Metamorphosis (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 7) Read online

"Did I say that?" Michael scratched his head. He took off his glasses and cleaned them with his shirt. Then, he put them back on and smiled in a way that made me want to punch him in the nose.

  "Joanne." Caroline let go of me now. She took her daughter in her arms and held her tightly. "I'll be with you forever and ever, my darling. Just look in your heart and you'll always find me there. When you smile in your own daughter's face, you will see me smiling back from deep in her eyes."

  "Don't go," Joanne begged. "Don't leave me now, just as I finally found you."

  "I'm sorry, my love, but I must go. Now Taner, don't you be angry with Michael. Time has to happen in the way it is supposed to be." Caroline took a few steps but nearly stumbled and fell. I made to run to her side, but Katie stopped me as Michael went forward instead and took my wife's hand in his own. He led her toward the golden lake

  "Goodbye, Luci." Caroline blew a kiss. "Goodbye, Katie. You were the best friends I ever had. You girls take care of your men and your families and don’t be afraid of the unknown. I'm ready now, Michael. I want to go."

  "Are you sure, Caroline?" Michael asked. "It's a one way trip, no return ticket."

  "I'm positive, and I'm at peace with my decision. Can I just have that one little thing that I've always wanted from you?"

  "Uh…sure," he said and glanced quickly at Katie, who was busy wiping her eyes and didn't see.

  Michael took my wife in his arms and bent down to kiss her on the lips.

  "Oh Lordy, I've wanted that for more than half my life," my wife cried. "Thank you, Michael. Now, I've been blessed."

  "Goodbye, Caroline." Michael waved his hand, and the lake turned into a golden flight of stairs. Caroline climbed up, and the last I saw was two pairs of silvery wings as they guided her away.

  "Bye!" Michael called. He pushed his glasses up his nose with his finger. Then, he turned back to me and winked with a silver eye.

  "Good Heavens," I heard Luci gasp. "I can't believe what I'm witnessing."

  "Maybe, we never left the worm tunnel," Zork mumbled. "Do you think?"

  "Can we go home now?" RJ begged. "I'm sorry, but this place is giving me the creeps."

  "Let's go," I nodded to Zork and took Joanne in my arms.

  We climbed back aboard the ship and sat down in my room next to Caroline's empty bed.

  "We're getting out of here." Zork poked his head through the door. "Where do you want to go now, Taner?"

  "Back to Rehnor," I declared. "As quickly, as you can take us. We've all had enough of this strange dimension."

  Over the course of the next few hours, Joanne decided that she wanted to stay with me. If Sherrilyn allowed it, RJ would stay with us, to meet her baby cousin and to go to school in New Mishnah.

  "Can we live in the Palace?" RJ asked, her eyes wide and glowing with excitement. "I've heard it's the most beautiful place in the whole entire galaxy."

  "It is indeed," I replied with pride. "We'll stay in the Palace most of the year. When school is on vacation, we can travel back to Turko and visit our estate."

  "Are you sure this okay with you, Taner?" Joanne asked. "You hardly know both RJ and me. Why would you do so much for us without requiring anything in return?"

  "Your mother gave me everything I ever wanted. There is nothing more I could ask from you. As far as I'm concerned, you are Caroline's daughter, and that makes you my daughter too. Is that alright?" I held out my hand.

  "We can give it a try," Joanne nodded.

  "I'm all for it," RJ cried. "This is totally cool even though your mom just died."

  "Are you guys doing okay in here?" Michael interrupted. "Oh, I'm sorry. Don't stop your little chat. I just wanted you to know that Luci's made some lunch. Joanne, you shouldn't forget to eat."

  "We'll be right there." I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Michael. You've been incredibly kind. I'm sorry if I ever accused you of ever being anything else."

  "I don't know what you're talking about, Lord Taner." He shrugged. "You never accused me of anything other than having smelly feet. I'm glad to have been of service. I know it all worked out in the end. Unfortunately, when we get back to Mishnah, my office will be sending you my bill."

  "How much is that going to be?" I became confused. For a moment, I thought he was actually someone else. Perhaps, he was only Dr. Silverman whose bill would be outrageously high.

  "Submit it to your insurance," Michael suggested. "Although, I bet they'll deny most of the charges."

  "Can you just give me a hint at how much they ran?" I had visions of millions of dollars, although I would have paid any amount to see Caroline cured. Still, now that the dust had settled, I hated to be reduced to poverty.

  "Sure." Michael narrowed his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. He tossed a few numbers about and added them up. Then turning back to me, he recited everything that had happened. "There was a house call that lasted more than a week, a trip to an alternate dimension, and a customized stairway to Heaven, not to mention all the other medical equipment and services aboard. I won't charge you for the kiss; that was my pleasure. The rest, I'd say was just about equivalent to a lifetime of indentured servitude." Then he laughed in a voice that was far too high and annoying.

  "Zork!" Katie's voice sounded from down the hall. "Hey Zork, I think we've got another problem."

  Michael turned his attention to her and left.

  "Can I help you, Katie?" We heard him yell as his footsteps tapped across the ship, crashing into her as they reached the cockpit door.

  "Get off of me," Katie screamed. "Michael, I swear I'm going to kill you before we get back home."

  "He's such a weird guy," Joanne remarked. "Though, he's kind of cute in a really strange way. I just can't imagine why my mom spent half her life wanting him to kiss her."

  "I think he's nice," RJ replied. "He's a good teacher. At least, he was to me."

  "I don't know what he is," I said. "Every time I think I do, I change my mind. Are you hungry, girls? Shall we get some lunch? We need to eat even though we're feeling sad. We have to remember that Caroline wants us to be happy no matter what." I stood up and waited for the girls to go out the door, then I turned back to the empty bed where Caroline had laid. I realized the truth in the words that I had just uttered.

  "Goodbye, my love," I called to the air. "Thank you for all that you have given me."

  "Goodbye Taner." I thought I heard a ghostly reply. It could have been Andy calling out to me or the air conditioning system making a noise. In any case, I shut the door and went on to recommence my life.

  Chapter 19

  Zork

  "What's the problem now?" I asked as Katie slapped at Michael's hands.

  "I don't need you to brush me off, Michael! I'm not that dirty."

  "Oh! You've got a little cut here on your elbow," Michael said. "I can put a bandaid on that. I don’t think it's deep enough for sealant unless you want it. I'm really sorry, Katie. I didn't mean to knock you down again. I certainly didn't mean to injure you in any way."

  "Hey Doc, just back away," I ordered. "Leave the chick alone. You've been bothering her enough on this cruise already."

  Michael didn't respond. He just stared down at me, and something in his eyes looked very strange.

  "Stop it, Michael," Katie spat. "Don't you dare do a thing to Zork. I don't think this is funny at all. In fact, I find it revolting and gross. Change back to the way you should be, and end this charade."

  "Change what?" Michael asked, his brow furrowing. "I only brought one other shirt on this trip."

  Goldie narrowed her eyes. I could practically see the steam coming out of her ears when she reached up and slapped Michael across the face.

  "Ah phooey.” Michael sighed, his cheek turning bright red, his glasses flying across the room to the floor. He stumbled blindly to the sofa and got down on his hands and knees as RJ ran to help him look for them.

  "Goldie, I don't know what the heck has gotten into you," I scolded. "Maybe, it's just grief f
rom losing your friend, but I think what you're doing to Doc Michael is just a tad bit too harsh."

  "You don't understand, Zork," Goldie shouted, yanking me into the cockpit by my arm. "He's not who he says he is. Well, he is, but he's really not. Well actually, he's kind of both if you believe what the pundits say."

  "I told you, Zork," Andy called, "but you wouldn't listen to me."

  "I don’t know what the heck you are talking about." I sat back down in my seat. "Is that reason you were yelling to me? I thought you were sounding an alarm."

  "Oh crap!" Katie raged. "There is an alarm, and it's ringing in the forward bay. I'm sorry, Zork. I got so distracted I forgot to mention it."

  "Don't worry. We get those all the time. Andy, is there another fire going on? Or has the worm tunnel opened again and let in a bunch more phantasmic things?"

  "It might be a fire, Zork," Andy yawned, “I'm detecting a whole lot of smoke, but I'll deal with it when the football game is over."

  "No, you won't." I jumped up again, glad that I was in such fantastic shape. With all this jumping around, I had a body like a guy half my age.

  Goldie and I ran to the lower stair, and from there, we headed toward the forward bay where we discovered the wires and hoses were all smoking.

  "Foam Andy!" I screamed. "It's for real this time! Turn on the foam and start the fire suppression system."

  "Sorry, Zork, the game's still on," Andy replied. "We're at the two minute warning and the score is six to six. I'll be back with you in a few minutes unless there's another time out."

  "You're going to let us all die for a game that has only two field goals on either side? If we survive this, I swear I am taking you in for service."

  "This is ridiculous," Goldie cried.

  "I agree," I totally agreed, while she opened the panel and overrode Andy's system.

  The foam hissed as it spumed out, but the fire died right away. Unfortunately, the starboard engine #2 died, as well.

  "Can you fix it?" Goldie hit all the other buttons on the panel, trying to restart the engine that had turned to toast.

  "I don't think so." I determined that the power units had burned right through. "We've still got the port side engine #1. We should be able to limp along real slowly. Eventually, we'll get you back to Rehnor, if we don't all die of hunger first."

  "If we're traveling at sublight speeds, it could take us four hundred years or more," Goldie snapped and charging up the ladder, she ran to Doc Michael's side. "Michael, we need your help. Put away that Parcheesi game and come down to the forward bay."

  Michael pushed his glasses up his nose, staring at her like he'd never seen her face before. There was a piece of duct tape now holding his glasses together. Turning back to his game, he rolled the dice. Then, he moved his little marker seven squares.

  "RJ, it's your move," he said, which infuriated Goldie.

  "I mean it, Michael." Katie stomped her foot.

  "What's going on?" Taner glanced up from his book.

  "The starboard engine's broken and Michael is the only one who can fix it."

  "Why should Michael be able to fix it?" Luci asked, coming from the kitchen with a glass of milk. She put it in front of Joanne who was now rolling the dice. "Michael is a doctor not a mechanic."

  "Michael isn't Michael," Katie cried. "Well, he is, but he's also another guy. Taner, Luci, you know what I'm talking about, right?"

  Luci looked at Michael askance.

  Taner cleared his throat.

  I shrugged and considered we had about four hundred more years together.

  "Please Michael," Katie began to beg. "This has gone on long enough. If you won't fix the engine, I'll have to do something rash."

  Michael rolled the dice again and moved his piece another seven spaces. In fact, each time he rolled, it always came up seven.

  "Alright," Katie declared. "If you're not who I think you are, then, you won't mind if I do this with Zork." That Golden girl reached for me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Then, she planted a big one on my lips and wouldn't let go.

  Glancing at Michael, she took my hand and led me back to my cabin. Goldie locked the door as my heart nearly died in my chest and my best muscle tightened, ready to go into action.

  "Don't do it, Zork!" Andy screamed. "The game is over, or it will be for you!"

  "Shut up, Andy," I hissed and disconnected the droid.

  Agonizingly slowly, for me any way, Goldie unbuttoned her blouse. She kept looking at the door, as if someone might burst through.

  "Come on, come on," I urged silently until she removed her shirt altogether.

  "Whoa!" I cried. "You're not bad at all for a woman our age. In fact, you look more like a girl of thirty-five or forty."

  "Shut up, Zork," she hissed and put her Glock on the bedside table. "If you talk anymore, I'm not going through with this."

  I scrambled out of my clothes while she seemed intent on folding all of hers just so. Finally, I picked her up and dropped her on my bed, laying her down on my not so clean sheets.

  "Ah, Goldie, you're the girl of my dreams."

  "You're not exactly my dream guy, Zork," she replied, still looking at the door instead of me. "I can't believe he's just sitting there letting this happen."

  "Ah Goldie," I gasped again. As I reached out to touch that goal, the most horrible pain shot through my entire body. "Christ Almighty!" I screamed in a voice four octaves higher. "Fuck it all, I think I've been killed! If not, I swear I'll never be able to pee again."

  "Oh God!" Katie shrieked. "Oh shit! Oh, I'm so sorry, Zork! I completely forgot about that."

  "What the hell happened?" I whimpered, though I couldn't hardly speak.

  Quickly, Katie put her clothes back on and rushed out of my room, leaving me alone on the floor in my distress. Everybody started screaming in the salon, but I didn't see any of it since I still couldn’t move. I heard about it later from old Taner.

  That Golden gal had picked up the Parcheesi board, sending all of those little game pieces flying in all directions. Three times she whacked Michael on the side of the head, then dropping the board on the floor, she ran to her room. There she locked the door and wouldn't let anyone in, not even Luci.

  "I told you, Zork," Andy snickered while I was lying in bed, all alone as forever more I would stay. "I warned you not to touch her and certainly not to do what you tried. You're lucky you're still alive and not a eunuch."

  "Why'd she do that?" I asked. "What got into her do you think?"

  Andy shrugged and replied, "It could be PMS."

  Four days later, we were still transiting this worm tunnel, though it seemed more like we had been diverted through Hell.

  I could walk again and talk, although I kept to myself on my bridge, as all sorts of ruckus was going on in the main salon.

  We were running out of food, and our water was smelling putrid, but in fairness this trip was supposed to end three days ago. Our cellphones didn't work. We couldn't get broadcast TV. Even the galaxy wide web was showing error code 404.

  "Any luck with the broken engine, Zork?" Taner asked, entering the bridge and locking the door. "We've really got to find a way to get back home much more quickly."

  "You can go outside and push, Taner because there ain't any other way to speed this up. What's Goldie done to that poor old Doc Michael today?"

  Taner sighed and rolled his eyes as he collapsed in the co-pilot seat. "Katie challenged Michael to a game of chess. They sat down together to play all nice and calmly, while the rest of us stood and watched. Katie beat Michael in forty moves."

  "What's wrong with that? I always thought she was pretty good at the game."

  "She yelled at him that he wasn't supposed to let her win and then she picked up the board and threw all the pieces at his face."

  "I think something has gotten into her head," I concluded. "Maybe a spaceworm or some kind of disease. Have you tried to talk to the doctor about giving her something to calm her down?"

/>   "Well, the thing is," Taner scratched his neck. "There is something strange about that Dr. Michael Silverman. I'm not throwing things or hitting him, but there's unquestionably something that's bothering me."

  "He's a dork and geek but otherwise okay," I replied. "He gave me some pain pills after I got…uh…hurt. He didn’t ask questions, didn't even wonder what was wrong. He just came right away and gave me some good meds."

  It was then that the com on my bridge began to ring. A young man, dressed in a fancy uniform, appeared in view. The name Golden was printed on the tag above his chest.

  "Can I speak to Lord Taner, please?" he asked.

  "I'm right here, son," Taner called. "It's good to see you. How are you doing? Please, tell me you shall be rescuing us."

  "I'm fine, sir, how are you? May I extend my condolences on your loss? Aunt Caroline was always very special to me. I understand your freightplane is in a little trouble. We're about half a click away. I'll be heading over to you in a SpaceNavy plane momentarily."

  "What relief," Taner cried. "How did you know about Caroline already? We haven't had cell service for several days."

  "Uh…" the boy stuttered then smiled really wide. "Come on, Taner. You know my dad doesn't need a cellphone to make a call."

  "I'll get your mother," Taner muttered, then yelled to Katie from the bridge door.

  "Can you give us a tow?" I asked Katie's kid. "My starboard engine is fried."

  "Don't worry. I'll bring a few of our engineers. In the meantime, we'll offload all your passengers."

  "Thank the Saint," Taner mumbled as Katie and Luci joined us on the bridge.

  "Oh, Shika," Luci called. "Finally, you're here!"

  "How did you find us?" Katie asked. "We're in a worm tunnel in a black hole. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack that's the size of a planet."

  "Aw, Mom," Shika winked. "You know it's easier than that, especially when Dad tells me exactly where you are."

  "He called you? From where?" Katie demanded, her voice getting a little shrill.

  "Mishnah. He said he got back from his vacation the other day. I don't know where he went or what he did, but he seemed to be rested and feeling well." Taner and Luci caught Katie as she passed out on the cockpit floor. "At least, I thought he was in Mishnah," her son continued. "Did you hear what he said, Sam? I was driving at the time, so I didn't pay all that much attention."