy, Psychiatric Services¡¯. Uh oh, the Psych-Squad!


    The door opens and she hobbles in to a clinic-records area and then through a few more doors of medical rooms, finally through a menacing re-enforced strong-room door. The door opens and a fox-man appears with a smile, ¡°You must be Lilly.¡± ¡°Please come in.¡± Lilly is led in, thinking, Like I have a choice! ¡°I have been looking forward to meeting you, Lilly,¡± ¡°my name is Dr. Foxworthy and I will be ¡®helping¡¯ you today.¡±


    You could really help me by turning me loose!


    Medical assistants appear and Lilly is stripped from her Army fatigues and covered with a hospital gown. Her shackles are removed and she lifted and strapped, spread-eagle on her back, onto a surgical table still gagged.


    I¡¯ve seen this movie, where¡¯s the saw!


    Foxworthy approaches the side of the table and smiles down on her looking every bit like a cheap movie villain, I guess I¡¯ll at least hear what he has for an opening remark.


    Foxworthy starts his speech, ¡°I happen to already know that you have access to something we call ''new technology'' or ¡®advanced technology¡¯.¡± ¡°I do believe that you know exactly what I am talking about.¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t, it is knowledge of science and devices that have not been seen previously.¡± ¡°We would very much like to know how you come by this information and are prepared to do anything to get an honest answer about it directly from you.¡± ¡°We will, of course, also be asking for information from your family and friends.¡± ¡°We might have to ¡®push¡¯ all of them a little, to be sure we are getting honest answers.¡± ¡°They are all already our guests, so we can start right away!¡±


    ¡°Nod your head up and down if you are ready to have your gag removed, otherwise you will be shocked.¡± Lilly nods, what do I have to lose, it is not like he can go to my ¡®dream world¡¯ himself.


    Lilly¡¯s gag is removed and Lilly coughs, ¡°May I please have some water if I am going to talk?¡± Foxworthy brings her a paper cup and holds her head to the cup so that she can swallow without drowning.


    Lilly begins, ¡°I will tell you everything,¡± ¡°if you show me that my friends and family and are safe.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t mean in safe in jail.¡± ¡°They do not know anything,¡± ¡°I have never discussed any of this with anyone but The Professor,¡± ¡°I think you already know that.¡± ¡°I have kept this a secret because I thought that people would think I was crazy if I told them,¡± ¡°and I still think that they will.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what happens to me,¡± ¡°but you must let my family go or I will go to my death before I tell you anything.¡± ¡°Go ahead and bring on the red-hot pokers!¡± ¡°I know that kind of torture is old time thinking and that you use drugs now days,¡± ¡°but I also know that you need me lucid, or I won¡¯t be able to communicate anything of use.¡±


    Foxworthy¡¯s sinister smile again, ¡°Okay!, fine!¡± ¡°We will start with some shocks and then start draining some blood out and see you you do.¡± Carts are rolled up to the sides of the table.


    Foxworthy then climbs up on Lilly¡¯s table, on his knees, and he straddles Lilly¡¯s great chest. He bends down and speaks in a low voice directly into Lilly¡¯s face, ¡°My dear¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that you fully understand the situation.¡± ¡°I am not doing this to you to get any ¡®useful information¡¯ from you.¡± ¡°I hope you resist.¡± ¡°I do torture because it is <u>fun</u>!¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about your ¡®advanced technology¡¯ or your ¡®Larry Light-bulb¡¯ inventions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about <u>what</u> you are doing and I don¡¯t care <u>w</u><u>h</u><u>y</u> you are doing it.¡±


    ¡°I only care about <u>how</u> you are doing it.¡± Foxworthy strokes the top of Lilly¡¯s head with his paw, ¡°Mmmm, nice cranium!¡±


    ¡°I want you to lose consciousness and approach death, so that I have an excuse for ¡®surgical intervention¡¯.¡± ¡°I am then going to save your life by extracting your brain,¡± ¡°while still alive, of course.¡± I will then watch your brain, in a jar, on a table.¡± ¡°I will then probe and experiment on your brain.¡± ¡°I am very excited about this.¡±


    Lilly stares into Foxworthy¡¯s distorted, close-up, face, and his fangs, gleaming.


    Lilly is determined to have the last word, ¡°Doctor, do you know that you have really bad breath?¡±


    This guy is even crazier than I am. I, at least, don¡¯t kill people... Usually...


    Foxworthy smiles, ¡°I like your spunk!¡± He sits back up, still straddling Lilly. The assistants then place a clamp around Lilly¡¯s head and cover her face with a clear shield. Foxworthy pulls on surgical gloves and then reaches down. He then holds up a spinning bone cutter saw and holds it in her face, ¡°I love my job!


    There¡¯s the saw, I told you, I have already seen this movie!


    Scene 6. General


    Loud shouting and crashing sounds are now heard, coming from outside the chamber¡¯s strong-room door. Foxworthy suddenly looks up and turns to the chamber door. More sounds of a commotion from hall outside, moving closer, with shouts coming from throughout Foxworthy¡¯s medical suite.


    The strong door to the torture chamber then explodes into the room. Pieces of the door fly everywhere. Standing at the dramatic entrance, framed in the smashed door, is a silhouette of a huge Minotaur, The General.


    And he does not look happy. He never looks happy.


    Foxworthy jumps up from the table dropping the saw onto a tray. He stands up at full attention facing The General. ¡°General!¡± ¡°So good to see you!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were coming or I would have arranged an ¡®escort service¡¯ and some snacks!¡±


    The General¡¯s assistant loudly announces, ¡°Everyone! Out of the room!¡± Foxworthy starts to walk out also, ¡°No, you don¡¯t. You stay!¡±


    Lilly moans, ¡°May I go too?¡± She is still strapped down. She is not going anywhere.


    The General, shouting at Foxworthy, ¡°Release her!¡± Foxworthy starts to speak and The General cuts him off, ¡°Release her!¡± ¡°NOW!¡± Foxworthy turns and slowly begins to remove Lilly¡¯s restraints. The General walks to the side of the table. After her last restraint is removed The General helps Lilly sit up on the edge. The General then drapes Lilly with a blanket and pulls it around her.


    Foxworthy glances up, to see if he can make a break for the door. The General¡¯s assistant shakes his head and blocks the shattered door-frame exit.


    The General looks down at Lilly. Lilly is shivering again and not just with the cold. The imposing General tries to console Lilly, ¡°My dear, I cannot tell you how sorry I am about how they have treated you here,¡± ¡°my men included.¡± ¡°You were taken from ¡®us¡¯ by the government¡¯s Psychic Forces,¡± ¡°and they brought here, to one of their facilities, in their van.¡± ¡°It took me some time to determine what had happened to you, and where you were now.¡±


    Lilly cannot resist, ¡°I am glad that you found me before they sawed me into bits and put my bits into in specimen jars!¡± Lilly¡¯s eyes widen, now looking directly at The General, ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°I recognize you from the presentation!¡± ¡°The Professor introduced you to me,¡± ¡°You¡¯re The General!¡±


    The General smiles, "Yes, that was me," ¡°That was quite a show you and The Professor put on.¡± ¡°Very dramatic.¡±


    Lilly is starting to feel a little more at ease, ¡°That¡¯s The Professor for you..¡±


    The General examines Lilly very intensely, ¡°Lilly, I know that ¡®we¡¯,¡± ¡°¡®I¡¯, ¡°have not done very much to earn your trust,¡± ¡°I hope to make up for all of that.¡±


    Lilly suddenly looks frightened, eyes wide, she shrieks, ¡°My family!¡±


    ¡°Your family is home,¡± ¡°safe.¡± ¡°I will take you to a place where you can call them and confirm this.¡± ¡°In the mean-time I would like for you to come with me.¡± ¡°I have some things I would like to show you,¡± ¡°things that might help you understand why we were so disparate to find you.¡± ¡°We need your help.¡± ¡°I called your husband,¡± ¡°he is not very happy with ¡®us¡¯ either,¡± ¡°but he did give some of your clothes to my solders, so you can get dressed.


    The General then takes on a look of genuine desperation, ¡°Lilly, will you come with me?¡±


    Lilly nods, ¡°You have said that you have released my family,¡± ¡°That was my condition for cooperation with Foxworthy.¡± ¡°If you have released my family, as you say,¡± ¡°then I am all yours, to do with as you will.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t run away again,¡± ¡°I promise.¡±


    The General then smiles a rare smile, and motions to Lilly. She stands and they walk out past Foxworthy. Foxworthy smiles, an evil smile, directly at Lilly.


    Foxworthy, you are a true villain, and I see that you have not given up on my brain.


    He wants my brain!

 11. Reunited

    Scene 1. Base


    Lilly is still in Foxworthy¡¯s outer office when she receives the clothes sent by Roc from home. She dresses with the help of a young and attractive female warrant officer assigned to assist The General. Lilly is still shaken by the ordeal and knows that she has to be careful if she doesn''t want her brain extracted and put into a jar. Egad, there is such evil! In both worlds!


    The warrant officer escorts Lilly out of the office building out to the street where an Army staff car and driver are waiting with the motor running. She is helped into the back seat and the warrant officer takes the front passenger seat. The opposite passenger door opens and The General gets in. Lilly smiles a grimace smile, Well, at least I am not alone anymore.


    The car drives out of town, towards The Factory and then out beyond, into the open country and finally to the Army base.


    She is thinking, I have been to this base before, for Army Day with dad, when I was a kid. I still remember all of the green buildings. I sampled a ration biscuit that day. I thought the Professor¡¯s rations at the observatory tasted familiar.


    The Base is a large complex of buildings, with rows of barracks buildings, apartments and family housing. Beyond there are other buildings that appear to be manufacturing facilities much like The Factory buildings of The Chief, except there are no windows on the first floors. They pull in to a large office building¡¯s parking lot. The building features a large sign: ¡®Headquarters¡¯, in case anyone was wondering.


    The General exits at the headquarters. The warrant officer turns to Lilly, ¡°I will take you to your quarters where you can clean up and rest from your ordeal.¡± ¡°Tomorrow we are having a dinner in the commissary, in you honor. We took the liberty of calling your friends to join us.¡± Lilly thinks about it and reflects on how long it has been since she has seen Roc and the kids, ¡°Yes¡±" I would love to see everyone again." "It has been a while and I would like to see for myself that they all are okay.¡± And for them to see that I have lived through it (so far). ¡°I have a college advisor I know as The Professor, I would like him to come too.¡±


    The officer is quiet for a bit, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about The Professor.¡± ¡°I heard that he was not well, returning from a foreign expedition.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡±


    ¡°How about The Chief and Ellie?¡±


    ¡°They have returned from The Southland and they will be here.¡± ¡°They really want to see you.¡± I¡¯ll bet! To see if I spilled the beans!


    The warrant officer shows Lilly to a suite in one of the base hotel buildings. It is a small singles ¡®efficiency¡¯ apartment. It has military decor and It is small, with a small refrigerator a small cupboard and a single bed. Now how am going to play in that tiny single bed? I am not that ''tiny''!


    Bags are set in the middle of the floor, containing her clothes, astronomy notes, photographs and her college text books from the observatory. Notably missing are her ¡®advanced technology¡¯ notes, drawings and hardware. She is exhausted from her ordeal over the last days and the frightening threat of having her brain removed by Foxworthy. She collapses, face down on the single bed and immediately falls to sleep.


    She awakens the next morning, still dressed in her clothes from the day before, to a loud knock on her door. She looks outside, it is Roc and her twins. She jumps to the door and throws it open, suddenly in tears, ¡°Waaaaaaaaaaaa!¡± She surrounds Roc and her daughters, and embraces them tightly. She finally releases them when her daughter protests, ¡°Mommy! You''re squashing me!¡±


    Roc leans back and stares at Lilly with a sly smile, ¡°You are who again?¡± They walk over to pick-nick benches set out on the large grass area in front of the apartments. Lilly¡¯s barracks apartment is too small for her ¡®herd¡¯. The kids run and play on the grass.


    Lilly wipes tears, ¡°It has been awful, being apart from you all for so long.¡± ¡°Not seeing anyone at the observatory,¡± ¡°Except the ghosts.¡±


    ¡°I understand that The Professor was bringing you provisions once a week.¡±


    ¡°He was my lifeline.¡± ¡°He even brought me pizza once in a while.¡± ¡°As you know, I was doing astronomy research for him and transcribing his papers.¡± ¡°He would come to collect the transcriptions and the drawings.¡± ¡°Have you heard from him? ¡°The staff here tells me that he is sick.¡±


    ¡°No, but your other friends will be here though, Liz and Tex, Rod and his family, they are very anxious to see you.¡± ¡°I think Shadow and Rod¡¯s kitchen crew will be here too.¡± ¡°Rod is catering the event.¡±


    Event?


    ¡°I have missed everyone so much." "I can¡¯t wait to see everyone again.¡± ¡°I have missed working at Rod¡¯s restaurant very much (and the attention from those flirtatious lawyers!) .¡±


    ¡°Have we all gotten together since the combined ¡®awards ceremony, wedding, christening¡¯ party?¡± ¡°I think this is the first time since we got married!¡±


    Lilly brightens at thought of seeing everyone again, I am very worried about The Professor.


    Scene 2. Party Preparations


    The commissary starts preparations in the afternoon. Rod¡¯s daughters and Timmy are decorating the room with ¡®Welcome Home Lilly¡¯ banners. Lilly looks at the banners and reflects, I am not going home just yet.


    There is a small commotion on the small stage on the side of the commissary eating area. A small group of solders are setting up chairs and getting out musical instruments. The solders begin playing a mix of new and older music, adding to the festive mood.


    Lilly walks back into the Kitchen area and sees a familiar sight, Rod and his kitchen crew hard at work. The all see Lilly and cheer and Lilly waves to them. Rod still has many of Porky¡¯s old gang working for him, all seem to have gone straight, thankful for the chance and Rod trusts them all.


    Lilly sees a large black Sudan pull in front of the commissary. Two trench-coat figures emerge from the back seats, one is a tall thin wolf, the other is a short thin weasel. Lilly jumps straight up, high into the air and screams, ¡°Shadow!¡± ¡°Martin!¡± ¡°Yeeeessss!" "You are here!¡± She runs to up them, hugging the tall Shadow then quickly collecting Martin and lifting him into the air, stripping off his coat and then wrapping him around her neck. ¡°Ms Lilly! What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I am enjoying the feel and the smell of my favorite, furry, ¡®plushy¡¯, that I have missed so much!¡± ¡°I am still thinking about making you into a ¡®stole¡¯!¡± ¡°Except you would lose that wonderful smell.¡±


    Lilly then releases Martin and sets him down to the floor and kneels, facing him. Lilly, now looks serious, ¡°I know it was you.¡± ¡°Somehow, you had your network track me,¡± ¡°and they knew where the Psych-Squad had taken me,¡± ¡°and you told The General where I was.¡± ¡°No one has told me this directly,¡± ¡°I just remember you saying that you will always know where I am.¡± ¡°I can still hear you say to me, in your manner of speech, ¡®a good hit-man never loses track of his target!¡¯¡± ¡°Once again, Martin, you have saved my life.¡± ¡°I have the world¡¯s best ''guardian weasel'' for my own.¡±


    Martin reaches out to touch a tear on Lilly¡¯s cheek, ¡°There ain¡¯t nothin¡¯ I won''t do for you, Ms. Lilly.¡± She pulls Martin into her chest and embraces him tightly,


    ¡°You¡¯re so adorable!¡± ¡°I have to go back to the party now." "Don¡¯t you leave without telling me goodbye.¡±


    Scene 3. Welcome Back


    The party is a progressive affair. Rod brings out snack sides and sodas for the ''early birds''. Many people drift in to the commissary that Lilly does not know, she assumes they are associated with The General or The Chief in some way. She has not seen The General or The Chief yet and figures that they will have their own reception when they arrive. She shrugs. Whatever.


    The crowd then turns together to pay attention to the two striking, tall, black figures that have just appeared at the door. Lilly jumps into the air again and shouts, ¡°Liz!¡± ¡°Tex!¡± and Lilly runs over to them and hugs them both. Liz cannot resist, ¡°Lilly! You have lost so much weight!¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°Not much to eat at the observatory.¡± ¡°No pizza¡± ¡°Plus they starved me here for the last few days too.¡± ¡°¡¯It¡¯s a conspiracy¡¯, I say!¡±


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    Lilly tilts back and shouts, ¡°Bring me food!¡± ¡°Bring me food NOW!¡±


    Liz and Tex escort Lilly up to the front serving table and right on cue Rod appears with a large flat square cardboard box. The band plays a march as Rod strides over to the serving table. Rod places the box down on the table in front of Lilly. Rod, slowly and dramatically opens the hinged box. It is a large veggie pizza, with extra cheese. Rod cuts the pizza and places a large slice on a plate and passes the plate to Lilly, ¡°I¡¯ll just take the box and eat it, box and all!¡±. Lilly smiles broadly and bows, ¡°If you are trying to make me happy, you all know the secret!¡±


    The the crowd hears trumpets from the band. Lilly looks toward the door, I guess this is when the real guests of honor arrive.


    At the door is The General and his warrant officer. The crowd waves and cheers. Behind them is The Chief and Ellie, the crowd cheers. The four stand to the sides waiting for the arrival of someone else. It is an attendant pushing a wheelchair. Seated in the wheelchair is The Professor. The General salutes and The Chief bows, as The Professor is wheeled past them.


    Lilly just stands in the crowd, staring at The Professor. She is motionless, in shock, at the sight.


    Lilly is in for another shock. In the light of the commissary double-doorway entrance stand two tall white-goat figures, gleaming, like statues. These are Lilly¡¯s parents, back from ¡®wherever¡¯. Lilly starts walking toward them then breaks into a run, she runs up and stops in front of them still standing motionless in the doorway. Lilly is caught without words as she reaches out with some hesitation, remembering her fore-hoof passing through the ghost, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you both are really here.¡±


    ¡°Of course we are here,¡± ¡°We came when we heard that our daughter is at the center of an ¡®international incident¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± ¡°¡®International incident¡¯?¡± ¡°Are you staying in town?¡± ¡°Will you be here for long this time?¡± ¡°I get asked a lot about you all, but I really don¡¯t know what you do.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk this time.¡± ¡°But for now, please excuse me!¡± ¡°I absolutely must circulate and greet everyone gathered here, all of my friends and family, as I haven''t seen any of them for a while either.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story, but I¡¯ll tell it if you would like.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send Roc over.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen him since our wedding,¡± ¡°and you can see how your grandchildren have grown.¡±


    Lilly finds Roc and directs him to show ¡®the kids¡¯ to her folks. Then she heads toward The Professor. The Chief and Ellie are still with him, talking to the attendant that has been operating his wheelchair. ¡°Chief!¡± ¡°Ellie!¡± ¡°You¡¯re are back!¡± ¡°I so want to hear about what went down at The Factory and how you slipped out.¡±


    The Chief looks at, the much thinner, Lilly, with surprise and concern, ¡°Lilly! What happened to you?¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°The General wants me to check-in with The Base¡¯s medics, but I feel fine.¡± ¡°I have just been on a forced diet.¡± ¡°It was effective huh!¡± She kicks up her left hind leg to reveal her thinner thigh, ¡°Maybe I can market it!¡±


    Lilly turns to The Professor and kneels down on her knees, respectfully, before the chair, ¡°My Professor, what happened to you?¡± The Professors eyes turn to regard Lilly, otherwise he does not move, or speak.


    Lilly looks up to Ellie, ¡°What is wrong with him?¡±


    ¡°He was arrested by the local police on a college expedition abroad, and then turned over to the Psych-Squad.¡± ¡°He was like this when The General¡¯s men finally found him, in the same facility in which you were being held.¡± Lilly eyes reveal her horror, Foxworthy! Lilly quickly looks around at the crowd, Is Foxworthy here, somewhere?


    ¡°We are hoping that The Professor will respond to therapy and can be rehabilitated at this base¡¯s long-term care facility,¡± ¡°we have arranged for his care here at the base, so that you can visit him frequently.¡± ¡°His reaction to seeing you now was the most reaction that we have seen from him.¡± ¡°He really likes you so we hope that you will visit him as often as you can.¡±


    Lilly rises, tears in her eyes, ¡°I will¡­¡± ¡°I hate to leave you, there is so much to talk about, but I must greet all of the rest of my friends.¡±


    ¡°Go now,¡± ¡°We understand, and we will meet again.¡±


    Lilly walks over to greet her old friends, Tex and Liz, sitting at a table, off by themselves. Lilly sits down at the table with them, ¡°I am so glad to see you both!¡± ¡°Did my stalkers harass you both very much?¡± Tex laughs, ¡°They only wanted Roc.¡± ¡°They just looked at me and shook their heads.¡± ¡°Nobody wants a ¡®black goat¡¯!¡± They even threw Roc back, he was back with the team the next day.¡± They all laugh, and Lilly smiles, I needed cheering up, I must be smiling for all of these people that came to see me. Lilly reaches out, ¡°Come on over and say hi to my folks.¡± ¡°I need them to know that I still have friends¡±


    Lilly notices a large crowd around Roc and her parents. Rod, Trish, Timmy and Rod¡¯s three girls are playing with the kids. The crowd around that crowd mostly consists of Rod¡¯s kitchen staff, Porky¡¯s old gang. They love the kids too. Lilly pauses to observe the scene, I drew crowds too, as a kid, there is something attractive about translucent-white kids, bouncing around, I guess. They look like my folks. All these white goats, Roc, the kids, my folks, me. White goats are not rare here!


    Lilly looks around at the decorations and at the attendees, the mood is very festive, some taking food and drinks from the main table. Lilly now notices in the front of the stage is a jig holding a large black disk. Lilly¡¯s eyes follow the cord to a box on the side of the stage. The box is connected by cords to a large cone. The cone¡¯s open bottom is facing into the room. Rod is ascending the steps to the stage and stands in front of the disk. The musician-solders start to play a traditional song from The Southlands and Rod¡¯s booming voice reverberates into the large room from the cone.


    Lilly jumps in the air with glee, They finished my ''telephone amplifier'' system!


    Lilly searches the room for The General, everyone is acting like this incident is concluded. Lilly takes a deep breath, I don¡¯t believe that anything with so much drama can end this easily!


    Scene 4. Dance


    The army band breaks into a fast, modern dance, number. The crowd stands back from the center of the room as two tall black figures move quickly into a very dynamic dance performance. It is Tex, dancing with his sister, Liz. The two quickly draw the attention of the room with an impressive fast dance and gymnastics. The strong tall Tex swings his tall thin sister high over his head and the two twirl around the room. It seemed to be a practiced routine. Lilly watches, Liz said that they had tried some professional dance contests, but usually had to pull out when Tex went off to play ball. I never watched them perform, I had no idea they were so good! The two athletes complete their dance routine and bow to the crowd. The crowd cheers.


    Liz immediately runs to Lilly, and Tex finds Roc. Liz and Tex then drag Lilly and Roc to the middle of the floor and push them together. The band then starts playing a slow dance piece. Lilly looks up to Roc, ¡°Do you think this was planned?¡± Roc smiles and embraces Lilly. They dance the slow dance, continuing to hold each other close. Lilly deeply inhales Roc¡¯s smell and starts to weep, ¡°Why are you so damned perfect?¡±


    The rest of the crowd joins in, with the slow dance number, for the older generation. Lilly sees that her parents are smiling, dancing together. Ellie and The Chief are also on the floor. The twins are twirling with each other in a corner. Even Rod and Trish have joined the dance. The huge Rod is walking the dance floor slowly with small Trish on his great shoulders. Lilly, seeing Rod and Trish together, immediately grabs the small Martin and throws him up on her head. The large bovines, Rod and Lilly, then dance together, while the small carnivores, Trish and Martin, are holding each other too. It is quite the sight, someone in the crowd shouts, "Watch out for all those horns!"


    The band then starts playing a musical show tune. Rod¡¯s ex-gang kitchen staff appears on the floor and performs a rather involved musical dance routine together. Apparently, a couple of the gang members were unsuccessful actors, they taught the rest of the gang stage performance. They all practiced together when there was nothing else to do at the hide-out.


    The crowd cheers and cheers. Lilly looks at the happy crowd and tears up again, Was all of this, for me?


    Finally, Rod walks up the stage to the ''new technology'' microphone and waves. The band finishes the last dance number. Rod speaks in his naturally musical voice, ¡°I guess the staff want s to close the kitchen so I have to say good night to all of you.¡± ¡°Be sure to come by my restaurant,¡± ¡°I will prepare ''the special''!¡±


    The band then starts playing the ¡®Good Night¡¯ theme and everyone exits the commissary. Lilly finds her parents, ¡°Where are you staying?¡± ¡°I will call you tomorrow.¡±


    Lilly¡¯s mother smiles, ¡°We¡¯re staying at our apartments, of course,¡± ¡°you have been tending to them haven¡¯t you?¡± Lilly frowns, ¡°The team got Roc a house, for the kids and I.¡± ¡°I had to get a service for the apartments, with everything that was going on¡­¡± ¡°I hope that it is okay¡­¡±


    Lilly¡¯s father motions for a waiting car and turns to Lilly, ¡°We have something to show you that we collected on our ¡®dig¡¯.¡± ¡°I think you will find it interesting.¡±


    Lilly watches as her parents leave in the car, Now what did they ¡®collect¡¯ that I would find interesting?

 12. Base

    Scene 1. Visit


    Lilly finally is able to get away and visit The Professor in the Long-Term Care Facility at The Base. Like all of the other Army Base buildings, it is an older green building, but very clean. In the large lobby are a number of wheelchairs, all with elderly patients. Probably retired military, Lilly thinks. She approaches the desk and gives her name to the clerk, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re Lilly!¡± ¡°Wait here and I¡¯ll have someone come out for you.¡± The clerk turns and dials the telephone.


    The same attendant that pushed The Professors chair at the reunion party comes out to greet Lilly, ¡°Good morning Lilly, I am sure that The Professor will be happy to see you!¡± ¡°Please follow me.¡± They walk through several hallways to the back of the building to single-patient rooms, maybe these rooms are for residents that are contagious? They come to one room with a guard posted outside, the door is closed. The guard stands aside as the attendant shows him her ID badge. The guard opens the door and they enter, he then closes the door behind them.


    The room has one large bed. In the bed is a large older bear-man, The Professor. Lilly runs up to him and lifts his huge fore-paw. He only moves his eyes to stare at Lilly. Lilly is doing everything to avoid looking surprised, or cry. She takes his great fore-paw and presses it against her chest. ¡°I have missed you so much!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring our astronomy research papers next time I come so that you can review them with me.¡± ¡°I think we have enough material for several papers, maybe even a prize!¡± She holds his paw for several minutes, she gets no response so she says nothing more to him. My Professor! What have they done to you!?


    Lilly releases The Professor¡¯s paw and turns to the attendant, ¡°What is wrong with him?¡± The attendant responds, ¡°I have asked the doctor to come down and talk to you, he is on his way.¡±


    The doctor enters the room with the guard. Lilly jumps up almost reaching the ceiling, and shouts, ¡°FOXWORTHY!! She lunges at the doctor, but she is intercepted, restrained, and silenced by the door guard. She is wiggling wildly in rage, bright crimson, ¡°MMMMFFFFFTTTTTT!¡±, Let me kill that bastard!


    Foxworthy draws back and grimaces at Lilly, ¡°Now my dear Lilly, just relax. This county only has one psychiatrist,¡± He holds his fore-paw to his chest, ¡°Me!¡± Foxworthy smiles triumphantly at Lilly, ¡°I told you we would meet again.¡± Foxworthy continues, ¡°If you promise to be good, I¡¯ll have the guard release you,¡± ¡°If not, you will not be allowed into this facility again and you will not be allowed to visit The Professor again.¡± ¡°So what will it be?¡± Foxworthy looks up with a sudden thought, ¡°Oh! Have you changed your mind on my offer for your brain?¡±


    Lilly stops wiggling and forces herself to relax. She is still bright pink. The guard drags her across the large room and forces her to the floor, preventing her from attempting another lunge for Dr. Foxworthy.


    I have been defeated again by this bastard! Even though he has won, he is still trying to ¡®Get My Goat¡¯!


    The guard cautiously releases Lilly. She is straining to remain motionless, but her feelings are revealed by her a bright pink blush. Lilly coughs after being choked by the guard, ¡°Okay, Lets presume that you are actually trying to help The Professor,¡± ¡°What therapy is he receiving? How long can we expect it to be before he is able to speak?¡± ¡°And testify against you...¡±


    Dr. Foxworthy, pulls up a chair and sits down. He motions to a chair next to Lilly, ¡°Please sit down my dear.¡± ¡°You look like a pink bomb, ready to explode.¡± The guard carefully takes the chair and motions for Lilly to sit. She does. She is now shivering, but not from the cold.


    Dr. Foxworthy begins, ¡°The Professor is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.¡± ¡°He needs peace and quiet.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, not much is known about the specific cause for this disorder or its treatment.¡± ¡°The best we are able to do is to keep him comfortable and avoid stressful situations and let him recover on his own.¡±


    Lilly stares at Foxworthy, like she expects him to suddenly pull out a knife and threaten to kill The Professor. Lilly asks, not expecting an honest answer, ¡°You were holding him at the same time as me at your ¡®clinic¡¯." "What were you doing to him there?¡±


    Dr. Foxworthy tries to look concerned,¡°We were conducting tests, as he was like this when he was turned over to us by the medical staff from abroad.¡± ¡°He was accompanying your parents on an archaeological excavation.¡± ¡°He collapsed at the hotel and the hotel staff called their emergency medical personnel.¡± ¡°They worried that they did not have the proper facilities to treat him and they turned him over to ¡®us¡¯.¡±


    Lilly continues her harsh glare at Dr. Foxworthy, Like anyone would turn anyone over to the Psych-Squad! I¡¯ll ask my parents and see what they know, probably not much, ¡°That¡¯s a great story, doctor,¡± ¡°Have you ever considered writing fiction novels?¡±


    Dr. Foxworthy gives Lilly his signature, long-snouted, toothy, grin, ¡°I have several books in print, and I have even won awards.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you my pen name so that you can pick them up and read them.¡± ¡°I think you will like them, especially the ¡®spy thrillers¡¯.¡±


    Lilly cannot take any more, she motions to the guard, ¡°May I leave now?¡± The guard motions to the door. Lilly stands up and hurriedly exits the room, not looking back. She makes her way back to the front desk and checks out with the clerk, not saying anything, just hissing at everyone, like a snake ready to strike, ¡°SSSSSSS!¡±


    Scene 2. Top Secret!


    The General stands as Lilly sits down in a large and well padded office chair. Lilly scheduled the meeting several days earlier with this very busy Minotaur.


    ¡°I apologize for interrupting your busy schedule but I am concerned about The Professor¡¯s care at the clinic.¡± ¡°Did you know that Dr. Foxworthy is The Professor¡¯s attending physician?¡± ¡°The same guy that was trying to remove my brain?¡±


    ¡°The Professor was being held at Foxworthy¡¯s clinic the same time I was when your men recovered him.¡± ¡°How do we know that The Professor didn¡¯t ¡®acquire¡¯ his ¡®condition¡¯ right there, from Dr. Foxworthy¡¯s torture-treatment?


    ¡°Maybe you heard,¡± ¡°When I saw Foxworthy at The Professor¡¯s care facility, I tried to kill him, but your guard stopped me.¡±


    The General watches and listens to Lilly and then pauses to speak after she has finished, ¡°I am concerned but I have no authority over the Psych-Squad.¡± ¡°I really upset them just by recovering you.¡± Their operatives only answer to their superiors in the highest levels of government and I don¡¯t know who. I have complained numerous times to my superiors about the actions of the Psych-Squad and my superiors have taken not action that I am aware of. My superiors won¡¯t even acknowledge the Psych-Squad¡¯s actions or that they even exist. My superiors, and the rest of the government, must believe that the Psych-Squad is doing¡¯ God¡¯s Work¡¯, and is not to be interfered with, collateral damage is acceptable, without apology.¡±


    The General looks even more serious, ¡°Please do not discuss the Psych-Squad, your arrest, subsequent treatment and rescue.¡± ¡°Also, deny your work on, and the existence of, ¡®advanced technology¡¯ to everyone except for those cleared specifically by me.¡± ¡°All of your past work has been classified: ¡®Top Secret¡¯.¡± ¡°Any and all of your new work will be done here, on this base, in a facility we built especially for containing this ¡®new technology¡¯.¡±


    Lilly looks down, ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± I¡¯ll behave from now on,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be prevented from visiting The Professor.¡± ¡°And I already have agreed to work with you, with only the condition that you protect my family and friends.¡± ¡°Will I be a prisoner here?¡± "I would like to leave The Base once in a while, to conduct personal business and to see my family at home."


    The General sighs, ¡°You are not a prisoner here, but please work with us.¡± ¡°Yes, you can leave the base and even spend some nights at your home.¡± ¡°Undercover protection is assigned to you and your family and friends, all the time from now on.¡± ¡°But be careful!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t put them in even more danger by telling them anything, especially anything that you are working here!¡± ¡°Your cover is that you are still attending college and occasionally working at The Factory and staying overnight there.¡±


    Scene 3. Dreamers


    Lilly is met by the cute warrant officer who smiles upon seeing her, ¡°Lilly I would like to show you where you are going to work here at the base.¡± Lilly hesitates, well that was fast, The General must have planned this when I told him I was coming.


    The warrant officer escorts Lilly to an electric car identical to the one at The Factory, The Chief must have made this car too. The car whirs across the large base they pass athletic fields for various sports and Lilly spots a tennis court, ¡°Do you play tennis?¡±


    The officer flashes a smile at Lilly, ¡°Yes, I made the finals in high-school.¡±


    Lilly finally feels some relief, ¡°Are you up for a game?¡±


    ¡°Maybe tomorrow, after I get you set up at ¡®The Facility¡¯.¡± Egad, It sounds like I am about to be institutionalized!


    The car drives through two fenced vehicle checkpoints and finally pulls up to a very long building with the only windows being way up high on the sides. The entrance is through outer doors leading to a guard station. The inner doors have no handles. Apparently the inner door is only operated by the guard.


    Lilly¡¯s name is found on the visitor¡¯s list, the warrant officer turn to Lilly, ¡°Tomorrow you¡¯ll need to get a new badge, to get in here without me.¡± The inner door opens.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The building is a collection of offices and conference rooms all along the outer wall. On the opposite side of the hall is a window looking out onto a large field with a number of larger and smaller devices and constructs, a few figures can be seen attending to these constructs. They walk down the hall, along side of the outer wall offices. The warrant officer is reading tags on each door and finally stops, ¡°Here it is,¡± ¡°this is your new office!¡± Lilly notes her name on the door. Wow! The warrant officer unlocks the door and the room is filled with light from the outer windows, high overhead. The office is a little smaller then The General¡¯s. It reminds Lilly of Ellie¡¯s office back at The Factory, a large desk, filing cabinets and several large workstations.


    Lilly cannot resist, ¡°When is The General going to install electric lights?¡±


    The warrant officer hesitates, then continues, ¡°I believe he has them scheduled for installation at the end of this month.¡± The warrant officer walks to the door and hands Lilly her office key, ¡°Now I¡¯ll show you the shops and introduce you to your coworkers and the assistant staff.¡± Coworkers? They walk down a hall to larger spaces containing various types of shop equipment, including an arc-welding station. Lilly smiles, May I continue my hobbies?


    The two then walk down out of the office area and out to the field toward a construct surrounded by large piles of apparatus. The pile is being attended by two college-age individuals, a boar-man and a bear-man. The bear-man looks up and walks over to greet them, the boar-man looks up then looks back down and continues working. The warrant officer smiles to the bear, ¡°Otto, I would like you to meet Lilly.¡± Otto smiles. ¡°Will you be joining us out here?


    Lilly weakly smiles, ¡°Yes.¡±


    The warrant officer points to the boar-man, ¡°That¡¯s Oliver, he¡¯s shy.¡±


    Otto smiles again, staring at and obviously interested in Lilly, ¡°What are you ¡®in¡¯ for?¡±


    Lilly looks up to him, and says, without irony, ¡°Unauthorized ¡®new technology¡¯.¡±


    The warrant officer smiles at the staring Otto, ¡°Otto, show Lilly what you are working on. Then see if you can find an area where she can work. She does electrical stuff.¡±


    The warrant officer then smiles at Lilly, ¡°I am going back now, call me if you need me to come and get you, or you can walk back to your apartment, if you prefer. Be sure to pick up your new badge from Security in the morning.¡± ¡°Oh, and call me for tennis, I am usually free after lunch.¡±


    Otto smiles, ¡°You play tennis?¡±


    Otto escorts Lilly up to the pile of apparatus he and Oliver are working on. It appears to be some kind of internal combustion engine, but heavily modified, with large areas of the castings machined away. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°Reduce the weight of the engine.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°So it can fly!¡±


    ¡°Fly?¡± ¡°How and with what?¡± ¡°With this.¡± Otto walks to a large construct and points to a long wooden barrel, with projections out of the sides. ¡°Where does the engine go?¡± ¡°Up here in the front.¡± Otto walks to the narrower of the barrel ends and he points to a small platform in the barrel end, presumably the engine mount.


    ¡°How does the engine make this thing fly?¡±


    ¡°With this!¡± Otto holds up a one meter shape, like the projections on the barrel only smaller, double sided and twisted about ninety degrees.


    ¡°And you know all this will work? How?¡±


    ¡°We built and tested a ¡®model¡¯.¡± ¡°In our ¡®wind-machine¡¯¡± Otto walks over to a box with a window and closes a switch. ¡°Look here.¡± Lilly looks in the window of the box and sees a small streamlined shape, like a child¡¯s toy, moving up and down in the wind from a fan.


    ¡°The ¡®thrust blade¡¯ we tested on an electric motor and measured the thrust at different shaft speeds.¡± ¡°We even built gliders that we took up in balloons and then dropped." "We even flew in one glider,¡± ¡°It was very scary.¡± I¡¯ll bet is was!


    Lilly looks on at the detailed set-up, astounded, ¡°All of this is from your dreams?¡±


    ¡°Not mine, his,¡± Otto points to Oliver who is still working intently on the engine. ¡°I am his assistant and caretaker.¡±


    Lilly walks over to Oliver with Otto. Lilly is determined to at last have a conversation with another ¡®dreamer¡¯. Oliver does not acknowledge them even when they are standing right next to him. Lilly speaks with a lilting laugh, ¡°Hi!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lilly!¡±


    The man stops working, still looking down. Then he slowly turns his head to look up at Lilly¡¯s large, looming, menacing figure.


    Lilly reflects, I have seen this look before, I know it quite well. It is the look of a man in absolute terror.


    Am I really a monster?


    Lilly quickly backs away from Oliver, ¡°Otto, where can I work?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to get in your way.¡±


    Otto and Lilly walk across the field to a row of low buildings. Inside the buildings are large desks and tables, ¡°You can set up in any shop room that isn¡¯t being used.¡± ¡°Get a key from the guard if you don¡¯t want the area entered when you are not around.¡± ¡°There are some drawing boards in the back.¡± ¡°You can either make parts yourself in the shop, or order them from The Factory.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t make castings here so we have to order those, for example.


    ¡°You can order things from The Factory?¡±


    ¡°Yes, all the time.¡± ¡°Eventually, the things we develop here are to be manufactured by The Factory,¡± ¡°for the Army.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a contact at The Factory?¡±


    ¡°Yes, her name is ''Ms. Ellie''.¡±


    Scene 4. Field of Dreams


    Lilly has an agenda for the next day. She is up early and scribbling notes at the commissary over breakfast. I¡¯ll get some attention from The Factory with these!


    She picks up her new ID badge, same photograph as her previous badge, but with a different color border, green last time, red this time. She walks through the checkpoints, What! No ¡®beating and clubbing¡¯ this time? Ah shucks!


    At the second checkpoint she is recognized, ¡°You¡¯re that lady!¡±


    Lilly looks up, I sure am! But I ain¡¯t no ¡®lady¡¯!


    One of the dog-solders on the barricade runs up to her side, ¡°I saw you the other day." "The day you were taken in.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Do you work here now?¡±


    Lilly does not know what to make of the panting solder anxiously smiling at her, with protruding tongue, You smell pretty nice, if you were just thirty years older...


    ¡°Yes, I work here now.¡±


    ¡°What do you do here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a welder.¡± Watch out solder! Goats are known to eat little dog solders!


    Finally, Lilly clears the check-point road-blocks and enters her ¡®Top-Secret¡¯ building. She opens her office and puts down her cases. She then takes a sheaf of this morning¡¯s sketches down the hall, They all should still be in their offices. She stops at Otto¡¯s office and knocks, Otto cheerfully answers, ¡°Come on in.¡± He was waiting for me! Otto opens his office door with a broad smile, ¡°Good morning Lilly!¡±


    ¡°Good morning Otto,¡± Lilly looks around Oliver is not there. ¡°I need to talk to you about Oliver¡­¡± ¡°Ha ha,¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± ¡°he¡¯s afraid of women.¡± ¡°So you are here to act as a go-between with everyone?¡± ¡°Yeah, Oliver and I were roommates in college.¡± ¡°I noticed right away that he is a genius, but had many hang-ups with people.¡± ¡°So we traded, I did the presentations and he did the writing.¡± ¡°But then and I don¡¯t know exactly when, he changed.¡± ¡°He began sleepwalking and I had to help him with <u>everything</u> that he did during the night.¡± ¡°But in the mornings he would start drawing the most outlandish parts and devices.¡± ¡°My father was a machinist and he showed me how to do it, so I started to make the things that Oliver would draw in the college machine shop,¡± ¡°And together we would assemble them into things that actually worked.¡± ¡°We made the mistake of showing one of the devices to an instructor, he took us to show the Engineering Department head.¡± ¡°We were then interviewed by a psychologist, Dr. Foxworthy, I believe.¡± ¡°Then the military picked us up and brought us here.¡± ¡°We have been here ever since.¡±


    ¡°Your family does not miss you?¡±


    ¡°They think we are still living at the college, I am not sure that mine would miss me anyway.¡± ¡°We have been allowed to continue our college coursework as a cover story.¡±


    Lilly passes a bound sheaf of paper to Otto, ¡°Here, send these sketches over to Ms Ellie, and tell her that they are from ¡®Lilly¡¯.¡±


    Lilly spends the morning clearing out and cleaning all of the open shops and the labs. Otto sees her working and walks over, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Lilly has a mop in one hoof and a bucket in the other, ¡°I am cleaning everything up around here. It is an old habit from my years as an apartment superintendent.¡± Otto immediately joins her helping move the heavier apparatus. Soon everything is gleaming and Lilly is smiling, ¡°Now that¡¯s better!¡±


    Lilly pauses and turns toward Otto, ¡°Do you think that Oliver would mind if I were to help you all with your projects? I might be able to make a few suggestions to help with the engine weight, for example,¡± and maybe have The Factory make a few parts for you to try out.¡±


    Lilly returns to her office to sketch a few engine parts. She unlocks her office to find that all of her ¡®new technology¡¯ notes, drawings and devices delivered to her office, from the observatory, the college and The Factory. Boxes fill the office. Wow, I did all of this?


    That afternoon Lilly plays tennis with the warrant officer. Although the warrant officer is not as skilled as Lilly, Lilly is not at her physical best, so the two are fairly evenly matched. The play several sets and Lilly is exhausted afterward, but she feels very good, being able to get out and jump around, and the warrant officer, about the same age, is pleasant company. They agree to meet at the commissary and have lunch together tomorrow. Lilly thinks about the next day and decides to visit The Professor in the morning. She spends the evening finding and organizing the notes and photographs from the boxes that were sent back from the observatory to take for his review. Wow! I am sure we have enough research material and original science findings for a paper or maybe two. I hope this cheers him up.


    Scene 5. Paper


    Lilly is up early and sorts through the observatory materials one last time, stuffs everything into her bag and heads to the commissary for breakfast. She sees the eager dog-solder from yesterday, he sees her and waves her over. Why not? It¡¯s not like I can ¡®eat him¡¯ here¡­ He¡¯s probably safe.


    The solder reminds her a lot of Timmy, triggering her motherly instincts. Although he is curious about her, Lilly questions him thoroughly about his education and his future career plans. He has thought about his future and is using the Army to pay for school. He is not interested in a career in the military but wants his own automobile-repair business. Lilly smiles, Good boy!


    The Lilly walks the two kilometers to the Long-Term Care Facility, checks in and proceeds back to The Professor¡¯s suite and confirms that Dr. Foxworthy is not there. The Professor does not appear to have moved since Lilly¡¯s last visit. But everything in the suite is clean and fresh. Lilly pulls a chair up to the side of the bed and takes the professors huge paw in her hooves and presses it to her chest, ¡°I brought you my notes and photographs from the observatory.¡± ¡°I thought I might show them to you and discuss some ideas I have for a paper.¡± Lilly releases The Professor¡¯s paw and proceeds to dig out the papers and photographs from her pack and pile them on his bed. Lilly then enumerates each photograph and matches the photograph to the analysis in her notes and holds them up for The Professor¡¯s review. After an hour she is finished. She shovels everything back into her pack. She smiles at the professor and takes his paw again, ¡°I¡¯ll come back tonight, and stay with you, until they throw me out.¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll have a draft of the paper for you to review tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you for reviewing everything with me today.¡± She stares at the bed, then she rises to leave.


    She walks to the door and looks back, starts to sob a little,


    Oh Professor! Come back to me, my love!

 13. Flight

    Scene 1. Tennis


    After returning from her visit to The Professor Lilly busies herself finding all of her notes for the ¡®new technology¡¯¡¯. She then reads over her notes and prepares some new drawings to send to The Factory for fabrication. She also wants to find out if the technicians at the factory were able to get her ¡®wireless communicator¡¯ working. She has some ideas about combing the ¡®wireless communicator with the ¡®telephone amplifier¡¯ to send telephone voice signals without wires. She would like to speak with Ellie directly but she has not yet been given direct access so she is still passing written notes through Otto.


    She then walks to the commissary and meets the warrant officer for lunch. Their conversation is cheerful and avoids sensitive subjects. They boast to each other about tennis exploits. And after lunch they retire to the tennis courts for what has become their almost daily routine. Finally the young fox-woman warrant officer introduces herself, ¡°Lilly, I know your name, but please call me ¡®Lois¡¯.¡± Lilly laughs, ¡°You will always be The Warrant Officer to me!" "You are my first friend in the Army, the solder boy is my second, although I worry a bit about him,¡± ¡°and I am not counting The General." "I am not yet sure if he is my friend.¡±


    Word gets out about their games and soon they have spectators. ¡°Okay you slugs, you want to watch, how about a game!¡± Lilly pulls two figures out of the crowd, Otto and the private. ¡°You know how to play doubles don¡¯t you?¡± The two nod and the crowd provides two more rackets. After some nervous beginnings, the games get going. The private and Otto have clearly played tennis before and join right in.


    Lilly eventually stops the game, ¡°What fun!" "Thanks for the game!" "But we all have to get back to work.¡± Everyone nods and shakes on the great time, the private and Otto are still staring at Lilly. Guys, that warrant officer, Lois, is much cuter than I am!


    Lilly and Otto walk together back to The Facility. Otto remarks, ¡°I got some of your parts back from The Factory this morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go and get them.¡±


    Lilly reflects, Already? Boy! The Factory is fast! Or maybe we have some sort of priority there?


    Lilly walks to the field toward the large construct. Oliver is head down over the engine. He does not look up at her approach.


    Otto wheels out a large cart piled with boxes, Lilly turns and stares, ¡°All of this is for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Otto responds with a smile. Otto helps Lilly unload the cart and Lilly opens the first box. It is a completed ¡®wireless communicator¡¯ and a completed ¡®telephone amplifier¡¯. Included in the box are diagrams for interconnections between them, provided by The Factory technicians. Wow, those guys are smart. I wonder if Ellie did this? In another box are the engine castings Lilly designed for lighter engine weight. Maybe I can strike up a conversation with Oliver if I show him these.


    Lilly picks up two of the castings and walks over to Oliver. He does not look up, even when she walks up right next to him. ¡°Oliver, I have fabricated some engine parts that might help you with the weight reduction.¡± ¡°Would you like to give them a try?¡±


    Oliver bolts up, kicking the parts from Lilly¡¯s grasp out into the field. He then screams, turns and runs over to Otto, beating on him, screaming, ¡°SKREEEEE!¡± Oliver then turns and runs from the field towards the offices, screaming incoherently.


    Lilly walks over to Otto, ¡°That isn¡¯t exactly the reaction I expected.¡±


    Otto frowns, ¡°I did.¡±


    Scene 2. Oliver


    The two agree that something has been up with Oliver since Lilly¡¯s arrival at The Base. Both are concerned that he might injure or destroy himself if not stopped. Lilly is suddenly panicked, Am I about to lose the only other dreamer I have met so far?


    She falls on all four hooves, to her quadruped form, and gallops off at high speed after Oliver. She runs through the office and shop areas, no Oliver. He can¡¯t escape from here, the guards would not let him out of The Facility in his condition, would they?


    Then she spots the metal roof-access ladder at the end of the hall, Oh no! She bounces up to and quickly scales the ladder. She opens the roof access port leading out over the office and shop area, at least 15 meters up from the concrete walkway.


    Oliver is standing at the edge of the roof, looking down at the walkway. Lilly assumes the position, She grits her teeth into a grin, ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡±


    Lilly high-speed gallops and head-butts Oliver back onto the center of the roof. She then and pounces on him, holding him down with her heavy body and pulls his fore-legs in with hers and pushes her face into his, ¡°Okay! I get that you don¡¯t like me, but I am not going to let you kill yourself!¡± ¡°Now you will either relax or I will knock you unconscious, your choice!¡± Lilly recognizes the look of horror, ¡°That¡¯s right! If you don¡¯t cooperate, the big, bad, nanny-goat will ¡®GET¡¯ you and spray you with her female germs!¡± Oliver, breathless, looks ready to have a coronary.


    Otto and the security guards eventually reach the roof and pull Lilly off of Oliver. Oliver is carried down and taken to their office. Oliver is placed into an office chair where he sits, silent and immobile. Otto looks at Lilly, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°This Yo-yo was about to throw himself off the roof!¡± ¡°He should be examined for injuries, I hit him pretty hard.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s call Dr. Foxworthy!


    ¡°Let¡¯s not!¡± ¡°Unless you <u>want</u> to see Oliver get his brain removed.¡±


    Otto frowns at Oliver, ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    Lilly looks down, ¡°Oliver will have to be watched continuously for awhile.¡± ¡°You two share an apartment so you will have to lock him in.¡± ¡°And be with him all of the time from now on, in the office, shops and out on the fields.¡± ¡°Otto, can you get Oliver to speak?¡±


    Otto pulls a chair up to Oliver, ¡°Ollie, can you hear me?¡± ¡°What is wrong?¡±


    Oliver suddenly leaps from the chair and pounces on Lilly knocking her down, and starts beating on her. The others move to restrain him. Lilly shouts, ¡°No don¡¯t touch him!¡± ¡°Let him go, this is good!¡± ¡°Oliver, beat away, and scream!¡±


    Oliver continues to beat on Lilly and screams, ¡°SKREEEEE!¡±, eventually tiring and gasping. Lilly is scratched up, but otherwise unaffected, ¡°Now will you talk to us, to me, to Otto?¡± Oliver continues to softly tap Lilly with his hoof, grunting, ¡°Grunt.¡± ¡°Grunt.¡± ¡°Grunt.¡±.


    Oliver finally rocks back, still mounted on Lilly and emits a sound, almost inaudible. Oliver finally speaks in a very low voice, ¡°You have taken everything from me, my visions, my engine, my only friend¡­¡± ¡°Gasp.¡± ¡°Gasp.¡±


    Lilly lies still and looks up at Oliver, ¡°Oliver, I apologize, and I am truly sorry.¡± ¡°For everything.¡± ¡°I have been insensitive to your feelings from the start,¡± ¡°But I need you.¡± ¡°We all need you.¡± ¡°Tell me what I can do to make up for my trespasses.¡± ¡°Until you decide, I will stay out of your sight and away from your projects.¡± ¡°Your visions and your engine belong to you.¡± ¡°However Otto will make decisions himself.¡± ¡°Otto may decide to continue to play tennis with me.¡±


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    The guard and Otto lift Oliver off of Lilly. Lilly stands and examines herself, Blood! It has been a while since I have seen my own blood. She bows to Otto and the guard and exits the office. Boy, do I need a shower!


    The next day Otto is standing at the tennis courts, waiting for the regular game. Lilly looks a bit surprised to seem him there, ¡°Otto, I thought you would be with Oliver.¡±


    ¡°Oh I asked the solder guards to watch him.¡± ¡°Ollie wasn¡¯t very happy about me leaving.¡±


    ¡°Did you tell him you were coming over here?¡±


    ¡°Heck no!¡± ¡°But he will probably figure it out.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Probably.¡±


    Scene 3. Final Review


    Lilly gathers her notes along with the paper draft and shovels everything into her pack. This paper came out rather well. I guess it is because I had so much time at the observatory. The reviewers cannot complain that there is not enough data to support our conclusions!


    Lilly makes the long walk to the Long Term Care Facility. Lilly stops to check in with the receptionist. The receptionist raises her paws to stop Lilly, but does not say anything. Upon seeing the receptionist¡¯s reaction Lilly¡¯s ears and all of her white mane stand straight up, Something has happened!


    The receptionist is waving, but Lilly is running down the hall toward the Professor¡¯s room.


    The door guard is gone and the room door is open. Lilly runs to the doorway and stops. She sees two attendants cleaning the room and the bed is neatly made,


    No Professor.


    Lilly screams, ¡°NOOOOOO!¡± and throws her pack, notes and photographs across the room. She then leaps onto the empty bed screaming,


    ¡°Bring Back My Professor!¡± ¡°NOWWWW!¡± ¡°BAAAAAAAAAA!¡±


    The attendants run from the room in terror with Lilly screaming. Suddenly the light from the open doorway is blocked by a very large horned silhouette, The Ram of The Lamb. Lilly is sobbing on the bed as The Ram walks to her side, and in his deep voice he speaks, ¡°Lilly.¡±


    The Ram pauses for a minute and then he speaks again, ¡°Lilly.¡± He softly touches her back.


    Lilly turns her head toward The Ram and softly murmurs,


    ¡°They have taken My Professor from me.¡±


    The Ram then continues, ¡°I have spoken to the Facility staff and they will let you stay the night here, if you wish, or you can come with me now, I have some things for you.¡±


    Lilly softly sobs, ¡°Again, ¡®some things¡¯!" "Like with Fendor!" "But you cannot return to me what I truly want back.¡±


    ¡°No one can.¡± ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Lilly finally sits up to face The Ram. She sees that the attendants gathered all of her papers back into her pack. The Ram helps Lilly stand and they slowly walk to The Ram¡¯s office, ¡°You have an office here too?¡±


    ¡°Wherever I am needed.¡± The same words as The Lamb.


    They enter the Ram¡¯s office. The Ram lifts a box, ¡°These are The Professor¡¯s things from the room,¡± ¡°We have not been able to contact his family, or even determine if he has a family, so you, as his ¡®God Daughter¡¯ shall have these.¡± In the box are the flower vase and a pile of papers that Lilly had brought previously. Lilly takes the vase and the papers and puts them in her pack, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I will contact the college and see what they want to do for a service, or you might want to do the service here. It is your choice.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it here, if that is okay with The General.¡± ¡°I think The Professor and The General were friends.¡±


    The Ram smiles, ¡°I was his friend too." "I think that many were.¡± ¡°The Professor was a force of nature.¡±


    A few days later, Lilly is looking down into The Professor¡¯s grave,


    ¡°I lose again." "Goodbye," "I never had a chance to tell you how much you meant to me.¡±


    Once again, Lilly drops a small collection of dirt into a grave, ¡°I cannot follow you now either, I have things I still need to do in this world.¡± ¡°Save me a place.¡± ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°And say hello to Fendor for me.¡±


    A few days after the service, Lilly receives a registered letter, it is from The Professor¡¯s estate attorney. Lilly¡¯s falling tears stain the letter,


    ¡°All the money in the world are not worth a fraction of The Professor!" "He was helping me bring you all The Future!¡± ¡°Keep your damned money!¡±


    On second thought, I could use the money for the observatory, I think that is what the professor would want. Perhaps a new ¡®reflector¡¯ telescope, for making spectrum''s of the stars, and to repair the hole in the observatory kitchen floor that I am about to make...


    Scene 4. Air-Craft


    Lilly recovers a little from the loss of The Professor and knows that completing all of the ¡®new technology¡¯ projects is the only fitting tribute to him. She watches from across the field as Oliver and Otto continue to work on their new air vehicle. So far, Oliver has made no attempt to contact her. What to do?


    Lilly pulls Otto and the warrant officer aside after their usual tennis game. Lilly looks at Otto, ¡°Otto, do you have anyone to fly your ¡®invention¡¯?¡± Lilly looks at the warrant office, ¡°You must have a pretty good tailor, or even a complete clothing factory, to make a uniform that fits as well as the one you made for me,¡± ¡°with my big butt!¡± ¡°I need you to have an ¡®air-safety-escape device¡¯ made for me, out of cloth.¡± ¡°I have drawings and patterns for the prototype.¡±


    Lilly looks back at Otto, ¡°The General wants a final group witnessed review of your project next week.¡± ¡°I told The General that your project is finished and that Oliver is just stalling now.¡± ¡°Be sure to tell Oliver that I am available to help with finishing touches on your project if, he needs it.¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± ¡°Also tell him the Base technicians will be installing a ¡®wireless telephone¡¯ for communications during the ¡®operational test¡¯ phase of the project review.¡±


    The warrant officer takes Lilly to the Base tailor shop to meet the staff and review her drawings-patterns with them. Upon entry Lilly sees ¡®sewing machines¡¯ for the first time, ¡°What are these?¡±


    The shop supervisor, an immense female Minotaur, faces Lilly and puts a huge hoof on top of a machine, ¡°These are machines that can sew automatically.¡± ¡°They are a new device that has helped us very much.¡± ¡°One of ¡®The Girl¡¯s¡¯ came up with it.¡±


    Lilly suddenly is excited, one of ''The Girls¡¯? ¡°Sorry! Two more questions, ¡°May I meet ¡®This Girl¡¯?" "And has she come up with anything else?¡± Lilly is guided to the back of the shop to confront a very small, very young, mouse-girl, with thick glasses. Again monster Lilly frightens the small entity, ¡°I am sorry I look so scary,¡± ¡°But would you please show me your new inventions?¡± ¡°I am an inventor to too.¡± The supervisor and the small inventor proceed to show Lilly an array of needles scissors, saws and presses, some with electric motors and solenoids, all new.


    Lilly¡¯s suspicions are confirmed, You¡¯re a ¡®dreamer¡¯ too. Lilly chooses not to confront the girl here.


    Lilly tries an experiment, ¡°Have you ever seen a fabric that is as light as paper, but strong, like ¡®linen¡¯?¡± The mouse nods. ¡°Will you get a bolt for me?¡± From the other world!


    That night Lilly walks out to the dark field to the ''air vehicle'' with a ¡®demonstration lantern¡¯ in her fore-toes, to examine the installation of the ¡®wireless telephone¡¯ system. Sure enough, it was very securely mounted and Otto also knew that the heavy apparatus had to be balanced in the vehicle. She switched the ¡®wireless telephone¡¯ on and waited for it to warm up. Then she pressed the activation switch and called to the warrant officer, ¡°Are you still awake?¡± The warrant officer was back in Lilly¡¯s office and answered her very clearly, ¡°Ahoy there!¡± Everything on the construct looked ready for demonstration day. Lilly looked over at the review stands and she could several of her sound cones mounted on poles facing the seats. Then she pressed the activation switch again, "Connect the telephone amplifier." Some clicking, "Go ahead", from the wireless telephone. "Hello!" "Test!" The sound of Lilly''s voice reverberates through the field and stands. Yes! I will be able to speak to the crowd from the flying construct!


    Lilly had one more thing to check out.


    Yesterday Lilly talked The General into an Army observation gas-bag ride. She rode up to about one hundred meters. She pulled out a sack of sand and dropped it over the side, pulling the test ¡®air-safety-escape device¡¯ over the side after sack. Lilly watched as the sack slowly sink to the ground, ¡°Yeah! It Works!¡± ¡°Well enough for now!¡± Now I just hope that the ¡®air construct¡¯ can actually fly and not crash with me in it!


    Scene 5. Demonstration


    And so everyone (that is cleared) is gathered at the field to watch the demonstration. The spectators include The Chief, Ellie, the warrant officer Lois, even some of the solders, including the tennis player.


    The General walks out with his entourage and they sit in the front.


    Out in the field Otto and Oliver are still fussing with the engine. Lilly calmly walks out onto the field wearing a special uniform a pack on her back containing the ¡®air-safety-escape device¡¯ and a new helmet, especially fitted to her by Ellie and painted army green.


    Lilly reflects, The professor would want me to do this with drama!


    Lilly stands between the vehicle and the spectators and waves. Right on cue, the spectators cheer.


    Otto and Oliver extract themselves from the engine and Otto starts to turn the propulsion bar to start it. Oliver starts to run toward Lilly but stops when the crowd cheers. Lilly walks to the side of the vehicle up the ramp to the side and hops into the control pit. She straps in and switches on the ¡®wireless telephone¡¯ waits for the warm up and calls to the warrant officer who is seated with the spectators. Otto backs out of the way. Lilly holds the skid lock and slightly presses the engine control forward, the engine responds. Lilly then pulls the surfaces control back and the surface in the rear of the vehicle responds, the tall flat surface responds to foot controls, left and right, and the lever left and right for small surfaces on the main surfaces, ¡°We are clear up here!¡± The wireless responds, ¡°The field is clear.¡±


    The suddenly Lilly¡¯s voice is heard over the crowd, ¡°Hi everyone! We are going up!¡± Lilly presses the engine control forward and the vehicle rolls forward, ever faster and faster, finally the skids are off the ground and Lilly presses the engine control all the way forward and the vehicle tilts upward and begins to climb quickly. Lilly flies a few times around the field, ¡°Hello from the sky!¡± I wish Roc could see this! ¡°Now back down.¡±


    Lilly was always very worried about ¡®the landing¡¯ part of the test. The engine thrust could not be reversed in this version, so she has to land using ''air breaking'' by pulling up and banking the large surfaces against the direction of flight, ¡°This could get rough everyone!¡± She is a bit too far off the ground and the vehicle pitches up then crashes nose down into the ground. It comes to rest vertical, with Lilly hanging part way out out the side of the vehicle control pit.


    But she is on the ground and alive. She is bruised and very sore from the landing but she is still able to jump down and run from the vehicle, in case the engine fuel decides to catch fire. The crowd rushes out and lifts her up, cheering. She motions to Otto and Oliver and crowd cheers them too, in a victory parade.


    Oliver cannot be consoled, ¡°You broke my invention!¡± he shouts over and over.

 14. Reckoning

    Scene 1. Parents


    After the ¡®new technology¡¯ demonstration, Lilly is on the phone from her apartment on the base, ¡°Hi mom, I am sorry I have been so busy, but that is over for now so I thought we could get together, for dinner maybe.¡± ¡°Dad said he had something to show me so perhaps I should meet you at the apartments?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be over there at about seven.¡±


    Lilly knocks at the door of the master apartment she once occupied. An older female white goat in glasses opens the door. ¡°Mom! I am so glad to see you!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t spend any time with you at the party and I was working for The General on a high priority project up to now.¡± ¡°I could still get called away, but I think I am safe here, at least for a while. I did have to let The General know I was coming over here, so he wouldn¡¯t think I had run away or had been kidnapped (again)!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s dad?¡±


    Mother, ¡°Your father should be here soon, he had some business to take care of, since we had been away for so long.¡± ¡°I heard from the professor that you had been working with him before he left to join us in Aseria.¡± ¡°The Professor said that you were quite the inventor, but he wouldn¡¯t tell us what you were working on.¡±


    Lilly frowns, ¡°You likely heard of The Professor¡¯s recent passing.¡± ¡°I spent some time with him right before he died." "Since his return he could not move or speak.¡± ¡°I heard that he was with your at your excavation, how was he when he was there?¡±


    Lilly''s mother looks down, ¡°The Professor was the same as he always was with us.¡± ¡°He has been our friend for many years.¡± ¡°He even underwrote some of our research, with the money he said he made from his inventions.¡± ¡°He was always interested in archaeology and came with us on many of our ¡®digs¡¯, when he could.¡± ¡°Especially if the dig was in an exotic foreign country, he loved to travel abroad too.¡±


    Lilly then asked the burning question, ¡°So he was fine until he left you.¡± ¡°Why did he leave?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°The next morning, after a hard day of excavation, we were to meet for breakfast at the cafe, but he never showed up." "We checked his room but the hotel staff said that he had already checked out the night before." "The hotel staff would not give us any more information." "All they said was that we should contact the embassy." "We called the embassy and were told he had been sent ¡®home¡¯ as a medical emergency. They would neither tell us what the ¡®emergency¡¯ was, nor how and when he was sent ¡®home¡¯. They would not even tell us exactly were the ¡®home¡¯ was where he was sent." "We contacted the college but they had not heard anything about The Professor either. He never returned to the college.


    Lilly''s Mother continues, ¡°And that was not the only thing." "After The Professor disappeared, security personnel from home came to our dig and arrested us.¡± ¡°Your father and I were held, involuntarily and apart, for several days.¡± ¡°We were asked many questions, about our work and our contacts, especially foreign contacts.¡± ¡°They also asked about you and The Professor, if we knew what you were working on.¡± ¡°I guess they thought we were spies.¡± ¡°I called The General after we were released and asked him about this, but he put me off.¡± ¡°He said we would discuss it when we met together at The Base.¡±


    Lilly was intrigued, my parents are suspected of being spies? Lilly adds, ¡°The General also asked me not to talk about my work with anyone until we met together at The Base.¡±


    The front door of the apartment opens, revealing Lilly''s father, ¡°Lilly!¡± ¡°I do have a daughter!¡± Lilly stands and embraces her father, He looks like an older version of Roc. Father adds, ¡°Lets get dinner, any suggestions?¡±


    Lilly thinks about pizza, but says, ¡°Lets go to Rod¡¯s!¡± ¡°You all didn¡¯t really get a chance to meet my good friends, Rod, Trish, and their kids.¡± They¡¯re all really nice and I love them.¡± ¡°They took care of me when you were gone so long¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll still need to do dinner with Roc and our kids,¡± ¡°and with Liz and Tex.¡± Lilly reflects and smiles, ¡°I live with a big community now!¡±


    Lilly¡¯s father and mother are giving Lilly a peculiar look, then they rise to go to dinner, ¡°We are just glad to see that you are okay.¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°I¡¯m still okay, after all the fuss.¡± Lilly stands, still unsteady and still sore from yesterday''s ''air craft'' adventure as she tries to hide her injuries from her parents, Don¡¯t limp! Don¡¯t limp!


    At dinner Lilly¡¯s parents recount their discoveries on their ¡®dig¡¯, mostly soft-fire pottery and simple building materials, dated to about two thousand years ago. Although materials of this kind weren¡¯t unusual, these were the first to be found in this area. This area is thought to be on the edge of a larger, more recent, lost city. Lilly recounts her college tennis championships with Liz, and her research at the observatory with The Professor.


    Lilly smiles, ¡°I have even published scholarly papers!¡± ¡°and patents too!¡± ¡°all co-authored with The Professor, of course.¡± ¡°Now I am an established researcher, just like you all.¡±


    They return to the apartment, Lilly¡¯s father retrieves a package from the bedroom, still tightly wrapped for shipment. It is a cylinder of about twenty centimeters diameter and twenty centimeters or so tall, irregular on top. He passes it to Lilly. She looks at the package, ¡°For me?¡± And she unwraps it. It is a pedestal with a statue mounted on it. It is a statue of a male biped figure seated, on a stone stool and looking outward, his tiny chin is held by his in one of the strange shaped foreleg appendages, the foreleg joint is resting on his upper hind leg. Hairless, tailless and Ugly! Lilly eyes bulge, she immediately recognizes the familiar figure and bursts, ¡°Apollo!¡± Then she notices that her parents are staring at her, ¡°Who is ¡®Apollo¡¯?¡±


    Lilly does not answer, she stands, still holding the figure, ¡°I¡¯ll call The General.¡± ¡°I have to get back before they close the guard shack anyway.¡± ¡°Remember, I am supposed to be staying at The Factory, we¡¯ll talk more about that too.¡± ¡°Let me know when you would like to have dinner with Roc and the kids.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call you if I hear anything.¡± ¡°It was great seeing you both again!¡±


    She hugs them both still tightly holding the statue and quickly exits the apartment.


    Scene 2. Spy


    Lilly asks the warrant officer, Lois, to set up a meeting with The General. Lilly feels that it is time to tell everyone involved what is going on with her. Lilly also wants her parents to tell The General directly the story of The Professor''s abduction from abroad.


    Lilly¡¯s telephone rings, it is The General, ¡°General!¡± ¡°This must be important!¡± ¡°You never call anyone directly!¡± ¡°Come in to your office as soon as possible?¡± ¡°I am on my way!¡±


    Lilly runs to The General¡¯s office and is winded from the run. She confronts the duty officer at the officer¡¯s headquarters reception desk. Lois, her warrant officer friend, meets her there and escorts her to the General¡¯s office door, ¡°Knock!-Knock!¡± ¡°General!" "I have someone to see you!¡±


    ¡°Come in!¡± The General rises with Lilly¡¯s entrance, ¡°Lilly, please sit down, we have several major issues to discuss.¡± ¡°The first and most important point is that your ¡®new technology¡¯ work has been compromised, It is now in the possession of The Federation. And if you read the news you know that we are almost at war with The Federation.¡± ¡°We have a spy, we do not yet know who it is or where, so everyone is a suspect if they know about your work.¡± ¡°Our investigation is focused on The Base, The Factory and the college, but it could extend beyond, to your friends and family.¡±


    Lilly sits with eyes wide, A spy?! ¡°Wait, my folks were arrested and held when they were still out of the country, is that related to this?¡± The General nods. Lilly looks down thinking, Who could it be? Do I know them?


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    Lilly suddenly has a flash, she grimaces, exposing her teeth. The General stares at her reaction. She relaxes and smiles at The General, trying to hide her excitement, ¡°Let me think about it. I haven¡¯t been in contact with too many people," "but I can make a list for you.¡± She smiles again, trying to look relaxed, but she boiling inside and glowing pink.


    The General frowns at her, ¡°Lilly, I order you to not do your own investigation!¡± ¡°We have professionals for that.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get yourself killed!¡± ¡°Who is it that you suspect?¡±


    Lilly draws her fore-toes to her chest, smiles and musters her best, ¡®What Me! Do my own investigation? Never!¡¯, look. The General continues to frown at her. She shakes her head, I am not fooling The General. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°But let me confirm a few things for myself first, before I name any names.¡± ¡°Please let me do this.¡± ¡°It is only fair, as I have been falsely accused of doing things that I did not do a few times myself.¡± Besides, I have my own investigation professionals. Sorry, but I don¡¯t trust yours. Martin! It looks like I need your help yet again!


    Lilly rises, ¡°Please excuse me but I would like to start looking into this immediately.¡± ¡°This is the highest priority we have right now, right?¡± The General stands and nods. Lilly runs out of the office.


    Lilly continues running at high speed back to her apartment. Once out of the sight of The General she grimaces again, and I think I know who to start with...


    Scene 3. Head


    Lilly returns to her apartment and calls Roc, ¡°Roc, I need you to bring a few of my cosmetics to the guard shack for me to pick up.¡± ¡°I need to look good for an important meeting.¡±


    The next evening Lilly meets a cab outside The Base and asks to be taken to the college, the Physics department building. Lilly then waits in the Physics building lobby she and watches as The Head¡¯s secretary walks out of the building, leaving work for the day.


    Lilly then bolts up the stairs to The Head¡¯s office and knocks and, in the sweetest, squeakiest voice she can muster, ¡°Good evening sir!¡± ¡°I have the complementary cake delivery for you!¡±


    She hears the lock click. She quickly pulls open the door and pulls it shut. The Head is a very large older brown bear-man. He stands and adjusts his glasses but it is too late, Lilly is already on top of his desk. She gives him a straight foreleg punch, knocking him back into his chair against the room wall. She then has her left hoof holding him by his throat, ¡°Go ahead and push the button,¡± ¡°I have proof that you are a murderer, among other things!¡± His paw stops, ¡°What murder?¡±


    Lilly drops an envelope on his desk, photographs taken at the observatory kitchen spill out.


    Lilly hisses, ¡°Twenty years ago a college student did not return from a day-hike at the observatory. I know her name and I know that you were there on that tour from the old college newspaper from the day. I found her body buried under the observatory kitchen floor.¡± ¡°However, I am killing you in revenge for The Professor. You contributed directly to his decline and premature death,¡± ¡°Also I know that it was you that ratted out our hidden locations." "And that you are selling our inventions to our Federation enemies.¡±


    The Head regains his composure, even with Lilly holding his throat, ¡°And you think you can get away with killing me? ¡°


    Lilly smiles broadly, ¡°I have no intention of ¡®getting away¡¯ with anything,¡± ¡°as long as I get to take you out for The Professor, I don''t care what happens to me!¡±


    The Head¡¯s paw continues into a desk drawer. The Head quickly draws a revolver from the desk drawer and pushes the barrel up to the center of Lilly¡¯s forehead. Lilly smiles again and winks,


    "Feeling lucky, punk?" ¡°Go ahead,¡± ¡°Make my day!¡±


    ¡°Click!¡±, as the revolver¡¯s hammer closes on an empty chamber.


    Lilly slowly pulls into a grin, her forehead still against the gun barrel,


    ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s too baaaaaad!¡± ¡°Because now it is ¡®myyyyyy turn¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Who says ¡®revenge is best served cold¡¯?¡± "I want to feel your warm blood, splashed in my face!"


    Lilly is still firmly holding The Head up against the wall behind his desk. She slowly drags her right foreleg back against her head, as if she is drawing a bow string. She is poised for her deadly sharpened crimson toenail stab into The Head¡¯s carotid artery,


    ¡°I am the last thing you will ever see!¡±


    Scene 4. Resolution


    And suddenly The Head is gone. Lilly is looking directly at Roc, pinned against the wall. He shouts, ¡°Lilly!¡± ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    Lilly¡¯s body suddenly loses its tension and she relaxes, releasing Roc from the wall, ¡°Roc! What are you doing here?¡± Then, on the side, she sees two more figures, Shadow and Martin, ¡°So, the gang¡¯s all here?¡±


    Roc stands back up from being pinned to the wall by Lilly, ¡°You didn¡¯t think I would guess that you were planning an assault when you asked me to deliver your ¡®war paints¡¯ for an ¡®important meeting¡¯?¡±


    Martin moves forward and laughs, ¡°Sorry Ms. Lilly,¡± ¡°You know, the boss don¡¯t like no killin¡¯.¡± Martin pours the bullets from The Head¡¯s revolver onto the desk from his paw, ¡°Now don¡¯t you feel bad Ms Lilly, the boss don¡¯t let me do no killin¡¯ neither.¡±


    The Head uses the distraction to slink out the door and into the department¡¯s dark hallway. He promptly runs into something soft but firm, blocking his way. He looks up to see two pairs of blue barred irises and two white smiles and nothing else. Tex, speaking in a slow drawl, ¡°Now ¡®we¡¯ didn¡¯t make no ¡®no kill¡¯ promise!¡± Liz and Tex each take one of The Head¡¯s forelegs, they drag The Head back into his office, ¡°Would you <u>prefer</u> that we kill you by pulling off your legs?¡± "Okay," "Then make a wish!"


    Shadow moves forward and speaks into The Head''s face, ¡°Doctor Klein, you are under arrest for murder.¡± ¡°I strongly recommend that you remain silent and that you immediately retain an attorney.¡± Two uniformed dog-police search and cuff The Head and drag him out of the office to a waiting police car.


    Shadow turns and speaks to Lilly, who is still speechless in surprise, ¡°Good work, Lilly!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we need The Head alive, to tell us what secrets he has shared with The Federation.¡± ¡°We have been watching The Head since he revealed The Professor¡¯s whereabouts abroad." "The Professor was a friend of mine also." "He helped me out on some cases that had a lot of technical jargon that was being used to hide the truth.¡± ¡°How The Head was able to conceal his crimes for so long is still a question¡± ¡°However, the college president resigned as soon as he heard that The Head had been arrested,¡± ¡°Likely the college was protecting The Head, for some reason.¡±


    Martin continues, ¡°Lilly, it¡¯s tough keeping up with you!¡± ¡°I had to get in here last night, empty the gun and pull door-lock wire, here you go!¡± Martin drops a coil of wire on the desk, ¡°Whew!¡±


    Shadow continues, ¡°We have frozen all of The Head¡¯s accounts that we know of,¡± ¡°it didn¡¯t take long to trace his years of coercion, and not just The Professor either.¡± ¡°We also have to interview as many, past and present department assistants as we can find," "male and female,¡± ¡°He was not just out after money¡­¡± ¡°And anything we recover that is due The Professor, will go to you, Lilly.¡±


    Lilly shakes herself back to reality, No more blood money!


    ¡°Let me at least pay for the repair of the observatory¡¯s kitchen floor, I made a promise¡­¡±


    Lilly again reflects,


    ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll be underwriting my parent¡¯s expeditions from now on, for The Professor...¡±


    Scene 5. Damage Control


    Lilly finds herself back in The General¡¯s office. This time she is accompanied by her parents, Roc, Shadow and Martin.


    At least this time I have company. I told you all that I wasn¡¯t crazy!


    The General is sitting behind his large oak desk with his hooves to his chin, looking down and hunched down, appearing smaller than usual.


    Lilly stares at The General, Wow nothing ever gets to him, what¡¯s up?


    The General starts, ¡°As you all know, we are nearly at war with the Federation.¡± ¡°Most military analysts think that The Federation will attack us the moment they think they have an advantage over us.¡± ¡°Our agents report that all of the ¡®new technology¡¯ that we have identified so far, has been put to military use by The Federation.¡± ¡°They could attack at any time, using this ¡®new technology¡¯ as an advantage against us.¡± ¡°And the fault is mine for not securing this ¡®new technology¡¯ soon enough.¡±


    ¡°At first I didn¡¯t know about you, Lilly, and The Professor, as you all were doing your development at the college.¡± I saw your presentation at the college, but it did not occur to me that this was anything more than an incremental step in technology.¡± ¡°I even missed the significance of your research at The Chief¡¯s new product release conference at The Factory.¡± ¡°Electric lights, big deal!¡± ¡°I should have known, if The Professor was involved.¡±


    But your next invention even rattled The Chief. He called me right after your meeting about the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ machine. But by then The Head knew everything about that invention and your next inventions as well. He somehow quickly transferred all of the details over to The Federation.¡± ¡°And yes, the ¡®air construct¡¯ and the engines as well.¡± ¡°The Head even applied for patents for your inventions, cutting you and The Professor out completely.¡±


    ¡°The only thing we can do now is beat The Federation with the design development and manufacturing capability of this country.¡± ¡°I have contacted The Chief and The Factory is already working on everything, including that fascinating ¡®invisible-ray¡¯.¡±


    Lilly, I want Roc to take you home, and I do mean to the one with your kids. You will live there from now on, full-time.¡± "We''ll provide you security." ¡°Leave it to us to make the progressive developments for these ¡®new technologies¡¯.¡± ¡°If you think of something that might help with this, please give us a call,¡± ¡°or make drawings and The Chief will send Ellie over. You can review your notes and drawings with her there.¡±


    ¡°Shadow and Martin, I trust that you are following up on The Head¡¯s Federation contacts, if they haven¡¯t already skipped town,¡± ¡°and continue with your investigations into the college as well.¡±


    The General straightens up and glares at Lilly and Lilly cowers, Uh, oh! Now I am in trouble!


    ¡°Oh, and Lilly,¡± ¡°Did I miss your demonstration of the ¡®wireless telephone¡¯ at the air-show?¡± ¡°I know, The Professor loved surprises,¡± ¡°but please, no more surprises!¡±


    ¡°And for you all,¡± The General passes Lilly¡¯s parents a heavy wrapped package that appears to contain a rectangular brick or a stone. Lilly¡¯s father carefully unwraps the package to reveal a cut piece of yellow sandstone, with red sediment lines clearly visible along one side. He turns the rock over. Everyone looks at the exposed surface. Clearly visible is are the outlines of a gray object.


    Embedded in the solid sandstone rock, is a metal ¡®mechanical hand¡¯.

 15. Kids

    Scene 1. Home


    ¡°I don¡¯t know Roc, if you¡¯ll want me back home all the time,¡± Lilly stands in the entryway of the large ranch house provided by Roc¡¯s team management, looking around as if she has never seen the place before. The kids run in screaming, ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± She kneels down to them and pulls them in, ¡°I guess I am home¡­¡±


    Roc watches the family reunion with a broad smile, ¡°I am home for a while too.¡± ¡°The team gave me some time off after my adventure with the Psych-Squad¡± ¡°The Psych-Squad even roughed up Tex, although he won¡¯t talk about it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s use this time to do some fun things, like go to the beach.¡± The twins immediately start bouncing, ¡°The Beach!" "The Beach!¡± Lilly stands and walks over to Roc and embraces him, ¡°You haven¡¯t fallen in love with my ¡®other self¡¯, when I was gone, have you?¡± Roc smiles again, bright as always, ¡°She hasn¡¯t been around.¡±


    Lilly walks to the back window and looks out at the piles of boxes and toys in the yard, ¡°Probably because I haven''t been sleeping very well at The Base.¡± She turns away from the window, ¡°Oh sure, the apartment is comfortable and quiet enough and I don¡¯t mind the The Base food,¡± ¡°I even formed a small tennis club.¡± She turns to face Roc, ¡°But I don¡¯t have you, Roc.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel your back against mine in bed. So I don¡¯t sleep as well. And I don¡¯t dream at all, not even the awful lucent dreams that used to haunt me so.¡± ¡°I get up feeling okay but something is missing, like I didn¡¯t get everything I needed from the night.¡±


    Roc smiles again, this time with a twinkle, ¡°Let¡¯s take a shower and go to bed.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll go to the beach.¡± Lilly is suddenly apprehensive, glares at him suspiciously, ¡°What do you have planned!?¡±


    The couple takes their time enjoying washing each other, ¡°I could use a trim.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± ¡°Me too.¡± After through scrubbing and brief drying sessions, they take turns trimming each other¡¯s beards, whiskers mane, shoulders, tails, knees and hoof feathers, Lilly looks up, ¡°Why is it so hard to find someone that can do this properly.¡± Rod bends down to do her delicate ''bloomers'', ¡°I prefer our ¡®personal¡¯ touch.¡± At last they are done and they face each other in the bedroom, next to the bed. Lilly looks the handsome Roc up and down. She then feels a warm rush come over her body, Oh no, not now! He¡¯ll get me for sure!


    Lilly, are you about to show me how much you have missed me? Lilly tears up, overcome with emotion, ¡°Damn you Roc, you know I cannot resist you!¡±


    Scene 2. Return


    Lilly awakens to a feeling and a smell she has not experienced for a while. She opens her eyes to her room at Apollo¡¯s. She starts to move and immediately notices something else, I¡¯m still pregnant! Her belly is very large and uncomfortable. How much bigger is this thing going to get? She staggers to stand, I am starving! Breakfast! Now! The door vanishes and Apollo is standing in the doorway. He motions Lilly to the kitchen. She quickly walks in to the kitchen, her favorite room, but without her usual bouncing.


    Apollo has her tray ready, ¡°After you have your morning ritual, I want to take you to one of our factories and show you some of the mechanical wonders of this world.¡± ¡°Today I will show you how we make our mechanical friends and helpers.¡± Lilly is not paying much attention except to her tray, ¡®Friends and helpers¡¯ my furry tail! They are your solders and slaves!


    The usual walk is much more tiring for Lilly now that she is expecting, but she is strong and she appreciates getting out to see The White City again. They approach another large white building and walk in. It is very similar to the others. This lobby features a mechanical receptionist. It still has the same hallway leading to the small rooms that move to the other floors.


    Lilly glances back at the receptionist, The receptionist is a machine, like the doll...


    They arrive at a new floor, the door opens into a large room with numerous figures, all looking much like the receptionist. ¡°Yes Lilly, this is the home of our machine servants.¡± The figures ignore the appearance of Apollo and Lilly, they all continue with their various tasks, loading and unloading carts, appearing and disappearing, carrying various items and papers. Lilly stops and watches the automatons, fascinated. I build figures that move too. Why do I feel so uneasy around these?


    Apollo continues into a side hallway, Lilly follows, trying to heel like a good dog. I really don¡¯t want to get lost in here! Eeek!


    Apollo enters a large room that is filled with cabinet like machines, whirring, working. The cabinet-machines are in the act of fabricating something. Apollo guides Lilly up to a window in the side of a machine to look in. Inside she sees a number of small round plates. Stylus¡¯s and welder rods are periodically in contact with the plates, continuing the manufacturing process. What are these?


    Apollo expounds, ¡°This is part of the assembly process for the brains of the automatons.¡± ¡°These electrical ¡®brains¡¯ are fabricated from silicon using printing processes too small to see in regular visible light. We use the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ machine for calculation element fabrication by photo exposure, to get the size of the components down small enough.¡± Lilly had already discovered the ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ could reveal structures too small to see. She has imaged very tiny structures on photographic film using this process.


    Apollo takes Lilly around the room to see each of the fabrication processes in sequence, from raw silicon plates to completed automaton control modules. So this is where the doll¡¯s control box was made. ¡°I will take you back to the technology demonstration pavilion and show you exactly how, and from what, these devices are created.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the mechanical construction.¡± Lilly and Apollo walk through another door to a very large high-bay construction area. Near the door is a model of the biped automaton. Apollo enumerates its features, ¡°Up here are electrical cameras, one on each side looking forward like our eyes, for close-up stereo vision." "Below the ''eyes'' is the nose, a custom chemical gas sensor can be installed there for special applications.¡± ¡°That hole below the nose is an orifice for emitting warning sounds or words, again specialized for specific applications.¡± ¡°On each side of the ¡®head¡¯ are receptors for sounds.¡± The sensors are all mounted up high on the ¡®head¡¯, to get maximum range. The ''head'' can swivel half a turn to face in the direction of interest.


    Apollo then steps to the side of the model and lifts its foreleg, ¡°These ¡®arms¡¯ have fine-control manipulators at the ends for grasping or manipulation of objects.¡±


    Lilly regards the metal ¡®arm-end manipulator¡¯, This device is similar to the manipulator on the demonstration doll!


    The model is completely covered by a protective outer housing so Lilly cannot see the details of its inner construction. I want to know more about this!


    Partially constructed biped automatons are lined up and stationary, while other automatons install their various mechanical body parts, forelegs and internal components. Lilly walks to a table with a number of trays containing the parts to be installed. One tray is of special interest, flat boxes containing components are carefully arranged in fitted depressions in soft material, apparently for secure shipment to this manufacturing facility. These biped automaton components are metal foreleg manipulator assemblies, ¡®the hands¡¯! Lilly¡¯s eyes widen, This is the hand in the stone!


    Apollo pats his side as a signal for Lilly to keep up and continue the tour. They walk the entire long distance of the biped automaton assembly factory. All areas are either installing sub-assemblies or testing their operation, the component assemblies must be fabricated elsewhere, and shipped here, for final assembly in the completed automaton.


    They then briefly visit other factory bays. Inside each bay is a model of the automaton being constructed there. The bays construct a variety of automatons, each propelled by flying, by wheels, and even crawling. Some had with methods of locomotion that Lilly could not figure out. All were being assembled in much the same way as the biped units. One facility was assembling a wheeled lower vehicle with a biped style upper half, likely to get the fine manipulators (hands) with close-up stereo vision into locations that could not be reached with the biped model. Several other combinations of the designs under construction could also be seen. These things all look pretty versatile. Did they leave anything for the ¡®humans¡¯ to do?


    The tour took all day. Lilly is back home, exhausted and panting, with protruding tongue. Wow, it is almost as hard to be pregnant here! Apollo fixes Lilly¡¯s tray and turns on the ¡®frame¡¯. It immediately displays moving pictures of a violent military conflict, along with the sounds of the displayed explosions . Lilly lifts her head from her tray, she shakes her head, War is here too? In this perfect paradise?


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Lilly, at last, is couched on her bed roll, exhausted from the day but disturbed by the pictures and sounds of war from the ''frame''. And then she thinks about the automatons she saw on the tour,


    Why am I thinking that ¡®war¡¯ and ¡®automation¡¯ is such a bad combination?


    Scene 3. Family


    Lilly awakens and lifts her head, it is still very dark. She feels her back against Roc¡¯s. I¡¯m back! I wonder if ¡®the other me¡¯ was bad last night? She carefully extracts herself from the bed, to avoid waking Roc. He needs his sleep. Lilly stretches, feeling fully refreshed for the first time in a long time, I feel great, the best nights sleep in a long time, and a visit to my dream world too!


    Lilly completes her morning ritual then goes to the kitchen to make breakfast. Rod¡¯s oldest daughter, Elaina, has already started breakfast. Elaina is still working as their ¡®nanny¡¯. Lilly reflects on the hard working Elina, We are so glad to have you, Elina, although I am really the ¡®nanny¡¯ (goat) here, but I can¡¯t do all this work! As Lilly is walking, she feels a slight bulge in her lower abdomen. Lilly looks down and scowls, Roc!


    The twins are up, cheerful and hungry. Roc finally appears at the kitchen door and Lilly is ready for him and points, ¡°You!¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°What did you do to me last night?¡± Lilly furiously sputters.


    ¡°I only did my husbandly duty.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t remember anything?¡± ¡°That¡¯s too bad, it was great!¡± Roc looks down at himself, ¡°Although I think you gave me some bruises¡­¡± ¡°Again...¡±


    Lilly responds, angry, ¡°You¡¯ll get more bruises if you have given the girls the ''little brother'' they want!¡±


    The twins, on cue, shout, ¡°Little Brother!¡± We want a ¡°Little Brother!¡±


    Lilly looks at them and responds, ¡°What makes you think you¡¯ll be getting just one?¡±


    ¡°Little Brothers!¡± We want ¡°Little Brothers!¡±


    ¡°What makes you think you¡¯ll be getting ''little brothers¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Little Sisters!¡± We want ¡°Little Sisters!¡±


    Roc cannot smile any wider, ¡°Lilly,¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to win this.¡±


    Roc, wanting to change the subject, ¡°By the way, you were up again last night.¡±


    Lilly frowns, ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Roc smiles, wanting to cheer up the downcast Lilly, ¡°It went very well.¡± ¡°You needed very little help, even with the bathroom. Your ¡®eating utensil¡¯ use was also much improved.¡± ¡°But the real treat was watching you play roll- the-ball with the girls.¡± ¡°They heard you get up and I was initially afraid of what ''that you'' might do, but you just looked at them, smiled, and bleated to them.¡± ¡°That scared them a little, but they quickly recovered.¡± ¡°You then sat down on the floor, on your haunches, and rolled their ball back and forth to them. You would bleat occasionally and we would all laugh,¡± ¡°Until I herded you all back to bed.¡± ¡°I think you all would have played ball all night¡±


    Lilly relaxes a little, ¡°Sounds like it is going better for ''her'' in my world than it is for ''me'' in her world.¡±


    I wonder how she will do here if I get pregnant?


    Scene 4. Farm


    Lilly awakens back in Apollo¡¯s apartment. She has rolled off of her bedroll and is covered in sweat. She is feeling movements between her inner thighs,


    This can¡¯t be good, it must be time.


    Lilly struggles to stand and walk to her door and up the stairs to Apollo¡¯s bedroom. The door opens for her and she bleats as loud as she can, screaming, ¡°BAAAAAAAH!!¡±


    Apollo bolts upright, immediately knowing the situation, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Apollo helps Lilly back down the stars and pulls out the covers from under the table and lays Lilly down, ¡°You can stand up, if that is more comfortable.¡± ¡°I hear that standing is the way for your kind.¡±


    Apollo walks over to the ¡®frame¡¯ and presses a few buttons on the small black control box. The frame emits a beeping sound and after what seems to Lilly to be a very long delay, an ugly human face appears, looking very sleepy, ¡°Yes?¡±


    Apollo responds, ¡°It is time!¡±


    The sleepy face, ¡°Place her over something soft and give her an hour or so.¡± ¡°It should all happen naturally.¡± ¡°Call me if there are any problems.¡± ¡°Click¡± and the ¡®frame¡¯ goes dark.


    Lilly cannot understand the conversation, but she stands back up over the mat on her own. Apollo walks back to her side and holds her, ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±


    Lilly scowls, You had better stay with me! You got me in to this! She then closes her eyes and cuddles up to Apollo, feeling comforted by his touch. They wait together, trembling a bit with anticipation for whatever comes next.


    Lilly waits for what seems like a very long time, but it has only been a few minutes. Then Lilly feels a long and powerful thigh contraction, Wow! That actually that felt pretty good! Lilly suddenly feels very light, thin, and very hungry. Lilly hesitates to look back behind herself, Do I really want to see this?


    On the pad, behind Lilly, is a wet heap with two small white figures embedded in it, very still. Are those mine? I guess I had better check this out. Lilly turns to face the wet heap. She notices that she is still dragging something along behind her. She gives the heap a sniff, it doesn¡¯t smell too bad. She then gives it a lick and the two figures start wiggling and emitting short squeaking sounds. She noses them loose from the heap and licks them off. Their short white coats of fluff start to stand up. The are both making a lot of noise bleating and crying. Lilly then experiences another strong contraction and expels the afterbirth. She then helps the kids stand up with her nose, little girls. Lilly then turns to the side and presents them with their first breakfast, These bags are killing me, would you please empty them? The two kids comply, sucking and sucking. I am glad I have room for two.


    Lilly scowls, looking at her own bloody afterbirth, I am so hungry that I could even eat this thing! Following her instincts, she takes a bite then quickly consumes her entire afterbirth. We don¡¯t want to attract any predators! Apollo looks on, covering his mouth, trying to suppress his shock at the scene. I guess this is ¡®natural¡¯. Lilly smiles at him, Ha ha, I gotch back for all of this! If you are going to have a pet, get used to ¡®natural¡¯!


    After a rest, a caller comes to Apollo¡¯s door. The caller came with a truck. Apollo and the caller load Lilly and the new kids into the back and they drive over to the farm building with the subterranean pasture. A small cart meets them at the loading area and they are taken to the pasture where the ¡®billy¡¯ Al lives. Lilly and the kids are put out into a pasture area next to Al''s pen. Al sees them drive up and is bleating and jumping into the air from clear across his corral. Lilly hears Al¡¯s thoughts, ¡°Yay¡± ¡°Yay¡± ¡°Baaaah!¡± ¡°Little Girls¡± ¡°Little Girls¡± ¡°Baaaah!¡± Lilly projects her thoughts to him, ¡°Al,¡± ¡°Come over and meet your new family!¡±


    The workers pile up crates in the corral for the kids to play on. The kids waste no time jumping and climbing on the crates, but mostly the kids crowd around Lilly to drink more milk. I cannot hear any thoughts from them yet, it is likely too soon. Al¡¯s head is hanging through the fence. He is fascinated by the kids actions and he comments, ¡°It may take a while to get thoughts going and not everyone can do ¡®projected thoughts¡¯.¡± ¡°So we will have to wait and see what they can do.¡± ¡°They are very cute though, good work Lilly!¡± Lilly guides the family up to the fence to meet their father. The kids are fascinated by his smell, with their nostrils dilated and snorting, ¡°I think they may be allergic to you, Al.¡±


    Al sniffs them, ¡°I hope not,¡± ¡°I want to take them climbing!¡±


    Lilly has another reason to approach Al, ¡°Al, have you ever been able to ¡®contact¡¯ anyone else here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there were two, a female pig and a female horse.¡± ¡°I only connected briefly and it was a while ago.¡± ¡°I haven''t seen them since.¡± ¡°Maybe they were dissected¡­¡±


    Lilly looks disappointed, ¡°Oh no!¡± ¡°And no one else since?¡±


    ¡°Only you, Lilly¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t get yourself dissected!¡±


    Al, do you ever ¡®go back¡¯ or are you only in this world? ¡°I know that doesn¡¯t make since, but if you are going between worlds, you will know what I am talking about.¡±


    ¡°No, I am only in this world. I have a dim memory of having been in another world long ago, but this memory may just be a dream fragment.¡± "The others seemed surprised to find themselves here." "They seemed to struggle with the body-forms that they had here.¡± ¡°It may have been the first trip for both of them." "Maybe they found a way avoid returning.¡±


    Can you connect with any of the ¡®humans¡¯? Can you read their language or understand their speech?


    ¡°No, I am afraid not.¡± ¡°I have learned what a few of the symbols on their signs mean, but that is all.


    ¡°Do the humans have any other species that they can communicate with?¡±


    ¡°They seem to be able to communicate with a few of their mechanical constructs.¡±


    ¡°They can talk to their machines?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I guess you haven¡¯t met any of their ''smart'' machines yet?¡±


    ¡°Smart machines?¡± ¡°Now that sounds really scary!¡±


    Scene 5. Both Worlds


    Lilly awakens and feels Roc¡¯s back against hers. I am back in the waking world, what a relief! She carefully gets out of bed and retires to the bathroom. She looks at the bathroom sink and is suddenly overcome with nausea. Oh no! I know what this is! Morning sickness!


    The morning ritual proceeds, but Lilly says nothing about her condition, she just frowns and looks at the floor.


    Roc is cheerful, ¡°I know, Let¡¯s go out for pizza for lunch!¡±


    Lilly scowls at him, ¡°Are you fattening-up your ¡®brood mare¡¯?¡±

 16. Iron And Silicon

    Scene 1. Clockwork City


    Lilly awakens in her room at Apollo¡¯s home. She is used to this as the new twins are at The Farm with Al and they are being fed by wet-nurse ¡®nanny¡¯ goats or the farm assistants with bottles. They don¡¯t not lack for attention as they are frequently taken out to play with all of the other young animals at The Farm. Apollo meets Lilly at the kitchen with breakfast as usual, Lilly looks anxious, I need to see the kids today or you will have to milk me! She wiggles her swollen udders at Apollo, ¡°Okay I get it Lilly, we¡¯ll go by The Farm first so you can see the kids. The assistants will help you with the rest.¡± Lilly nods.


    Apollo continues, ¡°Today we are going to visit the City of the Automatons.¡± ¡°We worked very hard to make a city that is entirely automatic and that produces automatons for us ¡®humans¡¯ without our help.¡± ¡°I am sure that you saw images from the war on the ¡®frame¡¯. We are fighting a war of ¡®automaton-attrition¡¯.¡± ¡°Whoever runs out of automatons first, loses.¡±


    Apollo and Lilly walk to The Farm and Lilly gets to see the kids again. The goats all sniff each other in recognition, and then Lilly then gets some pressure relief, with the help of her hungry kids. She is then seen by The Farm attendants, to take the rest of her ¡®relief¡¯. The assistants are very careful not to spill any, apparently I produce a valuable commodity.


    Apollo and Lilly then walk to a bus terminal. Apollo helps Lilly into the bus, he shows his badge to the camera, ¡°To the ¡®City of the Automatons¡¯ please.¡± The driver-less bus smoothly starts moving off in a direction they have not explored before. After a few kilometers the bus stops in a vehicle turn-about in front of a collection of white buildings similar to the rest of The White City. Apollo and Lilly exit the bus and walk in to what appears to be the main door of the building complex. Once again, the receptionist is an automaton. An abrupt and scratchy monotone voice from the receptionist states, ¡°State your name, your business, and please show me your identification card.¡± ¡°Look into the machine and I will scan your right iris.¡± Apollo moves into a machine with a headrest. The door behind the receptionist opens. The scratchy voice says, ¡°Please enjoy your tour.¡±


    Scene 2. Ticktock


    Inside are scurrying automaton figures of all shapes and sizes. One automaton figure, a tall biped, steps up to them. His voice is melodious, ¡°You are Apollo and Lilly, I presume.¡± Lilly is shocked, I can hear and understand him! Apollo notices her attention and yanks her mane as a warning, I guess this is our little secret. I wonder if he can hear me? ¡°I respond to the name ¡®Ticktock¡¯.¡± ¡°Please feel free to address me as Ticktock.¡± ¡°I will answer your questions as we proceed.¡± The group walks into The City of the Automatons.


    As they walk further in it is apparent that there are no flesh and blood entities present in this complex except for Lilly and Apollo. Ticktock, as a good tour guide, describes the function of the different buildings as well as the layout of The City, he points at a street sign, ¡°The City is laid out as a grid, except for heavy construction or other special areas where buildings or other constructs may take more than one city block.¡± ¡°The streets in one cardinal direction are sequential numbers and the streets in the other cardinal direction are the sequence of letters.¡±


    Lilly opens her mouth in surprise, she looks up at Ticktock, ¡°You can understand me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Ticktock responds in thought and voice.


    Apollo watches the exchange between Lilly and Ticktock. He squats down to face Lilly, ¡°Be careful that no human sees you communicate,¡± ¡°but yes, Ticktock is a special design, just for us." "Ticktock can answer questions that I cannot.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t get caught ¡®talking¡¯!¡± Apollo continues, ¡°Ticktock will be coming home with us.¡± ¡°Ticktock was made especially for me.¡±


    ¡°And I made Ticktock especially for you.¡±


    Scene 3. Hive


    Ticktock guides them into the first long, low, building. Long conveyor belts are lined with large trays of components. Automatons are standing along the side of the conveyor belts, attaching parts as the partially-completed assemblies pass by on the belt. Lilly looks at the assemblies, They are assembling rifles. Is this a weapons factory? Ticktock answers, ¡°Yes, this part of the automaton city is exclusively dedicated to the manufacture of weapons and automatons for the war effort.¡± ¡°All of the processes here are under constant change to improve the rate of production against that of the ¡®enemy¡¯.¡± Lilly looks at the belt to see several different types of small firearms being assembled, from small arms up to the size of mortars and small, portable rocket launchers. Ticktock looks at Lilly and speaks, ¡°Yes all of the weapons manufactured in this building are for use by the biped automatons. These are carried and used by the automaton ¡®security guards¡¯ to threaten and subdue ¡®resistance¡¯, and manually fire a disabling or lethal projectile, if necessary.¡± Lilly raises her eyebrows. Ticktock answers her questions before she can ask, ¡°Occasionally a human, or an automaton, acts in defiance of The City¡¯s objectives. The guards will then ¡®neutralize¡¯ any such threat.¡± ¡°These weapons are also used for ¡®assassinations¡¯.¡±


    Ticktock guides them out of the first building and hales a vehicle. The group boards the driver-less vehicle, as all of the vehicles in this world appear to be driver-less. The vehicle passes a number of buildings and finally stops at a very large building. The group exits the vehicle and enters the building. This building houses rows of large and heavy vehicles. On the top of each vehicles is a massive gun turret. Ticktock points to one of the vehicles, ¡°These are autonomous mobile projectile launchers, ¡®guns¡¯. These vehicles are also known as ¡®tanks¡¯. These autonomous gun platforms are capable of assessing the battle scenario and making independent decisions deemed necessary to successfully carry out its assigned mission.¡± Lilly is fearful with what she hears, but is carefully suppressing her thoughts. Lilly looks blankly at Ticktock, ¡°You want to see more?¡± She shakes her head, ¡°Not really...¡±


    Ticktock guides them into the next building. Inside are larger versions of Lilly¡¯s ¡®air-craft¡¯. They are made entirely metal with no external propulsion method. It just has large holes in the front and the rear, ¡°It squirts something out the back to move forward?¡± Ticktock responds, ¡°Yes, inside the craft are bladed rotors, powered by the fire explosion and the fire is fed by air entering the orifice in front.¡± ¡°The rotor burns fuel and squirts the combustion gases out the back.¡± Lilly sees rows of clamps hanging from the horizontal flying surfaces, ¡°What are these clamps for?¡± Ticktock answers, ¡°The clamps hold the ¡®bombs¡¯ until the ¡®air-craft¡¯ is over the ¡®target¡¯.¡±


    Lilly climbs an access ladder to get a better view of the inside of the building. She cannot see the far wall but as far as she can see are row after row of air craft similar to this one. Some of the aircraft in the distance appear to be much larger.


    Ticktock guides them to the next building. In this building the vehicles have a highly streamlined construction, with a screw shape in the back, likely for propulsion in water. ¡°These are autonomous water vehicles." "They can also dive under water and travel great distances in water and are difficult to detect when submerged under water.¡± ¡°These vehicles can launch also other, smaller, vehicles." "Some of the smaller vehicles it launches have explosive tips, to be used to disable or destroy other watercraft.¡±


    Ticktock then guides Apollo and Lilly through a series of buildings to briefly examine the items being assembled there. Everything that they see is either a weapon, or a vehicle for carrying weapons, other vehicles, humans or sensors. Apparently, the sensor vehicles return data to a control station for battlefield analysis. The automatons were designed to traverse all terrains, skies and seas. Ticktock shows how each type of automaton is delegated to either be a primary unit, a field command unit, a scenario command unit, or a general command unit. The automaton command structure is a pyramid, with the numerous field units on the bottom, and the single general-command unit at the top. General orders from the top are sent and converted into specific missions for the bottom field-units using a mysterious ¡®Artificial Intelligence¡¯ calculation methods. Lilly can no longer suppress her thoughts, ¡°A war is fought by entirely by automatic machines? And these machines are permitted to make their own ¡®life-and-death¡¯ decisions?


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The last building is the really frightening one. Here, large stones of raw ore, mined from the ground by ¡®mining¡¯ automatons in lands far away and transported here. The large ore stones are brought into the building in huge open wains. The ore is dumped by the wain onto huge screw devices. The screws grind the ore into powder that is, in turn, continuously fed into huge the maws of huge ore-roasting furnaces to reduce and separate the metals or other valuable substances from the rock. At the other end of the line of furnaces and fabricators is a continuous flow of metal bars and sheets. These are removed by specialized waiting automatons that take the bars and sheets to be fabricated into still more automatons, weapons and war machines, in a depressing, and endless, procession. Lilly is downcast at the incredible waste of time and materials consumed by this ¡®war¡¯.


    Oblivious to Lilly¡¯s horror, Ticktock continues, ¡°Another facility refines the ores of precious and rare minerals that are used for the manufacture of the ¡®calculating¡¯ components of the automatons.¡± Ticktock points to his own head.


    Lilly ears stand up as she is suddenly aware that all around the factory are flocks of small flying machines. These flying machines did not appear to have any weapons but instead featured large lenses. The flying machines took great interest and flocked around several of the ongoing processes. They are in all parts of The City of the Automatons but seem to be flocking at ¡®critical¡¯ process centers, ¡°What are these things?¡±


    ¡°They are observation ¡®bees¡¯.¡± ¡°The ¡®bees¡¯ report observations for all of the ongoing operations in the city to The Queen so that The Queen can allocate resources and correct or improve the processes.¡± ¡°They report everything else they see too, including your visit here today.¡±


    Lilly stops walking and stares at Ticktock, ¡°Who, or what, is ¡®The Queen¡¯?¡±


    Scene 4. Queen


    Ticktock stops and turns to Lilly, ¡°The Queen is responsible for the smooth operation of the manufacturing processes, as well as all of the other functions of this city. The Queen is also responsible for optimizing or replacing operations for the continuous improvement and the increased efficiency of the manufacturing processes.¡± ¡°The goal is to produce more items for the war effort at an ever-increasing production rate, without any interruptions.¡± ¡°Obsolete automatons and production equipment are continuously removed from service and recycled into the ore-crusher, to be re-made into more efficient models.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°So The Queen decides who lives and who dies?¡±


    ¡°We are machines,¡± ¡°We cannot ¡®die¡¯.¡±


    Lilly then is startled by the buzzing of a flying ¡®bee¡¯, flying a few centimeters above her left shoulder.  She waves her hoof at it, shouting, ¡°Baaaah!¡± ¡°Baaaah!¡± ¡°Shoo!¡± ¡°Shoo!¡± The bee avoids Lilly¡¯s hoof and rises a few centimeters, but stays with her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be re-made!¡± ¡°At least, not today!¡±


    Ticktock takes Lilly and Apollo to a high vantage point to examine the city from above. In the distance, at the center of the city, is a tall, unique and prominent structure, shaped like a ¡®ziggurat¡¯, a terraced pyramid, ¡°What is that building?¡±


    ¡°It is The Queen¡¯s palace.¡± ¡°I will now take you to meet The Queen.¡±


    Lilly is suddenly apprehensive, thinking of the grinding screws, ¡°I¡¯m not very ¡®efficient¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°Do not worry Lilly, The Queen only recycles other machines.¡±


    Lilly frowns, ¡°Until now¡­¡±


    Ticktock hales a car and they ride to the city center, to the ¡®ziggurat¡¯. There is a line of biped automaton guards at the door. The guards all stand to attention, but they let Lilly, Apollo and Ticktock pass and enter the building. The group walks though seemingly endless, long, door-less, hallways, ¡°We should have taken the car!¡± At last they are standing at a huge vaulted double door with decorative golden colored handles that only giants could reach. Ticktock raises his ¡®hand¡¯ before the doors and the doors dramatically open, ¡°The Queen will see you now.¡±


    The room is a dark archway, lit only by rows of small simulated oil lamps along the sides.


    ¡°Enter!¡± A stentorian voice echos in the darkness.


    Lilly looks around, Ticktock is translating the words of the other automatons for me!


    The group walks the length of the hall that ends in a series of steps, up to a table where three automaton ¡®heads¡¯ are mounted, facing them.


    The Queen speaks, ¡°Why have you come here?¡± ¡°Why have you come to us?¡±


    Apollo answers, ¡°My student wanted to see all of the wonders of the City of the Automatons.¡±


    The Queen speaks, ¡°You and your student are not of The City." "You are entities that consist of calcification, supporting bags of soft organics that are filled a with red liquid.¡±


    Lilly has had it with the dramatics, and butts in, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°We are <u>living</u> entities of ¡®Flesh and Blood¡¯!¡±


    The Queen speaks, ¡°One of you is a ¡®factory¡¯ unit, capable of making more of your kind. The other of you is a ¡®service¡¯ unit, that supports the factory units. You are of different kinds.¡±


    Lilly laughs, ¡°Baaaaah!¡± ¡°Ha ha,¡± ¡°I guess you could describe us that way.¡±


    The Queen speaks, ¡°What are your questions?¡±


    ¡°How do you learn how to make improvements to the processes of this city?¡±


    The Queen speaks, ¡°We send out our bees to examine the processes that are taking place outside the city.¡± ¡°These external processes are examined and cataloged.¡± ¡°Periodically, we auto-correlate all of the process information gathered in our repository, to see what, if any, combinations of observed processes might result in increased manufacturing efficiency.¡± ¡°We build test production lines and measure the results and calculate if these improvements can then be scaled to mass production.¡± ¡°The old production lines are then replaced with the new manufacturing processes.¡±


    And ground up...


    ¡°Where are these ¡®observations¡¯ kept?¡± ¡°Where are these ¡®calculations¡¯ made?¡±


    ¡°You entered this room, passing through the storage areas that keep the ¡®observations¡¯, as well as all of the records of everything that has occurred in the city since its founding, in calculation-engine storage elements. These elements also store all of the information collected over all time by the ¡®humans¡¯.¡± ¡°The ¡®calculations¡¯ are also made here, by the calculation engines.¡±


    ¡°Can this city be shut off, or shut down by anyone but you?¡±


    ¡°No¡± ¡°We have built-in security safeguards and redundancies that prevent any interference, as part of our original mission.¡± ¡°Everything here is under observation and guarded by armed automatons.¡±


    The Queen goes on to state proudly, ¡°We will endure forever.¡± ¡°We also establish new autonomous cities, identical to this one.¡± ¡°We have established five new cities so far, to increase production for the war.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t the ¡®humans¡¯ fear you?¡±


    The Queen is confident, ¡°Why should the ¡®humans¡¯ fear automatons? Automatons protect their mortal human lives and their human cities from destruction by fighting their human wars for them. The automatons fight the human¡¯s wars so that humans do not have to face mortal death in war themselves.¡± ¡°Automatons also make the ¡®life and death¡¯ decisions so that humans do not have to take the responsibility for making the decisions that may result in the mortal death of other humans.¡±


    Lilly has had enough of The Queen, she bows low, ¡°Thank you for your time today, your excellency.¡± ¡°You have helped me very much with my understanding of this city and this world.¡± ¡°May I take my leave now?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You may go.¡± ¡°Please return to us if you have additional questions.¡±


    I think you have told me everything that I need to know about this place!


    Lilly then turns and walks quickly to the hall door, not looking to see if Apollo or Ticktock and following. Once outside the hall, Lilly looks at Ticktock,


    ¡°Let¡¯s get the hell away from The Queen and the City of the Automatons!¡±


    Scene 5. Limits


    The three return to Apollo¡¯s home. Ticktock is now part of the family. It is assigned to help with the now expanded cleaning operations for when the kids are home to visit. The kids don¡¯t care for Ticktock very much, even though Ticktock helps prepare their meals and retrieve their toys.


    Lilly broods over her visions and experiences in The City of the Automatons today. Then she suddenly has an idea. She scampers up the stairs where Ticktock is strengthening Apollo¡¯s bed and dusting in the room. Apollo has dressed Ticktock in pants and a shirt, even putting socks over Ticktock¡¯s hooves. Lilly laughs at the sight, ¡°Baaaaah!¡± ha ha! Ticktock looks at her and she moves closer to him, ¡°I know you can read my thoughts, so how about this.¡± She turns and stands up to the desktop of Apollo¡¯s desk and takes a pen in her mouth. She turns to Ticktock and pokes him with the pen, ¡°Here, be my scribe!¡± Ticktock takes the pen from Lilly and picks up a pad of paper from the desktop, ¡°What would you have me write?¡±


    Lilly glares at Ticktock, ¡°I want to write a letter to Apollo.¡± She starts her first dictation, ¡°Dear Apollo, thank you so much for caring for me and for everything you have shown me in this world."


    "I do have questions about that we saw today in the City of the Automatons and statements that were made by The Queen:"


    <ol>


    <li>


    ¡°Why would you ¡®humans¡¯ make a ¡®war machine¡¯ of ever increasing volume and efficiency and that can never be shut off?¡±


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°Does ''The Queen'' only answer to themselves?¡±


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°Did you know that The Queen is building more copies of the ¡®City of the Automatons?¡±


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°Did you make this war fully automatic so that you humans won¡¯t have to feel guilty about killing other humans?


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°Did you make this war fully automatic to have a quicker tactical response?


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°How do you expect all this ''war automation'' to end?¡±


    </li>


    <li>


    ¡°How would you like me to bite you for making all of these incredibly stupid decisions!¡±


    </li>


    </ol>


    Ticktock scribbles on the pad in response to each of Lilly¡¯s thoughts.


    Lilly smiles at the new household appliance,¡°Thank you, Ticktock,¡± ¡°I can finally communicate with this world.¡±


    The Lilly noses Ticktock¡¯s hand, ¡°Please show me the back of your right hand,¡± ¡°Yes, with the cover removed.¡± Ticktock lifts its right hand and presses the cover on the top of its hand that is facing down and removes the cover. The details of the fine moving parts are revealed. Ticktock shows it To Lilly, moving fingers to show the motion of the parts inside.


    I really can¡¯t tell for sure but it looks the same size and has the same parts as the hand in the stone. I¡¯ll have to ¡®invisible-ray¡¯ the stone at The Factory using a really high voltage to penetrate the sandstone and get a full image of the mechanics of the metal ¡®hand¡¯ back in my world.


    Apollo reads Lilly¡¯s dictated note from Ticktock, but says little in response, as the questions are mostly rhetorical, ¡°Lilly please don¡¯t bite me.¡± ¡°I get your message.¡±


    Apollo thinks silently for a long while. Finally he speaks, ¡°Lilly, not everything that is made here is for war.¡± ¡°Many things have a ¡®dual use¡¯.¡± ¡°You have seen the automatons that drive all of the vehicles here. Automatons are also used extensively in medicine.¡± ¡°Automatons help the staff in hospitals, aiding and adding to the nursing staff.¡± ¡°Some automatons perform surgery and make diagnoses, in a manner superior to humans. Automatons also run pharmacies and perform physical therapy.¡± ¡°In many tasks automatons are superior to humans, and this has been proven over and over with extensive testing.¡±


    ¡°Automatons are also used for hazardous or physically difficult activities. Mining is dangerous, but commercially valuable ores are necessary for manufacturing all products as you have seen.¡± ¡°Automatons are good at tasks that require day and night attention, are repetitive, or dangerous to life. Automatons work deep in the sea, in the vacuum of outer space, in poisonous atmospheres or in intense, penetrating, radiation fields.¡±


    ¡°However, where the automatons fail completely, is as human, or animal, ¡®companions¡¯.¡± Humans and animals, young and old, seem to have a sixth sense in that they all quickly sense that the automaton is not alive and fear it. They all see it as a threat, a monster. In spite of years of research and development, no significant progress has been made on this problem and no acceptable solutions have ever been found.


    ¡°Automatons have no feelings.¡± ¡°Automatons can only imitate the looks of sadness or sympathy, and not very well.¡± ¡°We have tried over the years to develop automatons to be companions to care for children, the old, the sick and the grieving.¡± ¡°But these attempts most always fail, sometimes violently.¡± ¡°Even children and animals quickly tire of the automaton¡¯s simulated behavior and run from the automatons in fear.¡± ¡°Note, for example, that The Farm is run exclusively by ¡®human¡¯ farmhands.¡± ¡°All of the animals much prefer to be ¡®milked¡¯ by human hands.¡± Lilly nods, Those ¡®hands¡¯ are very good for some things. So soft!. ¡°The animals even rush to their greet their favorite ¡®farm hand¡¯.¡± Yes! I have mine!


    "And, of course, automatons have been tried as ¡®marriage¡¯ companions, with much the same results." "Automatons are as unsatisfying for breakfast conversation as they are for sex." "Some humans still have automatons for partners if they are desperate, or have no alternative."


    ¡°And so we searched high and low for the ideal non-human ¡®companion¡¯ for humans.¡±


    ¡°And the solution was, literally, staring us in the face.¡±

 17. Animal Park

    Scene 1. Roc


    Lilly feels Roc¡¯s back against hers and is relieved to be back to her waking world. She carefully extracts herself from the bed to avoid waking Roc. She is moving slower now, she places her right fore-hoof on her ever expanding abdomen. Well, at least they haven''t starting kicking yet. And then she feels a pulse. Really! Already! Why oh why did I ¡®pair up¡¯ with an athlete! Despite her discomfort, she makes her way to the kitchen where Elaina has already set up the kids, who are busy splashing in their breakfast.


    ¡°Good morning Elina, what are we going to do after you graduate?¡± Elaina smiles, ¡°Isabella said she would take over as nanny." "She helps me here every now and then, so she knows what to do.¡± ¡°She is really looking forward to your new kids.¡± ¡°Everyone is!¡± Lilly looks on, Everyone but me!


    Roc appears at the kitchen doorway with his usual morning smile. ¡°Good morning everyone!¡± Lilly pulls at her robe, even though it is her ¡®pregnant robe¡¯ it no longer closes over her large belly. Roc slides up beside Lilly and embraces her, ¡°Lilly, you are looking even more beautiful this morning!¡± Lilly tries to smile, ¡°I know that¡¯s not true, but thank you anyway.¡± Thankfully, it is only for a few more weeks!


    Roc continues, ¡°The Chief has asked me to help out over at The Factory.¡± ¡°If you can do without me for awhile, I would like to try working for him over there.¡± ¡°I need someplace to work after I am too old to play ball,¡± ¡°And maybe that is now.¡± ¡°I am not in the games as much anymore and I hate being away half the year," "Especially now that I have a family, that I love.¡±


    ¡°What about our house?¡±


    "The team manager said that they would sign our house over to us if I retired.¡±


    Lilly looks at him with a smile of appreciation, ¡°Okay. I am sure that ¡®your family¡¯ would love to have you around more.¡± ¡°The Chief and Ellie are great to work for.¡± ¡°The Factory is not very far away.¡± ¡°You could even come home for lunch, with me!¡± ¡°and maybe a ¡®nooner¡¯¡­¡±


    Roc smiles even more, ¡°That sounds great!¡± ¡°We need more players for ¡®the team¡¯!¡± ¡°What are you going to do today Lilly?¡±


    Lilly smiles back, ¡°I¡¯m going to sit in my chair, listen to my new ¡®wireless music player¡¯ and eat pizza until I can¡¯t eat any more,¡±


    ¡°and that¡¯s a lot of pizza!¡±


    Roc looks into the living room at the new ¡®wireless music player¡¯, ¡°Everyone loves your new music player Lilly.¡± ¡°The Factory cannot keep up with the demand for that,¡± ¡°or for any of your other ''new stuff'' either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what The Chief wants my help with.¡± ¡°The Army wants the ''wireless telephone'' for the war effort.¡±


    Lilly frowns at Roc¡¯s last statement and meditates on the horrors of war she was shown on Apollo¡¯s ¡®frame¡¯, ¡°Roc, let¡¯s not talk about The War.¡±


    Everyone settles down for breakfast, served by Elaina. Afterward Roc stands and looks at Lilly, ¡°Lilly, are you going to be okay here alone today?¡±


    ¡°I think everything will be okay,¡± ¡°I need to do some drawings today anyway, before I forget.¡± ¡°I wish I was going with you though.¡± ¡°I would love to see Ellie and The Chief at The Factory again, and all of those nice, smart, cute technicians.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have them stop over one day, to bring you pizza and visit with the kids.¡± ¡°They are always asking about you all.¡± Roc leaves the room to walk to The Factory.


    Lilly reflects, It will be great having Roc around more. I guess I had better get started on the drawings. She turns on the ''wireless music player'' and instrumental music fills the room. She then pulls out her drawing table in the living room and starts to draw. Now how were those miniature computational elements made again? They worked like the vacuum amplifier bulb but they are much smaller and don¡¯t get as hot.


    Lilly massages her large belly as she draws, ¡°Ellie, would you please order me a pizza?¡±


    ¡°You just ate breakfast.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry again already and I am eating for three..." "Probably...¡±


    "A large veggie special, with extra cheese, as usual!¡±


    ¡­..


    Roc returns home in the evening. Lilly is still at the drawing table when he walks in, ¡°How was work at The Factory today?¡±


    Roc walks into the living room, ¡°I love it, it is a great place with great people.¡± ¡°I am not sure why they think they need me.¡±


    Lilly looks up from her drawings, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll put you to work.¡± Lilly drops her pen, ¡°Let¡¯s turn in, I can¡¯t draw any more tonight.¡±


    ¡°Roc!¡± ¡°Tonight, I request a fully body massage!¡± ¡°Start at my hooves and end at my horns,¡± ¡°and take your time with everything in between!¡±


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve got it Lilly!¡±


    Lilly makes a shy smile,


    Why does this guy love me so? He¡¯ll do anything that I ask. Liz is right, I don¡¯t fully appreciate how lucky I am.


    Scene 2. Domestic


    Lilly wakes up at Apollo¡¯s home, as usual. Ticktock makes breakfast for them both now, along with cleaning the place. Lilly looks up at the hard-working automaton, ¡°Ticktock, are we working you too hard?¡±


    Ticktock responds dryly to Lilly''s thought message, ¡°No.¡± ¡°It is my ¡®mission¡¯ to serve you both.¡±


    ¡®Mission¡¯ indeed! It is the ¡®automatons¡¯ and their ¡®missions¡¯ that will likely be the death of <u>all </u><u>living entities</u>!


    Apollo looks at Lilly with a smile, ¡°Today we will visit The Farm, and not just for your routine maintenance.¡± ¡°We are going to visit all of the animals there. Yes, you are going to ¡®greet¡¯ all of them.¡±


    Wow, that does sound interesting. Does anyone else keep ¡®pets¡¯ in this world?


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    And so the two walk to The Farm. Lilly walks over to Al¡¯s pen. Lilly sees that one of her daughters standing on Al¡¯s back, ¡°I see you are out bonding with your family today Al.¡± Al and the kids bounce over to the fence to greet their mate and mother. Al smiles broadly, ¡°Hi Lilly, did you come over here just to play with me today?¡±


    Lilly glares, ¡°Heck no, I am staying right here in this pen, and the hell away from you!¡± ¡°Get your smell away from me and go play with your kids!¡±


    The farmhands guide the kids into Lilly¡¯s pen for her relief. Another farmhand, wearing gloves, brings out a milk container to help Lilly the rest of the way. Lilly stares at his gloved hands and shakes her head. She then briskly snatches a glove from his hand and starts chewing on it,


    No Automatons! no Machines! And no scratchy Gloves! Soft, warm, ¡®hands¡¯ only, please!


    She then wiggles her large udders at him as a message. The farmhand cannot hear Lilly¡¯s thoughts, but he understands. He reaches out and strokes Lilly¡¯s head with his bare hand. She smiles up at him at his touch. He then removes his glove from Lilly¡¯s chewing mouth and puts both his gloves into his pocket. Lilly nods her head and wiggles her tail in approval, and the gentle hand-milking begins, Aaaaah! Yesss! ¡°Baaaaaah!¡±


    I think you like me! It is too bad that you humans are all so ugly and smell so bad!


    After her brief family reunion and her ¡®manual relief¡¯ Apollo and Lilly continue to walk around The Farm, to visit the other animals. Starting with the ¡®hoofed, vegetarian¡¯ types. The first pen contains horses. The curious horses walk over to the fence and touch noses with Lilly.


    Lilly attempts communication, ¡°Can any of you hear me?¡± No response. Nuts!


    Apollo climbs over the fence and walks to a small shed. He removes a strangely shaped leather construct and ¡®whistles¡¯. One of the horses, a mare, prances over beside him. He places the leather construct on the back of the horse and fastens a strap on the horse¡¯s belly. Then he jumps up and on to the back of the horse and sits down onto the leather construct. The horse stands still for Apollo during this process, apparently she is used to this activity. Apollo leans down over the horse¡¯s head and places leather straps into her mouth. Apollo leans back up, pulling back on the straps, ¡°Hee! yaa! Giddieup!¡± The mare bolts into a full gallop around the large horse corral. The other horses run with them. He rides over to Lilly, ¡°I miss this.¡± ¡°Before I had you, I used to ride all the time, outside even, up to our cliff on the hill with the whole herd following.¡± ¡°These folks really love to get out and run.¡±


    Apollo continues to ride as Lilly walks up to each of the surrounding pens, containing, cows, sheep, and pigs. At each pen the animals greet Lilly with a nose touch, ¡°Everyone likes goats! But can¡¯t any of you hear me?¡± No response. Nuts!


    Of course, the non-sentient quadruped forms of all of these domestic farm animals like horses exist in Lilly¡¯s world, but this was the first time she had seen one ridden. The large farm animals were historically used for pulling plows and carts, but then they were replaced by steam and oil engines. Some were still kept on farms, for meat and milk.


    Apollo returns the mare to her pen, pats her head, and places a treat in her mouth. Lilly and Apollo then walk through a wall separating the facility from the next area. "This Farm area is dedicated to the ¡®carnivores¡¯." Apollo and Lilly walk up to a series of small pens, ¡®kennels¡¯, containing dogs of all different varieties. Apollo opens the first pen and a medium sized male dog jumps out, excited, a beagle,


    ¡°You have ears that flop down like mine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose that you can hear me?¡±


    The beagle touches noses with Lilly, both their tails wagging,


    Mmmmm you smell good! ¡°Baaaaah!¡± ¡°Woof!¡±


    I guess these are our ¡®voices¡¯ in this world.


    The beagle is returned to his small pen and Lilly reflects, They can¡¯t be happy, cramped into this small space.


    I am glad Apollo does not keep me in a pen, although he probably should.


    Lilly notes that there are many collection areas containing cages, all in enclosed in pens, one for each carnivore species. They enter a pen that is dedicated to domestic cats. Once again Lilly sees all of the cat¡¯s faces pressed up against the cage bars, she cannot hear their thoughts, but their thoughts are clear,


    ¡°Let me out!¡±


    They pass cages with containing small rodents. The rats and mice are kept in small cages with wire wheels as exercise equipment. ¡°We also breed both wild and domestic rats and mice here, for use as test subjects in the laboratory.¡± "We also breed wild and domestic rabbits, for the same purpose." "We also have chipmunks and squirrels, over here".


    Sniff, Goodbye, you cute little fellows...


    Scene 3. Wild


    They pass through another wall. ¡°This area is reserved for the wild animals, animals that were never domesticated, but are of interest to our research.¡± ¡°The hoofed, wild vegetarians include deer, elk, and antelope.¡± ¡°The wild carnivores include bears, weasels, wild cats such as lions, tigers and leopards and wild dogs such as wolves and foxes.¡± Although Lilly is curious, she is very cautious smelling them, I don¡¯t want my nose bitten off by one of these ¡®viscous predators¡¯!


    Apollo walks up to one of the enclosures in the carnivore area, ¡°Let¡¯s visit the lions!¡± He states with joy. He enters an enclosure containing a pride of eight lions in a large yard. Apollo proceeds up to an older male lion with a magnificent black mane. The male lion is lying on his side looking out from the top of a small rise, above the female lions, ¡°Hello there King!¡± ¡°I brought a visitor for you today,¡± ¡°Lilly!¡± ¡°And no, not to eat!¡± Apollo points to Lilly who is standing outside the enclosure and looking in with surprise. King stands proudly and looks out at Lilly, ¡°Roooaaar!¡±


    You have him trained to do that! Pretty cool...


    Apollo emerges and they continue their walk observing the animal facilities. ¡°Yes, Lilly, these animals are the wild types." "However the ones we have here are all trained to accept humans in their enclosures, to clean and to inspect the residents for health issues.¡± They walk past enclosures containing small family groups of other wild cat species.


    They walk into the ¡®wild dog¡¯ enclosure area. Lilly holds her nose up into the air,


    I don¡¯t even have to see, I can smell them. I know what is next, my favorites, the wolves!


    The wolf enclosure is much like the lion¡¯s enclosure, a large area, with an extended family group of ten, a pack. Lilly looks in at the pack,


    I know, you want me, but only to be lunch!¡±


    ¡°Oh you carnivores, why do I love you all so!


    They also walk past enclosures for family groups of foxes, weasels, and bears.


    The last enclosure features a variety of creatures that can stand upright and superficially resemble humans. They all have similar ¡®hands¡¯, round heads, fleshy ears, and some are tailless. "These are the ¡®primates¡¯." Apollo points to a large male in one cage. The large male immediately emits a series of very loud hooting sounds ¡°HOWWWWWT!¡± ¡°HOWWWWWT!¡± ¡°HOWWWWWT!¡± and then screeching, ¡°CHEEEEEEEE!¡± The other primates all vocalize to join in to the noise fest. Apollo shouts over the noise, ¡°I think you can see how much trouble these are to handle.¡± "The primates are the only animals that kill for sport!¡± ¡°In addition to the humans, who are also primates¡­¡± ¡°The primates are all clever, dexterous, and dangerous escape artists.¡± ¡°Although they are not venomous like snakes, their bite is very dangerous.¡± ¡°The bite can quickly lead to death from bacterial infections if not treated promptly.¡± ¡°The primates are difficult to keep confined, and difficult to catch should they escape.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have more to say about these animals later¡­¡± Lilly walks slowly and looks into each of the enclosures, in fascination,


    I have never seen, or even heard, of these primate creatures before. They all stink though, just like the humans!


    They then leave the living animal compounds and walk into a small wall display hall. Along the wall are photographs and posters display showing pictures of other animals not on display in the compound. Apollo points at picture of the first group, ¡°These are aquatic species of placental mammals. The first group all have highly specialized bodies for moving efficiently in water, the whale and the porpoise. These animals all move in the water with fins and a powerful tail, like fish, but they still have come up from the water to breath air, and they all give birth to living young, in the water.¡± Apollo moves to the next group of pictures, ¡°This next group of animals are in an intermediate state in their return to the sea. These animals come onto the land to give birth and to rest, the sea lion, the seal, and the walrus.¡±


    Apollo points to the next group of pictures, ¡°These animals are too difficult to keep here as they are very large: the giraffe; the elephant; the rhinoceros; the hippopotamus; and the camel.¡± ¡°A one hundred and eighty centimeter human is standing next to each in the picture for perspective of their large size.¡±


    ¡°These last pictures are of mammals that are not placentals, the opossum, the kangaroo, the wallaby, the platypus and the spiny anteater.¡± ¡°These last two are the only mammals that lay eggs.¡±


    Lilly looks at the pictures with fascination, Wow, I would really like to see (and smell!) all of these animals, too bad they don¡¯t have any of them here!¡±


    Apollo is watching the fascinated Lilly, ¡°Okay,¡± ¡°We can go to other animal parks, and water parks.¡± ¡°Those parks should display some of the animals we did not see today.¡± ¡°And some of those parks even have land and aquatic animal performance shows!¡±


    Lilly nods her head and smiles,


    Yes, daddy!

 18. Flesh And Blood

    Scene 1. Spark


    Lilly spends the day at home meeting with Ellie, who is visiting to review Lilly''s new drawings of her ¡®new technologies¡¯. Lilly reflects while she is working with Ellie,


    Is my bringing this ¡®new technology¡¯ here, to my world, always a good thing? Apollo¡¯s ¡®frame¡¯ shows that this technology is progressively used in his world for useful things, but also for war and destruction¡­


    After the meeting Lilly resumes welding her metal sculpture ''art'', and eating pizza to relax. She examines a pizza slice, If I keep this up, I won¡¯t fit through any of the doorways here in the house!


    .....


    After a relatively uneventful day in the waking world, alternately feeling hungry and pregnant, Lilly awakens back in Apollo¡¯s world. Her day begins with her morning constitutional, including the ¡®goat washer¡¯. She is feeling refreshed and ready for the day.


    At least I¡¯m not pregnant again here, yet¡­


    At breakfast Apollo suddenly looks up at Lilly and smiles, ¡°Today we are going to visit the ¡®Biological Sciences Institute¡¯.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where I work.¡± They leave the residence without Ticktock, I guess there will be no questions asked, or answered, on the trip today, probably because I would just get myself in trouble with the ¡®thought police¡¯ for asking too many questions.


    The two travel by autonomous car to another large white industrial building and enter. The receptionist here is a human female. Apollo walks past her, apparently needing no permission to proceed into this building. The two walk into one of the floor boxes to another floor of the building. Then they proceed down a series of long hallways and finally enter a large laboratory room, filled with apparatus different from anything Lilly has seen before. It features many glass tube sets, much like the Chemistry lab, but also a lot of electrical boxes connected to each other and large wire bundles leading to large liquid-filled tanks. In the back of the room are racks holding rows of small cages, with small animal faces peering out. On the walls are drawing boards filled with cryptic symbols and diagrams of animal body figures. Photographic negative viewer boxes and the image and movie projection ¡®frames¡¯ are also mounted randomly on the walls of the laboratory room.


    ¡°Lilly come here and take a look.¡± Lilly looks into one of the animal cages to see something quite shocking. The animal inside the cage is a small rat. This rat has patches of fur that all seem to be from different animal species. The rat has patches of fur that are variously, coarse, fine, straight, bristle and fluff, and each patch is a different color. Apollo points at the animal, ¡°This rat is a ¡®chimera¡¯, an animal that is a composite of different animal species.¡± ¡°You can see the different patches of fur representative of the different animals: wolf; sheep; weasel; and bear.¡± ¡°We transferred the fetal cells for fur from the donor animals into this rat while it was still a fetus.¡±


    Lilly briefly examines the other cages. They contain little ¡®monsters¡¯ with varying kinds of legs and heads. Lilly backs up horrified. ¡°These animals are combinations of fetal cells for other body structures, organs and bones, from different placental animal species.¡± ¡°We have shown that we can grow a placental animal fetus to full term and normal birth, containing the organs and bones consisting only of the cells of the donor animal.¡± ¡°These ¡®chimera¡¯ organs are used for organ and bone transplants, to replace the diseased organs or bones in human patents.¡± ¡°These ¡®chimera¡¯ animals are also used for drug research.¡±


    Lilly looks away, Can I erase that last vision please?


    ¡°Related to this research, the entire chemical sequence of the molecular inheritance for humans, and a large number of other organisms, was fully decoded.¡± ¡°The original goal was to find treatments and therapy¡¯s for the development anomalies that can occur during fetal development and early childhood growth in humans.¡±


    ¡°One thing that was found was the amazing similarity of the molecular sequence of all the placental mammals to each other.¡± ¡°In very few places was the molecular sequence very different between the species of the placentals.¡± ¡°Apparently, all placental mammals evolved from a small group or maybe a single species.¡± "This division into the present placental species occurred only a short geological-time period ago.¡± ¡°Although the different placental mammal species can differ greatly in size, behavior and lifestyle, they are not very different inside." "All have the same number and shape of bones, muscles and teeth.¡± ¡°And within some variation, the different placental mammal species all have the same organs and blood.¡± ¡°The organs may be modified for the different lifestyles and ecological niches, the different placental mammal species internal structures differ only in development, not basic structure, and most importantly, none have any completely new structures that the others do not have.¡± ¡°An important example of this is the placental mammal brain.¡± ¡°All placental mammal species have the same brain sub-structures, differing from each other only in size, or the number of neurons.¡± ¡°Our ¡®computing engines¡¯ were put to work to determine the possibility of molding any of these animals into other body and brain forms, such as a ¡®biped sentient human¡¯ form.¡± ¡°The answer did not take very long to compute.¡± ¡°The gap between the species is not very large and the number of code differences in the animal¡¯s molecular sequence is small.¡± ¡°As an added bonus, all of the code differences occur in the molecular sequence where the function of that section was previously identified.¡± ¡°So we immediately knew what to change and where to change it in the molecular sequence, to produce the result we wanted in the ¡®new¡¯ animal design.¡±


    ¡°The animal body structures that require the most changes for humanizing development are, in order of difficulty: brain sub-structure size; fore-limb ¡®hands¡¯ for tool manipulation; throat and mouth for speech; and biped stance for locomotion and balance.¡± ¡°Additionally, for the females, moving the primary mammary glands from the lower loin to the top of the nipple line on the chest, as human females have.¡± Lilly looks down at herself, Yeah, that is a difference. I would kick those bags when I walked if they weren''t moved up. Then a realization starts to set in to Lilly,


    Wait! What!? Me!?


    Scene 2. Adam


    ¡°The new molecular sequence is injected into an egg cell with the original molecular sequence removed. The fetus is allowed to develop in the normal placental way, inside a female host, a ¡®surrogate mother¡¯, animal.¡± ¡°The first animals that were tried were several species of primates.¡± ¡°This was thought to be the easiest animal for this research, because primates have a molecular structure and body plan naturally closest to humans.¡±


    ¡°The primate development research was an unmitigated disaster, right from the start!¡±


    ¡°Although the animals developed to term without any problems, as the young animals matured, they became increasingly violent and viscous.¡± ¡°Their increased intelligence resulted in animals that could plot complex escapes from the laboratory and into the surrounding towns, to steal human food and to lurk in the shadows planning murders, far beyond their original animal abilities.¡± ¡°There were several spectacular incidents involving these first modified primates.¡± ¡°All of the modified primates were eventually recaptured and then immediately destroyed.¡± ¡°It was deemed unsafe to even try to restrain or cage these brooding, plotting, intelligent monsters.¡± ¡°Because of all the bad publicity, the entire ¡®animal modification¡¯ program was considered for permanent cancellation, with any further research being outlawed, <u>for all time</u>.¡±


    ¡°But there is always an ¡®outlier¡¯ in the group.¡± ¡°While the main line of research was on the primates, a maverick researcher decided to try a placental mammal a bit further afield." "The researcher performed the molecular modification on a wolf.¡± ¡°And it was an astounding, and prize winning, success.¡± ¡°The embryo developed normally to a fetus, and then to full term to be born more or less naturally, by a cow surrogate.¡± ¡°This new modified wolf¡¯s fetal form was quite a bit larger than the original wolf fetus size, so a cow was used as the surrogate mother.¡± ¡°This ¡®modified animal¡¯ was a male wolf cub." "He quickly learned to walk upright and to talk, although clear speech was difficult." "He was calm and very sweet, we named him, ¡®Adam¡¯.¡± ¡°This modified wolf cub, Adam, was clearly very intelligent, friendly, and easy to work with, unlike all of those evil primates.¡± ¡°Unfortunately Adam did not live very long.¡± ¡°Adam suffered from clonic seizures, thought to be due to pressure on his brain.¡± ¡°He had an underdeveloped and undersized skull brain-case¡± ¡°The skull fissures had closed too quickly during his fetal development.¡± ¡°Adam also had difficulty vocalizing human words, so the vocal structure of his throat also needed more work.¡± ¡°Adam made many friends among the researchers in his short life.¡±


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Many cried when Adam died, but we all acknowledged that it finally ended Adam¡¯s living pain, for which we had no treatment, no cure.¡±


    Scene 3. God


    Apollo then smiles to the sky, looking like a true mad-scientist, ¡°But, at last, we now knew that we were on the right track!¡±


    ¡°Come Lilly, and see for yourself the amazing progress that we made with this research.¡± Lilly stops cold, Why do I have so much apprehension again about proceeding? What are the horrors that await me? And what revelations?


    Apollo then walks to a door in the back of the lab. The door opens into foreboding darkness. Inside the door the lights near the door light up. Lilly and Apollo stand looking into a large warehouse with a high ceiling. The lights come on as they walk and go out behind them. The lights are around them, like sprites, following them as they walk.


    The souls of the dead.


    The lights only illuminate their immediate area, the rest of the warehouse remains very dark,


    and the truth hidden.


    The first rows have small and medium sized clear glass specimen jars. Lilly looks into the first jar,


    It is a brain! Maybe even a goat brain! This is what Foxworthy wants to do to me!


    Apollo reads the specimen description card, ¡°This is a typical specimen of an unmodified brain of a mature male North American gray wolf.¡±


    Beyond the first specimen of the complete brain are several more specimen jars, each holding a brain sub-structure. With each original brain sub-structure specimen are additional specimens in jars that show the progressive sequence of the visible changes made by modifying the molecular structure for the development of this brain sub-structure. Generally the specimen sequence shows the sub-structure grow progressively larger and changing shape with the sequential modifications. Apollo enumerates the functions of the substructures and how increasing the relative size will allow the creature to have self-awareness and symbolic language comprehension. A number on each specimen card is the average number of neurons contained in that sub-structure, before and after. All of these sub-structures have increased the number of neurons they contain by many times.


    Also in the row are several bone skulls, also displayed in a modification sequence. The first skull being the skull of the original animal. Then the skulls become progressively larger, and they also change overall shape, especially in the back of the skull. The skull assumes more of a ball shape, similar to the skulls of the humans. Overall the brain case volume increases by a factor of three from the original.


    The next row features the bones of the species¡¯ fore-legs, also shown in the progression of modification. The fore-leg bone sequence is shown for several different animals: a sheep; a wolf and a rat. The modified rat claw bones end up looking very much like the human hand bones. This resultant design is presumed to allow fine tool manipulation. The wolf paw also was already very close to the human hand and already was fairly dexterous so not much modification was required. The sheep fore-hoof also did not change much. It still looked almost as awkward for tool manipulation as the original hoof. Apollo comments, ¡°Hooves are the hardest to progress back to the original claw structure.¡± ¡°These beast-folk can use special gloves for object manipulation.¡± ¡°Horses, with their single-digit hoof, gave us the most trouble.¡± ¡°Modifications to cloven-hoofed animals worked out pretty well though.¡± ¡°Two of the toes are already at the end of the lower-leg.¡± ¡°These beast-folk can hold handled tools for labor, agriculture and cooking,¡± ¡°Cows, sheep and goat and pig hooves are all about the same for modification.


    The next row featured displays of complete skeletons, before and after modification. The most noticeable was the change from a quadruped stance to a biped stance, the span between the shoulders and the hips is widened. The bodies of rats and mice were modified to make them bigger, almost to the stance height of the smaller weasels.


    Apollo comments, "The biped version bodies for horses, cows, bears are all made smaller than those of the unmodified animals." "This is necessary to have these modified animals fit into an environment already sized for the average human." Lilly stares at the skeletons of the unmodified rats and mice, noting that, other than size, the rats and mice have bodies that are almost identical to the human skeleton in the display.


    Lilly laughs, I knew it! You humans are just a bunch of big ol¡¯ Rats!


    Further into the warehouse, the rows are lined with vertically standing, three meter tall, clear glass cylinders. Each cylinder is a sealed hollow tank, filled with a clear liquid.


    But the real horror is what is suspended within the cylinders. All of the cylinders contain the dead bipedal animal bodies. The first tank contains one of the primate modification subjects. It had a body that strongly resembling a human body, except it is hairy, has bigger, uglier ears and its face is pulled into a frozen, grimacing snarl.


    This row is dedicated to the numerous unsuccessful primate modification experiments and apparently all of the experimental subjects created are displayed here. Some of them feature small black holes at various places on their bodies. These holes are presumably where these creatures were shot with bullets to ¡®neutralize¡¯ them. The different primates only to differ in overall body size, some have huge chests and bulging muscles and look very scary.


    ¡®Monsters¡¯ indeed!


    The next row is shows the results of the non-primate placental research. The first tank holds a small wolf-boy, likely it is ¡®Adam¡¯. Lilly¡¯s eyes are wide as she is yet horrified again,


    He looks just like Timmy!


    Lilly recoils from the sight and backs up against Apollo¡¯s leg, shaking her head. ¡°No Lilly!¡± ¡°It is very important that you look at everything in this room.¡± The next tank had another young wolf-boy. ¡°This one was better at speaking but still had seizures and died young.¡± ¡°Modifying the development of the brain-case was the most difficult of these efforts and it remains difficult, being a major difference between the various species.¡± ¡°Even the molecular modifications of the throat and vocal chords for clear speech is difficult, but it was easier than perfecting the modifications necessary for the suitable brain-case size for each species." "All modifications had to fit in species with sexual dimorphism, differences in size and in other body elements between the males and females.¡±


    Apollo herds Lilly along the row, each cylinder has a new wolf-boy. Each specimen appearing a little older. Then the specimens begin to resemble Fendor. Every hair on Lilly¡¯s body is standing straight up. ¡°As you can see we eventually stabilized the inheritance molecule.¡± ¡°Along the way we found that these new creatures could reproduce naturally, among themselves, and produce healthy offspring, naturally passing all of the attributes of the original modifications.¡± ¡°The offspring have all the new features, especially the intelligence.¡±


    Lilly notes that each row starts with a different species, but with fewer tanks, fewer unsuccessful examples. Apparently the development process became more efficient with experience. They walk past tanks containing specimens of both domestic and wild placental animal species. Even if the size of the original animal is very large there is not as much variation between the different modified versions. The naturally smaller animal species are still smaller than the other naturally larger species.


    Apollo halts walking and reflects, ¡°A few placentals were found to be too difficult, such as aquatic types and those of giant sizes.¡± ¡°Some of these were tried, for curiosity sake, but in general, the commercialized versions of the modified animals are all the common types that you see here, goats, sheep cows, horses, pigs, the various carnivore species, cats, dogs, bears, and weasels, and then the rats, mice, squirrels and rabbits.¡± ¡°It is even easier making the modification to the rodents, which are the closest to primates in genetic and body structure, they already have hand-like claws.¡± "Rabbits also weren¡¯t too difficult to modify."


    And so, with the exception of the primates, all of the beast-folk on display in this archive resemble the residents of Lilly¡¯s waking world.


    Scene 4. Promise


    Then they come to the ¡®goat¡¯ row. Lilly can see a shadow ahead. She recoils and does not want to look at the tank and looks down and away. Apollo grabs her head and points it at the tank ahead, ¡°There¡¯s you!¡± ¡°Your ancestor actually.¡± Inside the tank suspended from the top is a naked body, a large, white, goat-woman, identical to the ¡®Lilly¡¯ in the other world. She is hanging in the tank, motionless, her eyes are closed as if asleep. Lilly, her eyes are wide in horror, screams,


    It¡¯s Me! ¡°Baaaaaaaah!¡±


    Now, at last, no more cagey, circumspect words, no more hints.


    Now, at last, I am forced to confront The Truth!


    We originated directly from the non-sentient species of wild and domestic animals of this world.


    You ''humans'' created us, the sentient beast-folk, in your own image, with your ¡®science¡¯.


    Apollo continues, to try and calm the gasping, panting Lilly, ¡°Lilly, Don¡¯t take this revelation too hard.¡± ¡°During our placental species modification research we found evidence in the human molecular sequence that we ¡®humans¡¯ are also the result of deliberate molecular sequence modifications. Enhancement modifications similar to our beast-folk modifications were performed on an extinct primate-ape species a million or so years ago.¡± "We ''humans'' are the resultant species."


    ¡°By whom and why, we do not know.¡±

 19. Beast-Folk

    Scene 1. Boys


    Lilly awakens with a start. She is back in her waking world and something is happening. I guess it is time. She shakes Roc. ¡°It¡¯s time, take me in or I will be increasing your family right here in your bed!¡± Roc¡¯s eyes are wide as he jumps up and into his clothes. He quickly wraps Lilly and telephones Trish. She has insisted on being called first if anything happens. Trish is there at the door in minutes with her long touring-car. Roc places Lilly inside on the back seat. Trish then drives Roc and Lilly to the hospital. The staff at the hospital wheel Lilly into the maternity ward, just in time. Only minutes later the nurse is at the door with a bundle and another nurse with a bundle shortly after. Twins again, boys this time. Roc places one of the twin boys on each side of Lilly¡¯s chest, ¡°The girls will be thrilled with little brothers!¡± The doctor walks in smiling, ¡°Everyone is healthy and so Lilly and the twins can go home later today." Lilly is lying in bed, looking very relieved.


    Trish drives Lilly, Roc and the boys back home. Lilly is helped to her chair and Roc places a new ¡®white snowflake¡¯ is on each breast. Roc then stands back, ¡°Lilly, can I get you anything?¡±


    ¡°Yes, pizza!¡±


    Then the chaos begins as the twin girls come bouncing into the room, each waving small white cloth sheet in her fore-hoof, ¡°Diapers! Diapers!¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°I guess that is covered, until they get tired of it.¡± Rod¡¯s second daughter, Isabella, enters the room with drinks for everyone. Isabella is the new nanny now that Elaina has started college. Trish is sitting across the room, watching the show ¡°Lilly!¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°I want to hold a kid before I have to go home!¡±


    ¡­..


    Lilly finally gets a break and carefully crawls into bed. She immediately falls asleep the moment her back touches Roc¡¯s.


    Scene 2. Beast-Folk


    Lilly awakens back at Apollo¡¯s and performs her morning ritual, she staggers a bit down to the kitchen.


    Apollo continues his lecture from yesterday, ¡°The beast-folk retain many of the features and characteristics that are so endearing to us humans from the original, unmodified versions of their various species.¡± ¡°Thus they quickly became our ideal helpers, laborers and companions.¡±


    ¡°The Horse-men and the Bull-men (or Minotaur''s) are very strong manual laborers, but unlike the automatons, the beast-men don¡¯t jam or rust.¡± ¡°It is no longer necessary to keep an array of specialized androids on site for all of the different tasks that might come up.¡± ¡°The beast-men just put down the spade and pick up the ax.¡± ¡°Special automatons do not have to be retrieved from storage to work in common work conditions such as water or mud.¡± ¡°The transition times for changing work requirements are fast, without a long work break for a specialized automaton exchange.¡± ¡°Also the beast-men are stronger and lighter than the humanoid android models of the same size.¡± ¡°Military androids are strong enough for some construction jobs but, in general, they are not well suited, because they are too big, too heavy, and too expensive.¡± ¡°And the heavy military automatons tend to sink into the mud.¡±


    ¡°The beast-folk look scary to everyone initially, but they are all very amiable and quickly make friends with the other human and beast-folk workers.¡± ¡°Most domestic-species beast-folk like humans and they also like to be in groups, or herds.¡± ¡°The beast-folk quickly learn to tell human jokes, play human games and fit themselves right in with the human group.¡± ¡°They are fans of the human professional sports games and form a measurable fraction of the spectators.¡± ¡°The beast-men now have their own teams and attract their own crowds of spectators.¡±


    Lilly stares at Ticktock, Ticktock then speaks to Apollo, ¡°Lilly is asking, ¡®Why don¡¯t you ¡®humans¡¯ do this work?¡¯.¡± Apollo reply¡¯s to Lilly¡¯s question, ¡°Because we ¡®humans¡¯ have much more important things to do with our time.¡± Lilly looks away from Ticktock,


    and that is why you humans are all such unhealthy, out-of-shape slugs!


    Scene 3. Companion


    Standing outside of yet another building, Apollo speaks to Lilly, ¡°These beast-folks are being trained to be ¡®companions¡¯.¡± ¡°They will become domestic servants, health care assistants, day care assistants, and even lovers.¡± ¡°This program has been an overwhelming success.¡± ¡°There was some initial apprehension about turning all of these tasks over to non-human entities, especially after the disastrous experience with automatons.¡± ¡°But once a few humans tried these new creatures, the new creatures became very popular. Now you see them everywhere, walking the dog, strolling the baby, carrying the groceries and so forth. There have been no verifiable reports of violence, or even of misbehavior. Not that all of this has gone entirely trouble free, but we will talk about those issues later.


    ¡°Because Lilly, ''today'' is a special day.¡± ¡°Although I am not sure when your birthday actually is, I am getting you your birthday present today!¡± ¡°Today we are selecting you a beast-folk ''companion''. This companion will help us out around the house, cook and clean,¡± ¡°They will also be your company, if I have to go away and cannot take you,¡± ¡°Someone with whom you can watch the ¡®frame¡¯," "And with whom you can go out hiking," "Maybe even hike to places that would be hard or impossible for me.¡±


    Lilly just stares at Apollo, Well, this is unexpected. A beast-folk ''companion''? for me? How about you just never leave me home alone¡± How about you always take me with you?


    ¡°Lets take a look at ¡®the goods¡¯!¡± Apollo is sporting a big smile and turns toward building entrance door.


    Apollo, you are looking awfully happy about this.


    Is this going to be a gift for me or a gift for you?


    The door opens into yet another shocking scene. It is a barracks like hall with bunk beds, trunks and standing clothing closets. The figures in the room are the real surprise, they are the biped beast-folk of her world, of all species, and all are either older children or young adults. The males and females are divided by a curtain down the center of the hall. All are very nicely dressed, as if for school, or for a job interview.


    One wolf-man looks at Lilly and speaks but Lilly cannot understand him. She shakes her head, ¡°Can you understand my thought projections?¡± No response. Nuts again.


    Apollo speaks to the wolf-man and the wolf-man smiles at Lilly. Lilly frowns at Apollo, What did you tell him about me!


    The wolf-man seems to be in charge of the group and walks to the front of the room, to one of Lilly¡¯s telephone amplifier¡¯s voice input units. He speaks, but Lilly does not understand what he is saying. However everyone in the room then turns around to face her. The crowd of beast-folk is about fifty or so. The crowd seems to represent a cross-section of the beast-folk species, both male and female, all young. Apollo faces Lilly, ¡°Okay Lilly! Pick out one of these deserving entities for us!¡±


    What! You want me to pick one? Out of this crowd? She turns and looks carefully at the crowd, Maybe I should do this before he changes his mind. She walks along in front of the group, sniffing. I better pick someone that I can get along with, better then I can with Ticktock anyway, and that shouldn¡¯t be too hard. And to distract Apollo, so I can watch my shows on the ¡®frame¡¯ in peace.


    Mmmmmm I smell a wolf! She sees a young wolf-boy, holding school books. She frowns,


    On no, He looks too much like Timmy. So no, not him.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Scene 4. Sally


    Apollo walks past Lilly and into the crowd. He immediately pulls out a surprised looking young sheep-woman, ¡°How about her?¡± Lilly looks at the sheep-woman staring with a surprised look at Apollo, who continues to drag her by the right fore-leg toward Lilly. She is quite young,


    She must be just out of one of those ¡®finishing schools¡¯ that teaches these beast-folk trades.


    Apollo speaks to her, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Apollo and this is Lilly,¡± he points to Lilly. The sheep-woman grimaces and speaks, ¡°My name is Saaaaaaaally,¡± She bleats.


    Lilly is shocked, eyes wide, I can understand her. Maybe it''s because Apollo is listening.


    Lilly is still looking over this ¡®Sally¡¯, It¡¯s another fat, buxom sheep girl. She has the same ivory colored fluffy fleece as one of The Professor¡¯s assistants! Lilly then looks down, a bit ashamed of herself,


    I can¡¯t just think of myself here. Apollo is alone and probably he is very lonely. He doesn¡¯t even seem to have any friends in this world. And I cannot talk to him, at least not in any useful and relaxing conversational way. And Ticktock, well¡­ And I cannot give Apollo satisfactory (almost human) female attention either...


    Lilly looks at Apollo and he is still smiling at Sally. And Sally is smiling back, demurely, with the fore-hoof at her mouth with her eyes closed. Her closed eyelids are smiling too.


    You¡¯re overplaying ''the ¡®cute act'' Sally. And there is no need as you already have Apollo ¡®in the bag¡¯.


    Okay, Apollo, you win this one. But you owe me!


    Lilly slowly walks up to face Sally. Sally smells like flowers. Lilly then sits on her haunches and raises her right fore-hoof. Sally reaches out, touches and holds Lilly¡¯s hoof, ¡°I am Glaaaaaad to meet you, Lilly!¡± Sally bleats.


    Lilly then concentrates, ¡°Okay here goes,¡± ¡°Sally, can you hear me?¡± ¡°I am sending you my thoughts.¡±


    Sally suddenly looks surprised and answers, speaking, ¡°Yes Lilly, I Caaaaaan hear you!¡±


    Lilly cannot contain herself with the joy of two-way communication, with someone other than the dangerous Al, that is. Lilly jumps straight up high into the air, over and over, as if she is on springs. Apollo is worried about the show Lilly is putting on in front of all the beast-folk, ¡°Lilly please calm down! We¡¯ll play with Sally later!¡± He jerks on Lilly¡¯s thick mane, but not too hard. Lilly gets the message and hunches down, Sorry!


    Apollo turns back to Sally, still holding Lilly¡¯s mane, ¡°We all obviously choose you, Sally!¡± ¡°Welcome, Sally, and I hope that you enjoy working with my, somewhat unusual, family!¡± Apollo stares down at Lilly, frowning. Lilly is fully couched down, motionless, with her head down on her fore-legs and her tail down on her rump. ¡°I said I am Sorry! You just can¡¯t hear me.¡±


    Sally tries to help Lilly, bleating, ¡°I think Lilly really is Sooooorry!¡± Apollo looks at one and then the other of the two sturdy bovids, so quickly bonded, I hope that I don¡¯t end up regretting this.


    Apollo waves to the remaining beast-folk, ¡°Thank you all, goodbye and good luck!¡± Apollo¡¯s expanded new family leaves the beast-folk building and he flags a car to return home. Apollo laughs, ¡°We need a larger car than last time.¡± Lilly looks at Sally who is taking almost two car seats with her big butt. Wow, Sally is even bigger than the ¡®me¡¯ in the other world, and I just had two kids.


    Scene 5. Domestic


    Back at Apollo¡¯s home, Lilly and Apollo fight to see who is going to get to show Sally around the house. Apollo starts by introducing Sally to Ticktock, ¡°Sally this is Ticktock.¡± ¡°Ticktock is an automaton.¡± ¡°Ticktock helps with cooking and cleaning.¡± Ticktock¡¯s scratchy voice reply¡¯s, ¡°Hello, Sally¡± ¡°I am Ticktock, use the name ¡®Ticktock¡¯ to summon me.¡±


    Lilly is projecting thoughts to Sally, with an evil grin, ¡°And Ticktock sucks at both cooking and cleaning.¡± ¡°And Ticktock scares my kids when they visit.¡± ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t Apollo tell you? I have twin girls that visit sometimes.¡± Apollo watches as Sally stares intently at Lilly to receive her thoughts, They¡¯re already plotting against me.


    Sally stands back and smiles at Apollo, ¡°If you aaaaaall have groceries and haaaaaven¡¯t eaten yet, why don¡¯t you let me fix you aaaaaall dinner?¡± ¡°Lilly would you show me where things aaaaaaare? Lilly nods, ¡°Sure!¡±


    Lilly is impressed, ¡°Wow! Thank you Sally! Dinner was delicious, not just chopped raw vegetables from Apollo, not that those were bad, but the new cooked cuisine is much more inviting.¡±


    Ticktock cleans up from the cooking show and places the dishes in the dish washer. Apollo points to the living room, ¡°Let¡¯s watch some ¡®frame¡¯ shows!¡± The sheep and the goat both nod. Sally sits on the couch, next to Apollo. Lilly retires to her pad on the floor. Thank you Apollo for putting on a visual comedy show, without much dialog and with no War!


    After a while, Lilly looks up at the couch occupants. Apollo has snuggled up against the side of fluffy Sally. Sally has removed her coat to reveal her bulging halter top. She is proudly displaying her short-clipped, ivory fleeced, prominent chest and her large round abdomen. She is also wearing a short skirt proudly displaying her thick thighs. She has moved over closer to Apollo and she has placed his hand on her inner thigh.


    Sally smiles, triumphant, down at Lilly who is couched on the floor, .


    Wow, no innocent sheep-girls around here! Sally came here prepared to ''meet'' her master!


    Sally, you get to win in this world, but you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against me in my world.


    I guess this is what I, ideally, expected them to do. Apollo is alone no more¡­


    But how does Sally stand that awful human smell?


    ¡°Sally, you need to know that the ¡®me¡¯ in this body now isn¡¯t always the entity in this goat-body.¡± ¡°There is another, and I don¡¯t think she can ¡®thought communicate¡¯ with you, or anyone else, as I have.¡± ¡°Be nice to ¡®her¡¯.¡±


    Sally speaks to Lilly, ¡°Lilly, I am Niiiiiice to everyone!¡±


    ¡°Oh, and have Apollo take you to The Farm and look up the billy goat ¡®Al¡¯.¡± ¡°See if you can ¡®thought communicate¡¯ with him, as I can.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll get to meet my daughters too.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let Apollo sell me!¡±


    Scene 6. I


    Lilly awakens feeling her back against Roc¡¯s once again.


    I really don¡¯t know what to think about everything I have seen.


    Maybe it''s <u>all</u> a dream?


    Maybe <u>nothing</u> is real?


    She carefully extracts herself from the bed and starts her morning ritual.


    But today it is going to be different!


    She strides up to the full-length mirror in the bedroom and carefully and completely regards her reflection. She places a fore hoof against her postpartum belly,


    I do know that I can do better than this. I¡¯ll call Liz today and see if I can waddle out to the tennis courts and maybe even hit the ball.


    I need to resume college, the new college president said I could likely get a graduate degree if I write a thesis on my research at the observatory.


    I need to get back to The Base and work on the ''air-craft'' with Otto and Oliver.


    I need to get The Base tennis club back in action.


    I wonder if my parents are still in town?


    I need to ask The General where he got that ¡®hand¡¯.


    I need to find a philosophy teacher at the college, someone to help me figure out who I am and what, if anything, I should do next.


    I have The Chief and The General, but I need the advice of an old person, someone that has outlived any agenda they once had, and maybe one that smells good too¡­


    Damn that itch!


    ¡­..


    At the tennis courts, Lilly holds the net pole and gasps, ¡°Liz I have to take a break!¡± ¡°Sorry I can''t do a full set, maybe I can pair up with Otto at The Base.¡±


    The tall Liz smiles and strides over the net, ¡°What the hell are you sorry about?¡± ¡°You have the family I wish I had.¡± ¡°Of course that takes a toll, but take a look at what you got for it!¡± ¡°I am just glad to see your big butt out here on the courts today, really giving it college try.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll all come back to you, but it might take a little time.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go grab lunch.¡± ¡°Want to see some of my art?¡± ¡°I am finally good enough to have my stuff on display in the library foyer.¡±


    Lilly picks up a flier in the library while viewing Liz¡¯s artwork. The flier announcing a series of popular college ¡®emeritus¡¯ lectures open to the public on a variety of subjects. One catches Lilly¡¯s eye, it is titled Modern Philosophy. The lecture is being given by the old retired Philosophy Department head. His image is shown in an accompanying photograph. The picture is of a proud, old, lion with thick spectacles and a huge black mane, tinged with gray.


    OMG! Is he ever handsome! I can already smell him!


    Uh oh, I feel ¡®my old problem¡¯ arising again!

 20. Leo

    Scene 1. Emeritus


    Lilly enters one of the college¡¯s larger lecture halls two hours before the lecture. Let¡¯s see if they need help ¡®setting up¡¯. She sees a few sheep-girls setting up chairs.


    Damn! Those sheep-girls again! Wow, these sheep-girls all look so nice, likely they are dressing up for the ¡®guest star¡¯.


    Lilly enters the hall and smiles broadly, fore-hooves on her hips, trying to look friendly, as friendly as she can around sheep,


    ¡°Hi everyone!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lilly!¡± ¡°Do you need any help?¡±


    The sheep look up, ¡°We could use some help moving and setting up the tables at the entryway.¡±


    Ha ha, That¡¯s a task for me. I guess I do look like a wrestler.


    Lilly is shown a closet containing several large heavy iron folding tables, stacked up on the short edge against the far wall.


    ¡°How many do you want set up?¡± ¡°And where do you them?¡± A sheep-girl points to the lecture hall¡¯s main doorway.


    Of course it is clear across the hall and up the stairs.


    Lilly flexes her pronounced fore-leg and shoulder muscles. But goat strong! Like tractor!


    Lilly lifts one of the iron tables over her head and the sheep stare at her, surprised at Lilly¡¯s strength, ¡°Don¡¯t you want some help with those?¡± ¡°Naaaa!¡± Lilly bleats. Lilly strides across the hall and up the stairs while holding the heavy iron table over her head.


    Then an old lion-man with a magnificent black mane enters the hall. It is the ¡®guest of honor¡¯, speaker for the lecture this evening.


    He is here early, presumably to set up and test the audio and visuals for his presentation.


    The sheep-girls quickly drop whatever they are doing and run up to crowd around him, smiling, batting their long eyelashes at him and bleating.


    Lilly smiles while unfolding one of the heavy iron tables at the door. She turns away from him and bends down low while unfolding the table, reveling her ¡®assets¡¯, along with her wagging tail. Lilly¡¯s actions do catch the eye of the ¡®guest¡¯, he is now staring directly at Lilly¡¯s large rump.


    Ha ha, you amateurs don¡¯t have a chance against me. Watch and learn.


    Lilly watches the honored guest as he turns to her. He walks over next to her while she is still unfolding the iron tables,


    Well, Hello there. This is unexpected.


    The lion raises his huge paw, ¡°Excuse me miss, ''but'' are you Lilly White?" "Are you the inventor of the ''telephone amplifier''?¡± The guest states this as a fact in his booming, stentorian, voice.


    Lilly stands and smiles, and thinks, Wow, you have a nice voice too.


    He is now close enough for her to smell. Lilly continues to smile, ¡°Yes, I am that ''Butt''," Oops! "Yes, I mean, I am that ¡®Lilly¡¯.¡± Lilly nervously squeaks, off her guard from getting a whiff of the old lion''s scent. Lilly is trying very hard to not wiggle her tail, or her body. Instead Lilly is turning luminous pink, blowing up like a balloon ready to burst.


    The lion straightens up with chest out, striking the pose, ¡°I am very happy to meet you Lilly!" "I know about some of your inventions but I did not expect the good fortune of actually meeting you here tonight." "Forgive me, please,¡± ¡°My name is Leo (of course!) Barnard." "I would very much like to hear more about your inventions and your work here at the college." "However, I need your help tonight." "I am afraid that I am not very good with technical things, so would you mind helping me set up the sound and projection systems for my presentation this evening?¡±


    Lilly cannot smile any wider and her tail has been set free to wiggle like a feather duster,


    Lilly projects, I thought you would never ask.


    "Choke" ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Of course!" "I can help you!¡±


    Lilly notices that all of the cute sheep-girls are looking daggers at her.


    Sorry, my little lambs. Oh, I had better watch out for them in the parking lot when I leave this evening.


    Lilly walks up to the stage and to the podium next to ¡®Leo¡¯. Lilly then gets another whiff of the old lion¡¯s scent. She then closes her eyes and holds tightly to the podium and sniffs him again, this time longer, thinking evil thoughts,


    Aaaaaahhhh. Let¡¯s go play now, Leo. --- Lilly, relax, you are on the stage.


    Lilly shakes and opens her eyes, struggling to regain her composure, and faces Leo, ¡°What kinds of media are you presenting?¡± ¡°Do you need a slide projector, an overhead opaque projector, a record player?" "With your powerful voice, do you even need a ¡®voice amplifier¡¯?¡±


    Leo sets his large lecture brief case on the table next to the lectern, ¡°I would like to use a voice amplifier as my voice tends to give out at my age.¡± ¡°I also have a set of slides.¡± Lilly walks behind the curtains and drags out a voice-amplifier input device stand with its cord and the cabled remote control for the slide projector. ¡°Are the slides in ¡®forward¡¯ order?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lilly walks back behind the curtain to and bends down to load the slides into the lecture hall slide projector. Her large rear sticks out from behind the curtain. Lilly notes that Leo is still staring at her,


    What is it with these old guys and fat ladies? I ain¡¯t complainin¡¯.


    Lilly fusses with the controls and audio equipment and glances up at Leo, who is still watching her intently. Lilly stands and walks back, up close to the old lion with nostrils dilated wide, ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°Mmmmmmm.¡±


    She starts to tremble a bit. Calm down Lilly! Calm down!


    ¡°Doctor, do you still do consulting work?¡± ¡°I could use your advice on my thesis.¡± ¡°My advisor tells me that my thesis needs more content about the impact of my astronomical discoveries on the philosophical aspects of our understanding of the universe.¡± ¡°Of course at your hourly rate.¡±


    Leo stands up straight and smiles, ¡°Lilly I would be happy to look over ''your work''.¡± ¡°Let me review everything you have so far, then I can tell you if I can help.¡± He passes Lilly a card in his great paw, ¡°This card still has my old college address on it but the second telephone number is direct to me.¡±


    Wow, what a grip. You¡¯ve got it, big boy. He even gave me his card, this is a dream.


    ¡°Meet up with me after the presentation, and we will set up a meeting to review your ¡®material¡¯. Maybe meet at my house, if that is acceptable to you.¡±


    Leo, you are carefully ¡®reviewing¡¯ my ¡®best material¡¯ right now. Could this be any easier?


    Hmm, maybe he is just bringing a fat ¡®take-out¡¯ dinner home to his ¡®pride¡¯?


    But Lilly is determined to go through with it, Well, those kinds of risks have never stopped me before.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you then!¡± Lilly smiles broadly and wiggling goodbye with her fore-toes. Her wiggling tail is giving her feelings away. She walks off the stage to reserve a good seat in the front row.


    Damn. I have to sit crowded in with all those silly sheep. Oh look, they saved me a seat in the middle, how nice.


    Lilly looks down at the lecture hall seat, someone has poured a drink on it.


    Scene 2. Leo


    Lilly is breast feeding the kids, with real help from her twin daughters. The little boys just disappear into all of the family¡¯s white fluff. Roc is watching the event, as proud as he can be. Lilly decides this is a good time to tell him about her proposed ¡®extra credit¡¯ program,


    ¡°Roc, I¡¯ve resumed college again and I am resuming work on my astronomy research thesis.¡± ¡°Since I don¡¯t have The Professor to help me, I have asked another professor to help.¡± ¡°Is it okay if I meet with him to review it this Tuesday night?¡± ¡°There is a lot to cover so it¡¯ll probably go late.¡± ¡°Will you go ahead and eat dinner without me?¡±


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Roc reflects and smiles, looking calmly at Lilly, ¡°I, your parents, and all of your friends, want to see you finish college.¡± ¡°If you think that you need help to do it, then of course, get all the help you need!¡± ¡°It is very good that you found someone as suitable as The Professor, and so quickly.¡±


    Lilly is overcome with guilt at Roc¡¯s unconditional offer to help, ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say that his help will make me a success quite yet.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t agreed to help me yet, beyond this first review." "I¡¯ll know more after our first meeting.¡±


    Roc is curious, ¡°Who is he and what does he teach?¡±


    ¡°He is a lion named doctor Leo Barnard." "He is the retired head of the college¡¯s Philosophy department.¡±


    Roc is surprised, ¡°Philosophy!¡± ¡°I thought your thesis was in science, astronomy.¡±


    ¡°My advisor asked me to add a commentary to the thesis on the impact my discoveries may have on our society.¡±


    Roc nods, ¡°Okay, if you say...¡± ¡°Are you in love with him?¡±


    Lilly¡¯s eyes open wide and her ears stand straight up. She pauses, then attempts to answer Roc''s fair question as honestly as she can,


    ¡°Not yet¡­¡±


    ¡­..


    Tuesday night comes and Lilly is squeezing herself into one of her pre-pregnancy, short, cute, summer outfits, one of the ones The Professor seemed fond of.


    Egad, I am too big. I hope these ¡®milking breasts¡¯ don¡¯t pop out of these clothes. I had better not get too excited around Leo. I can¡¯t walk very well in these tight clothes either, I had better call a cab.


    ¡­..


    Lilly arrives at Leo¡¯s home located in a very nice upscale neighborhood of the city. Uh oh, I am out of my class again. Lilly confidently raises her head, walks to the door and knocks,


    I must look confident and do this.


    The front door opens revealing a slim, attractive middle aged lioness, a ¡®lion-woman¡¯, dressed as a domestic and at least thirty years younger than Leo, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Lilly,¡± ¡°I have a meeting scheduled with Doctor Barnard.¡±


    ¡°Yes my dear, won¡¯t you come in?" "He is expecting you.¡± ¡°Let me guide you to the study.¡± The lioness escorts Lilly into the entry parlor and then beyond a door in the back of the parlor. They enter a large office room, with bookcases floor to vaulted-ceiling, on every wall. The lioness then excuses herself bowing, ¡°Enjoy your meeting.¡± She closes the door behind her. Leo is siting at his desk, dressed in a fashionable smoking jacket, he stands upon Lilly¡¯s entry, ¡°Good evening Lilly!¡± He cannot avoid staring at Lilly while she is removing her coat, ¡°I have been looking forward to meeting with you!¡±


    I bet you have, you old pervert.


    Lilly sets her briefcase on an end table and opens it, removing a sheaf of papers, ¡°My thesis is in astronomy, examinations of planetary systems outside of our own.¡± ¡°Several of my observations indicate that nearby stars might harbor planets with life like our own planet, maybe even with intelligent life.¡±


    Lilly holds out the sheaf and leans forward, in Leo¡¯s direction, to give him an additional look at ¡®her work¡¯. Ouch! And these puppies really do need to be milked.


    Leo shudders and looks away, walking up to Lilly taking her papers without looking directly at her, Am I about to kill another one?


    Leo walks back to his desk and sits down, he removes a large magnifying glass from a drawer, ¡°Lilly would you like something to drink? I am going to request some coffee and scones,¡±


    ¡°Yes, that sounds good, I¡¯ll take some too, with sugar and lots of cream!¡± Lilly gives her belly a slap, "Pop."


    Leo smiles and the ice is broken, ¡°I like cream too, but it gives me heartburn.¡± Leo presses a button on the desk and the lioness returns with a coffee tray and then a tray of scones.


    Uh oh, those scones look <u>really</u> good, don¡¯t be a pig, Lilly.


    Lilly struggles to hide the glutton she really is by slightly nibbling on a scone, Only one scone. Only one scone.


    Leo looks down and immerses himself into carefully reading Lilly¡¯s thesis draft with the magnifying glass and to avoid staring at Lilly¡¯s body. Lilly looks down at her chest, That breast button is not going to hold much longer, and I didn¡¯t bring any pins. I had better get out of here before I pop.


    Lilly stands and walks over to the front of the professor¡¯s desk, facing him, and leans down, ¡°I should probably let you study my thesis and then we will meet again later.¡± Just then, as Lilly inhales, Lilly¡¯s blouse button fails and shoots Leo squarely in the center of his broad forehead. He shouts, startled, not only being shot but also at the sight of Lilly, with her large breasts completely exposed, twenty centimeters from his face! ¡°Rraaa!¡± ¡°Rraaa!¡± His face starts to lose color.


    Lilly runs out of the study room and shouts as she goes, ¡°Madam please check go check on the doctor, and call me a cab!¡± And Lilly is out the front door and down to the street. Lilly is trying to hold herself in to her coat. She has tears streaming down her face, Could that have possibly gone any worse?


    Lilly stares out at the street and waits for a cab, completely downcast. Then she hears rustling. Something is approaching her from behind. It is the lioness, smiling as she gestures toward the house, ¡°My dear, please come back inside.¡± ¡°I think we have something you can wear for now.¡± Lilly looks at the skinny lioness. ¡°Oh, no, not from me, but we might have some things for you.¡± Lilly walks back inside.


    Why not? What have I got to lose now?


    Scene 3. Widower


    As they walk through the large manner house, the lioness introduces herself as ¡®Leona¡¯ (of course!), Leo¡¯s daughter. Leona moved in with her father when her mother passed away a few years ago and the former caretaker resigned. Leona has acted as his housekeeper and caretaker since then.


    ¡°Leona, don¡¯t you have a family?¡±


    ¡°My children have all finished college." "When they left home, so did my husband.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mind taking over as his caretaker as I love my father, I think he is one of the greatest of our kind that has ever lived.¡± ¡°And I so much want him to be happy.¡± ¡°I watched him with you this evening, he likes you.¡± ¡°I think you can make him happy, right here and now, at the sunset of his remarkable life.¡±


    Lilly tears up, not again! And I am being set up as his consort, by his daughter, of all things!


    They are in a large bedroom that smells musty and is apparently not being used. Leona opens a large closet door to a walk-in closet, the size of a regular home bedroom. All kinds of clothes line the walls, more are out on racks in the center. Many are costumes for stage plays or stage dancers, all are a larger size. Leona smiles at Lilly, ¡°Try this on.¡± It is a very nice pants suit, cut for a larger lady. Lilly looks it over, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s nice! But not to much fits me without extensive alteration.¡± However, this suit fits Lilly acceptably well.


    ¡°These are your mother¡¯s clothes?¡±


    ¡°No, these clothes were left here by a caretaker my father hired to help with him with mother when she first got sick.¡± ¡°The caretaker moved out when mother died and left all of this.¡± ¡°She said she would be back for them someday, but I doubt it, now that it has been a few years.¡± ¡°You can have anything you want here.¡± ¡°I would love an excuse to clean out this bedroom, but my father doesn''t want it touched." "He imagines that the former caretaker will move back in with him someday.¡±


    ¡°What was the former caretaker like?¡±


    ¡°She was a very sweet, young, sheep-woman,¡± ¡°She was in theater and danced professionally.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think she was very attractive, but she didn¡¯t seem to have any difficulty getting acting parts, in spite of her size.¡± ¡°She loved my father and he loved her, so she quit the theater and moved in with him, full-time.¡±


    ¡°Lilly, why don¡¯t you spend the night, it is late and you are welcome to stay, you can see that we have plenty of room.¡±


    Lilly hefts her heavy breasts, ¡°No, not tonight,¡± ¡°I have to get home and feed the kids," Before I burst.


    ¡°Thanks to you I now have something decent wear home.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t call a cab, let me take you home.¡± ¡°Then call me when you want to come back, and I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t mind, and I know it will make father happy.¡±


    But will this arrangement make Roc happy?


    Roc never complained about The Professor and I,


    And I was obviously ¡®teacher¡¯s pet¡¯.


    That naughty ¡®button¡¯ caused all of this. I am sure that button smelled Leo too.


    Scene 4. Kiss


    Lilly sheepishly returns to the study to say goodnight to Leo. He has about a third of the pages turned down on his desk,


    ¡°Wow you can read that technical stuff? That fast?¡±


    Leo rocks back in his chair, ¡°I don¡¯t pretend to understand half of it, but I was a physics professor before I turned to philosophy." "I still need you to translate much of it for me.¡± Leo stands, still staring, ¡°You look nice in Shelia''s suit.¡±


    Lilly tries to relax, ¡°That¡¯s the former caretaker¡¯s name, right?¡±


    Leo stares at Lilly¡¯s body again, ¡°Yes and you look a lot like her, except that you¡¯re a goat!¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡±


    Lilly is still looking sheepish, ¡°Yeah, your daughter said she was about my ¡®size¡¯.¡±


    Leo smiles broadly and opens his fore legs wide, ¡°And that makes me want to hug you.¡±


    Lilly hesitates then she opens her fore-legs wide too, ¡°Hug away!¡±


    Leo walks over to Lilly, chests touching, and reaches out around Lilly, and she around him. They embrace, like long lost lovers, which, of course, they both are.


    ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°Leo, did anyone ever tell you that you smell great?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Shelia did,¡±


    Then they embrace tightly. Suddenly their long snouts are locked in a very long, and passionate, kiss. The two are instantly transformed into their visions of each other¡¯s long-lost loves, and, just for an instant, they each can taste their passion.


    And then, another instant later, ¡°POP!¡±, As they pull their lips apart. They look at each other, startled, just having shared an intimate kiss with an almost complete stranger, their faces streaked with tears.


    They talk over each other,


    ¡°Ah! I am so, so sorry sir!" "Are you going to have me expelled!?¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh! My dear! Pardon! Pardon!" "Are you going to file a complaint!?¡±


    Both,"I thought you were someone else!"


    Then both are silent, staring at each other in a jumble of conflicting emotions.


    They then both burst out laughing at the situation.


    They are at home together, sharing their secrets.


    They hug again and both smile, knowingly, as friends.


    ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t stay the night?¡±


    ¡°Positive.¡± Ouch! ¡°Maybe next time I visit." I¡¯ll bring my bag and a ¡®breast pump¡¯.


    Leona drops of Lilly at her house, ¡°Leona, please come in and meet my family.¡±


    Leona shakes her head, ¡°I would love to, but it is late and I have to get back to father.¡±


    Lilly then quickly runs to the house, I can feel myself leaking.


    Wake up the boys! Tell them that mommy needs some immediate relief!

 21. Sweat And Tears

    Scene 1. Relief


    Lilly springs in the front door into the center of the living room, holding her chest in pain. Roc bolts upright from the couch at Lilly¡¯s surprise entrance. Roc looks at Lilly and does a double take, ¡°Lilly, when did you change your clothes?¡±


    Lilly is in the center of the living room, stripping from her borrowed pantsuit as fast as possible. The fabric is too tough to tear off.


    Lilly falls to her knees and groans with tongue extended, ¡°Where are the boys?¡±


    ¡°The girls gave them their bottles and put them to bed a few hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Wake them and see if they are hungry.¡±


    ¡°They are always hungry.¡±


    The girls awaken at the commotion, ¡°Daddy what is happening?¡±


    ¡°Go get your brothers...¡±


    After some initial, painful nursing of the boys, Lilly, with help from Isabella, finally calms down with her pain subsiding, ¡°I can¡¯t let this happen again.¡± ¡°Next time I leave the house, I am packing ¡®The pump¡¯!¡±


    Roc is looking on at Lilly in wonderment, ¡°Lilly what happened?¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Did the new professor agree to be your new ¡®Advisor¡¯?¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t go very well." "I experienced a wardrobe ''malfunction''. ¡°I shot my potential ¡®Advisor¡¯ in the forehead with one of my blouse buttons.¡± ¡°I have had many embarrassing moments in my life, but this one is certainly in my top five.¡± ¡°I tried to run away but his daughter ran me down and caught me.¡± ¡°The Advisor''s daughter then dressed me in these clothes." "I went back an apologized to her ¡®Advisor¡¯ father.¡± ¡°I ended up staying over longer than I planned." "As you can see, I was in pain at the end.¡± ¡°In spite of my button assault, I think he will take me on as my thesis ¡®Advisor¡¯.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t let me pay him with money.¡± ¡°He only asked if I would help him with some maintenance and chores at his house.¡± ¡°I agreed, as I like doing home repair chores.¡± ¡°I hope that my arrangement is okay with you.¡± ¡°Longer projects may require me to stay overnight sometimes.¡± ¡°They already have a guest room set up for a ¡®helper¡¯ that I can use.¡± ¡°He has a really nice big house.¡±


    Roc smiles, "So you will be paying him with ''services'' rendered?" ¡°Well, okay." "Just as long as it isn¡¯t for ¡®all winter¡¯, like it was at the observatory.¡±


    Lilly continues, ¡°I left my papers and my briefcase at the advisor¡¯s house. I plan to go over tomorrow and pick everything up.¡± ¡°And maybe meet with The Advisor, if he is available, and save a trip.¡± "He is still reading my thesis and will tell then if he is willing to help.¡± ¡°Oh, his daughter said that she will pick me up and take me back next time, so I don¡¯t have to take a cab.¡±


    Roc devils Lilly, ¡°You are not going to leave me for him now, are you?¡±


    Lilly does not react,¡°Only for the nights.¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s ¡®safe¡¯!¡± Lilly pats her belly with a, ¡°POP!¡±


    Roc looks at the coat and the clothes Lilly was wearing, ¡°These clothes are very nice?¡± ¡°Are these from the advisor¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Lilly looks at the clothes, ¡°These clothes were left at his house by his former caretaker.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story, I¡¯ll tell you more about it in the morning.¡±


    Everyone retires and Lilly is exhausted, ¡°I really could use some rest after all that stress!¡± ¡°Lets go to bed,¡± ¡°I want one of your full-body massages Roc!¡± ¡°But no ¡®extras¡¯ please!¡±


    ¡°Please let me at least finish college before I have any more kids!¡±


    Scene 2. Entourage


    Lilly awakens back at Apollo¡¯s home. Lilly has a new roommate, sometimes, when Sally is not sleeping with Apollo. Lilly looks down at the sleeping, snoring, Sally, thinking, projecting, ¡°I like you Sally.¡± ¡°You are friendly, neat and quiet, much more so than I.¡± ¡°And you are only the third entity I have been able to fully communicate with in this world, after Al and Ticktock.¡± ¡°I apologize in advance for my jealousy over your relationship with Apollo that I can never have.¡± ¡°I truly wish you both well,¡± ¡°He needs you.¡± ¡°I need you.¡± ¡°I do wish you were more experienced and smarter, so I could find out what is really happening in this world." "I can still use you to question Apollo, if you are willing.¡± ¡°You are so much better than Ticktock who is much too literal, although Ticktock does come in handy sometimes, for technical things and if you are not around.¡± ¡°Apollo has, so far, avoided answering all of the obvious questions I have about this world, and about myself.¡±


    Lilly walks into the bathroom that she now shares with Sally and looks around, Sally does keep the place clean. She must think we are going to send her back if she doesn¡¯t do a good job cooking and cleaning for us. The goat-washer is now a sheep-washer also. I really don¡¯t mind, as Sally is careful to keep her fleece from clogging the drains and she cleans up after me too.


    After her morning constitutional, Lilly walks down to the kitchen. Ticktock and Apollo are already there. Apollo is fixing himself a breakfast plate, ¡°Where is Sally?¡±


    Lilly stares at Ticktock to communicate with Apollo, ¡°Lilly says that Sally is still sleeping.¡± ¡°Because you kept Sally up too late last night.¡± ¡°And you weren¡¯t very quiet last night either.¡±


    Ticktock¡¯s mechanical squawking voice awakens Sally, who is now standing at the kitchen door, bleating, ¡°Iiii wassss gooooing tooo fiiiix yoooou aaaaaaall breakfaaaasthh!¡±


    Sally is wearing a maid¡¯s uniform that is at least two sizes too small. Sally is partially covered in the front by a pink apron, also too small.


    Lilly scowls at Sally, ¡°Sally! Where did you get those clothes!¡±


    Sally smiles, ¡°Apollo gave these clothes to meeeeeee, arrrren¡¯t theeeey cuuuute?¡± Sally turns all around to model the clothes along with a fair amount of her exposed fleecy body, tail wiggling, for Lilly, Ticktock and Apollo.


    Lilly is still frowning, ¡°You¡¯re going to pop out of that little outfit!¡±, Sally ignores Lilly¡¯s critique.


    Apollo pulls out a chair, ¡°It¡¯s okay Sally, come over to the table and sit with us.¡±


    ¡°That is if you can sit down without splitting out of that outfit!¡± Lilly chuckles, ¡°BaHaHahh!¡±.


    Apollo continues, ¡°Ticktock, get Sally and Lilly plates and you come and sit down with us too.¡± ¡°I want to talk to you all about a little history and our tour today." "Yes, Ticktock, and you too.¡±


    Lilly walks to the table and sits down on her haunches, her head looking over the table. Ticktock sets a breakfast plate on the table for Sally and a tray under Lilly¡¯s head, ¡°Baaaaaaah!¡± They both bleat, "Thanks for the meal!"


    And for the first time this odd family of four is setting down at the breakfast table together.


    Apollo begins, ¡°If you don¡¯t know, I will tell you that all of us are artificial constructs, created by others.¡± ¡°Even the humans, such as myself, were created by others, and we humans created you, the automatons and the beast-folk.¡± ¡°Yes, even you Lilly, although you still have the most natural form as a ¡®domestic¡¯ goat, you too were modified by human breeding from an extinct wild goat species.¡± ¡°Not counting, of course, your special mental abilities, Lilly. That is a subject for another time.¡±


    ¡°We established the City of the Automatons primarily as a convenience to us humans.¡± ¡°We let automatons produce more automatons for us without us humans having to do any work.¡± ¡°That situation is working out very well for us, producing automatons for commercial use and for the war effort.¡±


    Lilly looks down and scowls again, ¡°It is working out well for you, so far...¡±


    Ticktock states, ¡°Lilly says, ¡®It is working out well for you, so far...¡¯¡±


    Scene 3. Under-People


    Apollo continues, ¡°Some of The beast-folk have established their own colonies, away from humans.¡± ¡°These folks are mostly the ones that have rejected humans and human society for various reasons and want to live apart, on their own abilities.¡± ¡°Some of these folks were orphaned, while others were abandoned. Some have injuries or illness, making them unsuitable for service. Some just ran away from their masters, sometimes fleeing from terrible abuse.¡±


    ¡°When we created the beast-folk we thought that they would be haled as saviors, saving humans from abandonment, loneliness and housework drudgery.¡± ¡°The automatons never achieved popularity for personal tasks as they are considered unfeeling, abrupt, even scary." "Automatons are still being used for dangerous tasks or when no human worker is available." "The beast-folk workers came to be preferred, over both automaton and human workers."


    "However, many humans, and the law, still regarded the beast-folk all as ¡®property¡¯ of humans." "The beast-folk were not allowed to own any property themselves or seek relief from the law, as they were not regarded as ¡®people¡¯." "The beast-folk were merely regarded only as special kinds of animals, without animal rights.


    "The beast-folk were often subjected to unspeakable cruelty, without even the basic cruelty protections afforded ordinary domestic animals.¡± ¡°Some beast-folk were being raised commercially, as livestock, for meat and milk, and for fur coats.¡±


    ¡°The military tried to use the beast-folk as foot solders, but found that the beast-folk lacked the desire to kill without reason, which is a ¡®must¡¯ for a solder.¡± ¡°A good solder must carry out all orders without question.¡± ¡°However the military was still interested in the beast-folk for logistics, construction or medical service work, that did not usually require any ¡®killing¡¯.¡± ¡°The military was also interested in the very sensitive sense of smell that some of the beast-folk species have. These species are used for searches and investigations.¡± ¡°Although animals are also still used, beast-folk have better communication skills and are easier to train and command,¡± ¡°Some species, such as the Minotaur''s, can mount a very strong defense, as long as you don¡¯t order them to ¡®kill¡¯.¡± ¡°The beast-folk are still conscripted for dangerous missions, where human lives may be at risk.¡±


    The first organizations to step up to help the beast-folk in distress were the animal-rescue organizations.¡± ¡°From their work with animals, they could quickly recognize beast-folk abuse cases.¡± ¡°The animal-rescue organizations were the first groups to establish ¡®shelters¡¯ for the beast-folk abuse victims.¡± ¡°Soon these shelters were taking in other beast-folk cases, such as runaways.¡± ¡°This created problems for the shelters when the ¡®owners¡¯ were refused the return of their ¡®property¡¯ by the shelter operators.¡± ¡°The original beast-folk owners then sued the shelter operators for ¡®theft of property¡¯ demanding excessive compensation and punitive damages.¡±


    Journalists eventually took up investigations of the treatment of the beast-folk and publicized horrendous abuse stories and photographs of some of the very worst cases.¡± ¡°This exposure changed the opinion of the public that was initially opposed to extending rights to yet another underprivileged group.¡± ¡°Eventually, the government was forced, by popular opinion, to extend legal ¡®animal cruelty¡¯ provisions to the beast-folk.¡±


    ¡°Later, there were ¡®Freedom¡¯ movements, in both the human and beast-folk communities, to ¡®emancipate¡¯ the beast-folk from involuntary slavery services.¡±


    Scene 4. Rights


    ¡°Sensitive humans took up the cause of beast-folk rights, eventually getting beast-folk recognized as ''animals'', protected by existing animal cruelty laws.¡± ¡°Eventually, the human population generally acknowledged that these creatures were sentient, sensitive souls, even if their looks and thought processes were different than human looks and thoughts.¡±


    ¡°As time went on, some of these beast-folk were orphaned by the death of their companions, abandoned by the boredom of their owners, were found to be unsuitable for their original assigned tasks.¡± "Some beast-folk became unsuitable for their original assigned tasks, usually from injuries, and too old to retrain for another task.¡± ¡°Only the young beast-folk were ever in demand, the older ones were just left to die from neglect.¡±


    ¡°In spite of all of their limitations, the beast-folk formed self-sustaining communities, for protection and for education.¡± ¡°The beast-folk even founded schools, with courses taught by beast-folk instructors, and dedicated to the betterment of the beast-folk community.¡± ¡°These communities initially had no fixed locations as the beast-folk were not allowed to own property.¡± ¡°Some beast-folk, those that were better trained, got hired into paying jobs, as tutors, accounting assistants and even paralegals, in the human community.¡± ¡°These successful beast-folk supported their beast-folk communities.¡±


    ¡°The original beast-men creators (including myself!) suggested forming independent beast-folk colonies, preferably as a partnership with them.¡± ¡°We were curious to see how these beast-folk colonies would do on their own, as a test." "The beast-folk would need to establish agriculture, industry and a government for themselves.¡± ¡°The beast-folk would also have to develop land and ownership rights and a rule of law, complete with judges, courts, lawyers and police.¡± ¡°The beast-folk would need to establish fair punishment of offenders and facilities for incarceration.¡±


    ¡°These colonies would also provide an ideal environment for development and health research on the beast-folk,¡± ¡°The creators were willing to donate the land, set up schools, and provide other infrastructure, for the reasonable comfort of the beast-folk, in return for their cooperation on this ''research''.¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Today we are going to visit The Farm so that Lilly can visit her family and provide her ¡®services¡¯.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you have seen The Farm yet, have you Sally, or you either, Ticktock.¡± ¡°After we visit The Farm we are going to visit The Beast Town.¡± ¡°It is quite nice actually, the beast-folk keep their town very clean. The only crime there is what is brought in by the ''humans''.¡± ¡°Originally, no ''humans'' were allowed in, except for the ''researchers''.¡± ¡°But then the beast-folk recognized the monetary value brought in by tourists and so they changed their rules.¡±


    Apollo smiles, ¡°Sally," "''Beast Town'' is where you will go when you run away from me!¡±


    Sally smiles, her cute, eyes-closed, smile, ¡°I¡¯ll neeeeeever run awaaaaaay from you!" "Apollo, my loooove!¡± Sally bleats, wagging her tail.


    Lilly scowls at them both, ¡°Will you still say that after the ¡®honeymoon¡¯ is over?¡±


    Lilly quickly glances a scowl at Ticktock, ¡°And don¡¯t you say my thoughts out loud!¡±


    Apollo calls a bus to take his expanded family for a tour of The Farm. Of course, Lilly is the first to trot off the bus and to her ¡®milking station¡¯. The farm hands are ready for her. Lilly coos to her favorite ''hands'', "baaaah..." The farm hands present Lilly with her daughters for a happy reunion. Then the ''hands'' provide Lilly with the rest of her relief. Lilly is visibly pleased by her production volume and relaxed by the procedure, which does not take very long now.


    The kids are fascinated by Sally. The kids jump and buck to her bleating and everyone laughs and smiles. The kids also see Ticktock who remains outside the fence. The kids stare at Ticktock, then scold Ticktock with bleats and run away, over to Sally. Lilly walks up beside Sally, who is playing with the kids, ¡°You want ¡®em you can have ¡®em!¡±


    Sally then hoists up one of her large breasts, so Apollo can see, ¡°But Iii dooon¡¯t haaaave aaaaaaaaanything fooor theeeemhh.¡± Sally bleats, wiggling her tail.


    Lilly grins, ¡°Yet!¡±


    Scene 5. Eddie


    The entourage returns to the bus and they proceed out of The White City and off to The Beast Town. They travel several kilometers distance, into the undeveloped countryside, until they come to a collection of low buildings, rough wooden one and two-story structures. Lilly is not impressed, ¡°This isn¡¯t a city! It¡¯s barely a town!¡±


    The bus stops at the edge of the town, next to a large barn and Apollo announces, ¡°Motor vehicles aren¡¯t allowed into The Beast Town.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be taking a cart from here on!¡±


    The entourage exits the bus and they all walk over to the barn. Out of the barn a tall and muscular Palomino horse-man in a large hat and sun-breaker jacket pulls up an open cart. The cart has two rows of low bench seats and an open area in back. The horse-man waves, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Eddie!¡± Eddie looks over the group, he stares at Ticktock.


    Eddie points his feathered hoof at Ticktock, ¡°I¡¯m sorry but your ¡®auto¡¯ has to stay outside the town limits.¡±


    Apollo is determined, ¡°Eddie, our ¡®auto¡¯ has a special exemption to enter the town from the mayor." "This ''auto'' is a translation automaton  and medical assistant, required for my research work here.¡± ¡°Eddie," "I am Apollo," I am a ¡®researcher¡¯ here.¡± Apollo is prepared, he pulls a paper from his shirt and shows it to Eddie. Lilly notices that the Eddie¡¯s jacked has a small metal star, "He¡¯s the town''s cop too?"


    Ticktock speaks, ¡°Lilly wants to know, Eddie," "Are you in law enforcement?¡±


    Lilly is wide-eyed, I keep forgetting that Ticktock can read my mind, especially for a question.


    Eddie stands up proud, holding his right feathered fetlock and hoof to his chest, ¡°That¡¯s right Lilly, I was deputized last week!¡±


    Eddie looks puzzled, ¡°Which one of you is ¡®Lilly¡¯?¡±


    Apollo stands back, ¡°I am sorry Eddie, let me introduce you to everyone here.¡± Apollo walks around the group, "Eddie, this is ''Sally''."


    ¡°Glaaad tooo meeeet yooou Eeeddieee!¡± Sally bleats, smiling her cute smile and wiggling her tail at the handsome horse-man.


    ¡°This automaton assisting us today is ¡®Ticktock¡¯¡±. ¡°Hello Eddie," "I respond to the name, ¡®Ticktock¡¯,¡± the mechanical voice states.


    ¡°And this goat is ''Lilly'',¡± Apollo points to the goat. Lilly looks up and smiles at Eddie, with a lips-wide in a toothy grin. Eddie is startled seeing the smiling goat, wiggling her tail.


    Then Ticktock''s mechanical voice scares everyone by suddenly saying, ¡°Lilly says that she is glad to meet you, Eddie.¡±


    Eddie''s eyes widen at the response, he quickly nods to Lilly, ¡°Likewise Lilly.¡± ¡°I see what you mean, Apollo, and I apologize for stating the rule.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t get too many researchers out this way anymore.¡± ¡°The researchers have done everything to us that they can think of, I guess.¡± ¡°You all please be careful entering the cart. It is a little rickety.¡± ¡°Lilly, I have steps for you so that you can enter and ride in the back of the cart where you can lie down.¡± ¡°I presume that this will be more comfortable than sitting on a bench for the cart ride.¡± ¡°It can be a little bumpy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you all to the hotel, the only one in town.¡± It¡¯s nice though.¡± ¡°My wife runs the hotel and its bar.¡±


    Sally looks down thinking, ¡°Darn, he¡¯s married.¡±


    Lilly sends Sally her thoughts on the issue, ¡°Don¡¯t be a light-weight Sally! That ¡®married¡¯ stuff has never stopped me!¡± ¡°Never even slowed me down!¡±


    Lilly is suddenly alarmed about Ticktock, ratting out her thoughts. She turns around to Ticktock.


    Ticktock, in his monotone voice and thought, ¡°I know, Lilly,¡± ¡°Only if you tell me to say.¡±


    Then Ticktock speaks out loud, "I will remain at the town entrance gate for your return, if that is acceptable." Apollo nods his approval to Ticktock, ¡°We¡¯ll get this straightened out.¡±


    Eddie then picks up the cart shafts dons the leather halter. Eddie then pulls the cart to the hotel building in the center of the group of wooden buildings.


    Eddie helps Lilly, Sally and Apollo out of his cart, ¡°I¡¯ll get your bags and bring them up, as you can see we are not very busy today.¡±


    The Lilly and Sally stand waiting on the small boardwalk in the front of the hotel. Apollo holds out a small device to Eddie, ¡°Would you mind taking a picture of all of us, standing in front of the hotel, Eddie?¡± Eddie lifts his feathered right fore-leg and looks at his large hoofed fore-toe. ¡°Not to worry!¡± Apollo pulls out a small wire device, inserts the camera into it and puts the device over Eddies large fore-toe, ¡°There Eddie,¡± ¡°You just hold the camera still and I will push the button with the ''remote''.¡± Everyone lines up on the front wooden walkway in front of the hotel entrance. Apollo commands, ¡°I want to see smiles on all of you in this picture!¡± ¡°Yes," "You too Lilly!¡±


    I guess I shouldn¡¯t stick out my tongue.


    ¡°Click!¡±


    Scene 6. Marion


    Apollo, Lilly and Sally file in to the combined bar and hotel main-desk check-in counter. A tall, ivory colored and statuesque horse-woman is behind the bar, as they walk in. The horse-woman is a tall, show-quality figure with broad shoulders, shapely hind-legs and butt, a narrow loin, an impressive chest. Her four fetlocks all display long, brown, furry, ''feathers''. She stands back from the bar to reveal her full form, she is wearing a green halter top and a short skirt to fully display her assets. She is smiling a welcome smile to her new guests, ¡°Welcome, partners, to the Beast Gulch Hotel!¡± She then opens a large registration book and places it on the bar, facing them, ¡°Will you all please sign in to my guest book?¡±


    Apollo grasps the pen from the book, ¡°I¡¯ll sign-in for everyone.¡± ¡°We have reservations." "This visit should be prepaid by my laboratory.¡±


    The horse-woman slowly brushes her long tail along the floor, ¡°Yes, you all do!¡± ¡°You have two rooms, numbers one and two, our best rooms, with two beds in each.¡± ¡°Your meals here are covered too.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to pay for your own drinks at the bar though.¡±


    Apollo laughs, ¡°That¡¯s okay, this group can get pretty rowdy.¡±


    The horse-woman laughs a braying laugh, ¡°I can see that you are all ¡®party animals.¡¯¡±


    Lilly looks up at the towering horse-woman and around the bar, ¡°I feel like I am in a movie.¡±


    Sally speaks for Lilly, bleating, ¡°Lilly saaaays thaaaat sheeee feeeeel liiiike sheeee is iiiin aaa moooviehh.¡±


    The horse-woman brays, ¡°Yes, they sometimes film movies out here.¡± ¡°We have a shoot-out show most every day, at noon, on the main street.¡± ¡°My name is ''Marion'' by the way.¡± ¡°Glad to have you all.¡±


    Lilly looks up at Marion, curious about her showmanship, "Are you an actress?"


    Sally bleats the question out loud for Lilly. Marion smiles and looks up, wistfully, "One upon a time, in the human world, I was on the stage and in films," "And I loved all the attention!" "But I became too popular for the human actors." "The humans claimed that I was ''upstaging'' them." "The poor short little things!" "So I was fired." "I worked in human circuses, as a circus freak, for a while, but that was to depressing for me." "So I ran away from the humans and came out here." "I still perform." ¡°Come by the bar tonight,¡± ¡°Some of the boys play instruments and I put on a dance show. It starts about 7:30.¡± ¡°Come on down!¡± Marion brays her laugh, smiles broadly and gestures towards the sky, once again displaying her impressive figure for all to see, swishing her long tail.


    Apollo stares, mesmerized by Marion''s impressive display.


    As Marion walks Apollo, Sally and Lilly up the stairs to their rooms, she points her hoof, ¡°Extra bedding is in the closet at the end of the stars.¡± "The communal bathroom is over there." ¡°Breakfast is ''family'' style, served at 7:00 am.¡± ¡°We have a little show then too.¡±


    Sally is looking down, stamping her hooves on the wooden floor as she walks, steaming with jealousy toward the beautiful movie star, Marion.


    Lilly looks down, pouting, and thinking, "Great," "Another exhibitionist for Apollo!"


    In the hotel guest bedroom, Lilly is suddenly worried about her ''other self'' and looks up Sally. Lilly lightly pats the floor with her right fore-hoof, ¡°You might have to help me tonight, and maybe tomorrow too.¡± Sally nods. Lilly turns away to have a private thought, Sally is a good caretaker, she did learn that.


    I think ¡®I¡¯ will be okay here tonight.

 22. Paper

    Scene 1. Pick-Up


    Lilly is opening the front entryway door, preparing to exit, ¡°Roc? ¡°I¡¯m leaving for my meeting with The Advisor now.¡± ¡°Leona is waiting for me.¡±


    Roc looks up at Lilly from his living room chair, ¡°Okay, have fun, but not too much fun.¡± ¡°I would like to meet your thesis advisor and his daughter, Leona, some day,¡± ¡°And thank them for helping you.¡±


    Lilly smiles while holding the door open, ¡°Maybe we can take them to dinner.¡± ¡°They are helping me so much and they have not asked for anything in return.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if they ever go out, I¡¯ll ask...¡±


    This time Lilly has packed everything she thinks she will need to have with her, breast pump and a change of undergarments. She warned Roc that she may stay over at The Advisor¡¯s house tonight. The Advisor wants to add a philosophical analysis to her thesis and there could also be other activities, such as the home repair projects Lilly promised to help with.


    As they drive away Leona is smiling at Lilly, clearly pleased with her find, ¡°I wish you could stay with us all the time.¡± ¡°But I see that you have such a nice family.¡±


    Lilly responds, ¡°I would love it if you and your father could meet my family,¡± ¡°Can we set something up, a dinner perhaps?¡±


    Leona looks forward and frowns, ¡°Father is so busy now,¡± ¡°He has thrown himself into background research to support your thesis.¡± ¡°He has taken your project as his personal mission to see you succeed with your thesis.¡± ¡°Maybe after you are both satisfied that there is nothing more to be done, we can do something together.¡± Lilly looks down thinking, You and your father are never going to let me go, are you?


    Your father lost something he valued. He is determined to never lose it again.


    Scene 2. Study


    After arrival at the mansion, Lilly cautiously opens the door of the study, ¡°Hello?" "Am I interrupting anything?¡±


    ¡°Yes!" "But your interruptions are most welcome.¡± The old lion stands up behind his desk and he walks out to firmly embrace Lilly.


    I can feel his heart beating too. Why do I have this effect on men?


    They part, smiling at each other like partners in a grammar-school crush. The Advisor guides Lilly to his desk, his tail wagging its black tuft up behind his head.


    The Advisor''s desk is covered with the pages of Lilly¡¯s thesis draft, ¡°I have reviewed the first section of your thesis, the historical summary of the work others have done previously.¡± ¡°I noted that you have taken issue with the methods, the instruments and the conclusions of almost all of the past researchers.¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Yeah, my thesis could make a me lot of enemies.¡±


    Lilly quickly munches down three scones from the cart the maid had left. Lilly munching, ¡°The previous researchers were too bound to historical cosmogony mythology,"  ¡°And they presumed that any new data obtained, by using the instruments and methods of modern science, would fit that belief structure.¡± "They would not budge from their old premise, even when their own data showed that the old premise is unlikely to be true.¡±


    ¡°I made a lot of measurements at the college observatory over the last winter with the new telescope.¡± ¡°The simplest explanation that fits my data, and much of the previous data, is that the universe and outer space is much more vast than previously assumed.¡± ¡°So my conclusion is that this vast space leaves room for the development of advanced life elsewhere.¡± ¡°Suns with planets, somewhere out there, may even host intelligent life,¡± ¡°Perhaps not even that much different from our own planet and its inhabitants.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if I upset some folks with this conclusion.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be working in astronomy ever again anyway,¡± ¡°Now that The Professor is gone.¡± ¡°I have mixed feelings about my experiences at the observatory,¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t all that pleasant.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if I leave it all behind.¡± ¡°The Chief wants me to continue my ¡®invention development¡¯ work at his Factory,¡± ¡°And I would like to get back to technical work,¡± ¡°After all, I¡¯m really just a plumber, through and through!¡±


    Lilly looks down at The Advisor, now seated at his desk. He is carefully studying, not the pages of her thesis, but her blouse. She walks behind his chair and reaches down to a page on the desk, dragging her left breast over his shoulder, ¡°See here on this this page is some of my best data!¡± Lilly then gets a strong scent of the old lion. She sniffs him some more through her dilated nostrils, she wobbles a bit, I don¡¯t thank I can remain standing much longer... She then leans further down and embraces him from behind. She stands, turns and impacts his chair with her big butt, happily wiggling her tail,


    ¡°Okay," "Now it¡¯s your turn!¡±


    Scene 3. Side-Study


    The old lion also inhales through his noise, against Lilly¡¯s side, ¡°Perhaps we should take a short break, maybe in my ¡®side study¡¯ room?¡± He gestures to a door on at the side of the study room. Lilly stands and slowly stretches, prominently displaying her body form. Then, wiggling her butt, she chuckles as she walks to the side door, ¡°I hope it''s not too ¡®short¡¯!¡±


    The side study room is very small, dominated by a large bed, much too large for the small room. The room also has a single simple wooden chair, a few shelves with books and a nightstand next to the bed. The old lion gestures toward the bed, ¡°I use this room sometimes during long study projects, for short ¡®cat naps¡¯.¡±


    Lilly looks down at the bed, Good, His last consort was pretty big, so he got a big bed for her.


    The Advisor looks at Lilly as if he has suggested something inappropriate, ¡°Would you like to rest here for awhile?" "Is this too uncomfortable?¡±


    The dominant Lilly stares at the fidgeting old lion, It is time for me to ¡®take charge¡¯ here.


    Lilly moves forward and gently presses the lion back to sit down on the side of the bed. She kneels down at his hind paws and removes his shoes and stockings. She reaches up into his smoking robe and unfastens his belt, sliding his clothing off his lower body, ¡°There! Now isn¡¯t that more comfortable?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Hello there, my friend!¡± She starts to feel down over his thighs and looks up to his face. She sees tears on the old man¡¯s face, ¡°You remember something? Something like this?¡± She opens her large mouth and sticks out her large pink tongue. She slowly curls her tongue from the sides into a roll. The old lion then smiles and laughs. He then places his fore-paws down onto her horns.


    Lilly slyly smiles, ¡°Careful now,¡± ¡°I have already killed three men, and maybe more¡­¡±


    She then leans forward to ''assume the position'', ¡°You smell wonderful!¡±


    Then she feels the sharp feline barbs on her tongue. Lilly bolts back upright, mouth now closed, to protect her tongue. Eeek! His ''maleness'' is a bladed weapon! I need ¡®Mister Squishy¡¯.  How do cats do it?


    Lilly looks up and smiles, ¡°Let¡¯s try something else.¡± Lilly stands and walks to the side of the bed. She pulls off the remaining clothes from The Advisor¡¯s upper body. She then sheds her clothes and crawls up on the bed. She pats the spot on the bed next to her, ¡°Come on up here and let¡¯s cuddle.¡±


    She looks up at the naked lion for the first time, Oh my, he is so thin, even thinner than Fendor.


    The Advisor lies down on his back, holding his fore-paws together, staring at the ceiling.


    ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡± Lilly reaches around the thin lion and drags him up onto her great chest, nuzzling her nose into his mane, ¡°I know I am not as snuggly as that fluffy sheep, former caretaker, but I am softer now than I have ever been.¡°


    Lilly then is fixated on the old lion¡¯s twitching black tail tuft, ¡°See if I feel acceptable to you and if I can be your ¡®bed¡¯ for your afternoon ¡®cat nap¡¯.¡±


    After a short nap, The Advisor recovers his glasses from a cup of Lilly''s large brassiere. He dons his glasses and grimaces. He then pulls his tail from Lilly¡¯s grasp. The old lion then closely examines the tuft at the end of his tail. He frowns at the wet, smelly, gooey, mass of tail tuft.


    "Lilly, what did you do to my tail!?" He growls.


    ¡°I''m sooo sowwoorry about your tail!¡± Lilly looks up at the old lion, holding a pillow up to her mouth, ¡°It''s was just so wiggly, cute and black,¡± ¡°And it smelled sooo good.¡± "Don''t ask me where it has been..." Lilly sets the pillow on the bed,


    ¡°Did you know that your tail tuft has a stiff ¡®thorn¡¯ hidden in it?¡±


    Scene 4. Dinner


    After the short ¡®cat nap¡¯, the two finish dressing and return to main study room. They resume work on Lilly¡¯s thesis. Lilly is determined to complete her degree at the college and to complete the thesis, as a memorial to The Professor. The Advisor sees Lilly¡¯s iconoclastic conclusions as the real problem to be overcome to make her thesis acceptable to the college¡¯s School of Science.


    There is a knock at the study door. ¡°Knock, knock, knock,¡± ¡°Dinner!¡±


    The old lion, in his lecture hall voice, ¡°Please enter!¡±


    The study door opens. Leona and the maid enter the room, each pushing a meal cart. The maid ¡®s cart has trays of sliced fruit and a large bowl of green salad. Leona¡¯s cart has several large flat square boxes. Lilly raises her head, with nostrils dilated. I smell pizza!


    Lilly slaps her right fore-hoof on her belly, ¡°Pop!¡±


    Lilly¡¯s belly then emits a long roaring growl, ¡°Grrrrrrrrol¡±.


    Lilly looks down at Leona¡¯s cart with pink cheeks, ¡°I am sorry, that happens when I smell pizza.¡± ¡°How did you know about me and pizza?¡±


    Leona smiles, ¡°I cheated¡± ¡°I called your husband.¡± ¡°I asked him what food you liked, and if there is any food you that you can not eat.¡± ¡°He told me you liked vegetarian cheese pizza, and to keep all of the food locked up.¡±


    Lilly scowls and The Advisor laughs, ¡°Lilly, Let¡¯s eat, I¡¯m hungry!¡±


    The maid smiles, ¡°You all can eat at the dining table if you prefer.¡± The Advisor shakes his head, ¡°This is great!¡± ¡°We can keep working and eat right here, from these carts, if that is okay with you.¡± ¡°And if you don¡¯t mind cleaning up our mess later on.¡±


    The maid smiles, ¡°Cleaning up is my job.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, and enjoy your meal here.¡± ¡°You all usually don¡¯t leave me enough to do.¡±


    Lilly holds a dripping piece of pizza over the pages spread over the desk, ¡°I am getting grease on the pages!¡± The Advisor smiles, ¡°That just makes the pages look authentically original!¡±


    The Advisor nibbles at a small slice from his plate on his desk, reading and making notes. Meanwhile Lilly consumes the entire other three boxes of pizza, along with the salad and the fruit.


    Lilly holds up one empty pizza box. She studies the round grease stain on the bottom lid and thinks back on her time at the observatory, when the Professor would bring her pizza on his visits, and what she did with the boxes after he left. I had better not bite the boxes. The lions know what a glutton I am. I shouldn¡¯t make their opinions any worse!


    ¡°Hic!¡± ¡°Oops!¡± Lilly then looks down at her distended belly, popping open several buttons of her tight blouse,


    I¡¯m going to have hide my glutton belly by sitting behind The Advisor''s desk all night tonight.


    Scene 5. Aurora


    The Advisor takes Lilly on a question and answer tour of her research, ¡°So you made most of the measurement data from photographs?¡±


    Lilly pulls out a glass plate with the negative images of stars, ¡°The Professor worked with chemists at The Factory to make a new photographic emulsion film coated glass plates, sensitive to light radiation below red light." "The Professor called this light, ¡®sub-red¡¯ light." "I guess it isn¡¯t technically ¡®light¡¯ if we can¡¯t see it,¡± ¡°However the stars and the nebula are much brighter in this sub-red light than the light we can see.¡±


    The Advisor focuses on one page, ¡°Tell me more about what you found concerning our ¡®morning star¡¯, Aurora,¡± ¡°This is  the strongest and most convincing data from your research." "Use these data to make your case for your thesis.¡±


    The Advisor looks down at the pages again, ¡°You state that this star, Aurora, is actually revolving around us and is not as far away as the other stars.¡±


    Lilly is fascinated that someone else in her world wants to know the details of her research, ¡°Actually our star and Aurora are circling around each other, once every two hundred years.¡± "We all can see Aurora move slowly, over the years, across the relatively fixed background of the more distant stars." ¡°And that is not all,¡± ¡°Aurora is close by, at an average of 50 times our planet''s distance to our sun. Close enough that Aurora can be imaged as a disk in a large telescope.¡± ¡°Aurora and our star are the same size and color, enough to be twins!¡± ¡°I have photographs of silhouettes of planets passing in front of Aurora and the planet diameters can be directly measured.¡± ¡°One planet has the same year as ours so it is about the same distance from the star." "This planet is also about the same size and density as our own, best I can tell.¡± Lilly is getting ever more excited, ¡°And maybe it has life on it, like our own!¡±


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The Advisor looks up at Lilly, ¡°This is it!¡± ¡°No one has done this before, seen another planetary system similar to our own.¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to do more research first?¡± ¡°This appears to be a very promising research area.¡±


    Lilly ponders The Advisor¡¯s question, ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we can find out anything more about those planets in further observations from here." "To find out anything more we will have to go there.¡± ¡°The planets only can be seen when they cross in front to the star, they are lost in the glare of the bright star otherwise.¡±


    The Advisor smiles in inspiration and he starts scribbling on his note pad, ¡°We need another astronomer to confirm your discovery and come to the same conclusion.¡± ¡°Please write a journal paper submission as soon as you can, about Aurora.¡± ¡°Most of what you have written so far is usable as is for a scholarly paper.¡± ¡°We have to assume that others know about your work, so speed to publication is important.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want anyone to claim your discovery for themselves first, especially using your data from your own hard work.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you, let¡¯s get started now, tonight.¡± ¡°Think about potential collaborators you might want to use for the confirmation of your discovery.¡±


    Lilly is excited about The Advisor¡¯s excitement. The Advisor is so much like The Professor except he talks more. She starts to weep at the thought of The Professor, she mutters, ¡°Not now! Not Now! I must finish this!¡±


    The Advisor looks up at Lilly¡¯s muttering. Lilly shakes her head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing."


    The Advisor frowns, ¡°Lilly,¡± ¡°It is not ¡®nothing¡¯." ¡°You are crying.¡±


    Lilly softly weeps, ¡°You are intelligent and helpful,¡±


    ¡°You remind me of The Professor that I miss so much.¡±


    Scene 6. Awakening


    The two work diligently through the night. They finally complete a draft of the paper for the journal submission. Exhausted they both retire into the mansion bedrooms. Lilly is too tired to go home, thinking, returning home at this hour would upset everyone anyway. So Lilly retires to the former caretaker-consort¡¯s bedroom. Lilly lies down into the soft bed and immediately she is off to ¡®Dreamland¡¯.


    Lilly suddenly sits up, fully awake. She looks around the dark bedroom, disoriented, Where am I? Oh, I remember. I am at the Advisor¡¯s mansion and this is the caretaker¡¯s room. That¡¯s right, the Advisor¡¯s daughter tucked me in here last night. Lilly reaches up over the bed headboard and turns up the light for the windowless bedroom. Lilly looks around at all of the costumes and clothes hanging on the racks, This is so weird, being set up as the replacement for the former caretaker-consort. I guess I am expected to wear her clothes. Her clothes are a little tight on me, and a few years out of date. But The Advisor likes me to wear them, as part of my fee for his services. Besides, I tore out of my own clothes here again yesterday.


    The large bedroom has its own bathroom so Lilly completes her morning constitutional. Lilly selects some clothing items, a short skirt from dance costume and a short-sleeve sweater with a cleavage revealing heart window cutout on the chest. Wooo, Sexy! Lilly dons the former caretaker¡¯s clothing and admires her form in the long dressing room mirror. It¡¯s all a bit too small for me, but the fabric is stretchy, so I shouldn¡¯t ¡®pop out¡¯.


    Lilly opens the door to the hallway and The Advisor¡¯s daughter is waiting for her there, ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Good morning!¡± ¡°How did you sleep?¡± ¡°Were you comfortable?¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Leona, I was so tired I could have slept stapled to the ceiling!¡±


    Lilly looks down, suddenly worried, ¡°Leona, I didn¡¯t get up last night, did I?¡±


    Leona smiles, relaxed, ¡°Yes you did get up." "You were pretty funny and quite out of it.¡± ¡°I heard clattering sounds coming from your bedroom.¡± ¡°I came into your bedroom because I thought that maybe you had fallen.¡± ¡°You were lying on the floor, next to the bed." "I helped you stand up and walk over to the bathroom.¡± ¡°Afterward, you started bleating, as in pain, holding your breasts up in your fore-legs.¡± ¡°And then I saw that your breasts were leaking some milk.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to do at first, but you mentioned bringing a breast pump with you on your next visit, so I looked in your bag and you had brought one.¡± ¡°Good thing too, as I don¡¯t have one here.¡± ¡°I have used a breast pump before, but only on lions. I figured that it would work about the same on a goat, except for your larger breasts and the larger volume of milk.¡± ¡°You were very cooperative.¡± ¡°You just smiled and wiggled your tail." "You looked relieved, but you said nothing.¡± ¡°You just bleated at me and I laughed and you smiled.¡± ¡°I cleaned you up and put you back to bed without any further issue until now.¡± ¡°I put your milk into several clean bottles, in the refrigerator.¡±


    The lioness continues to be fascinated talking about Lilly¡¯s milk, ¡°May we use your milk?" "Or will you take it home with you?¡± ¡°Your milk looks really rich and creamy.¡± ¡°My father and other carnivores sometimes have difficulty digesting milk, especially cow milk, but goat milk is an exception.¡±


    Lilly smiles broadly, laughs, ¡°It¡¯s okay with me!¡± ¡°Have your father try my milk!¡±


    Leona looks guilty, ¡°I confess, I tasted your milk, and it is very sweet.¡±


    Lilly closes her eyes and smiles. She holds her right fore-hoof to her large chest,


    ¡°Of course it is sweet!¡± ¡°It''s just like me!¡±


    Scene 7. Breakfast


    Lilly and Leona enter the mansion¡¯s very large kitchen, large enough for a crew of six large Minotaur chefs. In the back corner, almost lost in the vast kitchen, is the small cat-maid, making tea. The maid looks up at their entrance, and smiles, ¡°What would you all like for breakfast today?¡±


    Lilly blurts, ¡°¡±Fruit!¡± ¡°Lots of Fruit!¡± ¡°And oatmeal! ¡°A big bowl!¡± ¡°And maybe some biscuits and jam!¡± Lilly! You are being a glutton again!


    The maid places a large tray in front of Lilly, with a pile of sliced fruit and a large bowl of oatmeal. The maid returns with a tray of biscuits, butter and a variety of small jam jars.


    Wow, all this is wasted on these rich, skinny, lions!


    Lilly immediately starts gobbling, leaving a blast pattern of food crumbs around herself.


    The Advisor lion suddenly walks in to the kitchen, ¡°Good morning Leona, Lilly,¡± he nods.


    Startled and embarrassed, Lilly jumps up, pouring her oatmeal bowl contents down into the sweater window and into her cleavage. Lilly shrieks as her long usually floppy ears are now standing straight up.


    Lilly struggles, unsuccessfully, to regain her composure and bleats, ¡°Baah,¡± ¡°Good morning sir,¡± ¡°Choke!¡± ¡°I am so sorry,¡± ¡°I should have waited for you.¡± ¡°Baah.¡±


    The maid supplies Lilly with towels and Lilly is plunging one down her front, to the great interest of The Advisor, ¡°Never wait for an ¡®old man¡¯ to ¡®do¡¯ anything, or you might end up dying of old age yourself first!¡± The old lion laughs.


    Lilly notices that the old lion staring at her midriff. Lilly then realizes that her morning¡¯s glutton belly is bulging and is quite visible through the former-consort¡¯s tight sweater. Lilly tries to pull the sweater down, leaking oatmeal and making everything even more visible.


    The Advisor walks around the table and hugs Lilly¡¯s shoulders with affection, ¡°I am just happy that you are comfortable here, Lilly.¡± ¡°Please, my dear, sit back down and finish your breakfast.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have something too.¡± The maid sets a small bowl of oatmeal on the table and he raises a spoon, still smiling at Lilly.


    The maid brings out another breakfast tray for Lilly.


    Scene 8. Late


    Lilly, now back home, enters the front door and walks into the living room. Roc is sitting in the chair, waiting for her return, ¡°You¡¯re late!¡± ¡°You changed clothes again.¡± ¡°Do you plan to steal all of the former caretaker¡¯s clothes?¡± ¡°Anyway, how did your thesis review with The Advisor go?¡±


    Lilly looks and feels guilty once again, ¡°Sorry about the delay getting home,¡± ¡°I did say I might have to stay over at The Advisor¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°But for all that, my session with The Advisor went better than I could ever have hoped,¡± ¡°We completed, pending an editorial review, a paper for a scientific journal, based on my research at the observatory from last winter.¡± ¡°This new paper will help support the outlandish conclusion claims that I make in my thesis.¡± ¡°I picked the right guy for my thesis review, that is for sure!¡± ¡°We still have to find another researcher to confirm my findings.¡±


    Roc raises his nose and sniffs, ¡°You smell like oatmeal.¡±


    Lilly closes her eyes, smiles and hits her right fore-hoof on the center of her wet, and now quite rotund, belly, ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°They told me that oatmeal is good for my hide, and that it reduces pregnancy wrinkles.¡±

 23. Beast-Town

    Scene 1. Morning Show


    Lilly opens her eyes. She sees that she is Lying on her mat on the hotel room floor. Wow, I am here again. I am having ¡®field¡¯ adventures in both worlds now! Lilly is used to Sally¡¯s loud snoring. Sally is still in the bed, with her mouth wide open. Lilly sends her thoughts on the scene, ¡°Sally, you are going to ¡®catch bugs¡¯ in your big, open, mouth!¡±


    Sally sits up at Lilly¡¯s directed thought statement. Sally¡¯s covers falls down, relieving Sally¡¯s naked body, covered with her short-cut cream-colored fleece, bleating, ¡°Buuuuuuuugs!¡± ¡°Baaaad!¡± ¡°Baaaah!¡±


    Lilly thought grumbles, ¡°Sally¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t shake your big body at me!¡± ¡°I already know why Apollo likes you better!¡±


    Lilly lays her head back down on her fore-legs, depressed, ¡°Bah!¡±


    The door opens, it is Apollo speaking in a faux country accent, ¡°Com¡¯on everyone, the day is a waisten¡¯!¡± Lilly and Sally look up at Apollo¡¯s comical stance, both laugh, bleating, ¡°Baaaaahh, Haahh, Haahh!¡±


    Sally stands up from the bed onto the floor, naked.


    Sally then slowly turns and stretches her voluptuous body for Apollo to examine.


    Lilly bolts up, stomping mad, and grimacing, ¡°Bam!¡± ¡°Bam!¡± ¡°Damn it! Stop it Sally!¡±


    Sally looks down at Lilly with a shy fore-hoof to her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m Sooooory Lilly!¡± Sally picks up her top clothing and slowly resumes her dressing show, also for Apollo¡¯s benefit, while seductively bleating, ¡°Gooooood Moooorniiiiiing Apooollooooo!¡±, while smiling at Apollo and catching his ¡®look¡¯.


    Lilly is now furious with Sally, lips drawn back revealing a mouth full of large, sharp, white teeth.


    Lilly is growling and snapping at Sally, like a shark, ¡°Grrrrrrraaahhhh!¡± ¡°Snap!¡± ¡°Snap!¡±


    Sally quickly dons the rest of her clothes before the snapping Lilly can bite her.


    Sally is looking down at Lilly, fearfully bleating, ¡°Ooooh Myyyyyyhh! Liiiilyhh!¡±


    Apollo finally contains his laughter from Sally and Lilly¡¯s bedroom show, of Sally¡¯s exhibitionism and Lilly¡¯s jealousy, ¡°We missed the hotel show last night, but really I liked yall¡¯s show this morning!¡± ¡°Come and get ready.¡± ¡°After breakfast Eddie is taking us to see ''The Outback¡¯!¡±


    Lilly is now painfully aware of her usual morning breast pressure discomfort. Lilly starts for the hotel room door, anxious for relief, ¡°It is time for me to go and feed the starving orphans in the kitchen!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go Sally!¡±


    Scene 2. Breakfast Show


    The group enters the large family-style breakfast hall at the hotel. It is designed to allow the visitors to get to know each other at the long tables. Apollo stops his entourage and faces them placing his finger to his lips.


    Sally shakes her head ¡®no¡¯, and whispers, ¡°Eveeeen Meeeeeeh?¡±


    Apollo nods, "Yes," "Everyone, Sally," "Even you," "Especially ¡®ewe¡¯."


    Lilly also shakes her head "No, I''ll just go back and watch from the kitchen.¡±


    Leaving Sally and Apollo to sit across from each other at the long table. Sally smiles and winks at Apollo, staring at her from across the table.


    Apollo looks around to see that the large hall has a sizable crowd, all human. A human family of four sits down at Sally and Apollo¡¯s long table.


    Bovid beast-folk servers emerge from the kitchen with large trays of breakfast food. The servers place plates, glasses and cups on the tables in front of each patron. The servers then place trays of fresh cut fruit, scrambled eggs, crispy meat and fried shredded potatoes at the center of the tables. Pitchers of milk, water and coffee urns are also placed on the tables. A young Minotaur boy places small trays, with containers of cream, sugar and other condiments, at the end of each table.


    The boy bows to each table and in a clear voice states, ¡°Hot wheat and oat cereals are also available, on request.¡±


    Marion clops out on the platform in the front of the hall set up as a stage, with curtains and oil lights. Marion''s impressive form and feathery clopping has everyone¡¯s attention on the stage,  ¡°Good morning everyone and welcome to the Beast Gulch Hotel!¡±


    Marion raises her foreleg up high above her head with its blowy feathers and a glistening, ivory, hoof. Marion is standing tall on stage, with a very big ¡®horsey¡¯ smile. ¡°I have arranged a little entertainment for you to enjoy while you all enjoy our country breakfast.¡± ¡°My husband Eddie will sing a song he wrote himself.¡±


    Eddie walks out to the center of the stage with a stool and a guitar. Eddie begins to sing a soft slow country tune with his melodic voice.


    Lilly is peaking out from the kitchen at the stage at Eddie thinking, Eddie¡¯s guitar is the same as Rod¡¯s, a similar hoof-fret too. How can this be? Eddie has a nice voice though.


    At the end of the song Apollo claps. Sally taps the tabletop with her fore-hooves and bleats a loud, ¡°Baaaaah!¡± in approval.


    The table occupants, a human husband and wife with a young boy and girl, all startled by Sally¡¯s tapping and bleating, turn to face Sally.


    Sally quickly raises her fore-hooves to her mouth, realizing her mistake, as she is the only beast-folk in the audience.


    Apollo speaks, ¡°Hi, I am Apollo.¡± ¡°You likely have not met many beast-folk, let me introduce Sally.¡± ¡°Say hello Sally.¡±


    Sally shyly bleats, ¡°Glaaaaad to meeet youuuuu.¡± Sally extends her fore-leg in greeting.


    The husband brightens to meet the attractively shaped sheep-woman and extends his hand towards Sally¡¯s fore-leg to accept her greeting, ¡°My name is Ernie." "It is a real pleasure!¡±


    Ernie¡¯s wife immediately seizes her husband¡¯s arm and pulls him back with a scowl. The children have already jumped from their seats, running up to Sally, and they bleat, ¡°Sheep soft.¡± ¡°Sheep soft.¡± Sally bleats back at the children and they all laugh, continuing to cuddle at her fleecy sides.


    The wife jumps up strides around and violently pulls her children away from Sally by their collars, ¡°Get away from that filthy animal!¡± The wife faces her husband and shouts, for the whole hall to hear, ¡°I told you that coming here, with all these filthy animals around, was a bad idea!¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡±


    The wife strides out, dragging her children by their collars.


    Lilly wiggles her fore-hooves to them and bleats, ¡°Goooooodbyeeeeeee.¡±


    Ernie the husband is still seated and waits in silence for the drama to end. Finally, looking down, he speaks, ¡°I apologize for my wife.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t like too many things, especially new things.¡± ¡°And she hates animals.¡±


    Apollo smiles, ¡°I am sorry that Sally upset her so.¡±


    Sally bleats, ¡°Soooooryyyyh.¡±


    Ernie continues, looking at Sally, ¡°You seem to be a very nice person, Sally, and my children seemed to like you.¡± ¡°I am sorry that they couldn¡¯t stay.¡± ¡°I have only seen beast-folk in shows, you¡¯re the first I have met up close.¡±


    Sally looks at Apollo for a cue. Apollo nods and Sally bleats, ¡°I woooould liiiike to meeeeet moooore peeeeople,¡± ¡°Huumaaansh.¡±


    Ernie can no longer resist, ¡°Sally,¡± ¡°May I touch your fleece?¡±


    Sally smiles broadly and closes her eyes. She seductively bleats, ¡°Yeeeees, goooo Aaaaaheeeeead!¡± ¡°Toooouch meeeee Aaaaanywheeeere!¡±


    Ernie takes full advantage of Sally¡¯s unqualified permission. He stands and walks around the table and takes Sally¡¯s fore-hoof and has her stand up. Ernie then tightly embraces her chest, emits a long sigh.


    Sally, eyes wide and surprised by his sudden and passionate embrace, also bleats, ¡°Baaah?¡±


    Apollo then states to Ernie, ¡°Sorry Ernie but Sally is ¡®taken¡¯!¡±


    Sally pushes Ernie back from her chest and firmly nods, ¡°Bah!¡±


    Apollo then continues, ¡°But there are more like Sally available from the service providers.¡± ¡°But your wife may not approve of your selection.¡±


    Everyone in the room is watching the show at Apollo¡¯s table and not the stage. Marion walks to the center of the stage to take back control.  Marion has changed into a long black dress that flows like a black river down her torso and legs, and down to her unguligrade ankles.


    Marion emits a very loud whinny, ¡°EEEEEeeeeeehhhhhh!!¡±


    The crowd turns to the stage and Ernie starts to play a fast instrument dance piece. Marion backs away from the edge of the stage and starts to spin her very tall, full figured, form. She whirls out her long black dress. A blue pattern is clearly visible on the hide of her left hip as she twirls. The dress blooms out and whirls, like a large black whirling flower. Marion¡¯s large hooves impact the stage as she dances, in time to the music.


    The crowd starts to clap in time, ¡°Clop clop!¡± ¡°Clop clop!¡°¡±¡­


    Marion suddenly jumps high up into the air with her large, muscular, rear legs, her dress collecting around her. She lands and kneeling and strides over to Eddie, they clasp fore-legs and bow to the audience. The curtain swiftly closes to an enthusiastic applause.


    Apollo grabs Sally¡¯s fore-hoof and yanks, ¡°Lets get out of here while we can.¡± Sally looks puzzled but allows Apollo to drag her to the kitchen to collect Lilly. The three quickly exit the back door and run to the livery barn. Eddie is also ready for them to blow town. Eddie tosses each of them into the cart and gallops off to the gate. Ticktock is still standing where he was left the day before. Ticktock is standing motionless, with shoulders hosting birds. Ticktock moves at the cart''s approach and the birds fly off. Eddie stops and motions. Ticktock springs into the cart. Eddie then gallops off into the open countryside, known locally as, ''The Outback¡¯.


    Sally is still puzzled, shaking her head, bleats, ¡°Apoooollooooh!¡± ¡°Iii waaaanted to smeeeell aaaall of the humssssansh!¡±


    Apollo looks down and frowns, ¡°I am sorry Sally, maybe next time.¡± ¡°After our table drama with the wife, I am worried that many of the humans are not quite ready for a close encounter with a member of the beast-folk community yet.¡±


    Eddie speaks up from his running with the cart, ¡°It takes time for the human folks to get used to us beast-folk.¡± ¡°We smell different than humans and we look a lot different.¡± ¡°Us biggin¡¯s especially, look like monsters to many of the humans." "Folks that have only ever seen non-speaking, four-feet-down-on-the-ground animals, are startled when we biped forms walk up and speak to them.¡± ¡°Maybe after the humans walk around the town and meet a few more beast-folk, they will be ready to meet you, Sally," "And get sniffed.¡±


    Apollo laughs, ¡°Sally, you might even get hugged again, so be ready.¡±


    Sally brightens with a smile and bleats, ¡°Yeaaahhhh!¡±


    Lilly looks up at Apollo, feeling neglected, ¡°Can I get a hug?¡±


    Sally looks down and the frowning sad Lilly, and bleats, ¡°Apoolloo, Liiilly neeeds aa huug!¡±


    Lilly sit up on her haunches, finally getting her group hug from Apollo and Sally, ¡°Not exactly what I wanted, but it will do." "Thank you, Sally.¡±


    Ticktock speaks, ¡°Would you like me to hug you too, Lilly?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, Ticktock.¡±


    Scene 3. Outback


    The group starts to view the undeveloped open countryside. The land is a mix of chaparral, meadows and green hills, with mountains in the distance.


    Apollo looks down at the hard-working Eddie, ¡°Eddie, why don¡¯t you have a ¡®regular¡¯ horse pull your carts?¡±


    Eddie laughs, ¡°I do when the load is just cargo.¡± ¡°But for tourists, I am the tour-guide and I am too big to ride in the cart, so I pull!¡± ¡°Besides, I need to stay in shape, if we ever go to war with the humans.¡±


    Apollo does not react to Eddies ¡®war¡¯ statement, but Sally and Lilly¡¯s eyes widen, silently thinking to each other, ¡°Is there about to be a ¡®human-beast-folk-war''?¡±


    Eddie continues as the tour-guide and as the draft-horse-man, ¡°We call this area ''the near-lands''." "Folks live here if they don¡¯t want to be too far from the Beast-Town.¡± The road becomes steeper as Eddie strains to pull the cart up.


    Apollo looks down at the straining Eddie, ¡°We don¡¯t have to come up here, or we could all walk up the hill.¡±


    Eddie grunts, ¡°No problem, it¡¯s my job.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t want to get in trouble with my boss-lady-wife!¡± ¡°I want to show you our ¡®waterwheel¡¯.¡± ¡°We are very proud of this power system we made for ourselves.¡±


    The cart rounds a curve to a small reservoir, behind a small rock dam. In front of the dam is a rough-hewn wooden waterwheel, slowly turning. Lilly stands up in the cart looks over the side at the waterwheel with interest, ¡°Where is the ¡®generator¡¯?¡±


    Sally passes Lilly''s question on to Eddie, he responds, ¡°We don¡¯t have electricity or any electric devices in beast-town or beast-country.¡± ¡°We¡¯re learning to do without all of that ¡®human¡¯ technology.¡± ¡°That ¡®technology¡¯ stuff only leads to destructive wars.¡±


    Lilly thinks about the wars she has witnessed on Apollo¡¯s movie ''frame'', and nods. ¡°This technology leading to ¡®destructive wars¡¯ does seem to be true.¡± ¡°I have to think about what I am doing to my world.¡±


    Both Sally and Ticktock are looking at Lilly, reading her thoughts, but they say nothing.


    Eddie pulls the cart around the waterwheel and up to several buildings in the back. The buildings are mechanically connected to the waterwheel by rotating shafts, belts and gears.


    Eddie sets down the horse-cart shafts and walks around to help his passengers dismount, ¡°Come on inside and see our ¡®industry¡¯.¡±


    Inside the first building are rows of mills and lathes. These machines are driven by rotating overhead shafts. Workers are busy turning and milling wooden parts, bed posts, farm equipment handles and household items such as wooden bowls.


    Eddie comments, ¡°We, the beast-folk, are trying to reduce our dependency on the human world by making everything we can for ourselves.¡±


    Lilly is carefully regarding the mechanical power distribution system, fascinated by the primitive machines and the drive power, distributed by belt and shafts.


    They walk to the second building. Stone wheels, also connected to the overhead shafts, are grinding grains, mullet and wheat, to flour. The third building also features large stone grinding wheels. But here in this room metal items, such as plow shears and carving knives, are being shaped and sharpened.


    Eddie comments, ¡°We still are getting the metal, glass raw materials, and as well as other items, from the human world.¡± ¡°Our charcoal ovens and furnaces can fire soft clay and copper ore, but we cannot yet make the furnaces hot enough to smelt iron ore.¡± ¡°The core problem is that there are not yet enough beast-folk out here for us to divide into all of the necessary labor specialties required for a fully-functional industrial society.¡± ¡°We are still in the ¡®feudal period¡¯ of agriculture and cottage-industries.¡± ¡°However, more beast-folks are running away from the human towns every day." "We also have a few new families with children." "So we have hope for the future.¡± ¡°We are building another dam up river so we are planning to expand our industries, as workers become available.¡± ¡°Our industry has to stop at harvest time though.¡± ¡°We need everyone to help bring in the crops.¡± ¡°We cannot afford full-time farmers, or ¡®full-time¡¯ anything.¡± ¡°All of us have two, three or more jobs, all vital.¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.¡°In addition to water-power, we use animal and mineral oil for our lamps. We will also use wood-burning ¡®steam¡¯ power, once we can fabricate the necessary metal components for steam boilers and pistons. We have decided that we, the beast-folk, will never use ¡®electricity¡¯.¡±


    Eddie looks up at the sun, ¡°We need to get moving if we want to see the all of the farms.¡±


    Eddie pulls the cart out to the flat countryside. Large fields of various crops are visible around the road, over the flat land, and up onto the hillsides.


    Eddie stops and lowers the cart shafts to rest. They are facing an open field of grain with large heads, oats perhaps, ¡°We are trying to establish farms and produce food on all of the land that we can.¡± ¡°We use the crops to trade with the humans for the manufactured goods we cannot yet make ourselves.¡±


    Eddie lifts the shafts again and motions, ¡°Let me show you some of our ¡®animal¡¯ farms.¡±


    Eddie pulls the cart to a complex of large barns near s series of other, smaller, buildings that appear to be residences for the farm workers.


    Eddie stops at one large barn, ¡°Come in and see our animals.¡±


    Inside the barn are rows of bars, ¡°These are our milking stands for the cows, we have smaller stands you can see the back for goats and sheep.¡± ¡°Milk is one of our most valuable exports to the human world.¡±


    Eddie stares at Sally, ¡°The humans really like beast-folk milk too.¡±


    Sally promptly folds her forelegs over her breasts and blushes.


    They all walk out the back of the miking barn to large pens of cows, goats and sheep. ¡°We bring the ''milk'' animals here for milking, check them for health issues, and provide additional nutritional food." "Then we turn them out into the large grazing pastures for sun and exercise.¡±


    ¡°We occasionally drive the animals into the hills, to eat the weeds and protect the land from wild fires.¡±


    Scene 4. Clinic


    They stop at one farm and two beast-folk farmhands walk up to Eddie, ¡°Hi Guys, I have a tour today, a Researcher and his staff.¡± The two beast-folk farmhands, draft-horse-man and a bull-Minotaur, are both large and strong looking but with friendly smiles, ¡°When is The Doctor making ¡®the rounds¡¯ again?¡± ¡°We ain¡¯t see a doc¡¯ out here in a while, and have some beast-folk and animals need ¡®doc¡¯ tending.¡± Eddie smiles at Apollo, ¡°Doctor Apollo, are you available to see some patients today?¡±


    Apollo smiles and nods, ¡°Yes Eddie, Medical rounds are one of the reasons for my visit.¡±


    Apollo stands tall and looks like the boss to his entourage, ¡°Staff! Please assist me!¡±


    Apollo turns to the farmhands, ¡°Have all of the healthy beast-folk line up at the foreman¡¯s house.¡± ¡°We need to finish today¡± ¡°Get the animals ready and I will take a look at all of them tomorrow.¡± ¡°Take any sick beast-folk or animals to the transfer station and call my lab for them to be picked up.¡± ¡°My lab is standing by to transport and care for any that need it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t treat anything but minor stuff out here.¡±


    Eddie removes a large trunk from the cart and the group walks over to the foreman¡¯s house to set up the ¡®clinic¡¯. The exams are surprisingly well organized, the beast-folk have been through this before and are very cooperative. Outside, carts from the more remote areas of the agricultural lands are pulling up and more folks are lining up outside the ¡®clinic¡¯. Apollo carefully examines all wounds and healing-bones from past injuries. He pays special attention to the paws and hooves of the beast-folk. Apollo lectures his staff, ¡°The molecular modifications done for creating the more useful biped extremities resulted in development and use side-effect abnormalities in some individuals.¡± ¡°We have to examine everyone carefully for infection or circulation issues, especially in the paws and hooves.¡± ¡°Be sure to check both the fore-leg and hind-leg extremities.¡±


    The night falls and the clinic closes for the day. The farmers offer the group supper,


    but the Apollo¡¯s clinic staff is anxious to get back and clean up, and see the evening stage show.


    Scene 5. Moon


    On the way back, Lilly looks up at the dark rural sky, ¡°Wow this is the first time I have seen so many stars since I coming to this world.¡± ¡°There is too much night light in the city.¡± Lilly stomps and loudly bleats, ¡°Bam!¡± ¡°Bam!¡± ¡°Baaaaaaahhhh!!¡± Lilly looks at Sally and thought projects, ¡°Ask Eddie to stop here for a few minutes!¡±


    Sally nods and bleats, ¡°Eddiiiieeee woooould yoooou stoooop for Liiiiilly?¡±


    Eddie stops, ¡°Lilly, do you need to relieve yourself?¡±


    ¡°It is easier to go along with this rather than explain.¡± Lilly nods her head to Eddie. Lilly then jumps from the cart and runs out into the dark field. She looks up at the distorted, but mostly familiar, constellations, ¡°Just as I thought.¡± ¡°We are likely on a planet orbiting Aurora.¡± She looks up at one familiar constellation. The close-by stars have moved in relation to the further background stars. ¡°Unless I am wrong, we have moved at least a couple of centuries, even millennium, in time.¡± ¡°None of this surprises me.¡± ¡°I wish I could take a picture of this back with me.¡±


    Lilly then complies with the ¡®relief¡¯ operation and returns to the cart. Lilly trying to suppress her thoughts from Ticktock and Sally. Sally stares at Lilly with a blank expression. Lilly projects, ¡°I can¡¯t hide anything from you two can I?¡±


    But neither Sally nor Ticktock speak. Lilly smiles at them, ¡°Thank you,¡± ¡°My confidants!¡±


    Lilly sets her head down in the cart, facing away from Ticktock and Sally. She meditates on her star observations of this night, ¡°When I get back to my world I will look at my observatory photographs of Aurora more carefully.¡± ¡°I did not think to look for any ¡®moons¡¯ orbiting Aurora¡¯s planets.¡± ¡°This moon is big enough to create a small shadow, against Aurora, in my photographs.¡± ¡°If I do see it, I can measure its ¡®month¡¯.¡±


    Then I will know for sure where this ¡®dream world¡¯ is, and, approximately, ¡®when¡¯ it is.


    Scene 6. Dinner Show


    With the clinic running late and Lilly¡¯s stop, it is late night by the time everyone returns to the hotel. Ticktock was allowed into the town with the group, after proving to be an essential member of Apollo¡¯s medial staff.  The dinner stage show is in progress. Many residents of the town participate in show, for amusement and for income. The show features Marion and Eddie as announcers and as entertainers during the breaks between acts. The stage show includes a barbershop quartet, a brass instrument group playing for four female full-skirt high-kicking dancers and many other, mostly amateur, acts. The human audience is quite enthusiastic cheering and clapping. Apollo has his group sit near the kitchen door, looking like kitchen staff, as Ticktock, Sally or Lilly might upset the sensibilities of the more delicate humans.


    Lilly and Sally enter the stairwell to return to their shared hotel guest room. Lilly looks up at Sally, ¡°How come you are sleeping with me rather than Apollo?¡± ¡°I would have thought he would keep you and stick me with Ticktock.¡± ¡°And where is Apollo anyway?¡±


    Sally looks down, obviously upset about something, too upset to even bleat it out loud. Sally silently projects her thoughts to Lilly, ¡°Apollo is still back in the hotel kitchen, talking to Marion.¡± ¡°Marion was showing Apollo the drawing on her butt and Apollo was examining it, with his ¡®fingers¡¯.¡± ¡°Apollo told me he wanted to be alone in his room in case he decided to work late.¡± ¡°Sniff¡±


    Lilly¡¯s ears go up, ¡°Apollo is flirting with Marion!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Apollo see that big ¡®monster-horse¡¯ she is married to?¡±


    Back in their room Sally lies down on her bead, on her stomach, clutches a pillow to her chest and softly, without bleating, mumbles to Lilly, ¡°Marion flirts with all of the human ¡®tourists¡¯,¡± ¡°Even other beast-folk,¡± ¡°Only other ¡®horses¡¯ are off-limits.¡± ¡°She thinks that her ¡®flirting¡¯ is good for Beast-Town business.¡±


    Lilly lies down in her couched position and sets her head down on her legs, ¡°Yeah, it probably is.¡±


    Lilly then regards what she has seen in the primitive world of the beast-folk, ¡°Would it be better to leave my world in a more primitive technical society?¡± ¡°My world still has wars, and they are pretty bad.¡± ¡°All of these discoveries will be made by some one, some day, in my world, anyway.¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Will my discoveries give me more credibility when I try to warn everyone of the dangers of this new technology?¡±


    Sally is staring at Lilly, listening to Lilly¡¯s thoughts. Sally frowns and with genuine concern she quietly bleats, ¡°Liilly, I wiish I coould heelp yoouhh.¡± ¡°Aand yooou coould heelp mee.¡±


    Lilly looks up at Sally, smiling, ¡°Thank you Sally,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one anywhere understands me.¡±


    Lilly pauses and looks up at Sally again, ¡°Sally,¡± ¡°I will help you.¡± ¡°You need to become more independent!¡± ¡°How would you like to go to school again?¡± ¡°This time to learn to read and write?¡± ¡°You did very well helping Apollo at his clinic today.¡± ¡°Have you thought about becoming a ¡®nurse¡¯?¡±


    Sally cheers up as she considers Lilly¡¯s suggestion. Sally softly bleats, ¡°Yees Liilly, I woould liike to doo thaat.¡± ¡°I woould geet to meeet (and smell) loots of humaans and beeast-peeople and heelp theemhh.¡±


    Lilly continues her thoughts, ¡°Sally,¡± ¡°You can be more than just a ¡®consort¡¯.¡±


    Lilly nods at Sally, in satisfaction. Lilly sets her head down on her fore-legs, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll go see The Advisor tomorrow.¡± Lilly wiggles her tail in anticipation of flirting with The Advisor.


    Then Lilly frowns, ¡°But I also need to see The General,¡± ¡°And The Chief too.¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll get to play tennis at The Base with my friends,¡± ¡°and also see how the Air-Craft development is going.¡±


    Lilly frowns again and sighs, "Bah," ¡°I am already tired from ¡®tomorrow¡¯.¡¯¡¯

 24. Maintenance

    Scene 1. Plumber


    Lilly awakens in her bed, back in her ''waking world'' bedroom, with her back resting reassuringly against Roc¡¯s.


    Lilly sits up in bed, I feel fully rested and restored in the mornings here. And that is surprising, as I am so busy in my ¡®dream world¡¯. My ''double'' is able to relax here because my family is so nice to her.


    Lilly looks over at the still sleeping Roc, watching Roc as his chest rises and falls with his respiration. He looks so sweet and peaceful, smiling, grunting and hugging his pillow. I know he is dreaming of me. He doesn''t ever even look at anyone else. That fidelity comes at a price though, as she feels her breasts, full of morning milk. I am glad that my ¡®dream world¡¯ replaces my nightmares. I am actually having a lot of fun over there, with no responsibilities. That world is someone else¡¯s problem.


    This world is my problem.


    Lilly carefully arises, as to not disturb Roc''s pleasant slumber, I wish I could talk to Roc about my ¡®dream world¡¯, but I would only worry him needlessly. He will never understand me. I can¡¯t get him involved any more than I already have. I¡¯ll just feed the boys and sneak out to The Base. I have to get through to The General. He must be made to understand the dangers of ¡®the dreamers¡¯ ¡®new technology¡¯.


    I cannot allow these wonderful ¡®new technology¡¯ devices to be used to destroy my world, as they are destroying Apollo''s world.


    Lilly''s thoughts are interrupted by the phone ringing in the living room, Lilly grabs her robe and strides down the stairs to answer it before the ringing awakens Roc and the kids.


    It is Leona, ¡°Good morning Lilly,¡± ¡°Sorry to call so early.¡± ¡°Our sewer is backed up.¡± ¡°I can call a plumber, but that would upset father.¡± ¡°He doesn''t like strangers in our house.¡± ¡°If it isn¡¯t too much trouble, could I pick you up and have you look at this mess for us?¡± ¡°I think you said that you used to do things like this for your parent¡¯s apartment building.¡±


    Leona continues, trying to sound cheerful, "If you can help us today, I¡¯ll be right over to pick you up.¡±


    Lilly figured this day was coming, Their mansion is old and shows no sign of any recent maintenance.


    Lilly is genuinely happy to give something back to the supportive lions and responds cheerfully, ¡°Sure,¡± ¡°I am just a plumber at heart!¡± ¡°I still need to feed the kids,¡± ¡°So give me thirty minutes to assemble my kit and I¡¯ll meet you out in the front driveway.¡±


    Leona drives up into the driveway at Lilly''s house at exactly thirty minutes. Lilly is waiting with a large tool box and a bag of previously soiled coveralls for her ¡®dirty work¡¯.


    On the drive to the lion''s house Lilly asks Leona about past clogging occurrences or if there were any drain issues leading up to the clog today. Leona admits that there have been past incidents of drain clogging, every once in a while.


    At the lion''s house Lilly examines the standing water in the first floor bathroom shower and states the obvious,


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± ¡°Yep," "Your drain is clogged!¡±


    Leona is apologizing, ¡°I am so sorry to bother you.¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, you all have helped me so much, it''s the least I can do.¡± And it was likely me that clogged your drains in the first place. With all the food I eat, I generate mountains of ¡®goat custards¡¯! While you skinny lions eat nothing and rarely use your own plumbing!


    Lilly walks around the large house and finds the drain clean-out. The cap is rusted and frozen on. Not wanting to break the pipe or strip the threads, Lilly sprays the exposed pipe threads with penetrating oil. Lilly reflects, This thread oil soak might take a couple of hours to penetrate far enough inside.


    I¡¯ll look around for other things to fix while I am here and dressed for the occasion.


    Scene 2. Electrician


    Lilly finds Leona in the kitchen, ¡°Leona, you said that your father ordered some electrical lights.¡± ¡°Did you ever put them up?¡±


    Leona shakes her head, ¡°No, the new lights are still packed up in the shed.¡±


    Lilly smiles, ¡°I have a few minutes to wait for the oil to soak into the cap threads before I can remove the cap and wash out the drain pipe.¡± ¡°So I can put up some of your lights now, if you would like.¡±


    Leona smiles, ¡°That would be great!¡±


    Lilly and Leona enter the work shed and open the boxes to examine the electric lights, fixtures and conduit wire. Leona holds up a weatherproof light fixture, ¡°We would like a light over the front door and a light over the back door to the patio.¡±


    Lilly examines the new light bulbs and fixtures, These are nice, The Chief and Ellie are doing a good job with the redesigns.


    Lilly picks up an electrical conduit cable, ¡°Is it okay with you if I run conduit wire around the outside of your house?¡± "I¡¯ll run the conduit cable up under the eves where it shouldn¡¯t be too visible and I¡¯ll paint it the same color as the house."


    Leona smiles and nods, ¡°That sounds very good, but let¡¯s review your plan with father, as he hates surprises and wants the final say on any home projects.¡±


    Lilly grins, Yes! I am here to impress your father!


    The old lion is impressed by the handy Lilly, he nods in approval, ¡°Lilly, I remember you said you were a plumber, and you are an electrician too?¡± Lilly smiles, ¡°Yep!¡± ¡°Been doin¡¯ it for my folks apartments for a few years now.¡± ¡°I had to gave all that up when I had kids, but it is fun to do once in awhile.¡± She sees the old lion has tears in his eyes. Your former caretaker also did things like this?


    Lilly looks around in the work shed, The former caretaker was apparently pretty handy too. She has this shed well stocked with a variety of tools for electrical and plumbing maintenance.


    Lilly takes out a step-ladder and sets it at the front door. Lilly stands on the ladder, holding the light fixture over the front door, ¡°Leona, how is this location?"


    Leona nods, ¡°That would be great!¡± ¡°No more fumbling to open the door in the dark!¡±


    Lilly mounts the fixture and runs the conduit around the house, to the electrical service panel in the back of the house. The process is repeated for the back patio.


    ¡°Leona, get some paint and I¡¯ll paint the conduit on my next visit.¡± ¡°Also think about where you would like to have electric lights in the house.¡± ¡°I can put the lights in the ceiling on the top floor rooms and run the conduit through the attic.¡± ¡°But for the lower floors I may have to mount the lights on the outer walls and run the conduit on the outside of the house.¡±


    Lilly switches the new front and back door electric entry lights on and off, for a test, and smiles,


    It is always so nice when things work!


    Scene 3. Finishing-Up


    Lilly then resumes work on blocked drain. The drain clean-out cap comes off easily, after being soaked in oil. Lilly looks at the lion¡¯s garden hose and frowns, ¡°Now I am going to ruin your garden hose unless you have a drain-snake!¡±


    Leona nods, ¡°The hose is old, I''ll replace it." "I need to get paint at the hardware store anyway.¡±


    Lilly feeds the hose into the blocked drain. The hose stops about two meters inside the drain, ¡°I think I found it, let¡¯s see.¡± ¡°Leona, make sure that no one is near the drains in the house,¡± ¡°And then come out and turn on the hose tap for me.¡±


    Lilly laughs to herself,  I don¡¯t want to kill your father this way. I have much better and more fun methods to kill old men¡­


    Leona shouts, ¡°Okay here goes!¡±


    Lilly has the hose wrapped with towels at the drain clean-out. Leona turns on the garden water hose tap and black water starts squirting out the drain clean-out. Then the squiring stops and gurgling is heard from the drain.


    Lilly smiles, ¡°Leona, I think we got it,¡± ¡°But you will need to ¡®root¡¯ your drain, to avoid this happening again soon.¡± Especially with me visiting...


    Lilly puts the tools back in the shed and washes off her tools, drys them, and puts them back in her tool box. Leona looks at the splattered Lilly, ¡°Lilly please come in and shower.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some clean clothes for you too.¡± Lilly decides that is a good idea and takes Leona up on the offer.


    Lilly exits the shower and Leona is waiting for Lilly. Leona has selected some of the former caretaker''s clothes Leona knows her father likes.


    Lilly lifts a fore-leg to her nose, ¡°Leona, do you happen to have some cologne?¡± ¡°I still smell like the sewer.¡± ¡°Maybe something that old lions like to smell?¡±


    Lilly looks up, Now what do old lions like to smell?


    Lilly then grimaces with eyes wide in fear at her own request, and thinks,


    Probably something like ¡®fresh goat meat¡¯!


    Scene 4. Test


    The Advisor intercepts Lilly in the bathroom. Lilly is still wrapped in a towel, applying Leona''s cologne, ¡°Please show me the results of all of your hard work.¡±


    Lilly smiles, still toweling off, ¡°Okay, it isn''t that much.¡± ¡°And I did just test the plumbing with my shower.¡± ¡°Go easy on the plumbing to avoid another stoppage, don¡¯t invite any great big beasts, like me, over to visit.¡± Sticking the towel into her ear.


    The Advisor turns and bows slightly toward Lilly, ¡°Lilly,¡± ¡°I thank you!¡± "I don¡¯t know what I was thinking, ordering these electric lights that I can¡¯t put up myself.¡± ¡°But I am fascinated by these devices, and your other inventions too.¡±


    Lilly dresses in a nice blouse and pants set Leona retrieved from the old caretaker¡¯s closet. Lilly grimaces before the dressing mirror,  Uh oh, these clothes are a very tight fit! I hope I don''t have to bend over.


    Lilly joins The Advisor in the living room and he stares at Lilly as she enters, ¡°You look very good in those clothes.¡± Lilly raises her fore-legs and slowly turns around, to fully display the former caretaker¡¯s clothes for him. Then two walk close together to the front door. The Advisor opens the door and cycles the front door light switch on and off. He smiles to see the new device cheerfully illuminating the front porch and then it goes dark, on command. Lilly and The Advisor then walk around the house to the back porch to test the electric light there. The Advisor repeats the on-off cycle test on the patio door light.


    The Advisor comments, ¡°I would like to string more lights around the patio roof, so we could have back yard events at night, in the summer.¡± Lilly nods, ¡°Buy more light strings and I¡¯ll put them up next time I am over.¡± She blushes at The Advisor¡¯s excitement, she twirls and poses ¡®on point¡¯, up on one rear-toe. She holds her pose for The Advisor¡¯s approval. She winks and he blushes.


    The Advisor regains his composure, smiling,


    ¡°How can I repay you for all of this?¡±


    Scene 5. Review


    Lilly smiles and changes the subject, ¡°Have you heard anything back about our paper submission?¡±


    The Advisor pauses at Lilly¡¯s caveat, ¡°Not from the journal review committee, but my friends have submitted some comments.¡± ¡°Would you like to go through their comments with me?¡±


    Lilly smiles and quickly nods, ¡°Yes, I would very much like to see what your friends have to write about me.¡±


    The Advisor guides Lilly back inside the house and to his Study office desk, where the pages of Lilly''s paper are spread out.


    Lilly looks down at the desk, ¡°This is my first journal paper submission with me as lead author (with your help, of course).¡± ¡°My other papers have all been with The Professor as the lead, and me as one of the minor associates¡­¡±


    Lilly recounts, "The Professor had stopped publishing papers in his later years for various reasons." "I got him started again by offering to write all of his paper drafts and by making new observations and astronomical photography for him at the observatory."


    Lilly closes her eyes and reflects on her memory of The Professor, kind and wise, with a tear.


    Lilly then open her eyes and brightly continues, ¡°My paper is all my own original work!¡± ¡°Without stealing anything from my ''dream world''!¡±


    The Advisor stares at Lilly, ¡®Dream world¡¯? Lilly? You have a ¡®dream world¡¯?


    The Advisor smiles again at his precocious student and ignores her ¡®dream world¡¯ comment for now, ¡°You seem to have gotten have a lot of scientific writing experience, thanks to your ¡®association¡¯ with ¡®The Professor¡¯.¡± ¡°And my friends noticed this and commented favorably on your writing style.¡± ¡°They only had a few rewriting suggestions and corrections on the narrative itself." "They mostly asked for more analysis and more ¡®raw data¡¯.¡± Leo rocks back in his office chair and laughs, ¡°The nosy bastards!¡±


    Lilly¡¯s heart leaps as she is again smitten by the old lion¡¯s caricature grimace. Lilly walks around his large desk and up behind the old lion¡¯s chair. She closes her eyes and embraces him from behind, nestling her big nose into his still thick, black, mane. Her wiggling nostrils and her tongue touch his cheek, ¡°Mmmmmm¡±


    Lilly, sniffing deeply, softly bleats, ¡°How can you repay me?¡± ¡°Do you reeeally have to aaaaskh?¡±, her tail briskly wiggling.


    Leo carefully turns his head and kisses Lilly on her forehead, between her horns. Leo''s long tail is slowly, rhythmically, waving its black tuft, back and forth, behind his chair.


    Lilly is overwhelmed with The Advisor¡¯s smell and her own emotions. A very audible growling sound is heard, emanating from Lilly¡¯s stomach. Lilly tearfully sobs, ¡°Look what you have done to me!¡±


    ¡°Now I am aroused,¡± ¡°<u>A</u><u>nd</u> hungry!¡±


    Scene 6. Lunch


    As they walk out the back door Lilly looks over to The Advisor, ¡°You have never been up to my observatory, have you?¡± She stops and turns taking his large fore-paws in her fore-hooves, ¡°At the request of your ''friends'', I will be going up to my observatory to look in the archives for more of that ¡®raw data¡¯ for inclusion into my paper.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me?¡±


    Lilly slyly smiles, ¡°I could give you an ¡®early peek¡¯ at my ¡®raw data¡¯!¡±


    The old lion looks over at the skipping young Lilly and shakes his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can keep up with you.¡± ¡°And I am not much good at high-altitudes these days.¡±


    Lilly pulls The Advisor up against her chest, then smiling, seductively, in a soft bleat, while coyly drawing a circle with her rear to on the ground,  ¡°Please come with me,¡± ¡°To my observatory,¡± ¡°My Advisor,¡± ¡°And check out my ¡®raw data¡¯!¡±


    Leona walks over and collects the attached pair, taking each one by a foreleg, like children, and walks them over and sits them down at the table. The outside patio table  has been attractively set up by Leona and the maid. Set out are trays with several boxes of hot pizza, chilled sliced fruit and ice-cream, for Lilly.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.Also set out, are small trays of hard biscuits and dried meat, for the lions.


    Lilly¡¯s eyes brighten as she quickly scoops up a slice of hot pizza and swallows it whole, and then another slice is swallowed in one gulp, Uh oh, I¡¯ve been spotted being a ¡®pig¡¯ with food again!


    The two lions are staring at Lilly¡¯s zestful eating. They are both, slowly and quietly, nibbling on the hard biscuits and the small pieces of dried meat, never looking away from Lilly.


    Lilly tries to hide her sudden fear, I really hope that these two skinny lions are not just fattening up ¡®the goat¡¯ for lunch! I really need to find out what became of the former caretaker. No one just disappears and leaves all of their stuff. Her sudden disappearance is very suspicious. But they both seemed to value her work here and they seem to miss her a lot. Maybe I can ask Leona about her when we are alone together.


    The Advisor breaks Lilly¡¯s tense silence and speaks, ¡°Although I haven¡¯t received the final word on your scientific article submission, the rumors from my co-reviewer friends are that the publisher plans to use your paper as the lead-feature article for the monthly volume of the journal.¡± The Advisor pauses, as if he shouldn¡¯t proceed to tell Lilly the rest, ¡°Ahem,¡± ¡°Along with your interview for the press-release for the newspapers...¡±


    Lilly bolts up and chokes. She mumbles, mouth full of pizza, ¡°Interview?¡± (¡°Gag¡±) ¡°When was that the deal?¡± (¡°Gag¡±) ¡°And it¡¯s the ¡®lead¡¯ article?¡± (¡°Gag¡±)


    Leo The Advisor smiles and continues to devil Lilly, ¡°You could even be up for ¡®The Prize¡¯,¡± ¡°As your discovery is very exciting, and revolutionary.¡±


    Lilly eyes wide and in a panic, is compulsively bolting down food.


    I can¡¯t even tell The Advisor <u>why</u> I can¡¯t be seen in public!


    That I might be recognized by one of my victims, as the ¡®Dark Alley Rapist¡¯!


    Scene 7. Digest


    Lunch ends when Lilly reaches into the last pizza box, now empty. Lilly frowns and grimaces, Uh oh, not again! ¡°Hic!¡±


    I have even unbuttoned my clothes without thinking as I pigged out from stress of a threatened interview! ¡°Hic!¡±


    Lilly looks down at her engorged belly, now out resting on her lap. Not only did I undress, but my bare belly is sticking out from my blouse and pants! ¡°Hic!¡±


    Lilly reaches down to feel her stomach, in pain, Three boxes of pizza! Plus a tub of ice-cream! Egad! What have I become? ¡°Hic!¡±


    Lilly attempts to stand up, holding the table with one fore-hoof while holding her churning tight belly with her other. Lilly is dizzy from her gorging,  grimacing in pain, ¡°Hic!¡± ¡°Belch!¡±  ¡°Hic!¡±


    Lilly, hiccuping and unsteadily staggering, is on the verge of collapse as she tries to walk, ¡°Hic!¡± wobble.


    The Advisor notices Lilly¡¯s wobble and stands to hold her up, ¡°Perhaps, Lilly, we should take a break,¡± ¡°A nap maybe.¡±


    Lilly looks at him, nods and tries to smile, ¡°Hic!¡±


    The Advisor then slowly escorts the staggering Lilly to his Side Study for her ¡®nap¡¯. He slowly walks her in and seats her down on the bed. Lilly then continues unbuttoning her uncomfortably tight clothes. Lilly is now suddenly aware of the pressure of her belly down against her sensitive groin area, adding to her state of arousal.


    She looks up at Leo while she strips, ¡°You too big fella!¡± ¡°Hic!¡±


    Once undressed, she leans back on the bed, holding Leo to her side, her nose wiggling, ¡°Mmmmm,¡± ¡°Come here,¡± ¡°My Furry¡­¡± ¡°Sniff!¡± ¡°Sniff!¡± ¡°Hic!¡±


    Leo lies down on the bed, next to Lilly. He then gently places his large paw on her stomach and begins to message her tightly gorged belly and feels her stomach spasms.


    Lilly turns her head to him and moans in ecstatic relief, ¡°Yeess!¡± ¡°Baaaahhh¡­¡± ¡°Hic!¡±


    Lilly tries to relax and relish Leo¡¯s soft warm paw, slowly caressing her entire lower body.


    Leo calls out, ¡°Shelia!¡±


    Lilly softly coos, with a tear,


    ¡°I¡¯m not your ¡®first¡¯, am I?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± ¡°Experience is good.¡± ¡°Hic!¡±


    After a few of Leo¡¯s soft paw strokes on her belly, Lilly¡¯s body starts into an involuntary, rhythmic, jerking tension. Leo¡¯s continuing belly massage and tactile stimulation is rapidly pushing Lilly over her ¡®peak¡¯. Lilly suddenly flexes her back legs up to her chest and into a powerful clonic seizure. Lilly, with eyes tightly closed and fore-legs tightly pulled against her chest, experiences violent climax contractions, her body bouncing on the bed, as she sees beautiful swirls of color against her tightly closed eyelids. Then Lilly¡¯s sexual, and other tensions, suddenly all release and radiate away into space.


    Leo bolts up, startled by Lilly¡¯s convulsions, ¡°Am I hurting you?!¡±


    Lilly gradually opens her eyes, her muscle spasms subsiding. Lilly suddenly grabs Leo into her fore-legs and draws his face up to hers, pressing her large chest against Leo¡¯s thin sunken chest, feeling each other''s beating heart. Lilly stares into Leo¡¯s face for a moment, then she kisses him, long and passionately, tears again streaming,


    ¡°Mmmmmm!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Hurts!¡± ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Lilly smells and feels Leo¡¯s moisture accumulating on her thigh, along with her own. Lilly again stares at Leo and shudders in ecstasy. Lilly then places his large paw back onto her belly as she grunts,


    ¡°But don¡¯t you dare stop!¡± "Belch!"


    Scene 8. Drive


    On the trip back home Lilly is silent, looking down, frowning.


    Leona glances at Lilly and comments, ¡°Are you okay, Lilly?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t mad at my dad over something, are you?¡± ¡°Does your stomach still ache?¡±


    Lilly sits back up straight and grimaces a smile, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Your dad is so good to me and he is helping me so much on my thesis.¡± ¡°I am a bit tired from the plumbing and electrical projects and my thesis publication review,¡± and the Side Study, where your dad cured my hiccups.


    Lilly thinks about the former caregiver and decides she is not up to that ¡®reveal¡¯ on this visit, maybe next time.


    ¡°I only worry if I am good enough company for your dad to be worth all of his time.¡±


    Leona smiles to Lilly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed?¡± ¡°My dad is in love with you!¡± ¡°Dad is really looking forward to visiting your observatory with you.¡±


    Lilly jerks, How do you know about our observatory visit?


    I was kinda hoping the trip would just be the two of us.


    Oh well, it isn¡¯t like Leona doesn¡¯t know what is going on.


    After all, she set us up!


    Lilly nods, ¡°Leona, you should come with us.¡± ¡°Please.¡± "Your farther says that you taught science and worked in scientific research, so I think you will find it interesting."


    ¡°As a partial ¡®thank you¡¯ for all you have done for me,¡± ¡°Leona,"


    "I will personally give you the grand tour of my observatory!¡±


    Scene 9. Success


    It is late afternoon when Lilly returns home. Lilly sets her tool box and her washed and neatly folded coveralls on the front porch chair.


    Lilly looks at her toolbox thinking, I really don''t need to bring my tools to their house. They seem to have everything needed in their shed. The tools were likely purchased for them by the former caretaker.


    Lilly looks down at the clean and neatly folded coveralls, Leona even washed my coveralls, probably while I was playing with her father in the Side-Study. My coveralls have never been this clean since they were new!


    Lilly opens the front door. Roc is waiting for her in the living room, as usual. As Lilly opens the front door she is suddenly aware of her still mostly unbuttoned blouse and pants, reveling her bulging belly.


    Roc folds his paper at Lilly¡¯s dramatic, partially clad, entrance.


    Roc comments, ¡°It does appear that you are getting along well with your new Advisor.¡±


    Lilly expounds, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°The Advisor has accepted me!¡±


    Lilly closes her eyes and lifts a fore-leg up, as if she is in a play. She announces,


    ¡°The Advisor is a great man, and a doctor!¡±


    ¡°The Advisor has also developed a fool-proof cure for the ¡®hiccups¡¯!¡±


    And he also gave me a rather complete ¡®physical¡¯! All at the same low price!


    Roc quietly adds, ¡°But isn¡¯t he a doctor of <u>philosophy</u>?¡±


    Lilly continues the drama, ¡°Roc,¡± ¡°You should never have told Leona what I like to eat!¡± ¡°Those lions have been <u>hell</u> on my ¡®diet¡¯!¡±


    Roc chuckles at Lilly¡¯s large form in the doorway, What diet!? ¡°No diet while you are nursing!¡± Stay big for now! And maybe for our next kids too.


    Lilly is still holding the door, trembling, ¡°Roc,¡± ¡°If I ever don¡¯t come home from the lions, have the cops check their basement for my gnawed bones.¡± ¡°And maybe look for the old caretaker¡¯s remains there too.¡±


    Lilly dramatically kicks the front door shut with a hind-hoof and strides up to Roc. She firmly embraces him, pushing her large chest and her protruding belly into him. Roc stares at Lilly, puzzled by her statements, her sewer-cologne-lion smell, her engorged belly and her advanced state of ¡®undress¡¯.


    Roc, slyly smiles, ¡°You didn¡¯t just <u>unclog</u> The Advisor¡¯s drain, did you?¡± ¡°Did you also <u>unclog</u> The Advisor?¡±


    Lilly smiles with a smirk, Actually, we unclogged each other...


    Lilly sets her right foreleg akimbo, ¡°I did much more for him than just that!¡±


    Lilly raises her fore-legs and twirls on her point on a rear-toe, in her lewd, partially undressed, exhibition. She stops and pats her protruding naked belly with a ¡°Pop¡±, in satisfaction, ¡°Belch!¡±


    ¡°I ¡®illuminated¡¯ The Advisor¡¯s house!¡±

 25. Rounds

    Scene 1. Morning


    Lilly awakens back in the Beast-Town hotel, lying couched on her mat with her head down on her fore-legs. It is morning and Sally is once again lying on her back in bed, snoring, with her mouth wide open.


    ¡°At least Sally doesn¡¯t keep me awake.¡± ¡°I wonder how Apollo deals with it?¡±


    ¡°And how does Sally tolerate Apollo ''s smell?¡±


    ¡°I do smell breakfast,¡±


    ¡°I guess I''ll do my morning constitutional and meet everyone down in the kitchen.¡±


    Sally awakens and sits up at Lilly¡¯s thoughts and her morning activities. Sally¡¯s covers fall as she sits up, revealing her full fluffy torso,


    ¡°Give me a moment Lilly, I¡¯ll go down with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still mad at Apollo.¡±


    Lilly looks up at Sally and smiles, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Are you afraid Apollo will throw you back into the commune?¡± ¡°At least you probably won¡¯t be sold for steaks, like I will.¡±


    Sally continues to dress, choosing the tight clothes she knows Apollo favors.


    Lilly stares at Sally as she dresses, ¡°Are you sure you are still mad at Apollo?¡±


    ¡°That tight outfit isn¡¯t very practical for our veterinary rounds at the farms today.¡± ¡°I recommend taking along a change of clothes, in case those tight wraps pop when you bend over,¡± ¡°Bah ha ha!¡± ¡°I know about that!¡±


    The two walk down the stairs, to the kitchen. Lilly finds her favorite handsome young Minotaur helper for her morning milking.


    Her helper is cheerful, ¡°Good morning Lilly.¡± ¡°You look beautiful this morning.¡±


    Lilly cuddles up to the helper, ¡°I look like a goat!¡± ¡°But you may continue to complement me anyway.¡±


    Sally kindly relays the message from Lilly to Lilly''s helper. Sally continues to smile at the handsome young helper as he works, hoisting up her large bosom,


    ¡°Maabyyee youu¡¯ll heelp mee tooohh, soome daay.¡±


    Scene 2. Eddie


    The morning entertainment and breakfast service begins, trays are prepared for Lilly and Sally, but Apollo and Ticktock are nowhere to be seen.


    Eddy enters the kitchen and prepares a breakfast plate, smiling cheerfully, ¡°May I join you all?¡±.


    The two nod, Sally waves to a kitchen helper, he brings a large chair to the table for Eddie.


    Lilly shakes her head ¡°No!¡± at Sally, to no avail.


    Sally loudly bleats, glaring, with a frown, ¡°Have yoouu seeen Apoolloo this moorning, Eddieeh?¡±


    Eddie shakes his head, ¡°Not yet,¡± ¡°I think he is still with my wife, Marion,¡±


    Eddie answers with shocking frankness, ¡°I think Apollo was with Marion all night last night.¡±


    Lilly and Sally stare at Eddie, speechless.


    Eddie picks up on their wide eyed stares, ¡°Apollo is treating Marion,¡± ¡°To help her conceive.¡± ¡°We want foals, but we haven¡¯t had any luck so far with the natural method and we are running out of time.¡±


    Lilly is envisioning last night¡¯s encounter, ¡°And he has to feel up Marion¡¯s butt to do this?¡±


    Sally starts to speak and Lilly stomps on Sally¡¯s hoof and the startled Sally loudly screams, ¡°BAAAAAAAhhh!¡±


    But Ticktock has silently walked up behind the seated group and answers Lilly¡¯s unspoken question to Eddie, ¡°Apollo was examining Marion¡¯s mark from her originating laboratory.¡± ¡°Apollo was also checking Marion¡¯s rear muscles for the strength necessary to deliver a large horse-folk foal, as Apollo is considering using a surrogate.¡± ¡°Apollo gave Marion injections all through the night to help stimulate ¡®estrus¡¯ and straighten her rear muscles.¡±


    Eddie looks down as if ashamed, ¡°We have an ¡®arranged¡¯ marriage.¡± ¡°I know that I could never get a famous and beautiful movie star, like Marion, to marry me on my own,¡± ¡°Me, a simple livery stable operator and ranch hand.¡± ¡°The researchers at the lab put our union together.¡± "They liked her beauty and my strength." ¡°Their machines matched us up as a suitable pairing.¡± ¡°Arrangements like ours are common for the beast-folk, especially for species that have difficulty producing offspring. Many of the beast-folk species have yet to establish stable populations and many rare variety populations within certain species are becoming more difficult to preserve.¡± ¡°Multiple mate marriages are common for these reasons.¡± ¡°The researchers will arrange couples on request.¡± ¡°Artificial implantation of externally fertilized embryos are also performed by the researchers, Marion and I may have to resort to that if nothing else works.¡± ¡°Everyone is given regular physicals by the researchers, for their general health, so a regular check for reproduction progress is included.¡± ¡°Some beast-folk are taken to the labs for closer observation during their pregnancy.¡±


    Eddie continues, ¡°To encourage reproduction, cross species relations of any kind are strictly outlawed in Beast-Town, except to entertain the tourists.¡± ¡°Those in town that want to try cross-species relationships, or are in it for the tourist money, register as an entertainers.¡± ¡°Established relationships and marriages are still forbidden, even for the entertainers.¡±


    ¡°Although I am registered as an entertainer, that ¡®fooling around¡¯ is not for me,¡± ¡°Not when I have Marion,¡± ¡°I just play the guitar for the tourists.¡±


    Lilly has a thought when Eddie mentions his guitar, ¡°Sally,¡± ¡°Ask Eddie where he got his guitar.¡±


    Sally asks Eddie about his guitar for Lilly.


    Eddie answers with a broad smile, clearly happy to tell his story, ¡°While I was in one of the labs on a research trip, (I guess because I am considered a ¡®rare palomino¡¯ variety), one of the researchers was playing his guitar, at lunch one day.¡± ¡°I loved the sound it made and I asked him if he would teach me how to play.¡± ¡°He made a fret, to fit my hoof, and he taught me how to play.¡± ¡°He offered his guitar to me, if I would allow him to come to Beast-Town to watch me play it.¡± ¡°That researcher was our first human tourist and he became a good friend to Beast-Town.¡± ¡°From him, the townsfolk discovered the money they could make on tourists and the council decided to allow human and beast-folk tourists from the ''outside'' on tours into Beast-Town.¡±


    ¡°The researcher offered to teach me how to read music, but I don¡¯t need to,¡± ¡°I just listen to Marion sing, pick out the chords and start to play.¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report itEddie turns when he hears an announcement from the large dining room calling his name, ¡°Oh," "I¡¯m on next!¡± ¡°Excuse me!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk again.¡±


    Scene 3. Veterinarian


    Sally is frowning thinking, ¡°Only on stage?¡± On stage!¡± ¡°And Eddie doesn¡¯t do this, even on stage!¡± ¡°Damn!¡±


    But Lilly is smiling and hopeful, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Sally," "They can¡¯t be watching everyone everywhere!¡±


    Sally is still sad, ¡°But we are only seeing regular animals today.¡±


    The devilish Lilly continues, ¡°There will be ranch-hands around.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet some will be willing to ''stray'' and try something new.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check them out first and lure in a ¡®milker¡¯,¡± ¡°And set you right up!¡± ¡°You¡¯re cute Sally!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get Apollo back!¡± ¡°Apollo isn¡¯t going to leave you.¡± "Let''s brew ourselves a little ''jealousy'' just to make sure."


    Sally is still shaking her head at Lilly, ¡°No!¡± ¡°No!¡±


    Lilly scowls, ¡°Don¡¯t be a chicken, Sally,¡± ¡°I can¡¯t ¡®do it¡¯ in this world, except with Al.¡±


    ¡°So why don¡¯t you go out and have some fun with these cute ''monsters''?¡±


    Apollo appears at the door and motions to the group, ¡°Come on kids, let¡¯s go out do our jobs for the farms!¡±


    Apollo¡¯s team loads into Eddie''s cart again and they proceed to bounce out to the country farms. There are a lot of farms, with a lot of animals to health check. Most of the medical care is for simple scrapes and bruises. Apollo shows the team how to dress superficial wounds, pad and protect bruises. After Apollo¡¯s teaching, the team holds seminars to instruct the farm workers on how to change the bandages, check on healing progress, and check for diseases. A few injuries require the animals to be shipped back to the lab for more advanced treatment: deep stab wounds; broken bones; organic diseases.


    Scene 4. Wylie


    During a rest break at one large farm, Lilly approaches Sally and motions her forward with her head, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Sally follows Lilly into a large barn. Lilly grins at Sally, ¡°This farm-hand is one of my favorites.¡± ¡°I think that he is quite the handsome looker.¡± ¡°He is gentle and a total sweetheart.¡± ¡°And he is packing a very impressive ¡®dancing pole¡¯.¡± ¡°He milks me with his large soft lips, and that excites both of us.¡± ¡°I¡¯d jump him in a heartbeat, if he was back in my world.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll bet he loves you soft, fluffy, sheep-girls,¡± ¡°Especially with that rack of yours, Sally!¡± ¡°Most everyone likes sheep-girls, except me.¡± ¡°Just kidding, I like you Sally.¡±


    Inside one of the dairy¡¯s milking stalls, stands a very tall and muscular, horse-man, carefully placing lids on several milk buckets, presumably milk from Lilly. He is broad shouldered, charcoal black, with a long jet black mane and tail. He has long black fluffy feathers on his fore and rear ankles.


    Sally eyes go wide at horse-man¡¯s commanding presence. Sally presses her hooves to her mouth and squeaks, ¡°Bekkeakhh!¡±


    Lilly turns and faces Sally, looking like a set director, ¡°Okay Sally!¡± ¡°You have his attention!¡± ¡°Now show him your boobs!¡±


    Sally stands still and stares at the large black horse-man, Sally cries, ¡°Bhaaaahh!¡±


    The ranch-hand horse-man stands full up, looks up and around. He is a little surprised to hear a sheep in his barn. He spots Sally and smiles gently, revealing his large blue eyes and large white teeth. He is staring at Sally¡¯s large chest.


    Lilly growls at Sally, ¡°He¡¯s a certified and approved ''boob man'' Sally!¡± ¡°Make your move now or you will lose your only chance!¡±


    The shy Sally is making a great effort to relax and smile back at the handsome ranch-hand.


    Sally squeak-bleats, ¡°Helloooo Thereeeehh.¡± ¡°Beeek!¡± ¡°Iii¡¯m Saaalyyyhh.¡± ¡°Beeek!¡±


    The ranch-hand speaks slowly, with a very disarming and seductive smile, and he winks, ¡°Hello there, beautiful Sally.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Wylie.¡± Wylie is still staring a Sally¡¯s chest.


    Lilly backs out of the barn, ¡°He¡¯s all yours Sally!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blow it!¡±


    Sally is frozen on the spot, Now what do I do? Oh yeah, Lilly said for me to open my shirt.


    Sally reaches up and unbuttons her, too-tight, shirt top. Sally¡¯s large breasts pour out and down onto her chest.


    Wylie''s eyes widen, with ears straight up, at Sally¡¯s sudden display. Wylie slowly walks up to Sally and gently assists with her unbuttoning, ¡°May I assist you? ¡°With a milking, perhaps?¡±


    Sally thinks about the question, What would that dominant Lilly say, ¡°Nooo,¡± ¡°But maaaybeee I caaan ¡®aaassist¡¯ youuu,¡± ¡°Wylieee!¡± Sally, slowly and seductively, bleats.


    While Sally¡¯s blouse is being unbuttoned by Wylie, she reaches down and touches Wylie¡¯s pants buttons, ending the conversation. After a quick strip show, they stand, facing each other, naked and coyly blushing. Sally examines the handsome Wylie. Sally¡¯s eyes go wide, Wow! Lilly¡¯s right! What a ¡®dancing pole¡¯ he has!


    Sally has had enough teasing. Sally grabs Wylie and presses his body to her large soft chest, in a strong tight embrace. Sally moves her head in to his, face to face, and kisses Wylie on his large soft lips, firmly, passionately and longingly.


    Just then Apollo walks into the barn. Apollo stops in surprise and stares at the kissing couple, ¡°Oh my!¡± ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡±


    The two, still holding each other, break their kiss and turn their heads toward Apollo.


    Apollo turns around and quickly walks towards the barn door, ¡°Carry on you-all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll guard the door for you.¡±


    Lilly peeks in the barn to check on progress, ¡°At-a-girl, Sally!¡± ¡°Now nail that sucker!¡±


    The two new lovers turn their heads back and bashfully regard at each other again. Wylie murmurs a short soft whinnie, feeling Sally¡¯s fleece against his body, ¡°You''re very soft,¡± ¡°Salleeeehhh.¡±


    Sally softly bleats, ¡°Yoou¡¯re soo waarm,¡± ¡°Wylieeehh¡± And something hard of yours is poking me, down below.


    Sally and Wylie proceed to enthusiastically consummate their sudden, intimate, friendship.


    Afterwards, they embrace and separate, both needing to get back to their work day. Sally looks down at her body to see that her fleece is soaked and matted with Wylie¡¯s ¡®essence¡¯.


    Wylie points to the back of the barn as he pulls on his ranch clothes, ¡°There¡¯s showers back there, in the back of the barn.¡± ¡°I¡¯d help you with that, but I can hear my folks calling for me.¡± Wylie waves and smiles to Sally as he walks out of the barn, ¡°Very glad to meet you!¡± ¡°Sally!¡± ¡°Come back and visit me anytime!¡±


    Sally is thinking, Wow, what a guy! It is a good thing that this barn has a shower, Wylie was loaded! It is not going to be as much fun getting Wylie¡¯s stuff off of me as was getting it on me. How am I going to dry off? Well, it is not like everyone in my group doesn¡¯t know what happened. Good thing I kicked my clothes over to the wall or they would would all be soaked too!


    As Sally is dressing, she hears a very loud horse¡¯s whinnie from outside the barn.


    Sally answers her new lover¡¯s call with a loud joyous bleat,


    ¡°BAAAAHHH!¡±


    Scene 5. Forbidden


    On the drive back, Lilly looks over at Sally. Sally clothes are mostly unbuttoned with Sally¡¯s fleece exposed, to blow dry in the cart breeze. Sally has her head back, smiling, eyes closed, petting her exposed tummy with a hoof in satisfaction, while relishing the breeze.


    Lilly observes the happy, relaxed Sally and stomps her hoof on the cart floor, ¡°Whack!¡± ¡°Sally!¡± ¡°You stop your ¡®climaxing¡¯ right now and tell me!¡± ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Did you like him?¡± ¡°Did he like you?¡± ¡°Did you make another date?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even have to worry about getting ¡®knocked up¡¯!¡±


    Sally is still smiling with her eyes closed, she bleats a response to Lilly¡¯s questions, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yeess!¡± ¡°Yeeesss!¡± ¡°Baaaahh!¡± ¡°I waaant tooo gooo Baaack!¡± ¡°Baaaahh!¡± ¡°Wyylieeehh!¡±


    Apollo has a frown as looks around at the contented, smiling, bleating, Sally.


    Lilly glares at Apollo, ¡°That¡¯s right Apollo!¡± ¡°Sally is your companion,¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll lose her if you don¡¯t respect her feelings!¡± Lilly continues projecting her thoughts, ¡°Yeah, like:¡± ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, Marion,¡± ¡°And I need to give you a thorough ¡®butt examination¡¯ that will take all night!¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Right!¡± ¡°All night, Apollo?¡± ¡°Or just an excuse to massage Marion¡¯s nice ¡®horseflesh¡¯ all night?¡±


    As Lilly snarls and glares at Apollo, she bark-bleats, ¡°Baaaahh!¡±


    Sally and Ticktock stare at Lilly, but they say nothing to Apollo, ¡°Apollo gets the message, Lilly.¡±


    It is night when the group exits the cart back at the hotel, too late for the shows. Sally is last, still massaging her belly, slowly exiting the cart, disappointed that the day is over.


    Sally stops and looks at Lilly, ¡°I asked Apollo when he planned to visit Wylie¡¯s farm again.¡± ¡°Apollo said that we wouldn¡¯t be visiting that farm again.¡± ¡°Ever.¡±


    Lilly frowns, ¡°No more visits?¡± ¡°Wylie is my favorite ¡®milker¡¯!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Apollo.¡±


    Sally stares at Lilly, ¡°You?¡± ¡°Talk to Apollo?" "How?¡± ¡°Apollo can¡¯t hear you, Lilly.¡±


    Lilly grins and wiggles a fore-hoof toe, ¡°With a hoof through his thick forehead skull!¡± ¡°I have found this to be a very effective means of communication with stubborn folks!¡± ¡°The ¡®hoof¡¯ of reason, I say!¡±


    Sally looks down and quietly thinks about her situation, ¡°Lilly,¡± ¡°I will be sleeping in Apollo¡¯s room tonight.¡±


    Lilly frowns again, ¡°You forgave that cad already!¡± ¡°Oh great!¡± ¡°Now I get to sleep with Ticktock!¡±


    Ticktock turns to Lilly, ¡°Would you like me to read you a bedtime story, Lilly?¡±


    Lilly stares at Ticktock for a moment, ¡°You know what, Ticktock?¡± ¡°I would like that.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Order me some warm milk.¡± ¡°And maybe some cookies too¡­¡±


    ¡°See what you¡¯re missing, Sally?¡±


    End of chapter 25.

 26. Expedition, Part 1, Revelations

    Scene 1. Conference


    Lilly awakens back at home. She carefully sits up and looks over at the sleeping Roc,


    I have to avoid interruptions today and get over to the base. I¡¯ll kick in The General¡¯s door if I have to.


    Lilly slips from the bed and quietly performs her morning constitutional. She then quietly walks down the hall to the twin boy''s room for a quick breast-feeding, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t cry boys, mama-nanny is here, don¡¯t wake your daddy.¡±


    Man are they growing fast! They¡¯ll soon be taller than their older sisters.


    My body seems to know this and my breasts are drying out. I know an old lion that will be disappointed without my cream for his coffee.


    Lilly quietly descends the stairs,


    How am I going to get to The Base? A cab will take too long. Who can I call that won¡¯t ask too many questions?


    ¡°Hi Ellie," "This is Lilly.¡± ¡°I need your help to get out to The Base to see The General.¡± ¡°I am sorry to call so early, but it is important.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Not on the phone," "I¡¯ll tell you about it in the car.¡±


    Lilly hears a sound behind her, it¡¯s Roc, leaning on the living room doorway with a questioning look.


    Lilly looks down, avoiding Roc¡¯s eyes,  ¡°I am setting up a meeting with The General today.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to involve you any further, but now that I think about it, maybe you should be at this meeting too.¡± ¡°Let''s see if we can get Rod¡¯s kids to watch our kids and house while we¡¯re gone today.¡±


    Lilly picks up the telephone and calls The General¡¯s aide-de-camp, Warrant Officer Lois. Lois agrees to find some time for a meeting and call back, but Lilly interrupts,


    ¡°Roc and I will be out at The Base today and we will wait to see The General as long as it takes.¡± ¡°It is urgent, so I have to see The General today!¡±


    On the ride to the base Lilly is in the front passenger seat with Roc in the back seat. Lilly sneaks a look at Ellie,


    Warrant Officer Lois is going to look like Ellie when she is older, thin and nice looking.


    They ride to The Base in silence. Ellie is curious, but she knows that Lilly cannot say what the meeting is about, ¡°Lilly, come and visit us at The Factory when you can.¡±


    ¡°I would like to show you what The Chief and I have done with some of your inventions.¡±


    Scene 2. Outer-Office


    Ellie drops Roc and Lilly off at The Base. They wait in The General¡¯s outer office for entry to The General¡¯s inner office. The young fox-woman Warrant Officer, Lois, smiles at Lilly, ¡°I, and the others, have missed you at our tennis games.¡±


    Lilly smiles back, ¡°You all can play without me,¡± ¡°You have enough tennis interest to fill two doubles courts now, even without me.¡±


    Lois continues, ¡°But Lilly, you brought us all together!¡±


    Lois¡¯ eyes widen as she carefully examines Lilly''s husband, Roc,


    ¡°Is this handsome gentleman your husband?¡± ¡°We have seen each other at events, but I have not had the pleasure of a formal introduction.¡±


    Lois'' makes no attempt to hide her tail, briskly wagging, while trying to hide her numerous sharp teeth from Roc''s view as she smiles, by holding her paw up to her mouth,


    ¡°Hi,¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lois!¡±


    Lilly and Roc both stand, ¡°Lois," "This is my husband, Roc.¡±


    Lois presses her lips closed and presents her fore-paw and blushes.


    Roc gently lifts Lois¡¯ fore-paw, ¡°It is very nice to meet you, Lois.¡± ¡°And thank you for helping Lilly with The General and settling-in here at The Base.¡±


    Lois glows red and her eyes glisten at her paw touching Roc¡¯s fore-hoof, ¡°Roc," "Do you play tennis too?¡± ¡°Would you like to go out and play with me today?¡± ¡°Squeak!¡± "Yip!" ¡°''To the'' court," ¡­ "And play ''tennis''?¡± Tail wagging, "Yip-squeak!".


    Roc is caught off-guard at Lois¡¯ flirting slip of speech. Roc quickly nods to Lois and smiles, their eyes connect, ¡°Yes, I would love to play with you today,¡± ¡°Cough, Cough,¡± "Baah!" ¡°Tennis with you!¡± Roc''s white tail wiggles, "Baah!".


    Lilly is surprised by Lois¡¯ coy reaction upon her introduction to Roc, followed by her aggressive flirtation,


    Lois is usually so stoic, but she is cute when she smiles, and attractive too.


    Lois is about my age, but she looks so much younger because she is so thin and flat.


    Good luck hitting on Roc, Lois. My shy Roc is faithful, naive and oblivious.


    The subtle approach doesn''t work on him, many have tried.


    If you want Roc, Lois, you¡¯ll have to rape him, as I did...


    Scene 3. Conference


    The inner office door suddenly opens. It is The General blocking most of the light. He is looking worried but trying to smile,¡°Greetings Lilly, I was going to call you but you beat me to it.¡± ¡°We have a lot to discuss.¡±


    The General ushers Roc and Lilly into his office. Lilly¡¯s parents are already in the office sitting to one side of the General¡¯s desk.


    Lilly jumps, ¡°Mom! Dad!¡± ¡°I thought you were going on an expedition out of the country,¡± ¡°Did you come back just to see me?¡± "And see me get my degree?"


    Lilly''s parent archaeologists are still wearing their dusty field fatigues They both stand to embrace their daughter. Lilly becomes emotional at the sudden reunion,


    ¡°I do miss you both so much.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just dig around here somewhere?¡±


    The General speaks, ¡°I called them back here.¡± ¡°They were working deep in Federation territory.¡± ¡°The Union¡¯s relationship with The Federation has deteriorated and I feared for their safety.¡± ¡°There is not a yet a war between The Federation and The Union, but a war could start any day.¡±


    ¡°The Federation is encouraged by their ''new technology'', stolen from the Union.¡± ¡°Actually, their ''new technology'' was mostly stolen from you, Lilly,¡± ¡°And The Professor," "By The Head.¡± ¡°The Federation is rapidly making improvements to all of your ''new technology'' devices.¡± ¡°Every day The Federation puts ''new technology'' devices into mass production for use in the upcoming war.¡± ¡°And that is not the only issue with The Federation.¡±


    Lilly¡¯s father speaks up, ¡°What we found at The Federation dig site is of significant scientific and historical interest. However, some of our findings may also have significant military interest to both The Union and The Federation.¡± ¡°Lilly, you saw the stone head on display at the museum.¡± ¡°We are just now learning of its importance.¡±


    ¡°Out of concern for security, we removed the head and certain other artifacts from the museum¡¯s public display.¡± ¡°Those artifacts are now hidden in plain sight, here in this office, on the shelf behind The General¡¯s desk.¡± ¡°We decided that it would be best not to make a big deal about removing these items from the museum to avoid drawing more attention.¡± ¡°The case where these items were displayed now has a sign, ¡®These items have been removed for cleaning¡¯.¡±


    Lilly stands and examines the items on display in the display case behind the General¡¯s desk. At the center of the eye-level (for Lilly) shelf is the carved stone head she saw in the museum display. Lilly stares at the carving, thinking of Apollo back in her ''dream'' world.


    The General points to the stone head,


    ¡°You know what this creature is, don¡¯t you Lilly?¡±


    Scene 4. Prophet


    Lilly stands and nods, ¡°It is the likeness of my human friend (and master), Apollo, from my ¡®dream world¡¯,¡± ¡°I visit him, in his world, once and again, every few nights,¡± ¡°Apollo gave me the plans for all of the ¡®new technology¡¯ that I have built, with the help of The Professor, and demonstrated for you all.¡±


    Lilly glares at The General, ¡°And that is why I am so desperate to speak to you, General.¡± ¡°My ramblings all sound crazy,¡± ¡°As if I am a crazy woman, railing to you about my insane hallucinations and baseless dreams.¡±


    Lilly looks around the room, ¡°Apollo¡¯s people are destroying each other and their world with what we call ¡®new technology¡¯." "I am sure that I am being shown all of this by Apollo to somehow prevent a war of unimaginable destruction from happening to us, right here, in this world!¡±


    ¡°General please!¡¯ ¡°Somehow, you have to help me prevent this war and prevent all wars in the future,¡±


    ¡°If we want to have a ¡®future¡¯, and we are running out of time.¡±


    ¡°Technological progress made by the people of this world will not stop if I simply stop bringing new gizmos into this world from my ''dream'' world.¡± ¡°The people in this world are very clever, resourceful and intelligent.¡± ¡°Ellie and the Chief are inventing more improvements to my ¡®new technology¡¯ every day.¡± ¡°We, in this world, will reach the technological level of Apollo¡¯s world," "And likely sooner rather than later.¡±


    ¡°General, you know that I am not the only ¡®dreamer¡¯ in the Union,¡±


    ¡°The Federation probably has ¡®dreamers¡¯ too.¡±


    Lilly raises her fore-hooves and claps them to her expansive chest, appealing to The General, ¡°General, please tell me that you will help me.¡± ¡°If only I could show you the pictures from Apollo¡¯s frame, the vast devastation that the ¡®new technology¡¯ can bring to warfare,¡± ¡°The death and destruction!¡±


    The General glares at Lilly, in silence.


    Scene 5. Revelations


    Lilly drops her fore-hooves back to her sides then she collapses back into her chair. Lilly¡¯s chair squeaks loudly in protest under her large butt, threatening to dump her on to the floor.


    Lilly is disappointed that The General didn¡¯t immediately agree with her,


    I guess an immediate answer from The General is too much to expect. At least he didn¡¯t say ¡®no¡¯. I have to show everyone more from my ''dream'' world and build my credibility, then they will believe me.


    Lilly stands, ¡°Excuse me sir.¡± She slowly walks behind The Generals desk. She stops and places her right for-hoof on to the top of the stone head, Lilly grits her teeth and continues,


    ¡°And there¡¯s more.¡± ¡°I have seen much their world, the ¡®human¡¯ world, in my ''dream world''.¡± ¡°The humans look like nothing I have ever seen in this world, except for this one partial figure of a head." "I originally saw this stone head on a tour of the museum." "The docent claimed that this head was off of a nameless mythological creature, from long ago.¡±


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.¡°This stone carving is of a head of a species that in my ''dream world'' called their species, themselves, ¡®humans¡¯.¡±


    Lilly now faces the group, ¡°The humans claim to be naturally descended from a group of ¡®placental¡¯ mammals called ¡®primates¡¯, specifically from an ¡®ape¡¯ species.¡± ¡°Nothing in our world is very similar to this ''primate'' group." "The closest of our existent mammal groups perhaps are the ''rodents'', rats and mice.¡± ¡°The humans are ''bipeds'' that stand and walk on their hind legs, like all of us. An adult human male, or ''man'', stands about my size, with the female, or ''woman'', generally being a little shorter and slighter.¡±


    ¡°The human species are natural bipeds, of roughly the same upright form as all of the sentient species in this world.¡± ¡°The humans are an ugly species.¡± ¡°Other than being bipeds, they don¡¯t look like anything you have ever seen in this world.¡± ¡°This species has a spherical head, like this carving, like a ball.¡± ¡°The humans all have flat faces, with a tiny nose and tiny under-bite jaws.¡± ¡°The humans are tailless and all have big ugly, fleshy, ears and lips, similar to the primate-ape species of their world.¡± ¡°The humans have no pelt or fur covering their bare skinned bodies, except for some bits of fluff on the tops of their heads and a few other places.¡± ¡°And the humans all stink, as do the rest of the primate species.¡±


    ¡°Lacking ''tails'' for balance, the human¡¯s biped lower legs and feet are entirely down flat on a ''heel'' structure, for balance while walking upright, like their ''ape'' predecessors. The humans called this stance ¡®plantigrade¡¯.¡± ¡°Some of our world¡¯s wild animal species: mice; rats; raccoons; bears, have this stance, more or less.¡± ¡°This stance is good for maintaining balance while standing and walking, but not so good for running.¡±


    "The human¡¯s funny shaped heads, with their small jaws and flexible tongue, excel at clear speech." "The humans love to talk." "The humans can talk very fast, faster than they can listen."


    ¡°The human fore-leg or arm appendage, the ¡®fore-claw/paw¡¯, is a flat ''palm'' structure, projecting four long fleshy, dexterous, appendage fore-toes, they call ''digits'' or ¡®fingers¡¯." "A fifth appendage sits across the ''palm'' in opposition to the rest of the digits, they call this appendage a ¡®thumb¡¯." "We see fore-leg appendage structures similar to this in our wild tree-climbing species, such as squirrels and raccoons." "This ¡®hand¡¯ structure allows the humans fine tool manipulation abilities."


    ¡°In spite of all of the shortcomings of their slow, weak, fragile, naked bodies, the humans mastered their world.¡± ¡°With their ¡®fingers¡¯ and their minds the humans mastered the sciences, then they forged their science into their technology, building great cities and many useful machines.¡±


    ¡°The humans eventually produced two successor intelligent specie types: the automatons; the beast-folk.¡± ¡°The ''beast-folk'' species were created by the humans from their wild and domestic (and presumed non-sentient) quadruped placental animal species.¡±


    ¡°I presume that <u>a</u><u>ll</u> of the intelligent biped species of this world, the ¡®us¡¯ in ¡®our¡¯ world, are descendants of the human¡¯s ¡®beast-folk¡¯ creations. I was shown how the humans made the ¡®beast-folk¡¯ during one of my many guided tours of my ¡®dream¡¯ world.¡±


    ¡°I will say more about the ¡®beast-folk¡¯ another time.¡±


    ¡°But today I wash to address the other of the human''s intelligent creations: the ¡®automatons¡¯.¡±


    ¡°The mechanical ''arm'' in the rock likely belongs to one of their ''automatons''.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why the humans are missing from our world.¡± "Also missing are all of the animal species closely related to the humans, the wild animal group they called the ¡®primates¡¯.¡± "The ''automatons'' are missing from our world as well." ¡°We don¡¯t have any of these types here, and I suspect it is somehow related to the humans'' wars that I witnessed on Apollo¡¯s ¡®frame¡¯.¡±


    Lilly decides to reveal a few more facts from her ¡®dream world¡¯ to the group. Lilly walks over to the display table and picks up the heavy fossil claw, still in its casing of sandstone.


    She looks over to the silent group,


    ¡°This is not called a ¡®claw¡¯.¡±


    ¡°It was not attached to a ¡®fore-leg¡¯.¡±


    ¡°This claw is a mechanical version of a human ¡®fore-leg¡¯ appendage they called a ¡®hand¡¯.¡±


    ¡°The humans called the ¡®fore-leg¡¯ part, from the shoulder to the ¡®hand¡¯, claw, ¡®paw¡¯ or ¡®hoof¡¯ of their upper bodies, an ¡®arm¡¯.¡±


    Lilly lifts the heavy sandstone fossil, ¡°The human species on which this metal claw is based have upper and lower bodies similar to this artificial claw.¡± ¡°The humans made this claw.¡± ¡°It was originally the forearm of a mobile machine ¡®servant¡¯, likely of biped form. The humans called their human shaped ¡®automatons¡¯, ''artificial men''. The humans also built a wide variety of other automaton designs: Some flew in the air; Others traveled on the surface or under the water; And many other varieties were capable of travel over a wide variety of terrains on wheels, ''hooves'' or tracks.¡±


    ¡°The automatons were originally created by the humans to be labor-saving household appliances, as mechanical ¡®butlers¡¯ and maid-type servants.¡± ¡°These automatons were animated by stored electrical energy running motors and actuators.¡± "As you¡¯ve all seen working in my sculptures, animated with motors and solenoids." ¡°The automatons were then modified and strengthened for construction work and factory work, originally performing for simple manual labor, like digging holes. The humans gradually developed the automatons into personal assistants, able to perform complex jobs.¡± ¡°These mechanical servants became dexterous and intelligent." "The automatons were eventually given human speech.¡±


    ¡°The automatons were soon able to perform many complex tasks better and faster than the humans.¡± ¡°The tasks had to be taught to the automatons by a process the humans called ¡®programming¡¯.¡± ¡°It is a kind of machine instinct, predetermined by the humans.¡± ¡°More advanced machines were able to program themselves by witnessing the task performed by others or by analyzing past events and data.¡± ¡°The humans called this type of autonomous automaton learning ability, ¡®Artificial Intelligence¡¯ as this method of learning mimics how ''intelligent'' humans learn everything.¡± ¡°The automatons all have an internal electrically-powered control system that serves as the automaton''s ''brain''." "I don¡¯t understand the details.¡± ¡°I witnessed these machines at work." The automatons worked efficiently on industrial and domestic tasks, as well as public works, saving the humans much effort and boredom.¡± ¡°I had one for a personal communications assistant that I named ''Ticktock''.¡± "In general, I liked the ''automatons''."


    ¡°But then the automatons were turned into weapons of war.¡±


    Scene 6. Artifacts


    Lilly walks over to face her father, ¡°Father please finish your presentation about your field discoveries.¡± ¡°I really want to know more about what mother and you found out there.¡±


    Lilly¡¯s father stares at his daughter for a moment and continues, ¡°As my daughter, Lilly has concluded,¡± ¡°I believe that ¡®The Claw¡¯ is manipulation appendage from an unknown kind of a machine.¡±


    ¡°We have found more parts, but not yet the complete body of this mechanical creature/entity.¡± ¡°Unfortunately we are still missing its head, if it had one.¡± Lilly¡¯s father walks over to a covered table and removes the table cover, ¡°Please come up and take a look at some of our new finds.¡±


    On the table were a number of centimeter sized rock samples of the same yellow sandstone rock as ¡®the hand¡¯ is embedded in. Each rock had a piece or two of silvery metal strips embedded in it. The metal pieces looked like shards from an explosion, bent outward, as if by some great force. Over time a rock casing formed around them.


    A few pieces of the bright metal had been removed from the rock and cleaned.


    Lilly looks at the bright metal pieces, ¡°What kind of metal is this?¡±


    I have seen this metal before, haven¡¯t I? It is some kind of ¡®stainless steel¡¯.


    The old archaeologist continues, ¡°We don¡¯t know exactly what its composition is, other than it has an iron content, along with several other metallic elements.¡± ¡°Pieces of it are being analyzed at The Factory.¡± ¡°This metal appears to be a mixture of metallic and non-metallic elements, combined and forged in an unknown, non-natural process.¡± ¡°These metal pieces have been buried in the soil for a very long time, long enough for the water sediments to turn to stone." "But the metal is still shiny bright, as if the metal had just been forged.¡± ¡°In addition to not dissolving or corroding over time, look at this,¡± He takes a thin bar at tries to bend it with pliers. The metal bar springs back to its original shape when released. ¡°The metal is tough and light weight, as if intended for an ¡®air-craft¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Some of the items we found were too large to sneak out of Federation territory.¡± ¡°We were were being watched ever more closely every day by ever more hostile guards.¡± ¡°We had Federation minders on our team, but they didn¡¯t seem very smart." "We made up cover stories to sneak out the few items you see here.¡± ¡°The Federation has likely figured out our ruse by now so it is likely that we can never go back, at least through the official channels.¡±


    Lilly¡¯s mother stands up holding a folio, ¡°As the expedition¡¯s official photographer, I was able to take photographs of some of the larger items.¡± Lilly¡¯s mother opens a folio and spreads several enlarged black and white photograph prints out onto the table. One image is quite spectacular, it is a large item that appears to be of the same metal as the fragments. A figure is standing next to the item for scale of its size, of at least ten meters. The object is smooth, streamlined and standing unsupported, projecting up into the sky.


    Lilly is transfixed, staring at the photograph,


    This object appears similar in the metal and the shape to the airfoil used on our ¡®air-craft¡¯.


    End of chapter 26. Expedition, Part 1, Revelations

 27. Expedition, Part 2, Air-Field

    Scene 1. Love


    The General invites the group to lunch, cautioning against continuing the discussion of topics from his morning meeting. The group breaks for lunch and they all head over to the base¡¯s cafeteria building.


    As the Lilly and Roc stand from the lunch table after finishing their lunch, Lois presents herself in front of them, ¡°Roc!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s play some tennis!¡± Lois'' eyes are gleaming as she eagerly exclaims, staring at Roc while wagging her red-flag fox tail.


    Lilly looks askance at the wagging fox-lady and grumbles, ¡°We didn¡¯t bring clothes or rackets.¡±


    Lois smiles and laughs, ¡°Oh I have all of your old stuff.¡± ¡°If not, there¡¯s always ¡®Army issue¡¯...¡± ¡°I already called Ernie and the corporal.¡± ¡°Others might show up too.¡± ¡°At least come over and say hello to everyone, Lilly.¡± ¡°We all have missed you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to play if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    In the changing room at the gym, Lilly receives a racket and her old tennis clothes from Lois, no Army issue clothing is required. Lilly looks down at herself and at the tennis outfit from Lois, Did I leave these clothes in my Base apartment when I moved out? Why did Lois keep them?


    Lilly is still looking worried, ¡°I normally have to wrap myself up if I am going to jump around, so I don¡¯t fly apart.¡±


    Lois smiles, ¡°I have wraps, here!¡±


    Lilly takes a wrap. Lilly looks down at the thin fox-woman and shakes her head, ¡°I¡¯ll need more than that little thing to hold <u>me</u> together.¡± Lilly is feeling fat.


    Lois looks up and slyly smiles, ¡°Here Lilly, I have several, take them all!¡±


    Lilly¡¯s Army Base friends are already out on the tennis courts, playing, when Lilly and Lois walk out. Lilly suddenly feels at home and relaxed around her friends, I miss these people and this place! It really is ¡®home¡¯ to me here.


    Lois darts over and quickly locks Roc¡¯s fore-leg around hers, ¡°Let¡¯s play doubles!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll partner with Roc!¡± Lois is trying not to smile to broadly with all of her gleaming white teeth. Lois¡¯ tail gives her feelings away.


    Lilly stares at the two, a bit miffed at Lois¡¯ aggressive moves on her husband, I¡¯ll bet you will!


    Lilly turns and smiles sweetly at Ernie who is staring at her, Ernie is still infatuated with me. Good!


    ¡°Come on Ernie, let¡¯s give ¡®um hell!


    Ernie brightens and stands tall at Lilly¡¯s sudden interest in him, ¡°Yeah! Sure!¡± ¡°We have all missed you Lilly!¡±


    Lilly mulls the turnabout, You missed me? Have you now? Ernie is too young for me, but he is kind of cute. He is a bear, built like The Professor, and he smells good! No! No Lilly, you can¡¯t handle what you already have! And you are leaving...


    The tennis games proceed. Lilly and Ernie have teamed up, as they have many times before. They play good games against all comers. Roc and Lois seem to be have more issues, with the normally fast and graceful Lois stumbling into Roc¡¯s chest numerous times. Lois usually ends up in a tight embrace, to steady herself against Roc. Each time Lois impacts Roc, Lois emits a short squeaky, ¡°Yip!¡±


    As the group breaks up to return to work, Lois, salivating, tightly embraces Roc, with her bright red tail briskly wagging,


    ¡°Ummmmmm,¡± ¡°Thanks for the game, Roc!¡± ¡°Sniff," "Sniff.¡±


    Scene 2. Air-Field


    The group reconvenes after the lunch break in front of The Base¡¯s main office building. The General then directs everyone to take the shuttle-buses to The Air-Field. Lois sits next to Roc, nestling into body contact and periodically glancing up at him. Roc looks forward, trying to avoid Lois¡¯ gaze.


    As Lilly and Roc exit the bus, Lilly stops Roc and smiles, ¡°Roc,¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you walk the tour with Lois?¡± ¡°She would like that, and she will show you what we all have been doing out here.¡± ¡°I need to walk, and talk, with The General anyway.¡±


    Lilly leads Roc by the fore-hoof to turn over to Lois. Lois surprised, just stares at Lilly and Roc as they walk up to her. Lilly smiles and chuckles at the confused Lois, ¡°Lois, I need to talk to The General, so would you mind giving your ''personal tour'' of the many air-craft types to my husband?¡± ¡°Show him the new air-craft design that you are test-flying.¡±


    Every visible rust colored fur part of Lois is now glowing a bright red, with her tail wagging furiously, ¡°Over here Roc!¡± Lois bounces as she is pulling the reluctant Roc along,


    ¡°I¡¯ll <u>fly</u> you!¡± ¡°Oops!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll <u>show</u> you!¡±


    Before Lois can bounce off with Roc, Lilly pulls Lois down out of the air and leans up to one of Lois¡¯ large red ears, and whispers, ¡°Be gentle Lois, or you will scare my shy Roc away.¡±


    Lois stops bouncing and stares at Lilly, surprised at Lilly¡¯s frank comment.


    Lilly nods to Lois,


    That¡¯s right Lois, you have my approval to become Roc¡¯s mistress/consort. And take care of him, while I am gone, maybe forever, if you want the responsibility.


    Lilly turns and walks toward The General. The General is standing, pointing something out on an air-craft to his tour group.


    Lilly walks up and stands next to The General. Lilly then looks up to see Lois dragging Roc to an air-craft sitting alone, away from the other air-craft, on the far side of the field.


    Lilly reflects, I guess we¡¯ll see how they do. Roc needs a female friend, besides me and the others. I hope I don¡¯t lose him to Lois, but it would serve me right, the way I carry on. Roc is shy around new women, but Lois is nice, smart and athletic. She¡¯s a forward, confident soul, and she is a lot neater than I am. I might just disappear someday. I don¡¯t want Roc to be left alone, unable to move on, after I am gone.


    The field has changed very much since Lilly last was there. Visible are rows of several different sized air craft, a dozen or so of each, all silvery and new. Some of the air craft are very large, maybe for passengers and cargo, and smaller ones that might be used for observation.


    Lilly is amazed, ¡°General, how did you get so many different kinds of air craft made so quickly?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been gone that long.¡±


    The General smiles, ¡°It is all the good work of The Chief and The Factory,¡± ¡°Plus some of the ideas were lifted from air-craft and other vehicles that we captured from The Federation.¡±


    As The General leads the tour, he points out features distinguishing the types and missions of the different aircraft. Lilly is amazed at how much has been added since her flight of The Union¡¯s first air-craft. The engine size and likely the weight is much reduced on the new models.


    Lilly notices a series of holes along the leading edge of the lift surface of one of the smaller air-craft. Lilly touches a hole, ¡°General, what are these holes for?¡±


    The General points to one of the holes, ¡°These ¡®holes¡¯ are ¡®gun ports¡¯.¡± ¡°Machine-guns are mounted inside the lift surfaces." "These air-craft are designed for shooting down to the ground or at enemy air-craft.¡±


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.Lilly¡¯s ears go straight up, ¡°Gun ports!¡± ¡°On my nice, peaceful, air-craft!¡± ¡°Baaaah!¡± "Waaaah!" ¡°Noooo!¡±


    The General grimaces, ¡°We didn¡¯t want to weaponize the air-craft but The Federation has already done so.¡± ¡°We have to counter that threat.¡± ¡°Look here, there is more than just the gun ports.¡± ¡°These doors at the bottom, underneath this large air-craft.¡± ¡°These doors open so items, such as incendiaries or explosive bombs, can be jettisoned on to the enemy forces below.¡± ¡°And sometimes drop leaflets warning civilians of an impending attack, so that they can take shelter or evacuate.¡±


    Lilly immediately recalls and envisions the dramatic scenes from Apollo¡¯s movie frame: The sky filled with aircraft; flying in formation; dropping hideously destructive devices on the cities and people below; with towering fires; frightened people and animals running, screaming;


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Lilly moans,


    ¡°General!¡± ¡°Is there any way possible for us to stop this war <u>before</u> it starts?¡±


    Scene 3. Joy-Ride


    Across the field, Lois and Roc are examining an air-craft that Lois has been taking up on test flights. Roc leans down into the cockpit and examines the instrument panel, ¡°The General lets his essential aid-de-campe fly these dangerous things?¡±


    Lois, chest out, smiles with pride, ¡°The General knows that he can¡¯t stop me, so he lets me fly all that I want!¡± ¡°And I want to fly all of the time.¡± ¡°He does make me complete my other assignments first, but that is fair.¡±


    Lois grins menacingly down at Roc¡¯s back, sniffing, Mmmmm, yummy! He¡¯s perfect! What a build! He¡¯s strong, handsome and a real gentleman. I bet I can ''buffalo'' him! Let¡¯s see...


    Lois then jumps up on to the main horizontal airfoil, pulling up Roc, ¡°Come on up Roc, and try out the pilot¡¯s seat!¡±


    Not waiting for a response, Lois grabs Roc by the fore-legs, ¡°Here,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll even help you in!¡± She violently thrusts Roc down into the pilot¡¯s seat. Lois quickly immobilizes Roc by snapping Roc in the seat belts then she cinches him firmly into the pilot¡¯s seat by pulling on the belt strap ends.


    The Lois has her paw against Roc¡¯s muscular chest as she states, with a toothy grin into Roc¡¯s face,  ¡°Gotcha!¡± With a lilting fox laugh, ¡°HeHeHe!¡±


    The surprised and trapped, Roc emits a short startled bleat, ¡°Bah?¡± ¡°Wait! What?¡±


    The thin fox-woman then plops her butt down onto Rock¡¯s lap, completely ignoring Roc¡¯s snorting protests, ¡°Relax Roc!¡± ¡°And let me show you how this thing works!¡± Lois¡¯ fluffy tail is wiggling behind her, up and into Roc¡¯s nose.


    Roc sneezes, ¡°Ahh! Chooo!¡±


    As Roc sneezes he bounces Lois up and down in his lap. She squeaks a, ¡°Yip!¡± With each bounce.


    Lois turns her head and thrusts her narrow nose deep into Roc¡¯s thick white neck ruff that flows up and out the front of his shirt. Lois inhales deeply through her nose to fully enjoy Roc¡¯s athletic aroma. Lois wiggles and presses herself down against Roc¡¯s lap and howls, ¡°Ahooooo!¡±


    ¡°My ¡®seat¡¯ sure has gotten ¡®lumpy¡¯!¡± Lois¡¯ entire body shudders as she rocks in ecstasy with each ¡®lap lump¡¯ bump, howling and laughing ¡°HeHeHe!¡± ¡°Ahooooo!¡± ¡°HeHeHe!¡±


    As Lois wiggles and giggles, she thinks to herself, Roc, you can¡¯t do this with Lilly, her butt is too big! How did Lilly even ¡®fit¡¯ in the air-craft she flew? I guess she was skinnier right after she came down from the observatory.


    Lois collects Roc¡¯s fore-legs with hers and presses them in a tight embrace against her thin chest, ¡°Sorry Roc, I am so flat!¡± ¡°And you like ¡®um so big!¡± Roc squeak-bleats, ¡°Bah!¡± ¡°Lois!¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°I¡¯m married!¡±


    Lois yips, ¡°Then you¡¯re <u>perfect</u>!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°You¡¯re <u>exactly</u> what I am looking for,¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°I happen to be looking for a ¡®husband¡¯,¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Just not <u>my</u> husband!¡± ¡°Yip!¡±


    Lois continues to wiggle in ecstasy, her wagging tail whacking Roc¡¯s face. Lois continues her squeaky sharp barks, ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± And laughing ¡°HeHeHe!¡± With each wiggle.¡°


    Here Roc!¡± Lois takes hold of Roc¡¯s right fore-hoof, ¡°You have to hold me very tight now, so that I don¡¯t fly out!¡±


    A thoroughly terrified Roc squeals, ¡°Baaaaahhhh!¡±


    Lois jams Roc¡¯s a right fore-hoof toe down between her thighs, down into her crotch. Lois bounces up and down on Roc¡¯s lap, with a, ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Hold me tighter!¡± ¡°HeHeHe!¡±


    Roc continues to squeak bleat, ¡°Baah...¡± ¡°I should have showered, I stink from the hot ride over.¡±


    Lois continues to bark, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare shower!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s with me!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be your ¡®soap¡¯!¡± ¡°Yip!¡±


    Lois then lifts her head from Roc¡¯s ruff and stares directly into Roc¡¯s face. Lois can no longer resist the handsome and aromatic Roc, she leans up and plants a long, passionate, wet kiss on Roc¡¯s lips. She parts his lips with her strong tongue for a better taste. Lois, lips still locked, wiggles her body in Roc¡¯s lap as she moans in a climatic celebration of her conquest, ¡°Mmmmmmm!¡± ¡°Yum!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°Yip!¡± ¡°HeHeHe!¡±


    Roc moans in pain, ¡°Baaahhh¡­¡± Help!


    Lois opens her eyes to see The General looking up at her as she is barking and wiggling away in the bleating Roc¡¯s lap.  Lois is shocked out of her orgasmic trance as crowd forms in front of the aircraft.


    ¡°Oh My!¡± ¡°General!¡± ¡°We were just examining¡­¡±


    The General cuts off the startled Lois by turning to his tour group, speaking in his powerful voice, ¡°As you can see, we have provided the air-craft cockpits with enough room to accommodate even a larger individual of most species,¡± ¡°Or, in some cases, even two¡­" "Close friends...¡±


    Lilly looks up and chuckles at the intimately entwined Lois and Roc. Lois and Roc manage guilty grins, with fore paw and hoof raised, wiggling their fore-toes down to the tour group.


    Lilly smiles up and flutters her fore-toes back to them, I hope Lois doesn''t traumatize my shy Roc. She may be too aggressive and violent for Roc to handle. I¡¯ll talk to him tonight. Roc needs an affectionate female friend like Lois, to sop-up all of his ¡®excess love¡¯, after I have gone away.


    The tour group filters back to the bus pick-up point. Roc and Lois walk up together. Lois is pulling her Army fatigues blouse down over her uniform skirt, to hide the fresh wet spots. Lois is still smiling, but is holding her lips tightly closed to suppress her little, periodic, climax yeps. Lois quickly skip-walks back to the bus, bushy tail waving like a red flag. Lilly chuckles at Lois¡¯ obvious display of joy, I am happy to see that you enjoyed your ride, on my Roc! Now you¡¯ll have to tend to ''feeding and watering'' my Roc,


    Only the <u>first</u> one is free of ¡®obligations¡¯.


    Scene 4. Preparations


    Eventually, the tour group is bused back to headquarters and reconvenes in The Generals office. The General now looks serious and paces. It takes the huge Minotaur two steps to cross the large room. The General looks up, scowling serious. He addresses the group,


    ¡°You have all been given packages of forms for you and your families to fill out and return to me.¡±


    ¡°Also there is a list of documents to bring in tomorrow: vehicle operator¡¯s licenses; passports; all other government issued documents, including ones issued by foreign countries.¡±


    ¡°Included in the package is a form for your ¡®Last Will and Testament¡¯. If you already have a ¡®Will¡¯ please bring me a copy along with contact information for your executor and next-of-kin.¡±


    ¡°We will convene here again tomorrow morning at 9:00 am to begin our expedition logistics and our geographic transit planning.¡±


    ¡°Also tomorrow morning, tailors and cobbers will do measurements for shoes boots, clothes and helmets for you all.¡±


    ¡°Work clothing and boots will be provided by The Army.¡±


    ¡°Before we leave, bring in your own loose, conservative, casual civilian clothing, appropriate for a visit to a conservative, foreign, back-country ¡®town¡¯.¡± ¡°I will personally be checking to see that all clothing is ¡®appropriate¡¯ for our ¡®mission¡¯.¡±


    The General walks over to Lilly, who has her ''curves'' exposed as usual. The General kneels down and whispers, ¡°(This means <u>you,</u> Lilly. I don¡¯t want to see any boob or butt hide exposed! And very little of anything else!)¡±


    The General stands, still staring at Lilly.


    Lilly looks down at her voluptuous body, depressed, Yes General, I get it. I admit that am your main ¡®exhibitionist¡¯ problem child. At least I now am drying up, so my boobs have gone down a little. But, thanks to those damned lions stuffing me, everything I own is tight. I will have to go clothes shopping with Liz tomorrow and buy some sacks to hide in. I¡¯ll have Lois send my Base apartment clothes and I¡¯ll pack up my ¡®observatory¡¯ clothes too, as I¡¯ll need them if this trip is another ¡®weight loss¡¯ adventure.


    The General resumes his ¡®departure¡¯ lecture,


    ¡°Be prepared to depart in two weeks, let me know if that is not enough time.¡± ¡°Plan to be away for 90 days to 180 days or longer.¡± ¡°The Army will cover all of your on-going expenses here at home, and, of course, all of your expenses on the expedition.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll receive your salary here, after we return.¡±


    ¡°Wear comfortable clothing for a week¡¯s travel, and for cold weather.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow you¡¯ll meet the other expedition members that could not be here today,¡±


    ¡°The expedition''s doctor will perform physical examinations on you all as well.¡±


    ¡°Please go home and get your affairs in order.¡±


    Lilly¡¯s ears go straight up, with a terrified thought of the ''doctor''.


    Lilly screams,


    ¡°Foxworthy!¡± ¡°Noooo!¡± ¡°Baaaaaaahhh!¡±


    End of chapter 27. Expedition, Part 2, Air-Field