Tim Bouchard

Mississippi burning

The willow whispering 

The south gone mean

Muddy water and hurricane eyes

A party brewing hatred stewing 

Black and blue 

bull whip cracking

Shackled truth

And the south gone mean

Mississippi burning

Fire and flood

The church organ singing

Truth buried in the sand

The willow whispering

Dead man turning 

The south gone mean 

Horse shoe and the spike

Cowgirl riding on the storm

Mississippi burning

The willow whispering 

The south gone mean

Tree leaves and copper penny dream

Lying  in the river

Southern tracks heavy on my back

Mississippi burning

The willow whispering

The south gone mean

GRATEFUL DEAD

My name is John Barker. I just got fired as sports writer for the New York Times. Apparently they didn’t like the way I was covering The Knicks season. It appeared to me some players were not playing their best games when New York needed them the most. I decided to do a little investigating and came up with a scandal within the team that led all the way up to management. I was set to run the article when my editor Clive Clayton informed me I was to print a new story.

I got a little hot under the collar and said some things I shouldn’t have but thoroughly enjoyed. That green and good for nothing check cashing paper passing pussy had been stepping on my toes ever since I got there. His grandfather held office for the State and had everything gift wrapped, shrink wrapped and handed to him including his wife Wanda. He told me I had five minutes to clear my office and get the hell off the property or he was going to have security remove me forcefully. I kicked the company typewriter out the window narrowly missing a homeless man pushing a cart. I clenched my teeth and smashed both hands on my desk as the typewriter exploded all over the street sending F’s and U’s and every other letter and digit of my Yale earned English vocabulary all over the smoking scene.

I picked up most the things in my office that belonged to me including my graduation pen and my zippo lighter my grandfather gave me. He was a navy man in World War II and left and my lap top computer. I jumped in to my Volkswagen van and headed to Vermont to stay with my Parents. 

It is the middle of March and Winter is slowly melting away. I got a letter from Rubie. Rubie is a photographer for the New York Times. She studied at the local arts academy in New York. We have been good friends for quite some time. Unlike me she was able to take the political positions held by the paper and keep her job. She told me not much had changed since I left. That someone had already filled my position at the Paper. Rubie has dark hair and is very friendly. She comes from Colorado where her parents live up in the Mountains, she is a country girl living in the city. We would go out to eat at some of the Cities Cafes and go to the Movies. She was always up for going out. 

She told me she has some time off coming up and asked if she could come visit me in Vermont. 

I’m lying in bed staring at the ceiling fan going around and around. Like my mind searching for some outlet over the past weeks events. Although I do love my parents and thoroughly enjoy their company I feel the need to get away. To go on a trip to free my mind and find new experience. I’m sure I could find employment writing here in Vermont. I however have a bitter taste in my mouth from my last post in New York. I need to resolve this conflict within my mind before I find a new position with a paper. Although I didn’t completely enjoy the company of my Editor I did enjoy the fact of writing for the New York Times. I had not been there that long. Just long enough to get my feet wet with Big City politics. 

I have a brother studying Philosophy at Boston College. He also plays point guard for their basketball team. I’m thinking about taking a quick drive to Boston to visit him as they prepare for the March Madness Tournament. They just managed a number 12 seed and face North Carolina in the first Round. Carolina has a point guard set to go in the top 3 of the NBA draft this year, Wesley Johnson from L.A., it will be a tough match up for Billy my brother. 

Outside my window I can see the hoop we used to go at each other on. The mesh is a little torn but the hoop still hangs in our backyard as a reminder of the battles we had against each other. My mom would watch from the Kitchen window as we bang and bruised each other with me usually the victor. That was until he shot up to 6’4” and earned a full athletics scholarship at BC.

“John the Phone”, I heard my mother say. “Hello”, “Hi John it’s me Rubie, Do you have time to Talk?”, “Yeah Rubie you know I’ve always got time to chat.” “Listen I was out shooting for the Times on the weekend, you know just taking shots” , I could hear a little panic in her voice. Rubie said “I was up near BrioCorp just looking for a story or some shots for the Monday edition when from out of nowhere this Black BMW comes tearing around the corner, being the diligent photographer I am I grabbed my camera and went after them, they pulled in to an alley, I pulled up on the opposite side of the street and watched, they opened the trunk and started carrying something in a large white bag, “What was in the bag, I asked”, “Well I grabbed my camera with the telescopic lens to get a better look, just then I heard a gun shot behind me and a man wearing a mask running down the street, the two guys carrying the bag heard the sound and turned to see me with the camera, this made them very alerted they put the bag back in the trunk and jumped back in the car, they started to chase me John. “Did you call the Cops Rubie?”, No I had no time they chased me through the city I finally lost them, I’m at the paper right now, I’m too paranoid to go home.” Call the cops Rubie”, “Well John that’s what I was afraid to tell you”, “What do you mean Rubie”, When I got to the office I went to close the blinds in my office and I saw the car, my heart almost stopped, I thought I was done for. Then a cop car drove right up behind them, I calmed down a little. The guys in the black BMW stepped out as did the cops. They looked to make sure no one was watching it was about 9 o’clock at night at this point, The men opened the trunk and the cops took the bag to their car and handed the men a briefcase, What should I do John? I’m a little nervous.” Calm down Rubie, calm down, are you sure? “Yes damn you John I’m sure, I called you first I’m scared.” “Ok listen Rubie you have to calm down” “John someone’s in the Times office.” At that moment the sound of glass could be heard breaking. “John someone’s smashing in to your old office, I’m going to scream.” “Rubie you have to hide, keep talking to me but go somewhere and hide and wait for this person to leave.” Rubie went to hide and knocked over a lamp sitting on her desk. The smash was loud and sharp. Rubie froze in terror afraid to move. The knob to her office door started to turn. Rubie gasping for breath said “John they’re coming in….” The door flung open. The outline of a person could be seen in the doorway. Rubie screamed and John heard the phone hang up……

John got off the phone. “Is everything alright?” John’s mom asked. “Can’t talk now I go to go.” 

I immediately went grabbed my old football jacket and jumped in the Volkswagen Van to head to New York. I had to go see if Rubie was all right. If I could find her at all……I have to say I was worried as drove the I95 to New York. I didn’t expect to be going back so soon. My mind flashed with possibilities of what might be happening to Rubie. I was sweating to call the cops but I couldn’t. I was worried about what she told me. I put my foot down and started to really push my old 84 VW to New York.

As I approached the city of New York I turned the radio on to calm my mind. Good music always seem to calm my. I’m a big fan of old 80’s music, pet shop boys, the cure etc, the whole punk scene. Sometimes I wish could be part of the whole punk movement of the eighties, the hair, the clothes the synthesized music. I was listening to the radio the song Daughters was on by John Mayer. The news came on “Today in New York the sun is shining and the temperature is hovering around 1 degree, The New York city police have found another body last night, this time a woman’s body”. I almost shit my pants when I heard this I immediately thought of Rubie” this brings the body count up to 7 this week.” Apparently while I had been gone someone had gone on a killing spree in New York. The bodies had no visible marks of harm. The autopsy suggests the bodies were poisoned some how. As of yet the police have found nothing in common with the victims but have not ruled out a cereal killer.  

Paranoia struck my body like the black of a crow. Trying to link the things Rubie told me with the latest news report. I had to get to the Times office and investigate, try to find some answers. I got in to the city a typical March Wednesday in New York everything a shade of grey but the yellow taxis and billboard signs. Me believing my destination was the most important. I don’t consider myself a smoker but I pulled a smoke out of my glove box frustrated I wasn’t moving and smoked it out the window. A camel smoke billing out my window in to the New York early afternoon air. “Come on I said” As if I could get the traffic to move. Always on my mind came on the Radio. By now I was about five blocks from the Times.

Right in front of was a giant billboard for BrioCorp featuring a pair of red, red lips. BrioCorp sells everything from lipstick to sleeping pills. Just then I saw some one that looked like Rubie making her way through the people on the street. She was wearing blue guess jeans and  her winter jacket with the fake fur on the collar. I couldn’t be sure if it was her. I yelled out the window after her the cig falling out of my mouth. She momentarily stopped to look and then continued on her way. She was headed in the opposite direction as myself. The taxi behind me started giving me his best New York honk for get the F going. She disappeared around the corner. 

The next light turned red. I jumped out of the van in to the street to go after Rubie. Narrowly getting missed by a car I jumped on the curb beside the guy selling hotdogs and watches. I turned the corner as saw her 2 blocks ahead. “RUBIE” I shouted. “RUBIE” again I shouted. She turned for a moment and I caught her eye but she kept on going. What she was running from I could only guess. I kept running after her calling out to her. She tripped over a fruit stand sending lemons all over the street. “Rubie are you alright?”

“Oh John I’m so glad to see you, we got to get out of here. Someone’s trying to kill me. I’ve been chased, threatened and shot at. I haven’t slept since I talked to you last. I threw a chair at the guy in the office and headed right home. Someone followed me there too. They broke in as I escaped down the fire escape. That was last night. Just as I think I’m safe I see someone in the corner of my eye coming at me. Oh god John here they come again.” John turned to see two men in suits and sunglasses coming after them not a half a block away. 

I picked Rubie up slipping myself on the lemons making lemonade with Rubie on the sidewalk with my knees and hands. The two men almost on us. Just then a gun fired narrowly missing John and Rubie. “Rubie lets go!!” 

John and Rubie jumped in to a taxi on the street. A man with a Jamaican accent was driving and Ben Harper was on the Radio. “If you don’t light my fire than don’t come around, cause I’m gonna burn one down…” “Where to?” The taxi driver asked? John looked behind to see the two men jump in a taxi themselves. “Can you loose that car?” John asked? “No problem, the names Bob by the way” the taxi driver said. Bob started to weave through traffic as the car followed. “John we have to get out of here”, Rubie said. “Hey Bob can you take us to the Airport?” “The Airport?, Y’aint carrying much luggage, you smoke.” Bob handed John a hand rolled cigarette. John took it as Rubie looked shocked” He took a drag and started coughing. “Yeah man Jamaican style”, Bob said.” “This is grass man?” “Yeah man smoke it up.” John took another drag. “This is no time to be smoking grass John”, Rubie said. “Come on Rubie lighten up, cough, cough, hey Bob turn up the music.” Rubie grabbed the remainder of the Joint and rolled down the window and went to throw it out. “Hey lady that’s good Jamaican green, Bob said.” She took two quick puffs and sent it out the window. “Let us burn one, from end to end. And pass it over to my friend. Burn it long, but burn it slow, to light me up before I go, the radio sang out.” “Hey man look at all the light there red and green and amber, there’s something about the sun setting in New York mixing with the smoke of industrialization, it’s so beautiful even in the city. Pigeons flying through the city scape and day changes ever so slow to night. 

Just then the car behind slammed in the back of their taxi. The tape slow downed and began to speed up as the analog tape began spitting out of the tape player. “Damn man I just stole that from my cousin’s sister, Bob said.” He ejected it just in time to hear a commercial. “Have you recently lost a love one? Pets are special and will always hold a special place in our hearts. At BrioCorp we are now offering pet cloning at affordable prices families can afford. We understand your concerns please call us at BrioCorp 555-5555 where a friendly voice is there to talk. A gunshot could be heard just as the side view mirror on the passenger side smashed. “Please call BrioCorp, financing is available.

“Damn man what did you do to these guys?” WE DON’T KNOW John and Rubie said in unison. 

Bob put the pedal to the floor as the cab sped away the New York plate hanging by one screw to the bumper. “We’re about five minutes from the air port, Bob said.” “You got any chips?” Rubie asked. “No but I got these brownies Want one?” Yeah give me one to, “John said. “Hey man you got to pay me the fair first.” John gave him a twenty as the cab rolled to a stop. “Lets go Rubie”

They ran inside right to the ticket booth. “Where is the next plane going?” “Seattle” the woman said “in 10 minutes.” “We’ll take two John said and handed her his VISA.” “John did I mention I’m a little scared of flying?” “Ah Rubie,… I just bought the tickets, not to mention we’ve got Tom and Jerry on our tracks.” “John….I think there was something in those brownies, my body feels a little funny.” John looked at Rubie and saw her drooling. “Rubie you’re drooling a little there darling.” She wiped her chin, “Oh silly me.” 

“Let’s get to the gate, we don’t want to waste any time”, John said. “Who’s Bob John?”, Rubie said. “He’s our Jamaican Taxi driver Rubie.” John turned to leave Rubie holding him by the arm and they both fell head over heels on to the ground. Rubie lying right on top of John said “Frig John if you wanted to lie down don’t you think we should have found a bed?” “Your right Rubie I think there was something in those brownies, Your eyes are beautiful Rubie so bright and brown like.” “Actually their green John, Rubie said”. “Oh it must be the brownies, John said.” Rubie moved in to kiss John. John must have been affected by the brownies as he returned the kiss as he held the back of her neck. They lied there in the middle of the airport kissing on the floor. Stoned out of their bodies and mind they for those moments holding each other with their eyes closed had no worries and thoughts. The only reality being each other’s bodies and souls they held so close. Rubie was awakened by a tap on the shoulder. She opened her eyes to see a large security officer holding a coffee in one hand. “Excuse me miss but this is no place to be lying on tha ground, you’re making a scene.” John opened his eyes to see a crowd of people stopped to watch the kiss that would never end in his mind. He thought to himself, how long have we been here? Then remembered he and Rubie were running for their lives. Rubie started roaring uncontrollably. Partly because of the brownies and partly because it was just Rubie’s way of dealing with an uncomfortable situation. On the outside she was laughing on the inside she was a wreck thinking about the days events. First running for her life, smoking weed in a taxi with a guy named bob, now kissing her X-co-worker John in “the middle of the biggest air port in New York City. “Are you all right mam?, the security officer asked. “Yes she’s alright, John said, she’s just a little tired and she took some medication for flying she’ll be alright.” “And yourself sir? Lying kissing on the airport floor with a girl is not right behaviour sir.” “Ah….yes….Yes Sir I ah was just trying to calm her down a little.” “Well sir you best calm yourself down, you plane is now loading.” “Oh my god, oh my god OH MY GOD!!, I can’t do it John, I can’t. I’m high as a kite, if my mother could see me now.” “High as a kite, my lord, the security guard said to himself.” “Ok Rubie just calm down we can do this, take me by the hand.” “Sir can you lead us to our plane.” “By lord sir take care of that girl, follow me, he said”. 

Hand in hand John and Rubie walked. It wasn’t exactly apparent who was holding who up they sort of held hands and floated down the airport to their awaiting jet. “Where we going again Rubie?, John asked.” “Why the emerald city John, the emerald city, the emerald city she kept saying over and over.” As they walked through the metal detector it went off sending a shrill in to their ears. John emptied his pockets the quantity being his Zippo lighter his grandfather gave him and pack of camel smokes and a pocket watch and his wallet. “John come on the emerald city is waiting, Rubie said.” They gave John his things back. ”Jetsgo John!” John turned to follow Rubie and tore his jean pant leg wide open on his thigh. He looked behind to see two men in suits wearing shades about 200 hundred feet away. He momentarily came back to his senses and remembered where they were going and why. He took Rubie by the arm and walked through the airlift in to the aircraft. “John are we going to see the wizard?” Not wanting to alarm Rubie any more than she already was said, “Yes Rubie we’re going to go see the Wizard.” “There’s no place like home John, there’s no place like home.” John and Rubie boarded their plane while the sturdiest pointed them to there seats. They sat together in coach Rubie in the window seat and John next to the aisle. John kept watching the door hoping Tom and Jerry were not going to make there way in to the plane all the while trying to keep his body functional. Damn he thought there must have been a lot of hash in those brownies. He turned to see Rubie playing with everything in front of her still drooling. The sturdiest came by with some chips. “Alright snacks!!”, Rubie said.” “Can I get a shot of Whiskey in a glass two ice cubes and a drop of water, please, she said with a smile.” “And you sir”, she asked John. “Ah yeah could I get a beer please.” “Christ I may as well try to enjoy this plane ride he thought, I never know when I might take another.”  The sturdiest left to get the drinks. “John do you believe in fate?” Rubie asked. “Yeah sure I do”, he said. “No really fate, I mean I believe everything happens for a reason. This plane ride, that chase, that….., that….”. John looked at Rubie who was having a hard time getting her words out, her hair was a mess she looked tired a little dirty a little out of sorts and said “that what Rubie”. “Attention passengers please fasten your seatbelts the plane is preparing for take off, keep your seats in the upright position. My name is captain John Keats I will be your pilot on this fine voyage to Seattle. I hope you are all comfortable and enjoy your flight.” The plane began to move as it headed for the take off strip. Rubie looking out the window and doing very well so far noticed the men in black wearing sunglasses. She grabbed John’s knee and motioned out the window with her head. John looked at her and thought she was going through some sort of anxiety. “It’s ok Rubie I’m sure Mr. Keats is a fine pilot”, John said. She kept franticly motioning out the window and squeezing John’s left leg. “Its alright just try and close your eyes Rubie.” Until finally she screamed “LOOK OUT THE BLOODY WINDOW”. At witch point everyone on the aircraft looked out the window including John. He saw the two men walking out toward the plane. He looked at Rubie she at looked at him. “Oh my god, Oh my”, god they said together. John grabbed Rubie’s right leg and started doing Hail Mary’s obsessively. The two sitting in the window became the attention of the entire cabin. An older woman sitting in front turned to offer so chewing gum. “Here have some gum, I’ve flown this flight a hundred times captain John will get us there.” Rubie took the gum and started chewing for her life. The plane picked up speed a long the runway until it was airborne. John opened his eyes and saw Rubie chewing her gum like ms pac man on her birthday. The woman in front was having an elaborate conversation about the weather in Seattle in “You know it’s always rainin in Seattle, I’m sure Shellbey will be happy to see you and have tea ready for the both of us.” He looked to see who she was talking to a stuffed dog. My lord this is going to be a trip he thought to himself. “Where did you get the gum?, he asked Rubie. “The nice lady in front of me gave it to me while we took off”, she said. 

“Here are your drinks”, the sturdiest said. She handed them the drinks. Rubie took hers happily and drank it steadily, she eventually fell asleep. John continued to drink his and began reading the Saturday Edition of the New York Times. He immediately flipped to the sports section to read about the March Madness tournament. To his astonishment Boston College made a huge upset over North Carolina. They were making waves in the press as the next Cinderella team. John read further in to the story and read that his brother Billy had quite a game, scoring 23 points and 7 assists including two clutch free throws down the stretch. “I knew if I could ice those two shots we’d have em for sure”, they quoted Billy in the press. This was super news John thought. He went to tell Rubie but found her fast asleep and didn’t want to startle her. 

I remember playing 21 over and over in the backyard with Billy. “No time lest two free throws to win”. Now here’s Billy in the real situation and he sticks em both. “I’m so proud of him.” Looks like they will be playing Alabama in the second round. I didn’t know much about Alabama except they were a number 4 seed. They were rated higher than Boston College but with their upset win they should have some momentum. I know coach Charlie Brown will have them ready for that one, and Billy’s going to have a lot of confidence going in to that one. I checked my column to see who was writing in it. Howard Bech wrote a column about the struggling New York Knicks trying to avoid last place in the league. It was between them and the Charlotte Bobcats. I mean here are the great New York Knicks with the highest salary in the league battling it out for not being last. There’s no question they should be in the playoffs this year. They just signed Jalen Rose, Steve Francis and have Larry Brown as the coach. Something just isn’t right here. 

John put the folded the paper and put it away. On the back of the paper was an ad for BrioCorp. The ad said “Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Try BrioCorp’s friendly sleep aid called SleepEEZ. This gentle medicine will help you sleep ask your doctor for it by name. SleepEEz. John finished his drink and calmly fell asleep. Rubie woke up before John and remembered a dream she had. She dreamed she was a singer on the stage singing in front of a bunch of people and she had the most beautiful voice. She could sing like an angel and play guitar, people from all around came to here her play. She was startled by a tap on the shoulder. “Didn’t mean to bother you miss. My name is Mountain, I’m a folk singer from the east coast. I’m headed to Seattle for a show at the Kettle’s Kitchen. I was wonderin if you wanted to listen to some of my music.” Rubie a little surprised and flattered said “Sure.” “

I climbed that Mountain

And slid back again

To look you in the eyes

Take me by the hand

In the stars we dance

You’re so beautiful

A certain kind of special

I never want this night to end

My life is in your eyes

The sun never sets in the west

The sun always rises in the east

So  How many dollars does it take

To buy a little piece

Footsteps in Winnipeg

In the middle of the Country

How do you say

I love you

In the Native Language

“That’s really beautiful”, she said. “What kind of guitar to you play?” “Well I have couple of guitars. I have a Silver Tone a Marlin a GH and this old Acoustic Guitar I found near the Rockies. My style is traditional folk rock. I play some lead guitar. For soloist I really like Santana and Neil Young. I love Neil’s guitar playing overall. I like Bob Dylan’s guitar playing particularly the way he plays shelter from the storm. I’m actually from Canada. I just did a show in New York”, Mountain said. “I took   this pilgrimage to the Canadian Rockies a few years ago and heard this story if you would to here it.” “Uh ok..”, Rubie said. “Well I was hitchhiking on my way to Lake Louise and I met this Apache. I had been on the road for days and I hadn’t talked to anybody in quite some time when this Apache came from nowhere. He was guiding his horse down the side of the road. He said he was searching for the Great Buffalo. The Buffalo that would lead his people to the Promised Land. Just then I saw this amazing display of lights in the sky. I have never seen the Northern Lights before and I assumed that this is what it was. Then I saw three flashed of bright lights in the sky and when I looked the Apache was gone. And then the most amazing thing happened. It started to snow, and just above my head and nowhere else the most beautiful Red rose petals started falling all over me and the highway I was standing on. I have no way of explaining this but I swear every word of it is true. “Wow that’s amazing”, Rubie said.  “Are you sure it wasn’t a dream?”, Rubie said. “As plain and awake as I talking to you now I was then”, Mountain said. 

“It’s funny I’m meeting you know. I actually just had a dream I was playing guitar in front of a some fans and I could sing like a bird it was the most fulfilling, free spirited dream I ever had, Rubie said.”  “My name is Rubie, I’m actually a photographer for the New York Times.” “Really are you on assignment”, Mountain asked. “Uh no actually we are um, we are sort of on the run.” “From the law?”, Mountain asked. “Well that’s what I’m not exactly sure about”, Rubie said. “You didn’t break the law did you?, Mountain asked. “Oh no, we’ve been being chased by these two guys in suits and shades”, Rubie said. “Who are they, what do they want?”, Mountain asked. “Well I’m not sure who they are. But I think I was in the wrong place at the wrong time”, Rubie said. “I was out driving around looking for some shots for the paper, when I saw these two guys behind BrioCorp.” “BrioCorp, that’s that pet cloning company is it not, that creeps me out.” “Yeah me too, anyway I saw them unloading something from their trunk and they saw me with my camera and they came after me. They followed me home and shot at us.” “You should call the cops”, Mountain said. “Well I saw them dealing with the police and exchange something I couldn’t see”, I think the New York police are working with them.” “What are you going to do”, Mountain said. “I don’t know, right know we’re going to Seattle, it was the first plane ride out of New York”, Rubie said. 

“Well if there is anything I can do let me know. I will be in Seattle for a couple of days before heading to LA. I’ll be staying at the Crow’s nest on the east if you need anything.” Mountain reached in to his pocket and gave Rubie a green guitar pick. “Here you go”, he said, this is for luck. Rubie took the pick and said “Thank you Mountain, it has been a pleasure speaking with you.”  Mountain leaned back in to his seat and pushed his hat over his eyes and went to sleep. Rubie just sat there as John slept thinking about her conversation with Mountain and yesterday’s events. In less than 24 hours her life had drastically changed. She was flying by the seat of her pants and experiencing things she never thought she would. She felt a little worried but at the same time a little excited. Her life had been going by in neutral now she was sprung to life by things beyond her control and was forced to live life in a way she never thought she would. 

“This is your captain John Keats speaking. We are now approaching Seattle. I hope you all have had a wonderful experience flying with Sky High Airlines. Please be sure to put your seats in the most upright position as we will be landing in Seattle shortly.” Rubie tapped John on the shoulder. “John we are going to be landing in Seattle in a few minutes, she said.” Um ah no I’ll have two blueberry pancakes…..”, he muttered half asleep. Rubie tapped him again. “John we are almost there”, she said. John opened his eyes and saw Rubie looking at him. He smiled “Hey, You know you’re really beautiful.” “Really? John are you still dreaming?”, she asked. “Well if I’m not sitting with an Angel, then I must be dreaming”, he said. “Are you dreaming Rubie?”, he asked. “No I’ve been awake for a while now. I’ve been talking with”. She turned around to look at Mountain but he was no longer there. “There was this musician from Canada sitting behind me. He said his name was Mountain and he let me listen to some of his music. I told him about the situation we are in. He said we could find him at the Crow’s Nest Inn on the east side of Seattle. He was going to be there for a few days before he left for California.” “Really, that was nice of him”, John said still staring Rubie in the eyes. 

The plane landed safely in Seattle. John and Rubie left the airplane through the airlift in to the Seattle airport. “I really should call my parents Rubie”, John said. “Oh god if my parents had any idea about this they would die. I can’t call my parents now”, Rubie said. “Well I really should just check it and let them know I’m alright”, John said. Rubie followed John to the phone booth where he called his parents. “Hello?”, John’s mom answered. “Hi Mom its me John I’m in Seattle right now”, he said. “Oh John we’ve been worried sick. They found your van in New York and they towed it. We didn’t know what happened to you. I’m glad to here you’re alright”, his mom said. “Uh yeah, the ah Van sort of broke down in New York and I had to leave it. Rubie and I are on vacation, here in Seattle. We’re probably going to be here for a few days or so. How’s dad?”, he said. “Oh dad took Penelope out for a walk, he should be home shortly. Do you want to call back?”, she said. “Ah no that’s alright just send him my love. I’ll talk to you later mom, I love you”, John said. “Well have a good time in Seattle and tell Rubie I said hi, I always liked that girl. Love ya, bye”, she said. John hung up the phone and looked around at the airport. “Well want do you want to do know Rubie?”, he asked. “I don’t know it’s all good. Want to get a coffee or something?”, she asked. Out of the corner of John’s eye he saw the two men from New York. He grabbed Rubie by the arm and started to walk away very quickly. “What’s going on John?”, she asked. “There here”, he muttered. “Who? Your parents?”, she asked. “No the guys from New York” he said very quickly and between his teeth. “Oh god no, how did they get here so fast?”, she said. “I don’t know lets move. We got to get out of here”, he said. John and Rubie moved quickly through the air port to the outside. “Hey there’s Mountain, the guy from the plane”, Rubie said. Mountain saw them coming as he was getting in to a cab and could see there were a little desperate. “You guys need a lift?”, he asked. “You bet we do”, John said. “Well get in”, Mountain said. The three of them jumped in to the taxi. “Take us to the Crow’s Nest Inn please”, Mountain said. The taxi driver was wearing a straw hat wearing a plaid shirt and jeans with grease stains all over them. “The Crown’s Nest eh, I know that place well. Nice place, real nice place, the drive said. The taxi driver put a tape in the tape deck. Bob Dylan could be through the taxi. “Hey Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me, I’m not sleepy and there aint no place I’m going to”. It was about 11 in the Morning in Seattle. The fog was just clearing and the temperature was about 11 degrees. Spring was in the air and you could see the Mountains in the distance as the taxi headed east for the Crow’s Nest. “So are you guys going to tell me anymore about your story.”, Mountain said as he pulled out his pipe. “You don’t mind if I smoke do ya sir?”, he asked the cab driver. “No you go smoke ahead, you can call me shakey, that’s what the fellas in the garage call me”, the driver said. Mountain pulled some tobacco from is pouch and filled his pipe. “Say you don’t know where I might get some medicinal do ya”, he asked shakey. “Medical, if you mean pot, yeah, yeah I do. It’s on the way. I’ve got this buddy that grows it. It’s the best shit you ever smoked”, Shakey said. John and Rubie looked at each wondering where there travels would be taking them. Shakey drove through Seattle in to a what looked like the projects. There were flower shops, coffee shops, pool halls and used appliance places all over. Spring was blooming here and the trees were turning green. The green trees with the flower shops put a light on the place that shined through the poverty and made everything bright.  “So you been to Seattle before?”, Shakey asked? 

“Yeah I was here once before. I came to see a Pearl Jam show in the 90’s. I just booked a little tour throughout Canada and the States I ’m actually from Canada. I just finished playing New York, I plan on playing here in Seattle then I’m off to California”, Mountain said. “Canada Eh I know some people from Canada. You know Birdie and the Monarch?”, Shakey said. “No never heard of ‘em, Canada’s a lot bigger than people think”, Mountain said. “Yeah tell me about it”, Shakey said. “These two got in some trouble in New York I just met them on the plane. Rubie believes someone’s trying to kill her for something she saw”, Mountain said. “Ah go to hell!!, Shakey said as he put his finger up. “Damn drivers, that guy almost ran right in to us”, Shakey said. “Uh Mr. Shakey you don’t see anybody following us do you?”, Rubie asked. “Well now that you mention it, no. I don’t see anybody but you, me the Mountain and your name is?”, Shakey asked. “It’s John I’m from New York, Vermont originally”, John said. “Well welcome to Seattle folks, this cities got its charms. We’re almost at my buddies place, Ralph is his name. Real good fella. Known him a long time”, Shakey said. 

Mountain on one side of the car just watched out the window as he smoked his pipe looking at the skyline, the people and the Mountains in the Distance. John on the other side looked out the window worrying what his was going to do. How he was gonna get himself and Rubie out of this mess. Here he was in the company of complete strangers in a strange city. “Is there a nice place to eat. in this city?”, John asked. “Well Ralphie’s always got some food ready”, I’m sure he’ll fix us up”, Shakey said. “Oh….”, John said. John pulled a smoke out of his pocket and lit it with his grandfathers lighter. Smoking out the window he just starred at the lighter. It had a lizard on it. John’s grandfather was part of a special force called the Black Pythons. Rubie tapped him on the knee. “Can I have a drag”, she said. “You don’t smoke Rubie”, John said. “Neither do you. And I don’t go running on to planes without any notice either”, Rubie said. John gave her the smoke and she took a few drags. The car turned the corner. The street was called Victory and was lined with garbage on the side of the street and worn out buildings. There were kids playing on the sidewalk, skipping rope and riding bicycles.  The car came to stop in front of a four story brick building with steel balconies on the front. “Here we are at Ralphies, come on in”, Shakey said. The five of them left the taxi and headed for the top floor. Shakey banged on the door. “FBI open up”, Shakey said. The door opened a crack and  a guy with a baseball hat and curly dark hair looked through at them. He slammed the door. “Ah come on Ralphie, I was just joking”, Shakey said. The door unlocked and slowly opened up. They walked in to the apartment full of plants and cats walking around. There was a large aquarium full of fish and the TV was one but turned down. There was a Clint Eastwood Movie playing and the Greatful Dead was playing on a stereo in the Kitchen. The cats purred around their legs. “Welcome to Ralphies, heh, heh”, Shakey said. The place smelled like fresh marijuana. Ralph closed the door behind them. “Yeah picked these folks up at the sky port”, Shakey told Ralph. “How’s the new batch coming Ralphie?”, Shakey asked. Ralph went to the kitchen and started rolling a smoke. The phone started to ring Ralph didn’t flinch. “Don’t mind Ralphie folks, he doesn’t say to much. Quick as a cat though eh Ralphie”, Shakey said. Ralph lit his smoke and motioned them to the couch that was long as a bus and decorated like it was from the 60’s. “Yeah this guys looking for some, Ralphie”, Shakey said. Ralph came over and put some pot on the coffee table. “Twenty”, he said. Mountain reached in to his pocket and put he money on the coffee table. Ralph picked up the cash and Mountain took the pot. “Thanks Ralphie”, Shakey said. Ralph went back to the kitchen and started trimming his plants. “Well let’s go”, Shakey said. The five got up to leave. “Close the door when you leave”, Ralph said. “Yeah yeah, I know the drill”, Shakey said. The four left went down the stairs and jumped in the taxi. “Where to know folks?”, Shakey said. “Take us to the Crow’s Nest”,  Mountain said. “Sure thing”, Shakey said. The taxi turned around turned on to 31 First Street and headed for the hotel. 

Mountain spotted a retro CD store. “Hey Shakey hold up, I want to check out this Music store”, Mountain said. “Oh the Queens Jewels you mean”, Shakey said. Rubie and John looked at the store. It looked like a real retro shop run by some Gypsies from the 60’s. “Yeah, Yeah that’s the one”, Mountain said. The taxi pulled up on the opposite side of the street. “Be right back”, Mountain said. Rubie got out to follow him in. “Where you going”, John said. “Well while we’re here we might as well have a bit of fun”, Rubie said. “Alright I’ll wait here”, John said. Mountain and Rubie headed off across the street to the Queen’s Jewels. “You got to lighten up man, your only young once”, Shakey said. John daydreaming snapped to. “Yeah, yeah I just got in the mess you know”, John said. “Heh, heh, its all how you look at it. Me I’ve got 8 kids and three wives. Two of them I haven’t seen in 4 months, man. And I’m thinking hey I hope they’re having a good time. John lit up a smoke and Shakey looked at him through the rear view mirror. 

Mountain and Rubie entered the Queen’s Jewels. It was a CD shop and a used instrument store with pipes and T-Shirts. Posters of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love and John Mayer were on the walls. There was big Mirror Ball hanging on the ceiling. Rubie started looking  at the Guitars. There was one baby blue sparkling guitar, probably from the 50’s or 60’s she was looking at. Mountain went to the counter to talk to the Grunge Rocker behind the counter. There was a tune playing on the stereo. It was Neil Young’s I’m the Ocean. “I’m an accident. I was travelling way to fast. Couldn’t stop though. So I let the moment last. I’m for rollin. I’m for tossin in my sleep. It’s not guilt though it’s the company I keep. “Hey man, I was wondering if you would sell this CD on consignment for me”, Mountain asked. The man in his late fifties with shaggy curly hair said, “How much you want for it?” “Well I’d like 7 bucks for it”, Mountain said. “Can’t do it, most CD’s we sell only go for 5 or 6 bucks plus we put our charge on it”, the gypsy said. 

Back outside John was smoking his smoke while Shakey played drums on his steering wheel. “So you been in Seattle long”, John asked. “Yeah about 4 or 5 years. I used to drive a big rig all over the country. I stay pretty local now. Man I used to party it up. The things I’ve seen in my life. Went down to Mexico once. Checked out the Aztecs. I swear I was  there by myself. I wasn’t drinking or smoking nothing and I swear I could here em singing and drumming”, Shakey said. “Well I’ve was in New York for a while, working for the New York Times. They fired me for a story I wanted to write”, John said. “Your free now man, free as a bird. Take a look around. You’re not shackled to a desk. You can move around. There’s a story on every street corner waitin to be written. I used to write myself. Had this old typewriter in the trunk, used to write on it for fun. Read them to my friends. We would take turns written on that thing. Just written for fun”, Shakey said. 

Back in the Queen’s Jewels Mountain continued to barter with the man. Rubie shouted over “How much is this guitar?” “400 hundred even. That’s a Fallen Angel guitar from 61. The only one like I’ve ever seen”, the Gypsy said. “Can I see it”, Rubie said. The gypsy came over and took it off the wall and plugged it in to an old Fender amp. “Give it a try”, he said. “Well I can’t really play”, she said. She handed it to Mountain “Could you try this and tell me what you think”, Rubie said. Mountain took the guitar and sat down. He played a few notes and runs and started singing a tune.

Open up your big blue eyes

It’s a brand new life

So many songs to sing

Where will you dream today

Black cat in the Sky

With the Diamonds in her eyes

The tone that came out was this magical essence like no other heard. Like an eagle flying in a purple sky over a honey brown field with Mountains far off in the distance. “Wow that really plays”, Mountain said. “I’ll take it”, Rubie said. “And that tie die shirt. Mountain handed the Fallen Angel guitar to the gypsy. He gently took it and placed it in a case and went to the counter. “I throw the shirt in for free”, the gypsy said. “And I’ll tell you what I’ll give you 7 bucks for your CD. I’ll buy it for myself”, the gypsy said. “I always like to listen to fresh tunes. What did you say your name was?, the gypsy asked. “My name is Mountain and this is Rubie”, Mountain said . “The names Billy”, he said. “Nice to meet you”. Mountain and Rubie carrying her brand new guitar left the store and headed for the cab. 

Mountain and Rubie entered the cab. “Hey John look what I bought”, she said. She showed John the new guitar. “And I bought this for you”, she said as she handed him the tie die t-shirt. John took the shirt and looked at. “Well aren’t you going to put it on”, she said. John took off his shirt and put on the tie die shirt. “Thanks Rudy!, that’s a really nice guitar. I didn’t know you played”, he said. “Well I don’t, I’m going to learn now”, she said. “Remember that dream I had? Well I’m going to start living my dreams. That shirt goes really well with those ripped jeans John”, she said. “Where to now”, Shakey said. “Let’s head to the Crow’s Nest, Shakes”, Mountain said. 

The cab continued down 31^st street toward the Mountains and the Motel. It was about 12:30 in the afternoon. The sun was shining and there was a fog rolling out. Out over the Mountains was this incredible rainbow in the misty sky. “Look John, we’re over the Rainbow”, Rudy said. John smiled and could feel a relief through his body. He thought after listening to Shakey and seeing Ruby was happy that everything was going to be alright. John took Shakey’s advice and jotted some notes down in his notebook 

Journey to the End to the End

Me and my friends

Together we stand

Peace of our dreams

Emerald city

And rainbow sounds

John put his notebook away and lit up a smoke enjoying the scene in front of him and the company of the friends in the car. 

The taxi drove near to the edge of town where the Crow’s Nest was. The crow’s nest was a two story Motel built in the 70’s. The exterior was black and there was a multi coloured psychedelic balcony with coloured plastic seats sitting on them. The lobby had a giant wooden door. There were about 23 rooms in the Motel. “Nice place eh”, Shakey said. “Yeah this was this that place fit my budget”, Mountain said. “Don’t let the place fool you. This was a happenen place when it was built. There were some wild parties here in the 70’s and 80’s. If I remember correctly there’s a pool and hot tub out back surrounded by this botanical garden and a piano bar inside with a jukebox from the fifties”, Shakey said. 

“Thanks a lot Shakey for the tour and getting us here”, John said as he paid him the fair. “Hey no problem. Here’s my card. Just give me a call if you need anything, heh, heh, heh”, Shakey said. They exited the cab and entered the Crow’s Nest lobby. There was a huge chandelier hanging in the lobby. The décor hadn’t changed much since the 70’s. To the left was an arched doorway to the bar. Directly ahead was double glass door to the pool. The lobby desk was to the right of them. There was a man in a shirt and tie standing behind the desk watching the Television. “Hey there…”, he said. “You looking for a room?, he asked. Rubie lowered her sunglasses looking around at the décor. There were large paintings of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Jimmy Dean. John noticed an old cigarette-dispensing machine beside the desk. Mountain stepped up to the desk. “Yes do you have a room booked under the name Mountain?”, he asked. “Just a sec there Hun let me look”, he said.  

“Oh yes I have a reservation for Mountain right here dear”, he said. John looked at the man behind the desk his name tag read Phillipe. “Do you have any other rooms available?”, John asked. “No, no you two are welcome to stay with me”, Mountain said. “Yeah John why don’t we stay together”, Rubie said. “There are two double beds in the room”, Phillipe said. “Alright well let me pay for half”, John said. “No problem, I always appreciate company, plus I was just getting to know you guys”, Mountain said. “So its settled here is your key your room number is 13. Just go outside and up the stairs, turn right and you will find it”, Phillipe said. The three left the lobby and headed up stairs. Both Rubie and Mountain carrying a guitar and John carrying around his old shirt. Mountain reached in his pocket for the key and unlocked the door. The room was gold and pink with a flamingo lampshade. The curtains were gold on the doors that led to the patio. “So I guess this is home for the next while”, Mountain said as he put his guitar down on his bed. John took a seat in the corner and Rubie checked in to the bathroom. “So what are you plans John?”, Mountain asked. “Well I’m not really sure at this point. I was hoping just to lay low for a while and hope for the heat to clear”, John said. “I’m supposed to meet a friend here in Seattle. I’ve got a gig at a little café and we were planning on going to the Neil Young concert here in Seattle”, Mountain said. “Your more than welcome to join us”, Mountain said. “Thanks Mountain, I appreciate it. I’ll ask Rubie and she what she says”, John said. “Well this place aint to bad eh?”, Mountain said. “Yeah I really like the décor”, John said. Both Mountain and John had a good laugh. Rubie came out of the bathroom. “Ah there’s nothing like some fresh water. Maybe we should order some room service. I’m a little hungry”, Rubie said. “That’s a great Idea do you mind if I call my friend first. She’s been waiting for my call”, Mountain said. “No go ahead”, Rubie said. Mountain went to the phone and dialled his friend’s number. Rubie went to sit at the table with John.  “I guess Mountain has a friend here he is waiting to meet. He’s got a show and is planning on going to see Neil Young play a concert. He’s asked if we wanted to join him”, John said. Rubie looked over at her guitar. “Yeah I think I would be up for that”, Rubie said. Mountain got off the phone. “Yeah so everything is a go. My friend said she was going to come and meet me here later this afternoon”, Mountain said. “Well I guess we’re going to get to know each other a little better”, John said. “Yeah we’re going to stay with you a while”, Rubie said. “Excellent!, I always appreciate good company.”, Mountain said. Rubie went to the phone to call for room service. John flicked on the TV. The afternoon new was on. The sports report was on. They were interviewing the coach from Boston College about his upset win over North Carolina. “Yeah our kids played tough. They defended they rebounded and they scored when we needed them the most. I can’t tell you how proud I am of our players. In my mind we have already won. No one expected us to be in the tournament this year. Nevermind upsetting the number one. “Is that your brothers team?”, Rubie asked. John transfixed to the TV. said, “Yeah”. “Your brother plays college ball?, I played a little basketball myself”, Mountain said. “So what are you going to do to prepare yourself for Saturdays game against Michigan”, the reporter asked. “Well Saturday is Saint Patrick’s day so hopefully the luck of the Irish will pull us through”, the coach said. “Wow that’s great news John”, Rubie said. 

Rubie picked up the phone to call room service. “Hey I got a better idea. Why don’t we go down to the bar and get something to eat.”, John said. “Hey I’m for that”, Mountain said. Rubie put down the phone and said “Lead the way John”. The three headed for the door and Mountain grabbed his guitar. “I want to get ready for tonight he said, my gig is this evening”, Mountain said. “Oh that’s tonight, right on”, Rubie said. Mountain locked the door behind them and they went to the bar. Outside it was starting to cloud over and cool off a bit. They could feel a breeze coming in off the city. There wasn’t much else around. Kind of a deserted highway in a Motel Just out side of town. They entered the bar to  here  Elvis playing. “Well, it’s one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, Now go, cat, go But don’t you step on my blue suede shoes”. The bar was medium sized with a piano in the corner. The bartender was in his 40’s with long hair and a beard. He looked like he may belonged to the Hell’s Angels. The three sat down at the bar. “What can I get ya?”, the bartender asked. “Any food on the menu”, John asked. The bartender pointed to the corner of the bar. The three looked to see a vending machine that sold chips and chocolate bars. “Well I guess I’ll have beer”, John said. “Yeah hit me up with some Whiskey two ice cubes and a drop of ice”,  Rubie said. “Could I get a ginger ale please”, Mountain said. John and Rubie looked at Mountain. “What I don’t drink”, Mountain said. 

“Here are you drinks folks”, the bartender said. “Why don’t you play us a tune Mountain”, Rubie suggested. “Yeah I’d love to here one”, John said. “Alright this is a more rockin tune, its called heaven and the earth”, Mountain said.

Heaven and the earth

Heaven and the earth

Had a little girl

Her hair is full of fire

Hair is full  of fire

And her eyes are full of ice

And her smile feels like the sun

Her daddy’s been on the run

Its about time I made my way back home

Heaven and the earth

Heaven and the earth

Rubie and John both applauded. “Very nice Mountain”, John said. “Yeah that was a rockin tune”, Rubie said. “Hey Rubie look they have karaoke”, Mountain said. Rubie blushed and looked over at the Karaoke machine. “No I couldn’t”, she said. “Come on I’ll go sing with you”, Mountain said. “Yeah Rubie I’d love to here you sing”, John said. Rubie went over to the Karaoke machine and selected a tune. She started to sing. “I took my love, I took it down. Climbed a Mountain and I turned around. And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills. Till the landslide brings it down”, she sang as Mountain sang back-up and played lead on his guitar. John sat there listening. He couldn’t believe what he heard. She had such a beautiful voice and Mountain on lead. It was a really spectacular performance. When they finished she gave Mountain a big hug. “Wow you really blew the roof off this place”, Mountain said. Thanks Rubie”, she said. John stood up and gave her a big hug. They sat down and continued drinking their drinks. 

A blond hair girl came through the bar. She looked like a California girl straight from the beach. She was wearing blue jeans with butterflies on them sandals and a white t-shirt with an open neck. She was drop dead gorgeous with blue eyes. She noticed Mountain a called over. “Hey there blue eyed stranger”, she said. Mountain turned around. He saw her and jumped off his seat. He ran over, “Lucky!!, he said, and gave her a big embrace. “Look at you”, he said. “You look great. Your such a sight for sore eyes”, he said. “You’re not looking to bad yourself”, Lucky said. Mountain and Lucky mover over to the bar where John and Rubie were sitting. “This is my friend Lucky”, Mountain said. “Hi I’m Rubie and this is John”, Rubie said. “So how long have you lived in Seattle”, John said. “Actually I’m from San Francisco”, Lucky said. “I just came up to see John’s show and see the Neil Young concert. I drove up and just got here.”, Lucky said. Lucky sat down and ordered a pina collada. It was around 6 o’clock by now. John got up to get something from the vending machine. He put the money in and hit his order and nothing came out. He hit the machine damn machine. “Hey easy on the machines”, the bartender said. “It took my money and I didn’t get my chocolate bar.”, John said. The bartender threw over a key. “Treat yourself, happens all the time, its how we separated the veterans from the Rookies.”, the bartender said. John took his Mars bar. “Hey anyone else want anything?”, John asked. “Yeah throw me some corn chips”, Mountain said. “Yeah I’ll get an Oh Henry”, Lucky said. “Give me something minty will ya John”, Rubie said. John took the orders and went back to the bar and gave the bartender back the key. He just took the key and didn’t say anything. 

“Hey what do you say we finish our drinks and our supper and get ready to head out”, Mountain said. “Lucky’s got a car and we can all pile in with her.”, Mountain said. “So what do you do in San Francisco”, John asked. “Actually I’m an exotic dancer”, Lucky said. John almost coughed on his chocolate bar. Rubie turned to Lucky. “It’s nice to see a girl expressing her freedom”, Rubie said. “I actually a photographer and I must say your are a beautiful girl”, Rubie said. Luckey looked over at Rubie with a shine in her eyes. “Thanks Rubie”, Lucky said as she smiled. 

The four of them talked and finished up their drinks. They left the bar and headed upstairs. The Sun was setting over Seattle and a cool breeze could be felt off the Mountains. They entered their room and noticed the curtains were open and the patio door was slightly opened. John looked at Rubie and said, “Did you leave the door open Rubie?”, he asked. “No I didn’t open the door”, said Rubie. “Did you open the door Mountain”, John asked. Mountain looked at John with a puzzled look on his face and said, “No I didn’t leave the door open”. “That’s weird”, Rubie said. “Yeah that’s really bizarre”, Luckey said. John went over and closed the door tightly and closed the blinds to the window. John couldn’t help feeling a little paranoid. “Is everything alright John”, Rubie asked. “Yeah, yeah everything is fine”, John answered. “The cleaning lady probably came up and forgot to leave to close the door behind her”, Luckey said. “Yeah your probably right”, Mountain said. “Yeah that’s must be what happened”, John said back. “Well should we get going”, Luckey said. “Yeah I’ve got to get to my show”, Mountain said. Rubie grabbed her guitar. Everyone turned to look at her. “What”, she said. I might as well get used to carrying this around with me. “You play guitar Rubie?”, Luckey asked. “Actually I just bought it. I’m going to learn”, Rubie said. “Yeah Rubie sang down in the bar. She sang Landslide by Fleetwood Mac”, Mountain said. “Oh I love Fleetwood Mac, particularly Gypsy”, Luckey said. The four left the Motel room and headed for the parking lot. There was a Black Trans Am with a Gold Eagle on the hood from the eighties in the parking lot. “Wow nice ride”, Rubie said. “Yeah when did you get this car”, Mountain asked. “I just bought it a month ago. I got a real good deal on it to”, Luckey said. They all piled in the Black Trans Am. Luckey started up the car and it purred like a big cat. Janis Joplin was playing in the tape player. “Oh lord, Oh lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz, My friends all drive porches I must make Amends.” “Still listening to Janis eh Luckey”, Mountain said. “You know it Hun”, Luckey said. “She used to listen to Janis when she was mad at me. She would never admit it but every time she was mad at me she would put Janis on real loud and start cleaning”, Mountain said. Luckey drove down the street in to Seattle. “So what’s the name of the place you’re playing at Mountain”, Rubie asked. “It’s called the Kitchen Kettle”, Mountain said. “It’s a little Café on the West side of Seattle”, he said. “If I didn’t know any better I could swear that car is following us”, Luckey said. John and Rubie turned around immediately to see the car. It was a black Mercedes. “That’s not your friends from New York is it”, Mountain said. “We’ll see”, Luckey said as she stepped on the gas. John turned around. “There still following us”, he said. Luckey made a turn right and the car sped right them. “Well I guess that answers that”, Luckey said. “So you guys got in to some trouble in New York eh”, Luckey said. “Yeah these guys were chasing us and trying to kill us ‘cause Rubie saw them in an alley unloading something from their car.”, John said. “Yeah right behind BrioCorp”, Rubie said. “Yeah I’ve heard about Brio Corp. I heard this rumour they were starting to clone humans.” Luckey said. “That’s probably just a rumour”, Mountain said. “Well they have started pet cloning”, Rubie said. “They’re big in to the pharmaceuticals”, John said. “They make medications”, John said. “Yeah they probably test on animals. That makes me sick”, Luckey said. Mountain looked over at Luckey. “Your wearing lipstick aren’t you”, Mountain said. “Hey I watch what I buy. This lipstick is non-animal tested”, Luckey said as she turned Janis up and sped up. The trans am purred through the streets of Seattle. The streets were busy with cars and activity. The lights of the city were bright and they managed to get every green light on their way to the kettles kitchen. The air was warmer on this side of town. The was a mist in the air and all the lights shined with a glow. They Mountains behind them were no longer visible. The crescent moon was rising in the sky. John took out his notebook and started righting something down.

The green of the city

Luckey and this Coast

Mountain and the Landslide

Rubie by my side

Paranoid times

Speeding wish

We all get away.

John looked up and noticed Luckey looking  at him through her rear view mirror. He put his notebook away and gave her a little smile. She winked at him and put her eyes back on the road. 

The Trans Am made its way in to a quaint part of Seattle. There were Antique shops and Café’s all over the place. The water was not far from where they were. They could sea seagulls and other shore birds flying about the shore. They must have been close to the dock where a fishing boat was bringing in the latest catch. The car pulled up on the side of the street. The Kettle’s Kitchen was right beside them. Outside there was a giant rusted kettle on the front of the café. The light that emitted from the café was warm. On the sign it read Kathy Breton and Mountain tonight 5 Dollars cover. Luckey put the car in park. “Well this is the place”, Luckey said. “Wow looks like it’s going to be a good crowd”, Mountain said. “Yeah nice place”, John said. 

The four got out of the Trans Am and headed inside the Kitchen’s Kettle. The place was really cosy. There was a little bar to left as you entered and tables to the right. The Kitchen’s Kettle was longer than it was wide. The tables had little tea lights on them. On the walls were pictures of mermaids in an ocean. They mermaids were swimming around a treasure chest overflowing with treasure. Beside the painting were two leather couches. The stage was at the far side of the café. Behind the bar was an Japanese man in his early thirty’s. On the stage Kathy Breton was going through her sound check. The people were eating and drinking special teas and coffee. In one corner sat a computer. “Hey there my name is Mountain, I think I spoke to you on the phone”, Mountain said. “Uuugh yes Mountain. I spoke with you. My name is Youishi”, he said with a smile.  “I see you brought your friends”, Youishi said as he eyed Mountain and his companions. “You can take a seat if you like. There are many places to sit”, Youishi said. Mountain turned to his friends. “Well? Shall we sit down?”, Mountain said. “How bout we sit on the couch against the wall”, Rubie said. “Sounds like an idea”, Luckey said. The two girls headed to the couch against the wall and the guys followed. On their way to the couch they were stopped by a man wearing a pirate’s hat and a patch on his eye. “Ah there mattees, me name in Arty. Just live across the street. Came to see this Mountain fellow. Have you heard of him. Is e any goode?”, Arty said. Well actually I’m Mountain said. It’s a pleasure meeting you”, Mountain said with a smile. “Ayy and the ladies name”, Arty inquired. “My name is Luckey”, she said. “And my name is Rubie”, she said. “Aye a pleasure”, Arty said as he gave each one a kiss on the hand.  “And who might this be”, Arty asked. “My name is John Barker”, John said. “John eh? I knew a John once they called him silver. Aye e was a pirate.”, Arty said. “Well I assure you I’m no Pirate”, John said. “Me thinks aye know that. Your skins to soft to be a pirate”, Arty said with a chuckle. “Well I’ll be over there if ya need some company”, Arty said as he pointed to a table in the back corner of the bar. “Lookin forward ta earin ya play laddie”, Arty said with a wink.

The four sat down on the couch. Mountain took out his guitar and started to tune. Sitting on the bar stool at the bar he noticed a man wearing  top hat smoking a cigar. Youishi came over. “Can I interest you in some teas”, Youishi said. “We have many teas from the orient”, Youishi said. “Oh well I wouldn’t know where to start”, John said. “Well I’ll tell you what. I will bring over my own special tea. It will strengthen your defences and bring a glow to your skin”, Youishi said. “Sounds good”, Luckey said with a smile. Mountain continued to tune his guitar. “So have you played here before”, Rubie asked. “Actually this is my first time touring outside of Canada”, Mountain said. “Really? So how do you like our Country so far?”, she asked. “Actually I’m enjoying. There are so many people here. The metropolis areas are really booming. But it’s not Canada. I really love my Country. “I’ve actually been to Canada before”, Rubie said. “Really where about?”, Mountain asked. “I was in Toronto for a while. While I was there I saw the Tragically Hip play. Have you ever heard of them?”, Rubie asked. “Actually yes I have. The Hip are really big in Canada. They are kind of like Canada’s equivalent of the Rolling Stones.”, Mountain said. “So how do you know Mountain”, John asked Luckey. “Actually I know him from back home. We used to see each. We had this Van we used to tour the Country in, write poetry and take pictures. We broke up. Actually he just stopped calling me and we sort of went our separate ways. I ended up in California. I took a trip with some of friends and liked it so much I stayed here”, Luckey said. “So how did you guys get back together?”, John asked. “Well he went hunting me down. Asking friends and stuff. He eventually got my number and started calling me. I didn’t want to talk to him at first but he sweet talked me like he always does. This is really the first time I’ve seen him in quite some time.”, Luckey said. So how do you like California. “Oh its really beautiful. It’s like summer all year long. I spent some time in a Hippie Commune. I found my way to the beach and fell in love with it. I was living in a boathouse for a while. Just smoking and surfing all the time. I eventually found my way to San Francisco and made my home there.”, Luckey said. “Wow I’d really like to be more of free spirit like that. I had this job in New York at the Times. I really thought I would be there forever writing for the paper. I ended up getting fired for having a difference of opinion with my editor. “Well your not tied down now. You’re free. Free to do whatever you want.”, Luckey said with a warm smile. “Yeah you right and it kinds of scares me. I’ve always had some structure in my life. A plan of what I’ll be doing next. Now I’m not so sure.”, John said. “Plus your running for your life”, Luckey said as she laughed. “Yeah thanks for reminding me Luckey”, John said. “Cheers”, Luckey said as she raised her teacup in the air. “Cheers Luckey, and nice to meet you”, John said. “You know I’ve got this feeling like I’ve met you before”, Luckey said. At that moment Kathy Breton started her set on the stage. Kathy was playing an old acoustic guitar with a Rainbow on the body and was wearing a shirt with a Unicorn on it. She sang really well and brought a very intimate atmosphere to the café. She played some Joni Mitchell covers to start the set finished with some original tunes. She was really good and the crowd cheered loudly after every song. “Hey everybody I would like to welcome a Canadian friend his name is Mountain”, Kathy said. The crowd cheer for Mountain there was even some whistles. “If it’s alright with Mountain and all you folks I’d like to call him up here to do a number with me”, Kathy said. The crowd cheered and Mountain headed for the stage. “Since he’s from Canada and all. I was thinking we do a Canadian song from a Canadian songwriter. If it’s alright with you Mountain I was thinking of doing Lover’s in a Dangerous Time by Bruce Cockburn”, Kathy said. “Yeah Kathy that would be perfect”, Mountain said. They started to sing. “Don’t let hours grow shorter as the days go by, You never get to stop and open your eyes, One day you’re waiting for the sky to fall, And next your dazzled by the beauty of it all, When you’re lovers in a dangerous time, Lovers in a dangerous time”, they sang. When they finished the crowd really cheered loudly. “Thank you, thank you   thank you so much everybody. It’s been a pleasure playing for you and with you”, Kathy said. Kathy left the stage and Mountain got in to position to play. “How’s everybody doing tonight?”, Mountain asked. The crowd cheered. “We’re doing fabulous”, Luckey shouted out. “It’s nice to see some familiar faces out there”, Mountain said. “I just finished coming from New York and it’s nice to be here in Seattle”, Mountain said. “I’m going to start with a song I wrote a few years ago. It’s called BlackButterfly”, Mountain said. 

The BlackButterfly

In the concrete sky

Red blades of sunlight

Stab at the Morning

Little cuts kill the night

Carbon mix with oxygen

Little flowers 

Scream for attention

In the cracks 

They breed and die

For a little chance

Of being touched

By the BlackButterfly

Mountain continued his set as the crowd showed their appreciation with loud applauses in between his songs. Luckey let out a sarcastic boo after one of his songs. “Hey Luckey this one is for you”, Mountain said. 

Hey they little girl

Why don’t you  come sit up on my knee

Tell me all about how your day has been

Where you’ve been

And all you’ve seen

Can you tie your own shoes now

Can you tie your hair in a French braid

Hey there little girl

If I called would you answer me

Or would I be just some stranger to you

So how is your mother

Just as beautiful as the day  we met

Why don’t you just marry me

Take my ring and put it around your finger

We could have a little wedding 

And my brother could be the best man

Mountain caught Rubie starring at him intently. He looked away feeling a little shy and exposed. “Mountain had this idea that he was going to walk on to this award show and sing that song to propose to me on National Television. He ended up getting in a fight with his brother. He tried to pawn the ring and his guitar to get back home but the pawnshop wouldn’t buy it. He did actually play the song live on the radio and he got interviewed on the National Radio” ,Luckey told John. “That’s quite a story Luckey”, John said. “Yeah he’s got a million of them, most of which I probably don’t know”, Luckey said. 

The crowd roared loudly for Mountain. “If its alright I would like to ask a friend to come to the stage”, Mountain said. The crowd cheered its approval. “Rubie I was wondering if you wanted to come sing a song with?, Mountain asked. Rubie looked a little embarrassed. The crowd cheered to get up on stage. Rubie got up and made her way to the stage. Mountain met her and took her by the hand as she walked up the stairs. “I was thinking we would do the song we practiced at the Crow’s Nest”, Mountain said. Rubie smiled and sat down next to Mountain. They sang Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide. Rubie voice was really beautiful and they complemented each other really well. The crowd cheered loudly and gave them a standing ovation. “I want to thank everyone for coming out to the show tonight. And I want to thank Rubie for singing with me”, Mountain said. “Thank you Mountain and thank you all”, she said as she curtsied. Mountain and Rubie descended the stage and went back to the couch where John and Luckey were smiling. “Wow Rubie you really surprise me”, John said. “Yeah Rubie you really sing beautifully”, Luckey said. The man at the bar with the hat came over to the four. He reached in to his back pocket for something. “Hey my name Steve Sky. I’m from BlackDiamondRecords. I really liked your performance. I would be interested in talking to you about doing an album. Here is my card. Give me a call when you’ve got the chance and we can set up a meeting”, Steve said. “Wow man thanks. This is really a surprise”, Mountain said as he took his card. “You’ve really go something there”, Steve said. He turned and walked back to the bar. 

Arty came over to talk to them. “Hey there lassie I really liked your singing. You’re an angel in disguise. “You know I’ve got this boat. I love to take you all aboard. I’m setting sail in two days as the crow flies. Going down to California to visit one of me mates eh.”, Arty said. “Wow I really don’t know what to say. I’ve always wanted to go sailing”, Rubie said. “Well we’ve actually got a car here in Seattle”, Mountain said. “Well I’ve got an idea. Why don’t Mountain and Rubie take the boat down the coast. John and I can take the Trans Am down. We can meet at my place once we get there”, Luckey said. “Sounds like a plan to me”, Mountain said. “Well if it’s ok with Rubie, I would take that option”, John said. “So it’s settled eh”, Arty said. “Meet me ere in two days, still got some fishing to do. The boat will be on the dock her name is Angel of the Mist’, Arty said. Arty tipped his hat and walked out the door. “So how about we head back to the Crow’s Nest Inn for the night”, John said. “Do you mind if we get some pizza first. I’m a little hungry”, Rubie said. “Actually I think I saw a little pizza place just before we stepped in”, Luckey said. They picked up their things and walked out the door. There were neon lights many of them green outside. There was a mist in the air and everything had a green glow about. The streets were empty and only the occasional car past them by on the street. The Trans Am sat there in the misty green haze. It’s black coat and golden eagle wet with little drops of water. “Right there.”, Luckey pointed. Across the street was a little pizza place with red neon’s lights. Leonardo’s it was called. They walked across the street to Leonardo’s. Inside there was classical guitar music. There was a large mural of a fountain on the wall with wild flowers and a stairway up to the sky. The floor was old ceramic tile. The restaurant was empty and there was no one at the counter. John walked up to counter and rang the bell. “Justa minute”, a voice said. John looked back at his party. Mountain shrugged his shoulders, and Luckey smiled. Rubie was looking intently at the painting on the wall. “Hello. So what can I get yous.”, the man said. “Well we like some pizza”, John said. “Well whata kinda pizza”, he said. John turned around. “You like pepperoni?”, he asked. “Sounds good” Mountain said. “Can we get some olives on that”, Luckey said. Rubie continued to study the painting. “You want black or green?”, the man asked. John turned around. “Green please”, Lucky said loudly. “Green please”, John said. “Yes I heard. I’m not deaf you know”, the man said. “Oh sorry”, John said. “Anything else”, the man asked. “No I think that’s it”, John said. “Just a minute”, the man said and turned around. Mountain walked over to Rubie. “Whatcha looking at”, Mountain said. Rubie turned to see Mountain very close to her. “Oh”, she said with a smile. “This painting I feel like I’ve seen it before”, Rubie said. “Yeah It’s like a garden, its really beautiful”, Mountain said. “Yeah and the stairway to the sky. It almost looks like there is something missing here at the top”, Rubie said. “Yeah it looks kind of faded”, Mountain said. “PIZZA ready”, the man said. John went and picked up the pizza. The four sat down at started to eat. 

“So this is turning out really well”, John said. “I mean all things considered. We got to see Mountain play we’re going to go see Neil Young and Rubie and Mountain are sailing down to California”, John said. “Yeah things are really good”, Mountain said. “Do you guys think there is something more to life? Something not always visibly evident like you is here for something. Like you really have a purpose in life”, Rubie said. “I totally agree”, Mountain said. “I remember when Mountain and I were together we used to go on these trips. We were taking a lot of psychedelics and we would go on these trips trying to unlock the secrets in the world or secrets in our mind. I was really a time a freedom and exploration. I think we might of gotten caught up in it to much and lost sight of the most basic things in our life”, Luckey said. “I know since we left New York my eyes have really been open. I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching. Trying to figure out what I’ll be doing next in my life. Is that what you mean Rubie?.”, John said. “Well I feel like everything happens for a reason. There is always something positive to been pulled from the fire. It’s like our lives are puzzles and we have to sort through the pieces and put together our own picture. The picture we like and that makes sense to us. I was looking at that painting on the wall and I was relating it to my life. I have my life in front of me. I like myself and the picture I’m taking but there is something at the top that is very important and I’m missing that”, Rubie said. “That picture really affected you”, John said. “I can relate to what your saying Rubie. Your talking like and artist or a philosopher of life. I can see how you see the picture as a metaphor of life. How its not complete and your searching for that piece that will make it complete. I feel the same way about my music and my lyrics. I’m always trying to write a new song that will make me feel complete and bring more clarity to my life, the present, past and future”, Mountain said. “Have you ever heard of the stages of Man? It’s this belief that as we grow and learn we go through these stages. There is the goal we have in our lives. Like climbing a Mountain and the satisfaction we would get in reaching the top but in order to get to the top we must start and the bottom and enjoy the stages we achieve on our journey. There is much to learn on each stage we reach and how we process that information will affect the experience on the next stage”, John said. “I know I was afraid to spread my wings and look further. To take my life in my hands and not be afraid to take risks. Dreams are so important in our lives. They take us to places we wouldn’t even think about. You got to take life by the horns. Let fate and intuition carry you through. Try new things and remember those moments in your life that make you feel special and carry that with you it has a way of manifesting itself in front of you and it keeps on getting better and better”, Luckey said. The four finished their pizza and got up to leave. As they left Mountain whispered in Rubie ear. “You know I really think you’re beautiful”, he said to her. Rubie turned and smiled. She didn’t know what to say. Mountain just winked and smiled . “So what the hell are we going to know”, John said. Everyone looked at him. “That was a little out of character”, Rubie said. 

“Yeah I don’t know if it’s Seattle or the music or the conversation. I feel like heading down the highway at 100 miles and hour and screaming out the window. I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD, I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD”, John said. “I think they made a movie like that John. It was called the Titanic.”, Luckey said. “Dam why are all the good lines already stolen and saved for Hollywood”, John said. “I’m not sure if the lines are stolen in and taken to Hollywood, or the lines just find their way to Hollywood like fish in a river or if Hollywood creates all the lines of which we incorporate in to our lives”, Mountain said. The four got in to the car and drove away. “Tell you what John. Once we hit some open road here I’ll punch down the pedal I’m sure old Blackie can handle 100 miles an hour. Then you roll down your window and scream whatever the hell you want.”, Luckey said with a smile. “Sounds like a deal”, John said salivating. “John don’t do anything that will embarrass your parents. You don’t want to end up on the six o’clock report tomorrow. I can see your parents catching wind of that in Vermont. Your mom will be like, Oh Johnny what are you doing know. And your dad will be like, if that boy wants me to bail him out jail for this stunt he’s got another thing coming to him”, Rubie said. “Oh yeah Just watch me. Luckey put that pedal to the floor lets bring this thing to another galaxy”, John said. Without flinching Luckey hit it and the car roared sucking air and fuel and 6 cylinders firing and purring like a black jungle cat out for some prey. John rolled down the window the wind fired in to the car like a huricaine. Lamps and light post flew by like flashes of stars the middle line just a blur. I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD. THE KING OF THE WORLD. MY NAME IS JOHN FUCKING BARKER THE KING OF THE WORLD. The cop rolled by a hidden lot and guess who was parked. Red a blue lights stormed on to road in pursuit of the black bogie. “Shit looks like we’ve got company”, Mountain said. “Should I out run then”, Luckey asked. “Yeah punchy in Luckey. Let’s get the fuck out of here”, John screamed in exhilaration. “What the hell was in that tea you drank John”, Rubie haulored over the sound on the wind charging in the window. “I don’t know but I think I’ve some of it as well”, Luckey said. Luckey pushed the car further and found another gear. The car continued to speed up down. “Looks like he called some backup”, Luckey said as she noticed flashing light up ahead. “Take the off ramp Luckey!!”, John said desperately. Luckey swerved Blackie on the off ramp and the back end swung out on some gravel. “Whoaaa. Luckey just like the hills in the County”, Mountain said. The car sped off the off the ramp back in to the city. “Hey this place is familiar”, Rubie said. “Yeah old shakes took us in here”, John said. The police cruiser missed the off the ramp and the Trans Am sped through a red light. The streets were pretty quiet save for a few taxicabs. “I think we lost ‘em”, Luckey said. “We need to hang somewhere and wait for the heat to clear”, Luckey said. “Good call Luckey”, Mountain said. “Hey lets go to Ralphies”, John said. “Who’s Ralphie”, Lucky said and the car slowed back down to normal. “Oh he’s our herbologist friend her in the city”, Mountain said. “Lead the way boys”, Luckey said. John and Mountain directed Luckey back to Victory where Ralph lives. Rubie maintained in her own world starring up at all the stars thinking about things beyond mars. “Here, here pull in to that alley. No one will see her in there”, John said. “Ahh…., her!? Blackie is a He, thank you very much”, Luckey said. “I watch it John she’s go a bite”, Mountain said. “I was hoping you would say that”, John said.  “You still with us Rubie, I’m getting doubled teamed here”, Luckey said. “Oh yeah I’m still here. Just a little dazed. You got any cigarettes”, Rubie said. “Yeah that’s the plan. You guys go up to see Ralphie while me and Rubie stay in the car for a little smoke”, Luckey said. “Deal. The car was starting to smell a little to much like patchouli and bubble, for my manly tastes anyway”, John said. Luckey slammed in Tori Amos as Mountain and John left the car.

John and Mountain climbed the stair up to Ralph’s apartment as they remembered it. “You think he’s gonna be home”, John asked. “Yeah man these guys are always home. It’s like their job. If there not home they could miss a score.”, Mountain said. They got to Ralph’s door and knocked three times. Through the door they could here zamphire music and the same Clint Eastwood movie that was on before. The doorknob slowly turned. The door opened a crack and Ralph took a peek through the opening. Ralph motioned with his head to ask what they wanted. “Ah remember us. We were here with Shakey earlier today”, John said. “Yeah we were wondering if we wondering if you had any chicken bones”, Mountain said. Ralph closed the door. Mountain and John sort of looked at each other a little stunned. The door opened and Ralph motioned them in. He looked behind them and closed the doors as they entered. Ralph walked to the kitchen and reached in the garbage. He came back and handed mountain some mostly eaten chicken bones. Mountain looked at him and sort of smiled. A little unsure of what to say. “Uh Ralph I meant some pot”, Mountain said. Ralph motioned to them to sit on the couch. Mountain and John both went to sit on the couch and they stepped over the cats. Ralph followed them in and sat on the chair across from them. He reached behind the chair to pull something out. Two gunshots rang on the television. John almost shit his pants as he reached. Ralph placed a checkerboard on the table and began setting it up. Mountain looked at John and John shrugged his shoulders. “One rule”, Ralph said without even lifting his head. “You want to buy you play first, everybody plays”, Ralph said. “Alright that’s fair enough”, Mountain said. “What about the girls”, John said through the corner of his mouth. “yeah we got some friends waiting outside”, Mountain said. Ralph looked up sharply at the two guys on the couch just starring and not saying a word. A minute must have past that felt like eternity. A clocked chimed and Ralph spoke. “You want to buy you gotta play simple as that”, Ralph said. “Alright I can manage that”, John said as he got in to position to play. Ralph pulled a paper bag out from under he seat. He reached in the paper bag and pulled out two of the greenest buds anyone has ever seen. He started to roll up a large Joint. He finished rolling and handed the Joint to John. “Welcome to Seattle”, Ralph said. John took the Joint and asked Mountain for a light. “You gotta use this light here”, Ralph said as he handed John a lighter in the shape of Buddha. John took the lighter and lit the Joint up. He inhaled the smoke and felt it fill his lungs. He held on to his breath and handed Mountain the smoke. Mountain brought the smoke to his lips and inhaled largely and passed it to Ralph. Ralph leaned in close to the table and board and took a large breath inwards. He played is first move and handed the smoke back to John. They continued like this until the smoke was completely gone and they were high like kites.

John and Ralphie continued to play checkers. John was having trouble seeing the board. The checkers and spaces seemed to blend with the coffee table and the rug below the coffee table. Zenphyr continued to play and John did his best to play checkers. “Damn I haven’t played checkers since grade school”, John thought to himself. Mountain had to stand up and regain himself he got so zone in to the checker board he forgot he had a body. He shook his head and stood up. He glanced out the window and saw a cop car with the lights on. He looked away and went to sit down again. Then quickly glanced back out the window. He saw the cop putting Rubie and Luckie in cuffs. His jawed dropped and his heart started to race. A tow truck was towing Blackie away. He had to think quick and smart. He knocked a potted plant off the ledge of the windowsill. Ralphie just stood up and starred at him. “Are you going to sit down”, Ralphie asked. “Yeah man I’m trying to play a game of checkers here”, John said with a hint of annoyance. Not wanting to alert Ralphie Mountain sat down and said nothing. He kept watching the game play. Each move seemed to take forever it was like watching two slothes in a cave play archaic game at the speed of snails going to church on Sunday. The pipe music played out here and was the highlight of the moments in between moves. Mountain was growing impatient and started rocking back and forth starring at the game board. Ralphie and John kept playing every move like it was friggin chess game in some world championship in Russia with CNN reporting. Mountain almost flipped. He stood up and bit his tongue and sat back down and started playing drums on the coffee table. John went to make a move and looked over at Mountain. Mountain started mouthing incoherent words. “You mind? I’m trying to play my piece”, John said. “The bathroom is just down the hall”, Ralphie said. “It’s friggin CHECKERS!! MAN!! FRIGGIN CHECKERS!!”, Mountain screamed. Ralphie obviously annoyed leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. “Just a sec Ralphie I’ll talk to him”, John said. Ralphie sat back and watched the two discuss their issues. It was like watching an umpire and a manager arguing back and forth with hand signals. Mountain didn’t want to say anything to alert Ralphie and John was just stoned lost in the minute and trying to get back to his chess er a checker’s game. Mountain calmed down and John turned to continue the game. Ralphie was now stroking one of his cats.  John just waited patiently until Ralph was done. He didn’t want to upset him because him really had to finish this game. There was only about six pieces left and his was winning he had to take this game. “I’m out”, Ralph said. “I can’t play under these conditions. This is a thinking man’s game”, Ralph said. “I understand Ralphie we’ll play again some other time”, John said. Mountain stood up. “Can we go now John”, Mountain said as he bounced from toe to toe. John rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair starring at the board. “Yeah, yeah we can go”, John said. John stood up they walked to the door. “Lock the door behind you”, Ralph said. “Yeah, yeah Ralphie we know the drill”, John said. The locked and closed the door behind them. They started walking down the stairs. “The cops”, Mountain said. “Where, Where?”, John said in a panic as he slid against the wall almost falling to his feet. “The girls John the cops took the girls and the Blackie got towed”, Mountain said. “What, when, where”, John said. “While you and Ralphie were playing the world championship of checkers man”, Mountain said. “Why didn’t you say anything”, John said. “I was trying to tell you while not trying to disturb Ralphie man”, Mountain said in frustration. “OH man this is big this is big. What the h e double hockey sticks are we going to know”, John said. “Well we got to go get the girls out”, Mountain said. “Right, Right. I’ve got an idea. We’ve got to crab a cab”, John said. “You still got Shakey’s phone number”, Mountain said. “Yeah right here and there’s a pay phone. Lets give him a call”, John said. John and Mountain went across the street to call Shakey. It was now past getting close to midnight. The stars were out and there was no one on the streets save for the two and a few passing cars. John stepped out of the phone booth. “Yeah I got Shakey. He’s coming to meet us here”, John said as he pulled a smoke out to smoke. Mountain pulled out his pipe and started to smoke it. He blew smoke rings out in to the Seattle Sky. The rings would lift and drift up in to the air up through above their heads until they eventually faded away in to the night sky. With there feet firmly on the Ground Mountain asked, “So what is your plan?” “Well I’m still in the process of working it out give me a few minutes”, John said as he continued to smoke.

Mountain stared at the stars in the sky he could actually see them flash from red to blue.

Just as Mountain was exhaling Shakey pulled up. He rolled down the window “What’s up fellas”, Shakey said. John ran over the car window. “Shakes where in a bad state here. Any idea where we might find some sports coats this time of night”, John said desperately. Shakey hoped out of the car and opened the truck. He pulled out two of the most used car salesmen sports coats he had ever seen.  “What’s going on? You guys got a business trip”, Shakey said. “No the girls got arrested”, John said. “Girls!”, Shakey said. “I thought it was just Rubie”, Shakey said. “You boys move fast”, Shakey said. “What are you gonna do try and sell the cops something, heh, heh”, Shakey said. Mountain continued to smoke his pipe starring up at all the stars. “No man I gonna pull a fast one on them”, John said. “A fast one eh. Well you better get the car fast”, Shakey said. “Yo Mountain lets dig”, John said. Mountain came back down from his Reverie and they jumped in the cab. “So where do you boys want to go”, Shakey said. “Take us to the station”, John said. “Here put this on”, John said as he handed Mountain the vintage sports coat. Shakey had on some oldies station. The Taxi drove the streets seemingly out of time and place. John and Mountain wearing their vintage sports coats as Mountain smoked his pipe and John chain-smoke cigarette after cigarette listening the oldies station. Shakey was a little more quiet this time around. The music changed from era to era 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. The passenger’s minds seemed to travel with it. “We’re getting close now”, Shakey said. John pulled out a smoke to calm his nerves. “Ok just follow my lead.”, John said. You “My guitar man. I can’t leave my guitar behind”, Mountain said. “Well I don’t know if this is going to work if you bring it.”,  John said. “I’ll do it”, Shakey said. “Alright cool give Shakes your coat Mountain”, John said. Mountain handed Shakey his coat. “Alright you take the driver seat Mountain and keep the engine warm. “Good plan Shakes you never know what might go down.”, John said. “This night has been crazy enough anything nuts enough just might work”, Shakey said. Mountain got in the front seat and started playing with all the buttons and knobs on the dash. He accidentally honked the horn. “What the hell Mountain”, John said. “Sorry, I’m just getting situated here. I need to know where all the controls are”, Mountain said. “You high man?”, Shakey asked. “Uh no….”, Mountain said. “We smoked a little reefer at Ralphies a while ago”, John said. “Yeah and played the world championship of checkers”, Mountain said like a kid in school. “Yeah well if you would have told me about the cops…”, John started. “Yeah well what..”, Mountain said. “Hey listen boys this is no time be arguing. The girls are in the slammer and they us to get us out. You said you’ve got a plan. Then lets do it and stop talking about. Stay comfy just lay off the horn a bit”, Shakey said. “What station is this”, Mountain said. “I don’t know the oldies here in Seattle”, Shakey said. “Anymore questions Mountain?”, John said. “No”, Mountain said as he turned back toward the dash. “All right. Let’s do this for the girls”, John said. “For Luckey and Rubie”, Mountain said. John and Shakey stepped out of the car and headed around the corner to the station. They walked quickly and Shakey followed behind John. They walked in to the Police Station. John walked up to the glass. “Hi”, John said. “My name is Dr. Koockie, and this is my associate Dr. Krumb. Where from the Seattle general. I’m looking for two patients of mine. Both female one with dark brown hair and green eyes the other blonde with blue eyes. I’m wondering if mayhap you  have picked them up this evening.”, John said. The cop just sort of starred at them. “Yis thus is trew”, Shakey said in his best accent. Just at sec the cop said. He left to the other room. Dr. Koockie and Dr. Krumb heard a buzz and a voice over the intercom. “Please enter door one to your right”, the voice sounded. The entered the room it was small with door to the left and right with a glass window in front of the door the just entered. A door opened beyond glass window in front of them and Luckey and Rubie walked in. Rubie noticed John and then Luckey noticed him as well. John quietly and calmly put his finger to his mouth. Shakey waved and smiled at the girls. “Boy she’s a nice looking girl”, Shakey said to John under his breath. The door opened to the right of the Doctors. A police officer stepped in. Are these the girls you’re looking for? We picked em up in central they were driving a Black Trans Am speeding down the express way to the east side of town”, The officer said.. “Yes these are the girls. Their real names are Pearl Dorchester and Ivory Teaser. They escaped earlier from the psychiatric ward of our hospital. These two must be back under our care. They are very neurotic and could be a danger to themselves and the facility if they do not return. They are very cunning and intelligent.”, John said. “You got a number I can call this in”, the officer said. “Yis, yis here is a number”, Shakey said. The officer turned away to go use the phone. Mountain sitting in the taxi listening to the oldies stoned out his mind thought he heard a phone ring. Is that a ringing he thought to himself. I rang again. Yes that is a ring he thought to himself. I wonder what is it. It rang again. Ah it’s a telephone he thought. I wonder who its for. It rang again. Ah it must be Shakey’s phone he thought should I answer. It rang. Hmmm. “Hello Shakey’s Taxi”, Mountain said. “Uh I must have the wrong number”, the voice on the other line said. Mountain went back to listening to the music high as a kite. The phone started ringing again. Mountain picked it up. “Hello, Shakey’s taxi”, he said. “Yeah this is the Seattle Police force we have a Dr. Kookie and a Dr. Krumb. They told me to call this number concerning two females we picked up earlier this evening”, the officer said. “Oh yes, yes this is true”, Mountain said a little confused. “Well I’m calling to confirm this and they told me to call this number”, the officer said. “Oh yes this is ah Dr. Young I ah reside over this ward. If I’m not mistaken the too girls you picked up, one had blonde hair and blue eyes about 5’6”, and the other about the same height with dark brown hair and green eyes”, Mountain said. “They have probably been going under fake names”, Mountain said. “Yeah could you tell they’re real names please sir”, the officer said. “Yes it’s ah Mary and Suzy yes that’s right Mary and Suzy”, Mountain said. “Sure it is I knew this was bogus”, the officer said as he hung up. 

The officer hung up the phone and headed back to the holding cell. When he got there the room the girls were gone and so were the doctors. He went immediately to PA and send out an all points bulletin on the two women and the two supposed doctors. Mountain sitting in his car started to get a little nervous. He turned on the wipers by accident and tried to turn them off in a panic. When he finally got them off he saw John, Shakey and the girls running toward the taxi. He unlocked the doors and the girls jumped in the car. “Hit it Mountain”, John yelled. Mountain punched it and peeled out the parking spot in to the street. “Slow er down Mountain they don’t know were in a cab just drive like a normal cabbie.”, Shakey said. “Yeah the girls should get down so as not to alert anyone”, John said. “So where we headed”, Mountain asked. “Wherever the cops aint”, Shakey said as he turned the radio to the police channel. “ALL POINTS BULLETIN IN SEARCH OF TWO FEMALES IN LATE TO EARLY THIRTIES AS WELL AS TWO MEN ONE IN HIS LATE TWENTIES OR EARLY THIRTEES AND AN OLDER GENTLEMAN POSSIBLY IN HIS FOURTEES.” The radio read out. “POSSIBLY HEADED SOUTH”,  the radio blipped again. “I say we take it west. I’ve got a garage there we can hang out for while until the heat lightens up”, Shakey said. Mountain started heading east away from the station and the heat. “We are going to have to change our looks a little”, John said. “I’m sure they had cameras all over that place”, John said. “We can start by taking these Jackets off”, Shakey said. “Are the cops coming”, Rubie said. “Yeah and where the hell were you guys when they pulled up in the first place”, Luckey said in a sour tone. “Well John thought he was playing the world championship of checkers while you guys were getting arrested. I couldn’t get him to move”, Mountain said. “Yeah well you could have said so instead of playing charades”, John said. “Yeah well, yeah well”, Mountain started. “SHUT UP”, Rubie said. “We got to ditch these clothes and die our hair”, Luckey said. “Good call. At least someone around here knows what there doing”, Rubie said. “Get down the cops”, Mountain said. A patrol car was coming toward them on the opposite side of the road. As he drove by he shined a light right in to the cab to get a good look. As he drove by Mountain looked right at him and felt like he was driving in slow motion.  The cruiser past and the taxi kept going. Mountain continued to drive until they were out of site and in the clear. “It’s not far now”, Shakey said. “Just up around this corner”, Shakey said. “And we’ll be there”, Shakey said. Mountain turned the corner and Shakey pointed to his garage. Mountain pulled the car in and they all stepped out of he Cab. “Damn that was one ride”, Shakey said. “How are we going to get the car out”, Luckie said. “Here lets step in to my office and we can figure this out”, Shakey said. The five of them got out of the cab and stepped in to Shakey’s office. “Here I’m going to make a call and get some hair die”, Shakey said. Shakey went to the phone and called one of his buddies to bring some hair die. “What colour do you girls want”, Shakey said. “I’ll take purple”, Rubie said. “Yeah and I’ll get pink”, Luckie said. “We got to get some new clothes”, John said. “Actually there’s a clothing shop right across the street”, Shakey said. “I also know the guy at the impound lot. His name is Frank, he also knows a guy in a paint shop. He could hook you guys right up”, Shakey said. “Oh no I’m going to have to paint Blackie”, Luckey said. “Yeah well it’s going to be for the best”, Mountain said. 

There was a knock on the door. Shakey went to the door. “Who is it”, Shakey said. “It’s me Stevie”, he answered. Shakey opened the door and in walked a guy around thirty. “Yeah I brought you some hair die”, Stevie said. “What’s it all about”, Stevie asked. “Oh we’re going to a party and the girls want to get dressed up”, Shakey said. Shakey took the die and John gave him some money for his errand. “Wholly I can’t believe I’m going to do this”, Rubie said. “Ah come on its going to be fun”, Luckey said. The girls took their hair die and went to the bathroom. “Well fellas we’re in a real situation now”, John said. “Yeah tell me about it”, Mountain said. “Ah I wouldn’t worry it about fellas, your out of towners”, Shakey said. “I guess I’ll have to be cutting this beard off”, Shakey said. “Yeah I’m going to need to do a little rearranging as well”, John said. “Yeah some hair gel would go nice in your hair”, Mountain said sarcastically. “Your going to have to get some new plates for that car as well. I know the guy down there and he should be able to hook you up. He doesn’t work for free though. I think they put the car up for auction after thirty days anyway. It was only a traffic violation anyway its not a big deal heh heh heh”, Shakey said. The girls walked out with their new hairdos. There hair was still wet but the colour was shinning through. Luckey was bright pink and Rubie was bright purple. “Hey boys what do you think of our new looks”, Luckey said. “Actually you look really hot”, Mountain  said. “Yeah you girls look really good. I never thought I would see you in purple Rubie”, John said. “Yeah me neither. And all it took was running from the Law and some deranged dudes from New York”, Rubie said. “Yeah so the clothing store is just across the street”, Shakey said. “Alright so we just tell ‘em Shakey sent us. When we get to the impound lot”, John asked. “Yeah I’ll give ‘em a call and let him know your coming”, Shakey said. “Alright girls are you ready to go shopping”, Mountain said. “Just a sec”, Luckey said. The girls blew the boys a kiss. “This is for luck”, Rubie said. “Alright lets tackle it ladies and gentlemen”, John said. The four left the office and headed out to the garage. They looked out the garage door to make sure there were no cops around. The coast was clear and they headed across the street. They ran across the street and opened the door to the store. They started looking around for the appropriate attire and soon found out they were in a sex shop. “A looks like we’re going exotic”, Mountain said. “Ooh this excites me”, Luckey said. “I always wanted to see you in Leather John”, Rubie said. “Yeah that’s easy for you to say. If only I can find a pair of pants with the ass still in them”, John said. They split up and started to look for clothes they could wear in public. 

Luckey found a cowgirl outfit and Rubie found a schoolgirl outfit. John was having a hard time choosing between the biker leather or the fish net shirt. Mountain couldn’t decide he didn’t know what to wear. The girls were having a good time trying on clothes and taking them off in the change rooms. “Hey John have you found anything yet”, Mountain called over. “Yeah I think I’m going  to go with the biker leather. It really suits me. I going to get the leather top to go with these leather pants and a pair of those biker boots”, John said. “Man I’m having trouble here trying to pick something”, Mountain said. “Here let me help you”, Rubie said as she came over. Her hair glowing  purple in the neon lights and vibrators. “Hey how bout this cop outfit”, Rubie said. “You think I would look good as a cop”, Mountain asked. “Yeah either that or a surfer bum”, Luckey said. “Here let me try it on”, Mountain said. Mountain went in to the change room to try on his new outfit. They girls were trying on different accessories to go with their new sex costumes. “You know this biker outfit gets me thinking”, John said. “You know I’ve always wanted to ride a bike”, John said. “You know I think that would be so sexy”, Luckey said. “Come on out Mountain. We’re not going to bite”, Rubie said. Mountain stepped out of the change room in his new blues. Rubie picked up a pair of sunglasses. “Here you go try these on with your new duds”, Rubie said. Mountain took the sunglasses and put them on. “You know this aint half bad. I was thinking of doing away with the badge and getting some stains and maybe a few tears in this uniform”, Mountain said. “Yeah and keep the handcuffs wear I can see em”, Rubie said with a smile. “Holly shit! I just remembered my guitar. Its in the back of Luckey’s car”, Mountain said in a panic. “I thought you said it was in shakeys car”, John said. “Yeah man I guess I was stoned”, Mountain said. “Oh damn my guitar is there too. Lets get this stuff and get down there in a hurry”, Rubie said.

The girls fashioned their new outfits and the boys  put on their new duds. Luckey in her cowgirl outfit, Rubie in her schoolgirl outfit, John in his biker outfit and Mountain dressed in his new blues with torn sleeve and missing badge. They paid for there outfits and called a cab. Waiting in the store they looked like a completely new group of people. They looked like they were ready to go to a show or were part of punk rock band from the 80’s. John pulled out a smoke. “You know gang I have to say you all look pretty damn special”, John said. “Yeah I feel like going dancing or something”, Luckey said. 

“Yeah I feel like enforcing my authority and arresting some pretty girl for obscene justice”, Mountain said. “Do you have key for those handcuffs. Or if they go on do they never come off”, Rubie asked. “Yeah they came with a key. I guess if you can go free if you act on good behaviour”, Mountain said. “Well I’ll be sure to act my best”, Rubie said. “Oh geeze the last thing I want is to have handcuffs put on me”, Luckey said. “Well as long as you all act like good schoolgirls and cowgirls we’ll have no problem”, Mountain said with a smile. “I feel like jumping on my Harley and going for a long ride a long the coast. The wind in my hair and the sea beside. An open road forever and nothing stopping me”, John said. He caught a twinkle in Rubie eye. “You’re really coming out of it hey John. A day ago you were an emotional wreck. Now you’re dressed in biker leather ready to take off forever”, Rubie said. “It must be the good company and the wide open ocean air. I feel a giant weight lifted off my shoulders. Like anything is possible.”, John said. A cab pulled up in front of the sex shop. They left the store and jumped in the cab. “Where to”, the cab driver quipped. “We got to go to the impound lot”, John said. The driver said nothing and just drove. The radio was on slightly just barely enough to hear. They couldn’t make out who it was but they heard a few lyrics. “Go to a lake of fire and fry see ‘em again till the fourth of July.” The radio could be barely heard. “So what’s your name man”, Mountain asked. “They called me Heart in a Box.”, the cab driver said. “So your friends call you Heart in a Box”, Mountain asked. “No they do”, Heart in a Box said. “Who’s they”, John asked. “The people I know”, Heart in a Box said. “How did you get the name”, Rubie asked. “I’m not sure. I used to live in this room. It had the shape of a warped heart. The ceiling was pink. The walls were red. I had cardboard all over the floor.”, Heart in a Box said. “So you are the heart. And the room was the box”, Rubie said. “No I am a man. People look through their eyes. They see the things their leaders tell them to see. My room was my room. I opened my door. They came and called me what they believed their leaders would see. They could call me fly on the wall. Then I would say they call me Fly on the Wall.”, Heart in a Box said. The lights of the city were quite bright. The cab had the feel of cardboard box drifting through the streets of Seattle. Bouncing off the requests of people on the corners. Heart in a Box was the driver ready, wishing, willing to go anywhere but the people always asked to go to the same places over and over. “Call me stupid, but didn’t we just pass that place”, John said. “Call it contagious. This cities over run by cats copying the best selling candy stick. Putting on new rappers. Calling them candy apples. This city, that city same as the rest. Shiny lights and sticker tape. Cash machine and vending machine. I could make this drive in my sleep.”, Heart in a box said. “We seem to be heading away from the city”, Mountain said. “We’re entering the outer ring. Customers don’t ask to go so far. They like the light. And shy from the black. You might get away”, Heart in a Box said. 

The roll of the wheels could be heard driving away. Intermittently interrupted by the occasional pothole. “So why do you stay here?”, John asked. “This is where I live. I make my life. If I left it would be the same. In another city the people all look the same. I’m Heart in a Box in Seattle. In another city another name. I know these peoples name. I would meet again somewhere else. I would learn their new names and start the same”, Heart in a Box said. “You ever been to Canada”, Mountain asked. “I’ve never left these lights. Why lies beyond. I don’t know. The TV shows all the news. I never hear words from people away. What really happens I can’t say”, Heart in a Box said. “Canada is a lot like the USA except there is more space between as you say the lights. We work the same and dress the same. In Canada we have the same TV shows and hear a lot of the news in the USA.”, Mountain said. “Is it easier to get away”, Heart in a Box said. “Well that depends on where you want to go.”, Mountain said. “Away, somewhere else. Somewhere different. I can call my name. No one knows what it means but that’s ok. It’s just me and I can like it that way. The waters shape the rocks and wash away. Taken to another place. Resurface and stay the same. Look at another side. Till the tide takes it away.”, Heart in a Box said. “Is that why you live by the Sea”, Rubie said. “I don’t know. It happened that way. I never thought the same. Rock and Me the ocean like the sea. I can’t complain. I will half to wait. Maybe I will see”, Heart in a Box said. “I hope you will see and get to feel that different scene where you know your name and are the same but the scene is different and you will like it that way”, Rubie said. “Thank you”, Heart in a Box said. 

The cab ran through a major pothole and into a dirt parking lot full of potholes. There was a wooden building with a flashing light a fenced yard full of old cars and some dogs barking. The moon was setting over top of the park half smiling, half dreaming as the stars seemed to shine together in a dance they didn’t move but seemed to touch each other and share their shine. The cab came to a stop and Heart in a Box said nothing. John reached in his wallet and took out a 20. “Thanks for the ride Heart in a Box”, John said as he handed him the 20. Heart in a Box didn’t move just sat there staring at the moon. John dropped the money on the front seat between the passenger and the driver. Heart in a Box didn’t move just sat there silent watching the moon. The four passengers got out of the cab and closed the doors. They walked toward the wooden shack. Mountain turned to see the cab but it was gone. He didn’t even hear it drive away. He felt a warm feeling inside like something special just happened. Rubie stopped and looked at Mountain starring off at nothing. “Are you coming Mountain”, Rubie said with a grin. Mountain snapped to and walked back toward Rubie. “Heart in a Box sure was interesting”, Rubie said. “Yeah he was. I sure hope he finds everything he was looking for”, Mountain said. “I think he will”, Rubie said. “We all manage to find our way. I really believe everything happens for a reason”, Rubie said. The dogs were now barking viciously at them. The lot was abandoned not a person was stirring. John knocked on the wooden shack door and waited. No one answered. He waited and knocked some more. Still no one answered. “I hope someone is here”, Luckey said quietly like she didn’t want to disturb anything although there was nothing visible to the eye that could be disturbed. The dogs stopped barking and ran off in to the darkness. They could here whistling. It was kind of eerie and out of sorts. The whistling kept getting closer. They could see some sort of dancing light out in the distance moving and shinning on different objects. It kept coming closer and closer and the whistling stopped. The four of them were frozen and silent just listening to the sound of the silence and watching the white light. The light moved across the gravel and through the fence. It up Luckey’s legs and rested on her face. “Hey there what do you want!”, they heard a voice hauler out. John jumped out in front of everyone. “We came to get our car. Shakey sent us”, John said. “Shakey eh”, the voice said. “Yeah he said he was going to call you”, John said. “That old hound doesn’t think I still him some favours for that card game does he”, the voice said. “No we came to get our car. Shakey told us you would help us out”, John said. “I might help but this work isn’t cheap you know”, the voice said. “Yeah we’re probably we’re probably going to have to get it painted”, John said. 

“Painted! At this time of day, there isn’t a painter around who would do it know”, the voice said. “Well what are we going to do?”, Luckey asked. “I’m not to sure cutie”, the voice said. “We would really like some help sir”, Rubie said. “Well I would love to help you darling but I’m not a painter”, the voice said. “Do you have a workshop”, Mountain asked. “If you mean for painting. Yeah, yeah I do. Its around back”, the voice said. “Well could we use it. We can pay you for your troubles.”, Rubie said. “Have you ever painted before”, the voice asked. “Actually yes I paint”, Luckey said. “Well this goes against all policy. But you girls sure are cute”, the voice said. “Tell you what I park her in the garage and you can have your way with her”, pay me about 1000 bucks for it and you have a deal”, the voice said. “Ah a 1000 bucks. We only have 200 mister”, Rubie said. “Well I’m going to have to watch in that case”, the voice said. “Go around back were the garage is and I’ll let you in”, the voice said. “Oh thank you mister. Thank you mister”, Luckey said. 

The group walked around back to where the garage was. Rubie pushed on the door and it opened wide. They looked inside and saw the TransAm. She was still intact and beautiful. Shining under the florescent lights. The garage smelled like paint and had oil stains on the concrete floor. “Well there she. Have at her”, the voice said. They couldn’t see him their was an office upstairs and he must have been sitting in there talking over the loud speaker.

“Well first we have to tape her up”, Luckey said. “Oh why don’t we wash her first. There’s a hose over there and I see some soap”, Rubie said. Rubie grabbed the hose and Luckey grabbed the soap and a rag. “Here wet this rag for me so I can lather some soap on it”, Luckey said. “Rubie sprayed a little water on the rag and Luckey lathered the soap on it. Luckey walked over to Blackie with her rag dripping in soapy water. Rubie sprayed the house on Luckey playfully. “Hey that’s cold”, Luckey said. “Spry a little on the transAm Rubie”, Luckey said. Rubie opened the hose and sprayed all over the trans am getting it soaking wet. Luckey started washing the car starting with the hood and the Eagle crest. She washed and washed and washed until the hood really stood out and was shining. Rubie walked around to the back of the TransAm and sprayed the bumper washing the back window clean as the water dripped down on to the licence plate. Rubie and Luckey switched ends. Luckey came with the wet rag and washed all over the back of the car. The was a stubborn spot she had to spit on and really wash hard. Rubie washed away the soap bubbles on the hood of the car as they water dripped off the hood and over the headlights. “Came back here and give a final rinse on the back Rubie”, Luckey said. Rubie walked over and rinsed off the back of the car. Spraying all the bubbles off as they dripped off the windshield down the trunk and off the bumper. “Make sure you get that spot”. Luckey said. “I really had to work it out”, Luckey said. Rubie took the hose and sprayed right on the the spot Luckey had to scrub away. 

The car came really clean and shined even more in the light. “Let’s grab those towels and get her nice and dry before we start putting the paint on her”, Luckey said. The girls grabbed the towels and started to dry her off. They made sure there was no water dripping any where on her. No wet spots at all. She was completely dry and ready to be painted. “It’s important to make sure she is completely dry before we put the paint on or it will smudge and run. Then we would have a big mess.”, Luckey said. Rubie started working extra hard to make sure the car had no wet spots. “All done”, Rubie said as she threw the dry towels at Luckey. “What are you throwing towels at me for”, Luckey said. “I didn’t mean anything by it”, Rubie said. “Yeah right you didn’t”, Luckey said as she threw a dripping wet rag at Rubie. “What the Hell”, Rubie said as she grabbed the hose and started spraying Luckey all over with freezing cold. “You bitch”, Luckey said as she ran over to Rubie tackling her to the grounds. The were rolling around on the ground with the hose in between spraying all over the place the two girls fighting over the control of the spraying hose. The were soaked and screaming, fighting like cats.

John stepped in.  “OK girls that’s enough now. Break it up”, John said. “She started it”, Luckey said. “I did not. You did, plus you called me a bitch. I don’t respond kindly to that sort of talk”, Rubey said. “Yeah well if you didn’t throw the rag at me than none of this would have ever started”, Luckey said. “I didn’t throw it. I passed it to you. Your too sensitive Luckey”, Rubie said. “Yeah she is a little sensitive. She can get angry in a hurry and then watch out. She’s usually pretty peaceful and quiet than watch out if you saw the wrong thing. She snaps than all hell breaks lose”, Mountain said. “Anyway girls you’re going to have to make up. We’ve got work to do here. The car is still sitting there and it’s getting late. We still have to paint her up”, John said. “Alright Luckey I’m sorry for passing you the rag. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings”, Rubie said. Luckey didn’t say anything she was still upset about the incident. “Ah come on Luckey she was just being playful”, Mountain said. “Yeah well I’m not a piece of trash. I deserve some respect. I don’t like people stepping on my toes. I’m not about to be walked all over. I’m tired of people taking me for granted. I’m going to stick up for myself when I feel I have to. And I felt I had to.”, Luckey said. “I wasn’t trying to step on your toes Luckey. I really like you and your company. I mean we’ve been in prison together. I can’t say that about my girl friends back home”, Rubie said. “Yeah your right Rubie, maybe I’m just a little tired. It’s been a long evening”, Luckey said. “Well its not over yet. We still need to get this car painted and some new plates on her if we’re going to get anywhere”, John said. “Ok I’m sorry for tackling you. I don’t know what came over me.” Luckey said as she went and hugged Rubie. “Ah that’s more like it girls”, Mountain said. “Now lets get those paint guns in operation and start painting up this here car.”, John said with a warm smile. They grabbed the guns and were ready to start painting. “Oh wait a minute. We still got to tape up this car”, Luckey said. “Oh right I almost forgot”, John said. They grabbed some tape and started taping up the windows and the lights making sure to do a professional job. After the car was taped up they started to apply the paint. Luckey took control of the painting. She looked like a real pro painting. “I knew she was a talented painter. I didn’t know she knew how to paint cars though”, Mountain said. “She certainly is a talented girl”, John said. “Yeah not to mention really pretty”, Rubie said. Luckey finished up. They took a step back and looked at the new paint job. Blackie was not purple with a golden eagle on the hood. “She looks real psychedelic”, Mountain said. “Yeah nice choice of colour Luckey”, John said. “Well I thought as long as we were going to paint her I might as well paint her something extravagant. Not to mention it matches Rubies hair. Whenever I look at the car I will always think of Rubie and the time we spent painting the car.”, Luckey said. “Wow I don’t really know what to say”, Rubie said. “Well we’re going to have to wait a while for her to dry”, John said. “Hey I’ve got a pack of cards in my guitar bag. Why don’t we play crazy eights or something”, Mountain said. “Alright I’m in.”, Luckey said. “Sounds good to me too”, Rubie said. “Well I’m not a big crazy eight fan but I’ll play to help pass the time”, John said. They played hand after hand Luckey winning the majority of the time. “Wow what’s your secret.” John asked. “My secret is I never tell my secret. That way it’s always a secret.” Luckey said as she winked at him. “Is that car dry yet”, Mountain said. “Well let go check it out”, Luckey said. “Say what are you going to call her now”, Rubie asked. “Well I guess I can’t call her Blackie and more. I know I’m going to call her Purple.”, Luckey said. “Purple eh, I like it”, John said. “Yeah she’s about dry now”, Luckey said. “Hey mister what to let us out of here”, John shouted up. “Your going to have to put those new plates on her first”, the voice called out. John looked up at the wall and saw some Oregon licence plates. He went and took them down off the wall and grabbed the screwdriver next to them. He took the plates off and fastened the new plates on. Just as he finished the door opened up. “See ya next time”, the voice said. “Alright lets haul out of here”, Luckey said. The four jumped in Purple. Luckey turned the key and she fired up. She revved the engine and built up the RPM. She popped it in gear and Purple took off out of the garage into the parking lot. She pulled a doughnut in the dirt lot sending dust up all over the place She swung around straight and sped out of the mess. “Hoo EEE”, Mountain said. “Give er some”, Mountain said. John sitting in the front seat fastened his seat belt. “What’s the matter John you chicken”, Luckey said and she accelerated down the highway. The car took of out through the distance away from the past and into the their awaited present the car being the moment reaching ever further. “Better slow her down a bit. We don’t the Highways back on our tacks”, John said. Luckey looked over smile and down shifted the car came to a steady pace heading back to the Crow’s Nest Inn. 

“Well this has certainly been an interesting day”, Mountain said. “Yeah to say the least Mountain”, John said. “I’ll be glad to get back to the Crow’s Nest and have a shower”, Rubie said. “What time is it anyway”, Rubie asked. “Its 3am”, Luckey said. “Hey were not doing to bad. Considering everything we have done and gone through in the last 12 hours or so”, John said. The car drove along the Highway towards the Crow’s Nest Inn. The crew was obviously a little tired from the day’s events. “So what do you think tomorrow is going to hold?”, Mountain asked. “Well we’re still going to the Neil Young concert, aren’t we”, Luckey asked. “Well I’m game for. Plus you guys had the invite for the Sail Boat ride down to California”, John said. “You still up for things Rubie”, John asked. “Uh ah yeah, yeah sure”, Rubie said. Rubie was responded and only half heard the question. She was off in her own world thinking her circumstance and ultimate destiny. The fears of New York had at least for the moment been pushed away and the prospect of living life and exploring its every avenue occupied Rubie’s mind. Purple pulled in to the Crow’s Nest Parking lot. Luckey turned the Engine off as Purple came to a stop. “Ah good to be home”, John said. “Yeah it’s good to be back on familiar territory“, Luckey said. The crew hoped out of the car. Mountain grabbed his guitar as did Rubie. They walked up the stairs in to there room. Mountain set his guitar down as did Rubie she went to the bathroom to have a shower. John lied down on the bed next to the window. “Ah its good to be able to put me feet up”, John said. “So how we going to work out the sleeping arrangements”, Mountain asked. “Boys in that bed and girls in this bed”, Luckey said. “Are you sure you and Rubie are going to be able to get along”, John said with a smile. “I’m sure we’ll be fine. I don’t want to here any giggling over on that bed though. I’ve had a long day and I’m going to enjoy a good nights sleep”, Luckey said with a bit of attitude. “Ouch John. Don’t tick her off or we’ll all be in for a long night tonight”, Mountain said. “I can’t imagine it being any longer that it’s already been”, John said. 

Mountain started to gently play his guitar. The room relaxed as the music played its way into the room. The song was soft and sweet as he began to sing quietly. 

“1952 our love is so Blue”

“The lonely city looks around”

“All the secrets she has found”

“Seagull singing on a rocky beach”

“For the one he loves most”

“1952 our love is so Blue”

“Motorcycle heading west”

“Spring threatens to crest”

“Butterflies paint the scene”

“Everything he has scene”

“And I will wait for you”

“1952 our love is so Blue”

Rubie stepped out of the shower. “How was your shower Rubie”, Luckey asked. “It was very refreshing”, Rubie said. “Yeah so we’ve figured out the sleeping arrangements”, Luckey said. “Oh really”, Rubie said. “Yeah its me and you in this bed and the boys in that bed”, Luckey said. “Oh good I’m so tired I could use the sleep”, Rubie said. Rubie lied down on her bed and just relaxed thinking about the day’s events. “What was the name of that song you just played”, Rubie asked. “It is called 1952. It’s just a quiet ballad about this lonely city looking love. The funny thing is the love is right there in the city. The city is just waiting for love to notice her”, Mountain said. “That is really special. I can almost picture the buildings and the seagulls singing as the people walk around the streets”, Rubie said. “Yeah I wrote it while I was on the East Coast of Canada”, Mountain said. “I would like to see that place sometime”, Rubie said. “Yeah you should come visit me. I could show you around”, Mountain said. The lights were out by now and Rubie and Mountain were talking through the night. Rubie eventually fell a sleep to Mountains voice and Mountain then found himself asleep. A few hours had passed and John was having trouble sleeping. He decided to get up and take a walk down to the lobby. He grabbed his coat and headed out the door. Opening it very quietly as not to disturb anybody. He closed the door and look outside. The night sky was beautiful he could see every star in the black sky shinning and twinkling as the moon smiled on by as it made its way to the next night. The glow of the city could be seen in the distance. He almost tripped down the stairs gazing up at all the stars. He reached the bottom of the stairs and walked in to the parking lot. He turned to enter the lobby and noticed Purple’s engine was running. He looked over and saw the driver door was open. He walked over and looked inside. He saw Luckey in the shotgun seat. “Hey stranger want to go for a late night drive”, Luckey said. John smiled and entered Purple. “Why don’t you drive her. I’m a little tired of driving”, Luckey said with a mysterious smile. John closed the door of Purple. “Where do you want to go”, John asked. “I don’t know lets see where this old road goes right over here”, Luckey said. John put the car in gear and gently let the clutch out. Purple starting moving out of the lot and on to the old road in to the starry night. Luckey flipped the radio to the AM band and a Frank Sinatra song came on the radio. “Why don’t you drive a little slower John. This is just an old country road headed to who knows where”, Luckey said. John slowed the pace down a little. “Here’s a smoke John”, Luckey said as she passed him a cigarette. John put it in his mouth as Luckey lit it for him. Luckey reached down and started to undo John’s pants. John coughed a little. “Where you going” John asked a little startled. “I’m going down here while you drive down this road. Just relax and enjoy the ride”, Luckey said. Luckey finished undoing his pants and slid them down his legs. She looked up and smiled at John then went down on him. The car rolled on down the old country road hitting dip and dive and John held the wheel to maintain control. The car gradually sped up down the road hitting dips and dives. The road was really smooth for being so old. John noticed a car coming up behind them. He was to pre occupied to tell Luckey. They were approaching really fast coming right up to Purple. Before John could open his mouth a gun fired winging right beside purple. “Holy Shit”, John said. Luckey got back up. A gun fired out again. “Step on it John”, Luckey cried. John gave Purpled a good drink of gasoline as her carb opened up and took it all in. The engine let out a roar. “Right there John pull in to that field once we get some distance from that car”, Luckey said. “Gotcha”, John said. Purple pulled away from the car and John spun in to the open field as the tires burned up the asphalt. The car did a three sixty in the field and came to a stop. “Come on John hurry”, Luckey said desperately. Rubie jumped out of purple in to the field and John struggled out of the car with his pants down. “Pop the trunk John. Their coming”, Luckey said. The car entered the field and was headed right for them. John popped the trunk and hobbled to the back where Luckey was. The two people got out of the car and were heading toward John and Luckey. Luckey threw John a shotgun from the back of Purple and she took out riffle for herself. The two came right at them and fired a shot that wized right past John’s head. “Cock it John”, Luckey cried. John cocked the shotgun and let out a blast sending the assailant down. Luckey fired her gun taking the other one down. John looked at Luckey and Luckey walked over to the bodies. John followed her over. “Who are these guys”, Luckey asked. “They look like the guys from New York”, John said. He bent to take off the dead mans sunglasses. As he did the Radio came on in their car. “Today in Seattle were in for a warm 12 degrees and sun as the fog moves……….”. John opened his eyes and he was back in the Crow’s Nest Inn. The sun was coming in through the blinds. He rubbed his eyes. “That was some dream”, he thought to himself.

John woke up covered in sweat. He opened his eyes and Rubie was watching the morning news sitting on the edge of her bed. “Hey how long have you been awake for”, John asked. “Oh not to long. Just long enough to get a little shower and watch the morning news. Are you alright? You look a little sweaty”, Rubie said. “Yeah I’m ok. I just had this crazy dream.”, John said. “What was it about”, Rubie said. “Well I dreamed Luckey and I went for ride in Purple and we got chased by this car. I wiped it in to a field and they came at us. Luckey grabbed a couple of shotguns from the trunk of her car and we blasted them. I went to go look at them and they looked like the guys from New York”, John said. “Wow that’s some dream. I hope we don’t see those dudes again”, Rubie said. John looked up at Rubie and smiled. “Yeah me either”, John said. “Oh toto your so funny”, Mountain said as he turned over in his sleep. He opened his eyes and saw John looking at him. “Oh was I dreaming”, Mountain said. “Yeah you were apparently about someone name toto”, said John. “Oh no I didn’t have that dream again did I”, Mountain. “Ah shut up can’t you see I’m trying to get some sleep here”, Luckey said with he pillow over her eyes. “A sorry Lukey I was dreaming about Toto again”, Mountain said. “Ah real funny buddy”, Luckey said. “So what’s on tap for today”, John whispered. “Well maybe we should go get something to eat”, Rubie whispered back. “Well were going to have to wait until sleeping beauty gets up”, John whispered back. “Well we could go to eat something down stairs”, Rubie whispered. “Oh remember they only serve chips”, John whispered. All the while Mountain watched back and forth like watching a tennis match in slow motion. “Alright I’m getting up”, Luckey said. .”Alright now we can go something to eat”, John said. “Hey yeah I saw this place called Humptey’s Not to far back. It looked like a nice breakfast place to eat”, Mountain said. “Humpteys!! I used to work at a place called Humpteys and I didn’t like it much”, Luckey said. “Alright so I guess Humpteys is out”, Mountain said. “Why don’t we go to some little bistro downtown somewhere. Somewhere nice and unique to Seattle”, Rubie said. “Alright its a deal”, Mountain said. “Well I’m ready to go anytime. I’m sure Luckey is going to want to take a shower”, Rubie said. “Actually no I’m alright. I might get one when we get back”, Luckey said. “Alright boys hit the shower”, Rubie said. “Actually I’m kind of hungry. Perhaps I’ll take one when we get back”, John said. “Diddo here”, Mountain said. “Alright let’s ship out”, Rubie said. They all lifted themselves out of bed and threw their clothes back on. Mountain grabbed his guitar and Rubie grabbed hers. John was the last one out the door. He looked back in the Hotel room shook his head and turned out the lights with the T.V. still on. Luckey skipped to Purple. “Come on guys the days is waiting”, Luckey said. Mountain ran after her and grabbed her and swung her around. “You’re feeling frisky today”, Luckey said. “Yeah I had a good nights sleep”, Mountain said. “So here we are in Seattle our second day here”, John said to Rubie. “Yeah today has this real peaceful essence to it. Spring is definitely in the air. The wind feels so light and calm like a big storm has passed.”, Rubie said. “Yeah I get that same sense today”, John said. “Hey do want to go shopping for some hats”, Rubie said. “Some hats, sure. I could use a new hat to go with my biker attire”, John said. They all piled in Purple. Mountain asked Luckey to pop the trunk so he could put his guitar in. John was passing by and looked in half expecting to see riffles. She popped it open and there was nothing there but a beach blanket and an umbrella. Mountain put her guitar in the trunk and closed it down. Luckey started up purple and she purred on. “Alright ladies and gentleman fasten you seatbelts. You are now aboard the A class Ship known as Purple. Destination Unknown”, Luckey said. Mountain sitting beside her turned on the radio there was some disco dance music with heavy beats and solid bass lines. Purple was vibrating with sound as the sun shown down on the glowing paint and shinning golden eagle. Purple purred smoothly down the highway back to Seattle. “Hey maybe we should get off this highway. You know what happened the last time we went joy ridding down here”, Rubie said. “Good call Rubie”, Mountain said. Luckey signalled to turn off the highway in to the city. She slowed down and entered the off ramp. Around they went clearing the expressway in to a cozy part of town. “There’s got to be some restaurants around here somewhere”, John said. Luckey rolled down here window and the sounds of the city came through the car. They could here the conversations here and there throughout the street as the people shared and exchanged their culture. The car was moving slowly through the street called Tiffany’s. People were out walking around enjoying the day. People walking their dogs and bicycling through the streets full of vegetable stands and flower shops. “Ah there a restaurant”, Rubie said. “Where?”, Luckey asked. “Right there. Its called Tiffany’s”, Rubie said. “Oh I see it”, Lukey said. It had a little patio with chairs tables and flowers. “Yeah lets eat there”, John said. “Good deal”, Mountain said. Luckey slowed the car and parked on the street beside a meter in front of Tiffany’s. “Alright who’s going to pay the meter”, Luckey asked. “Here I got it this time”, Mountain said. They paid the meter and walked inside.

The four of them walked inside to a beautiful décor. There was very classy but not too classy. The place didn’t feel pretentious it was cozy and comfortable. There was an old jukebox in the corner playing tunes from the 50’s. There was an aquarium with tropical fish swimming. Fish of kinds of colours. The tables inside were round with four chairs to table. 

The smell of spring and fresh flowers was all through the air as well as fresh flowers. They could also smell coffee brewing. . “Ah Coffee”, Rubie said. “Yeah sounds good to me too”, Mountain said. “So what do we seat ourselves here, or what”, Luckey said. “No see the sign it says wait to be seated”, John said. The Bistro had an open kitchen and they could see the chefs making all kinds of omelettes and waffles. The smell of cinnamon was coming out of the open kitchen with the smell cooking food. “Hi there. Table for four?”, the waitress asked. “Yes, yes mam”, Mountain said. “Alright then right this way”, the waitress said. She led them through the bistro to a table beside the wall. On the wall beside the table was a trellis with flowers and plants growing on it. “My name is Angie. I’ll be your waitress this morning. Here are your menus. Can I get you something to drink while you browse the menu?”, Angie said. “Yeah I’ll have a coffee”, Rubie said very quickly. “Make that two coffees”, Mountain said. “Could I get a glass of Orange Juice please”, Luckey said.” And I’ll have a glass of water”, John said politely. “Alright I’ll be right back with you drinks”, Angie said as she walked away. “What a nice waitress”, John said. “Yes and so professional”, Luckey said. “She wasn’t to bad looking either. I couldn’t help but notice her legs”, Mountain said. Rubie said nothing she was to busy browsing the menu for a tasteful dish. “Oh wow I know what I’m getting”, Rubie said. “Oh yeah, what’s that”, Mountain asked. “I’m getting the strawberry covered waffles”, Rubie said. “Oh wow. Where, cool I’m getting the blueberry covered waffles”, Mountain said with a big smile. “Do you see anything you like Luckey”, John asked. “I think I’m going to get a Greek Omelette”, Luckey said. “Looks good, I think I’m going for the Texan Omelette”, John said. “You must be hungry man”, Mountain said. “Yeah I’m a little hungry. Plus I like challenging myself”, John said. “Plus he needs something to keep that mouth working”, Rubie said with a smile. John just turned and rolled his eyes. “Here you go folks, these are your drinks”, Angie said. “Perfect not a moment to late”, John said as he took Rubie coffee and handed it to her, “Drink up he said. You don’t want anymore words falling out of your mouth”, John continued. Rubie sitting across from John gave him a good nudge with her foot. And gave him the eyes of disproval. “There you go girl. Don’t take any crap”, Luckey said. “Thanks dear”, Rubie said. The Angie waiting patiently asks “So are you ready to order”. They all placed their orders and Angie thanked them and headed for the kitchen to put the orders in. John got up. “I think I’m going to check out the Juke Box”, John said. “I’m coming with you”, Mountain said. They got up and went for the jukebox. “So how did you sleep last night”, Luckey asked Rubie. “Oh I slept really good. I had the most peaceful dreams. It was really wonderful”, Rubie said. “Yeah I slept pretty good too. I don’t remember exactly what I dreamt but I remember John was in it”, Luckey said. “So you know John quite well”, Luckey asked. “Yes I’ve known him since I moved to New York. I met him when I got my job. We hit it off right away. He really does have a wonderful sense of humour”, Rubie said. “Yeah he’s nice looking too. So you guys never really formed a relationship?”, Luckey asked. “No John is pretty reserved. It’s hard to get him to come out of his shell sometimes”, Rubie said. As she said that the song stand by me started to come out of the Jukebox as John and Mountain started snapping their fingers in unison and singing a long. “Darlin, Darlin, Darlin won’t you stand by me, Stand by me, if the stars should ever fall, and the Mountains crumble to the see, Just stand by me, stand by me”. As John and Mountain pulled this routine Rubie coughed coffee out of her nose and Luckey stood up and applauded. “Bravo”, she said. John and Mountain took some dramatic bows and went back to the table. “So is the food here yet”, Mountain asked. “No not yet darling”, Luckey said. “So what’s the game plan today folks”, John asked. “I don’t know, why don’t we head down to the water and check out the docks and the market. I heard the market here is really special.”, Mountain said. “Yeah I would like to maybe go to a boutique and check out some clothes”, Rubie said. “There must be a museum here somewhere”, Luckey said, “let’s go get some culture”, Luckey continued. Angie came back to the table with their meals. “Here you all go I hope you enjoy. Is there anything else I can get for you”, Angie said. “No I think we’re alright”, John said. “Perfect, just let me know”, Angie said as she walked away.

They began to eat their breakfast. “Wow this is really good”, Rubie said. “Yeah really good. The blueberries are really fresh”, Mountain said. “I think I may have ordered to much. The Texan is huge. I might need some help with this one”, John said. The group laughed and ate their breakfast merrily. “So were going to go shopping”, John asked. “Yeah I wouldn’t mind checking out some boutiques and stuff”, Rubie said. The restaurant was very cozy it seemed to house an alternative crowd. The sun was shinning in the windows on the street and the breeze was blowing in. Spring was definitely in the air. The occasional bird would swoop by the window inspecting the fresh flowers growing happily there. “So how long have you been listening to Neil Young Mountain?”, Rubie asked. “Well I’ve been listening to him for quite a while. I never have seen him live though. I’ve been waiting a while for the chance. I planned this little trip and thought it would be a good opportunity to go se him. I used to listen to him all the time. He’s got so many albums it nuts”, Mountain said. “Do you listen to Bob Dylan as well”, Rubie said. “Yeah its funny that when ever anybody talks about Neil Young they talk about Dylan as well. I really like Dylan’s works as well he’s got some really good tunes. Like Tambourine Man, and Shelter From the storm, I also really like Lay lady lay”, Mountain said. “You know I really like Sarah McLaughlin”, Rubie said. “Yeah you know she is a Canadian. Actually she even originally from Atlantic Canada. She has such a beautiful voice. It would be incredible working with a musician like that”, Mountain said. “I don’t know if any of you have ever heard of Stan Rogers”, Mountain said. “Yeah the name is vaguely familiar”, John said. “Yeah he was Canada’s premier Folk singers. He also lived in the East Coast. They actually have a Folk festival in his honour every year down in Nova Scotia”, Mountain said. “So how are we going to get tickets for the show anyway”, Rubie asked with a smile. “Oh shoot that’s right. You guys don’t have the tickets yet”, Mountain said. “Well I’m sure we should be able to find someone in Seattle with a extra pair of tickets. “Yeah we might have to go down a little early and see if we can find some scalpers”, Mountain said. 

The four of them continued to eat and finish their breakfast. John even managed to finished his Texan. They stood up and went to the cash to go pay for their meal. The waitress came over to the cash. “I hope everything was satisfactory”, Angie said. “Oh yes it was fabulous”, Rubie said. “Great I’m glad you enjoyed it”, Angie said. “Say do you know any nice boutiques anywhere where we could find some nice shoes or clothes”, Luckey asked. “Yeah actually not two blocks away is a store called SunShine Girls. They sell shoes and accessories”, Angie said. “What’s the name of the street?”, John asked. “The street is called Irish road. Just keep going straight down this road here and take a right you should see it there on the left. It’s got a sign with a sunflower wearing sun glasses”, Angie said. “Alright thank you”, John said. They stepped outside and noticed a Parking attendant walking by the cars making sure there was money in the meter. He came was coming up to their car. “Oh no I hope we’re not out of time”, Mountain said. They rushed over to the car to make sure the meter still had money in it. “The time is about to expire. We better get the car out of here before we get a ticket.”, Luckey said. “Yeah all we need is to get in more trouble with the cops”, John said. Luckey opened her door and unlocked the rest of the doors. “Hop in Gang”, She said. She started up purple and she purred. She turned the wheel and drove out of the parking spot in to the street. “So the waitress said just down this road about a block and we come to what street”, Luckey asked. “The street is called Irish road”, John said. A car that was moving very slow was coming down the road the other way passed them by and looked right at them. “Who was that”, Luckey said. “I don’t know probably some tourists”, Mountain said. Luckey gave them the finger and continued driving. “Oh there it is. Irish road”, John said. Luckey turned left on Irish road and noticed the store called SunShine Girls. “Oh that store looks fun”, Rubie said. Luckey found a parking spot on the side of the street. She turned Purple off and they exited the car to enter Sunshine Girls. “Wow what a beautiful day it is today”, John said looking up at the sky. 

“Wow these are really nice shoes”, Rubie said. “Yeah it looks like they have every colour of the rainbow”, John said. “Well I’m not to interested in shoes but these T-shirts are amazing”, Luckey said. The store was very colourful the walls were light blue and the ceiling had clouds on it. The front window had a large display of shoes. The cash and cashier were at the far side of the store. The girl cashier was a pretty girl with a flower dress on. She was wearing sunglasses. She was pre occupied going through the nick knacks at the counter. There were little pieces of Jewellery and beaded necklaces. The racks of clothing were on the walls the floor had a large sun on it. The place was very happy bright and colourful. “You know I think I could really use a new purse”, Rubie said. “Wow there are some nice purses”, Luckey said as she walked over to the purse rack. There were purses made of hemp and beads. The prices ranged from 5 to 10 dollars. “Wow I didn’t think I would be shopping for purses today”, Mountain said. “Well I think I saw a record store Just down the street. Maybe while the girls do their purse shopping we could go check out the music there”, John said. “Sound like a plan man, lets check it out”, Mountain said. “That’s alright with us fellas, we’ve got lots to look at here”, Luckey said with a smile. “What do you think Rubie”, John said. “Go have fun boys we’re doing our thing here”, Rubie replied. “Alright ladies we’ll be right back”, John said. “Yeah I want to see if they have the new pearl Jam CD”, Mountain said. The two guys walked outside the morning air was crisp but warm. It was getting close to lunchtime. There were some Seagulls in the air and cars driving through the streets. The smell of fresh flowers was in the air and there was a slight mist. “Wow what a great day”, Mountain said. “I totally agree”, John replied. They walked up just about two shops away from the clothing store. Back in the clothing store Rubie noticed some hats. There were top hats and ball caps and sun hats. “Wow I bet John would like a hat to go with his torn cop Uniform”, Rubie said. “What do you think John would think of this?”, Luckey said as she held up a thong and winked. Rubie started to laugh and walked over. “Do they have any in purple”, Rubie asked. “Ah let me check Luckey said as she started going through the panty bin. The fellas walked in to the record shop. It was called two tones and there were chopper flags and Harley posters on the wall to go along with the metal posters such as Metalica and ACDC. The shop was classic the flour was chrome and they had a magazine rack complete with bikes babes guitars and tunes. There was a guy behind the counter complete with piercings tattoos and leather. 

“Hey boy the names Hawk. What can I do for you”, Hawk said. “You got the new Pearl Jam CD?”, Mountain asked. “Yes I do”, Hawk said. “Wicked man!”, Mountain said. Hawk reached under the glass counter that was full of paraphernalia, rings and papers and pulled out Pearl Jams latest album. “Yeah we just got these in”, Hawk said. “I heard the album features some acoustic tunes to go with their traditional electric stuff”, Mountain said. “Yeah they really get down to it on this album”, Hawk said as he handed Mountain the cd. “Hey man those are some sweet rings there can I see the one with the bike on it?” John asked. Hawk pulled out the display of rings and set them on the counter. “These rings go for 10 to 20 bucks each”, Hawk said as he grinned at John. 

“I’m thinking I really dig this ring”, John said. “You know Pearl Jam is quite a band eh?”, Mountain said. “So you guys listen to Pearl Jam up in Canada to”, John asked as he kept eyeing the ring. “Oh yeah we listen to a lot of the same music as you guys do in the states. It’s not all that different we even listen to some cool bands you’ve never heard of. There’s this band in Canada called the Tragically Hip. They’re huge in Canada, for whatever reason they don’t get that much airplay in the states. They’re probably Canada’s equal to the Rolling Stones.”, Mountain said. “You know I think I may have heard of the Tragically Hip. Do they sing a song about New Orleans?”, John asked. “Yeah they do. New Orleans is sinking man and I don’t want to swim, is how the line goes”, Mountain said. “Yeah I’ve heard of the Hip. Their singer was actually in this place when they played Seattle. We get a lot of drifters in here. People touring in and out of the city, no one ever stays here very long for whatever reason. I don’t mind though it keeps it fresh.”, Hawk said. “Yeah I’m definitely buying this CD”, Mountain said as he reached in his bag for his cash. “That’s a good buy man. You won’t find that CD anywhere else in this CD for that price. I can guarantee it”, Hawk said. “Bring it on man here’s the cash”, Mountain said as he handed him the dough. “So what do you think of that ring man”, Hawk said. “You know I’m kind of digging it”, John said. “Yeah you know there aint to many rings like that one around. I don’t go around saying who my supplier is but he don’t manafature to many of those”, Hawk said. “Well you know I don’t wear to many rings but I’m going through this whole persona change”, John said. “Ah go for it man. What’s 20 bucks”, Mountain said. “You know your right Mountain. When am I going to get another opp like this anyway”, John said. “Here’s you twenty Hawk”, John said as he handed him the cash. “It has been a pleasure serving you fellas today”, Hawk said. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you today my friend”, Mountain said. “We better get back to the girls. We don’t want them getting their panties in a bunch”, John said. The fellas left out the door and headed back to Sun Shine girls. John pulled out a smoke to smoke.

This is a most excellent day”, Mountain said. “I can’t agree more”, John said. The sun was shinning brightly in the city of Seattle. The cars strolled by in the streets as John and Mountain walked down the sidewalk passing people by of all ethnithities. They walked back in to sunshine girls where the girls were shopping. “Hey ladies!”, John said as he pointed at them. “Hey John I’m buying this hat for ya. What do you think?”, Rubie said as she Frisbeed it over to John. John grabbed it twirled it and put it on his head. “I think its me!!”, John exclaimed. “Yeah and we’re getting these for ourselves”, Luckey said as she help up the panties. Mountain smiled and walked over to Luckey. “Hey I got the new Pearl Jam  CD”, Mountain said as he pulled out the Jewel Package. “If you buy three Pairs, I’ll throw in a free one”, the sales clerk said. “What do you think Rubie”, Luckey asked. “I say it’s a deal”, Rubie said. Mountain accidentally slid his hand down Luckey’s ass. “Oh sorry dear it slipped”, Mountain said. “That’s alright hun try it on purpose next time and see what happens”, Luckey said with a poker face on. 

“I’ll keep that in mind”, Mountain said. Luckey walked over to the counter with four pairs of panties and placed them down. Rubie and John walked over to the counter and John placed his hat down. “Alright we’re going to take these panties and this hat”, Luckey said. “Alright that will be thirty dollars please”, the clerk said. Rubie pulled out 15 and Lucked pulled out 15 and they paid for their items. “Alright ladies and gentlemen why don’t we head down to the dock. It’s probably bustling with activity.”, John said. “Yeah maybe we can buy some fish and fry it up later”, Luckey said. The four of them walked out of Sun Shine girls and jumped in to purple. Luckey started her up and she purred. They drove away and headed down to the docks. Mountain flipped on the Radio and the Rolling Stones came on. Good bye Rubie Tuesday was playing in the Seattle early afternoon morning air. “Hey Rubie its your song”, John said. “Oh what my song”, Rubie said in a days. “Yeah you know Rubie Tuesday”, John said. “Oh right, right my song. I’ve wondered what Mick Jagger was like in person”, Rubie said. “I bet he’s just like us. Always looking for something fun to do and always on the move”, Luckey said. Purpled purred around the corners and through the streets. The sun was shinning down on her purple hood. 

“Well I’m running out of no good ideas”, John said under his breath. “Did you say something John”, Rubie said. “Yeah I said I’m running out of no good ideas to do”, John said blaringly. “Well why don’t you smoke a cigarette and enjoy the fucking ride”, Rubie said without a smile. “Alright I’ll try that”, John said with a smoke between his teeth. “Well I thought we were going to go see a Neil Young show”, Luckey said. “Yeah your not pulling out now are ya John”, Mountain said. “Naw I aint pulling out. I’m just hung over and cranky. I feel like driving about a hundred miles and hour and chugging a quart of water”, John said. “Well I’m sure we could go driving a hundred miles an hour”, Luckey said. “No Luckey I don’t think that is good idea. Remember the last time we went joy riding. We ended up with two babies in our lap and a night in jail”, Mountain said. “Oh yeah my memory is shit. I tend to forget little things like that”, Luckey said. “I wish the sun would just go down and the moon would come up and the stars would shine and I would feel like a better man if the full moon was shinning off this Camaro’s hood”, John said. “This aint a  Camaro man. This is a Trans Am. A purple trans am at that baby”, Luckey said. “Hey things could be worse. We could be running for our lives from the scary dudes from New York”, Rubie said. “Hey did I tell you of the dream I had”, John said. “No and I don’t feel like hearing it now”, Rubie said. “Hey sorry Rubie I didn’t mean to spoil your day. Hey Luckey crank up the stereo I hear Bon Jovi in the background”, John said. Luckey turned up the radio and rolled the window down. The car crawled through the city of Seattle with Bon Jovi spilling out the window. “Hey Mountain when is your next show anyway”, Luckey said. “Well I was thinking of playing a show down in California but I don’t know. I don’t have anything booked yet. I suppose if I had a talent manager they could call and book me some shows”, Mountain said. “Well what about that dude at the café who gave you his number. Maybe you should call him. He might be able to book you some shows”, Luckey said. “Yeah I should probably do that. The next time I get to a phone I’ll do that”, Mountain said. “Hey there’s a phone booth. Why don’t I stop”, Luckey said. “Yeah why don’t you do that”, Mountain said. Luckey pulled up to the curb next to the phone booth. Mountain hopped out. “Just a sec, I’ll be right back”, Mountain said. Mountain walked in to the phone booth and turned in to super man and dialled the number. “Uh Hello”, the voice answered. “Hey there this is Super Man better known as Mountain. I played a show last night at the Kitchen’s Kettle and you gave me a card.” Mountain said. “Oh yes right I remember you super Man I mean Mountain. Yeah I was talking to the big boss her at the recording company and we want to sign you to a ten day contract.”, the voice said. “Oh really a ten day contract what the fuck is that”, Mountain said. “Well what we do is try you out like a piece of meat for ten days and see if you can make us any money. If you do make us some money we might sign you to another ten-day contract and we might not. It all depends on the big boss upstairs”, the voice said. “Who the fuck am I talking to anyway”, Mountain said, “Oh this is John Pridham. I run the show here on the east coast. I mean the west coast if that is the coast we’re on. I don’t give a fuck anyway what coast we’re on because it doesn’t  matter anyway”, John Pridham said. “Ok well who is the big boss anyway”, Mountain said. “I’m not allowed to divulge that info over the phone but she is hot and available.”, John Pridham said. “Well that’s good news cause I could meet a good hot girl. I could also use a few more shows”, Mountain said. “Oh we don’t book shows for you. In fact we don’t do much of anything for you. We’re a bunch of beaurocratic junkies looking for honey’s pills cigs and just about anything we can get our hands on. But I could give you the names of a few venues and you call them yourself. You could mention us if you think that will get you in the door. I suggest you hire someone special to build you a web site and post that up there on the net. All the bands are doing it now. I think it’s the hip thing to do. I don’t know though all I do is read the rolling stone and smoke cigarettes out my ears.”, John Pridham said. “Alright, alright give me some venues would yah.”, Mountain said. “Alright you got a pen handy”, John Pridham said. “No but I’ve got a really shitty memory. If you tell I’m sure I’ll forget it in about five minutes”, Mountain said. “Alright sounds perfect”, John Pridham said as he scratched his sack. “Well there Dynamite Moes, The Ugly Duckling, The Devils Horse, Sugar Puff Sammy, The Oiler and the Queer and Rainbows over Mercury to name a few”, John Pridham said. “Just give em a call and try not to mention Black Diamond Records its seems to send people in to  frenzy and they don’t know if your lying joking or pulling a quick shit over their eyes”, John Pridham said. “Alright Johnny that’s enough info for now. You know It’s fucking funny I feel like I’m talking to family”, Mountain said. “Well you are now. Welcome to the family and have a nice ride”, John Pridham said. Mountain got off the phone then jumped in to the car like a schoolgirl on corn chips. “Wow Mountain I never saw you float so high in all the time I’ve known you”, John said. “Yeah just got off the phone with some record execs and their hooking me up with you book you save tour down in California. He gave me the name to some real nice venues I’m supposed to call all by myself. He said to mention Black Diamond Records if I dared and I would be a shoe in”, Mountain said. “Wow that’s really good”, Luckey said as she stepped on the gas and got the hell off the curb. “So I guess we’re headed to the docks now eh”, John said. “Oh good I couldn’t think of anything else better to do”, Rubie said. 

They drove through Seattle and entered some weird residential area. There were pink elephants walking sideways down the road and the funniest thing. There was some dude mowing his lawn with a full suit on and a cell phone. “Hey John do see that dude mowing his lawn?”, Rubie asked. “Yeah I do Rubie. Why don’t we stop and ask him what the fuck he is doing”, John said rhetorically. Luckey pulled up along side the house where the guy was mowing his lawn with a suit on. “Hey man what are you doing anyway”, Mountain said. “Well I’m mowing my lawn today”, the man said. “Did you know I got signed to a ten day contract”, Mountain said. “Actually no I didn’t. Who the fuck are you anyway”, the man said. “Well my name is Mountain and I’m a folk singer from Canada. Why are you mowing your lawn with a suit on”, Mountain asked. “Well you see. I could never hold an office job. I don’t know if it was sitting all day or wearing a suit and tie but I just couldn’t manage to hold an office job. Plus my wife thinks they suck. She prefers her man with a big beer gut and driving a truck. So every time I mow the lawn we pretend I’m going to my office job and I put my best suit on and look as professional as I can while I mow the lawn. That way I feel like I’m someone important”, the man said. “Oh I see. That makes perfect sense to me. But what is with the pink elephants running around the side walks in this Neighbourhood”, Mountain asked. “Well you see this neighbourhood doesn’t even exist. It’s kind of like never land. You have to be really special to get here. The further you go down this road the weirder the neighbourhood gets. Sooner or later you just feel right at home and everything is normal. Somebody told me once there is something in the water. I just drink my lemonade and mow my lawn while I collect money from the government. My wife and I go out dancing once in a while and play bingo in the shack down there.”, The man said. “Ok I see. We’re not from around here. Is there anything to do in this part of the city for fun?”, Mountain asked. “Well if you drive right down this here road and take a few crazy turns you’ll come to the amusement park. The amusement park has everything including rides, games, a machine and a fortuneteller. There are even some wild animals. I think maybe those pink elephants you saw escaped from the amusement park but I‘m not sure”, the man said. “Ok thank you sir. I think we will check that amusement park out”, Mountain said. “Ok I better get  back to mowing the lawn. My lady is coming to give me a big glass of lemonade. Just try to enjoy the ride. Just think about dreaming and you’ll be fine”, the man said. “Ok thank you”, Mountain said as he pulled his head back in the car. “Yeah so this guy told me about the wicked cool amusement park down the road”, Mountain started saying. “Yeah we heard all about it”, Luckey said. “Yeah man we were right here the whole time”, Rubie said. “So are we going to go”, John asked friskily. “Yeah lets do it”, Luckey said as she punched Purple to the floor. A cloud of pink smoke came up from the wheels and the air tasted like cotton candy. Some sort of bubble gum rock game on the radio as purple drove down the street with little pink house and big pink elephants walking down the road. The sky was blue and giant clotheslines crossed the sky full of swimming trunks from the fifties and hot ladies bikinis from some time they have never seen. The music created a haze in the air and Rubie started laughing insistently. The air was hazy and everything felt just perfect. “Rubie what are you laughing at”, John said. “Look at those elephants. They’re smiling at me and I can’t make them stop”, Rubie said. John looked over at the elephants smiling and he started laughing insistently. “Luckey whatever you do don’t look at the elephants. They are smiling”, John said laughing insistently. Luckey did her best not to look at he elephants but one floated right into the car windshield and popped and giant smile right at her and she started laughing insistently. Pretty soon the whole car was laughing insistently tasting cotton candy in the air. They tripped down the road out of control on smiles and cotton candy haze laughs. A girl from the fifties dinner came roller-skating up to the car with four root beers in her hand. She came to Mountains side of the car. “Here are your drinks Bob, my name is candy but I’m really Kathy”, Candy said. “My name isn’t Bob its Mountain”, Mountain said. “Well these drinks are for a guy name Bob”, Candy who is Kathy said. “Who’s Bob”, Luckey said. “I’m Bob”, Rubie said pulling her hair over her lip imposing a man named Bob with a Moustache. Candy who is Kathy skated backwards to her window and pulled out a magnifying glass inspecting Rubie and her moustache. “I didn’t know Bob had such a sexy moustache”, Candy who is Kathy said. “Yes Bob sometimes has a Moustache when he drinks his Root Beer”, Rubie being Bob said. “Alright Bob here are your Root Beers”, Candy who is Kathy said as she handed Rubie being bob the drinks. “Thank Kathy being candy. We really needed these drinks”, Rubie being bob with a stache said. Kathy being Candy skated in to a fifties dinner floating in the sky with old 50’s cars and famous people they have never heard of. Rubie who is now being Rubie handed out the drinks and they started drinking their Root Beer. As they drank the root beer giant bubbles started floating around the car and out the window. As the bubbles flew out the window then flew out on to the horizon and started turning in to giant Ferris wheels, roller coasters and big tents. Carnival music was seeping out of the big tents and the notes could be seen in the air. Giant beautiful notes that made them happier then they have ever been in their whole lives. Feeling like kids in the most amazing Carnival they have ever seen. Giant snow-white cigarettes appeared in their mouths and lighters appeared from now where to light them. A voice came over the intercom in the sky. “Now here this, Now here this. The all world super Carnival is now open. The all world super Carnival is now open.”, the voice boomed out. People started to appear all over the place. People of all ages and sizes carrying balloons, even people riding in horse and carriages from fairy tales started riding in through the wooden ranch like gates of the carnival. A tall man wearing no stilts started flagging purple in to the parking spot designated for them like they were a plane coming in for landing. “Looks like this is our spot”, Luckey said as she pulled in to the purple spot with a giant number 50 on it.

The bat mobile parked beside purple. A man wearing batman underwear stepped out of the bat mobile and tapped on Luckey’s window. “Hello there lass, looks like I’m going to be your guide through the super carnival today”, he said with a Marlboro smoke hanging from his teeth. “Well what’s your name”, Luckey asked. “Well I’m Batman”, Batman said. Purples doors opened as steam and smoke blue from the hinges. The crew of four stepped out on the parking lot that was soft like they were stepping on millions of the softest feathers in all the world. A giant green haired troll doll walked by singing songs of love and lost playing an air guitar. Jack and Dianne by John Cougar was playing over the intercom in the sky. “Well where are we going Batman”, Rubie asked. “Well we are going to see the wizard of course”, Batman said still smoking his Marlboro. “Hey Batman who is that”, John asked pointing to the green haired troll doll. “Well that is Little Tom the Drum Horner. He’s singing songs of love. He likes to pretend his long lost love is long lost when actually she rides with him right in his pocket. Her name in thumbalina and she has the voice of a kitten and sings and sings and sings when Little Tom the Drum Horner is not singing and they have great pick nicks in the sky and only there best of friends get to go with them. They have pies and rhubarb and drink from little tea sets only Thumbulina can see and hold”, Batman said. “But Batman are we dreaming. I mean what is this place”, Mountain asked. “Of course you might think your are dreaming and if you think you are dreaming that is good but if your not dreaming you think your dreaming but the less you think the better you will be. Just open your eyes and let your senses guide. I know I’m not dreaming but I’m living and these days I don’t know the difference between the two”, Batman said. Batman held his hands in the air and said abra cadabra and five ice cream cones with bubble gum ice cream appeared in the air and landed in his hands. He handed the gang of four their ice cream cones and said, “Come follow me. We have much to see”, Batman said, he sure did. As they walked flowers of all shapes and sizes appeared out of the ground and nodded and waved to the group walking to the gates. Giant apple tress appeared on the horizons and spread out till forever as little men climbed little ladders in to the trees picking apples and dropping them in to the ground. The apples grew and turned in to growing candy apples every one was allowed to pick as long they ate them and replanted the sick so another candy apple would grow for the next person to pick. 

John bent over and picked a bouquet of candy apples for all his friends to taste and hold as they ate their bubble gum ice cream. “Come follow me, follow me. There about to start the opening ceremony”, Bat Man said. The group picked up there pace and headed in through the gates there were seats all around in a half but almost full circle and at the bottom a man in a green suit and beard was being pulled in to middle by reindeer and a sleigh. 

Hello everybody I am the Jolly Green Giant. When I’m not out in the fields picking strawberries and smoking my pipe I host the festivities here at the all world super carnival. Today marks the opening ceremonies. The Jolly Green Giant looks down through his glasses at the tiny paper he is reading from and a fairy comes to his ear and whispers something. OH, oh, oh I couldn’t read the little hand writing here. Little Bell tells me we have some new features here at the All World Super Carnival. We have the new Great Coaster of Life, The Unicorn Merry go Round fit for both big and small and the Rainbow Ferris wheel. Great ooohs and aahhhs were heard through out the crowd assembled in the audience. We have also planted many new trees and plants for you visual and sensual enjoyment. Twelve men with twelve shiny horns came out and blew and incredible tune. Fireworks cracked out. In the skies and great trees grew all around with twenty-dollar bills. We have planted money trees but be sure to take only what you need. We don’t want to see wasted twenty-dollar bills floating around the grounds. Our workers don’t have the time to be picking them up they are to busy ensuring you are having a good time in the All World Super Carnival. “Oh and I just got this little message for all of you visiting the Grounds. Its seems one of our good luck elves has lost his three headed frog. If anyone finds the three-headed frog there will be a great reward. With that I bid you all a great time in the Carnival. Ho, ho, ho”, The Jolly Green Giant said with all his gut. “Three cheers”, Rubie holoured out. Everyone in the audience looked at her and she began to turn red. Then all of a sudden the whole crowd hollered out “THREE CHEERS!”  The crowd then got up and started politely making there way to the rides. Some people were picking the twenties to pay for treats and rides and suvonneers. 

Chapter 2

The old ford barrelled down the highway the windows wide open trying to catch a cool breeze. The desert doesn’t get cool until the sun goes down and we would be a few hours before that. The scenery was cactus and sand as far as the eye could see and the occasional oil tanker or stray car headed lord knows where. On the seat was an old leather bag with 100-dollar bills falling out all over the place. The back window held a gun rack with no gun on it. The driver was a woman with Red Hair in her early 30’s wearing a poncho, jeans, leather boots and a white cowboy hat. She was sweating and wore an expression less face. “Can’t find fuck all on the radio. What’s with the desert anyway. It’s like you go in thinking you might see some giant neon sign in the sky. Or once you get here in the desert the desert makes you think and believe your going to see one as she just keeps pulling you in further and further.”, She thought to herself. She looked down at the pack of smokes on the seat tempted to light one up. The height was all around her. She reached over for the smokes with her left hand. Her white blouse was carefully or uncarefully undone a few buttons as her vanilla sky top mountains changed in the heated cab. She took the smoke and put in it her mouth. Took it out again and dry spit some tobacco in to the air. She pushed the cigarette lighter in as far as it would go and grabbed the wheel of the truck. Up a head the sun was just starting to bend down over Ozone. The dust of the distant desert created a redden haze seemingly warm, seemingly distant but very near where ever it was. The cigarette lighter jumped out. She put the smoke in her mouth and carefully rotated and pulled the lighter out to ignite her cigarette. She pulled a drag and blew cool smoke down her left arm and shoulder. The radio just tuned in to some station coming from lord knows where. Bob Dylan’s ancient voice came through the used dusty speakers on the doors of the truck. “Come gather round people wherever you roam and admit that….” “Ah Bobby not now hunny” she said as she turned down the radio. She looked behind and looked in front of her feeling very lonely she put the radio back on. “Bobby fought through the static haze to help her with some company. “Christ I rely on this guy way to much”, she said with a bittersweet tone to herself. She looked down at her tapping foot and flashed back to a scene in Canoe on some lake nobody knows. She had the perfect legs with the perfect curves in all the perfect places and knew how to hold them just the right way to make the boy’s go crazy. She loved it the attention. It was so easy for her. She knew the tricks. She was a doll. She flashed back to the moment. Its crazy the way you see yourself everywhere when you spend time by yourself. How long she was on this highway she didn’t know. She could here her thoughts at every place she looked. The past creeping in the future leaking out. Juggling, ecstasy and hope like a tied up marionette in some haunted carnival in some emerald county no body knows. 

The gaslight went on. “Fuck I’ve got to get some gas”, she thought to herself. Up ahead in the distance she could see a Yellow Shell sign glowing in the dust on the other side of the road. The truck made its way down the highway towards the gas station. The windows open the air getting cooler as the sun was going down. She put her signal on like there was anyone around who would actually see it. …….Click……..Click…….Click.……..She turned in to the station. The place was run down. It consisted of two side by side pumps. A wooden shack with hubcaps tied up with string all over and what looked like some sort of road kill animal hanging around the banging caps.  The truck pulled to a stop along side the pumps and she turned the engine off. It was completely quiet. After the sound of the wind and the rumble of the engine stopped her ears cleared and it was like she had found new senses she had forgotten about. The desert was quite the only sound she could hear were the hubcaps on the wooden shack. She stepped out of her truck. The sound of sand on crushing beneath her feet tickled her ears. She looked over at the western side of the shack and saw an old Coke machine. Being thirsty she walked over crushing sand beneath her feet the moving hubcaps on the shack. 

She was taken back to another flash back. She was 7 years old running through the field of her family’s farm running through all the wild flowers and tall grass of an early to mid summer. She was running with an overwhelming sense of freedom and excitement. She was picked up by her father and he twirled her around and around both of them laughing. She flashed back to the present. Her eyes on the Coke machine she realised she was sweating a little bit. She walked toward the machine she could hear the refrigeration buzz and a sign that said .55 cents. She took out the money out of her change purse and dropped it down the hungry machine. The old bottle of Coke rolled down the side of the machine and she picked it up and cracked off the top and took one long drink. Her elbow high in the air, her heart racing with the excitement her eyes closed. A state trooper sped down the highway with lights and siren firing from out of nowhere back in to nowhere. She brought the drink down and wiped her mouth adjusted her pants and drank the rest of the coke. She walked over to her truck and placed the bottle down in the box. She flipped open the gas tank and took hold of the gas pump trigger. She firmly grasped the metal and rubber plastic and shimmied it in to the hole. She squeezed the trigger with no hesitation and pumped as the balls went round and round and the bell rang and rang. She didn’t move just squeezing and pumping till she heard the click and the truck was full. She took out the pump and tapped it off and hooked it back up on the gas-dispensing unit. She put the cap back on and closed the lid. 

Lightning crashed from out of nowhere. The wind started to pick up and grey clouds rolled in from the east. The sky was darkening quickly. She grabbed some cash off the front seat of the truck and ran in to the shack to pay. A man wearing grease stained coveralls and thick black-rimmed glasses was watching Jerry Springer on a small black and white Television. The bell above the door rang as she walked in. “Looks a like weir headed fer a bit of storm”, the man said without looking at her. “Yeah I got some gas out there and if you don’t mind I would like to pay for it”, she said impatiently. “Sure misses, sure misses’’, he said as he stood and took her money. “You be careful out tha ere. Ther tulk of strange sorts about”, he said. “Yeah I’ll keep that in mind”, she said as she walked out the door to the truck. 

It was starting to rain now. She momentarily sat there in the truck doing nothing, saying nothing, trying to think nothing as raindrops fell on the windshield. She took a deep breath and started up the old ford. She fired up and spit clean exhaust out the tail pipe. She put it in gear and headed back for the highway. The rain really started to poor down now all over the highway. The visibility was not the best on the highway. Flashes of lightning could be seen a way off in the distance but there was no sound of thunder. She tried to find something on the radio. She found static and fumbled for a cigarette. Her eyes never leaving the highway. She picked out a smoke and lit it up opening the window just a crack letting in cool wet desert air. You could really smell the wet asphalt the sun had been beating down on it all day and now it was being cooled down by the falling rain. Her thoughts drifting back to the stereo went to find something to listen to. 

She tuned in to some station the only the radio could find. Commercials invaded her carspace. “Big Bobs gun shop now open Sundays. Just off the highway next to the big shell station down in quadrant 7. Come on in for all your fire and ammunition needs. We stay open late now everyday.” “Fuck sakes you sure know we’re in the old south when Big Bobs gun shop commercial comes on the air”, she thought to herself flicking her cig and spitting a piece of stray tobacco in to the air. 

There was a large thud and the truck dip dove and bounced over something on the highway. She put the brakes on and the brake lights glowed in the desert wet dusk air. She pulled off to the side of the road and hopped out to take a look. She saw a large duffle bag on the road. Green looked some old military issue. She walked over to the bag to take a look. She was startled as some one took her by the arm. She went to take a swing to bring him down. He ducked the flying fist and took her by the legs bringing her gently to the ground rolling off the road in to the lower shoulder. “Calm down honey I aint gonna hurt ya”, he exclaimed. “Get your fucking hands off me before you get hurt and I aint shittin”, she said. She reached for her right boot and pulled out a dagger. She pulled it up and cut his right bicep. “Jesus Christ lass I said I wasn’t gonna hurt you”, he said panicly as he grabbed her wrist and surrendered her weapon. Rolling all over the shoulder in to the wet sand the silver dagger lying in the rain. “He grabbed her and pulled her tight rolling around. She rolled him over and laid over him. “I could finish you now stranger”, she said with a look of serious intent in her eyes. “Fuck you’re sexy”, he said. This took her by surprise and he managed to roll on top of her holding her tight and strong like he wasn’t going to let go until she stopped moving. “Look my name is Diamond, Diamond Young. I’ve been out her in the desert for days since I don’t know when. I need a drive. I can’t tell you everything. But now I’m cut and I need some medical attention. You look like you were headed my way. I threw my bag on the road hoping you would stop”, Diamond said. “You take me for a fool”, she said as she kneed him in the crotch.  

She jumped up and headed for the truck. She bolted inside and started her up and started driving away. Diamond grabbed his clothes bag and threw it in the box because he really needed what was inside for what was to come and jumped himself in the back box of the truck as the Red Haired lass drove down the intrinsic highway headed for god knows where. “What do you think your doing?”, the girl shouted back to the stranger. “I am coming with you. I can’t stay out here forever. What’s your name anyway?” he asked. “The names Kathleen and I don’t take boloney from just anybody”, Kathleen said. “I can understand what your saying. I think I fell in love with you back there. I don’t mean to scare you off as we have just really had contact for the first time here. But I really think your drop dead gorgeous and you make me think impure thoughts. I promise just to lie down here in the box of your truck for a while. Till we get to the next town. I promise not to say a word as long as you let me ride”, Diamond said. “Well do what you promised and keep it quite”, Kathleen said. The truck rumbled down the intrinsic highway with the incomprehensible Diamond riding in the back. What was his story, where does he want to go and what does he want with poor Kathleen. I’m sure we’ll find out real soon, real soon…….

The truck had been driving for quite some time before Kathleen piped up. “So where you from Diamond”, she asked. “Oh I’m from Montreal”, Diamond said. “Well what the shit brings you all the way down south”, Kathleen said. “That’s a little classified little lady. It would be best for your safety if I didn’t tell you”, Diamond said. “That there duffle bag looks military”, Kathleen said. “Yeah I did some time playing with the majors. Things got all fucked, got real messy you know, everything’s scattered, I’ve gone a little awol”, Diamond said. “Well I’m on my way to SeeSaw. I’ve got a little something I’ve got to pick up. I’ve got this real life all planned out for myself. I’ve been haunted by these ghosts for way to long, tired of dealing with them on my own. As much as I confronted you back there it is nice to have some real company”, Kathleen said. “Yeah you’re telling me. I’ve been wandering that desert for way to long. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve had a real conversation with a pretty girl like your self Kathleen”, Diamond said. 

At that moment the Rolling Stones Satisfaction came on the Radio “I can’t get no, no, no, no, Satisfaction, You can’t always get what you want but sometimes you find you just might find you get what you need”. “You a Rolling Stones fan Diamond”, Kathleen asked. “Yeah me and the boys used to listen to them back on the base”, Diamond said. “Where is the bass”, Tara asked. “Well that’s classified. I’ll tell you we had some headquarters up in Quebec”, Diamond sad. “Up in Quebec eh? They all talk French up there do they not”, Kathleen said. “Yeah most of them do. The English all seemed to evacuate after they passed the language bill 101 back in the early nineties”, Diamond said. “So where you off to anyway Mr. Diamond”, Charlotte asked. “Well I’m supposed to meet up with some reconnaissance in Eagle Brook, the little town up here a few hundred miles”, Diamond said. “Reconnaissance eh, that sound Military, I thought you said you used to be in the military”, Charlotte asked equivocally. “Like I said it got all messed up. I’m still trying to work my way through it all”, Diamond said. “I suppose I could let you sit shot gun with me. If you promise to be a good soldier”, Charlotte said. “I’ve always been a good soldier Little Misses”, Diamond said with a wink. 

Charlotte opened the back window wide open. “Slide on in here then Mr. Diamond”, Charlotte said. Diamond slid his way head first in to the cab of the truck. His head finding the floor and Kathleen’s all holly legs. He couldn’t help himself as his face gently slid up against her lower leg. He flop the rest of his legs in cab and slowly rotated his body to and erect position in the cab of the truck taking a real hard look at every inch of her perfect body. The radio was on and Sarah McLaughlin was playing on the radio “Building a mystery You come out at night, that’s when the energy comes and the dark side’s light and the vampires roam”. The sun had gone down know the rain was almost stopping as they drove down intrinsic highway towards Eagle Brook. Charlotte took out her cigarettes and placed one in her mouth starring at the highway not saying much. She flicked the lighter bringing a luminescence to the cab. Diamond looked up from where ever he was looking or thinking and watched her take long drags and exhale through her perfect mouth. “You think  could get a drag Charlotte”, Diamond said. “Sure honey”, Charlotte said as she passed him the smoke. 

Chapter 3

Rubie walked over and picked one of the candy apples. “Wow”, she thought to her self, “these are really sweet”. She continued to eat it and things began to change. The sky went dark with clouds and the sun hid behind all the greying clouds. She started to feel sick and started to look at her friends as they turned to vampires. She dropped the apple and started to run and realized the all world fun place was now a spooky haunted land with a giant castle everything was dark and eerie and she was being chased by vampires. “Rubie, Rubie come closer we won’t hurt you”, Luckey said. “You shouldn’t have eaten hat apple Rubie said with a sadistic smile as he ran towards her. Rubie picked up a sterling cross and through it at John who ducked and rolled in to a pond full of dragonflies and black frogs. Mountain caught Rubie by surprise from the other side. Mountain looked in to Rubie eyes with the deepest darkest bluest eyes and said “I’m sorry Rubie truly sorry this had to happen”. And bit her white little neck she screamed. “Mountain no, no Mountain”, and opened her eyes to see Mountain looking over her. Except now she wasn’t in the Vampire world she was in a Hospital. She panicked and screamed. “Let me out of here!!!”, Let me out of here!!!!” Three nurses walked in the room. “She’s awake now and she’s panicking”, Mountain said deliriously to the nurses. The middle nurse pulled out giant needle as the other two pushed her over. She pushed the needle deep in to Rubie back side. “I hope this calms you down little one”, the nurse said. The chemical went right to her blood stream preventing her from resisting anymore. She rolled back over and looked at mountain. “Why Mountain”, why Mountain. Why does it have to be this way”, Rubie asked with no hesitation whatsoever. “Rubie”, Mountain said as he took her by the hand, “Everything is alright, everything is alright. We’re in the Hospital now. You fell off the boat we were taking to California. You fell in to the water and went unconscious you were in a coma I didn’t know if you were ever going to come out of it. Just try to relax Rubie, just try to relax.”, Mountain said as he put his hand on her face. “Where is John and Luckey”, Rubie asked? “They’re still driving purple down the coast. “They have no idea about what happened”, Mountain said calmly, “What about the Neil Young show and the boat ride. I don’t remember anything Mountain”, Rubie said in full panic. “Just try to relax and get some sleep and I will tell you all about it”, Mountain said. “Could you just tell me how the Neil Young show went Mountain. Just to help me calm down.”, Rubie said. “Ok Rubie It will be alright. The show started off with a big unveiling of the American flag and the StarSpangledBanner playing mightily. Darth Vader came out and gave a speech on terrorism in Iraq and Kazakhstan and he opened the set with “look out Momma there’s a white boat coming down the river”.  Rubie quietly fell asleep. 

Chapter 4

Purple purred down the highway with her new coat shinning in the sun. The gold eagle sparkling in the sunlight. Dusk was coming on. “Hey Luckey look there’s a sign for a bed and breakfast just a few miles down the way. Why don’t we stop there for the night”, John said as his eyes never left the beauty of the coast. “I think that is a splendid idea” Luckey said and she put Purple in to fifth gear. Purple pulled down the long dirt driveway on the inn called Willows Groves. “Wow look at this place its beautiful”, John said. The land was kept but still very wild with wild flowers growing everywhere and neatly kept apple trees. The trees were green and healthy. Luckey turned off purple as John walked outside the car and looked out over the vista. “Why don’t we go check in and see what’s for dinner”, Luckey said. “Great idea”, John replied. They walked in and were greeted by a couple in there fifties. “Welcome to Green Acres of Willows Groves”, the man said. “Won’t you stay the night”, the woman said with a warming smile. “Yes we were looking for a place to stay for the night”, John said. “What are you serving for dinner?”, Luckey asked. “We are a serving a Roast with strawberry shortcake won’t you join us?”, the woman said smiling. “Yes indeed”, John said. “Well I show you to your room and you can get cleaned up and comfortable the excited glowing”,  woman said. A little dog came and greeted them. “Oh she won’t hurt you. Her name is Penelope and she just loves people”, the woman said with a warm smile. “Here are some towels and you can shave and have a warm shower”, man said looking down through his glasses. 

“That was a such a nice drive today”, John said as he let out a deep breath. “Yes it was. It was nice luck we happened upon this place”, Luckey said. “Yes it is”, I’m going to hop in the shower. You can go after me. How about that.”, Luckey said with that look in her eyes. “You go ahead. I’m just going to relax here on for a little while”, John said with a wink. Luckey picked up her fluffy towel and headed for the shower. John sat in seat close to the window. Looking out in the distance he let his mind wonder. John and Luckey had driven all day. They were now in the large state of California. Summer was coming to a full bloom. The danger of the strangers from New York was far from the thoughts of his current mind. John pulled out his pad of paper and dropped some thoughts down. 

California Gold Summer in Hold

Luck and the Trans Am

Purple Butterfly and the Western Coast

Attic and friendly Ghost

The sun gently pulls

The light across the Pacific

Calm calm breeze

Birds sing a Weave

I really should give my parents a call, John thought to himself. It had been a few days since he last talked to Mom and Dad. John was already feeling very far from his troubles. He was allowing things to come to him and letting his mind take on new thoughts and experiences. There was a soft knock on the door. John turned to see the Man of the house. “How are you getting along”, the man asked. John stood up and looked over. “I am well”, John said looking at the man. He could see something familiar in the man like he knew him before. “My name is Richard the man said extending a friendly hand. “My name is John”, extending his hand and meeting his invitation. 

“So what brings you this way”, Richard asked. “We’re making our way down to San Francisco. We spent some time up in Seattle. We are on a uh vacation for a while. You know just spending some time on the West Coast”, John said. Richard looked at him like his was avoiding something in the conversation but none the less smiled and said “Welcome again to our Inn. We don’t get to many visitors here so when we do we really appreciate the company. The house has been somewhat quite with just the two of us here and the dog, since the kids left. We sometimes hire travellers to work in the orchard on their way down south. You are very welcome here”, Richard said. “Thanks a lot sir”, John said. Richard smiled a left the room. 

John could hear the shower water turn off and a crash. Luckey stepped out of the bathroom. “What’s so funny”, John asked. “I can’t believe I knocked over these candle holders. One of them broke. It’s really not that funny. I hope we don’t get thrown out of here. They look like they are really something special”, Lucky said. “It doesn’t look broken Just a little chip. They look like antiques. Maybe we better wait till tomorrow to tell the couple”, John said. “Good idea”, Luckey said. “Alright I hop in the shower and get cleaned up”, John said.

John went and jumped in to the shower. Luckey put her clothes on and looked in the mirror to fix her hair. “Hello there dear”, Luckey was startled as she turned to see the woman of the house. “Oh I didn’t mean to startle you dear. I just came to check and see how you are doing. My name is Gale”, she said. “Hi Gale, you have such a beautiful home here on this vista”, Luckey said with a smile. “Yes we are really fortunate. We didn’t start out with much. My husband and I worked hard to get where we are today. We are both retired now and this Bed and Breakfast keeps us quite busy what with all the work to do inside and out. At one point we had quite the household when the kids were here. Oh yes the kids the kids”, Gale speech wondered off as she looked like she almost lost her train of thought. The little white dog came to her side. “Oh Penelope we are going to have some visitors for the evening”, Gale said to the dog. Luckey didn’t know quite what to stay as she watched this display. She just smiled and held her tongue. “It’s good you came tonight I hear we are in for some thunderstorms tonight as some heavy winds”, Gale said. Penelope walked in the room and jumped at Luckey. “Penelope leave the girl alone. She’s our guest”, Gale said as Penelope sat and scratched herself. “Oh coming”, Gale said. “I must be going I’m being called”, Gale said as she left the room. Luckey thought to herself it was funny because she didn’t hear anybody call. Just a that moment a large crack of thunder could be heard and Luckey momentarily jumped out of her skin as her heart jumped. John came out of the bathroom. “What was that”, John asked. “I think it was some thunder. It scared the crap out of me”, Luckey said. “Wow that was loud. Good thing we’re in tonight”, John said as he rubbed his head with his towel and finished putting his clothes on. Another loud to crack was heard. Luckey looked outside and saw some large dark clouds moving in as the sky began to go dark.

“This couple is really friendly. Wouldn’t you say Luckey?”, John said as he finished getting dressed. “Yeah the lady of the house came up to talk to me. She talks to her dog”, Luckey whispered. “What do you mean she talks to her dog”, John said. “I mean she talks to her dog. Right there right in front of me she was talking to Penelope”, Luckey said with a sharp whisper. John stopped in his tracks and scratched his head. “This has happened to me before”, John thought out loud. “Was the dog alive”, John asked with a whisper. “Yes the dog was alive. It jumped at me”, Luckey said. “What did she say to the dog”, John asked. “She said things….I don’t know she talked to her dog”, Luckey said. “Maybe its common in this part of the world”, John asked looking oddly through the window. “It’s not”, Luckey said putting her foot down on this one. A large clap of thunder could then be heard sending John in a bit of a jump. “Would you get a hold of yourself”, Luckey quipped. “Sorry first the dog then the thunder. I’ve got it under control”, John said. The sound of a bell could be heard downstairs. “What’s that”, Luckey said. “It sound like a bell”, John said. “I know it’s a bell. What does it mean”, Luckey said with a look in her eyes. “Maybe it’s the dinner bell. Lets go downstairs”, John said.

John and Luckey made their way downstairs. The house was quite magnificent decorated in a Victorian romantique ancient motif. The table was well set with fine cutlery and dishes. Penelope met John and Luckey with a hop and a wag. “Welcome, welcome”, Richard said. “Yes please sit down and join us”, Gale said as a clap of thunder could be heard over the Pacific. There was exactly four places on the table. A large wind swept through the house through the open window to the west and knocked a plant sitting in the sill. “Gale you should close that window before the storm blows everything away”, Richard said. Gale walked over to close the open window she could rain drops starting to fall on the ground outside and another flash of lightning danced in the evening sky. “Richard you should let in Dusty she going to go crazy with all the commotion outside”, Gale said without turning. Richard stood up and walked to the kitchen where the back door was situated and opened to call for Dusty. Before he could say a thing a wet white dog came bursting in the house through the kitchen in to the dinning room and hid under the table. 

“Oh she looks scared”, Luckey said as she approached dusty with open hands. Luckey pet dusty with kindness and looked intently on her. Dusty rolled to her side and looked deep in to Luckey’s kind eyes. “Is she an old dog”, John asked in Richard direction. “Yes she’s is but her heart is young”, Luckey said as she pet dusty in to calmness. “Your good with dogs”, Gale said. “She usually freaks out all over the place looking for shelter when we get a storm like this”, Gale said as the lights flickered. “I hope the power doesn’t go out. You should get some candles just in case Richard”, Gale said. Richard walked over to the large armour with cupboards and drawers and pulled out two candles and placed them on the table in to the empty holders. “Please sit down and make yourself comfortable”, Gale said with a warm smile and happy tone. The four of them sat down in the wooden chairs surrounding the table. Dusty stayed close to Luckey and curled up around her feet. 

Throughout the house was music gear and recording equipment. It liked like the makings of a recording studio. “So I’m guessing you folks do something with music around here”, John asked. “Oh yes we do we a recording studio right here in the house. Our children were heavy in the music especially one of them. He started a Recording company and through time most of his collection ended up here in the house. When he isn’t touring he’s here taking care of business. My husband and I decided to invest a little in to it. It’s really pretty exciting we never know who’s going to call or show in the studio. It translates well with the bed and breakfast. Some of the musicians stay here days at a time working out their new albums and songs. He’s currently out on tour at the moment. We’re so proud of him and his accomplishments. It’s really a lot of fun working in this industry”, Gale said with delight. “So you said you folks were headed down to San Francisco”, Richard asked. “Yes I have an apartment down in the Bay area. We were visiting Seattle with some friends. We decided to head down to San Francisco. The other two of us headed down in a Sail Boat.

“Oh really what were you doing in Seattle”, Richard asked. “Well ah we were um just visiting. I was working at the New York Times and regrettably got fired for some beliefs of mine. So Rubie and I decided to go on a little vacation and ended up in Seattle”, John said. “Rubie is a friend of yours”, Gale inquired. “Yes she works at the paper as well she’s the photographer there”, John said. “Yeah Rubie saw some people in an alley taking something out of their trunk”, Luckey said. John fell silent and looked shocked at Luckey. “I was hoping we could leave that behind us”, John said with a half smile looking a little concerned. “So Rubie saw something she shouldn’t have seen”, Gale asked. “Exactly and I believe our lives were threatened because of it. The chased Rubie and fired shots at her. I got back to New York as fast as I could and found her we took the first flight out of there and ended up in Seattle where we met Mountain and Luckey here”, John said. “So the last time you saw these people were in New York”, Gale asked. “Actually they followed us to Seattle and we haven’t seen them in a few days. I hoping we lost them and our lives can get back to normal”, John said. “Its too bad Mountain isn’t here. He’s a musicians and he would love this house and all the music equipment”, Luckey said we a smile. “Well you tell Mountain any time he wants to visit he is more than welcome. Our door is always open”, Gale said. Everyone began to eat his or her meals quietly and contently. Another flash of lightning could be seen through the large house windows and a distant rumble of thunder.

The lights flickered a little as the thunder cleared the sky. “Looks like we’re in for a little storm tonight”, Richard said. “I had better go get some candles just in case”, Gale said. As Gale got up to get candles the lights flickered and went out. Penelope could be barking and Dusty whined and cuddled close to Luckey. “I had better help you find those candles”, Richard said as he got up from the table. Gale and Richard left the room in search of Candles and the lights flickered a little and left John and Luckey in the dark as intermittent flashes of lightning lit up the night sky and the house.

Luckey leaned in and held John’s leg. John returned to her and gave her a smile. “Ok I’ve got the candles”, Gale said as she set them on the table and lit them up. The luminescent light shone around the table. The auras of the people could be seen like a kind of halo around the dimly lit bodies. The lightning crashing gave the room and bodies bright white lights that was almost blinding. Luckey and John ate they’re supper thankful for the warmness of the home and the company. “Any more to drink”, Gale inquired her guests. “Yes I’ll have a little more”, Luckey said. “Come on Richard don’t leave our guests waiting”, Gale said as Rick went to fetch some water. John attempted to let out a yawn discretely but as he did a large flash of lightning lit the room. “You two must be tired”, Gale said. “Well it’s a little late, New York Time”, John said. “Sure it is, sure it is”, Gale said as she looked through Johns eyes. “You know I feel like I know you like I’ve seen you before”, Luckey said to Gale. “I know you do”, Gale said as a flash of lightning lit up her face and her features. Penelope began to growl. “Here is your drink as promised”,
Rick said as he poured Luckey some more wine. 

A distant howl could be heard coming from the outdoors. Luckey grabbed John’s leg. “Is that one of the dogs”, John asked? “No we’ve got some coyotes around here”, Gale said. “Yeah coyotes, them come around the house and howl. We usually never see them except this one time”, Rick was saying. Gale interrupted “Rick they don’t want to here that story. It a little scary”, Gale finished. Penelope let out a bark and John jumped a little out of his seat. Gale laughed a little and said, “Oh she won’t hurt you. Her bark is bigger than her bite.” Luckey looked at John and just smiled. John returned an uneasy smile back at Luckey and felt a little embarrassed. 

Luckey and John finished their meal. “Well you must be ready for bed”, Gale said calmly. The wind began to howl. “Yes we’ve had a long day”, John said. “Well I’ll show you to your room”, Gale said calmly. Another Howl could be heard this one a lot closer and the lights flickered. Gale’s silhouette flashed on the wall. “Are your sure there’s no wolves around”, Luckey said to Gale, hoping John did not notice what she saw. Gale returned the glance and took a step back. “Quite sure darling”, Gale said with assurance. 

Gale showed them their room. The room had a slopped ceiling with a spiralling staircase leading up to it. There was large window to the left and the sound and sight of branches knocking of the window could be seen and heard. The bed was in the middle of the room underneath the window. There was large vanity with drawers and a place to sit and do makeup. The room was warmly lit and there was also an antique rocking chair beside the bed. 

“This is your room for the night”, Gale said as she turned and walked down the stairs her lantern light and aura moving with her. 

“I’m beat”, John said as he put himself down on the Queen size bed. Luckey looked in the mirror and began to unbutton her shirt. She looked up in the mirror and caught John looking at her. He quickly looked away and for a quick cover up. He saw an old transistor radio beside the bed and tuned in. He got the sports report in time to hear that Boston College upset the favoured UCLA Bruins in the second round. Billy had a near triple double just 2 rebounds shy. “We really had our game down. Coach Charlie Brown really had us prepared. We stepped up to plate. It was all about our defence. We take pride in our defence and it really showed tonight”, Billy said over the radio. John turned to see Luckey mostly naked brushing her hair looking in the mirror. “Is that good news”, Luckey asked without looking at him. “Uh yeah real good news”, John said a little flushed as he turned away and shut off the radio. “Is it alright if I sleep without my panties on”, Luckey asked. “Uh yeah that’s fine”, John said. “O.k.”, Luckey said as she turned out the light and climbed in to bed. 

The window continued to rub tree branches across the window delicately and consistently. The window frame would occasionally rattle a little between the branches and rain spilling on the shadowed window. 

“Rick what was that? I think I heard a car coming down the driveway. “Great more visitors”, Rick said in his sleep. “Not at this time of night”, Gale said as she got up to check the door. 

Gale saw bright lights shinning in the window from the car in the driveway. She heard a knock at the door. “I wonder who’s visiting us this time of night”, Gale said to Penelope following beside her. Gale went to the door to see two large men in suits and shades. She opened the door. “How can I help you folks out this evening”, Gale said. The man in the front spoke in a whisper. “We’re looking for some people, a man and a woman. We’ve followed them from New York”,  the man said with no expression in his voice. “Oh I haven’t see anybody”, Gale said. “I think your lying the man said as he approached Gale and the open door. A large growl could be heard behind the men. They turned to see Dusty barring fags growling them down. The men momentarily distracted, Gale slammed the door and locked it. She turned and bumped right in to Rick. “Gale what’s going on”, Rick said looking in to her eyes. “Not again Rick, not again”, Gale said hiding herself and running for the darkness. Barking and growling was heard outside. “I’ll warn the guest we have some unwelcome company”, Rick said. The front creaked open and crashed close. “Excuse me John you might want to get up there some bad people asking about you”, Rick said in a loud whisper. John opened his eyes to see Rick standing over him with a lantern shining in his eyes. Luckey already dressed and waiting said. “We’ve got to go John. Your friends from New York are here. John jumped to his feet and starting jumping in to his pant leg on one foot. Luckey headed for the stairs. “I’m going to get purple warmed up”, Luckey said as she disappeared down the stairs. “Wait for me, Luckey I’m coming”, John said as he struggled with the arm of his shirt twisted and inside out he stumbled down the stairs. 

John heard purples engine purr as he reached the back door. The rain was coming down in sheets the lights of purple starring through the rain the wipers pumping. “Come on John”, Luckey said through the crack  of the open window. John with his shirt half on slid over the hood of purple to the other side and jumped in. The song werewolves on London could faintly be heard on the radio. A man with a gun was standing right in front of them aiming at purples windshield. Luckey slammed on the gas as the man hit the car and rolled off the hood. They heard a gunshot and a loud howl behind them. Luckey looked in the rear-view mirror and saw large wolf attack the man with the gun as lightning exploded in the sky. 

“Lets get the hell out of here Luckey”, John said dripping with rainwater. Luckey looked at him and said, “I don’t think they will be following us John”. Purple spun out of the dirt driveway on to the slick highway the lights fading in the distance. 

Chapter NEST

Diamond sat there with the smoke hanging from his mouth. The thunderstorm moved off behind them and flashed intermittently in the rear view mirrors. The trunk moved on down the highway in the cool desert night air. It must have been around 11:11 in the evening. The light in the cab was dim from the dashboard lights. “So what are you going to Seasaw for”, Diamond asked without taking his eyes off the highway. “Like I said I’m going to be picking up a little package. A little nest egg, I’m going to build a life for myself. I’ve got it all planned out. Like I said I don’t take to kindly for strangers. You’re luckey to be in this truck and I’ll keep you along as long as you keep me entertained or I feel your useful”, Kathleen said in a bit of a hush. There was a moments pause and till Diamond spoke up. “So how may I keep you entertained exactly”, Diamond said dryly. “Well for starters you can keep your pants on”, Kathleen said passing Diamond a sharp majestic glance. “Well I had a habit of taking of my clothes. But that was before the military and all the training and, and… “Diamond trailed off. “And what!?”, Kathleen said inherently. “Well let’s just say I’ve been through some shit. I don’t go around telling pretty girls about my secrets”, Diamond said a little taking back. “You’re a liar Diamond”, Kathleen said. “I tell two things I now are true in the god forsaken world.  First of all I’m no liar and your one pretty lady”, Diamond said. “First of all I am pretty woman. Second of all you don’t know me from Eve. Third of all I don’t know you from a hole in a wall”, Kathleen said flashing herself a glance in the river view. “Well how many men have you pulled that knife out on”, Diamond asked. “Only the men I intend to kill”, Kathleen said. “So you intend to kill me”, Diamond said smiling at his refection in the window. “If you live long enough and give the chance, you may get a chance to dance with lady luck again”, Kathleen said as she turned off the highway. “Where the hell is this, Seesaw?”, Diamond asked shocked. “This aint hell or seesaw it’s the Hole in the Wall. Lets get a drink”, Kathleen said as she shut down the truck. Diamond grabbed his hat and went to open the door. Kathleen stopped him and said, “First rule, you ride with me you follow my rules. Diamond looked at her to see her looking deeply in his blue eyes and for a moment he believe he knew her some where so time before, before,…..lost in thought. Diamond came to and looked in to her blue almost green barely vulnerable eyes and said, “I believe you”. Kathleen tore away her gaze flung open her door and headed for the entrance. Diamond feeling raped ripped and torn followed her in. 

Kathleen and Diamond walked through the ramshackle door in to the Hole In The Wall. They walked in to see a real southern wedding going on in a real Hole in the Wall. There we’re people dancing like apparitions from another dimension but still here on this one. “Hey what do you want”, the one eyed bartender said starring with his mostly bad eye not blinking or moving an inch. Kathleen turned to meet the one eyed gaze of the man behind the bar. “Six tequilas, sour lemons and the salt you save for snake bites”, Kathleen hammered in a rusted gimme some more attitude and I’ll have your ass kind of statement. Go figure Dylan would be playing on the jukebox in the far side of the Hole in the Wall songs of shelter storms and scorn. 

Diamond got caught up in the mix of the people. He kind of went in to a bit neurotic buzz out looking at the spectres dancing in another dimension on the worn and cracked hard wood floor from years of dancing dropped drinks, and salt that would burn a normal man. The smell of alcohol permeated the place and took Diamond on a trip. You see he doesn’t drink or well at least he used to before the hospital and the test and the freak-outs and doctors. Diamond looking around saw the vintage Hollywood style memorabilia from the days gone by when women were dames and men gentleman. The movie black and whites with real hearts and red, red lips. The memorabilia was all over the walls of the hole in the wall. Hanging on the studs. Marylyn Monroe blows kisses from the grave and Jimmy Dean the long forgotten vagrant of the Hollyday wood for your shoes star up in high dreams falling in your eyes met his gaze and gave Marylyn hope from beyond the spell of over worldly existence.  

Diamond snapped too to see Kathleen sitting at a table bar with 3 Mexicans. He walked over the table careful not to trip on and of the cracks in the floor. He looked at the vintage jukebox and as he looked on to it. It began playing Sun by the feedback scars. “What the hell did you do to the tune box, Diamond”, Kathleen demanded. “I don’t know I just looked at and it started playing this tune about time and change by a band I heard of from the Maritimes”, Diamond barked back. “The Maritimes? You mean Canada don’t you”, Kathleen asked a little intrigued. “Yeah it’s a band from the new millennium I read about once in a land and long time ago, Diamond reported. Kathleen motioned for Diamond to come closer so she could tell him something quiet. “Listen we need some more cash I’m going to take these Mex for a ride and get some money for gas, smokes and a good time. There’s a pinball machine over there you go play it, stay out of the way and when you get the signal you do what your paid to do”, Kathleen said and looked in to Diamonds serene blue eyes and said you’ll know when and you’ll know what to do. Diamond looked over at the space invaders pinball machine from the early eighties and reached in to his pocket for change. Kathleen beat him to the pull and flip him an American quarter and whistled. Diamond turned quickly to see the quarter moving through the air in a slow motion flip

Diamond reached out and caught the quarter before he could catch Kathleen’s gaze he looked at the American quarter with the year 1984 pressed in to it. Kathleen returned to her business with the Mexicans and Diamond walked over to the pinball machine dimly lit with neon lights and dropped the quarter in the slot. 

Diamond put himself in another world left of ours where he fought aliens with a silver ball bearing and button flippers tilt the high score board ever higher and higher pushing the evil past the solar system higher then the stars to a place they could never find the beauty of our world. Journey came on the jukebox now entering Diamonds ears filling his soul with sounds of never stop believing in the good of the world and the peace he believes in his mind. 

Diamond feeling the eyes upon him like he was being watched by some one or something calling his thoughts to a place not of his own. Waited to find and isolate the source with his inner mind. To learn his surroundings and control the paranoia that was his. 

A loud crash was heard. Diamond turned to see a scuffle in the bar two Mexicans on top of Kathleen intending to take her. Diamond seeing the Mexican change form reached for his breast were he concealed his Silver cure and blasted one shot at the creature pulling Kathleen’s soul from her body. The creature stood and eyed Diamond. Diamond seeing the creature felt the fear he had felt before and held its gaze. Before Diamond could react the creature leaped forward to channel Diamonds mind and pin him to the ground. Turning stumbling with the creature both physical and mentally Diamond dug his rage in fear of the woman he believed he loved. The alien being entered through Diamonds mind. Diamond and the being struggled mentally to gain control of there’s states. The alien encroached further in to Diamonds neural net. Diamond digging in to the rage and mind altering skills he learned while still in training and combated the Alien being in a plane far from the reality of the world and battled in a hell the alien could not overcome. Diamond left his body and entered that of the alien being. 

Seeing Kathleen struggling with the other alien being on the floor of the bar left to help Kathleen and with the aliens and now Diamonds bare claw. Gripped at the chest of the alien and tore out the alien paltry beating heart and ate with his alien  jaws.

The one eyed bartender who was not only missing one eye but had the reaction time of the rain that falls in the desert reached under his bar for his smith and Wesson and fired one god awful blast in the Alien that was Diamond tearing a hole in the back of his possessed body. The other Alien scurried to his feet stealing Kathleen’s moneybag and headed for the door. The bar tender let out another delayed blast at the fleeing alien missed and hit the gecko guarding the front door. The alien escaped out in to the darkness of the desert night. 

Kathleen came to her knees to see the lifeless Diamond human body lying on the ground. Kathleen’s rusted and dented heart struggled to look and the dead Diamond lying lifeless breathless on the ground. Her heart sank and climb to her throat. One tiny tear fell from Kathleen heart and fell on Diamond for head. She choked back the tears and place on perfect heart torn kiss on Diamonds lifeless lips. Kathleen closed her eyes and remembered the first time she met Diamond and the way she made her heart flutter with his cocky looks and bullshit grammar. Kathleen prayed to the gods for Diamonds remorse to bring him back, back to her and her rusted resuscitated life and of the company of a man she did not understand but believed she had known. Kathleen opened her prayed filled eyes to see Diamonds shinning blue neurotic but pure eyes looking deeply through Kathleen’s armoured gaze. 

Chapter The Hospital

“Oh she’s waking up”, Mountain said. Rubie opened her eyes and looked to see herself lying in a hospital in a hospital room. Mountain was sitting next to her watching her carefully. “Hello there Rubie my name is Dr. Soul. We’ve been worried about you”, Dr. Soul said. “Mountain where, what happened”, Rubie asked weakly. “Well you see you’ve been in a comma you have just awakened. I will let your friend her talk with you. I will back later to check on you”, Dr Soul said as he left the room. “Oh my God Mountain the last thing I remember was driving around in purple I think we were headed for the coast. My God Mountain I had the weirdest dream of a fantasy land of candy and bizarre rides and characters”, Rubie said precariously. “Wow Rubie you really don’t remember anything. We were on the boat headed to San Francisco. You fell off the boat Rubie and hit your head. You passed out cold and have been asleep for 4 days”, Mountain said calmly. “Wow I guess that explains the headache. Where is John, where is Luckey”, Rubie asked. “Well the arrangement was they were going to drive purple to Luckey’s place and we were going to meet them there. That was the plan after we saw the Crazy Horse show in Seattle. “Crazy Horse? I don’t remember a thing about it”, Rubie said concerned. “Well I’ll have to fill you in. It was quite an ordeal. We actually made it back stage and met the band”, Mountain said. “Yes please do! Don’t mind if I close my eyes it helps my head”, Rubie said with a half smile happy to see Mountains friendly face.

“Yeah so we got to the Crazy Horse. The place was a mad house with people all over the place dressed in grunge gun and anti government wear. Of course we barely just fit in with our biker, ex cop and girlie girl outfits. There was some dude handing sheets of acid in the bathroom. Some one came on the loud speaker warning every one to stay away form the bad acid. The light show came on and there were these weird alien creatures dancing around with glowing eyes. Neil steps out of a giant crate and starts playing down by the river. The crowd went nuts and the people who were on this brown acid stuff starting singing along the lights blazed and danced and I swear Neil looked like he was in his mid twenties. Crazy Horse beamed on to the stage and powder finger Rang through the amplifiers like an old sixties to seventies tube over drive buzz the crowd went nuts in the emerald palace”, Mountain said. “The emerald palace, Mountain”, Rubie mumbled. “Yeah the emerald palace there must have 20 thousand easy dressed in anti war anti government garb seeing crazy horse tunes to the half backed moon shinning in the golden rafters of the joint”, Mountain said. “Holy group of seven in the starlit sky, Mountain”, Rubie said. “Yeah this is where is gets really nuts. We started pushing our way to the front on of the stage so we could get a better few. The mosh pit was a surreal circle of humming mantras swaying and chanting like the horse was there guide of god of some fucked up acid trip. Billy kept giving Luckey the eyes and Ralph the drummer kept looking at John like they had some unfinished business to take care of”, Mountain contracted. “Holy buzz nuts and I missed all this”, Rubie said dubiously. “No Rubie you were right there in to it sing and swaying like the acid heads on some beach in a far away land where the moon ruled and the pipers played”, Mountain confessed. “Tell me more I want to remember”, Rubie pleaded. “Yeah so the set ends and Billy motions us back stage. We start walking and this security girl stops us. Billy gives her this security admission allowance nod and security girl lets in the spirit world. We get back stage and there’s a party going on like some sort of hypnotic barnyard, barn wood ho down in the middle on the shinning galaxy. Half-baked celebrities from B movies were looking at themselves laughing drinking matinees. There was angle dust all through the air. Some crooked looking psychopath starts playing Needle and the Damage done and you start singing with him like you new him. You started talking about the trailer park neighbors who had the hound of hell and shot smack till the cows wailed and the coyote came home”, Mountain extorted. “I seen the needle and the damage done”, Rubie said looking at the IV sticking in her arm. “Yeah it freaked me out”, Mountain said. “Yeah it’s freaking me out to. I wish John was here he might calm my nerves”, Rubie explained. “Yeah that’s the really messed up thing. Someone x porno star digging dust and dreaming spades saw John in his torn up blues and blew the whistle. FBI she screamed, it’s a bust she let out”, Mountain revealed. “Oh no!”, Rubie shuddered. “Yeah that’s what the party said. Everyone headed for exit doors screaming FBI, FBI including the band. The show got cancelled and Old Cadillac’s crept out through the streets of Seattle concealing B movie stars and crazy horses. The news the next morning blamed the whole fixation on some bad brown acid someone was giving out”, Mountain reported breathless. “Oh Mountain where is my Fallen Angel guitar”, Rubie said with a worry. “She’s right here”, Mountain said as he pulled out from behind his chair. “Oh Mountain this has been too much please sing me a song to calm my nerves”, Rubie pleaded. “I will Rubie I’m just going to go take a quick smoke off my pipe”, Mountain returned. “I wish I could come with you this place is so grey”, Rubie said. “I’m sure you’ll be feeling better in no time just try to relax and I’ll be right back”, Mountain said as he headed out for a pull of his pipe.

Mountain stepped out in the fresh San Francisco air and loaded his pipe. He took a few tokes and before him appeared two Native Americans. One woman and one large man not unlike the one from One who flew over the cuckoo’s nest. Mountain felt compelled to talk to them so he walked over. “Hello my name is Mountain”, Mountain said. “Hello I am Pocahontas a healer”, the woman said. “And I am chief. In the white man’s world they call us nuts”, Chief said. “You’re a healer”, Mountain inquired. “Yes a healer of my people’s ways”, Pocahontas said. “My friend upstairs is sick she has lost her memories from a fall in the pacific. Do you think you can help her?”, Mountain inquired. 

“I’m sure I could her Mountain but you see the white doctors don’t trust us. They’ll never let us in”, Pocahontas said. Mountain looked at the big Indian chief who just sort of starred and said nothing. “What if we sneak you in, then maybe you could help her. You see she really needs her memory back we’ve got things to do”, Mountain said. “What if we took some white doctor suits and headed to her floor”, the Indian chief said. “Great idea chief. I’m going to head to the laundry room and look for some scrubs. You guys meet me by the bathrooms on the first floor and we’ll make the change”, Mountain said. “Good Idea we’ll be there”, the chief said looking at Pocahontas. 

Mountain walked through the lobby and headed for the ELEVATOR tripping on his own good intentions. He passed a security guard who eyed him suspiciously. Mountain entered the ELEVATOR held his breath and headed for the basement of the hospital. The ELEVATOR dinged and opened up to one creepy looking hospital basement straight out some Hitchcock film scene that got cut in the final edits. The pipes creaked and dripped and the sound of industrialized machines buzzed. On the wall read laundry room and pointed to the left. Mountain crept along the dimly lit hall in search of the laundry room. 

Mountain heard voices coming his way and ducked in to a side hall. As the voices came closer he saw a rat coming ever closer trying to make its way up his leg. He staid very quiet and listened to the voices. “Since Brio Corp has gotten control of the Hospital the Human cloning testing has been going very well we just need some more Doctors working for or cause”, the voice said as it walked by. Mountain choked on what he heard and crept out in to the hall to escape the creeping rat and headed for the laundry room. 

Along the creaking dimly lit Hallway Mountain searched for the Laundry room where he hoped to find scrubs for the Natives upstairs. I won’t go in to elaborate terms here but Mountain here the eerie moans of men coming through the cavernous hallways of the Hospital basement. He only could imagine what those moans could mean after hearing what the strangers said in passing. Then like a sign from some Greek god he saw the laundry in it full auxiliary industrial working essence. He peered in the window of the doorway making sure nobody was in there. He opened the door and rummaged through the close to find clean scrubs that would fit the Natives upstairs. “Bingo, mission accomplished”, Mountain said as he headed for the corridor. 

Mountain quickly made his way through the darkness of the hallways and all the eerie creaking, creeping noises of the hospital basement. He again the moans of men he could only guess if he imagine or there was actually some sort of biological human testing he could only imagine in his artist starved mind. He made it to the elevators without any interventions or passing strangers and rats. The elevator landed on his basement floor and opened empty. He pushed the number one on the elevator like a mad man escaping and escapeless dream. The elevator pushed passed the basement back to the above ground world. The elevator opened to the lobby and all the normal activities and people you would see in such a place. The basement now a forgetten dream. Mountain headed for the bathroom in search of his Native friends. “Pocahontas, Chief”, Mountain said in forced hush. “I’ve got the doctor scrubs”, Mountain continued.

Pocahontas and the chief turned around to see Mountain. Mountain could see in there eyes there could be some trouble. Pocahontas and the Chief were being ushered away by some large Orderlies. Pocahontas eyes were that of pain and concern. Mountain heard chief’s voice echo in his head. “In the white Man’s world we’re nuts”, Mountain remembered. Mountain realised the Natives must have been patients of the psychiatric ward of the Hospital. He rushed to intervene and bring the Natives back to his world where he knew they would happy safe and at home. “Not so fast there stranger”, one of the orderlies said. “These two are on our watch and there free time is over. They’re coming back to the floor”, the other orderlies said. Mountain hurried to interrupt. “When are they going free”, Mountain said in a hurry. “Same time every day 10 am they get some air and we reel them back to the Nut Floor”, the other orderlies said in a chuckle. Mountain could see there was nothing he could do for his friends at this time as there were being led back to some floor he had nothing to do with by some large men in nurses outfits who thoroughly enjoyed going against the grain of modern science thoughts and psychedelia. Mountain new he would be back to see his friends the following day. This native friendship was only beginning. He could see the distrust in Pocahontas’ eyes but Mountain new he did not have to worry for her as she had the Chief with her, who Mountain imagined could take care of himself and the pretty Pocahontas if needed. 

Mountain flipped the orderlies the bird and let out a few explicits of what he actually thought of there handling techniques. 

The three Orderlies stopped dead in there tracks. “What do you say”, the lead orderlies asked with intent. “You heard me”, Mountain said. The three orderlies turned to encroach on Mountain. “Don’t touch him. He didn’t mean it”, Pocahontas said. One or the orderlies pushed Pocahontas at this point chief went what white men call nuts. He flattened the three orderlies and they sounded the alarm. “Come with me”, Mountain said as he headed for the door. The three now hospital fugitives arrived outside in the warm San Francisco afternoon air. Low and behold right in front of them was painted up hippie van bellowing smoke. “Hey dude what a toke man”, the passenger said to Mountain. “Dude can we pull a ride the mental police are after us”, Mountain said in favour of his Native friends. “The mental police eh dude. My buddy just got out of that place. Jump in we’re headed for the beach man. Mountain and the Natives hopped in the back of the hippie van headed for the coast. The grateful dead played as Mountain saw the Orderlies chasing after the smoking van in the warm San Fran afternoon sunlight. 

Chapter the Drive

Luckey and John had been driving down the highway towards their destination California for quite a while. By, by miss American pie seemed to be making its way through the dusty speakers of ol’ Purple.  “I wonder how Mountain and Rubie are making out”, Luckey picked up. “Yeah I’m sure there doing fine and having lots of fun. Rubie always manages to make the best out things”, John added. “We’re getting a little low on fuel Luckey said. “Hey I think I see a Shell station up ahead”, John said. “Yeah I’m going to pull in”, Luckey said as she put on her signal. The late night news report came on the radio. “Late breaking new across the country at this hour. There has been a UFO sighting in the south of Texas. Reports are scattered and conflicting at this time. Seems to be some unidentifiable flying lights in the south of Texas. Nasa claims they have been flying some new test craft but the locals say this was no test craft by Nasa as the ship seemed to fly strange flight routes, disappear and reappear at unpredictable intervals. John turned to face Luckey his cigarette falling from his mouth could speak. Luckey said, “It’s a wonder the things they put on the news these days just to grab our attention. What do they think we are? A bunch of suckers”, she added. 

Purple pulled in to the Gas Station underneath the gas price sign. “Oh yeah what’s with the gas prices we’re paying. The companies must think we’re sniffing it to pay this much for something so crude”, Luckey retorted. “Hey you’re the one driving, not me”, John returned. “Hey you want to walk”, Luckey replied. John bit his lip and said nothing only giving Luckey the eyes. “That’s what I thought”, Luckey said with a smile. Luckey filled purple up with freshly squeezed gas and whatever they happened to be paying for by the gallon at this point in time. Luckey went in the shell station to pay and John went through the tapes and papers in the glove box to occupy his mind. 

Luckey entered the shell station to pay. The man behind the counter looked like Elvis if in fact he was actually alive today. “Hello there darlin”, the man behind the counter said. “Hey there I’m just paying for my over inflated gas”, Luckey returned. “My name is Hound Dog and if you ain’t the prettiest thing the side of grace land I don’t know who is”, Hound Dog said. “Excuse me there Hound Dog, I’m just paying for my gas. I don’t want any trouble here”, Luckey returned. “I swear if you weren’t so pretty I’d buy you a Cadillac”, Hound Dog returned. “Cut the chatter Hound Dog and give some of that Peach chew your hiding in the back and I’ll take some of the Jerky here”, Luckey retorted. “My, my lady your in a bit a hurry here. We don’t get too many like you in our neck of the woods. Give me a hand here darling and reach up here for these peaches”, Hound Dog returned. “I’ve had enough of these games Hound Dog. The chew please”, Luckey threatened. “Sorry pretty miss captivated buy your essence. Here’s your peach chew, your jerky and your gas”, Hound Dog said as he thrust his hips. “Thank you mister Hound Dog”, Luckey said as she turned and headed for the door. “The names Elvis Darlin”, Hound Dog returned as blue suede shoes began playing on the radio. “But don’t say nothing to nobody Hound Dog likes it better that way”, Elvis said. Luckey turned and did a double take walking out the door to waiting purple and this man John going through her belongings. With her head high she walked to purple in the wet California night air. The moon was out, half moon, full moon, crescent. Doesn’t matter the man in the moon was watching this lady tonight as the stars smiled down on her and her destiny. In the distance a wild animal of the rural country night Howled in all its wild glory. 

Luckey opened the door to purple and entered another reality. John was putting back the things he was looking at in a bit a hushed hurry. “So you found my pictures eh John”, Luckey said with a smile. “Pictures? I don’t know what you’re talking about”, John said shyly. “I told you I was a dancer”, Luckey said as she started Purple and she purred like a wild cat from the wild country of some love-forgotten country. John was starring at Luckey as she drove away both hands on the wheel starring straight ahead. Some tune from Led Zeppelin houses of the Holy was playing as John selected it from one of Luckey’s tapes she had hidden in the glove box. 

“What”, Luckey said without flinching. “What, what”, John said transfixed on Luckey’s face. “I can feel you starring at me”, Luckey said eyeing the road. “I know what you do. I just haven’t realised how beautiful a woman you are”, John said blatantly. Luckey looked at John. Luckey looked at John and said, “Stop it”. “Stop what”, John said. ”Stop patronizing me”, Luckey said. “I’m not”, John said.  Lucked starred at John in cold silence. John looked in her beautiful deep woman filled secret kept butterfly wing lashes concealed eyes. “Luckey look out”, John bellowed. Luckey glued her eyes to road and narrowly missed a deer in the middle of the wet highway somewhere in the California night and put purple in the ditch. 

Chapter Aftermath

Diamond scrambled to his feet. “Come on we got to go”, Diamond said. “Go where? What the hell just happened”, Kathleen demanded. “I’ll explain later. We’ve got to get out of here”, Diamond returned. “That thing took my bag and with all my cash”, Kathleen returned. Diamond stopped dead in tracks. Turned around and look at Kathleen on here feet frozen in disbelief of the evening’s carnage. Diamond looked at the bar tender wiping his brow with a cloth. Diamond jumped over the counter and put a knife to the bartender. “All the cash in the till, one eyed Jack”, Diamond scowled. “After me just saved your lives..”, the bartender trailed off as he handed Diamond the money. “I’ll pay you back, jack. I don’t know how and I don’t know when but I’ll pay you back”, Diamond said as he emptied the shotgun of ammunition and jammed the trigger so no more tricks could be played. Diamond threw Kathleen the cash and headed for the door. Kathleen shot back her last Tequila and headed after Diamond giving the bar tender a wink. 

Diamond exited the bar with caution looking for the creatures that accosted them earlier in the bar, and headed for the old ford in the empty parking lot of the only bar on the lonely intrinsic highway of the desert. Sitting in the car he waited for Kathleen to enter. Kathleen coolly walked to the bar her hair blowing in the breeze of the desert night. Diamond looked at her as she walked in his mind slow motion to the waiting truck. Diamonds mind triggered off in to a fantasy sequence where there was no mark of time passing only the angle he saw in front of him in all her rusted vivid beauty of a real woman who has both seen the time and lived it. Her hair brunette of rust and copper skin and slender and sexy body both difficult to touch and resist all at the same moment. 

Diamond snapped to as Kathleen sat herself down in the old ford. Diamond starring straight ahead turned to look at Kathleen as he came to the conclusion the truck was not moving or even starting. Kathleen was starring at Diamond not saying a word. “Let’s go, lets get out of here”, Diamond repeated. “We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell just happened”, Kathleen said. “I can’t, at least not yet”, Diamond returned. “Oh the hell you can”, Kathleen said with a stern gaze. Diamond starred at her motionless capturing the wild beautiful naked truth essence that was Kathleen the wild rose from god knows where. The radio came on suddenly playing it aint me Babe one of Dylan’s forlorn almost remembered never forgotten 5cents for a candy tune. Not that Diamond or Kathleen noticed as they were now in full face lock underneath the desert stars in some hole in a wall parking lot in some state no one knows underneath the yellow moon that keeps coming back to me back to you crying just to be part of the scene wearing baby blues. 

Five minutes passed away while Dylan Cried through the am dust ravaged speakers. What passed Kathleen’s and Diamonds mind I could only guess was seeing the first spring and the destruction and recreation of the entire globe of the pulsating earth in all her glorial effervescent pulsating core. No bird sang and the bushes did not rustle as they were in the desert a distant rattle snake could almost be heard as the stars held their gaze on the moment that was Kathleen’s and Diamonds perfect and second most probably not last forlorn hold the scorn kiss. 

“No I can’t, I can’t”, Diamond said interrupting times last temptation. “Why, what’s wrong”, Kathleen said her core almost exposed. “There’s something I haven’t told you something you need to know. Something you need to know before we go any further down this road”, Diamond delivered. “What is it”, Kathleen returned a little concerned. “Well I’m worried if I tell you will stop”, Diamond returned. “Stop what”, Kathleen opened. “Stop looking at me the way you do and turn your head and hair and pretend not to care through your defended exterior presenting you’re soft inner core of a woman scorn but never forlorn if the key turns just right and the cosmos  align in perfect symphonic time and moment”, Diamond opened. “I don’t care Diamond. Your not the first man I’ve met with secrets and lies, secrets and lies”, Kathleen shut him out. “I’ve told you before I’m no liar. I may have secrets but I’m no liar miss Kathleen rust never sleeps on the bottom of the barrel firing mustang climbing the old dirt road way to heavens burning speed limitless freeway”, Diamond delivered. “Mister Diamond of the coal mine, copper for who’s penny death defying hell bent for highway in the sky of the shadow of  a man liar, Diamond, Diamond shinning in the night for evermore like the raven calls after”, Kathleen lushed.

“Kathleen if there is one bone in your beautiful not forsaken body that trusts me than you will listen and hear what I have to say”, Diamond extorted. Kathleen looked at Diamond blue eyes not saying a word starring deeply in to who he is who he was and where he is going lost comfort filled eyes of a place you’ve never been but always dreamed of going. “I was a member of the Headless Horses”, Diamond dealt.  “We were an organization funded by NATO for the defence of the free world”, Diamond continued. “We were a highly trained lost for words fighting unit. It was in us to find terror beyond the naked eyes and obvious threats to peace. We were a tactical unit in the combat of Alien warfare. Our training involved psychological and physical improvement and study. All our faculties were tested trained and honed. To prepare for the unexplained and unforeseen. Half our unit went mad from the testing including myself. I ended up in a psychiatric prison for the mentally insane. They called me a paranoid schizophrenic riddled with madness.  What we saw today only strengthens my  belief in my training and in my ideologies. These things have landed and they have not come in peace. 

Chapter Back at The Hospital

Rubie again opened her eyes and looked around to see herself in a hospital room all alone. She wondered where she was and why she was there. Dr Soul walked back in the room. “Hello there Rubie. Time for a check up”, Dr. Soul said. “How are you feeling Rubie”, Dr. Soul asked. “Well I’m feeling OK. Where did my friend go”, Rubie asked quietly. “I’m not sure I thought he was with you”, Dr. Soul returned. “Oh Dr. Soul. I’m not feeling very good at all. I feel like the world is about to end and I don’t have a single friend to talk to”, Rubie let loose. “Oh let Dr. Soul be your friend. Mrs. Soul says Dr. Soul is a good listener. It is important not to worry so much Rubie. Things are the way they are. You took a little fall and you will be back on your feet. Things happen for a reason”, Dr. Soul said. “Oh Dr. Soul that’s exactly the way I feel about things”, Rubie said. Dr. Soul looked behind the chair to see Rubie guitar. “Oh and what is this”, Dr. Soul asked. “That’s my guitar. It’s a fallen angel guitar”, Rubie said. “See you are getting better and this is the guitar for an Angel. I’ll bet you can sing like the birds”, Dr. Soul said. “I’ve always wanted to be a singer”, Rubie said. “Well why don’t you just sing and let Dr. Soul listen”, Dr. Soul divided. Rubie cleared he throat and started singing Mommas going to buy you a Mockingbird and it was the most serene and haunting sound echoing through the halls of the hospital  When she finished Dr. Soul removed his glasses and wiped away a little tear. “That’s was one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard”, Dr. Soul suggested. “Thank you Dr. Soul do you think I could get a drink”, Rubie suggested. Dr. Soul put his glasses back on and looked at Rubie sternly. “Of water, Dr. Soul”, Rubie smiled. “Oh sure sure. I’ll have one of the nurses bring you a glass”, Dr Soul said as he to up to leave the room. “Dr. Soul”, Rubie called. “Yes Rubie”, Dr. Soul answered. “Thank you”, Rubie returned. “You’re a star”, Dr. Soul said as he left the room. 

Chapter Loose in San Francisco

Mountain got in to the Hippie van with the two Natives from the Hospital as it was driving away. “Hello, Man name is Jack. This is Allen and that man in the back is Neal. We’re on the road on our way to see America”, Jack said. “Yes the great Maniacal machine that is America”, Allen affirmed. “Like I said I got three woman waiting for us all dolled up”, Neal revealed. “Three woman?”, Allen questioned. “We’ll either me or Jack will have to double up. I’m sure we can find you company this is San Francisco”, Neal said. “You are mad”, Allen said in Neal’s direction. “Well that’s what they told me before they put me in the ward of the Hospital”, Neal said. “Yeah and if it was the 1950’s you’d still be in there”, Jack said. “Howe”, Chief said. “How what”, Neal said. “No not how, how. He’s a native American talking in his  mother’s dialect”, Allen said. “If these were the fifties the Native’s would be speaking there’s mothers tongue”, Neal said. “Howe”, Chief said. “I think it means thank you”, Mountain said. 

“So what where you people doing at the Hospital”, Allen asked. “Well my friend see, she got in an boating accident and fell off. She lost her memory and see she just woke up. I went for a smoke and met Chief here and Pocahontas. Pocahontas here is a healer and she said she could help my friend. I went and borrowed some doctor scrubs from the creepy laundry room of the Hospital for my friends here to borrow so we could sneak up and help my friend. That was when we got in to some trouble with the men in nurse uniforms and headed for the door”, Mountain delivered. “I bet the men in nurses outfits wanted to lock away your friends here. Is that right Mountain and what a name Mountain”, Neal began. “Yes that’s right Neal”, Mountain returned. “That funny because they wanted to lock up Neal here for streaking mad across the San Francisco freeway in the California sun that is America”, Allen delivered. “Yeah we had to have them believe we are care takers for a mad man that is but isn’t Neal, but we see how that mistake can be made”, Jack said without turning his gaze from the road and lighting a cigarette from a package that looked like it was from the fifties all at the same time. “How”, Chief said. “You welcome”, Jack said. “No how is what he said”, Mountain said. “Well he is mad, just not so mad”, Allen said. “I see”, Mountain said. 

Chapter the Ditch

“Are you Ok”, John asked. “Well considering what just happened I’m friggin fine”, Luckey released. “Ok, ok, its not as bad as it seems”, John said as he reached for his smokes. “Shit out of smokes”, John retorted. “Well here try this”,  Luckey said as she tossed John the peach chew. “Where did you get this”, John asked. “Elvis no Hound Dog. Is it really that important”, Luckey said without much as a smile. John took the chew and placed some of it in his mouth. “How do you do this”, John asked. “Like this”, Luckey said as she took the chew and placed it in her little lips and parked it in her cheek. “Let me see come a little closer”, John said. Luckey moved in a little closer. “A little closer”, John said. Luckey moved in a lot closer. So close they were looking each other eye to eye. “A little closer”, John said in mouthful of a whisper. As he and Luckey moved in a little closer. John put his hand behind her neck up in her hair and pulled her in. Kissing passionately in the moment that was that is Luckey and John sittin in her purple trans am in a ditch somewhere in the state of California. The slight sound of rain could be heard on the roof and window of purple over luckey’s thumping chest and john’s galloping heart. The radio turned on Hauntingly playing some country Harvest tune by Neil. The radio light lighting the souls in the purple trans am like two mountains who 

have finally turned to face each other and mirrored they’re feelings and emotions. 

Chapter Diamond tell Kathleen a Story

“I don’t know what kind of reconescents these things have but we have to act quick”, Diamond said. “Woe hold on there Diamond. This is my truck and we follow my rules. I’ve got a vendetta to accomplish here”, Kathleen retorted. “While I was in Canada I was doing some research. There was a major political and military cover up. In 1984 there was this scientist doing some research and experimentation. He created this being this Biobot who could live forever. This man was a true visionary and worker of peace and humanity. The thing is the being he created could be implanted with a person’s memory and soul and go on living forever.  It had enhanced intelligence and strength. It didn’t get sick and it regenerated biologically. This scientist who was in love with some punk rock names singer named Hell’s Kitten was actually killed and this turned the scientist in to a mad man and fragile wounded human being. He was possessed with he research and study of a way to bring a person back from the dead. The US military got wind of these experiments and put a stop to it. The scientist died while attempting to transfer his soul and mind to his created being. The military stopped the process while he was in the middle of transferring and the body in some secret base in Alaska. This being could harness energy and emotion in mass quantities and project these emotions and energy in sonic waves. The being had super sensitivity to sound. If we’re going to stand a chance against these invaders we need to find the being that scientist created”, Diamond delivered. Kathleen stared at Diamond not saying a word. 

Chapter the Secret base up in Alaska.

“I say we continue with the experiments”, Military General one said. “I don’t know. This weapon has proved to be unstable and unpredictable”, Military General two said. “This is too important. In case you haven’t notice we’re not fighting the Russians anymore. These whatever you want to call them call them Romulins if you want are ruthless and inconsequential they drain the very lifeblood of everything earthly. And while we have not seen a full invasion it’s not out of the question”, Military General one said. “It is agreed we continue with these experiments until we fully understand the magnitude of the weapon and its consequences, but keep things quiet we don’t need anymore leaks slipping to the media. We’re already having enough trouble deflecting reports of the UFO”s, Military General three said. 

Chapter They’re Coming for me.

Rubie opened her eyes to see two men in suits wearing shades standing around her bedside. “Uh hello, do I know you”, Rubie asked. “Yeah we’re here to take you to another treatment facility for people with your condition”, the man in the shades said. “Well where is Dr. Soul he’s been taking care of me”, Rubie asked. “Dr. Soul is not here. He’s left you in our care”, the man in shades said. “Well if Dr. Soul left me your care”, Rubie began as Dr. Soul walked in the room. “Hey what is going on here. This is my patient, she can not be disturbed”, Dr. Soul said.  

“Look Dr. Soul we can make this easy or we can make it complicated”, the man in shades, said as he opened his jacket revealing a handgun to Dr. Soul. “I am a doctor and a man of piece. This is my patient”, Dr. Soul was raving as he was hit on the head with the but of gun by one of the men in shades standing behind him. “This is kind of a strange way to treat a woman with my condition”, Rubie said. “Yeah we’re real professionals”, the man in shades said. 

“I know your professionals but could you please be a little more gentle to me than you were Dr. Soul”, Rubie requested. “Yeah sure lady”, the man with shades said as he grabbed Rubie by the arm. “This way”, the other man in shades said leading them out of the room to the elevator shaft. The three of them stepped in to the Elevator shaft. The lead man with shades pushed the button for the basement. “Oh were going on a ride”, Rubie said with a giggle. “Can I touch your gun”, Rubie said with a smile. The man in shades did not flinch and kept looking forward while the other man held Rubie tightly. 

The elevator landed on the basement floor and the door opened with the sound of a bell. The bell seemingly wakened Rubie from the lackadaisical state she was in. She looked around her to see the men in shades and let out a loud piercing scream. “No not again. John, Mountain somebody anybody”, she screamed her voice echoing in the catacombs that are the San Francisco Hospital basement halls. 

“Look lady we can make this easy and we can make it tough”, the man in shades said. Rubie continued to struggle and scream in terror. The man in shades gagged her up to conceal her screams and they picked her up arm in arm and began carrying her to the hallways. Minutes passed that seemed like hours. The maze twisted and turned all through the basement. There was a light up a head with an eerie glowing sign that read Brio Corp. Research restricted access. Rubie riled with fear and panic as she saw the sign. The two men in suits and shades dragged her to the door. 

The man in shades waved an access card across the infrared sensor. “Brio Corp clone 112A reporting”, he said at which the door beeped and opened. With the beep Rubie went back in to dazed sense and lightened up. “Wow how’d we get her”, Rubie said. At which point there was no response. The door opened up to a room straight out of science fiction movie from the eighties. There were glassed tubes with what seemed to house naked corpses with wires and hoses coming out and bubbled and heart beating sounds. 

At which point a short man walked out in lab coat. “Hello there Rubie. My name is Dr. Omeralie. We’ve been waiting for you”, Dr. Omeralie said. ”Uh hello Dr. are you going to treat my condition”, Rubie asked. “Yes we’ve got something very special for you”, Dr. Omearalie said.  The men in shades loosened there grip and Dr. Omeralie took her by the hand. Dr. Omeralie sat her down in a medical high chair that looked like something from a dentist’s office from the early thirties. “Is this going to hurt”, Rubie asked. “You won’t feel a thing”, Dr. Omeralie said as he strapped her down and pulled a large needle out from behind his back and stuck it deep in to Rubie thigh and which point her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell unconscious. 

Chapter still in the ditch.

Luckey and John held each other in the night and the purple trans am. There was a cool in the air and every star or what felt like every star could be seen in the night sky. “We got to get out of here”, Luckey said. “You don’t like the company”, John asked. “No its not the company”, Luckey said looking squarely in John’s eyes. “It’s that Mountain and Rubie are waiting for us. Plus I’ve got a feeling that something’s wrong”, Luckey continued. “What do you mean”, John turning his body. “Well ever since I’ve been young I’ve had this second sense. This feeling I get sometimes. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes not so good. I’ve just got a feeling John that something’s not right”, Luckey explained. 

Loose in San Francisco

The hippie van was billowing smoke. Allen passed the joint that Jack had lit to the back seat. Chief took it look at and handed it to Mountain. Mountain eyes lit up momentarily forgetting his circumstance and took a quick took. He looked at the joint and handed it to Pocahontas at which point she declined. Stevie Wonders superstition started playing on the radio. Allen began laughing hysterically. If this were the 70’s we would be headed for the disco. Mountain handed the shit to Neal. Neal took a big haul of the joint crossing his eyes looking down at the but. “Careful Neal you take another hit like that and the smoke will come out of your ears”, Allen said with his head cocked to the back of the bus. As the joint fizzled the car slowly came to a snails pace. “Where in the great country of America are we”, Jack asked. Everyone simultaneously looked out the van windows. The looked and saw cages of monkeys, bears and giraffe. “Why it looks like we’re at the zoo”, Neal said. “Where is the zoo? Where is the hospital?”, Mountain said coming alive. “Well the zoo is here and the Hospital was there”, Allen said. “No we are here and we were there”, Neal said. “You make no sense when you smoke marijuana cigarettes”, Neal said as he lit a smoke. “What the boy means is, we were at the hospital now were not. And he believes as I believe that we are lost in San Francisco”, Jack said. “Lost in San Francisco”, Neal repeated. “Lost in America. What better way to find America than to get lost in America”, Allen exclaimed. 

Secret Mission

“Let’s get the screw out of here”, Kathleen exclaimed. Diamond turned to see Kathleen starring at him. “I’m out of cash and if you haven’t noticed my credibility is about null”, Diamond said. “Well I’m almost out of cash and I gave half a shit about credibility as I thought you had sense. Well I’d be a rich gal sitting pretty in this forlorn desert in the south of this coming to hell country. I’ve got  a pick up down in Sea Saw. I don’t know how far that’ll take us. But it will be farther than this hole in the wall”, Kathleen subsided. Diamond repositioned his leather ball cap turned mechanic x military special forces man and said, “Lets get going darlin, the world is waitin”. 

The old ford started spittin exhaust and fumes all the over the gravel parkin lot that speaks of ghost and paranormal activity. Kathleen turned the wheel as the rocks popped underneath the weight of the old ford. Kathleen tramped the gas as gravel spun up and the truck wove out to the darkened intrinsic highway. 

Conflict in San Francisco

The hippie van came to a startling halt. The van was stuck in Traffic. Mountain looked out the window to see people running everywhere. There was pandemonium happening outside. People running everywhere leaving there cars in the middle of the streets. Mountain looked again and saw two men in suits wearing shades walking down the street. “We’ve got to get back to the hospital, something is not right”, Mountain said not changing his glance from what he didn’t know of was happening outside. “My people have seen this before. The invasion has come. They will stop at nothing less than assimilation”, Pocahontas said. 

Getting Purple out of the Ditch

Luckey looked behind purple to make sure there was nothing in the way. With the way all clear Luckey put purple in reverse and purple’s positrack kicked in grabbing at the gravel and pulling her out of the ditch. “Where’d you learn how to do that”, John asked. Luckey licked her lips, “The things they don’t teach you in high school”. With that Luckey punched purple in gear and peeled out on to the highway sending smoke and dirt in the air. “And we’re off”, John said grinning. John pulled a pinch of peach chew and put it in his mouth. “Do you mind if I turn on the radio”, John asked. “Not at all but you know what I think about commercial radio and the crap the media carries these days”, Luckey said with half a smile. John reached down and turned on the radio.  

“WE INTERUPT THIS PROGRAM FOR AN EMERGENCY BULLETIN. REPORTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED OF AN ALIEN LIKE CRAFT HOVERING ABOUT THE CITY OF ANGELS. MASS PANDEMODIUM HAS ENSUED. THE AUTHORITIES HAVE ASKED THAT YOU REMAIN CALM AND INDOORS UNDTIL FURTHER NOTIFIED”, the radio boomed. John looked at Luckey. “See what I mean John”, Luckey said with a smile. “You mean you don’t believe this”, John asked. “You mean you do”, Luckey returned. “I used to work for the media, Luckey”, John said. “And I used to work in a flower shop. I know crap when I hear it and this is crap fuelled by more crap”, Luckey extorted with a smile. Luckey punched down on purple and she purred like a race cat up the highway. “In a hurry”, John said with a smile. “Yeah I’m off to the city to prove to you the media is piling shit on the airwaves”, Luckey said with a smile. She lit a smoke and stared the dark highway in the eyes and propelled purple on down the line. 

Getting out in San Francisco

“We got to move there’s no time to stall the laughing lady is still at the hospital”, Mountain said as he opened the door and went loose in San Francisco. “Where’s he going”, Jack asked. “He’s off to find America”, Allen said. “Let’s go before we loose him”, Neal said. Everyone stepped out of the hippie Van stuck in San Francisco pandemonium including the Native Americans, Pocahontas and the Chief. “Wait we’re coming with you Mountain man”, Allen yelled out in the city that was now in cop light and alien fever. The men in shades were nowhere to be found. Mountain turned to see five crazy Americans chasing after him. Mountain turned corner after corner in the late San Fran evening. He turned one last corner and stood up against the wall full of graffiti and pulled out his pipe to gather his thoughts. 

Mountain was pulling off his pipe gathering himself when the gang came upon him. “Were you going man the madness is back there”, Allen said grinning ear to shinning ear. “Its Rubie something not right we got to get back to the Hospital”, Mountain said blowing smoke. “Who’s the Rubie”, Jack asked. “Yeah I bet she’s a real looker to have you in fits like this man”, Neal said. “Neal my boy always thinking about the girls, if you’d slow down a notch maybe we get some poetry written. “Poetry, this is mad man, with all this going on”, Neal was saying. “Are you on the balls again man”, Jack assumed. 

With that Mountain was off again taking all the corners in the setting San Francisco day. The mob of five followed quickly like a little red fox after the running freely Mountain. Mountain came to a large archway leading through a hall and into an open room. The crowd following behind him looked up to see a large flashing sign that read The Price is Right San Fran studio in flashing lights. Mountain not realizing in the focus of his attempt to get back to the hospital ran right in to the taping of an episode of the Price is Right in behind walked the mob. After taking there names the usher closed and locked the door behind them. Mountain looked around astonished at where he was. “What in America is this”, Allen asked. “I think it is one of those games shows that became popular in the seventies”, Neal returned. “Yes it is. We have things like these on the Reservation”, the chief said. At which point everyone turned to stare and ponder and what the big Indian Chief just said. 

The usher, ushered them to there seats. “I’m feeling lucky like I’m going to win”, Jack was saying and Bob finished, “A NEW CAR!”. At which point the lights started flashing and everyone was cheering. “Does it get like this on the reservation”, Neal asked. Chief sat in his seat saying nothing starring ahead at the show in progress. 

The game was the Mountain climber game and the Mountain climber music started playing. “This is mad Mountain man they’re playing your game”, Allen suggested. “Have we found America”, Jack asked Neal. Neal sat there speechless starring at the Barker the Beauties and the coloured balloons. 

Secret Base up In Alaska

“They unleashed the Super Sonic down in San Fran”, army chief one said. “Yeah the tests proved positive. We had to go for it”, Army sergeant two said. “It worked, we were able to blast those ships in to matter without too many people noticing. There invasion failed but we can be sure it won’t be their last”, Army sergeant three said. “The media is going to have a field day with this”, army sergeant one said. “Prepare our  statement. Somebody call the president”, army sergeant two said. 

In some forgotten room on the secret base in Alaska a neural being was feeling the super sonic waves and turning it in to energy. The neural brain was waking up and coming back to life with every blast of the super sonic weapon. The eyes opened a crack in the dark room lighting it like two incandescent candles and he began to remember. His memory flashed to the 80’s when he saw the famed Hell’s Kitten singing in her punk band. The lights were red and she was in her full shinning moment her real shinning on her stage. She believes in the loner and believed his dream. She sang songs against the nuclear bang and apposed the military. The beings memory flashed backed to his laboratory when he read in the paper headlines hell’s kitten was brutally murdered. He eyes closed again and his neural impulses ceased.  

Purple Purrs in To San Francisco

“Wake up John we’re here”, Luckey said with a smile. John came to see Luckey smoking as they were passing over the Golden Gate Bridge in all her rusted out golden beauty. “You ever been to Sisco”, Luckey asked eying the highway. John looking at the island said, “Yeah but that was a long time ago”, he said passing his hand over his chest. 

Luckey reached down and put on the Radio. “THE REPORTS OF UFO’S OVER SAN FRANSISCO ARE BEING DENIED BY THE MILITARY. THEY CLAIM TO BE TESTING NEW SPACE CRAFT IN THE AREA. MULTIPLE EYE WITNESSES CONFIRM REPORTS OF SEEING UNUSUAL SPACE CRAFT FLYING IN THE AREA. THE MILITARY CONTINUE TO DENY THE REPORTS. “See I told you the media was full of crap. They can’t get their story straight. Next thing we’re going to hear they were testing weather balloons in the area”, Luckey said with a smile. “Your not suggesting Roswell again are you”, John retorted. “No but now that you mention it, Mountain introduced me to old laughing lady once who fully and completely believed in Roswell and the Greys”, Luckey said. “IN OTHER NEWS THE CINDERALLA TEAM BOSTON COLLEGE HAS MADE YET ANOTHER UPSET BEETING OUT HEAVILY FAVORED FLORIDA STATE TO REACH THE GREAT EIGHT”. “Hey that’s your brothers team is it not”, Luckey asked. “Yeah they’re doing really well. Billy’s really pulling out the stops for his team”, John delivered. “Wow that’s great news. You must be really happy”, Luckey said with a smile. “Yeah I really am. I should be covering this stuff in the paper. Say Luckey what’s the story with you and Mountain I mean you know your history your past”, John asked starring at Luckey’s blond features that have started to really grow on him. “Well we we’re pretty close. We really had this connection. It was another time though. I was a lot younger. I’ve changed. Mountain never really let go. Well he did you pushed me away when I was fragile and in love. He hurt me when I was vulnerable. He started calling me again and trying to get in touch with me. I gradually let him back in but not like before. Its not like it was when we were younger. We were so care free and free spirited. Christ he still is look at him”, Luckey said ashing her smoke. “Do you think we could ever be close, in that special sort of way”, John asked with a smile. Luckey turned quickly at John who seemed vulnerable. “Well I kind of take life like a curve and take what the pitcher throws. You never know what kind of ball your going to get. If its going to be a curve and knuckle or something sweet right down the middle”, Luckey said not missing a beat. “Thanks Luckey”, John said who seemed to be looking at a different side of Luckey now. 

Purple purred through the urban area of San Francisco, taking corner and after corner up and over the hills. The car was in an older part of Sisco that looked like it may have been a happenen part of town that looked the scene of some testimonial brutal crime of love with old stone missions, haunted mansions and fishing houses. Purple purred in to a poorly made stone driveway to a three-story apartment building with bowed windows. 

The sun was setting like a bad hangover on the day after new years when the party was over and the angels went to bed. John pulled out his notebook to right something down and pulled out long boy silver slim rolled in the hills of Virginia and lit it up. 

Dirty old town and virgin streets

Trash on the street violet dreams

Corners and craft the setting sun laughs

High definition scene and cable car bridge

Purple rose dreams silver ghosts

Luckey unfastened her seat belt and turned off purple who was hot from the highway the new Washington licence plate covered in hyper rust. “We’re here, finally, home sweet home”, Luckey said with a sigh. John closed his notebook and crushed out his Virginia king. 

Chapter Chase in the Desert

“Before we do anything we got to go seesaw”, Kathleen exclaimed. “But, but”, Diamond was saying. “But nothing this is my truck, my ride and my rules”, Kathleen retorted. “These things are ruthless, Kathleen they’ll stop at nothing but total annihilation”, Diamond was saying. “Look Diamond we’re out of cash and these don’t run on air in my world”, Kathleen was saying. “Well in their world we don’t live let alone ride on anything”, Diamond was saying. “What do you propose we go hostile and steal our way to fucking Alaska”, Kathleen blurted all the while Dylan’s all Along the Watchtower is playing on the old fords radio. Diamond paused for a moment. “You know how to handle a hand gun”, Diamond asked. “A hand gun. What do you take me for a gun slinging loose cannon of the wild west of Eastwoods days of long away holly wood bliss?”, Kathleen exclaimed all the while increasing the speed of the rusty but reliable ford as her temper and heat raised he cheeks flashed in the dawn of the rusted desert that was slowing coming to a heated days end. “Look Kathleen I told you what I do. This aint right I’ve got you in over your head”, Diamond said smashing his fists on his legs sending dust of the desert in to the air and Dylan sang on. “Shit Diamond!”, Kathleen exclaimed. “I’m sorry Kathleen, you had no idea”, Diamond responded. “No Diamond the fucking cops are on us”, Kathleen said. Diamond looked behind to see flashing lights approaching in the desert highway. “OUT RUN them, they’ll take me in”, Diamond exclaimed. Kathleen turned sharply at Diamond and then back on the highway. “I told you I escaped from an institution”, Diamond was saying. “The hell you did”, Kathleen shouted. “I’m telling you Kathleen I was I am a member of the Headless Horsemen. I am nothing I don’t exist. I have no proof not documentation. These cops will bust me pull me down take me lock me up. My truth is their bullshit, if my mission fails will see the very apocalypse the Horsemen vowed to prevent. “This bullshit Diamond, bullshit, you don’t’ exist”, Kathleen said hot under the collar as she instinctively stepped on the gas in heated situations. 

“Kathleen I’m telling you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth”, Diamond extorted. “Shit Diamond damn you diamond I should have stuck you when I had the chance Kathleen said spitting bits of tobacco on the dash and stepping on the gas sending the truck over 90 miles on hour barrelling down the desert intrinsic highway as the moon made an appearance on the horizon. “What the hell is that”, Kathleen extorted motioning on the horizon. “The moon”, Diamond said. “Shit Diamond look again”, Kathleen said. “Damn more of em”, Diamond said. “Any more great Ideas alien fighting secret agent Diamond man of shit and mystery”, Kathleen retorted. “Get off the highway cut it, hit the sand cowgirl”, Diamond said. 

Kathleen hit the desert and sent dust and dirt flying in the darkening dusk. Inside the truck Diamond and Kathleen bounced around the cab. “Buckle up Diamond its going to be a bumpy ride”, Kathleen retorted. Diamond reached in his duffle bag and pulled out colt 45 slid open the chamber and loaded it faster than Kathleen was driving. The cop lights behind the truck a dusty haze. “What the hell is that?”, Kathleen said eying Diamond quickly. “I told you Kathleen this is it. It’s now or never. Kill the lights, they’ll never find us in the dust your throwing in the wind. Kathleen killed the lights and continued flying in the desert night like a hurricane the light of the moonlighting their way. 

Chapter the Price is Right and the gaming Casino

“Well if this is not America I don’t know what is”, Allen said nudging chief. Chief reached in his pocket and pulled out some Jucie Fruit. “Juicy Fruit?”, Chief asked Allen. “Well if the chick did not just fly the coop”, Allen said as he graciously took the gum. “Hey Neal try some of this Juicy Fruit it tastes like the fruit of all mother America”, Allen said. Then suddenly from seeming in the depths of the studio and bowels of the land of opportunity the voice rang out “MOUNTAIN YOU’RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE SHOWCASE SHOWDOW”. At which point the coloured balloons and lights started and Bob Barker started. “Mountain come on down”, Bob said. Allen sat speechless mouth wide open his juicy fruit fell out of his mouth. Luckily the national spotlight was on Mountain who bumped in to Neal who was flirting with the lovely lady beside him. “Make us all green with envy “, Jack said as Mountain passed him and in to the isle starting his best victory lap trot down to contestants row. “Hello Mountain, where are you from”, Bob asked slyly. Mountain stepped up to the microphone and said Canada in a boomy cut by the mountain rusted by the ocean and free as the prairies voice. “Well Mountain nice to have you on contestants row”, Bob said. 

Back at Luckey’s in San Francisco

“Ah its nice to stretch my legs”, John said looking around wearing his best blue sunglasses. “Do you always wear you sunglasses at night”, Luckey said. “Huh what’s that”, John said playing stunned as rabbit in Luckey’s headlights. “Show some heart soldier we’re home”, Luckey said. “Well if I only had a brain”, John smile putting his sunglasses on his head. 

Luckey turned the doorknob and opened her front door for the first time in weeks. Piled papers from the paperboy we’re piled inside the door. “Frig the paper boy must think I’m dead”, Luckey said with a smile as she reached and turned on the lights. John looked around to see her front hallway with old hard wood. Old records lined the walls one caught Johns eye. “Who’s that”, John asked. “Oh that’s Gordon light foot his a fold legend up North”, Luckey said with a wink. “He’s daunting”, John said removing his boots. 

Luckey bent down and picked up the week old papers. John took a quick peak and Luckey’s exterior. Luckey looked up quickly at which point John slyly pull his sunglasses back down. “You can take off the sunglasses John. No one is going to see you in here but me”, Luckey said with a smile as she moved through the living room in to the Kitchen. John followed and looked out her Kitchen window. There was an old oak tree with a tire swing that blew gently in the wind under the light of the moon. “The moon is getting high”, John said. “What faze is it in”, Luckey said fidgeting with her floor model stereo and flipped on LA woman by the Doors. “I believe the phase is full”, John said. Luckey grabbed her kettle, “Would you like some tea, John”, she asked. “Sure Luckey, what kind do you have?”, John asked. 

“I’ve got peppermint and blueberry”, Luckey said. “I’ll take the mint”, John said. “Good I wanted the blueberry”, Lucked said. Luckey put on the silver kettle and began to bring the water to a boil. “So what do you think of my place?”, Luckey asked. “Nice kind of cosy, I like the decor”, John said. ”Thanks I’ve always had an eye for colour”, Luckey said looking out the window.  “The moon is being shaded by some clouds, I think it might rain”, Luckey said. “Rain in San Francisco, makes me think of something. Doesn’t it always rain in Seattle?”, John asked. “Yeah its funny. The sound of rain really helps me sleep. The sound of it hitting the window and falling on the roof”, Luckey said. “Have you ever seen it rain while the moon was full and shining, Luckey?”, “No I can ‘t say that I have”, Luckey returned. 

The Kettle came to a boil. Luckey pulled out her step stool and stood on the on the stool reaching high for the tea cups she stashes away for little moments and surprises. John was in full denial of her beauty and her shape. She looked so perfect like a maiden of the sea born to swim and swim and live in the water. John was in full admittance that he loved looking at Luckey especially when she did realize it and he could look at her from every angle. 

“What’s your sign Luckey?”, John asked. Luckey stood off the stool two teacups in her hand and looked cross-eyes at John and said, “Aquarius”. “Really I’m a Taurus do you think we’re compatible”, John asked. Luckey stopped starred and said “No”, with a smile. “Yeah that’s exactly what I thought”, John said with a smile.  “Hey hold that thought. I’m going to check my messages and see what’s up with Mountain and Rubie”, Luckey said in a pinch. 

Luckey walked over to the phone and checked her messages. John poured the tea in to the waiting teacups. A dog barked outside the window.  LA Woman dripped through the floor model speakers Morison’s voice echoing in the silence that was that is Lukey’s kitchen and apartment in San Francisco. 

John sipped his herbal tea in his vintage 60’s or 70’s tea mug that must have been made up the street in some pottery studio Luckey visits for therapy and to ease her memory of the 60’s life she must have lived before she was who she is now. John looked up a Luckey who was tying her corn silk hair back in to a tight ponytail. Luckey winked in John’s general direction, “Rocko called he’s wondering when I’m going to get back to work. Some of the Regulars are asking about me”, She said with a huff. John almost choked on his tea remembering who he knew Luckey to be, what she did for a living and how beautiful she is and said, “Freakin right, can’t wait to see you in action”. “Got to remember John, when I’m at work its different there’s a separation between me and my clients. Your closer to me know then you would ever get at the club”, she said with two quick winks with her left eye. LA woman came to end Jimmy Morison’s voice reeling out with the ending of the tape. The wind whistled through the crack Luckey left in the window.

“Shit John”, she said as she hung up the silver phone, “no word from Mountain or Rubie”, she finished and grabbed her tea sipping it coolly. “What now Luckey?”, John asked. “Well I suppose we wait patiently”, Luckey said eyeing John suggestively. 

Luckey with her hair in a ponytail and tea in hand Luckey tranced in to the living room. The brick of the near by, almost to close, eye in an alley, building peered through the two windows of her living room. There was a large aquarium holding golden fish. Luckey walked over picked up her fish food and gently dashed some food for the hungry fish swimming in a fish bowl. “Do you believe in Souls”, Luckey asked eyeing her fish. “Yeah I believe in souls”, John said. “Like once I used to believe I was going to live on forever. The idea of death, it makes us feel unreal. Christ how long have I been Gone?”, Luckey said. “What do you mean”, John inquired. “Oh shit I’m just rambling again, thinking out loud”, Luckey said. 

“Luckey sometimes I look at you and its like sometimes I see someone else looking back at me. Like the way night turns to day and mirror can sometimes show a different reflection. “You know I know what you mean. People change they metamorphosis with  their life experience”, Luckey said. “Yeah like a butterfly people sometimes change in to something even more beautiful than what they were but you, you seem to be somewhere in the middle like your still part of your past and a part of your future”, John said. Luckey changed demeanour and it seemed like the lighting outside changed with her. She began walking back to the Kitchen. “You know I’ve been through some quote un-quote experience, wish you could have been there. I am who I am. I get up look in the mirror every day and see myself looking back at me. If you can’t take who I am then you know where the door is”, Luckey said. 

John stood up as she was about to make the pass and grabbed her with both arms and held her. “You have know Idea the way I think about you. I look at you and can’t help the way I feel. Just you’re body the way it moves and its sheer full grace. When I look in your eyes I see a calmness like the eye of a storm the ahh inspiring power of nature the way the tides caps the shore and sun gradually makes sense of the night”, John said. 

Luckey pulled  John down on top of  her as she lay down on her black leather couch and began kissing him blindly and John returned the embrace. Like two lost souls they held each other turned and bended as there ghosts watch on from high above San Francisco in a part of the city nobody ever writes about as the moon shone on like a ghost nobody knows and the rain gently made love to Luckey’s window. 

Chapter Kathleen and Diamond in the Desert

The old ford came to an exhausting halt. “Shit Diamond we’re out of gas”, Kathleen said in the solemn of the desert night underneath the moon. Diamond looked about to and behind to see if the pursuant we’re anywhere to be seen. “I don’t see any sign of sparkly and the bobcat but we walk from here”, Diamond said casually. “Walk?! Walk? In the middle of the freaking desert. I’m starting to believe you are the mad man nobody knows”, Kathleen released. “Look Kathleen you’ve got to trust me. I don’t see our friends right now but I’m sure they’re not giving up the chase. Not to mention the manuver you just pulled probably made you famous on every police radio in the continent”, Diamond said as he unfastened his seatbelt and stepped outside the old ford the cab light sending sillouettes and haunting lights in the middle of the cool desert night. “We’re lost”, Kathleen said. “We’re not lost I know the stars like the sound of my own heart”, Diamond said offering Kathleen his hand as he opened her door. 

“Look Diamond I’m coming with you but I’m making no commitments”, Kathleen said. “Look Kathleen I’m committed. From the moment I laid eyes on you I knew. I don’t expect anything in return. You can leave any time you want. I don’t expect you to take this anywhere you don’t want to”, Diamond delivered. “I told you Diamond, I’ll keep you around as long as I feel you’re useful and you keep your pants on. Are we clear?”, Kathleen said. “We’re clear, Kathleen I won’t let anyone dirty get in. Now give me your hand”, Diamond said. Kathleen gave Diamond her hand. “Now which way is See Saw”, Diamond asked. “You said you know the stars like you know your own dreams”, Kathleen retorted. “I do know the stars like I know the calm in your eyes. But I need a direction. East, West, North or South”, Diamond asked. Kathleen licked her finger and held it to the wind paused and said, “East”. Diamond took Kathleen by the hand and led her and his heart to the east. 

Kathleen followed Diamonds heart as he led them on through the eastern night of the desert. They walked in a calm silence hearing each other’s breath they dreamed through the night. “Did you here that”, Kathleen asked. “Here what”, Diamond asked. Kathleen turned quickly behind letting loose of Diamonds hand. “That!”, Kathleen exclaimed pointing to a rattler. “Snake? At this time of night. I can’t stand snakes”, Diamond said backing away. Kathleen reached down in her boot and pulled out a dagger. “Hold on Diamond I’m bagging this one”, Kathleen said as she threw the dagger splicing the snake at the head. “What are you going to do now? Make a pair of boots”, Diamond said slyly. “No actually I’ve already got  a pair”, Kathleen said with a sly smile. 

Kathleen retrieved her dagger and wiped the snake blood off on her pant leg. Diamond looked at her in aw of the action she just committed. “So I suppose we can call you Kathleen the snake slayer?”, Diamond inferred. “And I suppose we can call you Diamond the snake scared of her. Can we not Mr. Diamond”, Kathleen implored. “Are we finished talking Kathleen we’ve got stars to chart”, Diamond merely suggested. Kathleen braving the stare walks up to stern looking Diamond masking a smile.  Diamond offered Kathleen her hand and she took it. “See that Kathleen that is the Northern star. Our for fathers used that star as guide in there lives. If your ever lost just look up in the night sky. Look for the brightest star. The star of the North and she will not steer you wrong”, Diamond extorted. “I trust you Diamond”, Kathleen confessed. “My god I have not seen stars like this since way in the North where the Winter Sleeps and the stars shine on like emeralds, emeralds of the North”, Diamond told her. “I thought you were going to say shone on like Diamonds, crazy Diamonds”, Kathleen whispered to Diamond. “I thought of that but I thought you would mistake me as being self centered”, Diamond confessed. “You mistake me for a forlorn lass. Lost on a forgone highway following a fool named Diamond in the desert night”, Kathleen delivered. “By the name of your mother!! The moon!”, Diamond exclaimed. Kathleen looked to the sky and the moon being eclipsed. “By the name of your lost soul Diamond the moon is being eclipsed by the earth in the desert night of the southern Texas”, Kathleen howled. “If this is not a paranormal experience of being human and the condition we all suffer and the humbling power of all mighty nature. You are not the prettiest flower in the row lined with copper, silver and dreams”, Diamond prophesied. “I’ve seen the best minds of my television MTV lost on the generation destroyed by politics and paranoia”, Kathleen professed. Diamond turned and took Kathleen down to where there was no river only the desert and dead snake dying in the sand and the clover couldn’t sing like the princess of Hollywood on the Dead Kennedy’s birthday because nothing could suffer like a man who needs to hold her like a man dying of hunger and thirst and starvation like a cactus confessing to the only star in the sky that matters and it began to rain in the desert and Kathleen and Diamond rattled like thunder and lightning in the sand.

Price is Right and the Gaming Casino Continues

“Nice to have you on contestants row. Look what we have for to bid on!!”, Bob exclaimed. Two Barker beauties rolled out a pearl necklace. “Mountain what is your bid”, Bob asked. Mountain turned around to face the crowd. The entire crowd was gesturing numbers and figures. The crew in the back figured now was there time to make prime time stood up all except the natives and began gesturing figures right back at Mountain. “Pearl necklace what’s that worth, Neal, what’s that worth”, Allan asked the wide-eyed Neal. 

Jack was frantically writing in his notebook taking note of the American scene in some studio of the western wide-eyed coast. Neal was taking note of the American blonde bombshells as Allan kept asking Neal the bidding price for the pearl necklace. Without consciously speaking Neal said, “555 dollars”. At which point Allan signalled down to Mountain 555 dollars. Mountain turned around as he eyed the brunette and the black haired barker beauties and spoke in to the microphone with his shivering mountain voice “Five hundred and fifty five dollars”. At which point the lights luminated on the screen in front of him in green 555. 

The other contestants placed their bets. Bob pulled his card and read “The bidder with the closest score to the actual retail price is the bidder who bid 555”, the crowd went nuts and the lights started flashing and the bells were ringing. “In all the great land of America Neal you were right”, Allan said. Neal said, “I’ve got the brains of a weasel”, he said “and the eyes of a hawk”, he trailed off looking at the California bombshells. Jack continued to write like a mad man in his notebook. Allan feeling slightly out of place and alone in his hysteria sat back down. 

“Welcome to Mountain”, Bob said handing Mountain his hand. “Welcome to the Price is Right”, Bob said. Mountain looking a little out of sorts as to how he actually got to where he is today gave Bob his hand and said “Glad to be here”, Mountain said. Bob stepped back and moved his microphone in the way Bob does his magic contestants show. “Take a look at what we have for you today”, Bob said. Then in  booming voice the announcer said “A new car!!”. The crowd got up and cheered and the lights went and flashed threatening to put the viewers in a coma. The doors opened revealing a shiny red corvette with California emissions and plates. “How would you like to sit behind the wheel of that?”,  Bob asked. “That’s a fine looking car Bob it’s no sedan though”, Mountain delivered. Bob let out a sly laugh and said “Yeah but the ladies will love you in it”. “Your right Bob”, Mountain said. 

On the Couch in San Francisco

In complete darkness save for the little city light escaping through Luckey’s living room windows. Luckey’s eyes opened. “I need to get drink of water”, Luckey said as she stood up. In doing so she stepped on the remote and turned on the television. Luckey stumbled in to the kitchen and John turned over half in a daze in the love he just made, half in wide-eyed dream he wished would never end.

The TV throwing illuminated essence through the living and in to the kitchen where Luckey was getting her refreshing drink of water. Luckey turned on the taps and walked back in to the living room and screamed at the top of her lungs. John jumped in a fit. “Mountains on the price is right, John”, Luckey screamed. John scratching through half a daze glued his eyes on the television where Mountain was apparently playing for a brand new corvette. 

“We got to get down to the station John, we’ve got to get down to the station”, Luckey said in a panic. John rose to his feet. “Yeah that sure is Mountain on the price is right. What the hell is he doing there?”, John muttered. Luckey threw John his coat as she put hers on. “Let’s go John, Let’s go”, Luckey uttered. “Alright, alright, I’m coming”, John said as he followed Luckey out the door. Down by the river was playing on the Kitchen radio as Luckey turned and locked the door. 

Face down in the Desert

With a mouthful of sand Diamond opened his eyes and looked straight up in the desert night sky. The stars were unbeleviably calm and serene. Diamond thinking he heard the hissing of a snake sat up uncontrollably. A wisp of hair crossed his face and through his hair taking his breathe. Diamond turned to see a the trails of something supernatural flying away and coming back to him and the sound of rattling of bones or the hissing of snake could be heard. Diamond staggered to his feet leaving the lying Kathleen on the desert sand as the spectre flew right through and began to speak. Diamond turned around to see a native warrior with a spear sticking through his chest slumped down on a brown and white horse. He began speaking in a native voice Diamond understood completely. “I’ve seen the death and destruction of my people from the men of another shore. My people struggle to live in peace with these invaders. Our lakes are dying our great forest no more. We’ve learned the white mans peace and struggle with it. Men from shores beyond the stars have invaded our land once more. These men will take all life from our land. Diamond you are chosen to stop this invasion”, the warrior on the horse said as the horse kicked up neighed and left in the desert dust. In its wake was left a little leather pouch at which Diamond picked up and opened to see diamonds. Diamond looked at Kathleen who was starring directly at him breathing heavily and a little flushed. 

“What the hell was that”, Kathleen asked. “You saw that?”, Diamond inquired. “Yeah I saw that. Where the hell are we”, Kathleen asked. “I’m glad you saw that. I thought I was losing it”, Diamond said. “Yeah and where the hell are we”, Kathleen said standing to her feet. “Well we’re in the middle of the desert right where we were before we, before we”, Diamond was saying. “Yeah I know that Diamond. Are we going to pick up where we left off”, Kathleen asked. Diamond put the diamond bag in his pocket and walked over to Kathleen and put his arms around her. “Look”, Kathleen said. Diamond turned around. “No look up”, Kathleen returned. Diamond looked up to see the moon now visible and unmasked by the earth. “Sure is pretty”, Diamond said. “Yeah it is”, Kathleen said taking Diamond by the hand. “Come on” she said walking. “How do you know where to go”, Diamond asked. “A strange man in a strange hat in this here strange desert showed me the North star”, Kathleen said with a smile. Hand in hand Diamond and Kathleen walked east in the desert underneath the shinning full moon and the glittering stars. 

Chapter Still on the Price is Right

“It’s time to spin the big wheel”, Bob said. “First up is Suzy”, Bob said adjusting his microphone. Suzy stepped up and spun the big wheel giving a real hard pull. The wheel spun and spun beeping and dinging as it turned. The wheel finally came to halt at 95 cents. “Good spin Suzy, Suzy, Suzy. Do you want to spin again?”, Bob said. “No I’ll hold at 95”, Suzy said. “Alright next up is Bill”, Bob said. Bob stepped up and spun the wheel hard. The wheel dinged and dinged as it turned. It finally stopped on 65 cents. “Not good enough. You’re going to have to spin again”, Bob said. Bill stepped up and gave it another good pull. The wheel spun and spun dinging and dinging as it turned. “Not looking good, this is not looking good Bob said as the wheel stopped on 75 cents. The sound that sound when things are not going so good on the price is right sounded and Bob said “Your over a dollar. Sorry Bill, thanks for being part of the Price is Right. Next up we have Mountain the man from the snowy depths of Canada and the winner of a brand new red corvette”, Bob said ushering Mountain to the big wheel. “Give that wheel a good Canadian pull Mountain”, Bob said with his rolling game show voice.  

Mountain took a hearty step up to the big wheel forgetting time and place Rubie and his entire history as he took the wheel in both hands and pulled for all wholly glory of the game show. The scene went in to a slow motion scene saved for heroic moments. Mountain turned to see his crew standing and applauding in slow motion yelling incoherent phrases as Pocahontas stared forthright and the big chief shielding her with his massive frame. The wheel turning for all is historical glory whether it be in Los Angeles, San Francisco or some gaming hide away on some reserve only the most privileged white men get to visit. Spinning beeping, Spinning beeping, slowing in times last great essence. 

Mountain starring up at the great wheel watching as it came to a slow and turn in even more slow motion as the wheel dinged and hinged on to one dollar sending the place in to real time frenzy digging and flashing like the pope was in town. “Mountain, mountain, Mountain you did it. One dollar”, Bob said in rolling game show thunder. 

Mountain turned to face the crowd and started jumping up and down hysterically. The entourage that followed him in shared his joy. “He did it, he did it”, Allan shouted. “Did you get a look at that barker beauty”, Neal said. “Yeah I did, she’s a real looker”, Jack said. Chief cracked a tiny smile barely visible in the studio lighting. Pocahontas starred forth focusing on the shinning wheel. Mountain turned around and picked up Bob and started jumping up and down. “Great Job Mountain, Great job mountain”, Bob said in a muffled suffocating hurl. Mountain put down Bob. “Your going to the show case showdown”, Bob said a little ruffled. “We’ll have more price is right, right after this”, Bob said pointing to the camera as the show cut to commercial. 

Luckey and John on their way to the show case show down

Purple peeled out of the Luckey’s driveway and hit the asphalt of her street. “Hang on”, Luckey muttered with a tight lip smile. John reached franticly for his seatbelt and snapped it on as Luckey’s foot hit the pedal that hit the floor as Purple’s tires sent a smoke signal in her neighbourhood. “Jesus Luckey, you drive like you make love”, John said holding on to the dash for dear life. “Keep it quiet John. I’m in control when I get behind the wheel”, Luckey said turning on the radio and lighting a smoke. “You go it Luckey. My mouth is close”, John said doing the key to the mouth sign and reaching in his pocket for his camels. 

Sweet September Rain by Tim Bouchard came on the radio as Luckey swerved around corner after corner passing car after car. The sound of a police siren could be heard over the blaring AM radio of the Trans am known as purple. John looked behind as Luckey laid a focus eye on the streets. “Shit Luckey you just sped up some company”, John said. “Should I try to lose them”, Luckey asked. “You’re asking me? You just finished telling me when your behind the wheel your in control”, John said cockily. Luckey looked in her rear-view down shifted thought about and said “Fuck it”, as she punched purple to the max sending John way back in his seat at which point he reached in his front pocket and put on his azure shades. “Shit luckey you drive like a bandit, yee haw”, John said in his best southern accent. “You aint seen nothing yet”, Luckey said as she straddled the solid yellow driving in between on coming and through traffic. 

The cops light coming from behind them in the distance flashing off everything that reflects light. Luckey looked in the rear view mirror. “I think we’re loosing them”, Luckey said with a smile. John lit a smoke to calm his nerves from Luckey’s looseness driving. “We’ve got to get to the price is right and find out what the heck is going on”, John said his voice echoing in the smoke from the cigarette he was smoking. 

“Yeah well first we’ve got to loose sparky and the bandit”, Luckey said looking in her rear-view. “Luckey”, John shouted pointing in front of them. Luckey turned to look ahead and saw a police barricade up a head waiting for purple and her passengers. “Oh yeah watch this”, Luckey said throwing purple in neutral and cutting the wheel like Mario andreati in the last great race to save the princess and the planet. And headed down a very narrow one-way street in to oncoming traffic.

Walking East in the desert

“I see lights up ahead in the distance”, Diamond said still holding Kathleen’s hand. “What does that mean Diamond”, Kathleen asked starring straight ahead at the lights in the distance. “Well it either means See Saw is getting close or the invasion has started”, Diamond said. In an instant loud  howls were heard behind the two walking to the east in the desert where there is no one and nothing lives forever. “I say we head for the lights”, Kathleen said. “It’s less dangerous”, Diamond uttered. “Less dangerous than what?”, Kathleen asked. “Less dangerous than whatever is following us”, Diamond said taking her by the hand and heading closer to the lights in the desert night. A shooting star fell forward in the sky falling to the ground somewhere near see saw. 

“Did you see that”, Kathleen asked. “Yes, yes I did”, Diamond said. “Good glad to here my eyes are not playing tricks on me”, Kathleen said. “Either your eyes are playing tricks on the both of us or that was a shooting star”, Diamond said. 

Mountain Backstage at the Price is Right

“Congratulations on winning a trip to the showcase showdown, Mountain”, the barker beauty with mid length black hair said as she led Mountain down the hallway. “Thanks, I didn’t get your name miss”, Mountain said. “My name is Juno”, she said as her eyes glimmered briefly. They walked down the hall way lined with Bob Barker pictures from every year he’s been on the show. “Wow Bob sure has been around a while”, Mountain said. “Yeah he’s seen more barker beauties and contestants than the desert has sand”, Juno said leading them down the hallway. “Hey here’s your picture, you look a little different”, Mountain said. “Yeah I was a little younger then. Really the beginning of my career”, Juno said with a little hiccup that sounded like a puppy bark. “Excuse me, Mr. Mountain. I do that sometimes”, Juno said smiling. “No problem Juno. Say is it true what they say about the barker Beauties”, Mountain asked. “Well what’s that”, Juno asked. “That they remain dignifialbly beautiful and intelligent for ever”, Mountain said. Juno smiled and looked directly in to Mountain eyes her eyes shinning in the light of the hallway and Bob looked on through all his years. “We are who we are and sharing ourselves with others only makes us stronger. Now here is your room”, Juno said opening the door to the studio back room that housed a black leather couch and a large big screen TV that was carrying the price is right. “Thank you Juno”, Mountain said. “Thank you Mountain and good luck”, Juno said backing out of the room. 

Mountain sat down on the leather couch with the remote in his hand and began watching the Price is Right in the Back stage studio. They called another contestant down to the show. “Edgar Allan Poe you are the next contestant on the price is right. The camera zoomed in on a man in his forties. Everything was in colour except the man with the name Edgar. The lights flashed and the bells, oh the bells, bells, bells rang and the people did the chanting and cheering as the man thin black and white made his way down to contestants row.

As the man in black was making his way down to contestants row as the last contestant of the show the studio doors flung open in the back. Two men wearing shades walked in to the studio with guns drawn. “We don’t want your money. We want the mountain man”, the man in shades said. “We can make this easy or we can make it difficult”, the other man in shades said. With that the studio went in to frenzy with people yelling and

running for their lives. “What in the blazing land of America is this?”, Allan asked Jack as they were ducking in between the seats. “I don’t know but it looks like our friend Mountain will need our help”, Jack said. 

In the pandemonium that ensued Jack took Allan by the hand and headed down to the stage. Neal and the Natives following close behind as the people yelled and screamed in terror. One of the men in shades let go a warning shot in to the rafters of the set only creating more pandemonium on the set. Pocahontas turned and looked at the men in shades moving methodically down to the stage. The man in shades caught her eye and froze for a moment looking at the graceful Indian princess. Pocahontas held her gaze and grabbed hold of her family’s emblem that hung loosely around her neck. She whispered words in her mind and the man in shades fell to his knees gripping his throat in terror. The big chief turned to see Pocahontas frozen in her gaze. He reached out his hand and called her name. Pocahontas broke the gaze and turned to see the big chief and his offering. She took it none to late and followed chief as he headed for the vacating Neal as gun ricocheted off the big spinning wheel. 

Mountain sitting in the back room of the studio of the price is right was watching the Television program in his real time the viewing that had a five minute delay. He watched as the men in shades burst in the studio and the pandemonium that ensued. He looked around and realized for what ever reason he was a wanted man. Mountain got up to leave and put his hand on the doorknob to open it. As his hand hit the doorknob it began to turn. Mountain jumped back as he heart jumped through his chest. The door flung open carelessly. Mountain looked to see Juno. He was about to say something as Juno put her finger to her mouth for Mountain to be quiet. She looked behind to make sure no one was there. “I know what hunts you”, Juno said calmly. “Please follow me quietly and don’t panic”, Juno said. 

Mountain followed Juno out the hallway of Bob Barkers montages. Mountain and Juno began walking down the aisle. Juno in front and Mountain following close behind. Juno stopped. “Did you hear that”, Juno asked turning and looking off in to the distance beyond Mountain. “No I didn’t”, Mountain was saying as he heard a familiar voice. “Mountain, Mountain my boy. Your in a lot of trouble”, Allan was saying with the gang following close behind. “Allan please keep your voice down”, Mountain said in a loud whisper as the crew encroached on Mountain and Juno in the corridor. 

“Mountain there are strange men about calling for you and shooting up the rafters man”, Allan said trying his best to keep it down. “I know, I know, I saw them on the television here in the back room”, Mountain said. “We’ve got to keep it quiet”, Juno said. “We’ll keep it quiet there lady”, Neal said eyeing Juno favourably. “Can these people be trusted”, Juno asked Mountain. “Sure as shit they can be trusted. They are how I got here”, Mountain said. “OK follow me”, Juno said. 

The crew followed Juno around a corner to a dead end. Juno turned to make sure no one was following up behind them. With the cost clear Juno pulled on one of the Bob Barker pictures at which point a hidden wall opened up with a door on it. Juno placed her hand on the imprint identification device and the door opened to staircase going  downward. 

“Hey there they are”, a voice yelled out. The crowd looked back to see the men in shades making there way to the crowd. “Hurry down the stairs”, Juno said as gunfire ricocheted off the walls. The crowd hurried in the door compartment as the men in shades came ever closer. Juno was the last to escape in to the archway as she turned and closed the door behind her. The crew stood in total darkness wondering what to do. “Lights”, Juno called out at which point the stairway lit softly with little candlelights.

“Where are we”, Jack asked. “Your in the underground”, Juno said. “This is Saturn’s secret lair”, she continued. “Well what in all America goes on here”, Neal asked. “Yes good question Neal. What is going on here as we are speaking this very instant”, Allan retorted. “We are a secret organization that offsets the balance between power and corruption”, Juno said. “Oh I see”, Neal said. “Well now you see but before you saw nothing”, Allan said quiet pleased with himself. “Please down the stairs, Saturn is waiting”, Juno said. 

The crew began going down the stairs, Mountain was in the lead the crew following behind and the natives pulling up the rear. Pocahontas looked back to and saw nothing only darkness. Juno was nowhere to be seen. “I think we’re nearing the bottom”, Jack said. “Yes I can see light from below”, Allan said. 

“Yes I think I can hear something”, Mountain said slipping on his shades. The crew became very conscious of sounds and light. “What is that sound”, Allan asked. “I think I hear people talking”, Mountain said. “Yes people talking”, Allan said. “No I hear music”, Neal said. “Yes I hear that too”, Neal said.  “Keep your voices down, I think we’re nearing the bottom”, Mountain said as he stumbled down the last step. “What in all of Americas shinning beauty is this”, Allan said. The crew stopped and looked around at the command center. The center was an electronic mans paradise. Observation monitors filled the far wall with shots of places from all over the world including France, Moscow, Beijing and San Francisco. “Well we’re here, wherever here is”, Mountain said. “Yes and not a moment to late”, a voice said. The crew looked around and saw no one. They looked behind and saw a large black jaguar jump from the stairs and pass them by taking there breath away by the shear size and beauty of the cat. The command chair that sat in the middle of the room turned around and revealed an older man with grey hair, a moustache and beard that was trimmed across the bottom of his chin, his hair was in a ponytail. “My name is Saturn, welcome to my command post. In about a hour the world is going to come under attack by being from another world”, Saturn said. “What does this have to do with us”, Mountain asked. “Well those things that chased you are not human. They are clones created by the company brio corp that has been under an Alien influence for quite some. The company plans are to create an army of clones from the DNA of us humans to serve the alien being hovering above earth’s atmosphere”, Saturn said as he clicked his remote to reveal large alien looking craft above the earths atmosphere. “Well I still don’t see what all of this has to do with us”, Mountain said. “Yes this all sounds quiet hopeless”, Allan said. “It would seem but we have a chance”, Saturn said as the large cat purred up along Saturn’s legs. “Where did Juno go and what are we going to do. What about Rubie. I’ve got to get to Rubie she’s at the hospital”, Mountain was saying. “Easy Mountain”, Saturn said. “You know my name”, Mountain asked. “Yes and I know Rubie as well. The two of you are who we are counting on”, Saturn said. “Tell us how, tell us how”, Neal said coming alive. “Please sit and be comfortable”, Saturn said motioning to the couches in the corner. The crew turned and sat down and Saturn began to talk. “These creatures have a super sensitive to sound and emotion. You feed them hate and they give you hate. You feed them fear and they give you fear. The US army knows they have sensitivity to sound and have developed a super sonic weapon. This weapon has its uses but we need something stronger, something more effective. My people and me have developed our own sonic weapon. But we need a pilot and a co pilot to operate it”, Saturn said looking at Mountain. 

Mountain swallowed hard and looked directly at Saturn as the gang turned to look at Mountain. “We need you Mountain and your belief to help operate this device”, Saturn said as pressed a button on his chair. A large panel opened up revealing a microphone and electric guitar set up on a space age type of stage “We need you to use this guitar that is patched in to the largest sound system the world has ever seen”, Saturn said. “And the microphone”, Mountain asked “The microphone as you may have guest is for your and the world’s friend Rubie. She has the voice of and angel”, Saturn said. “Wow I’ve really got to meet this Rubie”, Allan said. “Yeah she’s at the hospital”, Mountain said. “We need you to go with Juno to get her”, Saturn said. “I see”, Mountain said. “Yes you do see and you know the risks don’t you Mountain”, Saturn said. The large cat stood up and crept in to an archway. “Will you accept the risks Mountain”, Saturn asked. “Why don’t you do it, you use the machine”, Mountain asked. “The answer is simple. I don’t have your abilities”, Saturn said. Mountain stood up walked over to the guitar eyeing it carefully. There was silence and the feeling of doubt that filled the room. “Careful of the way you feel Mountain. That instrument is tuned to you every emotion. What you feel it feels”, Saturn said. Mountain turned and shot Saturn a glare and the room boomed confidence. “Time is ticking Mountain”, Saturn said. “I will do it”, Mountain said. “Good come with me”, Juno said as she walked in to the room from the corridor the cat entered. 

“We need to bring Pocahontas. She’s a healer. Rubie may need her assistance”, Mountain said. “If she’s comes I come”, Chief said. “Hey what about the rest of us”, Neal said. “I’m sorry some of us need to stay here”, Juno said firmly. “Fine, fine, Jack and I will stay here. And where did that jag go”, Allan said. Before anyone could say anything Juno said, “Come with me to the Saturn mobile”. She said as she headed for the door, Mountain and the natives following behind her. They waked in to a double door that closed behind them. Juno pushed a button the elevator went up floors. The door opened up in to a parking garage high above San Francisco. “There, there it is”, Juno, said pointing to a large gold doge ram van.  Juno jumped in the driver seat. The van was decked out in all leather front to back with a television computer interface and navigational equipment. Juno pushed the door button and the side doors opened mechanically. The natives hoped in the back and Mountain went to the shotgun door. Juno pushed the power lock button and Mountain hoped on the leather captain’s seat. “To the Hospital”, Juno said firing up the van that ran silently. Mountain looked at her. “Its a fuel cell van”, Juno said with a smile. Mountain smiled and looked towards the road. Juno backed the van up and said, “Lets get going we have less than an hour”.

Chapter Back in the Desert

Diamond and Kathleen walked all night long towards the city lights that glowed in the starlight. The finally reached see saw as the sun began to come up in front of them. “Wake up Kathleen”, Diamond said. “I am awake. I’ve been walking all night holding your hand”, Kathleen said. “We need to find a vehicle so we can get going to Alaska”, Diamond said. “Yeah we got to get my pickup from Bill”, Kathleen said. “Bill”, Diamond asked. “Yeah he’s got some cash for me”, Kathleen said. “Cash for what”, Diamond asked. “Let’s just say I did a little favor for him when he needed it most”, Kathleen said. “Do you do favors for many strange men in the desert”, Diamond asked. “Only the ones I like”, Kathleen said. “Shit I was just starting to feel special”, Diamond said. “You better shut your mouth or you won’t know what special is”, Kathleen said. “So where does Bill hang out”, Diamond said. “Most likely he’s at the lonely rose pub”, Kathleen said. “He likes to drink”, Diamond asked. “Yeah and he owns the place. Follow me”, Kathleen said. “I’m all yours”, Diamond said. 

Kathleen and Diamond walked through town that was stricken with the sun rising. Nothing was stirring not an even a snake or vulture or crow. Dust picked up along there feet as there shoes cracked through the dust of the desert beneath there soles. They walked straight through the town that looked like a set from an old Eastwood flick as tumble weed kept them company. “There it is”, Kathleen exclaimed pointing directly ahead to an old wooden three story wooden building with large windows and and front veranda. “In the old days the lonesome rose doubled as a cat house”, Kathleen said. “Hence the name”, Diamond suggested. “Yeah”, she said, “the lonesome rose”, looking in the dusty window at her reflection then behind her at the trail she had been on. She kicked the dust off her feet and pushed open the door. Then entered the lonesome rose there feet echoing on the aged wooden floor that held the tables and chairs from years gone by and an old piano that rested a stool. “BILL!”, Kathleen yelled. “Bill get the hell down here”, Kathleen said again. She let go of Diamonds hand and Diamond took a look around and walked up to the piano eyeing it and rubbing his finger along the wooden edges. Diamond was gently opening up the lid of the piano when he heard. “What the hell is going on down there”, a man said hobbling down the stairs in a pair of cowboy boots and one piece long under where. “Bill, its me Kathleen”, Kathleen said. “Kathleen, Kathleen I haven’t seen you in, in, in”, Bill squinting saying and looking at the piano. “Who the hell is that”, Bill asked. “That’s Diamond, He’s my partner”, Kathleen said. “Partner, you never, you always ride alone, Kathleen”, Bill said. “Let’s just say we have an agreement”, Kathleen said. “Yeah and agreement”, Diamond said. 

“Agreement, that’s fine, Can I get you a drink, Kathleen”, Bill asked. “Yeah”, Kathleen said. “The usual?”, Bill asked. “Yeah the usual, Bill, the usual”, Kathleen said sitting herself down at the bar. “Any you? Mr. Diamond”, Bill asked. “He don’t drink”, Kathleen said. “Oh he don’t drink. Thas alright we cept all kinds here”, Bill said. “You head of strang things going on”, Bill asked fixing the drink. Kathleen looked at Diamond who was already looking at her with his best poker face on. “What kind of things Bill”, Kathleen asked turning back to Bill and her drink. “We’ll strange folk up the road, lots of cops and strange light in the key”, Bill said. “Yeah I aint heard nothing. You know what its like around these parts. People talk and the military testing craft all the time”, Kathleen said. “Yeah the military. Least as though that’s what they always tell us”, Bill was going on. Kathleen interrupted. “Bill you’ve got that package you owe me”, Kathleen said. “Sure, sure I got it. That what you come for”, Bill asked. “Yeah Bill. It’s been to long”, Kathleen said. “Sure I got it, sure I got it. Let me go get it”, Bill said heading for the stairs and up stairs. Once he was gone Kathleen said. “Looks like we may have made the six o’clock news down here in See Saw”, Kathleen said. “Lets just not make the papers”, Diamond said. “Here we go Kathleen I’s got it rights here”, Bill said walking down the stairs to give Kathleen a tin box. Kathleen met him at the bottom of the stairs. “Here you go love”, Bill said handing her the box. Kathleen reached out and took it. “Oh i’s almost forgot this”, Bill said taking off his rope around his neck attacked a key. “Here you go, Kathleen”, Bill said handing Kathleen the key. 

At that instance a loud thunderous sound echoed up overhead like a jet passing at low altitude. “What the hell was that”, Bill asked. “Must be test craft”, Diamond said as he headed over to Kathleen. “Yeah test craft”, Kathleen was saying when a loud explosion was heard off in the distance of the desert that shook the lonely rose. “Test craft my ass”, Bill said heading behind the bar and pulling out a shotgun and cocking it. “What the hell is going on anyway”, Bill asked Kathleen. “Let just say we’ve got in to some trouble and we got to be going”, Kathleen said. “This man got you trouble”, Bill asked pointing his smith Wesson at Diamond. “Lets just say we’ve got to be going we got some business to take care of”, Diamond said. “Suppose I don’t let you go”, Bill said another explosion going off in the distance. “Really Bill, its ok. I’m alright”, Kathleen said. “You trust this fella”, Bill asked. “Yeah I trust him. He saved my life”, Kathleen said. 

The door to the lonesome rose opened up and in walked two men in suits wearing shades. “Can I help you”, Bill asked. The men said nothing and moved closer. “Can I help you”, Bill asked again. The men in shades moved in closer. “Kathleen!”, Diamond yelled. “Bill get down”, Kathleen said jumping over the bar. Diamond reached down under his pants leg for his handgun and fired a shot at the lead man in shades. The two men pulled guns from there coats and open up on the bar. Bill fire one blast from his smith and Wesson putting a hole the size of a watermelon in the back man. Diamond unloaded five more blasts and the two men in shades went down. 

“Kathleen!”, Diamond yelled rushing to the bar. “He’s hurt, Diamond”, Kathleen said. “Bill’s hurt”, Kathleen said. “I aint going to make it, Kathleen”, Bill said holding his chest and coughing another explosion going off. “You take this”, Bill said reaching his pocket for his keys. “She aint much. But she might get you out here”, Bill said coughing. “Oh Bill, what did I get you in”, Kathleen said a little teary eyed. “She’s out back of the place. Get going”, Bill said. “Come on Kathleen we’ve got to go”, Diamond said reaching out to Kathleen. Kathleen turned away from Bill towards Diamond. “Kathleen”, Bill said. Kathleen turned to look Bill in the eyes. “Watch your back”, Bill said as the life fell from his body. 

Diamond reached out his hand. Kathleen walked over to Bill and picked up the shotgun, loaded it, cocked it and looked at Diamond. “Lets get the fuck out of here”, Kathleen said. “Well let’s go”, Diamond said. Kathleen walked over to Diamond and Diamond reached out his hand and Kathleen took it. They walked out back as another explosion went off. “They must be targeting the oil fields”, Diamond said. “Who”, Kathleen asked. “Who do you think”, Diamond said. Kathleen bit her lip as they headed behind the Lonesome Rose. There was a car under an old canvas tarp. Kathleen pulled the dusty canvas tarp off to reveal an orange camaro. She opened the driver’s door and jumped in. Diamond opened the passenger door and jumped in. Kathleen inserted the key and turned on the chevelle pushed sending dust up the early morning desert air. Diamond and Kathleen headed off in to the distance. 

The van ride to the hospital

The van was making its way hurriedly to the hospital. Mountain eyes were on the road when he saw the purple trans am. “Shit”, Mountain said. “What”, Juno said in the quiet of the van. “Nothing, just saw some friends”, Mountain said. “They’ll be time for reunions when this thing is done”, Juno said. And explosion shook the van. “What the hell was that”, Mountain asked. Looking in her rearview mirror Juno said, “They must be early, I hate it when Saturn is wrong”. Another explosion shook the van. “I hate it when Saturn is wrong”, Mountain said. Juno feeling the pressure put the pedal to the metal. The van spun around every corner and curve of the San Francisco morning explosion blowing up all around the city. “The invasion has come”, Pocahontas said. The van was quiet as the world erupted in war. Nobody was out, no one was around the place was quiet and on fire. “Is this happening anywhere else”, Mountain thought he asked himself. “Yes all over the world. Just close your eyes. I’ll get us to the hospital”, Juno said. 

Luckey and John in the Trans Am

“What the hell is going on?”, John asked. “Your supposed to tell me”, Luckey said as anther explosion went off. “Get us out of here”, John said. “Where is out of here”, Luckey said. “Keep driving”, John said as another explosion went off that was close to purple sending her in side spin and into a parked car that sent purple upside down. There was silence in the trans am. 

The van Ride to the Hospital

“We’re here”, Juno said. Mountain opened his eyes to see the hospital still in tact. “You go get her. I’ll wait here and keep the engine ready”, Juno said. Mountain opened the door and headed upstairs. “Wait, we’re coming”, Pocahontas said. Mountain turned and waited as Pocahontas and the chief got out of the van side door. The passenger window rolled open. Mountain looked at Juno wearing sunglasses. “Get Rubie. Everything will be alright”, Juno said. Mountain turned and entered the hospital door the natives following. Mountain headed for the elevator and pushed the button. The elevator dinged as the door opened. Mountain and the natives entered the elevator. Mountain pushed floor three and the elevator went up. There was a quiet peace in the elevator. Mountain looked at pocohontas who stands quiet looking straight ahead the big chief standing quiet beside her. The elevator dinged as the doors opened on the third floor. The place was quiet and for a moment Mountain thought he was too late then he saw a nurse up ahead. He left the elevator shaft and to Rubies room. “Rubie!”, Mountain exclaimed. “Mountain!, I thought you were gone”, Rubie said. “Rubie are you feeling better”, Mountain asked. “Yes I have most of my memories back and I had the strangest dream”, Rubie was saying. “Rubie we need you to sing. The aliens have invaded”, Mountain was saying when he hospital shook from an explosion. “What was that”, Rubie asked. “Its an invasion. We need to be going”, Pocahontas said. Rubie sat up. “Is this a dream”, Rubie asked. “This is no dream Rubie. It’s time”, Mountain said. “Here take this”, Pocahontas said giving Rubie some herbs. Rubie ingested the drug and closed her eyes momentarily. 

Rubie opened her eyes again she was now in the van Juno was driving and she knew exactly what to do. There was a quiet peace in the van. Rubie could hear her thoughts and the thoughts of everyone in the van including Juno. “Your remember what to do”, Juno said in her. “Yes, I need to sing”, Rubie responded in her mind. “And I will be right beside you playing the guitar”, Mountain responded in his mind. “We will all be right beside you”, Juno responded in her mind another explosion went off that shook the van. The explosion seemed far off in a place that could not hurt them. “We’re almost there”, Juno said breaking the silence. Rubie began to think she had an episode then she heard deep in her mind from Juno, “It was no episode”, Juno said in her mind. Rubie looked at Pocahontas who was being held by the chief. She could feel warmth from them and it calmed her. Rubie reached over the seat and put her hand on Mountain shoulder. “I believe in you”, she could hear him thinking. The van pulled in the parking garage and came to a stop. The doors opened and they existed. An explosion hit the garage and shook it sending dust and concrete everywhere. 

“Quick to the elevator shaft”, Juno spoke. They looked at her like a spell was broken and the sound of bombs and fear erupted around them as they began moving in real time. Juno put her handprint on the elevator door and the doors opened. They entered the elevator and the doors closed. “Down”, Juno spoke and the elevator went down. 

Where is the chevelle going?

“Turn on the Radio dammit”, Kathleen ordered. Diamond turned on the radio and frantically searched for a radio station “There’s nothing out there, there’s nothing left”, Diamond yelled. A bomb shook the chevelle. “Any more great Ideas Diamond”, Kathleen asked. “We need to keep going”, Diamond said. “I thought you said we need to head for cover”, Kathleen asked. “No keep going. We can’t fail, keep going. Keep pushing time”, Diamond said. Kathleen pushed the pedal to the medal blending time and space in the chevelle as bombs dropped all around them. 

Saturn’s Lair

The elevator door opened up revealing Saturn’s lair that was shaking. “Hurry, to the machine”, Saturn said. Mountain climbed the stage and picked up the guitar. and strummed a chord that echoed through cyber space. Rubie climbed the stage and picked up the microphone. There was complete silence as Mountain looked Rubie deep in the eyes. Mountain began playing without even thinking and the words came to Rubie without even thinking and the bombs stopped. “Keep playing”, Rubie could hear Saturn thinking and she did. She kept thinking. Then she heard another voice an Alien voice enter her domain and she felt fear. Fear gripped the station and the bombs stopped. Mountain felt the fear and it entered his playing. The bombs began again this time more violently. 

The trans am

John reached out his hand for Luckeys and said this must be the end. Luckey looked over to John and took his hand and forced a smile. I love you she thought. 

The chevelle

“Don’t stop Kathleen, push till you have nothing left”, Diamond said. “Kathleen feeing the fear of the world being destroyed around her pushed further and further, she could not see the road only space and time and she kept driving further. Diamond took her by the hand and thought of only love. The car a burning phoenix blazing across the earths burning crust. 

Saturn’s Lair Rubie Sings  

“Keep singing”, Rubie heard but could now not see Saturn saying. :”Keep playing”, Mountain could hear but could no longer see Juno saying. They played and played and Rubie struck a chord and Mountain felt the life enter his body again. “I need to raise the stage. And you could imagine what could happen if I did”, Mountain and Rubie could here Saturn saying. They sang a note and gave Saturn the permission to raise them to the sky. The platform raised and they played on and on as Saturn raised them higher. Mountain could now see Rubie and she could now see Mountain. They played and heard the music of long lost love and the good of the world pushing them further. Rubie felt a pulse of energy flow through her and Mountain played try imagining a place that’s always safe and warm. They could now see the world again burning, burning, burning and the alien ships above. “Fear not Rubie I am here”, Rubie could hear mountain thinking. And Rubie sang with all her heart. She could see an alien ship hover above and she stared it down. The vessel let got a blast directly at Rubie and she sang on with all of loves grace and dignity. Another ship appeared in the darkened sky that luminated a light that was not evil and Rubie heard her voice resonate across the heavens and Mountain led her through the storm. The world began to reform in all it natural beauty they saw the birth and creation of the new world and Rubie fell to her feet in the silence of the morning on top of the stage of the world the music stopped and Mountain looked around to see the earth unscarred and alive morning doves took to the sky and the sun shined on. Mountain bent to look at Rubie who was motionless. Mountain heard Rubies voice. “Do you think every thing happens for a reason? Like were all here for purpose”. Mountain looked at Rubie who lay motionless and lifeless and new she served her purpose. He knelt beside her said a little prayer and dropped one tear…….

One day I started dancing
If you can call this dancing.

And when the robin sang it’s fill,
It sat upon on a window sill.

If you can call this dancing.
I continue still.

At first it was my heart that beat
It shook my bones, made light my feet
And in a moment, overcome
To let it out, to free the drum
The sun just so,
The sky just so,
And so
And so
I let it out.
I danced and twirled and shook it about,
All up and down and round and round
All through the hills, all through town

Next it was just three or four more
Who kicked their boots that shook the floor
The sun had set
Their work was done
And in a moment, overcome
To let it out, to free the humdrum
The moon just so,
The wine just so
And so
And so
They let it out
They danced and twirled and whirled about.
Across the bridge and through the square
And up and down the crystal stair

When we had danced all day, all night
With sweet dreams of Mary Ann in sight
Thought I should stop and take a rest
Take off my shoes and dancing vest

But then just then a fog set in
And from the fog a pointy chin
And from the chin a devil’s head
And from the head a silhouette
It tapped it’s foot
It clapped it’s hands
It shook it’s hips and then it said
We may never go to bed,
No,
We may never stop our feet
No,
We may never not keep the beat.

Then my ankles turned to glass
I feel them start to shatter
The pain just so
On blistered toes
And so

And so
On swollen feet our broken bones
No longer fit inside the skin
That we no longer control

Five then ten then twenty-eight
Before too long the whole town’s fate
To do the twist,
To shake it like this,
Across the bridge and through the square
And up and down the crystal stair

With broken limb on bloody stump
The moon had sang it’s fill.
It beamed upon a window sill.

It was unison singing for freedom
Broken by the devil
And so

And so
One poem deserves company
There was such hope
Pleasure
A chorus
Stolen
The robins song
Least the dance was a curse
The form broken
Defiant of the rules and laws
A lie

And so

And so
A madness of song and dance
Thought never to be broken
So careful and complex
Tiny stars
Motions of the master
Hope of and broken lover
Smash the cast and glass slippers
Not to dance forever
The promise broken

I pause
Remember my course
Hate bleeds my vein
A course of curse
The carousel
And song madness
Broken by the shadow
The devil’s curse

A canary of light
Mended limbs
Free of mind
And odyssey thought
cured
No music
Just sound

If you can call this dancing,
We continue still

credit: MRB

edit: TTB

=

digital reverb shadow of cohen and international law
main veign and the defendents game
calling lies and a nazis flag
the nba gambling on race and wins
communist interest in home land defenses
the jets leafs and canadians pay for the trades
domestic policy and the speakers fancy
break and enter the judge and hammer
junior and the blues paradise lost and infectious trends
2 trillion bits and bytes safe haven for baby boomer’s coins
inflation balloon and busts far east ease drop
the west said enough
russia and foreign interest
celebrated nudes and famous beaches
juno vimy and the rest
hyper rust and youngs sunglasses on mountains top vision
books to burn and history steal
horsepower and prohibition the underground road
safe third country unwelcomed bribary
waste of whisky wine and pin ball tables
arcade machine and coin operated washers
shooting up and down St. George away from the mayors office
the last block buster hooker on the corner
vaccine diary and high school dreams
college entrance exams and recruiting teams

drums bass and the rest

I might as well be on mars dinning
On corn pops with a flopped eared
Rabbit with the diamond earring he
Stole from the queen of hearts
When she slipped on Tony Hawks
Board in the middle of the little
Dipper dipping in purple punch
For a political artistic lunch Elvis
Was the entertainment while Marylyn
Served refreshments to the Kennedy�s
Dali tattooed the scene behind the sun
Where spirits come in search of inspiration
And Einstein changed a rubix-cube
Into a circle we all use as a baseball
In the middle of Asia the
Dalai Lama hits one over the wall
For a little guy named Babe
While he eats caviar
With a Blue whale contemplating
The future of man and the meeting
Of Extra terrestrials in search
Of a beach house and babes
Playing volleyball sipping on
Coconuts until they all go crazy and walk
Up on the beach killing Nazis
With banana bullets to save the
Queen called victory in an over
Analyzed musical composition
Beethoven Bach and some one
Called Christian conducted
For a billion little children
With no reservations but
Guilty temptations and the
Word no flashing in the
Sky like a Vegas Sign
No one can see because
They don�t believe but try
To exceed gravity and
Oxygen and live like a dance
The fire throws shadows of life
Lost in intelligent conversation
No one could actually say
Or describe but we all
Know it like the smell
Of home and the touch
Of a girl