A WARLOCKS JOURNEY

A WARLOCK'S JOURNEY Rick Masters was a Wunderkind. Born into a "moderately middle income" family, Rick paid little attention, to life, especially during childhood. According to his parents, William Masters, and Monica Robins, there was nothing unusual about their son. Not even in pre-school. Although Ricks parents shared the same house, his mother, Monica, was strong-willed enough to post-pone marriage, to her childrens father, atleast until she made a moderate attempt, at her OWN life's ambition. Succeed, or fail, Monica was determined to reach for her dreams (When not tending her children, or their father). Monica never protested, nor corrected, those who "just assumed" she was married to William. Monica just allowed people to think what they CHOSE to think. While the Master's household was, basically, "average", in every way, both Monica, and William, were amazed at how often their son, Rick, predicted when prices, of various foods, would rise, at local food stores. Then, there was the bicycle, which Rick saw, on television. An incredibly expensive bicycle, which could perform all manner of stunts. Ofcourse, the bicycle, shown on t.v., was "heavy duty", and, in very small print, at the bottom of the screen, was listed as "Modified" to "take anything which children could throw at it". When Rick asked his parents about a bicycle, William Masters presented Rick with a "no frills", coaster bicycle. Not a "flashy" unit, but, as his father pointed out, rugged, and easy to repair. Although Rick accepted the "gift", Rick left the bicycle sitting in the garage, and just watched as his friends parents bought the other kids the "super deluxe", television, bicycle. When Rick Masters had seen one, of the "super deluxe" bicycles, on display, in a store window, along with a display which read "Win this bicycle. Astound your friends!". Rick did not think anything, of it, at the time, but, whenever he saw that bicycle, in the store window, he began to visualize himself, riding the bicycle. After un-expectedly winning the bicycle, when Rick rode the bike, he noticed not only how light the bike was, but how much the frame flexed, in response to pot-holes, and other hazzards. Since Rick feared his parents, potential, anger, if Rick "broke" this bike, as well as realizing how "whimpy" the bike felt, Rick pulled his regular bike out of the garage, and packed this "super deluxe" bike away. Rick loved the feeling, of "power", "durability", and "endurance", of basic bikes. Coaster bikes could really take a beating, and keep on going. Rick also noticed how, when his friends put the "super deluxe" through the very same "paces", shown on television, that the "super deluxe" seemed to fall apart, even after as little as two stunts. Although the children really did not understand it, when parents presented the "super deluxe", while cautioning children "I have paid $500.00, for this bike. Take CARE of it". What had surprised the children was how upset parents became, when, after bicycles broke down, and parents called bike shops, for replacement parts, that parents received the bad news. According to repair shops, it would seem that repair parts, for the "super deluxe", would have to be ordered, from overseas. This meant international shipping, and handling, costs, since there were NO American parts distributors. When parents learned that replacement PARTS would cost even MORE than the bikes, themselves, had cost, fathers told children "Well, you broke it. Thats all there is to it. I am NOT paying out, more than $500.00, for replacement parts, just so you can break the bike, again". As a result, Rick's friends were left to WALK, from place to place, even as ruined bikes sat, in the rear of garages. Rick was the only boy, among his friends, to have a bicycle, for a long while, after this. Rick was the only boy riding the area. When William had noticed the "new" bicycle, sitting around, just gathering dust, in the garage, William had asked Rick his thoughts, about the bicycle. When Rick told his father "It is pretty, but it just feels cheap". William, and Monica, agreed that their son did not want the "super deluxe", after all. This is when the parents put the "super deluxe" up "For Sale". When bidders offered William only $10, $20, even $25.00, for the bike, all William would say was "Come back, when you have a REAL offer". Sure, William knew that he would, never, receive "show room" value, for the bike, but the parents decided to find out just how MUCH people would be WILLING to pay, for the bicycle. It was not until the highest bid was $250.00, that William turned the bike over, to its new owner. What surprised Monica, about this, was how William then turned around, and used this money, to buy extra inner tubes, and outer tires, for the very bike, which Rick used, daily. After his experience, with visualizing winning the bicycle, Rick had "played" a secret, personal, "game", a few times, in class, and with subjects, which Rick really hated. Rick visualized upcoming tests, and found, in the process, that he could not only see the tests, but he could see the answers, as well. When the tests actually came up, Rick was surprised when he received some of the highest grades, in class. Not that he CARED about American Independence, nor the Civil War. Rick, like most students, could not care, LESS, about people who had been enslaved, more than 150 years before the modern children had been born. All Rick Masters really cared about was attending regional bicycling events, and seeing how bicycles could be modified, and what kinds of stunts various models could perform. Then there was Angela. A pretty teenager, whom Rick had known, for years, but whom he did not dare ask out, since he did not know if the two could remain friends, if Angela declined his offer. Then, there was the fact that, even in this "new age", of "affirmative action", anything, beyond friendship, between black and white, was deterred. Still, when Rick saw how a black student had grabbed, at Angela, and slapped her bottom, like Angela was a dis-obedient child, Rick would have been, totally, prepared, to defend Angela, even though her "companion" was atleast twice Rick's size. Thankfully, the guy stopped bugging Angela, before Rick got mad enough to attack. Still, Rick fantasized, about how HE would treat Angela, IF the two were a couple. Rick just never expected that, after just three months, of visualization, Angela would approach Rick, asking "What are you doing, after school?"" Rick was thrilled when the two went beyond friendship, and into dating. (Rick just hoped that Angela never sensed when Rick had casual thoughts, about other girls) In fact, until Rick was assigned, to a group project, which was to study "witchcraft", Rick had, totally, respected Angela's FEAR of the dark. (A FEAR, fostered by her own parents bed time stories, about dis-obedient children) When Rick informed Angela, of the class project, Angela seemed relieved ONLY when Rick told her "Its a class project." Angela would tell Rick "My own class project is the review of womens fashions, from the 19th, through 20th centuries". In Ricks case, although he may have enjoyed his friends mocking, of such "research material", as old movies, this humor lasted only until Rick saw, on-screen, how people could do things, with only the "power" of their minds/thoughts. While Ricks classmates went out, after school, laughing, and making more, bad, jokes, about "witchcraft", Rick had decided to check the schools library, and find out more, about "witchcraft". Rick wanted to find out HOW the "witches" did what they did. As a result, while his class-mates were out, sneaking beers, and partying, Rick was in the library, reading up on telepathy, and telekinesis. During this research process, Rick learned that there was no such thing as either "black", or "white", magic. The so-called "white witches" were, more formally, known as Wiccans. These Wiccans, as Rick was to learn, used their skills to improve life, and health, even while advancing their own knowledge, of the world, around them. Un-fortuantely, for Rick, his research took so LONG, to complete, that all he had were "draft notes", even as the "leader", of his group, had stood before the class, wearing the worst looking "witch" costume Rck had, ever, seen. Ofcourse, the presentation did have the desired effect. The class had laughed, at the students portrayal, of the Wiccan community. After the class had let out, the teacher had called Rick aside, asking "Why did you not submit you work?" When Rick had said "My work is not finished. It is just notes. Not even a report". When the teacher asked to see the work, anyway, Rick handed over his notes. Once the teacher viewed the quality, of Ricks notes, the teacher sent the young man to see a librarian, at the public library. The teacher promised that, if Rick were serious, about his study, the public library would be a great place to start. During the next, class, session, the teacher would point out, to the class "Before we proceed with further reports, I would like to share, with you, the kind of actual research work, which this school is TRYING to teach you. Though, admittedly the work is not complete, it is the best EFFORT I have seen, to date. Not even Rick knew whose work the teacher spoke of, until the educator began the recitation. By the time the teacher was finished reading, and informed the class "This, admittedly rough draft, is the finest example, of research, which I have seen, so far. THIS student is, actually, researching the subject matter. This student is taking the assignment seriously, and the rest of you should make note of their efforts". When a student asked "Whose work is that?" The teacher would ask "Does that matter?" When a few students murmured "Must be a "brown-noser", the teacher looked, directly, at the students, and said "A week of detention". It would be after class when the teacher would bring Rick aside, asking "Your work shows great promise. I am curious, though, about your purpose, in compiling such detailed work?" When Rick would say "I guess that I am more than a little interested, in the subject." When the teacher asked "Would you like to know more?" When Rick agreed, the teacher gave Rick a location, saying "Stop by, when you have time. There are wonders to behold". When Rick did visit the location, as per the teachers directions, Rick would be surprised to find something, which he, never, knew existed. Oh, sure. Rick had dreamed of this place, several times, yet he thought that this was nothing more than the result, of watching classic, horror, movies. Th odd thing, about this place, was that it was so UN-like the places, shown in movies, and television. This place had no skulls, skeletons, or dead animals, hanging about, as "warning" signs. Nor did the place have actual warning signs, which might say "Stay Out". As Rick obsered the general area, he remembered playing childrens games, with his friends, nearby. Rick also remembered the many walks he had taken, with Angela, right near this spot. Yet, despite being so close, so many times, Rick had no idea that this place was here. The place just looked so natural, that Rick realized that it COULD have been here, forever. What left Rick equally speechless, was the way in which a robed figure seemed to seperate itself, from the surrounding woods. When the robed figure came before Rick, asking, softly, "Why have you come?" Rick would say "My teacher sent me". When the figure held out a hand, Rick presented the directions, which the teacher had provided, and which the figure seemed to study, for a moment. Then, extending their other hand, the figure would ask Rick "Follow me". When Rick asked the figure "Where are we going?" The figure would only say "That depends upon how far you are willing to go. " Then the figure asked "Shall we proceed?" When Rick accepted the figures hand, he watched when, as either by special effects, or some form of magic, the woods closed in, around the two, and Rick found himself inside some kind of cavern, or tunnel. What made this place "different", from the "traditional representations", of covens, was that the tunnel was not lit, by candles, set in wall sconces. This place was lit by soft, recessed, L.E.D. lights. After walking a distance, through the tunnel, in a place which Rick never knew existed, he observed how he, and his "guide" passed atleast two, side caverns. In one, side cavern, Rick noticed a kitchen set up. Only this place had no pot-bellied stoves, or even wood burning units. It would seem that this group liked electric appliances, including microwave ovens, and electric stoves. In the cavern, on the opposite wall, from the kitchen, Rick caught a glance, at what he THOUGHT was the largest library, which he had, ever, seen. When Rick's giude was called aside, by another, coven, member, Rick could not resist the temptation, of reviewing the library's contents. (What Rick did not know was that, even at this moment, he was being "tested", in order for the coven to learn if his intentions were sincere). In a nearby cavern, a Wiccan would be observing the young mans actions, via closed circuit camera's. The monitoring Wiccan would make a list, of the volumes, which Rick thumbed through, versus which volumes Rick stopped, to actually, READ. When an elder entered the monitoring room, whispering "report", the monitoring Wiccan would say "He only appears mildly curious, about the volumes, concerning dark magic. He appears to be studying only those volumes, which cross-reference Wicca." When the elder would whisper "Very well", then depart the monitoring area, the monitoring Wiccan knew where the elder was headed, next. When the elder joined Rick, in the library, asking "Are you enjoying your reading?" Rick would say "Great library. Mind if I visit, from time to time?" The elder would say "That depends". When Rick would ask "On what?", the elder would say "Upon whether your heart is true". When the elder would, softly, say "Come", Rick followed, without hesitation. When the elder lead Rick into the main coven, chamber, Rick would say "Incredible. Just as I dreamed it would be." The elder would say "Yes, we are aware of your previous visits. You are an Astral Projectionist. A natural, if I am not mistaken." When Rick would ask "Hold on. Previous visits? Astral? I dont understand". At this point, another, robed figure would come forth, to say "Yes, we understand that you are un-trained. This is the reason you were invited to visit the coven. It is our desire to offer you the chance to train, with us". When Rick asked "Train? For what?" The robed figure would pull her hood back, exposing her face, as a local woman. In fact, a woman whom Rick had known, since childhood. A woman who would smile as she said "A chance to develop your skills, and became a "witch", or, in your case, being a man, a warlock". When Rick would say "Nothing doing. My parents would freak if I turned to evil". The women would laugh, heartily, as they would say "Not a DARK sorcerer. A warlock. A MALE, who practices Wicca". When Rick would ask "So you are..." and the women would say "Yes, we are Wicca. Commonly known as "witches". Since we are female, we are referred to as "witches". Since you are male, you would be a warlock". When Rick would ask "What can you teach me? How to zap people?" The Wiccans would laugh as they agreed "Too much television, and movies.", then the women would grow serious, even as another, robed, figure would approach, saying "If you are willing to step beyond the "everyday", then, to Ricks surprise, this woman pulled back her hood, to reveal the face, of a fellow student. A blonde haired girl, and one of those who had heckled Rick's report, in class. When Rick said "You?" The woman would say "Sorry for laughing, in class, but secrecy IS the only way for us to survive, in your world". When Rick asked "Why me?" The elder would say "Our sources, within both the school, and public, libraries, report that, out of your entire research team, YOU were the only member to, truly, research the subject of Wicca. This, even as the rest of the project just laughed at the entire topic. Your teacher has, also, been monitoring your report, and has informed us of how devoted you have been, to your research. Combine this with your latent abilities, and the coven forsee's a powerful future, for you." This is when another robed figure would ask "Are you prepared to step beyond the world, which you know, and understand?" When Rick would say "Why not? How hard can it be?" His class mate would say "Famous, last, words". Although sworn to secrecy, by the coven, Rick found a way to inform his girlfriend, of the coming project. Instead of simply telling the woman, of his decision, though, Rick asked Angela how she would FEEL, if he joined the Wiccan community. Even in Angela's eyes, Rick saw how the very idea seemed to terify the woman, even as Angela asked Rick not to even DISCUSS the matter. When Rick asked "Why?", Angela would say "You know my family are good Christians. If my parents heard you even suggest the topic, they would command me to dump you, and seek a good Christian, boy". It was soon, after this, that Rick learned that other people, whom he had considered close "friends", withdrew, at the very mention of the idea of a man joining an "evil cult", of "witches". When Rick asked an elder if solitude, and loneliness, were the price, of Wicca, the elder smiled as she said "Dear boy, those who FEAR us simply do not UNDERSTAND us. This is the reason covens exist. To allow like-minded people to form new friendships, and lasting bonds". As Rick's training progressed, he learned why a group, of class mates did their best, to "hide" in the background, during school years. It would turn out that these people were, also, "Wiccans, in training". Learning how to "vanish", from the public eye. These were the students who, like Rick, ended up spending their free time, in Wiccan classes. Yes, while other students were out, practicing various vices, and developing the begininnings, of low-profile, petty crime, records, the Wiccans were teaching students how to have both control, and to extend, each students abilities. When one student asked an elder "Why are only certain people "gifted", with abilities?" The elder would say "All people have these abilities. Most people, though, CHOOSE to ignore the gifts, and go about their "normal" lives." When the student would ask why people did not WANT to practice, the elder would say "Ours is not to question. Ours is to learn, control, and grow with, life. We are, in a manner of speaking, the "Jedi"." Over the following years, Rick would learn the REAL meaning of "The COST of Wicca". While Rick had grown up, with the "pop culture" notions, that Wiccan rituals included blood sacrifices, drinking blood, and passionate intercourse, under the moon's shining embrace, it would not be long before Rick would learn the TRUE "cost", of a mind, awakening, to its fuller potential. When Rick, un-expectedly, developed the ability, to read minds, this came at the cost of finding out who his TRUE friends were. The coven would have to teach the young man the discipline, of how, and when, NOT to read minds. This was, never, more evident than the night, when Angela broke off, with him, officially. After some of the best sex the couple ever had, Rick had imagined how Angela would look, floating, above him, like an angel. It was not until he heard her scream, that Rick opened his eyes, to find Angela actually floating, above his torso. Angela then watched, in blind horror, as Rick closed his eyes, and let her down, as gently as possible. The most hurtful part, of all, though, was when Angela grabbed her clothes, and cried out "You are a servant of Satan!" This just before rushing away from Rick. When Rick had tried to follow, and explain, Angela pepper-sprayed him, while saying "Return to your Satanic master. I never want to see you, again". A few minutes later, as Rick was dressing, an older MALE appearred, informing Rick "NOW, you know the "cost" of Wicca". When Rick asked the man "How did YOU handle it?". The man would say "Son, there are plenty of Wiccan women. Just remember to treat the women with love, and respect, and you will be fine". Although high school graduation had become less than meaningless, to students, such as Rick, he, and other, coven students, observed the regular customs, finishing high school, and receiving worthless diploma's. After high school graduation, though, Rick made the innocent mistake, of asking senior Wiccans "How long before we graduate Wiccan training?" The seniors, both male, and female, just smiled, as they announced "There is NO "graduation", in Wicca. Ours is a life-long experience." Sometime, thereafter, when Angela visited (the first, of several, visits), Rick enjoyed holding Angela, and even kissing her. Each time, however, the moment would only last until Angela would whisper "I, still, love you. Are you ready to give up the Devil worship?" This would be the point when, sadly, the couple would part, since Rick could, never, convince Angela that Wicca was NOT "evil". To Rick, he knew that he had found the place, where he belonged. He was not about to give up his exanding, new world. Not even for a woman he, still, loved. Later, while most of the senior Wiccans, of the coven, were away, at a regional conference, discussing the status of a coven, Rick was one, of the few adults, who was left behind, to "mind the store". The issue, before the regional coven, was the question of how to handle a covens "exposure". IF the exposure was coincidental, there was little to be done, other than re-locating the coven. IF, however, the coven had grown lax, and allowed its discovery, then the regional groups would have to DEAL with the membership. In this case, however, the problem was not just limited to religious symbols being burned, at the entrance, to the coven headquarters. It was the fact that the arsonists had gone INSIDE the coven, and set fire to everything, including the library, kitchen, and so forth. The covens library had been burned to ash. Centuries, of accumulated knowledge, torched, by those who did not understand. This left the regional covens with the question "How do we protect our members, from such fanaticism?" With most of the coven off, at the regional meeting, Rick was left to handle the message, regarding a member, who was visiting, from another coven. The member was coming to town, to advance her own studies. While Rick was un-certain of what to expect, either on the drive, to the airport, or inside the terminal, Rick just hoped he masked his feelings, well enough, especially when he met the young woman, at the airport. When the woman, discreetly, mentioned "You dropped your shields, as soon as you saw me. I take that as a compliment. I just wish I had time, to fulfill your dreams. For now, however, we must be off, to meet with the coven". On the way to her motel, though, Rick informed the lady, about the conference, including the fact that coven headquarters was all-but-deserted. She whispered to him "Keep your mind on the road". When Rick delivered the woman, to her motel room, she had to stop Rick at the door. This is when she whispered "No way! I need to prepare to meet with the coven, upon their return. I wont be ready, if you come in". When Rick asked "Am I, still, broadcasting?" The lady only smiled as she said "The loss is Angela's. You will find another, when the time is right. For now, goodnight". Later, Rick would learn that the woman was NOT in town, to learn local,coven, ways, but, rather, to learn how coven members reacted to something called "The Fire Dance". Although Rick had, specifically, requested to be "excused", from the performance, the visitor would, only say "THAT is why you MUST be present. You must learn to CONTROL your emotions". Personally, Rick was just happy, when the ritual was done. During the ritual, Rick could not tear his eyes, from that "Heavenly", ebony, body, to save his own life. By the time the ceremony was at an end, and before the visitor dressed, though, she came over to Rick, her brown body seeming almost dream-like, in its beauty, while whispering, to Rick "I envy her. The woman who owns your heart". When Rick had another "accident", right in front of her, the lady smiled, kissed Rick, then, casually, collected her clothes. Later, when Rick went before the local council, to give his apolgies, for his lack of self control, the council reminded Rick "We, too, were young, once. None of us is "perfect". We continue to grow, with each passing day". When Rick was "nominated", to take the woman to the airport, for her return flight, the woman whispered, to Rick "I may be back, soon". Rick would only whisper back "Dont tease me". Still, Rick remained, at the terminal, and saw the woman off, on her flight. Later that night, Rick had the most realistic "dream" of his life. He dreamed of an encounter, with the visitor, and that the passion only ended when Rick's alarm clock went off. What Rick could not figure out was things like "If I just had a full nights sleep, why am I not refreshed, in the morning?" When he checked, and found his body covered in sweat, as it was, when he was with Angela, what was missing were any stains, on his sheets. Rick was left to conclude: Wow! What a dream! It was not until the elders discussed something called "Astral Projection", that Rick wondered if the "dream" were, really, a "dream". When the elders would not committ, beyond saying "All things all possible", Rick was left to wonder. What Rick DID know was that, in its own way, Angela's life was just as hard as his was. Angela's first marriage was annulled, under federal law, after it was found that her fiance had three other wives. Not ex-wives, but current wives. Angela had to leave her second husband after she realized that she could not change the mans abusive nature. After the man beat Angela, twice, while drunk, Rick paid attention, to the feeling, when he knew the man was about to beat Angela, again. The third time, though, Rick responded in time to prevent the man from doing more than just slapping Angela, a few times. When Rick broke in, on the beating, and belted the man, hard enough to leave him on the floor, bleeding, Angela faced Rick with "How DARE you." When Rick offered "I was just trying to protect you". This is when Angela would say "Just because I, still, love you. That does NOT give you the right to come barging in." When Rick responded with "Sorry that you missed a beating", Angela would grab her hair, as she said "Men! Just because I, still, love you, you think you can just "ride to the rescue"". Then added "WHY do I, still, love you? WHY?" When her husband came to, and was trying to figure out what had happened, Angela lead Rick out the door, saying "Lets take a walk". It was during this walk that Angela tried to explain things, to Rick, yet she made an awful mess, of it. No matter how much she tried to tell him that it would, never, work, between them, not with his belief system, Rick noticed how often Angela blunted her words, with soft kisses. The "worst" part, though, was the next morning. The time when Angela woke up, snuggled to her mans side. Just not her husbands side. She knew she should feel terrible, married to one man, yet happy with another. HOW would she explain this, especially to her family? When her husband filed for divorce, Angela told him "Go right on ahead." She didn't care, one way or another. Her main concern, at the moment, was what to do about Rick. Angela wanted to let him down, easily. She just couldn't define what would be considered "easy". Angela remained convinced that Wicca was "evil", and no way was she being involved in anything un-Christain. Still, she had real feelings, for Rick. A man she had hoped, more than once, to reconcile with. The question, for Angela, was "HOW do I get him away from that "evil"? Much as she loved Rick, no WAY was she going to marry a "worshipper" of "evil". When Angela could not resolve the conflict, within herself, she went to her church, asking for guidance. All that church staff would say was "Bring him by, and lets see what happens". When Angela cautioned "But what happens when his "evil" steps through the churches doors?" The minister would only say "Lets wait and see". While Angela was sure that Rick would object, to going to church, she was surprised when Rick told her "Just let me know when". Angela was, then, shocked, down to her toes, when Rick showed no hesitation, to enter the church, or meet with staff. After the meeting, the minister would, only, inform Angela "That boy is not "evil". He just has different beliefs, from us." The problem, which Angela had, over the next, few, months, was trying to retain the fear she had felt, the night when Rick had levitated her. She noticed that it became more difficult, as time passed. Angela even got to the point where she had to start writing herself letters, reminding herself, of why she feared Rick's life path. Rick, however, had problems of his own, including how to encourage his beloved to understand that he was NOT "evil", and neither was Wicca. All that the elders would say, each time Rick inquired, was "This is, ALL, part of your training." By th time Rick became a white-haired elder, of the coven, Angela had her own lifes wish. She produced Rick's family and, to her relief, her wish, to be the only ebony member, of the family, was fulfilled. Angela's primary concern, though, was over the fact that her children wanted to follow in their fathers path. Angela did not think much, of it, while the children were young, and considered Wicca "just a game". It would not be until the young came into their teens, and began attending Wiccan ceremonies, with their father, that Angela began to wonder if allowing the practice, of Wicca, in her home, had been such a good idea. Sure, Angela heard the stories, over the years, of blood being spilled, by the coven. While the rumors claimed that Wiccans sliced themselves, then drank their own, or each others, blood, Angela knew the truth. She had to, since her whole family was involved. The so-called "blood-letting", was, actually, the result of construction accidents. Rick, being an elder, had encouraged the coven to come, discreetly, "out of the shadows", and build a more accessible, and open, meeting place. During construction, Angela was one, of several, "nurses", whose job it was to bandage cuts, from everything from nails, to dropped tools. These injuries were "determined", by some people, to be "intentional blood letting". As for the "drinking of blood", Angela knew, from direct experience, that almost everyone licks wounds, when cut. The idea, of deliberate slicing, and sucking, like a vampire, was nothing more than camp-fire tales. When the new Wiccan headquarters were complete, Rick had informed Angela that there would be a vote, to decide who would lead, as the elders began their passage, to the next world. It would seem that Angela knew, even before RIck, himself, did, that the coven was prepared to elect him leader. Since the "children" already knew, as well, Angela had to ask them to remain silent, until the votes were cast. Angela just came to accept being in love with a warlock. She did, however, over time, come to laugh, at the movies, and television, which portrayed witches, and warlocks, as "servants of evil". Angela knew her children were not evil, just as she knew that Rick was not evil. And, as for those hokey special effects, including showing witches summoning demons, and bowing to Satan, Angela wondered WHEN people would come to accept Wiccans, as just normal people. Gifted, yet normal. The one thing that Angela knew, for certain, was that Rick, strictly forbade his children from using abilities for the purpose of cheating. In fact, Angela knew of a number of times, when Rick could have used his powers, to his advantage. Angela was proud whenever Rick would say "The world is what it is. I will not use magic to alter outcomes". Although her own family never, fully, accepted Rick, partly due to race, partly due to his "religion", what Angela knew was how different Rick was, from so many, other, local, men. While Angela watched, as several husbands went from being young, strong, and vibrant, to being middle-aged "slobs", with enormous belies, and could, barely, walk, anylonger, Angela noticed that Rick, like other, coven, males, maintained health, almost ritualistically. Yes, un-like other wives, who had to cook husbands meals seperately from their own, due to content of the meals, Angela was thrilled when Ricks diet was about the same as her own. It would seem that the stories, of Wiccans, taking care of their bodies, were true. While Angela was not surprised, when some men went into wheelchairs, and went on disability, since excess obesity caused limited range of motion, Angela had no such worries, about Rick. He may not have been "Mr. Universe", but he was mobile, and could still make his own way. Un-like how the movies portray warlocks, as power hungry womanizers, etc., Angela noticed how reserved her husband was, with his affairs. Rick allowed coven members to "flex their muscles", after cautioning care. In fact, the only time, when Angela would be spooked, by Rick, would be when Rick's time, on Earth, was coming to and end. When, at a gathering, at coven headquarters, Rick would whisper "I am leaving you." When Angela would ask "WHY?", Rick would say "Not in that way. It is just the way of the world. Remember that I love you". Angela did not know which spooked her, more. Watching her husband fade into nothing, during the ceremony, or when, later, his spirit came to her, whispering "I promise to wait for you, when the time comes". Angela did have one, more, thing, "going for her". All of the couples children had joined the coven, so Angela would have a CHOICE, when her time came. Like Rick, and other, coven, members, Angela had no intention of "wasting away", inside a nursing home. When each persons time came, the ritual would send their remains out, to the infinite, while the spirit would move on, to the next plane of existance. The one thing Rick's spirit knew, as he went before the "ultimate" judge, was that he did not half ten percent of the regrets, which other souls would carry. Funny thing is, when Rick went before the judge, and his "life-story" was played back, before him, and Rick saw himself as an obese couch-potato, who spent his off-hours drinking himself into a coma, when not off, having sex, with women, other than Angela, Rick's question was "When did this happen?" When the judge looked at Ricks toned soul, then reprimanded the projectionist, with "You put on his alternative life story. I need his REAL life story". When the projectionist would say "Sorry, nobody's perfect", the judge would roll his eyes. Yes, Rick would admit to "occassionals", with Angela's friends, however, as Rick would point out, it was "payment for services". When the judge asked "What "services" would those be?" Rick would say "Payment for assembling kit furniture, rides, even translating mail. All types of services". When the judge said "But, you had a wife, didn't you?" Rick would say "Yes. Angela was, or is, the best" The judge would look confused, by Rick's answers. Rick did stand proud, when he reminded the judge "For the record, Angela is the mother of ALL of my children". The record would show that, while Rick was not "perfect", by any means, his lifetime "track record" was much better than many Bible-bangers. Since Rick had abused neither Angela, nor their children, nor anyone else, and his record was clear, of booze, drugs, etc, the judge decided to try Rick, in the "Struggling Souls" department. A part, of Heaven, where people, who wanted to be Heaven-bound, were just having a hard time making their journey work, on Earth. Ricks assignment would be to aid those, who felt that only by living, strictly, by the word, of the Bible, was the ONLY way to gain entrance. His job would be to show that the Bible was a "guide-book", for those seeking the path. It wasn't a "Do this or go to HELL" manuscript. It was meant as a way, to enrich life. Boy! If Rick thought his life, on Earth, was something, his education was just STARTING...

THE HAUNTING PAST MYSTERY OF THE LONG SHIP

THE HAUNTING PAST: MYSTERY OF THE LONG SHIP Boy! Talk about a "FAKE", as in "terrible" reproduction, this case had one, such, item, which was too fake to be believed. And this is what Mr. Brown wanted Tami's, and my own, opinions, on. A case of fraud, on a "massive" scale. Having completed our most recent, "haunted house" case, via one of Tami's, remarkable, compromises, a house, once built, and occcupied, by a radical Puritan, was, now, safely, in the hands of another, spiritual, family. As for Tami and I, our biggest mistake, was thinking that we had a "few days off", coming to us, after this case. That is, until Mr. Brown gave us THAT smile, while asking "Before you take your rest period, I would appreciate it if you would review this case-file, and just provide me with your thoughts". As a result, while Ghost Ship 2 was returning to base, both to deposit us, at the Brown Agency, and to report for air force re-fuelling, and other, routine, maintenance, our ships hold was being restocked with our favorite, military surplus, rations. While all of this was going on, at an air force hangar, Tami and I were inside the Brown Agency offices, reviewing a case, of fraud, which was so obvious, it wasn't even funny. The file claimed that, persons unknown, had not only constructed a "fake-looking" Viking Long-ship, but, worst of all, the con artists had, foolishly, named the ship after another, "famous", VIking, ship. One which was, currently, on display, in a museum. Sure, the original ship had been a chance discovery. According to the file, the story behind the REAL ship, is that, when a doctor ordered a patient to take up a less "dangerous" hobby, than sky diving, the patient had been "shopping around", for a new "hobby", when the patient discovered some "trinkets" web-sites. What offended many people, about atleast a "few" of these web-site, was how cartoonish the objects were displayed. When the patient had mentioned "Even I could do a better job, than that", a friend had suggested that the patient "Put their money where their mouth was". The patient should create their own pottery collection, and observe the results. When the patient accepted the challenge, and began collecting materials, for the task, tha main benefits, of living in that particular area, were that, when manufacturing LEFT the area, to find "cheaper labor", elsewhere, the manufacturing process had left behind a "mountain", of clay. A "mountain", which city government remained in dis-agreement over whose responsibility it was, to clean up the "mess". Well, as long as the clay was available, and state officials had ruled the material "Not hazzardous to human life", the patient had set up a "work-shop", in an un-used part, of a friends garage, and began work on producing their own pottery collection. The problem, though, which had driven the patient, into psychiatric care, in the first place, was the fact that the person did not just want to "do a job". They wanted their work, always, to be superior. They wanted to be the "best" at whatever they did. In time, this self-imposed stress had caused the patient a psychotic episode, which left them completely, mentally, shut down, for a period of time. Now, the patient was in recovery, and their doctor wanted the patient to take life easier, until they were "ready", to take on more. Based upon having several people look at the mound, themselves, it seems that almost everyone agreed that the patient could work, from this "mountain", maybe for years to come. The patient would not need deliveries, of clay, for years to come. In order to prevent the clay from hardening, once the softer, inner, parts were exposed, the patient asked a sculptor how they kept thir own clay pliable, for sculptures. Once the patient had the necessary information, they built a make-shift shelter, over the "mountain", then began soaking the clay down, just enough to keep it flexible. Without any deadlines to meet, the patient began work and, although, even the patient had admitted that their work was "far from perfect", it would seem that customers, seeking custom crafts, thought differently. It would seem that the patients growing love, of pottery, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, soon turned a "hobby" into a thriving, internet, business. The local city, though, had some, equally, good news. It would seem that, the more crafts, which the patient made, and sold, the smaller the pile, of discarded clay, became. Sure, it took the patient almost two years, of work, to bring the "mountain", of clay, down, level with the ground, but then came another "revelation". The realization that this "mountain" was not just "discarded" clay. The actual deposit ran deep underground. This, locals presumed, meant that, when the clay was, originally, found, the corporation decided that there was no problem with dumping more clay on top of what was, originally, there. The file, also, asserted that the REAL long-ship had not been discovered, for a few more years, even as the patient dug some twenty feet, into the clay, for pottery material. When the patient dug down, far enough, and discovered the artifact, the patient had reported this, to the authorities. This, ofcourse, resulted in a temporary loss of access, to their primary material. The good news was that, while a team, of archeologists, was digging out the ships hull, the patient/potter just hauled away all of the excess material. The potter may have lost two weeks work, while the diggers set up, but the potter was back in business, once the digging started, in earnest. Fortunately, for the potter, the excavation had to dig out HUGE lumps, of clay, to expose what would turn out to be a MASSIVE ship. Without expending an ounce of labor, the potter, now, had access, to a few more YEARS worth of clay. The REAL problem, for the archeologists, would turn out to be the carbon-dating. While Carbon-Dating placed the age, of the clay deposit at around 1,000, to 1,200, A.D., the structure, of the ship, itself, vastly pre-dated this, perhaps by centuries, or even millenia. As a result, long BEFORE the Brown Agency had been contacted, the media would have reported "Further evidence un-covered, of PRE-Columbian presense, in North America". Just like the concept, of "For every action, there is an equal, and opposite, reaction", the "war of words", between the Christians, and the science community, just escallated, to an even higher, fever, pitch. The Christians were determined that Christopher Columbus, a Christian, remain the official discoverer, of America. This, despite the fact that science was willing to compromise, saying "Fair enough. Columbus discovered the new land, on behalf of the Christians. This, just as Leif Erickson discovered the land, for the Vikings." Over such ideas, the Christains were prepared for all-out war. When science had responded, to Christianity, by asking "What does it matter WHO came, first?" When the Christians would not relax their position, even a bit, science decided just to "blow them off", and focus on efforts to recover, and preserve, the VIking long-ship. A ship which, NOW, sat, on public display, inside a wing, in a museum, and which allowed visitors to observe the craftsmanship, of the ancient builders. As for those, who had constructed the "fake" ship, they may have gotten the basic look, right, but boy! Did they mess up, on the details. While history widely records that the VIkings were masters of sword, bow-and-arrow, spears, and so on, the two things, which the Viking's never had were deck guns, and machine guns. As for how the Vikings propelled their ships, history records this as being a combination of wind power, and enormous sailors, manning dozens of oars. (The idea, of steam engines, remained centuries away). While Tami and I would be attempting to understand the reason why anyone would go to all the trouble, of building what COULD have been a 5th Century, B.C.E. Viking Long Ship, only to foul up the design, by the addition of a deck gun, and a machine gun, and a modern engine. It would seem that our original contact, for this matter, was not only the person(s) who were interested in the ships design, The secretary would inform Tami and I that, while out, on a maiden voyage, and testing the latest re-construction, of Viking technology, a group, of Swedes, would make a report that, while rowing generally North West, via a sun compass, the honest replica had come upon the fake ship. The captain, of the replica, would send a team aboard the fake, and would report finding more in-consistencies, with Viking design. One of the main, of these finds, which the fake was missing, were the hull openings, for the ships oars. When the fakes bow was checked, the team found that the deck, which housed the guns, was made of metal, not wood. It might have LOOKED like wood, but it was metal. The replica's crew would report rapidly abandoning the fake ship, after odd sounds, similar to mortar sounds, would be heard, coming from beneath the oceans surface. Once the replica's crew pushed OFF, from the fake, atleast five, of the replicas crew members, as well as the ships captain, would report looking into the water, between the two ships, and seeing a dark blob, beneath the hull, of the fake ship. What startled the replica's crew was when some, of the crew members thought they saw yellow "eyes", which seemed to appear, along the dark blob. While atleast one replica crew member pannicked, concerned that "it" MIGHT be a "sea monster", when the captain took a closer look, and watched as the "eyes" closed up, the captain would log in a report, which stated "Viewed yellow lights, from what I believe were submerged crafts portholes." "Since lights came into view, only AFTER unknown engine sounds detected, and the ship has no sails, or oars, I question if surface ship anything more than "decoration"". It would, also, seem that, within two hours, of making his report, the captain would observe a U.A.V., cruising, along the projected course, of the fake ship. At the Brown Agency, copies, of the U.A.V.'s photo's, and video, would have been preseented to Tami and myself. Although the photo's, and the video, showed some churning, of the water, to the rear of the fake, it was not the kind of churning, which a ship, close to the surface, would make. This was deeper. When Mr. Black would feed the footage, through the agencies computers, the closest match, for the wake, was a submarine. At a depth of, maybe, 100 feet. It would seem, though, that the Swedish government was un-concerned, about an obviously fake ship, crruising the worlds oceans. That is, atleast until the fake ship opened fire on a Swedish naval vessel. It was when the Swedish naval captain would report that his ship was under attack, seemingly by armour-piercing rounds, that Stockholm became interested. This, and the fact that thhe naval captain was requesting permission, to return fire, on the long ship, that the Swedish Historical Commission became interested. In fact, it was just as command was giving permission, for the naval captain, to return fire, that the ships captain would make a most unusual report. The naval captain would report "I know this will sound strange, however, I must report that the air, around our vessell, seems to be becoming filled, with some sort of oil. The substance is transparent, yet it feels like thick oil". Moments later, the naval captain would report "Oily air, soon, followed by dense fog bank. Fog bank came into visual range approximately twelve meters to the stern of the long ship". The next report would say "Going to radar guidance. Fog has become so dense that, not only is long ship no longer visible, but neither my crew, nor myself, can see anything, eyond our ships railings. Fog is not, I repeat, NOT, natural". Ten minutes later, when the fog had dissapated, the naval captain would report "The long ship is gone, along with the fog". When the naval captain requested permission, for a grid search, command would ask the historians "How could a long ship have covered atleast twenty miles, of ocean, in just ten minutes?" The historians wwould have said "Impossible. The ships wer sturdy, and well-built, but even oarsmen could not produce that kind of speed". While the Swedish government, without a doubt, had many, very fine, archeologists, any of whom ccould investigate, and define, any object, which was excavated, as well as the Swedish military was more-than-capable of defending its people, froom attack, What not one of these groups, was prepared for, was an attack, by a relic, of a long-by-gone age. No one had an answer for "Should it be sunk? Should it be seized, and hauled into port? HOW should the government inform the people that an ancient, long ship, had shot holes, in a naval vessel?" Here is where our "reputation", as "ghost busters", came into play. As reports flowed into the Brown Agency, the scenario became clear. Even sources, within the U.S. government, admitted that "oil based" camoflauge was "under development", to date, however, the substance reemained prohibitively expensive. (An attachment would state "Use ONLY in a CONTROLLED environment" Reason: The "oil" had the nasty side effect, of clogging the air-holes, of air-breathing, marine, life.) Still, this left the question of "Even IF the ship could produce such a mist, HOW could the long ship have vanished, so rapidly?" Atleast PART, of the answer, to this question, came from orbital satellites. It seems that tha operators, of the long ship, either did not know, or did not CARE, that satellites were overhead, when an attack was launched, against a cruise ship. Although no warnings were given, the fake ship fired upon the cruise ship, destroying several, luxury, suites. Shortly after the destructive display, and the cruise ship captains S.OO.S., to any friendly ships, however, the loong ship "vanished", into ANOTHER, oily, fog. While military craft had RUSHED to assist the cruise ship, the cruise ships captain would broadcast the long ships approximate cours, and speed, to all friendly forces. Most un-fortunately, however, the cruise ships captain would be required to report that the long ship had "vanished", into the fog. From orbit, however, a satellite, cruising the area, would find the fakke ships silhouette, in a most un-lokely place. If the satellites equipment was functioning normally, and its readings were correct, then the long ship had "submerged", to a depth of about 300 feet. This informatioon, however, only served to confirm what Tami and I had been speculating about. The idea that the long ship was, actually, attached to the deck of some sort of submarine. This is the only way which we could account, not only for the sub-surface turbulance, but for how the ship could "vanish", under water. Despite this new information, the Swedish, American, French, EEnglish, and other governments, ALL wanted to know WHO, and more importantly, WHY, of the long ship. If someone had an underwater craft, with surface mounted arrtillery, then WHY "hide" the artillery behind the guise of an antique, Viking, vessel? These were among the many questions, which even Tami and I had no answers for. Ofcourse, the agency received word, that the museum had planned to close down the loong ship exhibit, atleast until the criminals weree loated, yet this left th question of "Why bbother?" After all, the REAL ship had been on display, being viewed by dozens of visitors, during thhe time of each attack, at sea.. In the end, though, the museum decidedd that it would be foolishh, to close down the exhibit. After all, even though the attaccking ship had stencilled the name, of the displayed craft, on its hull, there were MORE than enough witnesses, to verify that the exhibit never left the museum. After the first few attacks, however, it seems that the ocean went, mysteriously, quiet", for about three months. Some sources thought that this might have something to do with an upcoming, announced, expedition. All that IS known is that,a class, studying Icelandic history, had decided to prove, oonce and for all, just how FAR a Viking long ship could carry its ccrew, across the ocean. Thhese students, however, were no fools, nor were their teachers. Everyone agreed that a long shhip would need a support fleet, including supply ships. With the combined assistance, of an enormous group, of students, historians, and those, just interested, in the project, an "armada", or "convoy", of Viking ships, was prepared for a trans-Atlantic voyage. Since no one knew WHERE the fake long ship was, currently, located, it would seem that N.A.T.O. would use the voyage as an exercise, in convoy escort. No less than eight destroyers, and escort, ships, would be, officailly, assigned to long ship passage. The military commanders, however, would be instructed to give enough distance, with the loong ships, for the crews, of the loong ships, to experience the "full taste" of the oceans power. And, man! What a send off, that Europe gave the convoy. Enough celebration, and racket, to wake even the long dead. Most of the voyage, however, was so un-eventful, that ships captains used time to conduct "battle-stations" drills, in order to prevent crew members from becoming lax, in their duties. It was not, however, until the convoy was in sight of Lanse Au Meadow, that the fake ship appearred. After spending weeks, watching the REAL Viking, ships rising, and falling, with the currents, the lead destroyer captains would note "Mystery ship not affected by waves, or other, sea conditions. Ships behavior more similar to that of a submarine." While the military went to battle-stations, for REAL, this time, the orders remained clear. "Do NOT fire unless fired upon". Since the fake ship did not fire open fire, on the destroyers, ALL the ships could do was close ranks, with the long ships. Those shhips, which were behind the fake ship, waited until close enough, to the long ships, that the destroyers could not openn fire, upon the attacker, withhout sinking the long ships, in the process. Only when the attacker knew they had the military at a disadvantage, did the attacker open firee, on the long ships. With surpisingly precise accuracy, the attacking ship blasted each long ships keel, snapping the boats in half. (Surprisingly, though, the machine gun never fired a round. Just the deck gun, which fired at the hulls.) It was when a couple of destroyers turned their guns, on thhe attacker, in order to cover rescue operations, that thhe oily fog began to emit, from the rear quarter, of the attacker. Before the fog could thicken, enough, to distort visability, though, a French destroyer captain took it upon himself, and put an armour-piercing shell, throughh the attackers stern. The resulting explosion reminded the task force of memories, of watching, as frieghters, full of munitioons, had been blown up, by enemy torpedoes. The black cloud wass such a delight, for all to see, even as the oily substance dissipated, and a cheer arose, throughout the convoy. The destroyer captains, though, were amazed, as in astounded, as they watched the fake loong ship dive, beneath the surface, like a submarine, diving to attack depth. It seems that what the attackers had not counted on were the Swiss, German, and British, submarines, which had been, more discreetly, following the convoy. While the long ships "mother ship" was constructed of some material, which gave the vessel the sonar reflection, of nothing more than a rubber life raft, the attacking subs had no problem tracking the enemy. This was, especially, evident, since the attacked had a Viking ship attached to its "roof". The submersible, however, did withstand SEEVERAL, direct, torpedo, strikes, before taking the same actioon, which any out-matched sub would take. The naval submarine, commanders would report that, AFTER the eighth torpedoo struck the submersibles hull, it would seem that the submersible crew followed the same procedure, which ANY submarine crew, would follow, when surroundeed by the enemy, with no chance to escape. Whern the sbubmersible crew found tiself surrounded, by ballistic submarines, with no hope of escape, the submersibles detonation, and associated, concussion, wave, shook, rattled, and rolled, the N.A.T.O. ships, causing all manner of equipment failures, and minor leaks. This while, oon the oceans surface, a geyser, of water, shot into the sky, topping out at eighty feet, and even the rescue crews took a moment, from rescuing the survivors, of the replicas, to watch the explosion. After this moment, however, rescue operations continued, as the destroyers took on the survivors. Within just a few hours, of the attack, however, a group, well-known, for protecting the tale, of Christopher Columbbus, being the first European Christian, to reach America's shores, would make this announcement: It has, not, been verified that, as with previous attempts, at altering American history, that the latest journey has ended in failure. TThe pagan Vikings did NOT preceeed the Christian, Chirstopher Columbus, to America. When the media asked ""isnt it true that the Viking ships were shot out of the water, by an unknown attacker? An attacker who used vintage, Woorld War Two deck guns?" Not surprisingly, the Christians avoided the question. When the scietific community presented the suggestion, that Europe make another atttempt, at the occean crossing, N.A.T.O. commanders would send forth their own recommendation. One which stated "GIve us permission to atttack any vessel, which threatens to harm the convoy. The question was "Is this radical militarism? OR, is it protection, of the convoys charges?" Was there any real difference? Thhe question became moot when agents, whoo had infiltrated the Christians, reported that ANNOTHER, stealth, ship, was under construction. When Tami heard about this, she asked "All of that time, money, and resources. All just to prevent the public from questioning a Christains role, in the discovery of America?" Mr. Blue would reemind Tami "Just think of what would happen, IF it were, officialy, recognized, that the Egyptians, Vikings, and other societies, madee regular voyages, to the America's, LOONG BEFORE the Christians set sail. Can you imagine the chaos?" When Tami would counter with "You DO understand that you are speaking about events which occurred atleast 700 years ago, right?" Mr. Blue would remind Tami "Jesus Christ died, over 2,000 years ago, yet th spirit, of his work, lives on". Well, noow that the lng ship was proven to be an obvious fake. A fake, master-minded by those people, who INSISTED that Columbus be reognized as the first European, to come to America, Tami and I would have thought that our part, of the case, was completed. Tami and I wer, actually, preparing for whatever hauting case, which would come our way, next. That is, until Mr. Brown would come to us, saying "You are not finished, yet." When Tami would ask "What do you mean?" Mr. Brown would say Reports indicate that ANOTHER, Viking, ship, has been launched, and is cruising, between Iceland, and Lanse Au Meadow." When I would mentioon "Big deal? We KNOW that the radicals are building another, attack essel. No doubt, these sightings are just a "dry run", or "shake doown cruise". Mr. Brown would say "I wuld agree, however, witnesses report seeing actual men, on the decks of this ship. Oars, being pulled through the water, and a canvas sail, in the rigging." When I asked "Could it be another replica?, Like those which had been attaked?" Mr. Brown would say "THAT is what you are to find out". Within six hours, Tami and I were aboard G.S.2, cruising towards Lanse Au Meadow. Now, if G.S.2 were a standard, American, bomber, it would have been impossible for the plane to land, anywhere near the subject area, or the settlement. Since G.S.2 WAS equipped, with vertical capability, however, we could land within a mile, of the location. To our relief, Tami and I were met, upon arrival, by a young woman, whose grasp, of Slavic dialect, was incredible. The woman would even curtsey, while saying "Welcome to Lanse Au Meadow. My name is Inga. I will be your guide, during your visit". While I was examining the lay-out, of the area, Inga would provide Tami with a rich, and vivid, history, of the settlement. As Tami would, later, report, to the Brown Agency "Inga is WONDERFUL, at her job. This woman really brings Viking history to life". This, even as I scouteed the nearby coast line, looking for places where a long ship could be moored, in both privacy, and security. (I followed the womens conversation, via our ear pieces.) If Inga was to be believed, it would seem that ANOTHER long ship was being seen, in this area, and on a regular basis. Inga even informed Tami that the ships duty was to sail down the coast, for two weeks, then return, both with nature supplies, and trinkets, from various settlements, down the coast. Inga would say "Ofcourse, ALL of these items would be stored, in a warehouse, until our next ship, in-bound from Mid-Gard, arrived, with supplies, for the colony. The ship will, then load with local crafts, and return to Mid-Gard." If Inga's information was accurate, the Atlantic Ocean had been a "freight highway", even before the Egyptians began crossing the waters. When Tami inquired of the return date, for the "coastal" ship, with its latest cargo run, Tami was not-at-all surprised when Inga would say "Normally, under the first, or second, of the full moons." This is when Tami realized that "There it was, again. Spiritual activity, linnked to the full moon". After a grand, and magnificent, tour, and an oral history, which Tami doubted that she would forget, as well as a recitation, of the Viking ways of life, Inga would excuse herself, saying "There is much work to be done. Please excuse me". When Inga curtseyed, before departing, Tami did likewise, and I offered a bow. Inga then departed, and entered one of the large buildings. Sometime, after this, another woman, obviously middle-aged, and toned, by the elements, came up to us, and introduced herself "I am Magda. My apologies for noot meeting your plane. I was working at another site, and only just received word of your arrival". When Tami said "Dont worry, Inga gave us a wonderful tour, of the place." When Magda asked "Pardon?" as though she did not understand what Tami was saying. Tami would say "Yes, IInga. Lovely young woman. With a dialect, and grasp, of Viking history. I am sure you find her a true asset". When Magda would ask "You say her name was Inga? You say she spoke, with a strong accent?" Tami would say "Why, yes. And her costume. So authentic. If I didn't know better, I would say that she was a REAL Viking". This is whehn Magda would rub herr chin, look thoughhtful, for a moment, then ask "You say her name was Inga?" Wwhen Tami would ask "Yes. Whats wrong? Did Inga do something wrong? Was she supposed to wait for your arrival?" Magda would ask us "Wait here, for a moment. Magda would, then rummage about, in her land cruiser, and bring forth soome drawings. When Magda lay thhe drawings, on the hood, of her cruiser, and ask us, Tami and I would point out the lady we had been talking with. Magda would, then inform us "I dont know hoow to tell you this. The woman you saw, and say you spoke with, has been dead, for, maybe, 800 years." When Tami said "Thats impossible! Inga just wwalked into that building, right over there. Just a few minutes ago". When Magda asked "Show me", Tami lead the way, to the building, saying "Inga said this was one of the store houses. Supplies were stored here, for outbound ships". Magda would, only say "This much has been proven". When Tami entered the building, calling out "Inga? Where are you? We brought someone to see you". Magda would expand her explanation. "Ma'am, it is of no use, calling out her name. Inga will not return, now that you know that she is deceased." When Tami would ask "HOW do you know this?" Magda would say "Inga has a LONG history, with this colony". When Tami would ask "In what way?" Magda would say "As far as we can discover, to date, Inga lived in this colony, sometime between 800, and 1,000, A.D. Inga was born here, lived her life, harvesting crops, and weaving/mending clothes. As near as we cn discover, Inga was one, of a very few, Viking, women, who neither took a mate, nor produced children. Atleast, none that we are aware of, or recorded. Inga did, in fact, spend most of her life, in this very building, especially after the former "inventory controller" passed away. We have discovered scrolls, which suggest that Inga took on the job, "temporarily", until Midgard sent a replacement." When Tami asked "How LONG was the woman allowed to keep her post?" Magda would say "According to the scrolls, three men were dispatched, by Midgard, over the course of a decade. Un-fortunately, ALL of these ships fell under enemy attack, by rival clans." When I asked "So, Inga retained the post for what? 20, 30 years?" Magda would say "As far as we can discover, Inga held this job, and title, among other jobs, for the remainder of her life". Wwhen Tami asked "A WOMAN? In those days?" Magda would say "A POWERFUL woman. Eventually, she even became a village elderr." Tami would whisper "Imagine that. And all in a male-dominated society, as well". When I asked the "stupid" question of "If her life was so full, and complete, WHY does she remain?" Magda would say "Who knows? All that we know is that Inga has been seen, walking the area, around the settlement. And this is even BEFORE we excavated the place. Now, Inga seems to great new arrivals, from time too time." Tami would suggest "Onga is LINKED to the land." Magda would ask "Why not? Inga was born, and raised, right here. So far, though, we have, yet, to discover her burial place." When I would ask "This information. HOW do you knoow that it is "linked" to this, particular, woman?" Magda would say "From the scrolls. The woman is described, in as much detail, as any chief would have been. In fact, about the OONLY thing we doo NOT have, of Inga, is a color portrait, of her." When Tami would bring us back on topic, "We were dispatched to leearn about some rumors..." and Magda would say "...about the ship, which plies these waters, at regular intervals. Yes, I know. That is why you were called in. We are archeologists, not "ghost busters"." When Tami would ask "What do you know, of the ship?" Magda would say "Appears about every two, or three, full moons. Classoc, square-rigger design. We have counted 18 oasr, on the side we could see. My staff figures a crww, of about 45. Battle shields, along the hull. Silent as midnight, but, OH, that pendant, on the sail!" When Tami would say "Let me guess. YOU have seen this, yourself?" Magda would say "Several times. Its strange, though." as Magda lookeed thoughtful "I only see the ship when I am, totally, engrossed in my work. The more focused I am, in thinking about how the Vikings managed to come so far, and achieve so much, only to have history all but forget them". As Tami and I listened, Magda would add "It is when I contemplate how much Viking history we are, just now, un-covering..." Tami would say "...and this is when the boat seems to appear." Magda would say "Yes, this is why I do not report my own sightings. I do not want to risk a "Leave of Absense", for "imagining" a Viking long ship." When Tami would ask "If you are not reporting your sightings?" Magda would nod as she said "Some of the students, visitingthe site, have shared their own visions, with others. THAT is why they are no-longer on-site." Tami would say "Let me guess. Disciplinary Transfers." Magda would nod, then add "I just wish I knew HOW that ship could make its pendant glow, in the dark. It really looks like the pendant is out, in front of the ship, leading the way. It is, truly, remarkable. I hope you are around to se it, for yourselves". Well, after all, Tami and I had been ASSIGNED, yo verify if this long ship really existed. With only two dozen students left, after the disciplinary transfers, Tami, naturally, volunteered OUR assistance. (I swear, there is NOTHING my partner will NOT do, to secure information, regarding a case. Not even if it means donning coveralls, and getting dirty). As for me, I was "assigned" to the survey team. A group whose concern it was, to check local caves, both for relics, and to determine if any caves could have been used, to house long ships. What we found was that, several, at the mid-tide level, contained enough water, for a small yacht, to achor to. The problem, with these caves, was HIGH tide. At HIGH tide, unless the caves had an airlock, of some kind, to keep the water out, the caves would be flooded, to the ceilings. As for the higher caves, th same water, which flooded thhe lower caves, barely reached the lip, of these, higher ccaves. This is the main reason why most of our work was in the excavation area, with the others. The main "compund", of the settlement, may have, long-since, been excavated, re-built, and presserved, but it was the extended community, which the teams were working in. The areas of farms, and livestock processing, which remained under excavation. I may be wrong, but I would swear, on a Bible, that, over the next month, the group excavated four, square, acres. One night, though, after a shower, and some filling rations, Tami and I would find ourselves looking out, over the settlement, towards the sea, while contemplating "What does it matter WHO came to America, first? Plymouth Rock, Boston, and even Salem Massachussettes, remain credited, correctly, to the Christians. What does it matter if Martha's Vineyard was, originally, discovered, by Vikings?" I had no-sooner said "I know. It SOUNDS stupid. Arguing over who came, first, and when they came". Tami had no-sooner, snuggled up, to me, as she asked "I wonder how much MORE history we will, eventually, end up discovering?" When, from behind a point of land, came a beautiful, long, ship. Even inthe glow, of the moon, the ship was as majestic as any ocean liner, could hope to be. When Tami and I grabbed our binoculars, and telescopic lenses, for our video recorder, we found that the amount, of detail, on THIS ship, to put so many others to pure shame. This majestic "lady" must have been the pinnacle, of VIking, marine science. She was so sleek, and graceful. It was not until Tami asked me "Take a look at the stern. The rear watch station, and tell me what you see". When I looked to the rear, of the ship, I was surprised to see a telescope, looking BACK, at US. When Tami asked "Do you think he see's us?" I would say "I really dont know. Especially after our encounter, with Inga". When our pilot called, on the com, asking "Do you want us to pursue? We can have the hovercraft ready, in five minutes." Tami would say "Thanks, but hold that thought, for a few minutes. I want to see what that ship actually does". The pilot would say "Roger that. Keeep us posted." Tami would say "Roger that". It was just awe-inspiring, watching that ship glide across the waves, like a bird, gliding on the air currents. For half an hour, we Tami and I watched, as the ship sailed across the open water, then rounded the opposite point, of land. When Tami said "Lets go, I want to see where that ship went". Fifteen minutes later, Tami and I rounded the point, of the land, on foot, only to find the long ship vanished. On our return path, Tami called the pilots, asking Which would be faster? Driving around the bay, to the opposite side, or using the hovercraft?" The pilot would say "Hovercraft deployed, and ready for action". Well, considering how powerful those hovercraft engines were, I remained surprised at how whisper-quiet they operated, when used in "stealth mode". Once Tami and I had joined the pilots, by slipping into some black ops night gear, the pilots took up station, and the boat, itself, seemed to turn into nothing more than a black dot, against the back drop of night. The pilots suggested a "sneak attack" approach. This way, no one would know we were there, until we wanted it known. Even using night vision gear, though, all the four of us found, beynd the first point, were the old Rune Stones, which workers had told Tami about. There was no sign of docks, piers, moorings, or anything else, for that matter. Not even an altar. When we returned, the next day, to the stones, a student gave us a rough translation, of the stones. "I, Hagar, dedicate this temple to the might, and power, which is THOR. May all, who travel this path, pay heed, and praise, to THOR" In the middle, of the Rune Stones, sat the remains, of what MIGHT, at one time, been a fire pit. One, of the students even suggested "We believe that, at one point, this area was enclosed, more like modern temples. However, with the passage, of time, and nature, over un-counted millenia, it is impossible to say WHAT the truth was". Back at the excavation, it was not surprising that more, Viking, relics, were turning up. Objects, inlcuding a once-brightly polished helmet, a breast plate (which seemed to bear the image, of the settlement), and a silver, hinged, box. Its contents included an exquisitely carved, bone, comb, eye-lash, and nail, devices, and what looked like a "personalized" sewing kit. For a people, whom history refers to as nothing more than "savage marauders", there seemed to be plenty of evidence, at this site, alone, to suggest that the clans were a sophisticated society. Why they were all-but-erased, from history, is anyones guess. Over a dinner, which translated as "Sirloin tips, and fried potatoes, with grilled onions", Tami offered me a wager. "Would you like to bet that, like our other cases, each night, of the full moon, plays a larger part, in the mystery". I knew what Tami meant, since I remembered the very same cases. It seemed that the one, consistent, factor, in ALL of our "ghost/spirit" cases, was the lunar cycle, of the full moon. The first night, of the full moon, the dead put in a single appearance. The second night, two appearances. On longer, summer, nights, the dead might put in as many as seven appearances. This is why I said "Wager NOT accepted. Whats your plan?" Tami would say "We watch, for the first passage. After the ship shows up, we un-load the hovercraft, and sneak around the point, to see where th ship launches from." When I asked "After we know this?" Tami would suggest "We follow the ship, to its dock". I agreed to Tami's plan, simply because I had nothing bettter to offer. As a result, on the second night, of the full moon, Tami and I took up one vantage point, while our pilots took up another. What astonished the four of us was how the long ship did not wait, until midnight, to make its appearance. This time, the ship made its first "run" just after sun-set, and as the moon rose over the horizon. At what some might call "warp speed", our veteran pilots had the hovercraft ready to "roll", even before the long ship completed even one quarter of its first appearance. Still, Tami and I waited, until the ship passed out of sight, before launching the hovercraft. With the silence, of a group of cat-burglars, the four of us, in the hovercraft, rounded the primary point, set up our gear, then waited for "act two". For two hours, we waited, before a combination, of events, took place. First. On shore, a fire appearred, in the middle of the Rune Stones. Next appearred a group, of men, seeming to be sitting, close, to the fire. Second, on the water. The long ship seemed to appear, bit-by-bit, from thin air. The ship was off-shore, ofcourse, but it appearred just as majestic as ever. Third, and what baffled both Tami and I, was the reason why a man stood, from beside the fire, picked up a lantern, walked to the waters edge, and signalled the ship. Soon, the ship responded, with its own signal lantern. Even as the ship headed for the point, and its second, public, appearance, of the night, the four of us loaded into the hovercraft, and, in silent pursuit, followed the majestic ship. The hovercraft followed the long ship beyond the point, past Lanse Au Meadow, and beyond the next point. It ws just beyond the second point where, right in front of us, we watched as the ship dissolved, into the night. The next day, when Tami and I asked Magda about the signals, Magda brought forth a student, named Stefan. Stefan would inform us "My study group has been analyzing Viking signalling systems. We believe that what you witnessed was the equivalent of an "All Clear to Proceed" signal." When Tami asked So, there was an "All Clear" signal. What about a "Danger" signal?" Stefan would say "We are sure there was such a signal. We just have yet to discover it". We COULD have been left, to ponder the ships "routine", in-definitely, except for what Inga had, previously, told us. "The ship travels the coast, two weeks out, then two weeks in. She returns with the full moon, to deliver cargo, and load ships stores" This left us with the question of "WHY was the ship still on patrol?" as well as "WHY was Inga remaining, and giving tours?" This, next, part is so un-believe-able, that, had Tami and I not been present, at the time, and actually witnessed the events, ourselves, we would have doubted the story, totally. When another convoy, of Viking long ships, set sail, from Sweden, enroute for America, the president, of the United States, as well as the leader, of Sweden, backed by N.A.T.O. high command, put forth this announcement: "An historic voyage is, now, underway. An intrepid group, of sailors, under an experienced hand, is headed to sea. If successful, this will be the first trans-Atlantic passage, which our distant ancestors travelled, so very far, in the past. We wish these fine people a safe, and smooth voyage, and an un-eventful passage. Let it be known, to one and all, that any interference, with this voyage, WILL be met, with lethal force. Let us hope, in our hearts, that this will not be necessary. Let us extend our thoughts, and prayers, for a successful voyage". Somehow, using his vast "powers of pursuasion", Mr. Brown arranged for Tami and I to be "guests", on one of the American destroyer escorts. This is how we "earned" our "front row seats", to the coming action. As to the reason why the radicals did not launch their second ship, until after the European convoy launched, this remains debatable. Some sources thought that the ship just wasn't ready, until the convoy launched. This, while others believe that the radicals held the ship, in reserve, UNTIL the convoy launched. What is NOT debatable was the response, to the fake ships attempted attack. While the destroyer escorts had the fake ship on radar, and were locking weapons, onto the craft, another group, of five, Viking, warrior, craft, drifted into being, maybe two miles aft of the fake ship. As the modern battle-ships watched, in awe, the Vikings drew their ships alongside, and around, the fake ship. As a result, our convoy commander ordered all ships to "Halt, and Hold Position". Even as our captain obeyed the order, and brought his ship to a halt, we witnessed the action, as the Viking warriors stormed the fake ship, from both sides. It would seem that, because the fake ship had shown no mercy, in its previous attacks, the VIkings showed no mercy, as they assaulted the attackers. As to what REALLY caused the fake ship to explode, this, too, is debatable. What IS known is that, after the fake long ship, and its support, exploded, the Vikings, who had entered the ship, re-appearred, on the decks, of their own ships. When the captain, of the lead, Viking, ship, gave a "victory" signal, to our convoy, our captain returned the gesture. After this, and with incredible speed, the VIking ships did an incredible 180 degree turn, then raced forward, ahead of the convoy. Just HOW the warriors managed to outpace our diesel engines, I will, never, know. IF information, which was relayed to our ship, hours later, was acccurate, the video seemed to show the radicals base, under severe attack, by what appearred to be Viking warriors. As the U.S. Navy sailors watched the video, they were heard to say "Damn good costumes. I almost think they ARE Vikings." That, and the crews praise, for how the "Vikings" were following the "Rules of War". Un-like Abu-Ghraib, and Guantanimo Bay, Cuba, where the U.S. "rule" is "Anything goes, as long as it results in information, gathered" On the video, the broad-shouldered, muscular, men, who were attacking this base, obeyed the same "Rules of War", which all, regular, soldiers follow. On the video, we watched as the entire construction facility was destroyed, even as the camera person had continued to film, from their hiding place. By the time the video went "viral" (whatever that means), the convoy would have reached its destination, of Boston Massachusettes. Here, the long ships were met with a combination of celebration, and protest. While much, of the general public, had turned out, to see the magnificent ships sail into harbor, there was ANOTHER group. A group which, despite all evidence, insisted that there was NO PROOF that these ships could, or had, traversed, the Atlantic Ocean. When the media had asked "What about the escorting destroyers? The ones dispatched, by N.A.T.O., for convoy security?" The group leader had growled "There is no PROOF, that these ships crossed the Atlantic, either today, or in history. Certainly NOT PRIOR to Columbus." The radicals then walked away, from the media, whose membership then began interviewing the intrepid voyagers, after their long journey. To the voyagers, the question was not "Did/could Vikings have sailed, to America, prior to Columbus?" Instead, the question was "How does it feel, having crossed the ocean, in this craft?" The crews response was only "We did it! We proved these ships COULD have made such trips, and quite regularly." And so, the "fire storm", of debate, raged on. The Christians, pounding their fists, and shouting "We DEMAND that OUR version, of history, is the only correct version! NOTHING else matters". To the scientific community, however, the fact that Delcon's village HAD been discovered, and authenticated, as well as the fact that the Egyptian frieghter had been discovered, and preserved, only lent more value to the fact that the Vikings, as well, had a place, in continental history. Maybe not in American history, but in the history of the continent. Science was no-longer willing to be "bullied" into silence, by radicals, who insisted that only the Bible was Earths "true" history. When a radical tried to declare scientists, and researchers, to be "devil worshippers", for excavating, and documenting, pieces, of history, which the radicals did not agree with. In fact, the radicals would have been most happy if the items had been left in the ground. In the scientific community, however, the question would be "HOW is it devil worship, to document the verifiable past?" Tami and I did not hang around, for the "shouting match". We returned to Lanse Au Meadow, in the hope of documenting both the phantom long ship, and the young, spirit, woman, Inga. Shortly after returning to the settlement, though, Tami and I found the researchers huddled around something. When we asked "Whats going on?" The students parted the way, enough to show us that Inga had, in fact, paid the group another visit. Inga would, again, curtsey, in the traditional fashion, while saying "Welcome, my friends. My kinsmen, and I, thank you for your efforts, on our behalf. So long have we awaited this day". When Tami would ask "Your kinsmen? HOW is it that you speak English, better than we do? If you are, indeed, a Viking, HOW did you become aware of our language?" Inga would say "One of the "perks" of being deceased. We may speak to anyone, anywhere, in your world, and speak the local language." When Tami would ask "Where are your kinsmen, now?" This is when a poweful voice called out, from behind us, saying "Why, we are right here, lass. Why do you ask?" When our group turned toward the voice, we found ourselves looking upon a group, of men who, in life, could, without a doubt, have flipped modern cars, with little effort. Tall, broad-shouldered, and full of muscle. Many, but not all, had beards. Though the men appearred fearsome, their speech was as friendly as any public servant. When Tami asked the warrior "Do you know the reason the ship has been crossing the point, for so many years?" The warrior would say "Aye, lass, but it were not "endlessly", as thy would say. Our ships were coastal ships. We sailed up, and down, the coast, of what you, now, call America. W surveyed the land, for those who followed us, trading for crafts, and information." When Tami asked "Trading, for crafts? Please explain". The Viking warrior would say "The gods do not favor those who, simply, tell tales, of places visited. To win the favor, of the god's, a man must show proof of his deeds, and travels. Such is the way of the Vikings" At this point, a student came forward, saying "He speaks the truth. Viking law gave no merit to stories told, around the "great fire". Not unless the warrior provided evidence, of their deeds." The Viking warrior would say "Aye, laddie. Ye have learned thy studies, with merit". When Tami would say "Okay, so you traded with locals. What did you trade for?" The warrior would say "Jewelry, fabric, crafts. Our fine lady made many voyages, both along the coast line, and along many, of the in-land waterways. Such beauty. After our second trip, inland, we brought an artisan along, to make pictures, of what we found." When Tami would ask "What became of these pictures?" First the warrior would say "Who knows?", then Magda would shrug her shoulders, as if to say this was the first she was hearing, of any drawings. When Tami would ask "Now that we have found you, will you be able to find your own way, to Asgard?" The warrior would say "We will continue our patrols, atleast until your kind ceases telling its tales, portraying the Viking as nothing more than butcher, and rapists". Tami would say "I see. Well, thats a pretty tall order". The warrior would say "All we desire is to go before THOR, and let the truth be known". When Tami would ask "Would THOR not, already, know of your deeds?" The warrior would say "Proof, lass, proof. Neither Odenson, nor THOR, will accept a tale, without proof." When Tami would ask "Do you intend to attack shipping, or land-ports, while you are here?" The Viking would chuckle as he asked "Why would we do that? Unless they attack us, first. Why waste the supplies?" Tami would have one "monster", of a report, to make, to the Brown Agency. A group, of spirits, would not go, to their final rest, until the world ceased viewing them as savages. Talk about a TALL order. Mr. Browns primary question was "Just HOW are we supposed to change the worlds view, of the Vikings?" Tami would say "I really have no idea. All that I know is that neither the Vikings, nor Inga, are going anywhere, until mankind recognizes the truth, about Viking society" After terminating her report, to base, Tami would call out "Mother Superior. WHERE are you, when we REALLY need you?" To Tami's surprise, Mother Superior did not answer the question. In fact, the nun did not appear, at all. Tami and I were being left to solve this one on our own. The closest that Tami could come, to an answer, would be a suggestion, made by a malado, Indiana, woman. The womans suggestion would be to chart the cargo ships course, down the Atlantic side, of the U.S., and try to find more evidence, of Viking outposts. The woman, named Tracey, would suggest "Maybe, if we could prove that the settlements DID exist, then we could try to prove that the Vikings wer settlers, and sailors, not barbarians". When Tami asked Magda about this, Magda would say "Couldn't hurt". When Tami asked Magda "By the way, what IS Tracey's field of study?" Magda would search her records, then say "Tracey is doing her dissertation on the blending of cultures. It seems that her thesis is a mirror of her own life. Her mother being negro, and her father being white." I was about to add "Boy, did the flavors blend, deliciously", but I said nothing, since I did not want another, gender, reprimand, from my partner. Later that day, Tami and I reviewed Tracey's thesis, aboard G.S.2. Even as we did so, Tami was first to admit the work was well thought out. In summary, the thesis covered what little was known, of the destinies, of cross-cultural children. It would appear that the work stretched back, atleast as far as the Egyptian pharoahs, and revealled what became of the children the rulers fathered. I think, however, that it was someplace, around page fifty, that Tracey showed how, at times, "mix" children were "sacrificed", to various, pagan gods, in return for the god's supposed "blessing". The Christians, true to form, made a regular habit of "ex-communicating" members, for having mixed race children. It was somewhere near page 150, that Tracey made extensive notes, of how similarly that even modern America treats cross-cultural children. Sure, on the SURFACE, everything SEEMS legal, level, and accepting. However, even in northern states, mixed race children are treated with QUIET disdain. As a result, even I will admit, freely, that Tracey was so much more than just a beautiful woman. When Tami made Tracey's suggestion, to the Brown Agency, no one, and I mean no one, was prepared for the computer results. Using as much information, as could be gleened, from the saga's, the computers came up with 270, to 510, possible sites. This was the point where Tami offerd the spirits a deal. If the Vikings agreed to make no more attacks, on ANY targets, th Brown Agency COULD fund Magda's research team, to investigate the Eastern coast. Magda would remind us, though "This type of thing could take YEARS. Between locating, targetting, and digging, I will, without a doubt, be retired, by the time we reach Florida." It would be Tami, and Tracey, who would suggest "We dont have to dig every site. Just enough to prove the theory." When I asked the ladies "Even if we do find what we are looking for, HOW do we convince the world to change its mind?" Tracey would suggest "By doing what I did, to break free of the ghetto. Just continue to submit hard data, until it is accepted". When I asked "May I inquire how LONG it took YOU, to escape from the ghetto?" When Tracey said "If you mean rise beyond the idea that women are nothing more than baby-makers" I would say "Yes, how LONG did it take you to become an acknowledged student?" Tracey would say "Ten years. And, NO, I am NEVER going back". With Traceys aid, Magda, Tami, and myself, presented a proposal, to the Vikings. To our surprise, the Viking captain said "If we can wait, for 1,650 years, I suppose a few more years wont matter". Both Tami, and Tracey, would promise to keep the warriors informed. In fact, Magda would suggest that the VIkings aid the search, by pointing out where the re-supply ports had been located, during the days when the ship was on patrol. Although this cooperation would reduce the list, of potential targets, by as much as 75%, Magda just wondered HOW she was going to word her final, field, report. If Magda reported "Based upon the assistance, of the souls, of long-dead VIkings", Magda knew that she would lose her degree, her position, and her professional status. She would be a "laughing stock", and would, NEVER, be allowed on another excavation. Tami would use her "all-purpose" solution, to such problems. At the end of each case file, Tami made a point of naming sources, including rank, and occupation. (Tami would leave out birth dates). Tami would list cities of origin, training, and so on. Tami would only provide DATES, if DIRECTLY inquired. (The Brown Agency did a remarkable job, of covering Tami's "tracks", by "vetting" all requests.) As a result, Tami, Magda, and Tracey, would complete an "acceptable" version, of the activity. A version, of the "truth", which even the Viking captain, Ingvar, would "sign off" on. Tami would be left, to report, to the Brown Agency "This case is FAR from resolved. I, really think that all we did was "buy some time", for the team to perform some research. (In private, Tami would ask me not to "pant"/"drool", so much, over Tracey. Tami would say "She is a competent professional. She does not need you un-dressing her, with your eyes, every moment"). When I asked Tami if I should apologize, to Tracey, Tami dis-couraged this, saying "It will only make her feel more un-comfortable". When I asked "Should I leave the site?" Tami said "NO. That would be interpreted as her having driven you away". When I said "I cant win", Tami said "You're a guy. You will, never, understand". (Thankfully, that was the end of that discussion). Inga would promise to do her best, to keep her kinsmen "in line", while we searched for evidence. I just want to make it clear that, although Tami and I remained, on the excavation, for atleast another week, I never asked to work with Tracey. It seems that Tracey and I were paired off, after a smelting operation was discovred, along with several containers, of broken metals. It must have been a LARGE operation, since we dug up atleast five, smelting, ovens. Tracey and I were paired off, to look for an altar, which the Vikings said had been used for ceremonies. (I just forgot to ask what KIND of ceremonies). Tracey would tell me, enroute, that she suspected the altars were for sacrifices, to the gods. When we found the altar, which the project was looking for, the way Tracey said "OH, N-O!', made me ask "Whats wrong?" Tracey would tell me "This is a fertility altar. That Viking sent us on a hunt, for a bordello". When I said "Big deal. That was ages ago." Tracey would tell me "Legend says that any woman entering this place, with a man, will become pregnant". When I reminded her "Tracey, thats just legends, folk-lore. Maybe to keep kids away. We are, both, adults. We KNOW how women get pregnant". Still, for some reason, Tracey went "into heat", and ran from the cave. When I caught up to her, outside the cave, and she said "I hope I am not pregnant", I just had to sit down, and have a good laugh. We never even took our clothes off. HOW could she think she was pregnant. When we reported in, to the command tent, Tracey went right up, to Ingvar, saying "If you were alive, I would belt you, as hard as I could" When Tami asked "What happened?" I told Tami, and Magda, "The cave Ingvar sent us to was the Viking equivalent, of a bordello". To which, Tracey, half-panicked, said "Any woman who enters, with a man, becomes pregnant". When the living, who were present, laughed, at the very notion, Tracey told Ingvar "If I give birth, to HIS (MY) child, I promise you there wont be a place, on Earth, where you can hide". The biggest problem, around the camp, that evening, was that someone, who was passing by the tent, heard PART of the conversation, and thought this meant that, while Tracey and I were supposed to be searching, for the altar, that we had, in fact, used the altar, for passionate love making. Whn we exited the command tent, later, and Tracey heard rounds of "Congratulations", which none of us understood, Magda pulled a team member aside and asked "What this for?"" When the worker said "Haven't you heard. Tracey is pregnant, by the ghost-buster". Magda wasted NO time, in pulling everyone, including the current shift, of diggers, together, for a moment. When Magda had everyones attention, she made it clear "Yes, they DID follow the Vikings directions, and they DID find a fertility altar. Of that there is no question. As for the rumors, that Tracey is pregnant, by our guest, this is just idle gossip. Tracey is NOT pregnant, at this time." After that, all Tracey heard was plenty of apologies, over the fact that she was NOT pregnant. When a few people said "Better luck next time", Magda said "That will be ENOUGH! I want no more talk, on this subject". Later, just before Tami and I packed up, to return to base, Magda would stop by G.S.2, to inform us "If we thought the DEAD were a problem, we forgot about the living". When Tami asked "How so?" Magda would say "Between what we found, here, and elsewhere, it seems that the debate is more fiery than ever. There is even talk of terminating our grant." When Tami would ask "Why?", and "For what reason?" but we already thought we knew the answer to that question. As Magda would point out "It is not just the religious debate. It seems that, before I called the meeting, to stop the pregnancy rumor, someone contacted people, via e-mail, to announce Tracey's pregnancy. I have been on the phone, promising the dean that nothing happened, yet all the dean kept asking was WHY I paired your partner off, with a woman, for research. Tracey has been ordered back to school, for a compulsory pregnancy test." When I said "No sweat. She can pass it, easily." Magda would say "I am not so sure". While I did not like the fact that the debate, over the Bible, versus archeology, was raging, like a forest fire, I, also, did not like what Magda was suggesting. This is when Magda told us "Confidentially, Tracey told me that, if she, ever, had a chance to be alone, with you..." When Tami would say "Tracey complained, to ME, that she did not want my partner near her, unless it was for work." Magda would say "Ofcourse, she told YOU that. You are his PARTNER." When Tami looked at me, I could only say "I cant win". Before she left the plane, Magda would promise to keep Tami and I informed. This is when, as we packed up our gear, Mr. Blue would contact us, on the video link, saying "Dont stop for gas, coffee, or snacks. Just come on home". Once the plane went vertical, above the tree lines, I would ask Tami "I wonder what Mr. Blue wants?" Tami would say "Me, too. Especially since Mr. Brown wont let Mr. Blue deliver our work, since that previous incident." True, nowadays, Mr. Blue was only allowed to provide support, so we had to wonder what was ahead, for us. Oh, well, beats sitting around the house, taking drugs (medications), and watching life pass us by. EPILOGUE: Dont ask me why, but, a week later, Tracey sent me a sorrow-filled e-mail message, saying "I'm sorry. I just hoped..." When I looked at Tami, she would say "That means she hoped you would have acted more like a frontiersman, or a Viking, among others. She had hoped you would want... Well, she had hoped for less of a gentleman." Tami read my expression and said "Dont worry. she will be okay. You arent her first, and you wont be the last". I just let it "hang". No proper response, to this, anyway.