nowhere, and so close to your bizarre deployment... something’s going on out in the universe, and we’re getting dragged into it. I think us Earthlings are going to have to start wholly embracing the existence of other life out there.”
* * *
Dishes done, Baku dried off his hands with a towel and sat so he leaned against the wall and draped an arm over the back of the wooden chair.
Eve said, “Why aren’t you making a big show of taking a thousand soldiers from Earth? Once again, you’re taking great pains to hide yourself.”
“I’ve shown myself to you and the soldiers. Do you want me to show myself to the whole world just to make their lives easier? Suddenly have all the answers right in front of the cameras? And then what would happen?” Eve looked at him, speechless. “Things are best left to unfold the way they are. Besides, I talked with the ones who needed some things ironed out before embracing their role in this war. I helped strengthen their courage and resolve, and they took care of the rest. That’s what I do, Eve. It’s subtle, yes, but if I’d chosen the path of universally making my existence no secret, then my creations would want me to pull more and more of their weight for them.”
Baku stood and crossed to the back of the couch, where the orange tabby cat, Tucker, was curled up, napping. He petted the cat and he woke with a startled mew, then lay still and enjoyed the attention, staring at him with slitted eyes that were the same blue as his.
“It’s natural for mortals to crave an easy life, but there’s something about hard work that makes rewards all the more enjoyable. Now, this could turn into yet another lengthy conversation, so let me just say this: I’m always watching over each and every one of you, and I help you as much as I can. Even you.” He picked up Tucker and held him so both he and the cat were looking at Eve. The old woman put her lemonade down and walked around the table to him. Tucker purred away, content.
Eve stared curiously at her cat. “Why do I get the feeling that you and my cat are the same... person? Isn’t Tucker just an ordinary Tabby?”
Baku smiled and handed the purring feline to her. “I had to keep an extra close eye on Roxie, seeing how she’s an Aigis with a very specific task to complete. Other than that, he is an ordinary Tabby that loves you very much.” He took a step back.
Eve petted Tucker. “Will you hear me if I pray to you?”
“Of course.” He kissed the old woman on the forehead. “It’s time for me to go. And remember: you are always being taken care of, Eve. Have faith.”
Chapter 8
Roxie lay pinned on her back, unable to move, unless she wanted to let go of the jaws of the black dragon bearing down on her. Its jaws were open to their full extent, almost wide enough to swallow her standing. She braced against the scaly snout with just her left hand, and the lip and teeth of the lower jaw with both booted feet, and pushed against the monster’s massive bulk with all of her Aigis strength. For some reason she couldn’t use or move her right arm. It lay spread eagle on the pale ground.
She was pinned against a solid ground a shade of off white, and everything around her and the dragon was a grey fog that darkened in the distance. She could barely make out its forelegs. The rest of the body, which had to be there, was lost in the gloom. No matter how hard Roxie pushed, the dragon’s head never budged. She was slowly tiring while her foe seemed to be doing no more than bearing it’s massive weight down on her. She stared helplessly at the foot-long fangs just beyond her wrist.
How do I get out of this? How? She knew this was a dream, or rather a nightmare, but quite the vivid one. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d die for real if she died in this dream. Yes, dreams weren’t supposed to be taken literally, but this one felt so real. The dragon doused her with foul, sulfuric breath
* * *
Dishes done, Baku dried off his hands with a towel and sat so he leaned against the wall and draped an arm over the back of the wooden chair.
Eve said, “Why aren’t you making a big show of taking a thousand soldiers from Earth? Once again, you’re taking great pains to hide yourself.”
“I’ve shown myself to you and the soldiers. Do you want me to show myself to the whole world just to make their lives easier? Suddenly have all the answers right in front of the cameras? And then what would happen?” Eve looked at him, speechless. “Things are best left to unfold the way they are. Besides, I talked with the ones who needed some things ironed out before embracing their role in this war. I helped strengthen their courage and resolve, and they took care of the rest. That’s what I do, Eve. It’s subtle, yes, but if I’d chosen the path of universally making my existence no secret, then my creations would want me to pull more and more of their weight for them.”
Baku stood and crossed to the back of the couch, where the orange tabby cat, Tucker, was curled up, napping. He petted the cat and he woke with a startled mew, then lay still and enjoyed the attention, staring at him with slitted eyes that were the same blue as his.
“It’s natural for mortals to crave an easy life, but there’s something about hard work that makes rewards all the more enjoyable. Now, this could turn into yet another lengthy conversation, so let me just say this: I’m always watching over each and every one of you, and I help you as much as I can. Even you.” He picked up Tucker and held him so both he and the cat were looking at Eve. The old woman put her lemonade down and walked around the table to him. Tucker purred away, content.
Eve stared curiously at her cat. “Why do I get the feeling that you and my cat are the same... person? Isn’t Tucker just an ordinary Tabby?”
Baku smiled and handed the purring feline to her. “I had to keep an extra close eye on Roxie, seeing how she’s an Aigis with a very specific task to complete. Other than that, he is an ordinary Tabby that loves you very much.” He took a step back.
Eve petted Tucker. “Will you hear me if I pray to you?”
“Of course.” He kissed the old woman on the forehead. “It’s time for me to go. And remember: you are always being taken care of, Eve. Have faith.”
Chapter 8
Roxie lay pinned on her back, unable to move, unless she wanted to let go of the jaws of the black dragon bearing down on her. Its jaws were open to their full extent, almost wide enough to swallow her standing. She braced against the scaly snout with just her left hand, and the lip and teeth of the lower jaw with both booted feet, and pushed against the monster’s massive bulk with all of her Aigis strength. For some reason she couldn’t use or move her right arm. It lay spread eagle on the pale ground.
She was pinned against a solid ground a shade of off white, and everything around her and the dragon was a grey fog that darkened in the distance. She could barely make out its forelegs. The rest of the body, which had to be there, was lost in the gloom. No matter how hard Roxie pushed, the dragon’s head never budged. She was slowly tiring while her foe seemed to be doing no more than bearing it’s massive weight down on her. She stared helplessly at the foot-long fangs just beyond her wrist.
How do I get out of this? How? She knew this was a dream, or rather a nightmare, but quite the vivid one. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d die for real if she died in this dream. Yes, dreams weren’t supposed to be taken literally, but this one felt so real. The dragon doused her with foul, sulfuric breath
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